Remembrance Day Poems

Remembrance Day. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the signing of the Armistice, on November 11th, 1918, to signal the end of World War One, 100 years ago today.

The first poem is In Flanders' Fields, which led to our practice of wearing poppies, and the second is a response to it. The third is a paragraph from For the Fallen, also often quoted at Remembrance Day services.

Cranberry Bog

October Journaling

1.      Doctor’s appointment to fill out insurance forms. At least it’s only once a year now.

2.      Bible study, then an afternoon of editing. No nap today.

3.      School prep day.

4.      School day, brought to you by the letter Gg, the number 15, the sense of touch, and the Bible story, Fishers of Men.

5.      Prepping food for tomorrow.

6.      Thanksgiving dinner up in Bracebridge. I’ll post some pics.

7.      Church.

8.      A second Thanksgiving dinner at my sister’s house.

9.      First deadline from my publisher: writing my About the Author, the Dedication, the Back Cover copy, the Acknowledgments, the Author’s Note, and the Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion, as well as directions on the order of the book and what I’d like to see on the cover. I have the hardest time with the graphic design stuff. I only know what I don’t want. I know some indie published books can have cheesy covers.

10.   Daughter and grandkids came overnight.

11.   I have four people willing to read and possibly endorse my book, if they like it.

12.   Doing final revisions before I send my manuscript to the publisher for edits and to the four for endorsement. I think it was Hemingway who said, Writing is re-writing. So true. I’ve changed this book so many times. On every read through I see ways to improve it so it never feels done. Will it ever feel good enough? My brain fog has improved somewhat so I can write a bit, but I waver between feeling it’s pretty good to feeling it’s no good at all. I guess that’s normal.

13.   My husband is on a men’s retreat. I had a ladies’ breakfast at church. Nice not to have to do the planning, speaking, or cooking. My daughter is going to wade in a cranberry bog. I’ll post a picture. School prep day.

14.   Church this morning, then writing and napping.

15.   Revising my final chapter before I send it off for possible endorsements and final edits. Kind of scary to ask for endorsements. I hope they like it. If they don’t, it’s like being told you have an ugly baby, hard not to take it personally.

16.   I hit send on my manuscript. I finished my revisions, although every time I read through it I make changes.

17.   Chiro and massage.

18.   School day, brought to you by the letter Hh, the number 16, the sense of taste, and the story of Jesus walking on water.

19.   Baking Finnish gingersnaps with my mom. Well, more like watching her do it.

20.   Chores around the house and a nap. Found a new farm house store and orchard nearby.

21.   Church, then a luncheon for newcomers. The pastor and elders and their wives host it and introduce themselves to the new people. A nice idea. Then a long nap, and church again.

22.   Bible reading, school prep, a nap, dinner prep, and voting in the municipal election. It’s nice that there’s an online option.

23.   Bible study and errands, then pain clinic.

24.   Home day.

25.   School day, brought to you by the letter Ii, the number 17, a review of the senses through popcorn, and the story of Saul’s conversion. Also the life cycle of a butterfly and how we are a new creation in Christ.

26.   Attended a gala at the Royal York hotel this evening to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of Jarvis Street Baptist church. They are older than Canada by 51 years.

27.   Baking for church tomorrow.

28.   Busy morning at church, then a long nap, and church again.

29.   Home day; working on my summary of Zechariah.

30.   Women’s Bible study, then off to another pain clinic. That wipes me out for the rest of the day.

31.   Haircut. Useless day. Hiding out during Hallowe’en. Also it’s the 501^st anniversary of the Protestant reformation.

I'm getting published!

September Journaling

1.      Went to a Christian campground with a family from church. The men fished while the women rested. We’re both chronically ill.

2.      Church, then visiting my sister in law, who had a house fire in the basement apartment of her house. We took her out for lunch. They are in the process of cleanup from smoke and water damage.

