Two Addresses

 So, here it is... Sunday.

My sermon, for today, is called 'Two Addresses.'

I'll write it like a story... J likes to sermonize that way.

A pastor I have listened to, once said... You only have influence while you're in your earthly tent. When your lifes' work is done, God pulls up the tent pegs, folds up your tent and everyone is packed away in a box and then you find out which address you belong at.

A pastor said... after earthly life, there are only two addresses... heaven or hell.

The determination for where we get to live, for all eternity, is made by the god whom we serve while still on earth. 

If we serve ourselves, well, you have to ask... did you manage to build a house in your heavenly realm so you can live in it when you have to live there? What kind of materials do we need there? What is the currency we need to buy building materials for the heavenly realm?

Many people who say... I'm just going to hell because that's where all my friends are... have a very grandiose idea that their evil friends are going to, somehow, provide for them, in hell, as they provided for them on earth. The way evil people provide for 'hell- bound' others is by stealing from honest people.

The people they steal from worked, owned all their own things and properties, and took great care of their living spaces. 

When he would come to my house, for Thanksgiving, I remember my Dad saying... your house doesn't even look like it has aged very much. The cabinets still look wonderful. Things look very well taken care of. Then Elmer would say, 'Elfrieda does all that.'

So, what do we get if we go to heaven? We get something there that nobody gets if they go to hell.

Any guesses?

                                                                    A crown.

How many people know where those words are found? In the Bible, those words are in a prayer, The Lord's Prayer. In my house, at 225, I put The Lord's Prayer, in the bathroom window... I purchased it at a thrift store. You know what I think is ironic about purchasing a machine- made Lord's prayer at the thrift store? Poor people shop at thrift stores and the kingdom of heaven includes poor people. So, what's really quite wonderful is that... if you don't like your address, on earth, and you chose to live in heaven (when it's time to go there), you will, eventually, have the most expensive address that will ever be.

The New Jerusalem coming down from heaven is described in Revelation 21:2- 8. 

In this passage, it details who will be in 'God's dwelling,' brought to humanity, and who will not be in this city. 

Some people believe the Bible, some people don't.

My first novel, The Orchard Walk- El Dueck, is a modern- day interpretation, a corollary of the Bible story, starting in Genesis.

The Orchard Walk El Dueck

Chapter 1

"Sam slowed the Hummer down to a dusty road crawl."

(In 2009, I purchased a Hummer H3 and it was demolished in an accident on August 19, 2019.)

Much of the inspiration for my novel came from my own life and the people I would meet.

"It was a good thing that they'd decided to travel in this rugged vehicle. These roads were raw gravel, pitted and dust driven by wind that is master of nature. The wrought iron gates of the winery...

Simmy rolled down her window to get a better view, taste, smell. "Hey Sam, maybe this is why I love flowers so much. Flowers are the depiction of Eden before the thistle entered on the back of the serpent.

I think you just found that artistic edge you were hoping would grow wings for your next novel."

My second novel, which I may have to re- write, starts out so dark and sinister because it has to have the warning of Revelation 21:8 written in layman's terms.

So, it starts out with some people meeting others, (people who should never be together) that creates the worst evil planners of destructive behaviour you can imagine.

The first and second chapters are, definitely, very bad people who should never have been together. They didn't all start out bad but, because they joined with really bad people, they made the worst partnerships. It's always the same story... a re- make of WWII which nobody wants to see happen.

Now, the first twelve chapters of book II are so depressing, I am unsure that a book that dark would be 'saleable.'

When I was working on the two or three volume novel, starting with The Orchard Walk- El Dueck, I was then already trying to figure out how to make the physical to metaphysical leap.

That was back in 2010, writing in my gazebo, at my 29 year house ownership.

So, the war on evil is what my writing is all about... on every front... let's say, three fronts:

the devil, supernatural temptation 

the world, external cultural pressures (my first novel dealt a lot with this)

the flesh, internal human sinful nature 

My second book starts with the flesh, internal human sinful nature, meeting the supernatural temptation of the domain of the devil.

Like I said... I'm not sure people want a Biblical corollary, number 2, especially those who didn't understand my first book but...

I continue writing.

