New Look/New Title!

I can't believe I've been blogging for over 4 years. It was just before that I had no idea what a blog was or a podcast or even an i-Pod. Blogging started with a way to communicate home from the other side of the world about how the 2 week stay in China to adopt our daughter was going. We chose not to take Will and he was at home with my parents. I'm so glad I started "a journey to Hosanna" because I recorded so many otherwise forgotten memories of China and was able to let our friends and family from wherever be in on it!
And now, four years later here we are! I continue to record our family memories, traditions and random thoughts for - yikes, what for? For me? That sounds selfish. I guess it's still a way to keep those that wonder what we're up to well, what we're up to! And I suppose that by sharing some of our traditions I can inspire others to make up some of their own? Like any diary, my blog continues to be something I hope my family can look back on and fondly remember things in a way unique to blogging. I love to share things like books, ideas, movies we've discovered that others might enjoy too (notice the new feature "books we're reading"?) But my ultimate goal and motive is to continue to glorify God in all I do recognizing that (Christian Worship 111, vs 1 & 5) Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross we spend. Life and health and peace possessing From the sinner's dying friend.  Lord, in loving contemplation Fix our hearts and eyes on you. Till we taste your full salvation And your unveiled glory view. 

Spring in my Step

I checked my blog to see if there was a recent update apparently expecting my alter ego to do it? and realized that a. I am losing my mind and b. It's time for an update. In my defense, it seems that things have been busier than normal around here - Lent in a pastor's house? - and I'm ready for a break from the craziness! 
But the busyness has included some fun stuff including several field trips. Will had a program at the Agricultural Museum on food groups and Zanna had one at the same place but made cheese and a mouse puppet. Your jealous, right? We also attended a concert at the National Arts Centre and listened to the orchestra play Vivaldi.

We had great seats on the mezzanine level off to the side in one of those "private" boxes. All four of us went and we had a lot of fun!
Will is back in SHEP (Science and History Enrichment Program) Spring session. This session's theme for Science is Animals and their classifications and for history a continuation of Canadian History. He has projects to do for both and lots of homework in between the once a week class. But he really enjoys it and he's learning a lot - including how to stay focused for lectures (3 hrs with a 15 min break in between) and take notes. Good  for when he goes to Prep! 
Zanna continues to be enthralled with the alphabet and their sounds and has recently started reading the Bob books.  Her current favorite word is "precisely".  She likes to stick it in the course of conversation.  

Messy I know, but the point of it is that she makes her food into letters. Here we have the letter E in what I believe to be spaghetti sauce.
I've been busy studying for my Ontario hairstylist license and managed to pass - hooray! I've been doing haircuts for friends and their kids and a foil on my friend (don't worry, that's OK) and my whole family is getting shaggy so I guess that means their next. 
Last weekend was our local homeschool conference - small compared to some of the really big ones in huge cities but still a good day for professional development, encouragement and an opportunity to shop! I usually manage to walk out with some items I didn't count on and this year was no different. So fun! One of my favorite times of the year - homeschool catalogs come in the mail I pour over for HOURS!  I love to plan what we'll do the following school year and consider what I'd like the kids to learn - often, what we'll learn together!!  I'm currently rereading "For the Children's Sake"- my hands down favorite book on education, regardless of the type of education involved. Such a beautiful book!!!!
Our church hosted the NAD (North Atlantic District) pastors' conference two weeks ago. Lots of work but lots of fun! We had invited the pastor's son from Toronto who's Will's age to come and stay with us while his Dad was in meetings. The boys had so much fun and they are so similar in their likes (ie LEGO).  
Now it's Holy Week - busy with flower orders and pick up to decorate the church on Easter morning - so pretty. Plan on playing violin (say a little prayer that the nightmare of Thanksgiving doesn't return on Easter) so practicing for that. Trying to get a church newsletter together that seems to be down the list of things I need to get done. Maybe sometime in May? Having guests for Easter Dinner - planning menu, table arrangements, etc. Which leads me to ......

