Monday, November 30, 2009

One Thousand Things


A friend of mine is part of a blogging gratitude community and I began to think it was a really great idea! Bringing thankfulness into each day, and cherishing the small things. They post every Monday on their list of up to 1000 things. So, I'm climbing on board and dragging you with me!


holy experience

1. Warm slippers on a cool rainy day
2. Ability to work and make income
3. A warm bed- that is sometimes hard to get out of in the mornings (warm is seeming to be a theme already)
4. Kids that are really so easy to parent - at the moment
5. Chocolate chip cookies
6. A Mom that phones often, even when it sometimes seems at the busiest moment, sorry Mom
7. Finding my dog curled up on the downstairs couch gave us a good laugh, he's not allowed even in that room!
8. Having a friend e-mail even amidst her super busy schedule

Sunday, November 29, 2009

My Dad

Today is 16 years ago that my Daddy went to heaven to be with Jesus. It really is a better place for him with all the pain and suffering he endured for 8 years. I remember the details of the day well, like it was yesterday. How I had arrived home from school and received a phone call from the Dr. at the hospital, where he had just recently been admitted for some kidney issues that weren't really a big deal. The Dr. couldn't find my Mom, who had run down to grab some dinner and clear her head with a brief walk. Something had changed with my Dad, and he said, "he doesn't have much time, maybe a half hour, can you come?" I remember the drive, trying to navigate the quickest route, as there were several, and the one I chose happened upon a major jam that delayed me about 10 minutes, 10 minutes too long. I arrived and he was already gone, and Mom had not yet returned.

Funny how "coincidences" happen... the bed was the one where my first patient as a student nurse in my first year had died.... the nurse on duty recognized me from then... she happened to come around the corner as I was going in the room to prepare me for what had happened. I called my then very new boyfriend, Kevin, to come be with me. He came and met the extended family. Great time for an introduction .

And so the memories cloud around in my brain. Some of them clear and some that begin to blur with time. What an amazing man he was! Patience was not a just word, it was who he embodied, in the body of his that no longer could scratch his own nose, no longer hold anyone's hand, and no longer run or walk, or comb his own hair in that particular way. He learned you have to go with someone else's hair style now, someone else's way of making his day the way it became, completely reliant on someone else. Patient, quiet, trusting, not full of anger, the way I now see patients of mine whose bodies have also failed them. Of course there were moments of questioning, anger, disappointment, but he kept them more hidden from his children. There is only one place where that strength can come from.

And on a day where I think things aren't going so well, I have so much to be thankful for. That I can type this with my own hands, that I can hug my children, that I have the ability to cook another dreaded meal, that I can sleep at night in a warm and comfortable bed, that I have clean water to drink everyday!

And so I wish my children could have known their Papa and scratched his nose. I see his gentle spirit in my girl and how she would have LOVED his humor and soft spokenness in this world of extroverts. And I imagine he and Jacob would have much to sit and discuss, or just sit in quiet and be together sharing some secret joke. And learning a depth of faith that only comes from suffering.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Stuff

I just don't know what happened to the week. I haven't even started my Christmas shopping, and I'm usually nearly done by now!! This is a bad thing for a super planner type person like me. There are things on the TO DO list that haven't even been looked at - that really need to be. But I'll breathe a few deeps breaths... it'll all happen at some point. I refuse to become stressed by the expectations of the Christmas season. Yesterday was report card day, so we had dinner out, which is our tradition, and made for a great end to the crazy week. Well not quite the end, we were out to a fundraiser for this amazing family that are moving to Uganda. I am feeling the need to hide in their suitcases. Oh my love for that place rose up within me again. I NEED to go there again! Somehow that place captures you... Africa... just the name sounds magical.

I came across this quote on someone's blog, and shall make it my December mantra: Join me.

"To awaken each morning with a smile brightening my face; to greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains; to approach my work with a clean mind; to hold ever before me, even in the doing of little things, the Ultimate Purpose toward which I am working; to meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart; to be gentle, kind, and courteous through all the hours; to approach the night with weariness that ever woos sleep and the joy that comes from work well done - this is how I desire to waste wisely my days."
THOMAS DEKKER

Monday, November 23, 2009

Moms and Girls

We totally "fluked" upon this group in the fall of Moms who meet together with their daughters every week. We've had the funnest last 6 weeks or so starting to get to know each other. Tonight was our last time together before January, and what is girl time without a little chocolate fountain and a "re-gift exchange"?!




