Superior Accountant

Chapter 108
"Passion gets me out of bed in the morning even when there's only $5 bucks in the till."
Till... till today... till the moment when... till... just what if... what if everything I've always believed culminates in one magical moment. One moment of Mmm Hmm, I knew it!
What if money didn't exist?
What if all you've almost ever had was a 'trade value?'
Would that accrue?
Stockpiling somewhere? Tallied by a spiritual hand that is a Superior Accountant?
As you gave your time away... as you gave your gifts away... as you gave your ideas away... is the Accountant of Superior things keeping tally?
I believe He is and so... I get up every morning for the sake of passionate beauty and that things and people prayed for in the past... gets answered in the present.

Pink & Yellow, Dear Fellow

Chapter 107 (cont'd)
It was one of those wintry days that made having fun... all that much more fun!
This particular colour yellow was not so easy to use and, in summer, with the lumens outside competing with this particular shade of yellow, it had been hard to photograph.
Simmy had taken it out today, with blizzard-like conditions and a gray Canadian sky colour.
Why not?
"Pink and yellow was my favorite combo when I was... 3 years old. I don't know why I remember that but I was adamant about putting those two together."

A letter from the pastor was sweet and encouraging... yes, inviting and encouraging.
Candy apple kinda day!
Don't you think, Lamoureux?
Congratulations!

Good Versus Great

Chapter 107
Something Dr. L once said came to Simmy's mind in the morning. 'When there is a vote, it may be that one person whose opinion is different than everybody else's that needs to be paid attention to.' 

He was talking about a church vote. Now, that circumstance had to do with paying down a mortgage versus paving a parking lot... 'If my memory is correct, the one vote wanted to pay down the mortgage and the other 99% wanted to pave the parking lot or was it the other way around?'
Either way, 7 years later, that same church had paid off their mortgage and the parking lot was paved.
Positioned to bless had been pulled off the shelf yesterday and it was a good time to review some of it.
Quote from page 156... 'Remember how important it is for you to make it to your seat in order to fulfill your assignment, and how once you get to your seat all that you need is going to come to you.'
"Gee, that is almost exactly what oldest construction son had told her last week."
'But if you don't get to your seat because you've made an unholy alliance, God can't put you there because the party you have covenanted with will get the power of your seat rather than you.'
"Oh, that is a very good reminder," Simmy said.
"That's probably why Sam said, 'Your old boss will get nothing from us!'
Oh, Sam was still mad at him for not paying Simmy the two weeks' severance even though the labour board had told him to.
Simmy had just signed off on 'releasing that company' from any further obligation but that also meant that Sam wasn't about to give them anything. He was still angry that the company had treated Simmy so badly.
p. 157 'You will be tested for whether your motivation is rooted in ambition or passion.'

Friends, Favours and Futures

Chapter 107
Sam and Simmy found a few twinkly lights for the Christmas tree. It took two stores to find them but... Simmy's cell rang. It was her friend from, ahem, over... lots of years ago...
"Where would you like the wood piled?"
"I don't know," Simmy said.
"There seems to be a crib back here. Do you want it piled on there?" She who supplants was asking.
"No, no," Sam said. "He's older than I am. I'll pile it!"
Simmy laughed and said, "Sam wants to do it himself. We'll be there in five minutes."
After she hung up, Simmy said, "I couldn't tell her what you said. Champion is one of the most fit men I've ever met."
It was a bit of a tense drive back to the house as Sam was not used to anyone helping him in such a way and when they got there... the Chevy truck, was just pulling out of the driveway. Well, if Sam thought those two couldn't work... Huh! They worked faster than lightning!
They thanked the two speedy wood pile(rs) as they zipped off to encourage someone else.
"There's a couple of cards in the mailbox for you. One is your b-day card and... another one."
Simmy went straight for the mailbox and took out the cards like they were real treasure...

"Ooh, I love this sexy birthday card... mmm, hmm...
Eleanor Roosevelt"... one of her favorite quotes of all time was by that Lady and now... "Oh, I think I'll vote this quote a tie with the other one... or maybe, it's just that this quote is for now in life, for right now.

Down into the storage room, Simmy dashed to pull out Christmas ornament boxes.

"Ooh! Pretty! We are blessed!

All That Jazz

Chapter 105 (cont'd)
Everything old is new again!
When God gives gifts... Oh Wow! It's just amazing! JUST USE YOUR GIFTS and bring... Joy to the world.
Simmy watched a youtube video of 'All That Jazz.'
Gee, that Bob Fosse guy really reminded Simmy of one of her old employers. The profile sure fit.
"Come to think of it, he kind of is that guy, just he's still breathing. Lots of similarities though. Great women who loved him and one heck of a daughter."
It was really odd meeting Bob at the covenant breakfast. He had been good friends with her old employer. It was even stranger to have Bob say, "He owes me money," to which Simmy had replied, "He owes me too."
Maybe to someone else that wouldn't seem like a meaningful connection but it was on point for Simmy and she guessed, for Bob too.

