Yes, I AM Enough

I've recently noticed how little time I've been devoting to God. I've just become so busy and caught up in everything, and although I make a conscious effort to pray with my kids every night, I've been forgetting about the time with God that I need - for me.

This entire post began as a prayer in my journal. And it quickly turned into a general devotional, perhaps one that I'll need to look back on one day. It all started with Ann Voskamp's blog post, about being enough, because Jesus is enough.

Except, I don't feel like I'm getting enough Jesus. Because I feel like that post was written for someone - people, who are persistent in their prayer lives, dedicated more than I, but who still feel lacking. I just know that after reading that I felt two things; guilt and love. Guilty because, perhaps, I'm not where I feel I should be as a Christian or doing what I feel I should be doing. And love because it was so beautifully written and God-breathed that even in my moment of self consciousness and doubt, I still felt His love radiating from that screen. And when I followed up with a prayer-turned-devotional...well... He "fixed" me right up. Brought me back to where I should be.

Sometimes the commotion, busyness, and distractions of this life begin to smother that fire you have inside. Your fire for God. The fire starts to choke out, begins to stifle your breathing. And you get so focused on the smoke, the fog spreading before you like a flowing dam set free. Gushing. Your mind needs clearing, your mind goes to God. You remember to stay low, lower than the smoke, and you crawl your way back to the fire, to fan the gift God gave you - build it back up (2 Timothy 1:6). It will burn hot once again, flames licking the sky, smoke dying down.

Satan may be the sprinkle rain fighting our fire, but God is our match, our light, our torch. He is the beginning to our every fire that burns. He never goes out, our main resource in times of need and desperation. (Isaiah 10:17)

Jesus was the light of this world, who became our torch when He died at Calvary. We can very well kindle to the burning hunger of our own fires inside but we need to realize and prioritize this essential necessity as Christians. We are armoured against the choking smoke of Satan. But we can't just stand there doing nothing. It's our responsibility that we nurture our fire - our relationship with God - before we nurture anything else. We have to use the tools and gifts we were given to refine it. We are after all, all apart of God's army, Children of God, heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is who we are. We fight Satan everyday. And everyday we win. We win! Thank goodness for God's infinite love, for His sovereign ever-burning torch - Jesus.    

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Ann Voskamp sure was right about one thing. Our King Jesus is enough. Everyday He is enough. He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30), He has knitted us together (Psalm 139:12-13), and has known us before the beginning (Ephesians 1:4 & Jeremiah 1:5). Of course He understands us, our busy lives - He's given us that too! So even in my busyness, yes.

I am enough. 

Hello Again

Life got busy again. Or rather, life got busier. And now I'm three weeks behind in my 365 photo challenge, which, I have the photos -- I just haven't posted them. 

I'm also behind on a ton of other stuff. Like laundry (who's not behind on laundry, though, right?) and cleaning the bathrooms, and my Bible study, and keeping in touch with family. I kind of suck at this working mom thing. I'm not even working 40 hours a week (maybe 30-35).

Basically, three months of having a job and I'm still not organized and good with time management.

I've also made some pretty drastic lifestyle changes that I'll have to share at a later date, which is likely another reason why I've been so off and all over the place and unorganized.

Anyways, I'm still sort-of-around.

365 Photos week 11, 12, and 13 will be up soon!

Happy Easter and God Bless!

365 Photos: week 10

64. sidekick snuggles
65. sibling snuggle love
66. just over half way in The Rosie Project
67. those little waves
68. evidence of a slight lifestyle change (as of march 2nd)
69. starting The Rosie Effect
70. library days ... visiting the upper floor for a change. She loved this!

Sun, Glorious Sun.

 

You guys, if you haven't already noticed, the sun is out and shining it's warm rays down on us! If you haven't been outside much lately, I urge you to go and absorb that sunshine. It seems that turning our clocks ahead an hour was all the motivation it needed to finally warm up a bit. And Hallelujah, thank you Lord! I was beginning to think we would be stuck with this snow for another month or more. But, it's finally melting!

I don't even mind the ugly, brown, sandy, icy stuff along side the roads. Or the streams of water everywhere. It's just melting! This feels like it was such a long winter, even though we didn't actually start getting snow until after Christmas. I think we broke more than one winter weather record as well.

The sun has been out for a few days now and the 5 of us (including Iris) went for a walk around the neighborhood. Leah was splashing in puddles, James was giggling (at the dog hopping in snow banks or Leah splashing - I'm not sure) and my husband and I were really regretting not taking our sunglasses! Iris and I also snuck out alone while James and daddy napped for a quick run the park across the street.

Birds chirping happily, warm, fresh air. I even opened a window and got inspired to clean and gut the house out (read: spring cleaning!). Except I didn't get around to it quite yet.

Anyways.... YAHOOOO!!! I think Spring has sprung!

Kiddie Book Club: Book Review - Loula is Leaving for Africa

A few weeks ago I signed Leah up for the kids book club at our library. Every week they get to choose a book from the chosen book-club-books. I really loved this one. Its by Canadian author Anne Villeneuve. Loula is Leaving For Africa is such a cute little book and a little funny too!

