tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376730847391096002024-03-14T05:41:31.377-04:00Needle and Nest DesignMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.comBlogger876125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-52002218810443313392015-11-02T20:54:00.000-05:002015-11-02T20:54:57.993-05:00perspective.gratitude... and a smudgy handprint.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perspective is such a powerful thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether we see our glass half full, or half empty, can really effect how we taste it as sweet, or bitter. Each day we are gifted with the '<i>present</i>' of being present can either feel like a joy to unwrap... or the misery of another pair of itchy socks from ol' Aunt Gertrude.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, my heart tends to flip flop to both extremes... in any given five minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I'm learning, slowly, to flex the heart muscle of gratitude... so it can bear the weight and bounce back quicker from daily loads thrown at it, like that sack of moldering laundry in the corner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gratitude is a real perspective changer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gratitude lets us look through things... instead of at them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know, instead of begrudging the dirty dishes.. look through them to see the blessing of food shared with family/friends. Look through the chaos of toys and clutter on your floor, to the young souls in your care that love knowing you are <i>there </i>with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was thinking this the other day as I saw this smudge of a hand print on our (finally) cleaned picture window. I stared at that mess, hard. It represented a whole lot of futility to me in that moment. This never-ending cycle of clean the things, they mess the things, clean the things again can wear down even the most devoted of <i>Cinderellas</i>. But, this was the epiphany slowly unfurling in my heart - 'look through'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This isn't some idealised notion that you need to be enraptured with every disaster you encounter each day. I still have nerve endings that twitch as they feel messes happening at the other end of the house. It's just a reminder to my heart, and maybe yours, to seize those moments to 'look through' the glass instead of just at the smeared hand print. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know some of us mamas can feel pretty worn out some days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to feel gratitude is maybe just vinegar in the wound... but if you could imagine some sweet elderly Grandma putting her hand over yours and saying: "I wish I could have one more day of your chaos and mess, just to hold my dear children on my lap again" would that help our perspectives? Or, a friend drops by for tea and shares with tear stained eyes... that they have miscarried, again. She looks at you and pleads: "treasure these blessings you've been given, for those of us who don't have them".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want to waste a day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regretting, resenting, rejecting the presents given to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I want the perspective of gratitude.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gratitude to the Giver who entrusted me with this one precious life and three precious souls in our care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-17122739555438610992015-10-01T14:19:00.003-04:002015-10-01T14:19:46.365-04:00foundations + fractures.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because sometimes it's the smallest moments that give me the biggest reminders of eternity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because sometimes my children are the clearest mirror of my own soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's why, when my daughter accidentally breaks our marble treasure box - and anxiously blurts:<i> "It's ok mama, I can fix it!"</i>...this is why I take a picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To remind me that we all have broken something so precious, and we all frantically seek to fix it with things that cannot hold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The very foundation of our souls. The purpose to our living. To love God and enjoy Him forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We chose otherwise. We chose our own way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"There is none righteous, no not one... all have turned away" (Romans 3:10-12)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now standing on a foundation that is cracked at a cosmic level.. we stand separated from the very Giver of life. We feel the isolation. We see the brokenness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, we blurt: <i>"It's ok papa, I can fix it!"</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we lack the proper materials, we only have glue and scotch tape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the pressures of life hit, our foundations crumble again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether we thought we could make our security stand on:<br />wealth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">health</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">friends</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fame</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> good works</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all eventually crumble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only one foundation holds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">" For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.</span></b></i><span class="p">"</span></span></div>
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<span class="p"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 Corinthians 3:11</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when I see my daughter frantic to fix a marble box, I take a picture, and I write this all to remind myself... there is nothing that fixes this heart that I can work with my own hands. Only as I hold to the nail-pierced hands of my Saviour am I held secure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-82547204965596490712015-09-16T10:42:00.000-04:002015-09-16T10:42:06.774-04:00confessions of an (unlikely) homeschooling mama:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="st">The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a <i>fire</i> to be kindled" - Plutarch.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="st">There is a new glow crackling and warming up this heart of mine.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="st">A fire that once seemed frightening and engulfing, is now one I eagerly dance around and roast marshmallows by. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a wild ride, seeing how my heart was trapped on the fence for so long about whether I could <i>hack </i>being a homeschooling mama.. and now feeling what I do (<i>joy</i>) about it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because, I used to have so many concerns, fears and frustrations about this issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had all the '<i>arguments</i>' one would use against such a decision down pat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also had all the common excuses, too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The big (nasty) one being: '<i>how could I handle being around my kid all the day long?!</i>'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But now, the joy of watching these children learn, explore, play, laugh and engage in this amazing world around them - outweighs the <i>crazy </i>with such deep awe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm really savouring this time I have with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been learning so much already, and I've seen a huge shift in my outlook.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The biggest change for me being: the pursuit of <i>intentional/teachable moments</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I always struggled with viewing myself as 'teaching material' because I wasn't <i>intentional</i> about weaving discovery, wonder and learning into our average days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning to <i>learn </i>like a child again. What a thrill! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Homeschooling isn't <i>easy</i>, but it's <i>good</i>. Like most things in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we decided to go ahead with this, I always feared what a furnace it would be for my heart. I feared what frustration or anger would boil up in me when faced with the hurdles along the way. But I'm <i>learning </i>to trust God's providential hand - and timing - in every.little.crazy thing that comes my way. So if the lesson doesn't go as planned, or the kids are all taking turns to wail and whine on my lap, and the phone is ringing, and the dish water has turned cold... there is a peace in the chaos. It turns out this furnace is a refining one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, like <i>Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego </i>(Daniel 3)... I am not standing in the fires alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again, I am seeing... this home, this crumb cluttered floor... is holy ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-63517443843409640012015-09-05T09:23:00.002-04:002015-09-05T09:23:53.295-04:00stones + streams (thoughts on faith)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An encouragement to weary pilgrims,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be times in the journey of faith,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When your heart feels like a rock,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You feel unmoved, impermeable,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the presence of God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be times,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Landing like lead upon your heavy chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pray harder still.