Blessings on Top of Blessings

It's time that I updated this blog. It's not that I haven't had anything to say, it's more that I either haven't known quite what to say or it wasn't time yet to say it. Make sense?

Summer is almost at an end. My girlie starts Kindergarten next Wednesday. She's cautiously excited. I simply can't believe she's old enough, although at times she's way beyond her years.

The last few months have been a blur of activity and thought.

In June, I had the great fortune to go to London, Ontario, for a national youth leaders conference with the Anglican Church. It was amazing. We got to go to different sessions that interested us, had all matter of worship, and got to meet great people from across the country. The Primate was there and was very encouraging to all of us. There was a general sense that what we, and the youth, must be heard, and that we're worth hearing. Many of us left this week feeling empowered, not in an excited TEC/Cursillo way, but in a pervasive constant way. I'm still not sure what it means. I'll leave that experience alone for now.

The beginning of July heralded Teen Camp. The youth and programming staff were wonderful. We had great weather and really seemed to bond. We had a number of younger youth this year, for which I'm very grateful. It's nice to see the youth of the diocese regenerating and the older youth take on more of a leadership role.

My family went on vacation for the first part of August. We got together a yard sale and went camping at Spruce Woods for a few days. I love it there. It's absolutely perfect for little ones - great swimming, bike paths and camp sites.

I guess the big news is that we're expecting again. I'm presently 3 months along and we're all very excited. I've been feeling ok, but tired and a little nauseous. That's to be expected though. Roo is so excited that she's going to "poop out her ears". She's really hoping it's a girl. They have a new place in Winnipeg that you can get 4-D ultrasounds done, and family is allowed in. If everything is ok, we might do that so that Mackenzie can really feel that this is her baby too.

Because of this new revelation/baby, I'm putting school on hold, which is both good and a little sad. After the youth conference in June, I was feeling called to go a little deeper with my studies but that'll have to be put on hold for now. This is the way things are meant to be. Family is first priority and I'm happy to be mom first.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

A Little Bit of This.....

It's the end of February and the snow is melting. A week ago, it was -45 with the windchill....just rotten, I tell you - but it's all good now!

As an addendum to my pre-Christmas post, Christmas lights were put up downtown - I believe my source may or may not have been smoking crack.

This year, thus far, has been a whirlwind of emotions and activity. I seem to be spending it studying, knitting, hanging with my family and worrying about church stuff.

My family has decided to switch churches. This was an extremely difficult decision to make as it is the church I've been going to since I was 8, we were married here, our daughter was baptised here and I work here. There are many reasons - some very personal and some because we felt that we were no longer left any options. We have felt for some time that there were problems at this church and even after speaking to them, we were left to feel unheard. Ironically, this is mutually exclusive and has nothing to do with the problems in the wider church.

We have begun going to a new Anglican church and I love it. There is lots of singing, with a strong focus on the little people of the parish. The children are made to feel so much a part of the parish - it's wonderful! One child gets to carry a cross downstairs to Sunday School, they light candles, there is a song 'just for them', they're having special events for Good Friday and Easter. Better yet - I don't have to plan them! There are many hands to make light the work. It's very refreshing.

The other aspect I love, probably the most, is the people my age(ish)!!!! Yes, you too can have people your age at a church! We attend house church every two weeks with about a dozen adults and about 15 children. The children play and we adults sing a few songs and work through a devotional book (currently on 1 Corinthians). Last time, the children skated in the front yard then watched movies. The older children look after the younger ones. I love this so much. (Did I say that already?)

Other than that, I'm mostly studying - only two more months in this course - I can't wait for it to be over.

Everyone's healthy, happy and looking forward.

"Awaken to the new day as a gift instead of as a given"

"Some of you may not be aware of something today, some news. It seems that we have been given as much as another day by God to be alive. Perhaps as much as one more day to know God, to love God, and to serve God. Perhaps as much as one more day" (The Rev. Curtis Almquist, SSJE, Superior).

Amazing. You can see more here.

"What God really cares about is whether we love him."

I took the following from this blog I've just recently found and it really touched me.

The Archbishop of Cape Town preached in June at Westminster Abbey and offered this perspective on the touchstone of Orthodox faith. I loved this:

If anyone wants to pick a fight with me about my faith, let it be on the grounds of my relationship with Jesus, and my belief in who he is: the belief to which Scripture attests and the creeds affirm.

Jesus remains the eternal Word made flesh.

Jesus remains the second person of the Trinity, pre-existent from before all time, taking on human form.

Jesus remains fully God and fully human – the double homoousios to which the Nicene creed affirms.

Jesus remains the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, who breaks the chains of death. No-one else can do this.

Jesus remains the crucified one who was raised to new life. In twenty-first century scientific terms, we do not know how to describe his risen body – but we do know he was raised, and we do know he ascended, and we do know he sits at the Father's right hand, where he ever makes intercession for us.

Jesus Christ remains the same, yesterday, today and for ever!

So, even though some of the church is in turmoil over issues of human sexuality, that should never become the touchstone of orthodox belief.

Rather, let the heart of your faith be your love for God, responding to God's love in Christ for you.

And if anyone asks you where you stand, be confident in saying with Paul

'I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I how live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life that I live now in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'

Amen.

Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane

You can read the whole sermon here.

Amazing. It's what our faith is all about and a much much MUCH more eloquent way of explaining what I often say "I just want everyone to play nice."

I feel my spirit returning...