I adore my new dishes!!!!!! Aren't they the cutest? For those of you unaware of my fetish for dishes, maybe this comes as a surprise. I was looking for napkins and instead walked out with dishes. With birds on them. The bowl looks like a little birds nest. I love Homesense! A dangerous but very fun place. There may not be Target here YET (look out, Zellers) but I like this store a lot.
And as far as my not decorating for Lent - I gave that up. About 2 1/2 weeks ago. I couldn't take it anymore and attacked my mantle with Spring.

And I didn't stop there -

I downloaded that subway art picture off the Internet (people come up with these things and encourage you to use it) and I can't for the life of me found where I got it or I'd tell you. So sorry - but cute, huh?
Now I haven't put up anything specifically Easter (that comes tomorrow). And I've got plenty to do between now and the next few days, but at least I've updated the blog. My floors, however still need to be cleaned.

Hosanna's Wish and her Jaded Mother

I've been married to a pastor for almost 9 years. The four years before that he was a Sem student with side jobs related to the ministry. We've met a lot of people with a myriad of problems, backgrounds, and personal stories. We've had the very great privilege of sharing the gospel with many people.  In some cases a seed of faith was planted and someone else may have had the job of watering it and watching it grow.  In other cases we were maybe a piece of the complex puzzle that God uses to build a person's faith.
And there are the great miracle moments Wayne as pastor gets to do -  God works through  Baptism to create faith in an infant's heart - such a perfect example of God's grace to a helpless human (aren't we all?). The cases are rare that we've met an adult, beaten and battered by life's storms that falls into the waiting arms of a Savior immediately upon hearing the good news of salvation. Most often, it takes years to develop a relationship to the point of the individual trusting what this Christian pastor has to say. The journey is taking FOREVER (from our perspective) but sooooooo worth the wait when joy fills me up to the brim hearing their public confession in church after years of taking the Bible information class. Hours dear husband spent with these souls getting to know them, patiently leading them through God's Word to show them what God says and not "what Pastor thinks". Angels sing when another soul is adopted into His family!!!


But .... you knew it was coming, right? .... more often than not we find people telling us what they think we want to hear, "sure, we'll be at church tomorrow" and then they're not. Why did we think they would be? Or they start classes, maybe even for months, years only to decide "I just can't believe it".  Yeah, I suppose we saw it coming. Or maybe they honestly have good intentions and circumstances get in the way. Sure, whatever. Someone calls the church and they're down and out - their health is shot, no job, no car - you get the picture. They want some money, something to get them by. We'd love to help out - come by church on Sunday for some food for the soul and then we'll see what we can do for you! They don't come. Yeah, we're not surprised. Jaded? You bet.

We've been having monthly potluck fellowships with the Chinese community over the last few years. It gives our Chinese members an event to invite their friends and acquaintances to. God's Word, prayer, food, getting to know one another - now we're seeing some familiar faces coming back more often. Friendships the kids have made. We get the awesome opportunity to be a part of some Chinese culture for one evening. Try out our limited Mandarin (i do mean limited), eat different foods (our kids are very adventurous eaters) and meet new people, many of whom no nothing about Jesus! 


So through these monthly evening get togethers, Zanna made a favorite friend. She has begun looking forward to seeing and playing with Maple. "Is Maple going to be there?" "When are we going to see Maple?". And she's so excited when she's there! They hug and hold hands and walk around together and sit and eat next to each other. Last month at the Chinese New Year fellowship, we invited Maple's mother to bring her to Sunday School to be in Zanna's class. "Sure, I'll think about it", she said. Uh - huh. Right.


Now the questions leading up to Sunday were "Will Maple be at Sunday School?". I started my eye rolling that gave away what I thought the likely hood of that happening was. Her little face was so hopeful. I stopped the rolling and explained that while Maple may want to come, her Mom would have to want to bring her. I advised her to start praying to Jesus that her Mom would want to bring her to Sunday School and stop asking what I thought. 


