The Blessings of Life

Right now I am looking around my living room, and listening to the silence in our home. My lilies are busy doing their school work and the living room is stacked with suitcases etc. It is not time to go on our trip but the packing has begun.

Earlier this week we learned that we would be moving from our cramped two bedroom apartment into a three bedroom row house, I can tell you the joy and excitement we have all been experiencing has been long in coming. The fun part at least for me is that though I have to try to pack up the apartment once again in a short space of time, I do not have to move any of it. My dear husband will have that wonderful job.

But it was my oldest daughter who surprised me with her words as she sat contemplating what it this all would mean, and she said, "Mom, I am willing to stay home and help daddy with the move." I chuckled at her, thinking, "yeah, right! You'd stay while your sister and I went to England." But after some time of pondering her words I have come to realize that my little lily is growing up, she was willing to make that sacrifice, when I sure did not want to. What did that say about me? I questioned myself, and what a wonderful blessing my little lily is to me (sometimes I don't always see it). What a wonderful example of love.

Did not Jesus give himself as a sacrifice for us, how amazing was that. He willingly gave himself for us, for the sins of the world. He is our example.

Though we are about to embark on another move our spirits are high and we are walking in the joy of the Lord and have the promise of His blessings, as I see God in the midst of our hearts and our home. Knowing God is right here in the centre of our lives, we hold onto Him as we trust Him for each step we take. And we bask in the blessings of life.

Dancing in the wind

This evening I was out for a walk with my family, I started out well, but found that I needed to slow down here and there as my back began to hurt. My body felt like it was betraying me, telling me how out of shape I was. I had not been on this trail before, so it felt like the walk was never going to end.

We walked along the river and saw several ducks paddling in flocks and crossed a couple of bridges(you should know that I hate bridges have done ever since I was a child and my dad use to try to drag me over the little bridge at the local pond where I grew up). It was there that the wind picked up and I raised my arms and twirled, like I was a little girl again. Arms held high I seemed to take flight as on eagles wings. Then I realized, the very same thing that I had come to dislike over the past year living in Saskatchewan (the wind), I was beginning to appreciate with new eyes.

I hated the windchill of -40 Celsius during the winter, and decided I did not want any part of it. Yet, now I noticed how the grasses swayed and danced in the breeze like waves on the sea. The bull rushes seemed to raise themselves to their full height as if in worship to the Lord, they too swaying gracefully in the breeze as to a song. I am amazed as I view the wind with a new respect and remind myself of how amazing God's creation is and wished that I had brought my camera to capture the images before me.

I raised my hands again and felt the cool summer breeze that brushed past my face and over my arms and I thanked God (Jehovah) for the beauty of the wind, and I twirled in the breeze and could feel His peace roll over me. Peace that only God can give, and I say to myself, "Yes, Lord, thank you for the wind!" And begin to dance.

Introduction to the Lilies of the field

Hi! I would like to welcome you to Lilies of the field.

This is our first blog and I am looking forward to sharing our family life with you.

This has really been a transition time for every member of our family, we are home based educators and we educate our two children both girls at home. Sydnee 10 and Kezziah 9. I am the primary educator as my husband Rob works. But most of all we love the Lord and try to walk in His ways.

A couple of months ago we moved from a large city, and a small three bedroom house with basement and backyard, into a small two bedroom apartment in a small town in Saskatchewan. I have been trying to fight the depression and despair that I have been experiencing on this move, and know that by God's grace that I will make it through.

You can imagine the upset when we have to leave most of belongings in storage so that we can be together as a family. It is not always easy, but it our life and we believe that we have to take each day and make the most of it. We are not perfect but we know the One who is, and for that I am really thankful.

When I began this blog I wondered what I would call it, and as the girls and I begin a very special trip, I thought of calling it Lilies of the Field, because we are like lilies growing up in a field, beautiful, learning to be all that God would have us become. I wanted to dig deeper in my faith and see His hand of provision for us. In the Bible, Jesus said, '"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not not labour or spin. Yet, I tell you, that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."' This speaks of what we are expiring to be, beautiful lilies, provided for by God.

Especially at this time as the girls and I are embarking on our journey to Europe in a few weeks. To say that we are excited would be an understatement. I watched as my two little lilies jump around the apartment dancing and singing for joy. I have listened to the squeals and yells of my little lilies as they chant "We're going E-N-G-L-A-N-D --P-A-R-I-S--R-O-M-E" through the living room and down the hall. Their excitement infectious and I join in. God sure knew that we needed this and He has provided it all. Sure my husband will not be coming with us, he will be home working. But this is an incredible gift that I could not pass up.

The girls have taken out their suitcases and have begun to pack for their adventure that really doesn't begin for another three weeks. I smile at the childish activities of my little lilies as they prepare with the energy of sprites, and eagerly begin their study of french and history so that we can discover the world that they are about to ensue.

As for myself, my mind is reeling from all the things I have to do before I even set foot on a plane, preparing their work for us to take so that we can continue with their schooling, and making sure we have all our papers and things in place. And in the mean time I am trying to lose weight. Ah!

Today, is a beautiful day to begin.