Blooming Where I'm Planted



Shortly after my husband and I were married I threw a huge pity party for myself.  Not because I was a newlywed, and then a new mom, but because I had developed a huge case of "feelingsorryformyselfitits".  Here I was, stuck on the farm, in the middle of nowhere, with no friends close by and nothing to do except - farm.  I had made up my mind, before I met Danny, that I was never going to marry a farmer. I had aspirations of being a city girl even though I had grown up on a farm. That might be why I wanted to be a city girl. I didn't like dirt, bugs, outdoors, smelly animals, you know, the kind of stuff that one might  associate with life on the farm. I studied music in college and was going to work in a big church and run the music program.

And then, one day, poof!! There was Danny. And I fell in love with him! Quickly!  We were engaged 15 days after our first date, married 6 months later, and became parents 50 weeks after the wedding. This was NOT my plan at all.

So, I was commiserating with my friend Karan one day. I used to sing with Karan and Clare when Braden was a baby. I was the only woman in our trio.  Isn't that funny? Karan and Clare are men! Anyway, we were on our way to one of our concerts and I was feeling so down and Karan said to me, "Heather, you need to bloom where God planted you."

Oh! That sure changed my perspective. Did God really have a purpose for plunking me in the middle of the Canadian prairies with my farmer husband? How could I bloom here? I started to pray about this. God, how are you going to "bloom"  me? What can you possibly do with me? A young wife and mother  with such a bad attitude and no friends nearby. But He - God - the Creator of the Universe - heard my prayer and started dealing with my heart.

I would have loved to have been involved in a women's Bible Study, but there wasn't one up and running. "Heather," the still, small voice said, "start one."  No excuses worked for God.  He was pruning and growing me. I trepidatiously started phoning women in the neigborhood, and before I knew it there was a large group of women meeting once a week in different homes studying the Bible and praying for each other.

A praying moms group would have been nice to attend when my kids started school. "Heather," the still, small voice again, "phone up some moms of school age children."

"It sure would be nice to sing in a choir," said 1 of my Bible study friends a few years ago. The still, small voice spoke again.  "I'll do it" I replied, "That is what I'm trained to do." The Friends in Faith Chorus was born as an answer to prayer, and has performed Christmas cantatas for about 10 years and has raised money for people in need.

Could someone else have done this? Absolutely!  Could the Lord have used somebody else? For sure! But He used me.  He chose me. He equipped me with gifts of leadership and music and plunked me right where He wanted me to be. He'll do the same for you too if you have  a willing heart. You can bloom beautifully where you are meant to be!

A Thankful Heart - again



Another week has passed.  Another week for giving thanks and being thankful. More time given to me, in this lifetime, to be grateful to the Lord for His blessings. So today I will add 10 more reasons why I have a thankful heart.

11.  I am thankful for 16 precious years with my son. I can't believe that I have been 'Mom' for that long.

12. I am thankful for warm boots on cold winter days.

13. I am thankful for our  school bus driver who is  kind to Braden and Emily.

14. I am thankful for my hairstylist.  I really needed her this week and she came through for me!

15. I am thankful that my kids have grandparents who live close by.

16. I am thankful for birthday cards that make me laugh out loud when I read them.

17. I am thankful for my Bible.  God's Word for my life everyday.

18. I am thankful for my devotional book and my friend who sent it to me.

19. I am thankful for my dear friend, who sadly buried her father this week. I am grateful that my life was enriched by him.

20. I am thankful for my big oak table - it stretches out to hold many guests.

Ten more reasons to be thankful this week.  Thank you Lord! What are you thankful for today?  Tell someone, and be encouraged. Give thanks to the Lord with a grateful heart!

Party Preparations

Braden and me

Sixteen years today I was in the hospital waiting patiently to have my first baby. My pains began in the morning - it was a Sunday morning, and my husband and I were supposed to be ushers at church. He ended up ushering solo.  I stayed home; my dear Dad came to spend the time with me. We played cribbage to bide the time. We never finished our tournament because I had to lay down. My husband came home from church and Dad went home. We spent the afternoon waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting... finally at 4 p.m. I declared  "it's time!"  The contractions were coming fast and furious. I've never made it to Swift Current as quickly as we did that afternoon. The nurse got me all checked and gowned and ready. We waited and waited and waited. Midnight came. And went. Nursing staff switched. Contractions came.  And went. And we waited. Finally, in mid afternoon, the next day, I was wheeled into the delivery room. And I pushed.  And we waited. And waited.... Nothing...My doctor made the decision to take me to the O.R. for a c-section. Good thing too, because apparently, my pelvic bone was not shaped normal.  Sixteen years ago already. I can't believe how quickly those 16 years flew by.

So today we've been getting ready for a party. Tomorrow we will be celebrating 16 years with our dear, treasured son, Braden. Today I have been preparing his special meal for tomorrow.. Raisin pie. No cake for him- he's a pie boy. I remember making 1 cake for him - it was a pirate cake for his 4th birthday. He was really into pirates. I was really not into making cakes though.  But I did, with my husband's help. Or rather, he made it with my help.  And it turned out great.  It looked like a pirate ship. But for the last few years it's been pies. And today I made make ahead mashed potatoes for the roast chicken supper tomorrow. Braden really likes make ahead mashed potatoes.  So he's getting lots of them. Grandma and Grandpa will be coming out too. Just family. That's what Braden wants. I shouldn't say 'just' family. I don't mean it like that. I am honoured that for this special birthday my son wants to spend the day with the people who mean the most to him.

The preparations are complete.  The potatoes are in the fridge, waiting to go in the oven at the right time.  The pies are cooling on the cupboard.  The gift is bought and will be wrapped.  The grandparents have been phoned and will be coming out tomorrow. Everything is in place. For now we are content to wait.