She didn't come that following Sunday and I encouraged my daughter to keep praying. Then the Sunday of daylight savings time rolled around. As we sat in the pew waiting for the service to start, Zanna came running around the corner, face lit up, hands holding Maple's hands! This jaded mother almost fell off her pew. I got myself together and stood up to see Maple's mother and other daughter in the back. I invited her to sit by me and stay for service, even though she intended to drop Maple off for Sunday School which she had missed due to the time change. She agreed and allowed me to guide her through the service that was completely foreign to her. Her broken English struggled to keep up with the fast paced service but tears were in my eyes to hear her read the Lord's Prayer and sing hymns. The girls were in heaven, playing with the treasures found in the church bag. And my daughter reminded me of an important truth I had forgotten somewhere along the way - God hears our prayers.

How we observe Lent

Just thought I would share some of the ways our family observes the season on Lent. We belong to a church body that follows a liturgy - and I tend to carry this into my home in what I like to call "liturgical decoration". Here I blame my mother. By this (the decorating, not my mother) I mean that things are looking kinda bare around the house right now during Lent. It's kind of depressing because as seen by my previous pictures of Valentine's Day, that is not usually the case. It helps me to remember at home - when I get up and when I lie down - to reflect on Christ's passion and remember His love for me. I so easily forget - sad, huh?
Last year, I made my first Lenten Garden - definitely a tradition I plan on continuing. Sort of like a diorama of the passion story - scenes of the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ's tomb, a pool of water with a shell depicting His gift of baptism and I still have to add the cross - all in a basket!

Supplies - a basket fitted with layers of cellophane (from a nice lady at the local flower shop)
Moss - from same nice lady
potting soil
plants
tomb - made from clay from the dollarstore and shaped by dear son, complete with stone to roll away
empty plastic applesauce container filled with water and shell
stones from backyard 
cross made from branches tied into a cross

The great thing about this is that despite that fact that I have no green thumb whatsoever, I only have to get this to last 6 weeks. With God's help.
Special devotions and Lenten books that focus on the Passion deepen our appreciation for Christ's cross. I'm currently rereading - The Theology of the Cross, Reflections on His Cross and Ours by Daniel Deutschlander. I love this book and am attacking it with a highlighter this time around. In the past we've also read Up to Jerusalem by John Braun. This year we're really enjoying a new book titled He was Crucified - Reflections on the Passion of Christ by Gerard Joseph Stanley Sr., MD - written from the unique perspective of a medical doctor with focus on the mental and physical anguish of Christ accompanied by beautiful art from the masters and the lyrics of rich hymns. Wonderful!

Every Wednesday night throughout Lent we have a church service - this year focusing on different characters of the Passion story. These services are a bit different than the Sunday services that are all "mini Easters" and not included in the 40 days of Lent. 
What have I given up for Lent this year? Although not a requirement or even something I like to tell people (it's between me and the Lord) I've given up giving things up for Lent. He gave up everything for me! I used to give up wine because I really enjoy a glass of wine while I make dinner. This really backfired because to make up for this loss, I kept going to Dairy Queen (or rather, I'd send my husband). Not good. And I was REALLY excited for Easter to come ...... so I could have a glass of wine. NOT GOOD. Boy, self  really gets in the way doesn't it?!! If anything, I'm trying to give up complaining by writing down gifts. And not just the really fabulous gifts like trips to Mexico but little, almost invisible gifts if I'm not paying attention like little hands in mine, 10year old boy noises with spit flying, and the smell of freshly ground flour. I even try to be joyful for the gifts that are seemingly crummy but bring me back to Him like fights with my husband, rash on vacation, and a messy house. I deserve nothing - so EVERYTHING from Him is a gift. And I'll miss it if I'm not paying attention. As my favorite pastor preached on Sunday the gift is bigger than the curse. The ultimate gift of course being forgiveness and salvation - but also all the little gifts he gives me every day  that reminds me He loves me. Even the "crummy" gifts that make me miserable but lead me back to Him. OK, can you tell I've been reading Deutschlander? 

The Big 0-5

And there she is .... a vision in pink! The birthday girl had a very special day thanks to all the effort her Oma put into the day (her parents were on their way back from Mexico). Oma (grandma in German) threw a tea party fit for a princess. And Zanna was more than happy to play the part. This is what she wore the whole day - a birthday gift opened in the morning and enjoyed throughout the day.

