Category: General

Each day, like clockwork, I figure I’d let the Baby wake me up.  She’s usually the first of the three girls awake, and that allows me to get decent sleep.  My lofty fantasy is to watch her drowsily eat and fall back to sleep, while I awake and enjoy quiet time.  Enough to do my Bible time and have time to write a wee bit before the other girls come bouncing along. 

This is usually how each day starts, with one minor difference:  the Baby stays awake, followed by the Toddler, followed by Ms. Kindergarten.  And there goes the time right out the window.  I do take a few moments for Bible time–that’s a must.  Like breathing & drinking water–can’t get through the day without connecting with God first. 

As the day goes on, I have snatches of time here and there that let me at least read some fantabulous blog posts from some incredible women.  If I allow myself too much time, I keep finding more and more little goodies hidden here and there.  And then I start dreaming more about my own blog and the posts that I could very well pump out after being inspired by others.  Believe me, I’ve written many a blog post in my head, gone off on many a tangent and had even more lessons come to mind. 

But stuck in my mind is not enough.  I need to transfer it from inner thought to outward expression.  The adventure continues.  My princesses are young enough that they need me to do quite a bit for them still.  And that’s okay.  I’m their Mom–I’m supposed to meet their needs at this season of their lives.  If I want time for extras, however, I need to carve it out of somewhere else.

I was at the local library this evening for their “fall family story time”.  As tonight’s session started, the reader asked the kids what was coming up on Monday.  Thanksgiving was the correct reply (Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October).  The reader then asked what happens for Thanksgiving or what do you do for this holiday.  The response:  food.  Everyone chuckled, some harder than others, and the conversation died there.  While food is a fun part of Thanksgiving, even in my family, it can’t be the only reason why people celebrate.  Or can it?

Truth be told, I was slightly disturbed by this.  Major holiday, involving “thanks” and food was the only priority?  What’s more–this was a child’s response.  This is a reflection of what the child is learning or has been taught.  No other kids had their hands up with responses either.  It made me think.  Are children no longer taught to give thanks? 

It’s kind of different for me.  Giving thanks plays a big role in my relationship with God.  It’s something that I do and am intentional about doing, particularly when I don’t feel like there’s anything to be thankful for.  When you live life with eyes that seek out things to be thankful for, it adds a different perspective.  You tend to be more positive about life in general.  This is something worth sharing, so I’m teaching my children to be thankful.  Even at their young ages, they have things that they can thank God for. 

Where does that leave people who aren’t in the habit of thankfulness?  I know people who are into themselves, very self-focused, very self-oriented.  They often tend to be quick to complain, yet slow to be thankful.  As though nothing happens outside of their personal bubble or beyond their control.  In fact, they get flustered with something extraordinary occurs.  I wonder what meaning, if any, Thanksgiving has for them.  Or is their main focus food as well…

Lots to think about.  Lots more to teach my girls.  Lots to live.

And I thought I was going to the library for 30 minutes of cute stories and a craft. 

We broke all sorts of temperature records today.  It was 31 degrees Celcius (88 degrees Farenheit).  In October, no less!  These scorchers are no stranger to us here, but usually they’re found in June through September.  Actually, as I think back a bit, I remember Oct 5, 2002.  It was chilly…and snowing!  The flakes didn’t last too long, nor were we buried under them.  But it was cold enough to snow then.  Today, people were tanning, enjoying shorts & sandals and blasting air condition.

The weather is a great example of how little control we have.  We cannot control when or how the temperature changes.  Sure, the calendar may indicate a change in seasons.  As to how those seasons feel though?  That’s not up to us to decide.  What we do control, however, is our reaction to what goes on around it.  I’ve heard nothing but pleasant surprise at the sunshine and warmth these last few days.  As if it’s completely mind-boggling that nice weather can occur in the fall. 

Rather than question it though, I think we should just embrace it while it lasts.  What a lead-in to the Thanksgiving weekend.  Let the weather kick start the recitations of thankfulness.  Yet, don’t stop there.  Look for other things in your life for which to be thankful.  Dig deep.  Some of us may need to dig deeper than others, but don’t stop digging.  The story of some gold (I believe it was) mine owners comes to mind.  They were digging for a long time.  Weeks, months, eventually years, but no sign of any precious metals.  Finally, they gave up; threw in the towel.  They quit completely and walked away.  Frustration and fatigue won out over any more digging. New owners came along and began digging.  They hit pay dirt two inches into their dig.  If only the first group had keep hanging on.

Hang tight while the things around you seem dismal.  Though quitting may seem like a sensible option, don’t do it.  That next step is just that much closer to the prize.  Like the weather, you have no control over your circumstances.  Don’t fret.  Just sit back and enjoy it.

This weekend, I’ll be “retreating”.  The women’s ministries department from my church has organized a mini-retreat; a scaled down version of their usual getaway.  They were gracious enough to let me know that Rishayla can come with me, her Dairy Queen.  I didn’t even have to ask them; they volunteered this info to me.  (I wouldn’t have even thought of asking them if nursing infants were allowed).  Two lovely angels offered to cover my retreat costs.  That was probably another sign that I should be going.  The fee was a big obstacle for me, which was knocked over without any doing on my part.  The last tip was talking to a friend who was feeling impressed that I needed to be attending the event this weekend.  Since I wasn’t feeling a definitely “no”, I opted to join in.

The theme:  “Finding Joy in a Broken World”.  Yeppers–the world is most definitely broken, busted & battered.  People are cruel, greedy, selfish & self-seeking.  It seems that most are out for feel-good solutions; anything that will bring instant gratification.  The fact that these things are most often temporary doesn’t stop them.  There are a select few that seek joy.  Despite all of the circumstances in their life, they don’t let those negativities tie them down.

We’ll see what lessons are in store for me this weekend.  While I don’t consider myself to be completely lacking of joy, I do realize that I’m not exactly full of joy either.  I don’t ever want my attitude to be such that I can never learn from anything or anyone.  So, I’m looking forward to the weekend.