Archive for February, 2012

Kathy

Been going to a series of conferences for the last while, on my own.  In general I appreciate getting time alone.  The plus to this time of learning alone has been plenty of head space to take it all in.  The downer has been it is often nice to have someone to bounce off that new and expanded info.

The Lord sends encouragers at the simplest of times.  I sat down to eat at the lunch provided and a lady I had only recently met made sure to come over and sit with me so I wasn’t alone.  We found we had a connection in the church we attend and I was enjoying getting to know her bit by bit.

More people filled up the table and as we chatted I realised I was siting with neighbors!  On my left sat a couple that lives on the same crescent as us.  We had been getting along so well talking about gardening, organic eating and dogs.  We connected over Riddick (this isn’t the first time he has made my family recognisable).  They indeed knew my dog and recognised my eldest children that trailed around after him daily.  They too felt this was a real blessing to connect at such an unforeseen location and numbers where exchanged, plans for tea put in motion.

I now stood at the entrance to the conferences lecture hall, if you will, the sanctuary of a west side church.  Most people had come with someone and had spread out making little room for those of us who where flying solo.  Out of the blue Kathy, whom I would learn was her name, asked if I was looking for a seat.  She lead me to her spot and pointed out the available space next to her.  We chatted and found many a point of connection in why we where at the conference.  Both of us where finding great joy in learning as older women who have done the family thing for years.  A friendship seed was indeed planted as we ended up doing the courses practical application with one another; as we worked on our prayer ministry tools, together, a connection of the Spirit in us was lit.

I smiled to myself because I had just started to feel down about going to all of these lectures on my own when the Lord expanded my social circle so easily.  If I had decided to be uncomfortable and withdrawn, which in the past I was pron to do at such events, I would have missed out on a blessing.  It really drives home the point that there are people all around us to bless and be blessed by in the simplest way possible, sharing a little conversation and kindness.

TTFN

Showing Off My Dad’s Way With Words!

