Soul Food

Imagine feeding your soul every time you fed your body?

                  Sharing true life-giving food together....

We are trying something new at our mealtimes. Ending each meal with a verse or two.... feeding our souls at the same time we feed our bodies.

man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Deut. 8:3b

Have you fed your soul today?

Staying-Indoors Fridays

Adjusting to life on a tropical island and the constant beautiful weather and compound life with lots of busyness and constant playmates just steps away from our house has had me thinking about how I might wisely wrangle my family together. I love the fact that we can live in sandals year round; I love that the yard is safe and spacious for my 3 year old son to wander; I love that the children LOVE the outdoors. But I found, with the outdoors, basically a new extension to our house, that it is very easy for me to lose track of where everybody is, to lose track of time, and to sometimes allow opportunities for quality time together to slip away. Here, the outdoors could easily be used as a babysitter, like we could use the tv. Why stop them from playing and being out there? They love it, they're entertained, and now I can get something done.

There needs to be balance in everything, of course.

It began somewhat coincidentally, and then grew into something more intentional. Every other Friday, my helper works at another home, so after two weeks with a worker in my house, it felt a bit more automatic to desire an "indoor-day" on Fridays. Daddy goes to work, the kids and I have breakfast and then we continue our morning a little bit more relaxed--we usually don't have school work on this day, but we try and spend the morning reading more books together, perhaps playing some games, singing together, dancing even (without being watched by my helper! :) haha. Yes, the kids ask almost straight after breakfast if they may head outside to play, but my intent is that we try to stay indoors, or if we do venture out, we do it together---a picnic on our lawn together, or a game outside. It is not a punishment, it is not dreaded, but it is a day where we can focus more on each other in the confines of the house. The kids play quietly together in one of the bedrooms--hopefully sorting out their sibling differences on their own. They spend time playing Lego together, putting together Playmobil, taking turns picking a tv program, reading to one another.

It has become one of my favourite days of the week. 

Being Intentional in Motherhood

Since becoming a mother, time seems to be on the fast-track. Days are slipping away into the months, and the months are turning into years. Last night I remarked to my husband that I couldn't believe our eighth wedding anniversary was coming up next month.

Time is literally flying by.

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  (Ephesians 5:15-16)

I have received some strong admonitions from the Word lately, feeling a little like a kick in the pants, to become more intentional in my parenting. Even though I have always wanted to steer away from going into survival-mode there are times when we get to the end of the day and I am thankful we have done just that---survived! However, when I look at the mother instructing king Lemuel in Proverbs 31, I see an intentional woman. Not only that, but she instructs him to search for an intentional wife!

What does being intentional look like practically? 

Being intentional to me means praying about our day together. When praying with my children at bedtime, we pray for the next day. That our actions and attitudes toward one another would be loving, and that we would be obedient to God. It means having forethought, making a plan, prayerfully considering what activities should and shouldn't be included in our daily routine. For me it also means sacrificing my time to get down and dirty with some activities - - finger painting! Being intentional is carving out time to read, play games, allow the kids to help me. It means on purpose training them in the ways of the Lord, training them in obedience, training them in gentleness and thankfulness. For our family, it's also a large reason why we chose to homeschool. Homeschooling forces me to have interaction with my kids that I might miss if they were in school six hours a day.

What does it look like for you? 

No Greater Joy

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth

I came upstairs the other morning to straighten up the bedrooms, and when I peaked into the girls' room I saw my 2-year old's bed like this. My heart swelled with gratitude and joy. I often find my oldest daughter's Bible nearby her own bed, a bookmark carefully marking her place.

I don't ever want to take a child's openness to Scripture for granted. As their hearts grow and develop and as their minds are exposed to ideas, I pray that God continues to soften their hearts and give them an authentic desire to live their lives for Him.

Thank you Lord

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.

