Double Yay Day (A Pre-Tariffs Blessing)

 Give me some trees and some sunshine, and suddenly winter doesn't feel quite so tedious.

As I've mentioned before, I'm exploring the trails in our new neighbourhood, and since yesterday just begged for some fresh air, I headed up further towards the trees.  Was not disappointed.  

I love that all of this is so close to home.

And then today.  January 31st.  The end to what many feel is the longest month of the year.  And also today is Friday.  And while the weather forecast doesn't look quite so bright, and I'm not likely to get out walking, there's something to be said for a day of double yay.

It's important to do this, I think, right now.  Right now in the grip of winter.  Right now as world politics seem a little more threatening, specifically to Canada, than usual.  Tomorrow could herald another blow against the economy.  Where things are thin, they're about to get thinner.  Even folks like me who try to 'stay out of' politics are reminded that none of us really can.  

The double sting of it, though, is even as we do engage, read the news, try to form reasoned opinions, there is so much that feels like we're trying to make sense of senseless rhetoric.  Personally, I am doing some deliberately 'other-winged' reading for the expressed purpose of making sure I can still listen to the voices of those who believe differently than me on just a whole range of topics.  Heaven forbid I become deaf to someone just because they espouse opposing political, philosophical, or religious views.

But I am no politician.  Godspeed to those who enter that particular fray with sincere hearts to bring about the change that better protects the oppressed and vulnerable, which is always God's priority, at least as I read it.  We pray wisdom and strength and patience and tenacity over you.  

But when I bring it down to where my own feet hit the pavement, when I need the grounding of focus, I don't have to go too far to find the orientation of spirit that comes from well placed hope.

Love how the psalmist compares it to the comfort of a small child in their mother's lap.

"My heart is not proud, LORD,

my eyes not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters

or things too wonderful (over my head) for me.

But I have calmed and quieted myself,

I am like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child I am content.

Israel (people of God), put your hope in the LORD

both now and forevermore."

Psalm 131:1-3

So I will yay the day.  Double yay.

And tomorrow, come what may,

from whomever it comes,

they are not in charge.

And I can be a calmed and quieted agent of change

right here in my own 'neighbourhood' of hope.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Happy last day of January.

Wherever this day takes you, 

may you receive and give away all manner of goodness.

Roosevelt and Williamson

Two quotes on a stormy, wintry morning, from feisty, provoking women.

Not sure if I'm still reflecting on the 'fear' theme or the 'light' theme, or maybe both.

Maybe my mood just matches the weather.

Either way, I woke up this morning feeling in the need of some reminders.

First, from Eleanor Roosevelt, and this 'dare' about how to take on the day (pictured).  It's helpful to remember that life is most vibrantly lived in the business of doing things beyond myself, an endeavour that evokes the kind of fear that helps make sure important things get priority attention.

Second, from Marianne Williamson, and a quote Nelson Mandela helped make famous (and it is often incorrectly attributed to him).  This one is longer, layered, and in some ways unsettling.  I think it took me a long, long time to stop 'playing small,' and it remains a strong stress response still.  

 "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented fabulous?'

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the word.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so 

that other people won't feel insecure around you.  

We are all meant to shine, as children do.  

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  

It is not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, 

we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  

As we are liberated from our own fear, 

our own presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

All this to say...

If you are tempted to play small, hold back, or be less than you were created to be and need the reminder that you were 'born to make manifest the glory of God'...

If you need the encouragement to step forward into something that scares you...

If any of this helps you face whatever you're facing today...

Well...go for it!!!

Frugal Faith

Hoping for a haircut at some point today.  Can you see why?  When the flyaway wispies blend in with the telephone wires, it's time for a trim.  

I've been putting it off, even though I know that's not always the best move if you're trying keep your look tidy.  And I do want to keep things tidy.  But when the price of a hair cut goes up, and my income stays the same, it's time to think smarter about this.  

I did the math (yes, me, doing math!).  I calculated that if I stretched things out by even just two weeks, that would require three less haircuts per year.  I'm not sure what you pay for a haircut, but even at my 'discount' salon, that adds up.

Also, if I time it out right and get a hair cut today, I'll be due for another one near to the end of my time in Thailand.  And I know a young Thai businesswoman who owns her own modest little salon in her tiny little village not that far from Hot Springs.  She does a great job and it costs me the equivalent of $6 CDN.  

