This Christmas

This year, we will be celebrating Christmas with a tiny little human who will forever change our lives. I.am.so.very.excited!  Living over 4000 km from family, Christmas can feel like a much too quiet, sometimes lonely occasion. We have been blessed with friends so dear, we feel like they are family...but this is their home, and they have relatives and events and meals to attend to, and it's a reminder that in the end, it's just my sweet man and I.

Well this year feels a bit different. We will now be three, instead of two. We will now be Mom and Dad, totally preoccupied and in love with our new baby, probably exhausted. Everything will be just a little bit more magical. Baby's first Christmas Eve, church service, stocking, tree ornament, Christmas morning. Of course our little one will have no idea what is going on, but Devin and I will always remember the first Christmas we could look at our miracle and be so full of gratitude.

Since I've been thinking about Christmas a little more than usual, I've also been thinking about how I would like our family to "do" Christmas.  I want the focus to be on Jesus, people, memories and love; and very little focus on decorations, presents and "stuff".  Lately my heart has been leaning towards simplicity and living with less, and my hope for Christmas is no different. We decided our baby will not be needing much for gifts this year, or any year really. We'd like to keep the presents minimal, and the focus on the important stuff.  I saw a neat little poem on Pinterest awhile back that said a good rule of thumb for giving gifts to your children is "something they want, something they need, something they wear, and something they read".  This year we got baby Roddick many books, a baby Bible, a stocking with their name on it, and a personalized Christmas ornament. We also will keep our gifts to each other minimal this year, and hopefully for good. I love the feeling of changing the focus and making it simple.

As our child (and hopefully others to come) grows, I imagine reading the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible together, watching Christmas movies, lighting the Advent candles, baking together, visiting neighbours and friends, decorating the tree, bringing baked goods to neighbours, shoveling out driveways for elderly people...I could keep going. I'm sure it won't always be as sentimental and warm and perfect as I'm imagining, but as long as our family remembers to put Jesus first, to keep it simple, to think of others and show them love, it will be excellent.

I'd never change it

This morning I was reflecting on my relationship with Devin, and how I feel so blessed to have a happy marriage. I am very aware that this is not the reality in many marriages, so I'm certainly thankful. Then my thoughts turned to our baby, and I thought about their future spouse, and I began to pray that our child will find a person who loves God, and loves them a lot. Then I began to think about all of the things that could bring our child hurt or disappointment in their future (I immediately thought about infertility) and in my Mommy instinct I began to pray that these things wouldn't happen.  As soon as the words were out, I knew they weren't quite right though. Thoughts of our own infertility issues and waiting came to my mind, and of course I don't want my children to have to deal with that, but I found myself changing my prayer. I began asking God to use any struggle that our child may face, in the same way He used infertility for good in my life. My first true test of faith came with the hurt and disappointment of infertility, and I'd never change it.

Now that I'm bursting at the seams with our precious babe waiting to make an appearance to the world in about 5 weeks, I am overwhelmed with joy, peace, gratitude, and a rush of other emotions. There were times when I really couldn't envision looking down at my pregnant belly. I knew God loved me, but felt like maybe I wasn't worthy of being a Mom. That was just one wrong idea I had on top of a pile of others. Some of the ridiculous thoughts that crossed my mind while we tried to conceive were: "It's my fault, I'm probably not healthy enough." "Maybe I did something wrong that I haven't asked forgiveness for." "Maybe God is trying to point out a problem in our marriage that we need to resolve before we can have a baby", and the most embarrassing one as a believer: "maybe God isn't so kind, since He could give us a baby and He isn't".  From the time we hoped to conceive, until the magical day we found out I was pregnant, I pushed God away, and came back to Him over and over again as I studied the Bible, prayed for answers, and spoke to beautiful encouragers he put in my pathway. One by one, God used specific situations, people and Scripture to eliminate these doubts, fears and lies the Enemy was speaking.

Though I fell for a lot of lies during that hard season, there was at least one lesson I believe I really did need to learn before being blessed with a baby. Last winter I was becoming angry and impatient, and I was worried that my attitude was becoming too bitter, so I decided to go to a Christian counselor in Moose Jaw. I don't remember much from the hour long session except the counselor's question: "if you never are able to have a baby or even adopt a child, do you think God is still good?".  In my hurt and vulnerability, I knew that my truthful answer was I'm not sure...maybe not. I felt extremely guilty for that answer, but at the same time, it was the first step to completely opening my eyes up to the inherent goodness of God. The next couple of months my heart was beginning to change. I was finally aware that the wall between God and I was put there by me, and began to chip away at it as I drew closer to Him and realized His beautiful goodness.

