Category: Life

“12 days, 5 provinces, 5 states, 4780 kilometers and 1 happy family.”

That was my husband’s Facebook post a couple of days ago. I like it. Sums it up well. Couldn’t have said it better myself. But I’m going to share a little more with you about our time away… 🙂

I texted my mum and sister just about every day to give them an update on the trip, and I’m glad I did because I can look back and see what stood out for me each day. And it made me feel like they were sort of with me – I do love to share experiences with loved ones 🙂

One thing that I appreciated every day of our journey – the simplicity of the adventure. We weren’t sure about being available for the trip with moving this summer and selling houses and still looking for a house to buy. In the end, we had to make a choice – to put family first. To step out of the chaos that is life, and sometimes the chaos is louder and busier and crazier than “usual”, and make sure the priority list is still intact, and say THIS is more important than all the rest. I wondered if it was irresponsible to go, then I realized that making memories with loved ones is never irresponsible, and it is, in fact, what matters most.

We chose an east coast road trip because I’ve wanted to do a road trip for years, and seeing a chunk of Canada seemed very fitting for marking the year Canada turned 150. I thought, Let’s show the boys some of Canada – how big it is, how different the scenery can be, how varied the people and places of our country actually are within even a few hours of driving.

There was hardly time to plan – I had mapped out a tentative route just in case we actually got in the car and did this thing. 12 days seemed good to space out a drive of this distance, and we could ferry across the Bay of Fundy and drive back through the US. Two days before we left we decided to just go for it. We looked up places to stay – camping some nights in provincial & national parks, staying in Air BnBs when they were available on such short notice, and cheap bookings at hotels or motels the rest of the nights.  We grabbed a few needed supplies, cleaned the house in case there were showings while we were away, packed the car with room to spare, and jumped into the adventure on July 5th…

Day 1 – We drove to Ottawa but stayed just across the Quebec river in Gatineau. We found an Air BnB apartment downtown. I hopped out of the car and onto my bike just before we arrived, and bicycled into Quebec 🙂 This was after getting slightly lost on the insane bicycle routes in downtown Ottawa, but by the time I made it to the BnB the guys had already unpacked the car – so that was a bonus 🙂 We walked around downtown and got some dinner.

Day 2 – We visited Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal, and the Canadian War Museum. All very important items on our to-do list for the trip (which was not a very long list). Parliament Hill because we were in our nation’s capital, Rideau Canal because it’s on the Unesco World Heritage List, and the musuem gave a great overview of Canada’s contributions in fighting for peace on a global scale. Heavy cost – both Josh and I had family members who served in the wars. For me it was my great-grandfather whose grave is found in a soldier’s field in Germany. For Josh it was his grandfather who was just about to head out on his first mission as a belly-gunner when the war ended – thank God. After all the inspiring history lessons of the day we enjoyed the spectacular views as we drove into Mont Tremblant National Park, Then we had to set up for our first night of camping in the rain. Ugh. The weather broke and Josh cooked a one-pot dinner on our camp stove. We ate by lantern light.

Day 3 – We woke up to rain falling on the tents and dismal skies. Packed up early with everything still wet 😦 This day of travel started out with a couple of unexpected stops… first at a convent/monastery of sorts just off the road. Josh saw it and was completely drawn to it. There was an enormous statue of Jesus we could see from the road. Josh asked at the gate if we could look inside, they let us go into the chapel area after first giving us capes and a lace head-covering for me. It was all very ornate yet simple, you could feel the sacredness of the people and what they’d built – all dedicated to living an undistracted life of faith and service to their community. When we stopped in they were putting together boxes of food for locals – MANY boxes – and this is something they do every week – and they’ve done it for decades. All they have they built on site. They were highly creative and completely focused on their mission. It was overwhelming for me after a few minutes, and I headed back to the car to rejoin the boys as Josh chatted with the nuns. Only Josh right? 🙂 Only Josh. The other unexpected stop was at an outlet mall where we found some great deals on a few necessary items for the family. Then we drove to Mont Ste. Anne to another Air BnB place – the only place we’d stop for 2 nights in a row – a beautiful condo nestled in the mountains. We couldn’t believe the deals we got on some of these places on our trip – and this place was a GREAT deal. We bought groceries and settled in for a little while 🙂

Day 4 – We visited Montmorency Falls and rode the cable car to the top. Looked around a bit before heading into Old Quebec. We made it to a few historic spots before the rain hit, and then we still carried on for a little longer. Such a beautiful place, so unique, so quaint, so much history. We took a wrong turn as we were walking back to the car, and down an alleyway I saw Au Petit Hotel. I recognized it as the place my Grade 8 class stayed on our grad trip – WAY back in the day. A treat to be able to show the guys that little piece of MY history.