A weee POEM it is then… 

Well I am greatly encouraged.. Up is still up and down is still down and last time I checked I had both feet on the ground.. I`m pullin up my collar so I can stay warm and bendin my head as I lean into the storm. Just another day, they say, as I sally forth.. with some trepidation into the Great White North… It`ll not be too long, if I stay on the track.. on the narrow straight road and I`ll soon be back. I`m done with this place and I`m headed for home .. like I said I`m encouraged cause The Lord is STILL ON HIS THRONE.. Blessings to each and all.

~~~

So, when was the last time you went through all your jeans and removed all that grayish/blueish lint that accumulates in the pockets… ever wonder how it all gets there, in the first place. The odd thing is why am thinking about this type of thing, more often than I used to.. am I becoming disengaged from life? .. To some degree I think that may be happening. I seem to spend more time now sitting in a chair at home.. with my jaw hanging, slackly open, with a distant stare , on my face. When someone breaks in I usually answer with  some wise utterance like ” HUH.”  Let me be the first to tell you that ” The advantages of Old Age have been greatly exaggerated.  Oh well.. sometime I think we live in a very weird world ..I mean you should see some of my friends.. Let alone any of my opposer’s.   Fact is most of us could all  give weird  a new definition and that in a myriad of ways..Thank God it’s going to be so much better in the next.  So Do Not Lose Heart.. The Good Book says ‘ He that endures ALL THINGS until the end comes.. the same shall be SAVED.. and am I ever glad about that.. Hey??

Papa Munro

DO NOT Call My Children Tweens

tween A child between middle childhood and adolescence, usually between 8 and 12 years old.

             

NOW my definition – A creation of consumer focused advertisers, seeking to expand their teen girl spending high.  Teen girls consume a lot, so why not treat girls who are younger like teens sooner so they will spend like their elders?!

For definitions resembling mine look at these links:

HERE
and HERE

My beef – These kids are still KIDS!  Why rush them out of an already too short childhood?  Boys and girls alike, their innocence is INDEED threatened by the consumer mind set that is at the core of the tween trend.  Once made a commercial commodity they are under threat from the most successful advertising campaign style to date; and that is SEX.  Most of the STUFF aimed at tweens are indeed focused around sex; to look older, sexier or meant to produce a type of lust in their young little hearts (ex: the lust craze after young pop stars)

This is my rant, agree or not, but I am wearing my heart on my sleeve because I have seen this pinch put on kids (especially girls) as early as in grade one!  By the time they reach grade four, if the parents aren’t letting them embrace this trend then the parents are classed as strict and over the top.

Do I feel the pressure?  Yes, but not in any way to give into this tween crap…. I feel the pressure to educate my children in defence against this stuff, to pray protection over their precious hearts and demand others let them be themselves, let them BE CHILDREN!

I mostly feel disappointed in my own culture, sad for the children swallowed up in this and amazed that it is seen as harmless.  I’m tired of it already.

TTFN

My Fine Hound

Scratch a dog and you’ll find a permanent job.  ~Franklin P. Jones

IT is as if the author of the above quote has meet Riddick!   I have quickly noticed that non dog lovers find him very tiresome.  This boy will stick to you like glue, rub up against you and paw your lap if you have made even the slightest move to give him a scratch.  

He adores a good rub down and so is very patient with bath time.  He has even fallen over in the tub because he leans into my hand as I am scratching and rubbing him clean. 

It took no time at all for the kids to find his ‘sweet spot’.  Auntie Karla (a long time dog owner) filled us in on the fact that most dogs have a ‘spot’ that brings them great joy when you find and give it a good scratch.  A little to the side, just under his collar, closer to his back and voila you have a happy little man that will turn his head to the side, lean in toward you and thump, yes thump.  He looks just like Thumper from the Bambi film when you find and scratch his ‘spot’ just right.

So if you don’t like dogs much beware, he will wear out his welcome and has little sense of personal space.  He will let you rub and pat and scratch till your arm falls off.  Don’t TOUCH him if you can’t love him:)  AND that leads right into my next quote:

 Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.  ~Corey Ford

(Now there’s a dog’s best friend!)

TTFN

And Down To One Fish

 Well you never can tell with fish.  Yellow-whisker just didn’t seems as healthy from the get go.  The day before she died I was starting to warn the kids she seemed ill. 

We are now down to just Nia.  Sure didn’t take long for the first experience with a pets death to happen thanks to our new fish adventure.

The kids handled it well, although all differently.  Youngest two seem very unaware.  My eldest is just hoping we get a new fish; maybe a fancier one like a Beta next time.

My oldest boy, however, was the one who found her…  belly up… He looked so ash colored as he came and told me.  I took one  look at her and confirmed his suspicions.  He then looked really solemn.  I asked if he was okay and he shook his head ‘no’.  I said it was okay to be upset and when he started to cry I grabbed him in a big hug.  I assured him it is always a hard lesson in life to learn… that life ends.

After we hugged for a while he asked if he could go be alone in his room.  He then asked the sweetest question, so honest, “Is it okay if I am not okay for a while?  I still feel sad”.

“Absolutely okay my boy”, I assured him.

For now Nia is very healthy looking so we will stick with her and when she goes we will debate trying ONE Beta or just two new goldfish again.

TTFN

Submitting In Marriage (Marriage Monday)

(A Pretty Little Valentines Cupcake.FEB14th/12)

Being truly transformed in Christ will flip our human nature on its head.  In Ephesians 5 Paul shows he clearly understood, through the guidance of the Holy Ghost, that men and women alike, although in different ways unique to our sex, are inherently selfish.   Thus comes the call to SUBMIT to one another.  Seeking out our own desires and benefits can not coexist with a healthy lifestyle in Christ.

