I love this place!

How did this happen?

How did this happen?

My kids were playing in their room, creating and racing cars on tracks...while I was slicing some cheese, preparing dinner, just pondering the day and various things in my mind when Matthew called out, "Mommy, come see this track!".

And all I could think was 'whoa, hold on! When did this happen?! Mommy? me? But I'm just a kid myself!

Ha! Oh boy...I'm not sure if that ever happens to you, but it's happened before to me...in my mind...sure is strange!

It's a good day to be a mom :)

Little bits of happy

There's a break in the clouds, His glory coming down!

Perspective

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

During a time of rest and transition

During a time of rest and transition.

This is a very difficult stage for me. I love doing things, I very much do not like having nothing to do. But there are times when that might be what God is asking of you.

At a women's conference this past weekend, a song was refreshed to me for this time called 'Desert Song' The whole song really is just for such a time as this. I keep listening to it, over and over.

'all of my life, in every season, You are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship!' -Desert Song

I also had a high school student do a painting for my wall. I gave her freedom to do whatever she wanted. What she created amazes me, her talent and gifting is really incredible. Each day I find myself looking at it, and soaking up the truth of the verse she wrote from Psalm 46:10 "cease strive and know that I AM GOD". Can I just say, for a 'what can I do, what can I do?! ' heart, oh man! Cease striving! And KNOW! That GOD is GOD!

Ah. Breath in. Breath out.

Waiting. Listening. Or at least trying :)....

Cozy day

Today we had 'one of those' mornings, and I needed to just step back and change things to get some peace in our home.

We made some warm cinnamon apple muffins with granola topping and cuddled together while reading the Prince and the Pauper. Much better :)

Messy Lasagna

Mmm

BBQ fish, lemon rice, and veggies!

A day for the books! Or the Blog :)

All day my kids kept saying 'mom, are you going to blog about this?'. How could I say no to them? :)

This morning we were marveling at God's beauty with the fog still rolling in the fields and the sun showing it's brilliance above, absolutely stunning. Of course we had to be outside and enjoy it. We didn't take a 'break' last week since we ran a Worship Camp, so I had the kids still do some school while I was preparing each day. So this week we are going to add some extra fun to our days!

First, we learned about Saskatchewan together, which was more fun than j thought it would be. Then we dove into microwaves, mostly how they work and how they were invented, the videos we found on this were interesting! After this, we spoke and sang in Spanish, which is always a fun time, and finally, the kids took turns with their typing class and played outside.

So far this doesn't seem very exciting I know, but it really was!

I decided to try BBQ-ing (for the first time) and grilled us up some hot dogs :) and made a homemade salad dressing for our spinach salad- delicious!

After we were energized we went on a biking adventure. The road we choose happened to be all torn up, but we continued on.

Last year when we went biking, I would sometimes bike at the front and then wait for the kids to catch up, then continue. Today, I was at the back of the pack to start and quite glad for it! I caught up to them once we got to the hills though:)

We took part of the Cataraqui Trail and soon realized this adventure was going to get messy! Some wanted to turn around and go home, but we kept going! Through big mud puddles, soaking wet muddy grass and just a big mess we biked! Once we got to the end we realized, we still had to bike all the way back home!

It seemed to go much quicker until... Rachel's chain came off....

After we all oiled our hands quite well trying to put it back on we came to the conclusion that we were not going to get it on. So Rachel took my bike and I jogged with hers- my training is paying off :)!

After just over a kilometer I was very happy to see a young man outside his house working. He kindly helped us, with the assistance of tools, and we were on the road again.

I must say, we all have a greater appreciation for pavement and the wonderful work that Tim does :)

The cookies just came out of the oven to thank the young man for his help! I don't think I could have kept up much longer.

Today's adventure is not yet over, as the clothes dry on the line, Ryan sits with a new friend playing guitar, and Rachel works away at a puzzle, we are all thankful and refreshed by this gifted day from God!

Nothing is impossible!

Oh it feels so great! I really never thought this was possible! But,with God all things are possible!

