Its a New Day

Yep, combined days again (yesterday was a day spent in bed with a migraine so no post). It is hard to believe that it is already the end of the 31 Days.  This has been an interesting experience - being conscious of being thankful for 31 days.  So in light of that I am thankful for this opportunity to have, in writing, 31 Days of Thankfulness. Looking over these posts will be a great reminder of God's great blessings and gifts to me. 

I am thankful today for clothing.  Does that sound weird?  I see lots and lots of clothing come in through the thrift store and while sometimes it makes me feel a bit crazy, I am thankful that we have options.  Sweaters for when it is cold - good snuggling ones and nicer lighter ones for in the office.  When I read back of days gone by and they had 1 good dress and 1 every day dress with aprons to wear over top, I am thankful that we have options.  I do try to go through my closet every season and if I didn't wear it, it gets passed on to someone else who could maybe use it.  My closet is not full to overflowing - by any means.  Quite frankly, I don't have room for a lot of clothing in my storage space so if it doesn't fit then something has to go. (quite handy really). In fact, I think that I have more quilting material than I do clothing... maybe I need to be working on making that pile smaller too... Yesterday was a beautiful warm day and toda...

Today I am thankful for different talents.  This one is harder to write because the last thing I want is to sound braggy but I am thankful for the different gifts and talents that God has given me. Hannah helping and learning I'm thinking of being able to sew.  Last night I whipped up a Little Red Ridinghood cape for Hannah - the girls watched/helped as I laid out the fabric and drew out the hood design and cut it out, sewed it together with the cape and added a button. There were lots of questions "What is that? What does a seam ripper do? Will you be able to see the marker?"  Ending with glad exclamations of "I look like Little Red Ridinghood!" It took about 15 minutes but with everything right there it went very quickly and it was fun to show the girls how to be able to make something quickly. They've helped me before with making quilts (passing me the squares and keeping them in order, then laying the finished strips in order to keep the patt...

Today I am thankful for medicine.  I really have a love/hate relationship with it at times.  Sometimes I have to take a lot of medication for my migraines and sometimes it is the medication that makes the migraines worse (the rebound is often just as bad so it is hard to know if it is a migraine or a rebound).  Sometimes I have to take a lot and then just stop 'cold turkey' to see if it makes a difference. This past week and weekend were especially bad head wise.  I took a few half days off work because it was too much.  Saturday morning I was out with the girls and it came on suddenly so we rushed home where I slept on and off for about 3 hours (while the girls played so nicely and only occasionally woke me up to say that I was snoring - but "not a loud snore more like a purring").  As the pounding in my head continued to worsen I was thankful that I had something that I could take.  It doesn't always work and sometimes it helps just enough so that ...

Today I am thankful Betty Ann.  She is my 'nurse' - she comes along with me to specialist appointments as my other set of ears and asks all the questions that I don't know to ask.  She is also there to help me remember what was said and how long things might take. It was almost 3 years ago when I started to shake and stutter and she came along with me to the Neurologist's office.  When I called to get some results back and my family doctor said it was a tumor Betty Ann was the first person I called.  Didn't he said it wasn't a tumor and now I'm being told it is?!?  Betty Ann called the specialist right away to clear things up and called me to give me the assurance that it was NOT a tumor.  She is there to laugh at me when I ask silly questions or cry with when things just are not going well.  I look forward to seeing her and getting a great hug.  We laugh - she makes me laugh the good belly hurting, head pounding, eyes crying kind of la...

Today I am thankful for Saturday.  Today I get to spend time with Hannah & Julia.  We usually do some cleaning in the morning (we just did the laundry and made the beds) and then we go and do some shopping.  The girls know the rules for shopping: No running away, no saying give me give me give me, I want I want I want, no fighting, no screaming, no going under the cart and hold hands in the parking lot - they have to repeat them every time.  They are ingrained in their heads.  Not that they always remember them but they are there. Today the plan is to go to Lens Mills and find some material as Hannah wants to be Little Red Ridinghood for school next week.  I do have material for a cape but I want to see if I can find something to make a dress too.  Once we get back then Hannah wants me to teach her how to use her knitting thing so she can make a head band.  Since the boys will be gone it is the perfect time to do it. Saturday is a great...

