What are YOU doing with your spare time?

Over the last couple of days, I've been thinking about what I do with my spare time.  How can I better utilize my time when I'm waiting for someone or something.  When the kids were in school, the times I spent waiting to pick them up, I tried to spend memorizing scripture.  However, over the last several weeks, there have been no kids to pick up.

So today, my son and I went out for breakfast (from Tim Horton's of course!) and sat in the library parking lot eating until it opened.  As we watched people wander by, I shared with him something that I used to do in the past.  I had done it early on when I was young, and then when we were on a Missions Trip found someone else who did the same thing.

Often, as I sat and watched people, I would often look them over and try to imagine what kind of job they would hold. Who they were and what they did.  Obviously as we sat and watched moms with children it was an easy call. She's a stay at home mom.  A gentleman in what looked like barn clothes walked by and yet he was carrying a briefcase as he walked into the library.  Peyton and I had varying ideas as to what he might do for a job!  It is always entertaining to hear what the other person thinks as compared to what I was imagining.

Once Peyton had gone inside, I was thinking that as I waited for him, I would put in some time and check out Facebook, or Pinterest. But suddenly, I was prompted to start praying for the people that I saw walking by.  I saw a friend and coworker of Keith's biking away from his family on his way to work.  So I prayed for them.  I prayed for their children. I prayed for his wife as she mothered her three kids while he was away at work. I prayed for their relationship that God would honour their dedication to each other. I saw a father get out of his car with 2 younger children and head over to the play structure. I prayed that he would be a caring and loving father to his two kids.  And that God would bring someone into his day that showed him Jesus. I saw a momma with her young child playing on the play structure and blowing bubbles together. I prayed for patience and joy for her.  Safety for the little one. I saw an elderly gentleman park in the wheelchair parking spot and slowly make his way towards the library doors.  I prayed for safety.  I prayed for strength throughout his day.  I prayed for someone to bring joy to his day.  And for each person I saw, I thanked God for bringing them into my day because by being able to pray for them, it brought me joy.

It was so easy.  It was so uplifting to spend that time praying for those people that didn't have a clue I was watching.  It was so refreshing to bring them to God rather than "waste" my time staring down at the phone. In fact, I really liked the fact that they didn't even know that they were being brought before God right there as they did their every day things.  And it was all so easy for me to do.

I challenge you to look around you to see what you can see.  How can you change someone else's life by taking an interest in them?  Who is God calling you to share with?  Who is God calling you to connect with?  Who can you pray for?  How can you focus on others in your spare time, rather than using the time for yourself?

I can say even a couple hours later as I've thought about the people I watched today, I thank God that He brought them to my mind.  And I pray for them.  Specifically for those I knew, but also for the others.  As God brings people to my mind, am I letting them drift away, or am I taking the time to bring them before God?  When you see a post or text from someone, take the time to pray for them.  When you pass someone on the road, pray for them.  AND if you see someone in the store, stop to say hello.  Bless them with your time.

Imagine what Jesus would have done when He passed you.  Would He have been absorbed in His own thoughts, or would He take the time to notice and care for those around Him?  Let's all try to be a little more like Him in our daily contacts with other!!!

I'm going to take on that challenge. . . . will you join me?

I would just like to share this video that I came across the other day.  It certainly made me think about all I do in my spare time!

May YOU be blessed today as you take the time to look at those around you and bring them to God!

What would I give up?

Here are some rambling thoughts for today. . . . . Hopefully I can get them to make sense to you - or at least to me. . .

I am so thankful to have grown up in a Christian home.  My parents modeled what it was like to be Godly parents and always strove to emulate God's love to us.

As I grew up and took my Christianity on for myself, I started to create an image of what a "good" Christian would look like.  You know, the "thou shalls" and the "thou shall nots"??  You know what I mean.  As a Christian you cannot do __________.  As a Christian you MUST do ________ .  I had my list of rules and regulations as to what the outward image of a Christian would look like.