Today is day 9 in a row for my running, jogging is probably a more appropriate word :).

I started out doing 2km mixing walking and jogging, and today I am up to 3.5 km jogging the whole time! So exciting!

To put it into a better perspective of my speed I'll let you know some numbers.

Ryan did 5km in 27 minutes while I did 3.5 km in 27 min 37 seconds (he passed me in my last 500 meters! But that's ok! I'm still happy with the results!

We've signed up for a run in July- a 5km for me and Ryan is thinking of training for the 10km!

Remember nothing is impossible with Jesus Christ!

(note in photo: I did have coat, mots and hat on when i ran, but I had to cool off!)

Wonderful Day

I love days like today where the air is crisp and fresh, smelling of Spring! When a morning run fills your Senses with awe of The Creator.

Piano lessons where little fingers tap the keys even better than the time before and music starts to fill the room.

Straggly hair gets a fresh cut and a handsome little fellow emerges from underneath.

Soup simmers in the crockpot after fresh veggies and things have been chopped and prepared, warming my nose and my heart with the smell.

Grandma and Grandpa come by for a surprise visit.

And afternoons are spent curled up with good books in hand taking us away to places afar.

God is good.

Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us--yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

Please pray with me

Struggles in our home are really testing me.

Today I am thankful that I woke up early to spend time at the feet of Jesus.

I am also thankful that ...."Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:19

His strength. Because I don't have any.

And I am thankful today for friends.

New Favourite Thing

On pinterest I found this beautiful idea!

I always dread between 3:00-4:00 when my mind has to start thinking...what will I feed my family tonight? Trying to have something delicious, healthy, and FAST!

Some days, at least half of the week! We are running out the door right after a meal, so there isn't a lot of time to prepare and eat...unless I think ahead enough to know what I'm going to make!

We've tried making different meal plans before, tried writing out our meals for the week in advance, but I always found it so time consuming, and often times repetitive, and seemingly pointless!

When I saw this idea I got really excited and made our own! I have high hopes for this method in our family.. I like that meals are pre planned, but I don't have to write or type them out. I like that they are easy to switch, and it will even look nice on my wall:)

Do you pre plan your meals? How does it work in your home?

Love all around

Valentines Day was a while ago now, but last night at youth I did a devotional on love. We talked about how the greatest commandment was to "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27.

Tim and I went to a Date Night Challenge put on by Focus on the Family, and the follow up for that is a continual set of challenges based on your spouses 'Love Language'. It is a lot of fun (at least for me:) to love Tim in his 'language' and vice versa.

So, back to Valentine's Day! In our home each of the kids made and wrote little cards and things for each other and for Tim and I. My favorite part was the hugs caught on camera between the kids! Matthew is a big hugger, and the other two hug us, but rarely each other. Anyway, a precious gift to this Momma to see the love my kids have for each other!

Family Day!

We had such a wonderful weekend at Camp Iawah together. Our days were filled with fun and laughter! Skating, gym time, wall climbing, archery, ice fishing, hiking, worship, teaching, crafts, games, good food, great friends!!! Oh boy! I had to nap a couple times in the midst of it all to keep up!

Today, during family day we've thoroughly enjoyed our time once again with a morning of skating on the lake, afternoon of bowling, another short nap for me- and some down time on Wii for kiddies, homemade poutine! Speeches and Social study projects! What will tomorrow hold? :)

Question of the day...

" why did God make the skin so hard to peel?"

Momma Monday

Being Momma to a 'tween' girl - who I mother by love and by choice, not by birth, certainly has it's challenges.  But, through it all, my girl sure is a special one.  She is mature beyond her years (most of the time :) and has a love that surpasses misunderstandings.  She longs for peace, and seeks her counsel in Christ.  My daughter is a precious gift!

You Matter

“So, from the beginning, God placed a mark of importance on women.  They were (1) good  because they bore His image and (2) necessary in achievement of His purposes on earth.  Look around you at the sphere of influence the Lord has placed you within.  This circle of people and circumstances is in need of you.  The touch, wisdom, experience, and feminine heart you bring into these arenas are all required if their outcome is to be what He has purposed it to be.  You are not an addendum, a last-minute after thought that can be tossed out without notice.  Without your participation and input, much will be lacking.  This was God’s intention.”

