All posts by Be Enough

Christianity, Construction, Family, Jesus Christ

Be Loving People, Use Things

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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.  Image

Christianity, Flexibility, Jesus Christ

Be Pigpen, Not Lucy

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I used to know it all!

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I could stand on my box and spout off all sorts of interesting facts and you bet that I would always spell it write right.  Oh I had opinions, my friends, and they were usually right or wrong.

I used my six foot frame to play any and every sport.  I never rested, nor sat down very long.

My prayer life was as rich as putting a sliver of milk chocolate in a cup of hot water.

Almost four years ago, after the birth of our second child, my world fell apart.

I started having numbness and tingling, muscular fatigue, memory loss and other “annoying” physical ailments.   I felt despair that was like a river of mud.  I thought thoughts that were as dark as this muddy river.  I held onto my old self, but ended up having to let it go.

God was creating a new ME.

He used the people in my life to wade into the muddy water. My Tuesday night bible study leader, a faraway friend in Alberta,  a mommy friend from the beginning, a friend from University life, a teacher I taught beside and a husband who stood by me through it all!

I wouldn’t have survived the mud without the prayer of these Saints, the encouragement to keep putting one foot in front of each other and the opportunity to see miracles working through them.  God weaves everything together for His good, even my tingling, my problems and my “pain in the ass” attitude.

About three months ago, someone called me “Pigpen”.  I was tremendously hurt by this.  I stewed over this comment for days.  Then I felt extremely grateful and such depth of insight that it could have only been from God.

Thank you Jesus as I would rather live the rest of my life as Pigpen than as Lucy.

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PS.  Sexy Neck just told me that I would probably be more like Linus.  I like to be warm and cozy in my blankie.  HAHA!

Boys, Family, Parenting

Be Enjoying A Blue Blazer

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I grew up in a pretty red-necked town in the north.  The term “blue blazer” was not used very often, but whenever we heard: “It’s a blue blazer folks” on the radio, it got us pretty excited.

Now that I am a “southern” Okanagan girl these blue blazers are aplenty.

What did we do on this blue blazer Canada Day?

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Yup, those are my big boys running through the sprinkler in their underwear!

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We bought an emergency t-shirt for little OC, as he pooped up the back while we were visiting the “new” house still under renovation.  This hasn’t happened to us in a loooong time.

Lastly, I gave my seven potted plants some loving care.  I can’t wait to take my pots to the new house. You can see my mom’s beautiful garden/pergola/deer repellent in the background.  It is amazing what a little bit of colour will do for a yard, for my sense of peace and sense of home.  Image

Oh ya, I also wiped a lot of snot.  Do we seem to be the only ones with a summer cold?  Snot and coughing seem to be on the agenda for us these days.

 

Boys, Family, Parenting

Be Laughing Your Head Off

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I just had to share this one… I saw it yesterday through Life and Photos by Andy’s blog. 

Sexy Neck and I watched it this morning and we both had tears in our eyes.  

It reiterated our thoughts on having three children, our love of homebirthing (we had two of our boys at home) as well as what bedtime looks and sounds like in our house.  

May this little ditty inspire, encourage and make you laugh til you cry. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEbZrY0G9PI&feature=player_embedded

Boys, Family, Parenting

Be A Brother Hugger (My 150th Post)

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Today is the last day of Kindergarten for our first born.  What a year it has been!

Negotiating the great educational experiment of full-day every day Kindergarten. (We did half days til Christmas).  Getting to know the school culture as a parent, not just as a teacher.  Plus, having the younger brothers without their eldest brother five days per week.  Whew! 

From the very first day of school, we have been very intentional about the importance of JC saying goodbye to his younger brothers with a hug and a kiss.  I believe it helps everyone’s transition into the day.  Plus who doesn’t want to start their day off with a hug and a kiss?

Here is our last day of Kindergarten:

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HUG and a…. 

KISS! 

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Now off to line-up for school.

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Today I will leave you with one more photo: the two big boys after they went to watch their best friends’ ballet performances.  We stopped for a break to look at one of the most beautiful lakes in North America.

Boys, Parenting

Be Living In Awe

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I like love to control things.  I love to have everything in its place and know my schedule for the next day, even the week ahead.  But I am learning that this need to control doesn’t allow for the awesomeness of God to shine through.  I want to be living in awe.

This week, I made a small commitment to myself to notice when my spirit says “awe”.

Here are a few I want to share with you.

  • Our middle guy talking to daddy on the phone and asking, “how are you feeling Dada?”
  • Biting into a bright, red, locally grown strawberry.   Plus having them all ready and frozen to enjoy during the winter months.
  • Getting an email from a boot camp buddy saying they are thinking of me and praying for me. (Thanks Annette!)
  • See our sick little OC lying in Papa’s arms with a snotty nose.  (I guess only a mom would say “awe” over that one.)
  • My oldest last day of Kindergarten
  • A parking spot in front of the coffee shop
  • Thumb sucking
  • Baby OC getting his own water and spilling it everywhere
  • Reading great blogs from all over the world –Little Duckies, Photos by Andy, 3Monsters, FoodieGardeningClub
  • A rainbow and the boys being able to “see” the treasure
  • Colourful flowers in my mom’s hard
  • A huge worm to go along with the beautiful garden
  • My husband coming home to hugs

“Faith starts with awe…with a mixture of wonder and fear all human beings

feel toward the mystery that envelops us.”

 Harvey Cox, The Future of Faith