There's so much in the news about our economy right now.  But I don't even have to look at the news to know how much a haircut will set me back, how much things cost at the grocery store, how differently the Canadian dollar is behaving right now, and how dramatically that affects us at New Family Foundation in terms of currency exchange.

Yesterday, at Highview, we sang about being 'no longer a slave to fear' (No Longer Slaves by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser).  In those moments I asked the Spirit to show me what I'm most afraid of right now.  And without hesitation it came to me how much anxiety I'm actually carrying in terms of all these economic realities and the fact that we have 21 children to care for in Thailand.  And also the 10 seniors we support in Haiti.  We're forming New Family Foundation's 2025 budget right about now, fiscal year March to March.  We're in the midst of raising funds for Auberge des Vieillards.  These realities are very, very real.  In my role as Highview's Missionary in Residence, I feel the weight of this.  And the current state of world affairs and how that's making everyone think of ways to save money on hair cuts and otherwise tighten their belts....well that scares me.

The song gives the response to this.  So beautifully.  'I'm no longer a slave to fear.  (Instead) I am a child of God.'  And the Spirit asks me, in this wispy worship moment, 'do you trust Me?'  It's funny how needy fear can move you into spaces of breathless faith.

So hopefully today I'll have done away with the wispies, hair-wise, and will have been led into creative solutions for the other things.  Maybe I'll even get my exercise in today and walk to the salon.  Although I am watching the weather.  

Stay tuned for another selfie (if I like how it turns out).

A Wintry Week of Ordinary

 

Getting to Friday, I'm realizing again how important is my need for the regular rhythms of life.

Simple things, like that Fri-Yay feeling, when you've been able to settle into a more or less normal work week and now it's coming to a satisfying end, are all that much more Yay when you've been without for as long as it feels I have.

Even having our normal laundry day back feels good. And getting at the other Saturday morning domestics in a repeated pattern. Feels orienting somehow. (And so much quicker and easier in our little house.)

Or getting out for my walk. Which, truth be told I didn't as much as I'd have liked to since I decided I prefer to keep my ears, nose and fingertips, thank you very much. Minus 30 with the windchill?!? In the middle of the day?!? No thank you. Call me a Canadian wuss, I don't care. I stayed indoors mostly this past week. But not yesterday. Not when it's a balmy minus 9! And not when I'm trying to establish a new walking route in our new neighbourhood.

Today, being Friday, it soothes my jangled-long-transition-intensive-moving nerves just to be ordinary. To check off the last things on the list, set myself up for next week's tasks, write out what we need for groceries, and plan out what we'll have for Friday supper.

Even throwing in a school concert (Jayden) at noon, which I get to do today, is more normal than last fall's city-absence that seriously interrupted some Gramma time.

And with both Ken and I having more regulated schedules by now, we have the freedom to try something new. I'm calling it 'Fridate' where we just take the whole afternoon to run errands together. At this point in our moving in, that includes fun trips to thrift stores in search of various specific and very ordinary items we still need for the new house. Mostly, we're so excited to find a sliding towel rack for $3, or kitchen storage features to help with the still-unruly fry pans.

It's good to enjoy the simple ways of life in a regular routine and more settled space, and doing the ordinary tasks of life together. So good. And I let myself rest in that, be deeply glad in that.

I realize Fridays don't feel like the end of the week for everyone. For some, the routines are different, especially if you are in retail or hospital settings. For decades for me, the weekend, especially Sunday, was the most demanding space of the entire week. Regardless, I wish you all the Fri-Yay feels on whatever day they fall for you.

This week marked 'blue Monday' and an awareness campaign for mental health. It also saw some of the coldest temperatures we've experienced in some time, at least in our part of the country. We are deep into winter.

So, let's keep looking out for each other, checking in on each other, lending each other some warmth and stability where we can.

Happy Friday, friends.
Celebrating the ordinary with you.

The Two-Minute Tour Drop In Open House

Come and see what God has done.

Psalm 66:5

To thank our friends for all their love and support these past months,

and to celebrate God's faithfulness to us over our entire lives,

we are delighted to offer an open invitation to our

Two-Minute Tour Drop In Open House

RY-72 Sandra Avenue

Kitchener ON N2M 1Z6

Saturday/Sunday/Monday, February 15/16/17

Hours as follows:

Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m.

Monday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This is our first ever 'party' in our new small home.

So here's how we hope it will work.

Stop by any time during the hours posted above.

