Happy Birthday

My brother Ken would have turned 40 today.

One night, 3 1/2 years ago, in the blink of an eye, he was gone from us, leaving a gaping hole in our family that we will never be able to fill.

There's been healing, definitely, but sometimes the pain is still so acute I could physically double over. It's only by God's glorious, boundless grace that my parents, Bob and I and our kids, and most of all Ken's wife and girls, have been able to go on without his laugh, crazy sense of humour and tender love.

How I would love to still have him here, so I could make a big deal about his 40th birthday! I'd call him and tease him and somehow let him know I was proud of him and that I love my little brother.

But instead of doing that, I will remember him in a special way today and treasure the memories of so much love and laughter. I will treasure this day with my family and friends, knowing there are no guarantees of more time. I will thank my God for giving me a brother like Ken to love and remember and then praise Him for being our Comforter and Strength. He is good.

Happy Birthday, Ken.

To such as these....

I call this photo...FAITH.

My little girl Emilie seems to have a lot of it!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

OK, before I slip down into a pit of cold despair as a result of this seemingly endless winter, I want to think of reasons to be thankful for cold weather (-35 Celsius for how long now?) and snow.

1) No yard work.
2) My children have hope every night that school will be canceled the next morning because of extreme windchills. It's good for kids to have hope.
3) The walk to the bus every morning makes them stronger and gives them stories to tell their children. "When I was your age...."
4) A quick trip to put out the garbage gives your face a rosy glow that would take a couple of hours at the beach in summer. It's a real time saver!
5) A sunny day isn't taken for granted. Sun dogs are pretty.
6) My kids are stuck at home more, so they have no where to go when I start telling stories. "When I was your age...."
7) The snow conceals the fact that I should not be quite so optimistic about my gardening abilities. No one sees my failure in winter. (Right?)
8) No yard work.


That's all I can think of right now. My mind is numb. From the cold. Have I mentioned it's cold?

I'm really not that down about it, but I do long for the break to this cold spell. How about you? My warmer climate friends may not be able to relate, but you do get to gloat, so I hope you enjoy this anyway!

Friends, add to my list. Let's think of things we can like about this extreme cold!

To end, here's a favorite verse from the Song of Solomon

"Look, the winter is past,
and the rains (snow) are over and gone.
The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.

The fig trees are forming young fruit,
and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up my darling!
Come away with me , my fair one!"

Longing for that day,
Iris

Sunday's a'comin!

I've been thinking about my church family this week. It started last Sunday in the ladies SS class I attend, while we were talking about worship and the people we worship with.

Sometimes I like to look at my church through different eyes than normal, and pretend that I'm reading a book about this community and it's people. I love seeing people I've known my whole life this way because their quirks and personalities tend to be endearing rather than annoying. God in His grace has given us an incredible gift when he gave us communities to worship and grow in. I love it that he planned it this way, rather than leaving me to go it alone.

And in turn gives me the chance, as I sit in the service and look around, to pray for people I love who are fighting cancer, the effects of old age, the pain of losing someone dear, discouragement in their families or jobs... And then there's the hidden pain sitting in those pews. Unseen battles being fought.

What a privilege to be a part of the support and strength for what could be described as a motley crew, but because of God is a beautiful body of believers!

This Sunday I was also moved to be thankful for another gracious gift-the privilege of worshiping my Savior beside these people and to enjoy the bond that comes from being one in purpose and focus. To sing together to our God and to know in that moment that anything that may threaten to draw us apart or divide cannot prevail if we are in unity and in Him. It's a beautful thing, and I don't want to take it for granted. I love that it is just the tiniest taste of what is coming in Glory.

So, these are my decidely rambling thoughts. As you can tell, I can't quite put it into words, but I wanted to try. I wanted to enjoy and savor it and to say thank you to Jesus for loving us enough to call us to unity. And for making a much less than perfect collection of sinful believers into something beautiful that reflects His glory.

See you on Sunday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here’s Emilie this morning, with her requested (gluten free) heart shaped pancakes. They're a little tradition here at our house for her, and she loves it. So do I.

And sometimes you just have to take a picture to remind yourself in the down times that every now and then you do go the extra mile to make memories for your kids!

Happy Valentine’s Day to my dear family and friends.

May you experience His immeasurable love today.

GNO!

Going on a Girls Night Out tonight!
I have much to weigh me down these days, but tonight I am choosing to entrust those things to my Savior, and to enjoy the company of friends and a chick flick (27 Dresses).
Today I am thankful for friends, for my Best Friend, and for the privilege of trusting Him.

Hope you are finding strength in Him today too!

The Path of Danger

I was reminded this week of an incident I witnessed when I was young, in my early twenties, while vacationing in a little resort town here in Manitoba. Bob and I and our friends were outside our cottage when we saw a young couple and their toddler walking by. Without warning the little girl dashed between two parked cars and toward the street, while a car was travelling in her direction. The parents, of course, were there in an instant, grabbing her back to safety. What disturbed me at the time was how they reacted-they yelled at her to never do that again, and kind of shook her to make their point clear. I thought they were way over the top and honestly, I chalked them up as bad, almost abusive, parents. I mean really. Why would you yell at your child for such an innocent thing?

What puzzled me later in the same week, was that when I observed them interacting as a family at the pool and around town, they seemed a normal, loving family. Why, if this was the case, had they reacted in such an "angry" way when their girl toddled into the path of danger? Shouldn't they have just reacted in love and relief?

Now that I am a parent, I totally get their reaction. There is something so raw and uninhibited in the fear of a parent as they see their child run into the path of danger. I know now that anger is a natural reaction, and that it is the fear talking at those moments. Fear born out of immeasurable love. So the parents I was observing reacted the same way most of us would have in the same situation, and probably have.

Why is this on my mind? Because I have been asking myself lately why I react in certain ways when my teenage children make decisions or say things that "scare" me. I read the books. I determine in my heart to react calmly, to let them express themselves, to listen without judgement. But when faced with situations in their lives out of my control I do exactly what I don't want to do. I show my fear by raising my voice, by putting my foot down way too soon, by wanting to "fix things" my way.

And now I know why. I'm afraid. Afraid they will run even farther into the path of danger and destruction. That out of my reach, they will get hurt. And I react in a raw and natural manner.

I'm not saying it is the right reaction. In fact, I think this realization is another step closer to learning how to be the parent I want to be, which means making some changes. Which means learning to be quiet and loving when every part of me screams "No!" and "What were you thinking?".

Once again, I have to thank my Lord, for letting me witness that event in that family's life, and for letting me remember it all these years. And then for using it to gently guide me in the right direction. I pray that it is not in vain.