I’ve Lost My Teeth

Update By: Karan Gleddie
Date: June 22, 2018

I’ve Lost My Teeth

Starting the vacation Happy Dance

Reflections:

Three hours past our departure time, my husband, Lyle, and I, and our two teenage daughters were finally pulling away from our southern Alberta home. We were on our way to the State Fair in Great Falls, Montana, but the way our car was packed, it seemed like we were off on a world tour.

I was looking forward to six days of rest and relaxation. No cooking, no early mornings, and plenty of my favorite hobby—retail therapy. We had a poolside room and our girls were ready to find their swimsuits and head to the water. However, my husband (the practical one) decided we would have supper first before the swimming suits came out of the suitcases and everyone headed for the pool.

After a delicious Mexican dinner, I hurried back to our room because I had something stuck under my upper partial plate. As I hurried into the powder room, I took out my “two front teeth” and laid them on a tissue next to the sink. After I brushed my teeth, I wiped off the counter, threw the paper and tissue into the toilet, and flushed. I turned around to get my teeth, but they were nowhere in sight. I ran around the hotel room crying, praying, and hoping that I would find those teeth, but I knew in my heart they were gone—flushed—adios—good-bye.

My family returned to find me flustered and crying. They were clearly concerned, but before I told them what happened to my poor teeth, I made each one promise not to laugh. It did not help one bit. By the end of my story, they were rolling with laughter and asking to see my toothless smile, which only brought more uncontrolled laughter.

I decided right there my vacation was over. I wanted to go home. I told my family I could not spend the rest of the week without my two front teeth.

“Oh yes you can,” my husband said. “All you have to do is keep your mouth shut and no one will know.” Now, why didn’t I think of that?

I spent the week more quietly than usual. When I sometimes forgot myself or was carried away with the fun and laughter, my teenagers would lovingly point at their teeth to remind me that mine was missing. However, after the first few days, I forgot about my teeth and had a fun, memorable vacation.

If I had carried through with my plan to go home because of pride and concern about how I looked, just think of what we would have missed as a family. My daughter said we were making memories, and she was right. Now that my daughters are grown women, we remember our vacation with great fondness.©

Proverbs 29:23 says, “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.” How often have I missed the opportunities God has for me because of selfish pride?

Father, Forgive me for my selfish pride. Help me not to miss the gifts you want to give me that fulfill my life because I am thinking only of myself. Help me to put you first.

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.

Have you ever had a “Vacation Mishap?”

I love you all and am praying.

HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan Gleddie

Feb 05 2016

Remember I’ll Love You forever?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Remember I’ll Love You Forever?

One Letter Makes A Difference

An Illinois man left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email.

Unfortunately, when typing her address, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint. At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

Dearest Wife Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. P.S. Sure is hot down here. Author unknown

Reflections From Karan:

Have you ever wondered why men and women are so different in taking and giving directions?

If a man gives directions, it goes like this; Go three miles, turn left, go seven miles, turn right, then go a quarter of a mile and you will see it on your right, you can’t miss it! Now I am blonde, and a creative thinker is there a three-mile sign, how will I know? With these directions I could end up in someone’s cow pasture, never to be seen again.

I drive by landmarks, go to Wal-mart, turn left, go down to the Tasty Freeze, and turn right. Drive to Hollywood Video, turn into parking lot, the place is right next to the shoe store that is having a huge sale, 70% off. You can’t miss it. (Now that is my kind of directions)

Thankfully, we decided to get a GPS for the car, saves Lyle and I a lot of time, him from driving all over the country trying to find an address, and me from getting lost. However, in my creative moments, I have been known, to second guess the GPS system, and go a different way because it didn’t look right to me. Only to get lost, have the satellite locate and get me back on track.

It gives me great security and peace in my life to know that I am never off of God’s GPS system. He always knows where I am, and even if I wander off, he has his eye on me. The Bible says:

Psalm 139:1-6 A Psalm of David

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

His loving care sustains, guides, and protects me; I just need to follow his directions. ©

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me today. Wishing you a wonderful Valentines day next week.

You are Loved! Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

Jun 18 2015

Are Our Eyes The Windows or Frames?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

Windows or Frames?

Karan Gleddie had come for a visit; all the way from Calgary Alberta to Port St. Joe, Florida, where I live.

