No Stasis Here

My last blog was before Friday and now this post is after after Friday. The beautiful thing about time is that it passes at a constant and steady rate, uninterrupted by circumstance, people, or mood.  My first thought was that I was once again in stasis, a state or condition in which things do not change, move or progress, but now realize that is not true!  Over the last 10 months, I have grown, changed and moved forward! No stasis here! I am very thankful for the time I have been given and the lessons I have learned. I have made a promise to myself that I will never overcommit myself again. Instead, I will invest that time in my faith, my family, and my friends.  This is a huge change for me - once again, no stasis here!

I woke this morning with a great sense of relief that this part of my journey is done, and now rests on the back burner for the next couple of months.  This song was on my mind before my eyes opened.  I have included it here as it may be relevant to you as well - the highlighting is my own, and indicates words that particularly spoke to me.

Great is Your faithfulness oh God

You wrestle with the sinner's heart

You lead us by still waters in to mercy

And nothing can keep us apart

So remember Your people

Remember Your children

Remember Your promise

Oh God

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice God of Jacob

You use the weak to lead the strong

You lead us in the song of Your salvation

And all Your people sing along

So remember Your people

Remember Your children

Remember Your promise

Oh God

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough for me [x2]

So remember Your people

Remember Your children

Remember Your promise

Oh God

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough for me

Your grace is enough

Heaven reaching down to us

Your grace is enough for me

God I see your grace is enough

I'm covered in your love

Your grace is enough for me

For me

Thanks, Virginia

I have a friend in Ontario, actually I have more than one friend in Ontario. This particular friend posted a very applicable Bible verse today:

But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.  2 Chronicles 15:4

I am pretty sure she did not know that distress was lurking around but her timing was amazing.  Thanks, Gin!

Encouragement from Different Places

Encouragement is so crucial these days and it comes from many different places....I am thankful for that.

Yesterday my dad took the time to phone me and tell me about what he had been watching on TV.  There was a man talking about the promise found in Deuteronomy 28, a chapter about blessings and curses.  My dad was particularly struck by verse 7 - The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

I got an email from Joan White, a friend of my mother's. She wrote: "I was talking to your Mom last night and know you have been sailing through some troubled waters lately....and I want you to know that I will be praying for you that day and each day until then for strength, clarity of thought and a quiet spirit.  I pray you will be encouraged and know that you are loved and prayed for today.  Remember Jesus is in the boat with you."

Today's encouragement came from a couple of different places: 

1. chatting with my wise momma
2. a "Verse of the Day.  Colossians 1:8 says, "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful."
3. a video posted by my awesome niece Sidsel Richmond. She wrote "Life is tough but so are you."  Check it out the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5yCOSHeYn4

I hope you are encouraged this day as well.....

Beautiful Tree

Alfred Joyce Kilmer (6 December 1886 – 30 July 1918) was an American journalist and poet who wrote one of my favourite poems.  It goes like this:

I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.

I love trees - arbutus, lodgepole pines, Douglas firs, cedars, corkscrew willows, pink dogwoods, Japanese maples, California redwoods.  Each of these has unique significance, representing or reminding me of something precious in my history.  And the picture below shows what has happened in my recent history.

Notice how the extra branches are now visible, sticking out in all directions - the core is of the tree is solid, but it is pretty obvious where some trimming has to happen.  The last 10 months have been about many changes, one of the most significant being the stripping away of many good things that I was involved in. 

• full-time classroom teacher
• math teacher inquiry project
• Terrific Kids program
• SFU – Surrey cohort
• SFU – Abbotsford cohort
• ADTA staff rep
• BCTF Teacher Inquiry facilitator
• BCTF parent presenter
• foster parent training
• Sweet Adelines chorus

As a result, the core of who I am, my sense of self, has been strengthened.  My life now looks like this tree:

Now I see things from this perspective of Psalm 1:1-3 and I am thankful for God's grace...

Blessed is the one

   who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

    or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

  and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

   which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.

Uncle Ed's Reminder

Growing up in my family of origin, I learned the very significant lesson that family is not restricted by the definition of blood relation.  There are many people in my life who are my family....Ed Barbin was one of these people and it is to him, I dedicate this post.

Uncle Ed is married to my Auntie Ruth.  I have known and been loved by them for 45 years.  Their daughter, Katherine, was my childhood friend, and their daughter, Janet, was our long-suffering babysitter.

I have had many gut wrenching, soul destroying moments in the last 9 months, and my guilt about the burden I am to my precious husband has weighed deeply on me.  Brian has been selfless...and I have been on the receiving end of so much grace.

I was bemoaning the fact that I was such a burden to Brian, and my Uncle Ed dealt with that guilt with 7 simple words.  He reminded me of a promise that was made 23 years ago.  He reminded me, "He made the same vows you did."  

And in the moment, I realized that Brian is in this with me.   Twenty three years ago, he vowed, "I, Brian, take you, Laura , to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Thank you Uncle Ed for reminding of Brian’s promise.  Because of you, I will remember it always.  Enjoy heaven!

Salmon in the City

I have a doctor in Port Coquitlam, whom I see on a weekly basis.  While I am at my appt, Brian goes exploring.  Until this last week his favourite new discovery has been Summit Tools - I will write about this in another blog.

This week was a surprise for me!  We had Daisy (our dog) with us so Brian took her for a walk.  When I was done, Brian wanted to show me what he had discovered so off they went. We went across the street to Lions's Park and we walked across a small field, down a rocky path that was maybe 25 ft in length, and ended up on the edge of a very shallow Coqutilam River.  We were treated to the spectacular site of salmon going upstream to spawn.  I had seen this before when we lived on the Queen Charlotte Islands,  but Brian had never seen it, and he was so excited!

The beauty of that day stays with me - a beautiful river right in the middle of a high density urban area was full of salmon. I love that!

Here is the video...

Timely Words

loved this post on my wall today.....God's timing is unique....

Saw That you are not working. Some school is missing out . Just wanted to tell you that we been really blessed by teachers to our children over the years. you being one. The book you gave Emily when she left Dunach. Special. The constant encouragement to all three of our children was noticed and appreciated. I am not a music person but thank you for putting MONTHS of effort into the Dunach musicals. Giving kids a chance to perform. some people are teachers by nature. you. I am not!!! I homeschooled one semester and they are lucky to be alive! Have a great day!