Over the years some of those images have changed.  Of course the things that the Bible clearly states should or should not be happening in my life are still there.  The black and whites if you will.  It's those grey areas that I'm unsure about.  However, even in those grey areas, I've decided for myself that there are some things that while maybe grey, I make them a little more black or a little more white.

I know for myself, I can be judgmental.  I can look at someone and make a judgment call and think to myself (and HOPEFULLY not voice it out loud!) that "Oh they must not be a Christian" - solely based on what I am seeing.  As I have grown and changed in my Christianity I have realized how wrong I can be in making those judgments!!  WOW! As I've gotten to know someone, I've realized that I don't know their stories.  I don't know their path that they have walked, and I certainly do not know where their hearts are just by looking and making that judgment call.

And I know I unfortunately still do it.  I do it with those around me.  I do it with my family.  Not always about the Christianity issue but other issues too.

This morning, as part of a Bible Study I am involved in, I was reading from Acts 18:12-22.  This wasn't really what the study was about, but as I read and reread through the passage I was struck by an odd verse.  Paul had been brought before the courts by several different Jews because they didn't like what he was doing.  These were people that he was teaching and in the end the courts decided that the issue was between themselves and not something for the courts. Paul left the area and headed on to other parts of his journey.

Verse 18 reads like this:  Paul stayed in the city several days after that and then said good-bye to the Christians and sailed for the coast of Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. At Cenchreae Paul had his head shaved according to Jewish custom, for he had taken a vow.  

What an interesting verse.  What kind of vow did Paul take that would make him shave his head?  As I researched a little into it, I realized it went back to the Old Testament Nazarites.  Now Paul had always preached that because of Christ's death, the laws from the Old Testament were done away with, so why was he following one of those laws?  As I was reading, I wondered if this was something Paul was doing because as he was headed to Syria, there were those there that still practiced this law.  I couldn't really find a reason as to why he did it, and I know that it was barely mentioned in this passage, but I really got to wondering WHY he did it.

The Old Testament Jewish law in the Nazarites shaving their heads was because they were separating themselves to the Lord. See Numbers 6:2-21  The vow included shaving their head, not drinking wine or anything with vinegar in it, etc.  All these things were done to show their dedication to God during that specific time.  I don't believe Paul felt that he still needed to do that (everything in his letters show us that he truly felt the OT was in the past and the old law needed not be followed) so I wondered why he would be following this OT practice.

A couple things crossed my mind.  I know before Easter, I like to observe Lent.  I wondered it this wasn't Paul's way of observing a sort of lent.  But what I also thought was, maybe he was going to a group of people that observed this law and he wanted to show that he respected what they were doing.  Not that he believed this was the way to God, but that he respected their practices.

I got to thinking about what I do.  I know that I believe that as Christians we should be a certain way.  I also know that as a Christian, I don't think we have to be a certain way that others do think.  And I wondered if I was so set in my ways that I wouldn't change to respect their beliefs.  Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about taking up a practice that goes against what the Bible teaches.  But if I was going to a home that felt the women should wear dresses.  Or head coverings.  Or not speak in a church. Etc.  Would I be willing to take on their practices out of respect for their beliefs or am I so set in what I believe, so adamant that I don't need to follow those practices that I would stick to my guns and do what I felt was right?

I wonder if that was what Paul was doing.  Was he following this practice out of respect for the people that he was going to?  To show them that it's not what you practice that makes you a follower of Christ, but rather it's what Scripture is telling us.  Sure these people may still be following some of the OT practices, but if their heart was in the right place and they were following the Scriptures, then that is what mattered.  So perhaps Paul shaved his head out of respect for them, not to mention that doing so, would also allow him to share and talk with them, when perhaps otherwise it might not have happened.

