Randomness

We had a good weekend, actually it was SLOW! Drew and I went out for dinner Friday night and splurged, it was AWESOME. Saturday we puttered around the house, dug out some weeds that were becoming tree-like. I watched as he cut down a tree. And laughed as Jacob and Kaylin dragged branches across the yard. It was after bath-time and they dressed themselves. Can you tell:)




I've decided that fashion is futile. You see, a couple of weeks ago I went shopping. I came home with LEGGINGS and a TOP. I was excited...three kids born in 4 years does something awful to your wardrobe. Seriously awful. But I was basking in a moment of being fashionable, plopped on the couch still sighing in bliss. Saw a commercial for Old Navy.......the bliss turned to outrage. The jeans that appeared before me are similar to ones that I had thrown on my bed last week in a moment of frustration at them all being out of style???.....Drew had the nerve to laugh outloud.....grrrrrrrr



I love driving in the country. A close friend lives about 50 mins away. I went this morning to see her and have a coffee so me and the kids jumped in the van. I love driving with the kids, it makes for great talks! About the forest we drove by....and that no giraffes do not live in there, nope not lions either. No tigers...but yes there are chipmunks and raccoons and deer. Nope, no elephants, no dragons and no monkeys. But yes...God did make this forest even if He forgot to add the exciting animals.



Here's to car rides and interesting conversations! and now I'm off for a getting in shape session with Jillian Michaels...

Here's to the next 6 babe!

6 years has gone by and yet I remember the day perfectly. I was nervous, I was stepping into a world unknown. 20 years old and not realizing how much learning I had before me. Going from living at home to living with my husband.

I remember being so nervous on the way to the church, I was shaking. And then when the doors opened and I saw Drew standing at the front the nervousness faded and I was happy, so happy.



The wedding night we spent at our house, the week before Drew had gotten an excavator and we were working on redoing the backyard. I remember walking along planks of wood to get to the door, in my wedding dress, laughing cause the guys had thought to do this so I wouldn't have to step in the mud. Our little white house that needed so much work and TLC. Theres something special about that first place. First weeks spent together, first fights as a married couple. First attempts at cooking for a husband. Adding two chili peppers to a meal instead of the recommended one (cause they were small??) we ate a lot of last minute fast food to cover up my new cooking. I remember finding the most difficult part of being married was not having my own space, learning how to live with eachother. When to talk and when to be silent and just be there.



i love being married to this man. This man who leads and loves me, who sees my weaknesses and struggles. I have no regrets of being married young. This is the path the LORD had prepared for me. I pray that the next 6 years are as full and blessed as the last 6. I pray that we will continue to grow in our love and that HE will remain the centre of our marriage. That despite the business of raising children that we will remember that first we were husband and wife. And that we will work through the challenges that come our way, that we continue to rely on the ONE who has created us.



Col 3:12-15

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

When all thats left is jello and candles

The clouds in the house were dark yesterday. The moods quick to ignite. The toys seemed not as colourful nor as exciting as they usually are. The food and the books were bland. There was tempers and throwing of things. A baby who needed to sleep and refused. A little boy who has been thrown off since coming home from holidays.



A little boy who can be so charming one moment and have such tempers the next. An older little girl pretending to have an ache, crying out for attention. And on days like this sometimes all you can do is light a candle, turn on the music and make jello. And listen to the little laughter that moments ago was tears. The laughter at the way the jello bounces on a spoon and swishes in a mouth. Sometimes a day needs to be restarted and a slate wiped clean, not once but twice. And sometimes all it takes is jello to re-start a cloudy day.

Oma

Friday evening Drew visited his Oma for the last time. Early Sunday morning she passed away. She was ready, even eager to finish in this life and move on to the Heavenly Home that is much greater than anything we can imagine. And even in a happy death, in a life that was in service to Him we grieve. For in her death was the end of a generation, she was the last grandparent Drew had. We are reminded that life is fleeting, that it is temporary. We walk through our memories together, I listen and hear the stories of her youth. Of a young woman meeting a young man and falling in love. They married during the war, they had children during the war. God gave them strength and courage as they worked in the underground movement during the war. I hear stories of Oma as a young woman, wearing a special corset that carried rations in secret. She acted as a courier during the war, she would go on trains that were filled with German soldiers, careful to move in fear of the soldiers hearing the crinkling of the papers hidden underneath. Her father was a leader in the underground movement and later in the war was shot in the streets. What a difficult time to live through!

A couple of years ago an aunt of Drew's put her story on paper, and a copy given to each family. Drew and I paged through this yesterday and it was a blessing to be able to remember her story. We read of the war, of the courage the Lord gave her and her family, of their immigration to Canada with nothing. They lived in a home with several other immigrant families and they started churches and schools. We read of trials, when Opa was sick and there was no work. We read of hope and how the Lord helped them through these times. We are blessed with memories of grandparents. Our children are blessed as they make memories with their grandparents. She leaves behind 14 children (spouses included), 42 grandchildren and 68 great grandchildren. My numbers may be a bit off as when i go through our family calendar I'm not sure who belongs to whom.

I am thankful and honoured that I could be apart of this family, that i had a chance of knowing Oma, that I have my own memories of her. I pray that one day I can leave behind such a legacy, a life of faith and service.

Ps 121 "I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

And as this week will be full of family and memories, and slowly we are getting closer to holiday time I'm going to power-off for August.

Until Sept!