Warren has been ensuring that every novel, of mine, and all my paperwork is being kept in pristine condition so I can keep my 15 year project going... as well as all my quilts and inventory.

Well, he's making sure everything I own is being protected, by him, so I can be secure in my working.

I am needing good people

 So, now I am looking for some good people in my life.

I need all my belongings from my address 225... It is possible that many of my things have been stashed under a small church. I hope not. Things can be less than tidy under a church.

Today, I would like to talk about what happens when a person... I'm not sure what the terminology is here... takes out a retraining order?

The basic purpose of a restraining order is to keep a person away from an address or individuals.

So, let's say a person threatens me... like in 2022 @ 225 where I was living. I had never met this person and the threat went like this... "I am a very ________ person. You have no idea what I am capable of." From the language of this person to the threatening look, I knew that was a serious threat to my personhood. Because it was an ex- employee of Norwex, I knew I could just make a quick phone call, to the police, if she acted out on her threat.

One time, while shopping with my husband, he turned in terror and fright and hid behind my vehicle. When I went in search of him, cowering there, I said, "What are you doing?"

He said, "That's the woman who threatened you. I do not want to see her."

So I braved the threatening atmosphere, by myself, bought my plants, and thought he might not be remembering correctly. This does not look like the same person.

I was rather fortunate in that I don't recall ever seeing this person, again, in the four years I resided at 225.

So, now I would like to talk about a restraining order.

Now, I don't even know how to procure one of these and I have only seen one, ever, in my lifetime, and it seemed really sketchy because there were so many different printings on it. I wondered if it had been a 'school project' exercise or something demanded of the person. 

So, if a person demands you stay away from where your belongings are, you know they might be trying to steal your belongings, right? I mean, what better way to make sure you have a lot of time to empty a house and stash someones' property items where they can't know where they are. Hey? Wouldn't that be a little premeditated theft or heist of someones' furniture, clothing... all kitchenware... 

My gold E... this was a gift from my son and his wife, in 2015. They bought it from Chapters. 

I am not likely to suffer such a theft because the telltale inventory I have created from my self- published novel, is never going to be seen anywhere without me (unless I sell some for outrageous prices to pay my rent). My inventory is all 'one- of- a- kind' and even Gerd can't find pillow cases like I gifted her and Paul (he was still with us then) for Christmas four years ago. I think I  also purchased one of my novels, and gave her that, for a gift, as well. I still have another set in my inventory. This cotton is such high quality, it's amazing.

 I hope I have, clearly, stated what I believe some people do to steal another persons' 'life belongings.' They take out a restraining order so the person who owns all their 'life work' isn't allowed to see where the devious rascals hide it, sell it, or try to send it to Nathan and his wife so they look guilty as heck. I don't believe for one minute that Nathan and his wife are hiding my dining room set at their house. They are Christians. Ana was a pastor at one time. Pastors do not get involved in theft of furniture that can be clearing traced back to Elfrieda. You're not going to get me to believe that. They're part of church that holds people accountable for all leadership positions. When I drove by, three years ago, the church was doing a huge new build for, either their private school for children or for their sanctuary. I can't quite remember what that big building project was for. I was so disappointed that we didn't attend church the Sunday I was there... I really missed that.

One caution I would really like to make to parents of children who are in a bind... when I removed my children from a private school and put them into the public school... that traumatized one of my sons so badly, he had a very hard time adjusting to his new environment. So, it is a very delicate matter to create upheaval for children... children suffer too, when parents are in a battle.

I really need all my belongings to bless my children who do not have much... it is my Biblical right to bless my children with the work of my hands.

 

Bed Frames

 I need my bed frames from 225. I have two old bed frames, one in the basement bedroom and one was outside in the spot where Warren and Elfrieda signed their marriage documents.

I need these bed frames for a person who is disabled. I need them now.

The one in the back yard, I had just purchased from a sale on Hawthorne. If anyone has contact with that house... please tell Warren he is endangering my well- being with his tardiness in calling me to get all my life possessions.

I need my clothes. I need all my footwear. I need everything.

My quilts. My bicycle. My 14 boxes of novels.

