All posts in Life Keeps Changing

Tapestry

by admin on February 23, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing, My Romance with 4 Comments
MARK 4:32
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.

And so often a mommy has a day where she doesn’t feel up to the task… she is so tired… so warn down… she just wants to go to bed… she wants the impossible… the impossible is being able to put her mommy job on pause.

It takes faith to hold it together.
It takes faith to be a mommy, faith that I am up to the task.
It takes faith to be a wife, faith that our marriage will go the distance.

Thankfully faith doesn’t intimidate me as it once did, it isn’t completely mystifying…

I know it is Gods will that I hold it together.
It is Gods will for me to be a good mommy to these four babes.
It is Gods will for me to be a wife and for our marriage to go the distance.
And in knowing his will in these areas, my faith is in him and from him.

Garnet came home with the above tapestry for me. He found it at a favorite store of mine and knew I would like it in our bedroom. Why did he do this? He felt lead to do it for me yesterday. This is his style… no reason other then he wanted to love me in this way, at this time. He didn’t know I was having one of those day… but he couldn’t have had better timing. He spoke the above verse to me as he gave me the gift. He felt it would be great to hang with the verse above it in the future.

Mommy’s don’t always get spoiled in such obvious ways when they are having one of THOSE DAYS or weeks, been there when it all seems to loom over your head for much longer then a mear day… but if we put our trust in Christ more about the mommy and wife stuff Christ will spoil us with the faith to make it through.

p.s. Right now my faith is pretty practical in one regard…I am having faith that naps will become more common in my house again:)

TTFN

Sisters

by admin on February 23, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing, People In My Heart with 3 Comments
This winter will for ever be the winter that my sisters found us.

My Dad had not been in contact with them for almost 35 years. They didn’t even know we existed (we being my brothers and I, their half siblings). A call to the right Al and they found him. That lead them to connecting with Aaron, Jesse and I on facebook and it has all lead to us planning to get together!

There have been many emails, instant message chats and long phone calls as we all get to know one another. There has even been skypeing!

You walk around thinking you live a boring kinda life compared to others and then something like this happens. I didn’t know if I would ever meet them. Always hoped but didn’t try to believe to much…

At first you think, wow life is complicated, and then you realize perhaps it was more complicated to not have this all worked out… maybe this is JUST RIGHT!

p.s. Related to this post weeks ago: Two new people, important people, have appeared in my world and they come with questions and emotions and we, who are involved, are all trying to digest it all slowly and embrace the wonder of it all. Perhaps I will share more in the future but right now it still feels bigger then life!

TTFN

My Frozen Neighborhood

by admin on February 10, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing with 1 Comment
Walks on a winter morning such as this can’t be long enough.
I am blessed even in the midst of winter.Sound

Nothing but the crunching of my boots.
It was so quiet and still that the crunch was pounding in my ears.
The world was strangely quiet, even in this city of mine, no wind, no voices, no bird calls.
The air, thick with a slight fog, seemed to block all proof of other creatures being in existence.

Sight
Other then the sluggish smoke coming from my neighbors roof tops, I felt like the only moving piece of matter.
The sky, trees and houses, and ground all blended together in a union of frozen color.
Frost covered even the ever greens enough to make me feel like I saw in one color alone, the hue winter.
Isn’t it amazing how you never get tired of the same old seasons if you take the time to closely observe!?
Winter seems hauntingly still but the seasons are never motionless.
They are always in the process of change.
They barely arrive and place their grip firmly on the world when they start their departure. Frost will return again next year and it will decorate my neighborhood much in the same way it has this year.
And yet, I will have to stop and look at it.
And Winter will again move me.