Rejuvenate Thyself



"Rejuvenate yourself."  When I opened my email from the cruise line I was delighted to see those words.  Rejuvenate yourself.  And the pictures that followed when I clicked on the links - oh my! Bliss! I can feel like I'm 'floating in heaven' with 1 of the tempting massages offered. I wonder what that feels like. It must be wonderful.

I really am torn though. While I am looking forward to our upcoming cruise I can't help but feel guilty. Honestly. We have so much. Too much even. The bank account is full. The freezers and fridge  are full. The cupboards are stocked. The closets are full and brimming over. And then I am told, by advertisers and media, that I deserve to be rejuvenated. After a full day of being on the sea I DESERVE to be pampered and massaged and have my wrinkles plumped up. Meanwhile the majority of the people on the islands we will be visiting are struggling to eke out a living. Struggling. I think I'm struggling if the power is out for a few minutes or the toilet is backed up for the better part of a day.  Something is so wrong with this picture.

Perhaps that is why Jesus said  that much will be required by those to whom much has been given. That gem of a parable found in Luke chapter 12 cannot be ignored or overlooked.  We, who have much, have a huge responsibility to share what has been entrusted to us. Not just our finances, but our time, our talents, our resources.

So, rather than rejuvenate myself I think I will look for ways to bless others. After all, it is more blessed to give than to receive. 

The Next Big Novel

Mom seems to think that I could write a novel. She maintains that I have a way with words. That's debatable. But deep down inside, and maybe it has something to do with my voracious appetite for books, or my secret longing to actually be a novelist, I often times wonder if I could do it. Could I write a book?

What scares me, no, what petrifies me, about the possible monumental task, would have to be the research. The really good books, or at least the really good books that I have read, devote hours, weeks, even years for research. Yuck- for lack of better word... for research.

However, research aside, I do have a couple great ideas for novels. One would be historical fiction based on actual events. The other would be a contemporary comedy based on people I know, or perhaps, people I observe. Great fodder for comedy.  Of course there would have to be some tragedy thrown in. Readers'  emotions need to be played with after all.

So, should I do it?  Should I hole myself up with  my laptop in the  house?  Should I go on fact finding missions? Should I allow my dear husband and darling children the privilege of preparing meals and snacks for me and bringing  cups of tea to me in the late hours of the night while I'm in the middle of a paragraph that just needs to get done before I lose my train of thought?  The more I think about it the more excited I am becoming.

Maybe I'll get right on that next great novel. Maybe  I will go to the library and check out some material in the reference section. You know, get started on the research. Yuck.



A Thankful Heart



I just came in. Bentley and Chico needed to go outside. So I took them out. Everyone else was busy. Emily and Braden are studying; Danny is working in the office. That left me. I took the dogs out. As I opened the porch door to come back in, a song came into my mind. The song was  Madame Blueberry's rendition of  "A Thankful Heart." 

"a thankful heart is a happy heart

I'm glad for what I have,

that's an easy way to start...."

We must have watched the Veggie Tales "madame blueberry" a dozen times or so when the kids were small. They loved Veggie Tales.  When Braden was 3 he recited all the words and sang all the songs from Veggie Tales "Dave and the Giant Pickle". I'm smiling as I'm remembering his "Dave and the Giant Pickle" concert for Grandma and Danny and I. He stood in our dining room and for one half hour he narrated and acted out and sang "Dave and the Giant Pickle".

But tonight it was Madame Blueberry who was making an appearance in my memory bank. Maybe because I was thinking about  my friend Camille and her blog. Camille  has a beautiful blog.  She writes from the heart.  She inspires and encourages her blogging friends with her very touching stories and life adventures. Camille has much to be thankful for, and she shares that in her blog. Her thankful heart stems from the Lord's blessings in her life.

When Dad was dying Mom kept a journal. She told me she wrote 3 things in her journal, everyday, that she was thankful for.  Even in the midst of heartache and sadness.  Maybe because of that. And everyday she found 3 things to be thankful for.

I know I can do that.  I know the Lord has blessed me.  I know I can find many things to be thankful for. So, I decided that every weekend, as I reflect on the week that has  just passed, I will remember and be thankful. And I will share my thankful heart with you.

This week I am thankful for:

1. my health

2. indoor plumbing

3. a warm house - especially in the cold, cold outdoor temperature

4. my praying moms group

5. my job at the library

6. my baby grand piano

7.my brothers' happiness

8.the good friends that Braden and Emily have - friends that go to hockey games with them and study with them!

9.backrubs from my husband

10.a reliable vehicle

I know I could go on and on, but I decided I would leave it at 10 every week. I challenge you to do the same. Are you up for the challenge?

My heart truly is thankful. Now if I could just get that song out of my head!

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Bentley

Bentley is watching Danny clear some snow in the yard.

Bentley is urging Chico to play!

He loves his bath!

Here Bentley has jumped into Emily's Oscar the Grouch costume!

Bentley enjoys going for rides!

Lady and Bentley relaxing!



Bentley came into our hearts  before he came into our home. When we went to Stewart Valley to look at the Goldendoodle puppies last summer, I had no idea how 1 of the 11 puppies would wiggle his way into that soft spot in our family's heart.  But that's just what he did.  The puppy with the blue camaflouged collar hugged me - seriously he did- when I picked him up. He put his little puppy paws around my neck and snuggled his tiny little furry head into my shoulder. He nestled. I was smitten  right away. After a cuddle time  I put him back with his brothers and sisters and picked some different ones up. None of them nestled.  When we were saying our goodbyes I went to the kennel where all the puppies were, all 11 of them, and whispered, "good bye Bentley" - for that is the name we had picked out before seeing the puppies, and the little puppy with the blue camaflouged collar came over to me and begged to be picked up one more time.  When I picked him up he nestled again and put his little paws around my neck and hugged me. I think that he chose us. He is the one who wanted to be adopted and loved by us.