Make sure you don't try and return my white lace skirt to Super Thrifty. I purchased a lot of good clothes there... and my wedding dress... I purchased that at Super Thrifty in 2022... navy lace. I want all my clothes.

I really need my leather sporran and kilts that I purchased for $100.00 at Almost New. I have a very special project that I bought that for.

I'm sure Eileen has been wondering why she hasn't bumped into me at Almost New... I was there so many days, buying my thread and so many teacups and... the list of handmade tablecloths, etcetera. Make sure Eileen knows that I have not left 225. I did not leave.

My current address is 160, in Winnipeg, but I also have a storage unit paid for October waiting for all my legally owned and paid for possessions... Elfrieda Dueck

I sent a text, this morning, asking for help, from a sister's husband, to retrieve all my belongings.

Voluntary Diversion

A resume I created quite some time ago, said,

" (Elfrieda) Served in various positions for 25 years. Some of the positions were teaching classes, singing in a choir and a band, and a lot of decorating for events."

I have applied for so many jobs.

I think it should be easy to get a job for someone who is willing to work and eager to start.

I am awaiting all my belongings... winter is coming and I will need my boots, winter coats, mitts, scarves... 

My 35 journals must be protected as I have a lot of personal information in those and tons of sermon notes. My little gardening telephone directory with phone numbers of my family is stuck at the same address as all my belongings. I can't contact almost anyone without that so I try to send messages to the few people I have phone numbers for but my phone has been bouncing a lot of messages back to me. I have text sent a lot of pictures in the last few days.

I am very concerned about Thanksgiving, October 12. I am hoping I can cook a meal, here, for that. I don't have any of my kitchen tools yet either. That's in just a few more days.

I have accepted a voluntary diversion but I have not been told what it is. I was encouraged to accept it and was told it is a very good thing. 

It seems it is difficult to find a person to run that class? I'm not even sure if it is done through a church or what kind of organization produces these classes? 

So, I am unsure if that is still required for me to do... I have been diligently seeking the answer to that.

In Good Conscience

What is a conscience?

Each person has a conscience. It is your/ my inner moral faculty, a sense of right and wrong. 

What does your/ my conscience do for you?

Your/ my moral compass is designed to direct the actions of your life.

About 38 years ago I bought a course on what happens to a persons' conscience if they choose actions that go against their inner compass feelings.

Let's choose a simple subject- Stealing. Stealing is taking something that doesn't belong to you.

When discussing these topics, it is necessary to start at the beginning, childhood and parenting.

When I grew up... We were taught not to steal. The dictum 'Thou shalt not steal' was the authoritative statement my parents quoted to all of us children.

I was raised in a very large family and I don't ever remember a situation where anyone, within the family, accused another family member of stealing something from the other. Our family was so large, we even had to share bedrooms, so we had great respect for personal 'possessions.'

Almost all of my experience of 'theft and stealing' was quite a shock, to me. When my bicycle was stolen off the second floor of the apartment I rented, I was in disbelief. The year was 1981 or 1982. I was aghast. I contacted the insurance company immediately, made a claim, and received a cheque to replace the stolen 'goods.'

In my self- published novel, I write about a lot of situations to represent 'life problems.' I studied a little criminology and then decided to write the scenes in layman terms. 

A novel 

needs to be readable to day to day living. Imagine that someone would try to steal your novel, that you wrote and self- published. I would be willing to sue them so fast because of the time, and money that it took to complete this type of project. It's impossible to steal, of course, because I self- published. 

Self- published intellectual property cannot be stolen.

Now, let's detail how the conscience works, from the perspective of a 

                                             child to adult process.

Situation

A five year old child steals a candy, puts it in his/ her pocket so the parents, who drove the child to the store, don't discover the 'theft.' 

Immediately, you know that the child feels guilty about stealing the candy because he/ she hides it and waits to eat it when the parents aren't watching.

At the tender age of 5, a child certainly has a conscience.

If the child gets away with this 'theft' (isn't caught, isn't taught) the conscience is dulled and the likelihood of the child repeating the 'theft' becomes... more likely.

There is another step in this process that is called 'confessing.' A child might confess if they know enough about right and wrong to 'feel guilty.' A child who doesn't feel guilt is not a good thing. 

