6/4/2023 0 Comments Grace for June!
![]() The last 3 photos are on Lake Winnipeg, in Gimli. Fish & chips are a must in a seashore town! I had a chance to sit at the dock and enjoy that before the registration began. The other is coming back in the evening and the beauty of the moonrise reflected on the water as well as the view from my hotel balcony - another gift of grace. I don't need all my fingers to count the times I've stayed in a hotel, so that was an extra special way to celebrate a decade of working at the same place!
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![]() Lam 3: 22-23 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. As I finish up the report cards for the last time this school year, what better verse to have pop up for me? While I enjoying teaching, it is definitely not a job that you can shut the door on and forget each afternoon until the next morning. I carry the job with me; praying for students in the good and the bad moments, planning what to do next, how best to help a certain student, etc. By the end of the school year, I’m mentally exhausted and so thankful that the Lord’s mercies have carried me through another year. His compassion has not failed me even when I didn’t make the right choice, and thus as I step into my much needed summer break, I’m humbled and awed at the faithfulness He has shown this year. I also love the words – “they are new every morning”. How wonderful to know God doesn’t hold a grudge. As I face each morning I’m taking joy in His mercy and faithfulness – both in the big and the little things. From an elderly friend needing help to the gift of a beautiful antique table; from the joy of walking through a blossoming greenhouse whenever I want to a quirky little pen and funky water bottle that make me smile whenever I pick them up; from enjoying the ever changing Manitoba skies to my books that are still selling – God’s mercies are there for me. I haven’t done anything to earn it – He freely gives it. I’m so grateful for that faithfulness that doesn’t rely on anything I must do – except to accept it. May you also receive that inner peace from experiencing mercy and faithfulness this week. 5/21/2023 0 Comments Hard times? Good times!![]() Ps 61:1-2 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. This was a hard verse to see come in since this was my theme verse for months once when I was going through a tough time. But it was a verse I desperately needed at that time. We like to rationalize and understand. Sometimes we just have to trust and hold on when the storms hit. Faith isn’t faith until it’s put to the test. Can I trust when I don’t understand? One year a friend invited me to go with her over Christmas to visit her relatives. I spent my two weeks Christmas holidays down in Belize having a blast with her and her extended family. One of her cousins, a young 21 yr old man and I clicked instantly. I had so much fun with him while I was there. So the shock when a few months later my friend called me to tell me he had been killed was intense. Especially since it was not an accident, but murder that was the cause of his death. When he stopped to help someone along the road the guy pulled out a gun, shot him, and dragged him out of his truck. Before he drove away, he shot him again. The second shot is what killed him. The “Why, God?” questions can be endless in situations like this. All I could do was keep going back to this verse. My heart was overwhelmed - there were no good answers. I just had to allow my grief to keep me clinging to the rock that was higher than I. As long as Satan is around, there will be evil and sorrow, pain and suffering. I’m thankful that I have Someone to turn to – whether it’s in the intense times of grief from loss or betrayal, or just in the daily routine and grind of work that can seem overwhelming in certain seasons of life. This week this verse will remind me to not only hang on to God and His promises in the tough times, but value the precious moments in the now time – whether it’s a moment with a student, working on paperwork for year end, reading a cute book, or enjoying the nature around me. These are precious moments that shouldn’t be taken for granted. PS - YES! This is my new toy, investment and exercise routine - an ebike. If I don't kill myself on it, I'll have a blast! :0) Only had it 3 days, so still learning the hang of it. As an Algebra teacher I've been doing calculations on how far I might slide and how much skin damage I could do wiping out at 15 mph verses 25 mph - I think I'll keep her in low gear for a while!
5/14/2023 1 Comment Mother's Day Thought
5/7/2023 1 Comment Chicken or Eagle?
4/30/2023 0 Comments Still, Soft, Gentle
![]() The photos are: 1. A gift from the director of the play I produced this week. 2. The flowers in the greenhouse of the colony I work at - getting ready for spring 3. A walk I took in Wales -enjoying the mist and beauty (and fellowship of friends I stayed with) 4/23/2023 1 Comment Wk 17 - Icy thought!
4/16/2023 0 Comments Week 16 thoughts
4/9/2023 0 Comments Easter Thoughts
![]() The top two photos are the two-day winter storm we had Wed/Thurs - just before Easter. Depressing. Yet, two days of sunshine and a patch melted against the house - in the dead decay of last year, a couple brave shoots are showing life! You have to look hard, and the snow is all around the patch, but life is coming again. What a great symbol of Easter. ![]() Clouds may obscure your view.... ![]() Then came the morning!!! Don't give up hope. Jesus didn't die in vain! 4/2/2023 0 Comments 14th thoughts!
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CategoriesFebruary 26, 2021
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What a week! As a teacher on a Hutterite colony for grade 5-12, life is non-stop from 9:00-3:30. This coming Friday is the end of quarter, so report cards will be due. So that always makes one extra busy.
But I had 2 highlights in this week. The first: I came home and stumbled over something on my step. When I picked it up and entered, I found out I was holding MY copy of my book! I felt like a mother receiving her first child. The awe and wonder of holding something I'd created and labored over for - yes, about nine months- well, that is quite the feeling. The second: Last night the doorbell rang. I answered and a man stood there with a floral arrangement. I was sure he'd come to the wrong house, but he had the right name. Imagine my amazement when I saw that friends from the States had arranged these lovely roses to be delivered to celebrate this milestone in my life. In today's Covid restrictions, such a thoughtful, kind gesture means SO much! I never get flowers, so I'm still just smiling over it. |
January 5, 2021
How many of you make New Year's Resolutions? How many of you don't because you know you won't keep them?
As I look at 2021 and wonder what this year will bring, I've decided to try a couple resolutions.
A poet once said, "It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." I feel that can be applied to resolutions too. As I start this year as a new author, I'm scrambling to figure out what I'm doing! This has definitely pulled me out of my comfort zone. I've asked the Lord, "What have I done? Am I stepping off this cliff to float or fly?"
So my New Year's Resolution is to have a website and put a blog on it. Will this last? It will be interesting to look back in December 2021 to see what has happened here! Tech stuff is NOT my thing. But as a teacher, I always tell my students, "Just try. You never know what might happen." So how can I do less than I preach? I will try this. No guarantees, but I've made a start! Happy New Year to you all!
As I look at 2021 and wonder what this year will bring, I've decided to try a couple resolutions.
A poet once said, "It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." I feel that can be applied to resolutions too. As I start this year as a new author, I'm scrambling to figure out what I'm doing! This has definitely pulled me out of my comfort zone. I've asked the Lord, "What have I done? Am I stepping off this cliff to float or fly?"
So my New Year's Resolution is to have a website and put a blog on it. Will this last? It will be interesting to look back in December 2021 to see what has happened here! Tech stuff is NOT my thing. But as a teacher, I always tell my students, "Just try. You never know what might happen." So how can I do less than I preach? I will try this. No guarantees, but I've made a start! Happy New Year to you all!