Priorities

"Always do the important before the urgent."

This is my new motto.

A few weeks ago I was feeling so discouraged with what I was not able to accomplish in my days.

I was feeling so dissatisfied with how many important things were being left in order to accomplish the urgent.

What do I classify as urgent?

Laundry

Dishes

Baking Bread (what will we have for lunch without it?)

The Phone Ringing

Cleaning

People's Expectations

My Own Unrealistic Expectations

What do I think of as important?

Teaching little girls to read.

Reading stories to children.

Phoning a friend to encourage her.

Painting a picture.

Listening to my teens.

Sitting on my Hubby's lap.

Watching a sunrise.

I know that sometimes the urgent thing is the most important thing for a moment... but not for every moment.

So I am asking myself throughout my days,

"What is the most important thing for me to do right now?"

In spite of what is urgent.

Spring Fever

We have all had a case of spring fever this last week.

The four walls of our little house seem to be marching in on us and we all have this itchy, got-to-go-somewhere feeling.

We have all dealt with it differently.

The way that I usually deal with it is to do something creative.

Sometimes that is using my camera.

Sometimes that is sewing.

Yesterday that was painting.

I just got a new set of watercolour pencils.

And a new book of paper. J

This meadowlark was my first project with the pencils.

I have enjoyed watercolours and acrylics in the past,

But the pencils were something new.

I thoroughly enjoyed them!

Here are some of past projects:

This is a copy of a painting I did of my Granddad and his horse.

This is in our living room: lighthouses.

Doodling around doing pictures of Steven and the children.

So, I have my new pencils and paper sitting on my dresser. When I feel the spring fever coming on, all I have to do is pick them up and create.

It seems to work as an instant cure for me.

J

More Morning Pictures

I thought I would share some of the pictures from my morning walks over the last week. There has been a mix of clear and misty mornings but all mild.

I probably have said all this before, but my morning walk is a very special time to me. It is some time by myself, time to organize my thoughts and ideas for the day, and time to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise.

Last night, a heavy, freezing mist rolled in. It had cleared off by the time I went out in the morning, but it left these little ice bits all over the trees. As the day warmed up, they were all tinkling down.

This morning's sunrise was so lovely!

I just got to the top of the hill as the sun peeked above the horizon.

It was worshipful to stand there with my face to the rising sun...alone in the fields.

I really get my heart pumping by the time I have power-walked to the top of this long, gradual hill. It doesn't look steep, but it is 1/2 mile long.

Big sky.

This little field sparrow landed right beside me on the road - and then let me pull my camera out and snap a few pictures of it. :)

One of the misty, but almost clear mornings.

A hardy Manitoba Maple that seeded itself on the road allowance.

A very foggy morning - walking to my Dad's house.

I am so thankful for a safe, little town to walk in.

When I go out, I have my camera bag over my shoulder (because I know the morning that I leave it at home, I will see something exceptionally beautiful), my ipod in my pocket and a cell phone in the other (makes me feel safer).

I usually get up an hour before the rest of the family which gives me time to get a few miles in before breakfast.

:)

The Living Dead

Dear Mom,

This afternoon, I stopped by to visit you in your care home. I walked the mile from our house on this foggy, mild winter day. You would have liked this day.

As I walked into your ward and down the hall to your room, I heard a man yelling from one of the rooms, "HELP! WILL SOMEBODY HELP ME?" He was confused and scared and senile. I thought about how he once would have been a strong, young man who had a family and worked hard to provide for them. I know that if I were to go into his room, there would be pictures of him back when he was living, living instead of living, dead.

As I came to your room, the door was shut so I knew you would still be in bed from your nap. I pushed the door open and an alarm went off - to help the nurses keep track of you when you wander. I reached up and turned off the alarm and slipped in and shut the door behind me. The air in your room was heavy. I stifled a gag. You must need to be cleaned up, and the nurses will be in soon to get you up and wash you. I don't call them. The process would take up all my time to visit you.

