blessings...

I am so grateful for the adorable little ones who come to my day home. Loving all children comes pretty easily- liking every one is more a matter of individuals. Love can be unconditional; it's always best when it is. I can be fair and kind to any child- these few children I have in my care day by day are a constant source of delight to my family and I. Such dear little personalities and funny little ways! They all like each other a lot too, which definitely helps make my work with them a pleasure.  :) Thank Heaven for a handful of perfectly matched children who fit, and fill my days like a glove.

My weekdays are pretty busy. Up at 6 in the mornings, and plenty to do all day long. Eventually going to bed and eventually reading myself off to sleep. It's great. Still, when a Saturday comes along and I can stay home in yoga pants and just be here, it's a blessing. Today for instance, I woke up late. (Not telling how late, but it was still morning.) Kirby made french toast and hot chocolate for breakfast, and then I proceeded with my day's agenda- to putter. I am still hard at it! My husband would probably describe this method of accomplishing things as 'random-abstract'. Oddly though, I have done a lot- without rushing myself or anyone else. For example I have cleaned the kitchen, watered plants, made the bed, helped my little Emma with her school project, done loads of laundry, responded to emails, arranged my calendar, and finished preparing a 20 minute talk for church tomorrow. That's actually not bad. The best part was when my sister Katie phoned. We tal...

Just have to add this afternoon how very grateful I am for the marvelous power of pretending! When I was a teenager I heard my Aunty Mona say, "Form Follows Function"... We were driving in her car, somewhere in Kamloops. It just made so much sense. Not a lot did for me at that age. I discovered I can create myself into the person I wish to become. All I have to do is act cheerful, and there I am- a cheerful person! Same with prayerful, careful, kind, patient.... And on days like today when I am running on a few hours of sleep and some migraine meds- I can pretend to be happy and energetic. It's enough. It's all the same to the little ones. And it's good practice for me!!

Let me tell you what I am thankful for today... The joy of uncluttering my frequently tangled up thinking- simply be making a list. Large or small, my problems seem less daunting, less perplexing- as soon as I write a list. It makes me feel good to at least have a defined intention, even before I actually accomplish anything towards solving my problem. Yesterday it was juggling ages and birthdays for my day home as well as planning some shelves etc to organize toys in the playroom. A list speaks of hope. That's all it takes. I am thankful for the simple gift of list-making. ps refer to Kari-Lynn's facebook page for a classically humorous treatment of this subject!

This morning we woke up to a very cold white blur out the windows. (And out the door; where I myself have not yet ventured today!) There is a light dusting of snow, and pretty frost on every needle of the evergreen trees in the front yard. As I was working in the kitchen this morning, I noticed something white hanging under the eaves... When looked more closely, I could see what it was- a spiderweb, coated heavily with frost. So cool. Thank Heaven this spider built its big web at the south east corner of the house- in the lee of the wind!

Here is a little post especially for my mom and dad. They have always been my most unconditional friends. They really support me writing, like they do in all my endeavours! The other day Mom encouraged me to stick with it, for the sake of my devoted fans in the family.  :) I remember once when I was a less-than-perfect teenager, reading a little note from Dad that said, "I believe in you." This is the beauty of good parents- they just keep on seeing the good, the potential; and  they don't give up on us. Especially when we forget to care, or feel it doesn't really matter or won't make any difference. I hope this cheers you up! Thank Heaven for a mom and a dad whose greatest achievements are us, their children. I will keep trying to be a good investment  ;)

A couple weeks ago I was walking down on main street with little ones in a double jogging stroller, when I realized the tires had deflated with the fresh cold air. I was dismayed of course, because while my walk had begun downhill with the wind at my back, the way home was uphill into the west wind! I stopped at the local hardware store to buy a bicycle tire pump, but couldn't fit the stroller through the doors. Imagine my relief when the store owner came outside with a state-of-the-art tire pump (that wasn't for sale), and knelt down on the sidewalk to pump my stroller tires! He took the time to do this helpful task well, then went back inside to carry on with his day's business. I felt like I was sailing as I walked the little ones home on the firm wheels. I thank Heaven for the pleasure and day-to-day joys of living here in this beautiful place. Yes, the wind blows like crazy- but things like that keep it small. I will brave the west wind as it rushes down out of the mou...

