Christmas Festivities Mac Style!

Sometimes I feel that this season is all about the, "what am I gonna get?" I admit it, we get and we give! But during this season we made time to integrate Jesus through it all. We bought candles for advent and the candles had floral scents (very smelly!) from the dollar store and our wee one walked around at home with with all of the candles constantly and many times it would irritate me and then I would realize that I was then thinking of Christ and what the candles meant for each Sunday leading to Christmas! Glad to have the reminder and stop getting frustrated at little things.

We also were given this incredible advent calendar. Unlike any I have ever seen. A friend at church made it and truly you have to see it to believe it! Hand made and follows the month of December with a symbol and verse for each day. A significant journey to putting Christ first every day. I am going to ask her is she makes more, you may want one if you see it! If I get permission I will take a picture and add it to my blog! I am so thankful that I had this gift given to me at such a time! It really helped our children understand the significance of our relationship with Christ. I could do it all over in January and probably should!!

Quick book review:

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

I am only on page 31 and I am overwhelmed with emotion and joy all at once reading and listening to the excitement Chan has for Christ. What I love so far is the integration of his web site http://www.crazylovebook.com/. and the reading of the book. Twice so far he directs the reader to navigate the site and listen to a short talk from Chan. Such a great way to engage the reader! I am so on board. I can't wait to dig in further and continue soaking in this book. I intend to finish it soon and review it in full later!

gathering

Short and sweet..but today I am thankful for the simple gathering of family! Connecting is sweet fellowship.

Now the kids will sleep in peace, a long busy day!

Walk On

I know, it is snowing outside. But not here. Just picture for a moment the warm breeze, soft green grass and the up and coming sunset. This is where Sara sat in the summer with sandals that have been shared through many cousins! I love how certain pieces of hand me downs last well!

So, where will these little feet walk? Where will she go? So many questions, but one that I know I give to the one who created her. I have been thinking of my walk and our children too. Knowing that God has a plan to prosper me, not to harm me. To give me hope and a future is a precious gift of hope.

I have been reading Walk On, The Spiritual Journey of U2 (still one of my fav bands ever!) and it is a fascinating look at their journey. I am not done yet, but will review this book soon. Every one has a story and one worth sharing. I am really enjoying the content and how the author selects key detail to enable the reader to sink into the hearts and minds of the band (as much as possible!)

Back to Sara...my prayer is simply that she will seek God daily in her walk, whatever shoes she may be wearing!!!!

Heather, my inspirational friend!

Okay, a blog award? Well, that is the sweetest compliment and Heather thank you for the nomination. Now, according to the rules I have a few items to follow after adding this award to the blog. So, here it goes!
1. Link the person who nominated you
http://www.heathershomewardjourney.blogspot.com/

2. Seven things you may not know about me

1. I bungee jumped in BC
2. I have eaten stew with chicken feet and other things I could not figure out
3. I love wide open spaces (land!) My dad would be happy because that means there is a little Saskatchewan in me!!)
4. Seems that I am always hungry really late at night and go with it and eat late! Bad habit!! (especially sweet)
5. Love a bowl of cereal any time of day (hmm that is where the boys get that from!)
6. I first became a christian at the age of three and re-dedicated my life as a 13 year old and my dad and a former pastor in BC baptized me in the church I grew up in! Great memory.
7. If I had the time I would be a nurse (I sound like a grade one telling the class what I want to be!)

3. Add links to blogs and nominate them. Here are some links for you to enjoy!
http://www.ourjourneytoethiopiathebalmers.blogspot.com/
http://www.heathershomewardjourney.blogspot.com/
http://www.themaretzkifamily.blogspot.com/
http://www.ravenous-online.blogspot.com/

Thanks Heather! What a treasure you are to me!!

C plays his tune

What a treat to see all three play today! They appeared to have no fear and were happy to perform. Love watching them so much!

J plays a tune

Today he performed at our anual homeschool Christmas party. He was amazing!