Day 5 – We left the comfort of the condo and started making our way to New Brunswick. We stopped at a mall that had a ferris wheel, roller coaster, and huge arcade – we had some fun there before carrying on. 2nd night of camping at De La Republique Provincial Park near Edmunston in New Brunswick. Such a peaceful place! The rain held off and we enjoyed a roasted hot dog and smores dinner over the camp fire. Along the way during our trip Josiah made a fun video of back-flipping as we entered each province – Elijah was his videographer.

Day 6 – We drove to Fredericton area and stayed at Riverside Inn. Another jackpot in terms of inexpensive lodging. Beautiful view of the big river, nice room, laundry only $1, and such friendly people! We spontaneously turned off the highway at one point to visit the Hartland Covered Bridge National Historic Site. Pretty cool 🙂 We went to see the new Spider-Man movie that night at the local mall. By this point we were about half way through the trip, everyone was starting to get a little wiped and edgey, and I gave the choice of heading back home to Sudbury before we ventured out any further. I wasn’t convinced that the sort of upcoming family time would be healthy in our current mental/emotional/physical states 🙂 But the guys voted to keep going, and I voted to keep going, so I hoped for the best 🙂 I’m so glad we made it through that day and stayed the course 🙂

Day 7 – We stopped at an outlet mall in Moncton on our way to PEI! I was so excited to be heading across the Confederation Bridge. I hoped PEI was everything I had built it up to be in my mind – and IT WAS! We camped at the Cavendish site of the National Park – right in the heart of Green Gables country 🙂 We weren’t sure about camping here – the winds were at about 70 knots (that’s INSANE for those like me who have no idea of knots and such 😉 ) It was almost impossible to set up the tent – it took all of us holding a corner and spiking it down wherever we could and then reinforcing it with strong rope and spiking some more. We weren’t sure our tent would hold together through the night, but we just really wanted to try. So we did. At least there were no bugs 😉 We were steps from the ocean, and the people were amazing. Friendliest bunch at the campsite. We chatted with everyone. No privacy but as long as I can step into the tent and block out the world for a few minutes, I’m good 🙂 We all slept so well despite the crazy wind, which had died down overnight. Had my first Beaver Tail with fries for dinner since cooking over an open fire seemed a little ridiculous in that wind.

 

Day 8 – We hung around at the campsite just a little while longer. I ventured out for a long bike ride along the coast and into farmland – it was called the Homestead Trail and I LOVED it – the views were absolutely amazing. Biking into the wind at spots was exhausting but well worth it. When I got back to the campsite the guys had everything packed up and after a quick breakfast of fruit, PB & jam on buns, and hot chocolate – we were off to be tourists for a couple of hours. We visited Green Gables and it was crazy busy, but we still managed to get an idea of the place (for FREE with our Canada 150 Discovery Pass!) and it was really cool (at least I thought so 😉 ) I read up on Lucy Maud Montgomery after that, and it turns out we had alot in common actually – she was a minister’s wife, a writer, she had 3 boys (the second being stillborn), and she suffered from bouts of anxiety/depression in her life. Her life really impacted me and I pondered alot on her for the next couple of days… we can all learn so much from one another… But back to the trip – we drove on to Graves Island Provincial Park in Nova Scotia and camped for the night. No winds here, and no bugs again! This gem of a spot is just off the highway, on an island as promised, with ocean views surrounding it. So quiet, not many campsites, so glad one was available for us when we booked the trip! Peaceful night.

Day 9 – We lingered at the site a little while, I ventured out on another bike ride along the trail around the edges of the park, saw lots of fishing boats on the water. Packed up all our camping gear (that was our last night of camping) and headed out on the road again. We drove through the beautiful scenery of the Unesco World Heritage Site of Old Town Lunenburg (BIG fishing boats and colourful old houses). Then on to our Air BnB for the night – a big old farmhouse near Yarmouth. We sort of crashed here and enjoyed a celebratory dinner of ribs and cake – the sale of our rental house closed that day and we had gotten Josiah’s final grades for school (and he did absolutely amazing 🙂 ) Hard to settle in completely because we knew there was a very early morning coming so we could catch the ferry the next day. But here’s a very cool thing, a God thing – there was a verse printed out and attached to the window frame across from my bed. Can you guess what the verse was? My verse for the year – Be still and know that I am God. Yep, can’t even begin to try to make that a coincidence. I was SO THANKFUL for the reminder.

Day 10 – We woke up early and made it in plenty of time for the CAT ferry across the Bay of Fundy to Portland, Maine. None of us have sea legs, so it turns out 😦 But we made it through the 5.5 hour crossing. We slept, watched the on-board movies, played games, walked around the ship (ugh – I get seasick just thinking about it!) Just before leaving port on the Canadian side there were so many sea lions and herons to see – it was amazing! After the ferry we waited for an hour just off the ship to get through customs. Then we drove for 3 hours to our hotel in the Hartford, Conneticut area. We had a hard time finding a place to eat dinner (we were all not feeling quite well and were sick of fast food) but we settled on Wendy’s near the hotel. As we checked into the hotel we knew there might be issues because management had JUST changed and the hotel was in rough shape. It was a Travelodge, so we thought it would be fine, but it wasn’t. Nothing worked as promised except our beds. I won’t go into it all too much, but we did ask for a refund on our stay, and they didn’t hesitate to give it to us. Folks, it really was THAT bad. So it was quite a day, but we seemed to make it through OK, and I was happy to realize we’d come to a point in the trip that it didn’t really matter what was going on around us, our family could stay tight and keep going through alot. And that is SO GOOD to know as we move into a season of so much change ahead.