And so it was with those thoughts that I wondered, would I do the same?  Would I be willing to give up some of my comforts, some of my feelings, in order to win others to Christ? Would I be willing to give up my judgments of others in order to present the Gospel to them?  Would I be willing to enter their world (AGAIN - without compromising what the Bible teaches me!) to share Christ with them?  Would I be willing to give up my comforts to share Christ?  Would I be willing to give up the luxuries that I experience here in Steinbach to share Christ with others?  Would I be willing to take on some of their cultural experiences in order to share Christ?  

Am I willing to put down all of my comforts to share Christ with others???  

After all, look what He gave up for us!!!!!

I did my best - now You do the rest!!!!

So today, I have been getting back into my book "YOUR BOY Raising a Godly Son in an Ungodly World" by Vicki Courtney.  VERY VERY good book.  As I was reading today, it was dealing with the whole aspect of dating (AGGHHHH! He's only 10!!!) but also how to teach your son to be "nice guy" so that a Godly woman would want to date him.

I know my son has a big heart, but I also know he has a big attitude.  Which is what we have been dealing with as of late - hence the book!!!! Lots of issues, and struggles as we start to meander these tween years.

I have struggled "letting go" of my kids.  I have struggled "letting God" with my kids.  I want to help them along.  I want to keep them from harm.  I want to MAKE them do what is right.  And over the last month or so, I'm realizing it just isn't possible.

And so I have been having to give my kids to God and telling God "I did my best - - - - now you do the rest!!"

It's hard.  It's hard for a Momma to become "hands off".  As my husband and I chatted about how we have raised our children, we agreed, that we have made mistakes (and some big ones!) but as a whole, we have tried to raise our kids in a Godly home, with gentle, but firm guidelines.  And now we need to let them make their own decisions.  We can still guide them and nurture them in some of those decisions, but for the most part, they both are of the ages that THEY need to start to decide what path they are going to follow.  Thankfully, both our children have made a commitment to follow Christ early in their years, but now, as they get older, it is starting to have to play out in their every day lives.

So, as I've been struggling with the bits of "rebellion"  (OKAY - independence!!!) that my son is starting to exhibit, today God showed me that we "have done okay".

Today, I asked the kids to take the dog for a walk.  Several reasons: 1. dog needed a walk  2. kids were wired!  3. mom was tired!  A couple days ago, Peyton had mentioned that he had gone by a house that had a box labeled "FREE STUFF" and there were lots of treasures in it.  I wasn't sure exactly what those treasures were, but in the end we never did go by to check it out.  Today, on their walk, he found this house yet again.  And what happened, made me weep!!!! 

Peyton came home after their walk and said, "Mom I have something for you."  Truth is. . . I was skeptical.  I was SURE it was going to be a flower he had picked off of someone's yard, or a lily from my row of lilies (that had JUST started to bloom), but in that moment, I resolved that whatever it was that he was going to display from behind his back, I would accept it in the manner in which it was given - OUT OF LOVE!  Well, I can tell you - that boy shocked me.  He presented me with 2 nearly new books.  The first was Phillip Yancey's What's So Amazing about Grace? and the second was The Woman's Book of Courage - to which he said "Mom, I know you are scared some days to go out of the house or do things that other people can do so easy.  So I saw this book and hoped it would give you courage to do all the things that I KNOW you can do!!!"

Well, as you can imagine the tears started, but my heart was BURSTING!!!!  I could see it.  I could see God working in him.  I could see how his heart was tuned to God's and he was literally living out God's love. My ten year old was living out God because God was living in him!!!!

I thought we might have the Yancey book already in our library, but apparently we don't and so it is definitely one that both Keith & I will be reading.  I think God used our "little" boy to bring some timely words into our lives.

So yes. . . today I was reminded that despite what we do, God is still working in our kids.  God works despite us.  And we have done our best. . . . and look what God is doing with the rest.

I AM SO BLESSED

More ups than downs!

Sometimes it's just easy to find those joy filled moments that make your heart just want to burst right open and share it with everyone.  Sometimes it seems that those moments of happiness are randomly strewn around everywhere, just waiting for you to scoop them up and hold them close.  They blow in the breeze and come curling into your heart and sit there a spell for you to enjoy and ponder.

