I hope you all had a memorable Christmas, whether good or bad. The fact that Jesus left His glorious home above, full of praises for Him, adoration and love, to be born in a stinky, cold cave like barn, to poor, young, innocent parents. To then grow up in a mean, selfish spirited society full of God haters, knowing He would die for those exact people and us, not much different than them. Suffer a cruel, unfair judgement and penalty for being who He truly was; our Saviour.
Our Christmas was truly different but I've learnt through my saved years that God has a genuine sense of humor.
We had no running water in the house and the toilets had been taken out to get things ready for the plumber. That was ok because my parents live only 5 minutes away, so we were taking our showers there and getting water there. As for the purging needs, we had a toilet in the R.V.... until it got bitter cold and froze what was inside the reservoir. :/ This meant we could no longer use our "facility". We called everywhere to see if we could find a place to live which would be cheap for the next month or so. Long story short, I went to Lawton's drugs and got a "chapeau", meant for measuring urine, and placed that on the toilet. (Sorry for the details lol)
This allowed us to stay in the RV since every other place wanted to charge between 1295$ and 2400$. We prefered saving that money and putting it on the house, plus, this would keep the momentum on the finishing of the house.
On the 24th, the plumber came to install a temporary toilet but with the cold in the house, the water pump cracked... so we were back to the "chapeau".
Our pastor and his wife invited us to stay over at their house for a few days until we had our "facility" fixed.
This is where the humor begins. I thought that we should get our pastor and his wife a gift to thank them for their hospitality. My husband called to say he had thought the SAME, so we had two gifts to give them. When we arrived at our pastor's and his wife's home, we gave them our gift which was wrapped, and they brought us to our room which, on the dresser, was the SAME gift, but not wrapped. My husband and I chuckled as we waited for Mrs. Seely to unwrap their gift. She thought it was histaricle since with the size of our city and the choice of stores and gifts, what are the odds of getting the SAME gift?
The next morning, we prepared breakfast and got ready for the opening of gifts by wrapping some gifts. Our family gifts were in a Costco bag. Soon the bottom of the tree was filled with beautifully wrapped gifts, then we put the children and our gifts under. To our amazement, every single gift had the SAME wrapping paper.
HELLO!?!
In the midst of a vastly different Christmas for our family, God found a way to bring not only some humor, but some SAMEness.
Today is New Year's Eve. We are expecting a blizzard tonight and tomorrow but the roof of the old part of the house is almost all shingled and the addition has roofing, the interior damage should be minimal.
I've put up more photos in our album, be sure to check it out.
I want to extend warm hopes of a great year 2009 for you and your family. I pray that you will either find the narrow way that brings comfort, peace and salvation (John 14:6, "I am the way, the Truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me." said Jesus), or stand firm and draw closer to Him as this year will pass by us just as quickly as 2008 has.
Look for YOUR purpose.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
OK!?......
I've never physically been punched in the face and had those birds chirping around my head, my eyes turning in circles, like the cartoons do but I'm sitting here with a feeling of being able to relate to that feeling. Not necessarily the hit but cartoon effect after the blow.
Those of you in this area have felt the effects of the storm that was a bit mysterious. The details of it kept changing. I thought maybe it was one of those weather "events" that would just not happen. (ha ha... jokes on me)
I "wish" I could effectively communicate the experience of being in the RV and the journey of this all. It's not really bad in a physical sense although it requires adjustment to the environment; space wise, and it requires a lot of mental preparation and emotional strength. I must be honest, I have no idea how a person who has no personal relationship with God could go through this. I have Him by my side, coaching me through the frustrating times and holding me close in the discouraging times.
My deaf friends gave me a Christmas gift with the footprints poem on it and it is so true. I have the same poem on my bible case. I really like that poem.
Last night, the RV rocked back and forth in the wind and I could hear the tarp, on the roof of the house, flapping in the wind. I heard the boards slapping against one another and wondered if the house would make it through the storm. I got out of bed a few times to check through the window and saw that it was still standing. With a sigh of relief, I noticed the back door had flung open so I put on my boots and raced over to the house to close it. I went in at first to get my ketch my breath and saw the snow drifts in the basement and in the mudroom. I had decided that I had to make sure that door didn't open again. I closed it shut and pulled on it as hard as I could but it slipped out of jam. I worked at it for a while and finally it stayed but this morning my husband told me it was open again.
You know, it sort of like us isn't it? Jesus says in Revelation 3:320, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Sometimes, especially those who have never accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour, see the door, maybe even hear the knock on the door of our heart, and do everything in our power to make sure the door stays shut. We don't want to let Jesus in to have an effect on us, change us, cover our sins and transgressions against God and make us "white as snow." Says Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. "
I must say, I'm really starting to have that ownership feeling for the house. I went upstairs and saw all that snow on the floor and wanted to clear it out. In some places, there was over 2' of snow. I nailed the boards back up, put some other one on some holes, push some snow over but the wind kept blowing it back in. I felt heavy in my heart for my home. Wanting so much to make it right, make it my home once and for all. Oddly enough, although everything is in a mess right now, it's my home. I'm so looking forward to being able to be living inside my home and warming it up, keeping it clean, and filling it up with the Lord's presence. I hope I get to do that soon. It's like Dorothy says in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz", "There's no place like home".