Day 11 – We were happy to pack up from the hotel and drive out once again. At this point the trip was mostly about heading back home and taking in what we could along the way. We had been trying to find a place for Josiah to do a little cliff-jumping and hadn’t had any luck with the places we tried. But we tried again this day – heading to a State park that boasted a good spot. And legal too! Just as we walked down the trail to the river to jump, we noticed a crew putting up No Swimming signs. Apparently someone had actually died and another had gotten injured recently. Oh my. We drove through some beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers, stopped at an outlet mall (good places for food courts and stretching your legs a little) and continued on to Utica, New York. We had found a deal on a motel there. It was not what we expected, but it was nice enough and clean, so we stayed. Did some laundry, hit the grocery story, and we settled in for the night.

Day 12 – We drove to the BIG outlet mall in Buffalo – and met my sister there! She had just been at Darien Lake with her family, and we just happened to be at the same mall, on the same day, at the same time – SO COOL! It was a quick visit but I got hugs from my niece and nephew, so it was all good 🙂 Then crossed the border back into Canada and stayed at a motel in Niagara Falls. Greatest deal we got yet, and a nice place with an outdoor pool we enjoyed 🙂 The guys headed down to the falls that night for a ferris wheel ride and some ice cream. I stayed behind – I think I needed to regroup because we were heading home the next day. Needed to wrap my head around the trip ending – it had been so amazing, so much more than I expected, and I didn’t want it to end, but I was OK with it ending because we’d accomplished everything AND MORE that I’d hoped for. Such a successful trip. I was so glad we actually did it. Actually got in the car and just started driving and waited to see what the road brought us. Amazing.

Day 13 – (I just now realized it was actually 13 days!) We headed home! One last stop at Grundy Provincial Park for Josiah to FINALLY get to some cliff jumping – funny how we drove all that way and the only good option was less than an hour from home 🙂 Grundy seemed like a nice place, the weather was beautiful for jumping into the water, Josiah gave us a good show (our family plus some others who were camping there), and Josh managed to overcome his fear and jump off the highest cliff (they call it Kong). We rolled back into Sudbury just before dinnertime. Unpacked the car. Grabbed our last fast-food dinner. Got reacquainted with our house and all that is happening in our “real” lives. Lots to do. Back to it.

SO GLAD we’ll always have the memories of the Canada 150 East Coast Road Trip of 2017.

And now… goofy driving pictures for your viewing pleasure… 🙂

I watched this documentary on Netflix the other day…

LOSING SIGHT OF SHORE – “follows the extraordinary journey of four brave women known as the Coxless Crew that set out to row the Pacific Ocean from America to Australia unsupported. As they row over 8,000 miles during their nine months at sea, they face extreme mental and physical challenges they must overcome in order to go down in history. This is a story of perseverance, friendship, and the power of the human spirit. Everyone has a Pacific to cross.”

I’m not sure I’d use the word “courage” to describe our jump into the ocean of uprooting from our home of 13 & 1/2 years and moving to a city about 5 hours from the shore we’ve known for over a decade.

And I know our personal ocean is quite calm compared to others, and there is far less pain in our Pacific than others will experience in their own ocean crossings.

But here we are, smack dab in the middle of our ocean, riding the waves and facing the storms, and appreciating the calm days as best we can.

And on days like today, when the waves are relentless, I find it helps to write it all down and share it with you 🙂

Our shore disappeared from sight a few months ago. We had been staring at this particular ocean for a few months, wondering if it was time to set sail, to leave our shore of home, community, church, friends, and familiar sights and sounds. After much soul-searching and praying and chatting, we decided to step into the boat and start the journey to a new ministry, new schools, new focus, new community, new friends, and new every-days.

The ocean crossing has been so calm some days – with blue skies, whales breaching, birds soaring, and a view that extends far into the horizon. We can see so clearly on those days, we can almost see our destination across the water.

Then more waves, storm clouds roll in, rain pelts down heavy on us, the wind blows us this way and that, making it necessary to constantly correct course.

I am always reminded of my Word for 2017…

Still

And the Oceans song that goes along with it

And the quote “I can trust the waves for I know the One who made the ocean”

We’ve been out on the ocean for a few months – embarking in our hearts before we removed ourselves physically from the safety of shore.

Our boat is slowly but surely taking us across the water, we are rowing as best we can, there have been breaks in the crossing along the way – moments of laughter, amused incredulity at our situation, utmost trust that God is, in fact, in control.