Working on Margin

Chapter 105 (cont'd)
'God instructs us on our pillows' and 'Margin allows you to give to others' are two quotes by Richard Swenson.
Learning about margin in business had been an eye-opener.
Sales- Cost of Goods Sold= Gross Profit
Cost of Goods sold is a very long list...
Variable Costs-

• materials used
• direct labor
• packaging
• freight
• plant supervisor salaries
• utilities for a plant or warehouse depreciation expense on production equipment and machinery 
• depreciation expense on production equipment and machinery

Fixed Costs-

• office expenses such as supplies, utilities and a telephone for the office
• salaries and wages of office staff, salespeople and officers and owners
• payroll taxes and employee benefits
• advertising, promotional and other sales expenses
• insurance
• auto expenses for salespeople
• professional fees
• rent

Now, if anyone is making money out there... Congratulations! Share the Joy!

Helen

... of the Old House... was another book she had read, starting in January. It was written in 1921 by Harold Bell Wright. It was a hard book to read as it chronicled the lives of a community that went through the industrial revolution and the effects of the arrival of a 'union man' and the manipulation of both sides and then, by the end of the book...
the unveiling of all the secrets and the truth comes out.
Here's a small paragraph spoken by 'the Interpreter' in the book,
'Every idle hand in the world, Helen, whatever the cause of its' idleness, compels some others' hand to do its work! The agitator relies upon the suffering in the families of his followers for that desperate frenzy of class hatred, without which he cannot gain his end.
Adam Ward relies upon the hunger and cold and sickness of the women and children for his victory!
Imperialistic leaders, both of them!'
  

The Hot Ice Tree

Chapter 102 (cont'd)
As Simmy started typing, she thought, 'Ouch! Why are my fingers so sensitive?'
"Oh! Ha! Ha! It's that thermoplastic adhesive that linked to my fingers as I was fitting these rough-cut 'cross-linkable' polymers together. Ooh, that hurts!"
It took about 7 hours but, the 'rough- cut diamond tree' was ready for display.
'No! They're not real ice. They're re-purposed ice- acrylic ice!'
One thought led to another and soon Simmy had the scientific name for the tree...

The Cross- Linkable Polymer Tree- "Boy, does that lose the Romance in the translation."
She posed a mock-up and put on her ad voice, "Come see the 'Cross-Linkable Polymer Tree' created by the artist 'El Unique.' Oh wait, that's a double meaning... and so is that... and that...
Scientists may have the technical terms but it takes a wordsmith to come up with,
"The Hot Ice Tree!"

Useful Diamonds

Chapter 102
Diamonds are forever... Simmy 'googled' the lyrics for that famous James Bond song. Then she found Shirley Bassey singing it. A very deep- throat guttural version, performed well for the lyrics.
But... Ohh... well, how many times do we sing a song and not listen to the words?

Sunday would be a big day of handing out gifts! Simmy recalled how one of her mentors had once said, "Ask for new gifts!"
Simmy had responded with, "Can you do that?"
Her sweet school teacher mentor had said, "I don't know. Just ask!"
It turned out to be a wonderful spiritual question that Simmy realized not many people asked.
But then, at the 'On West' occasion, Mirtha's friend had floated out of the church saying, "Oh, it's so wonderful! We're all getting new gifts!"
Everyone in the audience received new gifts that day too, not just the dunkers... but each person whose hearts was ready for them.
And so, if ever you wonder about diamonds and promises and gifts...
The diamond is a gift as a reminder of the promise.
Simmy looked at the diamonds her friend had given her. At first she had just scattered them on the carpet but then the idea came to her that, if you arranged them, they could be even more useful.

101 Ways to Say 'I Love You'

Chapter 101 (cont'd)
At the shoppe, Simmy got creative, again... oh, it's so fun!
Two new wreaths were created... a green sparkly simple one and a very silver blingy one.
The wind whistled and howled around the building. It was a true Canadian winter day. No mamby pamby land, this Canadian climate.
Her phone rang... "Hello Beautiful! I've got supper made. It's about to go in the oven. I'll be right over!"
Simmy would have smacked her phone to make sure it was working right... but that isn't good for electronics. Ahem!
Half and hour later, Sam showed up and said, "I woke up thinking about signage. I've got an idea!"
After a few minutes of brainstorming... the phone rang...  'She who supplants' wanted to come and bring Simmy her birthday gift.
"It's intriguing! She has been really excited to get this birthday gift to me! I wonder what it is!" Simmy said.
An hour later, she didn't have to wonder anymore.
Dear friend of Simmy walked in with three beautifully wrapped gifts. A very lovely black and white theme of wrapping paper and ribbon. It was gorgeous!
Inside... a wine charm, a lovely Christmas ornament, a crystal snowflake, two boxes of crystal diamonds... Hurray!
But... that wasn't all... artist paints, 2 canvases and a set of sable brushes. Simmy had asked for this last Christmas, from her family, but no one seemed able to choose these items.