The final breakthrough seemed to happen when I went to a beautiful, remote island off of Vancouver, to a women's retreat called "Come Before Winter". I thought I was going there to help me improve my knowledge and skills in church ministry; boy was I wrong.  During that week of intense worship, prayer, solitude, Bible study and very rainy walks by myself, God revealed Himself like never before. I was overwhelmed by His presence...and when you're in God's presence, there is no doubt about His goodness, I just knew it. At the end of the week we had to do a 3 minute talk to the group about what we'd learned while we were there, and my little speech was about this wonderful new knowledge I had: "God is good, all the time, no matter what, God is good". I told them how we had been waiting for a baby for about 2 and a half years, and I compared my time of waiting and wandering to that of the Israelites wandering in the desert. Though they complained and grumbled, God never left them, and His goodness never changed. He gave them manna and quail to eat, a pillar of fire and a cloud for guidance, among many other provisions as they did their desert walk. During our "desert walk", God provided dozens of people who hugged me, cried with me, prayed for me, shared their own heartbreaks with me. He gave me sermons and Bible verses that inspired and encouraged me. He gave me a husband who was always there to pick me up. Though I complained and grumbled like the Israelites, He was there, and He was still so good. The amazing ending to that story is that while I was having a spiritual transformation on a rainy little island in BC, God had blessed us with a perfect little miracle probably a matter of days before I went on this trip, that I wouldn't know about for another week and a half. I don't believe it was ironic or coincidental, but just His perfect timing.

So, back to my original thought. No, I would never take away that 2.5 years of waiting even if I could change the past. Coming to the end of this desert walk (though I`m sure there will be others) has been the most amazing, affirming, beautiful time in my life, and I will forever have the lessons I learned while I waited. My faith is so deeply entangled and rooted in God now, it gives me confidence that He`ll be there in every trying time that is sure to come in my life, and that when those challenges do come, He is still good.

Looking off of Keats Island, BC

Sweet friends

Assuming positive intent

I've always heard that you should "never assume, because it makes an (ya know) of 'u' and 'me'." I've never thought too long or hard about this, but always kind of laughed off that silly little quip about the word.  However, lately I've been starting to think more about assumptions and how they affect me and others. 

I heard some great advice from a dear friend of mine that I met when I moved to Gravelbourg.  The advice wasn't actually directed at me, I think I have heard her say these words in different settings like Bible study or book club, but they stuck with me. These wise, simple words are: "Always assume positive intent".  I've been really pondering this today and it came to me that she is so right. When I assume the worst of a person's intentions, I truly do make a fool of myself, and it's unkind to the other person. I could easily get my feelings hurt and assume that person intended only to hurt, frustrate or anger me; but the truth is, most people don't have the time or energy to live their lives to irritate or hurt me, and assuming they do is pretty self involved of me.

My dear, patient husband has taught me a lot of things in our 4 and a half years of marriage; but one influence he's had on me that I appreciate the most is how he's helped me to "just relax". Not just in the way he helps me sit down and watch an entire movie without getting up and running around the house just for the sake of being busy, but more importantly, he's shown me how to just let things roll off my back. He's shown me that some things just don't need to take our time or energy worrying. Yes, there are circumstances that warrant our time and attention where people are trying to hurt us with their words or actions, but I think those are fewer and further between than we might think.

I have days when I'm feeling pretty nice and relaxed and I do assume positive intent; but there are other days when I'm quick to judge, and quick to let my negative internal chatter rear its ugly head. I don't want to do this, and I need to make a conscious, prayerful effort to assume positive intent, because wasting my time assuming the worst is unloving and hurtful.

We've all been around others who seem to have nothing but the worst to say about others, and it's exhausting. I do not want this for myself. I do not want to be known for my negativity, but for my grace and compassion.

Lord, my prayer today is that You will fill me with overflowing grace for others around me. Help me to always assume the best intentions of others, and to shut out the negative thoughts that I'm tempted to have. Thank you for the wonderful example of love you have shown me, and please help me extend that love to others.

Amen

Television

"ARGH!!!!!!!!!!"

