Twitter - A Game Changer

Okay, so I may really be behind in the game, but I just finally took the jump and discovered Twitter.  I have an account that I keep more professional as a teacher tweeting or mostly retweeting things that hit me in the world of education, politics, science, social justice, the environment, etc.

I also just created a more personal one where I tweet, retweet things with respect to motherhood, marriage and faith as a continuation of www.MomsMoments.ca.  @DeeperMoments.

Its amazing to have so much information at my fingertips!  Twitter makes it so much easier to scan the news, see and easily share what authors and speakers I respect are tweeting and blogging about when I just have a few minutes on my cell.  I'm not one to sit on the home computer very much because frankly, there's not enough time in the day, so I otherwise am terrible at keeping up with blogs or randomly searching online for anything at all.

But Twitter... well... that's a game changer.  Its opened up a whole new level of awareness of the world, of innovation, of encouragement, challenging me to continue to be  more intentional in motherhood, marriage and faith, as well as a teacher and human being in today's society!

If you haven't already, check out Twitter and see the world come to you rather then you having to feel in the dark because there's no time to keep up with what's going on in the world!

See you on Twitter!  @DeeperMoments

Mélanie

The 100/0 Principle

Do you have a relationship in your life that you are ready to give up on? You're so frustrated with the person you don't know why you even bother?

Well, we all know the golden rule:

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

But its not always so easy to live out when we face frustrating people that make us want to throw our arms up in the air...

So what do we do? Give up? Is the relationship worth all your effort when it feels like they're giving you nothing back?

The golden rule was summed up in practical ways in this 100/0 Principle that really resonated with me. Its meant for the relationships that you feel truly matter... whether it be a coworker you just need to get along with because you work so closely together... a friend... a sibling... an in-law... a spouse... whatever relationship you find yourself in that might be strained at the moment.

Check out this brief video to see what its all about... you'll get the idea.

The 100/0 Principle - see this brief video to get the gist of it.

Relationships that matter are worth the time and effort. I truly believe it. We need faith that things can and will change. I do... do you?

Christmas

I now find myself in full Christmas spirit. Working on the holiday issues of Women on the Move and Deeper helped me to transition from the busyness of marking and report cards!

The Christmas lights are up on the house, we put up our Christmas tree last night, and Christmas music has been playing on the radio and on the piano as my girls learn them in their piano lessons, and we've been having fun playing duets! There's even snow on the ground (as I write, we'll see how long that lasts...). It doesn't feel like Christmas without snow for this Northern girl so I'm loving the "light dusting" we just got!

Christmas is a beautiful time of year when people come together, regardless of their backgrounds and interestingly regardless of their beliefs too. Love, giving and compassion abound as we exchange gifts and seem to go out of our way to do kind things for others, "in the spirit of Christmas."

At least for this season, many of us stop to look beyond our own busy lives and consider those around us, our family, friends, coworkers and the less fortunate in our communities and around the world. If only it was a more common practice to be more giving and selfless throughout the year... that is how Jesus lived His life everyday isn't it? A friend to all - the rich, the poor, those hated by society - the prostitutes, the lepers and tax-collectors... and caring for them in real tangible ways: feeding crowds, healing the sick, raising the dead, forgiving the burdened, taking the time to really listen to their stories and answering their questions, in essence: serving others. I love that the world still stops to celebrate Jesus, over 2000 after his birth... amazing.

For this season, all of us, in the church and amazingly beyond the church walls, are challenged to love, serve and help others. That's a beautiful thing!

I'm not stressing about the list of things to do that often comes with Christmas... I'm just excited for time off from work so that I can spend more quality time with my family near and far. I'm also enjoying taking time out with the girls to stop to consider the true reason for season. So many wonderful opportunities to deepen faith in our kids in the weeks leading up to Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all! May this be a season rich in quality time with loved ones, and one where we all reach beyond our little bubbles to show love to others and to help those in need.

Here are a few songs that are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit if you too have been struggling to make the transition.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus

Deck the Halls - my absolute favourite jazzy version of this song from "Count Your Blessings" with Holly Cole

A Holy Thing (Who is this Child) from "Count Your Blessings" with Victoria Williams

Compassion for Haiti

I woke up to the radio yesterday with the news of the earthquake in Haiti... Yikes... News of the poorest country in the western hemisphere being hit so hard is tough... My heart has been heavy...

