School's Out ... For Summer!

It's always exciting to come to the end of the finish line and we are finished - with Grade 4! We've had a fun week of activities and field trips in between finishing up math and school projects. 

Earlier in the week was a workshop at the National Gallery. The group took a tour of sculptures in the museum, focusing on low-relief sculptures. After breaking for lunch, the students gathered in the workshop and were all given a chunk of terracotta clay to make their own low-relief creations.

On Wednesday we had our last co-op for the school year. This unit has been focusing on Ancient Egypt which is always a favourite theme for kids! They had a blast making their own "double crown" of Egypt, a fancy Egyptian necklace, pint-sized pyramids and learning about mummies. 

Thursday morning we headed downtown to the International Children's Festival where we met some friends and saw a show. Zanna got her face painted, we ate poutine and drank slushies and enjoyed the warm weather we were blessed with that day! 

Friday we actually stayed home in the morning and finished up some book work ending with a fun art lesson and an afternoon of soccer. 

That was just one week, friends. I'm getting too old for this;)

Since I've been behind in updating things here at the blog I should probably back up a bit to make this up to date.

Zanna participated in synchronized swimming for the first time. She's really enjoyed it and has been a great experience for her. The final water show was a few weeks ago and ended the season. Her team did a great job and worked together really well! And she was adorable. 

Lutheran Girl Pioneers had their Mother's Day tea last weekend and we were treated to a pretty table with flowers, yummy food and tea, of course. The kids sang a song and Zanna and I played "Amazing Grace" together on our violins. The children had also made adorable felt coasters as gifts that they had stitched designs on. 

And because I haven't written in awhile, I'll also mention the books I've read. I pretty much consumed All the Light We Cannot See in a few days. And because I was on a role I finally read The Secret Daughter. When I finally looked up from my books to see what was going around in the rest of my world, I was surprised to see a house that could use some cleaning and people that wanted to be fed something other than frozen pizza. 
Also I never mentioned during Lent that I was reading Grace Upon Grace  that was just about my favourite book ever! Funny thing is I had tried reading it a few years ago and actually stopped because I just didn't get it/ was questioning a few things, etc. This time is totally clicked! I mean - I'll still have to reread it a dozen or more times to get more out of it but I'm hooked now. I did the downloadable study guide from CPH that came with it and that really enhanced my study of it. 
I FINALLY finished Grace Abounds which I'm feeling pretty good about since it took me about forever. But totally worth it! 
I'm actually looking for something to read now. I downloaded on Kindle Jayber Crow because I'm curious to read a Wendell Berry book. So we shall see. 
I'm also reading a devotional called Be Still - 45 Days of Living in God's Stillness by my parents new pastor in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. He lost his first wife to cancer and this is a collection of his email updates that he sent his church family, friends and family during this difficult time. It. Is. Wonderful. Each of his emails are followed by a devotion for the reader weathering our own "storms". This is a very heartfelt, honest read of a pastor's own struggle to be still in the Lord and such an encouragement to those that are reading. I will be giving them as gifts!! (my mom is buying them in bulk too - haha)
Zanna has discovered the Mandie books. She's currently doing a 31-Day Read-Aloud Challenge and for every 5 days she completes 15 minutes of reading aloud, she gets to pick a prize from one of the coupons. It's funny she picks more Mandie books! She also picks ice cream but who wouldn't? 
That's all for now, folks. Getting ready for the big trip to get my boy back for the summer. That means lots of laundry (because we have to at least start with clean clothes), lots of leftovers (because I do NOT want to come home to funky stuff growing in the fridge) and lots of cleaning (because I like to come home to a clean home AND if our house should heaven forbid get broken into AT LEAST the robbers will not be critical of my housekeeping). 

Point of View

Over the years I have kept a gratitude journal. But there's a very curious phenomenon in my recurring use of it - it gets strangely silent in the winter months. As in - blank space, crickets chirping, all that. And then all of a sudden comes spring and it's pages are filled to the brim with things, places, people, smells, sounds, etc. that I am thankful for. The pace usually keeps up through the summer months although may become sparse in between summer trips and such. The fall months don't have regular entries but are more sporadic, usually peaking at October that coincides with Canadian Thanksgiving. And then it goes silent. This pattern has been the same for 4 years! Clearly I am not a winter person and could probably exercise my gratitude muscles during this season. And clearly the coming of spring is such a momentous occasion that I swell with thankfulness in all mundane things such as: there being no snow in my front yard, I don't have to put on a winter coat to get the mail, and my personal favourite - the first spot of a street sweeper! 

