Monthly Archives: July 2013
Be Wordless On The Weekend
Be Knowing About Alcoholism
Boys, come sit down on our virtual couch tonight, we need to have a heart-to-heart chat. I am going to tell you something very serious, very heartfelt and very important.
(BUT first, a cute photo of one of Nana and Papa’s many costumes.)
Alcoholism is in our family, our blood and it is something you need to be aware of. No, don’t be afraid of it, just be aware.
Alcohol, like any addiction, will steal your days away, create a barrier between you and your loved ones and will make you do things you never thought you would do.
We have a loved one that “relapsed” the last few days. They went on a drunken binge. They hit their head, which caused a gash that will probably need stitches or glue. We know that they feel shame, guilt, sadness and all the hopelessness in their world.
Unfortunately boys, there is nothing we can do. They need God’s help.
Addictions are powerful. I know because I battle my daily addictions to certain foods, reality TV, Facebook and I am sure a myriad of other small things I rely on for comfort when my emotional storm comes. Every day I need to be open to relying on God and those He has placed around me.
I feel strongly that anything that harms your close, authentic relationships may be an addiction. Are you playing too many video games instead of talking to your friends? Do you think about playing video games all the time? Or how about when you start drinking alcohol, you drink too much too often? Do you hide your drinking? Do you think about when you can get your next drink? Has anyone close to you mentioned that you may be drinking too much?
Boys, please know that you are not alone, if you do end up struggling with alcohol. Yes, alcoholism is in our family. BUT, it can be overcome, just ask your Great Grandfather who has been sober for over thirty years.
May God grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can and the wisdom to know the difference. (From the Serenity Prayer that hangs on our bedroom wall)
Boys, I pray this day and many more days, that you will never know the sadness of alcoholism like we know, that you will never know the worry about what will happen next to your loved one with alcoholism and that you will never know the deep sorrow of coming out of a drunken binge.
Be Taking Dukey On A Hike
We are in the final days of “living” in the town where all three of my boys were born. I have been very intentional visiting with certain people and going to special places.
On Sunday, we went for a hike on the acreage behind the first house we lived in. We went with an old neighbour and her son. This is the home where JC was born beside the dishwasher. Here’s the story.
JC insisted on taking his backpack with a snack and a few other things in it. Does this ever happen to you with your own children? I said yes and boy did we get a surprise.
We had hiked up to the top of the hill overlooking the lake. The boys were sitting and chatting when suddenly out popped “Dukey”, JC’s teddy bear. We don’t let our teddy bears go travelling with us, but I sure smiled when I saw Dukey.
My mom had given us Dukey when were six months pregnant with JC. She gave it to us in the house at the bottom of this hill the Christmas before JC was born.
When Dukey popped out of the backpack it was a very special moment thinking about all that has happened in the last seven years since our boys (and Dukey) came into our lives.
Thanks JC for being in tune with other people and God’s Spirit inside of you. You are one of the most thoughtful and caring people that I know. You made us all smile today.
Be A Home Depot Kid Constructor
We went to the hardware store to look at toilets and we ended up with a great activity for the boys.
They got to participate in a FREE kids program constructing a car. Not only did they get to hammer away, they got a free Home Depot apron, hard hat, ruler, pencil and a car that they had put together themselves.
Here are my proud boys.
Afterwards, my oldest even showed the youngest how to put together his car. Mommy couldn’t manage all three boys with hammers, so the two big boys made their cars while baby OC got lost in the ride’m lawn mower cage. Yes, I did have my first screaming mommy with a lost child moment.
Learning in action! Hammer, hammer, hammer.
Happy Summer!
Be A Golf Camper
I love the order of golf. The manicured lawns (Don’t want to think about how they get that way!), the beautifully placed flowers, the nicely layed out sand traps (at least when you aren’t playing.) and the friendly atmosphere like you are part of one big “Club”.
Our oldest got a taste of golf course life this week as he did a three day mini-camp at a local golf resort. He loved hitting his “big dog”, riding in the cart and the ice cooler with cold water on the side. Amazing!
In the “Easy Guide to the Etiquette and Rules of Golf” that my son got on the first day, it states that you introduce yourself on the first tee AND when you finish playing you thank them for their company and shake their hand. Plus they don’t allow cell phone on the golf course. Can you imagine that skills and conversations that these players are able to have without any distractions from technology?
While JC was at camp, I have had the opportunity to walk around with CC and OC. We have had a relaxing time. First, it is so peaceful. No cars within the pathways surrounding the golf course, just my feet pounding along the path. Second, we have seen amazing wildlife: birds, butterflies, marmots, ducks and even a few turtles came to say hello.
We eagerly awaited JC’s return from the practice range.
The little brothers were very excited to see him pull up in the golf cart, especially when it was the hockey cart!
Be Wordless On the Weekend
Be Loving People, Use Things
I used to drive by this church every day. The quotes they put on their front billboard always fascinate me.
This quote made me want to weep.
When I first saw this sign I felt incredibly sad. I was in a place of feeling like a discarded “thing”. As we are moving, certain friends have fallen away. See this blog.
Two weeks later, I saw this quote with new eyes. It made me want to cry tears of joy.
God had placed me with an incredible group of Christian women in a boot camp/bible study ran by our good friend “Bam” of HappyFitMe.
These women gave me hope as they shared of themselves, their healing, their love of God and their struggles. Jesus’ loved poured out of each of them every time we were together. The words were honest. The actions were truthful. They gave everything they had in our workouts at the playground, on the field, in the gym and in the pool. It was incredible.
And now as our family moves down the lake into our new house, I have hope.
Hope that God will prosper me. Hope that God does have a plan for my life. Hope that the friends He will surround me with will be like these boot camp women and all the women that have walked/ran with me during this very difficult transition. 
"Be" ENOUGH 