---- Ephesians 1:16-19

Christmas in May/June

We have undergone many adjustments in our family over the past 12 months:

• Arrival of our 4th child
• The first year homeschooling in our family
• Move across the country
• Leave all family and friends we've ever known
• Experience language barriers
• Moved to a new church family
• Moved to Madagascar
• Joined another church family
• Adjusting to living abroad (list of details, I won't include here :)
• Adjusting to living in a compound (or gated community of 5 homes)
• Adjusting to having staff in my home most days
• Adjusting to seeing the sun nearly every day! (A huge change compared to the lower mainland of BC where we originate from)
• Cooler season in May/June/July
• Hotter season in November/December/January

Now the poinsettia flowers are in bloom all over our yard, so I couldn't resist, I had to cut some and bring them inside to enjoy as well. We are also enjoying the ambiance of a fire in the evening time, so it is feeling a little bit like Christmas. Kind of strange, as we are aware of the improvement of weather at home (in BC) knowing they have just come through a very long gray winter. 

It is also another reminder that there will be an absence of normal seasonal cues that help get us in the "mood" for the Christmas season. It will be different come December, that's for sure! Rather than bundling up and enjoying soups and hot cocoa, we will be turning on fans, stripping down, and craving iced coffees or smoothies.

I am thankful in the midst of all this change. I am learning how having an attitude of gratitude really makes all of the difference in the world. (Maybe more on that later.)

Thankful For Another Day

I am so thankful because my husband is alive. He was in a motorcycle accident on Friday afternoon, and we spent the afternoon in a nearby hospital in Antananarivo (the capital city of Madagascar). By God's grace, he suffered no broken bones or fractures, just a few scrapes and a sore chest. The doctors were concerned for a concussion because he was unconscious for a few minutes. However, he is resting and recuperating at home now. No concussion suffered.

When I received the phone call on Friday afternoon about his accident, I was terrified. Having hardly any details of the accident, my mind began racing--and of course jumped to some of the worst possible scenarios. What will it be like married to a quadriplegic? Or, Is this it? Me and the kids will return to Canada, alone now. Of course, I am relieved and just so thankful that my silly conclusion-jumping never became my reality.

God is good, all the time.

Seasons

The season is changing around here. And my BC-bred body is somewhat ready for it. It has been strange to be in "summer"-land for so many months at one time. Where we're from, we might experience up to 2 months of warm sunny weather, interrupted by rains and cooler weather, and then back to rain, then cold, and more rain. A change in the seasons often means change in activities. At least it did in BC. The cold rainy season meant being house-bound, eating more soup, often sipping tea, reading more books, and (dare I say it) watching more TV! Or following the onset of nicer weather, drinking more smoothies, riding bikes, wearing flip-flops every chance you get, and often visiting parks to let the children run off energy! Here, the changes in activity may not be so drastic, as the weather outside might remain warmer than inside our house where there's no central heating system.

Our needs changed with the seasonal changes in the weather. 

I would suggest the same is true during the seasons in our lives. Our needs will change as the season of our lives change. And right now, in the tedious days of mothering young children, who literally require constant supervision (except when they're sleeping, of course) it is a full season, and at times, a physically exhausting one. Right now, our needs as mothers of young children might include things like: Time in the Word, a good night's sleep, nutritious food, music.

This season may also include needs like this: (in no particular order)

• At least one good relationship outside of the home
• Having your hair done at the salon every couple of months
• Going for walks with an MP3 player
• Going shopping, alone every couple of weeks
• Buying fancy coffee for yourself on the way to a park with your children
• Taking a fitness class 

Despite the joys of motherhood, and the fullness of its days, I will be the first to admit that I struggle to remember that it IS just a season; to remember to enjoy the simpleness of these days. Right now my biggest problems might include another leaky diaper, a squabble over a toy, or ungratefulness over a meal. I am thankful that right now, I don't have to worry about the boy or girl pursuing my son or daughter, or vice-versa; the questionable friends my children persist in hanging out with, or becoming like; their lack of interest in church, or me wondering where my son is at 2am. Now, I don't want to suggest that these problems are inevitable, but they do exist for some mothers in the upcoming season of motherhood.

And so, I am thankful for these simple days. 

Faith turning 6 this month

A Day

Just for the fun of it, I thought I would record the activity of a day in my life, a mommy of 4 in Madagascar. Perhaps you will be surprised at how boring this is. I'm not really sure. It was interesting for me though, to reflect back on a full day and see how much time was spent doing what... perhaps I need to look at time-management? :)

This was my day on Monday:

5:50 am                Woke up 10 minutes before my alarm. Did hair, make-up, put coffee on, and started my quiet time and Bible study. Checked a blog or two; checked Facebook.