Of course Erin got the noisiest gift to bring home- it sings "You Know you Make me want to Shout" while it dances. Hilarious!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Pray

...my dear sister-in-law has surgery again on Wed.... her 3rd for this endometriosis that landed her in ER twice last week. Glad I'm working that day...across the hall... so I can keep checking in.
... still don't know who the parents will be for our little peanut... still hoping

5 Boats


Kevin's first photo sale was off in the mail yesterday! It comes with it's very own first sale special bonus which is ready to go today :) Just so you know buyer, it's on its way!! It was a good experience in deciding which photo processing to go with. Just as an experiment he had it developed at 3 photo shops in town for a comparison study: Lens and Shutter (camera specialty), London Drugs, and the winner Costco! He's such an engineer and perfectionist. It was nice to get all the family votes on which looked best.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

What's Toast?

Sometimes as a parent you wonder if you are teaching your kids everything that they are going to need to know for life. Are you inspiring them with wisdom? Teaching them common sense? Showing them all the how to's that invade their day to day worlds? How to make good choices? How to be forgiving? I wonder and hope that I am teaching them what they need to know about God and faith, trusting Him, and about relationships, family and friends. And many days I feel I have failed. Today was one of those...

It started with a typical morning of the kids invading the kitchen to find something to eat for breakfast. Now we aren't huge breakfasty people; pretty much only on weekends do I COOK something for breakfast, except the dreaded weekday oatmeal that comes and goes with moans and heaps of brown sugar. The day began like most, and my Erin came in looking for something, anything. I recommended something we don't have a lot at our house (they get bread everyday in their lunches, so I try for other things in the morning) and suggested toast. "What's TOAST?" was the honest, blunt reply. I stood aghast wondering where I had gone wrong. How did I miss this? "What's toast?" How can you not know what toast is? Maybe it's teenage hormones or brain lapses, I don't know, but if I've missed this, what else has she not learned by watching, observing and being told? I guess I'll soon find out...

This isn't my bread (or toast), I totally stole it off this blog.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Today...

I am so excited about this!!! Doesn't it just make you want to save the world! The problem is where to start. I find it so easy to get so emotionally attached to an idea or so empathetic to a situation but what can I do about it? I feel so helpless, so incompetent, so easily distracted by my own life. And really what will my $100 do? I want to do so much MORE, but where to start? So maybe this will be a good place, to join with like-minded women and try to do something, anything. To only help one person would make a difference... to them.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Fall Purse


Made this the other day with some fabric I just love! My model stuck out her tongue so she's cropped out. Well I was going to leave it in, but she begged...

Sunday, November 8, 2009

It's Ready!

Kevin has been working hard on his new website! And it's finally up and ready! He'll be adding new photos to it and he's also keeping a blog which you'll have to read back on. The purpose of this website, which is different from his original one which was just a blogspot display and interest site, is photos for purchase. So after weeks of messing with Paypal and other things, it should be ready to go! I could NEVER learn on my own how to create an interactive website! He's amazing! Maybe ready for some web design contracts :) So spread the word... he hasn't done any marketing or anything like that yet.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

It Came to Me Again

When a verse comes to me a few times, it usually means pay attention! Especially when the moment you see it, your heart jumps! Isaiah 55:10-12. I had sort of forgotten all about this verse being for me in this season. That's sort of the way it is with us humans hey! We forget. I'm so glad to be reminded, I really need the reminding.

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst forth into song before you, and the trees of the fields will clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:13) .

Today in my Bible study I had missed the last day's homework, and was going to skip onto this week's rather than get behind, but felt I should just visit the pages for a few minutes. And there they were.... just staring at me. It was sort of the verses before it that spoke out to me today.

"So is my Word, that goes out from my mouth: it will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (v.11)

So rather than just trying to FEEL the joy, claim it and try to live in it, it's more about HIM, letting HIM do it. He already has a purpose for every Word I have read and that He has put into my heart and mind. So it's up to HIM. He will give the joy, lead in peace, achieve His purpose. I guess it's up to me to just follow. So I'm looking for some leading, but know I don't have to control it all.

Phew, that's a relief... Remind me of this again tomorrow :)
I like the heading for the chapter-- "Invitation to the Thirsty". I need a drink!
Reminds me of this song that I love!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Oink Oink

I have a little piggy at home. I don't know what they're doing to actually diagnose the swine flu, but I know they don't want everyone rushing in to get checked out, unless there is a real concern. Sudden onset fever of 102.9, sore throat, fatigue and cough. Sounds like it's hit our house. So maybe it'll be a good week to catch up on some house projects and use my skills at home.

Remember this cute little piglet? Well, I'm asking for fervent prayers again over the next few days! She might become my niece!! Just a little more info. I think I can tell now... KD's brother and wife met her in the summer and instantly fell in love, she was also up for adoption and in foster care. After jumping through some hoops and lots of prayers, the social workers said they had chosen other parents, and the grieving of the loss of it had all begun. Now there is renewed hope on the horizon. It will be absolutely a miracle if this happens, so please pray for that!! That's the short of a long, long story, but we are all ready for a miracle!!