13 Hours of Rain

2013 is coming to a close. So now I reflect on the goals I set for myself in the beginning of this year and see where I have come over the course of twelve months. 1. Post on the 13th and 26th of each month in this virtual space. Yes. Did it. Though, some days I was a day or two late. But Blogger lets you post back in time. :) 2. Compose or create something significant that will bear the year 2013. I originally had dreams of painting a picture. My inspiration went by the wayside because the initial investment to get started was too overwhelming. Instead, I wrote two children’s books for both of you kids as a Christmas gift. Oh, the stories are not award-winning or even that creative. But they document a couple of significant events in your lives. My daughter, you overcame your fear of putting your head underwater during swimming lessons. And my son, you let go of your soother (or do-do has you called it for most of your life) on your own. Anyway, I am excited that I finally did s...

I presented at my Mom's Group today on the topic of budgeting. Here is my introduction to the session: Let me begin with a disclaimer or two. I do not have any professional training in the area of budgeting. I do not have any degrees in accounting, finance, and business. I’ve never worked in a bank, therefore, I will not be able to give you any advice on how much money to save for retirement, which mortgage is best, or what your financial portfolio should look like. Truthfully, if you claim to know the answers to these questions, do tell me (for free). However, I am not completely useless, rest assured. Budgeting is a hobby for me, believe-it-or-not. I actually get excited, and a bit anxious, at the beginning of every month as I sit at my computer crunching numbers for my family. And even though I come to you with no formal credentials, I do humbly stand before you as a testament of the many lessons God has taught me about money through my 39+ years of life as a daughter, siste...

It is one of those moments when my mind is in a negative funk. You am sure you know what I am talking about. That gray dismal cloud descends on your spirit and everything becomes annoying, inconvenient, and unfair. Usually there is a trigger, or two (or three). Like, not feeling 100%, hormones, insecurity, and a December budget that is dwindling faster than anticipated (ironically, I am presenting on budgeting on Tuesday -- maybe I should be the one listening). Then, I witness evidence of my off-balance state. My voice rises in frustration and anger in reaction to the ones around me (sometimes justified, sometimes not). *sigh* I am so human. So I can sit here and type away my miseries. Or I can praise God for all that is good. I'll choose the latter. I am thankful that I am a stay-at-home-mom. Oh, it isn't easy, believe me. There are days I do envy the working Mom and wish I had some regular outlet to stimulate my intellect. But, I do not desire that life, for now. I cherish ...

Our consumer-driven society inadvertently promotes the “give to get” message. The “get” is used to motivate the “give”. I’ve witnessed several examples over the last couple of weeks. Give to the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign and you might get at gift card from a local business. Give to the food bank via your school and your class might win a pizza party. Sadly, this message isn’t just used to encourage charity. It has been extended to behaviors that are just expected as citizens of our country. Are you respectful at your high school? Well, what-da-ya-know – good job! Here is $5 from your school cafeteria to indulge on fries and gravy. The other day, you, my daughter were showing exemplary grocery store behavior. I affirmed you, “You listened very well in the store today. You were a great helper. Thank you!” “Then, can I get a candy?” you asked. “No. Not today. Just because you are doing the right thing doesn’t mean I need to reward you every time. You are expected to show good b...

Kids, this is as profound as I'm getting during the craziest week of the school year when your Daddy is off to see the Wizard... P.S. The church we go to is pretty much a non-hand raising church except for a few token types. :)

Okay kids, my last post might have given you (and my readers) the impression that I absolutely, positively hate pets. Not true. Instead, my personal position on pets has changed, for now. And yes, I do understand the numerous reasons why people own fish, cats, dogs or horses. As a little girl, our family had a black mutt-of-a-dog named Pepper. We lived on an acreage in the northern part of our province. It was so not prairie there. We were surrounded by towering pines, pristine lakes, and lush rolling hills. There my parents decided it was wise to own a dog to protect the premises. So Pepper faithfully guarded our home by yipping and barking at almost anything that came by. When we moved to a town approximately 200 km south, we gifted Pepper to trusted neighbors. Your Nana & Nani didn’t think it was appropriate to relocate a freedom-loving, exploring dog to a small fenced yard. I remember the day we packed up the last of our stuff in our red station wagon and drove away from ...

