13 Hours of Rain

It was a powerful moment. Your cousin shared excerpts of typical teenage drama in front of extended family. People listened with rapt attention. Laughter burst forth at poignant moments. Hushed silence captured the room as wise conclusions were reached about high school romances. Some advice was offered by adults. But mainly, we just wanted to listen. I couldn’t help but step back and return to my childhood. Beginning at Grade 1, I had a crush on a new boy practically every other year until I graduated from high school. Almost all of the boys had blond hair and blue eyes. I never dated any of them publicly or in secret. Dating was frowned upon by your Nana and Nani. While the act of dating was not attributed as wrong, it was deemed unwise, especially as a teenager. Most teenagers are pretty immature when it comes to matters of the heart, so we were strongly advised to avoid infatuations and focus on more pressing priorities. After all, your Nana and Nani believed in appropriate stage...

I've been contemplating the issue of diet and learning to control disease through food (or elimination of certain food) instead of reaching for the opaque vile full of pharmaceuticals. It is challenging to do such. And while a more natural way of addressing illness is becoming more popular in today's day and age, it is still considered alternative medicine. I can get 10 minutes of my doctor's time for "free" and receive a prescription for $5, covered under our drug plan. Or I can see a Naturopath for 30 minutes at $80 and receive suggestions for supplements that can cost up to $100 per month. Thankfully, your Daddy's health plan covers Naturopaths up to 80% (though the supplements are not covered). I believe I am finished accessing the services of my Naturopath for the time being. Why? I think she has done all that she can for me. She has provided me a tool kit of possible supplements to consume as well as sound dietary advice to follow. Do I think she was w...

 Our Batman with his Batmobile  "You know what the fastest jet is?" you asked today to test my knowledge as you finished up your broccoli. "I don't know," responds my tired mind as I wash the dishes. "A Cheetah Jet!" "There is no such thing," I automatically voice, without entertaining your creative logic. "I'm pretending!" you explain. "Oh yes, sorry. You are right. A Cheetah Jet!" Son, please forgive your Mommy, as I often walk around mentally checking off to-do lists, so much so, that I forget to really listen to you. You are imaginative. Creative. And I believe your mind is mathematically inclined. You relish games. You value a good puzzle. You synthesize complex patterns (for a preschooler). You walk around, studying your little fingers and exclaiming, "2 + 5 is 7!" Sometimes I forget the joy of being a child as I study grocery prices in the flyer or enter digits into our monthly bud...

Well, I made it. I managed to post for forty consecutive days as a sacrifice of praise over the course of Lent. And I must say it has been an enlightening and empowering journey. I've been blessed with several gifts during this season of preparation. I was once again reminded that there is always something to be thankful for, no matter how good or bad my day is unravelling. I had a few rough moments over the course of the forty days. Some days, I felt quite misunderstood. Other days, I felt awful gut-wise. At other moments, I felt the lost of dreams and aspirations and goals. Yet, there were many, many moments in which I smiled at the beauty of the everyday. A preschooler's giggle. A school girl's observations on life. A husband's comical teaching anecdote. The sunshine. Red grape tomatoes. Now we are entering "Passion Week" or "Holy Week" in the Christian faith, a time in history that was incredibly dark and hopeless. This morning during our...

Occasionally we have movie night, where we get all cozy downstairs and watch an animated feature as a family. Last night we watched "Finding Nemo". I really like that show. Such a great story! I am thankful for movie nights. Here is one of my favourite clips:

I am thankful for friends. And I realize through the walk of life that one has different kinds of friends for different kinds of needs and occasions. Kindred Spirits . I owe this phrase to one of my favourite movies of all time "Anne of Green Gables". I have a few kindred spirits in my life, which is good, because they wouldn't be kindred if such friends were common. These people just "get me" as they share many of the same values as me. They understand how I think, because they often think the same way. They are loyal. They speak my "love language" of quality time and affirmation. They choose to be on my side and pray for me often. They remember my birthday. They are a safe place for me to vent, because I know my secrets are guarded in their care. And, they admonish me when I need some guidance or correction. Historical Friendships . I have friends in my life who are there because we have been together through a significant period of life such as ...

It has been 16 days. That is sixteen days since I last took my prescription drugs for my stomach. I feel almost awesome! (Well, maybe that is exaggerating a bit, but is sounds better that almost normal.) I have never been able to fully follow the advice of my Naturopath. Cutting out all grains was a tall order. And while I can do without many, many grains, rice is too much of a staple for me to eliminate. Removing eggs from my diet was quite difficult. I like my (rice) pancakes too much. And eggs are a quick (and cheap) source of protein for me, especially since we are on a one income budget. But I have managed to cut out dairy (and I've been gluten free for some time now). And that in itself is an accomplishment. And you know what? My stomach isn't as sore anymore. I am learning to listen to my body and treat the symptoms more naturally. Organic Ginger Tea soothes my gut when I am having a mild episode of the burn. Occasionally chewing gum gets me swallowing, which coats...

I experienced a moment of candor today (for which I am thankful). I was visiting with an international during a community play group for preschoolers. We chatted about where she was from and what brought her here. Love, her husband, a place to raise their family, I was told. So I asked her, "What do you think of this city? And you can be honest." And she was. While she praised our community for its safety, beauty and quiet, she also disclosed her disappointment over the majority's mindset. As a community, we are afraid of diversity, since it seems to threaten what we believe. She went on to state that she once visited a local church where the speaker went on about how Muslims were infiltrating our society and how we better make a stand before they erect a Mosque. "It took everything for me to not get up and leave the service," she pauses and adds, "I don't go to church." The interesting thing, I, a Christian, could actually relate with her, even ...