TTFN

A Grand Change in Cultural Expectations Of Men

by admin on February 5, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Do I Call It Parenting Advice?, Life Keeps Changing, Mama Heart Mushings, My Romance with No comments

Reading classic novels is something I truly enjoy. On that note, many classics leave me with a dark frame of mind and today I needed to share a thought that came out of reading a few. I am thankful things have changed, in the area of human rights. I find often, more in books written by male authors, that children and especially babes are seen as of little consequence. One author explained ‘the baby was barely a few days old, certainly not old enough to be given the turn individual’… Oh man… I have a totally different view of the value of life. I suppose the fact that many children didn’t survive into adult hood back then played a part in the often cold written references to children… but… It made me think that the old fashioned habit of men having little to do with babes wasn’t a good thing.

I am so thankful my man has so much to do with our little ones… he works hard to contribute to their basic needs and excels at providing their love and fun needs. When I watch him with my babies I adore him! I am thankful that my Saviour has blessed me with a man who can take MUCH time for his kids and I realise all to many Dad’s just aren’t there…

It also made me think of the true depths love goes down into a woman’s heart, specifically when it comes to her children. They don’t have to be of a specific age, we can learn to claim them in our hearts before they are even born. We feel so vulnerable with them walking around, our heart divided up and openly exposed to the pain and hurt in the world…

I am so thankful it is now okay and ‘in fashion’, if you will, for men in our current age to embrace that same connection with their young children.

TTFN

I Am From!

by admin on January 26, 2010 in Better Check Out Blogs, Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing, People In My Heart with 5 Comments

For E-Mom… This is the best I could do, thought about it for a few days and when you commented today I thought I should just put it up…

I am from cheese cloth, from co-op freshie and early’s seeds.

I am from the forest; a sleepy, weedy creek meandering towards my future.

I am from the bed rock, the wild pink rose.

I am from evening family Bible studies, days full of milking goats, chopping wood, harvesting corn and fire-y tempers;

From Robin and Katherine and Nanny.

I am from big talkers, and bigger singing voices!

From ‘you alone decide you will be happy’ and ‘family must work and play together’.

I am from Holy Ghost filled folk, revival tent meetings and Bible thump’n, Jesus lov’n parents!

I’m from the great white north, Scottish pride, Irish wit, Welsh respect and a little English that they will not admit, shortbread like grandma always made it and pans of venison lasagna from my mom’s heart to our stomachs shined at every occasion, especially my wedding!

From the grandmother who was the first in town to wear pants and the mother who traded in her high heals and comfy bank job for the army. Grandmother was a feminine tomboy and down right practical. Her garden boots just went better with pants! Mother had a lot to prove due to her small size and reputation as a girly-girl, no one would dare call either that now!

I am from Grandma Smith’s quilt on my couch, Her earrings in my jewelry box, Mom’s red dress coat in my closet and anything else that speaks to me of the strong women in my line. They speak, reminding me to be as brave and determined as my grandmother, as open and true as my mom and as beautiful in spirit as my daughters.

TTFN

Snowed In! FINALLY!

by admin on January 24, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing with 1 Comment
(Our house looked so romantic tonight!)

Winter is here… again! This time with LOTSA snow! The kids and I are thrilled! It meant we couldn’t go out today but I think it will be worth it! We will get exercise pushing the walk tomorrow and the sled hill might finally be good and covered in snow!

Here is the view out our front window! Not only did the snow plaster itself all over the siding of the house but the windows where covered with sticky snow too!

Can you believe this odd mound on our front step railing? I had to take a picture! It is so funny how it would build up in the corner of the railing!
The kids couldn’t stop ooohing and aaaahing! Here are the youngest trying to find Daddy out there in the snow!

(Same picture as above but with the flash on, can’t decide which I like best!)
(Our snow-y front step, so pretty!)

TTFN

Contentment; A Train Of Thought Sprung From A Visit

by admin on January 22, 2010 in Life Keeps Changing, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, People In My Heart with No comments
(Nanny and Papa, at the beach with all of the kids and grand-kids, this past summer!)

My folks where in town the last two days. A pretty quick trip, kind of an unexpected trip, due to some appointments they had in my city. I will take what ever I can get where visits with them are concerned. Living so far away from them is a constant prick at my heart. I adore my mom and dad!