Marriage requires SO MUCH trust in ones life partner.  If I had felt I could not trust a man to lead my family I wouldn’t have entered holy matrimony.  In fact, I had no intentions of putting myself under the headship of another man once I was free to leave my fathers home.  I had grand plans to live on my own with a cabin, a farm and a successful career in the library field. Jesus had something better in mind.  I had no idea this better future involved a complex love that would push me, and growing me, and would be found in the arms of the man God created for me.  I married Garnet because I knew I could trust and respect him; both of which sprang out of the love.  I married him because I saw with in us the ability to compromise and work together, I had a strong hope in a continual growth of character that would make putting one another first easier.

(2010)

Submission is so important in a marriage, like bending prevents one from breaking.  A woman can, through submission, seek to protect a mans reputation, give him honor before her children and help him in his call on earth with her love, support and sharing of her gifts; yet ultimately my man understands all this must come from Christ first.  I am human, I will fail him, so all submission and trust must FIRST be in his Saviour.  The same part of the Bible that speaks of women submitting to their man also clearly points out a large calling to the men, to love their wives as Christ did the Church.  I have also had to expect his shortcomings in this area.  He is human and will fail me.  I too must expect such a high calling to first come through my relationship with my Jesus. 

Submission on my part and sacrificial love on his part can’t be done in our own strength, or even with extensive knowledge and understanding of the scriptures.  It is a larger then life request that we can only hope to succeed in through Jesus Christ.  FIRST we must be submitting our good and bad to Christ, both of us must be living out THE CALL and every waking moment in Jesus…. as worship to Jesus.  The rest will work itself out as we are transformed in and by our Lord.

P.S. Click on the below link-y to check out the other contributions to this weeks topic:)

First Monday of every month at Chrysalis

TTFN

Thrifty Treasures

 Two different thrift shops in one week, and among many lovely deals, I found a couple treasures.  The above shawl is a light creamy brown with a lovely flower pattern and a beautiful thick tasseled edge at the bottom.

The mirror shown below is definitely a vintage item.  I am thrilled to hang this heavy golden piece but will need a really strong hook.  It is sturdy and yet looks very feminine with the flowered frame.  The rounded glass makes it a purely decorative mirror as images are fish eyed, but it also shows its beautiful age.

Feel free to share some of your lovely thrift store finds or ‘steal of a deal’ items with me.

TTFN

JJ Heller - Not Mine Anyway
From the album 'Painted Red'

C G
I don't know what to say
G F
No words could ever be enough
C G
I stand up because you hold me here
F C
Because you brought me here tonight

Am G Am
Without you we all fall down
F G
Without you we all fall

C
You make life worth living
F
You make me want to start giving
Am C
More and more away to you
G Am F
It's not mine anyway
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/j/jj-heller/206848.html ]
C G
I could not ever try so hard
F C
I could buy a place in your heart
C
But here I am
G
My name written on your hands
F G C
Because you paid the debt I owe

Am G Am
Without you we all fall down
F G
Without you we all fall

C
You make life worth living
F
You make me want to start giving
Am C
More and more away to you
G Am F
It's not mine anyway

C Am F C G

Am G Am
Without you we all fall down
F G
Without you we all fall

C
You make life worth living
F
You make me want to start giving
Am C
More and more away to you
G Am F
It's not mine anyway

C
You make life worth living
F
You make me want to start giving
Am C
More and more away to you
G Am F
It's not mine anyway

Happy Valentines!

Garnet surprised me with this valentines gift last night, right at midnight.  It was a surprise because he doesn’t do this sort of thing.  I giggled as he shared how a concerned coworker had took him under his wing and reminded him about Valentines.  He spotted the perfect and unique gift for me last week in our favorite shop and had to share it.

It is a South American tea but also a style of tea drinking all its own so we are very excited to share it together.  Drank with a metal straw, that works as the tea dispenser/filter, in a hollowed out gourd and shared from the same cup.  It is packed with tea so should be good and strong.

This version of mate is supposed to taste like chocolate, have the kick of coffee but is a tea.  It is said to have superior health benefits to other hot drinks and other teas specifically.

We are such a couple of crazy and dedicated tea drinkers!

To have a closer look, or to order you own, link HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!

TTFN

Jogging Must Wait

I am sure there would be a few women who would be a little unimpressed with their hubby bringing them home work out equipment, as a surprise… ha ha ha but that isn’t myself, this time anyways

With jogging not going well this ice-y winter I have been looking for other options.  Between migraines and thyroid issues I have started to really appreciate how good exercise wards off feeling awful.  Needed a new affordable option, with the benefit of taking little time.  I can’t get away to nor afford gym membership

Just a few months after the new year a lot of decent equipment started popping up on second hand sites and my man found this little beauty (only a month or two old) at his jobs classifieds.  With a steal of a deal struck he picked it up right away. 

First night I managed 5k while watching ‘Republic of Doyle’.  I am a little sore but not as sore as landing on the ice or twisting my joints to avoid falling has been.  So for now jogging must wait till spring thaw and here’s hoping my exercise bike keeps me in enough shape that I am not starting from nothing with jogging again.

Thanks honey 🙂

TTFN