7:00 am                Kids are up. Made and ate breakfast.

7:20 am                Said Goodbye to Daddy

7:30 am                My helper arrived. Gave her some instructions for the morning and our day ahead. Prepared myself to leave for the Monday morning MAF prayer meeting at the Hangar. Set up a tv show for the kids.

8:00 am                Drove to MAF Prayer Meeting at the Hangar.

8:45 am                Returned home. Organized our day’s school work for Faith to start. While the kids finished their show, I stripped my bed, quickly straightened girls’ room and Wesley’s room, with Calvin in-tow.

9:00 am               Received a call from Josh (our neighbor) asking me to check on his house next door because his wife had to leave suddenly with their helper, and they have plumbers over fixing their kitchen. He wanted me to help make sure the workers stayed in the kitchen. These same workers will also fix leak damage in my house later. Found out their helper is having complications with her pregnancy. Praying.

9:15 am               Scribbled a grocery list and quick dinner plan for the week. Took meat out of the freezer to thaw for dinner.

9:20 am               Started school with Faith and occupied the other kids. Math, Social Studies, Science. Joyanne peed on the floor...

9:45 am               I had some pineapple to eat J Contemplated eating the kids’ Easter bunnies – stopped myself.

10:30 am             Spelling with Faith

11:00 am             Sent Faith upstairs to build Lego with Wesley. Worker arrived at our house to fix the damage from the severe leak in Wesley’s bedroom. Gave Calvin his bottle.  Quickly emailed our mailing address to friends and family. Quickly checked Facebook again.

11:10 am             Put Joyanne and Calvin in the stroller and did a few laps around the compound while listening to “An Attitude of Gratitude” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

11:30 am             Sorted out payment to the worker on behalf of Josh. Made Calvin’s lunch and fed him.

11:45 am             Put Calvin in his nap, and made lunch for me and the other 3 kids.

12:10 pm             Lunch! P.B. & Jelly on buns, with puffed cheezies (for them). Leftover pulled BBQ chicken on my bun (from last night’s supper).

12:20 pm             While eating lunch I tried researching mercury levels in albacore tuna. Faith is apparently missing canned tuna. And I remember seeing albacore canned tuna in Shoprite the other day. We also enjoyed leftover cakes our guests brought us last night. Yum.

12:40 pm             Put kids in their quiet times; we also admired the repair job in Wesley’s room.

1:00 pm               Emailing, started writing the weekly newsshare for MAF. Drinking Coke, and playing piano!

1:30 pm                Worked on Ladies Bible Study homework. Enjoying the quiet moments of the afternoon while each child is in their rooms resting.

2:30 pm                Asked Wesley and Faith to clean up from their quiet times. Calvin woke up and wanted his bottle. Rob popped in to pick up a tool for work.

3:00 pm                Joyanne and Calvin went in the stroller for more laps around the compound with me.

3:15 pm                I asked Faith to read to me for a few minutes.

3:30 pm                I chopped some potatoes for dinner. Wesley still hasn’t cleaned up his room, therefore, he’s still in there.

4:00 pm                Talked with Jocelyn for a bit by the litchi tree about her helper who was taken to hospital today for pregnancy complications. Praying.

4:15 pm                Wesley is still in his room refusing to clean up. I am now praying hard to remain firm and consistent and not feel bad for him. The other children and I are spending time outside. Playing on the swings and riding in the stroller.

4:30 pm                Waiting for Rob to get home from work. Maybe he will be able to motivate Wesley a bit better. Wesley came downstairs to show me a car he built out of lego, rather than cleaning up. Oh well... back to his room. My helper left for the day now, making sure to say goodbye and hug each of the kids (that has become their routine, and they are really upset if they don't get to).
4:45 pm                Fanja (our neighbor's helper) came to ask if I would like to buy une poulet this week. I said yes, of course! So I paid her for that.