Other times, joy is harder to find.  You have to really go searching for it.  You really have to dig deep to keep the dark clouds from covering you up so that there is no light to find the joy.  Other times, joy is elusive.  You see it, dangling there right in front of you.  And you. . . desperate to grab on to it, reach out only to find it just a little out of reach.  Sometimes you see the joy others have and are convinced you will never have it.  You are convinced that joy will never be yours. 

As someone who struggles with depression, anxiety, panic - these are all thoughts and feelings that I have experienced.  And quite truthfully - sometimes all in one day.  Sometimes life can feel like a yo yo that is at it's highest unfurled end, swinging through the air without a care in the world - able to see all the goodness around - and yet within the next moment, life is completely wound so tight, it almost sucks the breath right out of you. 

These past couple of weeks, I have experienced both of those highs and lows.  Thankfully these past couple of weeks there HAVE been more moments of joy, than not.  So I thought that rather share with you how to get past the dark moments, how to claw your way up to see the light, I thought I would simply share my light moments with you. The moments that brought joy to my life these last couple of weeks. 

Because truly - I AM BLESSED!!!!

Blessed by her, her love of music, and her music!!!!

YUMMMMM!!!!!

June Family Picture - am enjoying taking one family picture each month!

The addition of a pool!  COOL!

My grade 4 grad!!!  Moving up to the Clearspring Middle School - and had top marks in each subject!

Graduation Pool Party with Peyton's friends

How many 10 year olds can you fit into a hot tub. . . . always room for one more!

Pool party snacks - THANKS PINTEREST!

A good Daddy

So what makes a good father?  Obviously, I am not an expert on fatherhood.

However. . . . I have had an amazing example of what a great father is.  My own father is 85 and 1/2 years old and each day we have with him is an extra special blessing from God. My husband too has been blessed with an incredible dad that has been an example to my husband as well as to us.

Let me tell you about my Dad.

I think the first think I can say about my dad is that He has a heart for God.  My dad LIVES what he believes.  You see, my dad is a man of limited words.  He definitely lives up to the quote "Share the gospel - and if necessary use words."  My dad lives a life that honors God and has shown that to not only us kids, but to all those he comes in contact with.

Taylor & Opa

My dad has a big soft heart.  I think one of my favorite images I have of my dad is him carrying around my kids when they were babies.  He is a big man.  Tall with large hands.  But when he carried my kids those big hands were as soft and gentle as any woman's hands could be.  Another memory I have of my dad is when I was young and my dad would be milking the cows, I remembered how whenever a cat or kitten would come up to where he was milking, he would spray them with the warm milk, which of course they loved.  One thing you can be sure to find is that on a relaxing afternoon or evening, you will find my dad sitting on the couch, with my mom lying beside him and my dad rubbing her hair.  That is something I remember from quite young and it still happens!

Look who Dad found at the Mennonite Heritage Village

Something that I love about my dad is his mischievous nature.   When I was young and we would go and visit my siblings who were married, I remember all the little tricks he would do while we were visiting at their homes.  Pictures turned around.  Items all switched around from their original places etc.  When I got my home, of course that trend continues.  You could always be sure to find caramel wrappers in the oddest of places after my Dad had been to visit.  When he is here for a visit, you can be sure that he and my son Peyton will "get into it" each and every time.  Sometimes it's a tickle fight.  Sometimes it's Dad getting him into a grip hold so that Peyton can't escape.  And no matter how tired Peyton might be, he always comes back for more!  And it always seems that Peyton tires out before Opa ever will!!!

My Dad is strong.  He is physically strong too, but what I mean is his character.  He is reliable.  He has always made me feel safe.  And it's Dad's strong character, his Godly character that gave me an incredible example of what I wanted to find in a husband.  Those amazing attributes that I saw and loved in my dad were characteristics that I wanted to find in a husband too.  And incredibly enough, the more years I spend with both my Dad and my husband, I am realizing that so many of those characteristics I love about my Dad are now also being display in my husband and the dad that he is to my kids.

