ponderings of soap suds and frying pans

a long day...hours of summer heat pounding down...soaking it up for these days will pass

kids playing...bickering...helping...bickering...

this season will all too soon come to an end...summer, childhood...

a long day...sister helps all night long...in hopes to raise funds for fun...in hopes, mine, to teach the importance of money, the blessing of provision...maybe she's being taught, but i am learning

learning to be thankful for provision

learning to gather the small things and enjoy

learning to take the moments, the ones that too often pass by unnoticed...and not rush...but to savour

a long day...setting out crafts, creations of my hands..in the summer heat

hours pass...kids playing...bickering...helping...bickering...

the sun sets...the creations of my hands are placed back in their safe places...to sit ready for next week

all is packed away...craft and crafted...all to their sweet slumber...

and there it sits...after a long hot day...cast iron with caked on crust of noon...waiting...

on goes the tap...hot...to lift the hold...

a lot like life...when pressure comes...when the heat of life is turned up...what do we do?...hold fast...to that which has claimed our peace and joy for the fear of the unknown...or let go and look to He Whose plans for us are perfect...?

the water heats up...the noon-time provisions lift...the iron cleaned in hope for tomorrow's blessing

all is quiet after a long day...he sits down and looks at me...the heat and day's laboured duties weighing in his eyes...but all is still...the evening has come...and so hope...for mercies renewed with tomorrow's rising of the sun...the Son's new mercies...

when did it stop being "enough"?

daily duties of buttering toast...wiping faces...moments in quiet, praying for their future selves...wringing out drops of patience...sweeping up crumbs of grace...

why the unsettled feeling of inadequacy...? who said that witnessing and steering the unbridled hope of the child budding, growing up under our rearing, roof, wings' shadow needs to be supplemented...or enhanced by something "other than"...something "outside"...something "more"

what is "more" than the weight, blessing, responsibility of raising tomorrow's women and men...

 these questions roll around...swirling...whispering...waiting...

when did THIS stop being enough...soap suds...morning crumbs and evening spills...cupping an innocent face and pouring out grace...

i fight to keep it...i fight to find its whole significance...its entire weight...the reality of raising up to send out...

and i falter...the still, small voice often gets beaten down by the outside shouts... "only"..."just"..."nothing but"...

and then, in a fleeting moment...almost missed by the pace of the day...i realize...and stop...and remember the treasure of a childhood...parent always present...

this IS enough...this is MORE than enough...not "just"...not "only"...

but wholly...and matchless...and unparalleled...and holy...and hard...but worth it...

so i sit...and wonder...and realize...no matter the chaos that surrounds...no matter the peers who find this to be not enough...no matter those who try and push the idea that something "other than" holds more meaning or would make me more than "just"...for me, this IS enough... unparallelled...complete...

and daily...life happens...and i need reminding...but slowly...it's seeping, down deep

"If you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things...why do you live as if you still belong to the world?...Such practices have indeed the outward appearance that popularly passes for wisdom...but they are of no value" ~ Col. 2:20,23

do i want the simple appearance of wisdom...but for my life to lack value?

stand up...and take a few steps...to shift the focus from filling up a daily life...to daily living life FULL.

Year end show

 so...SOOO much has happen...so much time has passed...not a clue where I ended or where to even begin...

I came across these pictures...thought i'd share them

Another year end show was survived...and enjoyed!!

My girls L.O.V.E. dance...and especially the performing part!

This year was no different...other than they stayed late every show to take part in the finale!!

My little genie

 Mary and her little lamb

the girls in the tent...ready and set to perform!!

gorgeous weather again this year!!

so...it's been over a month since they were on stage and they have NOT stopped choreographing and performing at home...it is so enjoyable to watch them progress in something they both love!

Karys is now counting down the days until she is able to take part in 2 different summer dance camps!!!

...and they are both looking forward to the different classes Fall will bring!

Thankful Thursday

::sunshine
::quiet time with hubby
::two hearts - one hope
::fresh coffee
::enthusiastic little ladies
::morning walk
::clean water to refresh body
::sweet promises to refresh the soul
::fresh fruit
::true friends
::tonight's Nite Market
::unexpected ways of God's provision...always...rarely early, never late

...thanks for meeting me here, sorry it's been so long...nothing and yet too much to share, unable to find the words and time...hoping to be back soon

the ABC's of me

so, just because it's always interesting to find out more things about people, here they are, in no particular order - at ALL!

