overwhelmed this week and fighting fear

My newsfeed on FB is full of posts and articles on ISIS and terrorists and bombs and refugees etc....and it's all so overwhelming. So many different thoughts but all the same underlying sentiment: fear.

 So right now, in the moments given to me, I am choosing to focus on Him, who holds us all and is not at all surprised by the turmoil of the world. I am seeking stability and peace.

 Apparently, the Bible tells us to Be Not Afraid 365 times..once for each day. How refreshing the world can look when we take a moment to think on that instead.

#prayforworld

It's amazing how much can happen in one day.

Our hearts are heavy as we learn more of each situation in the countries that were effected by violence on Friday, and are holding them in our prayers.

I don't have any more words than that. Just sorrow.

hello September

I can't believe it's already September!  But I think I say that at every month change!

Actually, after our wet and windy weekend, it's feeling very Autumnal! And I love Fall, so I'm okay with that.

I'm sad that Summer feels officially over now, yet I am also so ready for the change. In less than a week, the kids head back to school, and really they've been ready to go back for a few weeks. Secretly. They won't admit it, but they're restless and starting to get bored and rely too much on the computer for entertainment.  I'm happy that with our rain, it's been dark and cloudy, making it not too hard to convince the kids to head to bed on a more proper time. (the Olders need more convincing though)

It'll be nice to start up a new schedule again, with regular things (like school and Bible study group) as well as new opportunities (like a chore schedule, and preschool and even new teachers) I always feels that Autumn holds more promise of New Beginnings than January 1st does. Then I feel Easter is your second chance to start anew, with thoughts on the reason behind the holiday, and with Spring approaching.

Yay for new seasons that give hope and fresh change!

Adventure Park

It was all because I saw a friend post the question on FB. She wanted to know of some fun and easy places to check out with her son since they were going into Children's Hospital and wanted to make a day of it. It made me stop and consider. I go into BCCH often enough, but I tend to go, get the appointment done, and head home. Get in, get done, get out, get home! But what if this time, I actually planned to make it worth while also? We were going down there for an appointment for Kai's Holter Monitor and that would only take half an hour, and I would have all of the kids with me, so why not make it fun?

I thought of Granville Island and then considered Steveston, but someone said they may not be very fun for kids. Just a lot of walking and stores. H'mm... maybe they were right. It's not like I was planning on buying things. The boys would get restless fast. But Once Upon A Time was filming again; maybe it would work out to see some of it in Steveston! (I was being hopeful for a fangirl moment!)

My sister in law mentioned the Terra Nova Adventure Park in Richmond instead. I'd seen the pictures before of her afternoon there and thought it sounded like fun, so I gratefully accepted her idea and printed out directions! There are the typical swings and slides, and spinning cups, but there is also a water feature (although the water wasn't on due to restrictions) and a rope obstacle course. Most cool was the tandem zipline and the 10m tall "tree house" with 4 platforms and slide, and the twisting slide build into the hill!

We arrived around noon, with a lunch, and didn't find it too busy. There were lots of people there, plus a birthday party and a daycamp group, but I didn't think it was too crowded for the kids. They were patient on the rope climb treehouse structure, and waited just fine for the ziplines. I did lose track of Rhys though, for a good few minutes. This made me a lot more nervous than when it happened at home!  It happened when we were transitioning from the one playground  (the "homestead") to the second (the "paddock") The Olders ran on ahead, but I was waiting to gather the Youngers, when I noticed that he wasn't with either group. It's a fearful moment when you are running between two places, knowing that you need to be quick, and you are trying to think of possible ideas. Could he have left the park, not knowing where we were? How many entrances were there to this park??? Did someone take him? Kai and I started to call his name when suddenly I thought I heard him. Yes! He had decided to climb back up the treehouse for another slide! I actually wanted to cry for the fear and then the relief!

Other than that moment, it is a great playground. Lots of things for the kids to do and for multiple age levels.

I was proud of the kids that made it up the tree house! They felt by the first tier that it was taller than they expected, so some climbed down, but I was so impressed with Rhys, Bryn and Abi for climbing it! I think in another year or two, Eden will do just fine. She struggled with the rope ladder.

 

 Of course, Rhys climbing that ladder was so impressive! It turns out he isn't afraid of heights either! He went at his own pace and climbed with no problems!

The zipline was a lot of fun. But it's definitely not something that kids can do on their own. There needs to be an adult to help with the pushing and retrieving! I figured it was a good excuse for me to get active! (it wasn't easy trying to take photos while also pushing the kids along!)

