Inspiring Weekend... on celebrating 50 years!

What an inspiring weekend we had!
It was a Compassion-filled weekend which really started on Friday when my girl and I represented Compassion Canada at the Global Leadership Summit.

My girl at the Global Leadership Summit. #glscda

Connecting with churches and pastors was the main focus of the event, not child sponsorship... yet still, my girl and I were thrilled when four children found their way to the hearts of people who will now be their sponsors!!!

We packed up the booth, loaded up the car and headed home to pack some more... excited for our whole family to be headed to London, Ontario the very next day to celebrate Compassion Canada's 50th birthday!!!

And we're off!

We headed out early Saturday morning for the two-and-a-half-hour drive to London... my girl was accompanied by her knitting (of course!) and my boy by his ever-present cubes (of course!). :)

We arrived just in time to share a lovely lunch with fellow Compassion Advocates who were in town for the big event. It was so awesome to meet many of them in person... many of whom we've only connected via social media!

Then it was the big event!

It was such an inspiring evening... celebrating God's goodness and His faithfulness! Our family is humbled that God would invite us to be a part of such an amazing ministry, releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name!

It brings me to tears thinking... What if we ignored or missed God's calling? What if we chose comfort over obedience? What if we missed being blessed because we chose self? I can't even imagine *not* doing this, this not being part of our family's life... and to think that just merely less than four years ago, just before Christmas of 2009, we had no idea what Compassion's ministry was all about!

It took our girl, just twelve years old at that time, to jolt us out of our comfort zones... and onto the journey of child sponsorship... when all she wanted as a present that Christmas was a little sister from Compassion Canada! 

God has truly given our girl a special heart... a heart with a passion to change the world! She inspires me each and every day... to be more of Jesus' hands and feet, to be a world-changer, to be a better person and a better mama, to not be satisfied with mediocrity, to live large for God!

My girl, chatting with Wess Stafford a.k.a Papa Wess! ♥
{A big THANK YOU to my friend, Tracy Smith, for snapping this photo
capturing the essence of the conversation quite beautifully!}

I have a feeling that Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International and more affectionately known as Papa Wess, might have sensed my girl's passion during their short conversation as he encouraged her to live large for God and to keep changing the world for Jesus... telling her that one day she, too, might be Compassion International's President!

Wow! Hearing that from Papa Wess truly made this mama-heart smile... yes, really! Well, the truth is... I had to hold back happy tears. :) Regardless of whether she becomes Compassion International's President one day or not, I am certain of this...

That she will live life as "a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor"... which has been my prayer for her {from the verses in Isaiah 61:1-3} since the day she was born!

Our family, with Wess Stafford.

With that conversation as a start to our evening...

It was impossible not to be inspired and be in awe of God's goodness as the evening progressed! 

Hubby and I even had the awesome opportunity to speak in person with Jim Mellado, Compassion International's new President. We shared with him our vision and our hearts' desire to see our home country, Philippines, have an office where people can sponsor with Compassion locally. We are encouraged to hear that progress is being made towards the implementation of it! So exciting!!! 

Shaun Groves singing "All Is Grace", a song inspired by my friend and
favourite author/blogger, Ann Voskamp!

"What a gift it is that we have something to give." ~ Shaun Groves.

"Love always costs something. To love is to give." ~ #compassionCA50th @CompassionCA

Barry & Sharon Slauenwhite were surprised by their sponsor child/
LDP student being there to celebrate with all of us!

"The world does not need more Compassion, the world needs more Jesus Christ." ~ Barry Slauenwhite, Compassion Canada's President/CEO. 

Papa Wess speaking words of encouragement!

"Do not grow weary in well doing. We're not done yet..." ~ Papa Wess.

On Sunday morning...
On a whim, we decided to head to Light Presbyterian Church where Compassion Korea's President, Dr. Justin Suh, was speaking. There was going to be an appeal for child sponsorships and there was a need for more Advocates to help staff the Compassion tables as six stations were set-up for people to signup to sponsor children!

Since all four of us... myself, hubby and our kids... are fully-trained Advocates, we knew we just had to be there! We left our hotel earlier than planned and headed out of London towards Light Presbyterian Church, which is conveniently located on our way home. 