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be seasons,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where even the attempt to pray,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feels like rolling a boulder up His holy hill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep pushing upward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be seasons,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You feel lost in the parched desert,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The memory of a lush garden all but forgotten,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep staggering towards home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be days,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His Word seems dry and barren,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stone tablets crush your spirit,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep reading still.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember the One Who made you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The One Who took your heart of stone,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gave you a heart of flesh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To pulse with love for Him and others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember the difference,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between stones on the shore,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And those in the stream,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The smooth ones are <i>in the stream</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep immersing yourself,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the living waters,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the rocks give way,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To that holy washing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-68322514844501604982015-09-01T13:41:00.001-04:002015-09-01T13:41:49.706-04:00growing new eyes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, when I was young, I knew <i>everything</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I'm getting older... I see how much there is to learn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was a teenager, I painted a mural with the quote:<br />"<i>The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes</i>"<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Marcel Proust)</span> I thought I was painting my sage-like perspective on that canvas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I'm older, I see those new eyes fluttering open.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's an incredible re-birth that a parent is granted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You get to see the world afresh through their dewy new eyes, and marvel at the things your eyes forgot were remarkable. And the questions! '<i>Why is that the way it is?' 'Where does it come from?' 'How does it do that?</i>'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And you start to see how little you really know,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and how glad you are to embark on this 'real voyage of discovery' right alongside them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we watched the life cycles of a butterfly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She coloured in a few of her favourite ones from our recent trip to a butterfly conservatory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hiked down to the river, collecting rocks, flowers and clam shells.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Were they clams, mussels, or oysters? Thanks internet - <i>clams</i>!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's wild world of wonder is unfolding new wings before our hungry eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The marvel and the mystery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gratitude and the glee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wonder and wisdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This mama's heart is in it's own metamorphosis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-9575009991781037392015-08-21T13:39:00.000-04:002015-08-21T13:39:36.709-04:00small steps, big leaps.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="398" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CmJoLT0sppo/VddYiZpuHiI/AAAAAAAALIs/U3NDBO1Rntk/s640/hhschool.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you ever wonder if the next step towards change is going to <i>transform </i>you, or cause you to <i>stumble</i>? It's hard to trust that the 'leap of faith' off the proverbial cliff is going to let you fly, instead of crashing into a mangled mess on the rocks below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But currently, I feel the wind beneath these fragile trembling winds.. and I am excited to share with you friends the changes on our horizon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After keeping our oldest daughter (Azriel,5yrs) home for junior kindergarten year, and then sending her off to try out a local Catholic school for her senior year... we've recently decided to <b>homeschool </b>her for (<i>at least</i>) this next school year. Maybe that doesn't seem like a big deal to you, but if I'm being honest there was lots of internal <i>'freaking out</i>' and paper bags involved. Because, I am not the type who embraced this idea right off the hop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were the silly reasons - like, <i>"I'm just not creative enough to teach her"</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The selfish reasons - <i>"Will I ever get a moment to myself?!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The socialisation reasons - <i>"Will she be isolated from her peers?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was the champion of listing pros + cons for both sides of the debate... but after sitting on the fence for the last couple of years, it was starting to chafe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we are stepping out, and I am seeing the <b><i>joy </i></b>- instead of sheer panic - about this choice.</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="398" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sf_JuLIkBLc/VddYvmJi1ZI/AAAAAAAALJI/iusRHHAz9ZE/s640/hschool1.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="398" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBCEvq1BbYU/VddYuS0ldqI/AAAAAAAALJE/P7Kpp6KQGQI/s640/hschool2.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="398" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2OixjL-cUV8/VddZWlhNACI/AAAAAAAALJM/7rVjk3zkZUI/s640/hschool3.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a lot more I could say, but for now just a few points:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We chose this path for our daughter (for now) because we believe it fosters her well-being. She has blossomed over the summer in ways we were delighted to witness<i>, </i>and have noted that it is in direct correlation to the quality time spent with her family/friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This does not mean we make homeschooling our '<i>gospel</i>' and assume it's the best choice for everyone. I respect the convictions and choices each family makes for what is best for their children. Like many of the debates in our culture - this one seems rather polarising as well. I'm not out to convert or convince you to homeschool (my many homeschooling friends will be the first to tell you that I often questioned their reasons, in fact!) It is probably ironic to them that I am now on this side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But maybe we don't need to make it about 'sides' with this issue. Let's just hold to the conviction to be on the <i>side </i>of our children's growth and health... and encourage other parents to do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For now, I'm just feeling so blessed to know that this sweet gal will be by our side a whole lot more this school year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-91776122457361571362015-08-10T13:38:00.000-04:002015-08-10T13:38:05.270-04:00there and back again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5P2FOLQMWoE/Vcja7JemzzI/AAAAAAAALIM/M4Co1QcGN3s/s1600/kid1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5P2FOLQMWoE/Vcja7JemzzI/AAAAAAAALIM/M4Co1QcGN3s/s640/kid1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MkPQNglcBE/Vcja-YC2NSI/AAAAAAAALIg/ek1r0s4ZuKA/s1600/kid2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MkPQNglcBE/Vcja-YC2NSI/AAAAAAAALIg/ek1r0s4ZuKA/s640/kid2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6s0xSt5l5c/Vcja9XLHwCI/AAAAAAAALIY/lEcSpfZe5i4/s1600/kid3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6s0xSt5l5c/Vcja9XLHwCI/AAAAAAAALIY/lEcSpfZe5i4/s640/kid3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh hi, ...<i>anyone</i>...? Just blowing the dust off the blog here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's pretend we were on summer vacation and far too busy with the three kiddos in our nest to scratch two words together. Partially true, also... the laptop was out of commission for the past couple months. So here we are, <i>back </i>for now. Thanks for your patience friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">----</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let it be known, I was still writing (<i>in my head often</i>) and I also was published in the <b>BARNABAS </b>summer edition magazine recently. For those who weren't able to get their hands on the article I've attached a version of it here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ----</span></div>
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<div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"We live in a busy age, don't we? We want our food fast, and our theology in a sound bite. How do we find perfect peace at this peace? How do we pursue the presence of Christ?</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>The Bible is my defibrillator. When I feel the panic of 'do more, be more!' attacking my heart, I find the shock of Christ's words brings much clarity. Take this passage for example: Jesus enters a village and
is welcomed in to the home of Martha and her sister Mary. Martha,
understanding the importance of hospitality in that culture, was '<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">distracted with much serving</span>'.