 Loula is fed up with her troublesome triplet brothers and decides to leave for Africa, which according to her is up in a tree in her yard. Her mother's sweet chauffer takes her on a days worth of adventures through "Africa".

At the end of her relaxing day out, Loula and Gilbert sit down with some tea and watch the colours of the sky change. Sunsets are the best in Africa!

 

The watercolor illustrations in this grabbed my attention right away. Aren't they beautiful? I wish I could paint like that! 

 



365 Photos: week 9

57. watching tv like such a big boy. (also: enlarged to show off that growing mullet that my husband is making me cut soon!!)

58. seriously, bath time is such a peaceful time. There is no fighting or screaming (most of the time), and they can be in there for a half hour or more. I love it!

59. Changed some furniture and finally hung some new things on the wall. And Leah posing.

60. since working midnights, these two have gotten so much closer and I love it.

61. currently reading (I was so desperate to read it that I stupidly borrowed it from the express shelf...7 days to read this while I also do everything else! I'm nuts.)

62. those wet neck waves. soft sweet baby hair. i don't want to cut you.

63. pretty icicles! 

Welcome March!

This is probably a post I'll never read again, but where else am I to release these built up and stir crazed thoughts? Its March! And there's still 3 feet of snow everywhere. I heard on the radio a couple days ago that we've had 7 extreme cold warning days this year and 5 of those were in February. What. The. Heck.

I need sunshine -- and not the teasing kind that looks beautiful and inviting and feels warm on the skin (through the window), but as soon as you step outside your nose hairs are freezing stiff and your eyes are watering.

I want to go outside with no coat, just a sweater and watch my kiddies play in puddles and kick the ball around on the grass with them and not have to bundle them up to go ANYWHERE!

I'm sick of winter.

The other day as I was buckling James into his car seat I thought, why do we even stay living here? IF we dislike the cold so much why don't we move? Winter lasts SO long here. But actually, I could never move too far. Never leave Canada. It's great here... except the insanely ludicrous new Sex-Ed curriculum that is trying to be introduced. But that's a whole other issue.

Anyways, welcome March! Winter...you can go away now! That's all.

Hashtag Most boring post ever. Hashtag Your welcome.

Sadness in my head. Love in my heart: Verse of the Week

 

Yesterday, February 25th, in the early morning hours while at work, it began to snow. And it didn't stop. Big chunky, pretty, feathery flakes came quickly but peacefully.

Near 6:30 am a co-worker came in telling us she witnessed a fatal car accident less than an hour before. A family traveling from Alberta. A mother, a father, and a young child -- killed on impact. Another, a baby, less than a year old, airlifted to hospital.

My stomach was in instant knots and I felt sick. I wanted to be home immediately with my two little treasures, hugging them, holding them, loving them. And I wondered, what was the last thing they all said to each other? Were they on their way to see family? I can't even begin to imagine. I honestly don't even know how she still made it into work given the weather and witnessing what she had. I asked her probably 20 questions and started praying almost immediately for that family and that poor baby who is now without parents and a brother or sister. Alone in this big scary, mean world.

I also questioned God.

It's just so hard for us to comprehend His reasoning sometimes. Especially for things such as this. John 16:33 - we are told there will be suffering. But there is also the gift of free will. The opportunity to choose. Choose to do something good, something right, or to do something bad, wrong -- sinful.

And there will be love. No, not will be, there was -- there is love. God did not create evil. However, he did create the potential for evil. Because this (free will) was also the only way to create the potential for goodness and love amongst us. It was us who brought this evil into the world. Humankind. And I think its important that we remind ourselves of this. We are always so quick to blame God and get mad. But He also gave us love.

And real love always involves a choice. Love has the highest value in the universe.

I love how C.S. Lewis put it:

"Why then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.

If we were all programmed like robots to say "I love you" it wouldn't actually be love, would it? My daughter's doll that says, "I love you, Mommy!" Does not actually love my daughter. C.S. Lewis goes on to say:

"Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk."

This is one of my favourite quotes of his. This end of the quote also reminds me of Romans 8:28.

Let's just rejoice for a moment, in this moment of heartache, in knowing that it's not over -- it's not! Because sometime soon, we will be with Jesus and we will be with our loved ones once again, if we just ask Him to be our friend, our saviour, and know that he hung up there on that cross with us in mind. Can you imagine that day? Can you imagine the happiness, the joy? The smiling? God says there will be no more pain, no more sickness or tears. But I wonder, will there be tears of happiness?

I didn't actually plan on this post being a Verse of the Week post but, God works His ways, doesn't He? What other way to end this post but with a verse and a prayer? So here it is: Romans 8:18.

 

Dear Father in Heaven, I am grateful and honored that you would share this gift of love with us, the gift of free will, and the gift of eternal life with You in Heaven. Although our hearts may break for those in pain and suffering, you tell us to have courage and to seek you in times of need. Please provide this family with love and comfort and encouragement and may they seek you, Father, and find you during this horrible time in their lives. To you belongs all the glory forever, Amen.



