Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

Ok, I took December off.  I am glad too as it was a crazy month.  I am looking forward to January.  It's a new year.  Last year I know I wrote that I wasn't going to write out any resolutions and I am going to do the same this year.  However, I do have some goals I need to work on.  A lot of them.....and then some that may pop up.  This year I'm going to participate regularly in the 3 in 30 Sisterhood.  It's great to have accountability and support of other ladies that are going through similar things or working on things that they need support and accountability for.

In 2013 I'm going to reflect these goals in 3 areas - Spiritually, Emotionally and Physical.  Physical may not just be about my body.  It may be about my house or yard.  Emotionally may be working on relaxation, taking time for myself or it could be working on issues.  Spiritually while that is a life long learning process between me and God and where He will be leading me.

For this month my goals will be:

This year I will get through the whole Bible.  I know I say this every year, but this year I will persevere.  I recently found a free book via Inspired Reads called Designed for Devotion: A 365 Day Journey from Genesis to Revelation by Dianne Neal Matthews.  I will be using this for daily scripture readings.  I will also spend some time making a list of 52 messy people of the Bible so that I can blog about them.  

I know this may not sound like a relaxation job, but clutter is stressing me out.  I need to start decluttering my home.  As a result I am going to continue on my home reorganization project.  This month I am going to work on my my Craft area, Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom, my Den and Family Room and the Dining Room in that order.  I will be purging unused craft supplies, clothes, books, and nick knacks.  I always feel refreshed when everything is in it's home and when there seems to be some order.  I may also work on creating a Family Organization Binder.  I used to have one and gave up, but I have some ideas from ones I have seen on Pinterest and will use some of the free printables out there.

I'm going to join the pack and start with my health.  I recently had a conversation with a friend who suffers from Anorexia and we both agree about diets.  I don't want to focus on losing weight the same way she doesn't want to focus on gaining wait.  We both want to focus on getting healthy.  I'm going to do this slowly.  This month I will be following the Lean program.  I may modify it a bit but this time I will finish it.  I need to start looking at food differently and looking at it as health not comfort.

I can't wait to get started with these goals and to let you know next week how I'm doing.  I also can't wait to read everyone else's goals.  Come join the 3 in 30 Ladies at Welcome to Our Good Life and join in.

It is that time again.  Time to forget the past year.  Time to focus on the future.  An old year is almost gone and a new year is upon us.  Time for new goals and a new word to focus on.  

This last year has been one of struggle.   It has been full of trials.  We have struggled with depression.  We continue to live with autism.  We have been under attack and have struggled to see the light.  The dark has been overwhelming.  I have been running around with a lack of purpose or direction.  I am in constant survivor mode.  

Last year my focus word was Contentment.  It was a good word for the year.  I read books on joy, blessings and hell.  I did the Good Morning Girls studies of Ephesians, Colossians, and Proverbs 31.  All of these helped me to focus on true Contentment.  They helped me to realize my addiction to things and having things.   My wanting for something more.  I have learned what true joy is.  I have learned the difference between living in the light and living in the darkness.  I have come to terms with some aspects of my life and have learned to accept what has been placed before me.  It doesn't mean I have to like it though.  It doesn't mean everything is becoming perfect and rosy   In fact, the one thing that I have learned this year is that I'm messy.  

No, I am not talking about "messy" in the sense that my house is a mess and my kids are a mess.  I am talking about being a "Hot Mess."  I am not in control.  I am not perfect.  Things are hard.  Messy is defined as marked by confusion; disorder; lacking precision  extremely unpleasant or trying.  This pretty much sums up my life.  I think it pretty much sums up everybody's life I know.  We are all messy.  None of us is perfect.  I have friends who suffer from depression, anorexia, children who suffer from numerous health issues, marriage struggles, family crisis, child molestation, ...  I could go on, but I think you get my point.  

