Holiday Pictures

So we are almost done our three week holiday here in BC. First we visited the family we have on the coast and now we are with my parents in the mountains, where they live. It has been very good and we have had a lot of fun. We'll see some of you soon.
Here are a few pictures ....

The Nativity

I watched The Nativity and it is a very good movie. One thing I loved about it was how real it made Mary and Joseph, the movie shows the emotions you don't read about in the gospels, yet they where real people with real problems so they did experience all the emotions. Watching this movie has helped bring some focus back on Jesus, who of course gives meaning to this season..... speaking of bringing Jesus back to his celebration I am also trying to memorize the Christmas story (40 verses from Luke). I hope by Christmas morning I have it done so well that I can tell the story like they did in the "good ol' days" before the printing press..... only 22 days to go, I better get memorizing...... I think Jesus can so easily be lost in these festivities, these traditions we have, I challenge you to find ways to bring Jesus back to his party. I'd love to hear what you do.

-18

BUUURRRRRRRRRR!!!
It's getting colder UUGG .... butttt that means we are getting closer to Christmas!! YEAH who's excited??
I want to be the first to wish you A merry Christmas Season. and now here is my favorite U-Tube Christmas lights display.

It was God

Have you ever felt silly giving God the credit?
Ok well if I am all alone on this one then I will look silly on more than one account.
So here is the story ... I was sick (a regular winter bug) but I needed to be better so I asked the girls to pray for me(which was the sweetest thing ever, three girls kneeling by my bed mumbling their heartfelt prayers in unison).... then I took the appropriate drugs I figured I needed to to manage. That day and night I felt good and I gave credit to the med.s, not to God... why? I really don't know why? all I can figure is I thought I might look odd if I gave God the credit and maybe more base line I just didn't fully believe it was God. well the next day my health status was back to bad. Now I was starting to feel silly for not giving God the credit. I wonder if I had glorified God for the miracle of health if I would have really been better. Anyway the day after that I again needed to be better and this time I confessed my unbelief, took no med.s and just trusted God, if he figured I needed to be better than he would have to have mercy on me and do his work. God knows I certainly didn't deserve it. I will spare you the details but I know, I really know it was God, I was healed and it was instant. I think he knew he was working with a skeptic and a silly one at that so he made it very clear that this was his work and all I can say is Praise God for being real to me again. It was God the first time and it was God the second time.

Now this is for all of you, take to heart the moral of the story as I have, which is pray and ask God and then trust him for the results, and for heaven sake give him the credit! Maybe it won't be healing for you but God will show himself real to you when you ask.

Picture time

I just wanted to share some pictures of the little beauties that bless my life every day. Sometimes I feel like I am raising my best friends, we have so much fun together.

God (still) has the power

In case you've come looking for the post called "God has the Power". The post could have been seen in a negative manner so I deleted it to avoid confusion and frustration.

Hey but the title is still the truth

God has the power to change us

Pray

Just a simple reminder.... PRAY. Oh God hear our prayers

Where can we confess?

He did a good one, my best preacher shared a good sermon on Sunday. In a Nut shell he said - We need to confess our sins to one another and be real with one another about our struggles. That is what this blog is really about, being real, me being real and hoping to spur you on to be real as well.
I was at prayer meeting this morning and it was really special to me because at one point in the prayer time we all began to confess or sins, spurred on by Ben's sermon and by one another's confessions. I felt God draw closer to us and I felt us draw closer to one another. We can relate to one another's confessions because we are all sinners and we all struggle to do what is right.
If you didn't hear the sermon, here is the link to the audio( If September 30 is not listed yet then check back later)
I think the big question for those that want to be obedient to God's word is where can we confess our sins to one another. We don't want be awkward or weird about it, I would hope for a place that feels natural and conducive for confession. Our church doesn't seem to have a venue for confession. That is why I was so excited for this prayer meeting today. So prayer meetings could be good places to confess, where else could we confess?

