#3 - Imagination on Fire

Isn't the imagination one of the greatest creations of our LORD?

I love seeing it in our children and I love brainstorming with others to get new ideas.

It is truly a gift, however it is a gift that needs to have the proper channelling or we will suffer for it. An over active imagination can imagine all sorts of things that aren't true.

It can also, imagine any manner of events that have not happened or will not happen.

The danger of what if thinking can result in much un-necessary anxiety.

"Spotting" this thinking in yourself takes practice and time. Next time you catch yourself with an imagination run wild - say to yourself "I spot my imagination on fire". The more you do this the less likely you will engage your mind in this way. Now you have the insight needed to stop it before it even starts.

Have a healthy imaginative day!!!

"Do not worry about tomorrow dor tomorrow will worry about itself"

Matthew 6:34

#2 - Calm begets calm, temper begets temper

This is a spotting phrase that I use with the kids alot. Can't you tell?

When I think of this one the first thing that comes to mind is Proverbs 15:1

"A gentle answer turns away wrath"

and there are many more but 1 Peter 3:3-4 is also a good reminder...

"Your beauty...whould be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Having a "bad" temper is not something that we should use as an excuse for bad behaviour.

Dr. Low believes that alot of depression or anxiety also comes from temper.

My webster's defines temper as "disposition of the mind, irritation". If tiny things are irritating through the day - eventually it will come out in your behaviour as a temper - that could manifest itself as anger, anxiety or depression.

Ever notice that when one person "loses it" that others will too? Especially children who have not learned to control their emotions properly yet.

The opposite is true "Calm begets calm".

What a huge responsibility we have to model these things to our children and the reality of it is that we will fail, not all the time but it will happen. May our Father in heaven grant us all we need to remain calm despite our circumstances and accept what He has given us!!!

Spotting Phrase Study

Fumble all you want as long as you function.

This is my favourite spotting phrase.

Before I begin let me explain what a spotting phrase is.

It is a phrase that you have memorized and pull up when you need to use it.

Sometimes it can be a reminder to correct your thoughts or behaviour, but it can also act as something that reminds you of how much our minds can effect our mood.

This one is my favorite because it reminds me on bad mornings that I don't have to feel spry and energetic but I do have to get moving. Functioning is the goal here so yes it will get done but it doesn't have to be perfect.

For example - I know that once I eat breakfast, have my Vit. D pills, drink some water, have a shower and use my Go-Lite from Philipps that I will feel better. Not 100% but better and that's why I fumble myself towards that end and move on with the day
INSTEAD of crawling back into bed.

In some Christian circles you hear alot about "forgiving yourself". Well, you will read none of that here - it's simply not biblical. Only the LORD forgives and we are called to forgive one another. That being said, this spotting phrase releases us from the guilt that comes from too high expectations on our selves. If you can implement just this one spotting phrase into your day when you need it, you will be thankful for not quitting and for being given the strength to function in your role as mother and wife!!

This phrase can be used with Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".

What those "things" are, are different for everyone and some days are better than others.

If you can just get dressed and function - that's great!

If you can just get those dishes washed - that's great!

Go slow, go low but just keep going.

You don't have to leave a comment here. E-mail me if you want your comment to be more private. Regardless, feedback is much appreciated!!

What are your thoughts?

Do you have a similar phrase that you use?

Disclaimer: These spotting phrases are from Dr. Abraham Low and Recovery Inc.

Spring Break

Here's alittle update about we have been up to during Spring Break - sans pictures (see previous post for an explanation:)).

First off I would like to say that I love having the kids at home. It is busier and crazier but I love it!! We had been blessed with off and on again rain so that meant alot of playing outside in the muck and water. The little boys will find things to do in the yard that involve kingdoms, hunting, soccer balls, obstacle courses, worms, and building forts. How can I let the rain stop them? It also meant that some rooms were spring cleaned (A and E) and some of my cupboards were cleaned out (a good punishment for calling siblings bad names).

We also had a guest stay with us last week - J. He is Matthew's age and he was such a good guest to have, an excellent partner for M. Matthew tends to be unfocussed and will be all over the place. He's a leader but quite a disorganized one at this point :). J. will correct him and say "Matthew!!! You are just not listening to me!" - and I can step in here (great teachable moment yah!!) and say "Stop for a second here Matt and listen to J., you need to hear what he is saying.". The amazing thing is that he will stop and he will listen and they work out their differences.