I've heard of two separate instances where friends of friends had just left Haiti, in one case the day before the earthquake hit returning from working in an orphanage... in another, 90 minutes before it hit returning from a medical relief trip... too many were not so lucky... they weren't flying off to safe distant lands, but were hit... HARD.

As I write in my warm and comfy home, contemplating going to bed early or getting a bit of work done... CBC news today reported the Red Cross estimating 50,000 dead... others are reporting 100,000 dead... Emergency aid from around the world is arriving, struggling to bring supplies as devastation is all-around and search and rescue efforts continue.

We may not all be able to mobilize and hit the ground to help in person as friends' of ours have done... but we can all take some time to pray for the hurting people, for the search and rescue efforts, for the protection of all and for aid and supplies to get to those who need it most.

"Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.

Do not forget the helpless."

Psalm 10:12

We must also take a minute to donate to help get more aid and supplies on the ground. My inbox and Facebook are inundated with organizations pleading for help and donations to further their work where they have already been established for several years... Compassion, Canadian Red Cross, Power to Change, and World Vision... No matter where you choose to donate, lets work together to get aid on the ground to those who are so desperate for our help... here's a bit more info on one of these organizations for your info...

World Vision in Haiti...

World Vision is on the ground right now in the Haitian city of Port-Au-Prince, helping families and children devastated by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake Tuesday afternoon. Your donations are vital to the relief efforts and are needed today. Every dollar makes a difference and now if you give a donation to the Haiti Earthquake victims through World Vision, by February 12th, it will double in impact due to a generous contribution from the Canadian Government.

With an international response team flying in from around the globe to assist, our relief efforts are underway. World Vision Haiti is now distributing emergency supplies to families and children struggling to deal with this catastrophic disaster. World Vision has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, helping an estimate 300,000 Haitians each year to overcome poverty through providing access to education, improved access to food and clean water and improved nutrition as well as helping families with improved medical care.

Now, more than ever, your help is needed to help families in Haiti and let them know they are not alone in this emergency. Click here to donate now.

PANIC MODE

Well I don't know how things are in your part of the world, but around here, the past two weeks, everyone seems to be in complete panic mode regarding the H1N1 flu pandemic...

News of the 13-year old hockey player and now the 2-month old baby who have died of H1N1 have for sure fueled the panic.  Add to that the vaccine shortage... people lining up 5-6 hours to get their shot... people getting turned away because they don't fit into the high risk groups (kids 6 months to 5 year being among the high risk group accepted at the moment).  Lots of indecisiveness and confusion about what to do with the vaccine... We are bombarded by conflicting information on a daily basis.   We have decided to go ahead with the H1N1 vaccine (despite my having been the biggest skeptic when it comes to the regular flu shot, I'm thinking that this isn't the year to be a skeptic and I'm trusting the advice of my friends and family who are in the medical world!)  I'm not writing this to get the debate going about whether to vaccinate or not... that's a personal decision... do your research and decide for yourselves!

Rather, I'm writing to address the mass panic... It is easy to live in fear... in fear of getting sick... in fear of germs everywhere... in fear of our children getting sick and ending up like the kids we've heard about on the news... 

PANIC

FEAR

WORRY

I have caught myself begin to panic a few times over the last couple of weeks... but I just need to recognize it, and change the fear and worrying into prayer... The panic around me has fueled my prayer to God for my children and our family... for health, for protection, and for so much more...

Prayer and looking to God's truths in scripture give me peace as they take my eyes away from my circumstances, and rather remind me that there is an all-knowing, powerful God who is present and at work - not just in a cosmic distant way, but in a close and personal way.  He knows me, my family and everything about us, and even better, He loves us and cares for us.  Prayer keeps me focussed on who God is and melts away fear and worry.

Now does that mean that we will be free from illness, tragedy and heartache in our lives?  No.  But I do believe that God hears our prayers and answers them in ways that He knows are best for us in the long term.  That can be impossible for any of us to understand depending on what we're coping with.  In the face of those difficult times, I do believe that God gives us the strength to handle whatever we are up against just when we need it, and that it somehow fits into a larger plan that I may be unable to make sense of in the moment.

Here are two of my favourite verses that bring me hope and peace - as well as a few others!

"Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and your outstretch arm.  Nothing is too hard for you."  Jeremiah 32:17 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." - Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you"  Isaiah 43:5a

I leave you with this prayer from Romans 15:13 :  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

So much to be thankful for indeed!

At this time last year, I was brand new to this blogging thing and in the early months of a maternity leave, two daughters at home with me and the eldest in school.  Much has changed in the past year, two daughters now in school full-time and one in daycare, a husband back to school just about to wrap up his program, and I'm back to work teaching high school (happy to be part-time only!) and have taken on more editing duties at Mom's Moments.  Life is busy as ever and I long for the quieter days at home!

Many things have not changed however... For one, I'm still blogging (though maybe more sporadically)!  And secondly, as I blogged at this time last year in my post "So much to be thankful for" I'm as thankful as ever for the many blessings in my life!  

Last Thanksgiving, we were surrounded by friends and family as we dedicated our baby girl to God at church.  She's now eating table foods and running all over the place and even starting to articulate a word here and there (that's a change from last year!). I'm as thankful as ever for her and her sisters...

What a blessing my family is to me.  

Happy Thanksgiving to you this year!  Be sure to pause and thank God for all of your blessings as good and perfect gifts come from above!

Starting off the Day

This morning as I lay in bed, I could hear my 6-year-old daughter singing quietly to herself in her bed. What a great way to start the day. I much prefer when she wakes up singing then when I have to wake her up, exhausted on a school day, and she's whining and complaining that she's too tired to get up yet... I choose singing over whining any day of the week! (if only it were my choice to make)

I do have other choices to make that affect my mornings though... will I press snooze, which results in a rushed morning to get myself ready and everyone up and going too... will I eat breakfast right away as I feed the girls, or will I get busy with 1001 tasks only to realize that I'm grumpy because I still haven't eaten (I don't function well without breakfast)... and the one which has the greatest impact on my day: will I sit and take a moment to read my Bible as I eat breakfast before I rush off and continue with the rest of my day (before or after the kids have eaten)...

Why is that last one so significant? Because I find that reading my Bible in the morning sets me up for a better day. It gets me refocused, invites God into my day from the start, and leads to a heart of prayer as I sit in the car driving to work, or doing tasks around the house - praying for my husband, my girls, friends, family, etc. In short, it puts life in perspective and reminds me that God is with me through each moment of my day.

I find that I've not been starting off my day right the past while, and I've been feeling it... impatience... rushing from one task to the next feeling like I'm not getting ahead... I have had seasons where I can pour into deeper studies, and others where I can barely get to just read a brief devotional with reflections written by various people based on a short passage. I'm in a busy season, and knowing that I've been missing the mark too often in past months, I'm back to picking up a devotional, though light, it at least is a start to get me focused in the morning and is better then nothing!

So I may not be able to choose if my daughter will wake up singing or cranky, but I can choose to take even just a minute to refocus my day by reaching for God's Word. What a difference it makes to my day!

Bridging the Gap

Today's post is going to be rather different then you'd normally find on my blog... I'm taking part in the BTG synchroblog along with over 50 other bloggers... check out the BTG blog to see the full list and read posts from many different perspectives on how we can "bridge the gap".

A few months ago, our small group from church worked through the pilot study called "Bridging the Gap: Conversations on befriending our gay neighbours" (The executive producer being Wendy Gritter who wrote in the June/July issue of our Deeper Newsletter). I must say with all honesty that going in, I was a bit reluctant, not quite sure of what I was getting into... particularly feeling responsible for having brought a co-worker and friend to the group, unsure of how the topic would be broached...

My attitude changed quickly as I looked over the DVD cover and saw the names of some of the speakers involved... Tony Campolo, Bruxy Cavey, Greg Paul... And I liked the approach they were proposing: this study was not about debating whether homosexuality is right or wrong, rather, we would put all that aside to examine how it is that we as Christians, can love like Jesus, regardless of how different our convictions may be from those around us.

I appreciated the fact that different points of view were represented... There were those who believed that despite being gay, God wanted them to remain celibate, while others believed that God blessed gay marriage but not promiscuity... it's quite the hot topic when faith and sexuality collide... Listening to those sharing their thoughts on the DVD, one could not deny that each person loved God and was dedicated to following Christ, though somehow, they had arrived to different conclusions in their study of the same Bible.

