24/7 God

I don't know what it is, but lately I've just been so unmotivated to read my bible - and this comes after a season (literally, it was during the summer!) of having some unexplicable and unfounded doubts where it was difficult for me to even pray there was such turmoil going on inside me. Every time I tried (to pray) I would end up feeling angry. Again, I really cannot put my finger on anything that would have driven me to feel this way. This "phenomenon" was followed by a renewed surge of excitement for God and his incredible power. So, where am I at today? Let's just say, I have had a few motivating factors to help me out! One of them was an incident at my daughter's school that resulted in some hurt feelings and some rather raw emotion (of course this happens ALL at bedtime!). Now, I like to sleep...but at 5:30 (2 hours before I normally wake up!) the next morning, I really felt prompted to read my bible. I wrestled with the idea for a while and then succumbed. Flipping it open to no passage in particular I began to read about "forgiveness". I was really taken aback... I thought, God you are really into us. Into our kids, into our "stuff". I was so excited, not just because I could still sleep for a bit longer, but that I was able to share with my daughter at breakfast what I had read - before she went to school - before she put up walls and destroyed any remnants of friendship that were remaining. Another factor, not really a factor at all, but since I said I had a couple of factors, I'm calling this one! Sheesh! I decided to put a bible in the car. As I said before, I'm not a morning person, the bible reading thing in the morning is a struggle, as is getting out of bed...however, I do spend quite a bit of time in the car so now, whenever I have to wait in traffic or get to the school a little bit early - I read!!! I've also placed a bible at the table so I can read a few verses before school with the girls. I am feeling the "thirst" and the longing return. I have wrestled with this "doctrine" of morning devotions my entire life and it has left me feeling guilty, frustrated and under a lot of pressure. Perhaps how a "religious" person would feel if they hadn't quite completed all their "to do's". My God is a 24/7 God - why shouldn't I be?!!!

The Journey...Part 2!

I read this quote on Girl Talk Blog and I thought, yes, this is EXACTLY what the "Journey" is all about.
"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me. By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands."
Wow! Now try reading it again, replacing "waiting" or "wait" with "the journey". How cool is that? This sojourn that we are on is not a waste of time - but of real relevance to becoming the person God wants us to become to further His kingdom.

No Pain - No Gain

Do you like pain? How 'bout suffering? Grief? Heartache? Who does? Not me...in fact, one of my biggest fears is that when I have surrendered everything to God he is going to zap me with some sort of unbearable anguish that I know I just wouldn't be able to bear. Where is this coming from? This past weekend a girlfriend and I headed up to Campbell River for the Women Alive conference. Susie Larson was the speaker. For those of you who have heard her speak, you'll know what I mean when I say: "WOW" She is the most dynamic, real, engaging speaker I have EVER heard! EVER! Absolutely loved her...anyhow, I took some great notes while I was listening to her (although she talks at break-neck speed, barely pausing to breathe!) and they've vanished! Can't find them anywhere....but that's okay, because even though my memory is not very good - God knows what we need to hear, and so while I was doing a little bit of supper prep (Lentil Soup!!!) this afternoon, I had the radio on and was listening to my fave again - Dennis Rainey. Here's what he had to say: "God does not greatly use the man who he does not first greatly wound" This made me think back to Susie's lecture and although this was not the emphasis of her talk, it was definitely what I summized as I listened to her tell of the horrific abuse she suffered as a child, her months of being layed up in bed while pregnant and undiagnosed with Lymes disease, near death experiences, and financial hardships. All of these circumstances were intended to shape and mould her into the woman God called her to be - and what a woman she turned out to be! And although I said I was scared, part of me is a little excited about becoming a little more like Susie...Whoops! I mean Jesus - tee hee! My dear friend Alanne e-mailed me this verse just yesterday: 1Cor 4:8 We are hard pressed on everyside, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. I like all the "but-nots" in the verse...I'm such a wimp! If you feel like doing some reading, Susie has written some great books. Check out her website: http://www.susielarson.com/homepage.html and from this site you can be directed to her blog as well.

The Journey IS the Destination

A couple of years ago I read this proverb "The Journey is the Destination" and from that moment on it became my motto and has helped me cope in many a situation - especically when it comes to parenting. It has helped me to slow down, smell the roses and enjoy every step along the way - because those are some of the most precious and often hilarious moments. I was reminded of this a couple of days ago when my father in-law and brother in-law were visiting. We were out in the backyard chatting when all of a sudden we realized we could be playing tennis - what were we thinking?!!! It was approximately 1:30 then and we would have to pick up the girls from school at 3. We dropped everything and started getting ready to play. Then we realized we'd have to make a stop to pick up bro in-laws rackets - no problem - we'll still have time to play...then we discovered we didn't have any balls - again...no problem. I'd get dropped off at the store to buy some while the rackets were being retreived. Rackets and balls later, we arrived at the courts at approximately 2:30 - in time to play for approximately 15 minutes - but wait...the balls I bought were COMPLETELY useless!!! Note: Never buy balls that don't come in a can and make a wonderful swooshing noise when you open them up...NEVER!!! Oh the hilarity of it all! We ended up scrounging around outside the courts and found two very good balls and had a wonderful 5 minute game of tennis!!! Now, had that been our "destination" we might have all been pretty bummed - but we had a few good laughs along the way, and made some wonderful memories that will last way beyond the actual tennis game itself. Embrace life in all it's randomness - make the most of every situation, roll with the punches - enough cliches? You get the point!