The next few weeks couldn't go fast enough. We were getting ready for a baby in the house. There was no possible way to prepare Lady and Chico though for how their lives would change. When we finally were able to bring Bentley home in August, I don't think I could have been prepared for the reception he would get from the other dogs who called the farm 'home'.

Chico wouldn't look at me for a week. Nothing to do with me.  She is out little shi-tzu diva princess dog. She thinks she is. She thought she ruled the roost. She tried to.  She still tries to. She hated Bentley. I could tell. He'd look her way and she'd growl. Then she would give me the evil eye. She has one.  An evil eye I mean. Just ask my brother Hal.

Lady was not impressed with this new addition to the family either.  We thought Lady would love Bentley. Bentley's mother was a golden retriever.  We just assumed.  Wrongly.  Lady, the outside dog who nurses kittens, who protects them from the neighbors' German Shepherd;  this  gentle ,docile, loving retriever could barely tolerate Bentley.

But Bentley was nonplussed. He did not accept the poor treatment shown him by the older dogs. He worked with it. He started by putting Chico in her place. Once, when she was sleeping on her soft blanket on top of the loveseat, he snuck over and grabbed a corner of the blanket and gave it a yank. Pulled Chico down with it. Another time, when she was sleeping and snoring, he crept up to her and leaned over and gave the loudest "woof" he could - right in her ear.  She literally jumped and fell!   He could squish her if he wanted to.  He has huge paws. One squish would be all it takes.  But he doesn't.  He plays unbelievably gently  with Chico. And now, I'm pretty sure, Chico loves Bentley.

Lady has never played in her life. She  did not have a  need to.  Until Bentley showed her how. That's how he won her over.  He just started playing.  Well, he started by bugging her. And annoying her.  Then slowly we watched Lady learn how to play. Bentley thinks Lady should be an inside dog. Our family watches movies in our basement, and 1 night Bentley ran upstairs to the porch, grabbed Lady by the ear, and dragged her downstairs, to his mat, set her there, and looked at us as if to say, "what are you going to do about that?"

Lady sure enjoys movie nights now. With Bentley.  In the basement.

Emily and I watched "Marley and Me" a few  weeks ago.  Of course I knew how it would end. We had watched that movie a few other times. But this was the first time I had watched it with a Goldendoodle on my lap. Good thing he was there. His fur captured my tears at the end.

He has brought to our family unconditional love. His forgiveness is instantaneous. His love is available all the time. He has transformed Chico and Bentley.  They love him.

  Reminds me of Someone. Jesus gives us unconditional love. His forgiveness is there for the asking. He IS love.  He has transformed me. I love Him.



Waiting to Soar



I'm waiting to soar like this eagle. I haven't spread my wings yet today.  I am too tired. I'm aching. And my heart is heavy. I'm not sure why my heart is heavy, nor do I know why my body is aching so much.  But it is. I'm struggling today to put one foot in front of the other. Every movement my body makes hurts. My head hurts, and for some unknown reason, my heart is hurting.

Today I am told to "wait upon God to get fresh strength."  Then, I'm told in Isaiah 40:31 that I will "spread my wings and soar like eagles.  I will run and not get tired, I will walk and not lag behind."

I'm also encouraged in the book of Psalms to "pile my troubles on God's shoulders - He will carry my load and He will help me out." I need that.  I need God to carry my load today and help me out.  I don't even know what my load is, but it is heavy.

If anyone is reading this blog today I am asking you to pray for me.  Just come along and bear my burden with me. I do know that God is faithful.  I do know that He keeps His promises. And I do know that the fervant prayer from you on my behalf will help. And I thank you from the bottom of my heavy, heavy heart.

So today I will soar. With help.

Magnificence in the Mundane

My friend Jenny hugs her washer and dryer every day.  At least she did when she lived in Cabri. She was, obviously, very  happy to have a  laundry room with an automatic washer and dryer; and in response to her happiness she hugged them. Never took them for granted. Jenny grew up in the Caribbean in poverty; she did not have such a luxury growing up.  I can imagine her happiness, somewhat, with her washer and dryer. I suppose I could relate it to my enthusiasm over our well that we finally got a year and a half ago. I haven't ventured outside to hug it though. I have to say I take my washer and dryer for granted.  It is commonplace.

My washer and dryer have been getting a workout today. I admit I was grumbling when I thought of  the mountain of laundry that needed to be done. Clothes to sort, then the folding, putting away... what was I grumbling about?  Really, I have it pretty good. I have no need to complain.

I decided to take a different approach to my household chores. I determined to find the magnificence in the mundane. The marvellous in the menial. The delight in the dirty dishes. I decided I would   "give thanks in all things"  (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

As I did the laundry today, the sorting, the folding, the putting away I thanked the Lord for the clothes we have. I thanked Him for the water we have for doing the laundry.  I thanked Him for my family. As I folded my husbands work shirts I thanked God for my husband.  I thanked Him that my husband is a hard worker and a good provider. As I put my daughter's clothes in her bedroom I thanked the Lord for her. I thanked Him for blessing us with such a beautiful, tenderhearted daughter. When I washed my son's socks, I thanked the Lord for my son and for his good health and for the joy he brings to me.

Washing dishes is another menial task that needs to be tackled daily. But today I did that task with a different mind set. Thank you Lord for the food we eat.  Thank you for the kitchen I have where I can prepare healthy, nourishing meals for my family.  Thank you for my family that I can cook for and with.  Thank you for the hands that help in the preparation and the clean up.