But there have been dark days, stormy days, and doldrum days.

Days when there’s nothing else to do but sit on the water and wait.

Or days when the horizon disappears in the waves.

Or days when the clouds touch the water and I can’t tell what’s up from down.

Today the sky is gray, today I know there are waves coming. What I don’t know is how big they will be, if they will be storm waves or fun waves, and how much they will toss our boat around as we ride them.

Like all the other days on the ocean so far, this one will end, and we will be that much further from shore, and that much closer to our destination.

The awaiting shore is still so unfamiliar to me, I can’t even describe our new neighbourhood, or the schools the boys will attend, or the closest grocery store – because not even those things are solid ground to land on yet.

But I do know there are friends waiting, waving at us even across the expanse still to travel. There are family members scanning the horizon, keeping a close eye out for any sight of us.

And that helps in the crossing and the wave-riding, still far from shore, still unsure how many course-corrections there are yet to make, still hoping today will be calm waters, swift currents, blue skies and whale sightings.

I wish you well as you cross your Pacific, whatever it may be, whatever waves may come today – may you end today much farther ahead in your journey than where you began.

🙂

I was going to do another couple of posts on Introversion, but there is just so much I want to share with all you introverts and extroverts out there in hopes of understanding one another a little better. I decided to sum it up with a few graphics, some key points, and a heap of encouragement to dig a little deeper into this topic if it’s of interest to you. It’s worth it for sure 🙂

Let’s get on with the show… SOLITUDE is key for introverts.

We simply need a break, need to be left alone. And sometimes it’s our own thought whirlwinds we need a break from. Sometimes it’s the noise of the world in general. Sometimes it’s all the responsibilities that crowd out any semblance of peace and calm. Sometimes we need 5 minutes. Sometimes it’s 5 hours or even 5 days (I’ve yet to take THAT long of a break – I think that would drive even me a little loopy). And because we’re all at different points on the introvert/extrovert scale, our time requirements and circumstances for solitude will all be different. So cool how none are the same, eh? No fitting into molds here. Not a chance.

Solitude doesn’t necessarily mean a chair on the dock by the lake in the middle of nowhere. It can mean a 20-min Netflix show. It can mean a few minutes with a good book. It can mean a glance out the window. A bike ride, a walk, a movie, a sewing project, a daydream, an idea, playing a few songs on a musical instrument, or listening to a few of your favourite songs. It’s a break from what is draining you, a chance to reconnect with that inner side, a grounding moment.

Now, we can’t stay locked away in our heads or in our homes or in our quiet places for too long. At some point we’ll need to step back into the “noise” of our lives. I love some noise as long as I know there will also be quiet. Again, this can be mental noise or social noise, and mental quiet or social quiet.

When it’s time to step out, remember you can be yourself. If extrovert qualities are needed for the occasion, you can pretend for a while even. I’ve picked up some small talk pointers and learned alot about social interaction with crowds and people much “louder” than myself from being married to Josh for 17 & 1/2 years. He’s a pretty big extrovert, big personality, fills a room without saying a word, loves it when people are hanging on his every word, has a million stories to tell, can shmooze with the best of them, etc. It’s actually one of the things I think is great about him, as long as I’m not expected to BE him. And that was HUGE for me to learn – I can be myself, can socialize with him in my own ways, leave much earlier than him, and it’s all just fine. Really. I’m still good, he’s still good. We are just very different. And I like it that way, as long as we can accept each other for who we are – plain and simple. For the most part I am fascinated by Josh and all his extrovert ways. He’s quite entertaining to say the least 🙂

And that about sums up the main concepts I wanted to share with you – there’s SO MUCH more to learn about the topic if you’re interested. There’s a heap of information out there now – I guess the introverts have started to share more now that social media gives them the space they need between themselves and their audiences 🙂

If you have an introvert loved one in your life, this is very important to remember…

 

 

When I speak I have no idea whose talking. When I write I hear my voice.

I typed this out many years ago in an email to a Mom’s Moments contributor. It’s how I feel often. Don’t get me wrong… I enjoy people, being around people, talking to people, doing activities with people… but when I put my fingers to the keyboard and start typing out words… that’s when the magic happens for me.

I’ll add another statement to the above gem…

My keyboard is like my microphone, my stereo system, and my volume increase button.

When I have something to share, when I hope to encourage others with an idea, or when I learn about something that excites me – this blog is where it goes first, sometimes after a few conversations with select individuals 🙂

Learning about introversion has been very exciting for me, very freeing, and I’m hoping will be very encouraging to readers who are introverts themselves or have loved ones who are introverts.

The next 3 blog posts will be about introversion… what it means to be an introvert, what we need to be our best selves, and healthy ways we can interact with the extroverts in our lives.