"Love It" Lentil Soup Recipe

I changed the name from "Hearty" Lentil Soup to "Love It" Lentil soup because this is a recipe that is wonderfully healthy for you and also VERY, VERY delicious. It has been "tested" on my own children, and several of their friends with the very same results: "Can we have some more?!!!" I hope you will have the same amazing results that I have had when you make it for your family!

Ingredients:

2 Celery Ribs, thinly sliced
1 Med. Onion, chopped
1 Garlic Clove, minced
2 TBS Olive Oil
6 Cups Water
1 Can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
3/4 Cup Dry Lentils, rinsed
3/4 Cup Pearl Barley
2 TBS Chicken Bouillon granules
1/2 TSP Dried Oregano and 1/2 TSP Dried Rosemary
1/4 TSP Pepper
1 Cup Thinly sliced carrots
1 Cup Shredded Swiss Cheese (Optional - I have never included this)

What To Do:

In a large stock pot saute onion, celery and garlic in oil until tender. Add water, tomatoes, lentils, barley, bouillon and spices; bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until lentils and barley are almost tender. Add carrots and simmer for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese.

8 Servings

Preparation "H"

Ever heard of Preparation H? Most people have...but this is a different kind, although it does have some similarities. For instance, it is sometimes embar"ass"ing to talk about and it can cause a fair amount of anguish. I'm talking about being prepared to "take on the day". For some people, this is a piece of cake. For others, myself included (this is where the "H" comes in - it stands for my last name) this is something that does not come naturally...AT ALL!!! I'd like to share a bit of what I have learned, in hopes that I can help to make your life just a wee bit easier, to take some of the stress of everyday life away and give you some much needed "me" time! I have learned sooooooo much through a very helpful website: http://www.flylady.net and I just cannot say enough about it. Take 15 minutes and just check it out. There are step by step instructions to establishing routines, dividing your house into zones for ease of housework, great suggestions for decluttering and getting rid of hotspots (those little areas, we all have them...that just seem to collect piles of junk - for me, this is the top of the washer and dryer), the "Weekly Home Blessing" (set the timer for 10 minutes for each task: vacuuming, dusting, washing floors, etc.) This is just the tip of the iceburg - you can also subscribe to receive FREE e-mail reminders about the zones for the week, hotpot fire drills and even a reminder to get to bed early so you can take care of your family. Did I mention it was FREE!!! Yehaaaaa! I Love free stuff!!! For myself, I have seen how much smoother the day goes when I do a few simple things before I go to bed, like setting the breakfast table, laying my clothes out and leaving the kitchen tidy. There is nothing worse than getting up in the morning to a messy kitchen - especially when you know you won't have time to tackle it before taking the kids to school. Something else that has been an amazing help is planning my meals one week at a time. I generally sit down on Sunday night with my daytimer and pencil in meals for the week and make up my grocery list at the same time. This takes so much stress out of the day. I don't have to waste anytime trying to think up meals and when I go grocery shopping I save money by sticking to my list - only buying what I have to, plus maybe a couple of items for the pantry (a well stocked pantry is a must!!!). When I cook, I sometimes like to make a big batch of whatever it is for freezing - for those times when we're just having too much fun as a family to stop and make supper. What about "taking time for me" you ask? If you're like me, you may at times feel guilty for a little bit of this "me time" - you haven't spent much time with your kids, there's still heaps of household chores to finish - but have you ever noticed how refreshed and energized you feel even after a 15 minute siesta? Give your kids the heads up - let them know what's going on and then "retreat". When you come back a new momma,they'll be so happy that they let you be, they'll be begging you to take those little breaks more often!!! Some other advice that I have been wanting to implement is getting up at least 15 minutes before your kids - this is a huge struggle for me, even though I can see it's validity and the times I have tried it have been the most amazing stress free mornings.
So, grab some "Preparation H" - there's no BUTT'S about it - you'll be glad you did!

Are You Under Your Umbrella?

