Articles

May 14 2017

Music Is A Life Saver? ~ Being A Mom

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 1 Comment

Music Is A Life Saver?

Little Ben came into the house with a new harmonica. “Grandpa, do you mind if I play this here?” He asked. Grandpa replied, “Of course not Ben, I love music.

In fact, when Grandma and I were young, music saved my life. Ben asked, “What happened?” Grandpa Explained, “Well, it was during the famous Johnston flood.

The dam broke, and when the water hit our house, it knocked it right off the foundation. Grandma got on the dining room table and floated out safely, and I accompanied her on the piano.” Author Unknown

Reflections: Being A Mom

As a young mom, I loved to find time for those relaxing hot baths. Which I never seemed to have enough. Just some peace and quiet from endless dishes, piles of dirty clothes, backpacks filled to overflowing. With continuous games, parties, and constant racing to be somewhere quick I never thought my life would ever slow down.

Always wishing for five minutes of peace and quiet, and telling myself someday I would have time. Time for a long, hot bubble bath with candles in a dimly lit room. The kind of bath that will soak all your stress away with the right candles, bath oil, and music that will relax your soul.

However, I had three vivacious daughters, who loved to sit in the bathroom telling me about their day at school, making funny impressions (of teachers, boys, and friends), and regaling me with their newest jokes and stories.

As I look back, I see that my daughters thought my quiet time was their time, because I was not talking on the phone, doing business, or attending to someone else’s needs. When I was in the bathtub under all the bubbles, my daughters knew they had my full attention.

As the years passed and I kept holding on to my dream, which always seemed so far away. A long, hot bubble bath. Candles and soft music with no interruptions. Resting quietly, stress-free. However, a funny thing happened along the road to maturity. I do not take baths anymore. I find they are not as much fun as they use to be. The water gets cold too fast, and it is far too quiet.

It was something I wished for all my life, but it is something I no longer enjoy. I loved those times of laughter, stories, and heart-to-heart talks. I am a shower girl now. God must have a sense of humor.

Psalm 126:2

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

Many times in my life with all the craziness, if I could not laugh, I would have cried. Even when things are tough, to find humor in the little things gives me hope. ©

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

Lovingly, Karan

Apr 29 2017

Let’s Have Some Fun!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 6 Comments

Let’s Have Some Fun!

Two mature ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress. One leaned over and said, “Life is so boring.We never have any fun anymore. For $5.00 I’d take my clothes off right now and streak through that stupid flower show!”

“You’re on!” said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill.

As fast as she could, the first little old lady fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked through the front door of the flower show.

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause. The naked lady burst out through the door surrounded by a cheering crowd.

“What happened?” asked her waiting friend.
“Why, I won first prize for Best Dried Arrangement.”

Reflections from Karan:

I flew to Regina, SK. Canada for some speaking engagements and needed to rent a car. How excited I was to get a new Ford Focus with all the bells and whistles. It felt so luxurious.

After the meeting, a few women decided to take me out for a snack. I followed them and parked my car in a lot next to the restaurant. However, when I was ready to get out of the car, the keys would not come out of the ignition; they were stuck.

Realizing my predicament, some of the women went ahead to reserve a table for all of us. Sarah decided to stay and tried to help me figure out what had happened to the car. Twenty minutes later, I finally suggested she should go on ahead and I would be there soon.

Sitting in the car wondering what to do, I started to have a meltdown. Waiting for the rental company to answer their phone and call me back, trying to find answers in the car manual when I didn’t know what was wrong, was unnerving. I don’t read manuals; I’m the gal that buys “Dummy” books with pictures. Show me; don’t tell me, that is how I learn. Besides who can understand a manual when you’re in a crisis.

Suddenly a woman came rushing up to the car and said, “Did you put the car in park? Sometimes when the car is not in park position you can’t get the keys out of the ignition.” Why didn’t I think of that!

I put the car in park, and the keys came out, it’s a miracle! I think I will dye my hair brown when I get home!

Over the years, I have learned to embrace and laugh at my blonde day adventures, there seems to be so many.
I had turned the key off my car, but never put the car in park. I was going nowhere fast.

Sometimes life is like that too. We allow situations to paralyze us, and we have a hard time moving ahead being trapped in the moment. With all the stresses and expectations in today’s world, I have had to learn I am not superwoman. What a relief!

Hebrews 13:6 NLT

“So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

I have often said if I wasn’t laughing, I would be crying. In this journey of life, I would like to love and laugh more and enjoy the ride.God has given me the freedom to be me, blonde, quirky, and flawed. I do not need to be superwoman, I have a super God.©

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
Have a great week, HUGS
Lovingly, Karan

Apr 22 2017

Computer 911 ~ Help

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

Computer 911

Becky was 73 and just got her first computer. After her son had spent over 2 hours teaching her how to use it, she was sure she knew everything there was to know about computers.

Unfortunately though, one day she couldn’t get it to start so she promptly called an Internet Tech guy to come over and take a look at it. The IT guy managed to fix the issue in a few minutes and was on his way.

Becky was proud when she overheard the IT guy on the phone with his boss telling him about the issue; she was sure it meant it was a serious problem and he took care of it the right way.

