By the Decades ...

Now there's a lot left unsaid on my list of six decades of life, if you will,

and since I happen to focus on seasons of life,

I think I might just delve a little deeper into 

the stages of my life.

It all began in Uruguay.
Mom and dad met at the MCC headquarters.
Both came from different parts of Paraguay, having spread their wings
as young adults to begin a new life in Montevideo.
Mom worked in the kitchen and dad as a bookkeeper.
It was a beautiful, European-like city where we lived
away from the Mennonite communities that they both came from.
Eventually dad moved on to work in the office of a leather factory
and we lived just down the busy street from there.
We spoke German at home, but I learned some Spanish from the neighbors.
When it was time for me to begin school,
our family of five moved across the border to Brazil
where I could attend a Mennonite School.
We literally moved from the city to the country,
living among dairy farmers and people who were easy to befriend.
The girl next door became my best friend
and it felt like mom and dad knew everyone,
even though, when I think about it now,
it was just the connections of like faith and background.
I learned Portuguese at school
and was highly motivated to be perfect in all of my school work.

I didn't know it then, but even though it was an ideal place to 

ride our bikes on dirt roads, wherever we wanted, till the sun set,

this was just a stepping stone for my dad.

His aspiration was to get a sponsor to get us to Canada,

namely the West Coast, near the mountains. 

The picture above was taken just before we left in 1967.

I'm wearing my school uniform.

When I think about the next decade, 

I think about being put on a fast track
from a timid 10-year-old girl, 

taking two city buses across Vancouver to New Canadian school,

to an acne faced teenager, meeting my H

and marriage.

A decade of adjustments in so many ways,

as I tried to fit into the Canadian way of life.

Our family had never had a TV, a phone or a car ...

and every new thing was a novelty, 

from ordering clothes out of the Sears catalogue to

trying my best to fit in with my wardrobe and language.

I quickly found out that using the wrong word,

not having any background in North American literature or movies,

and dealing with an accent, were set ups for embarrassment.

When I think back to those early experiences 

and later the days as a homesick teen bride,

I don't want my grandchildren to experience them, 

but I also realize how they have helped me to become who I am.

My twenties were about having babies ...

Julene, Kristal and Benji

and letting them go off to the big world of Kindergarten and on.

Each of our kids started Suzuki violin or piano at age 4 or 5

so that meant being with them at each lesson and keeping

the younger one/ones occupied.

This is also about the time we began to

serve in helping young families feel welcome at our church

and I learned a little about hospitality.

The summer that I turned thirty we built the house we are still in.

My thirties were busy - but also the best years of motherhood.

Days included helping out at the public school,

taking each child to their extra curricular activities ...

violin, piano, drums and music theory, 

choir, art, drama and /or sports practises and games.

 I lived in the car ... with dinner in the oven,

but oh the opportunies to be with and talk with my kids!

We were able to travel three different continents and do an overseas assignment.

This family photo was taken just prior to

the "three teens" stage in 1995

I think the smiles came from trying to beat the timer.

For my 40th Birthday my family tried surprising me with a party in our back yard.

Oh the forties! They were the best and the worst of times.

I say that because I do not accept changes well and 

these years were loaded with them ...

our business had its challenges

I lost my dad

each child left the country to study or serve

and we had three weddings.

The empty nest syndrome took its toll on me

and I did a lot of soul searching about what to do with my life.

For the first time I wished I had a career to go back to.

It was teaching immigrants that appealed to me and 

I took TESOL classes to prepare for that.

For a number of years I did some tutoring and volunteering.

I also became a Grammy! 

A new identity that gave me a taste of its beauty before 

those babies headed to Indonesia. 

My connection to missions also gave me an enjoyable outlet

as a hostess for our church missionary home.

I thought I was maybe getting settled in my new stage of life ...

but not totally feeling it.

My 50th Birthday was a real surprise

and this success made everyone happy!

This decade ...
how can I even explain the path to the desires of my heart
when I could not put my finger on what they were?

I was not yet 51 when a friend from way back

encouraged me to post recipes on a blog

she had not yet named ... and the rest is history.

I had no idea how much I would enjoy 

all of the aspects of blogging,

making online friends

publishing

book related invitations and trips.

I got over my fear of being judged and

my fear of using the wrong words.

It has been like the experiences from childhood to empty nest

prepared me to be able to share something

in the way I have always enjoyed, right from home.

And, with it, to find myself in a new way.

During these years ...

my mom got remarried

Julene and family came and went

Kristal moved back to Canada with her family

Ben moved away with his family

They also came back

We travelled far and wide

We welcomed one or two grandchildren every other year

and one in-between

and then laughed and cried with joy over number eleven!

And now I'm 60!
Where this decade will lead, I don't know.
I see an empty page waiting to be written
and I know two things.
I know who I want to spend it with

and I know Who holds my life.

Precious as it is! 