I walk over to your bed. It is placed against the wall - more in bedroom fashion then hospital fashion. You are covered with a brightly colored flannel quilt and you clutch a Winnie the Pooh teddy bear in your arms. Your body is so thin and wasted and hardly makes a bump under the sheet. I sit on the bed and take your hand. You look at me - through me - with tiny, sunken eyes in a flat, expressionless face. My eyes fill with tears. Is this really my Mother? The living, gracious, graceful woman that raised me? You are but a living dead now Mother. Your face and eyes cannot relate any emotions or love. Your hands either are held with the fingers unnaturally strait or clutching. Those hands did so much - created so much. Now they just stroke, clutch, stroke at a child's teddy bear.

I watch you for some time - your head moves compulsively back and forth, back and forth on the pillow. Every once in a while (is it every four times?) you stop and kind of grimace - at first I thought you were smiling at me - but no, it was more like barring your teeth - an empty, hallow movement - nothing more.

I sit there by you. On the edge of the bed. Like a mother by a sick child, but without any hope this side of heaven. The tears stream down my face and I grieve.

I look around the room at the bulletin boards - covered with pictures of the living - your daughters, your son, your grandchildren, your sisters. We have all gone on living while you have gone on dying.

Oh, Lord, is it wrong to pray that the process of dying would be shortened for you? for Dad? for us all? Is it wrong to hope that you die, soon? I don't know. I just sit on the edge of your bed and groan - I know the Spirit will interpret my groans before the throne of God and I will trust it to Him.

When I leave you, I stroke your cheek and tell you that I love you and pray aloud that the Lord would be with you. You look up at me - is there a moment of recognition? I can't tell - and then you are back to the empty stare and your head moves back and forth, back and forth again on the pillow.

I walk home - tears streaming down my face - back to the land of the living.

Jenny

Watching A Prairie Sunrise

Saturday I got up in order to have more than an hour of walking time. I have been wanting to see what the new section of walking path North of town was like. I hadn't been out there yet since the beginning of the path is just over a mile from our house.
The path didn't go as far as I thought, but it afforded a nice view from the top of a little hill and gave me a lovely view of the sunrise...which always rewards my efforts to get out of my warm bed!

I look back at the houses, and think what everyone else is missing!

My Resolution On Resolutions

(Disclaimer: this is in no way an attack on anyone who makes New Year's resolutions! It is just my own experience with who I am and what works for me.)

After many years of making New Year's resolutions, I have resolved to stop.

Am I against evaluating my life and making changes? No! Not in least! But I am finished with yearly resolving. I have resolved changes in every area of my life at some point, but my resolutions have started and ended as resolutions.

Too often, I have left issues that I knew needed changed in my life until the New Year whereupon, I have made great and small resolves about the problem and then promptly continued as I was.

Oh, I have sometimes managed to carry some new pursuit into February or even March, but it never really became a part of my life.

Why the lack of success with resolutions?

1. I am not a very self-disciplined person (and I do not think I am alone). If left to myself, I would consume prodigious amounts of chocolate (Lindt Dark Chocolate, please); would never exercise; would spend most of my life with books and Internet; would be grumpy, short-tempered and intemperate; would hardly ever speak to other human beings; would in short be totally sensual: driven by my senses.

2. Jan. 1 is not a magic date. When I wait to January 1 to act on an issue that first came to my attention months before, the impetus of action is destroyed. By waiting for a better date to start, I declare my resolve not to be resolved. If I make a note in May that I need to lose weight, but spend the next eight months steeped in my old habits, January 1 will not suddenly endow me with self-control and constancy.

3. Resolving Unrealistically. When I sit down with only the resolution to resolve, I am predisposed to be unrealistic. I will come up with a list (at least 10 goals, no doubt) of the most impervious resolutions imaginable. I am always an optimist with a blank piece of paper.