“Excuse me if you don’t mind me asking,” asked Becky to the man on his way out. “I couldn’t help overhearing you on the phone with your boss. What exactly is an Id ten T problem? So that I can tell my son.” The man smiled, took out a pen, “it stands for this: I-D -1-0-T”. Author unknown

Reflections: Love the Shoes

I remember a while back, I dressed up and went out for dinner with some friends. I dressed with care and felt pretty good about my outfit, and was looking forward to a night out. At the end of the evening, my sweet friend leaned over and told me, with a giggle, that I had two different black heels on.

As I looked down at my shoes, I not only had two different shoe styles on, but they were two separate heights! Now how could that happen? I walked around all evening and didn’t even notice. I wonder if I am a little off kilter. Don’t answer that. Lol

I love the beautiful friendships that have come to my life. The people who make me laugh when I feel like crying and encourage me when I am in a fog.

They help me to see the blessings with kindness and not rebuke and love me when I am unlovely. Many times our friends can show us God’s love, as we ourselves learn to pass God’s love onto others.

I often think about Jesus and His friends while He walked this earth many years ago. I imagine they laughed together and enjoyed fun times as they walked the dusty roads. They learned to help people and serve others from the Master.

God showed them the way to live with open hands and how to love and encourage those around them. The Bible says:

John 15:12-14 (NLT)

¹²This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. ¹³There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command.

I wonder do I show that kind of love to my friends, as I try to serve God?©

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another:

‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” C.S. Lewis

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me. What have your friends taught you?
Have a great week, HUGS
Lovingly, Karan

Mar 03 2017

Are You Aging with Humor? – A New Address

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Are You Aging with Humor?

I’ve sure gotten old! I’ve had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes.

I’m half blind, can’t hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts.

Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore.

Can’t remember if I’m 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends.

But, thank God, I still have my driver’s license!

Reflections: A New Address

I would like to share a deeply personal story that our family has journeyed through over the last eighteen months. After my Cancer surgery at the end of June 2015; in August, my dear son-in- law learned of his Cancer diagnoses.

After many highs and lows, starts and stops, joys and disappointments our family learned there was nothing else they could do for Kerry.

I can’t explain how confused my heart and mind felt for my daughter and her beloved husband. They had a beautiful family and a true love story marriage. Why?

Our family prayed and cried together, trying to understand this new territory we were traveling.

Many times, as I would sit and visit with Kerry, he was always more of an encouragement to me than He will ever know. As people came to visit or call him, he would pray with them before they said goodbye.

I remember our discussions about heaven and the amazing gift of God’s love and grace. Kerry’s peace was God given. And when we cried together, he would remind me the God he loved knew the number of his days before he was born. God’s promises gave him great comfort. The verse is;

Psalm 139: 16 NLT

16 You 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.

Our beloved son-in-law Kerry Kurtzweg passed away this last week, he changed his address from Foremost, Alberta to Heaven on February 20, 2017. Just two days before their 25th wedding anniversary.

How sweet is rest after fatigue!
How sweet will heaven be when our journey is ended.
– George Whitefield –
*******************

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me and all your prayers for our family.
Have a wonderful weekend. Have a great week, HUGS
Lovingly, Karan

Feb 11 2017

Will You Be My Valentine Forever?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 1 Comment

Will You Be My Valentine Forever?

You can see them alongside the shuffleboard courts in Florida or on the porches of the old folks’ homes up north: an old man with snow-white hair, a little hard of hearing, reading the newspaper through a magnifying glass; an old woman in a shapeless dress, her knuckles gnarled by arthritis, wearing sandals to ease her aching arches.

couple10000 They are holding hands, and in a little while they will totter off to take a nap, and then she will cook supper, not a very good supper and they will watch television, each knowing exactly what the other is thinking until it is time for bed.

They may even have a good, soul-stirring argument, just to prove that they still really care. And through the night they will snore unabashedly, each resting content because the other is there.

They are in love, they have always been in love, although sometimes they would have denied it. And because they have been in love they have survived everything that life could throw at them, even their failures. Ernest Havemann, Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, pp. 7-9.

Grow old with me! The best is yet to come.

~Robert Browning

valine

Reflections:

I have been thinking about my own thankfulness which has been lacking for a while. Being thankful not happy all the time is hard, I would like to think I am thankful most of the time.

Often, when things happen in our lives, we feel like God is punishing us for some reason. I’m sure Satan wants us to feel that way, keeping us defeated and depressed.

When we’re down, it’s hard to be thankful and trust God’s who sees the grand picture of our lives. He knows the beginning and the end. If I am feeling sorry for myself, I won’t be able to keep my eyes focus on Him. Forgetting to trust Him for His plans, even when I don’t understand, can I still trust Him? Have you had the same feelings?

The Bible says God knew all about us even before we were born:

Psalm 139:16 NLT

You 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.

As I look around the world today, wouldn’t it be great if we could just walk away from the struggles and hurts and just be friends? It seems God’s love through us is needed more than ever today. To be able to see people and the world through God’s eyes instead of our eyes, and living more like Jesus with open hands and open hearts. What would our world look like then?©

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I am Thankful for each one of you.

Lovingly, Karan

Karan K. Gleddie

Offering Love and Laughter to Women who need Hope