Now this is where many of us Christians might struggle... but as Bruxy challenged us, instead of jumping to conclusions and questioning how people come to hold their convictions, we should give all the benefit of the doubt and get to know them instead of labelling, stereotyping and judging... It's really about individuals, and should not be about an "issue" which dictates an automatic response to every gay person that crosses our path...

I truly feel that the BTG study should be done by so many more as it challenges those of us who are Christians to truly reach out like Jesus did, beyond our comfortable "Christian bubbles". And this in no way means that you need to compromise your own convictions, it's more about examining your responses to others.

The beauty of this study is that it extends well beyond how we interact with the gay people in our lives. It is really about how we can love through deep disagreements, whatever those may be, when it otherwise would be easier to cut people off instead of working through it, accepting that in the end, we may still arrive to different conclusions.

Though I've heard these two words get confused, I do believe that there is a clear difference between tolerance and acceptance. Tolerance has no love. It's cold, indifferent and says: "You stay over there and do your thing, and I'll stay over here and do mine... just don't bug me and we'll be fine..." Whereas acceptance says: "I love you, care about you, and want you to be a part of my life." Acceptance doesn't mean that you need to be like-minded - no two people are completely - so there must be room to disagree and still accept, love and respect one another.

Speaking as a Christian, I must admit that the church (collectively) traditionally has not been good at tolerating or accepting people in the gay community (or anyone who might have different thoughts then us or appear rough around the edges for that matter)...

I was just reading my Bible in Acts 10 and was reminded of how the apostle Peter was challenged in a vision with the fact that God shows no favouritism. Peter assumed that the message of Jesus was for the Jews alone, but he learned that God had sent Jesus for ALL. I recently read this version of Acts 10:34-35 which I loved:

"Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from - if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open." (The Message)

Jesus thankfully doesn't tell us to come to Him when we are perfectly like Him... He'd be left alone... rather, He invites us all to come as we are... Jesus made time for the marginalized and outcasts of the day: the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the lepers... whatever their issues and struggles, He accepted and loved people even when no one else did. If we are to be the body of Christ, His hands and feet, aren't we to love like Him in order to represent Him well in the world instead of building up more walls and cutting more people off who many not look, dress or believe exactly like us??

So what does loving like Jesus mean? Perhaps less judging, less jumping to conclusions, less making people feel terrible about themselves... and more loving unconditionally, more investing in the lives of others, meeting them where they are, even when it's not easy... Once someone has come to the place where they have accepted Jesus as their Saviour, then we can trust God to be at work in their lives, through the Holy Spirit just as He is in ours... He's in the business of changing hearts and lives... and often times, when we're so stuck on what others need to change in their lives, God is trying to show us what we need to change in our own...

Tony Campolo reminded us of this as he discussed the pat answer so many of us Christians use... "Love the sinner, hate the sin"... But really Jesus taught that we are to examine our own lives first and not always be so quick to point the finger!! None of us have life all figured out... More transparency is good... Why is it that we Christians are often afraid for people (in and outside the church) to see our imperfections? We are all a work in progress!

To wrap things up, I strongly recommend getting friends together to work through the 4 week BTG study. It's well worth the time... and you can be sure that you will be stretched by it. The study truly broke the ice for our group, taking us from surface level discussions about faith, to real, honest and deep conversations. It has been tough to transition into a new study as most don't seem to foster such great discussions that get us thinking and talking about various applications in our lives throughout the week!

Visit New Direction for more information or to purchase the BTG study. Also check out who else is blogging in today's BTG synchroblog and see what perspective they bring to the discussion!

Mamma Mia!

The past number of months, I've had a 3 and 6 year old who will break into song out of the blue with various Mamma Mia! tunes at the top of their lungs (doesn't matter where we are either... for the 3 year old anyway!)

They were introduced to ABBA by their aunt, cousin and grandmother and have been singing the songs non-stop ever since! It's been an experience for daddy! It's a good thing I like to sing and dance along! I think I would have put off their discovery of Mamma Mia! until they were a bit older though... some of the lyrics are rather ahead of their time!

"Mom, what does: 'Give me, Give me, Give me a man after midnight' mean?"

Oh boy...