So what to do about it? Am I going to just be content with my present state with never a hint at change? NO! (that was a yell from my family :)) This is what I have substituted New Year's resolutions with:

A daily openness to what God's Spirit has to say to me through his word, through my conscience and through my husband. I know when the Lord pricks my spirit because of my temper with the children, my time on the computer, my priority with hobbies or my self control with eating has crossed the line. Do I listen to the promptings every time? No. But one thing I resolve at any time of year, is to be obedient to these little promptings.

When I see a need in my life, I try to evaluate right away what changes need to be made. The action I take is then stimulated from the impetus of the need. It is fresh. It is in the "day" I heard of it. I will be able to respond with more wisdom and resolve because the need is fresh (even if it is August 5th and not January 1st). So, while the beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect and resolve, so is the beginning of every new day, hour and minute.

Ultimately, I have started to view my life as one driving a car, steering a ship or walking according to a compass. I need to be constantly correcting my course, always checking my compass to stay on track. Never would a woodsman check his compass once a day, let alone once a year! He would be checking every few minutes in thick timber, and in open country, he would check, set a landmark for a guide and check again when he get to that spot. The same works in my life. I find I must be checking daily, sometimes hourly my "compass" to stay on track. This keeps me motivated, realistic and resolved.

Jenny

:)

The Beauty of Simplicity

I reprinted this from my private blog, as I thought it was of general interest.

I love simplicity, though I don't adhere to it naturally. I am a recovering perfectionist and simplicity didn't fit in with my overdone, magnifying-glass approach to life. It was my dear husband who led me into simplicity.

He has always had a "travel light through life" philosophy, and it is has served us well. I have learned to love the sweetness of simplicity - there is no part of life that his not enhanced by the beauty of simplicity.

In Phil Callaway's book, Making Life Rich Without Any Money, he writes:

"Late in life, an anonymous friar in a Nebraska monastery wrote the following words. I can't help grinning as I read them.

If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time.

I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been on this trip.

I know of very few things I would take seriously.

I would take more trips. I would be crazier.

I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets.

I would do more walking and looking.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who lives life...sensibly hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them.

In fact, I'd try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute.

If I had it to do all over again, I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have.

If I had my live to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.

I would play hooky more.

I wouldn't make such good grades, except by accident.

I would ride on more merry-go-rounds.

I'd pick more daisies."

He goes on to write some great things about what simplicity has meant to him... but you'll have to buy the book if you want to keep reading (it is very entertaining).

I am in the throes of my seasonal "simplify life" campaign. I am going through the whole house de-cluttering and throwing out anything that I can possibly feel free to. It feels good!

This time, I have a special reason to be very thorough. We are not moving (at least not to my knowledge), but we are getting new flooring (YEA, YEA, YEA!!!). It is going to be as much work as moving, though. I will gladly do the work as it will be WONDERFUL when it is finished! So, I am trying to get rid of as much stuff as I can to make the job simpler. I will post some before after pics once we get to that stage.

I wish all of my dear readers:

-a blessed New Year

-a deeper understanding and relationship with the Lord Jesus

-simplicity... which will free you up to enjoy the little things in life.

Jenny

Assignment #18 - Tradition

Just out of curiosity, I asked my older children what traditional things we do around Christmas that they really enjoy. Here is what they said:

-Skating party on the 26th will all the cousins (Steve's folks have 27 grandchildren!) .

-New Years sledding party.

-Just staying home as a family.

-Turkey stuffing!!!

-Reading God's word together.

-Receiving gifts.

-Cold lunch after Christmas with all the leftovers.

-Watching old movies like Mary Poppins, Cheaper By The Dozen, Kidnapped and 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

I smile as they say all these things because none of them started out to be traditions. They are not old traditions, but they are what the kids think of that makes this time of year special for them.

***

I think back to my childhood and my Norwegian family. Foods like Gjetost (pronounced yea-toast - a brown goats cheese aka: ambrosia!), Lutefisk (fermented whitefish that smells awful but has no flavor), Lefse (potato flatbread to wrap your ambrosia Gjetost in), meatballs, smoked herring, milk rice, and strong coffee.