It obviously makes me think of Heaven and how much better that place will be.
There's no place like home....
(don't forget to check out the update photos in my album)
Those of you in this area have felt the effects of the storm that was a bit mysterious. The details of it kept changing. I thought maybe it was one of those weather "events" that would just not happen. (ha ha... jokes on me)
I "wish" I could effectively communicate the experience of being in the RV and the journey of this all. It's not really bad in a physical sense although it requires adjustment to the environment; space wise, and it requires a lot of mental preparation and emotional strength. I must be honest, I have no idea how a person who has no personal relationship with God could go through this. I have Him by my side, coaching me through the frustrating times and holding me close in the discouraging times.
My deaf friends gave me a Christmas gift with the footprints poem on it and it is so true. I have the same poem on my bible case. I really like that poem.
Last night, the RV rocked back and forth in the wind and I could hear the tarp, on the roof of the house, flapping in the wind. I heard the boards slapping against one another and wondered if the house would make it through the storm. I got out of bed a few times to check through the window and saw that it was still standing. With a sigh of relief, I noticed the back door had flung open so I put on my boots and raced over to the house to close it. I went in at first to get my ketch my breath and saw the snow drifts in the basement and in the mudroom. I had decided that I had to make sure that door didn't open again. I closed it shut and pulled on it as hard as I could but it slipped out of jam. I worked at it for a while and finally it stayed but this morning my husband told me it was open again.
You know, it sort of like us isn't it? Jesus says in Revelation 3:320, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Sometimes, especially those who have never accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour, see the door, maybe even hear the knock on the door of our heart, and do everything in our power to make sure the door stays shut. We don't want to let Jesus in to have an effect on us, change us, cover our sins and transgressions against God and make us "white as snow." Says Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. "
I must say, I'm really starting to have that ownership feeling for the house. I went upstairs and saw all that snow on the floor and wanted to clear it out. In some places, there was over 2' of snow. I nailed the boards back up, put some other one on some holes, push some snow over but the wind kept blowing it back in. I felt heavy in my heart for my home. Wanting so much to make it right, make it my home once and for all. Oddly enough, although everything is in a mess right now, it's my home. I'm so looking forward to being able to be living inside my home and warming it up, keeping it clean, and filling it up with the Lord's presence. I hope I get to do that soon. It's like Dorothy says in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz", "There's no place like home".
It obviously makes me think of Heaven and how much better that place will be.
There's no place like home....
(don't forget to check out the update photos in my album)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Just moving along
So much has been happening at the house and the Lord has been showing me so much in the last days, it's really exciting.
First, my dad is home for the next 3 weeks, for Christmas. He works out in Alberta, as for my brother. It's REALLY nice to have him home. My brother arrives this Friday. It will be so nice to have us all together for a little while.
The house is coming along really well. They, notice it's not "we"...lol, gutted all the inside of the entire house. We didn't expect to have to do all that but since we found quite a few dead rats and mice, my husband decided it would be best. This will make it easier for the plumber and electrician to do their job. The house needs to be completely rewired and the plumbing needs to be redone. If you check out our photo album, you'll see the updated pictures and you'll see the work "Pitou" and his brother did yesterday, in the storm.
I need to brag on "Pitou" for a minute because I was taught to give credit where credit is due. If you are planning on doing ANY type of building or renovating, I highly recommend "Deveau Framing". "Pitou" who's real name is Francis... don't ask... worked out in Calgary but is from here and is a good worker, takes his work seriously and does it well. My husband is VERY happy with his work because he takes the time it needs to do things right but is not a slow worker. He knows what he's doing and it shows.
There.... lol
As for what the Lord has been showing me... He has been showing me so many things in His word but the one that stands out the most is for my kids. Proverbs 16:6 says, "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." God showed me and pressed on my heart when I read this that by showing mercy (compassion, pity, or benevolence) to my children and remembering to constantly expose them to truth (the bible) my children will have the tools for better discernment, and making the right choices.
Another thing in particular was Proverbs 17:1 "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife." It is better to live in the RV and love one another, be kind one to another etc than work hard on the house and be fighting, arguing and being bitter. Our house will not be a home if so many people helped to build it and we, the family, couldn't stop being selfish, bitter and resentful to help build our home.
I want our house to be a home where people love to and receive blessing and sense the love and compassion that our Lord has been more than generous with toward us; towards me.