What a blessed morning it was... as we saw 364 (!!!) children sponsored! Truly such a blessing!!! 

As a bonus, because God is just awesome like that, as we were having lunch together with fellow Advocates and some folks from the church, hubby struck up a conversation with a lady who so happens to be a lawyer and have had the awesome opportunity of working with International Justice Mission on the field in the Philippines!

My girl has been wanting to chat with someone like that as she contemplates on becoming a human rights lawyer one day and working with an organization such as IJM! {Side note: Her passion to end modern-day slavery is why she started knitting!}

Only God can arrange "coincidences" as such! Don't you just love how He knits paths together?!?

Words aren't adequate...
To relate to you, my dear blog readers, just how incredibly full my heart is and how immensely blessed I am feeling today! It was truly an awe-inspiring weekend!

I am pumped, more than ever before, to be more of Jesus' hands and feet in this world where pain, suffering and poverty can only have one solution... and that is Jesus! 

Would you join me in releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name? If so, please click here... a child is waiting to call you friend today!

:: :: ::

As I continue to live out thanks and give thanks by counting grace-gifts, with unending thanks... to The One who is always good and who always loves... these are the things I am thankful for these two weeks... #3079 - #3092:

:: That God would see fit to invite unqualified people like us to partner with Him in Kingdom work.

:: Compassion's global ministry... releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name!

:: Compassion's vision for the year 2020... to reach 4 million children and their families with the message of God's love!

:: Compassion Canada's 50 years... such a privilege for our family to be a small part of it!

:: Fellow Compassion Advocates from all over this vast country!

:: For the many people this weekend who stepped out of their comfort zones and embraced child sponsorship!

:: The staff of Compassion Canada, for their commitment and dedication!

:: For this mama-heart, continually being stretched to give her kids wings to fly... to wherever God would send them!

:: For the united vision that God has given our family... to be Jesus' hands and feet to those most in need.

:: God's love... so vast, so relentless, so everlasting!

:: That there are no coincidences with God... He *is* in the details!

:: George Canyon, a Compassion Artist, who so graciously gave me CDs and autographed them for my boss who is a fan of his! ♥

:: God's grace... sustaining us through busy days.

:: This new week, His mercies new for each day!

Hello Monday!

As you might've already figured out, I am still on a high from the weekend's events. God has surprised me with fresh inspiration... and I am truly grateful! This quote, from Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts, sums up my heart this morning...

Instead of filling with expectations, the joy-filled expect nothing - and are filled. This breath! This oak tree! This daisy! This work! This sky! These people! This place! This day! Surprise!

Choosing to live a surrendered life... because Christ's love compels me... and giving thanks for everything that my good God so freely bestows, so lavishly gives and so extravagantly showers!

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!

Changing Seasons

This morning...
I woke up to freezing temperatures... 0*C to be exact! It might be the day that the winter coat makes its appearance and the wool socks make their debut.

This changing of the seasons is making me reflect on the seasons of life, where changes happen too. We are now in the parenting-of-teenagers season... and boy, life sure is different and busy!

When the kids were babies, friends of ours with teenagers often told us to enjoy the moments and cherish the days... because the teenage years will be fast and busy and crazy. In the busy-ness of life then consisting of diaper changes and three-hour feeding schedules and potty training, I didn't believe a word they said. Now I do... and while I most certainly miss the toddler days, I am quite loving this different and new season of life! 

So, take it from this older mom... to my friends out there with younger children... enjoy the moments and cherish the days! :)

Speaking of enjoying...

We found some time over the Thanksgiving weekend to get out and enjoy the outdoors. We were blessed with beautiful, sunny days all weekend long! We headed out to the forest right by our house and spent a few hours just enjoying each other and admiring God's artwork, which was so evident in the beautiful colours of Autumn!

Here are some photos from that day...

Hello Friday!

Today, my girl and I are at the Global Leadership Summit volunteering for Compassion Canada. And, this weekend, our family will be attending Compassion Canada's 50th Anniversary celebrations!!! It's going to be an awesome next few days... celebrating the awesomeness that is our great God and Heavenly Father... and relishing in the fact that He invites us to join Him in Kingdom work. And, all we need to say is, "Yes!"... even when sometimes, it can take us way out of our comfort zones.

