by Stacey | Feb 14, 2011 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
This morning my daughter woke-up at 6:15 am. She went straight to her desk and started to craft a Valentine for each member of the family. By the time the rest of us lazy bums arose she had created a beautiful card to celebrate her love for each one of us.
As I lay there in bed listening to her papers rustle and the scissors snap the verses from Romans 5:7-9 flashed through my mind.
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
How fitting on Valentine’s Day, when the whole world celebrates the feeling of love, God would remind me of His choice to love.
When I was my most unlovable Jesus died for me. He didn’t do it because I wooed Him with my charms or won Him over with my beauty. He chose to love me. He gave me the best Valentine’s Day gift ever – the option to enter into eternal life with Him.
Now the choice is mine. Will I choose to love Him in return?
Happy Valentine’s Day. I pray you will all know the great love of our God.
by Stacey | Feb 12, 2011 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Once upon a time I believed I was a patient woman. I calmly dealt with interruptions, edited and re-wrote entire chapters with ambition and energy.
Now those days feel like a fairytale.
My overwhelming book project looms unfinished before me. Although it has brought equal measures of discouragement and excitement, today as my creative juices are at an all time low, I feel the sting of frustrating tears. I fight a desire to rip up the entire book and give up. (Or burn it – shred it – pick your pleasure.)
Recalling a time when my father used a blowtorch on the back hedge to rid himself of a pesky hornet’s nest I weigh the wisdom in rash decisions. Yes, he killed the hornets, but he also set the hedge on fire. Overreacting is out.
So what’s a writer to do?
A quick search on the internet provided me with plenty of suggestions. I can:
Take a vacation.
Take care of myself.
Relax.
Read a good book.
Discard my self-imposed deadline and stop driving myself so hard.
Since I am a hobby writer and not a career writer with no impending deadlines on the horizon I plan to take a vacation from my tough writing schedule. I’ve set the book aside (for a short time) to write something fun – like my blog. I plan to use the dusty elliptical decorating our basement a little more often, find a good book and soak in a hot bath. The re-write can wait.
You may all hold me accountable.
by Stacey | Feb 10, 2011 | Special Announcements
Many of you may know that I contribute to a column in the local paper called Niagara Voices. I write about local events, available community resources and my take on it all. My most recent column went to print today.
I had an article all ready to go and at the last-minute scrapped it to discuss the most significant thing to happen in our lives – the adoption of our children.
Click the link to learn the facts on adoption in Canada.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2971963
by Stacey | Feb 3, 2011 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Looking back over previous posts I noticed one from early November. It pretty much stated the very lesson God is currently teaching me (again!). It raised a chuckle and thankfulness that God is willing to remind me of the principles I should already be applying to life.
When life feels out of control or when I feel overwhelmed with my list of responsibilities I turn to God and ask for help. Guess what He usually tells me? Life feels crazy when I forget to prioritize Him.
I still need to edit my book. It’s getting there, but not as fast as I’d like. I like to keep up on my housework. I enjoy playing with the kids and not feeling too busy or stressed to enjoy them. I have a column to which I contribute, a speaking engagement coming up, and article deadlines looming. Not to mention this blog…
For the last few days I’ve once again taken the time to spend quality time with God in the morning instead of just the frantic few minutes that creep up in the midst of chaos. Instead of flying into my day at break neck speed I’ve set the laundry aside, left the dishes in the sink, and the beds unmade and eased into the day with God, my bible and a caffeinated hot beverage.
Now it’s 10am. My blog is almost updated. The beds are made. The laundry is done. The kids are playing. I haven’t made dinner, but I know what we are having. The dishes are still in the sink but it’s not bothering me as much as usual.
I’m not sure how all this was accomplished considering we slept a half hour later than usual and I spent twice as much time with the Lord as normal. I believe God is blessing my efforts. I believe He is happy that I chose Him first and now He’s helping me efficiently finish my tasks.
I don’t expect everyday to go this well. Some days the dishes may still be in the sink at dinnertime and yesterday the beds were not made at all. But guess what? I survived. At the end of the day what matters is not now much I accomplished, but spending time in a manner that pleases God. How that looks might be different in each household. In ours, it means I need to relax and let the little stuff go and focus on what God want me to do.
A lesson I seem to learn over and over again.
by Stacey | Jan 26, 2011 | Special Announcements
We are almost at the end of Kevin’s one month parental leave. This time at home came as a pleasant surprise. We had no idea the church elders discussed the benefits of giving Kevin a month leave to bond with his new sons. What a blessing.
Over the last four weeks we have seen significant changes in our children. Both boys appear very comfortable in their new home and seem very happy. The bedtime struggles are improving. They haven’t gone away entirely; they have evolved into a more age appropriate struggle that simply comes with the territory of two young brothers sharing a room.
Dinner time is a much happier hour as well. Both boys tend to nap now making them much more pleasant during the stretch of time between 4pm and bedtime.
Kate is still thriving in her role as half big sister half little mother. She started verbalizing a slight wistfulness for the quieter days when she didn’t have to share her favorite babysitter, her parents, or a visitor’s attention. Nevertheless she firmly states she wouldn’t change anything. The boys are keepers (smile).
When Kevin returns to work next week I have one more month before I am back to work babysitting. That gives me a bit of time to find my stride without Kevin’s help during working hours.
There is still a lot to pray for concerning our family. Please remember Kaitlyn these next few weeks. Pray that she continues to love her new brothers. Please pray for us as parents. Pray that we have the time and energy to daily set aside some special time with Kate and the boys. Please pray for the boys. Please pray they continue adjusting and that they never doubt their place in our hearts.