Mary simply sat at Jesus' feet and listened to his teaching. I can
imagine the vein bursting from Martha's forehead when she protests: "<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord, do you not care that my sister has
left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me</span>" (<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">!!</span>).</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i></i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>We see Him respond with: <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Martha, Martha, you are <u>anxious</u>
and </span>troubled <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about many things, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one thing </b>is necessary. Mary has
chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her"</span>.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Serving, or sitting.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I feel Martha's priorities
hammering on my own heart.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I desire Mary's passion to
consume it.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">productivity
</span></b>is like a drug to me.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>If I can keep just enough
things clean. If I can check off just enough tasks on the '<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to do</span>' list. If I can visit with
enough people. If I can juggle all the important parts of the day without
being swallowed in to chaos...</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>... I can find my <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">value
</span></b>in that accomplishment.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Because the business of <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">busyness </span>defines us as important, doesn't it?</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Which is not to say that
being productive is wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
problem is if our identity is found in what we are, instead of Who's
we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The danger is if we find our
value in what we do, instead of what we are (in Christ). What one thing defines you? Where we
find our identity, is where we <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rest</span></b>.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>A heart that <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rests</span>, is the Mary heart.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Found sitting at the feet
of Jesus.</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Holding to his teaching.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Leaning on his strength.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Trusting in his promises.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>A heart that does not know
it's '<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one thing</b>' is the Martha heart
- <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"anxious and troubled about many
things"</span>. There is the restlessness. The running from thing
to thing to find comfort, peace, security.... identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Practically how does that
look for us in the harried days of daily life?</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>One way that I've been
convicted lately is to make my 'quiet time'...my devotions of
reading/study/prayer take place during the *sweet spot* of the day.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>You know, that one
precious hour when the house it quiet.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>That delicious moment when
you know you could be 20x more productive at cleaning the house, or catching up
on e-mails, or fill-in-the-blanks...</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I see this as the perfect
moment to give a <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sucker punch</span> to my
productive heart.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>To clearly show it that we
are going to STOP. SIT. and be STILL at the Saviour's feet.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I'm not perfect at it.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I still have a throbbing
vein in my forehead that wants to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</span></b> instead of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be</span></b>.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>But I see the sweet relief
that comes from this rare rest.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span><div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I want more of it."</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial\, Helvetica\, sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"Thou has made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until it finds its rest in Thee" - Augustine.</i></span> </b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
---------------</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stay tuned,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-69860571737640113682015-05-27T13:11:00.004-04:002015-08-10T10:52:27.088-04:00hobbits and holy ground...<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.artofvfx.com/HOBBIT2/HOBBIT2_WETA_VFX_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.artofvfx.com/HOBBIT2/HOBBIT2_WETA_VFX_01.jpg" height="264" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know that scene in <b>The Hobbit</b> movie where the dwarves, and Bilbo, are wandering through the darkened <i>Mirkwood</i> forest? As they all start to get more lost - from the path - and from their own senses, Bilbo climbs the tree to get his bearings. It's a glorious scene as he lifts his head above the tree tops... sees the butterflies soaring, the sun shining... and clears his perspective with the fresh air.</span></div>
<div align="center">
---</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often feel the same way when I read the Bible.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's like coming up for air.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It clears my senses.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's like I've been drowning in a distracted fog beforehand.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Wandering off the path.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Confused by all the voices.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Bible wakes me up.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Bible shakes me up.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's a defibrillator for my heart.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Reading <b>Psalm 119</b>.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">"<i>Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law</i>".</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Psalmist was besotted with God's Word.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When the world seems upside down.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">God's Word provides the bearings.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He is the Anchor.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Daily I need to lift my head above the enchanted forest.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Bible is the filter through which I <i><b>see</b></i>.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I see the <i>Son</i> shining in all His glory.</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-74752526663171944692015-05-19T15:01:00.002-04:002015-05-19T15:01:55.615-04:00the tragic, and the triumphant song.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My heart is a <em>jukebox</em> of sin.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most days I stay busy enough, <em>distracted</em> enough, to not hear
the music playing.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, when I slow down… I find the volume goes up.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know when – and where – I hear it the loudest?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m standing at
the sink full of dirty dishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this is not a dance floor I find myself on, it’s a
<em>battleground</em>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, maybe for you it’s during the long commute home, or while you
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stand in the shower, or when you can’t
drift off to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for me, when I
am stuck at that sink, washing dish after dish… the <em>music</em> begins.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I suffer from two <em>tracts, </em>set to repeat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first is <strong>prides’</strong> song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cue: “<em>You’re simply the best.. dun, dun, dun.. better than allll the
rest”.</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where my mind wanders to
all the <em>wonderful</em> things I have said or done for others that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, I’d pat myself on the back if it wasn’t
so sudsy from the dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s here that
I also start to envision myself as a really mama ‘<em>martyr’</em> for how selflessly I
give.give.give all the day long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as I
lift another dish from the tepid waters, and feel the weariness of my limbs...