I struggle when I see people with supposed perfect lives try to preach their lives to others.  I want authenticity.  I want honesty.  I want people to know about the mess and know that it will not defeat me.  I want people to know who is fighting my battles with me and for me.  I want people to see that none of us is perfect.  We don't have to respond that we are "fine" when we aren't.  It's ok to say "I'm alive."  It should be enough.  

We all come from a long line of messies too.  The Bible is full of them.  I ran across the following picture last year on Pinterest.

This list represents just some of the messy people in the Bible.  God used them all.  God loved them all just where they were and just for what they were - themselves.  I heard the best explanation of this philosophy on the Survivor Finale by Lisa Whelchel.  She talked about the internal struggle that we are both good and bad and God loves us anyway.  God loves us just where we are.  We need to accept that and stop trying to be perfect or to be perceived as perfect.   That doesn't mean that God doesn't want our best, but each of our best is different.  We need to be about acceptance not judgement.  We need to focus Up and not Out.  

If you are still wondering what my word is, it is Messy.  I'm going to focus on the messy people of the Bible and how God used them.  I'm going to focus on authenticity and honesty.  I'm going to embrace my beautiful mess and see how it makes me me.  I can't wait.  I hope you join me on the journey, mess and all.  

Have you picked a word to focus on in the new year?  What are you thoughts of messiness?  Come link up with the Java Junkies this week and share your randomness.

This December has been one of many struggles for my family - depression, slipped disk, GSI, loss of assistance, etc...  It's getting to the point where even my friends are asking how much more can we take.   

It doesn't only feel like we are going through this either.  You only have to watch to news to see that things aren't right.  That people are struggling.  That hurt is abound.  That evil is attacking us.   After the shootings at Sandy Hook School, a friend questioned if this wasn't God's plan.  I don't believe it was.  God has a plan for each and every one of us.  Plans to prosper not to harm.  Plans with a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)  All of this isn't in God's plan.  God doesn't want us to hurt or be in pain.  All this is about darkness.

Christmas is about light.  We light a candle each week to represent - hope, love, joy, and peace.   These little flames represent the light that Christ brought to our world with His birth.  It's not about defeat or darkness.  But that's what the enemy wants us to believe.  He wants us to focus on despair and pain.  He wants us to focus on stress and crowds.  He wants us to focus on consumption and overindulgence.  He wants us to focus on Elf on the Shelf and not the missing baby in the Nativity Scene.  The enemy wants us to think that he's won.  

In the world we live in it's easy to fall into his trap.  Children killed.  Old hostilities ignited.  Politics over shadowing reconciliation.  Debt looming.  Countries close to bankruptcy.  People losing jobs.  I could go on.  It's to the point where I don't want to watch the news anymore.  There doesn't appear to be anything good in the world, if you believe the news makers.

But Love is alive in a breath.  A teacher sacrificing herself for her students.  Hope is alive in a simple random act of kindness of sharing a free coffee with the car behind you.  Peace is reflected in people gathering to help those who need help by providing food and necessities no matter their background or faith.  Joy is reflected in the eyes and giggle of child in the arms of a family member as they celebrate Jesus' birth.  The enemy hasn't won.  Christ's gift is still here.  

Earlier this year I read Ann Voskamp's A Thousand Gifts.   This book made me think of the little things instead of the big.  We all want to look for God in the larger things, but He is just as strong in the small.  Remember the mustard seed.  If we want to move the mountain we need to see him in the speck of dust around us.  We are looking for Him in a large light, but He's there in the lowly flame of a small candle.  We need to trust that He is there.  Because He is.

We are all facing the darkness instead of focusing on the light.  We have wandered and are now lost.  We need only to turn around and see the child lying in the manger to know who won and continues to fight on our behalf.  We need to focus on the light of the world who came out of darkness.

"Light of the World

I know this season is about giving, hope, love, compassion, joy, and peace.  It's about the gift that God gave us.  It's about change of attitude.  It's less about us and more about others.  I wish that I could agree with Natalie Cole about what my Christmas list is this year.......