And speaking of seasons, how about our seasons of life? I gotta say, I'm in a sweet spot right now. I have stability, a little more wisdom that comes with a little more age, date nights with my husband, a full 8 hours of sleep each night, children that can pretty much take care of themselves and that I can leave for periods of time to run errands or go for a walk with my hubby. I can read books, write my thoughts on this blog, study God's Word, plan my menu for the week, shop, and use both hands to cut and chop vegetables for dinner. Life is sweet. 

Last week I was thrown back in time with the addition of some mini houseguests. For 4 days and 4 nights, I went back in time to mothering a 4year old and a 7 month old. Suddenly my season changed and like an early spring shoot coming up from the earth only to experience a sudden frost, the question for both of us was the same: would we survive??????

I'm writing this so clearly I did survive. But I came out of it with some gems of wisdom (I'd like to think) for those of you in the trenches of mothering little ones. From one who has been there and made it to the other side and then briefly experienced it again if only for a few days, I come with a flood of memories and a point of view from where I am now. This is for you!

• Take a nap. For the love of Pete! Mothering is tiring and exhausting!!!! If you see an opportunity to lie down and put your feet up if only for a few minutes, Take it!!! And don't feel guilty, might I add. This is a full time job and takes a lot out of you. Now go lie down!

• Cry. Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If you feel tears welling up in your eyes because you just don't know if you've got it in you, let it go. It's cathartic. You'll feel better after crying. If it works for the baby it can work for you. 

• Get out. I know you may be referred to as a "stay at home mom" but that does not mean you should stay at home all the time. If you are dying for fresh air, chances are the little ones are too. Take a walk, push the stroller, run and jump (or at least let them if you're too tired). Guaranteed everyone will feel better! As my Grandma used to say, "Go blow the stink off ya!"

• Too rainy or dreary to go outside? Ikea or McDonalds. No one is judging you, sister. Do it if you have to. Both these locations are family friendly, have indoor play areas for little ones and have the potential to help you keep your sanity. They also both serve ice cream cones. Score for everyone! 
• Accept help when it's offered. I am not ashamed to admit that I had plenty of help last week watching these precious kiddos. My mother-in-law was visiting at the same time and was incredibly generous in what she was willing to give of herself. She took the baby when it was obvious I needed a break! Zanna was ever willing to strap baby into the umbrella stroller and take her for a monotonous cruise around the house until she was calm (or asleep). Will willingly did clean up after meals and dishwasher duty. Even Wayne was in on the action going on walks with all of us and pushing the stroller. A friend from church brought us all lunch one day - coming over with 80 freshly made Chinese dumplings and boiled them on my stove! Another day, a friend invited the kids and me over to her house just to unload! Between her crew and mine, we all had a "friend" to hang out with! I am so thankful that God sent all that help my way and sustained and encouraged me through the love of others. We may be tempted to say an "I'm fine" response when help is offered but believe me, it's much better to say "OK, thanks"! 

• This too shall pass. I promise. There will come a day when you can read a whole novel. At some point in your life you will be able to establish a regular devotion time. Someday you will take a shower and get ready in the morning without children screaming for you. You will be able to make meals that take more than 15 minutes of prep time. Seriously! For now - master cutting vegetables with one hand while holding baby in the other. Pick a hairstyle that is easy to maintain. Read a magazine! Pick one verse of Scripture and post it on the fridge to think about during your day. 
• Alone time. Forget about it - for now. I remember when Will was 3 months old and we had just moved to Michigan. I experienced a fall that resulted in a big hole in my knee and I needed to go the emergency room for an x-ray. I kid you not, I remember thinking how nice it was that I could relax and lie back in quiet! Never mind I almost seriously injured myself - this is how desperate I was! I also remember having day dreams of getting a hotel for a night by myself and just sleeping. In this season of life, there's not a lot of alone time - but there will be. You'll be able to go to the bathroom by yourself. You'll be able to finish a conversation on the phone. You'll follow through on that train of thought. Someday. 
• Don't forget your husband. Believe me, I get how hard this is. And do as I say, not as I did this last week. My dear husband had a lingering cough from the flu which sent him to the couch at night so as not to wake the baby. I was also reminded last week of how I work. When I've got a baby on me practically all the time, my touch "love language" is pretty well filled. I don't need to be touched anymore! But someday the children will grow up and someday the children will move out (that's the idea, anyway) and the two of you will be looking at each other. Will you see a friend and lover that you see as another gift from God providing love, support and encouragement or will you see a stranger? Make him a priority, sister! Even if date night is defined as pizza and a movie in the living room after the kids go to bed, light a candle, snuggle on the couch and see where it goes .... 
• Cherish the moments. The sound of a baby chugging back the bottle in satisfaction, the belly laughs of a boy watching Kungfu Panda for the umpteenth time, the little chubby hand that grasps for yours while crossing the street, finding matchbox cars in the strangest places - it goes so fast! These are the moments you will remember with fondness.

