A is for Alphabet

I really like Alphabet Photography and I've made it one of my 'projects' to keep an eye out for letters in the world. Today, in a 100 year old barn, I found A.

This is for you ACJ. You and your mama. I think it is a sign.

A new way

I am not a good pray(er); a person who prays. Especially in this season of life, I find it nearly impossible to do so. So I'm entering into a larger community, a world wide community of believers, praying the same scriptures, prayers and songs. Right now, I'm 'just showing up' in the form of reading the daily meditations. Perhaps eventually it will be more than that.

Snow Day

At the end of the first run down the mountain.

Angel #1

Angel #2

Dark days.

Cancer. It has invaded so many facets of my life lately. Several co-workers have spouses in various stages of fighting and/or dying. The girls' school principal who retired last year with the intent of serving God in other ways died this week of pancreatic cancer. A friend lost a parent. An old bible study friend who is my age with 3 kids is in the midst of a brutal battle with breast cancer. Another friend just had her mother and mother in law diagnosed with cancer within a week of each other.

And in the midst of all this, I stand mute. And grieving.

Compression shorts

Otherwise titled, 'Update on the lower body injury'.

Leave now if you don't want to hear about it...

A couple of days ago I started worrying that perhaps my injury was a little more severe than I thought. The good thing is that I married a man with a big clan. And in that clan are a couple physiotherapists/occupational therapists; handy folks to know when you've hurt yourself. So I called my cousin for an over the phone diagnosis/advice. He asked me some questions, had me poke and prod, stretch and bend. By the end I was hurting. The verdict?

8-12 weeks at least. Mostly likely more. As you may have guessed, Hubby was none too thrilled with that. (Sorry Moms, if you are reading!)

One suggestion he had was to get some compression shorts. They are basically tight shorts with some fancy attributes. Not the least of which is "bringing more oxygen to the area to speed healing". REALLY? I'm wearing these under pants. How is more oxygen getting there? And how did the salewoman look me in the eye and say that with a straight face?

The thing about compression shorts is that they need to be really tight. Like a size too small tight. As you can see from the picture above, those shorts are small. And I'm a good 1/3 bigger than those shorts. Let's just say that when I pull those on, I can see just how much muffin I got on my top. Nothing like wearing skin tight shorts to motivate you to do something about it.

Which brings me to my cousin's second piece of advice. Stomach work. He told me to find the lowest stomach muscle and hold it tight. Constantly. Want to figure out which muscle it is? It is the lowest one you can find. Not the one you need to 'exercise' after child birth, but pretty darn low. (Again, sorry to any boys reading this). Now try and hold it tight for 20 minutes at a time. I did it this morning sitting at my desk. I was holding in tight, doing good, until I started feeling lightheaded. OH! Apparently I wasn't breathing while holding that muscle tight. It is pretty much impossible to do both....at least I couldn't do it well.

And I just received the last piece of advice, go to my GP and request an X Ray. Apparently my cousin is a bit worried that something is more wrong than he thought. Apparently compression shorts aren't the be all to end all.

**Here are some other blog posts/titles that I could have blogged about today, but didn't:

• Lunchroom rules
• Tiny fat bird
• Dear Mr Range Rover driver
• No, I don't want your opinion

Wearing Pink.

Today I woke to the giggles of Pookie and Bear sorting through their dressers in search of the ultimate pink outfit. It was a tough decision, they only have about 143 choices.

My life used to be less pink. I used to actively dislike pink, deeming for those girls.

Then I had Pookie. And a baby shower. I received 40 gifts, 40 outfits in every shade of pink imaginable. I was horrified.

Fast forward 4 years and I got my first pink shirt from my mom. Pookie begged me to wear it and the smile on her face broke my last line of defence against the pink onslaught. Now, I have half a dozen pink type shirts in my wardrobe and to this day, the girls love it when I wear them.

Today I was the only one in my office wearing pink. The lone splash of colour in a sea of dark blue, brown and black. True, I'd rather be P!nk than Pinkalicious, but I rocked the pink today.

The things about sunny days...

is that you can see all the dust in your house.

It's a winner!

Last year, I didn't win. Not once. Despite having coffee nearly everyday.

Today, first cup was a winner!

Straight No Chaser = Amazing.