Prayer for the Journey

Tomorrow my sister and her husband embark on a journey of a lifetime. They are off to Ghana to visit/meet the two children they are adopting! This is the first trip they must take prior the official coming home as a family for many varied and complicated reasons. This is just simply a part of the process. Please pray for them as they leave their three precious children with my mom. She flies out tomorrow to take care of them until they return Saturday. It will be hard for them to leave the three, but probably harder on the kids!! I have truly been moved by this desire they both have to adopt and take care of these two beautiful children (siblings!). God has touched their hearts and we are excited to walk with their family.
Prayer for safety, government paper work etc...Thank you!
I will update more in the coming weeks. Can't wait to meet them too!!!!!!

Buttercup

Remember when your friends used to pick the buttercup from the side of the road as you walked to or from school? Then they placed it under your chin and confirmed or denied your love of butter based on whether or not your chin turned yellow? My chin, always yellow, funny everyone had a yellow chin! I have many memories of my childhood (we all do) some good and some not so good. But the blessing I have engrained in my memory is this...Jesus was always there. Where we went, what we did, what we said and how we lived. Jesus was always there. Kind of like the buttercups, they were always there! I picked so many. I call the buttercup my childhood flower.
I am so thankful that my parents helped me understand Jesus. He was always there and still is today.

Immersed in His love

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

Here Jack dwells happily in the leaves. It made me stop and consider my contentment in Christ. Do I dwell in His shelter? Do I dwell happily? I am so glad can rest in the shadow of the Almighty and know that He is my refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.

she found it again...

Perhaps I should be more aware of the moments just before she wakes from her nap. She is sneaky, quiet and so darn cute. I also should perhaps actually hide my make-up. I have it close to the sink and don't think to move it in the morning.
It is a joy to watch her two year old curiosity unfold during the day and the endless conversations we have. At times I could swear she was four! She reasons with me and pleads in ways that are far too old for her age, yikes! Oh sweet Sara, I am so thankful you came along and added sparkle to our lives.

Easy to Honour

Today I simply want to honour my parents. They are a gift and I am so thankful for who they are and mostly for the Godly heritage they have instilled in me. They raised me to know and fear the Lord. To love God and serve Him and in that serve others and put them first. They did that while raising four children and along the way inspiring countless family members and friends to do the same, not for their glory but to the glory of God.

Psalm 37:28 says so beautifully, "The Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever."

Mom and Dad, you are faithful, He will not forsake you and you will be protected forever. Thank you for allowing me to see what life is really all about. A life of serving God and serving others (James 1:27). Now it is my turn to live life as you did for my children, your grandchildren. I will do it to the best of my abilities that God has given me. Thank goodness God gave me Duncan, maybe I can actually accomplish the great task of parenting!!

Tonight, I want you to know how much I love you both. You are an example of Christ's love. I have always seen that. Thank you for walking with me in my life (all the up and down valleys and mountains) and praying me through it. Without your prayers, where would I be? God hears them all!

Thank you....

love,

Number three - Sandee Glo

Park Dwellers

In Psalm 91 it says, "...He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone...because he loves me, says the Lord I will rescue him."

I think of this fact often, we have angels that surround us and protect us. I pray over these kids daily. Ultimately, they are all in His hands and I must commit them to Him. I pray for these park dwellers!! A place they love to be and yes, trip and fall!!

Pumpkin Princess

She loved carving with Daddio. That was the best part of the night. Time with our kids, can't get it back!!
Pumpkins are behind us and I can't wait for Christmas. I am already scouting out new decorations for the season. I love to celebrate Christ's birth and all the time with family and friends. Can't wait, I have the Christmas vibe going!!

Serving smiles while we tickle the ivory keys!

What an afternoon we had playing piano, eating cake and icecream and visiting at my aunt's seniors home. The cousins had a chance to wear fun costumes and spend time together. So many smiles and laughter came from the folks at the home. The little ones were also a hit, running all over the place while the older played piano. A blessing to us.

The Beauty of Lipstick

It was very quiet, you know the scene...I wondered where she was and what she was doing. She had been in Samantha's room playing nicely while I was with the others at the dining room table working on our journals. Chris went upstairs and calmly called my name. We found a very happy girl looking very pretty!!! I am glad to have a camera near by!!

