Grateful Heart and Helping Hands

Today was marked by a lovely gift from my mom. She sent a sweet wall hanging for me--now to find just the right spot! My lunch today was shared with a couple who are making their way to being a family, to motherhood and fatherhood for the very first time. They shared hopes and dreams, fears and worries. I feel blessed to have an opportunity to be allowed into this intimate portion of their lives. Coming home, I was once again struck by how my life has order and purpose. The direction of my life was put into place long before I was born, my days being ordained for me when I was being knit in my mothers' womb (Ps 139) We have always chosen to have a peaceful home, a place of refuge for those who enter in. Our choices and decisions are hopefully reflective of our joy in service. I picked up a young man whom I have known for most of the 12 years we have lived here. One of the highlights of my relationship with him is when I attended the birth of his daughter as her doula a few years ...

OK, it's official--I have completed this leg of my journey. Last year, I promised myself that I would complete some tasks relating to dreams I have held for a long time. Long ago, I realized that working with women was a passion of mine. Just what that looked like, I wasn't sure of, but was happy to watch the definition of it take shape. We created camping experiences for young women, teaching them about themselves, about life and about the Word of God. We purposed to have these young women learn about their own worth through the eyes of their Creator. After we were no longer having camps, I found employment that continued on this way of thinking, facilitated my personal passion. Somewhere along the way, birth itself became a passion. The first birth I attended as a friend  and support was 15 years ago. It sparked an interest, perhaps even a calling. Normal, natural birth, the support of women, wisdom passed down and taught well. As much as 10 years ago, this started to take a...

What a day! Yesterday, I was in some sort of funk. While it has not completely dissipated, it has however been charged up by good news! My man heard today, unofficially, that he has completed his Masters Degree. Now I already knew it, felt it right from the start, but he had to have some proof and it came today in an email. We will wait for the official notice to really celebrate, but for now, it feels as though a load has been lifted! Then tomorrow, on the heels of this, I will write a 3 hour Lamaze exam. A 3 hour exam. I have not written an exam that counts like this for almost 30 years. Terrifying! But he did it, I can too! If all goes well, I will be able to add some more letters behind my name. I added the letters CD(DONA) a few weeks back, this time, the letters will be LCCE. I will find out in June whether or not I completed this exam well. And yes, still terrified! But different to how I worked in my younger days, I know things differently, have worked my learning style and kn...

No gratitude post yesterday, sorry!! I will post it within this posting instead--yesterday, family was around and we had important things to do! Like an Easter Egg hunt and visiting and quadding and visiting and eating and visiting--you get the picture! We do our Easter Egg hunt on Easter Monday so we don't confuse the meaning of Easter in our family, something we decided long ago when we had our own little ones. Now it extends our celebration of Easter quite nicely as well, enjoying our turkey leftovers and making the most of time together. Today, the grandson and I have a whole day together. We decided to go out for a nice walk with the dog, but got caught in some heavy mist, so came back home after about a kilometer--oh well! There will be many days of more summer to come! He is just so much fun, sense of humour firmly intact! I am also feeling like I am in a bit of a funk. I can't explain it, just feel a bit heavy. I have some ideas what is going on, but not fully enough ...

John 20:19-20 It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them. Peace be with you, he said. After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord My contemplation this weekend went to places I had not been before. I thought about being the age that Mary might have been when Jesus was killed, murdered. How her mothers' heart would have been broken. And sure, he said he would return, that he would build a Kingdom, that He would see her again. But how?? How!!?? So, with her broken heart, she went and spent the Sabbath, resting, but for sure not finding rest! She had just buried her son, had her heart broken and was hanging out with a crowd that the officials wanted to get rid of--she had seen an example of that with her own Son's crucifixion. On Sunday, she and a friend took the anointin...

Good Friday. Until today, I had not given a lot of thought to Mary, other than what we read in the Bible. Over this last year, I read a book called "The Red Tent". It is a historically accurate fictional account of women in what would later be known as Israel. The cultural practices were not Christian, rather they were appropriate for the people of that time, even in families of the first Israelites, because women practiced how they had been raised. This book portrays what would later be midwifery in its finest form- that of women teaching the younger women right from birth what their roles in life would be. As I sat at the piano this morning, during our Good Friday service, I had a dawning for the first time that if I was living in Biblical times, I would be about the age Jesus' mother was when He was crucified. A woman would have been trained from her first menarche how to be a wife and mother, using many of the things she had learned as a child in participation with t...