However, I'm feeling a bit selfish today.  I have been struggling lately.  I also have a slipped disk and am in a bit of pain.  Since according to some ancient race that didn't predict their own demise that today is the end of the world, I'm going to share my true grown up Christmas list.  

I admit that I covet this.  I really want a Kindle.  I know I'll hear people say that they really prefer paper books and so do I.  I, however, have over 200 free books on my lap top.  Reading them on my lap top is annoying.  I'm not even asking for the top of the line one, a simple one would be good.  

I have always wanted my own waffle iron.  One of my favourite memories as a child was my grandmother making waffles for dinner.  I loved eating them with Rogers Golden Syrup.  I remember trying to get dessert out of her after we ate them.  Did I tell you we poured the syrup all over them until each waffle was squished from the sugary goodness.  

I either want a new blender or a food processor.  I have been using a recipe for a blender Hollandaise sauce which is extremely yummy and easy to make.    However, there is a great recipe for a spinach peanut butter shake that is actually extremely yummy and healthy.  The possibilities are endless.

This is not what my view is from my back yard.  Nor is my deck anywhere as large as this one.  I would love a nice set of patio furniture so I can sit and relax on my deck with my new Kindle.  (Too much of a hint).   I can picture myself with my cup of coffee relaxing.

I'm a geek at heart.  I have the movies on VHS.  I need to have all of them on DVD.  Especially now that the kids are enjoying the movies as much as I do.  I can picture us all sitting on the couch and running a Star Wars marathon.  Which leads us to....

How can we have a marathon without popcorn?  My popcorn maker is almost gone.  A few more pops and I think it will officially be out of commission.  I love the retro look of this air popper.  I know some people we have purchased a large one, but where would I put it.  This one would fit in my cupboards.  

I'm sure I could go on and on about my "real" grown up Christmas list.  Hope you all have a great Christmas.  I hope you all survive the supposed end of the world.   Come join up with the other java junkies and share your randomness with us this week.

Earlier this week, I felt like I was out of control.  OK, not just felt like it, I was out of control.  I felt like I had so much to do.  I hadn't started Christmas baking yet.  I hadn't started Christmas shopping yet.  I was dealing with some family issues.  I just didn't know when I was going to get time to do everything.  I just was so tense and frustrated.  I wanted to curl up and hide and just sleep through this season.  

But, Christmas is coming.....

Tuesday morning, I sat and did my Good Morning Girl study for the day (of which I haven't posted yet).  It was based on Nehemiah 8:10.  

I felt defeated and beaten.  Of course I was tired.  That's what happens in battle.  You get tired.  You get weary.  But His JOY will give us the strength to go on and hold on.  When we are in the trials it is hard to recognize this.  We are too focused to see the light.  Everything seems overwhelming and dark.  We need to focus on the light.  We need to find it even when it seems like embers in a dying fire.  It's still light and has the possibility of turning into a raging forest fire.  

This season is about the light.   God brought his Joy into the world.  Jesus is the light and Joy that gives us strength when we don't know how we will get through.  He brightens our way and leads us through the darkness.  He enables us to go on, when we don't think we are able to.  

I've been leaning on the lyrics of the Plumb song "Need You Now."   We all need Him now.  We all need to search for Him, whether in the light of a manager or the shadow of the cross.  He is there.  He is calling us.  He wants to bring us Joy.  We just need to ask for it and embrace it.  

"Need You Now (How Many Times)"

Well, everybody's got a story to tell
And everybody's got a wound to be healed
I want to believe there's beauty here
So, I guess you're tired of holding on
I can't let go, I can't move on
I want to believe there's meaning here

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Standing on a road I didn't plan
Wondering how I got to where I am
I'm trying to hear that still small voice
I'm trying to hear above the noise

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Though I walk,
Though I walk through the shadows
And I, I am so afraid
Please stay, please stay right beside me
With every single step I take

How many times have you heard me cry out?
And how many times have you given me strength?

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

I need you now
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
I need you now

Are you searching for the light?  Are you calling out?  Come link up with the other Java Junkies this week with your randomness.

