Finally I'm five!

What better way to celebrate a 5th birthday than to pick some strawberries.  And bring along some friends:)

Kiva

Are you familiar with Kiva?

These days I am thinking more and more globally and aware of the responsibility that I have to live beyond myself and the opportunity I have to lift others out of unnecessary poverty.  Kiva is a really tangible way to do this and I value how empowering it is for the recepients.   I love this organization and am slightly addicted to giving loans:)

Here's how Kiva Works

The Story of a Kiva Loan

Follow the story of a Kiva loan through Pedro, a farmer who gets a loan through Kiva.org and transforms his business.

1.  Make a loan:  You make a loan on Kiva.  All Kiva loans are made possible by Field Partners, who vet, administer, and disburse each loan.

2.  Get updates:  Throughout the life of the loan, you will see progress updates from Kiva through your email, and if you come back to the site.

3.  Get paid back:  As the borrower repays the loan, the money becomes available in your account.  This is called your Kiva Credit.

4.  Repeat:  You can now use it to fund another loan, donate it to Kiva, or withdraw it to spend on something else.

*the above information is from Kiva's website (www.kiva.org)

Guess what?  New users can try Kiva out and give a $25 loan for FREE.  Check it out here. 

Weekend links

This week, I have been reading and appreciated:

This post about Ten for Congo.

The toughest thing I have learned about parenting.

Coconut Milk in my coffee has been amazing this week.  I'm loving it!

When Simple was Easy(er) - I feel like I could have written this post myself.

And lastly, just for fun and also because I adore Coach Taylor (don't worry, Steve knows).  We are about to start watching season 5 of Friday Night Lights and I don't want it to end!  Texas Forever.


Enjoy your weekend!

Twenty

This past April, one Thursday evening, I had the opportunity to sit across from Alana at a Tim Hortons near her student house.   Alana was the first babysitter that Steve and I ever hired to babysit our kids, way back when Grace was 4 and Eva was 2.  She changed Eva's diapers and she has seen my girls grow up.  Alana comes from a family of 3 girls and she was so excited for us when Beth was born and even bought us an adorable little eyelet white halter outfit from Old Navy.  These days she is now all grown up and on the cusp of turning 20 this summer.  She just completed her second year at university and is now working out west this summer.  We set aside an hour on that perfect spring evening, her wanting to hear from me some wise words - essentially what I wish I had known at the age of 20.  Yikes.

Knowing we were getting together, all day long my thoughts were everywhere and I scribbled down 2 little pages front and back of things I wanted her to know.  What a daunting and yet reflective  experience that was for me.

Here's what I shared with her.  What I personally wish I had known to be true at 20.  They are in no particular order:

• how important it is to be teachable.  to develop a life long love of learning.  keep reading.
• that conflict and constructive critisism are not things to be afraid of.  we grow through them.
• fear does not come from God.  the things we fear are not nearly as big as we think.  God is bigger.
• resist the urge to compare yourself to other women.    nothing good comes from it.  be you. the world needs you.
• practice compassion toward yourself.  take good care of yourself, so you can care well for others around you.
• admitting weakness and being vulnerable takes courage and is a sign of strength.
• say no to some things so that you can say yes to greater things.
• we can only do a few things extrordinarily well - lean into and develop your strengths.
• try not to take responsibility for other peoples behavior.
• develop your own unique, strong voice.  use it and honour it.  it is much needed.  
• believe in miracles and in second chances.
• give people around you the space to grow.
• assume the best of people.  it goes a long way, especially in the relationships closest to you.   love always trusts.
• don't confide in people who break the confidence of others and are known to gossip.
• wear clothes and wear colours that you love.  only buy clothes if you love them, otherwise they will sit in your closet and you will never wear them.
• form a tribe - of people that are for you and breathe life into you, people you feel safe with.  
• no person can meet every need in you - only God can do that.

Here's what I have since thought I should have added:

• resist the need to try too hard
• you have more influence than you know- embrace it and use if for good.
• the importance of travel and of thinking globally.
• it's okay to change your mind about what you believe along the way.  My belief system is much different than it was 20 years ago ( thank goodness!).

I'm sure there are more!  What did I miss? What would you want to add to this list?