Chesterton's words, "How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it!"

The joy of small that makes life large.

~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts. 

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!

On Celebrating Thanksgiving and Living Out Thanks

Hello Tuesday...
I am sitting here, trying to jump-start my week, after a four-day long weekend. It was Thanksgiving weekend for us here in Canada and we had an added bonus this year of a day off from school on Friday!

My heart is heavy this morning. Just as we finished our Thanksgiving Dinner last night, Facebook lit up with posts about a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hitting Cebu, Philippines. We have family there and our Compassion LDP student is also there. We have been able to connect with most... and are thankful that everyone is safe, though some have suffered minor injuries, loss of and/or damage to property. We are in the process of seeing how we can send help for this time of need... for such a time as this!

Through it all... all *is* still grace!

Eucharisteo means "to give thanks," and give is a verb, something that we do. God calls me to do thanks. To give the thanks away. That thanks-giving might literally become thanks-living. That our lives become the very blessings we have received.

I am blessed. I can bless. Imagine! I could let Him make me the gift!

I could be the joy!

In an endless cycle of grace, He gives us gifts to serve the world.

It's the fundamental, lavish, radical nature of the upside-down economy of God.

Empty to fill.

Here I can become the blessing, a little life that multiplies joy, making the larger world a better place.

God can enter into me, even me, and use these hands, these feet, to be His love, a love that goes on and on and on forever, endless cycle of grace.

{My most favourite excerpt, from Chapter 10 of the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp... thoughts I've been reflecting on over the Thanksgiving weekend.}

Yes! "That thanks-giving might literally become thanks-living." Reflecting on these thoughts all weekend somehow prepared me for the news of the earthquake. As I read the Facebook posts and scanned the Twitter feeds, my heart was ready to live out thanks... to extend help as best we can, to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

Speaking of reflecting...
I had much time to do that this weekend as I knitted! Yes... you read that right... I learned to knit this weekend... something I never thought I'd ever do! Because, you know... isn't knitting something only grandmas would do?!? ;)

Here's the proof!

BUT... you see, my girl... she started this thing called Freedom Creations. It is a project that blossomed from her heart as she came to see that "every person is created with a purpose and made for freedom."

As she knitted, fighting slavery one stitch at a time... I became inspired. {Side note: this same girl ;)... inspired us onto the journey of child sponsorship one Christmas a while back by asking for nothing else but a Compassion sister as her Christmas present! Don't you just love how God works through children to change the trajectory of our faith path? :)}

Now... where was I? Oh yes, I became inspired... inspired to learn how to knit, so that I can fight slavery too!

I knitted the weekend away... all the while listening to an All Sons & Daughters album. As I sang along, "You are the Saviour and You take brokenness aside and make it beautiful, beautiful..." and "I will love, love, love with this heart You've made for You've been good always...", tears started to fall as I realized how God was speaking to me.

As I knitted and sang along, He was telling me that...

Just like knitting where it is done one stitch at a time, fighting slavery is a slow process. The battle will not be won overnight... that I need to just keep loving with this heart He's made, for He's been good always!

Just like knitting and how the tips of my fingers hurt bad from the needles constantly poking them, fighting slavery will be painful and will take sacrifice. It was also a reminder to me that those who are trapped in modern-day slavery live in pain, every single day of their lives... and not just pain on their fingertips. That thought definitely encouraged me to keep knitting despite the pain I was feeling.

Just like knitting where I need to keep going if I want to see a finished product, we can not give up fighting slavery. We need to set our eyes on the goal, which is freedom.

Just like knitting and the beautiful finished product that resulted from the many, many, many (!) single stitches, in fighting slavery we will see how our Saviour takes brokenness aside and makes it beautiful! 

Friends, I am happy to report that I helped to create a beautiful slouchy hat just like this one... and that I am officially a knitter, fighting slavery and living out thanks... one stitch at a time! And, please... no grandma jokes! ;)

Post by Freedom Creations.

Interspersed within the knitting lessons this weekend...
We had a great Thanksgiving, gathering with both sides of the family and some friends... celebrating communion with our church family... and enjoying the beautiful Autumn hues outdoors as we were blessed with such beautiful weather for most of the weekend!

