Articles

Jul 30 2016

Did You Get The Video?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Did You Get The Video?

bukks 4 One of my grandsons has decided to take up bull riding as an occupation, which makes my hair stand on end. Last year when my grandson began riding bulls, I went to a few rodeos so I could be an encouragement and make videos of the ride. Because the arena had no light and delays in the program, I pointed my camera at the noise and prayed I could get a picture, no luck. Just a black video and loud yelling.

Three days later I was at another rodeo with him. Sitting and waiting for the bull riders to start, I noticed the bulls were a lot wilder than the previous day before. They were meaner with longer horns. I began to get nervous about him riding; the other cowboys I thought were a lot more experienced. And they were not having much luck on the bulls either.

As I was sitting in the stands as a grandmother knowing how dangerous this sport can be. I felt almost compelled to go racing back around the rodeo chutes, and grab him by the ear and drag him off to safety. Now can you see the look on all the cowboys faces to see short blonde hair lady dragging a 6’2” man off to the car? Scolding him about the dangers of life in the rodeo arena? No wonder I am going white!

Alas, I got a grip on myself. I sat waiting for him to ride his bull, prepared to take the video as any loving grandmother would do. However inside I was a wreck. Do you know how long 8 seconds is when you are trying to stay on a bull named demon? For me, those 8 seconds took a lifetime.

However, I didn’t let my emotions get the best of me, and I didn’t embarrass my grandson, family or myself. Thankfully, common sense took over. But I will admit at my grandma moment I wasn’t thinking about how anyone else felt, I just wanted him to be safe.

I wonder if God ever looks at us the same ways as we precariously walk through life, going our own way. Or if he ever feels like grabbing us by our ears trying to get our attention, so he can show us a better way or show something important.

Sometimes I get in such a hurry I can run in the wrong direction, forgetting to ask God what his plans are for me. I love this verse in

Isaiah 41: 9b & 10 I read this morning, which is one of God’s promises for each of us to hold on too.

For I have chosen YOU, and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you

God is always watching over us, wanting to love, help and care for each one. Can we ask for anything more? ©

Do you ever think God feels like grabbing us by our ears trying to get our attention?

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Love, Whatever

barn
Once, while riding in the country, I saw a farmer’s barn with a weather vane on top. And on the arrow was inscribed these words: “God Is
Love.”

I turned in at the gate and asked the farmer, “What do you mean by that?
Do you think God’s love is changeable; that it veers about as that arrow turns in the winds?”

The farmer said, “Oh, no! I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love.”

© Charles H. Spurgeon

Hugs to all.

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Thank you, dear friend’s for spending your time with me, Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

Jul 16 2016

Excuse Me, Do I know You?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Excuse Me, Do I know You?

Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your age and thinking, ‘Surely I can’t look that old?’ Well, you’ll love this one.

While sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name.
Suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class almost 30 years ago. Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate.
After he had examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended St. Peter’s High School.

“Yes. Yes, I did. I’m a Spartan,” he gleamed with pride.

“When did you graduate?” I asked.He answered, “In 1979. Why do you ask?”
“You were in my class!” I exclaimed.

He looked at me carefully. Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkled, fat, gray-haired,

decrepit son-of-a-gun asked,”What did you teach?”

Author Unknown

reunion

Reflections;

I recently received an invitation to my High School reunion in October. It’s a good time to travel to San Diego when the weather is cooler. I laugh thinking about how many years it has been since I graduated. I attended three previous reunions, and each one was fun and different.

reunion4 At our ten year reunion, it seemed like we spent our time telling one another about our great accomplishments. We wanted everyone to know we were successful, we were still young and wanted to make an impression. We were still under the notion that money, success, and power was all we need in life to make us happy. Of course we though no one had changed a bit, just dressed fancier.

At our twenty year reunion, we were older and a little less formal. It was fun seeing all the pictures of families, hearing about hobbies and sporting events. By year twenty we had lost a few of our classmates, and we took the time to remember them.

Life had been a little tougher, and each one had endured some personal loss. I thought when I left the reunion I knew each person a little better.

My next reunion was my favorite. We came casual, and we had to wear nametags with our graduation picture on it, so we knew who people were. Lol. Some lost hair, gained weight, had new spouses and again we had lost some of our classmates. We hugged, laughed, told funny stories and just enjoyed each other’s company. I were much older, had life experiences and lived through extraordinary circumstances. We learned we might plan our life, but we cannot control it. And that is OK.

To think it had taken us that long to realize there is a God who loves us and he is in control. He is the one that plans my path. And because He knows I will fall, make mistakes, He will walk with me all the way, and I am never alone. The Bible says;

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.

I am looking forward to my reunion in October, and hoping I will be able to go and see the people who I have learned to love. ©

Lovingly, Karan

Have you gone to a school reunion, How did I go?

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to all.

Have a great week, HUGS

Jul 09 2016

Can You Hear Me Now?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 1 Comment

Can You Hear Me Now?

cooking A man feared his wife wasn’t hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem.The Doctor told him there is a simple, informal test the husband could perform to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.

Here’s what you do,” said the Doctor, “stand aboutn40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response.”

That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den. He says to himself, “I’m about 40 feet away, let’s see what happens.” Then in a normal tone,he asks, ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?” No response. So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about30 feet from his wife and repeats, “Honey, what’s for dinner?”

Still no response. Next, he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, “Honey, what’s for dinner?”

Again he gets no response. So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Again there is no response.

So he walks right up behind her. “Honey, what’s for dinner?”