There was another time when Matt was having a total melt down about something J. walked away from him and said" I am not playing with you when you act like this". J. went in the house and he had my full support. After that the melt down morphed into "you should get J. in trouble because he hurt my feelings!!" I kept telling him that it may have hurt his feelings but J. was not in trouble because when you have a temper no-body needs to put up with it. Well, it took a half an hour but eventually he seemed to understand the concept and the temper stopped. WHEW!!

As you can see, we did not go anywhere or do anything of an exciting nature (if you write for Parenting magazine). What we did do did have significance though. We did at home normal things - TOGETHER and I am happy with that.

It has taken this week with everyone home for me to realize and remember how much more energy and mental stamina it takes to have 5 children around you all day long, every day. It makes me thankful for the days that we homeschooled but also thankful now the oldest three are in school. I miss our homeschool but I am really confident that for our family right now this was the right thing to do and maybe one day I will homeschool again - in the official sense of the word.

Any type of learning at home is homeschooling and we should all be doing it to a certain extent.

Teaching our children the ways of the LORD in everything that we do and say around the home - that should just be an outflowing from our hearts. Thankful hearts that want to serve him.

Have a blessed Spring Break!! Tune in next time to find out what we did the second week :).

Maybe I'll actually put them in the van and take them somewhere. Wohoo!!!

The Diamond Rule

This is the book I am reading right now during our nursing sessions.

It's about a Christian colony that was started in the 1800s in Aurora, Oregon.

They lived in community, off the land and excelled in arts and crafts, one of which is quilting.

Anybody interested in joining me? Tehe.

I just read something interesting about the colony.

The leader of the colony promoted the golden rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you. Everyone knows about the golden rule, even unbelievers.

But have you ever heard about the Diamond Rule?

It means to do to others even more so than you would have them do to you.

Reading is something I try to sneak in when I can whenever I can. This is the other book I am reading right now. I highly recommend it to anyone - it's a great review of the tenets of the Christian faith and goes through all the different characteristics that we know of God from Scripture. It has certainly strengthened my faith and driven me to read my Bible more.

In the process I would have to say that I know God (mysterious as He is) better and worry less about the things I don't know because of that very fact!!!

I am on the chapter about God's generosity. WOW!!! One line that has had me thinking for days is this:

To be truly generous is to want more for another than you have for yourself.

That brings us back to the Diamond Rule...do to others MORE than you would have them do to you. And isn't that what Jesus did? He made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Wahhhh I broke the camara!!!!

I am so sad!! Yesterday, I opened up the microwave to put something in and the camara was sitting on the top but just where the door is. Bang!! Down it went and it is pretty nasty.

Will tried to fix it with his little tools and that didn't help - it's a goner.

We managed to download the remaining pictures - about 40 - from the memory card.

So for the next little while I'll just have to download one picture per blog so that I can spread them out until we are blessed with our tax return (looking at 2 months I would say).

How can I NOT take pictures of Nadia for 2 months? Maybe it will be quicker - DV. `

That thought brings me to another that I have been thinking...

Doing without and making sacrifices.

Not something we always like to do.

Our parents did this better than we did and our grandparents were experts.

I remind myself of that often.

Is this a need or a want?

Can I go without a blowdryer until next week? next month? It's hard but it can be done!!

When we run out of snacky food - should we run to the grocer or can we bake something from scratch? Do we really need to have yogurt in the house? Now that we have run out we can do without it until the next grocery shop?

Now that our camara broke - do we need a new one? No, but it would sure be nice.

It will be a priority on the "Nice to have" list but in the mean time food is more important.

Whenever I get to thinking "I should buy a new ______ ( fill in the blank - dress, shirt, haircut, car, house)" - I examine myself. Why do I think that? Because what I have is no longer good enough. Sad really.

I said to Will the other day as I was organizing my stash, looking for a certain fabric. "Remind me not to buy any more fabric, this is nuts!!" He replied "No, I will not stop you because I know it gives you pleasure." Smart man :).

That is fine, any quilter should be allowed to buy fabric to a certain extent but everything needs to have balance. Each person needs to figure out that balance for themselves.

For me, I can't justify buying when I can go without and I have a family to feed, clothe, bathe, drive, educate, and organize.

This is not meant to invoke pity but rather food for thought.

We live like kings and queens and I still fight the sin of discontent.

Don't we all?

Praise God whose mercies are new every morning.