Yes, let’s get on with the 1st post… More About Introversion… yes 🙂

I highly recommend the books The Awakened Introvert by Arnie Kozak and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. I truly gained alot of knowledge and encouragement about introversion from these books. Quiet is available in pdf form here.

And there’s a wonderful blog I started following called Introvert Spring. Michaela is a very encouraging, gentle soul whose words are suited especially for introverts and those who have loved ones who are introverts.

I already shared a little about what it means to be an introvert so now I’d like to touch on what it might look like to be a suffering introvert, and how we might be adding to our own pain without even knowing it…

A couple of years ago I had a bout with anxiety & depression. This is so common in our world today, and there are many ways we can get to that point. For me it was a mixture of grieving, miscommunication with loved ones, pushing myself too hard and too fast out of my comfort zones, big lack of self-care, and a build-up of sleep deprivation. I was basically a ticking time bomb of confusion and emotion. Everything was on the surface, I’d forgotten how to tap into the inner strength of introversion, and I’d forgotten alot of who I was underneath it all. My foundation had crumbled quite a bit and it was a long process of tearing down what I had built on shifty ground, finding the solid ground again, and rebuilding on the rocks in my life. I never lost my faith, it was nothing like that, there were just so many other noises in my life that I couldn’t hear the still, small voice of the One who loved me most. I can’t tell you how good it was to reconnect with Him, the first and firmest Rock of my foundation.

Going back further in my life, there was always this sense that something was wrong with me, that I was lacking in many ways, that I couldn’t possibly hope to be like others in the world who were healthy, happy, strong, wise, contributing members of society. Recently I’ve come to realize that for most of my life I’ve been comparing myself constantly to people who are completely different from me – no wonder I was always coming up short.

My brother once wrote that we should only compare ourselves to Christ. He was so young when he wrote that. And so wise. He would sometimes post deep thoughts on the fridge for the rest of us to read, and I’m really glad he felt comfortable enough to share that side of himself, to let us into that part of his world. I’m really proud of my little bro.

I had alot of negative self-talk going on in my head – it would consistently drown out any positive talk others were offering in my direction. The negative talk would slap the outstretched hand of the positive talk and not let it anywhere near me. This only added to the anxiety and depression. I don’t remember how it started – the turnaround from negative to positive self-talk, but I do remember one day just knowing I was pretty cool. In fact, I was awesome. I think it started when I heard the still, small voice. It rang true and it rang the loudest in my heart and soul and mind, and I liked it, and I wanted more of it. From then on, when positive talk was offered to me, I didn’t immediately turn away from it – rather I looked it in the eye, and opened myself up to the possibility that it might just be true. Then it was like a snowball – positive upon positive with me at the centre – tumbling down the hill in unknown directions, smashing any obstacles in our way, actually having a jolly good time together – me and this new positive mindset.

And in social situations – I started understanding I wasn’t ill-equipped but instead I was selective – about people, conversations, settings, time, etc. All these little quirks I’d been compiling into a negative mental list and beating myself up about were just normal for who I am, how I function in the world, indicators of how I could be at my best if only I’d see them in a positive light. I tended to shine in one-on-one conversations or small groups, I loved talking about the deeper issues, and my sense of humour was more subtle.

As I began to see myself in a more positive light, I also started learning how to care for my introverted self. I am learning not to berate myself for needing time alone, even from my husband and 2 sons whom I love more than I can say. And I’m learning to tell them my needs, and not cave when they protest because they want more from me. I know they want more because they love me. I also know that when there’s no more to give there’s no use in me trying to give – empty is empty. The best thing I can do is fill up so there’s more to give – very practical, isn’t it? The tricky part is finding a good balance in all the demands of a usually-noisy world so that there is usually some to give to the people in my life I want to give it to most.

 

So… if you’re feeling tired, confused, stressed, or overwhelmed – please know you are not alone. Often you just need a good dose of time away from social obligations. If after a while you find this just isn’t cutting it, you should see a health-care professional for advice. In my own life, I had gotten so empty for a time that I needed some medical help, and it was a struggle to learn this was OK and not another way I was defective or weak. If it’s a biological or genetic issue, help may continue for quite some time, and that’s OK too.

Introversion is simply a personality tendency, and it can sometimes explain symptoms similar to depression – for me it was changes in appetite, sleep patterns, weight gain, fatigue, confusion, indecisiveness, memory difficulties, and feelings of low self-worth and value. Some of these things have been in my life since I can remember, but it was the sleep deprivation and increases in other symptoms that finally got to me. And there were a few causes working together to bring on my bout with anxiety and depression, it was not a single cause on its own.

Introversion  is not an answer to major symptoms or symptoms beyond the ones mentioned here – in that case I would greatly encourage you in the most positive way to ask the advice of a professional. I know people that would not be in my life today had they not gone for the help they needed. Thank God for the help they received.