It was March and Karan was looking forward to lots of sand, sun and surf. Unfortunately, Florida was experiencing some of the coldest spring weather in history. Needless to say, she was disappointed, graciously disappointed, but nonetheless, disappointed.

I did my best to make her visit fun. The truth is we always have fun no matter what we are doing.

After plenty of retail therapy at all the malls within a fifty-mile radius, we headed to the local video store to rent a movie or two.

Right from the beginning I knew this last stop was going to go badly. As we walked into the store, Karan caught her purse in the closing door, then stumbled off one of her three inch heels. There was a loud, yikes-kind-of-squeal and everybody looked our way to see what the commotion was about. Karan adjusted her hair and pressed on as if this sort of thing happened to her all the time. (it does).

We selected our movies, without incident, and headed to the checkout counter. A very pretty teenage girl was clerking and I, never being one to miss an opportunity to strike up a conversation, said, “Gee you have beautiful skin and your eyebrows are perfect.

The girl smiled shyly and said (as they do here in the south), “Why thank you, ma’am. How sweet of you to mention my brows. I just had them done.”

Where upon Karan says, matter-of-factly, “Well, you know, the eyebrows are the windows to the soul.”

There was a pregnant pause, while the girl and I, and another clerk on a ladder, considered Karan’s remark. It had a familiar ring, but was definitely off-key.

Then the guy on the ladder says, “I think that would be ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul’.

Knowing her as I do, I could see Karan formulating a recovery. Then the laughter started (me less than the others since I am, after all her best friend.) But the guy on the ladder actually looks weak and the clerk behind the counter is so amused she is gasping for air. Meanwhile, Karan patiently waits for the laughter to die down. She is neither embarrassed, nor does she seem the slightest bit unhinged.

She smiles that sweet girly-smile, for which she is famous, and as she scoops up the rented videos her last words were, “The eyes are the windows, but the eyebrows are the frame. (Nice save, Karan. Nice save.) © DHD~ 2003

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Girlfriends: God brought us together at a time when we each desperately needed a friend, and for thirty years we have weathered traumatic personal storms, wept through life’s terrible disappointments, rejoiced in one another’s achievements, and have screamed in utter hysteria over our foolish antics.

God brought us together and He made us best friends, because He knew we were the best match to hold each other up in the hard times, and knock each other down a peg in the self-important times, but most of all we love each other unconditionally—just like He loves us—unconditionally, no matter what!

Though we both come from “Jerry Springer Show” backgrounds, here is what we know for certain: We can’t change the shape of our bodies, nor slow down aging. We cannot change our pasts, or the nature of our parents. And though our childhoods may not have been perfect, they are over.

We have prayed and preached and punished each other through two decades of a friendship which was surely made in heaven.

John 15: 12-13 “I command you to love each other in the same way I love you. And here is how to measure it—The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.”

“A real friend is one who walks in

when the rest of the world walks out.”Kara

–-Anonymous

** Karan’s Update: Tuesday June 23, I will be have my long awaited surgery in Calgary, I am so thankful that God has opened all the right doors and taken care of the details. Thank you each one for your kind thoughts, prayers and card, I am blessed by you all, Much love and Hugs,

Lovingly, Karan

Jun 04 2015

Do Diamonds Last Forever?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Lost and Found

My dear friend Kathy, a beautiful brunette, was racing around her bedroom trying to get ready to go swimming with a friend in the lake behind her house. She took out her diamond earrings, a treasured anniversary gift from her husband, and carefully laid them on the bathroom counter.

When she was almost out the door, she realized she had not taken her vitamins for the day. She hurried back to the bathroom, dumped them out on the counter, scooped them up, and gulped them down with a glass of water.

Her husband, watching in horror, tried to warn her. But he was one swallow too late. The diamonds were gone. Trying to keep a straight face he said, “It looks like you are going to have a “number two priority.”

Two days later, looking at the diamonds in a glass of disinfectant, Kathy knew she would never look at those diamonds in the same way. Something had changed: they were more precious than ever. She had lost her diamonds, and now found them. And it did not matter one bit to her the search had been embarrassingly unpleasant and inconvenient.

Over the years when I think about Kathy’s diamonds I often get the giggles. She went to a lot of effort get salvage those gems, and in the end she was rewarded.

The story of those diamonds refresh my memory constantly, of God’s great love for me. His love is unconditional, constant and forever, even when I make mistakes. I even think he must laugh out loud when he sees the predicaments I get into. How about you?