365 Photos: week 8

50. We don't go to the book shop nearly enough

51. My first ever Scentsy product, and I love it. (Leah's choice)

52. New blankie and an XL coffee. Yep, Extra-Large.

53. My little buddy was so chipper and content on our shopping excursion.

54. Yummiest dinner of the week. Chicken/veggie stir fry and white rice.

55. The best photo I could get of them. The cuteness kind of melted me. It's usually a battle when it comes to HIS chair.

56. Poor babe fell in his crib somehow and bashed his nose and but through his lip. I woke up to matt cleaning up a nose-bleed. :'( 

Top 5 Favourite Educational Kids Movies

We don't have cable TV. So basically we watch all our stuff online or we rent from the library. The best part, its all free! Yay! My kid's have their favourites that I definitely don't mind them watching, and I kinda like them too. Here's our current top 5!

The Wiggles!!

Word World! So cute.



Leap Frog!

Super Why!



Bubble Guppies!

Verse of the week

Well, as I said in my previous post, I've been working midnights and also, 40 hours. I don't think I've ever worked 40 hours in a week. And I know I've never done midnights. So this has been a hard couple of weeks.

But, God knows every possible trouble we may encounter and His Word is there, filled with words of wisdom and encouragement and guidance to keep us going. I chose Matthew 11:28 this week.

In the wee hours of the morning when my eyes are feeling heavy, my mind clouded and my body aching for my bed, I'm hoping this verse will give me the encouragement and strength I need, and an energy boost too would be lovely (please and thank you, God!)

Hope you all have a safe and great weekend! It's freezing cold here, and I would just love to spend it wrapped up under blankies in my bed with coffee and movies and my husband next to me.

Ha, yeah, right. Maybe when we're retired. lol

Dear Lord, Thank you for your unconditional love and support. Please remind me, when I need it, to seek your strength that you generously offer. Please give me rest and renew me for the week ahead. Amen.

365 Photos: week 7

I've been so busy this last week, working the midnight shift, so I'm a couple days late with my 7 photos. But better late then never right?

 

 

 

 

 

43. driving buddies.

44. watching minion movies on daddy's phone has to be on his list of his top 3 favorite things.

45. the book I just finished reading. And honestly? Eleven stars. Holy whoa.

46. sour cream and onion chippy face.

47. I felt like a hippy and the sun was shining, so, selfie.

48. chubby snowflakes

49. sweet slumbering babe

Perogie, Bacon and Sausage Casserole

Yum, yum, yummy!! This was totally random and totally delicious. Some night, okay - a lot of nights I have no idea what to make for supper. I just can't decide. Something (mostly) healthy, and something the kids will eat. It can be hard for us. Leah is so picky, and James is getting picky too. Both kids loved so many different things at one point and then BAM, picky-eaters. I was a picky eater too. So I have hope and faith that one day they wont be pick any longer. One day they'll eat veggies.

Anyways, in a bout of frustration and motivation and randomness, I whipped up a totally unique and randomly delicious dinner.

Here's what I used:

• one pack of perogies
• half a pack of bacon
• 8 mini sausages
• 1 onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• snow peas (but any other veggies you like as well)
• brick cheese
• ranch dressing

So as my perogies were unthawing, I chopped my sausage and fried it up, then fried the bacon and set it aside.
Next I tossed in my snow peas and onions and garlic and sautéed that just how we like it and set that aside.
As I cooked the perogies in the frying pan , I grated my cheese (enough to cover the top of my baking dish)
Once everything was mostly cooked I transferred it all into my baking dish and started layering it up!

• first, a small layer of the fried veggies
• second, all the perogies
• next, I tossed the fried sausages over and just let them fall wherever
• another layer of the rest of the friend veggies
• and then the bacon! Mmmm.....
• And last of all, I topped it with the grated cheese!

I baked it at 350F for about 20 minutes, until the cheese was nice and melted.

Once you serve it up, drizzle with ranch dressing and ENJOY! It was SO good. Both kids and husband loved it!!

14 Days of Love: completed!!

We did it! It's finally done! Okay, so as it turns out, 14 days was a long time. A lot of clues. A lot of thinking. Especially when we were both working full time hours. But together, with me hiding them and him finding them (not always on time) we managed to get to Valentine's day feeling extra loved and accomplished! At least me, anyways.

The Dollar Store was a great place for me to get all of my little knick-knacks and treats. Most days when he found his clue, there would be a treat or little gift. Although, there were a couple days where he didn't find it, merely because he forgot to look. And other days he started to look before I had a chance to hide it! haha. Oh well, it was fun and unique.

On Valentine's Day he had to find his 14th clue. The last clue that would lead him to his valentines gift. I had it locked up in his gun locker.

 

I think next year, if I do this sort of thing again, I'll probably only do 7 days. And I might do it for Leah next year rather than Matt. She would colour pictures for him and hide them, expecting him to find them. Sweet girl.

 

And since it's still February, I'll leave you with a cute little quote I found and really liked.