tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89061030543752179842024-03-13T06:50:49.683-07:00ALS With CourageNadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-77213074315636223682022-05-29T17:10:00.000-07:002022-05-29T17:10:07.918-07:00Long Story Short - How to Sum Up 83 Years in 2,000 Words<p><span style="font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcFBYC-xGrrsP_FclxGdHbvjQ3jJJ83zM2Kvq1Dmvys4LK0994qnkgzP1YBYzbrg0MtDWKO5lgtoYlPJoQZX7M9JNbWMC-p5aQZbj49f667TP4rvFP786mYfXoBN5tFGe8AlsoVVEY9P95AYLet3M9wJmpg2gYivKQcH0ZR1yKRHlZlmClkVA2Wt9d" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="604" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcFBYC-xGrrsP_FclxGdHbvjQ3jJJ83zM2Kvq1Dmvys4LK0994qnkgzP1YBYzbrg0MtDWKO5lgtoYlPJoQZX7M9JNbWMC-p5aQZbj49f667TP4rvFP786mYfXoBN5tFGe8AlsoVVEY9P95AYLet3M9wJmpg2gYivKQcH0ZR1yKRHlZlmClkVA2Wt9d" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Picture: Dad on the left with his brothers-in-law Eugene and Larry. Uncle Larry shares some fond memories of Dad from back in the day on the Virtual Memorial Site. I’ll share the link below.</span></p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Well, it’s been a while. I haven’t been here since October. Before that it was July. I was actually on a good roll here until then, but for the eight months or so leading up to my dad’s passing on January 13, my focus was on him. His health had declined, so my sister and I devoted most of our extra time to him. Since his passing, I just haven’t been motivated to write. The writing still happens in my head, I just haven’t felt like taking the ideas further than that. I let them come and I let them go.</span> </p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">One thing I’ve written since being here, is my dad’s eulogy. It was my third eulogy, and if you have ever written one, I’m sure you will agree that it’s not easy. After Dad passed away, my laptop and I immediately began an emotional roller coaster ride of making a long story short—with my sister Elanna’s input of course. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">We took 84 years and rolled them into 2,000 words… it wasn’t enough.</span> There was so much more to say. As it was, we far exceeded the recommended 500-1000 words for a eulogy advice we found online.</p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">I personally love eulogies. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I love to hear people’s stories…</span> whether I knew them or not. I’ve listened to some that have gone much longer than ours did, and I never got bored. “Tell me more,” is my motto. Anyway, I will share Dad’s eulogy below. </p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There is something else I wrote that I’m excited to tell you about. It’s a one page contribution to a book called Pursuit: 365, launching on June 1, 2022.</span> Pursuit: 365 is co-authored by 365 people from all walks of life. Every day, the book features one of the co-authors and their inspiring story, including mine – a tribute to my sister (sisters/best friends). They also feature an author every day of the year on their <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fresh Magazine and Pursuit:365 websites</span>. I chose June 1 (not knowing the book was launching on this day) because it’s one of the most beautiful days of the year—our late mom’s birthday. Go to <a href="https://linkin.bio/fresh_mag" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc3366; text-decoration: none;">fresh mag</a> or <a href="https://linktr.ee/pursuit365" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc3366; text-decoration: none;">pursuit_365</a> to read my story (on June 1) and all the other women’s inspiring stories virtually (the online story is different from the story in the book). Go to Amazon to find the book (it’s the black cover/2022 edition).</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-2013" height="432" sizes="(max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/4F17D209-1C77-400A-B7F5-E962C6ED4EED-1024x1024.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/4F17D209-1C77-400A-B7F5-E962C6ED4EED-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/4F17D209-1C77-400A-B7F5-E962C6ED4EED-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/4F17D209-1C77-400A-B7F5-E962C6ED4EED-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/4F17D209-1C77-400A-B7F5-E962C6ED4EED-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/4F17D209-1C77-400A-B7F5-E962C6ED4EED.jpeg 1080w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: inherit; border-bottom-right-radius: inherit; border-top-left-radius: inherit; border-top-right-radius: inherit; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" width="432" /></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Link to full post including Dad's eulogy: <a href="https://nadinesands.com/2022/05/29/long-story-short-how-to-sum-up-83-years-in-2000-words/.">Long Story Short</a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Check out my last blog post, <a href="https://nadinesands.com/2021/10/27/the-weird-things-you-do-because-god-loves-you/">The Weird Things You do Because God Loves You</a></figure>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-72566897790902878062021-06-06T20:52:00.000-07:002021-06-06T20:52:33.072-07:00In the Waiting - Are You Growing or Fading?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IpGS4CSJqZo/YL2XN1mvIxI/AAAAAAAAXjU/u6maZXKsmUsM5Uo2j41NGeexmlvjTIs6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/34BD5BF4-8114-4C4D-9F96-DCABA8A3EABA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IpGS4CSJqZo/YL2XN1mvIxI/AAAAAAAAXjU/u6maZXKsmUsM5Uo2j41NGeexmlvjTIs6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/34BD5BF4-8114-4C4D-9F96-DCABA8A3EABA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Originally posted to my blog on April 26, 2021, In the Waiting - Are You Growing or Fading?</p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">I was so encouraged and impressed recently when my dad casually mentioned how he has learned so much in the past twelve months. He was talking about the Sunday morning programs he watches on TV, among other things.</p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">At 83, he is still growing...</span></p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i>To continue reading, click the link below:</i></span></p><p>https://nadinesands.com/2021/04/26/in-the-waiting-are-you-growing-or-fading/</p>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-50768840484199848302021-04-13T22:23:00.000-07:002021-04-13T22:23:04.559-07:00Man of Sorrows: The Source of Lasting Joy<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica;">A quote from my latest blog post, Man of Sorrows: The Source of Lasting Joy... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>"It’s been an exciting few weeks since my big TV debut!</b></span></p><p class="has-normal-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"If all the encouraging and kind comments on social media and text messages weren’t enough, I was also spotted while shopping at London Drugs. I heard, <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Hey, I saw you on The 700 Club.”</span> I felt like a celebrity for the two seconds it took me to turn around and see it was someone I knew—a former fitness participant from years ago. She and her husband were genuinely impressed and blessed by what I said. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It opened up a conversation about grief and they shared some of theirs with me."</span></span></p><p class="has-normal-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Click the link to read the piece in full. Find out about this Man of Sorrows, and how joy and grief can co-exist quite nicely: <a href="https://nadinesands.com/2021/04/03/man-of-sorrows-the-source-of-lasting-joy/">Man of Sorrows: The Source of Lasting Joy</a></span></span></p><p class="has-normal-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="has-normal-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFqhTelIC6o/YHZ7WH4MtVI/AAAAAAAAXhY/XwOI-i1RAdMShFb7nRa-Vv3mPl8tOZV1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/343AEF6E-F31A-4CE1-9456-B62304A69BDB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="334" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFqhTelIC6o/YHZ7WH4MtVI/AAAAAAAAXhY/XwOI-i1RAdMShFb7nRa-Vv3mPl8tOZV1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w463-h334/343AEF6E-F31A-4CE1-9456-B62304A69BDB.jpeg" width="463" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-38610027530136463902021-02-06T22:34:00.001-08:002021-02-06T22:36:12.859-08:00A woman with an issue of blood and the love that made her whole<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOHm7TGeTaY/YB-JmLQbl6I/AAAAAAAAXe8/Mhixqx4j5fAjRO96_7-EB2GDQcPCVr30QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/93BF038B-8555-41FD-8ADC-180D443FC4B9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="289" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOHm7TGeTaY/YB-JmLQbl6I/AAAAAAAAXe8/Mhixqx4j5fAjRO96_7-EB2GDQcPCVr30QCLcBGAsYHQ/w463-h289/93BF038B-8555-41FD-8ADC-180D443FC4B9.jpeg" width="463" /></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>For this post I borrowed one of my favourite stories from the Bible about a very courageous woman that I really admire. </span><p></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Her super power: faith!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Here's a quote:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Even thought this woman had been rejected by people, she was accepted by Jesus. Even though everyone would have stayed clear of her, Jesus drew near to her. He took her shame and disgrace away and applauded her faith. He gave her a voice, restored her to her community and called her 'daughter.' He made her whole and made her His own."</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you'll read and be inspired by her like I am! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the link: </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://nadinesands.com/2021/01/24/a-broken-woman-with-an-issue-of-blood-and-the-love-that-made-her-whole/">A woman with an issue of blood and the love that made her whole</a></div></div>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-9601905623104040192021-01-14T10:54:00.002-08:002021-01-15T21:44:59.800-08:00New Year, New You! Exercising Faith, Hope & Joy<p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-seYq1prm-6c/YACQdj2cwYI/AAAAAAAAXdQ/nihgtcereSge1rADBmTtiCA2wM2nlXAAwCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_9053.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="344" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-seYq1prm-6c/YACQdj2cwYI/AAAAAAAAXdQ/nihgtcereSge1rADBmTtiCA2wM2nlXAAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w458-h344/IMG_9053.jpeg" width="458" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">New Year, New You! This was my slogan. I thought it was original… and quite brilliant if I do say so myself.</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I can’t remember the year exactly—it was maybe 2007 or 2008. I managed the group fitness program for the city of Maple Ridge where I live. When this catchy phrase came to my mind, I got busy creating new bulletin boards at the Leisure Centre. I posted new classes and new <b>inspiration for achieving goals and improving lives.</b> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b>Sculpted shoulders</b> and <b>six-pack abs</b> weren’t everything. Decreasing stress, improving energy, having fun and making friends, was also an important part of the plan. A new and improved you for a happy and bright future.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">My slogan lives on!</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Here we are, <b>over a dozen years later</b>, and <i>my</i> slogan — <b>New Year, New You — lives on</b>. I’ve seen it used a lot since then. In fact, a Google search produces billions of results. While I’m still helping people achieve new fitness goals (or at least maintain old ones), I have let go of this “new you” motto and my own incessant need for<b> buns of steel</b>. My slogan now reminds me mostly of one thing: <b>2 Corinthians 5:17</b>.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">2 Corinthians 5:17 says: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. <b>The old life is gone; a new life has begun!</b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I think it’s clear that<b> </b>this verse has nothing to do with<b> chiseled calves</b> and<b> six-pack abs</b>. Instead, it’s a <b>spiritual thing</b>. A new creation having nothing to do with flesh and bones and strong, shapely muscles. FYI, that Google search lists New Year’s resolutions, marketing solutions, recipes, TV shows and on it goes, but nothing to do with spiritual things.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Temporal things vs. Eternal</span></b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Don’t get me wrong, I admire strong, shapely muscles. And after all these years, I still love moving my body; whether it’s a session of interval training including step cardio, pushups, planks, squats, lunges, crunches etc., or what I’ve been doing most since Covid: a lot of walking. As I get older, <b>I appreciate more and more the benefits of exercise </b>for physical and mental wellness,<b> but my focus has changed</b>. I’m less invested in the temporal things and more on what’s eternal.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Along with this changed focus because of aging, since those dozen or so years ago, I’ve had the incredible honour of sitting with a number of dying loved-ones, including my late husband<b> Mike</b>, my<b> mom</b>, and most recently, my<b> </b>friend<b> Shonia</b>. An unexpected opportunity to sit with her on Christmas Eve and hold her hand, talk to her and pray for her and her family, turned out to be the most<b> beautiful Christmas present </b>I could ever<b> </b>imagine. It’s humbling and very special to be close to a soul getting ready to leave its<b> earthy dwelling for its heavily home.</b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I love the way the Message Bible words 2 Corinthians 5:17:<i> Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone</i><b><i> united with the Messiah gets a fresh start</i></b><i>, is created new. </i><b><i>The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!</i></b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Faith = New Life</span></b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Many versions of the verse say it this way, “…<b>if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation</b>…” I know it sounds pretty crazy, but it simply means whoever has put their <b>faith in Jesus</b>, has <b>new life in Him</b>. The old way of living goes, a new way comes. New purpose, new habits, new hope, new dreams, and a new way of thinking. It also comes with this: assurance of a home in heaven.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Shonia had a strong faith but to help her with any doubts she may have been experiencing, I read some verses that would assure her of where she was going, including 2 Corinthians 2:17, and John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that <b>whoever believes in Him</b> will not perish but have <b>everlasting life</b>.” </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and accept His forgiveness and love for us, we are reconciled to Him; a friendship like no other begins. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Further in our chapter (vs 5:18-19) it says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was <b>reconciling the world to Himself </b>in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.” </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 30, 30); color: #1e1e1e; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our new life requires repentance--a turning from sin and a turning to Him.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 30, 30); color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "Noto Serif"; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 30, 30); color: #1e1e1e; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And even </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">though, our new selves still struggle and still sin, we can know, because He says so, that our </span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">sinfulness was nailed to the cross with Him</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">. It’s gone. We are dead to our old sinful nature and alive in Christ. Our old self is crucified with him and our new self shares in His righteousness. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (vs 21) Now that is </span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">LOVE</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">!</span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Growing in Faith, Hope & Joy... and Love</span></b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Growing in our faith and in our knowledge of Him is a process. It’s a lifelong journey where we walk with Him and talk with Him and even become more like Him. So new believers and old ones alike, don’t be discouraged! We grow in our <b>faith</b>, <b>hope</b> and <b>joy</b> as we seek Him and trust Him with all our hearts. Just as some of us devote time and energy to physical fitness, we can (and should) focus on spiritual growth. (I’m going to share some ideas of how we can grow spiritually at the bottom of this post.)</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding <b>promise for both the present life and the life to come</b>. 1 Timothy 4:8</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">At one point while I was with Shonia, I held her head in my hands while making adjustments for her comfort. In hopes to dispel any fear she was experiencing, I asked her if she had accepted Jesus—if she had said, “yes” to Him. After a slight nod and quiet uh-huh, I replied, “When you leave us, <b>you’ll be with Jesus</b>.” </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b>Shonia</b> passed away on December 27, having fought cancer for many years like a <b>true champion</b> and having suffered more than most of us could ever imagine. She will inspire me and all her friends and family for many years to come! </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">2 Corinthians 5:1 explains: Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an <b>eternal house in heaven</b>, not built by human hands.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">When Mike died (six years ago today - Jan 5, 2015), our son Nathan remarked on the profound contrast of his <b>strong spirit now eternally free</b> and the shell he left behind. I thought of that when I was with Shonia.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">To read more I've written about Shonia, go to this post from two years ago, called, <a href="https://nadinesands.com/2018/11/30/good-news-of-great-joy/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #0c5e99;">Good News of Great Joy.</span></a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">For spiritual training…</span></b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I suggest spending some time each day in God’s Word and in prayer. I highly recommend the <b>Bible App</b> for the verse of the day, devotional plans, the daily story (which includes a verse, a short video, a quick devotional read, and prayer), also the whole Bible at your finger tips for reading and/or listening. Chris and I are currently doing the New Testament in 90 Days plan. Also, there are so many great devotional books. I also suggest getting connected with other believers, whether it’s a church (right now most churches have online services), bible study, and/or prayer and encouragement group, or one on one with a Christian friend (again, during Covid, over the phone or zoom). Keep in mind, <b>prayer is just talking to God</b>, so if it’s a little foreign to you (or if you’re out of practice), just talk to Him like you would talk to a friend… <b>He is a friend.</b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I leave you with the last verses of 2 Corinthians 5: ...God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ Himself now: <b>Become friends with God; He’s already a friend with you</b>. (vs18-20) Message Bible</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Photos below and at the top of this post: A blast from the past, from around 1997. Colleen and I owned and operated Fitness Works for 5 years. After that I managed the group fitness programs for the City of Maple Ridge for about 10 years. I still teach fitness classes at the MR Leisure Centre (not at the moment because of Covid, but you know what I mean).</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-22LxYb6O-p4/YACQrdT5lcI/AAAAAAAAXdY/ypXfOHV7olYTusBo_2CGk72XuVP5rWNzwCLcBGAsYHQ/Scan%2B1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1545" height="322" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-22LxYb6O-p4/YACQrdT5lcI/AAAAAAAAXdY/ypXfOHV7olYTusBo_2CGk72XuVP5rWNzwCLcBGAsYHQ/w419-h322/Scan%2B1.jpeg" width="419" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UEytpWowWEI/YACQtD4RmiI/AAAAAAAAXdc/VbgykP7giosFuJXFXeTI15vG1bbSJBzowCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_6084.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="2048" height="318" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UEytpWowWEI/YACQtD4RmiI/AAAAAAAAXdc/VbgykP7giosFuJXFXeTI15vG1bbSJBzowCLcBGAsYHQ/w422-h318/IMG_6084.jpeg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1812" height="314" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FFF9C3DC-E102-4444-A21F-663584673A33-1024x768.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FFF9C3DC-E102-4444-A21F-663584673A33-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FFF9C3DC-E102-4444-A21F-663584673A33-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FFF9C3DC-E102-4444-A21F-663584673A33-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FFF9C3DC-E102-4444-A21F-663584673A33-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FFF9C3DC-E102-4444-A21F-663584673A33-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="418" /></div></span><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">Find my books on my website <a href="https://nadinesands.com/my-books/">book page</a> or on Amazon or other online retailers.</figcaption></blockquote><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-4726893484545579942020-12-30T18:27:00.002-08:002020-12-30T18:41:44.321-08:00Comfort and Joy at a Time Like This? (Embracing the embrace)<p> Originally posted on my blog at <a href="https://nadinesands.com">https://nadinesands.com</a> on December 9, 2020</p><p><img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large" height="800" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2013-2-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2013-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2013-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2013-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2013-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2013-2.jpg 1440w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" width="800" /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">It was still dark—I guessed it was around six o’clock. I’m talking about last Monday morning. I had been fully awake for at least an hour. I could faintly hear the sound of rain outside along with the white noise of the fan on low in the corner. I laid there and prayed and pondered the day. I had been to the washroom once and was contemplating a second trip, when my husband Chris, half asleep, reached over and pulled me close to him. In one smooth and effortless move, just like that, I was gripped by his strong arm and enveloped in the warmth of his body.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I embraced the embrace and I made a conscience effort to let go of all the thoughts about the day swirling around in my brain. I focused on Chris’ deep breathing and was reminded of the many nights I laid awake in the dark hanging on to my late husband Michael’s every breath. I was also reminded of God’s strong grip of grace that I came to know extremely well during those days… during the late sleepless nights… and early dark mornings.