I love my Jesus so much but I fail to show it as much as I should. He has been so merciful, kind, compassionate and forgiving that I should mirror that back to others. I want Him to have the freedom to show Himself in our home so that others will be drawn to Him.
Keep close to Him.
First, my dad is home for the next 3 weeks, for Christmas. He works out in Alberta, as for my brother. It's REALLY nice to have him home. My brother arrives this Friday. It will be so nice to have us all together for a little while.
The house is coming along really well. They, notice it's not "we"...lol, gutted all the inside of the entire house. We didn't expect to have to do all that but since we found quite a few dead rats and mice, my husband decided it would be best. This will make it easier for the plumber and electrician to do their job. The house needs to be completely rewired and the plumbing needs to be redone. If you check out our photo album, you'll see the updated pictures and you'll see the work "Pitou" and his brother did yesterday, in the storm.
I need to brag on "Pitou" for a minute because I was taught to give credit where credit is due. If you are planning on doing ANY type of building or renovating, I highly recommend "Deveau Framing". "Pitou" who's real name is Francis... don't ask... worked out in Calgary but is from here and is a good worker, takes his work seriously and does it well. My husband is VERY happy with his work because he takes the time it needs to do things right but is not a slow worker. He knows what he's doing and it shows.
There.... lol
As for what the Lord has been showing me... He has been showing me so many things in His word but the one that stands out the most is for my kids. Proverbs 16:6 says, "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." God showed me and pressed on my heart when I read this that by showing mercy (compassion, pity, or benevolence) to my children and remembering to constantly expose them to truth (the bible) my children will have the tools for better discernment, and making the right choices.
Another thing in particular was Proverbs 17:1 "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife." It is better to live in the RV and love one another, be kind one to another etc than work hard on the house and be fighting, arguing and being bitter. Our house will not be a home if so many people helped to build it and we, the family, couldn't stop being selfish, bitter and resentful to help build our home.
I want our house to be a home where people love to and receive blessing and sense the love and compassion that our Lord has been more than generous with toward us; towards me.
I love my Jesus so much but I fail to show it as much as I should. He has been so merciful, kind, compassionate and forgiving that I should mirror that back to others. I want Him to have the freedom to show Himself in our home so that others will be drawn to Him.
Keep close to Him.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
What's up!
Well, things are progressing at the house. We don't realize how much TV changes our way of thinking until you have a similar experience and somehow the TV show becomes a seed of resentment, envy and confusion.
What am I talking about?
Take "Extreme Makeovers the Home Edition" They have huge houses demolished and rebuilt in 7 days and in our television experience, 7 days is equivalent to 1 hour.
Now compare that to our experience. ahhhhhhh you get it! Here we are, working on week 7 of the renovation and things are not quite where I'd like them to be. I expected to be decorating my home for Christmas, having friends over and enjoying my home, although in the process of renovations, not quite to this extreme.
This has really been, thus far, a lesson in God's timing and will for things. One can wonder and try to understand why the house can't be liveable but why bother? Will it change anything? It's better just to trust and wait on the Lord for His timing.
At first, I mean, wayyyyyyy at first, when we still lived on the Bahama.... :/ the kitchen would be the very last thing worked on so I was to be patient and not expect great things with it until the rest of the house was done. I agreed and didn't become bitter. Low and behold, the kitchen will be the first indoor thing to be completed. I wonder if God chose to bless my good attitude?!
This is a perfect example that I feel God is using to remind me that everything is under control. The weather we've been having is another example of His faithfullness.
I want to have peace in my life and although being in my new home would be great, it would not garantee peace. If I wait on God and choose to be in His will, accepting where we are with the renos and wait for His timing, I am garanteed peace. Exd 33:14 "And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."
There was some work done on the house so I've put a new album for you to see. There are some before and not quite afters to check out so enjoy!
Keep the peace.
What am I talking about?
Take "Extreme Makeovers the Home Edition" They have huge houses demolished and rebuilt in 7 days and in our television experience, 7 days is equivalent to 1 hour.
Now compare that to our experience. ahhhhhhh you get it! Here we are, working on week 7 of the renovation and things are not quite where I'd like them to be. I expected to be decorating my home for Christmas, having friends over and enjoying my home, although in the process of renovations, not quite to this extreme.
This has really been, thus far, a lesson in God's timing and will for things. One can wonder and try to understand why the house can't be liveable but why bother? Will it change anything? It's better just to trust and wait on the Lord for His timing.
At first, I mean, wayyyyyyy at first, when we still lived on the Bahama.... :/ the kitchen would be the very last thing worked on so I was to be patient and not expect great things with it until the rest of the house was done. I agreed and didn't become bitter. Low and behold, the kitchen will be the first indoor thing to be completed. I wonder if God chose to bless my good attitude?!
This is a perfect example that I feel God is using to remind me that everything is under control. The weather we've been having is another example of His faithfullness.