Too often I find myself wishing or hoping for different circumstances.  Sometimes I get tired of the same thing over and over and over. Clean up, put away, clean up, put away.  It's a never ending cycle. But today I think I discovered that the mundane can be magnificent when I decided to let myself see how blessed and fortunate I am to live where I do and do what I do.  I am blessed to be a part of this family; a family who it is a joy to serve.

I still don't think I will hug my washer and dryer though!

Princess Buttercup, or Princess D Cup

My neighbor and I take turns carpooling on Thursdays. Our 2 teenage girls, and 2 brothers from town are chauferred week after week to the city for band practice. They rehearse for 3 1/2 hours every Thursday afternoon.  When it's my turn to drive I usually run and get groceries, run to the farmer stores for whatever my husband might need, run the car through the carwash, run... run... run.  Rarely do I have time to browse at leisure. No trying on clothes, no windowshopping in the gift shops, no time spent in bookstores. Just go, go go and try to get everything done before it's time to head back home.

This past Thursday the 2 brothers weren't able to go to band. I had room in the car for an extra passenger; and my husband, my dear dear husband decided to come along. Now it was my turn to be chauferred. I didn't have to go to the farmer stores.  I had time to enjoy doing what I wanted to do.

I did something I have never done. A new lingerie shoppe  recently opened in the new mall. The new mall really isn't that new.  It's just what we call it because it's newer than the old mall. I timidly walked in to the lingerie shop. I eluded in an earlier blog posting about my practicality - lingerie is not practical in my opinion. Thus  the timidity and trepidation.  All my 'underthings' and nightware is generally practical. Nothing pretty, nothing femine. Just practical.  I could hardly believe it when I said to the sales associate, "I want something pretty."  Did I have fun!!  I was measured. And then I was treated like royalty. I had over an hour in that lovely shoppe. I spent that whole hour trying on pretty bras. I stayed away from the French ones though. $181 is just out of my price range. However; I persevered, kept trying on and eventually  bought 2 lovely bras!! I was treated like a princess.  I felt like a princess!  I'm sure I even looked like a princess!

When our whole family went back to the city on Saturday I made sure the boys dropped Emily and I off at the new mall. I wanted her to experience the whole "princess" shopping experience.  She left when I started admiring the very unpractical nightware!

I'm glad I discovered that lingerie shoppe. I'm glad there are sales associates who, for even an hour, can make me feel like a princess.  Who knows, maybe I'll volunteer to carpool every Thursday!

From Grumpy to Happy



I can't really say I woke up grumpy when, if truth be known, I didn't sleep last night. How can a person wake up from not sleeping? But when it came  time to crawl out of bed I was grumpy. Very grumpy. Two nights with little or no sleep tends to do that to me. The night before last Bentley kept us all awake with his grumbling and complaining.  At least, that's what it sounded like.  Constant barking and howling and whining.  No let up. Then he had the audacity to be extremely bouncy and happy when daylight hit. I don't know what the problem was last night. I just couldn't sleep. I tried counting blessings instead of sheep. It works for Bing in White Christmas. It didn't work for me. I prayed. I got so tired while praying that I was sure I would be able to sleep.  Nope. I  was wide awake listening to everyone else sleeping. You can do that you know.  When it's really quiet, really really quiet, it IS possible to hear others sleep.  I know.

I was very cranky when I was getting ready for church. Then the verse, "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it" popped into my brain. Just popped right in there, like a little kernel of corn popping around in the popcorn popper.  I could not get that verse out of my mind. I tried. I even tried visiting the part of my brain that had memorized Scripture to see if there could possibly be anything in there to justify my crankiness. Nothing. Just "be glad" and "rejoice".

No one paid any attention to my bad mood. My family didn't stay away from me. The dogs were all slobby and happy to be around me. I was the only one miserable.

Then we went to church. My mood started to change slightly during the call to worship. Here I am, Lord.  Your tired, cranky, grumpy servant. Mold me. Transform me. I give you all of me. Not just the made-up, coiffed, presentable me, but the inner me. The tired, beaten, miserable wretch that I am. I'm Yours. Take me... And He did. He met me right where I was. He started the transformation of me.  And He's still transforming me. Through His grace.  Through His mercy.  Through His love. Because of love.

By the time I came home- after worship, after potluck lunch with the congregation, after the annual meeting - I was rejoicing.  Still tired.  But happy.



The Wonder of Stillness

some trees in our yard

Bentley and Lady playing in the snow

Although the cold temperature outside was all the encouragement I needed to stay indoors this morning, I opted to brave the elements and venture out.  I am so glad I did.  So, I think, were Lady and Bentley.

They had a great play time in the snow. I don't know when last we had so much snow. It was beautiful.  Pristine. Dry. Not the kind of snow needed to make snowmen. That will happen when it warms up. The snow will turn from dry to "just the right stickiness" in time. Snowmen will be built. Probably not here though. Maybe I shouldn't say that.  Maybe, instead, I should just grab my family when it warms up and pull them outside to build snowmen.

This morning though, we, Lady, Bentley and I, trudged through the snow. I had more of a workout doing that than I would have had on the treadmill. We trudged and trudged. They played and played. They ran at full speed, and  at one time,came  from behind me and knocked me flat on my face. My first reaction was to save the camera. My hand was lifted in victory with the camera raised up high while the rest of me was shivering in the snowbank. I didn't hear them sneaking up behind me; not that they were sneaking up.  It's just that  the snow was so quiet -  their galloping was muffled. Plus I had my hat pulled tight over my ears. I heard nothing. But in that "nothing" I did hear something.  Stillness.

In the quiet, playful, exhilerating, snow-covered winter morning I heard the Lord say to me - "Be still and know that I am God."   I did. I knew. He is.

