Apartment Gardener "Al" - Visualizing Next Year's Masterpiece

When I wrote my last blog about our new Rose "Jack", I mentioned our neighbour Al and how he continues to work his wonder on the garden at the apartment building where my parents live, since moving there and leaving his house.  Well, alas, I was just going through some more of my pictures from our recent trip to Canada and discovered a perfect picture, showing Al doing what he does best - tending to the garden.

I said to mom recently, "I do not know how he gets through the colder months of the year, not being able to garden", but then I had an epiphany, he probably visualizes what it will be like next year and that keeps him going.


A good lesson for us all, I reckon--to be setting those goals and to be reaching for something not yet achieved, rather than just staying at status quo.  I know that Peter and I have a few dreams and we are dedicated to keeping them alive until we see them come true.  How about you?

'Jack' The Rose

What a lovely gesture from special friends - they gave us a beautiful red rose, in memory of dad.


We have placed it right at the front of the house, quite close to the front doorway.  A rose and our puppies in the backyard would be a recipe for disaster.  Besides, this way, we see the rose as we leave for work each morning and return home each afternoon.

And then it occurred to me - the rose would be called "Jack".  How fitting I thought.  Dad loved to putter in the garden at home; either trying to grow tomatoes or tending to the raspberries and his latest project was Uncle Paul's rhubarb in the apartment's garden that our old neighbour Al has looking so beautiful.  I took a picture of the apartment's garden this past trip, but it really did not do it justice.


So alas, we have a rose called Jack in memory of our dear dad who we miss but we are so thankful of the promise we have that we will be reunited again.  Keep blooming dad!

As the Proverb saying goes, "Take time to smell the roses."  See you in the morning "Jack". 

"In Memory Of Dad" John (Jack) Tough - Slide Show & Extract from Celebration Service

A very big thank you to Roger for recording Dad's Celebration Service!


The following is the slide show that we put together to share some of our awesome memories of dad.  Our family is very thankful that we love photos!


The audio to the slide show includes the Call to Worship at Dad's Service by Major Dena Hepditch and then my solo (or rather a duet) of my singing with my recording of The Colours of Your Love.

You will always be in my heart Dad and memories of you will never cease!

My Holy Discontent - Inclusive! Not Exclusive

Wow, it has been a while since I wrote my last blog article. Life seems to be a bit busy of late, but in the midst of the busyness, a topic that is near my heart has surfaced in recent days.

There is a lot of awareness these days of bullying and harassment; particularly in schools so it tends to target the younger population. I disagree and furthermore, bullying and harassment has always been around and displayed, in my opinion, in cliques; e.g. exclusive groups, not just in schools. Yes, I understand that we cannot be friends with everyone and hence, people generally have a peer group with whom they share  common interests. Take Jesus for example, He had 12 disciples who were His close friends and then had three (3) others whom were His really close mates. But alas, Jesus had a rapport with all the people when He travelled around the countryside sharing His message of love and grace.

I really appreciated reading a post from Joyce Meyer's facebook page just the other day. It said, "The amazing thing about Jesus is that He loves everyone. He excludes nobody."

My memories from when I was school aged are not of my being the most popular or the prettiest; but rather that I felt awkward and fat (a doctor even labelled me as overweight in a report - funny the things you remember!, but no, I was not fat) and although I tried to achieve at sports, I was not very coordinated and I can remember dreading track and field day because I knew there would not be any ribbons coming my way. Funny the things we remember! Hhhmm...

I believe that we all have a desire to belong and to feel accepted and even though we may have received that love and acceptance from our homes and families, the stigma of feeling like an 'outsider' or 'different' in a wrong way in other settings; e.g. school, youth group, leaves an impression on one's heart so that you will do everything within your own power to make sure that people do not feel that way, ever! It is not how God intended!

And here's the thing - are we modelling the inclusive or exclusive behaviour to our children? To the younger generation? Go ahead and ask yourself and answer honestly. Probably because it did affect me in my childhood, I make an extra effort to make people feel noticed and special - it can be as simple as a "smile" and a "hello", giving them a moment of your time.

I have to remind myself daily that some people are oblivious to their behaviour, but alas, it can still hurt - we are human afterall. But, as I am accountable solely for my own behaviour, I will strive to make sure that I am living a life of inclusiveness to others.

Canada for Christmas - Here We Come!

Hint - if the words in the picture are too small, click on it and it will open up in a larger view format for you!