Friday, 25 February, 2011

sunshine on a cloudy day...





It is interesting how little things can add a little sunshine to a cloudy day.
Isn't it kind of like that in life in general?
We can focus on the negative and be overwhelmed with the grey or we can find the little rays of sunshine and make that our perspective.  We can choose love or bitterness from the cloudy days full of trials and all of the grey things that come our way.
I hope that love will motivate my every action and yours'.
Hoping you will choose love in all you see and do this weekend, friends.
Wishing you all a cup of sunshine or perhaps at least a sunny cupful of caramel macchiato.
Love,
~dee
xoxo

Tuesday, 22 February, 2011

thankful for little goodnesses...

Hoping your week is going well.
We had some unexpected little changes, like a broken down dryer and I am surprised to say that I don't really mind hanging our clothing on a line.
Love,
~dee
xoxo

Friday, 18 February, 2011

waiting...



 As of late, waiting seems to be my latest life lesson.  Not that I have never had to wait before, but it seems lately we are waiting for so many things. Waiting for Garren's body to heal while his family endures this painful time having no idea of what the outcome will look like exactly has been emotionally difficult for everyone.  I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be in Geoffery and Nancy's place.  Don and I have been praying along with our children that God will heal Garren's body completely but like all involved, we wait.  Wait on God, for daily miracles and waiting for the natural healing time of his brain along with the rest of his body.

As I was digging around in my compost, I realized that it had turned into beautiful soil, not overnight, trust me.  When we first moved here our soil was rock like clay, near impossible to dig and completely unworthy of planting anything in.  We added to the pile: left over rotting veggies, peels, grasses, more soil, cardboard and water and slowly but surely the soil became rich and lush.  I was actually stunned as I was digging in it last weekend, at the beautiful loamy earth that turned over with ease.  Time just passed with this and I was oblivious to the waiting.  Sometimes life is like that, you just wait unaware but usually the waiting is very noticeable.
  Remembering our empty backyard upon moving here is also incredible to me.  We slowly added plants and vegetation, raised beds, trees and flowers until it was so lush last year that I almost felt as if I was back home in Vancouver. However, over the years I thought it would always be sparse and barren.This year as I look out at the dead grass, empty beds, brown backyard, it feels like the wait is forever and possibly the colours will never return.

Don and I have been working towards some big life changes that have kept me from blogging as much and I feel as if I am losing so many great relationships from in this blog world.  People who are so inspiring to me, I have spent so little time chatting with as of the past while.  All of our focus seems to be in prayer, running around after kids, chauffeuring and working on our life plan.  I will tell you part of the plan is to live a lifestyle similar to this , we are also in the beginning stages of roasting our own coffees, along with a lot of other changes I will save to tell you all about later.  All of this is creating more waiting.  Waiting and not knowing what the outcomes of relationships, work, life in general and a lot of other things will be, seems to have become our story as of late. 

It is kind of humorous the amount of trust in the past I have put into a false sense of control of our lives.
Ultimately we are always waiting but sometimes we simply don't see it.  While our children are at school, we are trusting God with their lives as they bus, sit in classes, etc., we trust that our jobs will be there for us everyday, that our paychecks will show up, that nature will continue in the same manner, that the Earth will continue on its safe path around the sun, so it is funny to me when I  occasionally really wake up to the fact that we aren't in control.  In those moments I find a great need to grow in patience and trust.
Patience and Trust while we wait are beautiful gifts and attributes.  Trust that we are in the place we are meant to be in at this very moment, trust that you can rest in every circumstance and trust in a God that is good and he is able to take care of us at all times, both at the times we have our eyes opened to our own lack of control over our universe and even in the times we don't.  When we trust knowingly,  patience seems to grow in us as we wait.

Someone said in a prayer group we attended recently for Garren, that the underside of a rug or tapestry is not so beautiful to us.  Not many can see the beauty from this side of life's tapestry but I believe on the other side we will understand.
Until then, we wait.

Hoping you all will be patient with me while we busily make some life shifts and changes.
If some of our blogging friends would like to connect with us more regularly throughout this time feel free to add us on facebook.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Love,
~dee
xoxo

Monday, 14 February, 2011

sweet distractions...

I have had so many sweet distractions that keep me from having a heavy heart over the past week as we have been in prayer for Garren.  Our own family has grown closer together, we have grown closer to friends and church members as well as to God.

As we have been praying for our friends and their son, Garren, I have had faith along with intermittent bouts of heaviness.  I think whenever one is on the path of an enduring nature, there are highs and lows.  As a young person I would often go mountain climbing in the Canadian Rockies which are gloriously beautiful and yet rather difficult to climb.  I remember one wilderness trip went for two weeks outdoors and a very long journey up a mountain.  There were so many moments that I doubted I could make it to the top.  I would wish I were back at home in the comfort of my room.  Yet something bigger and greater, something far beyond myself pushed me to keep climbing.  The desire to reach the summit, to look down and know the beauty and awe that came with that.

I have never had to watch my child lie in a hospital bed for longer than a couple of days, so I can only imagine the fear and doubt that would plague the hearts of parents watching their sleeping son for 10 days with no definite answers.  Even with little hopeful glimpses, like Garren's eyes opening and his ability to breathe on his own now, I am sure there are so many questions and doubts that can fill their minds.  I don't think I would be as brave and strong as they Nancy and Geoffrey have been.

Although one thing I do remember from my mountain climbing experience is this; friends and camp leaders encouraging words overcoming my doubts and pushing me forward.
All of this to say that I believe along with Garren; Geoffrey, Nancy, Kara and Kelsey will need our enduring faith, patience, understanding, prayers and encouragement.

If you belong to a church, I would encourage you to ask your pastor to go to Geoffery's blog and add Garren and his family to their prayer list along with our entire church as we continue to uphold the Janes in prayer or if you would like to pray or add the side button to your blog as a reminder, I would send big hugs of gratitude your way.

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!
Wishing you all much love,
~dee

Monday, 7 February, 2011

a time to pray...

We will be spending the next days in prayer for our pastor's son.  He is only 13 and passed out in his phys. ed. class on Friday.  He was rushed into the hospital and they found bleeding on his brain.  His father, our church's pastor has a blog that can explain more here.  Being in prayer for him and his family is of utmost importance for us right now.  If you feel moved to join us, we want to thank you.

Love,
~all of us

Thursday, 3 February, 2011

intentional gardening...



I started our little garden a week ago and I am already salivating over my intentions for the fruits of these plants.
I hope to dehydrate the tomatoes and basil add some sea salt so they are like tomato chips and dip them in some local chevre cheese.  Oh why do plants have to take so long to grow??
xoxo
Love,
~dee