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I give credit to God’s strong grip of grace for the comfort I felt and even joy amongst the sorrow of facing the devastating affects of Mike’s terminal illness, ALS. As Mike’s breathing became less and less, I often barely breathed myself, and that’s when I felt God’s grip of grace the most.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">So here is the question of the day, can we experience comfort and joy whatever comes our way? If Mike could in the face of death, if I could while I watched him take his last breath, the answer is yes! An affirmative answer made possible for each one of us who trust God and accept His Son of Hope and Love—Jesus!</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The thoughts above bring to my mind, this very old yet relevant Christmas carol:</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">God rest ye merry gentlemen</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Let nothing you dismay,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Remember Christ our Savior</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Was born on Christmas Day,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">To save us all from Satan’s pow’r</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">When we were gone astray.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Oh tidings of comfort and joy,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Comfort and joy</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Oh tidings of comfort and joy.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">While writing this I asked Chris if he experienced a stronger grip of God’s grace when his late wife Heather passed away. He said that her passing brought the greatest sorrow he’s ever known, but he was so happy for her—to be set free from cancer and in Jesus’ everlasting arms. His answer to my question was yes.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Fear not then, said the Angel</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Let nothing you affright,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">This day is born a Savior</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Of a pure virgin bright,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">To free all those who trust in Him</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">From Satan’s pow’r and might.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Oh tidings of comfort and joy,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Comfort and joy</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Oh tidings of comfort and joy</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s been a week now since that rainy Monday I started thinking about this comfort and joy story. During that time, Chris and I have both had a family member die – Chris’ aunt/Godmother Anne, and my father-in-law George (Mike’s dad). We also have a few friends who have also had dear loved ones pass. It’s a reminder that even though Christmas is considered the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be the most difficult—the most grievous. Add Covid to the picture and for some, the stress, grief, fear and loneliness makes it so much worse. So it’s also a good reminder to be kinder, more gentle and patient with ourselves and each other.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you feel like you are carrying burdens bigger than you can handle, or even God can handle, remember there is nothing too big for Him. Put your trust in Him whatever comes your way. Sometimes it’s not until we look back, that we can see, we were being held all along in His firm grip of grace… When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Chris and I hope and pray that you experience rest and peace, comfort and joy this Christmas season. We encourage you to look to the Saviour born on Christmas Day! There is no better time than now to embrace His embrace and find everything you need in His strong grip of mercy, love and grace.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In loving memory of George Sands.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1759" height="514" loading="lazy" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/251970_3450051734661_933438436_n.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="391" /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Mike’s dad, George pushing Mike in his wheel chair at the Walk for ALS in 2012.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I leave you with a happy 2020 story. While this year has been a rough year for many people (to say the least); for some Malawians, it’s been the best year ever! My sister Elanna and I were all set to go to Malawi, Africa with our dad and Chris in March (I told this story back then). We were even at the airport when we had to turn around and go home. Regardless of being grounded, Dad (Project Wellness) was still able to have 10 wells drilled in Malawi this year. The most wells drilled in one year for Project Wellness! We are so proud of our dad and grateful for our amazing donors! Check out <a href="http://projectwellness.ca/"><span style="color: #be1c53; font-kerning: none;">projectwellness.ca</span></a> to learn more and/or to make a donation.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1760" height="526" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/46176160_2025886654157161_6130210459418099712_n.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/46176160_2025886654157161_6130210459418099712_n.jpeg 720w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/46176160_2025886654157161_6130210459418099712_n-225x300.jpeg 225w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="395" /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">A photo I’ve shared before: </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">buckets lined up at my mom’s memorial well. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">November 22 was the four year </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">anniversary of her passing.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1761" height="401" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28BA1B0D-6610-41CA-B44B-A41F9EC2528B-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28BA1B0D-6610-41CA-B44B-A41F9EC2528B-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28BA1B0D-6610-41CA-B44B-A41F9EC2528B-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28BA1B0D-6610-41CA-B44B-A41F9EC2528B-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28BA1B0D-6610-41CA-B44B-A41F9EC2528B-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28BA1B0D-6610-41CA-B44B-A41F9EC2528B-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28BA1B0D-6610-41CA-B44B-A41F9EC2528B.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="401" /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">No pictures of Dad in Malawi this year but here are a few recent ones of him looking good and having fun making </span>paper snowflakes.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Now to the Lord sing praises,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">All you within this place,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">And with true love and brotherhood</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Each other now embrace;</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">This holy tide of Christmas</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">All other doth efface.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">O tidings of comfort and joy,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Comfort and joy</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">O tidings of comfort and joy.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Merry Christmas! Much love and God bless!</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1764" height="425" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6E21665E-9C70-443D-95E4-AFA3B7C11C2E-1-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6E21665E-9C70-443D-95E4-AFA3B7C11C2E-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6E21665E-9C70-443D-95E4-AFA3B7C11C2E-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6E21665E-9C70-443D-95E4-AFA3B7C11C2E-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6E21665E-9C70-443D-95E4-AFA3B7C11C2E-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6E21665E-9C70-443D-95E4-AFA3B7C11C2E-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6E21665E-9C70-443D-95E4-AFA3B7C11C2E-1.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="425" /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The first three photos are from our hunt for the perfect tree last year. This year, we didn’t take our time because of the lineup of cars waiting to get into the tree farm (meaning I only got a couple of shots, not the usual dozens).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1766" height="431" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2014-1024x1024.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2014-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2014-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2014-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2014-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2014-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2014-2048x2048.jpeg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="431" /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Books make great Christmas gifts. Find mine here: <a href="https://nadinesands.com/my-books/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #be1c53; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">https://nadinesands.com/my-books/</span></a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you missed my last blog post, check it out here: <a href="https://nadinesands.com/2020/11/07/be-like-a-tree-let-go-resting-in-gods-sovereignty-in-faith-and-hope/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #be1c53; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Be Like a Tree and Let Go</span></a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts by email: <a href="https://nadinesands.com/blog/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #be1c53; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">https://nadinesands.com/blog/</span></a></span></p>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-32166319989030429462020-08-31T08:35:00.000-07:002020-08-31T08:35:07.221-07:00The Teenager in Me, Pretty in Pink & Ophelia's Granny<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">Photo of me with granddaughters Leah (age 11) and Ophelia (age 3 1/2 months)</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large" height="587" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9663.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9663.jpg 828w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9663-300x220.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9663-768x564.jpg 768w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" width="800" /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">Originally posted to my website, <a href="https://nadinesands.com/blog/">https://nadinesands.com/blog/</a> on Aug 16, 2020</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">You can follow my new blog at the link above.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can’t believe August is already more than half over. It feels just like yesterday summer came calling and since then, it’s been slipping through my fingers like water. In my opinion, there are not enough days, weeks, even months in the glorious season of summer.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the end of every June, like clockwork, there is a loud knock at the door. This is when the kid in me emerges from hiding, and gets swept away with beautiful, sunny Summer. Off we go to watch as many sunsets as possible, to get lost in the pages of an amazing book, to eat ice cream out of waffle cones, to beach comb and make crafts with our sandy treasures. We float on the pool and stare into the deep blue sky, pick berries, and ride bikes. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sporting a helmet now as an adult, and a little more caution than I did when I was a kid, I still love to go whizzing down steep hills on my bicycle. I thoroughly enjoy the feel of the wind in my face taking my breath away. I equally enjoy the burn in my quads when lifting off the saddle to bear the brunt of bumps; or to propel myself up the last part of the next hill, or to catch up with my husband Chris.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What I clearly remember about riding bikes with my late husband Mike is that he didn’t necessarily need to know where we were going in advance. He was totally carefree, except when it came to broken glass. Mike repeatedly called out, “Glass!” and pointed to the ground on the left or right. I would tell him not to worry and enjoy the ride. He insisted, so that I, and the kids if they were with us, could avoid the tiny shards of glittery glass … to further avoid potential flats.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chris, unlike me and Mike, likes to know in advance where we are going. Ready to roll, he’ll say, “Okay, where do you want to go?” When I shrug and give the look, “I dunno,” he pulls out his iPhone. Consulting Google Maps, these two have come up with some pretty amazing routes. I’m frequently being introduced to new roads, trails and views, right here in the hometown I thought I already knew—Maple Ridge.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Getting ready for a recent bike ride, I surprised Chris when I told him where I wanted to go. Losing our breath together and dripping with sweat, we rode non-stop, the long hill climb, to the top of 232nd. I remembered seeing one of those little neighbourhood libraries up there on the remote side of the road, and wanted to drop off a copy of each of my books.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first time I ever went up to the top of 232 Street was when I was sixteen—on the back of a boy’s motorcycle. Having spent some time at our local movie theatre, a boy who worked there caught my eye. We exchanged a few glances over the course of time. One day while walking by, he was up on a ladder changing the marquee sign. Just as I was approaching, a plastic letter fell to the ground a few feet in front of me. I picked it up and stretched as high as I could and passed it to him, along with a smile. He carefully reached down to receive it, and smiled back at me. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One night, I watched a movie, while Todd manned the concession stand and patrolled the isles of seats for disruptive teens. After his shift, barely knowing him, I hopped on the back of his motorbike. I strapped on the helmet he gave me, wrapped my arms around his waste and held on for dear life. We headed up the steep, dark, dead-end street, passing the sparse houses set back in the trees. When we reached the top, we got off the bike and proceeded to the middle of the grassy hill. There we observe the breathtaking westerly view. Todd told me it was called, “Top of the world.” I later learned it was a place where kids went to party or make out. It was just the two of us this night, so thankfully, nineteen year old Todd was a decent guy. We quietly gazed at the stars above and the lights in the distance below. I, for a little while, ignored the fact that I needed to get home.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The top of the world, at the North end of 232nd is now fenced, and the development in the area has exploded over the years. The Stardust movie theatre, where I met Todd and frequented with friends is long gone. I have fond memories of this place where I saw a host of eighties classics, including: ET, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Footloose, Pretty in Pink and Back to the Future. There is now a Dairy Queen parking lot where the iconic theatre once stood. Mysterious Todd, came and went in my life for about a year. While a lot of boys teased me about my weight, he was kind to me. Thinking back, it was like he administered CPR to my self-esteem, and then he was gone.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whether I’m with Chris, someone else, or by myself, summer cycling makes me forget I’m now 52 years old. Childhood and teenage memories, sunshine and carefree living are all my best friends. Sometimes I wonder, while stopped for a red light, if the people in the cars around me can tell that I’m a grandma. Can they see past the sporty exterior to the arthritis setting in, and the spondylosis in my back and neck? </span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spondylosis is a degenerative disc disorder that most adults get over time. According to my GP, specialist, chiropractor and physiotherapist, mine wouldn’t have reared its ugly head for maybe ten or even twenty years if I hadn’t been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Almost three years ago, I experienced a severe whiplash injury. Tests revealed two slipped discs in my neck which have forced me to modify my cycling and other activities.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The last time I went for a bike ride with my eleven year old granddaughter Leah, I thought a lot about my mom. I’m the age she was when she first became a grandma. I feel like we are similar in many ways, and in many ways, not. Often I think about what I’m doing or what I’m wearing and find myself comparing. I never saw my mom riding a bike, or in a swimming pool. I never saw her wearing a bathing suit, or jeans or sweats or anything spandex.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My mom was a real lady. She was the epitome of pretty in pink. I sometimes wonder if the pink skirts, pink polished nails, pantyhose, high heals and pearls gene skipped me or if she was just an anomaly. She was really classy, so well dressed, especially when she was still working. She would show up to my softball games (with my dad of course) all dolled up. Teammates who didn’t know her, but knew me were confused to say the least. I’d explain she came straight from work. Even if she didn’t, she still looked like a million bucks … in pressed slacks or a skirt.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Being lady-like did not stop my mom from being the loudest cheering spectator. From the sidelines, she yelled and encouraged me and all the players. She clapped along with the baseball songs, loving every minute of it. She’d cover her eyes when the game got intense and sometimes paced back and forth out of nervousness. This was also the kind of grandmother she was — a cheerleading, encouraging, enthusiastic, supportive grandma. She may not have ridden bikes with her grandkids, but she was there to pick them up when they fell off. She was at most of their games, events, recitals, concerts, graduations etc. Wherever they were and what ever they were doing, she wanted to be a part of it too. They were all superstars in her eyes and she took every opportunity she could to brag about them. As grandmas go, she was the best and I want to be just like her!</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The recent birth of another granddaughter has brought these thoughts to the forefront of my mind. What’s being reiterated is this: the role of grandmother is the most serious and beautiful calling of my life. This granddaughter, Ophelia Heather, born on April 28, wasn’t born to one of my children, but to my stepdaughter, Alexa. Alexa’s mom is in heaven, so needless to say, I feel I’ve got some big shoes to fill and a very important roll to play.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you read my second book, High and Wide: When Grief and Love Collide, you may remember Alexa and her sister, Nicola. When I met Chris, I learned very quickly that he had two stepdaughters. He called them his girls and you could tell, they were his world. Their mom, Heather (Chris’s late wife), passed away five years ago. Nicola was in her early twenties and Alexa in her mid twenties. And their dad, Al, passed away 13 years ago when the girls were just teenagers. Chris became their only parent when Heather died … and then I came along.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shortly after Alexa announced she was expecting, she and Nicola informed us that there would be no “steps” when it comes to grandparents. Chris and I would simply be Grandma and Grandpa.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One day, during one of Alexa’s ultrasound appointments, it really hit me that I was going to be someone else’s grand baby’s grandma. In one joyful and heartbreaking moment, I realized I was standing right where Heather would have stood. This Granny-to-be (that’s what she would have been called), who was taken before she got a chance to ride bikes with this little one; or cheer her on at her special events and other extraordinary and difficult moments. I was looking at a screen another woman’s eyes would have gazed upon, in awe, capturing this unforgettable moment; this miracle! It was like the roof came off, the sky opened up and God shone a spot light right on me. I’m sure I heard Him say, “You’re up!” As though I was the understudy, filling in for the leading lady.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On the ride home from the appointment, Alexa joyfully gazed at the ultrasound photo of her healthy baby. I cried and told Alexa how sorry I was that her mom couldn’t be there. She said it was okay. I kept crying and she kept smiling.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alexa is a single mom, so Chris and I were thrilled to have her and Ophelia stay with us for two months after Baby O was born. Since then, they come and go for a few days here and there. We have also gone to them in Vancouver for a couple of sleepovers. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m often in awe of the courage and strength of Alexa and Nicola. And I’m extremely humbled and blessed to be so wonderfully accepted and loved by them—and Frank, Nicola’s husband. I watch in amazement this new mom and auntie and how extremely well they are doing in their new roles; and I’m blown away that I (and my family), get to be an equal part of it. Sometimes, especially while holding Baby O, while talking to her, singing, praying, conversing with Chris, or just staring into her mesmerizing blue eyes, I have to pinch myself. When I realize I’m not dreaming, I thank God and ask Him to help me be the best understudy possible … to help me do a job that would make Him proud, and my mom, and of course, Ophelia’s Granny.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“From His abundance, we all have received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-0e5d4a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content" data-element_type="widget" data-id="0e5d4a9" data-widget_type="theme-post-content.default" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 1006px; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s, border 0.3s, border-radius 0.3s, box-shadow 0.3s, -webkit-border-radius 0.3s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s;"><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1686" height="517" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3AABA789-F459-48E4-ACCE-8F996E0C43E0-1-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3AABA789-F459-48E4-ACCE-8F996E0C43E0-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3AABA789-F459-48E4-ACCE-8F996E0C43E0-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3AABA789-F459-48E4-ACCE-8F996E0C43E0-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3AABA789-F459-48E4-ACCE-8F996E0C43E0-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3AABA789-F459-48E4-ACCE-8F996E0C43E0-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3AABA789-F459-48E4-ACCE-8F996E0C43E0-1.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="517" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Ophelia, Ophelia’s Granny Heather, me a teen going to my grad banquet (wearing my mom’s pink dress from the 60’s), and Mom – pretty in pink – between my sister and me.</figcaption></figure></div><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1687" height="506" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3C937EF1-2043-49F0-84FC-B0217ED867E6-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3C937EF1-2043-49F0-84FC-B0217ED867E6-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3C937EF1-2043-49F0-84FC-B0217ED867E6-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3C937EF1-2043-49F0-84FC-B0217ED867E6-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3C937EF1-2043-49F0-84FC-B0217ED867E6-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3C937EF1-2043-49F0-84FC-B0217ED867E6-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3C937EF1-2043-49F0-84FC-B0217ED867E6.