On the one hand, I've had to repeatedly remind my nearly 4-year old that even if they slide down the banister and jump on the bed in Mamma Mia!, it doesn't mean that it's okay!... And on the other, my 6 year old inquisitive daughter has been dissecting the lyrics to the songs with her incredible memory, asking me about this line, and that... The movie and songs have actually sparked some great conversations with her which has been great. She's had so many questions, such as...

"Sophie is 20! She's not old enough to get married, is she?... Is she old enough to babysit?"

Then came this question:

"Mom, what does 'Don't go wasting your emotions... lay all your love on me' mean?"

I don't tend to over-spiritualize everything with my kids, but as I stopped to think about it, this is the only response that really made sense to me (though she gets that it's not really what they meant in the movie - but this is what makes more sense)...

"That's exactly what God wants us to do! He wants us to stop wasting our emotions on things like worry and fear, and instead to lay all our love on Him! When we love Him first and remember how much He loves us, then we can stop wasting our emotions on some of those other things that drain us for nothing..."

God speaking through an ABBA song? Who knew. It does jive with so many verses in the Bible though...

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Are you "wasting" your emotions? It's so easy to get wrapped up in our daily troubles and allow them to consume us... God's there calling us to lift our eyes from our "stuff" that so entangles us, and to look to Him for peace...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

I love how our pastor put it in his sermon entitled "Worry-Less Living" in April... He called it "The Phil 4-6 Principle": Worry about NOTHING, Pray about EVERYTHING.

So easily said... I just need to remember it when it matters!

(As posted on the Deeper Moments blog)

Happy Good Friday?

The past few days I've been feeling off. I've been getting frustrated and impatient with the kids a lot, over-exhausted with a sinus headache that just won't go, letting me know that I'm getting the cold the rest of our household has... still no excuse for losing my cool.

Then I think of a conversation I had last weekend with a friend of mine. She was telling me about a Muslim friend of hers who was trying to figure out how to could greet her during the Easter season out of love and respect for her. "Do I wish you a 'Happy Good Friday'" she asked? My friend responded that no! That was the day they killed Jesus! It's on the Sunday that we celebrate, for He rose again!

Good Friday. I prefer the French term "Vendredi Saint" - Holy Friday, as "good" makes it sound like it's a party day! That, it is not... What a day for me to have a morning of losing my cool with my kids with impatience... a day when the gravity of my messing up is all too real... remembering that Jesus had to die on the cross for me... for my many moments of messing up... so that I would have the opportunity to be made right with God and see Him in heaven one day... So, today, on Good Friday, I find myself again asking for forgiveness for messing up, thankful, though saddened by the immense sacrifice that was done on my behalf because I could never be perfect enough to earn my way to heaven... no, His gruesome death was required. Ouch! (click here to read more on that...)

Then I can't help but think of Sunday... because I thank God the story didn't end on the sombre Holy Friday! As Easter's been approaching, I've actually been thinking a lot about my late uncle Ted the past little while. He was like a grand-father figure in our family... Easter was a most Holy and serious time of year for him. We knew to never bother him in the time leading up to Easter as he was preoccupied with practicing his organ in preparation. Once the Easter morning service was done, we could visit and he would unmistakably greet us with "He is RISEN!" at which we would respond "He is risen indeed!"

So today we reflect on the gravity of Christ's death on the cross and what it means to us personally... but soon we party! For He is risen indeed!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"He was handed over to die because of our sins, and was raised to life to make us right with God." Romans 4:25 (New Living Translation)

Getting Moving

Well, I never would have guessed that I would get my morning exercise today by shovelling the driveway after 2-3 days of solid snow that took us by surprise! What a strange winter and spring it's been! It felt like spring in February and now winter in April... ??

What I've been wanting to write about for a while is exercise... there are actually two things that have always been important to my days ever since I was young... being physically active is one, and having quiet time reading my Bible is another. Ironically, those are the two things that since having kids have been most easily squeezed out of my days. I fight to make room for them, at times unsuccessfully, at times finding a good groove - which inevitably is only temporary...

Focusing on exercise here... I have always been an active person... enjoying down hill and cross-country skiing, rowing, swimming, canoeing, I discovered Ultimate Frisbee in my university days and even tree planted in the springs during that time, and I am one of those people who actually truly does enjoy running. That would be the one physical activity that I long to fit into my weeks the most at this point in my life. I do Pilates once a week which is like physio therapy for me, but I really can't wait to get running again.

