inspired.....

I am feeling super inspired this morning...

Today is a full with lots of places to be and things to do,
but I have a feeling it is going to be a very good day.

Before I get out the door this morning, I wanted to
share these words from Maya Angelou.

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"While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation.”

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“love life, engage in it, give it all you've got. love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it"

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"The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”

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Enjoy, and take good care!

graces...

Okay, so, the first day of December
didn't go so well for me.

It was one of those breathe-deep-'cause-it's-a-full-one kind of day. After I got the kids dropped off at school, I set off with my list of this and thats I needed to pick up. Later I had things to do to get ready for a meeting in the early afternoon. BUSY! And I was okay with it. Mama was taking care of business! I decided to stop to pick up a coffee when I started to get a migraine. Anyone else get these? I get them every long once in awhile. I am thankful they are not frequent but getting them is such a pain in the you-know-where. I am not sure what is more difficult the actual pain/nausea that comes with it OR the major inconvenience of life a migraine creates. My migraines begin with auras (flashing lights in front of my eyes that ultimately blur my vision until I can't see for about 20 minutes.)and then the headache begins. To cope, I head to bed as soon as possible to sleep for a few hours. I usually feel pretty gross for a couple of hours after the rest but at least the pain is gone. BUT....who has a couple of hours in a day to sleep/rest/recover? Especially on a day like I had in the works!

sigh.....

I was so annoyed, and I needed help.

Thankfully, thankfully, the man was 'able' (meaning he'll be doing lots of catch up today) to come make sure I was okay and help me out. Helping included dropping off some invites that I had been working on and explaining to the women on the committee how to decorate the outside of the envelopes with little flowers and paper. (A man has to be pretty secure in his manhood to do something like that!) He took care of a bunch of other things for me so that I was able to get the rest I needed. And I am so grateful.

So, the second day of December is going pretty well so far.
I have a BIG list of to-dos, and I have just clued in that it is only 22 days until Christmas.
22 days!

I am rested, feeling good thank you very much. And I feel pretty fortunate to be able to say such a thing.

I said the other day that I wanted to keep this in mind this week....
'…Advent says, ‘Wake up and realize the gifts of love you have received.’

I also just realized that it has been ages since I listed any graces. (Really that just makes me cringe....) But....today is a new day, so here goes....

34. caring care when I am not well

35. cozy blankets

36. the kids knowing how to cook

37. the kids willing to cook

38. creativity

39. laughter

40. the words, 'praying for you...'

41. quick phone calls to catch up

42. he got in!

43. making it work

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hard at work..... The youngest whipped up some krispee treats and drizzled them with melted caramels. (Note: we have discovered that caramels go almost rock hard after being nuked...) She moved on to 'creating' this wonder with the bits and pieces left over.


See how proud she is of this crazy sugar-fest? :)

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Hope you have a wonderful day!
and if you don't, don't worry, we can always try again tomorrow...

Karina

First Sunday of Advent...

Do you like this?

I think it's terrific.

This marvelous sign sits on top of a church in Lahaina on Maui.
When we first saw it, we just had to stop the car.
I would love it if my church had this.

I am sharing this photo with you
because sometimes we all need a little reminder.

Also, yesterday was
the first Sunday of Advent.

Advent is all about Jesus coming again.

Last night, we spent time together as a family
talking about the meaning of Advent and how these
weeks and days before Christmas are special.


As the Christmas season begins, it quickly becomes full of many wonderful things. Gifts, parties, decorations, Santa, food, and so much more. But much of all of that has very little to do with the true meaning of Christmas.

Sometimes the meaning gets lost. The birth of Jesus, can actually get lost in all of the holiday hustle and bustle. sigh....

Our family had a lovely and full weekend with the start of our Christmas preparations. It was so much fun! We try to keep our focus on giving rather than receiving because we are commanded to
'LOVE ONE ANOTHER'.

This all good, but something was missing.....

And the man and I did not want to leave it until Christmas Eve to remember. We want this time to have a deeper meaning. I found a few words that express the feeling in our hearts.