 

 What kid doesn't love to spin? There were the cups and the "spinnery" (that's the name given on the City of Richmond webpage!) to get dizzy on, which occupied my kids for a while.

My kids love to spin!

Rhys got a parachute man at the BBCH, so he dropped it from the treehouse (he didn't wait for me so I didn't get a good picture of it) and climbed a tree to drop it from.

It was a fun afternoon! My kids are already asking when we can go back, so I'll have to plan another trip again soon! There are the covered boardwalks over the slough and trials to discover still!

long weekend, woohoo!

I hope you're all having a wonderful Long Weekend!  Ours is going to be full of friends and BBQs, so we're good!

Happy BC Day!

Missing Mountains

We used to have mountains in BC. We used to be able to see them from our deck and on our drives around town. But now they are missing, and it's so sad.

Currently, BC is battling over 60 forest fires. 

Chris Hadfield, our Famous (and awesome) Cdn Astronaut, posted this on Twitter today:

To put it into perspective, here is a comparison shot of Vancouver normally in summer (bottom), and Vancouver covered in a smokey haze. Wow.

{photo by Cheryl Smith}

Currently, two communities have issues States of Emergency due to wild fires: Port Hardy and Squamish Lillooet Regional District. Scary thought!

Metro Vancouver is also in a Stage 2 Water Restrictions, which means only watering once a week. A part of me thinks it seems counterintuitive; if it is so dry out there that fires are starting from absentminded people, then doesn't getting things wet make sense? But I also understand that we need to be consientious on our water useage due to it being so dry.  What a summer this is starting out to be!


When we were traveling up for our camping trip at the end of June, we drove past the fires near Lytton. We could actually see some of the orange flames at the top fires! It was fascinating, yet also worrying and sad.  I understand that wild fires can actually be good for us in the long run, but it's sad when you think of the forests being destroyed, the animals being displaced, the firefighters who put their lives at risk, and the air quality making it hard for others.

Last night, the smoke started to become more noticeable in our own neighbourhood. We could see it and smell it when we went out to visit family; it was disturbing. But it was also so hot out, that at bedtime we had to make a tough decision. Do we close the windows and heat up the house further to keep the smoke out? (it was starting to bother my breathing) Or do we bear with the smoke and keep the cool air coming in along with it?  In the end, we closed the windows. Man, it was hot and hard to sleep!

It's so easy for me to get anxious and worried over things that may or may not happen. My mind starts to think "Worst Case Scenario Thoughts", such as what if the air gets so bad that we have trouble breathing and it triggers asthma attacks in the kids? what if the heat doesn't cool down and we are overcome by heat exhaustion? what if we need to evacuate? Thoughts that I don't need to worry about, things that aren't likely to occur, but thoughts that enter my mind anyways.  (for some reason, I think of Pompeii and I wonder what it must have been like for them to see their skies cover in ash and smoke. I know wafting smoke from fires several thousand kilometres away and an erupting volcano above your town are different, but my mind doesn't always make sense!) I've been trying to focus my thinking by  praying for His Peace and meditating on His Word.

I was reminded of these two verses last night:

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.  ~Psalm 56:3

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior....since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you. ~Isaiah 43:2-4

I am so thankful that we have firefighters bravely fighting to contain the many fires raging right now (and am praying for the families involved of the tree feller who died while working on one of the fires last night. It is a hard and dangerous job.), and I am thankful that God is in control of all of this and I can find strength in Him when I feel weak or worried. When I look to Him, I find that the stress does fall away.

Please join me in praying for the safety of the firefighters and volunteers and those involved in keeping our province safe, and in praying for health for those who are vulnerable (the elderly, young children and those with heart disease and diabetes and asthma were told to keep indoors in Metro Vancouver). 

Pray also for rain! (with no lightening)

Happy Birthday Canada!

Happy birthday, Canada!  Just 148 years young!!

I am so proud to be a Canadian! (heck, I'm so proud, it's in my user name!) It is an incredibly beautiful and diverse country. I love it here and couldn't think of any more perfect place to live!

Have fun celebrating! And be safe!!!  We'll be by the lake with sparklers and hopefully s'mores!

Scooters on a Spring-like morning

 See! The winter is past;

   the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

    the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

    is heard in our land.

the fig tree forms its early fruit;

   the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Songs of Songs 2: 11-13a

I can't say that the "rains are over and gone", living in the WET coast of Canada, and I haven't heard any doves cooing (I did hear some seagulls the other day though) or seen any fig trees.... but I do think it's safe to say that Spring is here!  We are so blessed to live here!