FRIENDS LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Maybe it takes an artist to buy for an artist?
As 'she who supplants' and her husband 'champion' pulled up their collars and pushed out into the wind, Simmy felt really loved.
"She's a good friend, Sam."
"Yes, she is!" Sam said.

Delicious Cold

Chapter 101
The moon had been full and bright just a few hours ago.
Both Sam and oldest construction son had made a commented on it so Simmy took a few pictures. She really liked the way the snow sat undisturbed on the open gate. Fluffy white crystals piled on top of each other, huddled and stuck together.
It quite reminded Simmy of the metal stars on D&L's fridge magnet yesterday. The magnetic force created by the magnet kept all the little metal stars clinging to each other.
Now, this snow was a little more fluffy but as soon as the sun would come out and put a little heat on them, those crystals would stick together too.
It was cold this November 22 of 2010. The clear sky and aura-ed moon had warned of a frosty morning... and the air was slicing cold.

Some neighbors had put the lights on their evergreen tree and the 'feeling of Christmas' was surrounding this little neighborhood.

Some newer neighbors had decorated their house with a 'has im gartenschuppen or werkzeugschuppen' style of lights. Roughly translated, that meant 'what you've got in the garden shed or workshop.'

A stringer of this, a stringer of that...fa.. la...la..la...la...la...la...la...la.
Simmy opened the fridge to see what could serve as breakfast. Let's see... a good breakfast starts with calcium...

 Peppermint Ice Cream... Fa, la, la, la, la.

House of David

Chapter 100 (cont'd)
At Wood River church, Sam and Simmy met a young couple who had moved to the city from the country. Another couple stopped to talk to Sam.
Sam said, "Simmy, meet these people. David and Master Counselor Monica."
Simmy said hello and asked many probing questions. It was just her way!
David had been 'in residence' for ye..ars... and would be for a few more years. He seemed to be working on the connections between meta and physical.
She sensed that, between this young couple, they would connect well in a meta- theory as long as the consideration of a solid rock foundation of meta-property was adhered to. Methods, form and utility might be individualized but the foundation would keep them strong, together.
Sam and Simmy were very excited as they had been invited to the D&L, beloved and superior, teachers' home. What a gift, to sit down to a home-cooked meal. 
The table was crowded with young adults, all making their way in the world.
One of the young men had tagged his first deer and this was an exciting event for him. The surname of this 'Little House on the Prairies' family was becoming genuinely real.
His girlfriend was a beautiful jewel named Jade. It suited her well.
Simmy had noted the shower curtain the moment she had walked into the bathroom.

Right then, Simmy should have expected the wonderful home style meal that was served.
Such a lost art, cooking from scratch.
As Simmy pitched her ideas for what she was hoping to find in a 'small group.' She found out that D-painter (say it with an accent) was capable and L-sew-clean (pronounced so clean) was also handy. This just might work.
As they pulled away from the house, a 'young mom' neighbor, on friendly chatting terms with Simmy, waved as her young son played in the snow.
It was a lovely snow packed Sunday.
Sigh!
Just enough love and exchanging of ideas to get one started for another week of serving the world.

Wine Aria

Chapter 100 (cont'd)
Old Winery Inn
Scene 2- Rummage Sale
Lucy was in a fine mood as she volunteered at the synagogue sale. She placed all the jewelry on the table and tried her best to hope and pray for some really great customers.
As she opened the 'broken jewelry' box, a young woman came up to the table and asked for a selection of brooches.
"Hello," said Lucy.
"Hello," said young lady.
"Have you ever seen a shoe clip?" Lucy asked.
"No," young lady said, with piqued interest.
Lucy tried to talk a little louder as a 'churchie' conversation was taking place behind 'young lady.'
Conversation in progress...
Nellie- "I used to drink but I don't drink anymore," Nellie said to Priest.
Priest- "Yes Nellie, some of the choir members were quite upset with you in those days... going off on your own little arias."
Nellie- "Oh, dear!"

$10 Persian Mink

Chapter 100
How could I have known that the coat was worth more than $10?
Ask me about cars and 'autos' and I'll have a better idea of cost... but a coat?
The most expensive coat I've ever purchased hasn't yet been $100... or maybe that leather one had been about that much...so, how could I know?
Sam and Simmy had purchased quite a lot of stuff from the church rummage sale.
Simmy could feel the prayers of the sainted workers as they paced by her, hoping she'd buy lots of stuff and make their day of volunteering worth it.
Scene- Rummage Sale
After purchasing the broken brooches, Simmy had asked a man if he worked there and he had said yes. Then she had asked, "Do you have any fur coats?"
"We have this one!" He quickly pointed to a coat hanging on the wall... kind of out of reach for a short person like Simmy.
"Would you like to try it on?" He had asked.
"No, I just want to know how much you want for it," Simmy said.
"$20," was his clipped response.
"Would you take $10?" Simmy had asked.