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="506" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Chris, Alexa & Baby O, Nicola and Frank on Aug 14th – the 5 year anniversary of Heather’s passing. They had hoped to spend it in Hawaii, instead they brought Hawaii to us at Nicola and Frank’s new house.</figcaption></figure><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1688" height="500" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3002C3AC-33A7-42BE-8AAD-8C2C78FBDF90-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3002C3AC-33A7-42BE-8AAD-8C2C78FBDF90-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3002C3AC-33A7-42BE-8AAD-8C2C78FBDF90-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3002C3AC-33A7-42BE-8AAD-8C2C78FBDF90-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3002C3AC-33A7-42BE-8AAD-8C2C78FBDF90-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3002C3AC-33A7-42BE-8AAD-8C2C78FBDF90-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3002C3AC-33A7-42BE-8AAD-8C2C78FBDF90.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Grandpa Chris with Leah and Ophelia and dog Leo.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1689" height="495" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/30FA7177-EB26-4F92-90AB-31BC0DECD0B0-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/30FA7177-EB26-4F92-90AB-31BC0DECD0B0-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/30FA7177-EB26-4F92-90AB-31BC0DECD0B0-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/30FA7177-EB26-4F92-90AB-31BC0DECD0B0-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/30FA7177-EB26-4F92-90AB-31BC0DECD0B0-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/30FA7177-EB26-4F92-90AB-31BC0DECD0B0-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/30FA7177-EB26-4F92-90AB-31BC0DECD0B0.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="495" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">My dad with Ophelia, sister Elanna, daughter Erin with boyfriend Kevin – his niece Adeline and Ophelia, daughter Madison.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1691" height="501" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 501px) 100vw, 501px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B887CD1F-E1A2-4933-B5F4-23E70E87BB61-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B887CD1F-E1A2-4933-B5F4-23E70E87BB61-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B887CD1F-E1A2-4933-B5F4-23E70E87BB61-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B887CD1F-E1A2-4933-B5F4-23E70E87BB61-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B887CD1F-E1A2-4933-B5F4-23E70E87BB61-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B887CD1F-E1A2-4933-B5F4-23E70E87BB61-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B887CD1F-E1A2-4933-B5F4-23E70E87BB61.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="501" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Floating on Elanna and Peter’s pool – she and I, son Nathan with Baby O, Leah and brother Emerson and friend Teagan, Peter with kids Luke and Michaela, Chris and me with Leah, Emerson and their mom Katrina.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1695" height="503" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/65CBC679-8409-451B-8671-8F272FA6D429-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/65CBC679-8409-451B-8671-8F272FA6D429-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/65CBC679-8409-451B-8671-8F272FA6D429-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/65CBC679-8409-451B-8671-8F272FA6D429-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/65CBC679-8409-451B-8671-8F272FA6D429-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/65CBC679-8409-451B-8671-8F272FA6D429-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/65CBC679-8409-451B-8671-8F272FA6D429.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="503" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Blueberry picking with Elanna and Dad, Madison and Alexa with Ophelia.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1692" height="503" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7D619D43-3E91-479A-9301-95459BADB69A-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7D619D43-3E91-479A-9301-95459BADB69A-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7D619D43-3E91-479A-9301-95459BADB69A-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7D619D43-3E91-479A-9301-95459BADB69A-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7D619D43-3E91-479A-9301-95459BADB69A-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7D619D43-3E91-479A-9301-95459BADB69A-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7D619D43-3E91-479A-9301-95459BADB69A.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="503" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Me and Baby O going for a walk, the library at the top of 232 St (now containing my books, Hold On, Let go and High and Wide), me and Leah on a bike ride.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1693" height="505" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EDF54949-39B8-4747-A905-8746A9B0B47F-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EDF54949-39B8-4747-A905-8746A9B0B47F-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EDF54949-39B8-4747-A905-8746A9B0B47F-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EDF54949-39B8-4747-A905-8746A9B0B47F-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EDF54949-39B8-4747-A905-8746A9B0B47F-768x768.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EDF54949-39B8-4747-A905-8746A9B0B47F-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EDF54949-39B8-4747-A905-8746A9B0B47F.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="505" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">My craft and Leah’s craft using our beach combing treasures, me and Chris at Long Beach, BC and a Tofino, BC sunset.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1696" height="505" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9672.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9672.jpg 828w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9672-300x298.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9672-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_9672-768x763.jpg 768w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="508" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Planting purple flowers in honour of Heather.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1697" height="400" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/84714113_2762133440519556_2138307995832942592_o-1.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/84714113_2762133440519556_2138307995832942592_o-1.jpeg 960w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/84714113_2762133440519556_2138307995832942592_o-1-300x235.jpeg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/84714113_2762133440519556_2138307995832942592_o-1-768x601.jpeg 768w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="512" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">The Stardust theatre in Maple Ridge closed in the mid 80s. Photo borrowed from Facebook.</figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p></div></div>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-63185794371645644522020-05-25T14:05:00.000-07:002020-05-25T14:05:10.554-07:00A Wake-up Call and a Win Win Situation <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vIPopsVJvo/XswyhjdiG3I/AAAAAAAAW3k/H6dy25VjjrkagoPuW0nXOPjt3bQSMvHbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="817" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vIPopsVJvo/XswyhjdiG3I/AAAAAAAAW3k/H6dy25VjjrkagoPuW0nXOPjt3bQSMvHbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5493.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
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Post written on April 25, 2020</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The other night (it was about four o’clock in the morning actually), I woke up on fire. I was burning up and my first thought was, “Oh no, the virus!” It lasted about twenty or thirty minutes. It was after that, I realized what had actually happened. Interestingly enough, I had my first hot flash during a pandemic where one of the major symptoms is fever. Relieved, I had a half hearted chuckle when I woke up again a few hours later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Like most people, I’m taking all the precautionary measures to not get this thing. And like most people, I’ve adjusted, pretty much, to the Covid-19 learning curve. This Coronavirus has taught us many things… like wash, wash, WASH your hands and DO NOT touch your face! It has also taught us to be more creative in many ways, including how to stay connected from a distance; for instance, how to celebrate birthdays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The other day while I was driving down a street in my neighbourhood, I saw a little girl on her front yard wearing a beautiful satiny dress. Her mother was on one side of her and a shiny bouquet of balloons on the other. She was glowing in the sunlight, smiling and waving at her party guests… one couple across the street on the corner, perhaps grandparents; another couple about ten feet to the left of them and a few other little clusters of people spread out waving back at the birthday girl, blowing kisses and yelling out their congratulations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">My husband Chris and I have decorated our car four times this month for birthdays. We just keep the signs in the trunk now, and discuss who’s next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s not the worst thing having to adjust your birthday plans and receive kisses blown to you and gifts thrown to you instead of real hugs and long visits. On the other end of the spectrum are the major upsets that come with this situation, like illness, death, grief, loss of jobs and businesses, not being able to receive a warm embrace from family and close friends when experiencing a major life crisis… and so on. And things are naturally put in perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Max Lucado, best-selling author and pastor, in a recent online sermon, said something about holding on to the certainty of God… in contrast to the uncertainty of this weird time we are living in. He used the words, “Hold on,” which gave me an idea that I’ll get to after the next paragraph.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Life is uncertain. We just forget sometimes and then when something like this major upset happens, we are surprised, and reminded, we aren’t in control. It makes me think of my mom, who would alway say, when we made plans, “The Lord willing.” For instance, you’d say something like, “See you on Friday and we will do this or that…” And she would reply, “Yes, the Lord willing.” She would say that because we don’t know what tomorrow holds. James 4:14-15 says: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will do this or that.’” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When Max used the words, “Hold on,” when speaking about the certainty of God, I thought of an old blog post I wrote called, Hold On and Let Go (which inspired the title of my first book). I decided to read it for a recent Story Time on Facebook and Instagram.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I start this blog post by telling how, while driving my late husband Mike to an appointment, I watched him in the rear view mirror of our wheel chair van and observed the content look on his face. I wrote, “I couldn’t help but smile and think how well he rolls with the punches.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I continue to tell how some people had commented on what a difficult time we must be going through, but I didn’t see it that way. I convey how it had been difficult at times, but not necessary a difficult time. I proceed, “It’s been a time to put things in proper perspective. It’s a process for sure, but we are learning how to hold on and let go. We let go of things in our lives that hinder and distract us, like worry and fear; and we hold on to things that enhance and beautify our lives like faith, hope, love, family and God.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Then I mention how good things come from bad things all the time and how God has done it with ALS in our lives a lot, and I quote Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…” And then I conclude by reminding my readers that no one is exempt from difficult times, troubles and trials, and that those things accelerate growth and learning, and that’s why adversity is a good thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">After I read Hold On and Let Go, I proceeded with something like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When Mike was diagnosed with ALS, it felt like a wake-up call. I’ve been comparing it to what we are going through right now. Some of us might feel like this is a wake up call. Perhaps many of us are asking what we can learn and what we should learn from this experience. We are probably gaining new perspective and focusing on what matters most.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I often call my stories, lessons in letting go. “Mike had to let go of working, walking, talking, eating, moving, and slowly he let go of breathing, and slowly we all let go of him.” But long before that, Mike and I had both put our faith and trust in Jesus. At different times in our lives we had accepted Jesus as our Lord, Saviour and Friend. So even though Mike didn’t want to let go of his life here on earth, Mike had a hope—a Living Hope, and a home in heaven. And that is what brought him so much joy and contentment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Mike said on a number of occasions that his situation was a win-win situation. He said that if our prayers were answered and he was healed of ALS, that would be a WIN for sure. But he said if he wasn’t healed of ALS, that was also a WIN because his hope and home was in heaven and he knew he was going to be with Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We learn to let go of things early in life, and the letting go only accelerates over time. We eventually have to let go of everything, but here’s some good news: Jesus is everlasting! If you are looking for something to hold on to — a Living Hope and certainty of a home in heaven; forgiveness of sins, God’s presence and contentment, you might want to consider looking to Jesus. And there is no better time than now, to say YES to Him… to open your heart and accept Him as Lord, Saviour and Friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">That’s pretty much how that story time went. I told it over the Easter weekend, so I did say, “There is no better time than Easter time to say YES to Jesus.” But of course, any time is a good time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 2:21: “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So anyway, besides the one hot flash, I haven’t had any other symptoms of this virus and my health is great. I praise God everyday for that, because only He knows what tomorrow holds. My husband Chris and I are taking advantage of the extra time we have these days and are spending more time in prayer. We are praying for many people who aren’t experiencing good health like we are… those isolated and alone… those in crisis and can’t receive a big hug from a close friend… those grieving, struggling, suffering, anxious, afraid, financially not okay—and on it goes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Chris and I count our blessings every day and thank God we aren’t alone… and that no one is alone. God is with us all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I hope you are able to count some blessings every day, and know you aren’t alone! Please feel free to leave any prayer requests in the comments or Facebook messenger or Instagram message.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">God bless you and I’ll see you next time… the Lord willing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I leave you with today’s Bible verse from my Bible App. It’s the verse that has been on my mind since this pandemic started, “Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10. But I love the Message Bible wording, which goes like this: “Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across His knee. ‘Step out of traffic! Take a long, loving look at Me, your High God, above politics, above everything.’”</span></div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-21612635216636867792020-04-03T23:20:00.001-07:002020-04-03T23:24:16.966-07:00The Week I Stopped Praying and How it Strengthened my Faith<div style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Originally posted to my blog on my website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a> on March 20, 2020</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Check out my books here on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadine-Sands/e/B00TSV6LKA">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">While watching church on TV the Sunday before last, the story was told of Paul and Silas. I thought how fitting a story it is to tie in with this blog post… </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Apostle Paul, missionary and writer of about half the New Testament of the Bible, was no stranger to hardships. Not only was he imprisoned numerous times, he was beaten, pelted with stones, shipwrecked more than once, without food and water for long periods of time, often on the run, and the list goes on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In this particular story, Paul and his buddy, Silas, while on a missionary trip, were attacked by a crowd, stripped and beaten with rods, flogged, and thrown into prison. They were assigned their own guard and their feet were put in stocks (from Acts 16:22-24). Then there’s this: “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” Acts 16:25-26</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Under these extremely harsh circumstances, it would have been understandable for these two men to grumble, complain, even curse God’s name. Instead, they sang. They praised Him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Last year around this time, while I was really buckling down to complete my second book, while I was writing and researching, I came across a quote that really caught my eye. I didn’t use it in my book, but I did apply it to my life. The quote by Billy Graham goes like this, “I believe that the greatest form of prayer is praise to God.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s a simple quote, nothing I hadn’t already heard or believed, but it spoke to me. It beckoned, “Try it.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">On a regular basis, I start praying with praise. Often, when I wake up—first things first, I thank God for a new day. Sometimes, before I even open my eyes, I lift His name on high, by giving him credit for life and breath, a roof over my head, a comfortable bed, food in the fridge, clean running water, and so on. And then at some point after that, I fill His ears with all my requests. When I read this quote by Billy Graham, I felt led to put the requests aside for a little while. He is God after all, I thought, He knows what I, and those I pray for, need. I’ll admit it though, I’m a big “asker,” so I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When my husband Chris, who is also my daily prayer partner, was away with my dad in Malawi last year, I thought it was perfect timing to try this plan to stop praying. Or, I should say, to stop asking. It indeed was not easy, to say the least; it was difficult to not ask for anything. But over the days, with practice, it got easier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When I was tempted to ask for a friend’s healing, I instead praised God that He knew all about my friend and what she was dealing with, and I praised Him for His faithfulness to supply for all her needs. When I was tempted to ask God to provide the miracle another friend was desperately seeking, I instead applauded Him for being the inventor of miracles—a God able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask for, imagine or dream. For the sick, I thanked Him for being the great Physician. For the lonely, I thanked Him for being an exceptional companion. For the grief stricken, I thanked Him for being an outstanding source of comfort. And on it went. I quoted scripture and sang praise songs and hymns like, Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father… I didn’t even ask Him to forgive me when I was convicted of something I felt led to confess. Instead, I just simply whispered, “I am sorry.” And thanked Him for His forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I was content knowing God has heard every prayer I’ve prayed throughout my life and that He has answered, or is answering each one according to His will. And like the birds of the air, even more so, He feeds you and me, and like the lilies of the field, he clothes us (from Matthew 6). And that His Spirit intercedes for us and strengthens us in our weakness (from Romans 8)… Again, another list in the making.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Those seven days were really something special. I was so humbled, my faith was strengthened, joy overflowed in me and I felt absolutely free! Which brings me back to Paul and Silas and the power of their singing: while they humbly praised God, prison doors opened and chains were broken. And what struck me is that all the prison doors were opened and all prisoners freed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">This incredible story goes on to tell us that they didn’t flee. They stayed put. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors open, thinking they had all escaped, he drew his sword in order to kill himself. Paul called out though, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Then in verse 29-30 it says, “The jailer called for a light, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…’” vs 31</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It goes on to say that the jailer washed the men’s wounds, he fed them, and it says he was filled with joy because he and his whole family had come to believe in God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Like my personal experience revealed to me, and what the strong evidence of this story reveals to all of us is, there is power in honouring God. It sets the praiser/prisoner free and even those around them listening. It produces joy and peace. It also has the power to save (like the jailer in the story). The thing about praise is that it magnifies God and it humbles us; it reminds us of our dependancy on Him. Praise also: invites His presence, pushes back darkness and depression, it leaves no room for grumbling or complaining and alleviates worry and fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">To those who praise God, I encourage you to keep it up! To those who rarely do or never have, I just want to say, it’s not difficult. You can start by putting your mind on Him. Think of things you are grateful for, and simply say, “Thank you.” Give him the credit for life and breath, a roof over your head, a comfortable bed, food in the fridge, clean running water… And praise Him for His love that nothing can separate you from…</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?…No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love…” Apostle Paul, Romans 8:35-38</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A few verses for us to refer to or quote in our daily praise:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You. I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer.” Psalm. 63:3-4</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Come, and let us sing for joy to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.” Psalm 95:1</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” Psalm. 