Thirteen

Yesterday was a big day for my oldest.


This girl turned me into a Mom 13 years ago and changed my life forever.


On July 15, 1999, I was young and had no idea what I was in for.    Grace turned our world upside down so quickly and had us wrapped around her little finger in no time.  Steve and I were head over heels in the worst way.  Nervous too.  I honestly thought my heart was going to explode with love for this wee girl.


There are a couple of moments from that summer that are etched in my memory forever...


I'll never forget one thick humid summer evening.  I was sitting on our under construction front porch staring at her lying in the pale blue basinet  All of a sudden I was aware of what a gift she was to our family and I felt a peace and a happiness and an awe that I can't even to this day put into words.  At that moment, there was no where else I wanted to be and nothing else I wanted to be doing than being her Mom.

Another time, I was driving our 1990 blue and grey striped F150 truck along a country road and she was right beside me, facing me in the cab in her carseat.  I wanted to have her as close to me as possible and so she was in the middle seat.  These were before the days when there were front air bags!  I remember this wave of love and gratitude coming over me.  I remember vividly, like it was yesterday.  Feeling like the luckiest, most blessed person in the world.  I remember feeling rich.  Thirteen years ago, we were living on hardly anything.  I was on maternity leave and Steve still serving his apprentiship and at night school two evenings a week.  We were living on very little.  But on that summer day.  On that country road.  With my baby girl beside me, I felt like the richest person in the world.


These days, she is not so wee.  Yesterday marked her thirteenth birthday.  I am so proud of her and delighted to be her Mom.  She's becoming her own person and blossoming into a lovely young adolescent girl.
Hang in there Mom's of toddlers....all that hard work pays off :)


These past 13 years have been an adventure.  I love being her Mom.

Happy 13th Birthday Grace!  

Just a girl on a dock

This past Sunday morning, I had some time to sit on the dock at the cottage and be still.

 Truly, a taste of heaven.

Just what my soul needed.

Mornings are my favourite time of day at the cottage.

The fresh air.  The quietness.  The constant, soothing sound of tiny waves gently touching the shore over and over again.  Time to breathe deeply.  The smell of freshly brewed coffee.  Vast blue endless sky.  The warmth of the morning sun on my skin.  Call of the loons.  Feeling small, knowing God is big.

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10


I want to seek out more of these quiet moments this summer.   Hope you can too.

Hello Summer!

Today is the longest day of the year.  I like the anticipation of a new summer.  As an aside, I am sooo looking forward to not making school lunches.

Thanks to a tweet I read this morning by Nancy Beach (@NancyLBeach),  the question I am asking today is, "how will we seize the summer of 2012 and not miss the wonders of each moment pregnant with potential?"‏

Once school wraps up, I want to sit down with my girls and compile a 'summer bucket list', but in the meantime, here are some ways that I want to savour this summer:

• lazy unhurried days
• carousel at Port 
• picnics
• make raspberry and strawberry jam
• canning peaches
• pick and eat local fruit as much as possible
• enjoy my backyard
• spontaneous bonfires in the backyard
• lots of swimming at local pool
• play tennis
• camping
• family bike rides
• lots of ice cream and popsicles
• reading good books
• making sure we see the new disney movie, Brave.
• plant lavender in my garden

How about you?  What is on your summer bucket list?


p.s. Stay cool, friends.  It's hot out there today.  As Beth left the house this morning for school, she opened the front door and said, "hottest day ever, here I come!"

Here's what I'm thankful for these days...

Here's what I am thankful for these days...

• clean, fresh sheets
• my backyard
• air conditioning on hot nights
• laundry on my clothes-line
• a strawberry patch within walking distance to my house
• my Mom's choclate cake
• chairs made with love
• rainbows
• the most delicious homemade lentil soup.
• a birthday girl

How about you?  What are you thankful for?

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...:)