Merry Christmas!

I was fortunate to win a photo shoot with Gingersnaps photography. Here are a few favourites I'd like to share in the form of a Christmas greeting.









We pray that you receive the love, hope, peace and joy offered through the gift of Jesus this Christmas.



Merry Christmas!

Ready My Heart

Ready my heart for the birth of Immanuel;
ready my soul for the Prince of Peace.
Heap the straw of my life for His body to lie on;
light the candle of hope,
let the child come in.












Mine is the home that is poor and is barren;
mine is the stable of cold and stone.
Break the light to each corner of doubt and of darkness;
now the Word is made flesh for the birth of me.




Alleluia!

Advent Peace

The advent candle that was lit on Sunday morning was the candle of peace. I didn't remember that on my own. It was woven through the theme of the family service. The virtue was peace and the definition we recited with our children was, "proving you care more about someone than winning an argument." In our family discussion about peace we discover how unpeaceful we feel because things haven't gone the way we hoped and how often our response in those situations is to set things right, our right. We are more concerned with ourselves than in seeing what is going on in the other person.

The Christmas story demonstrates this kind of giving up. This kind of seeing things through in love right to the cross.

We hear "that on the first Christmas God, through the angels, sent the message of peace to the shepherds. That message has been passed on through the ages until one day the message of peace was passed on to you."

The simple message overwhelmed, like stepping out into the cold on a minus 30 winter day. It was in that moment that time froze but my eyes thawed and puddled. I was overcome with immense gratitude.

Thank you God!

Thank you for sending the Message.

Thank you for my Mom and Dad and for their faithfulness to God to pass on this message of peace.

Thank you for how the message changes moments, changes lives.

The children sang the message, "For unto us a child is born. Unto us, a Son is given. And His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

I think it's their naive presentation of something so amazing that makes the simple, sophisticated (Da Vinci). In their adorable, exuberant, beautiful and bashful way, they represent all of us speaking of things we don't yet understand, of living in ways we know and believe to be right but having no capacity on our own to get it right. They represent us, our journey and our need for a Saviour.

They remind me that this message of peace isn't meant to be hidden or contained. It is to shine brightly and be shared generously.

Missing The Point

I wouldn't call myself a perfectionist. I'm sure my family would argue that I can be a nit pick, or to put a positive spin on it and because I have a nice family, they might say I have high standards for living.

As we've been working to find a way "to do" Christmas over the years I have hemmed and hawed and out right argued about how this season should look. I have straddled both sides of the fence from embracing commercialism to shunning it. My poor family walks through the pendulum swings with me as I struggle to find the balance.

I think one of my greatest fears as a parent is that I won't have taught my kids well enough or given them enough information and enough proof that Jesus is everything. That Jesus is peace and is our complete purpose. I struggle with how they can properly grow when their mother can't seem to get it right! Maybe that's the part of Advent I'm slowly learning. Maybe that's what the gospel teaches us through the example of Jesus. In my search to get it, I find myself looking for a new right way of doing things, a ritual if you will, of how we can make advent meaningful in our house. However, to-do lists or rules can become an end to themselves. They are measurable and can become something to attain, again missing the point. The gospels teach us it's not about me being enough. It's that God is enough.

Scripture is clear on what God requires of us, to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God, Micah 6:8. How that looks in each of our situations is not always clear. In this season our family is working on embracing the generous abundance of Gods love. How can we, with joy, give up to give away. How can we concretely speak about and be about this absurd selfless love daily? If our celebrations become more about us than others we've missed the point of Christmas, the point of the entire gospel. What struck me with force a couple of days ago was the fact that the grace of God enters every situation and begs us to accepts it. God is not limited by our celebrations if our desire is to see Him made famous.

I am grateful that getting it right isn't the point but that following obediently during every season is.

For All The Times...

we miss garbage day,
I walk in late to church with the kids,
we leave the dishes out on the counter (dirty),
we miss walking the dog,
we have overdue library books,

we are especially thankful for times of

shared celebrations,




homemade NHL posters,


creative birthday cakes,


surprise thoughtful gifts,


each other.

The Kingdom of God Belongs to Such as These...