Today I am thankful for friendships.  They come in many different forms:  Old friends who knew you 'back when'   back when you all had fuzzy hair, big glasses and were a bit crazier     Friends that we can laugh with   Friends that are there to give hugs (Oosterhof hugs are the best!!!) Far away friends that we keep contact with through facebook or email   Close by friends that we can stop in and visit New friends - who didn't know us 'back when' and maybe think we're more 'mature' than we really are. Dear friends - who we share our hearts, joys and burdens with As I was helping Amanda with her devotional for tonight I was thinking of the verse that she is using from 1 Thess - to encourage one another and build each other up - as you are already doing.  That's what friendships do.  They sharpen us as iron sharpens iron.  They build us up in our faith.  They encourage us to fight the good f...

Today I am thankful for my mom & dad.  Now that they live closer I actually get to see them (mom used to come up during the day but I would be at work so not see her)!  Last night dad just popped in to drop off some wood for Ryan.  The kids were so excited to see him, the twins snuggled up with him.  Julia tried to tell him about her trip to the Pumpkin Patch (he has a bit of a hard time understanding her) and showed just the right amount of enthusiasm when she showed her cob of popping corn (pointing out that the black on that is really rotten is the 'spicy' one).  He helped put the kids to bed and sat around for a while and chatted with Rachel and I.  It was nice to spend that quiet time with dad.  Just finding out about his day and how things went last weekend at Beacon with Tristan. Mom is over more too.  With Rachel laid up it was nice to have mom closer by to help with the twins.  It is nice to be able to say "I'm coming ...

Today I am thankful for technology.  Oh sure, there are some days that I would like to throw my computer out the window and can't wait to turn off my phone (not that I get a lot of phone calls but when working in an office - you get tired of answering phones).  I still do a lot of handwriting and I like to keep a paper calendar (in the office and personal) but sometimes computers are wonderful. I'm doing some banking things today.  It is a pain (that while in transition of programs) I have to enter everything in 4 places but in January I will only have to enter things once and it will send out tax receipts at the same time saving me lots of time in February. It is also wonderful to be able to keep in contact with friends and family all over the world.  Hettie is emailing from Napal and India, I can keep contact with friends in Winnipeg and the East Coast and all over the US.  Even with family close by but I don't get to see often - technology is a wonde...

I was going to wait a bit to write this one but after this morning I thought I'd write about how thankful I am for the kids that I get to live with. They are nutbars - the whole lot of them - really but I love them to bits.  This morning was just one of those mornings when I realized it again. I came upstairs to make breakfast for the kids.  Blake was sitting on the chair, Anthony was snuggled up with Tristan, Hannah was flittering about and Julia was snuggled on another chair.  It was pretty quiet. I walked over to Blake "Good morning Jen" he said sweetly.  I asked if he had a good sleep and did he want breakfast "Yep.  Outmeal".  I walked over to Anthony 'Good morning, did you have a good sleep?' I asked as I tussled his hair 'Yes'.  "I super love you' I said quietly 'I love you Aunt Shen" he said quietly back. Then Julia realized I was in the room and came to give me a big hug.  Hannah came flittering over to show me ...

Is this cheating? Doing 4 days together?  Maybe but my brain hurts to much to write 4 different posts today and it would be 4 because this weekend was crazy. Friday started off with dinner #1 in Grimsby, followed by dinner #2 in Cambridge.  They were wonderful dinners (the food was soooo good as always!) and it was so nice to meet so many new people and see familiar faces (that I only get to see once a year). Sunday I forced myself out of bed and did make it to church in the am but the migraine that had started on Saturday afternoon was taking over so the rest of the day was spent in bed.  Today I dropped of table clothes, went to the chiropractor and then to the office.  I'll work for a few hours (maybe till the twins have their nap time) and then I think I'll be heading home.  Yesterday was so bad head wise that I wasn't able to sleep and quite frankly - it hurts today. So what am I thankful for today (or these days)?  It is my bed.  No reall...