Wonderful-hmmm. I am pretty tired for such a wonderful day! But I did get many things accomplished, so at least I have a good reason to be so! Bake sales as fundraisers--any thoughts? Do you notice that fundraising in public school is ALWAYS happening? A bake sale, a fun night, a raffle. What I notice is, I get to purchase the cake or whatever ingredients. Then I get to make it. Then I get to send money to buy the same right back again. Raffles are not my thing either, I never do win. But somehow, we get sucked right in to paying and paying and paying--so the students can go on a school event for a week. I am actually a bit excited about this particular event for the 12 year old. He has been looking forward to this learning event all year, one of those grade seven rights of passage. His sister went to Barkerville for her class trip- and after fundraising heavily all year, I got the privilege of paying my own way AND cooking for the group. I am not thinking that I will be going on this...

Listing gratitude has become something I look forward to about Mondays. I have found it shapes my day more carefully, more clearly. I find my mind is focusing on items to be thankful for instead of complaining about--and this is such a useful discipline! Coffee with a friend Discussing challenges and pleasures with raising a family, being married Breakfast in a cookie, hard boiled eggs, joy in the small things Down time, shared with those I love A week filled with anticipation, palm leaves scattered, voices raised, a glad heart. Music to raise the spirit, convincing the soul Listening ears, broad shoulders, caring hearts Joy in the morning, small chatter filled with interesting events and stories for the one who listens Unexpected snow falling, knowing I am not in control God's Word, reaching and teaching Understanding the Lamb of God, the Passover, Easter's impact Plans and dreams, carefully scripted, hope against hope Great expectations, the journey to motherh...

Apparently it is a lovely day in the South Pacific. My friend in Sooke says so!! In the North Pacific, another story brews. We have had snow, rain, sunshine, warmth and cold today! My man spent time planting grass seeds and watering them, just in time to have the rain descend, a little help with the job! The boy went for a long bike ride, visiting and playing with a friend and I spent time with my daughter and my lovely shadow. I spoke of my shadow earlier in this week. She left today on the bus and I know I sure will miss her, as will my precious grandson. I know her momma must miss her like crazy, she is such a blessing to all around her! Spending this week looking at all things normal birth, I could not help but stand back and observe. Her heart is so merciful. She is able to see when someone needs some help and anticipates just how to meet the need. We had classes on breastfeeding, classes on healthy birthing practices and ran a prenatal clinic, She met nurses and mothers, women w...

What a busy week--all in a good way, but still, busy! Today we focus on a couple of my favourite things. First, birth support. We will have a doula gathering, bringing together like-minded women for the purpose of organizing and discussing our passion- normal, healthy birth practices. We will talk about what it would look like for us to have an ideal work environment, what support would look like and how we can achieve our goals. I suspect this meeting, if there are enough of us, could even generate some oxytocin on its own! A group of caring individuals bringing about a sense of well-being could only end up on a positive note. This afternoon, another breastfeeding clinic. I keep wondering how we can create a community that wholeheartedly supports moms and babies together, doing what comes best and naturally? So, tomorrow, another birthing class. Small steps, big ideas. Considering this busy week, only a small post--but I sure do welcome comments!!

I have a shadow. Not a five o'clock shadow--well, sometimes, but that is not what I am referring to! I have a shadow and the sun is not out. I have a shadow this week, watching how I do WHAT I do. This is new for me and a joy!! She is wondering if she will choose a career path that takes her into the world of babies, whether as a doula, as a midwife or a nurse or in what capacity. Since my choices kind of encompass much of those things, she is hanging out with me. Today, though I tried to be busy, to show her what kinds of things I do, I just could not. It was a quiet day in the clinic, a day where it was an opportunity to read and study, to type and prepare rather than visit and support. Not that we didn't, just much less than usual. I have a busy week planned, to show her a good time in the world of mother and baby support. Tomorrow, we will have the first of two breastfeeding classes that I will teach for nurses and others in the community. Today, we had a perinatal committ...

