Well, blow me down with a feather!

So it seems that the way I am made is not all wrong, after all...

My sister-in-law-to-be brought home an interesting binder of information from the premarital course they are taking.  The first session talked about four main personality types: Builder, Negotiator, Explorer, Director.

I was shocked to discover that I am part EXPLORER!

(Explorers are very likeable people with generous mind and happy attitude to life and people around them. They have a playful nature, they can be sensual and enjoy life to the point of being hedonistic. At the same time, they are unpredictable and hard to rely upon, which does not make them a good marriage material. They are not prone to routine and don’t tolerate boredom very well. Their impatience can make them selfish companions as they don’t generally bend themselves to anyone’s rules.)

Minus the part about not being good marriage material, of course.  I think the builder part makes up for that. 

I find this so funny, because I have spent years riding myself because I can't stand staying home for any long length of time, I am always looking for something to fill my time in the day, I get so bored with the thought of doing the same thing day after day.  Then you have someone like my sister and sister-in-law who would stay home all day, every day.  I've spent so much time thinking I am basically unGodly, when all along, HE MADE ME THIS WAY.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that it's important to fight the urge and stick around home to do puzzles with the kids...however, I can also bring something to their lives through exploring.  Did I blow your mind?

http://www.onlinedatinghelp.co.uk/blog/builder-negotiator-explorer-director/

Here is the link to the personality types.  This is not the exact information from my sister-in-law (to be), but generally the same.  Maybe some surprises lie in here for you as well, my friends.

Say What?  Maybe now that 20 months have past since the birth of Malachi, I can start thinking about doing things I enjoy again...other than sleeping and drinking coffee. 

I mean, I'm not sure that I enjoy blogging, but at least I feel like I'm doing something creative. 

Although I must say I had a great supermom day the other day - we did an awesome craft, we went to the pet store, I made dinner.  Granted, only Andrew and I liked the dinner, but still, it was there.  Do anyone else's children subsist mainly on cereal? 

And, I'll admit, Malachi was wearing a puppy backpack with a leash so he couldn't get away from me.  Which proved beneficial when he started pushing the snake tanks inwards.  That kid is crazy-busy these days.  I mean, I love him, but look away for a second, and he's gone!  He fell down two stairs yesterday, and got an enormous scrape on his forehead.  Now I receive numerous sympathetic glances and have retold the story many times...so you don't get to hear it.  Suffice it to say, it sucked.

On the reading list lately is: Dee Henderson fiction, Randy Alcorn's "Heaven", the Complete Guide to Raising Girls, and the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland.  I just have such a hard time finishing a book.  Except for anything fictional.  Life is just so serious already.

I'm off to spend a few minutes of my alone time reading the book on Heaven...will update when I receive some inspiration.  And I really wish someone would turn off this horrible music at Starbucks!  It sounds like some horrible Barry White mix.

Dealing with Fears

Do you ever find yourself doubting the goodness of God? I mean, as a lifelong Christian, I know that God is good. It's true because He said it. But really, when it comes down to it, do I believe it? Do I trust my kids to a God who lets children be sexually abused, sold into slavery, starve? I can hear the answer in my head now: "God puts us here to help all those that are hurting - we are His hands and feet." Right. I know.

I have started reading "The Secrets of the Vine" by Bruce Wilkinson. Not my typical chick-lit choice, but I was bored. The book talks about our life as a Christian as a vine, relating to Jesus' last message to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane in John 15. In a nutshell, the book relates a lack of 'fruit' in our lives to unrepented sin. And if we keep on with the unrepented sin, our discipline from God increases. So of course, as a perfectionist, I have to figure out if I even have any 'fruit'. Do I have enough fruit? What is enough? And if I don't have enough, what unrepented sin do I have in my life?

I have to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm harbouring some sin in my life. As far as I know, I'm alright. I have struggled with bitterness in the past, and have really worked on that. My major stronghold is with anxiety - and since the Bible says 'do not fear', I guess that counts. So what do we do with fears that overtake us so much sometimes, that it practically gives us hives. Fears that stop us from living a life free of burdens by leaning on God.

So by not trusting God with the future of my kids (and myself), I guess I am sinning! Thanks for helping me clear that up. But now what do I do? How do I get from repentance to healing and freedom? Anyone?

Now do you see why I stick with chicklit?

Did you notice I haven't posted in five months?

So, is it just me, or did you notice I haven't posted in five months? It's because I got pregnant. So sick, so very tired! Bring back any good memories, ladies?

I had all these good intentions of taking a picture of my belly each month...but only got one shot at 4 weeks. Thankfully, Melissa has agreed to take some prego pictures in a couple of months.