I want to have peace in my life and although being in my new home would be great, it would not garantee peace. If I wait on God and choose to be in His will, accepting where we are with the renos and wait for His timing, I am garanteed peace. Exd 33:14 "And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."
There was some work done on the house so I've put a new album for you to see. There are some before and not quite afters to check out so enjoy!
Keep the peace.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Getting ready for the weekend
We are blessed to see on the weather channel that we are expecting sun on Saturday so "we" will be tearing off the existing roof and building it new plus the addition.
It's a good thing since we had mighty wind yesterday and A LOT of rain so we had some flooding in the existing house and a lot of water in the basement of the addition. Good thing they are divided by a wall for now.
My eldest son has a hockey tournament so most of Saturday will be on the road for the children and myself, while the men build the roof.
Just wanted to share a funny video with you.
I laughed so hard everytime I saw it, I hope you enjoy it just as much.
Keep smilling! (makes people wonder what you've been up to)
It's a good thing since we had mighty wind yesterday and A LOT of rain so we had some flooding in the existing house and a lot of water in the basement of the addition. Good thing they are divided by a wall for now.
My eldest son has a hockey tournament so most of Saturday will be on the road for the children and myself, while the men build the roof.
Just wanted to share a funny video with you.
I laughed so hard everytime I saw it, I hope you enjoy it just as much.
Keep smilling! (makes people wonder what you've been up to)
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I should know better.... :/
Yesterday, I shared about how God put on my heart to guard my spirit with protective walls, which will prevent defeat when I'm provoked.
So... I went to bed at a reasonable hour, read my bible and prayed in the morning, while the kids were still in bed and quiet and made sure I had breakfast early enough. Sigh... provoked I was, but I was victorious all day. Tonight, I started getting tired so I was getting wearing and my city walls were not so strong.
What happened? The list is long and I could not express it in a way that would demonstrate the level of needed prayer which had to be done, but here is the list.
I had my day all planned out (mistake number 1, Psalm 27:1 says, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knoweth not what a day may bring forth." Boy! Was God every right!
It was 8:30 and we had all eaten breakfast, my three baskets of laundry were brought into the van with all the hairdo stuff for after our baths/showers. You see, we have no running water in the RV and no facility to actually take a shower or bath in the house so we go to my moms, plus we wash there.
I had read Proverbs 9 this morning and "wisdom buildeth her house" she prepared things in advance so this was my goal for the day; to be prudent, wise and organised. (that rhymes hee hee).
We were ready to leave, the kids still in the RV, but I wanted to scrape the windows and warm up the van because from what I understand, it was -24 C this morning. I tried to start the van but it did nothing. I tried again and again but to no avail. I decided to be handy and plug the van and let it sit for a while.
We sat in the RV, waiting and waiting. The children became more and more antsy so I went to try the van again. Still nothing. I thought maybe the battery was dead, although I could see no reason why it should.
At the end of our driveway, sits an old green van, full of stuff with no seats. I started that one up with much effort, backed it up, without cleaning the windows, and turned it around to boost the newer van.
Nothing happened.
I decided to bring in the school things and do school and maybe after school, which would be a couple of hours, the van might work. We thought maybe the starter was frozen. So I plugged up the van and we did school.
I tried the van one more time and still nothing.
Here we were, at 11:30 and we were still in our pyjamas because we were waiting to take our showers. I had at least 4 loads of wash to do since I had stripped all the beds and the sheets were in the van. I was sooo discouraged.
The kids were playing hide and go seek with me, but they didn't know I wasn't playing... yet. I sat on my bed and cried. I cried to the Lord and asked, "Why? Why is this happening? What's such the big deal about going to do laundry and washing that you can't let us go? I feel I can't learn more of this life in sacrifice thing. I can't do this anymore Lord!" I sat there and cried for a bit and realized that I could do this all day or just trust God and walk in His will.
I got dressed, walked over to the kitchen, had the children get dressed and went to start lunch. The day would go on and I would not be a spoil brat about it, no matter the challenge.
I was going to make carbohydrates... I mean macaroni for lunch... comfort food. :)
I went to turn on the propane burner... nothing; we were out of propane. .... "Man..."
I got dressed, in my faux fur and high heel boots, went outside and took out the empty propane tanks and put in the full ones. Came in and tried the burner again and voilà, there was a flame!
I made LOTS of macaroni with spaghetti sauce.
From then on, the day went pretty smoothly but needless to say, I bought myself a Tim Horton's coffee.
This morning, after I read and prayed, I said something very stupid. I said, to myself, "I wonder what I'm going to blog about tonight. Nothing special is happening with the renos." I guess the Lord didn't want me speechless. LOL
I then received an email from a friend at church and she always sends them JUST when I need them. I thought I'd share it with you.