Please park on the street.

Come on down to the end of the driveway.

We will welcome you in at the side door 

and take you on a tour of the house.

 It will honestly only take about two minutes.

Enjoy some hot cider and goodies.

(Same will be available on our covered porch 

in case anyone has to wait outside a bit.)

How long you stay depends on what we discover

to be the 'comfortable capacity' of our small home :).

Out of town friends:

Please let us connect with you individually

to set up a time when you can come and stay long enough

to make it worth the drive!

BEST WISHES ONLY PLEASE

(Honestly.  We had to get rid of a lot of stuff to even fit in here.)

On a Very Cold Morning

 

Last day of the cold snap, or so they say.
I'm feeling it, just sayin'.

Grateful for

a snug little house,
a cozy workspace,
heart-warming encouragements,
fired up ministry partners,
layers of meaningful work to engage in,
long, snuggy hugs
and warm hands to hold.

Stay warm, friends!

"And most of all be warm in your love for one another;
because in love there is forgiveness of sins without number."
1 Peter 4:8 (BBE)

What You Can (and Cannot) See Through Our Front Door

 

It arrived yesterday.  So Ken and I took a break from our work day to apply the new window film to our front door.  

I LOVE it!!  

If you're so inclined, there are so many companies that do this, and a plethora of designs to choose from.  We scrolled through them all, for a few weeks actually, until we found this one, and I didn't want to look any further.  I knew this belonged on our door.

Honestly, this is so easy.  Basically it's giant sticker that needs soapy water to stay fixed to the window.  Comes with a scraping tool, and you move from the inside out.  The measurements were perfect, so no trimming required.  And just like that, we now have a tad more privacy than we did before.

This was the door before. 

And even though we might call this our 'front' or main door, this is actually looking out the side of our home into the backyard.  Remember, we share the property, not just with our son, but with a lovely young couple who are tenants of the basement apartment in the main house.  Our own little community, if you will.  

So far, while it's been winter, there hasn't been too much activity outside.  But that red umbrella you see marks a little sitting area in the summer.  And, if you are standing at our door, and you turn completely around....

...you'll be looking straight into the bathroom.  So before the window treatment, you wouldn't want to just waltz in to use the facilities without making sure you closed the door, even if you were home all by yourself.  Just in case. Might still be what you'd want to do, but at least now there's a little something more between you in a vulnerable moment, and the whole wide world.

To be clear, we are finding the whole situation here to be much more than we expected it would be.  The house feels bigger than I thought it would.  The shared space of the driveway and the pathways to our porch are proving to be ample.  And we all have a similar sense of what healthy boundaries look like.  Even without the window screen on the door, we have felt respected back here.  And it's quiet!

But putting up the extra bit of privacy yesterday put me in mind of the importance of both exercising healthy boundaries, and living a life of authentic transparency.  And how sometimes it's hard to find that balance.

I don't know who first said it (and if someone can find it and let me know, I'd appreciate it), but a guideline I've tried to live by in terms of being open and honest is 'the appropriate information with the appropriate people at the appropriate point of the relationship.'  In the past, I've trusted too easily, given everyone the benefit of the doubt, and lived to regret entrusting some with the deeper confessions of my soul.  If later, something you shared in confidence is used against you to benefit the person you shared it with, in any form of that, you shared it with the wrong person.  It's not always easy to know.  But I've learned from that.  I'm more careful now.

The other swing of this, however, isn't okay.  We don't grow, we don't make rich deep connections with other human souls, and we miss our own blind spots if we are so guarded no one can ever see what's happening behind the doors of our psyche.  In certain contexts and within some relationships, withholding of information, thoughts or feelings can move into the more shady territory of keeping unhealthy secrets.  Some of them are outright dangerous.  Again, I can't remember who said this, but 'we're only as sick as our secrets' rings true.  

Christian psychologist and author Larry Crabb (a source I can actually cite here!) has recommended we all have 'someone with whom we have no secrets.'  He said this in the context of keeping spiritual leaders on track, which is especially needful in these days of scandal within the Christian church.  But I feel it should be true for anyone who has anything at all at stake, for the sake anyone who might be harmed in our wake, should we be tempted to take those first steps down a slippery slope of self-deception, and the betrayal of what's been entrusted to us.