So, the course that I purchased, about 38 years ago, detailed progressional incidents that lead to the searing of a conscience, searing meaning 'dulling.' With each theft a child 'gets away with,' the possibility of thefts becoming larger and larger is the rational conclusion to each 'next' theft.

Moral lesson of this story-

Teach your children well. 

A parents' peace of mind is going to be connected to childrens' behaviour and the behaviour of children is going to be connected to parents' ability to teach principles of moral living.  

 

 

  

Verify

 Moving right along... I need my lawyer to verify that all my belongings have been under lock and key, so no one has access to them until I can get my 'life possessions.'

My lawyer is trying to find someone, in Winnipeg, to close my file.

But... what I really need for him to do is to make sure I have legal right to my house, in Dauphin, to get all of my belongings and my small business, and my most precious photo boxes of my life in the last 55 years. 

I really need those things around me because my children haven't had much, in life, and I need to help them, here, in Winnipeg.

I, certainly, have had very little, in my life. I have had a financial loss, living in Dauphin. I put last years' earnings, from my small business, in Fusion credit union.

When I come get all  my belongings, I will empty that account. It won't be enough to pay for my gas or anything else but, it is mine.

The only wonderful person, who purchased one of my novels, was a decent doctor. I so appreciated him for the post surgery exams after my two cataract surgeries. I had been on a waiting list before I moved to Dauphin so the timing was quite difficult for me. I did have retina gel detachment of both my eyes but I have managed to get through that without having a retina detachment. 

I became much poorer living in Dauphin so I have a lot of 'financial' gains to catch up on. I am needing my inventory. I am needing a job immediately, if possible. I am needing a few good people to  help me get my 'life possessions' from 225 and wherever anything has been stored so it will be in pristine condition for me to sell at my pace and timing. 

I would like to be protected from a woman whom my husband had been dating before our relationship. Gerd knows who this former Norwex employee is. She threatened me, in 2022, when she came to 225, where I was living. When I announced our wedding nuptials to her she told me... "I am a very unstable person and you have no idea what I am capable of. SE" This woman came with her son who seemed much more stable. I wasn't sure about his friend.

So, I just want to be sure, when I pick up all my belongings, that I am not going to be harmed by Warren's past life.

I have completed a number of projects of upgrades on that property. I did not sit idle in the four years I resided at that address, investing my sweat equity into my amazing back yard. 

The bathroom is also a 'time- match' renovation to the age of the house. 

So, I need all of my 'life possessions' to continue my life in a safe environment and I am hoping for a lot of emotional and financial support as I continue my life.

If Warren decides he wants to live with me, he can approach me about that. I am in a small apartment with very high rent but he has never had an opportunity to get out of Dauphin, you never know what he is thinking.

I have enough clothing, at 225 to last me for 20 years if my finances don't get better.

I am anxiously awaiting a call so I can get a truck and move my stuff to my storage unit, which I have been paying a fee on, since I got to Winnipeg.

I spent this morning sending pictures to one son and my three sisters to prove that all my belongings are in that house. I have another three hundred, or so, photos, to prove that I own almost all the same things I did when I owned 90 Forest Cove Drive from 1986- 2014.

It's amazing how many loads of 'clean up' my truck moved out of 225 and how many loads of furniture, from Winnipeg, my truck moved into 225. 

This is my bike, on Kildonan Drive, before I moved to Dauphin... I still want to use it for years. Please keep it with my things and don't ride it.

My rose lapel pin, on my nightstand, at 225, is a metal piece of jewelry I purchased for my Grade 10 photo.

This is a quilt I have at 225... I made it for my grandchild and haven't had the opportunity to give it to her yet... I think I made it in 2015.

These sandals, of mine, are in the front room but they're not in the best condition because one of toe holds pulled out when I was using flip flops to fix my heel spur, in 2016.

This is that truck that hauled all our stuff, what Warren and I bought together, to 225, in Dauphin. 

Now I just have an old van I bought at a local dealership, in Dauphin. I can never tell which van is mine in a parking lot, Dodge made so many of them.

It's still running but I was supposed to get something fixed that a mechanic said wasn't completely urgent three months ago but, as I drive, wear and tear is happening each day.