I think everyone has things in their life that where not what they planned and perhaps where exactly what they where determined wouldn’t happen but LIFE HAPPENS. The grass is always greener in our unfulfilled dreams! We have to realise we romanticize our dreams, or I wanted to’s, and then because of that can fall into brooding in an unfairly harsh way about our present situation. Every time, step, stage, in life has its good things and its negatives. Likewise, every dream we have will have great things and hard things. Whether we get our way or not we will face good and bad and must find a way to be content.

Contented — gratified, pleased, happy.

1TIMOTHY 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain”

I try hard to enjoy every stage I am in in my life. Many of the treasures it had will not be found in next and new stages and I will miss them, especially if I took them for granted! I love to move on in life with a heart full of memories, because I embraced the last step on the road of life and enjoyed it, with this load of happy memories there is no room for regrets!

TTFN

Switchfoot and Paper Tongues

by admin on January 19, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing, Music Flavor, My Romance with 3 Comments
(Garnet and I out for supper with friends before the SWITCHFOOT concert.)

Garnet and I have been on two dates within one week! This was a very good thing for us. In a way we kind of needed two dates close together to get back into spending time together away from the kids. We don’t date a lot… haven’t dated a lot. It isn’t that we don’t value it, we understand it is very important, it just wasn’t an option as much in the past. Well things have changed. We have pals we can babysit for and in turn they will do the same, free, for us and it works out lovely. The first date night was big emotionally. I felt a lot of pressure because I figured it would be so long till the next. I wanted to look my best and have a good time… in the end we took the pressure off, went out and just visited. With a note pad and pen in hand we sat down and talked about our coming year… things we would like to do and what we hope for. It was refreshing and easy to do cuz I am so comfortable with my man!
The second date I was more comfortable and we just had a blast! I was so excited, it is the first time in I don’t know how long that we have gone out as a couple with friends! We met my older brother and his wife and some long time friends of ours at a restaurant and then walked across campus to the concert.
Paper Tongues is a new band to me, they opened and where so charismatic and fun! I have been listening to their ep stuff all day and can hardly wait to get their first album.

Switchfoot is emotional rock. I have been a long time fan and was thrilled to hear their high quality new stuff and the old stuff that I can sing along to. It was cool to hear them talk about real issues in the world, like what is going on in Haiti. I used to be more cynical about when bands would try to get deep, but why can’t they? Most artists are far beyond us regular folk in there ability to see the world in a deep and truthful way so they are just the people to use the attention we give them for worthy causes. Let people share what they need to say! We all have times when we would appreciate just that, to be respectfully heard by others.

(Us ladies, enjoying the show!)

There was one particular song that got me teared up, it had a message on how what you are feeling isn’t love unless its breaking you… The last few days I have been really tuning in to words and thoughts on love. We are hoping to have a re-dedication ceremony this coming spring, for our tenth wedding anniversary. We plan to share some new vows with one another and writing our own has me nervous. We didn’t write anything the first time and this time we know one another so well that I feel like I need to really do my man justice…

Garnet gave me a pep talk about it and when I realise he’s on board with me I felt like perhaps I could give this whole writing some words about our love thing a go…, even though he isn’t a big romantic he is willing to do this…’romantic notions are more your gift my dear’ he shared…

Most of our marriage, to date, has been so tied up in KIDS that I often feel like love is very very ordinary and practical and simply as romantic as is possible to get in the tiny moments in between changing diapers and cleaning up the house AGAIN. BUT I have hope as this new stage of life begins… hope that in spite of all the wonderful things about the baby years I will morn, Garnet and I will see clearly again all the beautiful and romantic things about our love… good by sleep deprived chapter of life… hello HUSBAND!

(Switchfoot says goodnight!)

TTFN

Weekends Full To Bursting, A BLESSING!

by admin on January 18, 2010 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Life Keeps Changing with No comments

I think I can officially say our family is into a new stage in life. All of the kids are old enough for us to find it easier to get out and enjoy away from home time. Baby Boy isn’t really a baby anymore but I am holding on to that pet name, at least in blog land, perhaps at his next birthday I will bestow upon him something else enduring but a bit more mature. With this new stage of life comes the blessings of full weekends! This past weekend was rich with family time, one on one time with the kids and even a date night for my man and I!

