The Tapestry of Life

They say life is a journey - which is funny because it makes me think of the band Journey and Steve Perry’s awesome poof mullet. But I digress.  We each have a journey we’re walking, a story we’re living as we progress through each day. Sometimes our journey is a happy one filled with good times and laughter; other times, it’s full of heartache and hurt. Whichever is true for you, we all are on a far reaching journey - a journey that doesn’t end until we’ve let our last breath slip from our lips.

If you and I were to sit down and discuss the intimate details of my journey thus far, we’d need several hours. It’d be soaked with tales of bad decisions, of faltering virtues and a flawed logic. But looking back, and because hindsight is so perfectly clear, I can see each step I took led me, thankfully, to where I am now. No, the mistakes I made - and believe me, there were plenty - aren’t forgotten, but each one, despite my best efforts, led me to something good, something worthwhile.

God has a plan for each of us. As it says in Jeremiah 29;11, "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". So what happens when the choices we make doesn’t match up to the plan He’s laid out for us? What happens when we refuse to follow our calling or His ways and we end up off track and lost? Can we ever get back? The answer is actually rather simple. Yes, we can.

You may have stepped away from His journey for a minute, or maybe it’s been a long while. But I can truthfully say that you’re right where you need to be. God can use you, help you, restore you right where you stand. It may not seem like it right this moment, but imagine looking back on the spot where you now stand and seeing how it soon led you to something beautiful and full of redemption. You may feel unworthy of the love and grace He has to give, and that’s understandable. But imagine looking back one grace-filled day and saying softly to yourself, “I was right where I needed to be”.

Life is like a wall tapestry.

We're only viewing the backside. It appears to be nothing more than a jumble of thread—tangled, frayed, occasionally knotted, and seemingly random. Nothing really makes sense. It’s no wonder people lose heart, give up, and abandon their commitments. But things are not always what they seem. It’s only when you turn a tapestry over that you see the art: the rich colors, the texture, and the patterns that can make a tapestry a thing of astonishing beauty. Likewise, occasionally God gives us a glimpse at what He is weaving into the fabric of our lives. That momentary peek at glory gives us the courage to soldier on, knowing that nothing happens by accident. No thread of experience - good or bad - is wasted. When it appears to be that way, we just have to remind ourselves that we are simply looking at the backside of a tapestry. And the One weaving it together, knows precisely what He is doing.

Blessings

Outnumbered

We've got them outnumbered. The Kaufman's in the family that is.

There is more Gerber's than Gingerich's a few more Kaufman's than Zielmans, and if you put us all together it spells

We were together today, celebrating - not just Easter, or Meme's birthday, or Mother's day, but also the fact that all 16 of us were able to be together. Making this one of those photo worthy opportunities.

Blessings

Family Time

ah yes! Having the family home was the hilight for my weekend. In fact,  I was too busy having fun that I didn't get any pictures.

Since,  Krystle got married, Kyle moved to Orillia for college and Darcy lives at the Little Inn of Bayfield as the Nightkeeper, we've been empty nesters.....  Bizaare as it might sound, I am really enjoying this time with just the ole' farmer.  To be honest, before any of the kids had moved out, I was afraid of the "empty nest". 

My kids had created meaning for my life every single day. They had needs I could research and meet. They had aches and pains I could hug away. They had fascinating interests I could encourage and bright eyes for exciting events we could share.  For 23 of the the past 25 years of our marriage we've had kids around us. I was worried that when it was time for it to be just the two of us, we'd have nothing to connect us.

With apologies to my kids, whom I love very much, I am not experiencing what Wikipedia calls a "lonely, abandoned feeling" associated with empty nest syndrome.  In fact, our empty nest is a surprisingly comfortable place.

We've successfully launched our children,  and are experiencing a sense of mutual fulfillment.  It's something to celebrate this parental accomplishment of a job well done.  The reward for all our hard work is independent children.

And so tonight I celebrate my great success... with dribbling tears.

Saying Farewell

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good-bye. It's never easy to say good-bye.

In fact sometimes it can be down right hard heart-breaking. None-the-less, all through our lives we, at one time or another, have had to say these words.

Today was one such day for me. It was my last day at the office. And while I loved my job and the people I worked with, it was time to move on. Not that I really have anything else in mind. It was the right decision to make. The staff surprised me with a farewell party, complete with cake donuts, fresh fruit and of course a wonderful gift.

Alexander Graham Bell quoted, "When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." I want to be careful not to do just that. Sit around with regret. Sure it'll be hard come Monday morning, to not get ready for the office, and it'll be quite different to sit around in comfy clothes rather than the usual business casual that I wear to the office. But I hoping that I'll have some time to pursue some of those ideas that I've had floating around my brain for some time.

I have about a billion ideas every day. Most of them have to be discarded because, really, I’m just one woman.. . . Some ideas turn into hobbies, things that I enjoy in the downtime of life and I really enjoy them. But, there are few things that truly are dreams. I hadn’t even noticed the threads of my dreams being braided together into a beautiful strand until recently. For the past few years, God has been nudging my heart and my voice to recognize a distinct need. That need can be filled with my unique perspective, I know that. But, it’s scary. How big? How soon? How much do I take on? When? For how long? These are all questions that feel weighty and heavy in their burden.

