The Maker Of Time

I have the photos of toboggan rides and snow angel making. I have the ones that remind us where we've been and the activities there. I have all the captured memories you'd ever want of our travels and moments, but today I want to bottle their faces. I want to trace every edge and smooth line, every eyelash and lip. I don't ever want to forget how they are today... who they are today. I take pictures because it helps me remember.

It's this little-ness that I despise time for stealing from me and yet the big-ness is becoming a gift I am yearning to open, as well. It's the divide that canyons their helpless, precious dependence and their growing up, but I'm learning to let go and let time have it's way. For the Maker of time desires to open my eyes to new joys with each of these growing-up milestones we hang our invisible trophies on. When did I begin to see time as a thief instead of a blessing within His Story?

And so, I drink in their childhood, their faces, their grins, their quirky sayings that will undoubtedly change. I trade my sorrow of their growing for the grateful thrill in gazing on their movement toward His design for them... in His time.

Frayed Edges

I thought I'd stop breathing, that this kind of pain couldn't actually be lived through, only succumbed to. He knew better and since I'd been taught from birth to lean on Him, to give all the pain to Him, a tiny shaft of memory of this promise seered through the darkness as I wept. He took my frayed edges and sewed them up with His healing touch. He was the lifter of my head and now, in hindsight of that time, I can testify to the binding up of my broken heart.

Give Him your frayed edges, friends.

Gratitude on this sun-sparkling on the snow Monday:
642. how she bakes cookies with her friends, boys or girls
643. for how he watches Paul Washer sermons in bed on the laptop
644. sun breaking through clouds today
645. fresh laundry smell wafting from my folding area (one of my favourite smells)
646. a messy, soggy mudroom filled with winter wetness... sign of much outdoor fun
647. a king-sized bed when Littles need to squish in mid-night
648. re-reading old journal entries
649. being able to write PRAISE! over requests that were written in those entries!
650. praising for answers that weren't my idea of how they'd be answered (His ways are higher!)

651. Meredith Andrews' music--love her!
652. Sanctus Real's music--also good--loving skilled Christians using their gifts
653. new insights in the book of James (following this site for studying: http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/)
654. following Ann's videos on her book here: http://www.incourage.me/category/bloom
655. washing Molly's frayed and well-loved "blankie" that I quilted for her
656. the way my boy traces my face with his finger before I open my eyes in the morning
657. how we spent Family Day by switching half of our kids with half of their cousins on Terry's side--so fun!

Happy Family Day!

Our Blood--Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

We've been learning all about our bodies and we're discovering that when God's Word says we are "fearfully and wonderfully made", it's true! There are so many mysteries to uncover in our body systems. Here, my girlfriend, Annie takes my blood to show the children how blood comes from our veins and she goes on to explain the circulatory system. Although, a few of us have experienced our blood being drawn for medical reasons before, they are in awe. This time, it's to understand the complexity of God's greatest creation--us!

(just after she removes the needle, Oliver snuggles my arm and makes sure it didn't hurt too much :)

Annie is a nurse and she has all the cool, big words that we love to hear. "God is awesome," is all I keep thinking.

Annie puts my blood into a centrifuge machine to separate my blood.

Next, she shows us what a portable ECG device looks like and asks for a volunteer...

My big helper :)

He's not too impressed when they have to be pulled from his skin.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14

Top Ten Things I Love About You

10.You faithfully take out the garbage (my least favourite job, so thank you).

9. You bring home the "bacon".

8. You took over teaching Meghan's math.

7. You pin the kids and I down and slobber all over us daily... so very affectionate, you are!

6. The way you giggle uncontrollably when the Toronto Maple Leafs score a goal.

5. You read my blog :)

4. Helping other men be set free from bondage, through Jesus, is your passion.

3. You watch free online drum tutorials and practice them on Oliver's junior drum set.

2. You encourage me to pursue my interests and gifts.

1. You sled down our luge run on the way to work :) (This really cracks me up).
*I also must add that I love watching you barbeque in your shorts in the snow... such a sight for sore, winter-cabin-fevered eyes.

