Saturday, May 28, 2005

I'm a good mom!

Well I don't know about you but it's easy to get in a slump. You do something wrong then condemn yourself for it then continue the cycle until that's all you know anymore. I read something that said you have to verbalize what it is you want to be true. Say out loud, "I'm a good mom!" and slowly you will become just that. I was doing a bible study 'Believing God' and she said at one point Satan finds out your worst fear and sets out to confirm it. He can't read your thoughts but he can watch your actions and words. If he sees you doubting your calling as a mother or your ability he will pounce on it and set out to confirm it. By speaking out loud things you want to be true, you will discourage attack in that area. Say "I'm a good mom!", "I love my husband.", "He is a babe!", "I love my children.", etc. The spoken word is so powerful, let's use it for good.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Thoughtful Weekend

I wonder if anyone ever reads this. Sometimes what seems like a good idea can totally turn around and hit you in the butt. I guess in a small way tho', this has been kinda therapeutic. Writing down my thoughts helps sort out my mind.

This past weekend my husband and I took 8 kids from our Youth Group to Strathmore for a youth conference. It's something we do every year. However this was the first time I've been able to go. The team behind the conference try to get the weekend as meaningful as possible for Jr. Highers (the age group allowed to go to this specific conference) while still attempting to make it meaningful for leaders as well. This year they did something different and had stations set up around a gym for the kids to go to. There was a prayer station, a "Dear God," station where the kids could write notes to God, a foot/hand washing station, a "Letters from God" station where the had scripture written all over a table and a "sin-giving" station where the kids could throw black paint against a white sheet of drywall symbolizing them giving their sins to God. It was really cool and very well done. Definately something that impacted both kids and leaders. But there was something else. Each year they take an offering. This year the money was going to a group called Childrens Hopechest. They showed a video clip and one of the leaders had been to Russia and seen first hand how the program worked. It all got me thinking about my own children. There are so many unwanted, uncared for, and needy children all over the world. What right do I have in bringing another child to life when there are so many others who could use my help and would die to have a mother's love? It all pulled at my heart strings and I started to cry. Does anyone have an answer? Why does God allow this to happen? Are not children innocent in His eyes? The video said that there are over 800,000 orphans in Russia today. When they turn 15 or 16 they are released from the orphanage and sent into the world to make it on their own and "survive". I don't remember exactly all the stats, but I remember that only 10% of those "released" make it and survive. Roughly 60% commit suicide, 30% turn to prostitution. It makes my heart ache. If this even makes your heart quiver a bit, there are many ways that you could help. Ask your church about sponsoring a child. I started sponsoring a child 10 years ago thru Compassion Canada. There are groups that sponsor thru World Vision. I encourage you to look for an organization that suits you. Be thorough in your search and find out exactly home much of a monthly donation goes straight to the child. Or if sponsoring isn't your thing, pray. It's amazing how a simple prayer can change a life.

May God be with you and your family this week!

Monday, May 16, 2005

The Sound of Silence

This morning I went for a jog out at the Little Red Park. For those who don't know where that is, it's across the river on the Highway towards Nipawin and Candle Lake. Just 5 mins. out of town. I love going there. My parents used to live here in PA, and one of the things they missed most, when they moved away, was the Lil' Red Park. So I always try to take advantage of all it has to offer, while I can. As I was saying, this morning I took Gus (my brute of a dog) and we went for a jog. The sun was shining, the wind was keeping most of the mosquitoes away and everything was silent. As I was running I tried to pay attention to the stillness. Listening for the sound of the wind moving the tree tops. The sound of the birds singing and squirrels sqeaking (or however you spell that!). Nature and the outdoors can be very soothing and a GREAT way to relieve stress. So I encourage you all to take advantage of something great that PA has to offer - Little Red Park. Take your kids, take your husband, take a friend or just take yourself. Drive out there and walk, bike, run or just sit at one of the many fire pits. Reflect, think, pray. There's tonnes of awesome nature trails in the back area if you take the first exit (towards Pinegrove, but keep going straight instead of turning right). If your still a bit nervous about getting lost, you can pick up trail maps at Fresh Air Experience or the lodge in the Park.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Lack of wisdom and a whole lot of PMS

This past Wednesday I got my 2 right wisdom teeth pulled. Maybe I'm a bigger softy than I thought, but my head still hurts. It feels like I've been hit really hard in the right jaw. Not that I know what that feels like, but it hurts. So I'm continually popping Ibuprofen, which helps out with the next fact...PMS.