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"Advent, like its cousin Lent, is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at winter time, fire is a fitting sign to help us celebrate Advent…If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer. Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts. Ours is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time."
(Fire of Advent . . . Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac, p. 187)

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"Each year, God asks us to shed one more coat of awareness, one more dream state and come alive to the vision of God’s plan for each of us and the world-at-large.

The older we get, the harder this is to do. As children we had a sense of wonder. Our eyes were wide open and drinking in the fascinating gifts we beheld…Our thirsty souls could not have enough of the wonders of creation.

Then, somehow, we grew too old to dream. We tired of the abundance of the world, or at least grew weary of keeping up with the feast of life, and stepped away from the banquet of life.

The natural gift of wonder God gave us as children was meant to be kept alive.…Instead we let wonder go to sleep. We entered the typical dream state of most humans.

Why else does Jesus tell us today, ‘Stay awake!’ …Advent says, ‘Wake up and realize the gifts of love you have received.’"

(Gift of Wonder . . . Rev. Alfred McBride,
O. Praem.,THE PRIEST, Oct. ‘87, p.26)

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My hearts desire is that our children will passionately grasp
how blessed they are to have a Heavenly Father who loves them so deeply that He gave His only son for them, for each of them.

The Bible holds so many promises for us and I want us to hold them close to our hearts and trust them.

'…Advent says, ‘Wake up and realize the gifts of love you have received.’

I will keep these words close to my heart this week.

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This season of time brings forth so many emotions.

At the best of times, finding the balance for all parts of life can be a challenge. And when there are issues and circumstances on top of that for a family to deal it can be overwhelming. Add in the expectations that come along with Christmas, well, overwhelming is really an understatement.

Please keep my children in your prayers during this time. Their father suffered a stroke way back in June. Despite much progress in his recovery, he had a significant setback a few weeks ago that required multiple surgeries. The children had the chance to see him this past weekend and it was very hard for them. They are struggling to understand what is happening and when complete healing will come. He is only 38 years old which is young to be a stroke victim.


Please pray that he will keep fighting and not lose hope. Pray that the man and I will know the ways in which to support and care for the children during this. I know that I cannot take away this for them but I pray I will know how to help them carry it.

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I know we are not the only ones facing huge giants during this time. Health, finances, family, decisions, and more.
I am sure we all know someone going through something right now. I'll bet that there are more people going through something than we know. Sometimes it feels safer to hold things close to the heart rather than risk to share, but we must. It is okay to ask for help. It gives people the chance to love you through something.

Take good care,
Karina

phoneshots.....

snapshots of my life
on my phone.....

a quick, little date with
the youngest son
after he had his haircut.

...sometimes I wonder for how much longer he will like the idea of having little dates with his mama.....

(ps I am loving the snowy, hockey scene on my double, double)
(I am Canadian!)

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taking a break during our Christmas shopping

six kids, wish lists,
everyone trying to find the perfect gift
for each other

we try to keep their eyes on
giving
rather than receiving

I love Christmas decorations. This was from one of the trees over by Santa's village. I was hoping, hoping that maybe they would all be willing to be in a photo with him....

we had so much fun.

bags full of treasures, whispers of plans,
excitement that Christmas is coming!

Christmas Open House

A sweet, wonderful woman I know,
by the name of Kim, is having a gorgeous
Christmas Open House
this weekend.

Kim as a charming blog called,

My Brown Bag Studio.

Here are some of her creations. Kim
makes such beautiful things.

These are photos I took of her lovelies
back in September at the Country Celebration.

(p.s. the bag in the above photo, the green one,
it's on my Christmas wish list...hint, hint)

introducing....Kim!
(and me)



These are a few of the treasures that I picked up this afternoon at the open house. She also has lots of delicious goodies and sweets as well. My Christmas Gift list has more items crossed off of it now and I am loving the getting-ready-for-Christmas feeling.

Can't wait to get these babies wrapped up and under the tree!

xoxox
Karina

view off Sidney Spit, Vancouver Island

“I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all (wo)men, most richly blessed.”

(author unknown)