What a week.  Since writing about trying to focus on the real reason for Christmas, I have been stressed and busy.  My little one came down with Tonsillitis (PS note to self and warning to others do not Google images for tonsillitis).  Trying giving medicine to a little guy who has refused medicine since the day of his birth, not fun.  My husband came down a quick stomach bug.  My parents came for a visit with their two foster sons.  We decorated our tree.  I've had meetings and have had to postpone appointments due to lack of computer cords.  It's one of those weeks.  

But still Christmas is coming (no matter how much I try to avoid it).  I purchased a Veggie Tales Christmas DVD set for the kids and it came with a cd of 25 Veggie Tale Christmas songs.  I love the Carol of the Bell's by Archibald.  I've added it to my Christmas Playlist.  It's a great playlist.  One minute you hear Veggie Tales.  The next one, you'll hear a Dutch Christmas song.  Elvis is thrown in there and then there are some great musical pieces.  I need to find my Rosemary Clooney cd and my Christmas jazz cd so that I can them in there too.  It's beginning to sound like Christmas.  

Speaking of music.  I've decided to share a Canadian Christmas tradition.  No it's not sitting around the fire with our toques, drinking hot chocolate and trying not to freeze from the cold weather.  Nor is it building igloos with the kids; although it did snow a few times this week.  Nope, it's Bob and Doug McKenzie.  Who?  If you are Canadian, you know what I'm talking about.  Doug and Bob McKenzie or otherwise known as Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas (not of Wendy's fame).  They are two comedians from Canada who made it big on SCTV.  If you don't know what SCTV was, check out the link.  I grew up with them.  I probably wasn't supposed to watch, but they were pretty harmless humour.  

Doug and Bob McKenzie put out an album in the early 80s, which included a Christmas song, the 12 Days of (Canadian) Christmas.  This version changed my thoughts and many of peers thoughts of this song.  I thought I would share it with you.  

Even after all these years.  I won't tell you how many, I still giggle when I hear it.

What Christmas funnies do you remember?  Come link up with the other Java Junkies this week and share your Christmas randomness.

I've spent the day trying to think about what to write about.  The last few years I have had challenges for everyone for the Christmas Season.  Best Decorations.  Best Christmas Story.  Holiday Traditions.  You get my point.   This year I have .......Nothing.  

I have tried to avoid Christmas this year.  I didn't want to think about it.  I called the neighbour down the road crazy for putting up her Christmas decorations the day after Halloween (you have to give me that one.)  Every time there is a Christmas countdown mentioned, I just want to scream.  It's not that I have not thought about it or prepared.  I have a pretty good idea of what I am getting everyone.  I even took part in Black Friday to purchase a new Keurig for my mother in law.  Waiting in front of Walmart at 7 am in -10C was exhilarating to say the least.   There were 10 of us who braved it and nobody got hurt.  I digress....

It's not that I dislike Christmas.  I love Christmas.  I love the smells.  I love the lights.  I love the traditions.  I just don't like the stress; the expectations; and the family strife that occurs during the season.  I love surprising my kids with their gifts.  I love sitting by the tree, mesmerized by the light.  I love watching the Christmas shows (The Drummer Boy is still my favourite).  I dislike the mess.  I dislike phony sentiments.  I dislike the commercialism that it has become.

Christmas as a kid and Christmas as an adult are different.  I now know why my grandmother breathed a sigh of relief, along with a glass of wine, after Christmas dinner.  I know the stress of getting that perfect gift so that you can see the light in their eyes Christmas morning.  I know how tired my feet feel after spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day standing in preparation of a meal that is done in 1 hour.  I too know how good that glass of wine is when all is said and done.  

However, I also know the true reason for the season.  I love watching my kids every day of advent create the nativity scene.  I love when they finally get to put out baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.  I love reading them their Christmas books about joy, compassion, hope, and love.  I know why Christmas occurs and the sacrifice made for us to experience it.  I know that Jesus came with little fanfare and little glory.  The hype that Christmas has become almost cheapens this.  I enjoy the simple.  I enjoy the less.  

