For all that’s been done
For all that’s being done
For all that will be done
Thank you
We will remember
Remember.
11 Nov posted by
A smile from a child
9 Nov posted by
This week was a tough week for us as a family. We gathered together on Wednesday to say good bye to my oldest cousin. It’s hard to believe that he’s gone and it seems like only yesterday that all of us cousins were clamoring to get into his jeep and have a ride. As you can understand I was sad. My son couldn’t really understand that.
I kept things fun for Xavier as the week passed. We went to our activities and did our usual fun things at home. When the time came however to walk into the hall and begin the memorial service he sensed that something was wrong. As I held him in my arms trying to get his coat off, he put his hand on my cheek and said ‘What’s wrong?’. Then he proceeded to try and entertain the crowd to perk everyone up.
He told everyone he met to ‘Smile’ and then lunged for my brother and sister. He was silly and goofy and we tried to keep him quiet. He was doing alright until the middle of service when he thought the service was boring and decided to recite one of his favorite books.
That’s right. Rather inappropriately in the middle of the memorial service my son began reciting Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton. He’s been working very hard to read it himself and I guess he felt it was time for a story.
Just months ago this wouldn’t have happened. He hasn’t been overly verbal but has been talking like crazy lately. I’m glad he’s shown a great deal of awareness regarding feelings and has concern and care for those who are wounded. The fact that he loves to entertain and make others happy is fantastic. All of these things are great qualities just not in the middle of a memorial service.
Even if it was inappropriate I do thank my son for showing us how to live life to the fullest and giving us joy during a very sad time. I think perhaps these moments come from God. A moment of levity or laughter in a sad time shows that life does continue. A smile from a child shows that there are good things to come.
I’m grateful for glue
4 Oct posted by
I took physics in grade 12. It was like living a nightmare for me. I’m not a math person but nevertheless I persevered and passed. I also received a recommendation that I never take physics again from my teacher so I’m not entirely certain whether I passed due to hard work or pity.
One class we were given an assignment. We were told to build a bridge out of toothpicks and glue. It was supposed to be structurally sound and built according to principles we had learned in class. Once complete we would participate in a friendly competition to see which bridge was the strongest based on the maximum weight it could sustain. I’m not going to lie to you, my bridge was terrible. I told you how bad I was at physics, right? I built a bridge based on looks. The design was pretty but rather large and flimsy.
I assembled my design with a hot glue gun and was surprised at how durable it seemed based on the fact that I actually had no idea what I was doing. My teacher scoffed at the design but amazingly {perhaps miraculously?} it lasted a rather long time in that competition much to his chagrin. Everything he had taught us was not coming to pass. My glue managed to ruin what the lesson was supposed to be about.
I learned an important lesson that day. I learned that the glue that holds everything together is what makes all the difference. My choice of glue was what sustained that bridge. In my life I have a glue that holds me together and keeps things intact. It binds, shapes and holds on as life pulls, twists and attempts to mangle me. I need this as it brings peace and stability when alone I might fall apart or mess things up. I am grateful for the glue that is God in my life.
It’s almost thanksgiving. I’m grateful for glue. What are you thankful for?
Uniquely you.
1 Oct posted by
This morning as I was finishing up my reading plan “The Uncommon Life Daily Challenge from Tony Dungy” on the YouVersion App I read something that struck me, something I think everyone should remember.
“God made you to be uniquely significant and to have an eternal impact on the world around you…God was intentional about your design.”
You are special. On this day when you might be dragging remember that you are special. On this Monday that you might hate because it’s the beginning of another week and it takes so long to get to Friday remember that you were created to make an impact, to make a difference and what you do matters.
“For I know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11
Enjoy your Monday. Live fully and embrace the opportunities you were given. Today is a day of promise and you can live in that promise.
It’s 4:58.
30 Sep posted by
It’s 4:58. I am sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee to my right and the latest copy of In Style to my left.
I am tired. I am tired for many reasons. I was up twice in the night with a little boy who had bad dreams. I am thinking of calling Mike Holmes as there is some weird stuff happening in the furnace room and I am tired of weird things happening in my home. I just sang at a funeral and had to take my son with me so that was an adventure and a half to say the least. I have a jam packed schedule this week. Laundry is piled to the rafters. Friends and family are struggling in various ways. I am tired.
With that said I’m not overwhelmed. It’s surprising. I could tell you how horrid it is but it isn’t that bad. It could be worse and I have coffee. I’m not sure when it happened people but I think I may have lost the cynicism and entered the realm of eternal optimist. What is with that?
I kind of like this new zen me. I am not going to lie feeling calm is a lot better than feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
I’m not certain but I do think a large part of my relaxed attitude in the midst of busyness has to do with the ridiculously amount of laughing that I am doing as my husband tries to teach my son how to do the dance from this video. Thank you Gangnam style!
Dinosaur vs. the potty
3 Sep posted by
I am a mom but I am not a mommy blogger. I want to be but things in my life that are seemingly funny or entertaining to those around me get pushed to the side when my passion for the Church and Jesus and all that stuff get swept to the forefront. One of the greatest things of this time off for me has been the ability to let go and let God regarding the church. In the last few months I have worried a little and ranted some but generally let go of the trials and tribulations our church has felt. It’s been a much needed break for me and I had to admit when I realized this morning that less than a month from now I’d be writing sermons and thinking about the church at large again I got a little sad. I love vacation!