His jaw tightened. She had offended him.
"I purchased a bunch of broken brooches for $10 at the jewelry table," Simmy threw some hopeful bait.
He said, "I'll go ask the ladies at the front table."
That was good enough for Simmy and she kept shopping. One woman, a really busy, quick, attractive youthful, exuberant, 'girl' took her to the purses table and said, "You should take this one! I donated it! It's brand new! You should get something new for all the stuff you're buying."
She almost thrust the purse into Simmy's hands.
"How much are these purses, though?" Simmy was worried about spending too much.
"You'll get a good price. Take it!" She was insistent.
Simmy said to Sam, "Let's go see how much all this is before we look for more stuff."
They went to ask the ladies, "That's all mine, in that cart. How much is all that?"
The Filipino lady said, "All together, $15."
Sam and Simmy looked at each other with eyes wide, "Let's go buy  more stuff!"
When they had chosen some candle stick holders, really nice silver ones, they went to pay.
"All together, this is $18," said the Filipino lady.
Simmy said, "Here's $20. That is good."
They exclaimed with joy as if they'd just won the lotto.
An older lady picked up the coat and said, "A persian mink! Wow!"
Simmy was confused, "Was it valuable?"
When they left the rummage sale, Sam said, that guy you talked to was the 'head cheese' here.
"Oy! I've jewed down the priest for that coat! Now we'll have to buy lots more next time they have a sale. I wanted it for the movie scene this week."
Simmy went straight to the computer when she got home and 'googled' a 'persian mink' coat.
"Oy!" They are expensive!
How can you know if you've never bought clothes that expensive???

Politics and Toilet Graffiti

Chapter 99 (cont'd)
After a long morning going through and reviewing a 'covenant programme' Simmy and Sam headed back home. As they were on their cove, some young men were delivering flyers for Kevin Lamoureux. One of the gentlemen waved happily and in such a friendly manner that Sam asked, "Do we know him?"
"I don't know but he seems to know us," Simmy stated.
As they passed Jonathan, Simmy rolled down her window and asked, "Who are you delivering flyers for?"
"Lamoureux," they said.
"Woo, Woo, Yah!" Simmy yelled out a cheer like she was at a basketball game. That boosted the young mens' energy and gave them a 'leg up' to keep going.
As soon as she got indoors, she loaded the two photos she had taken at the 'covenant course.'
A few weeks ago, her and Sam had watched a movie called 'Fade to Black' starring Danny Huston as Orson Welles. It had been an intriguing film and Simmy had thought there were a few quotes worthy of jotting down.
Orson Welles was asked, "Do you follow the politics at all?"
Orson had replied, "Not really, I just read the graffiti. Do you?"
To this the other man said, "I back the new guys- the Christian Democrats... they at least have the vision of the future... not squabbling over the past!"
So, thought Simmy, "Here's to a politician with the word love right in the center, a preacher with a centered love and bathroom graffiti that says it all in three words."

Blustery Day

Chapter 99 (cont'd)
The first thing Simmy tackled when she went to the shoppe was... shoveling the courtyard. The upholsterer came outside after about half an hour and said, "No, no, don't wear yourself out doing that. Those people don't use the front door. (He was talking about the painters on the other side.)
"This is the only part we need to shovel."
"Does it get filled in with snow here?" Simmy asked.
"No, no, we are lucky! The snow mostly stays away from this corner!" Upholsterer said.
Simmy had noticed that there was a wind swirl, exactly the same as the one beside her house. Last week the leaves had been playing tag in that corner, merrily chasing each other in a circle.
 Today, that same wind swirl was chasing the snow out of that corner. Yes! Simmy was ready for some 'uncluttered paths' to come her way.
She noticed some ladies pausing to check out her first attempt at advertising!

It was a really blustery day but the lady leaning over read the whole ad while her cohorts huddled impatiently nearby.
Simmy took some beautiful photos for her wedding party blog and then decided to call it a day. 
http://elsweddings.blogspot.com/ 
As she got close to her driveway she noticed construction son shoveling, oh, the youngest one.

 "Did you quit early too?" Simmy said to baby construction son.
"The material didn't come for the jobsite," he replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I know how you hate losing a day of work."
He didn't reply to that so Simmy said, "I told my boss to 'shove it,' I was going home early... maybe to bake cookies or something. What do you think of that?"
Construction son had just a tinge of a smile in his tone, although he tried hard to hide it.
"You're the boss," he said drolly.