The streamers decorated the kitchen area and the centerpiece put together with Zanna's tea sets. Too cute! My mom made little tea sandwhiches and invited Zanna's godparents over to join in. The kids were thrilled Auntie Karen and Uncle Skip were there!
We arrived home that night and continued the celebration the next day. We went out to lunch - her pick- and then went to the mall for a trip to Build a Bear. Kind of an outing/present kind of thing - and she picked out Hello Kitty complete with outfit.

Two days of celebrating and she was getting used to being the center of attention and receiving gifts. Can't believe my little girl is 5!

The time of Lent

Sometimes we Forget. We forget birthdays, anniversaries, important dates. We forget names. We forget memories, songs, the voice of a loved one now in heaven.

We forget to turn off the light, to close a drawer, to lock a door. We forget why we went in a room or what we were going to say next. We forget assignments, directions, engagements - we forget to look at our calendar. We forget why it is we’re doing what we’re doing. We forget where we put it. We forget what matters.

We forget to pray. We forget to praise. We forget to worship. We forget to make time for the one that created time. We forget we need Him in order to breathe, to wake up everyday - to simply be.

It seems like we’re in the business of forgetting. It’s something we do well. Our Abba Father says - don’t forget. He know this about us. He had the Israelites tie tassels on themselves as a reminder of his commandments knowing they’d forget. He commanded they celebrate the Passover celebration so at least they would tell their children once a year of how God protected them from the angel of death in Egypt. He knew in one generation He could be forgotten.  We forget why we need Him.

 Easter rolls around every Spring in its predictable way. We’re ready to whip out our spring clothes and white shoes. The easter baskets are filled with candy, the ham is in the oven and an easter lily graces our table. At church we sing all the familiar Easter hymns and enjoy the sermon filled with good news - Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Then why does it feel like we’ve forgotten something? Oh, yes .....

He had to die. 

The season of Lent starts with Ash Wednesday on March 9th. It is 40 days long, not including Sundays. Lent is the time in the church year that allows for reflection, repentance and preparation for Easter. It’s the time to Remember. Remember we need Him to forgive us. Remember we need Him to live a perfect life for us. Remember He suffered and died - for OUR sins. Remember that He humbled Himself on this earth - and He didn’t forget us. Remember all that and THEN come celebrate on Easter Sunday and shout from the rooftops Christ has risen! He has risen indeed!

Can you feel the love?!! Part 2

Valentine's Day - a made up holiday that women in cahoots with the Hallmark company came up with to get gifts, extra attention and make money, respectively. No matter - early in the morning of February 14th my love and I boarded a plane for Mexico! A blessing to be sure; an opportunity to spend time alone as a couple, share moments and memories that only include each other. My mother spent time watching the children as we spent time gazing into each others eyes.... am I grossing anyone out yet? OK, I'll get real. While we certainly enjoyed the moments of walking on the beach, swimming in the pool, eating, drinking and laying out to bask in the sunshine like the lizards we occasionally ran across on the resort - I spent a good day and a half sick with a sinus cold and low grade fever and also developed a rash that progressively got worse as the week wore on.  I suppose I could suggest the good Lord in His infinite wisdom maybe didn't want us too "close to paradise" so we'd be ready to head back home! Regardless, neither was a life threatening issue. The sinus cold didn't stop me from laying on the beach. And while I suspect the rash was an allergic reaction to the fantastic food I was inhaling in great quantities, I certainly wasn't going to stop eating!! There was one day that I was on cold medication, full strength allergy medication and pina colodas. Needless to say, it was a good thing I didn't have to operate any heavy machinery that day.
Prayers were answered as reports from the home front were positive. Mom fared extremely well on her own - shuttling them to their activities, making meals, baking, throwing a birthday tea party, even acting as substitute teacher in my absence. I did notice when I dropped her off at the airport to board a plane for Texas where she would meet up with Dad and start their own month and a half of holiday - she fairly leaped out of the van with nary a glance behind her. Ah, well - who could blame her? Just kidding, Mom - you're the best!!!! And now the kids keep asking to watch a movie to which we respond Oma's not here and she can't hear you! Go clean your room!  Ah, back to reality for them too!