Okay.  In the spirit of full disclosure here, truth is I have been spinning my wheels a bit this morning.  A productive but interruptive phone call, some necessary but frustrating conversation about money and numbers, and communications about changes in plans for the afternoon intruded on my intentions for productivity.  All it took, then, was walking past the door, and again admiring this latest finishing touch on our home, and I succumbed to blog-writing.  

Now, I should get back to some of the timely work I need to get done before the morning is gone.

Plans are coming into focus for a time when we can invite folks over for the 'Two Minute Tour.'

Stay tuned.

Bright Blue Monday

 Apparently today is supposed to be Blue Monday, aka the most depressing day of the year.  

I had forgotten all about it until someone brought it up in a conversation at church yesterday.  Probably because I have had the happy distraction, these past weeks, of finally being able to move into our new home.  But I'd be lying if I said I didn't notice winter's lack of sunshine, one of the more believable factors in this fabricated designation for the third Monday in January.

So to contrast the dreary skies and cold temperatures this past little while, I thought I'd post some of my favourite pictures of sun and sky.  And also some brilliant reflections from folks who might help encourage us today. 

Stay warm and shine bright in your corner of the world today, friends.

We need each other more than we know.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; 

only light can do that. 

Hate cannot drive out hate; 

only love can do that."

 - Martin Luther King Jr.

"Light is to darkness what love is to fear;

 in the presence of one the other disappears." 

- Marianne Williamson

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times 

if one only remembers to turn on the light." 

- Albus Dumbledore

The LORD is my light and my salvation

— whom shall I fear? 

The LORD is the stronghold of my life

— of whom shall I be afraid? 

Psalm 27:1

But you are a chosen people, 

a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 

God’s special possession, 

that you may declare the praises of him 

who called you out of darkness 

into his wonderful light. 

1 Peter 2:9

"The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness has not overcome it." 

John 1:5

Friday's Inspiration

 

I'm down to some micro level sorting now!  Going through zip locks I filled when clearing off my desk before the move.  Found all the pictures and cards and quotes I had under the clear desk mat, and it was such fun!

My current desk is much smaller, and I don't yet have a mat under which to arrange all these things.  I'm either going to have to see if I can find one that fits, or find appropriate new homes for the bits that are most important to me.

It's not going to easy choosing which to keep.  Every piece was cut out of a card given to me by someone who knows me well and knew what I needed at that moment.  Or it was something that reminded me of someone, like the birds remind me of my Mom.  Or it was something I found for myself because I went looking for something to keep me oriented during a specific time of change and challenge.

It was lovely finding these because I'd kinda' forgotten about them.  And, in a general sort of way, in terms of creating a positive work environment, I kinda' need them.

And the truth is, this is the positive part I appreciate about social media.  If you can put up the appropriate checks and boundaries, and keep your radar trained on the things that enrich rather than enrage, it can be such a powerful platform to encourage and be encouraged, to inspire and be inspired.

So it's Friday!  Marking this as the end of the first full workweek I've spent at my desk here in our new little house.  It's the beginning of the next chapter of our lives, both personally and professionally.  And as we continue to figure out all the ways things work in this new space, there is a sense of both deep contentment and excited anticipation.  Who knows what God will choose to do from here on out?

I am grateful for the effort, passion and courage He provided that made it possible for us to arrive here.  I am encouraged by the reminder that it's not actually supposed to be easy.  And I am beyond words undone by His lavish grace that indeed does change everything.

And as we head into what's supposed to be a deep freeze next week...Mom's birds remind me that Spring is on the way!!!

Happy Friday.  Hope you find your inspiration!!!

Etcetera

I keep thinking we should get to that place where we're done.

On Monday we'll mark one whole month since being handed the keys.  As of today, it's been a full week we've been allowed to sleep here.  And when I wrote that just now, it didn't sound like a long time.  It just feels like so much has happened, it must be longer.

I've actually only moved four times in my whole life, and the last gap between moves was 36 years.  I forget just now long it takes to settle into a new home.

And we have accomplished a lot.  All the 'big stuff' is done and we can nicely function in here at this point.  Enough, at least, to focus more on our work than on the house.  Our time is spent less and less on lugging and unpacking, and more and more at our desks, or just making supper together, or just watching the news.  You know, the normal things people do in their homes.  It's only in little segments now that we turn our attention back on the house, just working on the persnickety finishing touches.

But as we go, putzing and putting and placing, I'm wondering if "finishing touches" might be somewhat of a misleading term when it comes to settling into a new house.  Because there's still a goodly list, and I'm not entirely sure when we will be "finished."

