Bye

by admin on April 9, 2011 in People In My Heart, The Pet with 3 Comments

Perhaps it is ridiculous of me but it makes me sad that this is the best picture I have of these two buddies together.

In a very short period of time my girl friend and I became forever closer thanks to our dogs. Our families and our dogs all shared so much in common through this adventure of pet ownership. My best pal got her pup at the same time that we got our Riddick. We both adopted them. We both waited together through the ups and downs of finally getting them. We both learned so much about dogs and owning dogs together.

My best pal is the gal I go with EVERY SATURDAY to the dog park. She walked JAZZ her black lab and I had Riddick. It always made me smile at how gentle and understanding these dogs where of one another… so comfortable together. They really looked so forward to this run around time. Riddick truly liked his bigger but younger buddy.

My girl friend has canceled the regular hike tomorrow and indefinitely. Only minutes after seeing Jazz (because my girl friend had stopped by with her) Jazz died. She was not yet a year old, in the glory of youth… just a big pup really… I cried and my girl friend thought I did it out of sympathy but I really will miss this big gentle dog. She was clumsy and soft and always so sweet.

It brought me back to my childhood. Yes I saw a lot of animals die, growing up on a farm, but I also was the one who always, ALWAYS, cried. I am so sorry this family had to say good bye to their friend forever and I am selfishly sorry for me and Riddick too…

TTFN

Knead A Little Love

by admin on April 8, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Feeling It (Thankful) with 1 Comment
I am up later then I want to be tonight. Waiting for the weekly bread batch to finally fill up their pans so I can bake them, cool them, wrap them and then go to bed… Staring at them and wishing them to ‘rise already’ wasn’t helping… soooo

He just will not leave me alone… you know, just when you think ‘phew that was a doozy of a lesson’ and you sigh and sit back and BLAM! More to come, tears, joys, growth! It is a strenuous ride that I have chosen to be on with Jesus.

Kneading bread is important to end up with a good batch of loaves. It is a process of pushing and pulling at the dough to get all the air out.The Bible speaks of knowledge as something that can puff up or fill with air. Love is said to build up… one solid and the other… easily burst.

We need to learn in order to love but if we spend all our time learning and knowing with out getting to the point, which is the loving, we will just be full of air.

Lately I feel a good kneading going on in my heart. Love is pushing out the old things I have learned that only puffed up and I am learning new things that establish love in my person all the more… love for others… Who really thinks it wise to wait till your death bed to realize LIFE IS RELATIONSHIPS? I personally don’t want to waste my time and then sweat it when I look back. I want to be able to count many a relationship that I worked on, put into… loved into.

Looking and finding people NOT LIKE ME.

Going beyond my comfort zones with Christ as my guide.

Well good night, I think I shall nap with the timer by my head… to remind me to get up and finish the bread… this should teach me to always start my dough earlier in the day… you think I would learn… you would think…

TTFN

Rubber Boots (fifteen)

by admin on April 5, 2011 in Feeling It (Thankful), Four Little Eggs In My Nest with 2 Comments

There is a colorful row of rubber boots in my porch. I love, dearly, the feet that fill each and every pair. Just this week those boot took us all exploring. No puddle was safe that afternoon! Four happy children trucked up and down the block with an equally happy mommy. Drains where cleared of the leaves plugging them, puddles where worked into a tizzy by dancing feet, snow was mushed and crushed to make way for happy rivers and it was all grand, wet fun.

Spring and all its muckiness can be more then tolerable when rubber boots are readily available. One can get out into the weather with out worrying about soakers. Once out the pleasantly cool air and increasingly warm sun are so contagious!

I am thankful for joy filled activity, outdoors, year round! And SO thankful for practical outdoor foot wear! Sandals in summer, rubber boots in spring and fall, and good warm boots in winter; practical is worth being thankful for! Believe me, if you don’t have the practical you will realise the blessing it is painfully quick. Thank you Jesus for time to puddle with my kids, to be outside and for the foot wear we are blessed to have!
Have you noticed that rubber boots are in fashion? Crazy… well perhaps not, I remember when ducky boots where in fashion not so long ago and they are just short rubber boots… or rubber boot cut offs… anyhow…

TTFN

Little Snippets Of Relationship This Week

by admin on April 2, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Little Things, Mama Heart Mushings with 2 Comments

It is such a happy sight to see, for me… the sight of my kids getting along. I am one tired mommy this Friday but it was a good busy week. Managed to seize many little moments with my children.

My littlest man and I worked on a river in the snow… connecting puddles to help the water flow down hill to the drain at the end of the block. We got wet, found a rock and a couple leaves and he was so thrilled.