For years I've dreamed of being able to define myself as an early riser. A long time ago I read in one tiny chapter of a clever little book (called Don't Sweat The Small Stuff) the elemental idea, 'Become an Early Riser'. When my children were little, there was really no other option. They were, like many other small people, excited to be up and going and doing at each day's earliest opportunity. They had, as is common with the very young, absolutely no compunction about waking their parents well before the crack of dawn. And why not? We had only been up a few times in the night with them.   ;) When they went to junior high and high school this fall, I got 'refills'! I have four cute little one- and three-year old children who come to my dayhome on weekdays now! I love it, and rather than trying to motivate myself to hop up and hustle for a long school day alone, I now find pleasure in my 6 o'clock rise & shine time. warm water and bright lights ar...

I am thankful to live in a culture that celebrates gratitude! This weekend is overflowing with blessings- big ones... We met a couple dozen members of our extended family up at the Calgary Temple open house on Friday evening. It was so exquisitely beautiful, and what was most precious to me was seeing our teenage children embracing each other in the cold wind when we came back outside. Knowing that they had all really felt the beautiful, peaceful Spirit in there, and loved it. After a noisy and delicious dinner for the 30 of us in an Italian restaurant, over half of us came home here to our house to spend the weekend here watching General Conference together, listening to the inspired words of the prophets and apostles, and eating a great deal of yummy home cooking! Speaking of which, I am very thankful for clove and orange roasted ham.

I have been out and loving summer weather, beaches, and family most all of the summer! So I haven't missed writing so long because I didn't have blessings filling all my days, but because my days were so filled with beautiful blessings that I hardly sat down to do anything much on the computer! Today I feel blessed to be loved by my amazing man. He is my best friend. I am so happy when we talk, take walks, and just lie waking up slowly together with the curtains wafting around in the breeze by the open windows. I am so happy he loves his new job, and most happy that he is a real-life family man!

This afternoon, unbeknownst to me, my dear little teenage daughter Mary and her dear little friend Bailey decided that they would do some housework for me! When I came downstairs, the kitchen was super clean, and a delicious pork roast was in the slow cooker, and I just can't say how nice it is to live with someone who really enjoys reaching out and helping out! What a treat for a tired mother- to be blessed by the willing work of the loving hands of her own sweet child. Thank Heaven for such unasked acts of kindness- and the true little heart that has found the joy in giving them...

Living in the land of opportunity- we have it so good! Yesterday my brilliant husband graduated with his masters degree. Of course we are all so happy, and so proud of him... He is blessed with not only intelligence, but opportunities! We grow up here, and in so many other parts of the world, going to school because that's just what kids do after breakfast three quarters of the year. It's easy to take our education for granted. To see it as a bit of a chore, and a lot of a bore. But it's a bit chilling to think of the primitive and dangerous world we'd be trying to survive without educated people. Lives are saved, and made healthier and happier every minute because someone learned how to help make it so. A few years ago I read about a mountain-climber from Montana who was separated from his group in the Himalayas and happened upon a remote village where people took care of him until he could go home. Naturally he offered to do something in return for their life-saving ...

I have three amazing younger sisters. Let me tell you a bit about why I am so grateful for the first of these gems... Sara Jean came into my life a few months before my 2nd birthday, so I have no memory of not having her. I do remember playing together when we were little- a lot! Mostly I remember playing outside. Miraculously, we survived our childhood in spite of some of the crazy things we did. We don't need to go into that here... ;) One of my favourite early memories playing with Sara was in the field on the farm at the coast; we pressed down the high and thick green grass and made little 'houses' for ourselves, and pressed down little passages we travelled when we went to visit each other in our grass houses. Now when I see a bed of pressed-down grass up in the hills here where some deer slept the night before, I know just how it feels to create and feel snug in such a place as that. But what I want to talk about really is what an incredible person Sara is now! She a...