We visited our doctor yesterday for annual check-ups. I am thankful for two healthy, happy kids who are learning loads. It is a blessing!

There are so many times that the both of you make your Daddy and I laugh. Here are a couple humorous observations that I am thankful for: (During our Sunday Morning Worship Nature Walk, as we thanked God for His creation.) J: Thank you God for the woman and the man! (After reading the first part of Acts 9 as a family.) Daddy: So, what happened in this chapter? A: "Saul was a drum." Daddy: "A drum?" A: "Yay, a drum." Daddy: "Oh, you mean a chosen instrument! Yes, an instrument is something you can play, like the guitar or a drum. But it also means that God can use you to do something for Him." A: "And Saul was healed after three sleepovers."

Spring is officially here, in the sense that we are receiving more daylight than dark. Though we wobble between snowy cold days and sunny warm days. In spite of the changing weather day-to-day, this is my favourite season. The birds are singing. The bikes are out. The puddles beckon little feet to splash. And soon our rakes will emerge to remove the fall and winter debris from new grass. Yes, it is work. But I welcome it. I am not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy watching things grow. So when the ground warms up and the threat of frost has vanished, we'll plant seeds and little plants, a combination of flowers and veggies. You two are already planning it out. "Mommy, can we grow carrots and tomatoes?" "Sure." Today, we will engage in Spring. We will take a walk along the creek as part of our Sunday Morning Worship. Your Daddy and I want the both of you to know that there are different ways to worship God, even on a Sunday morning,...

Now you kids might be getting the impression that I believe that all material stuff is evil and all Christians should live a radical life of sacrifice that removes frivolous pleasure from our daily existence so we can fully devote our lives to the pursuit of selfless spirituality. No, not true. Sort of. Is it wrong to be wealthy, to own the recreational vehicle, to possess a spacious modern home in the suburbs filled with stainless steel appliances, to holiday once or twice a year in the Caribbean or Mexico, and to drive two to three new vehicles? It might be. Or not. I asked your Daddy questions along these lines yesterday. Specifically, I asked if there were examples of rich Christians in the New Testament. I knew that the Old Testament was full of wealthy faith-filled individuals such as Abraham and King David. But what about the New Testament? Your Daddy informed me that Joseph of Arimathea was wealthy, the man who provided Jesus’ followers with a grave for Jesus’ burial. Y...

What does it mean to live a holy life, a life that is different from the worldly desires that wage war against our soul? How can we live so non-believers actually notice and ask us the reason for our hope in Christ? The community we live in is surrounded by Hutterite colonies. Their presence is noticed when they come into town. They dress differently. They talk differently. And they drive very large vans that can be filled with many, many women (and of course men). I don’t know a lot about Hutterites, but from what I have gathered, they live differently from the typical Evangelical Christian. The colony is guided by a strict code of practice enforced by a patriarch. Everyone’s life aligns with roles that perpetuate the colony’s future. But, if one deviates significantly from the faith, expectations and roles of the colony, and one refuses correction, that person is shunned. It seems to me that the idea of grace is missing. The balance between grace and works is a tough issue to w...

Yesterday's post still has me thinking, especially the line, "You were created to 'add' to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back." I realize that these lines are written to us North American Christians who fall into the trap of being obsessive consumers. Whether we want to admit or not, we have an insatiable desire to fill our lives with stuff. As a matter of fact, a study by the Barna Group in the States shows that there is not much difference between the spending habits of Christians and non-Christians (See National Surveys Question Christian Morality ). Regardless of faith, we have very similar values. Sadly, it seems like we are no better off that unbelievers. Pretty disturbing. What makes us different then? We believe we are sinners. We believe we are forgiven through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that we have eternal life through God's grace and God's grace alone. We believe that God is ...

Here are some excerpts from a sermon that has me thinking today: But what if the [Gospel of Christ] mattered? What if we are told to “Go and make disciples”? What if the message and ministry of reconciliation was truly entrusted to us? What if we are God’s plan for reaching this world? You weren’t created just to consume resources - to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. While many best-selling books offer advice on how "get" the most out of life, that’s not the reason God made you. You were created to "add" to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back. You were placed here for a special assignment. Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just immediately take us up to heaven the moment we accept His grace? Why does He leave us in a fallen world? He leaves us here to fulfill His purposes. Once you are saved, God intends to use you for His goals. God has a ministry for you in ...

My daughter, one day, God willing, you will know that feeling when you are about to begin a really busy day and you wonder how in the world you will get through the many appointments and responsibilities without snapping at your kids (and husband). And, if you are really honest with yourself, you would rather cancel everything, crawl back into bed with a novel and pretend you are not a Mother/Wife/Homemaker for just one day. Yup, that's me right now. So, what am I thankful for? I am thankful that I am a Mother/Wife/Homemaker and that I have the joy of having a day full of stuff to do that reminds me that I am a Mother/Wife/Homemaker. I am thankful it is a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) morning which will give me the opportunity to just sit and forget about my responsibilities for a while. I am thankful for simple lunch plans that consist of eggs, brown beans, muffins (if I have time to make them today) and fruit. I am thankful for the opportunity to reinforce literacy a...