If you haven't noticed, I love you, Terry. Happy Valentine's Day.

A Whole Lotta Lovin' Goin' On

Gratitude:

631. a LOVE celebration with big and little cousins at Mama's house
632. Julie's birthday
633. abundance of snow for hollowing out tunnels
634. how Papa laughed and said, "I haven't seen that done since I was a boy!"
635. cupcakes (I may have mentioned this one before... my weakness)
636. for button boxes and piles of stickers and craft items--so much possibility
637. how Molly could have stayed at that table all day making things
638. for how my single girlfriends celebrate Valentines together and make it special
639. for the rich blessings Ann is experiencing from her obedience in writing
640. learning to crochet together... Mom takes over Mama's job in teaching us new "old" things
641. for the privilege I have of spending Valentine's evening with our developmentally disable friends

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27

Single Valentine

She doesn't know it but she's beautiful. He made her with dancing eyes and great hair. She has small fingers and a throw-your-head-back laugh. She's funny and loves quickly and can get deep with you as soon as you meet. She's vulnerable and witty. She's lovely and just a little fearful. Her biggest downfall? She bases her worth on how men view her. It's been years of this habit but God's getting a hold of her heart. He's whispering sweet words of His love for her and she's going to fall for it... hook, line and sinker... because it's all true. He adores her.

Precious, single woman, when it looks like He's passed you by, that God has forgotten you, that He missed you when He was matching the men and women around you, know that you're so special. He loves you incredibly and miraculously and He has a plan that will astound you. You're His sweet Valentine and He can't wait to share all of His design for your life. Look to Him, trust in Him and rest in His love. Be still. Stop striving. He'll reveal it. He loves His girl.

My Guy

I have this little guy. He's full of vigor and vim and he loves to eat conversation hearts. I asked him to hold one up for me so I could take a photo and since he can't read, he chose one randomly. As soon as the shutter button was clicked, he popped it in his mouth. It wasn't until later, when I looked closely at that tiny piece of sugar in the photo, that I realized what he had held up. It read, "Your Guy".

My heart was struck.

My little Valentine :)

When Life Gives You Snow...

This truly could become a sport--making snow angels :)

Gratitude:

616. Saying goodbye to a precious pastor and his family as they're called away to another ministry

617. for the way we took a whole evening to honour them--they've been so special to all of us

618. for how my husband cried when we said goodbye and how our pastor has been in tears all day--feel the love :)

619. a little boy who knows his French songs when it seems he's not listening

620. the way she told me she was going to work hard to make me proud (I did tell her I'm always proud)

621. crocheting for the first time! --made little hearts--now I feel like a real woman :)

622. for a polite little guest in our home--a delight to have Meg's friend over!

623. when tough love is taken well--a very difficult thing

624. for all the knitting my mom does for other people in her "sphere of influence"

625. the way she says, "God bless you" to staff at the stores we go to together

626. how all my kids got Second Cup money cards for Christmas--our special "date" place

627. the way he makes hard-boiled eggs every day for our children

628. how Oliver's spots came and went without an ill symptom

629. lemon flavoured fish oil for all of us

630. fresh snow with no footprints--perfect for snow angels

"...And try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it..."

Malachi 3:10b

Luge Run

It's a fine day for a run down our very own luge. From the top of our back porch to the bottom of our walkway leading to the nursery, our children slide with exhilarating joy. My husband is still tweaking the construction of it but the kids don't care; they just want to go somewhere fast, laughing and screaming all the way.

Beginning with the stairs... bump, bump, bump!

And off they go!

Down the "ramp"

Weeee!

Crash landing

Look, Mom, no hands!
Not dealing well with turn-taking

Sliding right up to the camera.

Hiking back

Stunt Sledding

Oops!

A little curve to make things more interesting

Packing it down :)

My heat registers are covered in soggy mittens and my laundry room is strewn with snowy boots, stiff coats and dripping snow pants. When much of the winter gear is mismatched, you know the children have played outside a few times in one day. Wet stuff gets dried out, new hats and mitts are slid on and later, it's all recycled again--evidence of a good day.