Teddy Bear Picnic

At noon last Thursday, I was mending Beth's teddy bear in preparation for the Teddy Bear Picnic.  It was the last day of her library program and the finale was as none other than an afternoon Teddy Bear Picnic.  I've attended my share of Teddy Bear Picnics' over the years, but this one seemed particulary significant for me as it was my last.  In September, Beth is in school for full days and that means no more weekly Story Hour programs for her.   I soaked up every moment of that afternoon.  

Happy.

Happier.

Parachute time.

Let the picnic begin:)

"My Mom's realizing that this is the last Library program I will be a part of.  I'm growing up."

Delightful.

"Okay, Mom - stop -  that's enough photos!"

Weekend Links:)

Here are a few things I have been reading/listening to and enjoying as of late.

A Mother's Day message I loved by Shauna Niequist can be found here.  I especially loved the part about having the guts and making the time to connect deeply with other women.  About having a tribe.  Knowing we are not alone and letting others know that too.  About walking with one another in both joy and sorrow.  And about bout caring for ourselves as Mom's.  Really challenging and inspiring.  I think I might listen to it again and take notes:)

Michael Hyatt's podcast on Authentic Leadership can be found here.  Super fun for me because I even got a question answered :)

this post on Summer Style at Simple Design.

I pretty much love anythign that Christine Caine has to say.  Her podcasts on women in leadership are beyond fantastic.

This post  on joy and gratitude was just the reminder I needed.

How about you?  Read anything great online lately?

Here for a good time

Last Thanksgiving we were camping with some dear friends.  It was unreal because the weather was unusually warm for that time of year.  We spent our afternoons relaxing on the beach, reading, throwing a football and the kids even swam in Lake Erie.

On the last afternoon, two of the families had already packed up.  It was just Perry, Dee, Steve and I and our girls and we were lounging on the beach.  None of us wanted to leave.  We were hanging onto every second of that beach day.  The kids were playing happily and somehow the adults got to talking about books.  I was in the midst of reading The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels.  Perry and I were talking about the part in the book where Hybels challenges his readers to choose and live out a life verse.   Naturally, I posed the question, "do you guys have a life verse?  If so, what is it?'

Before any of the adults could even answer, Eva (my-at-the-time-9-almost-10-year-old) who was playing close by in the sand piped up.  Without missing a beat, she said something like, "you know we're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time - so, I want to make it good"  at which point we adults started roaring with laughter realizing that maybe, just maybe Eva has been listening to a little too much country music....ha!  I love that girl!

Just for the record, my life verses are:

• Jeremiah 17:7,8
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Micah 6:8
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• but all that is for another post:)

One last thing,  I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway!

I'm giving away an audio copy of The Power of a Whisper!

To qualify, all you have to do is be a new subscriber via email to my blog between now and Friday, May 25th.  On Friday at 6 p.m. I will use random.org and pick a winner and contact them.  Best of luck.  You can find the spot to subscribe via email at the top right corner of my blog.

Happy Long Weekend Friends!

Springtime in Niagara

A couple of weeks ago, when the blossoms were at their finest, I grabbed my camera and hopped in my car.  The orchards were were calling me with their sweet scent and magnificent colour.  Breathtaking in every possible sense.

After my nap, we sat in the hotel lobby, looking at a catalogue of flowers that Tom would plant at his house and mine in the fall.  He wanted me to pick out my favorite color daffodil for him to plant, but I said, "Don't they just die in four or five days, and not come until the following spring?  So what is the point?"

"The point is those four or five days," he said.

Anne Lamott - Some Assembly Required

page 259

Savouring

In response to this post and because of this post, here's what I am savouring and celebrating this weekend:

• new (much needed) bike helmets for the girls, which means lots of bike riding in the neighborhood.
• all things spring - lilacs, lily of the valley, blossoms, and so on.  
• windows open.
• the flowers (and weeds) my 4 year old picked me on our walk yesterday.
• an unstructured and unhurried weekend.
• barbequing and eating outdoors.
• I figured out how to get my camera to work again.  So great.
• friendships.
• the journey of motherhood.
• the inspirational and influential women in my life who have and are shaping me.
• my backyard that is taking shape this very minute.  My husband has been working hard on our yard for the last few weeks and it looks amazing!   I'm so crazy about him right now.