Livin' Your Dream

Chapter 98 (cont'd)
Deborah was in a perky, French kind of laissez- faire mood and it was interesting. Nothing too intense, which was really nice for a change.
Simmy had spent the day making a huge wreath and it was just finished when Deborah walked in with warm cookies... cookies made with potato chips.
Plain potato chips were not Simmy's favorite but barbecue potato chip cookies would likely be even more odd. She ate one warm and it was... okay.
An hour or so after Deborah left, Carolina walked in. She was betwixt and between with her impending divorce. Emotions chased each other onto her face, across her face, wedged into her folded arms, shot out from her eyes... daring Simmy to totally upset the apple cart.
Simmy had no interest in a fight... she tried to ask reasonable questions and stay out of the line of fire.
Relationships... the messiest part of life... and the sweetest.
Darn it!
A stop at Safeway yielded the cutest part of the day. At the express check-out a, happily shaped, man served them.
"How are you today?" Simmy asked him before he could ask her that question.
He responded with, "Livin' the Dream!"
Simmy was so taken aback that she laughed but then quickly said, "That sounded a little sarcastic!"
"Re...ally?" The sarcasm was distinctive now.

"What were you doing before you were livin' the dream?" Simmy asked.
"Oh, I wasn't on meds then!"
His deadpan delivery only made the exchange of social comedy all the more funny.
"Thanks for the entertainment," Simmy said as they left the store.

Paris of North

Chapter 97 (cont'd)
Simmy worked hard creating a handle for an old evening bag. It would be used for a 'Paris of the North' night.  It would be a blingy Paris evening... young ladies dressed up for... a soiree with a scene of an election photographed that night as well.
The champagne bubbles wreath was a lot of work.
The mailman came in and said, "This is your first piece of mail! Sorry, it's a flyer!" He remembered her name and then said, "I'm Peter."
"Yes, the Rock on which the whole church was built."
"Yes," he said, quite casually.
Then he said that someone might be coming around to do some measuring, out in the courtyard.

Cash on Barrelhead

Chapter 97
Simmy got an email from V & M Data that started with 'We have a hitch!'
Now, ordinarily, in the life of a woman, getting hitched would be a great thing but Mr. Smith was talking more about glitching than hitching with Mrs. Smith, just like in the movie. We know how they canoodled in the end though. Mmm Hmm!
"No problem! I had a problem giving 2% to those money mongers anyway! I'll go 'cash on the barrel' between now and Christmas and they can go take their offer and shove it!"
"You'd better not write that on your blog, Simmy!" Sam warned.
"I'll take it back when they 'come to the party.' Then I'll serve them a cookie and say, "I thought you'd come around!"

Royal Blue Diva

Chapter 96 (cont'd)
Tracey was just beaming with her new-found self. She had lost 100 pounds of pain (weight loss) but yet preserved the sweet heart underneath all those layers.
As they were sitting in the shoppe window, just as Simmy had written about in her plans that she had sent to the U.K. The university hadn't returned her test yet... they wanted gobs of money to send it back... but she recalled something like...
"I'm going to create a 'store front' window where every woman will be showcased. It won't be just a few 'air-brushed' pretenders... no, every woman would be invited to sit in her storefront window... a model of display, a jewel of worth.
Traceys' journey had been a long one... most are... she now walked in a 'shoulders back, head high, heels of the boots stacked, to make those legs, that she could now cross, a little longer... so cute!
Simmy pulled out her box of bling rings and said, "I'm going to use these to figure out a style for each chick. Pick one, I'm going to test my abilitites."
Simmy had barely put the box on the footstool, when Tracey picked out the classic heart shape.
"Really? That is your favorite? Seriously? That is you? I've been in a relationship with you for 20 years and I don't know that I would have guessed that... you're just a classic heart- shape."
"I've always loved that deep, deep blue, that royal blue. I just love that colour," Tracey said.

 "Well, look at you! You are a classic example of 'rising from the ashes, that McBride song. For all that you've lost, 100 pounds, much more you have gained... you've found your true self that was hiding under all that. The hard part really was choosing to change what needed changing... your marriage has come into a great place with that move you made... those demons are definitely off your chest."
"Okay, now, you!" Tracey looked at her and there was a steely glint in her eye. "You need to let go of the pain that your sisters have caused you. They are all little tiny p's and all that excluding and bullying is just tiny sad p's telling you that they're strong, together, but they're not. They're weak! People who bully or run in packs are weak. You have better things to concentrate on now! Let that crap go!"
"Yes, sweetheart!" Simmy winked.

Cake and Tea and a Heart Ring

Chapter 96 (cont'd)
It had been a different day at the shoppe. Simmy had invited Deborah for tea and they had yawned and laughed the afternoon away. There is something relaxing about having your kids grow up, move out and make room for a new different type of freedom.
At first it is uncomfortable but then, freedom... strange, kind of nice.
Tracey had come in from the United States to see how Stewart was faring after his two hip replacements. Pretty good, actually!
There was a power outage for two hours. Simmy went to the grocery store, purchased hamburger, drove home, cooked some spaghetti sauce and pasta and Voila! Dinner was made. She headed back to the shop and the power was back on.
Cool use of that time!