A little friend came to visit, outside our patio door!

Chicken from the farm.

Setting up the tripod for a family photo. :)

Asking them to pose... again! :)

Love these two... so much!

:: :: ::

As I continue to live out thanks and give thanks by counting grace-gifts, with unending thanks... to The One who is always good and who always loves... these are the things I am thankful for these past few weeks... #3063 - #3078:

:: The many opportunities to live out our thanks... to be Jesus' hands and feet in this hurting world.

:: Coaching my boy's Robotics Team and the progress they have made so far towards Tournament Day.

:: A boxful of free yarn for my girl... from hubby's cousin, just in time for the launch of Freedom Creations!

:: My boy celebrating 13 candles!

:: The start of another ministry year.

:: Organizing a 1,000-pounds Thanksgiving Food Drive at our church and being blown away by the 2,347-pounds of food that came in!

:: Helping a friend photograph her art work for an Art Sale benefiting a local ministry helping the homeless and the marginalized. Check out the link... you *will* fall in love with Katherine's art! :) 

:: Visiting a long-time Pastor-friend and his wife... and learning about their connection to Freeset bags and the women who make them!!!

:: Discovering the music of All Sons & Daughters! So uplifting and inspiring.

:: Our new Home Church... growing with old friends and some new ones too... and anticipating the things that God has in store for us this year as a faith community.

:: My boy competing at the Battle of Waterloo!

:: Going to the University Fair with my girl. Already?!? Time... please slow down!

:: Access to great medical care... as we continue to investigate the cause of my girl's vision disturbances. Praying that we can finally confirm a diagnosis of migraines sooner than later.

:: New windows for our house before winter arrives.

:: Writing Christmas cards for all of our sponsor children!

:: I am starting to s-l-o-w-l-y run on the treadmill again, after not doing so all summer long. 

Hello shortened week!

As I dive into this short week, I am being mindful of what it says in Psalms 100: 1-5 (NCV) as I seek to continually live out thanks:

Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with joy; come before him with singing. Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends. Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise. Thank him and praise his name. The Lord is good. His love is forever, and his loyalty goes on and on.

Choosing to live a surrendered life... because Christ's love compels me... and giving thanks for everything that my good God so freely bestows, so lavishly gives and so extravagantly showers!

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!

Why He's A Keeper

It was Friday afternoon...
He walked in the door at the end of a hard work day, at the end of a stressful work week, which must have felt longer than five days to him... and he greets me with the brightest smile he's had in days.

I knew right then, even without him uttering a word, that something beautiful had happened in his day.

Then, he told me the story...
On his way to a client's place earlier that day, he saw a homeless man as he exited the highway. The man was standing to one side at the end of the exit ramp, begging. The traffic lights worked beautifully in a way that hubby was stopped right beside this homeless man.

He rolled down his window and struck up a conversation. He learned that the homeless man's name is Bruce. Bruce has been homeless for five years... since his wife passed away. He sleeps under a bridge every night, the one right by Pharmacy Avenue just down the road. Most days, he stands at this exit ramp until 6pm... getting enough money to buy dinner.

Then, the traffic lights changed. It was time to keep moving.

Hubby went about his work day and finished the job at his client's place just before 5pm. As he drove past that same exit ramp to get onto the on-ramp across the street to come home, he saw Bruce still standing there.

Instead of coming home, he drives past the on-ramp and goes to a Mr. Sub restaurant. With a foot-long sub and orange juice in hand, he gets on the on-ramp and drives towards home. He takes the first exit, turns around and enters the highway again going the opposite direction... to get to the off-ramp where Bruce was standing.

He handed Bruce the foot-long sub and orange juice. Bruce was surprised to see him, in awe that he would actually come back and bring him dinner. After a handshake, my man drives off. Exiting the highway and turning around one more time to get onto the on-ramp towards home.

As he approached the on-ramp to come home, he saw his new-found friend, Bruce... dinner in hand, walking towards home earlier than the anticipated 6pm, to his home under the bridge, the one right by Pharmacy Avenue just down the road.

And my man comes home with the brightest smile he's had in days.