Grandpa Klaassen with Peyton

You see, Keith is an incredible Dad.  And he had an incredible example of how to be dad from his dad.  And our children also have been blessed with an amazing relationship with Keith's Dad (Grandpa) And so many of these characteristics that I've described about my Dad are the same characteristics that my kids will some day share about their dad.  Keith is one of the most patient, gentle, involved Dads that I know.  He would give up any project or plans that he has to go and spend time with the kids.  The "daddy dates" that he takes Taylor on are always a time she treasures.  The time that he and Peyton spend down by the pond and stream here in Steinbach are treasured times.  The walks that he goes on with my kids at the cottage are always highlights for them, and of course the stories and treasures they come back with are testaments to that special time he has with them.




And of course, the Godly example that he is to them is the most incredible gift he is giving them.  One thing that Keith is always sure to do is to apologize to them when something has been misunderstood or something has gone wrong.  As he and I struggled through our difficulties in our marriage last year, he was always very quick to reassure the kids that he was not abandoning his family.  That besides his relationship with God, we were his first priority and that was why he was working so hard for us.  The way he talks to our kids about spiritual things warms my heart.  He has a gentle way of disciplining them, all the while teaching them about what God wants for their lives.

So I have been blessed with three amazing men in my life who exemplify God and who put their families first.  And my children have these amazing men who are showing them what Godly dads look like.

Truly I am so blessed.  I know that between my Dad, Keith's dad and my husband, my kids have gotten a really good look at what a Godly man and Godly Father looks like.

But thankfully, when they fail - and they do - I am sure my kids both know that the perfect example of a Father is our Heavenly Father.  And we know that He will NEVER fail.  I am so thankful for all the places in the Bible that show us what a Godly Father truly is.  God is love.  God never fails.  God is just.  God is faithful.  God is merciful.  God is relational - He want to talk to us and us to talk to Him.  God is always there for us.  And these are just a few of the things we read about God.  What better example than to have that example of what a Father is.  For those of you who do not have a relationship with your own father or perhaps have a broken relationship with your father, these are the things that even for those of us with an involved Father - these are things that we know to be true about God our Father.  We may be let down at times by our earthly fathers, but we can be assured that our Heavenly Father is all these things and so much more.  What a great promise.  And all we have to do is read through the Scriptures to know just what an amazing God He is to provide us with the perfect Father Figure.

So today, the day after Father's Day, I am thankful for the father I have had.  I am thankful for the father my children have.  But most importantly, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father.  He will never fail me.  He is always there.  And He will always be with me.  No matter what.

Truly I am blessed by the fathers I have in my life, but most importantly, for my Heavenly Father.  Oh how He loves me!!!

Can you hear it???

We have been so thankful for the schools that our children have attended over the years.  During their Elementary years, both Taylor & Peyton attended Woodlawn School, which is where Peyton is finishing his final year this year.  We have been so thankful for the leadership that the school has provided, as well as the amazing teachers that both our kids have had.  In this public school, it is so comforting to see the high percentage of Christian teachers teaching in our schools, and thankfully our children have both had many Christian teachers, who have impacted their love for learning greatly.

While we don't live close to Woodlawn, we do live within several blocks of the school and one of the things that I have always loved in spring and fall is the fact that on a calm day, I can hear their class buzzer from my yard.  I love being able to work outside in the yard or have the house windows open and hear the buzzer and look at the clock and know "Oh, they are going outside for recess now."  or "Oh it's lunch time there."  It just feels like I am connected to them and know what is going on, without actually being right there and hovering over them.  (Okay, stalking might be a better word! LOL)  Some days, I can hear the buzzer as loud as the children playing next door, or other times I really have to strain to hear it. When I do hear it clearly, I don't even have to be thinking about it but hear it and connect with what they are doing.  Other times I don't even hear it at all.

