Reminders of our Faith

As the baby due date approaches so do my instincts for nesting! Last weekend while Duncan was away a few days we dove into the decorations. Christmas arrives and the celebrations of Christ continue but in a way that only November and December can bring, Although we know that Christ is our hope and our Saviour all year, these months are a gracious gift. Every time I look at the few items that adorn the mantels and the banister, I am instantly reminded of the birth. It also reminds me of the verse in Deuteronomy 6  when we are reminded to love the Lord our God and to teach this diligently to our children. Then in verse 9 we are to,"... write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Reminders of our faith need to be present for our families all year. Not just Christmas, although I admit I love adding the simple decor of the season! It is one of my ways of celebrating.

In Proverbs it says,"The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down." Hmm, how have I been foolish or how have I been wise in reminding my children of the gospel. I can guarantee that I have done things that tear down rather than build up. My conviction this season is to bring in the reminders (in between Christmas lists and baking cookies) of Christ's birth and what that means to us!!

Walk in faith...

What is next in the hills?

I know this is not exactly a vision of beauty...bear with me as I explain. Back in June we began a process of applications to bring about change in the fourty-five year plus septic system. As of yesterday, the digging began. I am not just talking small digging, it is crazy! The only grass we have (we have so many trees!!) is now many mounds of dirt and very off limits to curious children. Wow, is all I can say. What a process for a system that remains underground to all and hopefully silent and working well!! I will post more of the machinery and process.

In the hills this is what is next. I think that it will be quite strange for Duncan to strke this off his 'list'. Really, this was number one on his list and as it turns out is now the last! Lots of paper work and waiting. Who would have thought a year ago that on November 26th, 2010 we would be adding a new septic system to our front yard? Crazy. I guess that when you get that call to the country anything can happen???

keep you posted!

Moments with my girls!

She is in touch with this little life,

She is embracing the change,

I am leaning on these precious moments,

Waiting, anticipating, soaking in these precious moments with my girls!

Frosty

Here in the hills we have just a few remaining remnents of fall. Frost has set in and this Japanese Maple is just about to release one of the last stunningly beautiful leaves. It took me back this morning to the seasonal changes that occur naturally here in Canada but also to my own seasons in life. My one remaining constant is Christ. He is not seasonal! He is the same yesterday, today and forever. With that confidence we can truly make it through any season that we have here.

I am thirty five weeks along and writing that is shocking to me! Another season for me and the famil. A new season of mothering. I am trying to savour the moments of carrying a baby and feeling the movements that always bring me joy and expectation.
I am so blessed to have so many praying for me and our family. We are thankful prayer is not seasonal, we pray always, continually and for that I am encouraged and thankful.
Frosty seasons, mothering moments and an ever-present God that does not change.

Psalm 51

Great Expectations

Do I enjoy my children as much as I expect from them? This convicting quote came from a focus on the family broadcast last week. I have been mulling this over in my mind and wondering if my children feel that I expect a great deal and at times do not enjoy them like I know I do. I think we are all capable of that as parents. I know that during a day of teaching and all that goes with parenting young children, I can become caught up in the seemingly meaningless tasks. These tasks are necessary for a home to run. Laundry, cooking, cleaning, cat litter, gecko food/cleaning, making beds, cleaning the toothpaste out of the sink that sits in globs and gradually hardens and by the time I notice is a just as much a part of the sink as the sink itself!! Trendy I think!

I know that all of these put together are what marks a family as a family! We do these things as part of our journey together. In all of that my expectations become marked with selfishness. I want it done and done now, oh and in my timing and them done really well!! Yes, too many words for the kids to hear sometimes and it can lend to a feeling that I am not enjoying just expecting.

Our heavenly Father delights in us, and I want to delight in meaningful ways in my children. 

I want to leave some lines from a song that we sang at church on Sunday. We had such a wonderful time of community  - church service, fellowship lunch (yum!), short devotional/worship and communion together. This is one we sang and it brought tears to my eyes and heart.