Atoz

I am wondering if your response will be similar to my moms "And you have time for that?!?" .....
Back in June I started a small project for fun with the kids and it kinda has taken on a life of it's own. What I started, unbeknown to me at the time, was a series of super hero trading cards....(here is where you just raised your questioning eyebrows).... I have now named these cards ATOZ and am selling them in packs of 10 and 22. Of course this is not what I set out to do, it has just all happened because the kids loved them so much. and now I am just about to release the third series of cards. The cards are made up of local people (kids and their family) plus animals and nature. Each character has a Nick name, super power, weakness and team.....


and now what you've all been waiting for-- a glimpse at some of the cards from the soon to be released series.



Presenting for the first time, what you will see no where else on the Internet.....

Pinky













moon walker















Razorback
















You'll have to buy a set to know their super powers and weakness.
if you would like your face on a card or would like to purchase your very own cards respond here and I will get in touch with you.

This is how God is

I have a good friend in BC who often inspires me in my spiritual walk.(Your probably going to read this Tracey so I'll say Thanks)Her and her husband Greg radiate God and this story she posted in her Blog touched me and was so fitting since our church just started a preaching series on Confession.
You can read it for yourself if you want but here is the quick recap:
Their son accidentally dented a stranger's car and the fellow went to his insurance to make a claim. While Greg and Tracey waited for the damage total they prayed and where faithful. After a few weeks they heard from the man and he said he would not file a claim and that their debt was forgiven. But he didn't stop there, in my opinion his act of kindness combined with the final words he said to them was worth more than the money they saved. He said "Be sure to tell your little boy that this is how God is, we make a mistake and he forgives us without making us pay for it."

Jesus

..for his name sake we will suffer, we DO suffer. Maybe suffering is a dramatic word for here in Canada but yet we do suffer in small ways.
I was recently interviewed (via e-mail) in regards to some volunteering I do and when asked why I started volunteering, my answer included the name of Jesus...it went like this, "

There are so many reasons I volunteer but I know that the root of them all is in my relationship with Jesus. Because I want to spread His love around so others will know it too."

Since I was e-mailing my responses I had time to think and review, I liked that. Though when the reporter got my reply I was called and asked to reconsider that answer because she suspected that it(the part where I mention Jesus) would not pass the editor. -Maybe I should substitute faith or religion instead of the whole sentence about Jesus.- ... I declined on the reconsideration, I wrote Jesus, not Faith, religion or Christianity for a very specific reason and thus that was the answer i gave. The reporter accepted that and passed it on to the editor but what do you know, last week I got the article and the editor edited out that part of my response. Now sure Media is media, they have the liberty to select what they put in the article, but you see this entire article was typed up word for word... reporter question, my answer, reporter question, my answer, and those two sentences had to go because of the name of Jesus.
so many questions roam in my brain.
Does our country really have freedom of religion?
Can the media not even report simple sentences that are authentic and true to me?
What can i do?
Should I do something?
Is this really a big deal?
What are your thoughts?

Camping Shots

Girls and their frog princes! What can you do?
Mud Fight!!!
Anyone up for a little watermelon ball?
I took these shots when we were camping a few weeks ago. We had a ton of fun. What a great summer.

Grade one = Sad

I had a really good summer It started out relaxing and I felt that I had all the time in the world. It was a nice feeling. I really needed that. Now I have become more anxious again, there is a lot of things coming up on the calender and I know that anxiety #1 is that my girls will all be in full time school. Now to some they might be looking forward to the free time, the quiet house, but my friends I am not feeling this. I Don't want my babies to go to grade 1. I am really going to miss them. Most of the time I just avoid thinking and talking about it. But I know it has to come.
and now as I was just thinking about this I was wondering when we grow older spiritually with God does he have to let us go more? Does he get this feeling? I always pictured it the opposite to that. I figured that as I got older and closer in relationship to God I get closer to Him physically(in a mental picture kinda way) I guess when thinking again about my girls I know we have a closer relationship as they grow older but I have to be able to release them to learn and grow as individuals. Really I have no choice. And even if the comparison between God as a parent and me as a parent doesn't line up perfect I know that God understands and he's going to help me make this transition.

soon

It has been 2 months since my last blog, it seems I needed a summer holiday from a lot of things this year. Check back again soon because I'll be back.... soon.

simplicity

What do you think it means to live simply? Should it be an aim in life?
Simple and content what would that look like?

