Going Under

Today is the day that I go to have my gallbladder removed. It's my first time having surgery, so I'm a bit (read ALOT) nervous this morning. I'm sure that everything will go well, and I'll do just fine...but I'm afraid of the General Anaesthetic. I hate the feeling of being out of control. My other issues this morning are the fact that it's dry in my house, and I woke up PASTY in my mouth. I'm pretty sure I'll be swishing my mouth with water all morning...I have to be at the hospital at 8 AM. I'm sure Steve will update on his blog, or I'll ask him to comment on this to let you know how I made out.

Happy Birthday Steve

Dear Steve,
Just a message to let you know how much I love you. We may have our bumps along the way, but I'd rather have a bumpy road with you than live my life without you. (I almost wrote "I'd rather have a bumpy road without you then live my life with you...OOPS) I pray that this year will be gracious to you, that you will see some dreams fulfilled, and that you will feel truly blessed. Looking forward to what this next year holds for us. Love you hon! xoxoxoxo
Love,
Amanda

Ironicly Funny

This week I had a meeting with the school to discuss the kids Individual Education Plan. At this meeting, I also got some great feedback from their classroom teachers and how the kids are adapting into the classroom. This is too great not to share.

Logan does a great job in class, he is following most of the classroom routine with very little modification for him. During math class there was a substitute teacher who happened to be the learning resource teacher who Logan is quite familiar with. Logan normally stays pretty quiet through the lessons, but because he was so familiar with this teacher, and it was SO out of the ordinary for her to be in this roll, my son actually disrupted the lesson. Of all the kids to get in trouble for back-talking, IT WAS LOGAN!!! I never thought I'd reach the day that I was actually proud of Logan for back-talking. Now please don't misunderstand, he wasn't being rude or mean or anything of the sort, he was just repeating back VERY loudly everything the teacher was saying. It did my heart good to know that Logan has come far enough that he can get in trouble for something that we never really anticipated him to get in trouble for! Oh the things that I can rejoice over. Another thing to add to the list of unexpected triumphs.

Please remember Abby's teacher in your thoughts, in regards to getting used to Abby. I think it will be difficult for any teacher who has had Logan first, being very used to what his behaviours are, to be suddenly confronted with his complete polar opposite the following year. Don't get me wrong, she really likes Abby, and Abby is doing well but she is a very different child from Logan. When you don't have a tremendous amount of experience with autism, and the first couple of children who you do encounter are siblings who are as opposite as can be, it's going to be difficult but rewarding journey.

Prayer

My aunt sent me a forward this morning, and while I don't usually send things on, I thought I'd like to post it on my blog.


May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

We never do things easy!

Well, today wasn't a total disaster, but it wasn't at all what we expected either. We got some pictures, but we forgot a lot of stuff, so it'll be for another weekend that we try family pictures. Here's a few from today, that we did take. Justus and Emma were napping, so it was only 4 of us.

Picture Day

Today we are heading off to Chesley to have our pictures taken....can I just say that this is my least favourite day of the whole year!!! Trying to get 4 kids, 2 adults and 1 dog to all look in the same general direction, matching fairly well, and NOT freaking out, drooling, snotting or whatever else may happen, you get the idea. I am sure by the end of the day I will have had enough, and thrown the towel in...but I'm hoping for at least 1 nice picture out of the bunch. Is that too much to ask for? Maybe, but a mother can dream!

The Golden Compass

I was reading Ben Witherington and his take on the Golden Compass movie which is based on Phillip Pullmans trilogy "His Dark Materials". I read the trilogy over my vacation in Calgary and I must say that I really enjoyed the books. They are a great work of sci/fi, and it really got one thinking about religion on a whole. While Pullmans take on it was from an atheistic point of view, I believe it gives insights to Christians as well. He attacks many areas of the Christian church in the book that I myself am ashamed of.