We had such a nice morning that Eden had to pull out the scooter and her new helmet and take a few rides after we dropped the Olders off at school this week!

 For the rest of Canada, my sympathy. I post these to give you hope...Spring will come to you as well. I just don't know when. Hopefully soon!

Thankful Thursday

Welcome back to Thankful Thursday, a feature started by Louise at Talk Nerdy to Me, where we look back over our week to remember our blessings.  It is so good to see the good things that have happened, especially if you have had a particularly tough week. Being grateful is good for the soul. Here are just a few things that I am thankful for...

1. Muffins

I am thankful that I am able to bake for the family and that saves us some money on buying snacks.  I am more thankful when the kids actually eat it too!

And I am thankful for little girls who like to help out! (look at that determined face!)

2.  quick cards

B had a joint birthday party to go to with three friends, so I had to put together three cards quickly. It's a good thing I'm a cardmaker!

I didn't do anything too fancy. I figured they were just for some gr 3 boys who were not likely going to keep them. I just wanted them to look good and to have something for B to give them!

Yay for creative stamping!

3. Abi drawing

I love it that this girl has a talent to draw. It's something that I always wished I could do, but was never accomplished in. I love that she will just create cute and fun pictures, and that she will do them mostly for her friends.

I am thankful for natural talent, and talent that we can work at and enjoy and get better at!

4.  fun surprise gifts!

A friend of mine had posted on FB about the Valentine's candies that she was helping pack up for one of her child's class, which I had responded that I was going to steal my son's black ones from his box! (I thought they were in the same class; it turns out that they aren't! oops)  My friend said that she only added the black ones because she felt she should. Normally she throws them away! Imagine my shock! haha

A few minutes later she posted that she was sending some for me for Valentine's Day!

I enjoyed my black jelly beans! I feel loved!

5.  Old music

I pulled out some of my old CDs and had fun listening to them again this week! Yes, I still listen to cds. I don't have everything downloaded! Besides, I have a nice cd player in our van that makes me happy. I love the moments after I drop off Abi at Youth Group on Thursday nights and I get to play my music real loud!

I listened to my Rich Mullins cds "Songs 1 and 2" and remembered the beauty of his words and the musical talent and the tears I cried (in sadness and happiness) at his death. This song has touched me a lot this week: If I Stand.

Stuff of earth competes for the allegience I owe only to the giver of all good things

 If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through
and if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you.
If I sing, let me sing for the joy that is born in me these songs
If I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home.

Oh, I love music!

6. Conspiring Cousins in the Corner

I got to babysit my little nephews this week while my Favouritest Sister had a doctor's appointment. I enjoy spending time with them and I love watching them interact with Eden. I hope we are always able to be close enough for the cousins to grow up and play together.

 7. Early birthday celebrations

We celebrated my nephew's 1st birthday early this month, since this is what worked best for the family. I love family! I love birthdays!

8. visits

We made a trip out to see myparents on the weekend. I haven't been to see them in a while, so this was nice!  We discussed buisness plans and ideas for revamping Once Again Designs and came up with some great ideas! I'm excited about them!

After dinner, the kids played Monopoly with my Mom!

9. Flowers and sunshine 

We have been so blessed with sunshine and Spring-like weather this week.  It really does help with our attitudes and mood. It's hard to be grouchy when there is sunshine after so much rain and chill.

This is why I love living in BC. True Story!

10. 100 Day

This week marks 100 Days of school, which meant that the kindergarten class had a celebration! They made cute glasses shaped in the number 100 (Rhys wouldn't let me take a picture of him wearing them though)  and they each had to bring in 100 items for a snack party.  Rhys and I, with Kai's help, counted out 100 Cheerios! I was impressed with his counting skills! He could count to ten easily, and so we made ten groups of ten, and then he counted up to 100. I love that he is learning and retaining information!

That's my week in a nutshell. How has yours been? What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday: why I love BC

Thankful Thursday

Welcome back to Thankful Thursday, a feature started by Louise at Talk Nerdy to Me, where we look back over our week to remember our blessings.  It is so good to see the good things that have happened, especially if you have had a particularly tough week. Being grateful is good for the soul. Here are just a few things that I am thankful for.. 

1.  Those who serve

I need to start off on a serious note, since it is so heavy on our minds, and on my heart.  I am so thankful for our soldiers, who serve overseas, who serve in our own country, who give themselves to keep each one of us safe. 