5:00 pm                Found out Rob will be working late. Wesley is still in his room refusing to clean up. I decide to finish making dinner. Our gardener knocked on the kitchen door asking for money to buy des medicament for my lawn which the crickets have almost destroyed. Gave it to him.

5:30 pm                Wesley has come down a couple of times and I have sent him back to his room to discover he still hasn’t put a single piece of lego in the box.

5:45 pm                Rob arrives home. He speaks with Wesley. Dinner is almost ready. One of the neighbor kids is in the house playing with Joyanne nicely.

6:00 pm                We are eating dinner, Wesley has joined us for dinner.

6:30 pm                I am clearing the table. Wesley is finally cleaning his room (with daddy’s verbal motivation :) )

7:00 pm                We are starting the bedtime routine. Calvin is drinking his bottle. I read Joyanne a book. Faith is in her bed reading her Bible. Wesley is playing cars downstairs. I am quickly checking Facebook.

7:20 pm                I put Calvin to bed.

7:30 pm                Daddy is putting the other kiddos to bed, and I am having a quick chat with my mother-in-law on Skype.

8:00 pm                Showered

8:30 pm                In bed drinking hot chocolate watching tv, oh yeah... and eating chips. Yikes! Surfing the web for cool printables for Faith to work on tomorrow.

9:20 pm                Curled my hair for bed.

10:00 pm              Lights Out. 

Mommy Ministering in Mada

While in Canada preparing to move overseas and serve with MAF many people asked a very natural question, "What are you going to do there while Rob is at the hangar?" I answered with a very natural response, "I'm going to look after my four children." In other words, officially, I will continue being a stay-at-home-mom, and I will try to provide a stable home for my husband to come home to, as well as provide an environment conducive to learning for each one of my children's individual needs. This may not sound glamorous, complicated, or overly ambitious, but it is the ministry God has called me to. Days-off aren't scheduled, vacations don't come around often, and I'm on-call basically 24/7. Other projects I might think would be exciting or relaxing for me will be left for late-night or early-morning hours, or else be constantly interrupted by the ongoing needs of the kids. Another dirty diaper, another bum to wipe, another meal to prepare, another child demanding correction, more whining for juice when given water... another kiss to give, another hug to enjoy, another book to read aloud, a new achievement to praise, another moment to feel proud.

Motherhood is a ministry.

More on this another time - sans interruptions des enfants :o)

A Day In The Life

After being in Madagascar just over two months, our schedule is forming into a new routine for our whole family.

6:00am Mommy & Daddy rise and have coffee and quiet time
7:00am Breakfast begins
7:15am Daddy leaves for the Hangar
8:00am Workbooks come out (any school work that doesn't involve Mommy reading aloud) While Calvin is eating breakfast, Mommy assists Faith with Math, Copy-Work, Spelling, Phonics... etc. Joyanne and Wesley are usually already outside playing by this point!
9:00am Make beds, do girls' hair, get dressed (if not done before breakfast)
9:30am Calvin naps and Science, History/Geography, Bible, Read-Alouds, and other Language Arts lessons happen
11:00am School is finished! And Calvin is up.
12:30pm Lunch
1:00pm Naptime/Quiet Time for everybody
2:30pm Faith & Wesley play outside more
3:00pm Calvin & Joyanne are up
4:00pm Daddy is coming home soon, supper prep is beginning
5:30pm Suppertime
6:30pm Bathtime (on most evenings)
7:00pm Solo reading time in bed for all children
8:00pm Children's bedtime
10:00pm Mommy & Daddy's Lights Out

What Is A Home

A place to be with the ones you love

those whom God blessed you with

A place to laugh

A place to share

A place to relax

New Country...New House...New Life?

Since December (and my last post) we have moved. Perhaps I could let that be my one and only reason for being absent on this blog. That is the easiest and most obvious reason. However, it wouldn't be true.