• You are doing holy work. Receiving a paycheck does not validate your worth. Christ has validated you already and you are worthy in Him! That means that when you change a diaper or wipe food off faces or give a baby a bath or wipe smeared poop off a wall - you are serving Christ Himself as you tend to His babies He's gifted you with. It is a high privilege to teach a child to pray, to sing hymns of praise before bed, to bless your child with the sign of the cross as he is tucked in for the night. You are raising future missionaries whether they go into the public ministry someday or live out their vocation in their daily lives. You have brought your child to the font of Baptism to become a child of God and now you daily feed that faith with the means of grace right along side pureed apples and kale smoothies. Holy work, mamas!! 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  There are certainly some season's in life that are easier to embrace than others. Right now it's supposed to be spring and it's snowing big, fat flakes outside my window.  It goes against my natural inclination, but I'm going to muster all the strength I've got and crack that gratitude journal open. Or .... dance around while singing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" might work too;)
  
  
  
  
  

What a Christian Passover Seder Can Teach

We gather together one evening, a community of believers who desire a link to the past to better understand the now. 

Maundy Thursday. The "church" term used to refer to the night Jesus and his disciples met together in the upper room to celebrate the Passover. This is the night we, two thousand years later, come together to imagine that night. 

What must have that been like - the eve of the betrayal that goes down in history and fulfills the many Old Testament prophecies of the One to come; the One that would save us all from eternal damnation? 

The table is set. On our plates are:
Bitter Herbs - symbolizes the bitterness of suffering the Israelites spent under the Egyptians
Parsley - a symbol of springtime and a renewal of nature
Hard Boiled Egg - the oppression made them stronger just as an egg gets harder as it's boiled
Charoset - symbolizing the mortar of the bricks the Israelites were forced to make

Jesus dined with his disciples and celebrated the Passover. The Israelites knew that blood had to be shed for their sin. They knew the blood of the lamb, the spotless lamb, must be sacrificed for the forgiveness of their sins each year. Did they know that they were dining this very evening with the Lamb who would die once and for all? Could they even anticipate that all the Israelite laws that they grew up following would now be fulfilled in the God-Man sitting among them?

This is a night of teaching and learning. Questions are asked and encouraged. As the tradition follows, the "young man" asks the head of the household why we eat bitter herbs, why we have a roasted lamb, why we eat unleavened bread. And history is taught to another generation so that we never forget. 

And this night we are reminded of the plight of the Israelites under the oppression of the Egyptians. We imagine their cry for deliverance for 400 years. We remember their haste in preparing the meal that would be their last in this land. And we praise God with them for their deliverance! We raise our glass of wine and share in their blessing! 

Dinner is served - Leg of Lamb with Rosemary, Balsamic Roasted Potatoes, and Green Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
"Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
And our church basement gathering feasts on a lamb and savours even more the taste of forgiveness. 

We wonder where the meal that night took a turn. Just as we were being taught this evening, the disciples were taught by the Master that evening too. He told them what was coming. He assured them of His plan. He promised them His presence. How confused they must have been! 

That night He instituted the Lord's Supper. 

He would not leave them or us alone! He was to shed his body and blood for us all. We would share in this sacrifice through this gift He was now giving us in communion. Through His sacrifice, we could now enter into the presence of the Father in Jesus' name. There was now no need for a high priest. He became our High Priest and gave us access to God Himself. Every time we take Holy Communion our faith is sustained. We fellowship as a family with a common belief. We fellowship with Jesus Himself as He gives us what we need through the shedding of His body and blood. 

We are healed.

We end with the words of Jesus in the garden. We sit in a room surrounded with greenery and we imagine that garden Jesus is praying in. We hear Him, on this eve of His agony, pray for us.

He prayed for me!

His greatest concern in that moment wasn't preserving His own life. 

His greatest concern in that moment was his children and preserving our lives in eternity with Him. 

We leave this evening knowing what is to come.

Good Friday.

We also leave knowing what is to come.

