Articles

Nov 06 2014

Pandemonium or Memories?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 6 Comments

 Pandemonium or Memories?

As I watched images (96)my husband hang up each of our daughters’ wedding pictures in our new home, I remembered all the laughter, joy, and craziness of their childhood.

In the quietness of our dream home, I am left with quiet memories of endless dishes, piles of dirty clothes, backpacks filled to overflowing, and always racing to get somewhere quick. It was a time we thought would never end. Continuous games, parties, and worry. Wishing for five minutes of peace and quiet, and telling myself someday I would have time to do all the projects I dreamed of.

My dream was to take a long, hot bubble bath in a dimly lit room. The bath that would soak all your stress away, with scented candles, bath oil, and music to relax your soul.

However, I had three vivacious daughters, who loved to sit around the bathroom telling me about their day. Entertaining me and one another with their newest jokes, stories and doing impressions of their teachers, boys, and friends at school that day.

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.

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Oct 30 2014

The Hospital Window

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

The Hospital Window

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Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man could sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm among flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room

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Oct 23 2014

Tea, Grandpa and Us!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

               Tea, Grandpa and Us!

 images (72)Setting around the dinner table, finishing the last drop of tea our daughter’s renewed their theological discussions with their grandfather.  It was always a fun time when they would try to stump him on his knowledge of scripture and the Bible.

Times were changing and grandpa didn’t like some of the changes he saw in the culture. And his generation couldn’t understand the reasons for some of those changes.  Especially long hair and ponytails on men!  The girls would always try to catch their grandfather on his “long hair” verse.  1 Cor. 11:14, “Isn’t it obvious that it is disgraceful for a man to have long hair?”   But he would never budge.

Trying to change his mind, they were always on the lookout for the right verse or angle to persuade him to change his mind. After all it was a new culture and times were changing.

One evening after dinner our daughter’s thought they had finally

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Oct 16 2014

I Value Your Opinion, Dear Friends

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

 I  Value Your Opinion, Dear Friends

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2014 Readers Survey

As I write my blog each week I think of each of you as my friends. By doing this, it helps put a personal touch on my writing.

Instead of me writing and sending something out into cyberspace for just any random person to stumble across, I want to have you in mind.  Offering real encouragement, thoughtful discussions and transparent hope as we share together.

I am eager to make my blog better and more relevant to your needs and interests. But to do that, I need to know more about YOU. 

This is why, I created my 2014 Readers Survey. This short survey will help me to better know who I’m writing to. I will be able to make my blog posts, emails, and resources more interesting, and relevant to you.

Your input is very important to me. The survey is easy to fill out and will take less than three minutes to complete. The results are completely anonymous, and I will not share your results with anyone. Just click below.

I Would Love to Help. Take me to the Survey!

Thanks in advance for your help.

Lovingly, Karan

 

 

Oct 09 2014

I wouldn’t ride that thing if you paid me!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

A New Kind of Ride

d5d6244dd4d735d93a4bfec75fed8d14A recumbent bike what’s that.” I asked. My best friend was on the phone telling me of her latest bright idea. “Just think,” she said, “I will be able to get exercise and it won’t hurt my back”. (A point well-taken since she had struggled with back problems for years.) Well if you say so, I reluctantly encouraged. Dee researches everything so she must know her bikes.

What is a recumbent bike? I had never heard of it (probably because I don’t ride bikes, I fall off, I can’t coordinate my hands, feet, brain and mouth at the same time.)

However, after our conversation, I rushed to the computer to look at this biking wonder. Looking at this contraption, I was not sure how a person would ride it. It looked like a “lazy Boy” recliner at full tilt with two wheels, handlebars, and peddles. I was sitting there trying to imagine my friend on that bike, lying down with her feet in the air, leisurely peddling along on two wheels. (I am not sure I would ride that bike even if it had six wheels!) Secretly I was hoping she would not get her bike, it looked dangerous!

At Christmas she received her ‘Electric Blue’ recumbent bike, a fancy “high speed” cycling outfit, complete with matching gloves, shoes and a racing helmet (with arrear view mirror no less). You go Girlfriend. My theory in life is if you are dressed for the occasion, and look the part, you can do the job. She sure looked the part of a speed racer, why she could have been on the cover of Biking digest!

For a week she practice and I thought she did well she only crashed a few times in an effort to get out of the drive way. While she tried to find her perfect balance on that two wheeled “lazy Boy” recliner. As her friend, I could cheer her on, but I would not have tried to ride that bike if you paid me.

After a week of wobbling around the neighborhood, she finally mastered the technique. Dee was full of confidence, had found her balance, and felt she was ready to let the world see her new ‘Electric Blue” recumbent bike, complete with a matching outfit. What a sight.

However, she was having a few problems with the fancy helmet. She could not get the mirror to set right, and the chinstrap was a little

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