Gettin' in Groove

Chapter 95 (cont'd)
It was a productive day at the shoppe. The open sign was put in the window and Simmy started pricing things. She put the little pictures of Chopin, Bach and Beethoven on the 'Legendary' electric guitar picture. Shh! They won't know they're getting updated! It's honourable to celebrate them but they've really got to get in the groove of things.
Oh yah! Cookies in the wine rack! Snack time, mmm mmm, mmm!
Shh! Don't show the bottom of the rack... could be a real bottle of wine... "Riesling, of course!"

Covenant is Best

Chapter 94
Sam and Simmy got to church late but yet, in time. The coffee bar was just being opened and the learning session had 'bunny hop' status right after that. Both her and Sam were struggling to be attentive as the 'family issues' in Sams' family were not completely settled and they needed to go to the nursing home right after church.
The pastor seemed to be in/ on new ground and the format, this day, was getting loosened up.
Why did the term 'The Wall Street Church' come to mind?
Maybe it had been the way the pastor had opened the session by asking for feedback. Fearless in the walk of change... trying new things... he'd need prayer support... and a good dose of 'keep the fuddy duddy's away during the innovative sessions of trying on new shoes.
After the session wrapped up, Sam and Simmy got in the Hummer.
"Do we want to go run those errands before we go see my Mom?"
"No, I want to go there right now!"
When Simmy was sure about something, Sam didn't argue.
Half an hour later, they were a few streets away from the nursing home and Simmy warned, "Watch out! These street lights are out... completely."
The next street, "Again! Watch for traffic! I think the next ones are out too," Simmy said.
They reached the nursing home and parked. When they went in, a woman, more like a 'guard,' interrogated them as to 'what their business might be. 
"We're here to see his Mom." Simmy said.
When they had passed the interrogation, they were asked to wait to see if the lights would go back on before they went to visit his Mom. The power blackout had created a lot of havoc for the staff and it was particularly annoying because it was lunchtime at the old folks home.
"Why do you think this is the home your Mom was put into, Sam? We thought it would be good for it to be the one at the other end of town."
"I don't know," Sam replied.
"Maybe, just maybe this has to do with 'seeds sowed.' Middle son reminded us yesterday that all of our boys used to go here and volunteer for the Sunday morning service to the old folks, once a month, when we were going to Sturgeon. There were three or four churches in the area that shared the 'church services' duties for this nursing home."
"Yes, I remember that," Sam was feeling emotional today.
"I think your Mom will be really well taken care of here. The seeds were sowed by our sons and us for her to get superb care. Selfless serving that we couldn't have foreseen we would receive the benefits for and from. It's almost like you get to use the benefits as a leveraging tool and receive the investment benefits as a gift. That is truly amazing when you stop to think about it."
After an hour visit, which was very emotional with a lot of tears, Simmy had a chance to speak with Nurse Natalie. It was a very productive chat and the channels of communication were established between them.
A few hours later...
Sam and Simmy and the cat all had a nap.
"So what do you think of the new 'covenant' path that the pastor is charting?" Sam asked.
"He isn't charting it. He's trying to find it again after a few hundred years of church law has skewed the spirit of the whole. It takes kahunas to do what he's doing but we did say that the thing we've never seen in a church before is that real faith in action that believes when 'you do what you do,' 'God does what He does.' It is a simplified format that requires people to own their beliefs and that is really the only true way that anyone can mentor anyway. Forcing people to 'go to the next step' before they've done the groundwork for it... well, that has never been sustaining.

"Take a picture of the cat. He looks so relaxed," Sam said.
"I'll use it in the story to depict our wish for your Mom... a feeling of safety so secure, she can relax like that."

Proverbial Actions

Chapter 93 (cont'd)
Still at the shoppe Saturday evening... sitting in the 'window display' room.
"Do you like my 'Alice in Wonderland' treetop?" Simmy asked.
"No," said Hedgehog Sam.
"Hey, I like that. It makes those circles shine and sparkle," Simmy drew her eyebrows down into a 'don't rain on my party' disapproval.
"Put it on that!"
Sam pointed to the cylinder of diamond lights that Simmy had constructed earlier in the day.
Plunk!
Simmy sat down in the tiny Baroque chair and grabbed her camera to see if she liked it!
Snap!
Changing the setting!
Snap! Snap... snap... snap... snap, snap, snap...
She viewed each picture in the different lighting and then said, "I like it! It looks cool but it has a warmer colour on the treetop. The circles look golden on the tree."
"It's because of the energy efficient L.E.D. lights," Sam said.