I'm ready to get all my 'life belongings.'

My Novel Inventory

I am the sole proprietor of my novel 

The Orchard Walk El Dueck

and the inventory I have produced and curated for over 15 years now.                                                 

My inventory list is quite extensive because of all the little things that I collected, like brooches, and military items that I purchased to sell... I purchased them from antique dealers in Winnipeg, well, quite a few years ago. My project is ongoing... started over 15 years ago. 

It takes quite a long time to make one quilt. It certainly takes tons of time to complete 17-20 quilts and have some fronts done, waiting for me to get to finishing those.

I have a ton of photos I took of my quilts on my Grandmothers' blue stool from the early 1920's. It's one of those heirlooms that isn't worth anything to someone who isn't in my family but the sentimental memory quotient value is substantial as a symbol of the European migration of a Dutch family to Canada. I,  took these photos, very recently, in front of the gazebo.

My really old two suitcases, one that has a 'Holland' shipping label, Holland being the country that my family migrated from, is another 'touch base' of collection that I purchased from a flea market about 25 years ago. I keep all my income tax paperwork in one of them... I know my husband will keep very good watch over all my possessions.

I actually did my husband a huge favour, when I moved to 225, in Dauphin. He was 7 years behind in his taxes so I went through container after container in the basement. It was a huge mess. I organized everything, found old cheques he hadn't cashed, put those in a file... kept reminding him to get them re- issued. I was really amazing in organizing. I didn't used to be good at that but, a previous love, that passed away, had been behind 10 years in his income taxes so, it wasn't my first 'rodeo.'

I know that my husband, Warren, would never sell anything that I own because he is very careful about keeping his personal belongings separate from mine.

If Warren wished to donate to my project for novel II, he may want to photocopy a dinner invitation from 'The Hotel Fort Garry' that was called... 'Wolf something..., it was a dinner for a bunch of old vets that made it back from a war (all passed away now, of course). 

We were, absolutely, careful about that.

I think Warren has to ask the courts' permission for quite a lot of things. He knows he isn't allowed to go through any of my belongings. I am waiting for him to be given permission to contact me so I can go get all my 'stuff.'

I trust he will be allowed to contact me this week as I have already paid for one month of Access Storage, Winnipeg East Kildonan, and I am paying for the next month on Tuesday- ish. 

I was very helpful in making sure all the old photographs from his lineage were preserved in 'Rubbermaid' containers and, wasn't that good thinking on my part, with the flood that destroyed so many basements, in Dauphin, this year? 

So, as soon as he calls, I am arranging for a truck to get all my stuff so I can 'keep working' on my dearly loved project.

This is the old suitcase, with Holland shipping label... I have two suitcases, same style, one smaller than that other.

Here's a picture of one of my 12 pair of boots I have been wearing for 25 years. Thank goodness my boots are well worn to my arthritic feet so I am anxiously awaiting all of them for walking comfort. 

I purchased this from my inventory after going to England. One thing I really wish had been a lot longer... Warren's youngest son arranged our trip and I would have stayed three weeks instead of one if I had been given more of a say in the matter. This is the only trip I will likely ever make 'across the pond' so it is very important to me.

I made this cushion cover years ago, from fabric I purchased at Mitchell Fabrics... when they were still open.

This old Ralph Lauren, Denim Supply jacket is hanging on my hook in my bedroom, at 225.

My Rule 25

My personal life philosophy is that... after the age of 55, when people get re- married, there is no such thing as 'stepchildren,' especially when the four of his, and the three of hers, are all over the age of 25.

Did you know that, in Canadian income taxes, if your children are 'dependents,' living for free under your roof, you or they can only claim 'tuition fees' up to the age of 25?

So, even adulthood is, somewhat, dictated, by government standards.

My little green- ish rug, which I kept under or beside my bedroom armoire, with old 'crewel- work' look, is an heirloom I hope Warren will be careful with. It was a gift I gave to mother, when she was alive, and now it is my memory of her and Dad and how they used this little 2'x3' rug. I bought that when I was working at a store that sold that item.

So, I'm sure the delay isn't intentional. I really do need to move all my stuff this week so I don't run into icy roads.

Call as soon as you can.