103:2-4</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Since Covid 19, Chris and I have been praying for the countries most affected, for everyone affected; all the medical professionals, essential service workers, government leaders; those grieving, those worried, those sick, afraid, anxious and isolated; those who have lost their jobs and those struggling to keep their businesses afloat; those without money and those without hope. So, needless to say, we are probably covering everybody.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We have also been praying that we (each one of us) will learn what it is we are meant to learn from this. The word “humility” keeps coming, among others. The situation we find ourselves in now, is very humbling, to say the least. Early on, it reminded me of my late husband, Mike. When he was diagnosed with ALS, he called it a humbling experience. He gave thanks for it because he said it would teach him to rely more on God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A couple of weeks ago, I felt compelled to read a story from my first book to my Instagram and Facebook friends. It’s a story I wrote about Mike shortly after his ALS diagnoses, called, Mike’s Glass is Half Full. Many who tuned in, asked for more stories, so I’ve read a few more since then, and now this one. In that first post I wrote: “I call this story, A Glass Half Full… about the late and greatly inspiring Michael Sands… A humbling experience, plus a positive attitude and faith in God, equals hope and chins up.” (The picture at the top of the page is from my latest video.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Mike was a big “give thanks in all circumstances” kind of guy, as was the Apostle Paul, who displayed it well in the story we just read about him and Silas in jail, and who wrote, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">So now, about another missionary, my dad, who’s birthday is today (March 30). We, his family, would like to wish our 82 year young missionary dad, grandpa, great grandpa, a very Happy Birthday. Because of restrictions on travel, Chris, Elanna, Dad and I were unable to go to Malawi like we had planned for mid-March, but thankfully the 4 wells were still drilled, which makes more than 50 wells drilled through dad’s and mom’s society, Project Wellness. Keep up the great work Dad! We are so proud of you and wish you another successful, hope-filled, joyful, healthy, safe and blessed year! </span></div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-27891205303030871962020-04-03T23:04:00.001-07:002020-04-03T23:04:14.888-07:00He Makes My Heart Sing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: black;">Originally posted to my blog on my website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a> on March 5, 2020</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: black;">Photo credit: <a href="https://www.warinmariephotography.com/?fbclid=IwAR0QZSdYRabScFw6e3yH-_wdSOxt1lfkByj4v_smfeskvGJWiN0ed8A3QCQ"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #be1c53;">Warin Marie Photography</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Four years ago yesterday, and I’m not good with dates, but I won’t forget this one. It’s the only day of the year that tells you to do something—March 4th! I actually posted that exact quote on Facebook that morning, and then in the evening, received a message that challenged me to do just that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’ve told this story a number of times before, but it’s definitely worth repeating. Here are the Coles Notes: I was trying to mentally prepare that night for a speech I was giving at a conference the next day. Battling fear and doubt, I took a time-out to check my email and messages etc. There, to my pleasant surprise, was a message from a man I didn’t know. It was his story of love, loss and how my writing helped in his healing process. He wanted to say thank you and wish me well at the conference. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">He wrote that he had hoped to attend the conference so he could tell me his story in person and have me sign his copy of my book, but unfortunately he had to work. He explained how he found my book — that he saw it from across the store on a wall of many books, and that mine was the only one he could see. The look of love on the cover called him over, and the title, <i>Hold On, Let Go</i>, spoke, “I can help you.” He told me, it was true—it did help him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I was a grieving widow, 14 months in, and never in my wildest dreams did I expect this: a man that made my heart sing. The singing grew stronger as I got to know him. It was like talking to an old friend during our first telephone conversation. Quickly, I was smitten … I think it’s safe to say, it was even quicker for him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Our feelings of “like, like” became “love” almost over night, and I learned that I was capable of loving another man, even though I would always love Mike. I also learned that, although I would never “move on” from Mike, I was able to carry on. “Moving forward,” (or March forth) became my motto, and l continue to march forth, with Mike forever in my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Fourteen months after Chris sent me that message, he and I got married, and I can’t imagine my life without him. I am extremely grateful for Chris and for his vulnerability and courage to reach out to me, and to God, for His mercy, generosity and extravagant love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The store Chris found my book at is the House of James Christian book store (and gifts and cafe) in Abbotsford, B.C. I am going to be there this Saturday (March 7) selling and signing books and Chris is coming with me! Come see us and spend a little time at the House of James (2743 Emerson St). </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Below: the first 2 pictures are from my recent book signing at Indigo in Langley, B.C. and the others are from my book signing last Saturday at T’s / Once Upon a Tea Leaf, here in Maple Ridge.</span></div>
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You can also purchase my books online at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadine-Sands/e/B00TSV6LKA">Amazon</a>, Indigo or Goodreads!</div>
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A huge thank you goes to the Maple Ridge News for the beautiful article in last weeks paper. Here’s the link: <a href="https://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/maple-ridge-author-shares-four-year-story-of-grief-hope/?fbclid=IwAR3KGRZYtUiYpaaC7NmSJEDKrKH4Pk8KAyIA4B8bAioMUaGIxPQVYJaU-h0" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc3366; text-decoration: none;">Maple Ridge author shares story of grief, hope</a></div>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1620" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_4155-1024x768.jpg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_4155-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_4155-300x225.jpg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_4155-768x576.jpg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_4155-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_4155-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;"><br /></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">One more thing, if you have read one or both of my books and found them beneficial in any way, or just good reads, I’d really appreciate you leaving a review on Amazon (and/or Indigo or Goodreads). Thanks a million!</span></figure>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-52904379992316268172020-02-21T23:18:00.000-08:002020-04-03T23:06:16.158-07:00Little Me, Big You: Anxiety and Fear vs. Love and Truth<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.9rem;">
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While lying face up on the acupuncture table the other day, with needles in my cheeks, ears, head and hands, I felt more vulnerable than I have since I don’t know when. Usually I lay on my stomach, with my face in the hole and needles in my neck and shoulders. </div>
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I added acupuncture to my repertoire of physical therapy last summer, to manage the pain in my neck. Yes, the literal pain in my neck, caused by two slipped discs. I was somewhat sceptical at first, but it helped (whether it was the needles alone, Doctor M’s positive attitude, or a combination of the two, it was (and is) helpful). </div>
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In the waiting room, at my first appointment, while scanning the brochure of all the things acupuncture is good for, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">anxiety</em> jumped out at me. I took a mental note for future reference.</div>
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Well, the future has come and when I recently explained my fear of flying (mostly the take-off) to Doctor M, and told him I’m going all the way to Malawi, Africa soon, he replied, “This has helped others. Why not you?” He told me that I’m doing everything right to prepare for a flight (prayer, imagery, Scripture reciting, breathing etc) and, that adding acupuncture will simply strengthen my nervous system. I’m slightly sceptical again, but I will try whatever I can. </div>
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This next thought might sound weird, but perhaps you can relate. It’s like David, up against a Goliath of a giant with just a measly slingshot. But if it worked for David, why not us?</div>
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I knew in my heart that one day I’d be going back to Malawi. After ten years, that day is fast approaching. (I have flown numerous times since then, but this trip is 3 flights there and 4 flights back.) Plans are set for me and my sister Elanna, to accompany our dad and my husband Chris, to Malawi in March. We’ll be visiting Mike’s and our mom’s memorial wells and drilling four new ones – which will make over 50 water wells drilled through Dad and Mom’s ministry, <a href="https://www.projectwellness.ca/" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc3366; text-decoration: none;">Project Wellness</a>. I am so looking forward to many things I fondly remember about that place, mostly the beautiful faces, but the dread of flying unfortunately overshadows all the incredible things.</div>
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After pouring my heart out to Doctor M, while he strategically inserted the needles in those places I earlier mentioned, he reiterated that if acupuncture can help his other patients, it can help me too. He dimmed the lights and as he left the room, he matter-of-factly, but gently concluded, “You need to change your memory, change your mind, and start looking forward to your time in the sky.” He assured me it’s all possible.</div>
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I believe with my whole being that anything is possible with God. I have a strong faith in Him and that is why I find this fear so hard to wrap my mind around. This time though, lying face up on that table, I didn’t feel like I had to justify it or figure it out, and when the door closed and I was left alone, I felt far from alone. God filled the room and I whispered, “Here we are God—little me, big You.” Instantly, there were tears (surprise, surprise); I could see the ends of the needles in my blurry peripheral view, so I resisted wiping them.</div>
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I didn’t feel guilty because of a “lack of faith.” I didn’t feel weak or ashamed. I just felt human; a humbled one in the presence of God. I felt like a little girl confiding in her Dad. I prayed and pictured His big strong hand holding the airplane up high in the sky and smiling at me through the window. (I’ve used this imagery for years, like a child holding a toy plain, flying it through the air with joy and love.)</div>
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Whether I overcome this fear of flying or not, He will supply everything I need for the purposes He has for me in this life. He will never leave my side, and I will always be His and He will always be mine.</div>
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Shortly after my book launched, I bumped into a friend who congratulated me and mentioned how in awe she was that I had published my second book. She also said, “I could never write a book.” This friend had just accomplished something huge herself (much bigger in my opinion). I congratulated her and said I could never do what she did. I told her that when you have a purpose and passion for something and really feel called to that something, that something becomes doable, even up against a million obstacles (including fear). She agreed.</div>
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We will be given what we need when we need it to accomplish His purposes and plans for our lives. It won’t necessarily be easy, it’s rarely easy. It might be scary, painful, overwhelming, exhausting, costly, but it will be doable with God’s help (and quite likely, awesome).</div>
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As Mike became paralyzed due to the effects of ALS, he clung to this truth: you have purpose, as long as you have breath. Whatever your purpose is right now, whether you think it’s something large or something small, know this truth: God will see you through. He will provide, He will never leave you high and dry… </div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”</em> Philippines 4:19</div>
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The Bible says, “Fear not,” or, “don’t be afraid,” 365 times—once for every day. It also contains a very powerful antidote for anxiety: prayer! This truth comes from Philippines 4:6-7 <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Do not be anxious about anything, instead, pray about everything. With thanksgiving present your requests to God and He will provide peace that surpasses all understanding.”</em></div>
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As much as I hate this anxiety/fear when it comes to flying, it has been used for good in my life. It has brought me closer to God and it has given me empathy for others who struggle with it. If you’re one of those who suffers with anxiety, you’re not alone and I hope you don’t suffer alone. I’m no pro, but I’d say, definitely talk to someone. Talk to your doctor and/or a counsellor, or at least a friend; exercise and some people need medication. This anxiety/fear you are dealing with, isn’t a sign of weakness, or a lack of faith. Not at all, it’s just a sign you’re human. </div>
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And don’t forget to pray!</div>
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Other truths that might help you and me face our fears to fulfill our calling and accomplish everything He has in store for us:</div>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1590" height="629" sizes="(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fullsizeoutput_15f-950x1024.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fullsizeoutput_15f-950x1024.jpeg 950w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fullsizeoutput_15f-278x300.jpeg 278w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fullsizeoutput_15f-768x828.jpeg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fullsizeoutput_15f-1425x1536.jpeg 1425w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fullsizeoutput_15f-1899x2048.jpeg 1899w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="583" /></figure><br />
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out all fear.” </em>1 John 4:18</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” </em>1 Peter 5:7</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” </em>Deuteronomy 3:18</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” </em>Isaiah 41:13</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” </em>Psalm 94:18-19</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Upcoming Book Signings:</span> I am happy to announce 3 upcoming book signings:</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Langley</span> – Indigo: Sun, Feb 23/20 – 1:00 – 3:00</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Maple Ridge</span> – T’s Tea and Gift Shop: Sat, Feb 29/20 – 11:00 – 2:00</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Abbotsford</span> – House of James Books : Sat, Mar 7/20 – 11:00 – 1:00</div>
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Last, but not least, I’d like to say another huge thank you to the Toronto and Vancouver Book Fairies, who each placed 5 copies of my books in various locations around the cities for lucky finders on Indie Author Day, which was also Mike’s birthday – January 16th. (Toronto is Mike’s hometown.) It was a very fun way to celebrate his birthday. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone now for 5 birthdays. </div>
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<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4;">CN tower in Toronto on the left and the steam clock in Gastown, Vancouver on the right. Just a couple of the amazing locations, on this gorgeous day, where my books were placed to be found. See more pictures on my Facebook page.</figcaption><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></figcaption><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></figcaption><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></figcaption></figure>Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-17809515493914159072020-01-05T21:41:00.002-08:002020-01-23T22:44:58.940-08:00You Are Loved! In Memory of Michael Sands, 5 Years in Heaven<div class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.9rem;">
Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a><br />
Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a><br />
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I’ve been volunteering for a few years now at a place called Holyrood Manor. I’ve mentioned it in my writing before. My sister Elanna works there. I take Chris’ and my dog, Leo, and my daughter Madison’s dog, Glen. With big smiles, the dogs are always welcomed, here where mostly senior folks reside—many dealing with dementia. I had been there a few times long before I started taking the dogs. I was there to visit my Auntie Bubsy with my mom. I was somewhat traumatized by the place back then. Now, I love going.</div>
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I’ve learned a lot about dementia. I’ve observed my sister, doing what she does so naturally, the work of an extremely caring, patient, understanding person; a hero really. I’ve observed her minister to a desperately distraught individual, helping them go from inconsolable to singing. I call it a gift. She says it doesn’t always last long, but she does what she can to turn a situation around. She never argues with a confused resident. She enters into their world and becomes a part of it. She is trusted and loved. She’s been hit and bit. The work of a hero, like I said.</div>
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There was a time where I thought if I ever got dementia, I wouldn’t want my children to come visit me — I wouldn’t want them to see me that way. My thoughts about it have changed. I realize the necessity for everyone to feel loved and to have someone, even if they forget seconds after the loved-one leaves. </div>
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I realize that, if this were to happen, when my children come to visit me, I might ask where “Dad” is (my late husband Mike who passed away due to ALS). I might go back to a place in my twenties or thirties. If that happens, I’d like them to tell me he’s at home and he’s coming soon to see me. Or that he’s working or has a soccer game. Please don’t tell me he passed away. Then I’ll have to mourn the loss of him over and over again. </div>
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Here’s the thing, I’m convinced I’ll never forget him. It’s not going to happen. He’s embedded in my memory and in my heart. Mike will always be a part of me, right into my old age. Even if my brain fails me, I’ll be thinking about him and talking about him. And his love will never leave me.</div>
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I’ve been wracking my brain for a few months about how to honour him on the fifth anniversary of his passing (Jan 5, 2020). Should we do a family get-away? Should we have a memorial bench put in one of his favourite places? Things like that. Right up until a few days ago, I had no idea and then it hit me. Do what he did best, love those considered “the least of these.”</div>
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You see, Mike had a huge heart for the marginalized (defined: a person or group treated as insignificant or peripheral). Mike was a registered nurse who specialized in psychiatric care. I’ve bragged about that before — you might remember. But, what I perhaps haven’t mentioned is that on numerous occasions, his coworkers told me that he was often mistaken for a patient (at both of his places of work – Riverview Hospital and Sunrise). It’s okay if you laugh. I laughed too. But it wasn’t a surprise.</div>
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I remember watching Mike at Riverview when I was there to visit him, playing pool with some patients. He became a part of them. He drew near to them. He wore clothes like them. He joked with them, He never talked above them, he talked to them like a friend. The work of a hero; I saw for myself, many times. Yes, at home he told stories and would laugh. In that line of work, I came to realize quickly that you coped sometimes by laughing. The alternative was frustration, sadness, maybe anger, maybe quitting.</div>
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Mike’s love for those with psychiatric disabilities, mental illness, addiction and so forth wasn’t limited to his 7-3 or 3-11 or 11-7 shifts; it existed when he was off the clock as well. He liked going downtown (Vancouver) on Christmas Eve to hand out McDonald bucks ($1 gift certificates they sold years ago). He’d buy 100 of them. He thought everyone should at least have a hot coffee or hot chocolate on Christmas Eve. Mike and I would take granola bars, other snacks and change when we went downtown throughout the year. He donated to the food bank and Salvation Army and so on. </div>
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The message this Christmas Eve, preached by Pastor Ezra at Northview Church in Mission, had two points. 1) Jesus came near. 2) Jesus is always with us. I’ve been thinking about Mike and point number one. Mike came near. Regarding those that most of society shied away from, even shunned, he drew near them. He loved them similarly to the way Jesus loves them — the way Jesus loves everyone. He didn’t criticize or judge them, he just drew near them and was a friend.</div>
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Mike realized the necessity for everyone to feel loved and to have someone. Mike demonstrated this wonderful kind of love to me and our children, he made it plain. And so, on this fifth anniversary of his passing, we will simply do the same. We will draw near and love like he did.</div>
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About Jesus, He came down from heaven and become one of us. Experiencing pain and persecution, grief and death like us. He is full of mercy and compassion because of it. He can relate with everything you’ve been through and everything still to come. My suggestion for a more peaceful, joyful, content New Year (if that’s something you’re hoping for), is to allow Him to draw near. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” (James 4:8) and rest assured, “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)</div>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1559" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fullsizeoutput_11d-1024x769.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fullsizeoutput_11d-1024x769.jpeg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fullsizeoutput_11d-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fullsizeoutput_11d-768x577.jpeg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fullsizeoutput_11d-1536x1154.jpeg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fullsizeoutput_11d-2048x1539.jpeg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">The kids and I will hand these little care packages out around town on the 5th – Mike’s fifth anniversary, and perhaps a few other days throughout January. They contain socks (Mike always gave socks to his patients on Christmas) and gloves (which my mom would love. She always had some in her car because she hated seeing people’s cold hands on bicycle handlebars). We invite you to do something similar this month if you’d like to. Whether it be in memory/honour of Mike or someone you are missing at this time of year. </figcaption></figure><br />