A:: amazed - daily! at the life i've been afforded! never could i have imagined that this is where my life's journey would take me...and that i would arrive on the other side of all the bumps and valleys a stronger person...but it has, and i am...thank you Jesus!
B:: balance - a bit deep! but I am learning to try and find a perfect balance of "life" and all it entails for us as a family and for me as a wife and mum and individual --- one thing we know for SURE is SIMPLE is BEST!
C:: crochet - love it! Actually, it's the reason i started my at-home business Mairsy Doats
D:: determined - this one was suggested by my love - i asked why he suggested that word and he said "because you are!"...really deep. i know!
E:: eight - the number of years i've been married to my best friend, my first and only boyfriend, my kids' Dado, my love.
F:: friends- SUPER DUPER important to me, but I don't have many! It's quality over quantity for this girl!
G:: germs - blech!! Hate 'em! Like, OCD! seriousy, i'm on the verge of being obsessive about hating them! Just ask my girls about what a trip to the public washroom involves! Needless to say, we "hold it" in public as long as humanly possible!
H:: homeschool - we do it! and we LOVE it! and my kids ARE SOCIAL!!
I:: impulsive - i talk before i think and make plans before i plan...sometimes it's good, sometimes...not (see if you can find a trend here!?)
J:: Jesus - my personal Saviour - God's Son who died for me, to have a relationship with me - not a religion!
K:: kids - we've got three - Karys, 6, Avery 4, and Levi, 6 mths (i secretly hope for four - but it's not a well-kept secret! Jim knows!! But he's not as crazy as me!)
L:: Levi Emery - a boy who stole my heart. A heart that was more than apprehensive about the idea of parenting the opposite sex!
M:: Mummy - the one title i longed to bare my ENTIRE life, the title I now hold for 3 incredible blessings and - sadly - the title i sometimes complain about owning, when it's used 1245678939503 times in a single hour...but then I am humbly reminded of how blessed i truly AM!
N:: neat-freak...NOT! i would imagine that this is one of my husband's hugest pet peeves! i cause clutter, i create clutter, and i can handle clutter...he doesn't and he can't! poor thing! so...i am trying!
O:: open-book - seriously!! maybe it's because my Mum is an ex-nun or maybe it's because I grew up with a cop for a Dad...but I can't hide anything! If I feel it - it's obvious.  If you wanna know it - I'll share it! Sometimes it good, sometimes...not so good!? (see the trend?)
P:: popcorn - i make it! from garden-fresh kernels! on the stove! It's AWESOME!!
Q:: quiet - something i have hated my entire life! seriously! don't know why, but I couldn't stand quiet or being alone! now...that it's virtually impossible to attain, I cherish the moments i do get!
R:: running - something i LOVE to do, but have had a hard time getting back into. Please refer back to the letter L!
S:: self-esteem - something i have struggled with my.entire.LIFE! But something I am learning a lot about these days - being over 30 helps too, i think!
T:: teacher - I went to university to obtain 2 degrees that qualified me to be a teacher...and now I do it, for free
U:: uncharted - the territory we are presently exploring!! We have no idea where our lives are headed, but we trust in the One who does, and know His grace will sustain us wherever His path guides us
V:: vegetarian - i was one, for over 5 years! and then i met my Mennonite husband...end of story.
W:: wine! enough said! But, seriously, i love the stuff! I drink a glass almost every night! But it can't be enjoyed alone - ever! So a typical evening for me looks like quiet time with hubby, enjoying a glass of wine and some crackers and cheese, oh yeah - and crocheting!! I know - we're hardcore! Try not to be jealous!
X:: eXtrovert - who married an introvert! I know opposites attract, but this one is almost cruel! (to both of us, i guess!)
Y:: yummy food - i love to enjoy it and love to make it! food and I have had a tumultuous relationship throughout my years, so it's so nice finally make peace with it - and even better to learn to LOVE IT!
Z:: ZEST - in my muffins and in my life - i love it in any shape and form! I live my life with as much zest as i can muster - with my family, with my challenges and with my daily duties. And I strive to surround myself with people who live their lives with it too!

there ya go! betchya didn't know a few of those, haha, neither did I!!

bity...

...ballerina



Avery is in a new level of ballet this year...and not only does she enjoy it, but she seems to be doing well!

and i had a little video clip, but it's not working....no wonder i don't post more often!! what i try to, it never works like i hope it will!!

anyhow...enjoy!

Beautiful...

 ...ballerina

 

we had watching week at the dance studio...
this is some of what i captured...of my beautiful ballerina...on my iPhone...

never...

...ever....would i have imagined - a year ago - how easily my heart would melt over this...

 

but oh man...it does, every time!

Happy 6 month birthday little buddy!!