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The Reindeer Games

The Reindeer Games

The game show contestant was only 200 points behind the leader and about to answer the final question – worth 500 points!”

reindeerTo be today’s champion,” the show’s smiling host intoned,”name two of Santa’s reindeer.”The contestant, a man in his early thirties, gave a sigh of relief, gratified that he had drawn such an easy question. “Rudolph!” he said confidently, “and, …Olive!”

The studio audience started to applaud (like the little sign above their heads said to do,) but the clapping quickly faded into mumbling, and the confused host replied, “Yes, we’ll accept Rudolph, but could you please explain…’Olive?!?'”

“You know,” the man circled his hand forward impatiently and began to sing, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glowed. *Olive,* the other reindeer…” Author unknown

 

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Reflections:

This last year has had many highs and lows for me as well as being a year of reflection.  As I have traveled this last year, I am constantly aware people seem unsettled and fear their future. I’ve often said, “Life is tough if I wasn’t laughing I would be crying”. I think others are feeling the same way.

Whcoffee-and-meen your life turns upside down it has a way of giving you a whole new perspective on what is important. 

In reflection I have learned when life is tough I need to focus on the priceless treasures in my life. God’s love, my family and friends who encourage and pray for me.  I am blessed.

The lessons I have learned about myself this year have been enlightening, as I struggle to do better with God’s help:

  • I need to learn to be a better friend and family member by keeping closer contact and letting each person know how much I love and appreciate them.
  • I need to be more faithful in my accountability to writing, which I know God has called me to do.
  • I need to answer emails quickly. I am a procrastinator, then I feel embarrassed because time has slipped away from me. (To those who have written please forgive me, it was not intentional, I am just embarrassed) I will do better.
  • I need to have more faith and trust God as I march into the future. (He sees the BIG picture I don’t) I’m a memo girl, but unfortunately, God doesn’t send memos.

 

“The best Christmas gift of all is the presence of our families and friends all wrapped up in love for one another “. I believe that is true, no matter what our circumstance or need.

This year as we come into the Christmas season, there will be joy and expectation knowing we have the presence of our loved ones and friends. And as we wrap our love around each one, we will lovingly remember those who could not be with us.

I wish each of you a Merry Christmas and pray that the Christ of Christmas will bless your homes as you prepare for the Holiday Season.©

Luke 2: 13 & 14

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Lovingly, Karan Gleddie

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

Have a wonderful weekend be safe. Hugs to all.

I Have A New Puzzle For Thanksgiving !

I Have A New Puzzle For Thanksgiving !

A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, “Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can’t figure out how to get it started.

couple-2He asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?”

The blonde says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a tiger.” Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle.

She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, looks at the box, then turns to her and says,

“First of all, no matter what we do, we’re not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a tiger.”

He takes her hand and says, “Second, I want you to relax. Let’s have a nice cup of tea and then…” he sighs…”Let’s put all these Frosted Flakes back in the box.”

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Reflections:

Being thankful seems like a hard place to be when life is complicated. Many times I have listened as people share a heavy load they carry and admired how they survive the storms of life with thankful hearts. They press on with a confident determination, always seeing a brighter future and moving forward.

There have been many times in my life when I have been heartbroken, disappointed and saddened by life lessons that are hard to understand.

patientsThis last week I have was reminded that when we live our lives touching others we cannot always know the loads they carry or the loneliness they feel.

My husband Lyle had a doctors’ appointment on Thursday, I also needed to have blood tests. As we waited I took a number for the lab as the room was full of patients. After an hour I checked with the lab technician to see if I had missed her call for number 23. With a short snip, she told me to sit down and would let me know when she needed me!

As I walked back to my seat I told my husband the technician was a bag and rude; I prayed she would not do my blood work. I sat there and steamed a little, not nice I know but it felt justified. Lol. Do you feel like that some days?

Finally, my number 23 is called, “Oh no it was her, Mrs. Grumpy pants.”

I sat down and answered her relevant questions, where I lived, name, age and such. I smiled and tried to be nice, and thanked her for her time and effort. As I left she shocked me with a thank you for being so kind and considerate. She said it had been a rough day.

Boy did I feel guilty! How often do I need reminding, “Assumptions are shaky things to rely on: and situations are not always as they appear?”

I am so thankful that God has given me flash points in my life to remind me He is faithful to His love and promises. I may get upset, angry and emotional, but when I stand still and look up I know that God is always with me, and continues to love me. I am thankful every day He still teaches me new lessons about myself and others. Even when I fail He is not finished with me yet!©

For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11: 30 (NLT)

Yes, I can be thankful, I know I am never alone.

Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me.

Do you ever have doubts about God and his plans?

I would love to hear from you. Have a great week! Hugs to All!

Lovingly, Karan

If you have any Blonde Joke, stories, and funny cartoons,

please send them to me and I will share them.

We all enjoy a good giggle. Hugs happy-face

I’ve found A Secret

I’ve found A Secret

A littboysle boy opened the old family Bible with fascination. He looked at the old pages carefully as he turned them.

Then something fell out of the Bible and he picked it up and looked at it closely.

It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages.

“Mommy look what I have found,” the boy called out.

“What have you got there dear?” his mother asked.

With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered: “I’ve just found Adam’s clothes!”

