13 Hours of Rain

I am thankful for the education offered in our local public school system. While the system isn't perfect, our daughter's kindergarten teacher is providing a nurturing environment for learning and exploration. Our dear daughter, we are proud of your accomplishments. Miss R., you are a phenomenal teacher. Thank you.

I've always been on the edge of coolness. There was the in-crowd, the secret club, the people who glittered with sophistication. And I wasn't one of them. I wouldn't label myself as a "loser" back then. But I was definitely on the periphery of the trendy social crowd. I often wished that I could connect and belong. I didn't. So, I befriended those who were similar to me in their status, who also resided somewhere between blah and wow. I believe it was a good thing, a divine intervention, so to speak. I found many of my dear friends in the same social space. We shared the fact that we didn't draw the gaze and admiration of the majority. And that was okay. Because we were different from them, for different reasons such as ethnicity, age, faith or life experience. And while we were outsiders looking in, we found camaraderie in each other. Eventually I forgot I didn't belong there and embraced that I fit here. Lately, I've been reminded of my pas...

Money's on the brain today. I'm working on the taxes. And I am thankful for (1) your Daddy, who is parenting you two while I crunch numbers and (2) that I actually enjoy crunching the numbers. I am old school, though. No computer program. Just paper and pencil. I kind of like it that way, since our taxes are relatively simple (plus I don't like spending money on tax programs). I am also thankful for my stay-at-home status, because it allows me to be an nice deduction for your Daddy's income tax form. This reality positively affects our return. :) And here is another commercial that makes both your Daddy and I laugh: Interac - Be in the Black . I tried to upload it, but for some reason, couldn't. Anyway, I am thankful for Interac. It does keep our day-to-day spending in check.

As ridiculous as this may sound, I am thankful for commercials that make me laugh out loud. Mind you, I hardly ever turn the television on, save for watching a DVD with your Daddy or setting up a show for you two. I do not watch any show religiously (currently anyway). I am pathetic at keeping up with news. But I catch a few moments of prime time when your Daddy is watching sports. So, here are two commercials that have made me chuckle as of late. allowfullscreen="true">

This is my new decaffeinated friend: Traditional Medicinals Organic Ginger Aid Tea . I steep it for 10-15 minutes and add some honey. Mmmmmmm. It soothes my stomach. Plus, I love the little inspirational word(s) on each individual tea bag label (the part that is attached to the string and dangles over the edge of the cup). Today, the words were, "Be Well." I am thankful for the tea and motivation to seek God for His healing.

You kids love coloring with brand spanking new markers (and they are Scentsations this time). I am thankful for new stationary supplies and the joy it brings to you two. And I am thankful for a thought I was pondering today, "Comparison robs joy." So true.

Daughter, I am thankful for you. Your eyes sparkle and shine as you admire the pretend ruby ring you picked out from your teacher's treasure chest. "It matches my dress and my nail polish," you exclaim. "I am so pretty!" You prance and dance around, admiring your reflection in the mirror. You accept your beauty with joy instead of vanity. I remember the day you were born, and how the mystery of new life passing from embryonic water into the world's atmosphere amazed me. There you were, in my arms, alive and breathing, crying from hunger and shock. We rejoiced in that moment. We continue to rejoice today. The gifts you bring to us are endless. Love for learning. Motivation to memorize scripture. Sincerity and honesty in your words. Unbridled emotion. A will that can be very strong. And a will that can submit herself in honor and love for those around her. Thank you for being you.

I am thankful for meetings that end well, where everyone feels that they are understood.

I was inspired today. We found out today that one of the couples that attends our care group is in their mid to late eighties. I would have never thought! I would have placed them in their seventies! This couple is enthusiastic, thoughtful and very dedicated to serving God in their church and their community. They are in good health. They are parents to two children and have grandchildren as well. They actively witness to their neighbors and strangers. They are encouraging and welcoming. I want to be like them when I'm eighty! Yesterday, I had a conversation with my Mother-in-law on a similar topic: how not to look (or act) your age. Recently my Mother-in-law as asked why her and her husband are in relatively good health. Here is some of her thoughts, combined with wisdom I gleaned from the couple in our care group: 1. Be Active. Don't just sit on your rocker and waste away the latter part of your life. Get up. Do something. Go for a walk. 2. Get Involved. Don't thr...

I am thankful that I have wonderful, loving in-laws whom I am proud to call Mom and Dad. They are both fabulous Grandparents as well. We are graced with their presence for the next few days. It will be a lovely weekend for sure (imagine Mennonite accent on that). :)

During my teaching career, I was blessed to work along side many competent leaders who were respectful and encouraging in how they interacted with their followers. I specifically remember my first teaching job in a province other than my own. I had walked into a fairly challenging teaching assignment. I had replaced a retired legend, who was quite miffed that a rookie was asked to teach senior physics (and told me just that). I was understandably stressed and overwhelmed. One day, as I worked on course outlines before the commencement of school, my principal walked into the room. He said to me, "I have full confidence in you. You will do an amazing job!" And then, he walked back to his office. I will never, ever forget that. In that moment, he boosted my morale and empowered me to do my best. And, by God's grace and enabling, I did. My principal was very proud of me at the end of that year. Your Daddy and I are also blessed to have a respectful and encouraging pastor as...