One last thing that can really bring unhappiness to an introvert is having a misalignment between your goals and your personality – not being true to who you are can cause great stress and frustration. I remember repeating a statement over and over in the time leading up to my “burnout”  – I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. I don’t know what my roles are at this point in my life. I don’t know where my place is in this community. I was so confused and always measuring myself up to what other people were doing and coming up short. I’d completely lost focus on who I was, what I wanted /liked to do, and how to go about living out my passions and dreams in my current situation. And when I tried an idea or tried fitting into a group and it failed, I was knocked down yet another notch, and felt even more like a failure. It was a pretty negative cycle to be stuck in.

Finally I tuned out everything that others wanted me to be, and everything I was supposed to be, and once again I listened for the still and small voice that spoke loudest into my life. He told me He loved me just as I was, that He made me just the way He wanted, and I had alot to offer in my community circles. I was to remember that in this season of life, I would gain the most satisfaction and pleasure from simply finding my roles first in the smallest community that was my own home.  I was needed, wanted, and invited into so much just by being a wife and mother. This was the first set of roles to solidify in my heart, everything else was extra at this point in my life. And soon enough, that would change, the seasons of life are always going to be shifting. But for now, it was so important to be present in the current season of family life.

And once that was solid, I could begin to dream and imagine what else I’d like to put into my life, where else I’d like to contribute. I went back to the beginning, remembered my hobbies and interests growing up, focused in on what I’d added through the years that I truly enjoyed, and began to see the colours on the canvas on my life. It was beautiful! Simple things like bicycling, sewing, watching my sons in their activities, baking, reading, listening to music, watching the trees in the wind, and going to the movies brought some colour. More complex things like international mission work, continuing education, simple living, global stewardship, local service ideas, and encouraging children to help others brought still more colour. Some parts of the canvas remain blank, and I look forward to seeing which colours will fill those spaces. Most likely in other seasons of life.

For today… I think that’s all I’ve got to share… it’s quite enough I think! 🙂 I’ve given you lots of food for thought.

Enjoy your day – whether it be a welcome (or not so welcome 😉 ) draining out in connecting with others, or charging up in solitude… which is the focus of the next Introvert post… coming soon 🙂

In case you didn’t know… I’m an introvert.

I used to feel like it was something to hide, be ashamed of, liked I’d failed at interacting with society, inferior, etc. etc. etc.

Now I feel like shouting it from the rooftops,  I’m so happy about it, about this description that so wonderfully encompasses… me.

I feel free.

Free to be me.

And it’s awesome.

People have thrown that word at me over and over – it used to be shy, quiet, anti-social, nervous, anxious, afraid, weak even – and I never really took the time to completely understand it. I think I might have alot of forgiving to do – of all the acquaintances, teachers, professors, leaders, speakers – all those who crossed my path and just had no clue.

That I didn’t have to be like them to be a “normal” part of society.

That being me was, in fact, a good thing. And not something to be “fixed”.

Ya – do you sense a little ‘tude in my words? Maybe I do have something to work on 🙂

But it’s not me – not the core of me, the essence of me – that can wholeheartedly stay.

Being an introvert, a perfectionist, a people-pleaser, a pastor’s wife, and the oldest child of British parents is quite a recipe for potential angst, don’t you think?

I’m sure we’ve all got our own ingredients to throw into whatever recipe we’re trying to make ourselves into.

Mine? I have longed for a peaceful, fun, adventurous, meaningful, contributing, healthy life since I can remember. I treasure a couple of hours with a good book, a bike ride along the lake, a hike through the forest, a conversation with close friends or family, and a night at the movies.

And I LOVE watching my guys in their different activities. All 3 of them – from Josh preaching to Josiah and Elijah on their sports teams. And I love when sometimes I’m the only one that gets to see their antics – like when we went for a walk in the forest just the four of us the other week. They got up to their usual playfulness, and I was the only spectator… what a treat! Once in a while I’ll even join in with them… once in a while.

You know what? THAT’S OK!

I’m really coming to terms with it, no more trying to be someone else, because then the world would miss out on… me. Whatever it is that I can bring to the lives of my family and friends and whoever I cross paths with in my introverted way.

I guess I just wanted to encourage any of you fellow introverts out there… you’re good. You’re so good. You’re ALL good. Deny it no longer. Believe nothing else.

You are free to be you.

Like I’m free to be me.

Maybe one day you’ll tell me about it.

But probably not. You’ll probably write me about it, if you tell me at all. And you know what? THAT’S OK!

Because I really, truly get it.

Take this quick quiz if you’re curious about whether or not you might be an introvert at heart.

I’ll probably write at least a little more about being an introvert in the next couple of blog posts… I’ve just been holding this stuff in for too long!

And writing is usually the way I get things out… to you.

Sometimes when you’re trying to grab hold of the opportunities it’s hard to live in the moments.

Sometimes stillness is elusive when it seems a million things are vying for your attention.

But I’ll keep trying 🙂

There’s God things coming for our family… good things, big changes, lots of unknowns, exciting adventures ahead.

