In Defense of Making the Bed

I have some thoughts going through my mind that may leave some room for consideration or argument.  

 

Recently, my H was picking the brain of an acquaintance who works in Human Resources.  Their talk led to how to narrow down a prospective employee and the steps that take place before the interview. This gentleman shared a unique little test that he takes a person through without that person ever knowing. He finds a way to have the potential employee pick him up for a lunch interview, so that he can take a ride in his car. His reason? He goes on the hunch that if the person has a cleaned up vehicle and takes care of it, there will be a better chance he will take care of details that pertain to handling his job with the company. On hearing this, I was stunned!

 

Really? I began to sort out in my own mind the validity of such a test. And you are probably wondering what this has to do with making the bed. Besides making a comparison, I’m trying to come up with a word that may explain this man's peculiar way of judging character.



 

I make the bed every morning because it's a small thing I can do to create order. Just one and a half minutes. When things around me are tidy, I have more freedom to get on with the day.  It seems to work in every room, having a small thing done helps me take on the next task. It has nothing to do with who will see my bed; it’s all about what I know . . .



 

Author, Nicole Johnson, tells a story about a man who went to visit a cathedral that was being built and, coming upon a worker who was carving a tiny bird into an obscure place, the man asked why so much effort was being put into something no one would ever see. The worker never stopped carving as he replied, “Because God sees.”

 



I thought about this little story and how we can test ourselves as to our motives. Do I do things to impress or because I want to be faithful in the little things?



 

There it is! Conscientiousness! A trait we see in others and may use as an excuse to poke fun at them for. I have seen this to be true.  While we all laugh, in reality, I wonder why we think it fine to mock when, if it were the other way around and we all laughed at a person being teased for having an unkempt yard, we would know that to be rude.

These are my thoughts, finally written in ink on the internet, in defence of all who are made to feel badly for being conscientious. When you least expect it, it may just pay to have a clean car. Unless you are not looking for work.



His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things."
Matthew 25:23

A Sure Reward

 

Tehya, Paeton and Makenna were with us this weekend as their parents
flew to the memorial service of Julene's friend.
The kids are at such a great age and it would be easy to just play all day.
Yet, all play and no work is not something that happens too easily around here.
Papa will find a way to make work play if he has to.

And Paeton already knows that the remuneration will be worth it.
After a few, "What can I do to help you, Papa?" he was rewarded with
a trip to Walmart . . . to the Lego section.
This is, after all, a grandparent's privilege.
 

A Trip Down Memory Lane

 

 

Before winter comes to an end, I thought I'd go way back to a winter in 1991. It was actually several years in a row, that we got together with friends, packed up our food and kids for the weekend and drove to Leavenworth, WA.

 

 

Together, we rented a four bedroom house, fully furnished and each family took one bedroom. We rotated who made meals and just had a great time, cross-country skiing, eating and playing games.

 

 

Some of the retro moms and dads working in the kitchen. I have been friends with these girls since my late teens and we still get together as grandmas now.

(That was almost difficult to type . . . but what a precious gift!)

 

The house was located in a perfect spot just on the outskirts of town, with a cross country ski trail going right by it.

 

The weather was always gorgeous from what I remember. Cold, but sunny.

 

Just off the deck there was a hot-tub that the kids thought was quite a novel thing. It looks like on this particular year there were only two boys, but I remember one year there was a family with just boys, and they thought it was great fun to roll in the snow before dipping into the tub.
 

Mr Beck was the greatest story teller!
I don't remember if he got a "not having to do dishes" privilege for this.

 

And that wraps up a few more memories of family times some twenty years ago.
 

 

A New Life - A New Beginning

(photo credit: Danielle's blog)

Today as we, who are left behind,

Mourn your absence, dear Danielle,
I wonder what it’s like to be born into heaven
To cry and inhale that first breath
That awakens life abundant and forever
To be held to the bosom of your Maker
And to behold the One whose voice you know,
The One who loves you most?
 