This is how Devin and I have been feeling about television and movies lately. Complete and utter frustration. I feel silly even bringing it up sometimes because it's such a "first world problem". But the reality is, it is our reality. We don't have to watch anything, EVER, if we don't want to, but we do want to. Life is slow in Gravelbourg, and sometimes it's nice to sit down and watch something on Netflix or television and just do a little nothing for awhile. The issue here is we can find very little lately that is not making us cover our eyes or squirm with discomfort. The nudity, the sexual innuendos, the cursing, the accepted immorality, the crude talk, the sex scenes...and on and on it goes. Even advertisements in the middle of the day are showing far more than I'm comfortable looking at.

I'm a big girl, I can turn off the TV when this happens (and I do), but it is happening more and more and it is starting to really get under my skin. Maybe it's pregnancy hormones, maybe it's personal convictions, maybe I'm starting to think about our precious baby coming into this messed up world. I feel the need to run and hide from this ridiculous world sometimes. I feel helpless to change it. I will just continue to turn off the screens, and pray:

Lord, have mercy on us. Protect our eyes, and guard our hearts. Give us discernment and self-control to turn away from the filth, and cleanse our minds of what we have already let in. Forgive us for the times we have thought these types of shows and movies were acceptable to watch, and protect us every time we turn on the television. Help us to honour You in all that we see and listen to.

Amen

How to stay in love

1. Choose love.
2. Love selflessly. It's not only about you.
3. Choose love.
4. Treat him as you want him to treat you.
5. Choose love.
6. Affirm him with kind and uplifting words.
7. Choose love.
8. Find/make alone time with him.
9. Choose love.
10. Spend time doing something together that you both enjoy.
11. Choose love.
12. Talk, communicate, explain yourself...he cannot read your mind.
13. Choose love.
14. Have the same patience with him that you would have with a friend or co-worker.
15. Choose love.
16. Pray for him and your marriage everyday.
17. Choose love.
18. Forgive quickly, and quickly ask for forgiveness.
19. Choose love.
20. Don't look around, don't look at pictures, don't look at movie stars, don't look at your neighbour-Look at HIM and love what you see.
21. Choose love.
22. Say Thank You.
23. Choose love.
24. Laugh together, laugh at his jokes, laugh at yourself.
25. Choose love.
26. Choose him over work, hobbies, house cleaning, friends and family.
27. Choose love.
28. Do random acts of kindness for him. Surprise him.
29. Choose love.
30. Read the Bible together.
31. Choose love.
32. Pray together.
33. Choose love.
34. Count his amazing qualities and all of the reasons you are thankful for him.
35. Choose love.
36. Remember the reasons you fell in love in the first place.
37. Choose love.
38. Be honest and trustworthy.
39. Choose love.
40. Always defend him, support him and show him respect.

And when all else fails...Choose love. It must be a choice. Not "like", or infatuation, or passion, or romance. But lifelong, unconditional, selfless, difficult, forever love.


Proverbs 17:9
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

Song of Solomon 8:6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.   1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...

Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

A letter to myself

Dear Holly

About 5 months ago you were preparing yourself for a trip to Cuba. Worrying about new bathing suits, flip flops and SPF. You were hoping this trip would help ease the difficulty of that incredibly long, hard Saskatchewan winter, and give a nice distraction from your longing for a baby. Off you went with your beloved Devin to the beaches of Cuba where you snorkeled and swam and ate weird food. You were very tired, and not feeling all that great, and a tad bit emotional. You were a bit surprised that Cuba maybe wasn't as great as you thought it would be. You even marched stubbornly out of one of the evening shows put on by your resort because you were appalled at the lack of clothing the dancers were wearing, and wondering how in the world was this type of show acceptable for children?! You may have been a tad bit irrational that evening. You were ready to go back to winter after 7 days of sun and sand.  Although you weren't totally consumed by it, you (as always) were thinking of your cycles and temperatures and charts. You were anxiously awaiting the moment where you could test to see if "this is the month", just in case. Though you were anxious, you were unfortunately not all that hopeful. You had "been there, done that" month after month; but it didn't stop you from wanting to test once more.

So you arrive back in Canada. Tanned, burnt, and exhausted. But before leaving Saskatoon, Devin stops at Wal-Mart so you can buy a 2-pack pregnancy test. Cuban resorts didn't think that was a priority item to sell in their gift shops! You get home incredibly late and go straight to bed.  The next morning you wake early, and you don't want to waste an "opportunity" so you tested. I'm still not sure what you did, but the test didn't work. No positive or negative showed up. How disappointing! You head back to bed for a few hours and then when you wake again you hold your bladder as long as possible until Devin awoke. Sometime around 10:30 or 11 am, Devin was awake, and you had to go now, so you tested again...and this time, there were lines. The test worked this time, but wait, it had TWO lines. That meant positive. That meant a baby. That meant a miracle! Let the celebrations begin!