We have moved from the West Coast of Canada all the way to Madagascar! We have changed country, climate, home, culture, language.. one might say we have changed lives. Despite all of this outward change, some things remain the same. And I am so thankful. (Not because I am sad to be here... quite the contrary, I am very happy and peaceful to be where God wants us) But I am thankful, because no matter what kind of change we experience certain things continue to be my focus in this season of my life:

• My Lord, remains as faithful and present as He promises to be
• My husband, happy to be back at work - still requires my respect, love, and affection
• My children, are still my children - they still require hugs, kisses, and training and correction

So, here is the thing. My family and I are serving God in Madagascar through MAF, and I am trying to find out how or if this blog should continue. Besides being a personal journal of sorts, I'm not quite certain what purpose it is to serve, if any at all. The heart searching will continue and I may or may not be back to write about life as a mother in Madagascar. 

Goals - Purposes

St Charles River - Quebec City

For the past 6 weeks, dear friends (from across the country) and I have been studying 1 John. My small group happens to be close friends from my home church, and it has been such a blessing to keep in contact this way. For me, it has meant so much to share in what God is teaching them about His Word! This morning, I read a short devotional that is related to 1 John 2 & 3, where John is talking about living for Christ. What does that mean? What is our purpose in life? Should our life-goals be different than nonbelievers? What should our priorities be?

Thought I would share it here:

When  I look back on my life nowadays, which I sometimes do, what strikes me forcibly about it is that what seemed at the time most significant and seductive, seems now most futile and absurd. For instance, success in all of its various guises; being known and being praised; ostensible pleasures, like acquiring money or seducing women, or traveling, going to and fro in the world and up and down in it like Satan, exploring and experiencing whatever Vanity Fair has to offer. In retrospect all these exercises in self-gratification seem pure fantasy, what Pascal called "licking the earth." They are diversions designed to distract our attention from the true purpose of our existence in this world, which is, quite simply, to look for God, and, in looking, to find Him, and having found Him, to love Him, thereby establishing a harmonious relationship with His purposes for His creation. -- Malcolm Muggeridge


As a mother I tend to set pretty high goals for myself and my children, and quite frankly it can set us up for disaster because they just aren't practical very often. However, when I sit back and really assess what is important and what I want to accomplish and just focus on that, it is slightly less chaotic.

What are your goals with your children? Are you purposing to focus on those things that are most worth-while? I have been challenged by this thought lately as we are still in the throes of transition in Quebec and will soon be in a more permanent home in Africa. Maybe there will be more thoughts on this later .... ... . if I have time :)

Sunday Morning Chaos

From True Woman Blog

I just have to repost this article from Revive Our Heart's True Woman Blog. It resonates from where I am right now; a mom with many young children in my care. It never fails, it seems every Sunday morning there's a crisis, or my husband and I are driving to church in silence due to some disagreement. This read really encouraged me, and gave me some practical ideas to try and improve our Sunday morning experience!

True Woman: Sunday Morning Chaos

Revisit A Favorite Resource

Thought I would re-post this from 2007! Much has changed in our family's situation. Three more little ones have entered our family since writing this, we have sold the house my husband worked on renovating for 6 years, and we are learning French in Quebec City before we move to Africa! One thing remains though -  and that is my husband's desire for friendship with me..... I invite you to read on about what Eggerich's has to say from his excellent book Love & Respect.

Relationship - His desire for Friendship (Originally posted to this blog in 2007)

This chapter totally made sense to me and I bear testimony of this being true in my marriage. My husband always has different projects going on, with the house, the vehicles, with his guns, etc. When the weather was warmer, and he was outside working in his shop or in the yard, he would ask me to just come outside. He didn't expect me to do anything, he just wanted me to be watching or nearby. I quickly learned that he didn't even necessarily want to talk about anything. Just having me outside was enough.

Our evening routine is the television. We put our daughter to bed, and then both of us seem to veg out watching a sitcom or something on Discovery Channel (my husband's favorite of which I found funny the author used that as his example). I've often felt guilty that we're not doing something more meaningful in the evenings. Shouldn't we be talking or playing a game, or something together? After reading what Eggerichs says about the husband's need for relationship, and what it means to him, I realized that I am doing exactly what my husband wants. It doesn't matter that we're not having dynamic conversations every minute that we're together. All my husband wants, is for me to be with him.