He's a keeper, isn't he?
He could have driven straight home and not bother to check if Bruce was still there. After all, it's been a stressful work week and a long hard day. He's entitled to come home and relax. Besides, it's too much work to go the opposite direction on the highway, just to get to where Bruce was standing. Plus, he'd have to stop and buy the food still!

Yet, my man chose compassion over comfort... choosing to demonstrate a cross-shaped love, a Jesus-shaped love.

You have no idea how much this makes my heart smile happy and overflow with thanksgiving.

More than when he buys me flowers. More than when he washes the dishes. More than when he takes the trash out. More than when he makes sure my car's gas tank is always at least half-full. More than when he still tucks our 16-year-old girl to bed. More than when he reads the Bible with our boy each night.

I am truly blessed beyond measure.

Because a man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments (Psalm 112:1); a man who chooses compassion over comfort, choosing to love with a Jesus-shaped love, he's a gem. He's a keeper!

Hallelujah!
Blessed man... who fear God,
Who cherish and relish His commandments,
His children robust on the earth,
And the home of the upright — how blessed!
His house brim with wealth
And a generosity that never runs dry.
Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people —
God’s grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.
Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
He lavishes gifts on the poor —
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life! A beautiful life!

~ Paraphrase of Psalm 112, The Message.

As we celebrate his 48th birthday today...
He is, once again, choosing to bless others over pampering himself. As a result, we will be contributing towards our church's 1,000-lbs Thanksgiving Food Drive in a special way!

There are 10 most-needed items on the grocery list. We will be donating 48 units of each item, to celebrate hubby's 48 years!!! We can't wait to hit the grocery stores this coming week!!!

If you live in the Greater Toronto Area and would like to help us celebrate hubby's birthday in this way, please let me know!

I can't wait to see what 1,000 pounds of food looks like!!!

The donated food will be going to two wonderful Christ-centered organizations, Covenant House Toronto and The Sharing Place, just in time for the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!

Covenant House Toronto is Canada's largest homeless youth agency. Recognizing God's providence and fidelity to His people, they are dedicated to living out His covenant, serving the youth that come to them with absolute respect and unconditional love.

The Sharing Place provides a safe place for anyone who needs a hot meal or a bag of groceries, serving out of a spirit of brotherly and sisterly love as commanded by Jesus and the early church.

It is a grace for our family to be able to help, even in a small way, stock the shelves of these two ministries with much-needed food during this Thanksgiving season and to celebrate hubby's birthday at the same time!

In an endless cycle of grace, He gives us gifts to serve the world. This is how to make a life great and eucharisteo embarks us on the path: "Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave" (Matthew 20:26-27).

It's the fundamental, lavish, radical nature of the upside-down economy of God. 

Empty to fill.

Here I can become the blessing, a little life that multiplies joy, making the larger world a better place.

God can enter into me, even me, and use these hands, these feet, to be His love, a love that goes on and on and on forever, endless cycle of grace.

~ Excerpts from Chapter 10, One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp.

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!

Sacrifice. One Word, Three Things...

A couple of nights ago, the text for our family devotion time was from Romans, chapter 12. It is one of my favourite passages in the Bible. In fact, verses 1 and 2 are the very verses that I gave to my boy as he entered the waters of baptism earlier this year.

This chapter outlines for us, Christ-followers, what it means to be a living sacrifice, to live a life that's holy and pleasing to God — because living as such is our true and proper worship.

I love how The Message words this chapter. Friends, please allow me to share with you three things, among many things from this chapter, about what it means for a Christ-follower to be a living sacrifice.

First thing...

Living then, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

Friends, this is absolutely true! In our family's journey into child sponsorship with Compassion, we have truly experienced, each step along the way, blessings being multiplied a thousand fold over and over.

We have learned that in being a living sacrifice, one absolutely can not out-give God; one's good is nothing compared to God's goodness; one's outpouring of love is nothing compared to God's relentless love!

He blesses. He brings good. He loves. One thousand fold back.   

My girl, with our Compassion LDP student Rechelle, in Cebu City (Philippines).

Second thing...

... if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond.