Most of these things are gone now. I am allergic to wheat and dairy (even goat's cheese :-/). I will still make milk rice for our Christmas morning breakfast (made with coconut milk instead of cow milk). I will also make lefse for New Year: it works out OK gluten free. I will be drinking tea instead of the black, thick coffee. Even so, my childhood memories are still precious because it was not the actual traditions that were REALLY meaningful, but what they represented: family, togetherness, security, and LOVE.

Assignment #17 - Handmade

Being a Mother is one of the most rewarding yet challenging positions to hold. Everyday is physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally taxing. Everyday also has it's little rewards of preciousness: baby smiles, loving words, pictures to hang on the fridge, wet kisses and hair-messing hugs.

Occasionally, in the midst of homemaking, I get this creative urge to make something beautiful that I can enjoy right away. Let's face it, baking, doing dishes, cleaning house, and grocery shopping just doesn't fulfill a creative desire (OK, it sometimes does, but the clean house or the cookies or the full pantry doesn't last very long).

When this urge hits me, I generally want to do a project that will not take too long to finish. Sometimes I pick up my paintbrush - I enjoy watercolors, sometimes I pull out scrap booking, sometimes I blog :), and sometimes I sew.

Last week I got the "creative bug" and started making a tea cozy that would fit my largest tea pot. I looked up different patterns and ended up using the instructions on a website called "The Rusty Bobbin". I couldn't get a link to work *grrrr* so just Goggle "rusty bobbin sews tea cozy" and you'll find it.

I also purposed to use only what fabric and notions I had on hand (to save money and to have a fun challenge). Applique is one of my favorite sewing methods because the projects are small and I can work on them while sitting with the family.

So, Ta Da....
I love RED, so there is red accents - if I had brown fabric, I probably would have chosen that instead of black, but I am happy with the black.
The main change I made from the directions, was to put a casing around the bottom and run a bit of elastic in it so that the cozy would "hug" my tea pot better.

Assignment #16 - Gratitude

What am I thankful for??? So many, many things... and more importantly, so many people! I am going to list 10 people (or people groups) who I am so thankful are in my life.

1. My Dear, Dear Savior: how could I ever begin to tell about this wonderful person? I guess if you know him too, a description is unnecessary. Yet I know nothing warms my heart like hearing another believer share what Jesus means to them... so I'll share a wee bit here. This Lord of mine took me in and remade me when I had nothing to give him in return but my pitiful life. He has set me free from hurtful habits, lies of the Devil, and my sin and guilt. He has placed my feet on the rock of his truth and given me the hope of salvation. By the strength of his spirit, I am able to be a wife, mother and teacher. He meets me in my humble home each day and guides me through each moment of the day. He greets my waking thought with his own thoughts. Without him... well, I don't like to think about that!

2. My Dear, Dear Husband: I am so thankful for Debi Pearl's book, Created To Be His Help Meet. The description in there of a Mr. Visionary helped me understand this man of mine! At times I wondered if I had married a crazy man! Now that I understand him better, I can listen to his plans: like moving to the Yukon to homestead, with some gravity (as opposed to running around gathering up a grubstake for a family of 9). Steven is such an amazing man: he is creative and artistic and is such a man of leadership and ambition ("lazy" just is not in his vocabulary!). No one has loved me with such a perfect, Christ-like love as this man has. Where would I be without him????... I don't like to think of that, either!

3. My Kids: I think I have some of the most forgiving kids in the world! They just keep loving this Momma of theirs and I am so humbled. Steven often comments that we are raising our best friends. :) While right now, I have to be teacher, guide, Momma, and bedroom inspector - I can see that someday, I will be free to enjoy a close friendship with these amazing people. I am getting glimpses of it with Millie now, and I LOVE it!