I am reminded by Kathy’s story that God feels the same way about each me too. Do Diamonds last forever? I don’t think so but I know that God’s love does! He loved and searched for me no matter where I have been, what I had done or how far I had gone. In Luke 19:9-10 New Living Translation He says:

⁹Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today…

¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

I was lost, but now I have been found.

*** Karan’s Update: Thank you for all your love and prayers, I did see the wonderful surgeon in Calgary, yesterday I had all the final testing and pre-surgery, Lab and x-rays done. I admit it has been a long, discouraging procedure for me. My surgery will be in Calgary, Alberta on June 23^rd. I am thankful I now have a final date to look forward too. I am praying the pain will be gone at the same time.

I will have either a partial or all the kidney removed, I would ask that you remember me in your prayers. For the surgery and recuperation time, and the discouragement I feel because of the prolonged process of waiting. It seems when you hear the word Cancer you want everything to move fast. But this is a time of waiting and patience learning for me. I know God’s grace is all I need at this time

Above all I want to honor the God I love in all I do and say, that is my greatest desire.

Thank you sweet friends, for sharing your time with me.

Have a great weekend,

Lovingly Karan

Apr 24 2015

Been Farming long?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Have You Been Farming Long?

A couple is looking to get into farming after moving from the big city and into an old country farmhouse. They had not been farming long when they visited a local feed store there they saw cute baby chicks for sale. Even though they had ZERO KNOWLEDGE about chickens, they immediately, decided to purchase a few to start their very own flock. After getting all the supplies they head home to start their new venture.

After a week they return to the store with disappointing looks on their faces. The store clerk asks if something is wrong to which they sadly notify the clerk that all of the chicks had died.

The clerk, astonished that ALL the birds had died so soon, decides to ask a few questions.

He asks if they fed the birds. Indeed they had fed them every morning

He asks if they watered the birds. Yes they replied.

The clerk took a minute to think about it then stated that he didn’t know what the problem could have been.

Then the wife looked into the eyes of her husband and said “I wonder if we planted them too deep.”

To which the husband replied ” No, that’s ridiculous! If anything, we planted them too far apart. Author unknown

Reflecting:

When I think about a couple who left the city for the rural life, I just laugh out loud. It makes me think of all the crazy and hilarious things I said and did on the ranch when I came to Alberta. Growing up in California, all my knowledge of a working ranch and cowboys was learned from the “Dallas” TV show and the beautiful cowgirl “Dolly Parton.” Wow, was my world small!

I came to Alberta in go-go boots and a beehive hair-do and stuck out like a wild turkey at a chicken convention. I knew nothing about farming and ranching, while the women of this rural community could put Laura Ingalls Wilder to shame. They drove tractors and combines at harvest time, rode horses, irrigated crops and cooked meals for their working crews. They kept well-manicured yards, exquisite flower beds and vegetable gardens and still had time to can everything.

Now my idea of canning is to go to the super market, buy cans of food, take them home, open them and presto, I have a canned dinner!

Even out on the ranch my knowledge and skills were a little askew and I didn’t recognize the dangers of dealing with large animals. When the gates for the cattle needed to be open, I had them closed. When the gates needed to be shut to keep then in, I had them open. When the cattle came running, I was no help at all, I RAN TOO!

I can look back on this crazy, wild, fun and extraordinary journey and realize what a wonderfully blessed life it has been. Isn’t it funny! Even in the hard and difficult times there have been love lessons learned. Like the country song:

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world”.

Ronnie Milsap – I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World Lyrics | Metro Lyrics

To think that God brought a California beach bunny to the prairies of Alberta, Canada to teach me lessons I could never have learned anywhere else. I am humbled by the care of an amazing and loving God who continuously watches over me.

Psalm 139

¹O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.
²You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
³You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
⁴You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
⁵You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

¹⁶You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

¹⁷How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
¹⁸I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!

Thank you for stopping by and sharing you time with me. Have a great weekend dear friends.

Lovingly, Karan

*** ~Karan’s Update: Thank you for all your love and prayers, I was able to see the wonderful surgeon in Calgary, and I am now booked for surgery June 23^rd. Please continue to praying for God’s perfect will in this, and my patience. If I can pray for you please send me an email, it is being able to remember each other that we can touch the the heart of God through prayer. Much love and Hugs. ~ Karan

Karan K. Gleddie

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