When it’s a dream, it feels important not to screw it up. But, paralysis via perfectionism just won’t do. Not this time. So, what then? What to do when your dream scares you? When it seems bigger than you, when it seems bigger than your talents, when it is certainly beyond your resources? I guess you pray. You talk. You continue to dream. You let those strands turn into a braid, and you let that braid grow longer and stronger and more sure. You wait and grow more sure

Close your eyes for a moment...

Think of the wildest dream.

The biggest hope.

The more you long for.

And then open your heart to this... "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory. Ephesians 3:20-21

You can't out-dream, out-hope, out-do God. And how does it happen? Through his power within us. Within you. We want God to hand us what we want. He says instead, "Take my hand and watch what we can do together."

It may not be what we have in mind. But it's guaranteed to blow our minds.

Blessings

Not Darcy approved

As we were finishing up the dishes tonight, my handsome young son, Darcy, says to me "you know Mom, these dishes would not be Darcy approved".... .. .. .. .

Since the dishwasher had broken down quite some time ago and with only Wayne & I here, it seemed a wee bit silly to spend an exorbant amount of money to get it fixed. I could just wash those pesky dishes by hand. However, since he's been working as a dishwasher for The Little Inn of Bayfield he tends to critic my dishwashing capabilitlies.

Next time I think, I'll just let him do wash those dishes all by his lonesome - ^.^ That way, 1) I don't have to do them and 2) they will be Darcy approved.

Blessings

Sticks and Stones

I have been affected by the power of words lately - both my words and others' words. Words that are hurtful, confusing, discouraging. Words that say things that shouldn't have been said, let alone thought. Words that make me sad. Words that make me angry. My knee jerk, over simple solution is to stop emailing, stop talking, stop the words. A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Proverbs 16:28 NLT

A word out of your mouth may seem of no account,
but it can accomplish nearly anything - or destroy it!
A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that.
By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

Chances are you’ve been called something that hurt you, maybe even scared you. Chances are you have used some pretty hurtful words yourself.

In this day and age people will say anything that comes to mind. In the animated classic Bambi, Walt Disney coined the common phrase, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” We all need to watch what we say and I believe it’s OK to be the one who doesn’t have the last say…it’s alright to just listen and not speak…it’s alright to give someone else a compliment with nothing in return…and above all, it’s a good thing to be the one who extends some grace filled words into someone’s day. More than you know, it is likely they need to hear a kind word…just one word that could make all the difference to them.

Sticks and stones hurt and so do the words that are used to attack others. Words are powerful. Words can lift a person up or bring a person down. Yes, you can try not to allow hurtful things to wound your soul and crush your spirit but for the most part they manage to get in and accomplish the pain intended from the person who sent the wounding word.

People often say hurtful words to others because they are displacing hurt that is within them. Some of us are strong enough to endure words that are cast upon us by others. But some are affected deeply by strong words. The longer you allow hurtful words to affect you, the deeper the hole becomes and the harder it becomes to climb out of it.

Spend more energy and time on being kind, saying nice things, and just being a person with positive things to do and say. Your reward will be greater and better for being a kind person. It is better to be noticed for doing something nice than to be noticed for doing something hurtful.

Hurtful words are like bees. They sting and leave their poison to spread to the core of the person. Sometimes, there's an allergic reaction to the bee sting and can result in the demise of it's victim. Same with hurtful words according to Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences". NLT

As a wife, a mother and a Christian, I'm accountable for the words that flow from my mouth. The words I speak go out into eternity. I can seek forgiveness and forgiveness will be granted, but I can't take back my words. We all say things that we wish we can take back. When our tongue cause hurt to others, we need to humble ourselves before God and our victims. From reading the gospels, I believe that Christ was a listener…and when HE spoke, HIS words were few, but always said with kindness and gentleness. I am trying to be a better listener. When you listen, it is amazing what you will hear!

Make it a habit then, of saying one kind word to each person who crosses your path. AND "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.." EPHESIANS: 5:2

Blessings

Finding Balance

Busy as a bee .... as I have been reading different friend's blogs, I've noticed a common theme among the ramblings. Everyone is so busy. Busy with jobs, kids, gardens, crafts, you name and someone out there will be busy with it.

I too am feeling overly busy lately with life.

I've been reading a very good book called "Boundaries", by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. Ironically it's about setting boundaries in life so one does not feel overly busy with doing it all. But doing what you choose to do, well.

How do you decide what it is you want to do with your life? There are so many options these days.

I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each of His children, we need to seek His guidance for our lives. Unfortunately too often we get caught up in the routine-ness of life, without searching out His will.

In the book, it says that we need to say "no" to some things so we can say "yes" to the right things. I too often think that if I don't do it, it won't get done, and you know maybe that's not a bad thing. Sometimes we have to be willing to let things go, and if there is a real need for it, someone else will step up to do it.

So as I try to bring more balance in my life, I need to first seek His will and follow His desires for my life, and to not get to caught up with this world...........after all we're only here for a short time.

Blessings