Though I love to be active, to feel alive with my heart pumping fast, I find it difficult to schedule exercise into my days on a regular basis since the kids... I'll have a few months where I get into a groove and find the perfect time slot to make it work in my weeks, but then summer comes, another baby comes, I go back to work or go on leave... at some point my schedule always changes and it takes me a while (sometimes a LONG while) before I can get into any sort of groove again. Last year back to teaching, with an added commute, and pregnant, I never did succeed to slide that in. I love being active when I'm pregnant, so I was really missing it! Exercise is always there in the form of carrying laundry and kids up and down the stairs and running around with the kids. Exercise for sure... But not the peaceful, ME-TIME runs I love.

In the winter it's particularly tough to get out with the kids when it's 20 below and the wind is fierce. But this winter I did get into a bit of a routine. I've been making a point of getting out to the bus 10 minutes early in the mornings with the girls (mainly because we never knew if it would be early or late! now it's just a habit to be on the early side). This has allowed the girls to run and play in the snow and burn off some energy before my eldest jumps on the bus (because let's be honest, I'm not the only one who needs to fit in exercise!). At times in the winter we'd stay out a bit longer after the bus to shovel the driveway so I can get moving too (today was a deja vu!).

I also found a great bargain on a running double stroller on Craig's List back in the fall, and it's been AMAZING! I've tried to carry on our morning habit of getting out early for the bus for the afternoon drop off, but making it out even earlier so that I can fit in a brisk walk before the bus. Now that the weather's nicer (not counting the past 3 snowy days!), my 3-year old Emma wants to bike, thankfully she's fast, so I can get a decent walk (at times a jog!) in there still! With my babe's morning nap getting shorter, I'm also finding that I have a bit of time to play with before lunch, so when it's nice we try to get out to the park for Emma to run and play. I'm hoping that as naps continue to settle and the weather keeps getting nicer and the ground dryer, that I'll be able to get out even longer and actually get to the trails so that I can start running again. Just hoping that Emma will be content to sit in the double stroller! At the end of the day, she's usually tired and in the winter would fall asleep in the stroller, so it could work out! Here's hoping...

Of course, with the arrival of summer and school ending... I don't have a triple running stroller... nor would my 6 year old want to sit in it anyway! So again, barely into a running routine, I'll be struggling to fit it in again! And she's more tentative on her bike, so here's hoping she becomes more comfortable (and faster!) so that I can at least get back out for good brisk walks with the kids on their bikes!

Honestly, I think I just need to be more intentional about prioritizing, planning ahead and seizing the opportunity to get out and get moving when the weather's nice! I suppose the same goes for fitting in my quiet times... planning, prioritizing, seizing the opportunities as they come along! It's not easy when you're tired and have all these little people to worry about to take time out for myself... but I need to. For my health and sanity - which essentially benefits everyone! I just wish it wasn't so hit or miss!

For ideas on getting the kids active when the weather's bad this spring, check out Caroline's Health Nut article in the Winter 2009 issue of Mom's Moments. (it was written for indoor ideas on those bad winter days, but it can easily apply to the rainy spring days!)

Beautiful

Today was a beautiful day. Sunshine, a new niece, my babe cut her first two teeth, the girls had their first swimming lessons of the season, and we enjoyed a BBQ with good friends. A beautiful day of blessings.

Yesterday was a day of waiting... Waiting to hear from my "baby" brother for news of the induction and labour/delivery, this being another high risk pregnancy for my sister-in-law... Waiting to hear from a good friend as she awaited news of a major decision that has been a long-time coming and a longstanding prayer request... Yesterday I took the kids to the park before lunch and enjoyed the sunshine as I continued to prayerfully and anxiously wait. Funny to have two things I've been praying about for months both come to a head on the same day. If only all prayer requests had a date when you knew the answer was due!

The funny thing is that yesterday I woke up feeling like it was going to be a great day filled with blessings. I don't particularly get strong feelings like that often, but yesterday I did. It felt like God would just be pouring out His favour down on many and be in the business of answering prayers.