Easter Sunday. 

By His wounds we are healed. 

Double Digits

My baby turned 10. 

I need a minute...

My parents came for this momentous event. It took them 3 days to get here instead of the usual 2 since they ran into a blizzard in the UP of Michigan and the highway was closed down. But they still managed to arrive smiling and ready to party! 

And since I do a party every other year, this was the year. The theme she picked was "Board Games". 

We have a games night at church once a month that she lives for! I'm not a super board game lover - I just never really grew up with it. I was more of a Solitaire player myself (this was before iPhones, people). Anyway, a friend and fellow mom and I from church concocted this idea so that once a month our kids could get their healthy dose of board game playing and unhealthy snack food and so she and I could chat it up without getting interrupted.  

So this was the inspiration for the party and I was just fine with it. Set up a few tables with games, a table with snack foods, have some balloons to birthday it up a bit and we've got ourselves a party! 

She had been asking the last few years for a piñata at her party. I was doubtful we could manage this indoors, but after consulting with Wayne and being assured that he'd come up with something we went ahead with the idea. The old Little Tikes plastic baseball bat was brought in from the cold and found frozen and broken. Again I was doubtful it could provide the needed swing and whack to open the piñata up, but I was assured by Wayne that all it needed was some thawing and duct tape. Finally all that was left was to find a place to safely hang it and I was assured that the Martin Luther College lanyard would be perfect for it to dangle from. Let the party begin! 

The girls had a few games going and also made time for an impromptu round or two of musical chairs which was confusing to me but what the birthday girl wants, the birthday girl gets. Then it was finally piñata time! 

A line was formed and each girl was allowed two whacks at the thing before going to the back of the line. Those little, sweet looking girls were getting aggressive! As holes began showing in the cute cupcake cardboard, the excitement rose as we waited for the final hit that would pour forth treats. I had the bags ready and waiting for the girls to collect there treats in. 

How was I supposed to know that it was up to me to fill up?

Oops.

It was definitely a surprise! Not the kind I was going for, but hey! There sat the empty shell of what was a cardboard cupcake and it's bright coloured tissue paper strewn across the floor. No treats. Rats. 

So this will go down as "the birthday Mom forgot to fill the piñata". That may be so but how about those ice cream sundaes?! 

So what else is going on ... hhhhhhmmmmm... how about the snow? 

I couldn't even get to the mail box one day because of it all.  And it seems a little fishy that we keep getting bad weather on Wednesdays now that we have Lenten services that evening. Which proves my point that snow is from the devil. 

This is the time of year I daydream that someone gifts us a tropical vacation.

This is Zanna's first year in synchronized swimming. She's having a blast and recently participated in a competition. They had individual rounds along with their group performance. She placed silver in them all! Yay, Zanna!!! 

Now if only the temperature would hit double digits, maybe we'd celebrate with a piñata;)

VaLENTine's Day

 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13

I love how the secular holiday of Valentine's Day has overlapped with the sacred days of Lent. While card companies may use the excuse of cupid to shamelessly sucker people into buying sweet sentiments on expensive card stock, the focus of love on this day of paper hearts can be an opportunity to ponder the Greatest Love.

Our culture tells us that Valentine's Day - of all days - is a day to be wined and dined by the one who claims to love you. Restaurants are packed and cater to lovebirds that are looking for romantic in a  space of cutlery clinking on dishes and the hum of surrounding conversations. Christmas's sweets are barely finished when the heart-shaped boxes of chocolates enter the stores. And if you are really in a committed relationship, a trip to the jewelry store is a must. 

The stakes are high and the last thing we want is to be disappointed. I recall the early days of dating my hubby and the first years of marriage when we still tried to live up to these expectations of me expecting things and him obliging. And while giving gifts out of love is not wrong, our expectations and demands of love can be. 

My daughter's love language is gifts. This means she has spent hours on hand making Valentines for us and her grandparents. She has debated in her mind over and over what gifts she would buy or make for each of us. We can say continuously how she doesn't have to buy us anything but that is simply how she expresses her love. She gives. Which is where Lent comes in ...

Our Greatest Love gave too. He set aside His rightful position as Lord of Lords and King of Kings to come to earth in humble, human form to spend his time among humble, human sinners. He lived a perfect life that God demands but that we could never fulfil and gives us His robe of righteousness through the gift of faith.  He gave Himself up on the cross and took the punishment for our sins! He endured separation from God that we rightly earned from our fallen, sinful nature and called it ... finished. He continually gives us Himself through the Word that's preached, heard, read, and spoken. The giving continues in the Sacraments where faith is given in Baptism and He gives us His body and blood in the Lord's Supper to sustain our faith. 

