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My freezer held blueberries, cranberries, and rhubarb. I'm not sure there has been a recipe with all of these combined together in a sauce format. Actually, I started making rhubarb sauce and cranberry sauce in separate pots.   The blueberries were an addition to the cranberries that I thought might look good, and hopefully taste good. As I was preparing both, I looked at the basic ingredients.    Cranberry and Rhubarb are both mouth puckering.  The list looked much the same. In my mind I formed a plan to combine the two.  That simply meant throwing them both together in a large pot.  Let them simmer and see how they work. When the taste test took place, I was quite surprised.  The taste was very pleasing to my palate.  I'll try it on a few others and see what they think.  Of course, there was the minor thing of the cranberry skin being a bit chewy, but otherwise not bad at all. Will I try this again?  Perhaps.  I've frozen some of the sauce.  In a few weeks I'll try the concoction again.  If I am as enthusiastic, I may turn this into a regular dish!

My stationery bike today turned over 2,200 miles this morning.  The last reading which I journaled was when the bike turned 1,200 miles - on August 1st, 2012.  That is 292 days ago.  In other words, I have biked around 3 miles a day for almost 300 days.  Going nowhere! Except that my leg muscles stayed in shape.  My upper body exercise while on the bike made sure my back is still in good shape.  And my respiratory ability is good. The disciplines of life are well worth the moments that they take.  I have found that stability in life can be partially maintained by good exercise.  For around 20 minutes a day, my body wakes up.  My mind as well.  When I am done those 2o minutes there is a new sense of perspective and a spring in my step.  Check back in another nine or ten months.  Let's see if another 1,000 miles has been covered!!

Sometimes I wonder how life works.  In the fall of this year I had two plants I was watering.  Both had blossoms on them previously.  Now they were just sticks or foliage.  Someone told me they had to winter the year and in the spring they would blossom. One is a begonia, the other - the other an African violet - I think?? Over the winter I continued to water them.  The begonia was particularly interesting.  The stick that was there grew a bit, even started to twist and turn in new ways. I went away for a few days last week.  When I came back flowers were blooming - almost in full force.  Yesterday, a day after the first anniversary of my wife's death, they were out and about.  The colour was beautiful.  Just months before there were no flowers and I almost thought they were about to die. I kind of think my life over this past year has been much the same.  While others may have looked on, they may not have seen blossom on the way - they may even  have seen  barrenness and my branches taking new paths.  But now, somehow there is a spring occurring in my life.  I am sensing blossoms appearing. I wonder how life will look a few months from now??

Yesterday was a combination of personal and work life.  I maintain a job which, on balance, is enjoyable.  I maintain a personal life, which on balance, is enjoyable.  Both have their ups and downs. This past year in particular. My wife passed away on May 17, 2013.  In the midst of all that, I continued to serve as pastor at the Kindersley  Alliance Church. I have weepy days.  I am struck by "who knows what", and I am propelled into memories.  They remind me that the combination of Jill's qualities was unique.  Although I am going to be remarrying, I will not find the same qualities in a new wife. I have administrative days.  I am struck by the life of ministry, and I am propelled into memories.  They remind me that Jill's qualities of ministry partnership were unique.  I am having to find new combinations of ministry, but none will be the same. Can I say I have done all things well?  I have certainly been, more than once, in God's presence wondering what is to come next.  I have sought to be honest and forthright in all I do.  But my own evaluations tell me that certain areas have been neglected - or perhaps more rightly put, my life is changing and new priorities are arising. What will another year look like? Coming out of this past year, I am learning that life can change overnight - and it did!  Cling to God, hold all else lightly.  Seek others who will put God first and ride the waves with them.  Tomorrow is likely, but not guaranteed. One year later!