That's What Love Does

Yesterday I heard on the news that the norovirus was making its' rounds. My family suffered through that disgusting virus a few years ago. We were all very, very sick. It hit with a vengeance. Fortunately, it only attacked us 1 person at a time.  Emily was hit first ~ she was also hit the hardest. The day after she started feeling better was the day Braden became ill.  The day he started feeling better was when I was hit.  Then Danny. It was not a pleasant week. The healthy took care of the sick. We cleaned up each other's messes. Nasty business. But that's what we do when we love - we clean up messes.

Love bears all things....

My mom took care of Dad as long as she could when he was  living his last few months with cancer. He was frail. He was weak. She bathed him.  She fed him.  She cleaned up after him.  She loved him. But it got to the point when it was just too much for her. He needed more help than she was able to provide. She made a difficult decision, yet the best decision for Dad, to have him admitted to the hospital where we knew he would die.  We also knew he would be taken care of so much better while he still lived.

Love endures all things....

I was chatting with a dear friend  this morning. On Monday they loaded her father up and took him to the hospital.  He has cancer and the family just can't take care of him anymore. My friend is stressed because she doesn't think he will get the care that she thinks he should while in the hospital.

Love hopes all things...

This morning we woke up to a mess. Our beloved "Lady" - our golden retriever had lost control of her bodily functions during the night. Her bed in the porch was soiled and  the kitchen was in pretty bad shape.  I cleaned, I bleached, I mopped, I mopped some more. But my heart was breaking for Lady. She is getting old. She had surgery the beginning of December to remove a tumour.  She has a tumour in her mouth, and a tumour behind her eye. That's why she was in the house. We were protecting her and sheltering her after her surgery. She is an outside dog after all. But she needed our attention. We nursed her back to health as best we could. But we can't do any more. We had to make the difficult decision after the "clean-up" to banish her to the shop.  It's a heated shop.  She has a bed out there. And company.  Our 7 cats sleep in the shop at night. Lady will be comfortable, and warm, and sheltered.  She just won't be  comfortable in the house. And we will still love her. I wasn't angry with her. She couldn't help herself.

Love does not keep a record of wrongs...


I'm glad that love cleans up messes. I'm glad that Jesus cleaned up and is still cleaning up my messes.While I was still a sinner, He died for me. The Perfect for the imperfect. The just for the unjust. The Holy for the unholy. He didn't wait until I had my life straightened out.  He came in the middle of my pain, and my heartache, and my  mess. That's what love does.

Exercise Update

It's becoming a habit! The exercising I mean.  Since I began my self-imposed regime I have to say it's really not that bad. Our basement in like a mini-gym, so I really have no excuse not to exercise. Since beginning on the journey to a "new, healthier me" I have missed only 1 day on the treadmill. I started this new adventure on January 3. I committed, that first week, to log 30 minutes daily on the treadmill. Not only that, but I re-started on the weight training. Light weights at first, with 1 set of  10 reps for each part of that. The first few days on the treadmill were not fun. The weights felt really good though - so I kept going. By the 4th day on the treadmill I was actually almost enjoying it!  It helped that we have a tv downstairs. It really helped that 1 of my favorite  tv shows - 100 Huntley Street- is on at my exercise time. I like to exercise shortly after breakfast - that way I get it over and done with so that I can enjoy the rest of the day.

This second week I have increased the treadmill time to 35 minutes, and "stepped up" the incline from 0 to 1! I have even jogged a few minutes here and there - I've had to increase the speed from 5.2 mph to 6.3 mph for the jogging segments. Plus, I'm now at 2 sets of reps on the weights!

Now here's the exciting news! Right after Christmas I bought a pair of jeans at Costco. Anyone who buys clothes at Costco knows that you can't try them on there.  So I bought a pair of jeans that I thought were my size. I tried them on when I got home. Well, I tried to try them on - couldn't get them past my hips. I tried them on the beginning of this week and they went over my hips.  Maybe next week when I try them on, they'll go up even further!  I will keep you posted on that little detail.

So, right now, right after I post this blog, I am going to don my apparel and head to the basement and jump on the treadmill!!  Expect another exercise update on the 1 month anniversary!

A Precious Resource

Monday was, as I remember, the day Dad hauled water. He had a 300 gallon water tank on the back of the 1 ton truck that he used for hauling. Every Monday, if I remember correctly, Dad would take the truck to town to fill the tank with water to be hauled home. When home, he would back the truck up to the basement window,  clamp the hose onto the tank, put the hose through the basement window, and let  the water pour into the cistern in the basement. If it was cold outside, Mom would have to boil a kettle of water for Dad to pour on the hose to let the water through. The  basement was a scary place for a young girl like me.  I would avoid it whenever possible. But sometimes, for whatever reason, I would be near enough to the basement cistern to hear the water coming in.  That water, all 300 gallons of it,  would have to last our family of 5 for 1 week - until the following  Monday,when,  rain or snow or sun, Dad would repeat the hauling adventure.

One summer, when I was a little older, but still a young girl, my brothers were given the dubious task of digging the hole for the new, bigger cistern. They dug a hole 14 feet deep by 8 feet wide. It took them the entire summer.  They dug by hand, 1 pail-full of dirt at a time. "The reward," my brother Lloyd told me as we were reminiscing, "was that we would be able to have baths."   Sheeshh- what did we do before that?  This was the same brother that told me he would give me 2 bits if I jumped into the big hole after it was dug, then refused to pay me until Dad intervened. I remember being very disappointed when I got only 1 quarter. In my mind, 2 bits should have been 2 quarters.

With this bigger, 2500-3000 gallon cistern, Dad didn't have to haul water every week. But we still had to conserve. It was instilled in us.  We never took water for granted.

