street hockey dream

Who could have imagined the possibilities this Sunday in January held when we we woke this AM?

Not long after coming home from church, our neighbour told one of the young boys in our cul-de-sac that a few of the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins would be up here to play street hockey with the kids for a while. Alexander and Alden's faces lit up! They gulped down their sandwiches and were out before Mark and I could turn around.

As promised, 7 members of the team showed up and the fun began. I remained out there the whole time (it turned out to be nearly 2 hours of play) and thoroughly enjoyed watching these young men with 9 of our neighbourhood boys.

Good-natured play, encouragement, joking, snacking (thanks to Janice for the TH's donuts and Gatorade) - these Bruins did it all - and our boys had the opportunity of a lifetime. Many grown-ups and younger children also came and went to watch this spectacle.

Thank-you Chilliwack Bruins - from the families of Bridle Ridge Crescent.

dispensing mercy

It has been true for me that as I have gone deeper into that (once feared) area called the "30s", our Lord has shown me in many varied and surprising ways, the need for mercy in the human life.

God the Father shows us mercy each and every time we ask and are granted forgiveness for our multitude of sins each day. What love He shows us! It is a model we must follow.

To ourselves, when we fail to meet our own expectations.
To our partners, when they disappoint or hurt us.
To our children, when they disobey or disrespect us.
To friends, when they betray us.
To acquaintances, when they disregard the warmth we bestow.
To complete strangers, when they do not return polite gestures.

May God grant myself and all who read this, a renewed measure of mercy. A desire to treat others as fellow children of the Father.

have dinner, save a life

It's not many of us who can say they have witnessed life saving measures being performed in their presence. Not only did I witness this last night, my dear mother was the one doing the saving.

We were enjoying an early dinner at Bozinni's here in Chilliwack, when a gentleman behind us stood up, and began, what I mistakenly took for vomiting. Well, after a few seconds, and the tell-tale sound of choking, it was obvious he was in distress. I quickly nudged my mother and told her to go help him as he was choking. She later told me that she had realized that at the same time I did. Well, her little 5' 0'' frame scurried around the half-wall to him, and once she got on her tip-toes, she began the Heimlich maneuver on him.

At this point I'm in awe, and of course praying for this dear man who is very panicked looking, as you can imagine. My mom did a few thrusts, and as the first piece dislodged, she was getting concerned that her shortness was getting in the way of properly helping him, as he was still choking. She said, "Can someone taller come help, please!" At that moment, my dad ran over (he was beside me, not far away) but thankfully the second piece came up.

The poor gentleman (we didn't get his name) was very scared but extremely relieved after the whole episode. He kept saying, "Thank-you, thank-you!" and, "I couldn't breathe!" His wife said, "I have my first aid, but I just froze!"

I decided to tell this story not to brag about my mother, because she was doing what her training as a nurse allows her to do without thinking (but it was really great, and I am EXTREMELY proud of her). But rather to shine a light on how fragile life is. The situation allowed Mark and I many teachable moments with our children, as they witnessed the whole ordeal.

Enjoy family times - Tell your loved ones you love them - Love your loved ones - Hug your loved ones - Savour the moments in your day with your loved ones - Help others in need when you can - Take the time to teach your children when an opportunity arises, every opportunity, from the smallest expression of thanks, to the largest of saving of a life.

Thanks for being my mom, Rachel! I love you!

organizing is in my blood

This morning, as my little dears are sleeping over at Mama and Papa's, I decided it was a great time to ORGANIZE! My Email addresses are now appropriately written in my paper address book and my Outlook Express Address Book. I will not let them get away from me again - blech! What a job to do it all at once.

Man, why do I do this? ...my husband wanders into the den every few minutes, tells me we need to spend time together, then I find another way to organize something that I've just done one way..

I think when I spent time in Japan teaching English, and I had to do mountains of paperwork (very neatly) on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, over and over again...it stuck. Now I have friends tell me that I should help others get organized...for a living! No...

I do think that my day is more efficient when I can get what I need, when I need it and not have to search for it. I also think the children who are in and out of my house appreciate that fact they can find food, toys, crafts, books, etc., without having to ask me where they are. So it makes all of us happier and less frustrated.

However, I know individuals who thrive on the comfort that having their stuff all around them in piles or the like brings them. They have less of a need to "deal with" things immediately. Their attitude is later is better because now something else crucial has risen to the surface and is squeaking at them.

My boys and I had a devotion a while back about being lazy...
I've come to understand from my Alden that messiness does not necessarily infer laziness. Rather he is saving time by not putting things away; when he returns to the said location in a few hours, everything is ready to go again!

'once in a blue moon' date night

As our boys are at the grandparents, hubby and I were able to enjoy an evening out alone. His choice, not mine, a traditional, British restaurant ( insofar as you can have a 'traditional, British restaurant' in Canada). I had to post this particular experience to portray to you, my dear blog readers, how unBritish I know that I am.
I could not, cannot and will ever not (not a writer, I told you) abide most of the decor choices in this place. I know, I know, it's a restaurant, you say. The Brits don't really decorate their homes like they do their pubs and restaurants. Good thing!
(to all my wonderful Scottish family, you are not included from the phrase "Brits")

the first day of the rest of blogging

OK, here's something I didn't think I would do...thanks to visiting a few blogs myself regularly...(Michelle, Andrea - this is all your fault:)...here I am trying this out.
I think it's going to be a marriage of quite a few interests of mine - Christianity, marriage, education, motherhood, scrapbooking, photography, reading, movies, TV. Then we'll see how it all comes together and becomes a thing I can be proud of, grow with, and share with others so they can know me more about me.
I actually like typing out thought, ideas, (though, heaven knows I'm no writer) it kind of lets me flush things out, and see where they end up.
Yes, there will be the obligatory proud momma photos and moments, hopefully scrapbooking layouts (if I can figure out how), recitations of triumphs and failures..you know, the usual 30-something woman stuff.