Wow, It's been awhile

I guess the whole facebook thing has taken my attention away from blogging... but you don't really have a forum for long winded diatribes on facebook so here I am back at blogger!

This week I have one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I got to do some recording at an amature studio, but a studio nonetheless. It was a blast, sitting in a little room with only a voice in the head phones to talk to, running through my music for over 2 hours... I was on a high for the rest of the day. It reminded me of how much I really enjoyed being part of a musical team, learning songs, practising songs, etc. Just singing is like total fun. I am so looking forward to heaven for that. As I tell Eric, the book says we'll be singing... there is no mention of preaching...

We spent today at the hospital. Liam has been complaining of stomache pains for the past while. This morning he did and then he puked all over my bed... so he stayed in bed for the morning. Then, when he wasn't getting any better this afternoon and started moaning, I took him into emerg. After 5 hours, he had bloodwork done, completed a mean game of eye-spy and the doctor concluded there was nothing wrong with him. They gave him some gravol and after he hadn't puked for half an hour they sent us home - where he promptly started puking again! So now he is resting at home and I hope he is okay.

For Hallowe'en we decided to build an armless man on a chair on the front deck. So we filled plastic shopping bags with leaves to use as stuffing a week ago. Now the pile of bags is sitting on my doorstep since we haven't gotten back to building the man... I am wondering when the neighbours are going to ask us to get rid of the pile of garbage.

So those are the highlights of the week... except - the Riders won... okay, now those are the highlights of the week!

It's 2 AM

Hmmm... sort of sounds like a song title...

And, actually, it is 1:54 AM.

This week we will be heading out on our vacation extravaganza! We will be driving west toward Victoria, with stops in Regina and Moose Jaw to stay with family and friends, and somewhere in the Rockies to sleep (depending on how far we get)... We plan to have almost a week with the Bailey side of the family, with a few side trips to hopefully see whales and goats who live on a roof?

Then we head down to California to Film Camp for Haaken and a week of sight seeing and fun for the rest of us - the rest of us being Eric, myself, Greg and Liam... We have been checking out info on different sites to see. This evening we found an interesting website writen by an individual who seems to have no affiliation with a tour company giving his (or her I guess) opinion on various tours... so I think we will try to get in a Warner Brothers tour (as it was the highest rated on this persons site) as well as some time at Disney. Greg is also going to touch base with a friend of his down there. All in all, we hope it is a fun and relaxing time.

After a week there, we will head back accros country towards Kenora. We hope to see the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, and a Dinosaur museum in N.Dakota.

I must be too excited to sleep!

Roller-coaster Ride

Normally I love roller-coasters...

But the last few weeks have felt like a long roller-coaster ride. First, we rushed out to Estevan to have a few last moments with Grampa Cecil. That was a rewarding, but emotional experience. We are so glad we went - and it was a pleasure to sing with him one more time.

The following weekend, we found out that our very best, dear friends were going through their own roller-coaster with false accusations, marital stress, and other life changing anxieties. Since we live 500 km away, this was particularly difficult as we wanted to be there to hug them, to sit with them, and just be there for them. Fortunately, we have an awesome church family who did all that for us, and things appear to be turning around.

Then, this past week, we heard of Grampa Cecil's passing. Another trip, not as rushed, to Estevan to be with family and remember Grampa. It is amazing to think of the impact he had on so many lives - from Canada to India - even up to his last years... To have lived such a life...

And now, with another weekend coming up, I'm ready to get off the ride and sit on the sidelines for a few days... catch my breath...

Giving with Gratitude

I realized last week that, for the past few years of Eric's Ministry in Thunder Bay, I had stopped being grateful and joyful in our giving. I felt like a critical part of the church and felt purpose in what we were doing, but resentment had begun to creep in. In my mind, the ledger of what we were giving - time, energy, ideas, money, etc. - for outweighed any benefit. In my more pride-filled moments I even thought, "What would the church here do without us."

Since coming to Kenora, we have become a part of a church that is quite large. We are just starting to find our place. Recently, I was asked to sing in the choir for Easter - and I felt grateful for the opportunity to serve.

