Lighthouse Keepers

Looking back at my growing up years, I can see why I may have been confused about many things. We were the type of family that went to Mexico for the winter, and came here, to Ontario, for the summer. In Mexico we went to school where we learned to read and write High German and learned to say the Katachism from memory. The general behaviour and way of living was vastly different from Ontario. In Ontario we worked on the fields wearing the type of clothing everyone else wore for work, which was pants with a cap. Our hair was also styled and cut to fit in with those around us. We normally had a TV int he house, which was so different from Mexico where it would have been viewed as a sin. (I think it was here too, but maybe too available to resist) I remember there were Sunday's when we came home from church and my dad would throw the TV out because of the conviction; only to come home with another one a few weeks later. When the summer would drag into fall we had to attend publ...

I got saved right before my 13 th birthday.   I loved laughing, and I still do.   But, I carried this weight of loneliness around, even though I was surrounded with friends.   There was a void in my heart, and I didn’t know how it was to be filled, but I longed for it to be made full.   I was so young; I don’t really remember what I thought about God.   I remember always believing God was there and He knew everything about me.   I always believed the Bible was true and that there was Heaven and Hell.   Furthermore, I knew that God sent his one and only Son to die for my sins so that we could have eternal life.   The thing was it wasn’t personal.   I was young, and influenced by the pop culture of my day and my peers in school.   The girls at school loved talking about boys they liked, and experimented with wearing make-up and wearing fashionable clothes.   I felt so pressured to be like them, so I could fit in, and be liked...

I love warmth. Fuzzy blankets on hand at all times, socks and slippers, fleece lined leggings that you can wear under pretty much anything, fingers curled around a mug of hot chocolate, tea, or coffee. In these winter months I will do pretty much anything to stay warm. Somehow my children missed my cold genes because from my 6 year old down to my 10 month old I cannot keep a jacket or blanket on them willingly. The season of Christmas should be one of warmth; not only outwardly but inwardly as well! Here are a few ways we can stay warm inwardly this season. Be Intentional We tend to get caught up in our own lists and to-do’s that we miss out on what is most important. Take time to slow down and do things on purpose with a purpose! This is a perfect time to teach your children the importance of giving, whether its writing christmas cards, making and delivering baked goods to friends and neighbours, or packing an operation christmas child box! Make this time count! Lo...

“I still remember the days I spent praying, for what I have now” It was 20 years ago almost exactly...that I said my vows and thought life would be like most fairy tales. I would be waiting at home with an apron on for my husband to come home from work with his dinner on the table. The home would be spotless and tidy and there would be children running about in the most mannerly way. A perfect husband, a perfect home, a perfect life with all the perfect children we desired. Have you ever tried a Pinterest project with high hopes of it turning out just as you thought it would? And than it was the most tragic epic fail of your life? Well, that's how my marriage was...I was....and my non existent Children where. Once we were married, we tried to have kids right away. We waited and waited. AND waited. Nothing. There wasn’t much more I desired than to be a mama. And it was just not happening. My marriage started to hurt, I started to hurt and my relationships started to...

The season of Thanksgiving is upon us and dinners and gatherings will be planned, and we will be enjoying turkey, pies and the things that come with it. Sometimes with all the hustle we forget to be thankful. Thankfulness isn’t something we should do once a year but to always have a thankful spirit. Those of you who know our son know that he has one arm that is quite limited. A few years ago, he broke his other arm so he felt quite helpless. The one morning he was having a hard time just eating his breakfast with one arm in cast and one very limited. So, I decided we would watch videos of Nick Vujicic after he turned to me and said “I have it so good” powerful words I thought! We do have it so good but often miss the blessing when we are filled with discontentment. 1  Thessalonians 5:18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Chronicles 16:34 "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, ...

   Wow, what a summer it has been! Every year I tell my husband, this summer I am going to take it easy and relax and do lots of fun things, and every year something happens and my summer becomes jam packed. This summer was no different. Last school year was a very challenging year for me because I undertook the huge task of creating a history curriculum for my class. The school year hadn’t even finished when I began planning a big anniversary trip for us. I finished teaching five days before we left for two and a half weeks. Then we were back for one week before a close friend got married. Three weeks later was an unexpected trip to Florida for some training, and then four weeks later, my youngest sister got married. It was a great summer but I was so glad to see September coming.    Over the past few weeks I’ve seen a number of people mention that they are very much looking forward to fall. I think it’s the cozy sweaters and smells of pumpkin spi...

How convinced are we of the Lord’s love for us? How personal is it in our lives? Does he care what our feelings are toward Him? This past year was the hardest time of my life. I had gone through bouts of discouragement and anxiety before, but this one surpassed them all. Expecting with our fourth child, it started off a little rocky with inner fears and anxieties. But this quickly gave way to much bigger and deeper issues. I had always harboured anxious thoughts about God, wondering if He really did accept me and if Jesus really did love me, seeing as how I fell so short so often. But suddenly my shortcomings were so magnified I didn’t know where to turn. My mind felt like it was going crazy. (Source) I have always tried to have some sort of control in my life, but when this depression hit me, I was left with nothing. Empty. Stripped of my crutches I used to lean on. I felt like nothing in my life mattered anymore. I cried out to God for mercy, desperately searching the scriptu...