How about you?  What are you savouring and celebrating this weekend?



p.s.  thanks Beth - I'm loving your blog :)

Weekend Links

 

It's the weekend and the weather is perfection.  The warmth of the sun on my face is golden.  I'm soaking in the sounds and smells of spring.   Every time I go on my back deck, I savour the scent of my neighbours lilacs.  And it's heavenly.

Hope you all have a great Mothers Day weekend and are able to deeply celebrate and honour the influential women in your life; both past and present.

If you are looking for some good reading/listening material this weekend,  here are a few of my favourites from this past week:

A Little Beauty Goes a Long Way by Simple Mom.  I really loved and resonated with this post.  The only thing I would add to her list would be fresh flowers:)

Podcast by Michael Hyatt: The Secret Power of Naps.  Since being pregnant and having babies, I have become a big believer in naps.  Even nowadays, I will take a 20-30 minute nap 2 or 3 times a week.  This is something my Mom always did when she was raising her family and she encouraged me to do the same.  I loved listening to this podcast and am committed to napping more than ever!

A Commencement Speech by Shauna Niequist.  Simply fantastic.  I especially loved the part about living life with curiosoty, a lifelong love for learning and a willingness to be wrong.  If you read nothing else this week, read this.

Every Mother Matters by Lynne Hybels.  This post was a lovely reminder about living beyond ourselves.

How about you?  What has inspired you this week?

p.s.  Hand Made Market.  If you live in Niagara and have some free time this weekend, this is so worth checking out.  Everything about it is amazing.  The food, wine, the various forms of art, artisans, location, atmosphere.  Really great.

Uncomfortable

If you had a word to describe this season in your life, what would it be?

For me, these days, my word is uncomfortable.  Not bad, just uncomfortable.  It's the land where I've been living, so it seems.

1.  It's having hard conversations.  Initiating conversations that are difficult (at least for me).  It's stepping through fear.  Pursuing peace.  Speaking the truth in love.  Hard work.  Worthwhile and so rewarding.  Always much easier to say that on the other side.

2.  It's giving up control.  A friend reminded me recently over a cup of tea that when we control something, it dies.

3.  It's being okay with having different opinions and maybe even beliefs and convictions than others.  It's knowing that I don't have all the answers.  And often have more questions than answers.  It's also coming to the realization that to admit weakness and need is actually a sign of courage and stength.

4.  It's transitioning from being a stay-at-home Mom to being a flexible-work-really-part-time-Mom.  It's requiring better time management from me and saying no to some things so that I can say yes to new things.  It's a season of change.  It's exciting and scary at the same time.  I feel vunlerable and nervous learning new things.  I feel stretched and challenged and afraid of failure all at the same time.  It's a new and scary space for me, but I like it.  I feel so alive.  I'm embracing the newness of this season.  I'm walking through the fear, believing that there are good challenges to be learned and great things around the corner.  I'm realizing that being comfortable is not really the goal.  It's in the uncomfortable places that change, deep growth and new life happens.

5.  It's change as far as our church location goes.  We are in the midst of launching a new site in my community.  So exciting and yet, I know that it means saying goodbye so I can embrace the new.  It's not at all lost on me that this transition is happening during the season of lent;  a season of dying and new life.

It's a weird place to be.  Not at all awful.  But not entirely comfortable either.  Taking things one step at a time.  Doing the next task God puts in front of me each day and trusting Him with the results.  Walking through the fear and discovering that the things that I thought scared me are not that big after all.

I'ts funny, I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago and never got around to publishing it.  All of these things I wrote about are true, but already a few weeks later I'm not feeling so uncomfortable.  Or maybe I'm just okay with being and feeling uncomfortable.  Maybe it's the new norm:)

Giveaway!

You may remember that last year, I wrote a post about Better World Shopper.  You can read about it here.

I've been in touch with the author of Better World Shopper, Dr. Ellis Jones.  He graciously offered me 2 books to giveaway on my blog.  So fun!

To be entered in the draw, just leave a comment with your name below.

You have until Monday, April 2nd, at noon to enter. The winners will be chosen randomly. I'll announce the winners later that day, so be sure to check back then.

I'll post the two winners on Monday afternoon.

Best of luck!

Spring

We spent our March Break in Virginia.  The 8 hour drive was so worth it when we woke up the following morning to mountains and warm weather.  I can't decide if I love being near mountains or being near water more.  Both humble me and make me feel small in a really good way.  Both bring me to a place of awe and wonder.  Both are really good for my soul.  And for that week in March, I loved being in the mountains.  