Installing ceiling fans, for one.  And finding the exact right place for the wooden star I bought on clearance last spring, and the heart-shaped hooks I found online for $5.00 a piece.

I do suppose there will come a day when we stop hanging pictures, or rearranging things on shelves, or finding another box marked 'DECOR' and deciding what might work where.  The screw driver, stud finder, screws and plugs, and the persnickety-ness required to do it 'right', will all be put away, instead of staying out to be handy for the next little project.

Soon, I think, there will come a time when we might say we're done moving in. But then spring will arrive, and it will be time to think about landscaping, and what goes on our porch, and redoing the parts of the driveway that had to be dug up during construction, and what about the shed?

And then, when we've got all that taken care of, we'll probably leave it alone for a while.  Just go about our normal lives....until we go thrifting and I find that black wire basket that will be perfect in the bathroom, and maybe we'll find a better configuration for where we keep things in the kitchen, and change stuff around.  And so it goes.  Not unlike it was in our last house, or even at the cottage, come to think of it.  There's always something.

I suppose I'm thinking of this because we really would like to have an open house kind of thing where whoever is inclined might stop by for the 'two minute tour' (it's a small house, doesn't take that long) and a cup of cider.  That's coming, so stay tuned.  And when it does, I'd like everything to be perfect  ready.

Pause to hear myself on all of this.

One of the goals I set for myself in the 2024-2025 ministry season was to "be mindful of the process of being formed into the likeness of Christ for the sake of others (Mullholland) through:" and then I list some of the anticipated opportunities for that....the big one being the latter stages of our move.  Like, what's happening right now.

And I realize that I keep thinking I should get to the place when I'm done too.  But I'm not.  If a time of stress and upheaval reveals anything, it's what's still needs the finessing big work of the Spirit in my soul.  And if I think otherwise, if I don't allow the time, if I stop being mindful, and think it's just about what is hung on the walls instead of living abundantly within them, I risk the shallow, show-home results of living an unexamined life.

So when we do end up having you all over (just not all at once), and if we do get to know each other a little bit more, it's likely you'll notice what's not yet complete.  

Because if I waited until it was all perfect, I'd never let you in.

The Accidental Romantic

 A very distinctive heart-shaped area escaped the swirling snow on our driveway last night.  

I supposed I should have actually gone out there to get a better angle.  As it is, this could also look like a whale with its mouth open.  But to gain the better photographic proof of my story I would have had to go out in my pjs.  I was not so inclined.  So this, taken from the front facing kitchen window, is all I can really offer.

I'm not sure why this patch remained dark and wet like this.  Ken had left for a meeting about an hour previous, and at that point the entire van-shaped patch you can still see in this picture had no snow.  Might be just the way it was swirling.  Might be how some of the driveway is still recovering from construction.  Who knows? 

For fun I took the picture and showed it to him on his return, pretending to be all flattered and impressed that he'd made arrangements for it to do this.  He didn't skip a beat and happily took all the credit.  He even puffed out his chest a little.  Not kidding.

He didn't have to.  He's already demonstrated sacrificial patience and a willingness to put his shoulder to the task in all that has needed to be done these past weeks to get us moved in and set up.  With the unusual time line of our move, combined with the unique feature that we were providing our own kitchen, he made that the first priority, paying careful attention to my detailed and rather picky specifications.  (See "Jubilant Kitchens" previous post.)  Next he made sure my own work space was ready, helping to provide me the ordered calm I so badly need to be able to think straight, the lacking of which these past weeks has been wearing on us both.  He did these things first before getting at the areas that mattered more to him, like sorting out the crawl space downstairs, and re-establishing his own desk and files.  Knowing that I have felt the stress of a disrupted environment more keenly than he has, he made sure I was okay first.

This was not in the absence of any other non-moving-related stressors.  When you deal with finances like Ken does, and when your job is basically answering the phone to assist someone who's in varying degrees of freaking out because whatever they were doing with their computer isn't working, you can get interrupted and thrown into an 'immediate' circumstance at any given notice.  

Since Saturday, then, we've been able to redirect our energies to getting him all copacetic.  It won't be as, let's just say, visually ordered as I like my spaces to be, but it still needs to be functional for him.  The next little nuances of hanging hooks and pictures that I still have on my list can wait.  It's Ken's turn.