Grim Reality

These numbers always "amaze" me..... "numbers"?? these are lives.
http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm
If you are like me you can't imagine what 2.9 million dead per year looks like then image(though it is grim to even propose the idea) that all of our community(7000+) died every day..... every single day! every single year! without end in sight.

Where is God?

Humanity suffers in mortal agony
as our foe taunts us,
saying to us all day long,
"Where is your God?"

Why are we so downcast?
Why so disturbed within ourselves?

Come let's put hope in God once again,
we can still praise him,
For he is our Savior and our God.
modified from Psalm 42

Betty and India

My prayer partner and mentor Betty and her husband went to India last month and I was very interested in some things she said when she returned. I asked her if I could share some of her thoughts with you and she said yes.

Absolutely amazed at the FOCUS of the Christians.

The Sole purpose of the Christians is to reach India for Jesus.

Church is never there for itself….always in the business of multiplying

208,920 people are on a waiting list to get the training to be church planters.

Each person we met seemed passionate about what they are doing... lay people who seem so focused on reaching others.

My struggle now is what do I do with what I have experienced. I so desire the passion I saw in the people, but just don't know how to live that kind of passion here. I/We seem to have so many wants and plans that just don't seem to leave any room for God. So many times our focus is not on God. Being a Christian often just seems to be a ticket to Heaven. Not a life changing, consuming, central part of who we are.

Thanks Betty for your inspiration.
My bones cry out for more meaningful impact on the world too. In God I will search for the answers I seek.

The Lamp

The young adults group we host at our house had a photo scavenger hunt on Sunday. the group I was in had a living room lamp as a prop. It was a lot of fun here are some pictures.

normal vs. radical

"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world."
Joel A Baker

I'm praying for my vision and action to have a head on collision

God is leading me into a time of spiritual renewal. I have lived 15 years not wanting to be mediocre .... if not already i will soon arrive at mediocre if I do not make some course changes now. I have not let God have all of me. I long to be normal but yet I long to be radical. The problem is "normal" is conformity to this world and that is what my flesh desires. "Radical" is what God teaches me to be in scripture. This is the battle that wages in me. I read about and listen to people who blow my mind in regards to being radicals, they changed the world as we know it and I long to see what God could do if only I was as dedicated to him as I am to my selfish desires. I need the vision and the action.

"Our instinctive inclination is to protect our time and energy, even hoard it. Yet just a casual read of the New Testament reveals that Jesus lived his life giving himself away."
Aurthur unknown

Could I live to give myself away?
If you do anything, think anything because of reading this do not think of me but return to your own spiritual need to be renewed, seek God, let God show his Glory through you in this day.

Confession

What is the hardest thing I have ever had to do?
Confess, confess my sin to God and others. Now I hope I am not letting you down by telling you I am not going to confess anything here today, accept that it is something very hard to do. I was listening to a lesson by Beth Moore and it was all about a time of pure confession to God. It is a challenge to me. during my prayer time, I seem to spend less and less time on confessing to God my sin and need for Him and more on my list of physical needs and requests. Honesty I can't even remember the last time spent time in confession. She says that if you are experiencing a time of spiritual dryness and you feel in a cycle of up and down spiritually, it means you need a time of pure confessing before God and not just a quick "sorry God"(which is good too but there is also this time needed for brokenness before him.)
Confession is so hard but we need to confess our sins, to God and to others.
The others part-
This is so hard I think generally we(Christians) have avoided it and avoided talking about it.
What shall we do with our confessions? Any ideas?
aside from thinking of an answer to that. I challenge you as Beth challenged me, to bow your head or raise it, however you call on God and confess, confess it all to Him and how desperate you are for his fathering in your life. and then accept his forgiveness and keep confession as a regular part of your prayer time.

I'll be on the moon by noon...