Over our March Break we were spoiled with sights of daffodils, bright blue skies, trees beginning to bloom, robins singing, butterflies (Beth counted 11 that she alone saw), sun on the skin (is there a better feeling?) and warm air.  We soaked it all up.  Ahhh.

 If that wasn't enough of a gift, we came home to spring weather:  windows open, snowsuits away, Easter decorations out, it's time to wash the car.  It almost made me want to start some spring cleaning.  Almost.  Now if this week could just warm up a bit...:)

Iron Lady

This past Friday night while everyone else was lined up to go and see Hunger Games, I dragged my husband along with me to see The Iron Lady.  We may or may not have been the youngest people in the theatre.  The Iron Lady is the story of Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female Prime Minister of Great Britain (from 1979-1990).

The history lover in me combined with my own british roots as well as fond memories of the year I spent in England as an 18/19 year old were all motivating factors to why I would want to see this particular movie.

While the movie was a wee bit slow and my husband fought drifting off to sleep at times, I personally found her story quite fascinating and inspiring.   It also made me want to drink a cup of tea.

There was this one great line that I hope will stay with me for a long time.  The price of admission was worth it for this quote alone:

"Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become... habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny! What we think we become."

Margaret Thatcher

Nicknames

My family is all about nicknames.  Let me clarify, I am all about nicknames.  Always have been.

To me, it's a term of endearment.

It began with my siblings.  Increased with time.  I gave my youngest brother the most.

I continued this tradition with my girls.

Grace quickly became "my little muffin", "muffy", "Gracie","Gracey-dee","Gracer"," GJ".

For Eva, it was "my little cupcake", "cuppy", "Evie", "Ever the beaver", "Beebs".

And last but not least, Beth became "Bethie" and then, "Beps" after she began referring to herself as "Beppy".

These names don't even include the ones Steve has made up over the years.

My girls have even nicknamed their younger cousins.

Term of love and affection, right?

How do you feel about nicknames?  Do you give them to the people that you love?

Family Day Weekend

For all kinds of really great reasons, the weekends leading up to Family Day weekend were really busy.

As we looked at our calendar for the Family Day long weekend, we realized that we didn't have many plans and as the weekend got closer, we made the radical (for us) choice to keep it that way.  Other than an overnight Grace had planned, a long awaited breakfast date that I had on Saturday morning with girlfriends, Church on Sunday and skating on Monday afternoon, our weekend was pretty open.

This weekend turned out to be fantastic.  Can you believe I told Steve that I think I enjoyed it more than Christmas holidays?  Friends spontaneously dropped by on Friday night for a couple of hours.  Steve had time to work on the construction of our new mudroom.  We rented movies.  Planned spontaneous friend sleepovers for the girls.  Tried 2 new dinner recipes that were BIG hits (and that is saying a lot!).  Napped.  Skated.  Walked.  Hung out and rested.  The fact that the sun was shining was pure bonus.  I feel like my soul was enlarged this weekend and I actually feel refreshed.  Tonight my cup feels full.

Going into this weekend, I was praying for God's peace to rule in our family.  Peace that would permeate and settle in deeply - in our home, in our hearts and minds, in our conversations and so on.  My hope and dream for the weekend was that we would "ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives".  It was a quote I had heard from a study our Mom's group had done a few years back ( I believe the credit goes to John Ortberg).  That was my prayer for the weekend.  And God delivered big time.

More and more, I'm seeing the value in taking time to slow down, rest, create margin and leave room for the unexpected and spontaneous.  One of my goals for 2012 is to do more of it:)

Happy Family Day!

p.s.  the recipes I mentioned can be found here and here.

A recap of 2011

Well friends, I've taken a bit of a blogging break.  It's fun to be back.  But, before I can go forward with 2012, I need to quickly reflect on and say good-bye to 2011.  Is it too late to do an end of 2011 survey?  I hope not.  I saw this on babybangs and thought it was such a great idea. Thanks, Amanda.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

Disney ( first time for the 5 of us)

I sent my baby girl to JK.