It sort of reminds me of my relationship with God.  Some days I feel like I am really connected to Him.  I feel like at every turn I am hearing His voice, or feeling His prompting.  Other times, I have to sit there and really wait and strive to hear Him. With the school, it is always there.  It doesn't move, but things interfere with my ability to hear the buzzer.  And just like the school, there are things that sometimes interfere with me hearing God's voice.  Sometimes I'm too busy.  Sometimes, I'm not listening.  Sometimes, I'm ignoring what I am hearing.

I've thought about those times at home when I've been waiting and wondering when I'd hear the buzzer from school.  Sometimes I'll hear it, sometimes I won't.  And it's the same with God's voice.  Sometimes I'll really feel connected with God, and other times I really feel distant.  Now, I can promise you this, if I was a teacher or student in the school, I would be hearing each and every buzzer that came.  (Especially that last buzzer of the day.)  As a Christian, I know that the more I am immersed in my relationship with God, the more I will be hearing each and every voice and prompt from Him.  It's when the things of life take over and I move away from Him, that the connection weakens.  But when I am sitting. . . .waiting. . . . listening . . . . straining to hear Him, I will.  It might not be right away.  But I can always know He is there.  And as I wait on Him. . . and I listen in the stillness. . . in the quietness of Him. . . I will hear His voice. 

For guests who come over to our home, they don't necessarily know what that sound is.  In fact, they might not even hear the buzzer like I do.  However, if I draw their attention to it, they will know what it is.  So too with hearing God's voice.  With feeling the Holy Spirit's prompting.  We need to know what we are listening for.  We need to know what we are looking for.  And we do this by spending time in the Scriptures. 

I LOVE Psalm 40:1-4.  It shows that if we wait patiently for the Lord, He will make Himself known to us.  But it takes time. . .

I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path, and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things he did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in him. Many blessings are given to those who trust the Lord and have no confidence in those who are proud or who trust in idols.

It shows the process of our relationship with God.  We wait on Him.  And then He answers.  He makes Himself known to us.  And once we have entered into that intimate relationship with Him, we can't help but sing a new song.  We can't help but praise the Lord.  

These days, as I work in the yard and garden, I eagerly listen for those buzzers at Woodlawn.  Just so I can feel connected to my son.  (Unfortunately, Taylor's school is too far away for me to hear those!)  At 3:45 I know that buzzer will ring, and he is on his way home.  I feel comfort in knowing what he is doing.  And just so, as we spend time in God's word, we will feel connected to Him.  We will feel the Holy Spirit doing great things in our lives.  We will feel His prompting to make changes and forge ahead on the path He has for us.  

Am I listening for God's buzzer in my life?  Am I making the effort to quiet everything else around me in order for me to hear Him?  Or is my life cluttered and noisy-ed by the busyness of my day, so that I cannot hear Him?  

Let's be sure to take that quiet time with Him so that we can hear Him when He is talking to us.  Let's commit to spending more time in the Scriptures so that we KNOW what His voice sounds like.  That we will do the things that He is having us to do because we have spent that time with Him.  We know His voice.  We have a relationship with Him that connects us together.

Longing for Home

Living in Steinbach is something I never in a million years would have dreamed I would be doing.  Growing up on a farm in southern Ontario, I was a farmer's daughter.  A home girl.  Sure, I had been to Holland with my family, but adventure was far from what I imagined my life to be.  At 18, I pretty much had a good picture of what my life would look like. I had my life mapped out and it had nothing to do with moving away from home. It had nothing to do with moving thousands of kms away from family!

God, on the other hand, had different plans for me.  He up and moved me first to Saskatchewan, where I met Keith and where he is from, then to BC and finally to Manitoba where we ended up (kind of by default!) here in Steinbach. Initially, Steinbach was just going to be a blip on the radar of our life until we decided where we were going to move to (my vote was Ontario!!!) but in the end, God planted us here in Steinbach and that is what we now call home.