The Look

Lyrics John Newton

Altered by Paul W. Martin

vs 1 and 3 below

 For years my sin was my delight, I felt no shame or fear

Till one day something stole my sight and forced me to draw near

I saw One hanging on a tree, in agony and blood

Who fixed His mournful eyes on me as near His cross I stood...

Alas! I knew not what I did, but now my tears in vain;

Where shall my trembling soul be hid? For I the Lord have slain.

But with a second look He said, " I freely all forgive;

This blood is for your ransom paid, I died, that you might live..." 

Chorus

Forever etched upon my mind

Is the look of Him who died,

The Lamb I crucified

And now, my life will sing the praise

 Of pure atoning grace

That looked on me and gladly took my place...

I live because He died. I am free by His grace and that is what wakes me every day. I forgive and my children forgive me. We attempt to model what Christ has done for us.

Reading, teaching, reading, teaching!

This is what happens when you leave the camera unattended and become immersed in the book you are reading! Caught in the moment, we were finishing the last portion of the book 'Faith Like Potatoes'. This is a must read for anyone in need of a gentle reminder that we must have faith. We walk by faith and not by sight. Truly, this farmer, evangelist, father, husband and friend to countless was not interested in his own agenda.

Have you ever wondered if you will ever meet someone that is not out for themselves or wonder if you will be like that? I know that when I set out to have my needs met, the result is usually empty. But when God is at the start and finish what a fulfilling result. When it is all about Christ and glorifying him, you can grow potatoes in the worst drought ever. That is what the farmer Angus is all about, trusting God to do what He desires and perform miracles. If we have faith we can move mountains! If I can see past myself I am able to do so much more.

I think of the reading and teaching. When I think of the opportunity to teach my children and use reading as one way to instill God's goodness, I am amazed. It is a simple tool, but leaves lasting (eternal results). But I have to look past myself and realize that despite my agenda in completing tasks in or out of the home or school not getting completed (math texts sitting and waiting to be gently to be loved with pencil and eraser!!) a phone call to make, a coffee to finish or whatever it may be...I commit to reading when I can because it truly is one of their favourite moments in our schooling days.

On this day, we created a poem together (something I so would have done with a classroom of kids, so why not my own!?) we wrote out whatever descriptive words came to mind, created a poem, took pictures and read together. It was chilly but sunny and so magnificent around us. I could not pass up the moment to read together outside. Soon, those days will be filled with runny noses, wet gloves and lost hats! Here is their poem (free verse)

Falling Leaves

Silently

Red, orange and yellow

Leaves fall

Dying, gracefully

With the wind

From the trees

Falling

Red, orange and green

Shaking, twisting

Turning, floating

Colours

The trees showing

God's grace

God's creation

God's glory

By Chris, Jack and Samantha

I will continue to read and teach as long as God wills it here in the hills...

Aah Jack....

Man vs Wild, or in this case boy vs stream and any living creatures in it! There is a show out there about a crazy man that sends himself to remote areas with a video camera and attempts survival on what he finds out there. He is crazy!  It is called Man vs Wild. Jack may not depend on the living creatures for his daily sustenance, but much of who he is revolves around the outdoors and searching for whatever he can find that crawls, spins, swims, wiggles, hops and slimy to the touch. 

If I could send a hidden video to capture all the 'things' that Jack has found we would have many hours of video to record his many accomplishments and wonderful discoveries. He has fallen in the stream, walked up and down with many friends and cousins and broken many nets along the way! He longs to discover what is out there and beyond our home. I love this spirit in him. Reminds me of the book by John Eldgridge, Wild at Heart. This spirit in him is truly a gift that God has given him and I desire to allow this to grow in ways that Jack will truly see the goodness of God's amazing creation.

When we are reading indoors about the outdoors and the weather is so beautiful I often think, put the book down and go and find something! However, reading allows him to dig deeper and gain unique knowledge and insight that makes him more aware of details!

When I look at this photo, I do think, Aaah Jack, the boy who loves to discover, Never give that up my son! Love you!