This week I finally let the Christmas decorations out early so that I could start to light our Advent candles.  Yes, I'm early but I have been doing the Good Morning Girls Advent Study and this week was on the light.  I wanted to see the light.  The simple candle burning for all to see.  The light representing the hope that was brought into the world.  The simple flame.  The flame that grew to burn around the world.  The flame that continues to burn.  The flame that guides us.  The flame that shines upon each of us.  This is really Christmas.  

This season of advent.  I'm going to look for the simple amongst all the paraphernalia.  I'm going to focus on the flame burning and what that flame represents.  I'm going to focus on the positive in the negative.  I'm going to not become burned out.  I'm going to try to not become Scrooge and allow my heart to be open and not shut.  Won't you join me? 

Have you been avoiding Christmas too?  What are you looking for this season?  Come join the other Java Junkies this week and share in the Christmas Randomness.

This is our intervention. 

We need to choose if we accept or deny.  

For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.  Colossians 1:19-20

I've given up on the first one.  I may roll this over into December.  This could be a blessing or a curse as December is Christmas cooking and food month.  I will be praying that I can make it through.  I've felt very heavy and burdensome this last week.  I am tired of feeling defeated when it comes to food and tired of hating my body.  I did see the doctor this last week for my yearly physical.  It surprisingly was a light spot on my week.  He told me it appeared that I was pretty healthy.  When I said I was overweight, he looked at my chart and said "I've seen worse."  There is hope.

I am almost finished my laundry room.  This week we will be decorating so I can pull out the Xmas bins and sweep and organize that area.  I am very happy with the way it is looking.  I moved some bins and the workbench we have in it.  I labeled all the bins with what was in them.  Even Tman was happy.  He could read what was in each bin.  I was happy because I didn't have to pull off lids of each and every bin to find something.  

This weekend is my anniversary.  I have written about my anniversary before and the horrible luck we have with it and this year is no different.  My hubby has to work.  However, tonight he redeemed himself by getting me a banana split from Dairy Queen.  He was tired from work and went out and got me one anyway.   

We have been married for 12 years this year.  I can't believe how time has flown, but yet I see it in the lines of our faces.  The smiles of our kids.  Those pesky hereditary grey hairs.

I wish I could say that every year has gotten better then the next.  But marriage is hard work.  Some years have been better than others.  Both members have to give 100% all the time.  Admittedly, I haven't always given my 100%.  I have been selfish.  I have closed communication lines and hid.  I am fallible and human.

Life has thrown a lot in our path.  There have been many ups and downs.  There have been days of stormy seas where we both probably wanted to jump ship.  There have been times when we've committed mutiny against the other.  There have been times when all we could do is hold on for dear life and hope for the best.  

There have been times when those storms have lifted and we have enjoyed the calm.  We have reveled and celebrated all we have been through and accomplished.  We have watched our three blessings grow.  We have seen our best in them.  

The one thing that neither of us have done is quit.  We have held on.  Through good and bad.  I recently heard the song "I won't give up." by Jason Mraz.  This song really was written for us.  It talks about the truth of commitment   Of staying through the times that are rough.  How we learn from them.  How we evolve.  How we are not to give up.  

God brought us together.  We made a commitment.  We honour those commitments, not just for us but for our children.  God knows we are worth it.  He is our strength through times of trouble and our joy in times of prosperity.  

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

Happy Anniversary.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9 NIV84

(Source: China Aid Association

Please pray that this amazing witness and joy will reach the hearts of unbelievers throughout the region and nation, drawing many to Christ.

Please pray that the Shouwang Church will soon be provided with a safe indoor venue for their worship.

Pray that government officials will respect religious freedom in China.

Oh how I wish I could tell you I had good news on all of them.  It's been a rough week.  I have not picked up Made to Crave since last week.  I am hoping to catch up in the next day or two (wishful thinking though).  I haven't kept up with the Lean.  I need to jump back on that bandwagon.  I have been feeling very BLAH and overweight.  I have been emotionally eating and need to STOP.   If I want to make changes I'm going to have to get serious this week.

