Saturday, March 30, 2013
Modern Brady Bunch: Reflective and Emotional
Modern Brady Bunch: Reflective and Emotional: I need to back track a little bit...I have been HORRIBLE at blogging, I do mean HORRIBLE. I really, truly do have the fullest intentions of...
Reflective and Emotional
I need to back track a little bit...I have been HORRIBLE at blogging, I do mean HORRIBLE. I really, truly do have the fullest intentions of blogging but whether it's a mind block or something else, I never seem to get to do it. So hello, welcome!!!
Thursday evening- We attended our Church for the Maundy Thursday Dinner. Our Church is so wonderful-interactive stations for the children (and adults) to learn and understand more of Jesus' life and death, family style dining and an overall feel of WELCOME. At the end of the dinner, my beautiful 7 year old came up and said "Mommy, can I please wash your feet", the tears started. How precious a gift is she? How precious a gift have we all been given? Then she asked Glenn if she could also wash his feet. We head over to the foot washing station and this Mama is in tears and my sweet girl says "Mommy, are those tears of joy?", "I love you." I said they are and that I loved her too. She then washed Glenn's feet. When she was done, I asked her if I might wash her feet, she was so thrilled and said that it felt nice.
Friday morning-Good Friday. My 5 year old calls it bad Friday and refuses to listen to anyone in regards to how Jesus dying could possibly be good. She is still young and I do know she will "get it" however I do think it is very sweet that she feels so strongly that Good Friday should be called Bad Friday.
What is Good Friday to you? A day off of school/work? A day to spend with family? A day of quiet reflection? A combination of the above. I haven't really thought about what Good Friday means to me until this year. Growing up I am sure that I was more excited having the day off from school and work as I got older, although I seem to remember working a whole lot of Good Friday's because it was time and a half? How priorities have changed!!!
So back to what does Good Friday mean to me-I think it is a time to be thankful and reflective but also spending time with the family and enjoying what we received from our King, our Saviour.
We attended the Good Friday service, participated in communion, I was once again overcome with emotions. What Jesus endured for our salvation, no words could EVER come close to describing. It was a beautiful service.
After service, I went home and wrote in my devotional my thankfulness.
Then it was time for our family get together. Our cousins, their children, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters gathered at my Nanny's house for an Easter week-end get together/lunch and egg hunt for the children. How fun for them. How awesome to see this amazing group of children running through the open yard searching for Easter eggs and being so excited to find them. Their eyes open, their spirit shining through and so very free. It was a fun day, our family is alittle lot silly, quite funny (goofy really) and it is evident that we have a strong bond, and a love for each other that is deeply wove. My Nanny was not feeling well and was unable to make it, which I know would have upset her greatly as there is nothing more that she loves than our family get togethers. Her grand-children decided we would colour her some Easter pictures to make her feel better (keep in mind we are in our late 20's to early 40's). I think that sums up my family.
Saturday- I am working. Unless you work here you would not believe some of the things that go on but it is my one day a week job outside the home and as long as I stay to my belief system and continue to pray for the people that work here (not all but trust me when I say most) it is really not that bad and hey I am actually able to blog!!! I am also working through my bible study that we are doing at our Church with Jennifer Rothschild (Missing Pieces) and on my own through the You Version Bible on my IPhone I am doing a parenting study (devotional).
I am on day 2 of this study and I need to Ask, Read, Reflect and Respond.
Day one-I was to read Deuteronomy 6:6-9. I read it, wrote it out in my journal and then re-read it, highlighted the parts that were speaking to me. Here are some of the highlighted words: commanding you, your minds and hearts, teach, impress upon the hearts of your children, talk of them, bind them, write them.
Today's reading (day 2) was from Ephesians 6:2-4. I did the same thing, read, wrote etc... Here are today's highlighted words: Honour, this is the first commandment with a promise, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger, rear them tenderly.
Powerful messages are speaking to me; perhaps even provoking me to change. Change is a mighty and powerful thing.
I am so thankful for all I have, all I have been given and all I am still yet to receive, all I know is that I am learning (stress on the learning) to let go of the steering wheel and allow the great I am to take control.