My husband can usually tell when I'm PMS-ing. This week however, I gave him the heads up before he got the chance to say anything. In my opinion I've been really good this week. Last night tho' I'd say was the worst. I had a conversation with my Mom that didn't go as well as I would have liked. I'm not sure if I was reading too much into it, or if she was just unwilling to help out. Anyway, it didn't end great. Then the emotions kicked in and I felt like crying. To make things worse, the whole problematic issue needing help seemed to somehow get 10x worse than it actually was and my husband, Steve, say's "don't worry about it." By now we're getting ready for bed, the lights off and my jaw is starting to hurt. Dead silence. I have all these thoughts racing thru my head, and I'm waiting for Steve to say goodnite before he falls asleep. Silence. Finally I say,"fine then. Good-nite." and roll over and start crying. Of course now that I'm telling someone this, I feel like a complete loser. It's amazing how our emotions can get the better of us. This prompts him to take on his psych-voice and ask me what's wrong. I say my jaw is hurting and all I can think about is the problem next weekend. He proceeds to tell me again not to worry about it. God will handle things, and he rolls over and falls asleep. This irritated me more than ever. Here I was fuming mad, with millions of thoughts running thru my head waiting for the Ibuprofen to kick in and he, so easily, rolled over and fell asleep. Just like that. I decided it was my duty to toss and turn and make as much noise as possible, trying to get comfortable. It was to no avail, as his body started to twitch (which it always does when he first falls asleep). Eventually the drugs kicked in and my mind settled down and I fell asleep too. What a night.

I'm thinking the PMS has to be over soon, and the pain in my jaw should go away. Then life will get back to normal once again. Hopefully your week was much better. And if not, if your suffering from a PMS week, well I'm praying for you. The week is almost over!

Saturday, May 07, 2005

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you all have a great day! Here are some stories and quotes about Mother's. Enjoy!

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. -Unknown

I can't seem to copy and paste stories, so you're gonna have to look some of these up. Sorry.

"What the child says he has heard at home." -African proverb

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother." -Lin Yutang

Here are some more good Mother's quotes

A Mother's Prayer

Dear Lord it's such a hectic day,
With little time to stop and pray,
For life's been anything but calm,
Since you called on me to be a mom.

Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with building blocks.
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes,
And other stuff that children lose.

Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs,
A stack of last week's mail to read,
So where's the quite time I need?

Yet when I steal a minute Lord,
Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of your grace,
I see them in my small one's face.

That you have blessed me all the while,
As I stop to kiss that precious smile.

Finally, you can check out the Celine Dion song "A Mother's Prayer"

Friday, May 06, 2005

Friendly Conversations

The other night I went to a going-away/prayer/party party. It was alot of fun. We laughed, we cried, we talked, we ate. It was all good. It was the first time in awhile that I was able to really enjoy myself and not feel like an outsider of sorts. So thank you, ladies, for letting me be a part of that evening!

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

New Colour

I'm sorry, but the pink was getting a little too "pinky" for me. I've added some links to the side there. Hope they work. If anyone has any comments or questions, please feel free to do so!

Thanks!

So much to say

I'm stoked. I have the new Avril Lavigne cd (surprisingly very good and clean) playing on the stereo, my belly is full, the kids are napping and the husband (or as a friend likes to call him: my first husband) is gone to the church for an hour. The house is mine!

Last weekend I bought a new pair of swim shorts. They're a little tight. I believe however that I still have a few months anyway to fit nicely into them. It seems that every year around this time, the female population is thrown into a tizzy about weight and the impending swim-suit season. Sadly I'm one of those females. I'd like to think that I don't put alot of pressure on myself about my weight, but as my husband looses weight, I feel that I must as well. To me, there's just something not quite right about weighing more than my husband. At the Mom's Nite Out awhile back when we went to BP's and bowling (by the way...would anyone be interested in doing that again??) someone said that they thought it was so cool when they hit the 200 lbs. mark when they were pregnant. After having the baby, however, it wasn't that cool anymore. I laughed when I heard that and it still makes me smile when I think about it now.

So this morning I went for a run out at the Little Red Park. I love going out there. Usually I take my bike and my dog, but this morning I felt like running. I used to be a track runner when I was in high school. I loved the feeling of being near death (or so it felt) in the heat, sweat dripping all over. To me there's something about that feeling that makes me feel alive. I wonder what happened? This morning I think I nearly did die. I ran for about 7 mins before nearly collapsing on the trail. My dog, bless her, came over as if urging me on. I couldn't do it. I had to walk the rest of the route. I'm determined however, to beat that trail, and fit nicely into my swim shorts!

So if you are like me and dreading the upcoming season of skimpiness. Take heart in knowing that God made you how you are, but He also wants us to take care of ourselves. So grab a buddy and get active. Yesterday I simply walked over to Kinsmen Park so my kids could get some exercise and fresh air too. It was great! I'm always looking for someone to get active with - if your stuck give me a call! I'd love to go with you!

Later!

jogging buddy??

Beginner jogger looking for same to start jogging. Carlton track or Little Red...either or. Or someone who's into mtn. biking out at the Lil' Red. That would be great too. Leave a note in the comment section.

Thanks!