I start to drone: <em>“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen…”</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>jukebox
heart shifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I skip a beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just enough of an interruption to gain clarity
and perspective on how inward and prideful my thoughts are vortexing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cue the second main tract:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<em>Shut up, just shut up, shut up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shut up, just shut up, shut up”!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(No, really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
were standing in the kitchen you can hear me say it out loud even).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because so often lately, and more <em>quickly</em>, lately… I am so
over hearing about <em>ME</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So done, with
stroking this <em>viper</em> of pride in my heart and thinking it’s a pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<em>Be killing sin, or it will be killing you’</em>
it’s said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I get out a mallet, and
smash the jukebox with an angry “<em>Awwww shaddup</em>!”.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go figure, it doesn’t help for long.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turns out that just trying to <em><u>will</u></em> myself<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to <em>not</em> think about something doesn’t work.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can’t just <em>not</em> think about something I’m <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trying to not think about… because it leaves a
vacuum.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need a <strong>new song</strong>.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is otherwise called – the ‘<em>expulsive power of a new
affection’</em>.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, this is the moment I start to sing <em>hymns</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Songs of praise and worship to the One who
saved me from myself, from my sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
more I love Jesus, the better this jukebox plays a song worth singing.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some days (some moments) the old tunes <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>still taunt.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, as Odysseus tied himself to the mast, to avoid turning his
ship to the enticing destruction of the
siren’s songs…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tie myself to the
<em>cross</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cling to the cross of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the siren song of pride
in my own chest, that would rather exult myself than another, I cling to the
cross… and sing:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><strong>
</strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"O to grace how great a debtor<br /> Daily I’m constrained to be!<br /> Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,<br /> Bind my wandering heart to Thee.<br /> Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,<br /> Prone to leave the God I love;<br /> Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,<br /> Seal it for Thy courts above"</em></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">-Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing-</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-71085403738165263372015-04-28T13:23:00.001-04:002015-04-28T13:23:15.062-04:00an open letter to weary parents:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">weary parents,<br /><br />there are times when you feel <i>done </i>from the start.<br /><br />while the world slept, you held a screaming terror against your chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the morning greeted you with a sneer, and a child peeing across the floor.<br />exhaustion pulls at your tired body, while exasperation strains your mind.<br />all you see are needy hands clawing away at your emptiness.<br />and you find yourself pointing a shot gun of anger at anyone within range.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">look down.<br /><br />who are you so furious with?<br />what has stretched your thin skin of patience over a ballooning frustration?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">was it those tiny fingers that pushed all your buttons, <br />or yourself for having those buttons within their reach?<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">look down.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">it feels like all you bring to the table is a cold bowl of contempt.<br />hardly enough to nourish those young hearts, and you're already gagging on it.<br />what can you stir into this pot to feed your family with?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">vile ingredients of despair, guilt and gloom choke out the very taste of hope.<br /><br />-------<br />dear soul,<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">look up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />there is ONE who drank the bitter cup,<br />ONE who swallowed the sin from our deepest reserves,<br />In the place of our poison, He offers living waters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sparkling with hope, faith and love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />look up.<br /><br />Jesus declares: <i>'COME! All you who are thirsty, come and drink! I AM the living water.<br />though your heart feels dark as a tomb, I will give you new life.<br />though you soul feels parched, My grace is a tidal wave crashing on your shore.<br />when you feel you don't have enough to give, see I AM abundantly MORE than you can hope or imagine'.</i><br /><br />then... look down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />with eyes and heart brimming over with this living water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">soak your family with the lavish joy and affection from above,<br />you are created to be a channel, not a dam.<br />get out of the way... and let that river flow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mel :)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-23213854793686330422015-04-21T15:10:00.000-04:002015-04-21T15:10:58.842-04:00... a rambly note:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11070533_885368814853134_7504285516503763020_n.jpg?oh=718e206d3ce1e232cfeb23acb1163251&oe=55D88083" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11070533_885368814853134_7504285516503763020_n.jpg?oh=718e206d3ce1e232cfeb23acb1163251&oe=55D88083" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Credit: our talented pal <b><a href="http://chancefaulknerphotography.com/">Chance Faulkner Photography</a></b>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess now is as good a time as any to dust off the cobwebs in this corner of the inter-webs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may have guessed that I had lost my <i>will to write</i> as of late... but in reality I have had many blogs fluttering around the caverns of my brain. I just have spent my time on other passions than putting these to <strike>paper </strike><i>screen </i>(?)</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, I'm still struggling with keeping this blog even a <i>thing</i>. I love to use it as a space to inspire or encourage... but it also runs the trap of being a vanity parade for myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like, '<i>woo, looook at me</i>' and '<i>hear my thoughts</i>' and '<i>aren't I profound</i>'.... kind of weirdness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to run as far from that kind of stuff as I can (<i>although getting away from my own head is a real trick</i>). So there it is, to blog or not to blog...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also don't feel like the same person that started this space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, the passions that filled this place have become more '<i>secondary</i>' feeling than all consuming, you could say. So, if you are here, you are getting my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A heart that desires more of Christ, and less of <i>me</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe I could tell you more about that next time?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secret confessions of a re-<i>converted </i>convert.. or, something like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alright, the chili is steaming up the house. The monitor tells me that baby #3 is having her afternoon nap. The boy just spilled beads and rice all over the floor. We need to pack up and get big sister off the school bus soon.... here we go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for popping in, and patiently waiting me out,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-16564789516931000132015-03-19T14:55:00.000-04:002015-03-19T14:55:31.485-04:00give a girl a paintbrush...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet another moment in parenting where I am learning to '<i>let it go</i>' and foster our kid's creative expression. Because <i>yes</i>, yes our five year old did just paint her wall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mama drew the outlines... and then she slap-happily brushed the paint on (while I 'touched up' the final bits... because I just can't fully '<i>let it go</i>'). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This project was the result of her declaring that her side of the room should be her favourite colours - pink/purple. Her brother could keep all this delightful 'boyish' green on his side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sensing and impasse I used the age-old trick of distraction, and offered her the option of just painting some flowers, or swirls... or <i>birds</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Birds, of course!