Beautiful story.... makes you understand that things happen for a reason The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. T hey worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls,painting, etc, and on December 18were ahead of schedule and just about finished.On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. O n the 21st, the pastor went over to the church.His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. T he pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor,and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. T hen he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. "Pastor,"she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?"The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria . When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. T he pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth;but she made the pastor keep it for the church.The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the otherside of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. H e told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. H e helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.True Story
Keep believing.
So... I went to bed at a reasonable hour, read my bible and prayed in the morning, while the kids were still in bed and quiet and made sure I had breakfast early enough. Sigh... provoked I was, but I was victorious all day. Tonight, I started getting tired so I was getting wearing and my city walls were not so strong.
What happened? The list is long and I could not express it in a way that would demonstrate the level of needed prayer which had to be done, but here is the list.
I had my day all planned out (mistake number 1, Psalm 27:1 says, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knoweth not what a day may bring forth." Boy! Was God every right!
It was 8:30 and we had all eaten breakfast, my three baskets of laundry were brought into the van with all the hairdo stuff for after our baths/showers. You see, we have no running water in the RV and no facility to actually take a shower or bath in the house so we go to my moms, plus we wash there.
I had read Proverbs 9 this morning and "wisdom buildeth her house" she prepared things in advance so this was my goal for the day; to be prudent, wise and organised. (that rhymes hee hee).
We were ready to leave, the kids still in the RV, but I wanted to scrape the windows and warm up the van because from what I understand, it was -24 C this morning. I tried to start the van but it did nothing. I tried again and again but to no avail. I decided to be handy and plug the van and let it sit for a while.
We sat in the RV, waiting and waiting. The children became more and more antsy so I went to try the van again. Still nothing. I thought maybe the battery was dead, although I could see no reason why it should.
At the end of our driveway, sits an old green van, full of stuff with no seats. I started that one up with much effort, backed it up, without cleaning the windows, and turned it around to boost the newer van.
Nothing happened.
I decided to bring in the school things and do school and maybe after school, which would be a couple of hours, the van might work. We thought maybe the starter was frozen. So I plugged up the van and we did school.
I tried the van one more time and still nothing.
Here we were, at 11:30 and we were still in our pyjamas because we were waiting to take our showers. I had at least 4 loads of wash to do since I had stripped all the beds and the sheets were in the van. I was sooo discouraged.
The kids were playing hide and go seek with me, but they didn't know I wasn't playing... yet. I sat on my bed and cried. I cried to the Lord and asked, "Why? Why is this happening? What's such the big deal about going to do laundry and washing that you can't let us go? I feel I can't learn more of this life in sacrifice thing. I can't do this anymore Lord!" I sat there and cried for a bit and realized that I could do this all day or just trust God and walk in His will.
I got dressed, walked over to the kitchen, had the children get dressed and went to start lunch. The day would go on and I would not be a spoil brat about it, no matter the challenge.
I was going to make carbohydrates... I mean macaroni for lunch... comfort food. :)
I went to turn on the propane burner... nothing; we were out of propane. .... "Man..."
I got dressed, in my faux fur and high heel boots, went outside and took out the empty propane tanks and put in the full ones. Came in and tried the burner again and voilà, there was a flame!
I made LOTS of macaroni with spaghetti sauce.
From then on, the day went pretty smoothly but needless to say, I bought myself a Tim Horton's coffee.
This morning, after I read and prayed, I said something very stupid. I said, to myself, "I wonder what I'm going to blog about tonight. Nothing special is happening with the renos." I guess the Lord didn't want me speechless. LOL
I then received an email from a friend at church and she always sends them JUST when I need them. I thought I'd share it with you.
Beautiful story.... makes you understand that things happen for a reason The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. T hey worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls,painting, etc, and on December 18were ahead of schedule and just about finished.On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. O n the 21st, the pastor went over to the church.His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. T he pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor,and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. T hen he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. "Pastor,"she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?"The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria . When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. T he pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth;but she made the pastor keep it for the church.The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the otherside of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. H e told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. H e helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.True Story
Keep believing.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Provoked?
I had bought a book called "Wisdom and the Millers", it was a story that the parents would read or tell their Miller children while using a proverbs verse to relate it to life.
I can't remember the verse Mr. Miller used, nor the exact details of the story but I will try to tell you it as I remember it.
A young boy was walking home from school and knew he was being followed by school boys who liked to pick on him. They called him names, yelled nasty things to him, but he kept walking.
They finally caught up to him and circled around him, this too, didn't intimidate him, so they finally let him be until... the next day after school.
Everything happened quite the same except this time they decided to throw rocks at him from the field, next to the dirt road where the young boy was. They hit him but did not avail to scare him or get him angry.
Again, they circled him but this time, one of the boys spat in the young boy's face. This provoked him to the point of rage. He swung his fists to retaliate but soon was found out by a neighbour who broke up the fight. Every boy was punished by their parents but somehow the bullies felt they had the victory because they were able to break down the young boy's walls.
It reminds me of a scripture in Proverbs 25:28, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
I can hear your wheels turning. "What does this have to do with renovations?"