..and back by supper.
I love creativity, I love passion. I am told I am a creative person and I have passion. I haven't always agreed but this week I know it is true, right now in my life I am experiencing an overload of creative thoughts and passion. It wouldn't be so bad if it was for one idea but NO! It feels like every 5 minutes I have a new plan or idea that I am ready to dedicate my day/summer/ or even life to(or at least 5 minutes). If creativity was a throttle and passion was the gas, I am flat out heading across the universe and 300 KM/hr. My mind resembles that of a mad scientist or something. The creative switch in my brain is stuck in the on position and I am exhausted. So you're thinking "Wow! she must get a lot done!" ... Nope, I have become unable to accomplish anything. What can i do? I am praying for focus and passion for one idea. surely all this can not be wasted on my crazy mind and never come to anything good. I am praying that God will help me harness this .....(whatever it is).. and turn it in the right direction.

I am generally very busy. I think I may be experiencing a slow week.

Speaking of creativity I want you all to see this video clip, if you have the time. He is very easy to listen to and his message is much needed in the education system. See it at Ben's blog.

Home Now

I have arrived home.
I got back on Thursday and it has been a beautiful weekend. We all enjoyed family time with Ben, we relaly missed him and I know he missed us.

So just thought I'd let you know my visit with my friend in Edmonton went well. She was so excited that I came to visit, we ate together, visited, took pictures and I prayed with her before I left. I felt it was a real blessing to her and to me. I really felt God among us. Thanks for your prayers.

spring, sand and a story

I made it to the coast and I found spring. So Manitoba I will bring some of it back with me. Here are some photos to prove it.
My sister in law's garden.

Ariel got roller blades for her birthday and she is doing really well already.


We got our dose of sand and sea ... someday i hope we will live at a beach. (really hoping)

Ok so I have so many stories to tell but as I am sure you have noticed I like to keep my blogs short. for 2 reasons- I don't like to read long blogs generally unless they are very interesting, so I don't make mine long and it takes me so long to get the thoughts from my head onto the screen as it is, that I run out of time and I just keep it short. that said I have one story to tell that starts a while back. We'll see if it gets to be long or short, but I only have 1/2 an hour. so here goes.
In February I was driving along and thinking as I usually do. (My brain is a very busy place and I tend to day dream a lot) well on this day I was thinking about this trip I was going on to BC and I digressed to thinking about my friend Fatuma and her family in Edmonton then i thought how nice it would be to visit her some day and bless her somehow. well that is where the two thoughts combined and I figured in my brain if I would go during this trip it would cost an extra $300 -I don't have that extra right now and so I passed the thought saying "well God if you want me to go you'll have to provide." At that I went on to other things and did not think of it again and probably would not have every remembered the thought until later.... later that same day. I was handed a check for $300 and was told to be creative and use he money wherever I wanted. Can we say "WOW" and "Oh my God" and mean it. I think God wants me to go to Edmonton! LOL I am not sure I wanted to go to Edmonton. It was just a thought! But what can I do? My brain thoughts got me into this mess. Oh don't get me wrong, I am excited. ... so I'm going to Edmonton- out of obedience, curiosity, and to visit a friend. as to what I going to do or say that God will have to tell me yet if he has a specific plan, so pray for me to have the wisdom and insight I need for this task. As my profile says I want to be a willing vessel available when the king calls me, so here I am.

On the move

So My time at my my parents has come to an end. Now I am moving on to Ben's sister's place to stay for a week. I did so many things I never get to do. Here are some pictures of me working on the house, shooting the winchester and playin'around.

20 years in a moment

The view from my parents living room window looks down through a small valley. Yesterday I sat there while everyone else was busy outside. I sat and pondered where I was and how life brought me to this place. How God had brought my parents, my siblings and my children to this place, even if just for visits. How it seemed only yesterday we were all kids playing in our yard in Langley, being kids. As i looked out the window it was like a moment in time capturing 20 years or more into one thought. Who would have thought we'd be here, now, it just seemed odd, so sudden. Life takes turns all along the journey. It made me wonder what God might have in store for us(me and Ben and the kids) in the next 20 years, who knows but God. I am excited about the future, I don't know what it will bring but I sure pray it will be the Lords will.

