Light Gives Hope

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning.

My God turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 18:28

The Lord is my light and my salvation -

whom shall I fear?

Psalm 27:1

I'm still thinking about the fact that the first thing God created, when He created the heavens and the earth, was light.  Without light there would be no life! If light is so important in the physical realm, it surely is a great picture of its necessity in the spiritual as well. 

Spiritually it speaks to me of hope. We talk about the light at the end of the tunnel, which tells us that if we see that light we have hope.  Early this year we heard about a very young lone survivor of a plane crash, walking through wooded terrain at night to find help. I've thought about how a light in the window of the first home she came upon would have given her hope. 

Often times when the Bible refers to light, we can replace the word for hope. God gives me hope in the dark or unknown places of my life . He is my hope and salvation, whom need I fear? When Jesus told the crowds around him that He is the light of the world, I know now that He was telling them He is the One we can put our hope in. In following Him we will not walk in darkness or in confusion. The light He sheds on our path gives us a sure hope of eternal life.

How do you Define Contentment?

A Visit with the Woodpecker

I show this photo for some perspective on the size of the tree in the back of the yard. 

The roof line is the neighbor's house behind us. 

I was at my kitchen window when I saw the bird pecking away and decided to go for a visit.

He was soon aware that I was there and started playing a game of hide and seek with me.

As I moved closer he inched further around the tree while I followed.

He moved behind, peeking around the corner so I could just see his head. I did not take a photo.

Step by step he wound around the tree

until he came around the other side.

 His dark, white speckled coat turned navy blue in certain lighting.

After some time he seemed to realize that I meant no harm as he

came right into the open and just sat there.

Yup . .. he checked to see if I was still there and

then he continued the show like he owned the tree.
Kind of cheeky, if you ask me.

From the Country to the City

Last week as I was about to head down this driveway for possibly the last time, I was reminded once more of how everything has a season. Three years ago the American / Abbotsford grands excitedly moved onto this rental property that gave them just a  taste of country living.



The seven minute drive from our house took us out of our city cul-de-sac to a main street with the most gorgeous view of the Garibaldi mountains, ending in a rural area where we passed quaint little hobby farms. We'd take one short left and there was the house with the view of the valley.

I know the kids made wonderful memories here and will always remember how they fell in love with the vast expanse of yard of endless possibilities . . . trees to be climbed, fences to duck under, a hockey and basketball pad and  the cutest home built playhouse.

However, as I turned off this picturesque driveway last week, I also knew that the good ending in all of this was an opportunity to buy a house. Because the exchange of rent payments for mortgage payments is a good one, the move this past weekend was happy one! Everyone involved has worked hard to make this possible and we are looking forward to many more trips to the house in the city seven minutes in another direction.

What Does it Mean to Follow your Heart?

We've all been given the advice, "Just follow your heart." It has a good ring to it. It implies doing what you feel is right and what will make you feel good. Maybe it's good advice, Maybe it's not. I have wondered about it. This valentines weekend  I came across an article called, "The folly of following your heart" by Subby Szterszky in Focus Insights.  It hit a chord with me and helped me understand what it is that I question about this lovely sounding advice. 

As much as following your heart can be a good thing, it can also be devastating. We all know what happened when Eve took that first bite because it was bound to make her wise. Cain may have thought his problems would be done with when he killed Abel. And to bring this into the last century, what about the tyrants who have followed their heart, instilling fear and chaos in millions of people's lives?

While we like to think that we should be able to guide our life by our feelings and that our heart should steer us in the right direction, the Bible says, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9 

This is bothersome because if even from within the best of hearts, come thoughts of coveting, deceit, envy, slander and pride . . . how can we follow our heart? Maybe the advice given by King Solomon makes more sense now when he said, "above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

King David prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23,24

Somehow we are led to believe that God is holding out on us by telling us what to do and that if we resist our feelings we will be hard done by. We see the effects of believing this lie. However, with gratefulness for the way God made us to be able to feel and able to make choices, our hearts can be made right by seeking His heart. If we seek we will find the answer and in His will our hearts are set at rest.

Cinnamon Bun Class with Teddy

We've been here before . . . but today it's Teddy's turn in the spotlight.

 First you roll  . . .

then you cut  . . .

and put them in a pan . . .

for baby and me.

Maybe not quite yet for baby but she does get checked on regularly.

Belated Birthdays

It just so turns out that all three girls will always be celebrating their birthdays within a couple of weeks of each other. While we were there, we took the opportunity to do something special with two of then for their recent birthdays.

On Saturday afternoon we took the twenty minute drive into Saskatoon with Teddy.

Don't let the sunshine fool you . . . it's cold out!

We did a bit of shopping with her and let her choose her gift.

This is a lot more fun than guessing what toys they may have . . .

especially when you don't see them all the time.

After shopping she chose to go for a timbit date.

I just realized she has hit pretty well my favorite age!

There is something special about the fun conversations 

you can suddenly have with a three year old!

On Sunday afternoon we took the drive back into the city with Lacey.

She knew exactly where we were going, making sure we parked at the right mall,

and then led the way up the escalator to the shop.

This is where our five-year-olds get to go for their birthday.

It was interesting to see how decisive she was in choosing her bunny

and the accessories to go with it. 

There was no hesitation or hemming or hawing about anything.

In the end there was just a big smile and 

a warm tuck in at bedtime with her new special friend.

Greetings from the Little House on the Prairie

 I may refer to it as the little house but there is has been lots of room and welcome for us.

 The girls have been so excited to show off their baby sister

And we have been happy to take turns holding her!

 She is a jewel!

And while I shiver and "brr" my lips from the cold air, this little one keeps snug as a bug -
. . . as the people living here have learned to do.

While we are here, we get to see what a family does to keep warm.

 Seeing these smiles at the rink is precious.

Thank you, Ben and Kari for allowing us a peek once more into your life on the prairie!

Buds

From my kitchen sink window I've been keeping my eyes on the budding lenten rose. 

Not long ago it lay frozen and flat like all life was sucked out of it . . .
a good picture of what January feels like in general,

but these days it's looking full of promise.

This weekend we'll be letting these buds deal with the rain 

as we head over to where there is a real winter to brag about.

I'm packing warm clothes and

looking forward to some warm and cuddly time with our prairie buds.

A Memory of my Grandmother

It still catches me by surprise . . . this season I'm in . . . I'm the Grammy! 

Ten times over and it's still new! 

One morning I made my breakfast and I thought I'd switch it up a bit. 

I never put butter and honey on my toast, but I remembered how my Omi tried to convince me 

that butter and honey together were just the best! 

She'd spread it ever so carefully, making sure it came to the edges . . . 

but for some reason she could not convince me,  

On this particular morning, as I tried it again . . . I loved it.  

The taste reminded me of sitting at the table with her.

Does it not make one wonder what kind of things will outlive us? 

I know there are more important things than how I spread my toast, 

but may I never underestimate the smallness of what can make a memory

~~~

. . . sent from heaven with love.
(I noticed the reflection when I uploaded the photo.)