You must not of had the opportunity to experience major renovations, if you ask this question. I would of 5 weeks ago. ;)
This morning, as I sat on my bed, in the R.V., I read my bible. It was so hard to focus on God's word with the kids bickering just a few feet away. (everything is just a few feet away in an RV. lol)
They know not to interrupt me while I spend time with the Lord, but they had been provoked, usually by the same person, then in turn, it provoked me.
I tried so hard to not fall into the trap but I was tired, had not eaten yet and the kids were excited (hyper) about the snow that had fallen. All these things together, created the perfect atmosphere so I might be provoked.
We have no rule over our own spirit if we don't equip it with time in God's word, in prayer, rest and good physical food. Without those basic things, we can be caught by surprise, off guard; and walls broken down. This will not be a victorious moment for us.
I thank God this is only temporary... (Right Lord? It is....right?) (I learned to never say never hee, hee (nervous laugh)) In times like these, I'm realllllllllly humble.
Anyway, this weekend was a HUGE encouragement! "We" got a lot done. (You'll notice that "I", in the "we", is not in the pictures...that's because I am not "We".)
The men got a lot done. Check out our progress in our album.
Keep guarded.
I can't remember the verse Mr. Miller used, nor the exact details of the story but I will try to tell you it as I remember it.
A young boy was walking home from school and knew he was being followed by school boys who liked to pick on him. They called him names, yelled nasty things to him, but he kept walking.
They finally caught up to him and circled around him, this too, didn't intimidate him, so they finally let him be until... the next day after school.
Everything happened quite the same except this time they decided to throw rocks at him from the field, next to the dirt road where the young boy was. They hit him but did not avail to scare him or get him angry.
Again, they circled him but this time, one of the boys spat in the young boy's face. This provoked him to the point of rage. He swung his fists to retaliate but soon was found out by a neighbour who broke up the fight. Every boy was punished by their parents but somehow the bullies felt they had the victory because they were able to break down the young boy's walls.
It reminds me of a scripture in Proverbs 25:28, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
I can hear your wheels turning. "What does this have to do with renovations?"
You must not of had the opportunity to experience major renovations, if you ask this question. I would of 5 weeks ago. ;)
This morning, as I sat on my bed, in the R.V., I read my bible. It was so hard to focus on God's word with the kids bickering just a few feet away. (everything is just a few feet away in an RV. lol)
They know not to interrupt me while I spend time with the Lord, but they had been provoked, usually by the same person, then in turn, it provoked me.
I tried so hard to not fall into the trap but I was tired, had not eaten yet and the kids were excited (hyper) about the snow that had fallen. All these things together, created the perfect atmosphere so I might be provoked.
We have no rule over our own spirit if we don't equip it with time in God's word, in prayer, rest and good physical food. Without those basic things, we can be caught by surprise, off guard; and walls broken down. This will not be a victorious moment for us.
I thank God this is only temporary... (Right Lord? It is....right?) (I learned to never say never hee, hee (nervous laugh)) In times like these, I'm realllllllllly humble.
Anyway, this weekend was a HUGE encouragement! "We" got a lot done. (You'll notice that "I", in the "we", is not in the pictures...that's because I am not "We".)
The men got a lot done. Check out our progress in our album.
Keep guarded.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
To put or not to put...
That is the question...lately anyway.
Windows windows windows. We are trying to figure out if we should take 6 feet of the spare bedroom, making it 9x12, so we could have a walk in closet in our bedroom.
And every woman says, "YES! OF COURSE YOU SHOULD!" lol
That's my thought on it but this means we take a window from that room and it will be in our closet. We must have a window in a bedroom to obey fire code. We have a slope on that side because of the roof so we would put a window within a 5 foot high wall. It will look funny from the inside but will not matter from the outside. Advantage... if there is a fire, it will be easy to find since you have to stop, drop and roll, just not out the window. :/
Well, I thought that little funny was funny so I read it to my husband. hee hee He told me that we are putting a gable there so we will have a normal looking window wall. So, hurray! We are going to have a walk in closet!
You know, I wonder if that's how God is with us. He would like to use us in a certain way, maybe use us for a window to show His light to someone who is lost and/or discouraged with life but our standards and attitudes are only 5 feet tall so how He's trying to draw others is really looking funny, out of joint. Proverbs 25:19, "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint."
An unused vessel because of no light. Matthiew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
It's amazing what God can sometimes teach us through the complications of life.
I have posted a link where you can check out the renovations as they come along. There will be before and afters but you'll have to settle for our befores until we have made them afters. (I'm feeling guitty tonight. Might be from the cold in the basement.)
Keep being available and malleable.
Windows windows windows. We are trying to figure out if we should take 6 feet of the spare bedroom, making it 9x12, so we could have a walk in closet in our bedroom.
