Someone needs to speak up.

This needs to be shared:

http://www.liveaction.org/inhuman/

It is not for the faint of heart; viewer discretion is advised and make sure no kids are around. This girl, Lila Rose, has taken it upon herself to expose the horrendous actions of American abortion clinics and doctors. It is truly disturbing what goes on in these places. To me, abortion is the biggest sign that our culture has turned its back on God. Merciless killing of innocent babes, sucked or torn apart out of their mama's wombs. How can this be? How can we have let this happen?

I did a little research because I realized that I have no idea what Canada's laws on abortion are. Well, come to find out, there are none. A baby can be aborted up to nine months gestation. Are you kidding me? This has gone way beyond the so-called "Roe v. Wade" situation. This has gone beyond a young girl being raped and needing a way out. This has gone beyond a mother's life being at stake. This is hell. And our tax dollars are paying for it. If that doesn't sicken you, I don't know what will.

I see Satan's name stamped all over this atrocity. This atrocity that people try to gloss over in the name of "Women's Rights." How does it help women to rip their babies out of their bodies? What does it do to their psyches to know that a doctor has stuck scissors inside of her and snipped her baby's umbilical cord so that it will stop "pulsing" before he takes it out? True story. In the name of "her body, her choice" the cruelest of cruel acts are taking place. Not only are they tearing babies from their mothers' bodies, but if these babies dare to be born alive? They'll kill them outside the womb. I am not kidding. Canada and the US are in the top four countries that perform these unspeakable acts. Canada and the US. Two of the supposedly most advanced and "civilized" societies.

Read through Lila's website, which I've posted at the top, if you can handle it. You will not believe what you see and hear. God have mercy on us all.

* If you have gone through an abortion, this website is not for you. I have nothing but compassion for women who have had abortions. I believe that they have been lied to, deluded, and are paying for their choice with deep regret and sorrow. These women are victims too.

Nicholas is eight!

Happy birthday to my Nicholas boy! I cannot believe you are eight years old! Where has the time gone? I don't know what I'd do without your strength, your tenacity, and your hugely compassionate heart. God knew I needed you to be my boy!

When you're happy...

...when you're active...

...when you've got attitude...

...I love you all the time!

Happy birthday, big boy!

Waking up is hard to do.

This morning's Joy Dare...


May 4th - Three gifts before 9am:

1. sleeping in on a Saturday

2. Lucas making French toast

3. the sun shining in a blue sky

And because it's actually been a hard morning, with kids fighting and people being cranky, here is a fun song that I listen to all the time. It's a reminder that God has a plan for my kids, and for me.

Love or bitterness?

Bitterness is impatient and unkind; bitterness envies and boasts; it is arrogant and rude. It insists on its own way; it is irritable and resentful; it rejoices at wrongdoing, but does not rejoice with truth.

I'm sure you've never heard that passage from 1 Corinthians 13 in quite that way before. I always thought that hatred was the opposite of love, but I'm coming to believe that it's actually bitterness. Bitterness encompasses a lot of different negative emotions, clearly the opposite ones to those which love fosters. In our world, everyone has a reason to be bitter. There is too much broken and wrong with life for all of us not to have things to be bitter about. Bitterness stems from a sense of injustice, from our pride being wrinkled and holding a grudge of resentment towards whoever has wronged us. This is where it begins, anyway. But this is only the root. Once that root is there, much bitterness flourishes, and spreads, and wraps its tentacles around everything and everyone the bitter person comes into contact with.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. Hebrews 12:15

I feel like I can talk about this because I deal with it everyday in my own heart. None of us are immune to it and I am no exception. I might pride myself on the fact that I don't allow bitterness to affect my friendships, but then I will find deep bitterness in regards to how my kids are maturing (or more accurately not maturing) or I might feel resentful and bitter against my husband. The point though is to not let it fester and grow and take root, but rather to give it over to God and let Him deal with whatever injustice you might be bristling from. It isn't easy, but I know from experience that it is doable and He always comes through.

I've lived long enough to watch several different people suffer from bitterness. It is a devastating sight to behold. It helps no one, least of all the person who can't let it go. I have seen families ripped apart because of it, grudges held for years. I feel like the saying, "You can only change yourself" is starting to become really over-used but it is very true. Because this is what the difference between letting bitterness grow or rooting it out: People are going to do things to hurt you. They are going to say things that don't make sense and rub you the wrong way. They might even hurt you or someone you love in a really damaging way. But when the wrong has been done to you, you need to let it go. If you carry all that offended pride inside of you, it is going to fester and poison you, and eventually everyone else around you too. You have no control over what others do, but you do have control over what you do, how you react to situations. When you stand before God someday, He is not going to be asking you about what others did to you, but what you did to others.

I've found it effective to just let the offenses roll off my back, pick them up off the floor and hand them to God. This is much easier said than done, as sometimes what someone does or says or doesn't do or say can completely rankle. It takes a lot of effort to put aside my own pride and sense of injustice and just let it all go.

Anyway, these thoughts have been rolling around in my head for weeks. I have come face to face with bitterness too many times to not say something about it. It is a very real problem but God wants something better for us. He calls us to love, regardless of how people treat us. His own Son was the living example of loving those who hated Him.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, 

but rejoices with the truth.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 

A boy's love.