Fast- forward 30 years to the farm where I now live with my husband, Danny. He is the 3rd generation of his family to farm here.  His grandfather, Olaf, immigrated in 1909 from Norway. He left his beautiful, rugged homeland for the cold, hard prairies of North America. He homesteaded on a small plot of land with no trees, no buildings and no water.  He had his water custom hauled. Danny's Dad had a small cistern. He even had a crew come in and drill for water. They drilled to a depth of  425 feet. Nothing. So, when my husband and I took over the farming operation I knew that, once again, I would be conserving water. My husband hauled water once a week in our first years of marriage. If it was cold on "hauling day" I would boil water!  When our children were quite young we had a newer, bigger cistern installed.  5000 gallons! Danny didn't have to haul once a week anymore. We could manage, if we needed to, for 6 weeks. I was so thankful that I grew up having to conserve water.

In 2009, when the farm was 100 years old, we decided to try and drill for another well. This time we tried in a different location in our yard. The crew drilled 480 feet. They hit water at 440 feet, but went 40 extra feet to allow for the screens. The new well was up and running for our farm's 100th anniversary celebration. It was hooked up hours before the weekend celebrations began.  And what a celebration it was!

I am extremely grateful for the safe, delicious, accessible water that we are fortunate to have. I will never take it for granted.

My "Sheltered" Life

Yesterday an acquaintance told me that I lived a sheltered life. This person was in the library, where I work. We were talking about...books. The patron assumed that I wouldn't like a particular book because I live a sheltered life. I wonder what made that person think that. That person doesn't really know me. We've never visited in each others homes. We've never shared a coffee together. It was just speculation. And it bothered me. I laid awake last night thinking about that. Do I really live a sheltered life?  Is that what people who don't know me think? Is that what people who DO know me think?

So, I don't hang out at the bar.  I don't sleep around. I've never been drunk.  I don't smoke. I'm home in the evenings. I work at the library. I play the organ at church. I've led a women's Bible Study. Are these the reasons that some people  use to label my life as "sheltered"?

Instead of sleeping last night, I laid awake and thought about my life and how amazing my life journey has been.

I've  travelled. In the past 6 years I've been to Disneyland, Hawaii, Las Vegas. I've camped with my family in the majestic mountains. We've enjoyed the beauty of the Cypress Hills.  I've marvelled at God's creation while looking at Niagara Falls. I've been amazed at the vastness of the ocean while enjoying a cruise with my family.

I have friends on almost  every continent on Earth. I've had Chinese food, authentic Chinese food, not the North American Chinese food, prepared for my by a friend from Hong Kong while I was in college.  I've learned to speak a few phrases  from high school friends who were also from Hong Kong. I've had a friend from New Zealand share Christmas with me. I've partnered in prayer with a friend from Germany.

 A Grammy-nominated producer in Nashville produced 3 albums that I recorded when I sang  with a Southern Gospel group. I've recorded an album of my own songs a year and a half ago. I've sang from British Columbia to Ontario and in some of the States.

I've been blessed to be married to a man who loves me unconditionally. And I've been double blessed to be chosen to be a mother to 2 children whose lives I can invest in daily.

I've shared coffee and a visit with a homeless man. I've had a visit with Carrie Underwood.  Extreme poverty and obscurity.  Extreme wealth and fame. Each with a story of their own life.

Do I live a "sheltered" life? ABSOLUTEY!!" At least that is the what the Lord spoke to my heart early this morning ~  "You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  Psalm 91:1

He showed me over and over again  how my life has been sheltered by Him.

He has sheltered me with protection on more than 1 occasion. I will share a couple of times that I know, without a doubt, that my life had been protected.
Before I went to college I worked for a few years in a nearby city. I was very involved with the church I attended. I was a leader in the college and career group. I didn't know how troubled 1 of the young guys in that group was. If I had known that I would not have gone to his parent's place when he phoned me to see if I would come and pray for him. I did not know that his parents weren't home. I did not know that there was a high probability that I would have been raped that night. But God did, and he sent another friend to that same home. I was thankful for God's sheltering protection from evil that night.
Another time I was driving on a grid road in a rainstorm to visit a friend. I was going up a hill the same time a fuel truck was coming up the other side. The roads were muddy. The driver of the fuel truck was going too fast, and he was not on his side of the road.  He was right in the middle. I knew I would have been involved in a head on crash, so I took the ditch, all the while praying the only prayer I could ~ 'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus'. I thought I had rolled.  I expected to be seriously injured or killed.  But I wasn't. I didn't roll.  I believe with all my heart, that the Lord intervened and sheltered my vehicle and me. I drove away!!

The Lord has sheltered me from heartache ~ not that I haven't experienced heartache, but my shelter came through God's abiding presence with me through the heartaches.  Heartaches of grief when friends have been killed. Heartaches of loss when  relationships have been severed. Heartaches of unbearable pain when  loved ones have died. Through all those times I know I have been sheltered by the Holy Presence of the Living Lord.

Yesterday I was bothered by my "sheltered" life.  Today I am rejoicing that my  life has been, and will continue to be,sheltered by the Lord I love so much.

Comfort Food

the veggies are in a beautiful pottery bowl hand-made by my friend Norma Horvey.

My facebook status today asks the question, "what is your favorite comfort food?" 

What is it that changes just ordinary food into comfort food? For me, comfort food is associated with family.  Always has been. Whether or not it is a food that has been prepared for me by someone who loves me, or a food that I have prepared for someone I love, the main ingredients in comfort food are love and memories.
Foods like home made soup, pumpkin pie, fresh baked bread, apple crisp, mashed pototoes and meatloaf. Simple foods like grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Foods that speak of home, and family, and friends gathered to enjoy simple pleasures. Communion. Conversation. Comfort.

Today I am making stew and dumplings. This just might be the one meal that my whole family would classify as comfort food. Delicious, nutritious ingredients thrown into a roaster.  Varying flavours melting together. Potatoes and carrots and onion from my garden. Beef from my neighbors.  Yum!