"I know that!" Simmy was always annoyed when Sam stated the obvious.
"I do like that, though! I'm glad I didn't go looking for a lamp to fit that lampshade. Look How cool that looks!"
"Are you finding your hedgehog concept?" Sam asked.
"I think so! It's becoming crystal clear!"
Half an hour later, Stitches brought the chinese food in for the celebration dinner.
In a little turn of events, youngest son and his fiance came into the shoppe just as everyone was relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere.
Simmy smiled invitingly and with happy surprise said, "Oh, welcome! I didn't think you could make it tonight!"
"We decided to leave early and come here," youngest son said.
Simmy sat back and stared at her family with a heart full of love. Everyone showed up to celebrate opening the shoppe.
"... children rise up and call her blessed; her husband too, and he praises her."

Paris on a Shoestring

Paris on a Shoestring Budget

Chapter 93
Sam and Simmy put some finishing touches on the shoppe on Saturday.
Pricing hadn't been done and there was a lot that would still be worked on when the shoppe was 'open for business.' Monday, Monday...
It had been a very productive six days. God rested on the seventh and said that 'it was good' and so they were planning to do the same. Okay, okay, so he made big trees and grass and sky... well, for lowly mankind of two, it felt really good.
A few hours ago at the shoppe...
"Hey Sam, this is like that 'Rocket Girl' song... "Hey, hey, where we going today Rocket Girl?
Dream your dreams in my ear, Baby, just get me outta here, fly me around the world, Rocket Girl...
I never tell her she's been busted, I know she's never been anywhere just like me... except Alberta,... Ha Ha,... But it makes her feel like Cinderella and I get to see the world for free..."

"Paris for free... that's how I'll advertise next week..."
Sam just went back to hanging pictures... crazy hedgehog... "Hey Sam, did you know that wikipedia says that hedgehogs have changed little in 15 million years."
"Don't believe everything you read in Wikipedia. It 's not the Bible," Sam answered.
"Yes, Hedgehog!"

Wonderful Time of Year

Chapter 92 (cont'd)
"Be it humble or be it grand... a house becomes a home when you make a wish, sing a song, hang a wreath, join the throng."

Investing in People

Chapter 92
It was 5 a.m. on Saturday. Simmy's mind started whirring and the conversation with Care'n at Mission Without Borders started rolling through her mind.
Viorel had been taken in by a family of the name of Faith and they reported that he was a very useful tool. He was teaching deaf children- teaching in the world he had been born into. The good news, no, great news was that a field agent would take him out to buy him shoes and clothes when the small investment money that Sam and Simmy had sent would reach him. There was a possibility that it would get there... in time for Christmas. The thought became a whisper of hope.
Romancing the World... one snowflake at a time.
A push and a nudge against her legs let Simmy know that the family cat wanted some attention. She picked him up, let him snuggle into the cotton blanket on her lap and was rewarded by a not so subtle purrring. 
 

Signs of Romance

Chapter 91 (cont'd)
When Sam and Simmy went to the shoppe in the morning, Kamal and Gill came in to say... "What time are you going to start in the morning? 9:00? There was a lady here who wanted to shop in your store this morning. You will be starting at 9:00, yes?"
"Yes, we're just trying to get the store set up so it's ready for business."

Flywheel Justice

Chapter 91
"You know what Sam? I'm angry today. Really angry!"
"Why?" Sam asked curtly.
"A couple of days ago when we were talking about this business, you said 'we haven't even started yet.' Do you remember what I said to you?"
"What?" Sam asked curtly.
"I said, 'You may not have started yet but I started over twenty years ago.' Do you know why I insisted that you be in charge of the money, Sam?"
"Why?"
"Because I want to see when you think I should get a paycheck. If we take my earnings for all the years that I have worked in the marketplace, to date, I have averaged about $3750 a year (no that's not a typo). What man would put as much effort into building 'a life' without getting a paycheck? But it seems, you guys rule the world and that seems to be alright with you. It's not alright with me. I know I am the sole proprietor right now. I'll change that to a partnership when I see that you're all in. I've arranged 'signing rights' at the bank for you. When you say it's time I get a paycheck, you can go get your signing rights and write me one and then we'll partner up."
Sam didn't say anything.
"Do you remember when I was driving that 2 ton delivery truck and the clutch went on it? It was right on the corner of where we've set up our business now. Remember how you blamed me for breaking it? I had only driven the stupid truck for 1 or 2 miles before the clutch disintegrated. There you were, blaming me for breaking a clutch in 1 mile of driving. When Eugene showed up, to give us a ride back to the shop, he told you that he'd already put in a requisition to have the truck serviced but it hadn't been done."
Sam didn't say anything.
"You believed him because he was a maaaan," Simmy enunciated the word angrily.
"Do you think it was your anger that pushed the truck off the road?" Sam smirked.
"Oh yes, partly. You thought it was so impossible! 'We can't push a loaded 2 ton off the road onto that parking lot. There's an incline up onto the lot and we'll never get it up there... blah, blah, blah...' That was you, Sam!"
"What did you say to that?" Sam asked, struggling to recall.
"I said that the truck has four wheels. We just need to give it a push and get some momentum going so that when we have to push it up the little hill, onto the parking lot, we'll have enough momentum to do it. You were so skeptical!"
Sam nodded, "You convinced that young man who couldn't get his racy car past the truck, because it was blocking the 'yield,' to help us push that 2 ton to get it going."
"Yep! I kept having to prod him to help us so we wouldn't be abandoned. I know it was just the two of us pushing at first, myself and that young lad, but then you told me to jump in the truck and do the steering so the two of you could push it up that hill. As soon as the truck was on that parking lot, he got into his hot little car and squealed off. I wanted to throw down a spike belt, he dashed off so fast." Simmy was being honest.
"There's the woman I married," Sam grinned.
"Shut up."