Even though we have now put down roots here, and have made friends here in this town, and have our own little family - which thankfully includes our extended family in Taylor's birthmom and son, we so often miss our extended families that are in other provinces.  We often feel lonely here in a town that thrives on family and family gatherings.  I remember in the early days when we lived here in Manitoba, we would drive around Steinbach (it was definitely a form of self torture!) on Thanksgiving, or Christmas or New Years and see all the families doing the holiday things.  And here we were just the two of us.  Our families were far away.  I have to say those holidays were some of the most difficult times we have had.  Knowing everyone else around here was enjoying family time, yet we were just the two of us.  In the years following, we have been blessed to be able to create our own family times, and have also had many years where we WERE able to spend Christmas or other holidays with family, but I have to admit, many other times through out the year, I have a strong yearning to go home.

I am thankful for the relationships that I have with my family, and SO thankful for the conveniences of email and texting etc., but it truthfully doesn't bring my family here.  Sometimes, I'll have to admit, it is almost easier not to have contact with them because when I do, it makes me miss them even more.  I know. . . it's not being thankful for what I have - and it IS hard to do that sometimes!  It's hard always having to ask others for help.  With not having family around, we really never "dated" while we had kids b/c we never had family around to help out with the babysitting. When we need help with jobs around our home, we don't have family that can come on over in a pinch and help out. It's hard always having to ask others for help.  I know our kids have missed out on opportunities to live close by to their grandparents and their aunties and uncles and cousins.  When they have school plays or other events, they don't have family that gets to come and watch. Those things are difficult.

However, on the other side of it, we get to go on vacations to family that allow our kids to actually "live" for a week or two with their extended families.  We get to wake up with them and spend the entire day together.  We get to experience our families in a different way than those here in Steinbach do that see their families on a regular basis.  We long to be with our families, and when we do get those opportunities it's a celebration!  An exciting time to look forward to.  There is always lots of planning, packing etc. and a big anticipation for that reunion.

I was reminded of that last night as I spoke with my brother, making plans for when my parents come from Ontario to Manitoba.  We plan on meeting my brother in Saskatchwan where we will do "the exchange" and he will get to bring our parents to his home for a time of celebration with his family. But we are both eagerly anticipating seeing each other as well.  And when I told my kids this morning that Opa & Oma would be coming and they'd get to see some of their cousins, the excitement already started - even though the event is 2 1/2 months away.

As I thought about that meeting, I was struck by how excited I was to get to see my parents and my brother.  I thought about the possibility of heading home to Ontario in fall.  I thought about that longing I have to see and spend time with my extended family, and it got me to thinking about whether I long for Christ's return.  Am I longing for to head to see my Heavenly Father?  Is there that yearning to meet up in Heaven so that I can spend time with Him?  I get homesick for my family at times, but do I get homesick for Heaven?  For my Saviour?  I think at times when there are those voids in my life and I can't quite pinpoint that ache, I sometimes wonder if that isn't the void that we feel because truly as Christians we aren't complete until we are in Heaven.  We are here on earth for a short while and then our true destination is the day when we get to sit at God's feet and praise Him. 

Recently I read through 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and was reminded of what it will be like to get to Heaven.  I truly believe that is the void we feel.  Sometimes there is a void in our lives that nothing and no one can fill.  As Christians I truly believe that is because we are not yet whole.  We are missing our communion with Christ!  In verses 5-7 it reads Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight!!!  I know there are days when I am consumed with my life here, but as I spend time in God's word. . . as I focus on praising Him, as I think about what Heaven has waiting for me, I DO get excited.  In part, it is for the human things.  I know the loneliness that I feel will be gone.  I know the aches and pains of this world will be gone.  When Keith went through his accident, I know Heaven became more real for him because He would have a whole body back.  He'd be able to walk and dance like never before.  Those are human images of why we want to be in heaven.  But when I think of the praise and worship that we will have there, wow, does that ever excite me.  When I think of standing before God and worshiping Him - that nearly takes my breath away.