Last week, though, I worshiped with family at the church in Estevan. Several people were missing so Eric and his father were asked to fill in. It felt odd not to be asked - and it reminded me how grateful I was for the freedom to serve through leading music and for being a member of the leadership team when we were in Thunder Bay. I really struck me how, in an effort to serve more, I can become ungrateful for the opportunity to serve - to give... a gratitude that I once felt.

I can allow "church" or even "God" to be another chore in my life and forget that it is I who is the benefactor.

One of my good friends is the opposite of this. She also happens to be really good at inviting people to church. She sees being a part of a church and being in relationship with God as a huge benefit. When someone is going through a hard time, she tells them - they need to be at her church. I think that when I have considered inviting others to church, I have thought about how the church would benefit from another member.

How completely backwards is that?

But it is probably indicative of the lack of gratefulness that as crept into my consciousness. If I felt more gratitude over being part of a loving and caring group of believers - and at the love God has for me - perhaps I would want to share that with others. On top of that, I have to overcome a miss placed sense of self-importance, because in the final tally:

A. I can never even approach what God has given me - or done for me through His church, and
B. God doesn't even need me to do his will.

And maybe that is one reason why He has led us to Kenora and out of active church Ministry - to give me an attitude check.

Or perhaps that is only part of his package for us for the next few years.

My Top 10 Songs Tonight

This will change by tomorrow - but I love these songs tonight...

In no particular order - well, actually in order of my finding them on my itunes...

I will follow you into the Dark - Death Cab by Cutie
Strong Enough - Sheryl Crow
Goodbye my Lover - James Blunt
Honesty - Tom Lips
If I was Jesus - Toby Keith
Love of my Life - Queen
Throw me a Rope - KT Tunstall
Beth - Kiss
Yummy - Gwen Stefani
If You Could Read my Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
Blind - The Grapes of Wrath

Okay - that is 11... but that is a better number then 10 anyway.

By the way, if you win the CBC contest where Mark Messier comes to your house, you have to invite me... please please pretty please!!!!

Another Glimpse?

We have been blessed with three boys - two through birth - Haaken & Liam, and one who came to live with us when he was 15 - Greg. I love them all and hope the best for them.

I know each of them have weaknesses, but they all have so much potential. I want them to be successful and happy in life. I want them to have positive relationships with others and especially to find that special relationship with a woman who will help them through life (but not until they are 30). I want them to find that thing in life that will give them purpose and meaning. I want them to love God and to see them in Heaven.

In short - I feel about all of them the same way I am sure most parents feel about their children.

However, the reality of life is that not everyone else feels the same way about my kids as I do. Not everyone treats them like I feel they should be treated. Sometimes people make assumptions about who they are - what their potential is - or what their value is - in a way that is less then what I expect.

Sometimes people do or say things that hurt them - and that hurts me - greatly!

And it is very difficult to be friendly to others when they have hurt one of my kids. It is hard to treat people with respect when they see my kids in less of a light then I see them - or when someone treats one of them not as well as another. Because - not only to I love them - but they are a reflection of me and my choices for them.

I think that is also a natural reaction for most parents.

When I really think about all of that - it kind of starts to make sense that God has trouble when we show partiality for or discrimination against some his children - His creation. Whereas my love and my view of my children is imperfect (I lose my temper and patience and make many mistakes) - His is perfect. He sees the potential in each of us and loves us - including those of us who might be considered obnoxious, difficult to live with, dirty, smelly, etc.. People I might tend to look down upon; people I might tend to hold up: They are all God's kids.

He loves us all. equally. period.

Wives' Duties (I couldn't resist)

Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new wives duties.

Terry had married a woman from America, and bragged that he had told his wife she was going to do all the dishes and house cleaning that needed to be done at their house. He said that it took a couple days but on the third day he came home to a clean house and the dishes were all washed and put away.

Jimmie had married a woman from Australia. He bragged that he had given his wife orders that she was to do all the house cleaning, dishes, and the cooking. He told them that the first day he didn't see any results, but the next day it was better. By the third day, his house was clean, the dishes were done, and he had a huge dinner on the table.

The third man had married a Canadian girl. He boasted that he told her that her duties were to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything, but by the third day most of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye. Enough to fix himself a
bite to eat, load the dishwasher, and call a landscaper.