My super awesome nanny gave me concert tickets to one of my new favourite groups, Straight No Chaser. They are funny, cover songs from the BeeGees, to Stevie Wonder, to the Jackson 5 to a Lady Gaga medley and a 10 part harmony to die for. The best part is that not only was in a cool little theatre downtown, but the crowd was made up of everyone from old grey heads to young hipsters. Such a good night.

Signs of new life

Last year I bought this hydrangea plant. It bloomed beautifully through the summer and fall and then started to hibernate. It dried up and became this nasty looking bunch of sticks. Then, to add insult to injury, I hacked away at it in January when I locked myself out of the house and needed something to do. Needless to say, I wasn't overly hopeful that it had survived the winter...until today. Today, I saw some shoots of green. It gave me hope that perhaps both myself and the hydrangea had survived the wet, greyness that is life in a rainforest.

Why hello there!

Saw a rare sight today, so I took a picture.

A homemaker moment.

Bread of Life? Bread for Lunch.

Food Theology - Words to live by

Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

Faith like a Djembe beat

Our big city church was decidedly unbig city in its worship. We still rocked the overhead for song sheets and more often that not we were acoustic though with an array of instruments. One of my favourite aspects was the djembe drumming. We usually had at least one drummer, but could have up to 3-5 drummers up there. I used to love the times I was part of the drumline.

I am a decent player, I love the rhythm of percussion and will catch myself drumming while listening to music. For me there was nothing more fun than drumming with other people, each of us taking a part but blending together in a great beat.

Now, if I was drumming and just feeling the music, I was good. If I thought for a second, "Hey, this sounds really good", BOOM! I lost my beat. Happened every. single. time.

I'm kinda feeling that way about my faith right now. When I'm in a good groove of study/thinking/living out my faith, it is like a sweet drum beat. But, the minute I start thinking, "Hey, I'm doing good here" I lose my beat.

I think I'm finding it harder to find my beat lately cause I haven't found anyone to drum with.

I Heart You

Today we had plans for dinner with some friends. Unfortunately they called early this morning with the news that one of their kids was sick and did we still want to come over. Ummm...No. We don't need any sickness in this house, thanks.

Since I was working from home, I decided to try and make our dinner time a little special. First up, a house clean of the main floor. Second, a gathering of ingredients for one of Hubby's favourite meals. Third, cards and a little gift for the girls. Fourth, a setting of a 'fancy' dinner table. And lastly, white chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert.

Dinner was followed by an impromptu dance party**, complete with Hubby and I dancing to our wedding song as the girls ran around us giggling.

Happy Valentines' Day!

**In hindsight, that was a poor choice due to this. I'm icing as I write!

A spring treat

When we lived in the city I would often stop by my favourite flower shop to get a fresh bunch of blooms. They had $5 and $10 bunches,not too expensive and just enough to brighten the apartment. It is a Dutch thing to have fresh flowers in the house at all times, something I've let slip since moving to the village.

Today, I spotted some tulips and decided I needed them to brighten my home. A good choice I think, and a habit I need to pick up again.

A Lower Body Injury

Apparently I am prone to freak injuries. The 2 freakiest sport injuries one can receive are a ruptured Achilles tendon (2007) and groin pulls (yesterday)

Can I just say that a groin pull ranks right up there with giving birth??? Holy Mother, when my foot slipped out from under me at a basketball game yesterday, the pain was instantaneous. A white hot, burning ripping pain. In an area that you never want pain.

By the time I got home, the pain was making me want to vomit. I called my doctor's office to see if I could get it assessed. Why I did this is beyond me. I'm all for the Canadian medical system, but you cannot see your doctor unless you book weeks ahead of time...which for a person like me, who only ever goes when I AM SICK OR HURT, the system is completely useless. Hubby suggested I go to the ER, but I was reluctant. I really didn't want to go, sit in a waiting room for hours, only to have an ER Doc (which would probably be a man) poking and prodding around my lady parts, only to tell me that I pulled my groin.

So, it is ice, copious amount of Ibuprofen, rest and very careful application of muscle relaxation creams. Very careful.

The Beard is no more.

For a few months Hubby grew a beard. I loved his beard, all reddish and grey. Yesterday he shaved it and left an 80's porn star moustache on. I am not in love with this look. AT ALL.

I'm a firm believer that if Hubby shaves his head, he needs facial hair to balance it out...this is not the option I was thinking of.