We have a Christmas tradition in our little household. It started a number of years back. If Dave had his way, it would have started many years ago, I just take awhile to catch on sometimes. Between the five of us we pick names for a gift exchange. The gift needs to be a relational gift, something that we can do together both the gift giver and the one receiving the gift. We have really enjoyed these gifts. They are creative and meaningful for both parties involved. The other part of this tradition is that the money saved from this goes towards something or someone else. Sometimes we look for an immediate need around us (not our own) while other times, we join in with an already existing organization.

The kids have been asking for weeks already if we can pick names. Finally, last weekend when they came with the request again we sent them to the basement with a World Vision catalog and asked the kids to look through it, to think through previous years' ideas and current needs around us and to agree on something and present it to us when they were ready. Well about a whole 10-15 minutes later they called us!

We came down and they had set up a chalk board covered with a blanket, a computer device on a TV tray, a piggy bank and the World Vision Catalog. Our eldest started the presentation and by the end, all had participated in one aspect of the presentation. The teacher in me appreciated that they were organized, well spoken and very excited! Their dream was big!

Their enthusiasm and their dream made me wonder if this is a part of what Jesus meant when He said,
Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18.16.

Their presentation seemed to confidently say, obstacles? What obstacles! The kids were helping me to see,
With human's it's impossible, with God, all is possible. From Luke 18.27.

As a finisher to their presentation they showed us the money they were willing to put into the kiddie to start it all off, ranging from birthday money to money earned.

We were floored! Questions and discussion followed. Then we brainstormed about extra sacrifices we would have to make in order for this to happen. With excitement, we all agreed on the project. Unanimous. Carried.

So here we are, off on an adventure with our family for the next month and a bit. I can already say we have been feeling some crunch. We realize how often we run to the store for things. We have been forced to think harder and more creatively. We are talking through the stuff we hang on to that causes clutter, our money habits, our spending, repairs, food costs...as well as attitude of the heart.

I'd love to hear from you! What kinds of Christmas projects have you done with your family or friends to share Christ's love during this season?

Time Well Spent

In the grand scheme of things I have to say that I don't always spend my times in the most useful of ways. I have wasted many moments in worry and excessive driveness. Other moments spent on busy work. And still others in nothingness. On better days my thoughts and prayers seem meshed, I feel more aware of the necessary and practice being more deliberate with my choices.

This afternoon my time turned into profits unfortold. I had promised my son a hat for his Mario attire. He has been very patient. Definitely time well spent!!!



And these are the rewards (I think I may actually be enjoying the hat more than he is!);

Happy Birthday Alexander!

Today is Alexander's eighth birthday!
We all just love him to pieces!!! We love his big smile, his quick laugh, his undying energy, his sense of humor.
He is a lot of fun.

Some favorite memories of this past year with him:

When we were traveling home from somewhere and this rank smell emerged in the van and one of his sisters said, it smells like someone farted hot dogs to which Alexander responded matter-of-factly, "well Dad farted and I just had a hot dog."

The other day while trying to get Halloween costumes ready, I mentioned that it might just be easier and cheaper to buy a costume for him. Alexander came up to me and looked into my eyes and said, "mom, don't spend too much on that because you still have to buy my sports equipment."

After he got glasses late in spring we had this staring thing going on as a family. Alexander didn't like the ogling, he never has. We were just trying to get used to each other again. At his piano lesson that evening I noticed his long gazes at me and I took his face in my hands and got quite emotional. Choking back the tears while cradling his face I asked, "What are you seeing differently? What are you seeing for the first time?" To which he replied,
"your face is so square!"

I love that he asks me so many hockey questions even though I'm still quite clueless in the hockey realm.

His spelling lists include all the names of hockey players! For fun he likes to write the names out on my back and I get to guess which NHL hockey player he just spelled out! (He's good at giving lots of hints!)

He still gives lots of hugs and kisses but not on the lips cause that's just gross!

Telling homemade bedtime stories at night.

Watching him dance. Watching him play sports.

Hearing him play and sing all his piano songs in different voices. My favorite right now is "Leftover Popcorn."

I love listening to him be a sports commentator as he plays mini sticks.

I love him!!

May God give you an amazing year being 8. May He continue the work He has already started in you.

Happy Birthday Alexander!

Today is Alexander's eighth birthday!
We all just love him to pieces!!! We love his big smile, his quick laugh, his undying energy, his sense of humor.
He is a lot of fun.