4. My Dad: I have watched my Dad go through the grief of losing my Mom to dementia at an unusually young age (she was just over 50 when she really lost the ability to function normally). Through this, I have gotten to know my Dad in a way I probably never would have. He comes over to our house often to visit (and have supper). :) We enjoy his company, and who wouldn't? - he is well read, has traveled the world with his work, taught high school, farmed, held positions of administration, runs his own business as a land agent, is a history buff, is gifted with analyzing people and situations, is soft spoken and pleasant.... and an expert Grandpa. Dad reads my blog, and while he may not comment on it, he comments to me later. :) And best of all - he likes my cooking!

5. My Parents-In-Law: You know how you just can't out-give some people? Well, these are two of those people. They are always giving - to strangers, friends, fellow-believers and family. They raised 5 children and have 27 grandchildren (the oldest is 18). Dad has run a dairy farm and a construction business. He has a reputation as being upright and honest in all his dealings. He is the "lay-pastor" in our home fellowship and is often sought out for his council and wisdom. Mom is truly a "mother-heart" that has room in her time, home and arms for all who need her. She is a great cook - nothing beats Mom's roast beef or chicken. She has run a floral arranging business in the past and she did our wedding flowers.



6. My sil, Melodie: Mel is six years older than me and my husband's only sister. Right from when we met, we have been friends. She is so giving and sensitive to other's needs and hurts. Over the last month, as I have been struggling with this miscarriage and hormone changes, she has sent me several notes and gifts to encourage me. Her oldest kids are 5 years older than our oldest, so I have appreciated someone who I can talk to, ask questions of, and get ideas from. She has been so content in their little 1920's farm house - always showing hospitality and generosity. She is due to welcome their 10th baby in February.



7. My sil, Laurie: Laurie and I knew each other as kids, growing up in western Alberta. Then our family moved east to the prairies and I lost touch with her. It was such a surprise when she turned up at Prairie Bible Institute in our town - and caught the notice of Steve's older brother, Kevin. She is now my sister-in-law and the mother of 7! Laurie has been a true friend, especially the last few years since they moved into town. She has visited my Mom with me (she lost her mom 3 years ago and understands). She has made our family many meals when I have been ill or just had a baby. She is always honest and just herself... she couldn't be deceitful if her life depended on it! She always thinks the best of people is quick to praise any good she sees. I am always amazed at her example of "plodding". Laurie doesn't do spectacular, unusual things in her homeschooling, housekeeping or projects - but she plods... and by her faithfulness she accomplishes HUGE things.



8. My new sil, Emilie: I am still getting to know Emilie (married to Steve's youngest brother, Justin) - but the things that I appreciate about her already is her cheerfulness, creativity and servant attitude. In their few months of marriage, she has delivered 2 or 3 meals to my door to help when I was sick as well as taking the littlies to the park and other helpful things.






9. My community: My "little town on the prairie" has a pop. of 3500 and is in the middle of nowhere (it isn't "on the way" to anywhere). I have lived here for over 23 years. When I go "uptown" I am constantly greeted by name - people know my kids - they stop and ask how we are doing. It is a great community to raise a family in and we are thankful to be here.



10. My e-friends: I used to think that nothing could be more shallow than having friends that you only know through the computer. When I started a blog, it was to keep in touch with family and friends that we didn't see often... but it hasn't turned out that way. Many are just too busy to be bothered with checking in on our family or read what I have written - hey, I understand. Instead I have made many new friends (and met up with some old friends). Altogether, I have been encouraged and enriched by meeting other godly woman who want to honor the Lord in their homes and relationships. I have learned to love many of you and I think of and pray for you often - you are precious women! My husband was VERY sceptical of me contacting people this way - but he has been won over! He even asks about your families and activities. :)

Well that was longer than I though it would be... but I am just overflowing with thankfulness!


Oh not! I forgot someone! Steven's dear Aunt Ardith! This woman is one of the most gracious, composed, generous, thoughtful, compassionate and kind people I know. I was actually going to post something about her on my other blog, "At The Rose Cottage", so I will keep this concise and just say that the Lord has used "A.A." in our lives for a tremendous blessing!