I am thankful that you, my daughter, are learning to read. Thanks to your teacher, you have mastered several sight words and thanks to reinforcement at both home and school, you know your letter sounds. Put that together, and you are reading (and writing) simple sentences such as "I love my Mom and Dad" or "I like dogs" or "The cat is yellow." AWESOME!

I am thankful for real conversations with your Daddy, when we cut past the surface and talk about stuff that really matters.

I am wiped and exhausted. My adrenal glands have taken a beating over the last weekend. My digestive tract was stressed. My mind was in turmoil. Yet, at this moment, I feel a joy that I can only attribute to my God and Saviour. Today, as I listened to a video speaker during my Mom's Group, I felt God speaking to me (thank you Lord!). The words of scripture were like water, refreshing the soul, healing wounds, and reminding me of what I need to do in life. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:2-3 I am a flawed human being. If I hope that others will forgive my faults, I need to extend the same grace to others. More words, more thoughts come my way as I seek God's face. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then ...

A car ride together In sloppy sunny spring weather A chance to enjoy donuts And gluten-free macaroons Picking fun colors At the hardware store Just to read their names And take them home for crafts Library visits To pick up new books again And ordered ones for Mommy To enjoy reading before bed Leftovers for lunch (And everyone was happy!) Play dates in the park With friends and yellow boots Conversations with a trusted friend Who knows how to keep confidence Phone calls with committee members Who share the same concerns Song birds who have come back From their winter holidays Bugs that have emerged To pester us again :) Learning to read Cat, mat, bat and rat Playing dominos With game-loving Dad It was a blessed day. Thank you Lord.

I am thankful for 1 Peter in the Bible. It encourages me to rejoice in the face of suffering and place my full confidence in the Grace of Almighty God.

I am thankful for... Swimming lessons. You're displaying more confidence this year. A fridge full of healthy food. Bring on the veggies! Free indoor skating as a family. Venting with freedom to your Daddy, who supports me when I am discouraged. Movie nights with your Daddy. We are working through the Bourne trilogy again. Matt Damon is awesome!

I am thankful for prayer. Children, you two are discovering the practice and power of prayer. Right now, you are remembering family with ailments at practically every meal. Auntie T.'s tooth. Auntie K.'s eye. Mommy's esophagus. Daddy's back. Etc. Etc. Yesterday, my daughter, you asked, "How does God heal?" "Well, He has the power to heal, if He believes that is best for us. Sometimes He heals immediately. Other times He lets our body heal itself over time. And other times He allows us to remain sick for other reasons." "But how does He do it?" "Good question. He just does. He is very powerful. He made you." I am thankful for childlike faith. It amazes me how the both of you believe with such freedom. It is refreshing to me and reminds me of how generous I was in my faith during my young years as a Christian. Have I become too jaded or realistic in my fourth decade? I don't know. But I don't believe like I used to...

Today, I am thankful for... A green vitamin-rich smoothie for breakfast (not bad). Playing dominos with you, my son. Brilliant blue sky with late winter sun blazing while swinging in the park. Puddles. And rubber boots that still fit little feet. A moist homemade gluten-free, dairy-free apple cake for dessert (couldn't completely keep me away from grains and eggs today). Recipe below. Sweet kisses and hugs from kiddos. And, feeling better than yesterday. Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Apple Spice Cake* Ingredients 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup brown rice flour 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup applesauce 1 tablespoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Mix flour and oil until well combined. 3. Add remaining ingredients. Beat until well blended. 4. Pour into 8- or 9-inch round or square pan that has been prepared with nonstick cooking spray or greased with margarine. 5. Bake 20-25 minutes...

It began as a day full of perfectly scheduled opportunities, but as the hours wore on, the chaos of life took over. Wake up. Prepare snack. Prepare lunch. Make tea. Make sure backpack is ready to go. Husband has prepared breakfast for you two kids. Good. Have you kids brushed your teeth? Someone answered something. I'm not sure who. Gotta mix up some trail mix for my breakfast. Okay. PJs are changed. She is fast. He is, well, slow as he entertains himself with his sock. Hurry up little boy! I'll eat breakfast later. Get winter gear on. She doesn't want to wear her snow pants since practically everyone at school isn't. Sure, fine. We pile into the car [I need the car today]. The wind is cold. I think I'll go back in and get those snow pants. Run in. Where are the pants? Oh yah, in laundry basket upstairs. Kick off one boot. Try to hop upstairs. Doesn't work. Whatever. Carpets need to get cleaned anyway. Get pant, put on boot and head to car. Stuff pant into...

