Articles

Sep 25 2015

I Don’t Remember what I Remember!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 3 Comments

Super Granny–Defender of Justice

Granny1_400An elderly Florida woman who was doing her weekly shopping returned to her car and found four young men in the act of stealing her car.

She dropped her shopping bags, drew her handgun and started screaming at the top of her lungs, “I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car! The four young men didn’t wait for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad.

The elderly woman, considerably shaken, began to load her shopping bags into her car and slid into the driver’s seat. So shaken she couldn’t even get her keys into the ignition. She tried and tried and then it dawned on her why the keys didn’t fit.

A few minutes later she found her car parked a few spaces further down. She loaded her bags into her car and then drove to the police station.

The sergeant to whom she told the story could barely contain himself. Trying not to burst out in laughter, he pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale young men were just reporting a carjacking. They described the elderly woman as mad, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun. No charges were filed! (Published by “USA Today” newspaper)

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I Don’t Remember what I Remember!

I laughed when I read about the Super Granny story, I don’t know about you, but I too have forgotten where I parked my car in a large parking lot.

I was visiting my sister in San Diego, California and need to go to the mall for some items. My sister was busy and suggested I take her car for the afternoon and enjoy a little retail therapy. I was thankful for the time to just browse the shops seeing the different stores and shops that we don’t get in Canada. I needed to be home by 4:30 to meet my sister, so I gave myself plenty of time and headed for the car at 3:00 pm. As I Headed to the parking lot, I could not remember where I parked my car. I walked up and down all the aisles of that lot twice and couldn’t find my car. I started to panic; I thought I might have to contact the police and report the car stolen.

After having a total meltdown, and no cell phone I began to walk down the aisles one more time. And suddenly there was my sister’s car, a white Buick. I was looking for my car a gray Chrysler, which was in Canada. I was two hours late; my family was about to send out a search party. Whew, what a day.

A funny thing happened on the journey to maturity. I am learning that “normal is just a setting on the dryer” and aging is not a scary process but an extraordinary adventure. I can look back at the love lessons God has given me learn, both the hard and enjoyable. I have seen how he has been faithful to his promises and walked with me every step of my journey. I have never been alone.

Although my Blonde hair is becoming whiter, and my body isn’t the same as it once was, I am never to old to serve God. I can still encourage, love and help others. God has blessed me with many memories and experiences to share. And besides, today is a fabulous day, I don’t feel so old! Lol©

What have you learned about getting more mature? Share your thoughts with me, I would love to hear from you.

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

Lovingly, Karan

Sep 10 2015

The Mysterious Purse Caper!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

The Mysterious  Purse Caper

purse Shoes-pileSometimes during both stressful and exciting times life can go a little sideways or way out of kilter. As I experienced a few months ago. Now I don’t know about you but, realizing I would be going into surgery soon gave me the motivation to do some extra cleaning. I determined the week before to give it the ole gusto and clean out the closets and nooks that had long forgotten items in them.

I have always loved purses and shoes so decided to weed out my stash. It took me four days to go through the closets and decide, putting selected items in the giveaway box. Only to take them out again the next day in indecision. Giving myself a proper talking to and again putting them back in the box. Whew, decisions are hard work!

However, one black purse I finally decided to hold onto for another year. Setting the purse next to the table I inserted my wallet in the pocket, thinking I would use it later in the day.

When, my grandson stopped by to see if I needed anything from the city. I asked if he could take my box to the thrift store for me. As he was carrying the box out the door, I spied the black purse sitting next to the table and in a split second decision I decided to throw it in the box too.
Feeling satisfied that I had been able to stand firm on all my decisions.

It wasn’t until a week later that I needed my Medicare number for the hospital that I couldn’t find my wallet, where did I put it? I remember I put it in that black purse I kept. Where is it? O no could I have thrown it into the giveaway box at the last minute?

I called the thrift store and even stopped by, but the wallet had disappeared. So I started the long procedure of canceling all my bank cards, health cards, driver’s license, and other relevant items. If you have ever gone through this changeover, it takes a while to replace everything. I hope I don’t have ever to do this again because of a careless mistake. I’m not sure I could even classify this one as a “Blonde Days”. Lol

I am so glad that I am not a number to God, he never loses me, always knows where I am and loves me. What a relief to know he cares and understand me and is my strength when I am weak, my shelter when I am afraid and my friend when I need someone to talk too. Even in those stressful and exciting times he walks beside me.

Psalm 18: 32, 33, 35, 36 (ERV)

32 God is the one who gives me strength.
He clears the path I need to take.
33 He makes my feet as steady as those of a deer.
Even on steep mountains he keeps me from falling.

35 Lord, you have given me your shield to protect me.
You support me with your right hand.
It is your help that has made me great.
36 You cleared a path for my feet
so that I could walk without stumbling.

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God grants with each burden the strength to bear it… seldom more, never less.

God’s power is unstoppable. He is Enough for me!

Dear friends, have you ever lost something important and had it returned?  

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your time with me. Have a wonderful week, Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

 

Sep 03 2015

IS GROWING UP OPTIONAL ?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 1 Comment

 

Is Growing Up Optional?

hopscotchforseniorsThe first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, “Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?” I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.

“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked. She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids…”

“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. “I always dreamed of having a college education, and now I’m getting one!” She told me.

After class, we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon, and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up, and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester, we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Embarrassed, she leaned forward into the microphone and said, “I’m sorry I’m a little nervous. I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.”

As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began, “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.