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our house is filled with them, and trees (<i>and bunting</i>) all throughout our nest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's funny, this was another moment when I looked back with gratitude for how <i>my </i>folks raised me. Some parents would have likely balked at letting their kids assert their creative fingerprint on their home decor.. my parents embraced it. I think that was very empowering for my individual expression and confidence as I grew up. They didn't bat an eyelash (at least outwardly) when I wanted to do all sorts of <i>craziness </i>to my room. Or, when I wanted to shave half my head. Or, when I wanted to wear a tux to my grade 8 grad... etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I grow in this parenting thing, I'm learning (even from my own parents) to not sweat the small things - and to recognize what the <i>small </i>things are! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a beautiful thing to see their creativity take <i>flight</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-90095627417561231872015-03-11T10:20:00.003-04:002015-03-11T10:20:49.231-04:00creARTures great and small:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZ9LylaXF2w/VP-Q03Vne-I/AAAAAAAALFs/8pymwfa-yLs/s1600/painte.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zteOh9Bfcwk/VP-Q0ajO3mI/AAAAAAAALFo/eJ6U4ZDm3vU/s1600/paintes.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is something so wonderful about a <i>shared </i>delight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love painting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids love painting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all feast together in this creative communion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe this is how the <i>techy </i>parent feels when they see their kids hack a computer. Maybe this is why the <i>sporty </i>parent delights to see their child thrive at the game. Maybe we all just love to see our kids embracing something of our <i>own </i>heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm <i>forcing </i>them to like what I enjoy... or trying to live vicariously through them. It just brings such a deep <b>joy </b>that's hard to really describe, when I see those small hands pick up a paintbrush and so confidently swirl and splatter out their unique souls on to the canvas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, I stop and wonder.. maybe this is just a hint of what God must feel about his kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we have that <i>shared </i>delight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Creator and his created who love to create.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel his pleasure when I paint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just saw this quote today.. and it's fitting:</span><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“All my life nature and art have been reminding me of something I’ve never seen.” (C.S. Lewis)</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">creatively yours,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-71877400064044209402015-03-05T10:46:00.002-05:002015-03-05T10:46:38.141-05:00she's the ONE:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEB0J8wlSvQ/VPe2gdrUEvI/AAAAAAAALEM/vyrU8o1PMj4/s1600/talia1sts.JPG" height="410" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be still my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little lamb, Talia, is officially a YEAR old today... where did that come from so suddenly?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's still the sweetest apple of her whole family's eye, I can never quite tell which one of us is most <i>smitten </i>with her. Our oldest, Azriel (5) still acts like every.day.is.Christmas to see her baby sister who is just "<i>SOOOOO CUTE!!</i>" she can't even handle it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still maintain that having a third child is a wonderful gift of '<i>perspective</i>'. Since the first two have grown in much the same blur of diapers and delight... I feel like this time I at least knew enough to stop and savour this child through each stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite sleepless nights and all the rest she may have syphoned from me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've counted (<i>almost</i>) all of them as <b><i>extra </i></b>moments to snuggle her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little bundle of blue eyes and two teeth loves her family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She delights in peek-a-boo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She squeals from tickles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She eats ALL the food put before her!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's a crawling machine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She stills sits up at night and doesn't know how to lie down again... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, she's our gift from God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday little lamb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xx</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mama </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-14776184542347780402015-03-03T11:39:00.001-05:002015-03-03T11:39:32.149-05:00tweet family painting fun:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu4ZMqtz_bE/VPXg4J8ecvI/AAAAAAAALDg/OoNNlmIbeVA/s1600/birdbranch.JPG" height="334" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello there friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we just wanted to share a fun little project we finally finished as a family here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking our inspiration from a <i>tweet </i>mug a friend had given me.. we set off painting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids love working on a 'mama project', and we all work alongside each other through each stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We used fabric to get the bird patter motifs in place.. but, I would recommend using scrapbook paper for anyone else out there - as it lays flat and wouldn't bubble up with the paint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We added all the 'sand/grit' texture to try and camouflage a bit of that fabric blunder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of my art comes from '<i>fixing</i>' mistakes, actually.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another creative and colourful addition to our nest here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creatively yours,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-32599154801933209762015-02-24T14:17:00.003-05:002015-02-24T14:17:58.379-05:00how to: be relevant.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkIfOgmA8VU/VOzIzTrRyQI/AAAAAAAALC0/FUygpGfP_Rk/s1600/hat%2Bhud.JPG" height="366" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Curious title for a blog here, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I've discovered a '<i>secret</i>' about life (that maybe you already know too).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I didn't know this <i>secret </i>when I was bit younger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like the time I started to work at a youth drop-in and wondered <i>"how will I relate?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, when our friends started having kids (before we were even on that wagon).. and we thought "<i>ugh! We are NOT kid people.. how can we connect?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, maybe it was when we'd visit our Grandma... and I'd see other seniors slouched in the halls and not know where to start with a conversation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old, or young. Rich, or poor. Teenagers, or toddlers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all can struggle with knowing how to '<i>connect</i>' or even feel relevant to other demographics and generations around us it seems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what's the <i>secret </i>I've discovered, that makes you able to connect with anyone on any level...?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LOVE</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Both the old and the young can see it a mile away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the teenager covered in goth makeup, or tattoos, or piercings... recognises when you see <i>through </i>them - <b><i>to </i></b>them - with respect and warmth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That one inch thick surface that so many of us use to differentiate ourselves by... is filled with the same substance that unites all mankind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we can look with the eyes of faith, the eyes of love, to see that <i>soul </i>in every one we meet... we would find ourselves connecting with many around us that we didn't feel 'relevant' enough to talk with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're not so very different after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