It turns out that 'the grass is greener' right here! All I had to do was wait a while, and look! It's lush and soft, and there are leaves bursting off the tips of tree branches everywhere... I like far-off places and long ago times. Sometimes I actually crave a bit of England, or Africa, and then I have to pick up a good book to get me there. Other times I actually go somewhere, and although it costs more, and involves packing a suitcase (agghhhh!), I love it, and I still have a list of places I want to go one day... Israel, southern and eastern Africa, the Mediterranean (a cruise would do ;), New Zealand; that would be a great start for me! However, I have been feeling more and more recently that where I am is the best place to live, and that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else to raise our children. Who knows, maybe the girl with the gypsy blood is finally ready to put down roots.   :)

Spring has sprung almost overnight! The sun is shining, the birdies are singing, and the grass is greening! I walked outside this morning in my bare feet all over it, watering patches where Jasper had been (doing quick little doggy things on our poor lawn at the end of the winter). I know it will recover. He lay in the shade on the north side of the house, as the rest of the backyard was flooded with warm sunlight- so beautiful to me! I also watered some prettier things, like the crocuses, and the rhubarb, and the daisies, and the 'hen and chicks' - funny little plants from Mom's busy gardens! I have windows open all over the house, and we are going to have to put the screens back in, because the bugs are back! It's a good day when even that is good news! Happy happy springtime!

Jack turned 15 on Sunday. I'm not sure how this happened- just yesterday he was a fat new baby I was holding.. breathing in deeply as I soaked up the delicious smell of his baby head. These days we threaten to cut off his milk rations to afford his jeans- it's time for his legs to stop growing already! And his feet. But not his good heart. I love my son; and I am a happy mother because I know he feels it. I've noticed how he's started showing his mama a certain consideration in the last few months. Very endearing, I must say... When he leans down to submit to an occasional kiss on the cheek, or opens a door for me- then I feel like my boy is turning into a man- a gentle man. He is strong and smart, and he makes me proud. He is kind to little ones, and to older ones... He works hard, and his laugh is like sun breaking through clouds. And he can cook! I always hoped my children would have a big brother to look out for them; Jack fits the bill- and then some. But my fa...

I am so glad God invented weekends! What a wreck I would be without a change every seven days... Fridays school gets out a couple hours early, and this is the day our children get together with friends after school- and often long into the night! It feels freeing to me, knowing that tomorrow morning we can chat about our dreams as long as we wish, and not have to rush off to school. We are going to have yummy home made pizza tonight, and now that it's the weekend we'll watch movies... TIme for me to run now, and go eat some chocolate fudge. Have a great weekend!

More and more, I appreciate my husband's angel mother. Whenever he shows that willingness to help unselfishly (which I think he does a lot- especially for a man! ;) I know he came by it honestly! One of the most enjoyable books I have read was James Herriot's 'All Creatures Great And Small'. The simple sentence I always remember from his writing was a brief description of his wife; 'Helen was always kind.' High praise, indeed. I am sure my husband, father-in-law, and brothers-in-law could say such a thing of Ethel, too. And she is always a lady- always. She conducts herself with grace and quietly embodies the excellent motto, 'Keep Calm & Carry On'! I feel inklings of understanding and appreciation for her gentle manners when I read a Nancy Drew book. (Nancy Drew is so cool!) The best thing about her to me, though, is her huge capacity for love and loyalty. All her family and friends are blessed by this gift. Happy birthday, Ethel... We love you ...

I have to tell you, there is nothing like the relief of a helpful appointment with a clever and kind doctor! I waited five months before I saw this neurologist up in Calgary... It was worth it. Before my appointment was called, I was sitting in the waiting room with Kirby (who had driven me up and stayed with me for support because he cares... I am blessed.) -and I saw some doctors coming and going in and out of their offices. His door was near to us, and I could see his name on it, but I'd never met him. I hoped he would care, and be smart and thorough. When I saw him at that door for another patient, I was instantly relieved and knew I would be just fine with him. And I think I am. He listened, cared, and knew so much about what to do next, and how to help. Thank Heaven for the blessing of good medical care. Where would so many of us be without it!?