And every woman says, "YES! OF COURSE YOU SHOULD!" lol
That's my thought on it but this means we take a window from that room and it will be in our closet. We must have a window in a bedroom to obey fire code. We have a slope on that side because of the roof so we would put a window within a 5 foot high wall. It will look funny from the inside but will not matter from the outside. Advantage... if there is a fire, it will be easy to find since you have to stop, drop and roll, just not out the window. :/
Well, I thought that little funny was funny so I read it to my husband. hee hee He told me that we are putting a gable there so we will have a normal looking window wall. So, hurray! We are going to have a walk in closet!
You know, I wonder if that's how God is with us. He would like to use us in a certain way, maybe use us for a window to show His light to someone who is lost and/or discouraged with life but our standards and attitudes are only 5 feet tall so how He's trying to draw others is really looking funny, out of joint. Proverbs 25:19, "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint."
An unused vessel because of no light. Matthiew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
It's amazing what God can sometimes teach us through the complications of life.
I have posted a link where you can check out the renovations as they come along. There will be before and afters but you'll have to settle for our befores until we have made them afters. (I'm feeling guitty tonight. Might be from the cold in the basement.)
Keep being available and malleable.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
How long has it been?
It has actually been a little over 4 weeks since I've blogged and that's because we are in the process of renovating our new/old house. Confusing I know...
When I blogged last, they had found the well and shocked it, found the septic and cleaned it. Thursday, the next day, we had many people come over to help us put our belongings in a large U-Haul truck. What would happen next, other than knowing we were sleeping at my mother's that night, we had no clue. We did not know if we would have a house to bring our belongings to. We knew that the truck needed to be returned by 7am on Saturday. Although our Bahama St. residence had to be empty by am of the 31st, Friday, we did not know if we had a home to call our own.
Friday morning arrived, we were still cleaning the Bahama St. home, and driving to my mom's. We went to bed around 2am and got up around 7am. We first went to our sold house to pick up things we just couldn't fit anywhere, then to the lawyers to sign papers and close the sale. Jacob had an app. with his prostetist for, his artificial leg was on it's last breath, then I drove him to my mom's so my husband and I could go clean out the garage at the sold house. Praise God, we knew the new owner and he allowed us to take a couple of days to empty it out, and it took that!
My husband took me out for lunch then we headed to the house to empty the garage. We called our lawyers a few times, then the bank to see what was holding up the sale of the house we wanted. Finally, at 4:20pm, Friday afternoon, we received a call from our lawyer telling us the keys to the house were there and we could pick them up right now if we wanted.
Talk about a close call. Sometimes, God brings us to the extreme end to see how far our faith goes. That night, since we couldn't confirm with friends that we could move our things to the new/old house, we had to move our entire belongings ourselves. We did although get help from a coworker of my husband's for a couple of hours which, was a huge help and encouragement.
Much has happened since then. We stayed at my mom's for a couple of days then moved into an RV until the house was heated properly and safe to move into. It's been 4 weeks and we are still in the RV.... lol but God has been so good!
It is warm in there, 70+ most of the time. It took us a while to get the hang of changing the propane tanks BEFORE they ran out. lol It's funny to see your breath from under the covers. LOL. The kids think it's great; you see, we're REALLY camping, making up for lost time, needless to say. LOL
We have had the basement to the addition poured and was to start construction on Saturday the 22th of November but we had a severe snow storm. We postponed it to last Saturday which was a very busy day! Piano recital, hockey fundraiser, War Amps get together, Christmas Parade with the War Amps then a pizza party. We were to have 2 builders help us with the construction of the addition but they both had car accidents so we were 2 men short, BUT... AGAIN... God provided!
Just like that afternoon when we were waiting to know the fate of our belongings; having a home to call ours, waiting to the last minutes of the work week and having that rush of relief when we got the call. We had to put that same trust in God for the construction of the addition.
Some might say. "So what, never mind the addition, move in! It's December for crying out loud!" but, there are things that need to be worked on during the week that are in the house; heating, beams to be replaced, ceilings taken down and walls pulled out.
Last Saturday, 2 other men showed up to help my husband, then our new neighbour came to the rescue with his heavy duty compressor, when our compressor for the nail guns died, we all had much to eat all day, which was provided for us, and the first floor, literally the floor; no walls, to the addition was finished. Lord willing, this Saturday, they will be able to put up both the first and second floor.
We are expecting a storm on Sunday so I pray that my husband will take Friday off so Saturday they could work on the roof which they have to tear off of the existing house, and build a new roof for the entire house (addition and existing).
I will be putting the photos in an online album so you will be able to see the work being done as we go along, many photos have been taken thus far.
One thing I am learning in all this is to wait; to wait on the Lord. I had done a personal study once in Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." I noticed it said, be of GOOD courage, was there such a thing as BAD courage? As I search the scriptures, I learnt that there is such a thing as bad courage. Courage that is of your own self, your own strength, is bad courage. You are relying on yourself to get yourself through BUT GOOD courage is one that is rested in God's strength.