The Resolution for Women  p.38

This was exactly what I needed to hear today.  I read it, re-read it, shed some tears, and read it again, trying to really take it in and believe what these words are saying.  They say that I matter.  They say that I am where I am for a reason, a purpose, and if I wasn’t here, it would make a difference. 

For me, that is something that I struggle with sometimes.  There are times that I feel like things would be better without me.  These are the times when I put my woe-is-me attitude into my heart and just feel crummy.  

When I look at my family, I see traits that I live out that I don’t want to be, that have their negative impact on my husband and children.  These things really bog me down, and not always in the right way.  If I saw them, and worked to change them, wouldn’t that be great!  *sigh* but, I must admit, more often than not, it just gets me discouraged about my place, my purpose, my worth – in our home. 

Even in other areas of life I think it can be too easy for me to get my eyes off the “author and perfecter of our faith,” and put them on myself and situations that arise. 

We have so much power through Jesus Christ to make changes for the better, for good.  We are called for a purpose in our homes, in our sphere of influence, to be examples of Christ’s love. 

I am thankful that I do have hope.  That at times when I don’t feel like I matter, or that I have purpose or worth, I am reminded of the truth, I am filled back up so that I can pour into those around me the love that Christ has showed me.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Momma Monday

I don't remember which child I am supposed to be highlighting, so I'll just say how I love them all! Ha..

We really like to have a lot of fun together. Last week some of those fun times involved clay creations and painting, fireworks, skating, baking, movie, Dutch Blitz... And Family Feud!

I will admit.. Sometimes I feel like I get toooo much time with my kiddos, but when I put into perspective the time we have here on earth, I ... Usually can make the right choices to enjoy the moments we have together.

James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes

Blessings

I took a couple days to visit my sister and her babes and had the most wonderful time. They are getting so big, and learning so much! I love watching them see things that seem new in their world and try to figure them out. I must say, my favorite part was being recognized and called upon over and over all day long! And of course the sweet snuggles.

Coming home to my own family sure is nice too, especially with a " snow day" at school, which just translates to us as more family time and cancelled programs. At the moment I can't help but beam at the sounds coming from different rooms. My kiddos are all practicing their speeches with nice and loud voices, doors closed.

It's such a different stage of parenting than my sister is at, with a different set of struggles and joys. In both it's a wonderful blessing seeing the hearts of these precious kids come to life with the new realizations of things around them. I'm so proud of my kids, their love for God and their love for each other.

-blessed momma

Laugh

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

No dry bones here tonight! My handsome husband's pics ( with his permission!)

Momma Monday

Ryan is a very systematic child... If that makes sense! He loves to know everything that is going on, not in an intrusive way, but he feels safer in his mind with this knowledge. I must say, from my point of view, as his mom, I don't always receive this so well. We have implemented a few things in our home to lessen his uncertainties and to lessen my frustration. One of these things is a fabulous magnetic calendar on the fridge. It is a dry erase surface and the weeks are each separated so you can put it down to the next week once the top one has passed. I find it funny that even though this is in the kitchen, and everything is written on it, Ryan will still put things in his calendar in his room, the one in his email account, and make sure to have the emails sent to me reminding me of EACH thing on the calendar on a daily basis- through email! I honestly don't even know how he set it up to do that,but slowly I can see how God has created each of us differently and for His plans and purpose. Ryan is a much more peaceful boy when he has an understanding of what is going on :) so, as his mom, and by God's wisdom and strength, I will do what I can to help!

Isaiah 26:3 says

3 You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.

The more we know God and trust Him, the more we will stay in perfect peace, I suppose it's that way with my boy as well, learning to trust ...

"Blemishes are only skin deep"

Rachel was eating a banana just now and made the comment " for this banana, blemishes are only skin deep"

Sounded profound to me...