Travelled with my husband and good friends to Mexico and left the girls with Gran for 8 days.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any resolutions last year.  However, I wrote out and submitted to God five big dreams that I had for 2011.  At the time of writing them out and praying about them, they seemed huge and impossible.  They were the kind of things that only God could accomplish.  I had forgotten about this 'list' and came across it recently, only to discover that  two of the five dreams have come to be a reality and the other three have come leaps and bounds in the last 12 months.  Those three are the kind of dreams/goals that are harder to measure, nonetheless I was encouraged and thrilled to note the huge progress.  Only God.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes.  My sister, Lauren gave birth to her firstborn, Harper Ava, born on July 7th.  My sister-in-law gave birth to her second born, Callie Evelyn, born on November 25th.  Both are adorable:)

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

USA - Orlando ( family vacation)  and Chicago ( for the Global Leadership Summit at Willow Creek).
Mexico with Jeff and Becky.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

More peace - less hurry.  More quality family time.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory?

*Mother's Day
*My friend, Shelley's baptism.


8. What was your biggest achievement for the year?

Sending Beth to Junior Kindergarten and convincing my husband to leave the kids and fly to Mexico with me for 8 days!  Oh and helping my husband find a new job.  That was huge.


9. What was your biggest failure?

Being ruled at times by fear.
Taking responsibility for things that were not mine.
Overreacting.  Blowing things out of proportion.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Thankfully, no.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

*Together with my Dad and my siblings, we bought 2 plane tickets to bring my Mom's 2 nieces over from Scotland to surprise her for her birthday/Mother's Day.  Priceless.

*A kiva loan.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Not sure!  Probably on the kids:)

13. What did you get really excited about?

Eldering, VMB adoption, taking the girls to the Magic Kingdom (Disney), becoming an aunt again.

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Pretty much anything by Adele.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
-Happier or sadder?

Happier.

-Thinner or fatter?

Not thinner.

-Richer or poorer?

Little bit poorer in terms of money, but way richer in terms of quality.
I am hesitant to even use the word, "poorer", feels wrong considering we are all so rich compared to the majority of the world (http://www.globalrichlist.com/).

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Exercise, pray, had people over for dinner, slow down, simplify, be fully present, spoke words of affirmation to the people closest to me.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Fear, hurry, panic, fear conflict, overreacting, people pleasing.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

We spent Christmas morning and the early part of the afternoon at home as a family.  Opening presents, making breakfast, playing with new toys and games and resting.  We spent the latter part of the afternoon and the evening preparing and serving dinner at the homeless shelter at our church.  This is the second year we have done this as a family and it has become a beautiful tradition.

We spent time with our extended family on the 24th, 26th and 27th.  This was our third year being home on Christmas Day and we loved it.  I've learned that Christmas is not just about celebrating one day, but rather the season. Less rushing, less hectic and more quality time and meaning has been our goal in all of this.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

Parenthood and more recently, Friday Night Lights.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

Secret Daughter
the Help


21. What was your favorite music this year?

Nothing really stands out to me....

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

I can't think of any...must get out more in 2012!

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

My birthday is 5 days before Christmas and it turned out that it was Steve's work Christmas party that night.  My parents hung out with the girls and we celebrated with Steve's work gang.  I turned 39.  Yikes!

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

um...hard to answer.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Casual - but I love my accessories...scarves, shoes, boots, jewelry and or course MAC lipstick.

26. What kept you sane?

God....and my husband.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Well, there are 3.


1.  Love always trusts.  Always assume the best and not the worst of people.  Give others the benefit of the doubt.  Life goes way better this way.


2.  God is trustworthy.  He's good.  He is for me and not against me. He is worthy of all of my confidence.  I have nothing to fear.  The things He teaches us in the dark times and in the waiting are pure gold.  He is my provider.  He is my everything.  He is worthy of all my trust.  His ways are good.  He is good.   I'm learning to trust him in ways like never before.  I'm allowing him to anchor me and grow my roots deeper.  To center me.  So thankful for this life lesson.


3.  No one else can live my life for me.  I must find my own voice and my own path and calling and live it wholeheartedly.  It's time to stop apologizing and regretting past mistakes and downplaying my strengths and it's time to shine.  It's time to use my voice and speak up.  It's time to be ruled by love and not fear.  It's time to embrace my calling, to rise up and to be comfortable in my own skin.  It's time to cheer others on to live their best life and to soar.