I wonder, what it’s like to open your eyes
To celestial brightness, crystal and diamonds
To a host of witnesses who have believed,
Who have overcome the fear of death
To don a white dress and crown
In honour of a race well run.
Have you been to the garden, to the tree of life
Bearing leaves that heal all pain?

I wonder, when you look about in awe,

Do you find a heaven not bound by time?
Do you see us at the celebration table
Laughing, shedding tears of joy?
Perfect rose bouquets sparkling with droplets of dew
Adorning each setting – yours blue
And is the orchestra tuned up to serenade
The dance you wished would never end?
 

I wonder, if a birthday in heaven is like

A new life – A new beginning
Of all the very best that eye has seen,
Of that which mind cannot conceive or imagine,
Prepared for those who love Him,
For those who are known by His Name,
Called, one at a time, to come and partake
Of the water of life freely given.
 

Danielle passed into the presence of her Lord and Saviour on Sunday, March 3. It was her 36^th Birthday. She left behind her husband, Brad, two daughters, a son, extended family and many friends.

On her last post, February 28, not knowing the significance of the day to come, she asked that in honor of her birthday we hand out flowers to strangers, to hospital patients, to friends, to whomever we meet with a note attached,“You are significant, You are beautiful, You are valuable, You are Loved, Your LIFE is beautiful…”  That was Danielle. Oh, how she will be missed! Until we meet gain!

 

Thirty Years Ago!

To be honest . . . I was afraid of

"slugs and snails and puppy dog" tales -

images unbeknown to a mother of girls.

But all skepticism diminished when I beheld

pure innocence squinting at me

with a dimple that stole my heart.


 

 

Your brown eyes filled with admiration

for things with wheels, 
balls that went far,

sticks that could be handled

and tools that made holes.

It made me see life from another perspective

and, oh how, I loved because you did!

Teachers said, “He's not like the girls!”

I agreed, but that was okay.

I knew in my heart, what I saw . . .

honesty, hard work, compassion.

The rest would fall into place.

What more could I ask?

 

You grew tall, your legs strong.

My years of French braiding,
perfect reports,

music and acting stages were exchanged

for carpooling boys with bleached hair.

Gym bags, slam dunks, spikes, serves and stats -

they became the highlights of the week.

Now people may think

I never knew about the pallet bonfires,

cookie sheet sleds or couches pulled behind vans.

The old Volvo drove into the garage - running hot.

But you came home. You made good choices.

I saw the heart of a sensitive young man.

As the story goes, at just the right time,

you met a gorgeous young lady and

you pledged your love for better, for worse.

She became our daughter,

loving her children and husband

in the way it was meant to be.

Dear Ben, on this your special day, we look back

and give thanks for all you've been

and for all you have become!

You are a man of wisdom and strength.

The sparkle in your eyes, still there,

giving encouragement and joy to those around.

Happy Birthday!

So proud of you!

Mom and Dad

  

Happy Birthday, Makenna!

To our beautiful Makenna Sage whose birth day is missing on the calendar this year . . .
Happy Birthday number five!

 

When I look back at the Birthdays that we have been able to celebrate with you, one that stands out is when we visited you in Indonesia for your first birthday
 and had the privilege to witness your first steps.
Oh how excited you were!
You shoulders pulled back, chest forward to balance, and proud as can be!

 

Then I remember, as will other friends, when two years later you announced that when

Papa and Grammy come to Indonesia, you would be wearing your pretty dress to the airport.

That's when I decided that meeting at the airport was as good a reason as any

to celebrate with a pretty dress!

 

When we learned that you'd be moving back to Canada, I made sure

there was  a pretty dress in the dress up trunk.

It seems that more often than not,

 that dress becomes your play dress when you are here.

 

A princess at heart!

We love you, Kenna

with your little English accent,

your love for sweet things

 and your endearing smile!

 

Please don't grow up too quick!

Hugs and kisses from

Papa and Grammy