Tree of Life

Chapter 90 (cont'd)
It had been a busy day.
Sam had loaded the vehicles with more supplies for the shoppe.
There had been a 'surprise attack' or two from people one would not expect it from. It also seemed possible that the enemy of families was busy creating lies and subterfuge... none of it of any prosperous kind.
Sam and Simmy applied themselves to making a tree display. It turned out really well. The picture had been drawn a few years ago when Simmy was in school.
In the afternoon, a flash of memory had her searching for the sketchbook and when she found the picture, she knew what it had been drawn for. At the time she hadn't liked the picture... the tree had seemed childishly 'simple' but today she realized that it had to be simple for the type and scale of the project.
Strange how things recorded in the past spin into the future.
A May 24, 2009 journal entry said... "A moment will come in each of your relationships where you will either celebrate them or judge them." Quote by P.A. Duncalfe
It had been difficult to understand the opposite of celebrate. Sam said it was 'jealousy.' P.A. thought it was judging and maybe the one leads to the other.
Well, he'd been right about that. Many people found it really hard to celebrate someone else or someone else's success.  P. A. had been so right about that.
Today, on Remembrance Day, it was a good day to remember that we all choose and a great day to remember that we still can.

Excellence for Excellence C.E.

Chapter 90
Remembrance Day
"When it's real... people do what they do for excellence sake. Don't you think, Sam?"
Sam wasn't in the mood for deep thinking. He was winterizing the yard in the soft snowflakes that were filling the air with beauty.
"I think we're in the C.E. of Excellence," Simmy said.
"What does C.E. stand for?" Sam asked.
"Christian Era or Common Era. Hey, this is a great time to imagine that it is just Christian for Excellence to be Common Excellence, Era."
Palindrome that, oh puzzle gurus.

Manly Method- Gift Wrapping Center in 1 Day

Chapter  89 (cont'd)
Manly Method-
It was a looong day of work... setting up the shoppe. Sam did a great job hanging all the 1/2 inch metal conduit. It was convenient and connective.
In the afternoon a young couple poked their head in the door and asked if the very sparkly tree was for sale... it was one of the only things in the store that was not for sale.
Too Funny!
Deborah popped in to check things out. She was generous in her offer to help out on Friday and Simmy gladly accepted.
Things were coming together nicely and the Lamoureux headquarters was steadily busy. Campaigning was turning Kevin into a svelte figure of his youthful self.
Ah yes! The benefits of working your butt off. Grab anything in the closet... it will fit, two and a half weeks before an election.
Sam and Simmy were looking and feeling a little more fit as well. Climbing on ladders, eating cookies and almonds, climbing on ladders... you get the picture.
"What was the highlight of the day, Sam?"
"I don't know... the toolbox," he said, rotating a chunk of jersey milk goodness around in his mouth.
They had still needed a table to wrap gifts on and a 'bakers' storage rack... Those were probably the only props that were still missing.
Off to the store...
"What do you think about this?"
"For wrapping gifts? Are you kidding?" Sam squawked.
"Why not? I'll ask how much it is!"
Sams' eyeballs couldn't get any larger.
Back at the store, Simmy called Stitches to ask for some help getting it to the shoppe.
"You bought that? For GIFT WRAPPING???"
"STITCHES, try to remember what is truly important in life. Okay?"
With a snicker and a good humoured chuckle he murmured, "Okay."
"You know, Dr. Cymbal had a 'toolbox on wheels' for stitching you up- 'Docs Garage' we'll call it. Remember how we joked that every craftsman has a toolbox... they just have different uses."
"Oh yah," he chuckled, "his was for stitching up people,..."
"Yours is for 'making connections.'"
http://romancedesigner.blogspot.com/2010/03/scott-connection.html
Three hours later, Stitches and Sam went to pick up the 'table for wrapping gifts.'
"Oh, your Mom bought you a toolbox," said customer service woman.
"Noo, she bought herself one," said Stitches, casually sardonic.

"Oh," said very confused customer service woman.
Twenty minutes later, the 'oh so cool' gift wrapping table was being unloaded and 'connections son' said, "Hey, you could use this for food. It's stainless steel."
Simmy groaned, Just when she thought she'd get out of the kitchen... Men always think of their stomachs...