Praise the Lord, Who reigns in beauty, praise the Lord Who reigns with wisdom and with power~ He can make a perfect heart. This song out of the 1980's still resonates. I remember the singer, the times of our college chorale, the times of thought and meditation. Almost 30 years later, I look for a perfect heart, seek after it every day and am satisfied with a grateful heart. Complaints of all kinds crowd in from every side. Complaints about food, or people, or situations or simply unchangeables such as looks. I am reminded that gratitude crowds out complaint! So today? i choose gratitude: ~ for the snow that reminds me we are washed clean through Jesus' blood ~ for new friends and passions shared ~ for young friends and, once again, passions shared! ~ going through old family photos, memories shared and renewed ~ for things past and present and what the future holds ~ for puppy dog kisses, butterfly kisses, eskimo kisses and little boy love. ~ a long hard road, determina...

I am so proud of you, this has been a very long hike for you, a stretching and difficult journey--but your self- discipline, determination and very hard work have come to this very moment in time, for such a time as this! I just want you to know that!!For the last four years, you have studied and prepared your heart for this day, the opportunity you have to prove that you have mastered this area-- instructional leadership. Along the way, no one has doubted for a second that it was made for you and you for it. We walked through one of the harder obstacles that we have had in our married life recently. Walk is not the right term, more like slogged! But because of your steadfast spirit, your determination and self-discipline, we made it through.  You have a knack for figuring out bite sized pieces, seeing the goal and the path that will get you there. I know with our journey through health issues, this was also true. We looked at each day as a day in itself- strength for today and...

We had a wonderful family dinner last night. We were quietly celebrating the last family meal that my man will have as a "Bachelor"--next time he eats with us, he will be a "Master". I am excited for him! We had moose steak, with baked potatoes and a cauliflower-broccoli mix with cheese sauce. We love what the leftovers of this meal become and because of that, I like to make too much! This morning I took ham out of the freezer so that tonight it would become: Cheesy Chowder 3 c. cauliflower and broccoli flowerettes 1/2 c chicken stock powder (MSG-free) 2 c. water Steam together in a 3 litre pot. While you are steaming this, prepare a roux in a 2 litre pot: 1/2 c. butter- Melt this then add 1/2 c. flour- stir it into the melted butter until very smooth. Add: 2 c. 1% milk and 2 c. water-stir until smooth and starting to thincken, over medium heat. When it starts to thicken, add: 2 c. grated cheddar and stir until smooth. Add the cheese sauce to the steamed vegetable...

Leaving expectations behind, ignoring them altogether. We are learning to just be, learning the importance of accepting what is rather than what could be. This is a difficult journey. it is a way of thinking, a way of disciplining the mind out of traditional ways of thinking into a new ideal. And I have to say, it is not easy, but the rewards are worth it. Ever live with someone who is in a constant state of anxiety or frustration or tension? It causes everyone around to pick up on it and creates permanent conflict within the whole family. When someone has constant anxiety and frustration and tension, something is always bothering them. They end up with a short fuse--a very short fuse. It takes very little to make them 'blow'. At that point, the whole group, family, team, classroom, reaps the benefits of the blast. We have been learning to deal with one who lives this way. Yesterday afternoon, it was a lovely afternoon- warm, sunny, just inviting! After school, after band, th...

~Today is Monday. Monday I post my gratitude! How lovely to start the week this way! It puts my mind in a place where I am focused on the positive and the negative seems to dissipate, to slink away, to evaporate! Being a linear thinker, I enjoy when something is spelled out well, given to me in a systematic manner in which I feel compelled to understand and then comply. This is true for the book of Romans in the Bible. I love all of the Bible, it reaches deep within my spirit in a way that nothing else can, but this particular book I find so compelling. If someone asked my what my favourite Scriptures were, I think I would have to point out this set of 'God's Little Instructions'. Recently I was having a conversation with my #1 Son- who was telling me about a book that is impacting him, challenging him to contemplate his own integrity. I love that! I love the challenge! And then my man was discussing with me the different leadership styles he has become very intimate with a...

Craig Campbell Family Man  << Click on this link to hear a song while you read the post!! Caution, this is going to be one of those bragging, proud, loving kinds of posts--just so you know! This is my man, surrounded by most of the women in his life. He is happiest surrounded by family, one of the most important things in his life. He takes pride in being a dad, one of the life privileges that he does not take lightly. He works hard to provide for and protect his family. Choices made are not always popular, but they are usually right. His personal discipline spills over to his fatherhood, where he expects great things from all those around him, as much as he expects from himself. He is one of the most self-disciplined people I know and I am in awe of that. This discipline has become a desire to become a Master in Educational Leadership. He has, while working full time, studied in this discipline over the last four years- though he took some time to support me through cancer. ...