Legacy

We all desire to leave a legacy. A mark on the world before we leave it. To make or do something spectacular so that we will be remembered.

I am beginning to realize I've already done it. I have two living, breathing, legacies. Olivia and David - each a little bit of me, and a little bit of their daddy. The more that Olivia grows, learns and repeats - I realize, she's a mini-me more than just looks.

She's a great helper, eager to help with anything I'm doing - and I'm learning to let go of control, to allow things to be a little less than perfect and love that she is helping. She empties and loads the dishwasher with me, folds laundry and is always there to lend a helping hand making dinner, or baking. 

Last night she had a leftover Frosty from Wendy's that she wanted to have after dinner. After watching me share some with her brother before giving the rest to her she says "Why did you give that to David?" "Because I told you that if you were having ice cream you needed to share with him." She says "Oh, sorry about that. I will share now. I was just having a little moment." Precious, but mommy in repeat verbatim!

Leaving a legacy is more than just inventing something or making sure you were the popular kid in school that everyone remembers. Legacy is so much more than that...it's the person you are and the influence you have when no one else is watching - what you say to your children, your spouse or your friends, when the doors are shut and "no one is listening" - someone is always listening.


I have two legacies in the making, but it is up to me and my decisions as to how they will remember me, and what they will remember that I taught them. But more importantly how they remembered that I showed them the love of Jesus, how I spoke to them, to their daddy and to my friends - and even more importantly, how I speak of those who are not present. 

Be wise in what you speak, and wise in your actions. The legacy you leave your children should be one of the grace and mercy of The Lord. I'm learning this daily and am daily grateful for the love and grace that God shows me, even when I am most undeserving.  

Little Miracles, Tiny Wonders

Tiny little fingers, sweet little toes. These are the things I've missed the most about my babies who are growing into tiny people more and more each day. But as I reflected today after all the sweet little people who were shared with me this morning while their mommies had a break and a teaching with the amazing women of our church, I realized that these precious babies of mine are still those same little fingers, and sweet little toes. 

They might be little bigger, but little none the less. I have been given such a great privilege and honour in raising these little ones, but more importantly I have the greatest joy to share with them as I raise them to know the saving Grace of our Heavenly Father, who we lean on extra now that our special earthly daddy is away during the week. 

Tonight as I painted those little toes and fingers blue, and heard "That's so pretty" while her brother splashed in the bath next to us, I thanked God for each of those toes, and each of those fingers. I counted the blessings of each toe and each finger, perfectly formed and beautiful in His image. 

And as I head to bed, my precious little three year old awaits, and maybe I will have those sweet little toes shoved into my back while she sleeps sideways, but one day I will miss each of those toes and I pray that I don't take these opportunities for granted while they are still tiny and little.

Holding my little miracles a little closer tonight, and can't wait to see the tiny wonders we discover tomorrow...it is Library Wednesday after all :)

While I'm Waiting | John Waller

Waiting

While I'm Waiting - John Waller


I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait


And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step on obedience


While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait


I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait


And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience


While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait


I will move ahead bold and confident
I'll be taking every step in obedience


While I'm waiting I will serve you
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint


And I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You Lord


I found this song tonight while I was looking through some Christian music videos on You Tube. It put into words what I couldn't say - but I'm feeling.


I really thought that the waiting was over, we had waited together for 9 years and Chris had waited 19 years and now it was over - he had a job at Bruce. 


I've realized that not only in my current situation, but in every moment I spend here on earth, I need to be waiting on the Lord. He will lead me as I allow, and as long as I am listening and following Him on obedience - I will be waiting.


As I ponder waiting for this season to be over, I have discovered that the more I wait for this week to be over so Chris will be home, or wait for this month to be over, or for this year of uncertainty to be over, I also need to enjoy the experience; spend these precious moments apart from my husband pressing into God, finding His will for me. And in this moment, His will is to provide for my children, to be their rock in this time of uncertainty, to be there when they need extra snuggles, or cuddles, and to be tucked in repeatedly until I've lost count. 


Waiting on the Lord is never easy, but also don't waste your moments waiting on things to change, God is patiently and gently leading and as we follow and wait upon Him we will also find freedom in His embrace, knowing He is beside us when we feel lonely and lost.


Thank you to my dear friends for the hugs, phone calls, lunch dates and prayers. God has not forgotten me, even when I have forgotten Him. I am a very blessed woman, and seeking evenmore to be the woman of God that He has called me to be.

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

It happened. I said good bye to my husband this afternoon as he headed off for his first night away in preparation of his new beginning tomorrow morning at Bruce Power. I had a tearful parting as I left with our children and headed to church as he headed to his "home away from home" for the next week. 