Sending many blessings this wonderful Easter week-end.
Thursday evening- We attended our Church for the Maundy Thursday Dinner. Our Church is so wonderful-interactive stations for the children (and adults) to learn and understand more of Jesus' life and death, family style dining and an overall feel of WELCOME. At the end of the dinner, my beautiful 7 year old came up and said "Mommy, can I please wash your feet", the tears started. How precious a gift is she? How precious a gift have we all been given? Then she asked Glenn if she could also wash his feet. We head over to the foot washing station and this Mama is in tears and my sweet girl says "Mommy, are those tears of joy?", "I love you." I said they are and that I loved her too. She then washed Glenn's feet. When she was done, I asked her if I might wash her feet, she was so thrilled and said that it felt nice.
Friday morning-Good Friday. My 5 year old calls it bad Friday and refuses to listen to anyone in regards to how Jesus dying could possibly be good. She is still young and I do know she will "get it" however I do think it is very sweet that she feels so strongly that Good Friday should be called Bad Friday.
What is Good Friday to you? A day off of school/work? A day to spend with family? A day of quiet reflection? A combination of the above. I haven't really thought about what Good Friday means to me until this year. Growing up I am sure that I was more excited having the day off from school and work as I got older, although I seem to remember working a whole lot of Good Friday's because it was time and a half? How priorities have changed!!!
So back to what does Good Friday mean to me-I think it is a time to be thankful and reflective but also spending time with the family and enjoying what we received from our King, our Saviour.
We attended the Good Friday service, participated in communion, I was once again overcome with emotions. What Jesus endured for our salvation, no words could EVER come close to describing. It was a beautiful service.
After service, I went home and wrote in my devotional my thankfulness.
Then it was time for our family get together. Our cousins, their children, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters gathered at my Nanny's house for an Easter week-end get together/lunch and egg hunt for the children. How fun for them. How awesome to see this amazing group of children running through the open yard searching for Easter eggs and being so excited to find them. Their eyes open, their spirit shining through and so very free. It was a fun day, our family is a
Saturday- I am working. Unless you work here you would not believe some of the things that go on but it is my one day a week job outside the home and as long as I stay to my belief system and continue to pray for the people that work here (not all but trust me when I say most) it is really not that bad and hey I am actually able to blog!!! I am also working through my bible study that we are doing at our Church with Jennifer Rothschild (Missing Pieces) and on my own through the You Version Bible on my IPhone I am doing a parenting study (devotional).
I am on day 2 of this study and I need to Ask, Read, Reflect and Respond.
Day one-I was to read Deuteronomy 6:6-9. I read it, wrote it out in my journal and then re-read it, highlighted the parts that were speaking to me. Here are some of the highlighted words: commanding you, your minds and hearts, teach, impress upon the hearts of your children, talk of them, bind them, write them.
Today's reading (day 2) was from Ephesians 6:2-4. I did the same thing, read, wrote etc... Here are today's highlighted words: Honour, this is the first commandment with a promise, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger, rear them tenderly.
Powerful messages are speaking to me; perhaps even provoking me to change. Change is a mighty and powerful thing.
I am so thankful for all I have, all I have been given and all I am still yet to receive, all I know is that I am learning (stress on the learning) to let go of the steering wheel and allow the great I am to take control.
Sending many blessings this wonderful Easter week-end.
Monday, March 11, 2013
The downside of being cheap
We are going away for the week-end....we are going to shop and I am going to treat myself. This is going to be great!!!!
I have no idea who I thought I was going to fool.
Glenn says I have cleardar-yes you read that right...Cleardar also known as clearance radar. I will infact walk past the full price items and immediately head to clearance. I couldn't even tell you what was in the non-clearance section.
I shop at the outlets, warehouse sales, and am always browsing the clearance racks.
It was realized this week-end that I am frugal (it sounds better than cheap). I wanted a devotional book- one thousand gifts the devotional- http://onethousandgifts.com/one-thousand-gifts-devotional
and I wouldn't buy it for myself-Glenn got so upset with me because I was buying little things for everyone else but would not take care of myself.
