Wifey Wednesday

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things"
(Philippians 4:8).

My Hockey Hero

I enjoyed reading the following blog about "who is your romantic fantasy"?
http://tolovehonorandvacuum.blogspot.com/2011/04/wifey-wednesday-who-is-your-romantic.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ToLoveHonorAndVacuum+%28To+Love%2C+Honor+and+Vacuum%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

A few of favourite lines in that post are:

"The only one you should have eyes for is your husband."

"tell your children how much you love and adore their father."

"You should be your husband's biggest fan, not the fan of someone else. "

It is so easy to fantasize about somebody else or even to simply say out loud how cute we think somebody is (other than our spouse). Our sexualized culture and media does not help in this area at all. For example, in magazines and romance novels (even Christian ones), the temptation is to compare your spouse to the hero in the story and focus on all the ways your spouse doesn’t measure up which leads to disillusionment and discontent in your marriage. This is very damaging to a marriage, which is why it is so important that we guard our hearts and minds and build hedges (boundaries) within our marriage.

Laura Brotherson advises to set mental boundaries. She writes, “set a mental filter to reject any sexual thoughts or inappropriate thoughts of anyone other than your spouse…do not even entertain thoughts that put you with anyone but your spouse.” Jon Piper says, “When it comes to your sexual purity, the ultimate battle is in your mind. Don’t give your mind junk food. Be sure you’re getting spiritual nutrition.”

I want to be my husband's biggest fan! I want to brag about him in front of others- especially in front of our children.

Last night, we went out on a much needed date night. We went to the mall, and then we went to get groceries. It was rather sad, but good that Paul said, "We should get groceries together more often"! It's sad that that is what our date nights have become, but it is good that we can have so much fun together, even when we are grocery shopping!!!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"

(Isaiah 40:31).

It's Monday. It's raining and I'm feeling glum. So many (little) things are getting to me lately...

-daughter can now reach our Water Depot dispenser
-son hanging on our coat hanger and it falling off the wall (who knows when that will get fixed)
-daughter asking a million questions (mostly asking for junk food- really drives me crazy)
-a hundred "Where's my _________" (book, socks, hoodie, etc.)
-still getting razzed by siblings (even after 30 something years)
-new set of headphones that don't work
-being plagued by guilt, shame, anger, impatience, resentment, inability to love, etc...
-I'm not ready for the busy spring greenhouse season

Yet, in the middle of my mess, I am oh, so blessed!

"This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use"
(by Francesca Battistelli)


More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/this_is_the_stuff_lyrics_francesca_battistelli.html
All about Francesca Battistelli: http://www.musictory.com/music/Francesca+Battistelli







Really needing to give thanks today...

#1571-#1589


-God's beautiful painting outside my window

-Lego lover


-hockey lovers

-playing peek- a- boo


-kiddie pool


-enjoying the warm weather (and warm pool-lots of buckets of hot water)


-orders finally coming in

-sisters


-goofy smiles (that's enough to make anyone laugh)!



-goofy play-doh creations


-celebrating Easter


-a risen Saviour



-Christ, the sacrificial lamb


-salvation through Christ


-Deborah looking with adoring eyes at Jesse


-play dates today (good distractions)


-over 800 people singing hymns by heart at an inspiring concert


-enjoying a gospel concert with Nicole


-gospel concerts, uplifting music, and the ministry of an amazing family http://www.thecollingsworthfamily.com/home.shtml

Beautiful Terrible Cross

From one of my favourite groups, Selah. (CD "You Deliver Me")





God's love is so amazing, so divine. I thank my Father for sending His Son to die such a terrible death for all of my sins. Thank-you, for the cross.

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always" (Psalm 105:3-4).

Continuing to give Him thanks and rejoice in Him.

#1555-#1570

-a new basketball net- bringing ALL the children out to play -Mr. Handy Man -a completed project -team work

-getting out the finger paint again

-having fun with the finger/toe paint

-fresh pot of soup

-the colour yellow

-easy going pet

-Nicole's Battle of the Books competition

-spending a whole day with Nicole

-Nicole sharing her passion for Compassion

-an inspiring, and motivating Compassion workshop

-special friends at our friendship service last night

-hugs in the morning for packing grapes

-reminders from our son to write in our gratitude booklets

Passion For Compassion

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God" (Proverbs 14:31).

-pictures taken from visiting our Sponsor Child, Biruk in Ethiopia last fall -Biruk (our sponsor child)

INSPIRING!!