 Major J.D. My dear daughter, you stood bravely in front of your entire school during the Remembrance Day Assembly and spoke these words into the microphone: "This is my Great-Grandfather." Then the Principal of your school proceeded to read about your Great-Grandfather's contributions to both World Wars. War. I have been blessed to live almost four decades without experiencing the loss and agony of war. True, I was born when the Vietnam War was ending. I was a teenager during the Gulf War . And I was an academic when America declared the War on Terror after September 11, 2001. Yet, I've lived in peace in this corner of the prairies. No one in my immediate family has been deployed to fight. Your Daddy's Mennonite heritage includes the right to be a conscientious objector to war. War was not considered an option to global conflicts. Non-violent solutions were preferred. Your Daddy's ancestors have fled countries to avoid being conscripted. ...

We now have celebrity status. We can be followed, pinned, and liked. We can put our best image forward and make everyone love us. After all, we live in a carefully edited sparkly world *. It is nothing new, really. Humanity has always strived to make themselves look good even though the underneath in an impossible mess. Women have been applying cosmetics for centuries to cover up their flaws. Men have been holding on to their expected image of stoic strength and control in spite of the raging emotions inside. Whole cultures have made it tradition to constantly wear psychological masks in public even though their private lives are full of perceived shame. And now we have social media that allows all our "friends" to see how happy we were on our last holiday to exotic somewhere, even though we had several not-so-happy arguments along the way. You see, our world desperately wants to believe, "I'm okay, you're okay, we are ALL okay." But we are not. Just fli...

It is Halloween. You two kids have been talking about it waaaayyyyy too much, I have to say. Though, I don't blame you. After all, isn't dressing up and eating candy and chips and chocolate and running around in a sugar induced frenzy every kid's fantasy? Your Nana & Nani mildly engaged in Halloween. I think they thought it was kind of bizarre and incredulous that people in this country choose to give away free treats to anyone for just showing up at their door with an open pillow case. Regardless, I have memories of my siblings and I bundling up in our big fat snow suits (because there was usually snow on the ground) and donning on a mask of some animal creature. We'd start trucking through drifts, door to door, with our Daddy's protective presence. We eagerly gathered the chips from the local convenience store owners (they always gave the best stuff). And we said our thank-yous to the neighbor lady five doors down who gave us each an apple, much to our chag...

At some point in my life I became a skeptic. Gone are the days when I blindly believed the words preached from the pulpit, dutifully performed all the advice given by professionals, and enthusiastically accepted all the ideas and traditions proposed by time honored institutions. Now, I can't help but think, analyse, question, and critique. I don't think I am a negative, pessimistic person. Rather, I am a realist who strongly values consistency. Believe me, I do not wake up in the morning and say to myself, "Today I aim to find inconsistencies in this person's thinking or this organization's way of doing things." It. Just. Happens. Most days, I let the thoughts pass while imparting grace on the situation. Other days, the thoughts niggle on my mind, so much so that I have to bring it up. I must admit, there are moments when I wonder if your Daddy and I as well as a few select friends and family are part of a minority that thinks this way. More so, are we an ...

At my last Mom's morning out, we were entertained by a vivacious 20-something who is a make-up artist in a nearby city. She advised us on the current trends, best practices, and what not to do. I chuckled to myself since I am so outdated when it comes to the proper way to apply "my face". And to be perfectly honest, I have come to a space in my life in which foundations, blush, mascara, and lipstick is not a priority anymore. While I do enjoy putting on some cosmetics, I am, for the most part, content with how I look. I believe I am beautiful. And the best thing I can put on when heading to the grocery store is a smile. That being said, here is the "how to" of today: 1. Cleanse face. 2. Use quality brushes instead of the teeny-tiny sponges found in compacts. 3. Apply small quantities of high-end foundation with strong pigmentation. Foundation should match your neck. 4. Set foundation with powder. 5. Apply blush from the ear down. Blend along the sides of...

And that is my post for Oct. 13.