It has been such a long time since I've written here. I've wanted my blog to be a place of encouragement for other moms, a place where I share what I'm learning on the journey. I've been having a bit of writer's block lately, but mostly I feel like if I write anything it's going to be like the blind leading the blind. Not that I feel like I am leading anyone in any way, just, you know, how can I possibly feel like I can share what I'm learning when sometimes it feels like I've learned absolutely nothing? There has been some serious attitude going on in our home lately, and not just from the kids. My kids are bad, yes, and I'm sure that is not going to change anytime soon, but what I cannot handle, is me. I believe sometimes that 80% of the drama that goes on here is because of me. I am the kind of person who feels like her point needs to be made, even if it is the exact wrong moment to making it. Pair this with a child who is exactly like me, and you can probably see what kind of circular, endless arguments we get ourselves into. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't be like me.

In typical God fashion, prodding me to His greener pastures, I read this verse this morning, during a study of Esther of all things, and the first part hit home: "The heart of the wise teaches his mouth..." Proverbs 16:23 Now, I realize this is going to seem random to some, but when you have my problem (verbal diarrhea, ha!) this verse speaks volumes. I promptly wrote it out, taped it to my cupboard door and I've been thinking about it all day. I shared it with my boy (who is afflicted with the same problem as I) and we both thought about what it means for us. We have to teach our mouths to keep quiet. We need to ask ourselves if what we're about to say is helpful or kind and if not, then don't say it. It is so very, very hard, but we're trying.

It's been a hard few weeks and no one knows this more than my long-suffering children. Today, I was sitting in my chair, reading when I felt a paper airplane whoosh past me and land on the floor. I ignored it, as this is par for the course in our home. Half-hour later at supper, Nicholas says, "Mommy, did you read the airplane?" Instant understanding dawned on me. "No," I said, "but go get it and I'll read it now." When he brought it to me, on the top part of the plane I saw, Unfold at Once!! So unfold it I did and inside I found a page half-coloured in green (his favourite colour) with a pink heart in the middle. It said - to: mommy from: Nick  My boy, my intense, feelings-burying, non-expressive boy felt like he needed to tell me that he loved me in the only way he knew how. His way of reaching out and mending his part of the fence. And this, this is what makes being a mom so worth it.

Food.

It's been a long time since I've updated this blog. It's not that I haven't had anything to say, but I guess I just haven't felt the need to articulate whatever has been on my mind.

Lately I've been in cooking/baking mode. Which is really, really, really weird for me. I've always professed to hate both cooking and baking, but for whatever reason, I've been spending lots of time in the kitchen lately. Maybe it's because my family needs to you know, eat, or maybe it's largely denial that I am supposed to be losing weight, or who really knows. Whatever the case may be, I've come across some really yummy recipes lately. Shall I share?

Goulash - This was a real hit with Lucas and I and although the kids weren't the biggest fans, it was one of those meals that I could convince to eat without any tears.

Mac and Cheese - This is from my new cookbook that Lucas got me for Christmas, Picky Palate. I've been on the search for the perfect mac'n'cheese since Lucas is uber-picky about how his mac'n'cheese tastes and I also wanted one that the kids would feel was a good substitute for Kraft Dinner, so when I tried the one from this cookbook, and it was two-thumbs-up from hubby and kids, I was thrilled! I've made it a few times. It's so easy and so, so yummy. It's perfect alone for a lunch, or a side at supper-time. If you would like the recipe just let me know!

My favourite chocolate chip oatmeal muffins have always been the Quaker packaged kind, so I've always been on the lookout for a recipe that came close to the taste of that kind. I finally found it online and of course I totally forget where, but I've got it copied in my recipe book if anyone wants it. They taste just like the packaged kind but I feel good about feeding them to my family because they're homemade without all the gross preservatives in them.

One Sunday night I had a craving for waffles. I am not always the biggest waffle fan as I find waffles very heavy and cakey sometimes. I do eat them, but always kind of wish they were lighter and fluffier and less sickening. Well, I went online and searched 'fluffy waffles' and came up with this one.  SO YUM. Best waffles ever. I didn't make the syrup that they recommended, but the waffles were amazing. Light, crisp yet soft and melt-in-your-mouth. This recipe has become a Sunday night or Saturday morning staple in our house.

And there you have it. Since I have been becoming more adventurous in the kitchen, not with my own creations of course (I'm not there yet) but with new recipes, I'm sure I'll be sharing a lot more in the future! Stay tuned!

A gift.

One of my favourite Christmas presents this year was from my mom and dad. A canvas painting with a saying on it:

This photo of it is terrible, but it at least gives you an idea of what it looks like. Someday I will learn some basic photography skills. Anyway, here is what is says, since it's not at all clear in the photo:

In this house we do second chances

we do grace

we do real

we do mistakes

we do I'm sorrys

we do hugs

we do family

we do love

First of all, I love the painting. That door standing ajar, open with possibilities, just makes me happy. But most of all I love what it says. It is so 'me' and suits our family so much. 

Thanks again, Mom and Dad!