3.      Labour Day. School prep, it starts on Thursday.

4.      Trying to make a decision about whether to self-publish or go traditional.

5.      Baked a Finnish apple cake. Delicious.

6.      First day of preschool with my grandson, brought to you be the number 11, the letter c, the sight word can, and the story of the lost sheep. Also beginning a unit on the five senses.

7.      Flying to the Soo for my aunt’s memorial.

8.      Good to see family and friends. Glad I came.

9.      Visited my dad’s grave site. It was so overgrown. Flew home.

10.   Crashed because of the weekend’s activities and the heavy rain today.

11.   Back to the Precepts Bible studies. Beginning in Haggai.

12.   School prep, shower, and travelling to Jordan Station for a friend’s 60^th birthday party.

13.   School day, brought to you by the number 12, letter d, and the sense of sight. Also the Bible story of Jesus healing a blind man.

14.   Dinner party at a friend’s place.

15.   Baking for tomorrow. Also took a trip to Ribfest but didn’t stay as it was so hot and there was no shade to be found.

16.   Church. Also coffee time.

17.   Such a nice home day. I did my Bible study homework. No nap today. Made salsa. I hope I don’t pay for this radical behaviour tomorrow.

18.   Bible study and school prep.

19.   Chiro and massage, errands. Also signed the publishing contract. It’ll be ready in about six months. I’ll post a picture.

20.   School day, brought to you by the number 13, the letter e, and the sense of hearing. Also the Bible story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man.

21.   Recovery day, also planted my bulbs for spring flowers. This evening is a fund raising dinner for the missions trip to Tenerife, Canary Islands by four couples in our church.

22.   Putting away lawn furniture. First day of fall.

23.   Church. Missions week.

24.   Dental appointment and nap.

25.   Presenting the summary of Haggai and then out for lunch with the ladies. Then had a 2-1/2 hour nap. Bad pain with the rain. Also started an author Facebook page. Look up P.H. Thompson, Author. About ninety likes.

26.   Attending an event at church. My husband’s seminary prof is teaching on Islam. It was well attended and he is very engaging.  I also prepped for school.  I started some diet pills today. I’ve gained thirty pounds since I got sick five years ago.

27.   School day, brought to you by the letter Ff, the number 14, a yellow star, patterns, and the sense of smell. I made about 20 little smelling containers for him to identify, which he loved. Also the Bible story of the wise and foolish builders. Chicken and mac and cheese for lunch, and lasagna for dinner.

28.   Pain clinic this morning. Long nap, as usual.

29.   Quiet Saturday, laundry and filling out medical forms for Monday.

30.   Church. Last day of Missions week.

Summer Fun

 August Journaling

1.      My husband is still on vacation so we went to Hamilton to see the grandkids. While there, my husband changed their three locks so they all use the same key. Our granddaughter was sick with a fever. My daughter baked individual peach pies with a crust I loved, which I don’t usually care for.

2.      Osteopath appointment, nap, dinner, and packing for Kingston.

3.      To Kingston with a couple from our old church. Checking out a few restaurants our daughter recommended from when she was there for law school. Gotta schedule in my nap time so I can cope.

4.      On the five-hour thousand islands cruise from Gananoque. We’ve done it before, years ago, but we’re doing it to spend time with friends and for their sake, since they haven’t seen it. They’ve made so many upgrades to Boldt castle, it’s so beautiful. Slept the whole way home. Also, after telling us about the over 200 shipwrecks, they went on to reassure us our boat was safe, all without a life jacket in sight.

5.      Church in Newcastle this morning, because of summer vacation. Nap, and then the grandkids arrive for four nights. Our daughter and son-in-law are travelling to Boston for a delayed fifth anniversary trip.

6.      Holiday Monday. We’re bbq-ing and my mom, sister, and nieces are coming over to play with the grandkids.

7.      I took my grandson to Jungle Cat World, a local zoo, which he loved.

8.      Rainy day, but the kids played in the kiddie pool anyway.

9.      Our daughter’s flight was delayed twelve hours and then flew to Hamilton instead of Toronto, so they’re picking the kids up tomorrow.