Yesterday we also went into the bush to collect firewood for next winter. Here are a few pictures of a huge tree my brother, Dad and I loaded onto the trailer.

This tree my dad will put through his saw mill and turn into boards for the house.

From the mountians

well the secret is out so I can tell you all about what I have been up to now.

Last week I found out that I didn't need to teach for April so I decided to go to BC to visit family. But I wanted to make it a surprise for my parents so I conspired with my sister and two brothers to meet me at Mom and Dad's. So everyone got time off work and made the plan to meet on Friday morning at Mom and dad's. My oldest brother told them he was coming with his family but the rest of us just arrived. Wow were Mom and Dad surprised. It has been a great Easter weekend already. The girls just love being in the mountains. I have hardly seen Ariel for 2 days because she has been off in the bush or by the creek with her cousin. I am just so amazed at how no one is asking for food all day long like they normally do at home. The beautiful thing is the weather, 20 yesterday and today. The bad thing is there are a lot of wood-ticks-IIIKKK. Here are some pictures.... Oh and some time I will have to tell you about the broken down van, 10 hours at Corner Gas which all led to our new 2005 Montana van. and one more thing My kids were the most amazing kids as they were so positive and good natured the whole 2 day trip here(11 and 12 hour driving days)I was exhausted when I arrived. anyway here are those pictures I promised.
full baskets from the egg hunt

checking for ticks

My dad and brothers by the house my parents are building

Driving the three princess

My water broke

Since tomorrow is April Fools day I wanted to tell you all a funny thing I did to Ben the year I was 9 months pregnant with Ariel on April 1. It was about 6:30 in the morning and as usual i was up early because I couldn't get comfortable with the huge belly and all, so i went to the kitchen for a drink of water... I got an idea to spill the water on purpose and then scream to Ben that my water had broken ... trying to keep serious the whole time. Wowzers - he was up quick, he had been sleeping but now he was one leg into his pants running into the kitchen. It was very difficult to keep a straight face for a moment or two but then I burst out laughing and called out April fools. He took it well and went back to bed.

success

It's kinda funny how I can tell all....almost all.... on a blog and yet most of you I would not tell these things so boldly in person.... the wonders of a blog.

I often share my failures but today I was thinking of sharing a success. It's real too. LOL

For lent I gave up staying up late, with the intention of being able to wake up early to read more in my Bible, pray and memorize scripture. I have been able to do all three and I am loving it. I memorized Psalm 32 and am now working on Romans 8 and part of Deuteronomy 12. I hope it will be a pattern I keep with even after Lent is over. I feel energized and inspired.

Sooo I would love to hear how your lent is going. If you chose to lent that is.

"click"

Some of my favorite pictures from the action on the street in recent days.

Jesus outside the IGA

It was just a quick stop at the IGA, who would have known?

Ben ran in for a bag of chips and some batteries, I waited in the van with the girls. As Ben walked into the store an old man, I'd never seen before, seemingly crippled with time and bad experiences came hobbling out of the store, leaning heavy on his cane and with a shopping caddy in tow. He looked awkward and warn-out. For all the detail I noticed, I really didn't look at him long, as soon as my eyes took notice, like a knee jerk reaction, I turned to look at the girls in the back seat. It was intentional, I didn't want to stare or even look- what if I made him feel awkward? or was it more - I felt awkward.
Joelle saw him right away - "Mommy there's a very old man." she watched him walk awkwardly down the sidewalk, not taking her eyes off of him. I turned back to look at him just as he had past the van... "But I still love him" she said, it was the voice of Joelle ..or was it, I instantly knew it was God. A direct shot to my heart. I physically looked up as if i was expecting to see him there and said "Oooh God!" -A plea for a heart like my daughters ....He answered and I felt a flood of love pour into my heart for the man. All in a matter of seconds. Joelle and I watched the man walk down the sidewalk her with a look of innocents and joy, mine of tears and amazement.

Jesus forgive me and make me to love you, truly love you, even when you walk by me in disguise. I pray for those that read this that they too will seek you and find you in the lonely faces and the most unusual places.