I was almost got through the 1/2 the month with no yelling.  But I fell, and fell hard.  I totally lost it on the kids when they were interrupting and badgering me.  I think I need to implement a $1 rule.  Every time I yell I have to pay a jar $1.00 and the money at the end of the month goes to buy the kids an ice cream, if there is any.  I'll have to think of a consequence for them for their yelling and not money but loss of tv or computer time, which they seem to covet.  

Last week I told you I was supposed to clean and organize the laundry room.  That did not happen.  I did however, organize my kitchen desk and the main office.  I even filed and dusted.  It looks great. 

I know I'm not showing you any before pictures.  But I'm a bit embarrassed about how it was before.  After I cleaned the office I took the kids on a tour and informed them that I expected it to keep looking like that.  

I made time though on Friday to create an entry way bench.

I have been wanting one for a while and decided to make one.  I had a coffee table that someone gave me.  It was the perfect size.   I went to the local thrift store and purchased the two cushions   I don't like the material, but I plan on recovering them eventually when I find my crafting area (another area in my life that I need to organize).  I then scoured the house for a basket to that fit on the shelf.  I found one in the kids room.  It was being used to stash stuff they didn't want to put away.  Now I am using it to put their mittens, toques (it's a Canadian thing) and scarves.  I love the way the bench came out.  I am now inspired to do a post about reusing and recycling.  

 

This has been a bad week.  I have been struggling.  I have felt tired.  I have felt like I am treading water through stormy seas.  I have felt lifeless.  I have felt alone.

I know these feelings are just that feelings.  They are not truth, but lies that the enemy wants me to believe and embrace.  He wants me to feel like I am in the darkness, the cold.  He wants me to feel alone.  He wants me to draw away from Truth.  He wants me to be in the shawdows.  He wants me to be in the cold.  

These feelings come from a lot of places.  My life.  My past.  My future.   Life is tough.  There are no easy answers.   It is full of uncertainties.  You can never be sure of what you will be given.  You can never be sure of what you will face.  You can either live in the pit or we can jump and take air.  

This week I was taught that by my kids.  We had a large snow fall last week and like typical Southern Alberta weather, we have gone from -10 C to 5 C within a few days.  The snow is melting but it makes great sledding possibilities.  There was no wind on Tuesday and the sun was struggling to come out.  A friend and I decided to take the kids sledding.  We dragged our sleds to the school and walked to the hill.  My kids immediately climbed up the hill and went down.  

I went down the hill a few times.  At first it was frightening.  I was scared.  I wasn't going to be in control.  I was going to go fast.  I could flip off the sled.  I could sled into someone.  These things were going through my head.  I was allowing my fears to control me.

My friend dared me to go down the part of the hill where the kids had built a jump.  I took the dare.  I pushed myself off and flew.  I had no control.  I could have gotten hurt.  I could have.......and I took air.  It was exhilerating.  It was refreshing.   It was life changing.   I had pushed passed the lies that Satan had told me about that hill.  

Or you can persevere through the struggles that you face and keep pushing yourself through those obstacles.

So it is update time for my 3 in 30 goals.  For a quick reminder here they are:

I slept in and got behind on Made to Crave and the Lean.  I am going to catch up on Made to Crave today and resume the Lean where I was.  I have noticed my thinking about food changing.  I have splurged a few times, but the little Halloween chocolate bars that call me haven't been touched.  However, I did eat a few cup cakes and Plaatz this week.   I have drank lots of water and ate my apple and nuts a day.   I am struggling to eat breakfast.  If I don't eat it by 7 am, it doesn't get done.  I need to definitely get out of bed for 6 am so that I can get my thyroid medication and breakfast in every morning.