I find it hard sometimes to have GOOD courage. I fall into my sinful nature and try to do things in my own time and strength. I end up doing more harm by wearing myself out then not having the energy, patience and love to give to my family.
Being in the RV is training me to trust in God and rest in Him. I am a space person; I have a lot of energy and I need space to communicate that energy. This RV does not allow me to be selfish with my space and God is training me to allow people in "my" space. I love to give and do for others but I tend to be very selfish with my time and space when it comes to my family. What a shame that is. I'm learning so much... even as I'm writing this.
Be of good courage.
When I blogged last, they had found the well and shocked it, found the septic and cleaned it. Thursday, the next day, we had many people come over to help us put our belongings in a large U-Haul truck. What would happen next, other than knowing we were sleeping at my mother's that night, we had no clue. We did not know if we would have a house to bring our belongings to. We knew that the truck needed to be returned by 7am on Saturday. Although our Bahama St. residence had to be empty by am of the 31st, Friday, we did not know if we had a home to call our own.
Friday morning arrived, we were still cleaning the Bahama St. home, and driving to my mom's. We went to bed around 2am and got up around 7am. We first went to our sold house to pick up things we just couldn't fit anywhere, then to the lawyers to sign papers and close the sale. Jacob had an app. with his prostetist for, his artificial leg was on it's last breath, then I drove him to my mom's so my husband and I could go clean out the garage at the sold house. Praise God, we knew the new owner and he allowed us to take a couple of days to empty it out, and it took that!
My husband took me out for lunch then we headed to the house to empty the garage. We called our lawyers a few times, then the bank to see what was holding up the sale of the house we wanted. Finally, at 4:20pm, Friday afternoon, we received a call from our lawyer telling us the keys to the house were there and we could pick them up right now if we wanted.
Talk about a close call. Sometimes, God brings us to the extreme end to see how far our faith goes. That night, since we couldn't confirm with friends that we could move our things to the new/old house, we had to move our entire belongings ourselves. We did although get help from a coworker of my husband's for a couple of hours which, was a huge help and encouragement.
Much has happened since then. We stayed at my mom's for a couple of days then moved into an RV until the house was heated properly and safe to move into. It's been 4 weeks and we are still in the RV.... lol but God has been so good!
It is warm in there, 70+ most of the time. It took us a while to get the hang of changing the propane tanks BEFORE they ran out. lol It's funny to see your breath from under the covers. LOL. The kids think it's great; you see, we're REALLY camping, making up for lost time, needless to say. LOL
We have had the basement to the addition poured and was to start construction on Saturday the 22th of November but we had a severe snow storm. We postponed it to last Saturday which was a very busy day! Piano recital, hockey fundraiser, War Amps get together, Christmas Parade with the War Amps then a pizza party. We were to have 2 builders help us with the construction of the addition but they both had car accidents so we were 2 men short, BUT... AGAIN... God provided!
Just like that afternoon when we were waiting to know the fate of our belongings; having a home to call ours, waiting to the last minutes of the work week and having that rush of relief when we got the call. We had to put that same trust in God for the construction of the addition.
Some might say. "So what, never mind the addition, move in! It's December for crying out loud!" but, there are things that need to be worked on during the week that are in the house; heating, beams to be replaced, ceilings taken down and walls pulled out.
Last Saturday, 2 other men showed up to help my husband, then our new neighbour came to the rescue with his heavy duty compressor, when our compressor for the nail guns died, we all had much to eat all day, which was provided for us, and the first floor, literally the floor; no walls, to the addition was finished. Lord willing, this Saturday, they will be able to put up both the first and second floor.
We are expecting a storm on Sunday so I pray that my husband will take Friday off so Saturday they could work on the roof which they have to tear off of the existing house, and build a new roof for the entire house (addition and existing).
I will be putting the photos in an online album so you will be able to see the work being done as we go along, many photos have been taken thus far.
One thing I am learning in all this is to wait; to wait on the Lord. I had done a personal study once in Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." I noticed it said, be of GOOD courage, was there such a thing as BAD courage? As I search the scriptures, I learnt that there is such a thing as bad courage. Courage that is of your own self, your own strength, is bad courage. You are relying on yourself to get yourself through BUT GOOD courage is one that is rested in God's strength.
I find it hard sometimes to have GOOD courage. I fall into my sinful nature and try to do things in my own time and strength. I end up doing more harm by wearing myself out then not having the energy, patience and love to give to my family.
Being in the RV is training me to trust in God and rest in Him. I am a space person; I have a lot of energy and I need space to communicate that energy. This RV does not allow me to be selfish with my space and God is training me to allow people in "my" space. I love to give and do for others but I tend to be very selfish with my time and space when it comes to my family. What a shame that is. I'm learning so much... even as I'm writing this.
Be of good courage.
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