A Fresh Start in 2012

Our Family

I'm back. It's been almost 1 year since i last posted anything on my blog. I don't know if it was a time thing, lack of interest or purpose, and to be honest, i kinda thought 'why do i need to let everyone in on my life'? Do people really care about reading what is on my mind? I have read so many fantastic blogs on topics from crafts to motherhood....and i guess some part of me just felt i wouldn't measure up. So i lost interest and stopped shortly after i started this blog. Fast forward 11 months, and here i sit. I have mulled this whole blog thing over for a while now.....and have come to several conclusions:

Music & Dancing

There is a lot of singing around here....Kaitlyn belts out various songs....from Zaccheus to the days of the week and although Lily can't talk yet, she hums the ABC's and Away in a Manger, remarkably in tune. We sing at dinner to thank Jesus for the food and we sing to the kids just before they fall asleep. Kaitlyn and Lily love to put on their princess dresses and dance to the kids music we have....the dance session usually ends up in a funny game or chase which is hilarious to watch.
I remember as a little girl, dancing to records of Amy Grant, Barry Manilow and Frank Mills....I would make up these dance routines (funny how it never paid off...i am the WORST dancer!!) and then I'd call my mom and ask her to watch. She always came and watched me and said I was a great dancer when it was all over. Seeing my kids dance around makes me smile and remember those days....I want to make sure I always take the time to sit down and watch their routines. Maybe I'll teach them a few moves.... :)

God met me today

Today was a day that i won't forget for a long while. God met me exactly where i was. In church we sang a song today that narrated what i needed to do....
I am going to the river,
bringing sins i cannot bear,
Come and lead me, lead me closer
Lord i need to meet you there.
Precious Jesus, I am ready
to surrender every care,
take my hand now, lead me closer
Lord i need to meet you there.

Triathlon Blues

man, i am super disappointed. The trochu triathalon got cancelled due to the poor air quality from the BC fires....i totally understand why they cancelled it....i guess it is just anti-climactic after doing almost 3 months of training for this one day....and then the day before to hear it is a no go? argh! I am currently searching for another tri to participate in....but we are nearing the end of the season and it is slim pickin's out there....
I do have to say that i don't think the training was a waste at all.... I have so enjoyed training with the 'team' and seeing improvements in my endurance and fitness. Who woulda thought i could pump out 24km in an hour and 10 minutes and actually look forward to biking that again??? not so much the hills where i was practically rolling backwards i was going so slow....but hay....at least i didn't get off the bike or stand up on the pedals...i just used the gears....right down to the very easiest gear one could use.....very rewarding when you crest the hill and look back to see the mountain you just biked up. yup....it has been fun, challenging and exciting to train for this triathlon. Here's to hoping we find one to race in this summer...if not....why not an impromptu three hills triathlon....anyone else care to join in? I have an extra bike....

Kaitlyn turns 3

Wow. how can 3 years go by so fast and yet some times seem so slow? She is such a little girl now....definitely not my 'baby' anymore. Her new thing to say is.....I don't need any help....I'm 3! and she holds up three of her fingers just in case i need some visual help :) so hilarious.
I love watching Kaitlyn interact with Lily, when she 'mothers' her in a gentle way or when she crouches down to Lily's eye level and talks in a high pitched voice and puts a soft hand on Lily's shoulder....it melts my heart. so loving and adorable.

Kaitlyn making her birthday pizza!

Oh Kaitlyn, you are so sweet. so full of life. you love to sing....about everything....inevitably whatever is happening will soon be narrated by a song that you are making up in that moment. You love me. and i love you. we love eachother even when we have our moments of selfishness (many of those) and impatience......we say sorry to each other and give hugs and start fresh in that moment. You love your daddy....and your sister Lily too.

Phil's artistic skills....

What more could we need?

Amazing. Just absolutely amazing. I really think Phil and I should start writing a book, or at least get better at recording all the ways God has provided for us....in both big and small ways. We often compare ourselves to the Israelites who forgot so quickly how the Lord saved them or provided for their every need in the moment....if we look back on even the short time we have been married (5.5 years) we can see how God has been preparing the way for us, guiding us along, during which 'waiting on the Lord' was the lesson to be learned, which to be honest has not always been easy. Phil and I admitted today how we are more impulsive than we would like to admit, but the Lord is working on us in that department. And honestly, the wait is ALWAYS worth it in the end. We gotta remind ourselves of that each time we are tempted to go ahead at lightning speed and get what we want or need....
Praise the Lord. He hasn't and won't even give up on us....even if we frustrate Him like crazy...which I KNOW we do! Thanks God, for blessing us in so many ways. May the Glory be only for You.

God in my living

God in my hoping, there in my dreaming.
God in my watching, God in my waiting.
God in my laughing, there in my weeping.
God in my hurting, God in my healing.
Be my everything.

I love the lyrics to this song as it reminds me of how God is standing with me as i journey through this life, i know at times he is carrying me, or holding my hand, or protecting me from things i cannot see or crying with me, or laughing with me.
Oh how He loves us, and wants to be everything to us. It is us who choose not to let Him into our days. I am at fault. I don't know why i think i can do it on my own and have the same results as when i bring my day before the Lord. Especially now with Kaitlyn and the precious age she is at where it seems like every 5 minutes there is some sort of correction needed (aka terrible 2's!). I feel so overwhelmed sometimes with how emotionally exhausting it is and there are times where a good scream outside sounds good to me! :) But as my wonderful friend encouraged me with the other day, the Lord gives wisdom to those who ask for it. That is something i need to rely on ALOT these days.
As i trudge through some of my days, i need to remember to invite God to be in everything that day, and to rely on His wisdom in raising my kids. I am so thankful for Him.