We’ll be moving to a place that’s about 5 hours from where we’ve been raising our boys the past 13 years. But it’s closer to family, near our old stomping grounds, and there’s lots of opportunity there for all of us.

Josh will be taking a new job as a senior pastor.

I’ll be making my way back to school part-time for a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Our boys will be navigating new schools and new neighbourhoods.

We’ll all be saying goodbye to a place and a people that have poured into us for more than a decade. And we’ve poured into this place and these people too.

Some people are sure to visit us in our new place, and we’ll continue to pour into one another’s lives.

And there are new places and people coming – new places and people to pour into and allow them to pour into us.

Much transition.

It’s been a whirlwind of finishing the last of the to-dos on our house, and cleaning/fixing our rental house so we can list them on the real estate market. And narrowing it down to the right neighbourhood in the place we’re moving to.

But I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We’re rounding third and heading into the home stretch.

We’ve done our bit and we wait to see God do his bit.

It can be pretty fun to watch Him work out the details, can’t it?

Like only He can.

And I can see more moments of stillness coming.

Thank God…

I watched this documentary on Netflix the other day – Finding Traction – it was about the ultra runner Nikki Kimball.  In 2012 she decided to attempt to break the record for completing the 273-mile Long Trail in Vermont. The record had been held by Jonathan Basham who completed it in 4 days, 12 hours, and 46 minutes in 2009. He was 31 at the time. Nikki pushed so hard to beat the time, and kept up the pace so well until the last day when she simply had to take a rest. She came away from her attempt with the absolutely amazing achievement of instead breaking the women’s record by a full two days. Nikki’s time was 5 days, 7 hours, and 42 minutes. She was 41 at the time.

A major bout of depression hit Nikki for the first time when she was in her early 20’s. She learned to adapt and then to thrive with running. She can outlast the best of them, and has gone on to claim many records for her efforts. I find her to be very inspiring 🙂

She found a way to put one foot forward during the darkest times of her life – when everything was confusing, when her hopes and dreams were slipping away, when she had to adapt everything and find new meaning in life.

I’m sure it started with just simply getting out of bed. Putting one foot on the floor, then the other, slipping on her running shoes, and stepping one foot out the door, then the other. One foot further down the street, into something new, facing each step as it came, one at a time, then the next, and the next.

It’s like living in the moments. It’s like simply living. One thing at a time, what’s right in front of you, taking it all in, just one moment, then the next, enjoying what comes.

Pain will inevitably come – physical and emotional and spiritual – all sorts of pain. Confusion will come even as you take one step then the next, out there beyond the safe walls of your house, beyond the safe comfort of your family and friends. Out there in the unknown. But all you have to see is one step. And once you’ve taken that one step, all you have to see is the next step. That’s all. Looking too far down the road, too far beyond the comfort, too far beyond the safe, will only make the first step that much more impossible to take.

Which is probably why I’ve struggled for so long with getting back to walking. I can’t seem to take that first step. It sounds so silly to me – not being able to open my door, and step outside, and put one foot in front of the other. But this is a pretty annoying hurdle to face – being one who loves to go for walks, one who needs to get some sunshine even through the looming winter sky, one who thrives on glimpses of nature to lift my moods.

When I watched Nikki run her Long Trail race, it was about putting one foot in front of the other. And I saw that as she did that, she gained confidence in her ability to take the next step, even if it was slower than she hoped, even if it was cold, even if she hurt in ways we couldn’t see as we watched her race. I also saw that she knew when to admit it was time for a rest, after pushing herself to her absolute limits. This lady knew when to push for that next step and when to stop taking steps for a time. She knew when to tape up her feet and her legs and eat more bacon and get back on the trail. She also knew when to curl up in a blanket in the back of a van and close her eyes for a little while. She let herself cry, laugh, sing, shout, and be silent. There was always someone travelling with her, always supporters ready at the next rest stop. So I guess that’s why I wanted to write about this particular struggle of mine. Because in the sharing usually comes some relief for me, the burden seems lighter, the struggle seems easier to face. And hopefully I will gain some ground. Starting with that first step.

The colder temperatures definitely make it harder – but I have lots of warm clothing.

The barren white landscape outside doesn’t excite me much – but there is always something to see.

The people I meet along the way might not be nice and friendly – but I’ve got many who love me already.

The distance I travel may not be as far as I hope – but it’s only about one foot in front of the other.

And so I’ll give it a shot today, even if the winter storm continues to rage outside. Even if I only step outside to shovel the front deck and grab the mail. Or maybe just take a few more steps down the street. Maybe around the corner to catch a glimpse of the frozen lake. Maybe. I’ll start with one foot in front of the other, and see where the journey takes me 🙂

STILL

That’s my word for 2017.