Your Husband will Feel You Value His Shoulder-to-Shoulder Friendship When:

• you tell him you like him and you show it (he knows you love him, but he often wonders if you really like him).
• you respond to his invitation to engage in recreational activites together or you come along ot watch him.
• you enable him to open up and talk to you as you do things shoulder to shoulder.
• you encourage him to spend time alone, which energizes him to reconnect with you later.
• You don't denounce his shoulder-to-shoulder activites
  with his male friends to get him to spend more face-to-face time with you. Respect his friendships, and he will be more likely to want you to join him shoulder to shoulder at other times.

So, how about your experience with your husband? Does he fit this description? I'd be interested in hearing about it!

September Already?!

Growing up, summer always seemed to fly by and not much has changed now that I am older. Summer still goes by far too quickly. But perhaps time is just zooming by in general! Even though summer (my favorite season) comes and goes in a blur, I still looked forward to September. It marks new beginnings. Being homeschooled (and fond of school work) I was anxious to begin new work and I had the opportunity to see some of what my mom was preparing for the new year. September also marked the beginning of weekly Bible Study or AWANA club at church, Youth Group, or Bible Quizzing. Growing up on Vancouver Island, and later living in the lower mainland of BC also meant we were entering nine long months of gray weather. I am excited to experience autumn here in Quebec. I have been told it is a beautiful season, perhaps the favorite among most people here.
As we begin a new season here and changes in weather and activity and perhaps feelings toward things, I am reminded that God never changes. He is the same today, yesterday and forever, and I am so thankful. As quickly as time passes, and things change, I can be sure that God never does, and He is just as loving and forgiving as He has always been.
So, in the hustle and bustle of mothering, being a student, being a teacher (myself) and relocating to another continent, I can rest in Christ and focus on the steadfastness of His love and promises to me.

My Busy 3 Year Old

As much as I am a home-body, I am really beginning to dread the cooler months and being stuck indoors! Even now, we sense autumn in the air here in Quebec City. The crispness in the night, the cooler breeze. My three year old is so active and, being a boy, definitely different than my daughter when she was three! I have to say, I wasn't really sure what people meant when they said boys are so different than girls when I only had Faith. Yes! It's true. He is so different. I have been doing a lot of looking online for indoor activities for boys his age and I just kind of laugh at them (after feeling completely exhausted by the idea of actually getting messy or putting that much effort into something) because I can't imagine him actually being into it. As much as I would love to cover our kitchen table in paper and have the kids finger paint or something, I don't think it would take long before paint was everywhere and possibly being thrown at the other! (Initiated by 'you know who'). He likes to sit and have books read to him for short periods of time... but still spends a lot his time going from one thing to another, wrecking his older sister's stuff, and taking something from the younger....
Hm. He really is a sweet little boy, but his louder nature tends to get him trouble often.
Any suggestions?

A Renewed Call

It has been so long since keeping this blog up-to-date and real. So in an effort to shed some light on the reality of our situation, I'm blogging here again. Plus, it's a good way for me to keep a journal going. We have moved to Quebec City now in order to begin French language school before our big move to Madagascar. It was so hard to say good bye to family and friends, and our home is still sitting empty with no buyer. We are praying God brings a buyer soon! Quebec City is unlike any part of Canada I've ever experienced. It truly is a different culture, and the language is no exception. We have only been here 12 days, and loneliness is starting to set in. Homesickness is welling up inside of me. My life is so busy with the little ones--you would think a quiet lonely time would be something I would long for! My personal quiet time with the Lord has been shoved aside, and that is also starting to take its toll. I just can't seem to find time. My children are getting up 'uber' early! This morning they woke at 5:55, and it seems like if I can't make time in the morning, it doesn't really happen at all. Well last night, I turned on some worship music by Michael W. Smith, and it must have been just what the Lord wanted for me, because I literally listened to my heart's cry through his song Here I Am. As I listened to this song, God calling on our family's life became real again. I don't anticipate this homesickness and loneliness to go away or get easier, but I have a renewed sense of why we're here. And why we gave up what we did back home.