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On another note, but the same note really, a huge shout out goes to my co-workers at Alexander Robinson Elementary, who gave Christmas gifts to some of the residents at Holyrood this year. These amazing ladies wanted to bless people that perhaps weren’t going to get gifts this Christmas. These women with huge hearts full of love, did just that. Thank you so much!</div>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1560" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2643-1024x768.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2643-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2643-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2643-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2643-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2643-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1561" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" src="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2645-768x1024.jpeg" srcset="https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2645-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2645-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2645-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2645-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://nadinesands.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_2645-scaled.jpeg 1920w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Elanna receiving the gifts a few days before Christmas. The residents were so blessed Christmas morning… surprised and so incredibly blessed!</figcaption></figure><br />
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Happy Anniversary to our dear Mike. We miss you so much! And Happy New Year everyone! </div>
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Jesus said, “What you did for the lease of these, that you did for me.” Matt 25:40</div>
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**Find my books at <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a> and blog and more at <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></div>
Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-31780799107784989362019-12-28T22:07:00.000-08:002020-01-23T22:43:59.978-08:00Joyful (even giddy sometimes) but Grieving <div class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.9rem;">
My latest blog post is just below. I haven't posted anything on his blogger site for a long time, but I just wanted to make sure, that everyone who lands here knows where to find my latest blog posts. Here is the link to my website,<br />
<a href="https://nadinesands.com/" target="_blank">nadinesands.com</a> where you can find my blog and books, including my latest release, <i>High and Wide: When Grief and Love Collide. Link to my Amazon author page: </i><a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></div>
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Thanks for being here. I hope you enjoy this piece called, Joyful (even giddy sometimes) but Grieving...</div>
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My husband, Chris, and I exchanged a certain look the other night while we were getting ready for bed. It was a look that inspired me to quickly finish brushing my teeth and go find my hairbrush so I could fix the disheveled ponytail on my head. As I giddily hurried to the other bathroom, a picture on a shelf on our bedroom wall really caught my attention. I instantly bursted into tears and had this thought: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nadine, you are grieving.</em></div>
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This framed photo of my mom and me, that I see every day — numerous times, makes me smile a lot. It makes me cry once in a while, and often I don’t even notice it. But this time, as I passed by it I was reminded that many of us, to some degree, are grieving, and Christmas is the time of year we probably feel it the most.</div>
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It’s called the most wonderful time of the year, but for a lot of folks, it’s the most difficult. I’m just so grateful that it’s possible to be grieving and joyful at the same time. I give God the glory for that. To be grieving but joyful (even giddy sometimes) is a gift from God.</div>
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I’m not always that thrilled to be a person who writes about grief, but lately I’ve been embracing this calling because ultimately, I’m a conveyor of love. The more you love someone or something, the more you grieve when it’s gone. Love comes first. Love is number one. </div>
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In a recent interview, when I was asked to tell something about my newest book, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">High and Wide</em>, part of my answer went like this: “This is how I’d describe my grief and love journey if I had to draw it: I am me—the size of me. The grief I write about is like the earth—the size of the world. And the love is like the universe—immeasurable, vast beyond comprehension. It’s higher and wider than the sky, bigger than the stars and so on…” I share part of the synopsis from the back of my book and then I conclude my answer with this: “For me, the journey of grief and love is a never-ending and ever-expanding one.” <a href="https://www.influencepublishing.com/continued-grief-love-journey-led-write-book-interview-author-nadine-sands/?fbclid=IwAR0_kA3nfA9RCoJPuJOjCyC0LUXaMicfeswneCSNtKyKUXsj_fsdqt8SyiQ" target="_blank">Click here for the full interview.</a></div>
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Since my book launched one month ago, I have received a lot of great feedback. Considering it’s all been from family and friends, it might be somewhat biased, but regardless, I believe it. I believe it because I think this book is amazing. It’s hard for me to say that because I hate to sound like I’m bragging, but let’s face it, no author would publish their book if they didn’t think it was good. And this book is really good. It contains many lessons—golden nuggets you could say, many wonders of God. I believe there is something in it for everyone.</div>
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Anyway, among the great feedback, the thing people have told me the most is, that they couldn’t put it down. I love hearing that. In a recent email, my Uncle Larry told me that when he awoke at two o’clock in the morning and got up to get a snack, he saw my book on the table and decided to start reading it. He said he read it until 8:00am, got ready for an appointment, went and came home again to finish reading my book. (Apologies to my uncle Larry for disclosing the part about the 2:00am snack.)</div>
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This will be my late husband Mike’s fifth Christmas in heaven (he passed away Jan 5, 2015 with ALS). It’s hard to believe it’s our fifth Christmas without him. When I see beautiful Christmas lights, I just want to show him. The large stocking we took turns filling is a prized possession. Wrapped presents are a reminder he guessed every gift he got before he opened it. Platters of goodies remind me of when the kids and I would meet him where he worked as a nurse and helped him hand out presents to the residents. The list of Christmas memories goes on and on, and as painful as his passing can still be for me, the treasured memories and the amazing love we shared will fill my heart with joy until I breathe my last breath.”</div>
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As human beings, we are in a perpetual state of holding on and letting go. Things and people aren’t permanent. The only thing that is permanent is what this season is all about. I hope and pray that even though you may be grieving to some extent, you can also experience the joy of the season because the season is about love; love as immeasurable as the universe—the high and wide, King-sized love of Jesus. </div>
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Love came down at Christmas, and this Baby in a manger became the Saviour of the world… “This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.” 1 John 4:10</div>
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I end with a bit of a sales pitch. Considering many of the people around us are grieving in some way and considering everyone needs to know they are loved unconditionally and immeasurably, my book, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">High and Wide: When Grief and Love Collide</em>, makes a great gift for someone special on your list (or for yourself). You can get my new book, or my first book, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hold On, Let Go: Facing ALS With Courage and Hope</em>, on my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadine-Sands/e/B00TSV6LKA" target="_blank">Amazon author page</a> and my website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a> or at any major online retailer.</div>
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If you live locally (Maple Ridge, BC/Metro Vancouver area), you can get it from me or:</div>
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T’s/Once Upon a Tea Leaf on 224th St in Maple Ridge</div>
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Black Bond Books in Valley Fair Mall, Maple Ridge</div>
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Bean Around Books on Lougheed Hwy in Maple Ridge and</div>
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House of James Books in Abbotsford, BC</div>
Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-42814814015616891712015-05-20T23:02:00.001-07:002020-01-23T22:09:19.958-08:00Words He Lived By<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<i><b>**After this post, you will find all my future posts on my new website,</b></i> <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a> <b><i>Here is my Amazon author page: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadine-Sands/e/B00TSV6LKA" target="_blank">Amazon author Nadine Sands</a></i></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Madison and I are almost done our four week practicum for the SETA (Special Education Teacher Assistant) program (also known as Education Assistant) and we are both thoroughly enjoying it. We didn’t choose what school we would be at, but we are both pleased with where we were placed. You could definitely tell on Friday afternoon which one of us is at a high school and which one is at an elementary school. I was wearing black capri pants, a white blouse, a jean jacket and a pair of Vans. Madison had stickers on her face, and was wearing a neon shirt, rainbow pants and running shoes - it was fun day at her school and the theme was rainbows. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">During Christmas break, when I suggested to Mike that I not return to the SETA program and perhaps finish at a later date, he replied with the words he lived by, “Don’t quit!” He spelled it out a few times over the course of a couple of weeks. It’s a statement he modelled everyday since he was diagnosed with ALS…ever since I knew him actually.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike always delighted in the things I did. He always encouraged me and believed in me. There was even a few times I was mad at him for not stopping me from pursuing something that didn’t lead to a successful outcome. But looking back now, it was all successful to him because even if I failed, I grew. Success to him was becoming the woman I am and the woman I’m yet to be. I guess he thought the accomplishments, the mistakes and everything in between was all pretty great because it’s what’s shaped me into me. And he just loved me so much.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anyway, I’m so glad I didn’t quit. Not for the obvious reason that I am so close to being done, but because Mike would be so proud of me. He’d say, “See, I told you you could do it.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It’s kind of weird how life goes on. Mike passed away Jan 5 and every day that comes and goes from then is another day further away from him. I feel like I just let go of him and now all this time and space separates us. He’s all orientated in his new place and my life here moves on. I wish time could stop for a little while to keep the distance from growing.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When Mike passed, I got this glimpse of heaven and for a couple of weeks after, everything here seemed so ridiculous. Everything paled in comparison to that little glimpse I got. I remember laying on Mike’s reclining chair listening to the TV, thinking, “Really?” This is so dumb! Everything seemed really dumb. When I had fully returned to earth, all of a sudden my life became smaller and my purpose became larger. It just seems more important than ever to make my life count and to make Mike proud of me. Almost everything I do, I think, would this make Mike happy?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m still up pretty late at night. Not 2:00am late, but still late. I take my laptop to bed and listen to music while I write or read or scroll Facebook, I like to drown out the silence - the absence of Mike breathing. Often lately my thoughts as I drift off are of Mike lying in that hospital bed. I think of our last moments together when the angels were gathering him up and I was saying good bye. I wish I could go back and kiss him one more time.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’d like to thank my friend Lori Graham of Six Degrees Marketing for creating my web site for me (on such short notice) and for all the help she has been to me!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m speaking at a woman’s event on Thursday, </span><span style="color: #01178b; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">June 4th</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> at 6:45 at Riverside Community Church - </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1477 Lougheed Highway, Port Coquitlam BC. All women are welcome and there is food, prizes and lots of fun! I've been asked to bring books too.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ALS WALKS: All are welcome to participate on the “I Like Mike” team in Port Coquitlam BC on Sunday, June 7. Our t-shirts this year are bright green. Mike picked the colour with Erin shortly before he passed away - you can order a shirt here: <a href="http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084ba5a92ba5f85-team">http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084ba5a92ba5f85-team</a>. I’ll also have my books available for purchase at the PoCo walk. Some of us will also be participating in the walk in Abbotsford BC, in support of Neil and Donna Hemming and everyone else there facing ALS.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> ALS Walk in Port Coquitlam BC June 2014</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Book sales continue to go well. Local friends can find a few copies still at T’s Once Upon a Tea Leaf and Black Bond Books here in Maple Ridge and House of James Book Store in Abbotsford and of course at Amazon <a href="http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS">http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS</a></span></div>
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<b>Just a reminder that from now on, my blog posts are found at</b> <a data-reactid=".23.$mid=11432185321595=250a16465867266182.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range0:0" href="http://www.alswithcourage.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">www.alswithcourage.com</a></div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-47690197713409007902015-04-30T16:46:00.000-07:002020-01-23T22:41:00.667-08:00Sex, Hugs, Rock & Soul<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The inspiration for my last blog post came from an invitation I got from Wendy Toyer, Executive Director of the ALS Society of BC. She asked me if I would speak at the dinner of an ALS golf tournament in Richmond BC on June 3. She said a portion of the proceeds raised go to care giver programs, so every year they ask a care giver to share.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ve had “caregiver” on my mind since then and what it meant to me to be Mike’s caregiver. I really poured out my heart in that last post and struck a cord with many and perhaps a nerve with some … maybe. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My friend, Pauline said this about the post, “This was lovely Nadine - poignant and just a little risqué too, well done! Your writing just gets better and better with each post. You are a gifted artist - must be all the love spilling over into brilliance. Thank you for sharing your journey and for keeping Mike's memory alive for those who he meant so much to.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I appreciate all the comments I get regarding my blog posts. They help me connect with my readers and they help me grow as a writer and as a person. Pauline is an avid reader. She knows books and good writing, so her comment meant a lot. (She’s mentioned in the “Acknowledgements” in my book along with a few other friends who read my manuscript before or during the editing phase. I call them my “Sounding Board”).</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When I read her comment, I thought, “Yes, it’s risqué!” But I wasn’t necessarily going for that when I wrote it. I could have just as easily called it, “Hot Dogs and Head Rubs”. The point that I was making was that Mike was easy to please, and his easy and up-beat attitude helped make it a joy to take care of him.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anyway, my “risqué” blog post got more hits in a 24 hour period than any other post with the exception of the posts Mike and I each wrote during the Ice Bucket Challenge last August. So I guess a risqué title draws people in, I’ll have to keep that in mind for next time - haha. But here’s what’s important; we made a deeper connection - you and me, not because of the risqué title but because of the raw content. Being somewhat transparent seems to be appreciated. I appreciate it in others too.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Early on in my book I compare myself to my friend Carol, describing her as a “window” and myself as a “wall”. Her transparency drew me in a long time ago. It actually helped inspire me to start blogging. Although, if you told me back in September 2011 when I started ALS With Courage that I’d eventually be slicing my heart open and exposing my soul to the world, I’d say, “You’re crazy.” But here I am, more a window now than a wall.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Some friends have asked me how it feels to open up and “to put it all out there”. My response has been something like this: “When you feel called to share your story, you have to surrender it.” Obviously, there are many things I don’t share, but even though Mike and I were both really private people, we both agreed at a certain point to surrender our story. To not hold back too much which would hopefully help others, not just those with ALS, but anyone experiencing tough times; discouragement, disease, depression, death …</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">At some point you surrender. It’s not about you anymore and touchy subjects … it’s about others. It’s about mothers, daughters, sons, fathers, sisters and brothers, who too, have had their world cave in for one reason or another. To encourage just one, to inspire a couple to keep going…”Don’t give up!” To have faith, to be hopeful, to trust God, to rise above when you feel like digging a hole and jumping in, to give thanks in every ugly circumstance and to keep looking up.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>“I was sliding down into the pit and He pulled me out. He brought me up out of the mud and dirt. He set my feet on a rock. He gave me a firm place to stand on.” </i>Psalm 40:2</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ve been asked to speak at a woman’s event at Riverside Church in Port Coquitlam BC and believe it or not, it’s the night after the golf tournament (so please pray for me). The topic is “Bravery”. So with some fear and possibly a little trembling, I’ll get up there and talk about what being brave means to me. Perhaps I’ll talk about being a nice, big, bright window, because for me, that takes a lot of courage.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here are a few other comments I received after my last blog post:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Beautifully written. I am a social worker with ALS patients and sex can be a difficult topic for some to discuss as ALS changes develop. Thanks for addressing this!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I returned a message to this social worker telling her that I very briefly touch on the subject in the last chapter of my book. Mike and I thought it was important to share that even in the final stages of ALS, there was still a physical aspect to our relationship and although I really missed being hugged and held, we never lost intimacy and there was always lots and lots of love.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A few other comments:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Very inspiring Nadine. Following this has given me some peace in a way I didn't anticipate. Even though it has been twelve years since my mother passed from ALS. In a strange way seeing how others face this horrible disease with such courage lets me know our family and my mom were not alone. She had to have been so scared yet she never complained or asked why me. Mike was lucky to have you as his caretaker. Incredibly difficult task few can do.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“ALS will bring the most courageous person to their knees because you feel so helpless to do anything for the person you love. God gives you strength you didn't know you had to finish a journey you never wanted to go on. I miss my wife so much it makes my heart ache with each passing day without her. God bless!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here is one more comment I just got today - it’s about my book. It’s from Scott McComb, a man who lives here in Maple Ridge with his family - and he lives with ALS. He was diagnosed with “probable” ALS Feb 21, 2013. I went to school with him and his brother. I think they were a grade and two grades ahead of me, I’m not sure. Anyway, they both showed up at my book signing at Save-On-Foods. Scott and his wife came first. When I said good bye to the person ahead of them and then looked up and saw Scott standing right in front of me, I was speechless. He and his wife were kind of speechless too. I didn’t know what to say. “You’re so brave!”? I didn’t say it, but that’s what I was thinking. When his brother, Neil came, again not much was said. You just kind of look at each other and know.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anyway, this is Scott's message, “Hey Nadine I wanted to tell you that I really appreciated reading your book. It hit home with me. I can only imagine how much effort and emotion and sleepless nights it took. You both have inspired me to see what is important in life and to stay strong. Best wishes to you and your family. Thanks.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thank you Scott! Your message made my day. I know Mike would be very happy too. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike and I both agreed if we inspired or encouraged or helped even one person with our story, it would be well worth sharing.</span></div>
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My next book siging is Satuday May 2 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at T's/Once Upon a Tea Leaf - Tea and Gift shop on 224th St in Maple Ridge. A specal tea will be available called, 'To the Moon and Back' tea with proceeds going to ALS. Thanks Cindy, owner of T's and Shayna for inviting me! <br />