It began yesterday. My son was totally excited about his AWANA club. He repeated his Bible verse over and over again to assure me that it was memorized. He enthusiastically called out to his sister as she headed toward her class, "Have fun at school today!" Then, he witnessed a bunch of kids crying and clinging to their parents. Something changed in his little brain and he entered fight or flight mode. I tried for about twenty minutes to persuade him to stay. Instead of joining in the game, he bellowed, "I'm tired. I'm really, really tired!" My husband attempted to convince and bribe. Nope. No luck. Our son was determined. He was not staying there. I was visibly annoyed. All my plans for accomplishing much needed grocery shopping before a very busy weekend of entertaining vanished. And since my husband's pile of work at school was more pressing than my agenda, I had to sacrifice my evening for the sake of a distraught little boy. "Fine," I sa...

Why is the 20 - 40 something crowd in our church community just not into Missions? Is this typical? Or is our place of worship an anomaly in the grander scheme of Christian things? Many of our young families support Operation Christmas Child by frantically packing boxes of little surprises for underprivileged kids in third-world countries. But when it comes to attending a Missions event to hear a Missionary couple share their exciting stories in some foreign country, the crowd is visibly gray-haired. Is the lack of interest in the area of evangelical missions due to larger commitments to local ministries? Is the idea of travelling overseas to share the message of Christ an undesirable concept since we live in a society that touts tolerance as an axiom, so much so, that it becomes politically incorrect to promote Jesus as the Only Way? Has promoting the social gospel in foreign settings (e.g. building wells, feeding the hungry, etc.) trumped the act of actually speaking the life chan...

A New Cubbie My son, you were grinning from ear-to-ear as your got ready for your AWANA (Bible Memory Club) evening. "I am going to school today!" "AWANA is your school?" I asked. "Yes!" Lately, you have been inspired by school. Earlier in the day, you spend lunch with your sister, munching ham and pineapple pizza, with your eyes wide open, taking in all the sights and sounds of her castle-esk elementary school. I could almost read your mind, "Wow! So this is where A. goes in the morning. It's not scary at all!" "Three more minutes until my school!" you proclaimed, holding up three little fingers as I changed your clothes. The countdown began, until you announced "0 more minutes!" once we left the house. How excited you are, how different from the last two weeks when you didn't want to leave your Mommy's side. You are growing up, my little man. During the car ride after AWANA, you recalled a game you ...

It has been over a year, and I am still struggling with acid reflux. In January, I was diagnosed with GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, were stomach acid causes damage to the esophagus. I was told to make some lifestyle changes such as avoiding fatty foods, citrus, caffeine, mint, and spicy foods. In addition, I was prescribed Nexium , a proton pump inhibitor (shuts down some of the acid pumps in the stomach), and Ranitidine , commonly known as the over-the-counter (OTC) drug Zantac . Sounds good? No, not really. Why? Because I still don’t feel 100% normal. When I approached my M.D. with my concerns, she informed that this may be chronic and some relief is better than no relief. And if I experience larger attacks, I should just up my medication and add more OTCs to my day. Drugs, drugs, drugs. Not my style. I decided to see a Naturopathic Doctor in August. I walked away from the appointment with hope. I was impressed with her holistic approach. The appointment was not ...

Over the last couple of weeks, a whole set of "firsts" arrived in the life of you, my daughter. And for me. First day at school. First bus ride. First backpack full of forms for Mommy or Daddy's attention. First parent meeting. You are excited. And anxious. (Me too.) Though, I've noticed something interesting. You come home and orginally you really don't want to talk too much about your day (don't tell me, this is happening already!). Instead, you kind of go "wild" and forget our rules. It's probably because you've had to hold it in all morning so you could focus on listening, obeying, and following a whole new set of procedures. When you come home, you probably want to relax and do whatever. I need to understand where to insist on the rules and where to let go for the sake of your sanity. Eventually, you start spilling tidbits of your day. "There were a bunch of girls who didn't want to share the flowers," you mention. ...

This month we are trying something different: banking in the now instead of the tomorrow. Oh, it is nothing new, really. I used to operate like this in my single days. But then the lure of credit cards with reward programs persuaded me otherwise. While I never gave Visa the joy in collecting any interest payments from our bank accounts and I always payed our credit card bill before the 21 days of grace were up, I probably spent more than I should have some months. Why? Because I didn't have to pay for it immediately . It was not until last year that my credit card habits started to bother my conscience. Up to that point, I felt proud of the fact that the credit card company was paying me to use their plastic. I received stuff for free, even after paying my annual fee. Free fuel. Free flights. Free hotels. Free is good, right? My perspective started to change after I read a blog post penned by my sister. Her and her husband cut up their credit cards after a series of events, o...