Ah, yes! Being a living sacrifice involves having eagle eyes and quick hands and feet that are always ready for action. :)

There are dire needs all around us. Many are pressing, most are immediate. For people living in extreme poverty, their dire need is a daily reality. For the majority of us, first-world-citizens, it's not even something that we can fully grasp, understand or get our heads around...

Sponsoring a child with Compassion provides an answer and a solution to that dire need now! Today!

Friends, would you use your eagles eyes and spot that one child whose dire need you can help to alleviate today? Would you provide a quick response to this child whose need is so great it hinders them from living life to the full?

Our family with our Compassion child, Florianlyn and her family (and her social worker)
inside her house on the island of Masbate (Philippines).

Third thing...

Love from the center of who you are... Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Evil persists. Evil is rampant. Evil is everywhere.

Extreme poverty is an ugly evil. Extreme poverty robs people of basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. Extreme poverty robs people of basic resources such as healthcare, education and job opportunities. And the list can go on and on and on... 

But it doesn't have to... because when we, as Christ-followers, live as a living sacrifice, and love from the center of who we are, extreme poverty can be alleviated. 

Lives can be bettered. Evil can be overcome!

********************************************************

Friends, there are countless children today...
Trapped in the world of extreme poverty, with no hope for a brighter tomorrow. They desperately need to know...

... that there are Christ-followers who are willing to live simply and give generously.

... that there are fellow brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ who are keeping their eyes open and are willing to respond quickly.

... that there are members of this global community of God's people who are willing to fight evil by loving from the center of who they are.

My kids and Florianlyn. Hanging out on the beach on the island of Masbate (Philippines).

You can be that person today! By being a living sacrifice... living a life that's holy and pleasing to God  — offering up to Him your true and proper worship.

Sponsor a child with Compassion...

A child is waiting to call YOU friend this very day. A child is waiting for YOU to be a living sacrifice. A child is waiting for YOU to help release them from poverty, in Jesus name.

Canadian resident? Please click here. 

All others, please click here.

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!

A Letter To My Childhood Self

Hey there! It's me... the grown-up version of you. It feels a little strange writing to you... it's kind of a little back-to-the-future-ish, don't you think? Well, bear with me... because I think you'll like what I have to say!

Hmmm... where should I start? How about that I remember how you were such a shy and introverted girl, even to the point of not talking for long periods of time at school, feeling trapped inside your shy shell. Fret not, child... for you are an ambassador of Christ. One day, you will be free of that shy shell and start to have confidence in yourself!

How about that I remember your struggle to grasp the reality that God is good and found it hard to believe that God can be a loving Heavenly Father. Know this, child... you are a child of God, a beloved daughter. You have been adopted into God's family, a co-heir with Christ. God delights in you. Trust me, one day you will fully grasp how wide and long and high and deep God's love is for you!

Because you see, God's grace... it's this utterly amazing and beautiful thing! 

In your teenage years, you will leave the life that you've known since birth. You will move half-way around the world to a foreign country called Canada. You will start a new life. It is where this grown-up version of you still live today!

It is in this new country, in its education system, where you will learn to slowly come out of your shy shell and start to have confidence in yourself.

In just three short years after moving to this foreign country, the man your soul loves will come after you and three years after that, you will marry him!

It is in this marriage, soon after your first child is born, that you finally fully grasp God's goodness and start to understand that He truly is, and always has been, a loving Heavenly Father and that you are, indeed, a beloved daughter of the King!

It is in this marriage, through the good and the bad, that you grasp God's relentless love for you... that He truly is always good and that you truly are always loved!

See? Didn't I say that you'd like what I have to say?

In recent years, this grown-up version of you has come to love the writings of Ann Voskamp. So, I'll end this letter with one of the quotes from her book, One Thousand Gifts:

The secret to joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is.

Beautiful, right? I hope you'll take that to heart and know that God is always good, that you are always, always, always loved!

Love,

This Grown-Up Version of You.

********************************************************

Friends, there are countless children today...
Trapped in the world of extreme poverty, with no hope for a brighter tomorrow. They desperately need to know that they can be free of this oppression. They desperately need to know that God is good, that He is a loving Heavenly Father to them.

You can help speak those words to them! By being the hands and feet of Jesus to them today... 