Some favorite memories of this past year with him:

When we were traveling home from somewhere and this rank smell emerged in the van and one of his sisters said, it smells like someone farted hot dogs to which Alexander responded matter-of-factly, "well Dad farted and I just had a hot dog."

The other day while trying to get Halloween costumes ready, I mentioned that it might just be easier and cheaper to buy a costume for him. Alexander came up to me and looked into my eyes and said, "mom, don't spend too much on that because you still have to buy my sports equipment."

After he got glasses late in spring we had this staring thing going on as a family. Alexander didn't like the ogling, he never has. We were just trying to get used to each other again. At his piano lesson that evening I noticed his long gazes at me and I took his face in my hands and got quite emotional. Choking back the tears while cradling his face I asked, "What are you seeing differently? What are you seeing for the first time?" To which he replied,
"your face is so square!"

I love that he asks me so many hockey questions even though I'm still quite clueless in the hockey realm.

His spelling lists include all the names of hockey players! For fun he likes to write the names out on my back and I get to guess which NHL hockey player he just spelled out! (He's good at giving lots of hints!)

He still gives lots of hugs and kisses but not on the lips cause that's just gross!

Telling homemade bedtime stories at night.

Watching him dance. Watching him play sports.

Hearing him play and sing all his piano songs in different voices. My favorite right now is "Leftover Popcorn."

I love listening to him be a sports commentator as he plays mini sticks.

I love him!!

May God give you an amazing year being 8. May He continue the work He has already started in you.

The Gift of More

There are a number of words that come to mind when reflecting on the past month in our household;

change,

anticipation,

hard work,

emotions, (celebration/tears)

beauty,

rest. (And yes, beauty rest!)

If I had to choose one word to tie all these words together it would have to be 'togetherness' - not being or doing alone.

In the beginning of September, Pastor Delbert spoke a message of risk from the top of a "very-much-too-high-unstable-diving-board-platform." Even though I was too nervous to pay attention properly, the visual and the message were clear; Ask for help! Have people come alongside you praying for you, supporting you. I believe this to be true but don't always have the courage (and humility) to follow through when it means phoning, writing, emailing or texting, asking someone to do so.

As parents this fall we have walked through significant changes with our kids. We have literally walked to and from new places with our children, praying as we walked. We have peered anxiously through windows watching for their return so we could meet up and find out the progress of that day and event. We have cried together and celebrated together. Had movie or games night together. Ate together, both in celebration and comfort. We've trained, we encouraged, we've confessed.

It would've all been very hard alone.

It's easy to preach but not always easy to practice.

Over the past few weeks I have experienced the gift of more because of sharing with others. The gift of others speaking into a situation because they have walked alongside, really caring enough to entrust that situation to God with you. Of seeing more clearly with many eyes, of hearing more clearly with many ears.

Fall Study

For those of you in the area we are starting our Fall study this Wednesday night at 7pm at Eastview!

The study will be an in-depth look at the gospel of Luke and will run until the end of November (8 weeks.) Any adults are welcome to join us. We will have table groups available for women only, men only, and mixed.

Please contact us at ontomaturity@eastview.org if you are interested.

Would love to see you there!

Advice Needed

Everyone is our house is keenly aware of the countdown that is happening. We officially have one more day at home on summer schedule.

Our eldest is officially entering the world of Junior High - a new venture for our family! She and I were laying in bed tonight talking about what my role might be on her first day of school and laughed that just like every other year she would be fine and composed when the time came and I, against every bit of advice that I'm sure you'd give me, would be bawling in the background.

So, what is your advice for a first time Mother of a junior higher? I'd love to hear it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hanging on to Summer Memories

Since high school I have not wanted to go anywhere of significance without my camera. I learned quite young that my memory is not as reliable as I would like. I hate to miss a "hallmark" moment without option of recording it visually.
Although it can be great to have your camera along it can also be disappointing to view all events through the lens of a camera.
Some memories I've prayed would be burned into the memory of my mind and cherished there. Others I attempted, or my husband has, to capture so they can be shared with family and friends.




Staying cool in our back yard! Check out that expression!



One of my favourite places to be on a summer evening is in the back of the pack during a family bike ride. I love still being able to follow behind a very observable line from tallest to smallest.




Incredible sunsets that reminded me of this quote;
"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."
— G.K. Chesterton








Evening swim under the moon.




My "all-stars!"