Of course, there's nothing accidentally romantic about making marriage work.  At no stage of our life together have things come 'easy or automatic.'  Staying in love is a very intentional endeavour, and does not involve any magic whatsoever, heart-shaped snow pictures notwithstanding.  I'd be less than authentic if I conveyed that these past months of housing transition, huge decisions, delayed gratification, uncertainty, and sheer physical labour did not press us to the edges of our commitment to a God-honouring covenant.  They did.  Both of us have had moments when we weren't exactly the best versions of ourselves.  

But we've also been cognizant of the fact that we continue to build a home, not just a house.  And where we lay our heads at night, as basic a human requirement as that is, isn't as important as where we lay our hearts - in the hands of God who holds us unbreakably together. 

So here's to whatever adventures this new house will hold for us.  Here's to letting nothing be accidental when it comes to our love.  Here's to taking serendipitous joy in the whimsy.  Here's to us, now.  

On to Tuesday...and the simple luxury of an ordered desk, for which I am profoundly grateful.

Happy Unorthodox New Year

I'm awake this particular Monday morning feeling clear-headed, motivated, eager and excited.

The 'back to normal after the holidays' thing lagged one week for Ken and I, as we waited out the final inspections, making it possible to move in and set up the last bits of our lives over this past weekend.

Today feels like a gigantic, long-awaited new beginning.  A Monday morning of Monday mornings.  No, more like New Year's all over again, except on this rather arbitrary date of January 13.  And while we still have a fair bit of finessing to do to finish off the kitchen and feel out where to hang what on the walls, for the most part we are all moved in.  

I write it here, and walk around and look at the place, but, to be honest, I still can't quite believe it.  

And yet it's real.  Yes!  Here we are!  Finally!  And now....Time to sit down to the work before me in a more steady, concentrated way than I've been able to do in more than a month, or longer, if I count the whole big ordeal of moving.  I have been reminded, in very concrete terms, that there is a strong correlation between a consistent schedule within an ordered environment, and the amount of creativity and productivity I might hope to achieve.  

After the bogged down disruption of not just Christmas break, but the many months prior, it's very freeing to have my work space set up and know that's where it's going to stay put.  What a concept!  My brain is no longer consumed with unpacking and putting away.  I can stop wondering, because now I know what pieces of furniture fit where.  And it helps so much when you have a regular place to hang your keys, plonk your pen, put down your water bottle, recharge your phone, keep your Bible.

Happily, the absent-minded brain fog is lifting.  That limbo-locked-down feeling is fading.  At least I think it is, I hope it is.  I hope I can now catch up a bit on emails and other outstanding communications.  I'm really looking forward to finishing up a few projects, and getting a handle on the prep work for my February trip to Hot Springs.  There's the Haiti Dinner and Silent Auction to get ready for, just before that.  And some filing.  I have a packet I brought back from the cottage that's been waiting for this day when all my binders and files were ready and open to receive. 

All systems are go, and I can't wait to get going.  That was a long stint of disruption, and it makes the normal rhythms of life seem simply and delightfully oh so wonderful!

I pause here to make mention of the friends I know who are right now experiencing anything but the normal rhythms of life.  For lots of reasons and in different situations, this remains a disrupted Monday for them.  No new beginnings yet.  Maybe that's you.  Our transitional realities over the past six months, not to mention some fairly decent disruptions in the past, remind me, in fairly basic ways, that life is complex, and surprising, and quite easily upheaved.  

Prayers and hugs, and cheering you on until the day you too can have your own unorthodox new year.

And until then, a promise.  He is faithful.

"See, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth,

do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the dessert."

Isaiah 43:19

Jubilant Kitchens

We are now fully, actually, totally and for reals living in our new house!!!

We received our occupancy permit on Wednesday at about 3 p.m. and had the beds moved over and made by 5.  

The rush of jubilation for this last step has been incredible.  The long, long journey of our housing transition is done.  Thank you Jesus!  It is truly just such a simple joy to wake up in your own bed in your own home, something I will never, for as long as the Lord gives me breath, ever take for granted.

Now, how to celebrate that with all our friends?

I keep thinking I'll post all kinds of pictures in something of a virtual tour.

But the incremental way of our move means that this morning (Saturday) we're making yet another big mess in the name of ultimately gaining more order.  I hope that by bedtime tonight things will be more photo ready, but that won't be today's post.  The full tour will have to wait.

But since it's unaffected by today's hooha, and because I'm kind of excited about how it's coming along.  here are a few glimpses of the kitchen.  