If only I always had such confidence in how things would turn out when I pray and life feels uncertain. I'm getting used to God's answer being WAIT, instead of a quick resounding YES! Often times, I'm learning that the waiting has been to prepare me, to mould me, to stretch me... deepening my faith and reliance on God by the time the answer finally does come. Maybe it's easier to be confident in expecting an unmistakable yes when praying for others then when you're the one in the midst of a crisis, decision, or life event (major or minor). I suppose that's why it's so important to have others around us praying for us as well, so that their confidence encourages and strengthens our faith when we need it!

So yesterday I waited, expecting big things from God... and God did bring upon blessings but mostly in the trivial (like dry pants on my preschooler after a few accident-filled days!). Sure enough, I still had to wait... wait another day for the beautiful healthy baby girl who made her appearance early morn!... and wait longer still for my friend's situation to get resolved. So we keep praying and waiting for that one, all the while thanking God for the blessings and answered prayers of the day! Beautiful blessings indeed!

A world of hurt

The past year, my senses have truly been heightened to those hurting all around me... close by and abroad... Friends living far from family, unable to return to their home country where they would be persecuted for their faith in Christ... friends with struggling marriages... some facing nasty custody battles and endless legal proceedings and false accusations... too many walking with loved ones through their fight with cancer... friends struck suddenly with inexplicable illnesses that have momentarily and at times permanently rocked their worlds... others struggling with infertility... husbands working far from home... then news of a baby girl (seemingly barely 1 from the photos) battling with stage 4 cancer... and reading the stories of some of the children members of my church's mission trip to Cambodia are encountering...

I have also recently been introduced to the International Justice Mission and have just read a book called "Terrify No More" which tells of their work in Cambodia and around the world to free and seek justice for victims of sex-trafficking and of bonded labour, etc. I'm also finishing a book called "One - A face behind the numbers" where Vaden Earle from Absolute Leadership Development brings to light the injustice that so many in the world face and our need for us to step up, become aware and take action!

All of this has led me to one main response... Why am I so blessed Lord? I have a loving and faithful husband, healthy beautiful children, a lovely spacious home, a tight-knit loving extended family, caring friends and a wonderful church community. We are blessed beyond belief. As I sat the other night praying for those hurting around me and wondering why we are continually blessed, the answer that came was this...

We are blessed so that we may bless others.

We can't respond to others' stories with the fear of illness, injury or accidents striking our family. That response keeps my eyes on me. It's selfish and a useless waste of energy and emotion - though I sometimes have to remind myself. No, I really believe that we are blessed so that we can bless others with our time, our resources, our friendships and our prayers.

I wrote about my desire to teach my kids about compassion back in October... getting their eyes off their own little lives and desires and to recognize the needs of others around them. I think I am the one who has been learning the lesson more than anyone. It's so easy to get consumed by my own busy life and family, with my only worries being paying the bills at the end of the month, getting my kids through their colds and flus and preparing my 3-year old for school in September.

I have been feeling a new and increasing burden to pray for those who cross my path the past while. You know, it's a funny thing to pray more for others. It takes my eyes off me and my troubles as they arise which seem SO BIG when they're my main focus. But as I look to God and trust Him to act in the lives of others, lifting them up in prayer, it builds my faith to remember that God is a powerful God who will take care of my worries which seem to be nothing at all regardless of how bad my day seems!

I am blessed. As John Waller talks about in his song "The Blessing", I can and will choose to be a blessing!

Wisdom from Bees?

I just watched the Bee Movie with Jerry Seinfeld. There were lots of great lines in there that got me thinking... The movie starts off with this narration (which also appears in print on the screen)... I just had to write this down...

"According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly.
It's wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground.
The bee, or course, flies anyway.
Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible."

I just love that! So typical of us to think that we know everything - have an answer and an explanation for everything and think that we can determine what is possible and impossible. I started looking up a few Bible verses about the possible and the impossible and I found a recurring theme of the impossible only being possible with God...

At one point, a man comes to Jesus asking Him, if it's at all possible, to heal his son who has been having seizures since childhood ("if you can" he says)... Jesus' response: "If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes." (Mark 9:23) Who are we to limit what God can do when we come to Him and ask in faith!

Mark 10:27 "With man this [being saved] is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Then there's Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Human wisdom... an oxymoron? I'm thinking so! I love that James 1:5 assures us that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to us. And with that and the knowledge that all things are possible with God... there is hope for us yet!