I am not a morning person. I am probably more of a night owl. So my Bible study and pray tends to happen at the end of the day instead of the beginning. But at this moment, I am thankful for the morning quiet. It is 8:45 a.m. as I compose this. I hear the soft clink of Duplo as you, my son, create something magnificent downstairs. The girly giggles and enthusiastic quips of you, my daughter, are absent as you are at school. Our street is fairly silent since the morning commuters have departed for the day. The comforting sound of the train whistle echoes in the valley. And I can hear our beloved chimes ringing out a few notes as the breeze tantalizes its tones and sends shimmery light rays into our kitchen. It is a beautiful quiet morning. A time to thank the Creator for His goodness, His mercy, His love.

I was at a Mom's night out. And I am thankful for the willpower to avoid decedent cake and eat savory gluten-free Oriental lettuce wraps instead. Gotta sign off. Your Daddy is watching the Leafs on the computer. :)

I thank God for... A care group that prays for each other and wrestles with scripture. Care group potlucks. It is so nice to get to know people at a deeper level. A ice cream treat with my son and daughter (yup, I cheated diet-wise). A nap during my children's quiet time. Almond milk with honey and vanilla. Paper dolls, homemade play dough, and imagination. Spousal arguments that end in reconciliation. :)

Today I am thankful for church innovators, those who dare to think outside the institutionalized church service box and dream of alternative realities. Sounds sci-fi, doesn't it? In most North American churches, the Sunday Morning Worship Service is the holy grail of the week. We don't mess with it. We keep it to a tidy formula. In my current church experience, the pattern is: Welcome, Sing, Pray, Take Offering, Sing, Sermon, Adjourn. Repeat next Sunday. The only exceptions are when guest presenters are added or communion is slotted in between the Sermon and Adjourn. Or it is baptism Sunday. Or the service occurs at an alternative location. Interestingly enough, I am a traditionalist. Patterns, rituals, and schedules bring me comfort and security. I am more of a church manager than an innovator. Yet, even I can see the benefit of reconceptualizing the way we do things. So, I ask: What if we spend one Sunday a month serving in our community as an entire church family? What...

It is easy to be Pharisaical and claim that we have "arrived" in the faith. It is tempting to forget during moments of spiritual triumph that we still contend with a sin nature. It sadly feels good to look down at others who seem so screwed up in how they live their Christian life. But, if we are honest with ourselves, we will know that we are all screwed up. I covet. I struggle with discontentment. And lately both these sins have come to the forefront. I have found myself coveting material stuff that others have. I have hear myself asking the same old questions again. Why can't I have that too? Will I ever? Why do I have to be content with this? (Kids, does that sound familiar?) I am thankful that I am aware of at least some of my sinful tendencies. Because it keeps me humble. It reminds me that God loves me in spite of my flawed thinking. He always offers His Grace and Forgiveness. And His Holy Spirit works within me to transform my nature from what it is to who Ch...

Trail mix is my snacking companion these days. With grains and dairy mostly gone from my diet, my snacks have been left wanting. So I started to eat more trail mix. But I encountered a problem. The pre-combined varieties had ingredients that were on the "avoid" list (e.g. soy). Or they contained foods that tend to bother my gut if consumed in larger quantities (e.g. peanuts). Solution? Custom "Bulk Barn" Trail Mix. Son, you and I visited the Bulk Barn today to pick up several sale items to create my own yummy concoctions of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. My ingredient list included dried cranberries, dried blueberries, banana chips, natural almonds, natural cashews, and pumpkin seeds. Oh yah! I am thankful for the Bulk Barn and $3 off coupons!

Finally. The days are warmer. The snow is falling lazily. The outdoors beckon you, my son, and I to explore. Snow gear is donned. And we embark on an adventure involving green sled and gentle slopes. You giggle as I work my leg muscles pulling 30+ pounds behind me through six inches of white stuff. "Mommy I'm on a boat and this is the water!" I smile. I am thankful for this winter wonderland.

I wouldn't call it an epic fail. Rather a challenging attempt with little compromises here and there. To what do I refer? The diet. The CDEFG-Free Diet. I'm on day nine. And it's difficult. Very difficult. Going Gluten-Free is a breeze in comparison. Even Dairy-Free is manageable. But no grains, no eggs? How does one do our family's traditional once-a-week pancake meal? Or what is supposed to sop up the yummy curry when we consume Indian cuisine? That being said, I haven't given up entirely. I have made several significant changes in the last week. I stopped baking for myself to reduce my grain temptation. I'm in the process of reconceptualizing breakfast and eating things like soup or nuts & fruit. I eat more oven-roasted meals instead of meals that are drenched in sauces. I am caffeine-free. I have completely stopped all my prescription drugs in attempt to truly assess my symptoms and treat the acid reflux more naturally. And I take more naps to let my b...