Giving Thanks

It's Thanksgiving here in Canada so I am taking a moment to list some things I don't want to take for granted. Of course, this could never be an exhaustive list, but here goes anyway:

-a beautiful corner of the world to live in
-breathtaking fall colours on the trees that lasted way longer than usual this year
-my friends and family living near by
-a great job with perfect hours and flexibility when I need it
--Bob having his dream job-so clearly a gift from God
-safety in worship and in everyday life
--friendships that you thought had faded away but have now been renewed
-new “blogger” friends that encourage me, teach me, and make me laugh
-strength that could never be your own to do the tasks you've been given
-a cozy, full of personality cat named Dennis curled up beside me
-people who know the real you-but love you anyway
-a husband who so faithfully models Christ's love and sacrifice on a daily basis
-having children with such great senses of humor that you regularly roll with laughter
-seeing growth in those same children as they face life's challenges and pain
-seeing growth in myself (never as much as there should be-but growth all the same)
-the promise that some day soon we will be with Jesus and in a place where there will be no more tears and no more sorrow. I long for that day.

So, with a thankful heart I wish you and yours a very special Thanksgiving .

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakeable, let us be thankful
and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe.
Hebrews 12:28

Hold on to Your Kids

I went to a seminar last night that was taught by a Dr. Gordon Neufeld. I have a friend who had read one of his books (I believe by the same name-Hold on to Your Kids) and really liked it, so I thought I would make the time to attend this free offering. The seminar really was good-it clarified so many things and gave hope.
Dr. Neufeld's focus is on relationship. He says that children in good relationship with their parents are easy to teach and parent. They trust you and move to the place in their relationship with you in which they desire to please and emulate you. He had some very good points, which I won't begin to try and write here, but the focus was on "Do you have your child's heart?" He reminded us that even with a multi billion dollar industry in parenting help, we are losing our kids at a record rate. It's not a "how-to" issue, it's a heart issue.
So, I want to hold onto my kids and I certainly want their hearts. I want to delight in them and enjoy them and meet them where they are, so that they in turn know that my love for them is solid-it will never change. I want them to know that no matter what, they have parents who will do their job of parenting. In a world that offers fleeting pleasure and empty promises, I want our home to be stable and safe. A sanctuary filled with love. Sounds easy, but it's so easy to lose sight of!
Here's a link to his sight, if you're interested. I encourage you to check it out. He'll say it much better than I ever could! http://www.gordonneufeld.com/

Peace

God's been faithfully teaching me about peace lately, and I'm thankful.

Peace is one of those fruits of the Spirit that we can so easily take for granted or even diminish in importance, I think. We talk about World Peace and sing about it, especially at Christmas, but do we embrace and explore its potential on a daily, nitty gritty basis? I know it's something I've glossed over all too often and I'm thankful for God's gentle insistence that I pay attention.

Bob and I are in the midst of being challenged by God to follow Him in obedience in a certain area of our life. There are certainly moments in which I would dearly love to keep things the way they are-comfortable-and not follow Him where He is leading. But every time I begin thinking that way, any peace I have gets up and leaves. So what it comes down to is: obedience=peace. Even when the obedience costs me comfort and ease (two of my favorite things) the peace I experience is worth anything I may have to give up or do.

Is there anything in this world worth more than His peace in my life? I can't think of it, if there is. I would rather have His peace in the midst of heartache, turmoil, and uncertainty, than anything this world or my disobedience can offer.

I was blown away today by the realization that His peace rules in the midst of evil and destruction, too, and that when I am discouraged and disheartened by what goes on around me, I can claim and cling to that peace. I praise Him.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Another Try

I made another pot of soup. Ivan said, "This soup tastes funny."

What have I done??????
(see 2nd last post)

Courage

Ivan had a football game yesterday and beginning early in the day I prayed very specifically for certain things for him and his team. I asked for protection-both physically and emotionally for Ivan and his team mates. I really didn't want to see my boy hurt. I asked for a real courage for Ivan, as he tends to hold back a bit in the play because of his tendency to be shy. Funny that he loves football so much! But I asked God to fill him with courage so that he would experience the satisfaction that comes from taking a risk. And then I boldly asked God, if it was within His will, to give Ivan's team a win. Selfish, I know, but I thought it was OK to humbly ask.