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<br />Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-36814071528007734292015-02-20T14:11:00.000-05:002015-02-20T14:11:02.049-05:00dis.courage:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPSVAhjnenE/VOdyeD1YSBI/AAAAAAAALCg/Cn9CCvixsWc/s1600/dis.JPG" height="410" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There are days when the sun is shining, and I have a good day with the kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've shared laughter, meals and tickles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, just when you've let down you 'guard' - and you start to <i>pride </i>yourself on being a pretty decent mama - things start to unravel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone is whining about the texture of their snack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The baby is shrieking because she can't figure out how to lay <i>down </i>to nap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The constellation of crumbs under the table is growing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every where I look I just see <i>chaos </i>and <i>need</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel my eye starting to twitch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, it just takes one little thing for me to crash like a house of cards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe like the futility of picking up that certain toy for the millionth time today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I start to fume inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The child pees <i>next </i>to the potty instead of <i>in </i>it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I choke-hold the air in front of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The phone rings right when I'm changing a diaper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel utterly exasperated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this point I'm ripe to explode.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I told my husband we'd be rich if we could patent a <i>'scream room'</i> for mamas who are having a meltdown. You know, just a sound proof - padded - space that we could have our own temper tantrum in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because I refuse to yell at my family, but if they were <i>inside </i>my head...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I've written before how isolating that moment feels, when you've seen such a beast of anger lurking within your own heart (<i><a href="http://needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/2014/06/confessions-of-mama-part20.html">confession post found here</a></i>)... but I want to further share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think many of us step under a burden of <i>discouragement </i>at this stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because after some 'blow out' of my anger, I fall into a sullen silent stage. Moping around the house, smothering my heart with a heaping yoke of guilt and contempt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like I've seen many people fall into this rut... and lose all hope of climbing out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe because this dark under belly of parenting caught us by surprise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were told that there would be diapers and delights with having children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We likely weren't told there would be deep discouragement and despair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because, if you ever want to feel like you're a pretty <i>decent </i>person, don't have <i>kids</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Actually, just keep yourself isolated from any and all things that put enough pressure on your heart to push out all the nasty bits lurking beneath the surface).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, if you want to <i><b>grow </b></i>and learn what grace looks like.. have kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The path that shows our inner ugly bits in the brightest light, is also the path that leads us to humility. </span></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QemWjTPvdO4/VOdyd6nKRdI/AAAAAAAALCc/hbd2HCvgze4/s1600/diss.JPG" height="410" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, I was having one of these melt-down moments this week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the wake of this discouragement I <i>happened </i>to pull a book of our shelf and find this quote:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is of great importance to guard against discouragement on account of our faults. Discouragement is not a fruit of humility, but of pride, and nothing can be worse. It springs from a secret love of our own excellence. We are hurt at feeling what we are. If we become discouraged we are the more enfeebled, and from our reflections on our own imperfections, a chagrin arises that is often worse than the imperfection itself. Poor nature longs from self-love to behold itself perfect; it is vexed that it is not so, it is impatient, haughty, and out of temper with itself and with everybody else. Sad state; as though the work of God could be accomplished by our ill-humor. As though the peace of God could be attained by our interior restlessness"</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(quoting Fenelon from Hannah Whitall Smith's "The God of All Comfort")</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm learning to find every trial and tempest that pushes me to despair <b><i>in </i></b>myself.. as a gift to look <b><i>past </i></b>myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introspection in a bottomless vortex.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guilt is a terrible motivator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, looking to grace, looking outside myself to the Giver of grace, lifts my heart from this terrible rut. When I see the God who reaches down to me in my <i>brokenness </i>(instead of waiting for me to be 'good enough' or 'perfect enough' to reach up to the heavens), I see <b>hope</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I am discouraged, I need to have the courage to behold Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every time I fail, to fall upon His grace afresh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"..Where sin abounds, grace abounded all the more" Romans 5:20. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let's not resent those children for pointing out our darkest parts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's not resent our imperfection and stroke the ego till it's purrs again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us throw aside the burden of pride, and take on the light yoke of <i>humility</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The harder path is the better path in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-60213379767077640992015-02-17T19:44:00.002-05:002015-02-17T19:44:18.064-05:00scribble and script.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gRBNd4eQel4/VOPdaZXmlNI/AAAAAAAALB8/_jXSfTIba3I/s1600/script.JPG" height="462" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6VXPgprZhI/VOPdbKCGXPI/AAAAAAAALCE/jTp7qkbGKqc/s1600/script1.JPG" height="462" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I haven't posted any comics lately... but I've still been doodling!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess like every.one else on the <i>pin</i>ternet, I do love fonts and artsy script work. Lately I've put my favourite song lyrics and scripture verses up around the kitchen, after doodling them out with watercolour pencils and pens at the dining table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first "It is well" picture was for a friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second is from a<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIkxVMDY71I"> powerful song </a>that gets stuck in my head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids and I have also been having fun creating and painting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the first coat of a project we're still putting the finishing touches on, stay tuned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you creating lately?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-49845326248655857372015-02-13T12:14:00.000-05:002015-02-13T12:16:15.342-05:00resources to warm the heart's flame:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUlBIPKOMPU/VN4nRv-Cb-I/AAAAAAAALBU/rjmWzt6zoYQ/s1600/prayer.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a follow up post to the one I wrote a while ago about getting *<i>real</i>* into God's Word. (<a href="http://needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/2015/01/whispers-amidst-wailings.html">"whispers amidst wailings" - post</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had mentioned how I like to keep lots of 'kindling' of resources in my day to help my heart light up for the joy of discovering Christ is all the <i>minutiae </i>of our days. Some of you asked if I could share those resources here... so, <i>yes</i>!</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple disclaimers/clarifications to start: </span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. This isn't a list of simple, fun family reads... it's focused on resources that exalt and direct the heart to the Bible, to knowing Christ, to living fully in His truth and love. So I trust you won't <i>jump</i> on me if I didn't mention you're favourite Dr.Seuss book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Don't let a long list of 'options' overwhelm you. I know a lot of us mamas/papas feel busy enough in the day to barely put five minutes to a page! I want these to serve their purpose of <i>directing </i>your heart to God and His Word... not <i>distracting </i>you from that. </span></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BroMAmN9pX4/VN4nsSVFIQI/AAAAAAAALBc/pU0kes4hCmE/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I like to 'prime the pump' of my heart by <i>reading </i>resources like these:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<a href="http://www.chapellibrary.org/"><b>Free Grace Broadcaster</b></a> is an online resource filled with writings by many of the puritans and other heavyweight theologians. You can order FREE publications/tracts as seen above too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Jesus-Storybook-Bible-Sally-Lloyd-Jones/dp/0310708257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423850844&sr=8-1&keywords=jesus+storybook"><b>Jesus Storybook Bible/Songs to Make Your Heart Sing</b></a> - if you don't own these.... well, they're a<i> must have</i> for your family in my opinion! Such simple and profound truths for your child's heart and yours to see Jesus in every page of the Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Valley-Vision-Leather-Arthur-Bennett/dp/0851518214/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423847315&sr=8-1&keywords=valley+of+vision"><b>The Valley Of Vision</b></a> - another <i>must have</i> compilation of one page 'prayers' that make you feel like you've never prayed before. Deep, rich, robust theology and doxology in these pages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Christ-Alone-Living-Gospel-Centered-ebook/dp/B0022NGDVS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423847373&sr=8-1&keywords=in+christ+alone"><b>In Christ Alone</b></a>. (Sinclair Ferguson). Powerful daily readings/meditations on keeping your heart Christ-centred.