our sweet little man

Today Leah and Ev came to visit us here at the land.  Josh was working with Alvin and so by coming out not only did I get a visit, but so did Josh and Alvin.  It is always a good reason to stop working when Leah and Ev come.  Anyhow - being relatively still since I hurt my foot - I was very happy to hear them knock and say hello!

Everett is our little sweetness ... there is just no other way to describe him.  He is so much fun.  He is saying more and more phrases each day it seems.  He has a cute little voice although it is a little raspy because of his cold.

He makes "eyes" and knows especially when he is being cute! (which really is most of the time!)  He makes us laugh alot.  He loves to cuddle.  He loves to be sung to.  He likes to do "round and round the garden went the teddy bear" and also "cut the pickle, tickle tickle!"

I bought a set of Elmo hands and I keep them with me, or bring them to his house when I come to visit!  When you press Elmo on one of the "tickle hands" he sings and tells you to do the tickle dance.  Everett loves this.  He spins, dances, laughs, and when Cookie Monster says "cowabunga" Everett repeats it!

Today while we were waiting for lunch I was holding Everett as Leah was making the potatoes for our lunch.  (I appreciated this, as working in the kitchen while using crutches has its drawbacks!)  So, Everett and I sat and took some pictures and some video with my ipod.  You will see how cute he is!   Yes, I am unabashedly bragging!  Isn't that what Granny's are allowed to do?

I just love our sweet little man!! Enjoy this cute little video clip from my ipod.

doing the unexpected

won't be wearing my right runner for about 3 weeks!

It is a stupid thing that I have done.  Stupid because I did it not just once, but twice!  Yes folks!  TWICE.

I walked down the steps from our current living quarters.  The steps have no railing, but that was not an issue up till about 6 weeks ago, when early one morning, I stepped off of the second last step thinking I was on the ground.  Such it was - my first fall from the steps!  Luckily, I did not break my foot or anything else!  BUT I did end up with a bit of a sore hip again :(

Fast forward to Wednesday - early morning.  I was going to go and get my keys which Alvin hung above the freezer at the door.  I wanted to start my car so that I could defrost it - as the early morning frost was thick on the windshield.  I needed to go to the gym (which I was procrastinating about) and had to be at work in time, so my schedule was pretty tight if I didn't get going.

SO down the stairs I went - carefully, or so I thought!  AND I am not sure what happened... I think I was looking straight ahead at the hooks on the wall for my keys,  when I stepped off of the second last step (again) and went down.  Down hard.  And down in a different way, with my feet landing under me in a kneeling type of position.  And it seems like it was all in slow-mo with me thinking, "oh my, what have I done again?  this is not good!" And as I fell, I heard a very distinct "pop".  

I always wondered if when trees fell in the jungle, if people weren't around - would they still make a sound?  Well - let me tell you - when this "tree" fell onto that cement floor - it made a big sound - a few crying sounds!  Man, it hurt.  And, I was scared ... because in those early seconds as I laid there - I was not sure IF I would be able to get up, and what would I do since my cell was UPSTAIRS and Alvin was gone to work?  Were would I have to crawl?  

Slowly and surely, I was able to get up - stop howling, and get myself upstairs slowly but surely.  I surveyed the damage and thought - well - there was no blood, no blue bruising, and no bones sticking out.  Must be a twist or a sprain.  

Fast forward to the end of the day when Alvin took a look (after I did drag myself into work and hobbled around) and Alvin's words to me were "oh no, I think it may be broken".  SO, I went into the sports injury clinic here in the city (Pan Am) and 7.5 hours later, got home with a "boot" and a pair of "crutches" and my wallet $130 lighter.  NO BREAKS but severe ligament damage.  The instructions were to use crutches and put very little weight on my booted foot ... and to begin physio in 1.5 weeks, and to be off work for 3 weeks, perhaps 4 depending on what the physiotherapist says.  

(insert sad face here)     

:(

So, here I am - hobbling around - trying to figure out how to use crutches.  With my fibromyalgia, I find that my wrists are the weakest spot, but now they are having some work put on them (using crutches).  I realize that it is impossible to walk with crutches and carry a cup of coffee! (or anything else unless it can go in a bag).  I realize how much I took my two legs for granted AND have thought about my dad alot - as he became and amputee in WWII and had to learn to walk with crutches and an artificial leg.  My dad always made it look so easy!  

I also wish I had lost the 75 lbs that I have been trying to - cause it would have made it easier to support my weight on my arms!  Maybe now that I can't get to the fridge as easy (or carry food with my crutches) I will shed a couple!! 

 Being that it is my right foot means that I can not drive (warned that it is not good if I get caught driving with my boot on, and I think it would be terribly hard to even try to drive with it) SO if I want to go anywhere by myself - I will have to de-boot to drive!

I will admit - I was feeling a little down today - it just seemed too hard to try to shuffle around.  Too hard to try to make lunch.  (last night I had popcorn for supper!)  I realized it could be really easy to just be pitiful, which I really do not like!  And then I talked with a sweet friend - who has been the recipient of the boot as well - with the same 3 week off work prescription!  She doesn't have to use crutches, BUT she is still laid up, different injury but same foot!  THING IS ... J actually sounded upbeat about it!  She sounded like she was going to fully embrace this (literal) down time - and make the best of it!  

