All posts by Be Enough

Be Having a Snow/No Car/God Day

Yesterday was our first huge dump of snow this year. We have been waiting.

This is the twelfth day of December and talking on the phone to my friend on the Island down south, I was griping about the fact that we didn’t have any snow.

AND THEN THE FLAKES BEGAN TO FALL!

Thanks for sending the flakes north, D!

The first snow is very significant for our family because it reminds us of our University days and our journey to know Jesus in a personal way. I had a football player friend who implored me to ask God to reveal himself to me. God did and continues to do so every day. I told Sexy Neck this story and four months later, he had a similar experience with God.

It was September 1995, and it was a beautiful fall University day. Steve asked God if he was real and if he was, could it snow the next day. God loved Sexy Neck so much and guess what, it snowed. Sexy Neck was floored. He couldn’t believe it! He then implored God and said, “God, I need you to show yourself again tomorrow by making is snow.” AND IT DID! Then it didn’t snow for another TWO MONTHS!

God is great! Personal. Real. Alive. He loves us all.

We spent this first snow day at home together hanging out. No car. No schedule. Just time to watch the flakes, tobaggon, create snow angels, make train sets, eat and just BE.

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Be a “KCAM” Mommy

It’s important to have some peeps no matter where you live. It is difficult to live in isolation, as I know.

I’m extremely grateful to these four women that I get to see on a regular basis at school pick-up and drop-off. I called them KCAM women because of their beginning initial and they also represent the piece in a wheel called a cam. A cam helps transforms rotary motion into linear motion.

These four kcam’s have helped me and encouraged me to keep moving forward into this new life in KCity instead of feeling like I am spinning in circles. Oh I would be spinning in circles without these four!

They have helped us find a church, a dry cleaner, a Christmas gift for the teacher, piano teacher and hockey program. They have jumped into trying Bikram yoga with me and told me about other fun things to do in the city.

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Let me introduce you to this fabulous women that God has allowed me to meet:

K – mom of boys
– kind and lovely person to see at preschool and elementary school pick-up/drop-off
– incredible with her boys and the children she nannies
– helped us find a church
– encouraging and real
– track star from down south

C – incredibly thoughtful and kind
– hospitable, has already invited us over for dinner twice and we plan to make it over there soon
– mom of boys
– open and encouraging
– athletic, fit, classy
– moved into a new house this summer too

A – an “old” friend from volleyball days
– someone I was delighted to become reconnected with again
– we moved into their hood (she grew up down the street from us and now lives behind us)
– dropped off a pizza dinner when we moved in (how sweet is that!)
– took me walking to show me around
– athletic, likes to be organized
– super outgoing and friendly

M – someone Sexy Neck (my hubby) met at parent orientation night. M and her husband blew him away with their kindness.
– fellow mom of three
– is a teacher on leave too
– just ‘gets it’
– loves being a stay at home mom
– athletic, fit styling and spends time outside

GOTCHA – this is one half of the KCAM
Mommies:

20131121-215513.jpgKind, lovely, encouraging, real, thoughtful, hospitable, enthusiastic, athletic, open, classy, organized, outgoing, friendly, kind, empathetic, styling, love being moms!

Yup, I would say I am pretty fortunate to be surrounded by four incredibly inspiring and well rounded women during this season of my life!

Be Losing Something

I have much to ponder after this weekend.
Prayer Retreat.
Visit with mom and dad.
Sexy Neck’s colleagues at our new house for a gingerbread party.
JC losing a tooth.

My life continues to be a little bit of a lot.

The most exciting news is that our oldest lost his first tooth.

20131209-220809.jpgThe tooth was twisting and shaking for a few days, but on Sunday it decided to come out, “Pop”!

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The reason for the title of the post was my reflection post tooth losing.

My son was elated. He didn’t need that tooth anymore. He knew that there was a bigger and better one coming. He was filled with joy. Pure joy and anticipation of the new tooth to come.

How often do I want to hold onto that old tooth or that old hurt or that old voice in my head that condemns? It seems that many women I know carry burdens, unforgiveness, negative self-talk to the detriment of ourselves.

This Christmas, I will let go of my judgement about the way I look, the thoughts I have that condemn my words and the feeling of never being enough. (Haha! The irony of this blog!)