I do of course love my work and will definitely enjoy it when I go back but I still have a month to go of course and I will be embracing every moment of freedom from responsibility and thinking. Enter: Dinosaur vs. the potty. One of the things that I have truly enjoyed over this break has been reading absolute garbage. I love light, fluffy novels and magazines. I look at pictures of food, read happy love stories and have embraced those things with absolute abandon when given the time. This has meant a lot of time spent at places where books are sold and one of those places introduced me to Dinosaur. I love Dinosaur, my son does not. It is a book for 2-6 year olds and I love it. I love it because my son is Dinosaur. He is currently waging war against potty and I’m sad to say right now potty is not winning. This book makes me laugh and helps me to see the lighter moments of potty warfare.
What does this have to do with the price of fish? Nothing really. The thing is I’ve been doing some experimenting. I’m trying to figure out what to write about, what to discuss. I wrote a post yesterday I wasn’t overly thrilled with but my husband made me post {as a loving husband would} as I was trying something different and he said different isn’t necessarily bad. I have written other things that never even make it through the draft. What should I write? What is most interesting to think about? Would everyone just rather read about food?
Ultimately this blog is about me, my journeys in faith and in food {with some family thrown in}. I’ll likely toss this experimentation phase and just go back to the way things were with rants, dreams and delicious food. Whatever happens I hope you enjoy what this fall has to bring. I know I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey called life takes me next.
And so with chili and chocolate the football season began.
31 Aug posted by
Our annual fantasy draft was held at my house on Wednesday. I usually serve chili so that wasn’t a huge surprise to anyone when they arrived for their feast. I think I was surprised when I was asked for chocolate. As my Grandfather’s granddaughter I happened to have a huge selection from which to choose so we were rather energized by the time the draft actually started.
I drafted second. This is sub-optimal for many reasons. One, you’re forced into picking one of the top three guys {LeSean McCoy was my pick} and two you have to wait until everyone behind you has gone twice before you can pick again. My team is relatively decent but not amazing. I think I can make it work.
Afterwards I was exhausted, much like I am on Sundays after preaching. My husband laughed at this and then we got to talking a little bit about how the church is like fantasy football. There’s no control over your team and you pretty much have to have absolute faith that things will work out and not make changes or do anything drastic without considerable thought as it can make or break your year.
Here’s my team as it stands right now. I’m not overly confident but it is what it is. Let me know what you think.
Squeezing life.
30 Aug posted by
There is a satisfying moment that comes at the end of every large sink of dishes. That moment when you take the dishcloth and wring it out in your hands, removing as much water as possible and then you hang it to dry. That moment signifies the end. It’s over and done with. You can move on. As I’ve been living out the final days of summer I’ve been squeezing every drop of life out of each day. I have spent my time living, doing, being. I have known what it is to be dirty. I have slid down the slide and punched down dough. I’ve watched X. discovered numbers and letters and colors. I’ve watched my little guy has discover new concepts and begin to read. I’ve played with dinosaurs and gotten fake shots from a pretend doctor. The days have been wonderful and I feel blessed to have been given this time.
When the summer began and I realized I had such a long stretch between preaching gigs {due to weddings and family obligations on weekends} I wasn’t sure what would happen. I wondered if I would miss it. I wondered what I would fill my extra time with. I thought it would be this blog but life took over and I just lived. We’ve had a wonderful summer. It’s been a joy to watch my little guy grow and the evenings spent with my husband have been restorative and refreshing. I have enjoyed this season of rest, active rest but rest that I’ve enjoyed. I have really enjoyed this time being just me.
That said I know that work is good for me. It keeps me organized and prevents me from killing myself in the kitchen {I’m making a lot of bread!}. I’m starting to get a sense that I might need some structure and a little time for my brain to think and dream again. I have felt God’s tug at my heart and know that this season is nearing it’s end. I’ve learned what it is to rest and I realize I need to do it more. Evenings with books and baths, with movies and good conversation will have to be continued. I cannot sacrifice all of my life. I need to have some moments for living. I need to be ‘me’ more often. As I gear up for a season of work I am looking at my life and trying to see what it is that God is calling me to. I am praying and planning and ordering things for the fall so that when work demands do return I do not sacrifice all my time and forget what it is to rest. Balance is key.
I will continue to squeeze life out of this summer, to get every last drop of time I have left in God’s gift of time knowing that in days to come rest might be more difficult to find. I have learned a few things from this period of rest and I intend to carry them forward. This fall I will intentionally plan Sabbath. I will seek quiet and contemplation. I will seek balance when balance seems challenging. I can see now how necessary it is to plan time away, to seek space to allow God in.
How are you preparing for fall? Will you intentionally seek rest this fall? How will you celebrate your Sabbath?
Coronation Grapes.
23 Aug posted by
I had planned to write a post about God and God’s people and some interesting things I’ve been mulling over lately but after the day I had {and the sleepless night before it} I was just too tired. Then I sat down to dessert, some Coronation Grapes. Those grapes were amazing. They burst with juicy flavor and were utterly divine. They made everything better. God made those grapes and they were good.
P.S. – I had a bit of a porridge debacle this morning. I forgot the salt. It would seem that Jesus was right about salt. A little goes a long way. Just something to think about.
