Thursday, December 22, 2016

Just Breathe!

Sometimes you just have to take time to listen ... This was our afternoon yesterday.  We didn't spend lots of time here but it was enough to break down the day, put a smile on our face and reboot our hearts.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Laughter is the best medicine

Last April our world took a slight tweak when we discovered that our daughter had wheat, dairy, and egg sensitivities.  What an adjustment!! It has changed our "on the run" lifestyle quite significantly.  We don't eat out as much anymore, and when we do it is at far more costly restaurants that cater to dietary needs.  We are all learning  to check labels constantly though and her poor daddy has occasionally "poisoned" her as she would say.  She has missed chocolates, and sweets the most, along with cheese.  She was a true cheese girl.  When she was first diagnosed my husband joked about it and said "G ... I have a new nick name for you.  From now on, you will always me my Wheatard."  She laughed and joined in.  "Don't forget dad, I am also a Dart!"  That is just like us ... We often laugh our way through a lot of difficulties and sorrows.  It's not like we don't take life serious.  It's because life is TOO serious.  Laughter helps us to keep going.  In this house someone is always playing a prank, teasing, and loving through laughter.  Our meal time is often filled with humour.  The interesting part ... I take after my Dad.  I love to laugh, and I will admit, I can crack a good joke  but too much silliness tends to irritate me.  My husband is the exact opposite.  He LOVES to joke, laugh and be silly.  It balances our family well.  I admit, there are times where I give him the look, or announce "enough" when I have had just that.  At times it's like having 4 kids.  But there are also times when he teases me and says "Oh Mrs. Fun police is in the house."  That is my cue to join in and have fun.  All of this came to mind when sweet G announced that at work last night she was given 3 candy canes.  She was so excited to share with her daddy and myself.  She loves to give.  When she handed me mine I looked at her in shock and said ... "G!  You can't have candy canes.  They have wheat in them."  Her look was horror.  "No they don't" She exclaimed.  "It's pure sugar!"  I continued on with a straight face and a look of concern.  "Awe hun, how many have you had?" I asked.  The look on her face told me she had fallen for it and she was concerned.  "None!" She said.  "But I really wanted one."  Poor girl!  I couldn't take it any further.  I began to laugh as I announced that indeed she was allowed to have a simple candy cane.  She burst out into a laughter of relief and hugged me. You may think it was mean of me but it was all in fun and we had a good laugh.

Proverbs 15:15
A miserable heart means a miserable life;
A cheerful heart fills the day with song.




Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Forgiveness and Humility

Today I was taught a huge lesson on Forgiveness and Humility.  A few days ago, I was at work and I checked my emails (something I frequently do when bored).  The homework NHI letter did not surprise me.  The fact that it had to do with our youngest was even less surprising.  Our biggest challenge when it comes to school is responsibility in homework.  We can preach till we are blue in the face about responsibility of assignments but two out of three haven't had the A-HA! moment themselves yet and it is wasted air.  Unfortunately the timing of said email was horrible.  I have literally felt the weight on my shoulders lately and this was the last anvil to drop.  I snapped.  I became angry and in the heat of the moment I typed out a quick and spiteful email back.   I felt the need to defend our child.  I wasn't entirely wrong.  The education system is muddy these days, fundings are cut, curriculum has been changed, and sometimes our children need an advocate.  I should not have went about it in the manor that I did though.  I think for the time being, my message made it clear to the one at stake.  He spent 3+ hours sitting at the table, trying to play catch up.  It was the call from the principle this morning that made me question my actions.  I knew they were poor, and I knew they were only because I responded in a heated moment but that is no excuse.  I need to apologize, I know that what I did was wrong and there are other ways to defend my child than in anger.  I literally skipped the "come into my office" meeting and got the one on one conversation instead.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Always a learning moment

Sometimes I get so caught up in parent hood that I forget the small details.  My biggest hang ups all come down to the simple fact that I am trying to create mini us's.  Do you know how long it took me to realize that?  17 years, 6 months 8 days, 4 hours and too many minutes.  Now that I have realized that, my first instinct is to turn back time.  To go back to that very moment when the simplest of cries bellowed from behind that blue curtain.  Yet I am quickly reminded of all the milestones, the joys of laughter, the tears, the struggles and the heartaches that I would have to endure all over again.  I need to remind myself that I have NOT messed them up.  It is all a matter of learning and guidance, for all of us.  For the last 10 years I have journaled our many trials and errors of parenting www.spinners2.blogspot.com We have guided them into both young and old teenagers now and although it doesn't stop here, it changed entirely.  For now we are no longer creating mini us's.  We are moulding them into perfect images of themselves.  We are continually learning to teach them new material, new methods, and new ways to cope in this crazy world that goes before them.  This new blog will be just that.  A legacy for my kids.  A way for me to share with them our trials, our mistakes and triumphs, all while being their parents.  A lesson in life that they can always look back on and know that we did our best in raising them, and it goes much further then they can imagine.  The fact that they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."