I'm Getting Outta Here!!

That's it!! I'm finished with this bouncy seat that does nothing for me!
If I keep wiggling I'm sure that I could get outta here.

Wiggle wiggle, suck on my arm - you never know it might help.

UGHHH - maybe I just need to leeeeeeean over this way....
WAAAAAAY over.

And flip over in this direction....hay Mom what are you doing with that hand?

I don't want help!!!

Don't you people get it? I don't want to be in here!!! Why did you make the straps tighter?

Now I can't move at all - ARGHHG.

I'll get my revenge yet - wa ha ha - just you wait!!!

March 5, 2011 Quilting Retreat

This quilt was done by Karen D. and I always love the fabrics she uses. She did some really funky squiggle cutting on the one side that I am still puzzled about - I'm sure it's extremely easy once it is explained :). Beautiful!!!

This year the quilting retreat was in Yarrow Can. Reformed Church. It was a one day event that lasted from 9am to 9pm. It was so awesome to see what everyone has been up to over the past year and to learn bits and pieces as the day went on. By lunch time my cheeks were sore from laughing and smiling so much - a sure sign of a good time. I guess it helped that the ladies sitting next to me were having a hoot. I hope they go again next year :).

I don't remember the names of all the quilts or who made them but I will comment on each of them. I love the bright colors and the green in this one. This was made by Susan O. and it was made to be donated to the Pro-Life society. Thank you Susan - that was so nice of you!



I tried my best to take a picture of all the quilts that were on display so if I have missed anyone I do apologize - it was not done on purpose. You know how competitive quilters can get :).

My personal favorites are the ones that have the brighter colors but really all of them were beautiful and each one was so uniquely done.

The maker of this one is on the tip of my tongue - maybe another one from Susan O.? Regardless, I love the color combo and how she worked it so that pink and red are together. Good job!!!

I worked on pinwheels during the retreat and Nadia was great. She had two long naps and several great women took turns holding her for me. She also discovered tht joys of an exersaucer. I am so thankful that my friend M. lent me one today. It'll be great for little miss go getter.

This table topper is really jazzy with the pinwheels and the stars - made with shiny fabrics in purples is a sure eye-catcher.

This quilt has a story attached. The quilter's friend's father passed away and the quilt is made out of her friend's Dad's old shirts. Isn't that a nice memorial? It's called "Mr. Martin's Shirts".

Another table topper with curved tulips - I can't imagine that being easy.

I love these colors and scallopped edges look so nice!!

This is fellow blogger Tania's quilt for her daughter M. I love the fabrics and the circles have inspired me to add that to my quilting "to do" list. It's beautiful Tania!!

I just have fallen in love with these fabrics - I have seen them some where in cyber space before and I should know the line they are from :).

You will see this one again later.

Karen D. made this one for her daughter and I like the design off to the side - so whimsical. I've seen it before (stripes off to the side) and I want to try it sometime. I love green!!

Very elegant.

Happy Birthday banner with some vests.

Mrs. Bep L. made this using reverse applique. I'm not sure what that is myself but it is gorgeous. I have to type in Mrs. for this lady because I know her from my growing up years in St. Albert, AB and I have always called her Mrs. I was happy to see her at the retreat!

This one is from Mrs. L. as well using the same process.

This is called Alberta Rose - it makes me all warm and mushy inside. Just like the song "alberta Bound" by Paul Brandt. Makes me all tear up. I would never move back because of the long winters but it was great growing up there :).

Cute, cute, and more cute.

Here's the whole quilt - I think it's by Kathleen V.
Red and white (and some cream) is very attractive.

More fabrics that I could just eat up!!!

Where have we seen this one before?

I just wanted a pic. of it hanging up.
Wow! That's bright!

Here's a shot of quilters at work in the Yarrow church.

See the group in the back chit chatting? That's what it is all about.

Sharing and learning from each other.

The blocks women brought for our pro-life quilt.
What a great idea!!

Susan O. brought her ongoing Hexagon quilt. Isn't it beautiful?

Here is a quilt made from the green charm swap from last year.

I was not able to go last year but I did the blue charm swap and I am still in the cutting process of doing something with them. They will be in a star quilt I am making for our bed.

Thank you to every one who came and made the day so fantastic.

See you next year!!!

Nadia's Performances

It took me awhile but now that I've figured this video download thing you'll be seeing more of them. We love it when Nadia talks - she loves it too!!!

EnJOY!!