A special Walk

I lift my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1

I want to teach my girls to love wisdom, seek wisdom and live it out in their daily lives. Not easy to model, not easy to live. Only with God's strength.

There are days I feel.... stuck (as Sara was here today in the first picture at the park, she said, "I am cuck mommy!" She was free soon enough and that made me think of my own moments of being stuck and not moving on as I desire. I put wisdom aside for a time for what reason I don't know (selfish I guess!) and I see the results in front of me in my own home. Things just are not working. When I take a moment to reflect I see how I was a part of the house crumbling. I am so thankful that I can pick up the pieces with love and forgiveness and asking for more wisdom.

Thankful!

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.

Romans 12:17

I take delight in my children and today I took this of Samantha experiencing pure joy in the simplicity of running as if to say, "Look at me! I am coming for you mom!" I love that. Sometimes I feel like I am doing the running to understand them.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but being thankful can happen daily. A goal for me.

So good

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me. (Psalm 86:5-7)
This comes from Psalm 86, but Beth Moore wrote this out more as a prayer. A while ago I bought a set of prayer cards that Beth Moore put together and I just love them. I have a plastic holder at my sink right in the middle of the window. Water, dishes, dish rags and soap are all a reminder to me to stop, read the card and pray. Time to thank God for where I am, what I am doing and who is around me. Four gifts that need me a lot right now. I feel like that dish rag at the sink some days. But other times I sparkle like a clean stainless sink. These cards have been such great reminders of God's love and plans for me and my family.

Samantha holds her dolls just like this! They are all precious to her and have names. She was pretending today that she was a teenager taking care of a room full of babies (stuffed animals too) and talking about her own children (she wants to have six) Hmm I wonder if that has anything to do with you Auntie Paula!! She adores hugs and babies and soft toys. She has plans for another American Girl so they can be sisters and then have two dolls to take care of! Thankful, so thankful she naturally embraces loving others! Amazing gift.

So dear to us!

We honour you our dear friend and neighbour. Tonight I post this with pure joy knowing that you make our living on this street worth every moment.

Art by candle light

I guess Lady had enough. Today wore her out. I took this because I had to live vicariously through her today! I could have curled up and had a cat nap for sure on this cold, wet and rainy day. So, on went the candle (that is one thing I enjoy about the cooler weather!) and we wrote, sketched and took a slower start to math etc! Good way to start any day really.

Media is not all bad is it???

Beginning of paper town (by Jack) thanks to Mr. Maker (treehouse I think)

Rosetta Stone (French)

Typing Instructor

Craft idea from a show called Mr. Maker!

I have to say out of all the show I have seen for kids/art this guy is great! Samantha and I sat down to watch and he happened to come on and we watched him create out of scissors, podge, paint, glue and tissue paper this really cool town. So right away we set up our own show. Guess what, the boys were right in there (Sara too) Crafts took over and we are still creating!

Media for us is all a balance. Like anyone we overdue it and regret certain decisions, but overall thanks to Vodie Bachams book, Family Driven Faith we are attempting to monitor the media with a certain amount of hours per week and log it. This gives us the ability to assist the kids managing time and choices. I don't always log it, I am too tired for perfection!! But it try!

Media, it is here, what do we do with it and how do we live with it and not let it control and shape us. In his book he gives good perspective and I appreciate his wisdom so much. Not just a book, it is a reference book. I keep going back to it!!!

Long Walks

These moments will always be etched in my memory, just walking. The kids always point out the unique, grotesque, beautiful and hilarious on the simplest of walks! I am thankful they see what I miss. Lately I feel I am missing so much! We are hard at work and I am trying to find the balance between the workbooks, spelling tests, history books and finding bugs! Yes, bugs of all sorts are always welcome guests, just not the wasp that landed on me today - no sting, but I sure did the ridiculous mom dance while the furnace/AC guy was checking out the AC unit outside. Always fun to have an audience when you least desire it!
That brings me to my next heart issue - I have an audience of four 24/7 and they witness pretty much everything. The phone that rings that I have to let go, the coffee cups that litter the home because I did not finish it again and needed a new one when I popped upstairs cause I like 'em hot! The eyes that shut when they know I am about to get a wee bit annoyed. The wonderment in their eyes when I say we are done for the day. My children witness more than I care to blog about. That is my life, raw and beautifully designed by a loving all knowing God. I am thankful I can give it all to him and know that even though I mess up and am not all in the moment the woman I desire to be, I am forgiven and by Grace I am save. Thank the Lord!

compassion

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever, he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has be removed our transgressions from us."