Inspiring- that is how I would describe my day yesterday as I went with my daughter, Nicole to an Advocate Workshop for Compassion. http://www.compassion.ca/index.asp?linkid=99

It was inspiring to listen to personal stories of those who have been on Compassion trips. It was inspiring to glean from what other advocates do to promote Compassion. It was inspiring to listen to the guest artist sing. It was inspiring to sit and talk with the president and CEO of Compassion, Barry Slauenwhite. It was inspiring to be motivated by the amazing, dedicated workers of Compassion. It was inspiring to have personal ministry reflection time. It was inspiring to observe my 9 year old daughter soaking it all in and sharing her passion for Compassion.

We had the privilege of visiting our sponsor child last fall. It was truly a life changing experience. We were able to witness the benefits of our sponsorship to someone on the other side of the world!

How do you help child development through sponsorship?

"Together, you and the church are ensuring that the Gospel is shared, people are discipled, lives are changed, communities are transformed, and poverty finds its eternal solution. That the difference between hope and hopelessness is more than education, health care and social programs (which it also includes). The difference is Jesus."

Will you make that difference and help end poverty in the life of a child? Please sponsor a child through Compassion (or another child if you already sponsor a child)!!

http://www.compassion.ca/child_list.asp

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"You open the hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing"

(Psalm 145:16).

How do I expect my children to have joy when I am grumpy? How do I expect my children to have satisfaction when I myself have an extensive wish list of things? GRATITUDE...I hope and pray that our new habit of filling out our gratitude booklets http://www.aholyexperience.com/page/2/ before dinner will instill joy and satisfaction for life in all of our lives. I hope and pray that we as a family will be able to see God in everything, to be grateful for all things and to experience His grace as we practice gratitude in our daily lives.

My gratitude continues... #1533-#1554

-GEMS- Girls Everywhere Meeting our Saviour

-dedicated GEMS counselors and mentors to the girls

-Nicole doing a great job with her singing debut on GEMS Sunday

-a day with just Deborah and Curtis

-Curtis playing with Deborah at the Early Years Center (and loving it)! -annual, early phone calls on our birthdays with Opa playing his trumpet

-celebrating Jesse's 11th birthday!

-the fine, young man he is becoming!

-Jesse's hockey debut

-fundraiser tournament for Haiti

-patience as he searches for just the right piece -peas growing in my window sill -painted clay pots

-laughing hysterically as Curtis tells me that he wore his pyjama shirt to school today (good thing it was a pretty ordinary T-shirt)!

-Paul and I giggling as we hear Curtis yell from the fields, "AGH, a worm!"

-bringing out the patio furniture

-wearing capris

-baking with Nicole

-more children sponsored for Compassion http://www.compassion.ca/child_list.asp at a Jeremy Camp concert

-Jesse sharing his birthday money with our sponsored child in Ethiopia

-enjoying beautiful music, fellowship, and a delicious meal at a Gleaner's http://www.ontariogleaners.org/ fundraising event

-everyone writing in their gratitude booklets before dinner

Eleven

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:9-11).

I give praise and thanks to God for creating our children and entrusting them into our care. Today our oldest turned 11. He is truly a gift from God. He's a great oldest child as he is responsible and a caring brother who is willing to share and take care of his siblings. He is learning gratitude and he helps willingly when asked. He loves the outdoors and any kind of sport! He has a great sense of humour and he's a pleasure to be with.

We had a great day this afternoon as his cousins came off the bus with him and went across the road to meet up with more family for a pizza/soccer party (upon his request). Thankfully the weather was nice! Last night, Paul took him and two friends to a basketball game which was a lot of fun too!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).

Praising God for my continual blessings...

#1516-#1532

-a time to be silly

-a borrowed baby chair which works great to do Deborah's hair

-spring flowers with a creative flare

-the opportunity and humbling experience to teach at our church's marriage conference

-a successful marriage conference

-the teachings of the goal of marriage

-a break in the morning from the rain

-an excited boy because of an upcoming birthday this week

-Curtis finally getting a play date and having lots of fun!

-nice visit with friends and hanging out at the park

-celebrating my sister's birthday

-my super keen 6 year old French student

-sharing tears over a movie with my daughter

-inpsiring songs (Laura Story- "Blessings") -the reminder that He hears each spoken need

-the healing that comes through tears

-blessing through raindrops

-God's mercies in disguise