I just have a sense of guilt when I buy things for myself like I am being selfish.
I think it's because I am a Mom, so after them and everyone else I come first. That's not to say I do not take care of me. I am working out to Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, doing Yoga in the morning, eating healthier and last but certainly NOT least I am reading my daily devotions and also our Women's group is working through a new study by Jennifer Rothschild-Missing Pieces http://www.jenniferrothschild.com/missingpieces/
What a fabulous study....finding it challenging, but change is growth and it is good.
I am logging off for the night. Lots to do over March Break with the munchkins.
And in case you are wondering, Glenn took the devotional out of my hands and went and bought it for me.
I love that man.
Blessings
xxoo
I have no idea who I thought I was going to fool.
Glenn says I have cleardar-yes you read that right...Cleardar also known as clearance radar. I will infact walk past the full price items and immediately head to clearance. I couldn't even tell you what was in the non-clearance section.
I shop at the outlets, warehouse sales, and am always browsing the clearance racks.
It was realized this week-end that I am frugal (it sounds better than cheap). I wanted a devotional book- one thousand gifts the devotional- http://onethousandgifts.com/one-thousand-gifts-devotional
and I wouldn't buy it for myself-Glenn got so upset with me because I was buying little things for everyone else but would not take care of myself.
I just have a sense of guilt when I buy things for myself like I am being selfish.
I think it's because I am a Mom, so after them and everyone else I come first. That's not to say I do not take care of me. I am working out to Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, doing Yoga in the morning, eating healthier and last but certainly NOT least I am reading my daily devotions and also our Women's group is working through a new study by Jennifer Rothschild-Missing Pieces http://www.jenniferrothschild.com/missingpieces/
What a fabulous study....finding it challenging, but change is growth and it is good.
I am logging off for the night. Lots to do over March Break with the munchkins.
And in case you are wondering, Glenn took the devotional out of my hands and went and bought it for me.
I love that man.
Blessings
xxoo
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Blending Families-the ups/downs
My wonderful love and I blended our families 3 years ago. This time has been tricky, fun, painful and a growing process that still continues daily.
We have five children that range in age from 16 to 5...and honestly speaking it is not always a bowl of cherries, maybe more like a chair of bowlies some days.
I picked up a book entitled "Blissfully Blended"-Isn't that the dream really to be blissfully blended. I think we are doing okay-like I said some days are better than others but that's true in a traditional family structure.
I now have a teenage daughter and a son who has an autistic spectrum disorder called Aspergers Syndrome. Glenn on the other hand has three younger children again that are each 20 months apart-not really what he was ready for given that his were definitely more self sufficient and not as "needy" in some ways and just as "needy" in other ways.
So as you see we each have different mind frames coming into this. I can't speak for my sweetie so this blog is about me and my feeling, views etc.
My three daughters are high energy and very dramatic. They can be sweet, kind, loving and they can also be the opposite. They are Mommy's babies and when their Father up and left us (when my youngest was a newborn)-I pulled them in close (perhaps too close) but I wouldn't have had it any other way at the time. I vowed to them and still do, that Mommy will NEVER leave, Mommy is ALWAYS here. I love my girls very much and I am truly a Momma bear when it comes to them.
I also love my step-children. They have accepted me as a part of their life but even then it is not always easy. I was not ready for a teenager, as a write that I wonder who is really? They are emotional wrecks and some days you aren't sure if you are being heard or if they even care and the next day a whole new kid appears. My daughters are still young so all of a sudden having this teenager in my midst was (and still is) a sometimes difficult challenge. She does however respect me even on the days that she isn't listening or doing what she should be I do know that she does love and respect me.