Here's a link to my book on Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadine-Sands/e/B00TSV6LKA" target="_blank">Amazon author page</a><br />
Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a><br />
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-10221315962787761222015-04-18T19:18:00.000-07:002020-01-23T22:39:57.917-08:00Spaghetti and Quickies<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a><br />
Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I love love. Happy couples make me smile. My favourite movies are the ones where the boy gets the girl and they live happily ever after. In real life we know that “happily ever after” doesn’t exist. Good relationships take a lot of work and sometimes they are happy, sometimes sad, sometimes mad, and sometimes they are simply perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A few years into our marriage, I thought I had it all figured out. I quickly caught on to the secret of a happy relationship. I realized that if I put my husband before myself and committed my life to making him happy, he would be happy. And if he was happy and had all his needs met, he’d reciprocate. Simple, right? In theory it’s simple, in reality, not so much. It’s a little more complicated than that, especially when you’re selfish like me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike was easy to please; a plate of spaghetti and a “quickie” and he was more than happy. I wasn’t that easy. I’m not talking about spaghetti and quickies, not at all because, a) I’m gluten free, so I don’t eat spaghetti and b) Quickies are for men, I think most women enjoy going slow. What I mean is, I was more difficult to please. I was more selfish than he was. And even though in my heart I believed my “put him first” plan was the best way to a successful marriage, I often veered from “the plan” with the attitude, “what about me?”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Throughout my marriage, when I struggled with “the plan”, I prayed that the Lord would help me. Serving others and denying yourself is tough, it’s a process — it’s a practice that doesn’t always come easy. So, I prayed, and well, you know what they say, “Be careful what you wish for.” In March of 2011, God said, “Here’s your opportunity.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With God’s help and the help of family and home care support, I joyfully served my husband unselfishly for almost four years while his health declined from the effects of ALS. I didn’t really have a choice in taking care of him, but I had a choice in the “joyfully” part, although, Mike made it easy to serve him with a joyful heart. Don’t get me wrong, taking care of him wasn’t easy. It was a challenge every single day and sometimes I thought I might break. It's amazing how only three and a half months have gone by since Mike passed away and I’ve already forgotten how excruciating </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">caring for a man with ALS can be</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. Its kind of like after having a baby. You forget the pain and are left with the blessing.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I guess I could say my plan worked. I put Mike first and met all of his needs to the best of my ability and he was happy and his happiness made me happy. Mike had an awesome attitude regardless, which was helpful and I gave thanks for that everyday. I was in awe and I was so humbled.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He was so thankful. I remember telling him not to waste his precious breath and energy thanking me so much. Thinking about his look of gratitude melts my heart. He was so grateful and he was so patient with me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I say, “Thank you for making my job as easy as possible Michael Sands. Thank you for making me laugh in the grief and for smiling at me when I was at my wits end.” And he would probably say, “Thanks for all the spaghetti and quickies. And thanks for denying yourself and serving me…you did a good job!” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ve said a few times how happy I am Mike’s free. He probably thinks the same thing about me. I can barely type this statement without losing it because I would have taken care of him for fifty more years. Oh my goodness, I miss him so much.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Love and prayers to all the care givers out there. My heart goes out to you.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For those of you who haven't seen my Facebook post, my next book signing is on Saturday, May 2 from 3:00 to 6:00pm at T's/Once Upon a Tealeaf located on 224th St in Maple Ridge. It's a lovely gift and tea shop. A special tea will be sold with proceeds going to ALS. Thank you Cindy, owner of T's.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Copies of my book available now at T's and House of James Book Store in Abbotsford BC and coming to Black Bond Books here in Maple Ridge. Also available online here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadine-Sands/e/B00TSV6LKA" target="_blank">Amazon author Nadine Sands</a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span></div>
Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-48166741459515846882015-04-10T14:39:00.000-07:002020-01-23T22:38:46.983-08:00Say Cheese<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Girl/boy communication was so simple in grade four, don’t you think? A young girl had a crush on a class mate, so she wrote her feelings on a piece of paper torn from one of her notebooks. She folded it up into a little square and gave it to a trusted friend to deliver to the lucky young man at recess or lunch.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It’s like my heart is full of blank pages these days, like a notebook. I pour my deepest feelings on those pages and then tare them out. I fold them into little squares and give them to God, my trusted Friend, and ask Him to deliver them to Mike up there in heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On Friday night, the night before my book signing, I went to bed with a bit of a knot in my stomach. I’m not fond of going to bed without Mike as it is, like I’ve shared before, but this night I missed him more than ever. Instead of climbing right in under my cozy covers, I got down on the floor. Amongst all the boxes of books, on my knees, I prayed over them. I prayed over all my books like I had done every day since receiving them and I prayed about the book signing and I prayed about many things. Eventually my face was on the floor and I just agonized that I had to move forward without Mike … that he’s not here with me anymore.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It’s popular to believe that our loved ones are looking down on us from heaven. But I’m not convinced of it. The Bible says that there are no tears in heaven; there is no sadness, sorrow or pain. Because of that, I don’t think he can see me. I think he’s enamoured with Jesus and enjoying many great things...and he probably thinks about us sometimes too. I just think if everyone in heaven could watch us on earth, there would be lots of sadness there.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, I came up with the idea that because I talk to God, and because Mike is in His presence, Mike and I can communicate through Him. I understand if you are tempted to roll your eyes right about now, but I researched it and found I’m not the only one who thinks this way. There are a number of ideas, this one is mine and I’m good with it.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The first note Mike wrote me almost 28 years ago was kind of magical. When I close my eyes, I can see myself standing in his crowded kitchen at “the Shack” where he lived with a bunch of guys. I had little black ears on the top of my head, whiskers drawn on my face and a tail attached to my backside. I can’t remember any other Halloween costumes that night except for mine. One of Mike’s friends handed me a note. It was folded a bunch of times into a little square and it accompanied a piece of cheese. The cheese was wrapped and tied with a bit of string.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He captured my heart that night with a little piece of cheese, a note and some string. He pursued me and it didn’t take long before I was his. He continued to woo me throughout our marriage with his simple and sometimes silly messages of love. And I always felt loved.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Shortly after Mike passed away, my friend Carolyn from school came up to me one night before class began. I could see she had something for me and struggled a tittle to explain. She said she had something to give me from her baby daughter’s things. Her daughter, Sabrina passed away a number of years ago when she was just a few months old. Carolyn said she really felt like she was supposed to give this special something to me and then when she read my blog about the rocks, she knew for sure. She handed me the gift and told me it was a message from Mike. With tears welling up in my eyes, I slowly removed the tissue paper it was wrapped in and revealed a rock. Engraved in the rock are the words, “You are loved”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m so glad Mike is free, but the selfish me, wants him back. I’d take just a day - there are things I want to say. So I write them down on those pages in my heart. I tear them out and fold them into little squares and get my trusted Friend to pass them on to him.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The night after I received the note and gift wrapped cheese, Mike and I sat beside each other on his couch and watched a movie. There was a bunch of us crammed on the couch watching the movie and we all shared a big blanket (it was pretty cold at the Shack, I don’t think they had any heat). Anyway, our hidden hands were inches away from each other and by the end of the movie, our fingers were interlocked. When we used to tell the story, Mike would say, “She took my hand.” And I would say, “He took mine.” So, my dear Michael, let’s agree, we took each other’s hand... And that’s how it all began. </span></div>
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My book signing at Save-On-Foods was a great success. A huge thanks to Shelley and Manager Cal and all the staff at Save-On...they were amazing! And a huge thank you to my family for all their help...I couldn't do it withouth them. And thanks for everyone who came by. I signed 200 books on Saturday and have been signing books everyday since then. I have a couple of other events in the works and will keep you posted. Stay posted on my Facebook page - Hold On Let Go/ALS with courage</div>
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I've had some great feedback about my book and a few excellent reviews on Amazon...Thank you! I appreciate it so much! Here's the link to buy my book and/or view and give a review: </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> My sister says she talks to Mike all the time. She says, God can pass it on.</span></div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-25103320368420878152015-03-30T15:41:00.000-07:002020-01-23T22:22:05.819-08:00Greener on the Other Side - With Elanna, Madison, Erin and Nathan<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Shortly after Mike passes away I said I would follow up with a blog post about that day. It's been a work in progress and really tough, but here it is. </i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have been holding onto the details of the day as though somehow I could hold onto Mike. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I arrived at the hospital on Monday Jan 5 around 9:00 or 9:30 a.m. expecting to help Mike and Nadine get ready to come home. It was clear, however, that Mike wasn’t doing as well as the day before. He sort of had a vacant look in his eyes. Just the day before, Mike was saying he was coming home and we all believed he was. Indeed he was going home – just not to his earthly home.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ERIN SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I will never forget the last moments I shared with my Dad. My mom texted me that morning and said that Dad had gone to the hospital the night before. I remembered when I was at their place the afternoon before, he struggled with his breathing and some choking but this was not out of the ordinary. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was just the two of us alone in his hospital room. I sat and rubbed his warm and soft feet. He had such a glow to his face despite the fact I knew he had been struggling so hard to breathe. The nurse kept telling him he should take the hydra morphine to help him relax, but he refused. He just kept smiling at me despite his struggle for air. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I told him stories of all the menial things going on in my life. The lady on my strata trying to get me fined for my “tacky decorations” (her words, not mine!) and my latest encounter with the grumpy checkout lady at the grocery store. He didn’t once take his eyes off of me and just smiled. He always made me feel like everything I said was important, meanwhile he was fighting for his life.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We sat together and I just held his tiny, fragile body in my arms. Although, this certainly wasn’t the first time he had been sick and he had gone to the hospital once before, something in my heart knew that his time on Earth was coming to an end. Before I left, I kissed his forehead and said, “Thank you.” I thanked him for always making me eat my fruit and veggies as a child (and boy did I put up a fight). I thanked him for our walks along Mill Lake as we would secretly throw bread to the geese to watch them battle it out (even though this was strictly prohibited). I thanked him for helping me become a teacher and for always being proud of me. He looked at me and just smiled while we both held back the tears. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">NADINE SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was a really nice prayer time together at 3am the morning of the day Mike passed away. Among many things, I prayed that the Lord would surround us with angels and I thanked Him that wherever we were, was exactly where we were meant to be. I played one of our playlists from my phone and sang along with the comforting songs, including, “Lord, I need Thee”. Mike always wanted me to sing to him, but I don’t have a good voice, so I rarely sang. That morning I sang, and angels came and we knew peace more than ever before.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">At about 5:30, I told Mike that we should try to get a little more sleep. He agreed, so I laid back down beside him. When I woke up about an hour later, something had changed. He was staring straight ahead. I was unable to read his eye brows and his blink, so I asked him to look toward the window in response to my questions. Ever so slowly, he moved his eyes toward the window to a series of questions including, “Are you comfortable?”. He was. The doctor came and said Mike’s potassium levels were low and he needed some saline. I put some through his tube along with some food. I told him he needed to keep his strength up if he wanted to go home later. I knew in my heart, he probably wouldn’t be going back to our home that day, but I had no idea he’d be going home to heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MADISON SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I was away playing hockey that weekend and hadn’t had much communication with my mom. I had a feeling deep down something wasn't right but I tried not to think about it. I got home around seven o’clock sunday night. Instinctually, the first thing I do everyday when I get home is look straight in my dads direction and greet him. His welcoming smile was my favourite thing. That night when I looked in the direction of his chair and saw it was empty, I knew… Seconds later I called my mom. She reassured me everything was okay, “Dad is doing better and we hope to come home in the next couple of days. He is sleeping so you can come visit him tomorrow.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That next morning when I got up, the first thing on my mind was Dad. I got dressed, went to the store to find the softest stuffy I could (my dad loved soft touch) and went straight to the hospital. At that moment I never knew that that stuffed zebra would become the most cherished thing I have.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When I first saw my dad it was a bit scary. He had an oxygen mask on and he was looking straight ahead, not able to make eye contact with me, and the tendons is his neck tensed every time he took a breath. Every ounce of his strength I could see was used to breath. People would have called me crazy, but I still thought he was coming home. I sat down and placed the stuffed zebra on his naked chest so he could feel the soft fur against him and proceeded to tell him, my mom and aunt about my weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ELANNA SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Around 11:30 or 12:00 I told Nadine to run home for a few minutes to get what she needed as she had been at the hospital with Mike through the night. She was reluctant to go and I kept saying, “Just go, we’ll be fine, I’m here and I’ll look after him”. She finally agreed. Madison went with her. While they were gone, I brushed Mike’s hair, got cold cloths for is forehead and sang to him. Mike loved all the old hymns and the one that I kept repeating for this very moment was “I Need Thee Every Hour”. <i>“I need thee, Oh I need Thee, Every hour I need Thee, O bless my now my Saviour, I come to Thee…” Text: Annie S. Hawks, Music: Robert Lowry</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was only about a half an hour after Nadine left that the nurse came in and checked Mike’s vitals. His blood pressure was dropping and the nurse was giving me “the look”. He said to call Nadine to come back right away as it wouldn’t be long. I remember thinking to myself, “This guy doesn’t know Mike! Does he even have his Nursing certification? He obviously doesn’t know what he’s talking about”. For four years we knew this day was coming, but when it presented itself, I was strangely shocked. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Nadine was on her way back when I called and a few minutes later came rushing into the room and Madison soon followed. I called the whole family, and one by one they filtered in — Peter, Erin, Nathan, our parents…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MADISON SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I went home and packed some things so I could go back to the hospital until I had to go to work. Soon after I left, I got a call. “Madison, you should come to the hospital now.” I could tell by the tone in my aunt’s voice, it wasn't good. Within minutes I was back at the hospital and when I ran into the room I could tell there was a drastic decline. I looked straight at my mom and the look on her face was enough to know that this was it. I couldn't tell you what I was feeling, I just instantly lost all strength and dropped to the floor. I began to scream. Feeling nauseous, I started gagging. Thankfully my mom was able to get me into the bathroom to calm me down. Head in the toilet, we prayed together that I would gain the strength to be strong for my dad in his last moments. I knew he wouldn't want to hear or see me that way—I quickly calmed down and went back into the room. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">NADINE SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Elanna told me what the nurse said. I told Elanna that the nurse didn’t know Mike, “Mike’s a fighter. He can recover.” She said, “I know.” I called Mike’s sister Aileen to tell her what the nurse said. I put the phone up to Mike’s ear so she could say something to him. It was only the day before, while on the phone with Aileen and Pat, I asked Mike if his sisters needed to come that night because they couldn’t get a flight until two days later. He said he was okay, no need to rush … he said it wasn’t an emergency.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MADISON SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I laid down beside my dad on his bed. My head on his chest, holding on tight to the soft, stuffed zebra. I wasn't sure how long it would be, but I knew he was on his way. I found myself gazed at my dad’s breathing, listening to my mom singing and talking to him. His breathing was slowly decreasing, becoming less frequent. Soon he became totally still, and his breathing became non existent. I looked at my mom, both of us knew he was gone, heaven’s gates opened before him. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ELANNA SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The nurse was right after all, it was Mike’s time to go. He didn’t struggle, there was no gasping, there was no pain. Mike simply transitioned from this life to the next … It really was a perfect ending … and a perfect beginning.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Saying good bye was surreal. I remember thinking he was on his way but he could still come back. I remember thinking how surprisingly strong I felt. I remember thinking how good he smelled, there was still a hint of peppermint body wash from the shower Jackie (one of his caregivers) gave him on Saturday. She would have also used the peppermint balm she always rubbed, with so much love, on his neck, shoulders and upper back.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ERIN SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">At the end of our visit on Sunday, I told my dad I would see him tomorrow. Sadly, I only was able to see his lifeless body—he passed just before I got there. The next time I see him will be in heaven and I can’t wait to run around the lake with him and rile up the geese. I love him and miss him more than I could ever express in words.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">NATHAN SAYS: </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I was at work. I took a quick break to check my phone and I had a message from my aunt. She asked me to call her as soon as possible, but when I did, it was too late. She told me my dad had passed away. When I got to the hospital, everyone was gathered around his bed. Less than 24 hours earlier, we gathered around his bed, visiting, laughing, talking about him going home. Leah rubbed lotion on his feet. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I held my mom tight. She cried … we all cried of course, but we laughed a little too. We talked about how my dad, just the day before, made reference to a Seinfeld episode regarding his small hospital room. It took us all a long time to say good bye. Eventually we had to leave. We had to walk away and it was the hardest thing we ever did.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Later, at home, I mentioned how impactful it was to see what was left behind - a shell of a man. A shell that housed an unbelievably strong, unbreakable spirit, now free … the difference between the two was so profound.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">NADINE SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It rained the evening before. It actually poured—it woke us up from a nap. I unlocked the wheels of Mike’s bed and turned it as much as I could toward the window. “Look Mike, it’s pouring rain. Isn’t that great?” Mike just loved the sound of the rain and it wasn’t until the next day after he had passed away that I thought of something he had mentioned a few times over the years. He told me that W.C. Fields’ wife turned the sprinkler on the roof the night Fields laid in bed dying, so he could hear for one last time his favourite sound—the sound of the falling rain.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ELANNA SAYS:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I don’t think things will ever be the same again. I don’t think I will ever fully recover. It seems melodramatic but Mike was like my own flesh and blood brother. We had a secret world of non-verbal communication, suctioning, feeding tubes (and a host of other stuff that comes along with ALS). We knew each other’s secrets and had a bond that went beyond the “brother/sister in law” norm. The saying, “blood is thicker than water” didn’t pertain to me and Mike. I would have done anything for him and he for me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am happy for him, as I picture him joyfully moving freely; unencumbered by this earthly shell. At the same time, I am empty, missing my lifetime friend and brother. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike made life interesting and fun. He was one of the smartest people I have known. He was funny and he made me laugh and I made him laugh. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We are doing okay most of the time, but the sadness grows thicker, kind of like mud. Some times I feel like I’m mucking around, waist deep in it. I know we’ll be okay, but we’ll never be the same again.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> In memory of Michael David Sands</span></div>