Holly, the reason I'm writing this letter to you, is to gently remind you that a miracle has happened, and is still happening inside of your womb every single day as your darling little one is growing. I want to remind you that there was a time when you had to plead and pray and claw at hope from day to day because the wait was becoming long and worrisome. I want to also remind you of the faith it took to believe that God does love you SO much, even though He didn't give you that baby the moment you desired to be a mother.  I want to remind you of how painful and vulnerable infertility is, and to remind you of the women and couples that are still facing this challenge. Who have not seen the end of their wait yet.  Please continue to be sensitive to those who physically hurt every time a friend or family member announces they are expecting...even when they want to be happy for them. I want to remind you of the trust it took to believe that God had a great plan for your future, even when you couldn't see it, and that same trust will be necessary in so many other circumstances in the future...so hold onto it!

I want to remind you that the "dry season" you have just gotten through in your life will not be the last one, and you need to hold on to the lessons you learned during that time, and thank God for opening your eyes.

Homesick

I have been living in Saskatchewan for just over 4 years. I recently found a journal of my first summer here. I was newly married, newly graduated from the University of Ottawa, and more miserable than I would care to admit. I was (and obviously still am) head over heels in love with my amazing new husband, and so happy to be with him after almost a year apart while I was in Ottawa and he was in RCMP training in Regina. But, silly, nagging homesickness got in my way. I was a coast loving, salty air breathing, Maritimer at heart, and being told by the RCMP we were now going to be residents of Saskatchewan for who knows how long made me literally feel like a fish out of water. Instead of lakes and beaches, we were surrounded by a "sea" of wheat and canola; instead of singing alongside of my guitar-playing husband at church most Sunday mornings, we were attending a quieter non-instrumental church service; instead of spending holidays and special events with family, it was now just the 2 of us.(Thankfully we made fast friends who took us in as their own family! But I'm talking more about the first summer here when we were brand new). I was making many efforts to "suck it up" and become accustomed to this new life. We have made beautiful friendships that have forever changed my view of what a loving friendship should be. We were invited into family gatherings, Christmas celebrations, Thanksgiving dinners, and just felt totally welcomed by our new friends and church family. And it did make such a difference. The homesick, lonely days came a little farther apart, and I could accept that Gravelbourg really was my home now, even if I was still a bit hesitant about it.

So here I am 4 years later, still missing that East coast. Today I was in tears within the first 10 minutes of waking. I was overwhelmed at the thought of another long day of wandering around the house finding odd jobs to keep my mind busy, or walking the dog a couple of times to pass some time. I'm frustrated that after 4 years I still can't find contentment with my surroundings. I hate being that person who thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence (or in my case, country), but the reality is I often find myself dreaming of living in Prince Edward Island, or Nova Scotia (of course), and I let myself believe I would feel more at home there. The good girl in me feels immense guilt for my discontentment, and I automatically shame myself for not being grateful for what I do have. It's really a vicious cycle. I feel sad because I feel homesick, but then I feel sad because I'm guilty for being discontent, and then I feel frustrated because I don't know how to fix my discontentment. Oh yeah, and I'm pregnant, and I'm sure those hormones are really helping me along!

So, this evening, the pup and I went out for a little sunset drive, and as I was driving home, my mind was finally relaxing a bit, and I started thinking of the "little" things that happened today that made it good:

1) My sweet man let me cry on his shoulder, and told me "it's OK" to be sad, and to cry. I didn't say a word to him as to why I was crying, but he took my hand and brought me to the calendar to count down the days to when I'd be visiting Nova Scotia in August.

2) A dear friend stopped by with 2 adorable little gifts for baby Roddick that just melted my heart. Her thoughtfulness really touched me.

3) We had delicious homemade pizza for supper, and Devin helped me prepare it.

4) We went for a lovely sunny walk this afternoon, and the air wasn't too hot or humid, it was quite nice.

5) My pup and I went for a little drive this evening and watched an amazing sunset and admired the yellow canola fields. It was beautiful.

So, maybe I'm having another homesick day, and maybe tomorrow will be too, but I'm just so thankful that there are so many good things, people and blessings I can count every day to remind me that the grass is green on both sides of the fence.