Calloused

I recently saw that someone had asked God to make their heart more like His, to see people the way Jesus sees them. This has, at various times in my life been a prayer that I have said, and meant, as well. Quite often lately I have seen people very differently. I will see their eyes, and sometimes it seems like I can FEEL pain, sometimes joy, without even knowing them at all. We have been reading Anne of Green Gables, so perhaps that gives some reason to the part where I imagine what their life might look like. I imagine who they come home to at he end of a work day, and how interactions might be. I hope I don't sound creepy in saying this. I guess it started when we were in New York and these tour guides were telling us all about the city. Their eyes just seemed so hollow...all these hundreds of thousands of people come to their city to see the "great" sites and it's their job to tell people over and over again about it. Most of the time all I could think of is what is it you REALLY want to talk about? What's really on your heart. They were cold, like, freezing cold, and likely didn't make enough money to live a very comfortable life in this very expensive city. I don't know what it was about the place, but it caught my heart. I guess it hasn't happened a whole lot since then, but a few times I have prayer for head people.
The problem with me, or maybe one of, is that I can have a heart for these people who I don't know, but sometimes it is hard for me to have that same heart of love and compassion for those close to me.
This all comes into my mind this morning because last night I had a frightening dream about my brother. This morning I could barely speak without crying, the more I pray, the more peace I feel, but I still wish I could hear his voice and tell him I love him.

My brother is in jail right now. This isn't the first time. He is hurting, lonely, in deep pain.

I was reading a fictional book about a girl who was put in jail and the awful conditions she endured and the atmosphere that surrounded her. I was broken for this girl - this Fictional! girl, yet I didn't feel like that about my own brother! You might think very low of me right now... When I put my true thoughts into words like this... I sure do. But last night God broke my heart for my brother. This morning we prayer deeply as a family for him, and I continue to do so. Sometimes we need God to break us, to see people through His eyes. It's far to easy to be hurt and offended by those around is, especially this closest to us. But we are called to a higher standard - to love. Not only when we are being loved in return.

I read Hebrews 13:3 that says,
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

I can't say that I've been doing that. I will pray for my brother, I will communicate to him that he is not alone and allow God to work through this sometimes calloused heart.

5 Years!

Today marks the day that I stepped into two very important roles that make up my life as it now looks- a wife and a momma!
A lot seems to happen in 5 short years, shared joys, happiness, sadness, frustrations,... anger..., smiles, laughs, tears.... Becoming part of a family takes time, some days I still wonder if I'll ever get there. But the family God has blessed me with is a wonderful one and I praise God for allowing me to be a part, to grow, learn, and laugh with them.
This morning my thoughtful, loving husband gave me the perfect card for where we're at...

"Hold on to me and I will hold on to you through anything and everything life brings our way. Bring me your worries and I'll listen with my heart. Tell me what you need and I'll do my best to give it to you. Love me, even when it isn't easy and I'll promise to do the same for you..."

Then,at the breakfast table, Matthew said he had something to share and read for us 1 Corinthians 7, the instructions for marriage.

This day is a blessed day

A Day in the Life

We were taking these pictures today and when I was walking back to our room I couldn't help but think, wouldn't it be nice if these pictures reflected our normal everyday life! Maybe for some people they would, but unfortunate not in our home. We are currently working through making goals in our lives, physically, spiritually, mentally, and relationally ( emotionally). In doing this, we are really addressing things that aren't working and things that need work. It's always good to have a vision, to have goals to work towards, to improve and become more of who God wants you ( me) to be.
Tim and I are going to focus on our marriage and improving it. We decided to read a book together and have started one called Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires, The Respect He Desperately Needs. I highly recommend it so far! We definitely needed some refreshing. I also highly recommend setting goals in your life, making sure that they are realistic and there is a clear plan set of how they will be accomplished. We heard a sermon on this very topic this week and the verse used was from Luke 2:52, which says,
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

We need to grow and set goals, life may not be picture perfect, but if we look at Christ and make good changes in ourselves that seems to me like a good start!