My step-son has Aspergers Syndrome and like me, most of you are wondering what is that? Well it's an autistic spectrum disorder. To look at him you would never really think anything was "wrong". Although that is a poor word to use "wrong". He has started to outgrow some of the symptoms of aspergers, like now being able to control some of his stimulatory behaviour. Each child that has this syndrome is unique and no two cases are alike, similar but not the same. I think because you don't really see anything "wrong" with him, I have had a much more difficult time accepting the realization that he does do some of the things he does because of this disorder. I have a harder time relating to him or finding some sort of common ground with him. It's a work in progress. I do know if he was more of a boy-boy who liked hockey, baseball etc... I would be the first out with him, shooting the puck or whatever. I have however taught him to swim, got him on his skates, enrolled in skating lessons, and riding his bike. He is super smart, especially with his math and sciences but on the flip side he is quite immature for his age. My dear friend told me he is my grace child. I am still trying to figure that out.
Sometimes I wonder why God gave me two additional children. But then again I am not to question, and not to know. They were given to me and this is God's desire for me to raise these two bonus kids as my own. As I continue to grow spiritually, I am hoping that I will impress upon these children (all 5 of them) the importance of family and of a relationship with God.
I am NOT perfect. I make MANY mistakes. OFTEN. I have said many times I am not getting a mother of the year award. I say things before thinking, or praying.
"Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips" Proverbs 4:24
I am going to log off for now.
Blessings from my family to yours.
xo
We have five children that range in age from 16 to 5...and honestly speaking it is not always a bowl of cherries, maybe more like a chair of bowlies some days.
I picked up a book entitled "Blissfully Blended"-Isn't that the dream really to be blissfully blended. I think we are doing okay-like I said some days are better than others but that's true in a traditional family structure.
I now have a teenage daughter and a son who has an autistic spectrum disorder called Aspergers Syndrome. Glenn on the other hand has three younger children again that are each 20 months apart-not really what he was ready for given that his were definitely more self sufficient and not as "needy" in some ways and just as "needy" in other ways.
So as you see we each have different mind frames coming into this. I can't speak for my sweetie so this blog is about me and my feeling, views etc.
My three daughters are high energy and very dramatic. They can be sweet, kind, loving and they can also be the opposite. They are Mommy's babies and when their Father up and left us (when my youngest was a newborn)-I pulled them in close (perhaps too close) but I wouldn't have had it any other way at the time. I vowed to them and still do, that Mommy will NEVER leave, Mommy is ALWAYS here. I love my girls very much and I am truly a Momma bear when it comes to them.
I also love my step-children. They have accepted me as a part of their life but even then it is not always easy. I was not ready for a teenager, as a write that I wonder who is really? They are emotional wrecks and some days you aren't sure if you are being heard or if they even care and the next day a whole new kid appears. My daughters are still young so all of a sudden having this teenager in my midst was (and still is) a sometimes difficult challenge. She does however respect me even on the days that she isn't listening or doing what she should be I do know that she does love and respect me.
My step-son has Aspergers Syndrome and like me, most of you are wondering what is that? Well it's an autistic spectrum disorder. To look at him you would never really think anything was "wrong". Although that is a poor word to use "wrong". He has started to outgrow some of the symptoms of aspergers, like now being able to control some of his stimulatory behaviour. Each child that has this syndrome is unique and no two cases are alike, similar but not the same. I think because you don't really see anything "wrong" with him, I have had a much more difficult time accepting the realization that he does do some of the things he does because of this disorder. I have a harder time relating to him or finding some sort of common ground with him. It's a work in progress. I do know if he was more of a boy-boy who liked hockey, baseball etc... I would be the first out with him, shooting the puck or whatever. I have however taught him to swim, got him on his skates, enrolled in skating lessons, and riding his bike. He is super smart, especially with his math and sciences but on the flip side he is quite immature for his age. My dear friend told me he is my grace child. I am still trying to figure that out.
Sometimes I wonder why God gave me two additional children. But then again I am not to question, and not to know. They were given to me and this is God's desire for me to raise these two bonus kids as my own. As I continue to grow spiritually, I am hoping that I will impress upon these children (all 5 of them) the importance of family and of a relationship with God.
I am NOT perfect. I make MANY mistakes. OFTEN. I have said many times I am not getting a mother of the year award. I say things before thinking, or praying.
"Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips" Proverbs 4:24
I am going to log off for now.
Blessings from my family to yours.
xo
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