This room has been our main focus since being handed the keys.  We opted to create it ourselves, rather than it being part of the construction/installation of the house, so it was game on from that first day.

The theme was 'farmhouse country kitchen' and the idea was to use as many of the pieces of furniture and accent items we already had in the last house, and build around that.

What's new are all the appliances, the apron sink and stand, and the butcher block counter tops.  Also the window coverings, plus a few odds and things picked up at thrift stores.  

And while I'm not done adding the whimsy that I still have in mind, I'm pretty happy with the result so far.

I'm particularly pleased we could incorporate the antique tea trolley from Ken's side of the family.  It's making for a perfect jam and toast station, and the side leaf extends for a sweet little breakfast nook.

Having costed out two different companies for kitchen cabinetry, and even factoring in the purchases we still had to make, we figure we have saved ourselves close to, if not more than, $10,000.00.  Not bad, since what we've been able to piece together is way more pretty and functional than I even hoped for.

In a similar way that these pictures are just a small piece of the whole 'tour,' I'm feeling a deep sense of inadequacy as to how to articulate all that's on my mind and in my heart as we reach this significant marking moment in our housing journey.  There's such a story here!  And branching off stories all along the way!!  Of the generosity of so many, of the grace extended, of the goodness of God.  This has been about way more than just the material component of building a house.  Way more.  I am overwhelmed with all of it, all God has seen fit to do for us and in us as we made this big leap.

 "It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praise to Your name, Most High.

To proclaim Your love at daybreak,

Your faithfulness in the night...

For you make me jubilant, LORD,

with Your deeds and the works of Your hands.

I shout for joy."

Psalm 92:2-5

And....just like I hope to post a virtual tour, we do hope to find a way to celebrate with all of you soon in real time and real life.  We would like to have you all over....just not all at once...and we want to find a creative way to do that, to mark this together, and to express again all our thanks for the many ways we have been loved and supported during this time.

Okay, now on to making today's jubilant mess.  

Lord, Give Us a Sign!!!

 

Oh the roller coaster this last tedious bit has been! Yesterday we had a little white knuckle ride lasting three or four email volleys as we tried to set up the final occupancy permit schedule. All of this, of course, is to allow us that last step of actually being able to sleep in our new little house, something we are quite naturally at this point, very, very anxious to do.

Good news is that all the inspector type folks from whom we needed files have now provided them in all the appropriate places for the city to access. Everyone but the electrical guy, that is. The two small tasks of installing the range hood and properly sealing the sump pump have been completed. We should be all set.

So yesterday, Ken first sent the list of everything we'd done to comply with the 'deficiency report' from December 24, including the pictures of proof requested, asking what the next steps might be.

The reply came back affirmative on all of the above, except for the installation of what's called an ADU sign (Additional Dwelling Unit), a requirement for the purpose of directing first responders in an emergency situation. This seems totally reasonable, of course. There was a note about where to order one, since the specifications of the sign are, well, rather specific.

This caught us by surprise. We knew about the sign, but thought it was only needed for the final inspection which won't happen until the spring. And, of course the idea of 'ordering' one sounded rather untimely. Ken, reading this response to me from his phone, and being understandably frustrated at this point, muttered sarcastically that it would take another six weeks!!

Only, I thought he was actually reading from the email, and that it actually would take another six weeks! In my current anxious-to-be-done-with-all-things-related-to-a-major-and-prolonged-upheaval-due-to-a-move-in-residence emotional state, this was like a gut punch.

I actually had to sit down and just be quiet, and breathe my way back towards that place of surrender this whole big deal has been from the beginning. How deep is my longing, right now, just to be able to wake up in a bed that does not feel temporary, and to fully settle, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, into our own home! But I gave that longing away again, to the One who knows everything and loves me desperately.

Ken responded to the email asking about actual time lines. Then left to continue some work on the church kitchen, leaving behind his phone in his own blithered state.

This is where I picked it up. Our guy at the city - who's been great with us by the way, no complaint here - asked for a phone call to clear things up. I got copied into that email, so I called the number. And here's the real deal.

For occupancy, the city will accept a temporary sign. All that's needed is something clear and well secured, and the understanding that a permanent sign, that complies with the specifications, will be in place before the final spring inspection.

Well okay then!!! Out with the black paint and brushes. Where's an extra piece of lumber? And there you go. This lovely little piece of art was installed at the end of our fence just moments ago.