The Pantries are organized.  I had already semi organized the kitchen pantry so I just bought a few more baskets for the loose items.  My great accomplishment was the pantry in the laundry room.  I moved it over to a different wall and bought some shelf separators so that I could organize my cans more efficiently.  I love the pantries now.  Moving the laundry room pantry also gave me some great ideas for my laundry room which I am starting tomorrow.  I hope to have it done in a few days.  There isn't really a lot to do.  But definitely some organizing.

I have limited my yelling.  I haven't really yelled that much this week.  In fact, I have purposely stood at the top of the stairs and not called the kids up but have asked the kids to come up.  They seem to be able to hear me, when they want to.  When they don't, I go down and get them.  I have noticed their yelling becoming less as well.   I have informed them that there is a no yelling tolerance this month and when they do yell there will be consequences.  

Overall, I think I am on track.  I know I can catch up in my reading.  I feel like I am getting things accomplished.

I am linking up with the other 3 in 30 ladies at Welcome to our Good Life.

Ever since I can remember, I have remembered.  I was taught to respect the day, the reason and those who gave so much for so little.  I remembered wearing my poppy with pride.  I remember being honoured with carrying the wreath.  I remember the honour of carrying our flag during the ceremony.  I remember practicing with the choir the songs we would sing in honour and remembrance.

I am proud to come from a family that served in World War II and the Korean War.  I am proud that my dad served in Afghanistan.  I am proud of a sister who serves in our armed forces.  I am proud of my in laws and the sacrifices they made during the war in occupied Holland.  I am proud of my father in law's uncle, who was a leader in the resistance.  I am proud of those Canadians who liberated them after the long winter of 1944/45. 

Yesterday, I got the pleasure of watching my daughter sing at her school's assembly.  I got to pin the poppy on Tman's shirt.  I watched as children lead the ceremony.   I watched as children, chosen for their citizenship, carried wreaths made in remembrance.  I watched as parents listened to the guest speaker speak of her childhood during the war and the loss of freedom that we take for granted.

I know I always say I'm bringing it back and then never write about books again.  One of my personal goals with the blog has always to do book reviews of either new or old books that I have read that have either inspired me or made me questions things.  I love to read and do read a lot.  I just can't seem to find the time to blog about them.....must be reading too much.

Earlier this year I was privileged to receive a copy of the Good Wife's Guide by Darlene Schacht, from the Time Warped Wife.  I know, I should have reviewed it way back then.  I just didn't seem to find the time to read it until summer vacation and only now am I able to write a review of it.  (Sorry, Darlene).  

I really enjoyed this book.  It was quick and simple to read.  It made me think a lot about my role in my marriage and my job as a stay at home wife and mother.  It encouraged me in what I have been doing and also encouraged me to re think some things that I do.  I appreciate that Darlene does not get involved in the working mom and the stay at home mom.  I appreciate her value of both moms.  It is too easy to point fingers at each other and Darlene never does this.  She does ask what our motivations are for both though. 

I also enjoyed the fact that she did not preach to me in her book.  Earlier this year I purchased a book that was supposed to get me out of thinking organization and into Christ.  It turns out it was more of a cleaning guideline book.  It made me more stressed than I already was.  Darlene does have some cleaning tips in her book as well she shares how she deep cleans areas in her house.  Never does Darlene say you should do it her way.  She always advocates that this works for her and if you want, to try it. 

I never felt while reading her book that I was doing it wrong or she had all the answers.  I felt like I was sitting in her home and talking to her about what works for her and what doesn't.  When she talks she always focuses on God and His guidance in our marriage, our families and our homes.  That is what it comes downs to - God and His expectations and guidance, not the worlds or our own dreams.  

I would definitely recommend this book.  At no time did I feel deficient in what I was doing and at no times did Darlene ever demean others for their decisions.  She simply guides us to realize that we are called to better through God.  

So I'm going to do it again. This time though I'm not alone. I'm actually doing it with 3 other friends. I wasn't originally invited either, I pushed my way in.....which is just my M.O. My friends don't mind though. They're excited to have my join. Not that I would care, either way. Ok, I would care if it upset them, but it hasn't. What is it you ask? The 3 in 30 Challenge. 