Sponsor a child with Compassion...

A child is waiting to call YOU friend this very day. A child is waiting to hear YOU speak life to them. A child is waiting for YOU to help release them from poverty, in Jesus name.

Canadian resident? Please click here. 

All others, please click here.

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!

Labour Day, Birthday and the Start of School

Thirteen Labour Day Mondays ago...
At precisely 8:21 in the evening, an eight-pound-ten-ounce bundle of joy in the form of a sweet baby boy joined our family. True to the meaning of his name, Jonathan... he is a gift of God, from the Hebrew name Yehonatan meaning Yahweh has given.

Through my son, God has truly given me a precious gift. It is an honour and a privilege to be called his mama... I wouldn't trade this journey with anything else!

Mothering him has made me a better person.

It has taught me valuable life-lessons, it has humbled me, it has challenged me.

It has driven me to my knees in prayer, it has given me so much joy and laughter, it has had me shedding tears.

It has made my heart swell with so much happiness, it has made me trust God so much more.

It has broken me, it has made me whole.

Motherhood is truly a gift... my boy *is* a gift, a blessing beyond measure!  

Just a few minutes old.

A few months old.

At his baby dedication.

In just a blink of an eye... 

He's suddenly a teenager! Thirteen. Yes, thirteen! Today, he turns thirteen. How did that happen so fast? How is it that, seemingly overnight, he's suddenly taller than his sister?!? How is it that his feet have surpassed mine in size?!?

How is it that time waits for no one? How is it that time always flows like a relentless river?

We've always celebrated his birthday over the Labour Day weekend...

This year is no different, even though it turned out to be a series of impromptu celebrations --- a trek downtown on Friday, an outing to the waterfront park on Saturday, a dinner with dear friends on Sunday, another dinner with family on Monday... plus we'll be heading out to have dinner at his favourite restaurant later tonight. 

And, birthday boy started school yesterday... 
This year, he's in Grade 8... his last year in elementary school! As I walked with him to school for this last first-day-of-school at our neighbourhood public school, I couldn't help but remember back to his first day of Junior Kindergarten.

Like it was just yesterday...

With big sister on his first day of Kindergarten. Thumbs up!!!

Just before heading out the door!

Hubby had to pull him in the wagon. His little legs couldn't
walk the entire {short} way to the school! :)

Entering the Kindergarten yard.
Mommy is following right behind! ;)

In a blink of an eye, it's the eve of Grade 8. Chilling on the couch with me
{and his cube} and processing some first-day-of-school jitters.

Happily going off to school in the morning!

Happy Birthday, my son!

You are loved, more than you can imagine! My prayer for you today, as always, is this...

May you grow up to be... "a man whose heart beats to God's heart, a man who will do what God tells him." {Paraphrased from Acts 13:22, The Message.}

Though somehow... I know you have already become that young man, one who is after God's own heart. Your mama is so thankful for God's grace in your life and so honoured for this privilege of being your mom. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

:: :: ::

As I continue to count grace-gifts, with unending thanks... to The One who is always good and who always loves... these are the things I am thankful for this week... #3055 - #3062:

:: God's grace, for mama mistakes. And, second chances. His mercies, new every morning. His faithfulness, so great!

:: The joy that my boy brings each day to our family! Marking thirteen wonder-filled years today!

:: Family movie night at the theatres... one movie for the boys, another one for us girls! :) 

:: Smooth transition back-to-work, after vacation.

:: Another school year being upon us, praying for one filled with God-appointed moments.

:: Friends and family. 

:: Our local Farmers' Market!

:: A Compassion child, being considered for sponsorship!

Hello brand-new school year!

On the start of this unofficial new year... I am reflecting on these:

All the world is window. People, circumstances, situations, relationships, no material is opaque. If we are willing to see, all is transparent. All of this globe is but glass to God. Eucharisteo washes the windows. Eucharisteo, wholesale worship, is redemptive work, wiping away the soot of days cindered. ~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.

My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. All the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself. ~ Galatians 5:13,14.

Choosing to live a surrendered life... because Christ's love compels me... and giving thanks for everything that my good God so freely bestows, so lavishly gives and so extravagantly showers!

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!