My littlest daughter and I snuggled on her sick day and I brushed her hair slowly while chatting with her… she adores both her hair being done and direct attention involving conversation.My eldest boy showed me some new dance moves that made me laugh so hard I was going to loose it and I, in response, showed him Mama knows how to do a hockey shirt hold.

My eldest daughter and I sat in a coffee shop together the other night, sharing ice tea and vanilla scones. We opened up our table to a stranger and got to know the sweetest women.

Little man and I laughed ourselves silly when we found two little rock star dolls and talked to one another in gibberish, thrashing the dolls around as if they where dancing. This little game went on for twenty some minutes!

My biggest man lost another tooth making his toothless grin complete. He proudly brought it home to show me, as he had lost it at school.My oldest daughter broached the subject of racism as I brushed her hair just this morning. She graced me with her wise concerns and questions and we had plenty of time together to talk about it.

These moments that seem small, because of how quickly they pass, were for sure important. Life is about relationship… with my kids and beyond.

TTFN

Be Well

by admin on March 29, 2011 in Dem Kids Sayed WHAT?, Do I Call It Parenting Advice?, Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Mama Heart Mushings with No comments

Dear little daughter, I am sorry you are ill today… sorry I made it about me the moment I realized you where going to loose your breakfast. It didn’t ruin my day to stay home with you, it just changed the day. Today is about you getting better.

I keep peeking in on you and sigh with thanks that you are sleeping comfortably long into the day. You managed to keep some food and drink down, and took your medicine like a gem. You amaze me with your ability to smile at me when you are sick. As I tucked you, once again, under the blue patch-work quilt we both exchanged love you’s and I felt the shame about being selfish in my reaction this morning slip away. You feel no ill will, just ill tummy and I love you for it. Be well little lady… be well daughter of mine.

MY GIRL –“Mama I think I am sick.”
MYSELF — “Where is your sick honey?”
MY GIRL –“Right here in my belly button.”

TTFN

Spring, New Little Potted Plant and Growing Now (fourteen)

by admin on March 28, 2011 in Feeling It (Thankful), Life Keeps Changing with No comments
(A precious little plant sits near my front window… potted by my eldest daughter… it is a sweet reminder of life and growth.)

Going to a gardening show with my eldest child’s class reminded me it was time to wait and watch for spring. Time has been flying this year and I actually missed the brooding months of winter because I was simply to busy for it, BUT I do adore spring and so I am excited to feel its approach. Winter appears to still have a steal grip on the land when you look at all our ice and snow but my morning jog is graced with the presence of an earlier sun and the kids complain of too much light at bed time… all this is a grand sign of springs inevitability!

Winters end makes me reminisce and examine my own history. I am a mother of four. I am a wife, have been for almost eleven years now. I am a Christian, and have been for about 15 years. Have I grown up? Perhaps…

I am certain that I have grown and the learning curve of life has often spiked straight up. A heart willing and fearless about growing helps the climb go smoother and quicker. Different climbs have been far more straining on my body and others on my mind and even others still, on my heart. It is good to look back long enough to see where we began and how far we have come… and I used to think it was essential to then look ahead with big dreams, to grind my teeth with determination and walk with stubbornness… but lately I am better at enjoying the climb, where I am at, and that is largely because this growth is happening without me…

Spring is change, growth, rebirth and that is in the now of our lives. It is beautiful, delicate and oh so short. The return of spring reminds me to live today. I have and am surrendering dreams and finding better… I have and am embracing my shortcomings and finding strengths in their place… I am learning all the time what love is, what wisdom is and I am blessed. I feel freedom in my heart more then ever before and I believe that is a true sign of growth!

I thank God for spring, and more then that I am thankful for each and every day for growth, for NOW in Christ.

TTFN

Wee Bit Wednesday (3)

by admin on March 23, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, wee bit wednesday with No comments

{one} what was your first job?
Groundskeeper/chef/waitress at a local lake resort.

{two} have you ever seen a stand up comedian?
no, I guess our provinces isn’t funny enough… they don’t seem to be around….

{three} when was the last time you played mini golf?
YEARS ago, about 4, on a date with my man when we first moved to the city.

{four} what was the last picture you took?
The meal I made last night… I have a thing (trying to encourage myself in a MUST JOB) for taking pics of meals I succeed at and posting them on fb.

{five} burnt food: yes or no?
no… except marshmallows over the fire and hot-dogs and.. well those are it for the exceptions.

