It's been a long time since I have posted on here and couldn't really decide what to write about next, so I thought I'd write about all the half-formed thoughts going through my head. In no particular order.
1. I've been thinking a lot about how awful our world is these days. You don't have to look far to see countless atrocities taking place down the street and around the world. Sometimes I wonder why we had kids because it doesn't seem like we are giving them a really great world to live in. I mean how could we screw things up even more?! But I started reading through the book of Jeremiah the other day and as I was reading I realized, man....Jeremiah could be addressing our culture, our world in this 21st century and he would be bang on! Sure, the idols we have are different, the tools we use have changed, but the sin has not. We have all been born into sin and no generation has ever been better or worse than another.
(How's that for a heavy first thought? :) )
2. Sometimes I wonder how Eva could only be 16 months old! I hardly remember life without her! I guess it's just that so much has happened during her short little life that it feels so much longer.
3. The feeling I get every time I empty another box is similar to the feeling I get when I hear a lid pop after canning something. Success!
4. We've cancelled our cable tv for the new house. I must say, even though it has only been 4 days, it is kinda freeing not to be tied to the tv every night!
5. I have been trying to balance the desire for fixing up our new house with feeling content with what we have. Not that we can afford to do much with our house right now, but the dreaming and planning, in my opinion, can be just as distracting as the actual renos. I am so aware of how little so many people in this world have and, by contrast, how much people in our country have and want. On one hand, it is important to maintain what we have been blessed with and be responsible with our belongings. On the other hand, it is really important to make sure that "things" don't take a higher priority than people and relationships. As followers of Christ, we are called to spread the Gospel and make disciples, not nicer homes. This is part of what being in the world and not of the
world is about. It's tough. I am trying to remind myself that having mismatched furniture, ugly window coverings and terrible looking walls/paint colour really doesn't matter or carry any eternal significance.
6. In our new house, we have the choice of walking to two different parks. In our rental, there were no parks in walking distance. This is exciting to me!
7. There is something spectacular about doing my own canning and preserves every summer and fall. I have a massive feeling of accomplishment, success and satisfaction when I look at my jars of
preserves. I think it comes in part from the process of saving these foods, knowing that I have worked hard to can or pickle. There is love in my labour. Another part comes from knowing where my food has come from and what is in it. Isn't that awesome? To be able to tell people on 5 fingers or less what is in that jar of canned peaches or pickled jalepenos? Plus I love how going downstairs to get a jar of something feels free. I know that it costs money to buy the produce and everything, but it sure feels free when you use a jar in February, for example, and you didn't have to pull out your wallet to get it! Also, I feel like I'm carrying on the traditions of my families that did the same thing generations before me, but had to do it out of necessity - otherwise they wouldn't have had most of these fruits or veggies until the next summer. (All this applies to hunting for meat, too.)
8. I've gotta say that living in Lumby, especially in our new house, is quite a good thing. I miss so many people in the Lower Mainland and in 100 Mile, but this is definitely where we are supposed to be. There is nothing quite like knowing that you have been placed somewhere by God and that he has this perfect plan for you in that place. Whatever the plan is, it is right. I sometimes wonder how many other people have that peace?
9. Russ & I have been talking a lot about how in our society/world today, right is wrong and wrong is right. In other words, evil is the new good and good is the new evil. Just look at how our society furthers abortion, celebrates divorce instead of marriage, propagates pornography, enables lawlessness, and more. It reminds me of a song that we sang in high school: "Right-side-up Kingdom in an upside-down world, we will be faithful to the will of our Lord. Quickly come King Jesus reign in our hearts, have dominion over the earth." Our purpose here on earth as Christians is important. As a mom of two little kids where little things are BIG in our household, it's hard to remember the importance of my calling as a believer. We can bring a lot of light, hope and "right" to this upside-down world.
10. Akeyla is one year away from starting Kindergarten. (I know! hard to believe!) I've been thinking a lot about the options for schooling: public vs. private vs. home. I can't say that I've come to a decision on this yet. Not that it is only my decision, but there's pros & cons to each and Russ & I have been trying to weigh out the options. I guess I should pray more about the decision, my fears involved and what would be the best situation for Akeyla.
There you have it, my friends! A big snapshot of what's been going on in my head these last few months. Thanks for reading through this long post!
And a picture from the summer. These girls sure love their fruit!! take after their daddy.