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the day I'll often be found <i>listening </i>to these options:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> * <a href="http://songsforsaplings.com/music/songs-for-saplings-123/#content"><b>Songs for Saplings</b></a> is a wonderful resource of music for your family. Simple songs that put verses into song for young and old hearts to sing all day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* <a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp"><b>SermonAudio</b> </a>has an exhaustive list of preachers and sermons to access. Even the 'oldies' are on there - Spurgeon and the like. For more Reformed Theology... there's also <a href="http://listen.refnet.fm/#start">RefNet</a> radio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some other highly recommended books I've been reading lately (and re-reading again!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<b>Treasuring Christ (when your hand are full)</b> by Gloria Furman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<b>The Disciplines of Grace</b> by Jerry Bridges</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<b>Stepping Heavenward</b> by E.Prentiss</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also check back on that year old post of<a href="http://needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/2014/05/turning-over-new-leaf.html"><b> helpful books </b></a>I listed then too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I hope this helps give you some fresh resources to focus your heart on Christ, and living by His grace and for His glory. I have found myself buoyed up with greater joy and deeper peace in these past months as I grow this direction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our nest is busy with three kids, sure. But we make time for what we desire don't we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's also sets a great example to our children, for why would they believe us when we say we '<i>love Jesus</i>' if they don't see us delight to spend time reading/learning/praising Him throughout the day?</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BibKdg8kzfQ/VN4uaiAl-tI/AAAAAAAALBs/jYw9MqiPSpo/s1600/prayers.JPG" height="420" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hudson wants to copy mama while she prays across the table from where he plays.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Now, off to do some more reading! ;o)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-53576577197068786702015-02-11T11:56:00.001-05:002015-02-11T11:56:55.785-05:00..around our nest:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the snow keeps piling up outside.. we're keeping cozy and creative in our nest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope your week is going well friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-44618832440545807932015-02-03T12:53:00.001-05:002015-02-03T12:53:25.216-05:0011 things...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11 <u>things</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Those bright searching blue eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The smile as wide as a banana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. The way she sucks her thumb and rubs her nose with her forefinger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Her crazy squeals of delight in the jumper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. The seizure shakes at taking a toy away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. The backwards crawl across the floor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Her happy clappy hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. The joy of sibling love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. The smell of her neck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. The strawberry blonde shimmer of her hair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Her sweetness that fills our nest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, our lil' Talia is almost 11 months now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's still as gentle as a lamb all day, and still as loud as a lion all night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-65531622118553866022015-01-29T14:04:00.002-05:002015-01-29T14:04:37.740-05:00confessions (of the heart).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to be honest with you, friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There have been moments, and there have been days, where I feel <b><i>overwhelmed</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overwhelmed by the to-do lists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overwhelmed by trying to be a '<i>good enough</i>' parent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, a '<i>good enough</i>' wife.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, a '<i>good enough</i>' friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to cover all the bases... and it turn, feeling spread too <b><i>thin</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i>There's just too many 'good' things! I'm no good at keeping up with them all!</i>" I'd sigh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At that point, the mountain of dirty dishes, or laundry.. or sin in my heart... would be enough to throw me into an internal fit of '<i>shutting down</i>'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i>I'll just seethe inwardly until I survive to the end of this day.. sleep it 'off' and TRY, try again tomorrow</i>" I'd think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Repeat cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Repeatedly overwhelmed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Call it a 'Saviour complex' if you want - this gauntlet of trying to be '<i>all things</i>' for all the needs around you. But I call it a misplaced <b>FOCUS</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because you know what I keep discovering?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I keep the <b>ONE THING</b> my main thing... all the other <i>things </i>fall in their proper place.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was meditating on Psalm 27. That beautiful verse came off the page at me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "<b><i><span class="selected"><u>One thing</u> have I asked of the </span><span class="small-caps">Lord</span><span class="">,</span>
</i></b></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027004_09-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> that will I seek after:</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="line" id="p19027004_14-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> that I may </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Ps23.6%3BPs65.4%3BLk2.37/"><span class=""></span></a><span class=""><u>dwell</u> in the house of the </span><span class="small-caps">Lord</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="indent line" id="p19027004_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> all the days of my life,</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="line" id="p19027004_30-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> to <u>gaze </u>upon </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Ps90.17/"><span class=""></span></a><span class="">the beauty of the </span><span class="small-caps">Lord</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="indent line" id="p19027004_38-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> and to <u>inquire</u></span><u><span class="footnote"><a class="fn" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+27%3A4/#f3-1" id="fb3-1"><span class=""></span></a></span></u><span class=""><u> </u>in his temple.</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="end-line-group"></span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="line" id="p19027005_01-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">For he will </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Ps31.20%3BPs91.1%3BJb5.21%3BIs4.6/"><span class=""></span></a><span class=""><u>hide </u>me in his shelter</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="indent line" id="p19027005_09-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> in the day of trouble;</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="line" id="p19027005_14-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> he will <u>conceal </u>me under the cover of his tent;</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b><div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class=""> he will </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Ps40.2/"><span class=""></span></a><span class=""><u>lift </u>me high upon a rock."