It is hard to think that half of October is already done!  This month's challenge has been a great reminder for me to be thankful for big and little things. Today I am thankful that God is a creative God.  The kids were helping me bring in my quilting materials last night and as I was emptying out the containers and putting the material away I was reminded of the variety of colour. Tristan is colour blind and not just red/green as is the more common but blue/yellow as well.  He basically sees gray, orange and brown as well as black and white.  He knows that John Deere is Green and the colours of the other tractors, but he really doesn't see the real colours.  He has pencil crayons that have the colours written on them so that he can do his work properly.  When he gets himself dressed he often has to change - nope that red shirt, orange sweater and blue pants don't match.  Most of his clothes tend to go together (except that blue track suit) so he h...

Today I am very thankful the folks at church - our family - and not just from Riverside but the area churches.  Because of where I work I have a rarer opportunity to see folks from the different reformed churches in this area (URC, OPC, ARP, FRC, RP & CRC).  I work with these folks every day and have made some very dear friends. Over the last few weeks, I've come to appreciate our church family even more.  We've had meals brought to our home for a week before Rachel's surgery (while we were waiting for dates and unsure of what was going to happen) because those dear folks didn't know what else to do to help and wanted to do something to give Rachel a bit of a break.  We've had meals brought almost every day for the last 2 weeks and they continue this week - so that Rachel (and quite frankly I) don't have to think about making meals while Rachel is recovering from her surgery. Baking has also come in abundance - muffins, cookies & bars for the kids ...

Today I am thankful for days off.  Not that today is a day off - that was yesterday - but I'm still thankful. With all the craziness of everyday goings on it is nice to have an extra day to just be.  I did start off well.  I slept in for a bit, then did some laundry, cleaned and vacuumed my room, cleaned my bathroom and went to Karen's to pick up my quilting materials so that I can start sewing again soon (you know... when the craziness of everyday goings on slows down a bit). Then I started to not feel so good.  I'd had a pretty good migraine since Thursday but this was going to be a dozy.  I made it home in time and then went to bed.  I slept for a few hours and by dinner time I was feeling a bit more 'human'.  It was nice to be able to stay in bed and not have to think about all that I wasn't getting done at the office or even at home (the laundry got folded - though not put away - and things were clean).  Sometimes it is just nice t...

Today I am thankful for the change of seasons that we are able to enjoy.  There is such beauty in each one and we often take it for granted.  I was talking with someone from Taiwan and they have summer and a bit of a cold time.  No fall with the beautiful changing colours, no spring where it is a bit warmer out and the flowers start to bud. I love driving with the kids (in the fall especially) and hearing them ohh and ahh over the bright oranges, brilliant reds and glowing yellows in the trees.

Today I am thankful for my elders.  Growing up, elders were much older men who were feared - especially when it came time for a home visit.  We were all so afraid that we would not know our catechism questions and what if we did not know the right answers. As I grew older, I learned that there was no need to fear my elders.  The men who have that role at my church, I now consider dear friends (along with their wives and children).  They are men who have a huge responsibility for the souls of those in the church, who spend countless - and unknown to most people - hours praying for and working with people in the church, all while having their own families and full time jobs. I am very thankful for the love and care of my elders - that I can share with them my joys, trials and struggles in my faith.  I am thankful for their wisdom and advice.  I am thankful for the sacrifice that these men make daily for the good of the church.

Today I am thankful for Eli.  It is his 6th birthday.  A crazy kid - like all of them - he loves reading and playing.  Today he even let me give him a smooch without wiping it off :) (which is something to be thankful for).  I cannot wait to see him grow up and what he will be able to do.

