The issue of the stubborn sidewalk surfaced again. I am determin to do it differently this time.
Instead of being persuaded into 'what if' after inviting God for help, I prayed and thank God for answering my prayer this time. Then I resist the temptation of toying with 'what if' and see God's hand parting the water as if he did it the day at the Red Sea.

To day's sermon is about God's surprises which fills the whole Bible. So it was a little suprise when God gave me two days' notice to join Alpha prayer team. As soon as I enter into the room, I knew I am in the right place. The jitty feeling which I had before was not there any more. I had a great time fellowshiping and praying with Anita and Brad. Brad's testimony of conversion was awesome. He was clinically dead for 20 minutes, had a glimpse of heaven, came back to earth a different man. A greater part of his memory was errased because of lack of oxygen.
He cannot go back to his job. But it is better to loose everything to gain Christ than to have everything and no Christ.

Yesssssssssssssss.......the news toppled the winning of the Conservative Party of tonight (an event which I had been looking forward to in the past few weeks). Jared saw the 'Light'. It came not as a surprise totally, because I believe God has been answering our prayer. But the timing was a surprise.
What a wonderful God he is. Who can mistaken his way of communication? So personal, tailor made each ones. I am jumping up and down for joy. Never mind about the parent who short changed me today. I am into more exciting things. Who cares if the house falls down on me, I am estatic. "I can sing of your love forever.........I can sing of your love forever................".

My origional plan was to go visit a dying friend. But God told me otherwise. Through Elaine, he taught me a further lesson on 'faith' - the evidence of things not seen (Hebrew 11) and that if we ask God anything, we believe we have received it (Mark 11). What a powerful message, a powerful God and a loving friend who can pray for someone she doesn't even know, so earnestly.
Now I am ready to face Alice and to pass onto her ' hope'. Although my prayers with her were not nearly as inspiring as those of Elaine's but I think God knows where I am at and where Alice is. He will answer us all the same. Afterall, a few honest words is better than long babbling to him. We can thank him for Alice's good health from now on and act upon it. The rest is his job.

It was nice to see Mary and Beatrice too. To have longer visit with them and to know their individual needs. These two creatures are forever giving their love to those around them to the point of forgetting their own needs. Now I know better how to pray for them.

Through this incident, I sense that my calling for this term is perhaps to pray with the Alpha team. It seems to make sense as I want to find a place to serve and I enjoy prayerful people.

In less than a week, I will see Alice, Mary and Beatrice. It will be a bitter sweet reunion after more than 30 years. Doctor announced that Alice will not be out of the hospital. It is her last shot at radiation and chemo. Everyone just hope that she can live long enough to be at
Andrea's wedding in June.

Was kind of up set by a financial expert's idea that may be I should close my school this coming September inorder to retire and to take care of our finance. To me, the only reason to close the school is to redirect my energy or talent to mission work, not to sit around to play with money.
That would be the most boring thing for me to do.

Went for a walk with Barb today and stopped by to chat with an elderly gentleman who was trying to clean up the juniper bush which was ran over by some dude's car at his front lawn. He said he is in his mid 80s and he retired at 77. But he actually looks like he is in his 70s. I like long productive lives. It keeps one young. After spending a few months in the hospital and senior home doing nothing, I can tell Laura's mind is really going. I can't really say my work is back breaking but it gives me great satifaction. Though to some people, teaching 30 children each day may be the last job they ever want on earth. Yes, I do like to do some travelling. I know the day will come when God works out the best and most meaningful tour for me.

Went to talk to the loan officer at TD bank with John. Who promised to give us a better rate for our mortgage, at 5% instead of the present 5.75% . The only catch is, I will no longer be qualify for sickness insurance which I still have with Royal which may or may not renew in November.
Was very lucky that Dr. Neilson was there to give me a physical exam on Friday as I walked into the clinic. Will wait for the result of blood test and such.

Dear John Pauls, with a head of beautiful white bushy hair, a faimiliar figure in the church kitchen, was called home suddenly. What a nice way to go, to serve the king in his court until his last day.

We were curious who is the PC representative for our area. Decided to check him out and walked into his office. Ended up having coffee with him for 20 mins. Found him down to earth, a knowledgeable fellow in law and fishing industry. Ended up walking out of his office with 70 flyers to diliver to the neighborhood and two signs to put up on 64Ave. Felt like we did our share for what we believe in.

Comes the time of the year when I debate to advertise or not to advertise for the school enrollment in September. I have not done it for many years, always believe God knows better what I need. Advertisement is expensive, but it can bring the wrong people. Besides, I rather give the money to mission work. But all the pre-schools in our area advertise. Whom should I trust? God or advertisement?

Andrew's funeral will be tomorrow. Dear Mary, who trys so hard to help her sister, never leaves her side. Suddenly realizes it is her niece and newphew's job to be by their mother's side at this point and time. It is so easy for them to avoid the most difficult part of life, yet how can they grow and mature without empathying with their closest one. I myself have made the same mistake with my own. I pray that Alice's children will treasure the one parent that is left.

I have not made any committment to any church group for the new year yet. I hear needs in different groups but I am not sure they are God's call to me. But I will reserve the place for the closest ones in my heart and see how God works them out for me.