My first word was 'book'. Yes, I was maybe a bit of an odd child... ;) Dad says that he remembers me requesting that he 'read me a tory' when I was very little, and one of the first things my husband and I did together when we were first dating and engaged was to read Treasure Island together. When we lived in England, I found an old hardcover copy of the complete Sherlock Holmes stories, which we read voraciously together before going to visit the famous flat in Baker Street! I still have to laugh whenever I hear the old song by Moxy Fruvous about the bibliophile girlfriend...! So Kirby's Valentine gift for me made perfect sense. Here is what he did. He asked Mom for a few titles of favourite storybooks I had when I was small. Then he secretly obtained these books from libraries and surprised me with a little story time! It was perfect, and perfectly adorable. What a guy...

This morning I heard a little bird outside before I even got out of my bed. That doesn't seem so special until I saw all the snow! Beautiful sparkly snow in the bright sunshine under a cold blue sky... Brilliantly pretty, but maybe a bit chilly for a little chirping bird...? Apparently not! That was a sweet little Valentine's gift from Heaven for me. And the very best part of this day so far is that my hunky husband has some secret plan up his sleeve, and that is just delicious!...

Last weekend we drove up about 6 hours to get together for Charley's 8th birthday and baptism. It was so great to be there all together with friends and family, eating ice cream cake and taking pictures. There's nothing like getting my sisters and I together for a  few snapshots! Yikes. We all enjoyed the sweet spirit at the baptism service, and especially when the little man himself stood up at the end and told us all his own beliefs about the gospel of Jesus Christ- amazing! He's a pretty rough-&-tumble kid, always has been; but he's sure got a heart, and a bright mind to go with it. After that we headed over to the gymnastics place where his dad is a pro. The best spot ever for a birthday party! Everyone had such a good time... little tiny children, big kids, aunts and uncles, cousins, and their grandparents took to the trampolines, ropes, springboards, and nearby comfy couches. ( I myself found the latter to be a perfect spot!)... then built a huge 'fort...

It seems a bit yucky, but then it is, really.  Which is why I am so thankful today that we have garbage disposal. All we have to do is roll the sturdy grey bins out to the curb on the right day of the week. Along comes the town truck, with an arm that hoists them up and dumps them out, and rumbles away to do the same service for all the neighbours! As much as we donate, recycle & compost of our waste in this affluent society, we still have things that are just rubbish. We try not to over-consume, and to re-use, but there's some stuff you just have to junk. We can minimize, but we can hardly eliminate trash. There are so many people in our world who have to live with the stench and filth of what they cannot use. I don't know how, and maybe neither would they, if they had another choice. It isn't a pleasant subject, which is why we are blessed to live in a place and time when we don't really have to live with it underfoot, or under our noses!

It's so extremely cold outside that the air seems full of frozen suspended whiteness even when it's not snowing. It is very beautiful to look at through the windows, from the snug rooms of my warm house! The windows have thick ice around the wood frames at the bottom of the double glass panes. I could touch it, but why would I want to do that? :) I thank Heaven on days like this that we can wake up to the furnace blowing warm air into our rooms, and step into good slippers and big bathrobes, and eat hot cereal, and wrap up in cozy blankets, and put cold wet laundry into a hot dryer, and bathe in steaming water filling the tub... Thank Heaven for my strong and talented husband who provides all this for our family, and for the hearty soup simmering all day in the slow cooker. How many people live in cold parts of the world without these comforts we can so easily take for granted...? We are blessed.

Tomorrow is Mary's 13th birthday, and she's so excited! I am so blessed to have her for my daughter. I love her happy energy and her enthusiasm. Sometimes I feel like I live with a Disney princess, when I hear her singing or humming some little tune while she does chores, or helps out. It's one of her favourite things to do, always has been. We know we are very lucky to have her in our family, all of us! I thank Heaven for her musical personality and her amazing compassion, for what a bright and beautiful little daughter she is... Even when she takes a while getting to bed, (so do I! :), needs to tidy up her bedroom, (so do I! :), and giggles a lot, (I could definitely laugh more.)! She is adorable, and I hope she has a wonderful birthday; she's really something to celebrate!