And it makes me want to take every thing I hold dear and change my focus.  The packing and prepping that I do when I get to go see my family pales in comparison for what I need/want to do to get ready for Heaven.  I want to be the best.  I want to be able to present my best for Christ.  I want to be able to show Him, (NOW and then too) how much I love Him.  I want my life to be focused on the fact that one day I will get to spend the rest of eternity with my Savior.  The one who saved me from the worse punishment imaginable.  Recently, I heard the saying (and I can't quite remember who to give the credit to) that went like this:  It's not what I've done for You, Lord - it's what You've done for me.  Sometimes I get consumed by doing "the right" thing for God.  Making sure I do enough.  But really, if my focus is on what He has done for me, it completely changes my motives for doing stuff for God.  I am not doing it because I should or have to, I am doing these things out of pure gratitude.  And when I think of what He has done for me, I can't help but praise Him.  But serve Him.  I can only think of that moment when I will see Him face to face.  Sometimes I am just overtaken with emotion when I think of that moment.  It just humbles me, but wow does it excite me.

One of my favorite songs, if not my favorite, is a song by Mercy Me called I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.  Sometimes, when I get consumed by life I deliberately listen to this song because it completely puts things into perspective.  It makes me focus on the point of my life. Take a listen to it and see if that doesn't just get you excited to go to Heaven!!!

Today as you go through your days activities, focus on those things yes - but let's keep today in perspective.  Soon - we will be reunited with the One who saved us.  The One who loves us more than any other could.  The One our heart was designed to long for.  The One we are homesick for.  Let's be homesick for our Heavenly Father!!!!

Rhubarb Crunch

One of my favorite things about spring is RHUBARB.  You see, even when the ground is still cold and there are hardly any other signs of growth, if you look closely at a rhubarb plant, you will see signs of pink life.  Those little curls of pink starting to unfurl from the ground.  Ready to grow into magnificent leaves and brightly colored stocks.  Oh how I love the sight of rhubarb.

Of course the taste is amazing.  I remember growing up eating rhubarb pie and spreading Mom's strawberry rhubarb jam on a hot buttered margerined piece of toast.  Oh yum.  Better yet were the times when we were allowed to put some of that jam on top of a bowl of ice cream - PURE HEAVEN!!!  We always had plenty of rhubarb and I loved it.

Now, with my own garden, we bought two rhubarb plants about 7 or 8 years ago, not really having a clue what kind I was buying.  But I planted them and to my delight, now I realized they are the bright red colored rhubarb.  So sweet, and my kids actually take a bowl of sugar and a stock of rhubarb and dip and eat!  (still a little to sour for me
!)

So I thought I would share one of our family's favorite rhubarb recipes with you today.  It's quick and easy and OH SO YUMMY!  Best served warm, but still just as delicious chilled.  The kids love to take the leftovers for school lunches.

RHUBARB CRUNCH

This is what you'll need:

    8 cups rhubarb (chopped)

    2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

    2 cups oats

    2 1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)

    1 cup melted butter

    2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Chop rhubarb and set aside. 

Mix together the flour, oats, cinnamon, brown sugar and melted butter.

Press one-half of crumb mixture into a buttered 9 x 13 baking dish.  

Add chopped rhubarb atop pressed-in crumb mixture in the baking dish. 

 Sugar Sauce:

2 cups granulated sugar

4 tablespoons cornstarch

2 cup cold water

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk sugar, cornstarch and water together in a glass bowl.

Microwave until thick, clear, and bubbly, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove from microwave and whisk in vanilla. Pour sugar sauce evenly over rhubarb.

Top with remaining crumb mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until edges are bubbling and crumb topping has browned.

 Top with Ice Cream and strawberry sauce if desired!  ENJOY!