It's been about a year since I have participated. Things have changed, like it's home. But the rules remain the same. I am to pick 3 things to work on this month and blog about them each week. Here goes.....

Organization:

I found a pin from Bowl Full of Lemons blog. She has been blogging about organizing different areas of your home for the past two months. I found this challenge about a month after she started and immediately organized my kitchen cupboards. I have enjoyed the organization as I can find things and everything has a home. I especially love my coffee/tea station above my Keurig. My intention was to keep going weekly, but I fell off the bandwagon as soon as I jumped on it. So I want to continue to on. 

I won't be doing the garage as we don't have one, so I will be skipping week two and moving down the list. This month I will be working on my pantry, office, laundry room and master bedroom.

Health:

I really need to lose some weight. Ok, I really need to lose 20 lbs. Don't panic my goal is not to lose 20 lbs this month, though that would awesome. I really just want to work on why I am overeating and get some new healthy habits going. I bought Made to Crave a year ago, along with the study guide. I've only done week one. For some reason, I never get past the first week. This month I liked to finish up to week four.

I'm also going to follow the Lean program. Again I bought it and only got through the first week.  This is not a diet, but a program of getting healthy eating habits into your lifestyle in 30 days. I won't be following everything she suggests as she is a vegan and pushes that lifestyle. I really enjoy meat. So on the days she suggests substituting veggies for meat, I will do it for the day, but won't do it for the duration.

Yelling:

This is one of my original 3 in 30 challenge goals. I'm still yelling. I don't want to be that person. I don't want to be a nag to my husband or children. There is nothing positive that comes from yelling. In fact the only thing that comes from yelling is my kids yelling. This has been happening too much around here lately. I read the Duggar's book “A Love that Multiplies”. Michelle Duggar doesn't yell when she's angry. She whispers. I'm going to try this. I am also not going to yell to call them upstairs, but go and get them. Nothing annoys me as asking one of the kids to get the others and having them yell at them. I need to emulate good manners to get my kids to change too.

Come join in at Welcome to Our Good Life and make some good changes

 

One of my favourite children's book is “Click, Clack, Moo. Cows that Type”. I love the cows and the chickens and especially the duck. Oh that duck. I also own Thump, Quack, Moo: A whacky adventure”, starring the same duck. I feel so sorry for Farmer Brown in each of them. The animals always seem to get the upper hand just when he thinks he has won. I think the author, Doreen Cornin, really understands that families want to enjoy reading books together. The humour is not dumbed down for the kids, but is multi-layered so that adults will enjoy it.

This past week, during our family trip to the library, I picked up a new book called M.O.M (The MomOperating Manuel). I thought the premise was hilarious and thought my daughter would enjoy it. It was only after I got the book home, did I realize that Ms. Cronin had written it also. 

M.O.M. Is written to children about how they can properly care and feed their mothers - physically and emotionally through SNEW (Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise and Water). I mean how many books are there about parenting and caring for our children. It was about time that they start reading books about caring for us. It shows the level of tiredness that we moms face and how kids can help us. They also come with warnings for not just the kids but dads too (like dad not commenting on our clothes).

I laughed my way silly through this book. My daughter also laughed through this book. It has opened up doors of communication. Like what to do during a major malfunction (Ms. Cronin recommends escape). I will admit that I lost it the other morning. When talking to Nicole after, I asked if she remember what to do during major malfunctions. “Hide!” I reminded her to take her brothers with her.

Nicole's favourite part of the book is how to camouflage oneself if you are dealing with a minor malfunction. There were suggestions on how to blend into the houses' interior. I think that may be why she has been closing the door to the office when she and Thomas are on the computers. Or maybe they are just trying to stop me from finding out how much time they are actually on the computers. 

What book have you picked up lately?   Was it funny?  Was it informative? 

 Come link up with the other java junkies and share your randomness this week.  I'm linking up with Marissa at the Reading List and her great reading meme, The Cozy Book Hop.  I  hope you will go visit her and her other reading junkies.  They have some great reading ideas.