And I love to have a Bible verse to go with the word…

Be still, and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10

(A dear friend made this plaque for me many years ago… Hi Sarah!🙂 )

And I love to have a song…

As I searched for songs with Still in the title, I discovered Hillsong has a song…

Some of the lyrics of Still by Hillsong go like this…

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God

Which reminded me of this song I LOVE… I’m already on my 3rd time listening to it as I type out this blog post 🙂

And this quote I LOVE… I remember grabbing it from my mum’s house years and years ago… she had it in a daily quotes package… I carried it around in my purse for about a decade…

I can trust the waves for I know the One who made the ocean.

I mentioned that quote and song in a blog post almost 3 years ago.

I’ve been drawn to that song for so long.

So I’ll grab hold of it for this year, to go with my word, to anchor me in the rising oceans and the waves that will inevitably come this year. Don’t they always come? Isn’t there always waves in life? Would I want it any other way?

Sometimes.

Be they good waves or bad, easy or hard, I will focus on STILL.

I know this requires trust. I know this requires submission. I know this requires obedience. But most of all I know this requires love. Knowing that I am loved. Beyond anything I can imagine. And it’s OK to STILL when I’m loved that way.

I will try to remember.

Do you have a word for 2017?

I’d love to hear it 🙂

I had a few more blog posts I wanted to write before the holidays begin, but you know how the busyness of this time of year can sneak up on you… so the posts will have to wait for now 🙂

I did want to make sure to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as we close off 2016 and welcome in 2017.

I love to invite people into my home, and my home looks particularly festive right now, so let’s pretend you’ve just pulled into my driveway…

And seen our Christmas disco house 🙂 We have an outdoor disco light positioned right on the front deck, and though the picture doesn’t do it justice, I really enjoy coming home at night to see the fun has already begun 🙂 And we have some lights around the front door, framing our Christmas tree in the front window. I just love it.

The snow has been falling like crazy this week, and the snowblower and shovels have been very busy making clear paths into our home.  If you try and use the front door, you might be disappointed… the tree gets to take over this door for a month of each year 🙂 You’ll have to use the back door for now…

By the end of the night the BBQ and deck will be full of another fresh falling of snow. There will be about 6 inches of sparkly, fluffy whiteness perched on top of the grill by morning… But we clear a path every day to make sure visitors can get into our home safe and sound…

Come on in! I’ve just done some grocery shopping, stocking the fridge and pantry for another few days…

Make sure to stomp the snow off your feet…

An inside perspective of the Christmas tree… it’s full of decorations my mother gifted to me throughout my childhood – the oldest ornament I have is dated 1975… that’s right – almost as old as I am 🙂 I’ve carried on the tradition for our boys, and they each have at least a few ornaments signifying special events or character traits from each year of their lives. And the lace angel perched on top was purchased on our honeymoon at a midnight madness sale in the small town where we were staying. Notice the 3 presents under the tree… they’re all for me 🙂 My guys tell me not to put their gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve – it’s too tempting for them to shake and squeeze and guess what they’re getting… and they like to be oblivious until they get to tear off the wrapping 🙂

The stockings are hung… on the curtain rods with care 🙂 Josh and I made these our first Christmas together. Josh bought the supplies and brought them home to his extremely new wife (we’d only been married about 3 weeks!) who was sick in bed for a few days… The star ornament hanging on the lamp is something Elijah made this year at school.

And the boys’ stocking I weaved for them for their first Christmas. Each has their name sewn on the front. Alongside their stockings is a wall hanging of the manger scene. A beautiful piece of fabric picked up on clearance sale at Fabricland, hemmed and attached to a small piece of dowling.

And this beautiful wooden decoration from a dear friend, highlighting my favourite name for Jesus… MESSIAH. This hangs in our home year-round since I love it so much.

I hope and pray your holiday season is full of love and wonderful memories. But if not, I hope and pray you catch at least a glimpse of how much you are loved by God, and how welcome you always are into the life He has for you. It’s not always easy, it’s not always happy, but there can always be joy, and there can always be love. That’s what Christmas is all about – spreading the love. First with Jesus bringing God’s love to this world in such a real way, and now with us spreading that love around in His name.

Blessings abundant on you and yours these next couple of weeks… and on into 2017 🙂

I have one more book to introduce to you before the year comes to an end…

I wasn’t sure I’d finish this project in 2016, but it was a little easier than I thought, and I have so much fun putting books together, so I was able to finish it up in time 🙂

The 2017 Bible in a Year Journal is for you…

• If you’d like to read through the Bible in one year
• If you’d like to know more about God and His people
• If you enjoy jotting down your thoughts or favourite verses
• If you’re looking for a different approach to your Bible reading

The 2017 Bible in a Year Journal matches up a daily reading plan with special holy days on the calendar – Lent, Easter, Advent, and Christmas. You’ll read through the gospels before Easter and the Old Testament before Christmas. Each page provides a scripture passage for you to read, and space for you to write, doodle, or draw. Feel free to make a mess of this book – in fact, that’s the idea!

Find this book on Amazon & enjoy your journey through the Bible 🙂