The month of August has been filled with many family gatherings to celebrate significant events in people’s lives. While my side has fourteen members, your Daddy’s side has more than double the amount. At our most recent gathering, twenty-six individuals (plus three dogs) ranging from age 3 to 85 partook in a meal together at the many tables in and outside the house. It was a good time. I grew up in a more formal household. The formality was partially due to my East-Indian ethnicity as well as the educational background of your Nana and Nani, who were both teachers. As a result, there were big expectations attached to yearly events such as Christmas and birthdays. And there was even bigger expectations placed on those one-in-a-lifetime occasions like a wedding or a significant anniversary. These events tended to be professional, extravagant, and over-the-top (and if you scored a deal while securing gifts, decorations, or food, it was even better). It seemed like it was a matter...

This is your family on your Mother’s side: Thirteen + 1 (soon-to-be*) members gathered together, f-i-n-a-l-l-y , after more than five years. I believe five languages are spoken fluently amongst us. Plus tidbits of others. English is common to us all. Languages fascinate me. English is my preference, of course. I know key phrases in French and I can read a wee bit (your Daddy is much better than me). I can give a taxi driver instructions in Cantonese. I understand Hindi/Urdu (or better described as Hindustani) and, for the most part, can carry on a decent conversation. In the end, I would say I am fluent in 1.5 languages since I cannot read and write the language of your Nana and Nani as I do with the current Roman script (maybe one day, in the next decade?). For the time being, I converse with you two mostly in English and sparodically in Hindi, hoping you will comprehend my inadequate attempt at teaching some aspect of your Indian heritage. And, for the most part, you do. Sometim...

Old Faithful - spouting every 90 minutes or so! We made it. Safely. We were fourteen family members celebrating an anniversary milestone for my parents. We arrived from three countries to spend four nights in cabins, two intense days touring Yellowstone National Park while having one memorable time. Our personal family unit added over 1600 km to our odometer as we traversed prairie, ranch country, foothills, and mountains. Thankfully, all within budget. :) Truthfully, I never had a real desire to see Yellowstone National Park . I assumed it was like any other national park in Canada: mountains, lakes, rivers, rock (repeat). And while I absolutely revel in immersing myself in natural wonders, I didn't feel the need to drive across the border to explore something similar. But this park in Wyoming, U.S.A. was the more economical central location for everyone, can-you-believe-it. Thus, we drove down. Once we experienced some of the park's famous features, I realized thi...

  Creek Side Walk  For the last day of July, I post a thankfulness list in ode to the Summer of 2013 thus far: Moderate Temperatures : The summer is cooler than usual (or from what I have experienced thus far in prairie southwest). And I'm lovin' it. My system doesn't do well with extreme temperatures. Neither does our budget. Because 30+ temperatures mean more cooling costs, more watering-the-lawn costs, and more battling those wretched wasps cost. This year, these costs are much, much lower in spite of the fact we still dealt with two wasp nests this year (as opposed to four last year). Swimming Lessons : Our kids spent the first two weeks of July in the pool learning various skills. It forced me to "unplug" from my usual routine and enjoy cheering for my kids (plus my husband received some much needed quiet time from people). Thankfully both kids obtained their badges! Spontaneous Guests : We entertained three groups of spontaneous guests...

Dear Daughter and Son, One day, a crisis of faith may rock your world to the very depths of your foundation. As you teeter and tumble, grasping wildly for something  – anything!  – to rescue you from the plummet to the depths, you frantically scream the question, "GOD, are you REALLY there????" And silence reverberates around you in the chilly chasm of doubt. At this point in time, I've never been there, truly. My life has been fairly predictable. My relationships (the ones that matter, that is) are loyal. My loved ones surround me and very few close friends or relatives have been lost to sudden death, disease, or disaster. My health has been relatively "normal". My faith has not been tested with persecution or betrayal. Oh, I've had doubts. And I still do. But not the deep doubts that have the potential to shake the very core of my values. No so for your Daddy. A seventeen month encounter with the dark underbelly of the institutio...