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Leah rubbing Mike's feet at the hospital the day before Mike passed</div>
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In the afternoon of the day Mike passed away, while we were all sitting together at home, I sat in Mike's chair. All of a sudden I was moving into a reclined position - Leah had the controls. She laid me back, covered me with a blanket, rolled up my pant legs, took off my socks and rubbed lotion on my feet. No words were said. Wow! is all I can say now. I'm so choked up thinking about it. It was so precious and it ministered to me in such an amazing way.</div>
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Mike's All-Star team, his home care givers: Shuna, Jackie, Jon and Shannon</div>
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There were more, but these four were his main care-givers...the best of the best!</div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-82433336035040289842015-03-21T19:02:00.000-07:002020-01-23T22:37:17.106-08:00No Doubt<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yesterday, when I read my daily devotional book, <i>My Utmost For His Highest,</i> I was encouraged and challenged like most days. The author, Oswald Chambers, says, “A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagle’s wings, but is a life of day-in and day-out consistency, a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:3)…It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Scottish born Chambers, who in my head I just call Oswald or OC, has been encouraging me and challenging me through his daily reader for almost two decades. Even though he is long gone from this world, his wisdom and insight live on. He was only 43 years old when he died in 1917 from complications after having his appendix removed. Oswald, an artist, a dog lover, a lover of nature and books and lost souls, a minister, teacher, evangelist and Chaplin to soldiers in the war, died just before his first book went to print. His wife, Gertrude, who Oswald affectionately called “Biddy” which is short for the nickname he gave her, “Beloved Disciple”, dedicated the rest of her life to transcribing books from the notes she had taken from Oswald’s lectures and sermons. Overall she published thirty books with her husband’s name on each one. <i>My Utmost for His Highest</i> is his best seller and a constant source of inspiration in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have quoted Oswald a lot in my three and a half years of blogging. In the editing phase of my book, I had an assignment to obtain permission from certain publishers of certain authors I quoted — Oswald Chambers’ publisher was at the top of the list. I was back and forth with a gentleman by the name of Mr. Rock from Discovery House Publishers, who handled such requests. By the end of our interactions, I was so honoured to be granted the permission to use Oswald’s quotes and I considered the very kind and encouraging Mr Rock a new friend.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anyway, back to yesterday’s reading, Oswald went on to say this about faith: “Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of <i>faith</i>, not of understanding and reason— a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.” OC</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let’s read that last part again: “…one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.” It would be easy to have faith if having faith guaranteed success, if it meant never facing adversity, if it meant getting what you wanted, but that’s not how it works.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When Mike was first diagnosed with ALS, a couple of people told me that it couldn’t be God’s will for Mike to have this terrible disease and that we just needed to keep praying for God’s will and Mike would surely be healed. Well, I did pray everyday that God would heal Mike, but I also had faith to believe that whether Mike was healed or not, we were in God’s will and this is what His will looked like for us right then…whether we liked it or not.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This is faith: Believing that there is absolutely nothing God cannot do, even when He doesn’t save you from ALS (or in Oswald’s case, appendicitis). Walking with Him even when your legs are rendered useless. Trusting Him to make every decision in your life whether you like it or not. Knowing that for those who love Him, all things work together for good (Romans 8:28) and He has your best interest at heart.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This is faith: Without a shadow of a doubt, He will see you through whatever He leads you </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God is so much more interested in our souls than our cells. Our physical bodies just house us. Of course He cares about every aspect of our lives, but He loves who we are underneath it all. Redeeming our souls is His goal. The part of us that doesn’t parish; our souls—He sent His Son to save them. The body, along with the ALS or MS or cancer or whatever, just turns back to dust.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“There will come one day a personal and direct touch from God when every tear and perplexity, every oppression and distress, every suffering and pain, and wrong and injustice will have a complete and ample and overwhelming explanation.” Oswald Chambers</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Only two weeks away from my book signing...I'm excited and nervous! My book signing is at Save-On-Food on Lougheed and 227st in Maple Ridge on Saturday, April 4 from noon to 4pm. Yes, I will have books to purchase there! If you can't make it, but would like a book, Facebook message me and I'll get you one. For those out of town, here is a link to my book on Amazon: </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT137_com_zimbra_url" style="background-color: white; color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS</a></span></div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-41004938740994568822015-03-10T16:13:00.001-07:002020-01-23T22:35:56.194-08:00Bullet Proof<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/quthor/nadinesands">amazon.com/quthor/nadinesands</a><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Last week was tough. I was really sad and I was sick and then all of a sudden, I became anxious worried and afraid. I was sad for obvious reasons, but putting together a blog post of all our accounts of Mike’s last days took the sadness to a whole new level (that post is still in the works). I was sick with the flu, not terribly sick (I still taught my fitness classes), but just sick enough that a few tears from being sad made my head pound and my nose run, so I worked hard to keep the tears at bay, but teetered on the edge most of the time.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On Wednesday, right after I put an order in for my books, anxiety, worry and fear came. These three weren’t subtle, they weren’t kind or gentle, they came like bullets or darts or something. I thought, sure enough, here I am, the most vulnerable I’ve ever been, and the devil starts firing, that’s just like him.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Every step of the way, I have consulted with God and have committed my book to Him. Before and after I decided to write it, before and after I signed with Influence Publishing, before and after the introduction, before and after every paragraph, every chapter, before and after editing, proof-reading, typesetting…every single step, every single word—I consulted with God and committed it to Him. And then when I ordered my books for my upcoming book signing and other events, I freaked … I kind of froze inside.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">All of a sudden I was gripped with fear wondering what have I done, and what if something goes wrong and what was I thinking in the first place? I’m no writer, what do I know and who really cares. My trust in God flew out the window and the negative voices swept in. I hate when that happens. When I shared my feelings with Elanna, she said she knew something was wrong. With tears in my eyes, I said, “I’m not an author.” She said, “Yes you are.” I said, “I can’t do this.” She said, “Yes you can.” Her smile and reassuring words brought me down from the ledge. Her prayers really helped too.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the thick of it, I kept saying to myself, “This is where Mike would say every thing is going to be okay.” He’d say, “Don’t worry.” When I close my eyes, he puts his hand on my shoulder, he pulls me close and wraps his strong arms around me and says it’s going to be all right. Even when he couldn’t do that anymore, his smile held me tight, and everything was always okay. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I realize now the anxiety, worry and fear wasn’t just about my book, it was about my life. Moving forward without Mike is just so heart breaking, it’s disappointing, it’s scary. He always helped me, he always encouraged me, he prayed for me and he gave me such good advice. He helped me keep my feet on the ground and my eyes looking up.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Yesterday after my class I got a call from Wendy from the ALS Society. Wendy Toyer is the Executive Director of the ALS Society of BC. I told her it was funny she called because I was planning to call her to thank her again for the beautiful testimony she gave me for my book (I’ve only thanked her by email) and to tell her I wanted to donate Mike’s wheel chair to the society. She thanked me and proceeded to tell me she thinks about us all the time because our family picture is framed and hangs on a wall at the society office (a picture used in an article I wrote for an ALS Society promotion featured in the Vancouver Sun and Province news papers).</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Wendy also wanted to ask if our family picture could be used in a magazine for something People’s Drug Mart is doing (they are big donors/sponsors). She also wanted to invite me to an event the ALS Society is hosting to honour volunteers, special donors and Tyler Gamsby. Tyler is a film maker who made a film about the ALS Society, highlighting what they do, how they help etc. Tyler interviewed me and Mike for the film (I write about it in my book). It was really quite emotional and I can only imagine watching the film will be as well. Tyler has offered to come and show it to me before I see it at the event. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A little overwhelmed, I heard God say, “Come with Me.” I put my Bible and my Oswald Chambers devotional in a backpack and drove to the dike. I didn’t go to the dike down the road where we usually go because there are too many people there, especially on such a beautiful day. I went north, toward Golden Eagle golf course which is actually in Pitt Meadows, but only a few minutes away. I drove all the way to the end of Ladner Rd, turned around at the golf course which is in the middle of nowhere but at the same time, somewhere very special and headed back. Nathan told me about the golf course where a short hike into the woods on the first of a series of mountains takes you to a beautiful lake.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anyway, I stopped at a dike I’d never been to not far from there. I walked west on the overgrown path, the Thompson Mountains on my near right and farm land vast on my left. In the very far distance, on the other side of that land, you could see a wall of trees that separated the busy world from this wide open, quiet and peaceful world I was now a part of. The wall of trees was kind of hazy from the glow of the sun … I felt far from everyone and really close to God. I just walked and talked with Him. There were a few benches along the way and I thought I should stop to read my Bible. I felt God say that it was okay because His Word was hidden in my heart. And then I was encouraged as the Word in my heart spoke to me: </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>“We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7) “With God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26) “If He is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) “He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) “He will surround you with favour as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12) “He goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) “He knows when I sit down and when I rise up.” (Psalm 139:2) “Even the hairs of your head are numbered.” (Matt 10:30) “He hasn’t given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) “I will strengthen you and help you and hold you up with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) . . .</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And on it went. I eventually sat down with the mountains to my back and my face to the sun. <i>“Be still and know that I am God.”</i> (Psalm 46:10) was the next verse to come, so that’s what I did. It’s the last verse I read when I sat with our old dog Isla shortly before she took her last breath. I thought of Mike and how his death reminded me of hers; so peaceful and they both had the same ‘stare right past you’ look in their eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Heading back I felt refreshed, like my thirst had been quenched and my fear had disappeared. Realistically, when all those boxes of my books show up on the doorstep, a little fear might too. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I may not be bullet proof, but God’s with me and He’s got me covered. From head to toe to the depths of my soul, He’s got me covered and right where He wants me. And with Mike’s positive influence, the prayers of family and friends, God’s Word hidden in my heart and His shield around me, there’s really no need to worry.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Here is the link to my book on Amazon </span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT44_com_zimbra_url" style="background-color: white; color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS</a></span></div>
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Amazon pre-sales for my book continue to go well. The release date is April 2, 2015 and I have a book signing engagement at Save On Food on Lougheed Hwy in Maple Ridge on April 4 from 12:00 to 4:00pm ... thanks Shelley at Save On for inviting me!</div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-53077496187490970392015-02-27T01:08:00.001-08:002020-01-23T22:33:49.804-08:00Take Courage, I am Here!<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I don’t like going to bed. When I’m totally exhausted it’s okay, but I avoid going because it’s the biggest reminder Mike’s not there. I used to love going to bed and listening to music with Mike, watching him drift off. Sometimes he was already asleep when I crawled into my cozy bed beside his. Sometimes I wrote, sometimes I read, sometimes I curled up as close to him as I could and sometimes I just stared at him until the weight of my eyelids overtook their strength. I never liked giving in to the sleep that always beckoned me because then I had to say good bye to another day with my beloved. And I knew the days were drawing to a close.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For the first few weeks after Mike passed, I would stay up until about two o’clock in the morning most of the time. I would only go to bed when I knew I was going to crash the second my head hit the pillow. I’ve slowly been able to go to bed earlier, like 12:00 or 1:00am and I usually read or something. Tonight I’m writing this blog post and listening to music (right now I’m listening to one of our favourite songs, ‘Oceans’ by the group, United). I keep thinking about Pastor Art’s gentle advice to embrace the mourning because that’s where God’s comfort is found, but I’m still struggling to fully surrender to the mourning. I keep wondering what will happen in six months or twelve months, will it hit me then? Will I drown then?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I really feel if I step out into this huge ocean of mourning, I will drown … so I just sit in the boat and patiently wait for the waves to subside. Even when the waves subside, I’ll probably stay in the boat because I’m afraid. I’m afraid if I step out, I’ll sink; I’ll drown. This ocean of mourning is huge and from the middle of it, there is no shore. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The above is how I feel, but below is what I know:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From the book of Mathew in the Bible -<i> “Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i> </i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>About three o’clock in the morning</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>,</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, ‘It’s a ghost!’ But Jesus spoke to them at once. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage. I am here!’</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i> </i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.’</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i> ‘</i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i> </i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>But when he saw the strong</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i> </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’ When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i> </i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Then the disciples worshiped him. ‘You really are the Son of God!’ they exclaimed.” </i>Matthew 14:22-33 New Living Translation (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">At 2:00am alone in my bed, Jesus says to me, “Take courage, I am here!” His eyes are on me like mine were on Mike, except His eyelids never grow weak—that in itself brings me so much comfort. And eventually, when I step out of my boat, if I should sink, He’ll reach out and grab me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here are the lyrics to "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by United. I recommend you Youtube it, it’s beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You call me out upon the waters</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The great unknown where feet may fail</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And there I find You in the mystery</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In oceans deep</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My faith will stand</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And I will call upon Your name</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And keep my eyes above the waves</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When oceans rise</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My soul will rest in Your embrace</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For I am Yours and You are mine</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your grace abounds in deepest waters</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your sovereign hand</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Will be my guide</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You've never failed and You won't start now</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So I will call upon Your name</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And keep my eyes above the waves</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When oceans rise</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My soul will rest in Your embrace</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For I am Yours and You are mine</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let me walk upon the waters</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Wherever You would call me</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And my faith will be made stronger</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the presence of my Saviour</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I will call upon Your name</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Keep my eyes above the waves</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My soul will rest in Your embrace</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am Yours and You are mine</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Below are pictures from my dad's and Nathan's trip to Malawi where two wells were drilled a few weeks ago, including a memorial well in Mike’s name. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this very precious gift that will serve many people in a very special African village. Access to clean water is a matter of life and death…thanks for your gift of life! </span><br />
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Nathan at Mike's well above and below</div>
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My dad chose the Bible verse and inscribed it on Mike's well,</div>
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"Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Matt 25:23</div>
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My dad at Mike's well</div>
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Nathan enjoying a visit with the children</div>
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Check out more pictures of the Malawi trip on my new Hold On, Let Go/ALS With Courage Facebook page. Thanks for the "Likes" friends!</div>