As much as I dread the dentist, I am very thankful for my dentist. I went in yesterday (after spending the day in bed with a migraine) and she could tell I was not doing well.  She gave me dark glasses and asked what I was more nervous about. I don't do well with the needle and I really can't handle the vibrations of the drill/sander/anything.  So, a little (well... really it was a lot) of numbing cream, then the needle and she talked me through what she was doing always checking that I was ok.  Twenty minutes later and I was all done. While working on me she chatted with her hygienist.  They are very funny and I spent a lot of time laughing - well as much as you can with a frozen mouth and tools and hands in your mouth.  They very easily put me at ease (even without my 'happy' pills). Dr. Mindy is fast, efficient, funny and very understanding.  Once it was all done I chided myself for being so anxious about going in for 5 days (and the joy ...

I went to bed last night feeling very blaugh.  I couldn't put my finger on it.  Either I've inhaled too many fumes from the tar being put on the roof, I'm out of alignment or I'm getting the flu.  Either way, I was not doing well. This morning I took the kids to school and thankfully the SK teacher was on duty so I could leave Julia (she doesn't like you to leave till the bell rings).  I rushed off to the chiropractor and he said that I was 4 right (he does a scan before and after the adjustment and I'm usually 2-9 to the left). He tried to do the adjustment one way but it didn't work, then he tried another and I could feel the blood start to rush through my body (which usually happens after a 'good' adjustment).  I'm hoping that that is all it was... just being out of alignment - it is either that or nerves about going to the dentist. All that to say I am very thankful for my Chiropractor, Dr. Mark Mitchell.  I can pretty much go in there...

Today I am thankful for my volunteers.  Over the years I have come to know some wonderful people who give up their time weekly, bi weekly or monthly to serve in the Thrift Store or help me in the office.  Even though we come from different churches we have a common bond in Christ and wanting to bring the hope of the gospel to men & women in prison and in the community. We start every morning with devotions at 9:45. It was a suggestion from one of the board members to start out our days together and a wonderful suggestion it was.  It puts us in the right frame of mind for the work that is being done and WHY we are doing it. It is fun to play 'What IS that?" when doing sorting in the back room (we do get some interesting items) or rearranging the store, putting window displays together and just sorting through things.  There is often lots of laughter in that back room followed by "I can't believe someone donated that!!!". These folks have been working fo...

When I first thought about taking part in this 31 Days challenge I thought I would be organized and have a list of things that I wanted to be sure to include in this list.  Well... that never happened... things got busy and life went on.  The list never got made and even the lists that I did make for things to make sure I get done during the week didn't get done. Ever have one of 'those' days or weeks?  Yes.  Oh good.  I have a list sitting on my desk of what I need to get done this week and next week's list is in the works.  With the work dinners coming up there is a lot of planning and details that need to be worked out the week of and so that nothing gets forgotten I have lists.  I have a list that I use from year to year (like calling to order table cloths & booking the venues and the caterers) and then the weekly & daily lists (do the mail, get the tables organized, send out bulletin announcements, do the banking).  There is...

As I look at the bulletin board by my desk and see the pictures drawn by Julia I'm thinking of being thankful for her today.  She is a nutbar.  Full out nutsobalutso.  She rarely is called Julia - it is more often Juliabear or just plain bear or baby girl (that is mostly what mommy calls her).  Did I mention she is crazy?!? :) She loves to snuggle and often will sit in my lap and demand 'Tickle my back' as she lifts her shirt.  You only have to do it till she gets a shibber and then she'll pull her shirt down and sit contentedly.  Julia love pigs.  She has two Piggy Piggy and Sunshine.  Piggy Piggy is her favourite and she'll often chose to play with him over her dolls.  She wants to have a farm with piggy piggys and when I talk about writing my book she pipes up that I NEEEEEED to have lots of piggy piggys for her to play with.   She also loves John Deere and her request for her birthday cake was a John Deere tracto...