If I believe God is sovereign (which I do) and that nothing happens out of his control, and that sometimes He allows things for reasons we may never know (which I also believe) ... then I need to embrace this time of rest!  I struggle still with this - because I think that my husband really needs a rest, and yet for some reason this rest has to be taken by me!  I fight the feeling of "adding to his work" daily, as he helps me get things, move things, etc.  But after I got off the phone with J. I realized that this is my down time and I can make the most of it - or just be down about it!  I have chosen to somehow - make the most of it!  

So I will likely travel down the steps very little over the next little while.  Maybe I just needed to slow down.  What can I do during this time?  Well - there are things - like some filing that has piled up, or my online course that I am taking but haven't been able to get to lately.  Or read the books that are waiting to be read.  OR maybe just getting my Quiet Time and journalling in daily.  I have been talking to God about this too.  Time will tell - but I really want to make the most of this down time!

And one day - maybe I can actually say thank-you Lord for this boot and set of crutches!
In the meantime, Lord, help me to take advantage of this season of rest! 

hello tuesday

Hello Tuesday
so far you are a good friend to me
with your beautiful morning sunrise
the sky filled with reds that are too beautiful to describe
white frost on the car
but no snow on the ground
I am loving you so far Tuesday!

Good Morning Lord
thank you for this new day
a new chance at life
I love YOU Lord ~ please use me today
for your honor and glory!
may my words, my actions, my thoughts
be pure
be wholesome
be truthful
be loving
may I be a reflection of You dear Jesus!

Hello Tuesday
I look ahead to this day
past this great cup of coffe
to my exercise time
my work day
and I do not know what all it holds
but I do know WHO holds it.
Thank you Lord.

Hello Tuesday
hello stillness of early morning
hello smell of fresh coffee
hello Jake who is here doing some electrical work
hello inspector who will come later and do the final electrical inspection

Hello Tuesday
good-bye to Monday, you made my daughter stress about her exam at university
it is a new day
and I want to live it to the full

Hello Tuesday
May you be full of wonderful surprise
Lord, may I see YOU throughout my day
Lord, please bless my sweet family
bless my friends
bless my co-workers

Hello Tuesday
Thank you Lord for reminding me of your Scripture which falls sweetly upon my soul
for your reminder to me!
I love you Lord.
Thank you for this TUESDAY!!

Hebrews 13:5

The Message (MSG)

 ^5-6Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,

   God is there, ready to help;
   I'm fearless no matter what.
   Who or what can get to me?

Turn Your Eyes

This morning as I worked through my devotional time with the Lord, I have been struck by the fact that I am often like a "kid in a candy store" (figuratively but also literally) as I go through life!  I am often star struck by the things that appeal outwardly to me, or inwardly to my sugar cravings.  I often go through life when things are going well (which does happen) and it seems at those times, I do not turn my eyes fully on my Jesus who is the author and creator of my life!!  I continue to struggle with being self sufficient!

This morning I read through Scripture, and did my Bible Study that I am doing (Stepping Up: A Journey through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore) and TODAY I was really profoundly struck by a few things that she said.  One of them was that:

WHERE I LOOK impacts WHAT I HEAR which impacts 

                                  WHAT I FEEL which impacts WHAT I EXPECT

In his book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson says it like this (page 63)

"We are not presented with a functional god who will help us out of jams or an entertainment god who will lighten our tedious hours.  We are presented with the God of exodus and Easter, the God of Sinai and Calvary.  If we want to understand God, we must do it on his terms.  If we want to see God the way he really is, we must look to the place of authority - to Scripture and to Jesus Christ.


And do we really want it any other way?  I don't think so.  We would very soon become contemptuous of a god whom we could figure out like a puzzle or learn to use like a tool.  No, if God is worth our attention at all, he must be a God we can look up to - a God we must look up to ... The moment we look  up to God (and not over at him, or down on him) we are in the posture of servitude."



I have realized that I look to things often.  I struggle with my weight and continually give in to "the candy in the candy shop" because I look at it and want it and if my defences are down - I will buy it and eat it!!  Why don't I look to Him to help me with all of it?  I continually want to, but often don't.  Isn't it Paul that said he does what he does not want to do?

This morning, as I read through my devotions, as I began the time with face-down prayer with the Lord, there is one song that has continued to run through my heart and mind.  I used to sing this alot in the little chapel and camp I grew up in.  I am including the rendition sung by Michael W. Smith who blesses me with his music.