You have to laugh and find humor every day. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it! There is an enormous difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”

She finished her speech by courageously singing “The Rose. At the year’s end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can be. Author unknown

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Reflections:

I love this story, especially now as I am maturing. I pray I will always have an attitude of wonder, joy and curiosity in each new day’s activities. No matter what age I am or how I am feeling. And I never want to get weary of meeting new and interesting people, I think this keeps us young. I want to age as graceful as I can and keep them guessing.

We make a Living by what we get,

We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

If God brings you to it – He will bring you through it.

Thank you for sharing your time with me sweet friend, What do you do to keep a young perspective,

I would love to hear your thoughts. Have a great week, Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

Aug 20 2015

Is Laughter The Best Medicine?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

Is Laughter The Best Medicine?

WOO HOOI have often said, “laughter is the best medicine for a hurting heart”. I believe it. As a child when life happened I could always see the funny side of any circumstance. Maybe it was a way to hide my anxiety and hesitation. Growing up I was unsure how to respond to difficult situations, so I just laughed. And sometimes I would get in trouble for the inappropriate times I did laugh! Can you relate? But I learned early if I could find humor and laughter, it would relieve stresses and give me joy in a crises driven world.

Many years ago I was guest speaking for a group of women, in northern Canada. The weather was warm enough to wear a skirt that day. It was a little big around, but the button on the skirt seemed secure. Besides it was a cute skirt and matched my suit jacket. What can I say?

As I was in the middle of my presentation, the button fell off and I caught my skirt as it was sliding down. Trying to act as normal as I could I kept talking, grabbed my skirt and tucked it into my slip elastic. Whew! I am so glad I decided to wear a slip that day, it could have been just a pantyhose day. I am also thankful for the women at the head table beside me, who remained stoic during my presentation, they can truly say they have seen everything!

I believe God has a great sense of humor. He must laugh when he sees us scurrying around trying to fix all our problems. Only too soon we reach the befuddling, confused and worn out state of crises. I often do that myself. Many times I think I don’t want to bother God with the little stuff he is too busy. I can be his deputy shepherd, and help him by taking care of them myself. Only to make a bigger mess. Then running back to God so he can fix it quick. Do you do that too? I love that He never refuses and always has plenty of grace, forgiveness and love to fix that which is broken. That is his speciality. The Bible says;

You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. ~ Nehemiah 9:17

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. ~ Psalm 46:1

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Thank you for sharing your time with me today, dear friend.  If you find and inspiration, love or laughter here please share with the ones who might enjoy a giggle.  

Have a Great week, HUGS

Lovingly, Karan

 

 

Aug 13 2015

Grandparents, How We Love them!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 3 Comments

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Grandparents/Retirement???

A teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their vacation.

One child wrote the following:

We always used to spend the holidays with grandma and grandpa. They used to live here in a big, brick house, but grandpa got retarded and they moved to Florida. Now they live in a place with a lot of other retarded people.

They live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass. They ride around on big tricycles and wear name tags because they don’t know who they are anymore.

They go to a building called a wrecked center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all right now. They play games and do exercises there, but they don’t do them very well.

There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with their hats on. I guess they don’t know how to swim.

At their gate there is a dollhouse with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape. Sometimes they sneak out. Then they go cruising in their golf carts.

My grandma used to bake cookies and stuff, but I guess she forgot how. Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And they eat the same thing every night: Early Birds.

Some of the people can’t get past the man in the dollhouse to go out, so the ones who get out bring food back to the wrecked center and call it pot luck.

My grandma says grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded one day, too.  When I earn my retardment I want to be the man in the doll house. Then I will let people out so they can visit their grandchildren.

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Reflections:

I have three daughters, and they loved their grandmothers and learned wonderful life lessons from both.

Grandma Frances, was from California, who was funny, curious and as they said in ‘Star Wars” “To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Looking over the cityBefore.” Grandma always brought excitement!

She was eccentrically independent with a generous heart, and loved a good deal, so thrift stores, Salvation Army, garage sales and flea markets were thrilling when she found the perfect bargain.

She always saw beauty in everything and especially loved the times she spent with her granddaughters in San Diego when they were visiting. Sandy beaches, seashells, sea world and Mexican food.

Even now, I miss her laughter, her wonderful smile, and beautiful green eyes. I admired her strength and accomplishments against insurmountable odds. Mother often said, “With God nothing is impossible.”

We knew mother, and grandma loved us, and loved God too. She trusted Him, leaned on Him, and believed His promises would keep her through the ups and downs of life. She taught us all daily about God’s grace, forgiveness and love. Through her life we could see how God faithfully protected and care for each of us.

Grandma Hedevig lived close by, fact she lived-in the same farmyard.

grandma GleddieEvery day after school My daughters would stop at Grandma’s for cookies and tea, play a game of Sorry or Trouble, and then come home.  She always had a listening ear, and encouraging word and many hugs.  It was as though it was their special time to have Grandma all to themselves.

I remember the joy on their faces as they came home telling me they had beat their Grandmother in their chosen game today. Such confidence and happiness, although I am sure that she allowed them win much more then they lost. 

I always admired her gentle ways, with a willingness to loving teach her granddaughters how to bake and enjoy recipes as they hunted for something new to try and sample.

She was a beautiful pianist, organist and singer. And that gift passed on to her granddaughters. They would go over to her house, and quietly enjoy their own private concerts and singing.

She endured great physical pain and showed grace throughout the illness. Always knowing God loved her, and had faith he had a perfect plan for her.

The cherished gifts these two different grandmothers give her grandchildren have given them a lifetime of wonderful memories that are worth more than silver and gold. My daughters are blessed. ©

Thank you for sharing your time with me dear reader, I pray that you have gotten a giggle and a blessing at the same time. Hugs

Lovingly, Karan