</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">This was the answer to all my weariness. This is the joy in all the whirlwind of life. When I get my sights fixed on Jesus I get <b>overwhelmed </b>again.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">Overwhelmed by His grace and love towards me.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">Overwhelmed with care and compassion towards those around me.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">Once my heart stays focused on this ONE THING, I am empowered to attend all the other things. For when my 'vertical' gaze is set right, my 'horizontal' gaze sees all the needs and lives of others through this cross-centred lens.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">When I look to the <i>'things I do' </i>to define me, I resent them and grow weary.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">When I look to '<i>who I am in Christ</i>' to define me, I rejoice and serve eagerly.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">I think it's right back to that <a href="http://needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/2014/11/one-thing.html">recent post</a> I wrote about being like Martha or Mary.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">If my heart is consumed with anxiety, I know I'm running off a horizontal perspective.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">If my heart is overwhelmed with a peace beyond my power, I know the vertical perspective of gazing on the goodness of the gospel has lavished my heart.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">This is my testimony.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">When the days and moments feel overwhelming, when it feels like I'm drowning.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">I look to Christ, and know my feet stand high upon that rock.</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">I hope and pray this sure footing is in your lives as well friends.</span></span></div>
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<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">Warmly,</span></span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19027005_24-1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="">Mel ;o) </span></span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-1098903470349342952015-01-23T16:38:00.000-05:002015-01-23T16:38:27.654-05:00A.musing.mama! 5.0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please tell me I'm not the only one...?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think if it weren't for my dear husband who shoves breakfast in front of my bleary eyes each morning.. I would overlook feeding myself till fainting (<i>or rage</i>) struck me! ;o)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I remember to graze off the kid's leftovers, you know.. still being the mama <i>goat</i> around here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A.musing.mama,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find all the previous COMICS (that yes, I still sketch right from a <i>pen</i>!) <a href="http://needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/search/label/comic"><u><b>here</b></u></a>! </span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-46305641131577408862015-01-15T13:59:00.001-05:002015-01-15T13:59:50.342-05:00whispers amidst the wailings.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPNynFXXdd0/VLAeX1hyFNI/AAAAAAAAK-U/rquf_L2FEpg/s1600/biblesun.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll find my nose in a <i>book </i>much more often than a blog lately, friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus, this corner of the <i>interwebs </i>is growing some cobwebs... but thanks for being here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can I share with you where my heart's growing though?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was reading this <b><a href="http://www.gloriafurman.com/books/">book </a></b>the other day (can't recommend it enough) and this quote jumped out:</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My spiritual life languished when my first child was born. This wasn't her fault in the least. I was under the false assumption that the Holy Spirit comforted, guided, and assured me only when my schedule was cleared out or when I had my journal sitting on my lap. I thought that I couldn't hear God if there was noise in my life"</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My head starts nodding like those dashboard hula dolls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My heart starts shouting '<i>that's US, that's us!</i>'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How often I have fallen for the trap of thinking that God is <i>not </i>in the whirlwind of babies wailing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That His fingerprints are <i>not </i>seen in the Nutella smudges across a clean table cloth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How often would I mutter under my breath "<i>I'll spend better time with the Lord when this child is not needing me every.moment.of.the.day</i>". I would think back to my '<i>quiet times</i>' as a young adult, sitting cross legged on my bed in a sunbeam, scribbling my thoughts into endless journals and feeling I was so close to God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the fog of motherhood clouded out those 'quiet moments' it seemed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least... for a while it did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, His grace pursued me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cross started to shine through the chaos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's due in part to many helpful books along the way, in part to many prayers on our behalf, in part to a revival in my husband's heart, in part to many steps along the way... that all point to the FULL reason: God's grace to whisper through the weariness of my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A heart that was weary of trying to be '<i>good enough</i>'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forgetting that Christ came for <u>sinners</u>.. not the '<i>keeping-their-nose-clean</i>' ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A heart that was sleep walking through the 'survive another day' approach to living, instead of having <i>'eternity stamped on my eyeballs'</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you know how I've started hearing God better again?</span></div>
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<u><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By staying in His Word.</span></i></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Duh</i>. right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to just flip it open for a quick 'guilt removal', as if inserting a few rushed over verses into my day would give me a fresh 'face lift' and let me shine another day. I called it cosmetic Christianity: just enough to smear over the cracks in my facade.. but not enough to soak deep in to my soul. I don't want to skim over a passage anymore, I want to <b><i>stay </i></b>there. To meditate on what is truly being said. To let Christ shine from the pages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's like an old radio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember how you turn the dial through endless noisy static and finally break upon the music loud and clear? I think we so often wonder why we can't hear God in our daily lives.. when it's because we are stuck in the <i>static </i>zones. We are tuning in to the T.V, we are satiated in social media, we are feeding our souls on the fluff. Half the time we are stuck in these zones because they seem <i>easiest</i>. It seems to difficult a <i>chore </i>to pick up the Bible, after a day of endless giving. You actually want to 'tune out'. But then... afterwards you feel even more despondent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tune the needle of your heart to God's Word... read the Bible slow and steady, and pray that He will speak through it to you. He doesn't ignore that prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've discovered that if you keep stacking the <i>kindling </i>around your heart (solid sermons, wonder-full worship, beauty books, persistent prayers) God will light the altar of your heart ablaze. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe this all just sound too '<i>religious</i>' but I can tell you it's <b>real</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His Word is a treasure far vaster than all the gold of Middle Earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(A helpful tool to mining it can be found <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/labs"><u><b>here</b></u></a>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for hearing my heart, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o) </span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673084739109600.post-28806606713882618392015-01-12T19:29:00.004-05:002015-01-12T19:29:40.255-05:00A.musing.mama! 4.9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life has officially spun full circle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sounding more like my Mom each day...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above conversation happens almost daily this winter (much like it did <b><i>thirty </i></b>years ago!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What lines do you catch yourself 'passing on' to the next generation?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A.musing.mama,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel ;o)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">----------------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find all my previous COMICS <a href="http://needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/search/label/comic"><u><b>here</b></u></a>!</span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385618355496025204noreply@blogger.com4