Giving Thanks

A gift I got for Mother's Day from Kari (and Ben) included a beautiful journal with a card that made me cry. How thankful I am for a daughter-in-law who thinks to gift me with what she calls a "gratitude journal." In her words, "a place where you can write down one or two things you're thankful for every day." She says, "I'm going to start one too. That way we can look and see how God has blessed . . ."

I decided to begin that day, May 11. I keep it on the side table beside the chair I sit in every day at some point and it reminds me to give thanks. My goal, like others have done, is to have 1000 reasons to give thanks, by Mother's Day next year. 

This gift is timely, as I've been reminded so much in other personal reading of the importance of developing a thankful attitude. During a time when entitlement drives many an attitude, focusing on being thankful helps us when we want to criticize, complain or feel sorry for ourselves. In the end, it's good to realize that criticizing or complaining would not have helped anyways, while in being thankful we acknowledge that God is sovereign and able to help us and grow us in character, while we wait on Him.  Thanksgiving opens the door to behold Him.

Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving . . .

More on Absent Teeth and Tooth Fairies

While on the subject, I've been wondering how it is that kids can look so cute with their missing teeth while I've been more than self conscious about the gap in my teeth. For just a moment here, I forgot I was not wearing that uncomfortable flipper tooth.

It all began last fall with a hint of a toothache which I ignored until one day, as I took a bite into a hamburger, I felt a sharp crack and knew something was very wrong. It was then I went to get it checked out and was told my tooth had split right down to the tip of the root and had to be pulled. Ouch!

So the plan was to pull it and put in a dental implant at the same time. A dental implant is a permanent screw that gets put into the jaw bone to hold a new tooth. However, once my tooth was out, the periodontist realized that he would have to do a bone graft to allow for enough  bone to hold the screw intact. That was the worst part of the whole procedure, but hey, after childbirth and such  . . . we can handle things like this, right? It took the first six months of this year for the skin graft and bone to set and heal, during which time I wore a flipper tooth, which  drove me a little crazy because I could not eat with it. Did you know that eating seems to be part of any good time and that is exactly when you want to wear it?

This last week, we were finally able to do the actual implant and now we wait for the bone to fuse with this screw. In the meantime he put on a temporary tooth which I am not to bite on just yet. I should be able to get a new (final) tooth in the fall. Phew! (if only I had known)

Now, usually there are a few other non-invasive options, one being a bridge. The idea of a bridge, while less painful in process, did not appeal to me because of the extra flossing, stress on the crown next to it and potential bone loss that happens in an area of a missing tooth. Generally speaking, the dentist will encourage you to get an implant if you have a good insurance plan . . . or a generous tooth fairy . . . and I am hoping our self directed insurance plan will be just that. Wishing all the best to those of you who have this on your calendar.

Tooth Fairy Disappointment

With her stuffies lined up on her right, an extra pillow on her left

and water on the night table

she's tucked in for her bedtime reading . . . which is coming along very well.

It's an established routine that lately has had an added dimension . . .

where to leave the teeth that the dentist has cautiously pulled on a regular basis.

As far as I understood . . .

she finally labeled an envelope for the money.

Could be that, with her kind of negotiation skills,
she just may be next in line to run the family business.

New Highway

As a child, living in Vancouver, it was a simple matter to get to the airport,

but coming from Abbotsford, the route has become very confusing to me

 as my H has found ways about and whatever shortcuts he could - 

which honestly never seemed like shortcuts to me.

The other day, heading to the airport to pick up friends returning from China,

we got on the highway and, instead of heading through Langley to take the 99, 

we took the new Hwy 17 Connector before the Port Mann Bridge.

This highway has been recently constructed to  improve the commute between ports and railways with access to borders and the Tswwassen ferry terminal. We came around the bend here and I was taken back when I saw the Port Mann Bridge up ahead, from the side. Somehow I'd always imagined it to be crossing water and not much else.

We drove right under the bridge beside the one being taken down.

I like this view of the old one running beside the new one.

We continued on the same highway, going under the Alex Fraser Bridge,

then came around to cross the Fraser River.

On this day we found it cut down on time to the airport, but for me, 

the best thing was that it made the way much easier to follow.

Another Day

While most of the flowers placed about for the shower
 have sadly had to be tossed,

 I'm still enjoying a few reminders in my kitchen.

This bouquet seems to have forgotten that it was cut, 

since there were only buds on it a few days ago.

And candles . . . reminiscent of happy beginnings and endings,
no need to put them away too soon.

But today is another day.

I'm scheduled for my tooth implant that I've been waiting 

to get done for 6 months.

The procedure won't be fun but I'm looking forward to getting my smile back.
And that's it for today.

Carmen's Shower

The doorbell rang and the party was on!

Carmen came in with the biggest smile . . . her long floral dress, pearls and hair pinned back . . . fitting right into the scene. She kept saying, "After all the family showers I've been at, I can't believe this one is for me!" Here she is with her grandma and future sister and cousin.

The punch bowl was one place to gather and catch up as guests came in . . .

our classic family shower punch . . . banana, orange, pineapple.

Once everyone was there, some arriving with something to add to the table,
 we helped ourselves to salads, chicken croissants, mango crab cups,
cheese bread sticks and desserts. 

The peek into the dining room was a picture of what a blended family table
looks like.

And this scene is one that looks all too familiar already . . . 

but it's different because of the one sitting on the shower chair.

We may as well call  it that.

It was a packed room!

With sights and awes we listened to the proposal story

and enjoyed her excitement about every gift

that will soon be part of every day life.

Favors were passed around to each guest for answering the trivia questions. For me, some of the fun was watching the little girls feeling so proud to be part of the shower.

The night ended with a violin serenade of Gabriel's Oboe . . . a gift from one for whom this shower replaced the wedding she will be missing. I must admit there were some teary eyes at this point.

 Julene was standing in the foyer with the French door open to the living room, but from where my niece who took the photo, was sitting, the door became part of the photo.

Carmen, it was such a delight to plan for and host this shower for you! We all wish you and Pierre God's blessings as you dream and plan for wedded life.