I just finished listening to Dennis Rainey on Praise 106.5 and I was so blessed - just have to share! Maybe blessed isn't the best word to describe it....maybe majorly convicted would be more like it. Let me explain. Dennis talks about "being under your umbrella." By this he means (in a nutshell)doing what it is that you do best (or what God has called you to do) no matter what temptations come your way. For me, this would be a financial temptation. I have been a stay at home mom 8 years now. My youngest will be entering school full time in just a few short weeks. Shouldn't I be going back to work now? I have been struggling with this for quite some time. Deep down, I really would be quite content if I never donned the doors of a workplace again. But there is that sneaky little voice (or Pier 1 Imports flyer!) that every once in a while chimes in with all sorts of wonderful purchases I could be making if only I was contributing financially to our household -and my husband hadn't just started a new job!!!). This brings me back to "doing what I do best" and for me at this season of life, it is being a mom and wife - to be sidetracked from this most important calling - would be sin, because that is not what I have been called to do. James 4:13-17 is an excellent passage that talks about our lives "being a mist" (I like the translation that says vapour - for me it gives a more fleeting visual, we have incessant mist here where I live!), and how we need to be making every second count. The passage ends by saying: "Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." Are you under your umbrella? Here's the link if you'd like to catch the whole program:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/FamilyLife_Today/archives.asp?bcd=6/12/2007

A Cord of Three Strands

This morning as I was out weeding in the backyard, struggling with the 4 foot tall thistles I was reminded of a verse...one of my faves! As I grabbed the clump of stems and pulled with all my might, the weeds just wouldn't budge - so I dissected them...one stem at a time, it was only then that the earth would release it's powerful hold on them. That's when the verse from Eccelesiastes came to mind..."a cord of three strands is not easily broken." The writer of this verse I'm sure was not referring to gardening, but rather relationships (marriage) that are grounded in Christ. As I began to think about this I realized that just because it "is not easily broken" doesn't mean than it will never break. So what? So ladies, please, please, maintain your marriage! It breaks my heart to see so many families thrown into turmoil because these precious "cords" were not taken care of. I encourage you to swoon over your honey when he walks in the door, be interested and excited about his accomplishments, sit and watch TV with him - even when it's hard to relax when you can see out of the corner of your eye piles of laundry waiting to be folded, and when your kids are competing for your time - your sweetie needs to come first! If you find that your marriage is spinning out of control, or you want to maintain it before it get's that far, I recommed reading "Love and Respect" by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs.

Me & My Marvelous Micro Fibre

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.....I'm talking about micro fibre here. Those wonderful cloths that clean without any chemicals! If you've never had the sheer joy of cleaning with one of these "miracle" cloths, I suggest you drop everything, run to the store (even the dollar store sells them now) and begin the bliss I now call housecleaning!!! I was introduced to these first by my mother in law, and from the moment we first met (the cloth and I), it was love at first sight! Seriously, water is all you need to clean your sinks, tubs, floors, walls, mirrors, windows and practically any other surface you can think of - except for the "loo". I like to use a disposable Lysol wipe for that. Of course there are different qualities of them...the cheaper ones definitely need to be replaced more often than the $20 ones - but I opt for cheaper all the way! If you find they are leaving streaks, time to get a new one, or just go over whatever you just cleaned with a dry micro fibre cloth. You can clean them in the washing machine (without fabric softener) and hang them to dry. If you like to have your kids help out (my girls clean sinks and mirrors to earn part of their allowance) it's totally safe because the only thing getting on their hands is water. It's super easy to do, with brilliant results! It's a good idea to get different coloured ones for different uses; have an orange one for cleaning the car, a green one for the bathroom, blue for the kitchen....or whatever combination you like. Also, if you keep them handy, it is so easy to just pick one up and quickly wipe out a sink, or sparkle up the taps - great for when unexpected company arrives! So, you can see, there are many ways that I love my micro fibre cloths: I love that they save me time, save me money, and are child and environment friendly.

Where Do I Begin!!!

I jokingly told a friend after I started my first ever blog "The Journey" that it would probably be 6 months before I got around to writing anything in it (that is approximately how long it takes me to get around to fixing a pair of pants or shirt etc. when my husband needs it sewn!). The trouble is, once I sat down and started thinking about what direction I wanted to take with it, I kept coming up with more ideas and more ideas so that in the end I was completely overwhelmed and unable to begin at all. As for the sewing, I'm not sure what my excuse is, other than the fact that Iwould probably rather do almost anything than sit down with a needle and thread when there are so many far more interesting things to be doing. But alas, here I am....and I have come up with a solution to my overwhelmedness (I sure hope that's a word!)I will NOT follow any one format or idea. I will, at will jump from one topic to another. Some of the idea's that would haunt me in the middle of the night (usually around 3 am) where: to encourage women - especially those of us who are raising little families at the moment, to share recipes that I have tried and love, to review books, to share money saving ideas, how to occupy kids while you're travelling and pretty much whatever else pops into my head! Are you ready to begin this journey with me? I hope so!