The stew is simmering now. I wish I could share the aroma with you. I can't. But I can give you my recipe. Maybe you can make it for someone you love.  Share a comfort meal. Commune.  Converse.  Comfort.

Heather's Stew

pototoes, cut up into chunks - as many as needed (I use 5 or 6)
onion, cut into chunks
carrots - as many as you like
stew meat

throw into roaster and add gravy.
1 tin mushroom soup
1 Tbsp beef bouillon
hot water - I don't measure, but I use around 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups - enough for simmering dumplings
spicy pepper medley  OR salt and pepper to taste

Bake at 325 for 3 hours, approximately.  Take out of oven and add dumplings.

Dumplings

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp lard
1/2 cup milk.
Combine dry ingred.  Cut in lard until crumbly.  Add milk.  Stir to mix.  Add by spoonfuls over stew. (make sure there is enough gravy in the stew - you may need to add boiling water to the stew) Cover.  Return to oven for 15 minutes.

Bon appetit!

Snowflakes and Snowstorms

These pictures were captured by Kenneth G.  Libbrecht using a snowflake photomicroscope. They are pictures of actual snowflakes. I found these pictures and more on the SnowCrystals.com website. Aren't they beautiful? And unique. I read how snowflakes are made and how they are different based on environmental factors including temperature, humidity and how the wind blows.

I was reading that snowflakes from different regions are unique. Their shape is based on where in the cloud they were formed.  I read that, in theory, 2 snowflakes could be the same, but the possibility of water molecules distributed in the exact configuration is next to zero. Even among billions and billions of crystals. Fascinating!

I guess I have snowflakes on my mind because we're under a heavy snowfall warning. I'm waiting for an old fashioned snowstorm. Actually, I'm hoping for one!  My husband and kids are all home, safe and sound.  We have power.  Milk and eggs are in the fridge. Games are waiting to be played with. Movies are available to be watched. But it's not storming!  It's windy.  Very windy. And it has snowed. I wish you could see some of the drifts in our yard. I suppose if I had taken my camera outside when my husband and I took the dogs for a walk I could have taken some pictures and put them on my computer and shared them with you.  But I was hurrying to get back inside before the storm hits. If it does.

We used to get whoppers of storms years ago. I remember 1 snowstorm almost 40 years ago. The school bus picked us up, but we didn't make it out of the little village where we went to school. We were storm stayed at Byrdie Olson's! All of us! The entire bus full of school kids! Byrde - pronounced bird-ee - was an older widow. Suddenly she was bombarded with a pile of kids!  What fun we had in her home! In retrospect I think she was prepared for all of us! She fed us all supper - I'm thinking it was probably soup and sandwiches. My memory is a little fuzzy as to the menu.  I do remember having the best lefse there! I remember that, because it was the first time I had tasted lefse with sugar sprinkled on it! It was delicious! After supper we played  board games.  Some probably watched  the 1 channel on television that was available. The older kids likely worked on homework. Likely.  The storm raged on for some time.  I don't remember when it let up, but I do know that some of the parents braved the storm and drove into Hazlet to pick us up later that night. I'm pretty sure school would have been cancelled the next day - there would have probably been a lot of snowplowing being done before school would have begun! What a great memory! We were all safe! I am grateful for Byrdie's hospitality.

Maybe that's why I'm looking forward to a blizzard today. We're all safe! I am looking and waiting patiently for all those unique little snowflakes to start dancing around outside.  Hopefully they will kick up a storm before the day's end, as long as everybody is as safe and snug as we are!

Adoption Surprise and Family Blessing

I will never forget the phone call I received from Mom about a year after Dad died. Dad was the only boy in his family, with 3 younger sisters ~ Auntie Evelyn, Aunt Shirley (she passed away 6 years before Dad), and Aunt Lorraine.  "Heather," she said, "Dad has a sister." I was thinking ~ 'well, tell me something i don't know'.  I was THINKING that, but didn't say it. I let her continue. " No, he has an older sister," she continued, "Grandma had a baby before she was married and gave her up for adoption."

Giddiness was probably what I was experiencing then. How wonderful to have this exciting news of a new aunt who had been looking for her family! What a blessing for our family - to have someone in our family a year after the loss of my dad and my sister in law!

We were so excited when we were finally going to be able to meet Auntie Jean! We were waiting in my Auntie Evelyn's tiny living room - our family, Auntie Evelyn's family. Aunt Lorraine, Uncle George and Tammy had come from BC. It was amazing how many people could fit into such a small place, but that's whats possible when the walls of a home are made of rubber and are able to expand to warmly envelop the people within. These walls were ready to embrace even more people.  Family. The bond of blood. And, in our case, the bond of love. Finally, my cousin's son, who had been looking out the window, let us know "They're here."

That was 12 years ago. In those 12 years I have come to know and love Auntie Jean and my new cousins. 6 new cousins. Cousins' wives, husbands, children, grandchildren. We have been back and forth from province to province to province. Family reunions. Hugs. Laughter. Tears.  Family stuff. 

This past November Mom and I were able to fly down East to spend a week at Auntie Jean's.  Auntie Jean is a remarkable woman. She is a devout Christian.  She is the epitome of hospitality.  And encouragement.  She writes letter, sends cards, prays. She loves freely. And is loved dearly.

Today is Auntie Jean's 86th birthday. I hope she has a wonderful day. I hope she knows how much she is loved. She is a blessing!

Auntie Jean and Mom, November, 2010

New Day New Life New Possibilities

"This is the very day God acted-
let's celebrate and be festive."  Psalm 118:24   
I love the Message translation of that passage! God is acting today!  This is HIS day! Let's celebrate! We are celebrating the upcoming birth of my little great-niece today. I have posted a picture of me holding my beautiful niece, Samantha. Samantha is going to be a mom today.  In just a few hours. Her C-Section is scheduled. She is likely being prepped right now. She is probably nervous.  And excited. Maybe overwhelmed. Perhaps giddy. Her life will be forever changed.