Ben (as if I can be on 1st name basis of someone I don't know!) cautions parents not to bring their kids to see the movie because Phillip Pullman is an atheist and the book is very much anti religion and it will not point towards the "true north". I have been thinking about it all morning and I really disagree with this stance. I believe for too long parents have sheltered their kids from so many things, it tends to make the kids rebel and isolates them from their peers. Instead of not taking the kids, why not take them and use it as a teaching opportunity? I'm of a very strong belief that we must teach our kids about our faith, but running from anything that disagrees with our faith...that's taking it a step too far for me. There was so much buzz around the Harry Potter series a few years ago in Christian circles, and I fear the same thing will happen with this. Although the books were written a number of years ago, they are sure to gain some popularity again with the movie coming out.

Why do Christians feel the need to flee from anything that is different from their beliefs? I want for my kids to have the knowledge to make the decision on their own, of course it's my prayer and desire that they choose our faith, it's our responsibility to demonstrate to our kids what being a Christian is all about. But didn't Jesus hang out with those different from him? Wasn't it him who befriended prostitutes? Didn't have have dinner with tax-collectors? I really believe that we have made a very poor decision by isolating ourselves from the rest of the world. I honestly believe we'd do our kids a better service by showing love to those around us, whether they hold our specific views or not. Why does it have to be an "us/them"? We really should get back to what Jesus teaches us through his actions.

Stepping off my soapbox now!

This is sad

I came across this story on another blog I read. I find it so sad the culture we have become that it's easier to give up than to persevere.

Answer to Prayer

For those of you who know us, you know that since the end of September Abby has been waking at unreasonable times for the day, anytime between 1 and 4. We were dreading this time change so much, but let me tell you, God answers prayers. This week we've been up 6 o'clock or later! How awesome. I roll over to look at the clock in the morning, and the first words out of my mouth are "Thank you Lord!"

It is interesting too because this week, she has an injury. This morning was the first morning she's walked since the "incident" at church. She had a tv stand fall on her this past Sunday, amazingly the ankle was the only part that was hurt. After a trip to ER, we know that nothing is broken, thankfully, just very bruised. She's adapted very well, and hasn't complained much. She's been rather pleasant actually. :) I never imagined this would be the week that she'd be sleeping, I figured she'd be rather cranky actually. But alas, God is good and is helping us all through this time.

Bad at blogging lol

Well, I must admit...I'm a horrible blogger...I apologize for not updating. Will you please forgive me?!?!

I had an amazing time in Calgary. I spent a few days with my aunt and uncle, and in that time celebrated my cousins birthday, went to the zoo and did LOTS of shopping :). I was loved and doted on, and I felt very blessed to be in their home. I then went to my friends house, and spent the remainder of my time with them. Their kids made me smile, and helped me not miss my own so much! Lindsay really listened to me jabber away about nothing, and it was great to spend time with her again. I love when you can meet up with a friend, whom you haven't seen in years, and fall right back into step. I went to Drumheller for the first time, and enjoyed the flying trip through the dinosaur museum. Thank you to my wonderful hostesses for your love and friendship. You made my time away refreshing, and I will never forget my time with you.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend my time with 17 other pastors wives at a camp in Reaboro, ON. What an amazing experience. I appreciated my time away, and felt so at ease to talk about so many issues. It was great to be real, and see women from 27 to 80 laugh and carry on with no generational barriers at all. During one of the devotionals on mentoring, someone shared this little acronym.

Ministry
Encouragement
Nurturing
Teaching
Overseer
Reccomend

I really felt that this was so powerful. We as individuals HAVE mentors and ARE mentors, whether we realize this or not. It encouraged me, and I appreciated it so much. Another quote that I loved from the weekend was from Anne Graham Lotts "With every person you meet you either build a bridge or a wall". My prayer is that I will only build bridges. I am looking forward to my time away again next year!

Kudos goes to my husband, without him I would be unable to experience any of these wonderful times, and I love him very much for it. Steve, you are a wonderful husband and father and I love you for who you are. You're a gem and I'm so lucky to have you!