Today is Sunday, so the obvious choice is to be thankful for my church. I started to come to Riverside just 13 years ago - the same time that I moved out to Cambridge.  My first introduction to them was Wednesday night bible study.  Hettie and I were invited to someone's home for dinner (which we did every Wednesday for a few years) and then went to Jon & Kelley's for the meeting.  I tried to sneak in quietly behind Hettie when John yelled across the room 'You must be Jennifer the new secretary for Cornerstone!'   I had never met him before but soon found out he was the President of the board.  Great introduction I didn't join right away.  It took a good 2 years.  During that time everything I believed was challenged and tradition was made clear from biblical truth.  It was a hard year but one of great growth spiritually (It wasn't that what I believed before was wrong or that traditions were wrong but coming into a different church ...

Today I am thankful for 'old' friends. I was able to visit with Cher & Betty in TO for a few hours in the morning.  It was very strange to be sitting at the McDonald's on Kipling Ave - and be there with 4 kids.  We used to go there after yp's and here we were again.  'Old' friendships are wonderful.  We had spent so much time together over the years and even though we are all living in different areas (and provinces) once we get together it is as if no time has passed and we quickly fall back in to conversations and laughing.  The last picture of us together just before Cher left for Winnipeg. The years that we had spent together as teenagers were times of great growth spiritually and I am so thankful that we are, after all these years, still able to fall in to easy conversation about our faith, trials, joys and praise our Father throughout. The nice thing about being with 'old' friends is also to see how much we've grown in maturity...

Today I am thankful for my job at Redemption Prison Ministry. It is hard to believe that it was about 14 years ago that I was sitting at my desk in the Optometrist's office and thinking "I need to find another job.  I need to find a job that has more eternal value than what I'm doing here".  Shortly after there was an announcement in the bulletin that Cornerstone Bible Institute, located in Cambridge, was looking for a full time secretary.  I remember Mr. Stewart saying to me "Jennifer you should apply for that".  So I did.  I had my interview with Rudy & Jon.  It was interesting - not like any interview I'd ever had before. Sitting at the kitchen table they asked me the 'normal' questions and then Rudy asked me sit at the computer and type out a letter. The situation was that he was out in BC on a ferry and he needed me to send a letter to an inmate 'Ron' and let him know that Rudy would not be able to meet with him and if he ...

Today I am thankful for my brother in law Ryan.  He was on the list for later, but it seemed fitting after last night that he should be today's. The last week or so my car has been a bit 'rumbly' in the muffler area.  I wasn't too concerned, someone from church had listened to it and thought it should just be fixed before winter. Last night, I went to the grocery store to pick up some soup for Rachel and there was a loud pop and then an eruption of noise as the car proceeded to shake & rattle.  It was shaking so hard that my sunglasses moved from the centre console onto the passenger seat!   And the noise - well - it was so loud that I quickly turned red in embarrassment. I tried to gently come in the driveway and there were Ryan & Rachel chuckling at my 'quiet' entrance.  Ryan went out to look and the tail pipe had dislodged from the muffler.  After a bit of discussion he went to Canadian Tire to get some supplies and we spent the ...

Happy October.  So today begins this first writing challenge and it is something that I have been looking forward to.  The theme for this month is going to be Thanksgiving - which in some ways seems like overkill at this time of year but there is method to my particular madness. Having chronic migraines it is very easy to be discouraged.  To wake up every morning in pain, be in pain all day, go to bed in pain and wake in the middle of the night in pain - well it gets tired quickly.  It is very easy to just dwell on that part of my life and go into that spiral of self-centred depression.  A number of years ago I was having a conversation with a friend who told me that I should remember the good and be thankful.  Since then I have tried to do that from time to time but this is going to be a full month of remembering God's kindnesses to me. So first of all - and most important - I am thankful to be a child of God.  There is such a great comfort in kn...