There's a place where I can go
Where the angels hear me pray
I want to change
Yes I need Your touch
I'm waiting here for You
And I fall, at Your feet
I'll give it all, until the day we meet
Here I am
Ready to give up my life for the One
Here I am
Ready to pour out my heart for the Son
Here I am
Here I come to Your threshing floor
Where the angels fear to tread
I'm waiting here for the King of love
And to hold the hands that bled
And I fall, at Your feet
I'll give it all, until the day we meet
Here I am
Ready to give up my life for the One
Here I am
Ready to pour out my heart for the Son

 Here we are, sitting in our apartment in Quebec City getting used to the 30+ weather with humidity around 80% making it feel more like 40 degrees out.

This is Tough

Baby number 4 is due to arrive in 6 weeks. And I always seem to forget how taxing the last month or so of pregnancy is on the emotions! Not to mention, along with the arrival of this baby, we are also preparing to sell our house, move across the country, pack belongings into a crate to ship to Madagascar, and settle in for a 6 month crash course in learning French! Oh yeah, and doing this away from the familiarity of our hometown, our extended family, and close friends that we love as family!

As my tummy continues to grow, my comfort level continues to decrease, and my capacity to be somewhat emotionally stable (haha) SEVERELY decreases, we have officially entered what moms of young children call "survival mode". When we are not in the heat of a difficult situation, it is a little easier for me to step back and recognize God's hand as He prepares us for tougher circumstances. (Which I firmly believe don't just come upon missionaries!) Again, I am reminded what He wants from me. My heart; my absolute dependence, and my obedience. As our pastor said from the pulpit a couple of weeks ago (and I cannot quote), life brings suffering. It's pretty simple. Not easy; yet simple. I am just experiencing life right now.

Are you experiencing Life right now?

After publishing this post - I came across another post by Sally Clarkson (Christian author) shared by a friend on Facebook. I just have to post the link, because it really ministered to me, and I hope it might also minister to you.

http://www.itakejoy.com/walking-through-soul-darkness/

Working and Resting

Since returning from the UK for a cross-cultural training course last month, I have devoured a book called Working From a Place of Rest by Tony Horsfall. He has worked with MAF missionaries for years in pastoral care, specifically visiting those families serving the northern Africa region.

Exhaustion, burnout, tiredness, even breakdown... sadly, such conditions are all too common these days, not least among those involved in some kind of Christian ministry, whether full-time, part-time or voluntary. In striving to do our utmost for God, we can easily forget that there were many times when Jesus himself was willing to rest, to do nothing except wait for the Spirit's prompting, so that he demonstrated the vital principle of 'working from a place of rest'.

This season of my life as a mom of 3 young children, and another soon to arrive, could hardly be described as restful! And being a wife and mother is definitely full time ministry. So how does one balance all of these responsibilities and call it working from a place of rest? The house would literally become unglued if I simply stopped doing laundry and cooking meals! Perhaps us as moms need to redefine 'rest'. Not too long ago I was asking for prayer in this area of finding rest in the busyness of life, and a good friend asked me what that rest might look like for me. The question caught me off guard a bit! Being away from my children isn't the answer for me, going away on vacation and all of the work that encompasses is hardly restful either. Even having a good night sleep hasn't answered my problems (though it definitely alleviates some). The quiet rest I need must be the intimate spiritual connection of my relationship with Christ. Being focused on him throughout the day and prioritizing the day's needs and responsibilities according to His will.

If we are too busy to rest, it is because we are driving ourselves too hard. In his kingdom, we can walk with calmness because he is in control. If we are rushed and harassed, it is because we ourselves are trying to make things happen. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't manage our time well or seek to work efficiently. It simply means that we use our time and establish our priorities from a different value system. We give our time back to God, for him to apportion as he desires. (Pg. 60)


This sounds very nice, it is so much harder to practice. It comes down to our ability to trust in God and the plans He has for our lives. Perhaps we make our lives too complicated sometimes? I actually enjoy keeping a tidy house; it makes me feel good to be on top of the laundry pile (mostly), and I would say one of my hobbies is finding ways to make more things from scratch (frugality, and for health reason). But these things can add stress to my day and perhaps take me away from that which is most important at that moment: Training my children up in the Lord, playing with toys on the floor with them, and relaxing with books on the couch together. Fresh bread, homemade yogurt, etc.... those things can be put on hold.

Being still and waiting for the Lord to guide my steps is the pathway to restfulness.