79.1

That's what I paid per litre at the pump yesterday - what a nice break from the summer prices when 1.30-1.35 was the norm and 1.20 seemed like a HUGE deal! ... then the diaper cream and eye drops I really needed were both on sale when I happened to step in the store to buy just those two items... and an awesome 50 piece Mr. Potato head set which I know the girls will love was 65% off for under $8, AND I found a huge stash of Canadian Tire money in the house, when my dad and I seemed to making lots of trips there to pick up little needed things for our various house projects this week!

It's been one of those crazy weeks where I've been running a lot - knocking many things off the list - and all the while having this deep sense that I am very blessed...

Not only by the random deals (that's a bonus), but mostly for other reasons... Knowing that JD's off learning and growing lots in his course and I can't wait to hear about it as I can tell he's all excited in our brief exchanges - I'm excited to see where God is leading him and us in the near and distant future... Thankful for my dad and the amazing help he's been this week - making breakfast for the girls who every morning looked forward to running downstairs to see Grand-Papa who has been completing countless odd jobs and big jobs around the house that would have otherwise remained left undone for much longer... Thankful for our new furnace that went in yesterday - as the old one kept conking out at least every couple of days, and in recent days, more than once a day... Feeling blessed driving past a house fire 5 minutes away that left a home in absolute ruins, wondering how the family is coping... Grateful for my amazing mother-in-law who randomly does kind and wonderful things for us - from dropping off a lasagna, or a Christmas wreath (sp?), or winter boots for me or clothes for the girls... Excited about the direction and focus that we have with Mom's Moments as Anna and I have been working together and looking ahead at the year to come for the ministry... Thankful for the beautiful smiles of my three blue-eyed girls... Excited to have them discover the train tomorrow as we go on an adventure to meet up with daddy riding the rails...

I have a head ache tonight, I have tons to do before we leave tomorrow... but as I'm tempted to let my head ache (which I RARELY HAVE) make me stay grumpy... I'm reminded of all of these blessings... now I'm off to pack with my heart a little lighter, despite the throbbing head, remembering that God is good, and that I am blessed...

So much to be thankful for...

Happy Thanksgiving to all you Canadians at home and abroad! This past weekend was a truly special one with much to be thankful for indeed.

The weather was like summer weather after having had a cold snap a week ago... we were in short sleeves and shorts enjoying the sunshine and warmth (perplexed that those in Saskatchewan had quite the snowfall!!). We had a wonderful family stroll in the park by the lake with the kids Thanksgiving Monday, my dad joined the 5 of us which was great (it's always a treat to have my parents and grandmother visiting!). The kids were loving exploring as we walked on the boardwalk and path by the water... checking out the geese and ducks, the holes in the trees, wondering who might live there, hiking up the little trails that shoot off from the main one, stopping to observe the slow movements of a snail on a leaf (I'm still amazed that my daughter even noticed it - calling us back to admire what we had so blatantly missed!), testing our balance by walking on the edge of the boardwalk one foot in front of the other (where it was grassy and just a step below, so falling wouldn't have been a big deal!) A short play time at the park on our way by...

By far the highlight of our weekend was Sunday. We had our baby girl's dedication at church. We were joined by a good number of friends and family as we followed in the footsteps of Mary and Joseph when they went to dedicate Jesus to the Lord in the temple when He was but a babe.

I think that recognizing that our children are gifts from God, and then giving them back to Him, essentially acknowledging that we NEED His help and wisdom to raise them, is the most important thing that we can do as parents. A few verses resonate in my head...

"For you [God] created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13

An amazing reminder that we are miraculously created by God in the womb! That my children were created BY GOD, in MY WOMB. I'm thankful for these gifts from God! What a miracle.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Thank God that I don't have to rely on my own smarts and know-how! I'm hugely lacking in the child-rearing expertise in particular!

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

Okay, so I could have ignored vs.6 - the don't doubt part... but it's in there! I'm just thankful that I can come to God with confidence, admit that I LACK wisdom, and trust that He will guide me and help me in my days and in particular, as I raise these children with my husband!

"He [God] tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11

How thankful I am that God "tends" to us, and particularly is leading me, a mom with kids! I'm also thankful that he "gently" leads... because I know I make mistakes along the way! But I learn from them and continue to ask Him for wisdom on a daily basis!

I can't imagine raising these children without knowing the above... God is helping me every step of the way... THAT I am in deed thankful for!