It is my prayer today and in the days to come, that I will TURN MY EYES UPON JESUS and look FULL in his wonderful face!!  O Lord, have mercy!!

my sweet man (a fun post/video for today)

My sweet man.  I have known this guy for 37 years and dated him for a couple months short of 37 years! We fell in love at 16, married at 20, had our son, built our house, had our daughter ....
We farmed "on the side" getting up to over 80 cattle/calves at one time in a cow/calving operation.
We farmed pigs and cattle in a farming partnership for a couple years (until the disintegration of the other couple's marriage made us decide to get out of the farming partnership since it would get complicated)
We had dogs ...
We had cats... and cats, and cats, and cats
We entertained family and friends in our home and loved it!  If our dining room table could talk - we would hear many many hours of laughter and conversation and prayers coming from that wooden table.

And now - after 33 years of married life, and almost 37 years of dating (smile) we are in a new adventure, madly and wildly following the call of God on our lives.  I stand amazed at how Alvin believes in what God has called me/us to.  He works far too hard.  But he is one of the wisest, most knowledgeable, craziest (in a good way) man that I know - loving God, me, his kids and grandkids with a passion like I have known in no other!  Is marriage always easy?  Of course not (I am not going to lie about that!)  However - it is amazing and I would marry this guy again in a second. (which is what we did on our 25th.)

ANYHOW ... this isn't our anniversary (it passed in Sept) but I was just sitting here thinking about my sweet farmer/builder man Alvin after I watched (again) a very cute little video our kids sent us in an email.  Somehow whenever I see this - I think of Alvin.  So, I thought I would share it with you - and perhaps those of you who know him - will understand why it makes me think of him.

Kind of a fun post for today!

No Doubt

This morning, as I drove into the city (at about 6:50) I was moved by a song that I heard on CHVN 95.1

I just looked up the schedule because I could not remember a title - and I found it!  It is No Doubt by the band Petra. Not sure when they wrote it - but it spoke to me this morning!

compassion beyond measure

The title of the post today - was the title of Dave's sermon this morning at Eastview.  The sermon was about showing compassion.  Dave said that we often feel uncomfortable when we talk about showing compassion, and that there "is more at stake, for us living compassionate lives, than we know"

The Scripture passage was from Acts 3 where Peter and John are on their way to the temple and encounter a beggar who is lame.  They didn't have silver or gold, and told him such but what they gave him was way better.  They look at the lame man, and in the name of Jesus - tell him to get up and walk!  And - he does!!  And goes away walking, leaping and praising God!!

Dave said "the church gathers and shows compassion in ways that change people's lives.  Compassion is at the heart"

BUT that being said - why don't we show compassion more?  Well - because it is hard.  Because it is risky.  Sometimes we may find ourselves "judging" who needs compassion and who doesn't!! When we look into the Word of God, we see that Jesus himself, went to the fringes of society... he ate with tax collectors, and prostitutes!  (he lived a risky life - he was also ridicules for sitting with "sinners")
There was so much more to the sermon, but at the end, Dave encouraged us - that we would grow compassionate hearts! That we would walk around every day, looking with Jesus eyes!

I have often prayed exactly this before - that God would help me see through the eyes of Jesus.  I have experienced this profoundly a couple times, and it left me a weepy mess.  Two times that stand out in my memory are once when we were with a team in the inner city of Toronto (also known as the "tenderloin" area, as it was where prostitution was rampant, along with streets full of drag queens, and young male prostitutes.  We were there late at night - and were there with a mission oriented purpose.  All of a sudden, I felt this intensity in my being, and felt like the lens had come off my eyes, and I wept.  I believe God helped me feel the compassion that Jesus felt for the broken among us.

The other time that stands in my memory, focuses on my street friend Barry.  Barry, who often would come in so dirty, and so smelly from street life.  Barry who would ask the ushers if they could get "Joy" and they would come and get me - sometimes out of the service - to help him out.  Barry who would croon Amazing Grace to me, and recite scripture to me.  (Create in me a clean heart O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.  This was one scripture he recited one day.  However one of the coldest days of the year, I sat with Barry as he sipped a hot coffee and tried to warm up.  He was high again.  Not sure if it was the Listerine he had drank, or sniff ... but he was high.  The holy spirit kept nudging me - prompting me to ask Barry "Barry, do you want me to pray with you?" To which he replied "Yes" and immediately bowed his head.  It was like he immediately sobered up.  I prayed.  Again there was this stirring in my heart, and my eyes were opened again, and I felt this compassion ... only Jesus could do that.  After we were done, he got up and said good-bye and went into the cold... and I wept.

Compassion is risky.  Sometimes it costs us ... a few dollars to the person begging around the corner of the McDonald's drive through (where management could not see him). ... or a kind word to the woman who just told you about the journey since her son was murdered a couple years ago ... or the person who is just hungry, and you give your fresh coffee and donut to.  Perhaps it is more - like donating money to the food bank, or to places like Mennonite Central Committee for their response to the famine... or brand new coats donated to Koats for Kids campaign.

Imagine what would happen if the "church" responded with compassion ... with more compassion.  I am talking about the "church" as each of us who claim Jesus as Lord of our lives!  Imagine if we reached out - in his name.  If we gave a cup of water to "the least of these."
If our hearts great with compassion that looked the way Jesus told us.  Imagine!  Compassion beyond measure!

May that be my prayer daily!
To see others through the eyes of Jesus and to respond with love and compassion!