Long story short-as I was driving around a city I don’t live in, looking for the nearest hospital so that Ivan’s wrist could be x-rayed, I had to ask God why he hadn’t answered my prayers. It wasn’t long before God graciously pointed out that He had. Ivan was showing an incredible courage in the face of much pain and in the possibility of his football season coming to an early end. He was protected in the fact that we found an emergency room that was not crowded, and with a doctor who was gentle and caring and thorough. Not what I asked for at all, and yet so much more!

I love my God. I love His faithfulness and provision. I love that I can trust Him to do what is best, even when I ask for and want “easy”.

I have to say though, that it is hard being a Mom of a 13 year old boy! When he was in pain, I wanted nothing more than to hold him on my lap and comfort him, but we are in a stage where we show our love in different ways other than touch (and this with a boy that used to be my constant shadow and “cling-on”). I am totally OK with this stage and with allowing him to grow up and become a man, but oh, how many times I reached out to touch him yesterday, only to stop my hand before I made him feel awkward. I suppose part of letting him grow up and exhibit that very courage I asked for, is to let him deal with his pain in his own way. I know deep inside he was glad I was there and that he needed me, but it’s the outward display of his need that I miss. Maybe Ivan isn’t the only one who needs courage.

As for the other prayer I prayed: Ivan’s team lost. Badly. But I am trusting God in that as well. How could I not?

What Have I Done?

I am sitting here and wondering if I've made a terrible mistake, one that will haunt me for the rest of my years. One that impacts my family and their well being.

You see, I sold Bob's grandmother's soup pot. I know you're thinking, "That's it? THAT's the big confession? So what?" Or maybe you're thinking, "You did what? How could you?" Either way, I understand.

For the first years of our marriage, I tried valiantly to fulfill my Mennonite woman role as a homemaker, which of course, involves the making of delicious soup-without a recipe! I failed though, until the fateful day I inherited the soup pot of Bob's dear grandmother, who raised 17 (yes-17) children and, I'm thinking, made a lot of soup! What was interesting to note was that right after I inherited the pot, I began to make very good soup. We always jokingly said that the ability came with the soup pot. At least I thought it was a joke.

Bob and I are in the process of weeding things out of our life and home that bog us down and hold us back. Over the last few weeks we have emptied many closets and cupboards of things we've held on to over the years (truly amazing. I recommend it) and which we really don't need any longer. When I got to the cupboard with my pots I realized that I never use The Soup Pot any more, since I have 3 very nice, new large pots that I use in its stead. So I made the difficult decision to let it go.

I SOLD IT FOR 50 CENTS! To a gentleman who was going to use it for the aluminum. Again, Bob and I joked that there went my soup making ability. At least I thought it was a joke.

The other night I made a pot of chicken soup, my daughter's favorite. Except she doesn't like this batch. She says "It stinks". I didn't think anything of it until today, when I mentioned it to Bob, he replied "YOU SOLD THE POT!" (A statement that taken out of context, would be disturbing.)

Anyway, that leads me here, to a place of seller's remorse and dismay. Will I ever make good soup again?

I want my Soup Pot back......

New Look

Isn't this new look to my blog just too cute? Oh wait-that's the name of the site that I got the template from. Good name!

Anyway, it's a sign of progress if someone like me can actually pull off changing her blog page by herself. Not my gift, but I did it anyway!

If anyone still reads this blog, you may have noticed that it's been quiet here for at least a week. It seems that my head only has room for so and so much, and these days that room is full of plans for our church's VBS. A friend and I are co-directing it and while it's a lot of fun, it is a lot of mental work. So, no mental energy to take the time to sit down and write. VBS is over in 2 weeks, so stay tuned. I have a few ideas rattling around in my brain-things I'd like to write out and share.

Until then-enjoy some of these last beautiful weeks of summer!