As we drove home tonight Olivia asked me "Mommy are you missing daddy lots already?" I replied "Yes Liv I am." She asked "Why were you crying when daddy left?" I explained to her that I wasn't used to him being away and it's the longest he's been away since we were married 5 years ago. She replied "But I'm still here and I will snuggle you." 


It's not going to be easy but God gave me that precious little lady to help make it just a little easier. I'm so thankful for my beautiful babies. (Even when she reminds me she is no longer a baby!)

Perseverance

Funny how the little things in life teach us the greatest lessons. In my case some of the littlest people in my life teach me such great things each day. 

Sunday evening we spent some family time outside as Olivia and her daddy were watering the new garden with special "flower water" some might also know as fertilizer. She realized that as the grass got the water from the hose, the worms also made an appearance. Over a span of about 15 minutes she went from "Daddy move that worm back to the grass" to "I almost got this one, Daddy!" and several attempts later we heard "I GOT HIM! LOOK EVERYBODY I GOT THE WORM!"

Now, of course if we were all three years old, this is what we would wear to garden, and feel it most appropriate, because we have our rubber boots on ;) 

Chris has been practicing perseverance too. It paid off in his wait for an opportunity at Bruce Power and has equally paid off in his long hours of gardening, creating a lovely landscape that will be enjoyed in spring! 

The littlest one in our house has been trying, and then refusing, to walk for several months now. Today, he walked in the presence of Grandma and Papa while they babysat and walked from one side of their living room to the other from Grandma to Papa. I got to see this first hand at home when he walked from my arms to his lazy-boy chair about 10 steps in all. I wasn't able to capture it but I sure will treasure the memories. I will share photos of his many steps to be as soon as I can capture them! 

Perseverance has paid off in our little family. I am still in pursuit of living a life pleasing to our Heavenly Father, but in watching the successes in my little family over the Thanksgiving weekend, it has reminded me again to be thankful for the little things that happen each day, and not to be disgruntled with where we are in life.

Smooth bedtime routines would be great, but listening to the giggles as David visits in Olivia's room - turning her fan off and on, and finding all the mischief they can together, leaves me with the choice to smile and reluctantly open the door and send him to bed, or to be frustrated that they are not doing the "proper thing" - tonight I chose to enjoy the giggles and laughs, knowing that they will not be this small forever, nor will they always get along so well. 

So as we continuing to pursue those things that we feel are most important, my prayer is that we remember to take a break and watch the little miracles that are around us each day. 

Desires Of The Heart

It has been 19 years since the seed was planted in the heart of an 8 year old boy. He traveled on the tour bus with his dad and toured the Nuclear Power Plant on the Bruce Peninsula. During question period, he asked the tour guide, "What do I have to do to work here?" Amidst giggles from the "grown-ups" that surrounded him, she replied "You need to make sure that you work hard in math and science." 

His love for chemistry and all things flammable or explosive led him to many "incidents" in the science lab at the school he attended. Many of those stories are told and retold as he gathers with friends from the "good-ole days". After high school he followed his dream and applied and eventually graduated from the Chemical Engineering Technology Program at Mohawk College. 

Through co-op placements and contacts from friends, he has worked in many variations of his dream job. Three years ago he watched and celebrated as a friend's wife became employed at Bruce Power. Still he never wavered from his dream.

In February there was a mass hiring at the plant, but he had broken his leg and his wife was not prepared to take him on a 6 hour round trip with two small babes and a broken leg for an interview. He was disappointed and not prepared to hear "God will bring this in His timing, and right now your job is to heal and get better" but he heard it. 

July rolled around and a phone call came from his friend's wife and she told him about a chance encounter she had with a head of the chemistry department, he needed to apply asap to a posting he had missed and hope for the best. 12 hours after applying he had a phone call requesting an interview for the following week, which coincided with a business trip he had to back out of, with no explanation. 

Within an hour of the interview he had been sent a package with the paperwork to complete an intense background check. 16 pages and $26.00 to FedEx later he had sent off permission to investigate his whole life - yikes!

And then the waiting period, 3-6 months. Pretending nothing had happened so that it wouldn't eat at him, he continued on the daily work of his current job and continued to pray and seek guidance. A new opportunity arose at the office, he was the new "point man" for the launch of their new product - a trip to California set for next week. Instead of excitement at the opportunity he felt guilt, knowing that it was possible he could be leaving soon after the trip. Prayers went up asking for guidance, and praying that an answer would be given before the trip came. 

His prayers were answered at 10:50am yesterday morning. He had an offer of employment and a start date of October 24th. 

He is my husband, and I am so proud of him. The journey is continuing forward, a divided family for a one year period to see if this is permanent, but God has led us to this journey, and he will lead us through.

Thank you friends for all of your prayers, as difficult as they were to ask for, and equally difficult to pray I'm sure. We love you all and look forward to the journey God has called us on.