Big breath.

So, today.

Today we wait for the electrical guy to come by and have a look. And once that's done, we will send that report and a picture of our installed sign to the guy at the city. And, if the time is right, we just might be sleeping here by the time I post next.

I remind myself that this whole endeavour of moving was in response to what Ken and I truly believed was a prompting from God in response to our prayers about how we can best steward our time and earthly possessions in this last era of our lives. We did this on purpose. We keep moving through, this step by step, quite intentionally. It's been a faith-walk the whole way.

Friends, I am soooooooooo looking forward to posting the news that we're all moved in!!! Stay tuned.

[Note: The RY in our address is Canada Post's requirement, standing for "Rear Yard."]

Monday Morning Focus

I am determined to sit down and focus this morning, starting this Monday morning over at the church with Ken. He has his 'Facilities" hat on right now, and is supervising the installation of the new counters in the kitchen here. In coordinating both our needs for the van, and considering the distractions of our new house, I decided to coming along and see what I can get done before heading off to a meeting later this morning.

I have my list open before me and am ready to go, noisy power tools notwithstanding.

We got a LOT done over the weekend in our own kitchen, including the arrival of four major appliances - stove, fridge, washer, dryer.

I'm saving any pictures on all of that until I can do a proper before/after thing, closer to the final kitchen project. But I'll just say here that I am really pleased so far, and grateful for how Ken has worked with me to understand and then put together my 'farmhouse country kitchen' vision, out of 'bits and pieces' we already had.

We also had the help of our very capable son in law to hang two tricky pieces on the wall. One is the upper cubbies that match the bench (not seen) in our entrance area. This one was tricky because it's on the wall that also houses the pocket of the pocket sliding door (to the left), and however it was to be secured to the wall couldn't interfere with that. And...it worked!!!! This isn't the final product decor-wise. But that middle basket and the fabric plant on top are a good enough start for now.

Okay, on to that list. I really have had little concentration for anything but moving in and setting up and making our home a home for us. It's been hard to focus in the midst of the nesting disorder. I have come to understand at an even deeper level the importance for me of having consistent schedules and an ordered environment in order to enhance both productivity and creativity.

No breaking news about occupancy just yet. We did get an encouraging email just now indicating that the final paperwork is actually in progress, and an inspection is happening tomorrow. Oh, so close.

We'll keep you posted, of course.

The Happy Aha!

 

Ken does it better than I do.  Louder and more exuberant.  It’s that noise you make when you discover something you’ve either been looking for specifically, or – and this is the better one – something you forgot about but are really happy to remember you have.  It might also be exclaimed when something fits into a very defined space exactly the way you need it to.

 We’ve been doing a lot of happy ahas in these days of unpacking and renesting.  For Ken it’s finding that one tool, or the way the counter top fits snugly against the wall…even after he’s installed the plumbing.  For me it’s how my books are finding good spaces on the shelves available.  And then, today, how I was able to fit all my pashminas into the basket…the one I said while wincing, “Whatever doesn’t fit in here must go.”

 Aha!

 For someone who admittedly owns a ridiculous amount of both books and pashminas, these are very satisfying moments in the midst of never knowing how the new smaller space will receive what you hope it will.  We did some mighty purging when we emptied our previous house.  We’re doing some more now.  And while I didn’t have to part with any pashminas, I have prioritized and then donated another load of books.  When we get around to hanging pictures, I’m pretty sure we’ll be doing more of the same.

 

But all this leads me to another kind of happy aha, and that’s when you realize you’re making your way through a difficult time and you’re mostly okay.  And by mostly okay, I mean giving yourself all kinds of room to be in these moments, embrace the places of challenge and change, and let it be okay that things aren’t normal, even when that’s what every fibre in your unnested being is longing for.   It’s the happy aha of understanding that these past months of the journey, while long and uncertain, have revealed places of goodness and healing that wouldn’t have been noticed otherwise.   It’s the happy aha of finding out for reals that it’s not stuff or square footage or any geographical space that makes a home.  It’s the Presence of a God who promises to BE home, always and no matter what (Psalm 91).  And it’s knowing that, a previous version of yourself, would have not been able to see any of this, not have managed this well at all.  So – aha – some growth!

Not a bad way to begin a New Year.

No, we don’t have permission to sleep here quite yet.  And anyways, appliances don’t arrive until Saturday, so.  For now, on to more nesting.