Psalm 103:8-12


This was our summer Psalm and now into the fall it continues. We have been reading it and trying to memorize it as well. It is being written out in our journals and not by coincidence is our church memorizing it as an entire congregation. Just tonight at the Grace Kids night (includes parents in bible study/prayer) one little five year old raised his hand to recite the first two verses. A quick reminder to the older folks that we too need to memorize and tuck these truths deep into our souls!

This picture of Samantha reminds me of her ability to be compassionate and gracious. I see it daily in her and I am so thankful that she makes efforts to do so. No, not always!! Nor do I, but I see her efforts and that warms my heart!

Isaiah 43:2

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..."

We all pass through varying depths of water and temperature levels. God is our lifeboat, life preserver and wetsuit! I am so thankful for my husband, he walks with me through all types of water!

Purpose

Everything has a purpose and a reason for being here. Simply because God planned it that way. As I set out to take some of these stunning flowers (black eyed susans?? or something I think!) the bee literally arrived as I took this picture. It was one of those moments when you know that God has EVERYTHING in His glorious hands and His timing is perfect. To us, fallen and sinful by nature, we have a different idea of timing. I am impatient on a good day! God has lots to do yet in me.

As I watched the bee, utilizing its purpose in life without the knowledge of its creator, I was reminded that I do know my creator - personally! I have this gift of a personal relationship with the living God because He designed it that way. It was also a moment of the responsibility I have to develop this relationship constantly and live out this gift. Serve and love and do it in His name! Ihave a gift - a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life, hmmm that is glorious....

Lord you are mighty

precious gifts Lord, sunsets and family!


Dear Lord - my autumn prayer:

Lord you are mighty and awesome in power. You have given to me a life that I never imagined. As a young bride soaking in the newly married moments to the new mom adoring the precious new life in my arms I did not really and truly know that your plan was better. So much of my life I have taken back the blueprints and not honoured your divine intentions. I am so thankful that you love me enough, your grace is plenty and the blueprints are there, just for me to take hold of for a blessed life. Lord, you have given me many blessings and I see them every day. Thank you for writing a love letter to us to embrace and live by daily. Thank you for these guiding words.

" Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Dueteronomy 6:4-8

Enable me to daily open up to you so that I am free to give to my husband and children as you desire.

I serve you Lord and today I thank you. We have made it through the first week of school. Best start yet. Thank you

your daughter

Sandee Glo

Dinah's first baby

What a beautiful baby! It was so fun to celebrate Irvine! Here is a photo of Mom, Aunt Susan, Aunt Marlelne and Dinah!

What a great afternoon!

First Week of School

First day of school, a trip to the Zoo with cousins! Full day and fun!

As I reflect on our week all I can say (before I fall asleep!) right now is just how proud I am of my children. We began our journey into a new year, new curriculum and a new outlook. They have all embraced the new and used the old as a platform for growth. Our days are full and busy and fulfilling, I have no regrets. Yes there have been moments, thank you Charmaine for praying with me on the phone hour one, day one of the new year! Sisters are such a blessing.

This brings me to the sister photos above. I love how Samantha is teaching Sara the beauty of flower picking and placing in the hair! It was such a sweet moment!!

We took time today to enjoy Streetsville, picked up a cupcake (or two), a coffee and a walk along the credit river. Simple and amazing!!

Morning walks

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

We went walking around Lake Aquitaine this week and enjoyed journaling, ripsticking, feeding squirrels and other small wonders. The verse came to mind today and fits so well with the path we took around the lake. Such a great reminder that God's word is our shining light for the path He has for us.