I am so heavy-hearted for Nathan Cirillo's family as they have to bury their son, brother, father, nephew, as he died while serving. It was supposed to be a relatively "easy job", standing guard and watching over the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, but that is where he was shot and killed, and the irony aches. Who kills someone at a National War Memorial? I mean, it's to memoralize those who have been killed in war. It's a place that is trying to show peace during heartache.

Thank you to all who do their job to keep the peace, but to those who also have to use force to protect us (like Kevin Vickers did). Thank you to those who dedicate themselves to keep us safe. Thank you to those who, with fear and pride, lend us your children, your spouses, your family, to stand for our country. Whether it be as a soldier, or law enforcement, or emergency responders, or intervention programs....thank you for being brave and standing up for the people.

 Everything after this may seem frivolous or too light-hearted, but I think that we can be thankful for the big and little things in our lives. It all matters.

2. Sleep-in Fridays

I am thankful in more ways than one for this! Our school (along with a few others) implemented a Late Start Friday to cut down on the Pro-D days they have. This gives the teachers time each Friday to prepare for what they need for an extra half an hour, and it gives some of us parents a chance to not have to rush. I like it! I set my alarm for 7:30 instead of 7am and it is nice! I am very thankful for that extra chance to sleep! 

3. Brunch Date

This week, I met up with friends who I haven't hung out with in a long time. We were all best friends in high school, but a move across the country, children, school, jobs, a move back home, family and every day distractions is what kept us from seeing eachother. I am so happy that we finally planned a date to rectify that!

I am also thankful that my friend picked up my bill as an early birthday gift! I wasn't expecting that! 


4. dessert

Abi has now started her Cooking class in Explorations (not that she needs a lot of instruction), so she had to make us Apple Puff Pancake one evening for dessert. It was really good, too! It's like a thick pancake, or an apple pie, maybe a little like yorkshire pudding...it's hard to explain! (you can find the recipe here)

5. pumpkin patch invite

Bryn was invited out to the local pumpkin patch with his neighbour friend, Josh, and got to take home a nice-sized one. I thought that was so nice!

6. free paint!

I was in need of supplies for a few projects I am tackling right now, so I posted on FB asking if anyone had any paint they were willing to pass along. I was so thankful and happy that I ended up with eight 3-4L cans (some more full than others) from friends this week! All for free and all useable! Hooray! And all great colours! (people like to be able to get rid of things sometimes. Especially paint since it has to be taken down to a recycling depot for disposal, and that isn't always the place you go to on a regular basis!)


7.  Books

We head out to the library every few weeks and come home with a big stack of books to keep us busy; I was so delighted in one particular one. Hugless Douglas and the Big Sleep by David Melling. I loved the story and the illustrations were awesome. We laughed so hard that we cried! Seriously! A herd of sheep are stuck to his back!!! And he sneezes the sheep out of the rabbit warren!!! HAHAHA.  Hugless Douglas is my new favourite kids' series!

 




8. mild sleep apnea

I got a call from the Respiratory Therapist with the results to my sleep test. (remember my lovely headgear that I got to wear to bed for two nights?)  Apparently, I have "mild sleep apnea". I'm not too sure what that all entails (because I never think of these types of questions when I'm talking to them at the time), but it looks like it doesn't effect me much. Which means that I don't need to wear attractive headgear to bed on a daily basis! Hooray! I am so thankful for that! He said that if symptoms get stronger (snoring and sleeplessness and fatigue) I should get another test done in 6 months.

9. testing siblings

I was so impressed and proud of my kids when I came home one night and found homework sheets on the table. 

Bryn has a test on his Mapping Unit on Monday, and he is a bit nervous as he's never had a "serious" test where he was told by his teacher to practice at home. (not to be confused with the weekly spelling or Bible memory tests he does that do not make him attempt to practice at home, haha) Abi said that she would help him out, so she actually went and printed up some sheets. There was the map of Canada he had to fill out, and graphs, and sample questions to answer! It looked so great! I was impressed with how much work she put into it (not so much with how silly B took it, though, from the sounds of it!)  She has a natural teacher's heart, and it is so wonderful to see!

10. A Stress Day Off

I am not thankful for stress... stress is a sign that I am taking on too much and not letting enough go and trying to do it all. It is not something that God intends me to have. Yet I still find myself bogged down with anxiety and stress sometimes. So I am thankful for the days that I cancel things easily and just rest a bit.


What are some things you are thankful for this week? Have you thought of starting your own list? If you do, share it with me, I'd love to hear about it. After all, "a thankful heart is a happy heart". (a bit of wisdom I learned from Veggie Tales and Mdme Blueberry!)