All this He gives! 

God is LOVE.

What a different message than what we hear in this world! Our sinful flesh likes to be served. Our natural condition screams what about me? The culture's motto is you have to be happy first and love yourself before you can love others. 

God's message contrasts what the world claims. The message is big and bold and takes a leap of faith. We put our wants and desires aside just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28
Out of faith and out of our thankfulness to Jesus, we keep giving of ourselves and trust God to provide for our wants and desires. 

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:18-20

 Instead of expectations and demands, what if we seek to meet the needs of those closest to us? Instead of looking out for me, we give what we have to them? This is a love that can never be disappointed. 

For the Love of Reading

I have this weird quirky thing about my calendar. I don't peek at the next month until it actually starts. I like the little surprise of how cute the picture is and what recipe is showcased for the month - not that I'll necessarily make it. But it's one of my little thrills in life so just let me have it, OK;)

So now it is February and I've been working hard on keeping my resolutions and reading my tail off! I was definitely feeling as though I needed to look at a screen less and concentrate on written words I could feel in my hands, appreciate in my soul and consider in my head. 

The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Conner - 

I had listened to a podcast that discussed the author and her life, writings and influences. Ironically, I had already ordered the book from the library after having seen it on another book list so this made my anticipation for it even greater! In the course of the podcast, the men discussing her work said something to the effect - you won't find her books at your local Christian book store. You won't see it filed under Christianity or even Spirituality in the local book store, but every Christian must read her. The themes that subtlety lie there amongst the words - some words that are very distracting to the reader in their connotations and bigoted characters - had the power to effect my emotions. I got to know these characters and instead of the writer winning me over with tales of "can't help but love them" personas, I was in fact disgusted by them. Until I realized ... I am no better. 

Essentialism  -

So I have this problem. I think everything is important. How can I say no? I see the value in almost every opportunity I have. I've no doubt they all have worth - whether it's filed under my role as wife, mother, homeschooler, pastor's wife, church member, homemaker, hairstylist/business owner, friend, neighbour, daughter, god-mother, blogger .... starting to get my drift? My life becomes chaotic and at the end of the day I've covered a mile wide but an inch deep. Not a good feeling. It's my desire to have the wisdom to know what's essential to spend my time and energy on and likewise, not to feel guilty about what I feel is nonessential and no longer zaps my time and energy. This book was picked in an effort to help me figure that out. I should probably read it again ...

Emma  - by Jane Austen

A classic. And yes, I own this edition with the hardback, fabric cover. It's all about the experience for me! I may read this one in my head with a British accent for effect. The trouble is, I've been working on this book for awhile. If I put it down and wait too long to pick it back up, I run the risk of forgetting the characters and who's who. I want to finish this book! Does Emma doom herself to a life of spinsterhood? What's up with Jane Fairfax? What are Frank's true intentions? These are all questions I am determined to find the answers to ... if I can just finish the book.

A Lifelong Love: How to Have Lasting Intimacy, Friendship, and Purpose in Your Marriage

February is all about the love! I haven't read a book on marriage for a long time because mine is so perfect. crickets chirping. OK, so it may not be because of that. I have a really good one though, and I still got a lot out of this book. It helped me recognize that we're doing a lot of things right - but that there's always room for improvement and weak spots to be aware of. It also helped me better see my own misunderstandings of marriage expectations and how I've been influenced by my culture. Of course, I would have preferred to "Lutheran" it up a bit with a whole section on the value of confession and absolution within the intimacy of marriage and what that looks like but I'm just going to have to add that in myself. 

Grace Abounds - the Splendor of Christian Doctrine

This is another book I've been reading forever. But it's not my fault. There's, like, a million pages. Ok, maybe not a million but there's a lot. And it's not brainless reading. I have to use my brain and it's hard! In order to get the most out of my reading, I usually have to take it in small chunks to stew on for awhile. But if you've ever had the pleasure of sitting at the feet of Professor Deutschlander, you know that it's totally worth it! This book is written for the common layperson who's ready to dig their heals into a greater understanding of truth as revealed in God's Word. 

Food for the soul.

As for the other part of my New Year's resolution, I am not doing as grand - that would be the cinnamon roll part. I have, however baked other things in my defence. I just haven't gotten to the cinnamon roll part. 

Food for the love handles.