10.   Chiropractor and Costco. Nap and dinner.

11.   A beautiful summer Saturday at home.

12.   Church.

13.   Home day.

14.   Facial injections for pain, worn out, three hour nap.

15.   Massage, followed by a three hour nap. While you may think that sounds nice, I wish I had energy to live life like I used to.

16.   Packing for the Carey Conference this weekend. It’s our 25^th time, but Carey itself is 40 years old.

17.   Baking my blueberry pies, packing, prepping pills.

18.   First day of Carey, exhausting because of setting up the trailer, then shopping.

19.   This week in a trailer makes me see I could never live in a tiny house.

20.   Wow! I’d forgotten what a good preacher Don Carson is. He is one of the best theologians of our day, but also a great communicator.

21.   My husband got to go to a small group of pastors, elders, and seminarians to ask Don Carson questions. I slept three hours. So much rain.

22.   Today was our only busy day. We hosted a couple for lunch, napped, hosted a couple for supper, took in two services, then hosted two couples for a campfire.

23.   Daily long naps, and also went into town to have lunch with friends. So different to be here without kids.

24.   Home after stopping by London to visit my aunt and cousin. My aunt has been widowed a year now. She went to Finland for a long visit, which really energized her.

25.   Laundry day. Everything was so musty.

26.   Our youngest daughter is 26 today. That means it’s her champagne birthday. She’s away on a bachelorette weekend for one of the three weddings she is in this year. One down, two to go. We also are going to visit our other daughter and bring my mother in law to see their first home, which she generously helped them get.

27.   Booked my flight for my aunt’s memorial service. My mom and aunt are driving, but it would be too much for me to sit that long. I used aeroplan miles.

28.   Pain clinic, then a bbq at WINGS maternity home, which is closing.

29.   School prep.

30.   We thought our air conditioning was broken, but it was just shorted out, so my husband was able to fix it. It’s so muggy.

31.   Farm day with grandkids. They loved feeding the chickens and goats.

A Year of Gratitiude: July 2018

Today I am thankful for...

1.      My country of Canada, on Canada Day, such as it is with it’s not so latent hostility to Christians and their freedom.

2.      Ability to rest at home when I’m sick, and sermon audio to catch up on what I missed.

3.      My library, both fiction and non-fiction. I have a lot of good resources for research.

4.      World cup soccer; lots of upsets this time around, which makes it interesting. My team of Germany is already out.

5.      Not having to worry about finances, only health.

6.      Facetiming with the grandkids.

7.      A beautiful summer Saturday.

8.      Being back at church.

9.      Spending a day with the grandkids at their new house. They have a little blow-up pool.

10.   I wrote a report card for my grandson.

11.   Air conditioning at home.

12.   Acupuncture seems to be helping.

13.   Flowers and my herb garden in the backyard.

14.   My dishwasher. Not a fan of handwashing dishes.

15.   The new home my mom, sister, and nieces are renting.

16.   My mom being able to spend time with her great grandkids.

17.   My washer.

18.   My dryer.

19.   Garage sales at church, where I have a chance to offload clutter.

20.   My reference books which help with Bible studies.

21.   My mom and sister’s new rental home.

22.   Black-eyed Susies, which I planted in front of our house. Perennials and potted plants are my kind of gardening.

23.   I bought some more black eyed Susies for my daughter’s yard.

24.   My crops.

25.   Coupons to completely pay for our meal tomorrow.

26.   32 happy years of marriage.

27.   Lobster.

28.   Festival at church.

29.   Sunshine.

30.   The beach. I feel more relaxed near the water.

31.   Getting honourable mention for my novel in the first writing contest I’ve entered.

Happy Canada D-eh!