New life is beautiful. The Creator of the Universe, the Lover of my soul, the Savior for the World had His hand in the creation of this little person soon to be born. 

Psalm 139, verses 13-16 says:
"You formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God - YOU'RE Breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration- what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
You know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was scultped from nothing into something.
Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before You,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day."

Isn't that a beautiful passage? I love that passage.  It brings me comfort.  I hope it will bring Samantha comfort and joy and hope as she raises her baby.

The possibilities for this new little person are vast. Her days have already been prepared before she has even lived one day. God has His hand on her life. My prayer is that she will grasp on to God's hand. He wants her to.  He desires fellowship with His creation.  He has made a way for every one of us to have fellowship with Him through the gift of His Son, Jesus. He is the Way! The Way to God! What a gift!

I am thankful for this day! I am thankful for the new life that will be born very soon. I am excited for the possibilities that are there for my new great-niece, and for anyone who will grasp the Father's hands and receive all the blessings and joys and sorrows and everything else that He will walk through life with you to enjoy!

Exercise Blaaas!

To be very honest, I hate exercising. And hate is not a strong enough word in this context. There really isn't a better word to sum up my feelings about exercising. It's up there with scrubbing toilets and putting groceries away. Although, in the past year the toilets have been scrubbed on a very regular basis, and the groceries have always been put away. The exercising hasn't been tended to. Until now.  I figured out that I absolutely need to do it. Just get at it.  One foot in front of the other.

The other morning, as my husband and I were laying in bed, we were listening to the radio. We weren't listening to the latest hits. We were listening to someone tell us that we, as Canadians, were horribly out of shape. We don't exercise enough. Well, I didn't exercise AT ALL the past little while. My health is at risk.  I'm already taking high blood pressure pills. I'm slightly overweight. Ok, I AM overweight, not slightly overweight.  I took the little lecture on CBC to heart and decided to do something about it.

That morning I donned my exercise gear and running shoes and hit the treadmill for my minimum 30 minutes. Then I tackled the weights. I need to build up my bone density and muscle mass too.  I'm at a high risk for osteoporosis. So, my heart got a work out along with my bones and muscles. And my lungs. The next morning I did it again.  This morning I was on the treadmill and doing my weight too! 3 in a row! I've heard somewhere that it takes 7 times to make something into a habit. That doesn't seem long  enough. Unless it's 7 months, or 7 years.  Surely after 7 years this exercise stuff might be a habit!

And to tell you the truth, I feel really good about myself! It's a start. And I'm blogging this for the world to see! I want you to keep me accountable!

Maybe, I will even look forward to the treadmill tomorrow morning!

Headaches and Hot flashes

I wrote this entry last night, in my mind, while I was laying awake waiting for the advil to kick in. I suffer from headaches. I remember vividly where I was and what I was doing when I got my first migraine. I was in the basement of the music wing at college, in the classroom with the grand piano.  David McIntyre was the professor in that classroom with the freshman class.  We were sitting kind of in a semi-circle.  David was teaching something about 20 Century music and using the piano to demonstrate some techniques. His voice started going really strange. What was a lovely, soothing baritone-ish speaking voice morphed into something sinister and dark and deep and loud - so loud I could hardly stand it. The piano became unbearable. My friends Lissa and Jen were watching me from across the room - a fact I discovered later. It was they who quietly stood up from their desks, came over to me, gathered my books and almost carried me back to the dorm. I couldn't get into bed fast enough. But somehow the room was so bright - painfully bright.  I must have forced myself up sometime to close the blind and make it as dark in there as possible. It took a long time for me to get to sleep, but just when I finally drifted off, the vacuum in the hall jolted me awake. The custodian was  cleaning that day. I was nauseous and in so much pain. I didn't have a clue what was wrong with me.  I imagined it must have been a brain tumour. I didn't know.  The next morning I felt fine. I got out of the shower. Julie, 1 of the girls in the dorm met me at the sink, looked at me and said, "oh, did you have a migraine?" I hadn't looked at myself yet at that point. I didn't know I had 2 black eyes. She told me her mom suffered with migraines and usually always got black eyes from the extreme pressure. What a relief to know!

That was half a lifetime ago. My doctor had prescribed  pills to me for migraines when I was older and married and a mother. Each pill cost $20, roughly.  Worth every cent if it would help. They kind of knocked me out. Then my heart would start racing when I took them.  It got to the point where I would not take 1 unless Danny or my Mom was nearby to help if needed.

So, because I was scared for my health every time I took a pill, I decided to try acupuncture instead. The first trip to the chiropractor who did the acupuncture was an adventure. I sat in a chair by a table and he flicked tiny little needles into different points in my hand. Many needles were in my thumb and index finger area. The doctor left the room. I got extremely woozy and nauseous and wished for a can of ginger ale.  The next time I was prepared. I had my bottle of ginger ale! After the needles were installed the doctor left. All I could do was look at the bottle. There was no way to open it. My fingers were immobile. Darn! Trip 3 wasn't going to be like that. I had my ginger ale bottle opened, with a bendy straw!  I was set! I could drink my ginger ale.  But I didn't need to. The nausea was gone!  And so were the migraines.  Mostly.  I still get headaches, some of them very bad, and very few migraines. I find the headaches come when there is a change in the barometer. I am Danny's farming weather-girl. I am more accurate than the forecasters on the tv and radio. Makes me wonder what we're in store for in the next few days with the headache I had last night. I got up, grabbed a face cloth, wrung it under cold, cold water, took it to bed and put it on my forehead. It came in handy in the middle of the night when that hot flash attacked me!