 

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Reflections :

As I have gotten more mature (don’t you love that word) I assumed I would be wiser, more disciplined, and have more time. You know having, “All my ducks in a row.” Which if you think about it is not reality.

bad_hair_daySome day’s life does not go the way I want it too. I can write lists, make my plans and try to get some sense of order, yet life does not stop because I have a bad day. Have you ever felt like that?

I am thankful that as each new day comes, I can choose to find something to be thankful for. I am learning how to find joy in the moments. This is a lifelong journey, and a fast learner I am not.

Not because my life is perfect, but because I have a friend who loves me through the circumstances of my life. He is the shield who blocks the sting and protects me in his perfect will. Nothing touches me that does not go through the cross first.

Although I will always have my share of bad hair days, bags under my eyes, blow my diet and lose my temper. I am safe and secure in the knowledge that God’s love and forgiveness are constant, unconditional and forever. He is my Friend, He is enough.©

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

Lovingly, Karan

Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me.

What helps you cope with bad days? I would love to hear What You do.

Hugs to All

Have a great week!

 

 

Lost In A Snowstorm!

Lost In A Snowstorm!

A woman got lost while driving in a new England snow storm. However, she knew that if she waited for a snowplow, she could follow it and get to safety.
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Before too long, a snow plow came by, and she followed it. In fact, she continued to drive behind the plow for nearly and hour.

Finally, the driver got out and asked her what she was doing. Upon her reply, the driver nodded and said, “Well, I’m done with Wal-Mart now. You can follow me over to Sears if you want to!” Author unknown

 

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Reflections:

On Thursday at about 7:30 am my husband was taken by ambulance to our area hospital with what looked like a mini stroke. Sometimes called a TIA-Transient-Ischemic-Attack.

ambulenceToday as I write the Dr. is still unsure what happened and what caused the episode. We are still waiting for more tests. As I have thought about the last few days I also remember the first stroke he had and how unprepared I was and how little I knew about them.

Would you recognize the symptoms of a stroke in your family, with friends or co-workers? Or is a stroke something that happens to others. I thought I knew all about the symptoms of a stroke, until the day 20 years ago when he had his first stroke.

On a hot day in July after spending the day on his horse, sorting and moving cattle Lyle came home tired, grumpy, and generally out of sorts.

I asked him if he was alright and he said he ached all over. I noticed he was walking a little slower but thought he had just had a rough day. He took a bath and went to bed without supper because he was tired.

The next morning he was out early to move more cattle and do some more sorting. He moved slower, his face was very red, he told me it was just a sunburn. He said he was fine, quit worrying

When he came home he didn’t look well at all. His face drooped, his speech was slurred  and he was dragging his left leg. He still insisted he was fine, but had a headache and blurred vision from the sun. 

After threatening him with his life I finally got him in the truck and off to the hospital as he argued all the way there, still insisting  he was fine.

At the hospital, his blood presser was up to 260 and said he would be going home in a few hours. He saw a Neurologist in Calgary who said he should have died. With two brain hemorrhages and one behind his eyes, his 20/20 vision had been damaged.

The DR. told me that when a person is in this state they don’t realize what is happening.

I have always felt that I should have been more aware of those symptoms sooner. Fortunately for our family, my husband has made a remarkable recovery.

Did you know that stroke is the # 3 death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in North America?

It occurs when a blood vessel brings blood and oxygen to the brain and gets blocked, or ruptures so the brain cells don’t get the blood flow they need.

They say, “Time Lost is Brain Lost.” The faster we recognize the symptoms the less damage is done.©

Psalm 139: 17 & 18 says:

Your thoughts are of great worth to me, O God. How many there are!

If I could number them, there would be more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

I thought I would share with you what I learned. I pray it will help others who find themselves in a similar situation. Check out the heart and stroke brochures at the website. Canada: www.heartandstroke.ca America: www.heart.org

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

Have a great week, HUGS

Lovingly, Karan

Coffee for Grandmother ~ The Election

Coffee for Grandmother

10A little grandmother was surprised by her seven-year-old grandson one morning. He had made her a cup of coffee. She drank what was the worse cup of coffee of her life

When she got to the bottom, there were three of those little green army men, and she asked him why they were there.

Her grandson said, “On television, they say, “the best part of waking up is soldiers in your cup!”

 

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Reflections:  The Election

This last year and especially these last few months I have found the election season very stressful.

votingAs an Americans living out of the United States, Lyle and I were excited to finally get our ballots and have the privilege of voting.

I am constantly amazed how everyone seems so invested here in Canada about this election. And like the US each person has their favorite candidate and a verity of opinions on them. No matter where I go people want to discuss the candidates.

I read an article a few month ago about the “election stress disorder.” It made me laugh, but then I realized I had many of the symptoms too. LOL. I had become distressed and anxious, always checking polls, twitter, and the news every morning and night.

I was telling my friend in South Carolina that I feared I had this “election stress disorder” and she laughed and reminded me I get like this every four years. What are friends for, to give us perspective when we can’t see the forest for the trees and our focus becomes small?

As I was reading my Bible this morning I was telling God how anxious I am  about this whole election process.

Luke 18:27 it says; …”what is impossible from a human perspective, is possible with God”

What a comfort to be reminded again that God is still in charge, and all is well.

Oswald chambers said it well, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the one who is leading.”

I am secure in knowing that in this world God is still on the throne.©

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Are you feeling anxious and stressed by this election like me?

No matter where you live, I would love to hear your thoughts.

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

Have a great week, HUGS

Lovingly, Karan