She said, “Ralph, for the Fifth time, Chicken !”

minion retouched

Reflections:

womens As a young woman visiting Disneyland in California my favorite ride was “It’s a Small World”. The exhibition of dolls dressed in different costumes from faraway countries and places were incredible. That display gave me a hunger to study and dream of the cultures I had never seen.

My childhood dreams have continued, becoming a driving force in my life today. Giving me a sincere love and curiosity for other people’s values, beliefs and customs.

In a small way, those early years formed my life’s perspective of my world view. Learning to appreciate others and delight in our diversity is a joy, and lovingly serving others through friendship is a gift.

Father, let me see the world and others through your eyes, not my own. Let your love shine through me.

Dear Lord, may I be willing to be hidden and unknown today, yet ready to speak a word to those who are weary. May your Spirit touch my words and make them Your words that enrich and refresh others.

Thank you for sharing your time with me today dear friend.

What brings delight and Joy to your life?

I would love to hear your thoughts as we share our journey together.

Lovingly, Karan

Jun 25 2016

What Is On Your Grocery List?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

What is on your Grocery List?

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed woman with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was ill and unable to work, they had seven children, and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and asked that she leave his store. Picturing the family needs, she said: ‘Please, sir, I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.” John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer-man that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocer-man said in a reluctant voice, “Do you have a grocery list?” Louise replied, “Yes sir!” “O.K.,” he said, “Put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.”

Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it.

She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocer-man and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer-man, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, “I can’t believe it.”

The customer smiled, and the grocer-man started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer-man stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said: Dear Lord, you know my needs, and I am leaving this in your hands.”

The grocer-man gave her the groceries that he had gathered and placed on the scales and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to John as he said, “It was worth every penny of it.” It was some time later that John Longhouse discovered the scales were broken. Therefore only God knows how much a prayer weighs. Author unknown

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Reflections:

Trying to be thankful is hard when we are hurting? Does God see our sorrows and pain? Can I rely on His promises that He knows and cares about my life and the circumstances that affect me?

These are the questions I have asked myself at different seasons in my life when difficult times come.

Do you ever have those doubts? When your heart does not follow your head knowledge and all our learning and conventional wisdom. When we sing hymns like, “Standing on the Promises”, yet feel like we have had our knees cut out from under us and do not have the strength to stand?

Many times I have listened as people share a heavy burden they carry, and I have admired how they survive the storms of life with a thankful heart with a smile. They press on with a positive determination, always seeing a brighter future and just keep moving forward.

There have been many times in my life when I have been heartbroken, disappointed, and depressed by devastating life lessons that are hard to understand. And wondering where is the relief?

During those times I am so thankful that I can remember God is always and continues to be faithful to his promises. I may get upset, angry, emotional and grumble momentarily, but when I stand still long enough and look up, I know that God is always with me, and taking care of the situation.

God may delay our questions, but he will never disappoint our trust. He is in control. Can I daily put my hand in his and allow him to lead me safely along life’s pathway? I think it is a daily choice to trust him for each step.It is a choice.

1 John 5:14 (ERV)

We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say.

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Thank you, Lord!

Do you ever doubt?

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

Jun 17 2016

Father’s Day ~ Making Memories

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Father Day ~ Making Memories

Little Susan was mother’s helper.

She helped set the table when guests were due for dinner. When everything was ready, the guest came in, and everyone sat down.

Then Mother noticed something was missing.

“Susan,” she said, “You didn’t put a knife and fork in Mr. Smith’s place.”

“I thought he wouldn’t need them,” explained Susan.
“Daddy says he always eats like a horse!”

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Reflections: My Dad

As a child growing up, I always wondered about the father I never knew. Did he have blonde hair, was I like him? My mother never talked about him, and I never inquired because it caused her great sadness to discuss that time in her life.

For years, I would think about meeting him, and dream about our wonderful reunion. But that scenario would not happen. I had found out that he had passed away many years before I had started to look for him. I was so disappointed, all my questions would go unanswered.

I remember at church the minister talked about how much God cares for each of us, and he knows our pain and hurt in the secret places where only he can see. And he quoted a Bible verse that I never forgot:

God in His holy house is a father to those who have no father.

And He keeps the women safe whose husbands have died.

God makes a home for those who are alone.

Psalm 67:5 & 6a

I found great comfort in that verse but wondered if it would happen for me.

Little did I know that God had prepared a father for me in Alberta, Canada. When I married Lyle, I not only got a husband but a new father who became my dad.

Trygve was a kind, loving and humble man who loved life and loved me. As the years passed by it amazed me, how much alike we were. We both loved books, collected funny stories and loved humor. He loved to sing, loved people and most of all loved God.

Trig passed away in 2000; there is not a day that goes by that I don’t reflect on all the times we spent together. We would both cry through “Little House on the Prairie”, sad movies and touching books. We liked to laugh, sing in the car, go shopping, eating out and share the important family stories and our walk with God. How I loved and missed him.

I am thankful for the great privilege to call Trygve my DAD.
God gave me the desire of my heart, and his timing is perfect.

Thank you, Lord, for your wonderful gift.

Happy Father’s Day!

Lovingly, Karan

Do you have special memories of your Dad? I would love to hear them. Hugs

Karan K. Gleddie

Offering Love and Laughter to Women who need Hope

Articles

Did You Get The Video?

Excuse Me, Do I know You?

Can You Hear Me Now?

What Is On Your Grocery List?

Father’s Day ~ Making Memories