July Journaling

1.      Happy Canada D-eh! Although I’m not a very proud Canadian this year with all the attacks on the freedom of religion and expression, but I suppose it could be worse. I missed church today.

2.      Still sick. No energy. Changed the sheets on a bed and had to rest. Too tired to shower.

3.      A few errands and a chiropractor appointment. Watched some world cup soccer and that’s all.

4.      Dental appointment.

5.      Osteopathic appointment, trying acupuncture for another area of uncontrolled pain.

6.      Home day. Date night, but at home, which is my speed.

7.      A nice summer Saturday. So this Trudeau groping incident; there seems to be a double standard depending on who the accused is. This one seems to be disappearing without comment. Other politicians are expected to step aside, but he gets on his high horse. Golden boy. Not cynical at all, just sarcastic.

8.      Nice to be back at church after being sick last week.

9.      Visiting the grandkids. My grandson asked what letter we’d learn today. It’s summer, so nothing but fun. I bought them a pool to enjoy in their new backyard.

10.   Still with the grandkids, stayed overnight.

11.   Home day.

12.   Osteopath appointment. Acupuncture seems to be helping.

13.   Shopping with my husband. Last chance to get summer clothes on sale. They already have winter coats out, during a heat wave.

14.   Third place game in World Cup between Belgium and England.

15.   Church, then picking up my mom to come with me to Hamilton tomorrow.

16.   Day with the grandkids. My granddaughter is learning new words. She also has a temper.

17.   Home day.

18.   Massage appointment.

19.   Home day. For lunch I made pizza on Italian bread, with pizza sauce, chive cream cheese and fresh basil. Delish.

20.   I heard that my novel got honourable mention in a writing contest. That’s helpful in cover letters to show that other professionals have taken a look at it and believe it has some merit. Now to submit it to the two agents who requested it once it was completed. They asked for it based on the idea, back when it was still a work in progress and I was healthy. Five years later it’s done. I hope there’s not a time limit on the request.

21.   A bbq at my mom and sister’s new rental house.

22.   Church day, long nap.

23.   Day with grandkids.

24.   Osteopathic treatments helping somewhat, with energy. Sat by the lake at Rotary Park. Just being near water relaxes me like nothing else.

25.   The grandkids came for the day and we took them to Rotary Park to the water park.

26.   Our 32^nd anniversary. Out for dinner at the Keg. Ate a lobster the size of my head. I’ll include a picture.

27.   Pain clinic this morning, and a rare movie night. It was still too loud even with earplugs, though.

28.   Our church hosted the Festival today, with games, bouncy castle, dunking booth, garage sale items, food, live music, face painting, fire engine, and ice cream truck. We stayed for a while and helped with the garage sale table. It’s to raise money for a missions trip that four couples are going on in the fall to Tenerife, Canary Islands. This evening we went to a friend’s place for our quarterly dinner party.

29.   Church.

30.   Beach day with my husband. So relaxing by the water.

31.   Home day, in the rain. Three and a half hour nap today. So exhausted.

June: a year of gratitude

June; Today I am thankful for…

1.      My car’s a.c. was fixed. It’s cold enough to make ice cream in.

2.      Annual flowers in my yard.

3.      My husband being 20 years cancer free! As an oncology nurse, I know there aren’t a lot of happy endings, especially with sarcoma. But God is faithful.

4.      Spending the day with my granddaughter, bonding. She said her first two word sentence. When I’d ask, “Where’s Robin?” She’s answer, “I’m heeeyah.”

5.      Dollar stores. So many good deals. Although I only ever go in intending to buy one or two items, I come out with three bags. I should own stocks in them.

6.      Dental care every three months, covered by my husband’s benefits.

7.      A new provincial premier.

8.      Prepping for the party, also smart to get the salads and cupcakes catered.

9.      The party for my husband. Exhausting but good.

10.   A day with my grandkids.

11.   Dental work.

12.   My mom brought me a tea towel as a gift from South Carolina. It says, Mimi is the name, spoiling is the game. Appropriate.