The picture at the top is from a date night my eldest and I shared. I took Big Girl out for her birthday. We celebrated at a favorite local bistro of mine. There was a lovely meal and then she got to pick her birthday cake. After looking for ages she picked the biggest piece of cake she could get… I think it was called ‘Four Layer Fantasy Chocolate Cake’. It came with every kind of chocolate on it. She gobbled like a machine for a while but all of a sudden she looked at me with a sunken expression, absolutely stuffed half way through her dessert. I recommended she box the rest up so we could enjoy shopping at the book store. ‘You mean I can finish the cake later? When we watch my movie together?’ She was thrilled at the idea of a doggy bag, smiled returned we where off. She got to pick her gift this year and she bought a collection of Robert Munch books and a Roald Dahl poetry book. We then went home to watch a distinctly girl-y film of her choosing all on our own!

Every little egg in my nest got direct attention somehow. Just got back from tea time with Little Woman at Grams house, Big Boy got to go out for lunch with just his Dad on Sunday and Baby Boy got many a late night snuggle as he is teething again. Parents can’t help feeling like they are on a role when it all comes together so well like this! And without serious drama too!!
Early that day, before my girl time with my eldest, we managed to get all of us onto the neighborhood rink for some fabulous exercise! It was so mild out we all stayed active and happy all Saturday morning. Dad pulled Baby Boy around the rink on a sled. Baby Boy really enjoyed this big adventure. Big Girl pushed Little Woman on a stroller, a great plan so Little Woman wouldn’t get tired and Big Girl could practice skating with some balance help. Big Boy and I skated around and around the family, only being passed by our speed skater Daddy, and the sled full of my baby, now and again. We all returned home rosy cheeked and full of energy! Ready for the rest of the weekend!

It was so sweet to cram our weekend full of… one another!

TTFN

The New Year, Fatigue, & A Plan!

by admin on January 1, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing with 1 Comment

It continues to be a battle… unlike before, when it was a constant every day drag on kinda battle, the fatigue is now springing surprise attacks on me… With Baby Boy on solids alone now(insert a sad sigh here) things have gotten a lot better. I am able to do so much more in a day. Being able to do a few jobs each day and run errands on my own again has made me very thankful but I don’t like the surprise days where the couch is my confidant once again…

I see two contributes, ok maybe three and I want to list them and take aim one at a time. You could say this is a resolution post but I am not the competitive type and I am more likely to not do something if there is a hint of competition involved so lets not go there…

  1. FORGOTTEN MEALS, when I deviate from my high protein diet, as recommended by my doctor, I crash the next day
  2. STRESS, creates a bad cycle… when I deviate from my high protein diet I get stressed easier and then I eat less due to stress and then I… well I think you can see the picture…
  3. WIMP, this girl is not in shape, for so long I was told to not do to much (including exercise) because of weight lose issues when pregnant and nursing and now I think it might be time to turn my head around and start working out so that I feel stronger again…

If I can just come up with an inspiring way to get fit again and continue to eat high protein while at it I just might win. Doctor warned though that I must raise my protein intake even more if I start working out… This seems like some kind of twisted game but I am starting to figure out how to play ball.

The holidays are always kinda bad for me. Without meaning to I skip meals and get stressed and then get sick, stuck on the couch, warn out every couple days…

January, in the past, has meant seasonal depression till the thaw…

Looking back I see a lot of that was having to be stuck in doors so much and I think things can be different this year. I have always enjoyed the outdoors year round and now that I am getting set up for winter again I think things will be better.

I finally have skates again, I found some trails so my cross country skis can be waxed and used again and with proper winter wear I am enjoying the local toboggan hill with the kids already! When we first moved to the city I tried the gym, even swimming and I just kinda felt like a hamster on a wheel but being outdoors is sounding more and more inspiring!

Here is to a new year and here’s to hopes of a great winter!!

TTFN

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