We only went to two parks this summer, far from my goal of...well, more than two. However, we definitely ate more than two PB&J sandwiches.


But we made it through!! The tiredness hasn't disappeared, but has waned for the time being. The sickness is gone. And I'm so thankful to God to say that this has been the easiest pregnancy thus far. So thanks for your prayers, if you offered them on my behalf!


Now we are at 18 weeks, with an ultrasound next week, but it doesn't really feel much different yet. I mean, I can still put on my own shoes and sleep on my back, so I can't complain too much! Although I really put in a good try when I don't get a good night's sleep.


I'll try to post more often, but can't promise much. Besides cup of coffee and a hug, if you need it.


I'll entice you back with a picture of my new Mom van...the good ole' Sidekick had to go in favour of a vehicle with more seats. I love it!



See you Soon!

Things I Thought I Knew

It has been almost a year since my baby boy was born! This year has gone by very fast, just like the cliches say. It has been a humbling time, especially in the past few months. What is it about kids that humble us so much? Maybe that they reveal our inadequacies.

So, in honour of my inadequacies, and in the name of learning, here is my list of things "I Thought I Knew For Sure":

• All babies should sleep through the night before six months. If they don't, it's the parent's fault.


• Never, ever nurse your baby to sleep. No one wants to be a human pacifier.


• Stop rocking your baby to sleep after the first month. Otherwise, you'll be trapped into rocking them until they outweigh you.


• Children must be clean and well-matched.


• What others' think can make or break your reputation or day, and this is important.


• My house should be clean and tidy at most times. This is closely linked to my worth as a mother and wife.


• Dinner should be made by the time the husband gets home, and everyone should enjoy it.

What I Actually Know Now:

• Once a baby starts to sleep through the night, they may stop. Many times. And sometimes, you're just too tired to give a crap.


• Nursing your baby to sleep isn't as bad as it sounds. In fact, it's kind of nice. Seriously, the sleeping baby is pretty precious and it doesn't last long.


• See previous answer. And shapely arms are always attractive.


• Children might be cuter when they're clean and well-matched, but boy, that energy is better spent elsewhere most of the time. Like making dinner. Or cleaning the house. Oh wait...


• A clean house and enjoyable dinner may not be all it's cracked up to be. I mean, what is the cost to your sanity? Plus, I'll have alot of time with a very clean house and gourmet meals when my kids are older. If I have a maid, that is.


• And last, but certainly not least, you have no idea what others' think, and it's a complete waste of energy to try to guess. My self-worth is found in Christ, as all I have and am, all my talents are from Him.

The End

He speaks

Andrew often brings Lincoln into bed with us in the morning, as I'm half-awake, and can't seem to move before 7 am.

As Lincoln begins to wake up, he rolled over, looked at Andrew, and said: "Dad. Hi, Dad."

Andrew calmly replied: "Hi, Lincoln."

Seriously, it's just too cute! I couldn't believe it.

I haven't had the energy put towards posting lately, but I would like to add that we did try another park about two weeks ago, and took pictures and everything! So I will add another pb&j to the list, but may cheat by not writing about it. =)

Fair Trade?

Okay, okay, I know it's good to only try to change one thing at a time in life, but I can't help it. I've previously blogged about my new fascination with organic body products, now I'm learning about fair trade items.

I was in my doctor's office yesterday, and there is an ad talking about slavery - mainly, that there are more slaves today than ever before in history. I find that crazy. And, it's due to my love of chocolate. Okay, maybe not directly my love of chocolate, but more due to our Western culture's demand for cheap items, the price of cocoa plummeting, and corruption in different levels in the country itself.

Of course, there are different types of slavery, trafficking and all of that, but the ones that directly impact me in my day-to-day consumption is coffee and chocolate. These are the ones I can change today by making different shopping choices, anyways!

The facts:

• Close to 14 million people, in over 30 countries, depend on cocoa production, mainly grown in the tropical regions of of the global South - West Africa (the Ivory Coast)
• 90% of the world's cocoa is grown on family-owned farms
• Cocoa farmers work with intermediaries, who pay only a fraction of the cost of the actual value of the crop, and have limited access to information on how much their crop is worth.
• The value of cocoa has plummeted, leading to an increase in child and slave labour.

There are many more statistics out there, but I have a 10-month-old screaming in my ear, so I'll have to make this quick.

Basically, I am endeavouring to buy my coffee and chocolate made by providers with the Fair-Trade logo and certification. It will cost more. But this is one area where I have no second-thoughts: I believe God wants me to protect the dignity of human life. And this is one very easy way to do it. I trust that God will provide for my needs if I walk in His ways.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight'. Proverbs 3:5-6

Link to Transfair Canada for way more information: http://transfair.ca/en