My Story

My story today is partly inspired by questions that were asked when  Lovela and I were interviewed for a Pulse video done for Northview Community Church, where the two of us attend. The filming was done by Cassiar Mediaworks at Lepp Farm Market where MGCC periodically hosts cooking classes. Judy, Bev and Kathy were also a part of this particular teaching session but not involved in the interview.

The winter of 2005 was a difficult one for me as both of my daughters had now moved out of the country. I kept myself busy with family research while compiling a five generation genealogy account, along with photos.  With two wee grandchildren growing up overseas and possibly some in southern CA in the near future, I had this urge to get our family stories written for grandchildren whom I may not get to see much. In the meantime, my daughters both began blogs. My first thoughts about blogging centered on questions of why anyone would want to keep a journal for the world to see. But, although I did not understand, I read their blogs because it was a way to be a part of their world.

Upon reading Kristal’s blog, I came across comments by Lovella and clicked on her name to check up on her. I thought it was kind of her to be interested in my daughter’s life. Lovella and I go back to when we were young couples at another church. We had each other over, attended the same baby showers and, together with our husbands, were involved in hospitality and care giving. Over the years life took us in different directions and we lost touch with each other, so I enjoyed catching up with her through her blog, What Matters Most.

Every once in a while Lovella would post a favourite recipe, finding that readers were attracted to them, especially the Mennonite heritage recipes. In the summer of 2007, she put out an invitation for readers to send her a recipe that she would make and then post. I thought this would be kind of fun and sent her the recipe for my blueberry scones. Time went on and obviously her wheels began to turn about how she could get together with some of her blogging friends who loved to cook. In 2008 she again put out an invitation, this time expressing her desire to begin a Mennonite recipe blog and asking those interested to sign up.

I emailed a bit with her on it, thinking that I could just send her my recipes, but she declared those of us who were interested fully capable to do our own posting. We all got access to a joint blog, and our story began. I don’t know if I will ever forget the feeling of publishing my first recipe. At the time there were a few more than just ten of us but, as we settled into the daily posting, ten stayed on. Ten women who became like sisters, as we shared a google email address in which we could share our excitement about a comment, a prayer request, advice, or just simply try to solve the world's problems and feel better for getting renewed perspective. It has been evident that it is the Lord who brought us together, as our lives have been enriched by our shared faith expressed in love for family as well as for strangers.

It is in looking back over these past few years that I see God’s leading to this day, a chain of events that began in my forties, by taking some English courses at TWU, while teaching English as a second language. This was the first time in my life that I had English teachers who inspired me, not to mention that taking the classes forced me to learn to become more computer literate. Then I remember a time when one of my daughters asked me what I would like to do with my life now that I had more time and, with some fear of sounding slightly over-ambitious, I expressed a desire to put together a devotional book as well as a recipe book. I guess it kind of followed on the heels of writing our family history. I had no idea how God would put that dream to reality, for it was when I realized the joy of sharing recipes, that I began my personal blog, a space that has become my book to share life and what God is teaching me. Today I am in awe of how my heart’s desire has come about in such an unexpected way. That is why I enjoy what I’m doing and give thanks to God who orchestrated events in such a way that I can now say, He has been in all of it, all along.

PULSE: Episode 9, The Gift of Hospitality from Northview Church on Vimeo.

My Other Birthday

We all celebrate the day we came into this world. It was not a day chosen by us, in fact, we had no say in being born but every year we celebrate this gift of life given to us. Although my Birthday is coming up soon, this weekend I am reminded of another day that had everything to do with a choice. It was August 7, the summer I turned eleven, when I attended a Summer Vacation Bible Club.

I don’t remember what the exact theme of the week was, but it had something to do with preparing for a trip. On one of these evenings, our teacher told us how we all start off in life on a wide road, the end of which leads to physical death. Somewhere along this road, when we hear of God’s love and desire to have a relationship with us, we are confronted with a choice to accept or reject. To invite Him into our life will lead us to a narrow road, because not everyone will choose that road.

That evening, I felt my heart pound, as it had done for some time whenever I felt this evasive spiritual truth spoken into my life. The truth was that I needed God to forgive my sins and receive assurance of life in heaven. We were asked to bow our heads, close our eyes and raise our hand if we wanted to admit this spiritual need. I don’t know how something so simple could have been so difficult. Pride was holding me back, but God knew my desire. My raised hand was noted by the teacher, who later prayed with me as I asked Jesus to forgive me and to come into my heart and life.

I was only a child. I could have been deceived. However, as I’ve walked the narrow road, I’ve only become more aware of how true and life changing this decision was. The peace of knowing that He who gave me the breath of life is also able to give me spiritual life and purpose is beyond what I can describe. For every stage of life, the good and the bad, He has been there, just a prayer away. He has shown Himself to me through answered prayer, his leading and words of affirmation in my heart. I now know that He is real. Just like the wind comes along and, although I can't see it, I can see its evidence, so I’ve found it is with God.

My faith in Jesus is a relationship in which He has done the part that provides salvation. I desire to do the part of living a life of gratitude to Him, for seeking me and finding me. Amazing Grace!