I know that God wants me to let go of these baby teeth, enjoy the gap and wait to see what bigger and better things will come.

How about you? Is there anything you could let go of this Christmas season on this tenth day of Advent?

Glory to God for simple things, like teeth, that give me such great things to ponder in grace and freedom and love.

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Let go.

Enjoy the gap.

Wait.

Journey.

The big tooth will come.

Be Travelling Back to Bethlehem (Advent Day 9)

Yesterday before our visit with mom and dad, we went on our annual trip to Bethlehem during the time Jesus was born. It didn’t cost us a cent!

For the last few years in Vtown a local Baptist church has held an event called Bethlehem Star. It is an incredibly well organized event from the parking to the experience to the show and a cookie and hot chocolate on the way out.

Bethlehem Star begins outside where the church recreates a Bethlehem marketplace including shekels to buy things like olives, dreidels, bread. You can also see live animals, and join the Roman Army.

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After Bethlehem Star, we zoomed across town to have dinner with Nana, Papa and Auntie P. the boys broke out the handmade Nana made PJ’s and even watched a short show on the TV.

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Merry Ninth day of advent in preparation for Christmas.

Be Going on a Prayer Retreat

I was fortunate to spend yesterday morning on a chicken farm overlooking the valley. Happy 8th day of advent.

We had a listening prayer retreat led by my counsellor. It was three and a half hours with beautiful women wanting to go deeper with God.

The most important thing I want to share are these wonderful photos:

20131207-223551.jpgWhat resonates with you on this table today?

20131207-223557.jpgSpending time praying in nature. I found an angel to walk and pray with.

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20131207-223625.jpgOur leader:

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The most miraculous thing that physically happened was after two years of being stuck this hour glass started running. Look at the women’s faces. Priceless. God is a God of wonder, amazement and miracles.

20131207-223640.jpgGlory to God

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Be Having a Baby Gorilla (in your nativity scene)

This year the boys are having difficulty waiting for the baby Jesus to arrive in the manger in our nativity scene. I’ve explained numerous times the meaning behind the nativity scene and Christmas. We’ve explained that we celebrate Jesus’s birthday on Christmas, just like we celebrate their birthdays on the day they were born. I explained that baby Jesus will appear in the manager on Christmas Day. (If I can remember where I put him!)

Today I had a HUGE belly laugh out loud moment as I walked by the nativity scene and saw a gorilla lying in the manger.

Check it out from far and near:

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Should I leave the gorilla in the manger? Yup, I think we will.

Happy seventh day of advent! Ahhhh eeee ahhhh!

Be Making Angel Cookies

How about angel cookies to enjoy on this sixth day of advent?

These are super simple to make. If you are going to try making a Christmas cookie with your kids I would try these. The boys love making the dough into triangles and sticking in the pretzels.

We made these on the weekend then decorated them at Nana and Papa’s. These are yummy in our tummy kinda cookies. We decided to use the icing in the recipe book and banana chips for a head. Mom checked out the action from her chair.

Enjoy:

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Be A Great Friend to my Parents (Advent Day 5)

Happy fifth day of advent. What a beautiful waiting time we are enjoying.

Today, we spent the day in Vernon with my parents. We were blessed to have a visit with our great family friend, Mrs.S.

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She came to lighten and brighten mom and dad’s day. She told wonderful stories about her grandchildren, and activities at home. Exactly what mom needed.

Yesterday, mom and dad got a great surprise from a friend from PG that now lives in Vtown. She dropped off a batch of gingerbread cookies, icing and decorations for mom to do with the boys. Every Christmas she has decorated gingerbread cookies with our boys. Here was Mrs. E’s note:

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As, I sit on this fifth day of advent I ponder friendship. I think of my mom and dad and the comfort from friends that they have known for a long time. These friends have helped her tremendously through letters, photos, flowers, food and short visits. Mom and dad are very fortunate to have incredible friends.

My only wish for this fifth day of advent as I ponder friendship is that we could add another “F” word to this day – food. I wish we could find something that mom wants to eat. Mom has lost another ten pounds since her surgery. She is down to 131 pounds. Whew, bring on food, friendship and the fifth day of advent.