A Suburban Nightmare

The Tupperware Party

At one point I found myself oohing and ahhing over a set of Food Savers. Oh Lord, save me now!

Simplifying.

It is time to simplify. I'm doing a mash up of my 2 blogs.

Trust your mama?

Who's your path?

Your mama's path is trust?

Nah. Trust my path is no more. (Sorry to my 2 followers)

Faith, Family and all the crazy that goes with it, now on this blog.

Simple.

Signs of Spring

Snowdrops

A new day...

Coffee Art, The Drive style.

I'm 37 and this is post 365.

I feel like this post should be deep and meaningful, some grand summation of this past year. And I want it to be that, but the reality is that my day was really busy and I'm kinda tired.....

When I started this last year on my birthday, it was a spur of the moment decision. I didn't know if I'd have something to say everyday, or if anyone would even read it. It grew to be so much more than what I could have even dreamed of. I learned so much this year about myself, my family, friends and even strangers. I remember speaking with a wise counsellor friend in the early spring of last year who told me that I needed to "be known more deeply by others". My response to her was that I didn't know how to do that. This blog has become that vehicle for me and in turn has helped me verbalize in person with some trusted friends.

I have never been so honest about my struggles as a parent, wife and friend as I have on this blog. I have begun to articulate what is important to me in terms of faith, community, hospitality and life values. I have stirred up trouble for myself on this blog and some good conversations. I have learned from others, been encouraged by comments and challenged in so many different ways.

My life is rich in so many ways because of the following people:

• My Hubby who has loved me for the last 12.5 years. He has stood by me as I blogged about our life and who weathered several storms that I caused. He is a man of deep character, unfailing optimism and who consistently puts our family first in his list of priorities. I am a lucky woman.
• Pookie, my first born. My beautiful, kind hearted daughter who loves fiercely, is so creative, whose sense of style I should emulate...this girl is growing up far too fast!
• Bear, my baby who is no longer a baby. My green eyed trouble maker with a twinkle in her eye. My girl who still loves to cuddle, and whose heart is full of love for others....time needs to slow down!
• Friends who give words of encouragement and rebuke, who brings gifts of seeds, music and books because they know me, who share meals, drink coffee and listen.
• Family, parents and siblings who support us even when they don't understand us.

I couldn't possibly count the blessings of this past year, but I know this. God, in His infinite mercy, has poured out His Love to me through YOU. And for that I am thankful.

Amen.

Holding on to my mid-thirties

Today is my last day of being in my mid-thirties. It started off with a lovely restaurant breakfast with my 3 favourite people. Then a painful, but laugh filled hour of basketball, followed by hours of chatting with old school friends. The day finished off at a friend's house celebrating his birthday (He is 2 days older, but I'm taller and prettier!).

It was a pretty good way to sign off on my mid-thirties.

A redneck moment

Stumbling home after playing an hour of alumni basketball at my old high school, clutching an open bottle of alcohol, a stuffed frog and the hand of my five year old. Classy, I know.

One of those moments

Last week while cleaning the kitchen I cut my finger on some glass. Couldn't find any sign of what might have broken and went about my business. Today, I entered my kitchen, took a glass from the cupboard and proceeded to pour myself a glass of water. Which promptly spilled all over the counter. At first I thought the Brita jug was overfull. So I tried again. This time water hit the counter, cupboards and floor. Finally, cause I'm smart like that, I looked at the glass...and this is what I found

Yep, a perfect little hole in a random glass. The upside of all the water spillage? Clean counters, cupboards and floor.

Bear's first tooth

Yup, Bear lost her first tooth today! She was eating a pear and called me all freaked out. And there was her tooth, stuck in the pear. I checked the rest of her teeth and it does seem as though a couple of others are slightly loose. Huh, we didn't even know.

New to me music

As it always happens, I find one thing I like, that leads to another and another and suddenly 2 hours of internet surfing has passed. That's what happened last night when I found Gungor. I've posted about them before, their song 'God is not a white man', but somehow I never went farther to hear any of their other music. Big mistake!

They are an amazing blend of worship and visual art. They used so many different instruments that their songs have a depth that makes you want to learn the cello or banjo. Here is a couple of my favorite songs:

The Earth is Yours:




Beautiful Things: Live in the Forest version