Praise God

Three weeks ago I went for another MRI to check for regrowth of the brain tumor that was removed 13 years ago. It had been four years since my last MRI and I was a tad nervous waiting for the results, especially considering my ongoing issues with headaches. I just prayed for peace whatever the result would be.  http://joyfulfrugalliving.blogspot.ca/2013_11_01_archive.html

Yesterday, my neurosurgeons office informed me that there was still no evidence of recurring tumor and my next scheduled MRI is in six years! This was such wonderful news. Thank you Lord!

Saturday Adventures....

There are a lot of fisherman along the banks of the Vedder River - if you look closely in one of the photos, you'll see a fish.

Ready for the masses tomorrow - never know how many people will show up for lunch after church.

If you have Air Miles Dream Rewards, this may be helpful....

We have collected a substantial amount of Air Miles (mainly through Safeway) and, even after using some of them over the years, there is still a lot in our account. I was alerted to the fact that, due to new rules, these Air Miles will eventually expire (I think Dec 2016).

I did a search to try and come up with the best way to use the Air Miles before expiry and came across BMO investment certificates. A person can redeem Air Miles for a BMO certificate that can in turn be used for a TFSA and other investments. There isn't any charge from BMO's end so that appears to be a great option! I had no idea until now that this was even an option with Air Miles.

Biking With Crazy Kids

Thanks to my Mom for passing her bike on to me. She has traveled many miles on this bike and I hope to add many more. We are so blessed to be living near many biking areas, both along the river and on the dike.

Heartwarming bit of news

Here is a heartwarming story - made me a bit teary-eyed:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lost-first-world-war-bracelet-returned-to-arthur-erickson-s-family-1.2679181

Food For Thought

Written by Dr. Dobson

When my daughter Danae was a teenager, she came home one day, and she said, “Hey, Dad! There’s a great new game out. I think you’re going to enjoy it. It’s called `Monopoly’.” I just smiled.

We gathered the family together, and we set up the board. Well, it didn’t take the kids long to figure out that old dad had played this game before. I soon owned everything: all the best properties, Boardwalk, Park Place. I even had Baltic and Mediterranean. My kids were squirming and I loved every minute of it. About midnight, I foreclosed on the last property and did a little victory dance, but my family wasn’t impressed. They went to bed, and they made me put the game away. As I began putting all of my money back in the box, a very empty feeling came over me. Everything that I had accumulated was gone. The excitement over riches was just an illusion. And then it occurred to me, “Hey, this isn’t just a game of Monopoly, this is life. You sweat and strain to get ahead, but then one day, after a little chest pain or a wrong move on the freeway, the game ends. It all goes back in the box.” You leave this world just as naked as the day you came into it.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” That’s wrong. It should say, “He who dies with the most toys dies anyway.”

Walking By The River

About a six minute walk from our place are wonderful trails along the river - so beautiful. Yesterday we walked about 7 kilometers....just peaceful hearing the river and birds and seeing the fishermen.

In other big news: I relearned to bike!!! So excited about this because I haven't been able to bike since my brain surgery 12 years ago. My balance isn't great and I notice this on the bike but, with practice, things should get better :-) Right alongside the river trails is the dike - a great place for biking as well.

Some pictures while on our walk.