13.   Benefits for all my health care costs.

14.   World cup soccer starting today. Go Germany!

15.   Yoga for sleep class.

16.   A lady at church is hosting my women’s ministry team for a high tea as a thank you. Very nice of her.

17.   My husband’s 55^th birthday and father’s day.

18.   A quiet day at home.

19.   School prep day.

20.   Massage; I really needed it.

21.   My daughter’s job offer for the next four months. An answer to prayer.

22.   Getting rid of the piano. The room feels more balanced and spacious now.

23.   My daughters beautiful new home. I especially love the attic.

24.   Church dinners. Appreciation for two elderly sisters who are moving away.

25.   A new roof!

26.   My daughter’s call to the Bar and a thank you dinner from her to celebrate.

27.   Pinterest. I couldn’t teach my grandson without its help.

28.   A new member of my health care team, an osteopath.

29.   Air conditioning, especially as we’re heading into a heat wave this weekend.

30.   Summer time. My favourite season, even with the heat.

New house/Call to the Bar

June Journaling

1.      Bought new lawn chairs and potted plants.

2.      Planted some impatiens in the front yard. Prepping for my husband’s party next weekend.

3.      Today my husband is 20 years cancer free!  He is also preaching this morning.

4.      No school, but my daughter is working today so I’m babysitting the one year old. My grandson will go to daycare.

5.      Chiro appointment. Exhausted today, and my balance is off again. Also noticed my scalp is puffy again, or boggy as my chiropractor calls it. Wonder if there’s a connection?

6.      Dental appointment.

7.      Prepping for my husband’s party.

8.      Cooking and cleaning for tomorrow.

9.      A bbq for 30 people at our house to celebrate my husband’s 20 years cancer free. Burgers, jerk chicken, rice and peas, salads, grilled veggies, cupcakes.

10.   Church and a loooong nap to recover from yesterday.

11.   A day with the grandkids.

12.   Dental work.

13.   A home day. Bible study and nap.

14.   A procedure. Drains me. World cup soccer starts today. Go Germany!!

15.   Yoga for sleep class. I don’t expect it will make a difference because my sleep issues are related to my illnesses.

16.   A lady at church is hosting our Women’s ministry team to a tea to thank us for the past two years.

17.   My husband is 55 and it’s also Father’s Day.

18.   Home day. Sore back. School prep for the new year.

19.   They’re decommissioning our cul-de-sac. Good bye free parking, hello noise, shaking and four new direct neighbours.

20.   Massage, then heading over to the grandkids. Sleeping over, then bringing them back to stay with us while their parents move on Friday.

21.   Great news day. Our daughter and her husband picked up the keys to their new house. They are now homeowners. And it’s the same date as the move in to our first home. And my youngest daughter who is now a lawyer was just offered a four month contract position where she has been articling, and it was thankful because the new Ontario premiere announced a hiring freeze just this week, but her job was approved before the freeze, and only announced today. She’s happy to be employed, and of course she’ll get a raise to a lawyer’s salary.

22.   Moving day!

23.   Piano finally going to my daughter’s house. It was a wedding gift almost six years ago, but they didn’t have space until now. Then we dropped the kids off. It takes a little longer to get to them now that they’re in Hamilton.

24.   Church, and a going away dinner for two elderly sisters. Slept over three hours today.

25.   Getting the roof re-shingled today. The noise is impeding my nap. Then a cupboard door shook right off its hinges.

26.   It’s my daughter’s call to the Bar ceremony at Roy Thomson Hall. Then she’s taking us out for dinner as a thank you for all the years of support.

27.   Our daughter and grandkids are coming for an overnight visit.

28. Wondered why I looked so fat in pictures, then came to the conclusion that I'm fat. Who knew? Facing facts. 

29.   Watched an action movie on Netflix, but fell asleep.

30.   Heat wave, plus I’m sick. Staying in.