{six} if you have a pocket full of change, what do you do with it?
Jump up and down and head to the local thrift store… I think my man confiscates most change around here so I never seem to have change on my person lately!

{seven} can you touch your tongue to your nose?
No, just tried to be sure, but no…

{eight} do you scrapbook?
NO, it is so beyond me plus I have to many other hobbies I am already torn between!

{nine} do you buy lottery tickets?
No, no deep reason either…never been interested or drawn to it…

{ten} do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it?
Absolutely behind BUT because I understand how nice it is to take and have pics of people I have worked really hard at being comfortable in front so I don’t make picture takers uncomfortable.

TTFN

Beauty or Open Topic Marriage Monday

by admin on March 21, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Marriage Monday, My Romance with 12 Comments
(pssst, please note: I recommend you go to my music play list on the right side panel and select Fernando Ortega’s song STORM, to listen to while reading this.)

The most beautiful things in life are often something one has to strive for and seek out with great effort. Beauty can be simply hard to find. The fact is, things that are lovely become BEAUTIFUL with hard work involved. We will treasure the beauty we find when the path has been long and difficult… it is just human nature to appreciate the dawn more because of the darkness it followed.

There are times in my marriage where I feel intense love and desire for my man that can only be compared to the years of our young romance before marriage. The word spark is often used for such feelings but I feel more like they are an explosion in my heart. It is a fire that makes my heart feel too small, an urge that makes it unbearable not to be with him, a stabbing pain that makes me tear up with joy to touch him. I find these times in life BEAUTIFUL! I treasure them all the more after many many years of marriage and I feel blessed with them, as one receiving a very valuable gift, when I reflect on all the hard times we have had.

There have been deserts in our marriage, I believe we are not unique in that regard. When we make it through still holding on to one another we are often tattered and warn, broken and bruised, dirty and just plain unlovable in many regards… and yet… with a little time to heal, a little repose from the battles we find time to build a fire again… we didn’t give up, we fought for the oasis… now we fan that flame when we have the chance and we enjoy the beauty of a crazy long lasting love.

When I thought about the suggestion of ‘beauty’ as a topic this week this concept filled me up till I felt burdened to release it. Listening to my husband play his piano, a moody passionate piece I must add, has greatly aided my paper and pen time today.

I just want to close with the idea that if a marriage is still together it is BEAUTIFUL.

First Monday of every month at Chrysalis
TTFN

Forgiveness (thirteen)

by admin on March 19, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Do I Call It Parenting Advice?, Feeling It (Thankful) with 1 Comment
(Riddick has nipped, my little fellow has punched… and yet they keep working on their relationship.)

When my children engage in fighting and hurt one another I ask them to forgive one another. They always want to know why… what is in it for them? I remind them that the other does love them and it is worth forgiving to keep that love whole. I remind them that the other person is more then the wrong they committed and worth the pain it takes to forgive them. I remind them they don’t have to prove how wronged they where by holding on to it, length of time brooding doesn’t prove how bad it was. A long held wrong only continues to hurt the one who holds on to it, the most and the more. “Is this the hill you want this relationship to die on?” and they always look at me… “Another words, is this issue more important then your brother/sister?” The answer, thank the Lord, has to date always been no it isn’t as important as him/her.

I, me thinks like most other adults, struggle with this when faced with times to forgive… all the more when loved ones are the culprit, when loved ones are the victim or when fear is involved in the hurt… I pray by teaching my kids these ideas about forgiveness young they will not struggle as we adults often do… I pray by teaching this I will indeed learn it myself…

I am not so proud that I assume the wrongs I have committed have ever been less then those committed against me or that my wrongs where easier to forgive… I am not so naive as to think I will not be in need of forgiveness from others in the future.

I just find it hard… I just find it scary… I just keep on forgiving and pray for forgiveness my way. I just keep letting the tears come as I remember what my forgiveness cost my God… how he loves me in the depths of my unloveableness… when I am messy… when I am ugly…. He loves me, Jesus forgives me… AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR FORGIVENESS!

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.
~George Herbert


TTFN

This Families Music (My Brother)

by admin on March 18, 2011 in Music Flavor with No comments

LETS GET A LITTLE HEAVIER with my brothers music style!

Victoria Awake

My older brother has been doing music for years! He has done a lot of stuff on his own and has been in a few different bands. His current VICTORIA AWAKE is the group featured on this video. Aaron (my brother) does the vocals in this song and Mike is the guitarist you are seeing.

I greatly appreciate this kind of music just as much as the milder stuff that you will have noticed featured in this little project of mine, in earlier posts. It is fun, it is creative and it is his so I like it!

TTFN

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