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Thanks for all the Amazon pre-orders! For local friends and family, I have been invited to do a book signing by my friend Shelley who is in charge of the book department at Save On Foods on 228 St and Lougheed Hwy here in Maple Ridge on April 4 from 12:00 to 4:00pm. (Amazon launch date - April 2) ... Thanks for the encouragement Shelley and everyone!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">The link to my book on Amazon - </span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT44_com_zimbra_url" style="background-color: white; color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS</a></span></div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-34572568331361354302015-02-15T00:26:00.002-08:002020-01-23T22:32:43.564-08:00I Hope You'll Judge My Book By It's Cover<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sometimes, all of a sudden I think, “Oh yeah, he’s not there.” and my stomach burns; my heart aches. Mike has always been there. I met him when I was 18, I married him when I was 19, and for almost 27 years, he was there, now he’s gone. I’m totally lost without him. When he left, a part of me left too and the rest of me is just kind of wandering around.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I never feel alone though. God is very close; He is so merciful. It’s the first thing I said after Mike passed, I told my sister Elanna, “God is so merciful.” She agreed. The Bible tells us, God’s mercies are new every morning. I’m convinced they are new every minute. During my “mourning”, His mercy carries me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Merriam-Webster defines mercy like this: a blessing that is an act of divine favour or compassion, kindness or help to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation. And another source defines it: the disposition to be compassionate and forbearing.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God is rich in mercy and He is love and this is how I move on.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On Friday, I went to a workshop downtown. It was a public speaking workshop for authors of Influence Publishing. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I signed up anyway (I need all the help I can get when it comes to speaking in public). Although it was exhausting, I’m really glad I went. I whole heartedly engaged with the other authors and I feel like I made some new friends, but I only half heartedly participated in the various exercises … I had to be reserved. I could only give so much.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The instructions of one exercise, was to state our name, the name of our book and to give a very short description, all in thirty-seconds. This is what I said, “It’s a ‘stay positive in difficult times story’ about my husband Michael Sands, who was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2011, and our journey with terminal illness. It’s about giving thanks in every circumstance, having faith, being hopeful and bottom line, it’s about love! My book is called, ‘Hold On, Let Go - Facing ALS with courage and hope. And my name is Nadine Sands.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The first time I said it, I started with my name and title. We all practiced reciting our scripts in different ways and after saying it a few times, everyone got better, stronger, but my hard exterior started to crumble. I chose to not participate in the three minute speech to elaborate on the description of our books at the end of the workshop. I wanted to tell my new friends more, I really did. I’m passionate about our story, about Mike and his incredible attitude and grace in the face of death but I knew I’d have to tell about his recent passing and even though I could share that with the ladies at my table and with a few people one on one, I couldn’t say it to the whole group … standing at the front … with a microphone. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I would have liked to tell the group how my book is based on my blog, ALS With Courage. How I felt called to start my blog in order to keep family and friends informed of Mike’s brave battle and how unexpectedly, it became an amazing outlet for me. I would have said that we clung to faith, hope and love while we let go of everything and while we let go of everything, we gained exceedingly more than we could have imagined. Perhaps I would have told them about a few of my most memorable blog posts (most memorable to me) like, ‘Mike’s Glass is Half Full’, ‘Grasping at Straws’, ‘Hold On and Let Go’ and Mike's 'Ahoy Matey'. I want them to know that Mike contributed to the blog as well and how he always inspired our readers to keep looking up and how he made them laugh. I would have explained that while the book is about a courageous guy fighting for his life, a disastrous debilitating disease, the interweaving of sorrow and joy, and a journey of grief, it’s really mostly about love. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You don’t have to go further than the cover, to know that my book is a love story. I hope you will judge my book by it’s cover.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m without my Valentine, but not without his lingering love and the incredible, unchangeable, unfathomable love of God. And His mercy carries me… </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I think Trista from Influence Publishing did a fantastic job designing my book cover ... it's far from what we started with, but I can't imagine anything else. This look defines my book ... it's a look of love. (Pre-sales now on Amazon - released April 2)</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times";">The link to my book on Amazon - </span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT44_com_zimbra_url" style="background-color: white; color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; font-family: "times";"><a href="http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1FFBkSS</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I invite you to “Like” my new Facebook page - Hold On, Let Go/ALS With Courage</span><br />
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Next time, I'll post pictures of Mike's memorial well.</div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-14920683363866409162015-02-05T14:09:00.000-08:002020-01-23T22:31:34.170-08:00Hope Goes a Long Way<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’ll never forget that Christmas morning smile. When I woke up and looked at Mike, he was as bright as the Christmas lights. My first thought was, he’s happy to be here for Christmas. Mike wanted to say something to me right away, so I got the alphabet. “I would have said Merry Christmas at 5:55, but I can’t talk,” he spelled. He had to go pee early in the morning and I mentioned the time. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The sadness is starting to sink in. I’m past the “shocked slash numb” stage that I talked about in my last post, although I’m still a little shocked (and still collecting rocks). </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’d give anything to go back to Christmas morning, just to get a glimpse of his smile one more time. It’s like I didn’t see it coming, but everything leading up to Mike’s passing was a clue it was near. I feel kind of dumb now, but I think God was preparing me and protecting me at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The following is a quote from my November 29 post, ‘Trooper’, <i>“After Mike was all tucked in and comfortable in his bed, I said, “Let’s pray.” I stood beside his bed and started to speak … I opened my mouth and without thinking, the words just came; the Spirit moved in a mighty way. I could barely keep up with the words, it was like a river of words flowed from my mouth and a river of tears flowed down my face. I ended the prayer by saying, ‘Lord, whether we have a really short time left together, or if we have more time than we think, please prepare us to part.’” </i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I asked God to prepare us to part a few times and looking back, it’s obvious He had been preparing us for a while, and even though I figured so, I still didn’t believe it was actually going to happen. I was just so surprised. I must have rocks for brains … <i>or</i> God was protecting me. You can be prepared to die, but very conditioned to live and hopeful to the very last minute, that something will happen and take the love of your life off death’s door step and put him back on the front lawn. Hope goes a long way and I think it’s one way God protects us.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike was ready to let go for quite a while before he finally did. I think he stuck around for me and the kids and the rest of the family, but he had heaven on his mind for a long time. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On November 16, I wrote the following in my journal; “Tonight after a long session of suctioning in the bathroom (Mike was on his commode), while down on my knees cleaning up things, Mike and I caught each other’s eyes and exchanged a long smile. Then he motioned for the alphabet. With the same smile, he spelled out, ‘I can’t wait to see you in heaven.’ When he got to ‘you’, I knew what he was going to say and was overcome with emotion. Able to hold it in, I only started crying at ‘heaven’.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I told Mike that I’d meet him for a picnic when I get there and I whispered the same thing in his ear a few minutes before he left us. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike has been taken off death’s door step and is fully alive on the other side. I can only imagine what he’s been up to, and at some point, he’ll size up a nice patch of soft grass by a crystal clear river for our picnic … he’ll probably pick some flowers and maybe we’ll even collect some rocks. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">PS - Our friends Neil and Donna came for a visit last week. It was so great to see them! They were at Mike's memorial service, along with their daughter Deana, but I didn't get a chance see Neil there amongst the many people. Neil and Donna always speak with so much hope. Their hope for Neil's healing and a cure for ALS makes me happy and reminds me of me and Mike. We won't lose hope!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Neil, Donna, Mike and Me at the ALS Walk at Mill Lake in Abbotsford last spring</span></div>
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Mike thought Neil looked a little chilly so he offered him his Leafs blanket - looks good on you Neil!</div>
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Go Team Hemmings!</div>
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Mike and me at the ALS Walk - A picture by Donna and Neil's granddaughter, Evie. I love how the sun is shining right down on us!</div>
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PSS - Lots of people have been asking about my book, <i>Hold On, Let Go.</i> It officially comes out on Amazon on April 2 and is available now (pre-orders). Copies have already been sold and I just found out, it's already a best seller in three categories (which means top 100 in those categories) ... wow, I'm so honoured! Local friends and family can also get a copy from me. I'll have some copies for sale pretty soon - I'll do a local book launch or something.</div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-67743186840930659732015-01-27T09:43:00.001-08:002020-01-23T22:30:37.429-08:00Good Grief<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How can “good” and “grief” go together? Aren’t they opposites? “Good” is good and “grief” is bad … right?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When I hear, “Good grief” I think of Charlie Brown who is famous for the expression. I love Charlie Brown. Poor little guy … nothing ever seems to go his way. We are big fans of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. As a family, we have two Charlie Brown specials that we like to watch in particular, the Halloween special, <i>It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown</i> and the Christmas special, <i>A Charlie Brown Christmas</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The kids know exactly where, in <i>A Charlie Brown Christmas</i>, I start to tear up and they give me the look like, are you going to cry again? Linus’ explanation of what Christmas is all about gets me every time, along with the scene where the Peanuts gang transform Charlie Brown’s sad little Christmas tree into a spectacular display of ornaments and lights.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What we like best about <i>It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown </i>is when the Peanuts gang compare what they get after each house they trick or treat at. One says, “I got a chocolate bar.” Another, “I got a pack of gum.” And another, “I got a quarter.” Charlie Brown exclaims, “I got a rock.” He gets a rock every time.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anyway, back to good grief, I’ve been learning how grieving is good and how my mourning involves a little rock collecting of it’s own.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One day last week, I woke up with rocks on the brain (not to be confused with “rocks for brains”, but instead, rocks were on my mind). All of a sudden, I needed rocks. With way more “important” things to do, I was off to the river.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pastor Art gave me some wise advice a few days after Mike passed away. He reminded me of Matthew 5:4 which says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” He said sometimes we busy ourselves, we avoid grieving, but only when we grieve do we fully experience God’s comfort.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Curious about “mourning”, I googled it like I do many things and this is what I found: Grief is the beginning of mourning. Grief is what you feel or think when someone dies, or when you lose someone or something (including divorce, illness, injury, loss of a job, pet, treasured possessions etc). Mourning is how you let it out, or how you express the grief—outward expression, actions and reactions. There are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I think I’m still in the “shock slash numb” stage … numb is normal, as well as shock, sadness, guilt, and anger.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I told Pastor Art that I wasn’t going to try to be happy and I wasn’t going to try to be sad; I was just going to “be” and see where that takes me. I just want to be available to God and whatever He has planned for me in the “mourning”. I’m trying to heed Pastor Art’s advice to not busy myself and not avoid grieving, but I’ll admit I’m not necessarily embracing it … but I have started collecting rocks.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I don’t think I’ve fully grieved the loss of pre ALS Mike. The man who took care of me, who held me and kissed me and enveloped me with his strong arms and legs in our warm bed. He was like my cocoon and I, his butterfly. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The losses came fast and furious and I could barely keep up. Some things I’m over, some I’m not—I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. But now I can truly grieve and even though I’m a little scared of what that’s going to look like, I invite the comfort of God to envelop me … to be my cocoon and I, His butterfly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">I got the idea from Pintrest to mod podge (glue) cloth hearts on rocks and stamp words on the back. I've used Mike's last "I Like Mike" Walk for ALS t-shirt for the cloth hearts.</span><br />
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South Alouette River at Maple Ridge Park</div>
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North Alouette River on 132 St</div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906103054375217984.post-727380201397566472015-01-20T00:07:00.000-08:002020-01-23T22:29:30.266-08:00Forever You'll Stay in My Heart<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Website: <a href="http://nadinesands.com/">nadinesands.com</a></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Books: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/nadinesands">amazon.com/author/nadinesands</a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our goal as a family was to honour Mike and to bless everyone who came to his memorial service last Friday with a glimpse of Mike’s life, but the blessings fell heavy on us. For me it was like a down pour of love and support … I had no idea how blessed I was going to be. Regarding the hundreds of hugs I received, I thought Mike would be so happy because he had been unable to hug me in a very long time. It was like hug therapy.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our dear friend and Pastor, Art Birch, started Mike’s service with some exceptionally wonderful words. I can’t remember them exactly and I hope to gain a copy of his speech, but everything he said meant so much to me and honoured Mike perfectly. Many friends and family have since expressed similar feelings. He thoughtfully spoke with such eloquence which took me back to the many years Mike and I and the kids listened, with so much respect, to his preaching at the Maple Ridge Baptist Church (he pastors at a church now in Abbotsford).</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One thing Pastor Art said during his beautiful tribute was, “Mike didn’t necessarily say, <i>‘I</i> <i>love you,’ </i>he showed it.” ... so true!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike wasn’t great at expressing with words how he felt, but he certainly knew how to let his actions speak louder than words. One of his mottos was, “Talk is cheap” and he liked to “walk the walk”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A number of months ago, feeling the need to say, “I love you” to our children, Mike dictated a message to me to relay to them. With their permission, the following is part of that message:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>“…My goal when you were born was to protect and take care of you, to have fun with you and to love you with all my heart. I feel I accomplished that goal to the best of my abilities. I hope you felt protected and cared for and I hope you had fun with me and even though I didn’t say, “I love you” much, I hope you know I loved you and of course still love you more than anything. You are the sunshine of my life, the apple of my eye, forever you'll stay in my heart. I love you Erin, I love you Nathan, I love you Madison…from dad”</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mike quoted from one of our favourite songs, <i>You are the Sunshine of My Life </i>by Stevie Wonder.<i> </i>The song was played during Mike’s memorial service and even though, by my lack of proper communication, it wasn’t the same favourite version we listened to all the time, it of course contained the same sweet words: <i>“You are the sunshine of my life, the apple of my eye, forever you'll stay in my heart.”</i></span></div>
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Madison, Mike, Erin and Nathan (Madison's grad, June 2012)</div>
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Erin and Mike at an ALS Walk</div>
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Nathan, Mike and Leah out for a walk in our neighbourhood</div>
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Madison and Mike at a favourite park close by</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I asked four pastors to speak at the service; Art, Brad, Trevor and Paul … our pastors and dear friends.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Because the memorial service fell on Mike’s birthday and because Mike hadn’t really eaten anything for over a year and a half before he passed, I asked Pastor Brad to please speak about the banquet table in heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On Sept 17, 2013, I wrote a blog post called ‘Heaven Scent’. It was about Mike’s journey of letting go of food. I called the post ‘Heaven Scent’ because after our many summer evening walks, Mike and I both agreed that heaven must smell like BBQ. The following is some of that post: </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>“A few months ago, when Mike’s food selection was becoming more and more limited and we were both becoming more and more disappointed, I would visualize a banquet table laid out for him in heaven. The table covered with the most mouth-watering dishes imaginable. If we saw a big, fat, juicy hamburger advertised on TV, I’d tell him that it was going to be at his “big feast” as well.</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>It was very appropriate that a sermon preached this summer by Brad Warner was on this very subject. The sermon topic was on ‘hospitality’, but Brad spoke about the banquet table in heaven … I loved hearing him describe the dinner, or ‘party’ as he put it. It helped with my vision of Mike’s feast … a meal fit for a king! And of course, much better and far more important than the meal itself, is the presence of a King; Jesus Christ!”</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Brad quoted Isaiah 25:6 “…the LORD will prepare for all people a feast with the best foods, a banquet with aged wines, with the best foods and the finest wines (God’s Word Translation). I say, “Cheers Mike!”</span></div>
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At Barb's Fish and Chips in Victoria, Vancouver Island</div>
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Mike loved fish and chips with lots of malt vinegar </div>
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Cheers! All of us including my mom at Swiss Chalet </div>
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and Mike and brother-in-law Gary below</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pastor Trevor (from Discovery Church) went next and quoted one of Erin’s Facebook posts, which says: “I know that today you are running miles and miles with that big smile on your face. One day we will run together again. Your chains are gone, you've been set free!” Trevor said, out of all the many wonderful messages on Facebook, this one stood out to him the most. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I thought it was extremely appropriate considering I asked him to please say something about Mike leaving his earthly body behind and receiving a new, perfect one in heaven. No more illness … no more ALS! Trevor couldn’t have done a better job of portraying Mike’s new life in God’s domain … running free - no more chains! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Mike and Leah, 2010</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pastor Paul from the Burnett Baptist church closed the service in prayer. It was very meaningful to us because by God’s grace and perfect timing, Paul walked into the emergency room of our local hospital a couple of minutes after we did on Saturday night (the night we went in - two nights before Mike passed) and prayed for Mike. He was there to visit someone else, but came right over when he saw us and offered comfort and strength through prayer and encouraging words.</span></div>
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One of my favourite pictures of us on the dike, taken<br />
shortly after Mike was diagnosed in spring 2011</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I just want to say a huge thank you to these wonderful men. Mike considered them spiritual mentors and dear friends. And thanks to Brad for also taking care of many ‘behind the scenes’ details.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thanks to Helen and the Burnett Baptist Church for providing the food and bulletins and to Sheila and the Maple Ridge Baptist Church for hosting the service and to the other ladies, including Patty who served the food and cleaned up. And thanks to Pastor Shawn for operating the sound and projector etc. And to Nolan at Garden Hill Funeral Home, Elanna and I kept saying, "He's perfect for this job!"</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A huge thank you to Alana and Vid Wadhwani for putting together the pre-service slide show and the middle slide show and the short one at the end. And thanks to Erin who put together the eulogy video (she, Nathan, Madison and I were in the video) and for revising the wonderful birthday video she did for Mike last year. Because of audio issues, she had to edit the video and take some of the clips out, but if you were in the original video, Mike saw it last year on his birthday. He loved that birthday video … his grin from ear to ear and the tears in his eyes told us so!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Last but not least … from the very bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone (from near and far) who came out to our celebration of Michael’s life, and to those of you who couldn’t be there, but sent a lovely message. To those who sent cards and for all the kind and comforting words on Facebook, on my email, on my phone and on the condolence page of Mike’s obituary (<a href="http://gardenhill.ca/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">gardenhill.ca</span></a>). And for the food, flowers and other gifts and for the donations to Project Wellness for Mike’s memorial well. God bless you all!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Mike in Malawi Africa sharing cereal with two friends, 2008</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Nathan and my dad, George Klassen are leaving for Malawi on January 30 and will be drilling two wells and checking in on a building project already in progress (the trip to Malawi was already planned before Mike passed away). One well will be drilled in Mike's name.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> My dad with orphan children in Malawi a couple of years ago</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Nathan and Madison in Malawi, 2008 </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Mike with Erin and friend, Lauren in hospital in Malawi, 2007</span></div>
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Nadine Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12921272738642015015noreply@blogger.com1