It seemed like only 3 days earlier, but there we were back at the airport 3 months later picking up our son. It honestly felt like we had just dropped him off. Like most things, it zoomed by. It was amazing to see him and within minutes we were already laughing most of the way home. His humour is awesome and every story he told had us in stitches, pardon the pun.....
When we arrived back at the house, my parents and my in-laws were there, along with all the siblings who had made a huge brunch for all of us to enjoy together while we listened to him reminisce about his time. The first thing one everyone noticed about him was his ridiculously long hair! He hadn't cut it in 3 months and it had grown all the way to his shoulders. I personally think he could lose a few inches.....everyone else says it should stay! The other thing my other son noticed was his skin. It was flawless and before he left he had a few issues with breakouts and was always wishing his skin was better. He figures it's because he didn't eat fast food once, barely had any sugar and drank gallons of water. Plus the sun helped, he was in or around 30 degree weather all the time. I tell my other kids the dangers of fast food all the time, but this was the proof!
I could tell he came back a different person right away. He had left perhaps a little insecure - would he navigate all the airports ok? Would he figure out all the different connections? Would he be robbed or lose all his luggage? It was obvious. He was full of confidence. World travelling can do that to you. And a few operations......
I know so many people were praying for him while he was away. The funny way I could tell their prayers were answered was because he literally had a boring time in some ways. Yes, he saw a lot of disgusting things on the operating table (I saw the pictures!) but all in all he was safe, only saw a live cobra once - while driving safely in a car - and stayed relatively healthy (except for one incident where he was very sick for a couple of days, but he was with doctors so he was treated right away). I'm so grateful for that.
He's already up and gone this morning, back at work at Marineland until school starts again. That'll help him make some money as well as keep him busy until school starts up again in January. Then, Lord willing, he'll write the MCAT exam for medical school and apply this Fall. This trip definitely confirmed for him that that is the direction he wants to go. Seeing some of the pictures we saw and having him describe them to us was mind boggling. He didn't flinch and he saw some pretty disgusting procedures and participated in all of them. That has to be a little bit helpful when you don't mind the gore.
The whole time he was there working under this one doctor he rarely got feedback from him, so day after day, week after week, he wondered if he was doing ok. We kept encouraging him that he would have told him by now and to assume all was well. At the very end of his time, he still really had no idea, but the doctor had to fill out a report and my son did as well, giving feedback on my son and vice versa. Turns out the doctor said my son "exceeded his expectations" and that he thought he was in the "top 5 % intellectually"! He also welcomed him back once medical school was done. So, I think it's safe to say it was the positive feedback my son had hoped for.
He's already making plans to head to Brazil where he could get more practice with his Portuguese. He may not be fluent entirely, but he apparently really used it a lot with the patients and even had to translate occasionally when no one could speak English. So there might be more trips in his future. We'll see....one day at a time....one mission trip at a time.....
All along, one of my fears was I was never "doing enough" as a homeschool mom. I would tell others the goal of homeschooling was always to just instill in them a love of learning and to show them how to get and find the information they needed. I believed I was doing that, but there was always a nagging thought in the back of my mind that I still needed to do more, so I was saying one thing, but doubting myself at the same time. Having him come back was kind of the feedback I needed to help remind me that somehow, even in my inadequacies as a homeschool mom, even with my doubts and fears, my son managed to become a self- learner. It isn't really anything I can take credit for. Is is a good reminder to me tho trust the Lord for each one of my kids and their futures.
I've written before how God speaks to me through His still, small voice. On the day I picked up my son it was cold and overcast, kind of dreary. On the way home from the airport he said, "I had kind of hoped it would be snowy and wintery looking." I had hoped so, too! Oddly enough, on the way home, it started to snow. By the time we were up the hill we live on, our whole street was covered with white. One of my kids said, "It looks like it's snowing feathers!" That happens, no big deal. Later on though, when I went down the hill, it was all rain. Hmmmm....I thought to myself, I guess it all melted. Then I went back up the hill a couple hours later and literally, just before you turn the corner onto our street it was all white again. It literally had only snowed on our part of the "mountain" all day. As soon as you left our street, it was rain. It was as if God only made it pretty where we lived, just for us. The funny thing about that is that all week I been singing a song in my head by Chris Tomlin and Audrey Assad called "Winter Snow". I had written about it in a devotional for the homeschool moms, including these powerful lyrics, "But you came like a winter snow, quiet and soft and slow, falling from the sky in the night, to the earth below...No your voice wasn't in a burning bush, No your voice wasn't in a rushing wind, It was still, it was small it was hidden". And that's my favourite line - "It was still, it was small, it was hidden". Once again, I felt like God gave my son, and maybe even especially me, the winter snow that day, as a welcome back gift, but a hidden one. And for me, to remind me how He likes to talk to me, in a still, small voice. Anyone else can see that it is winter and that it is supposed to snow in winter, but occasionally my eyes get opened to the hidden side of life and for me, the snow was a direct message from God. I needed that.
Now, to go plan for all the food I have to buy and cook. My grocery bill was dramatically reduced when he was gone. Apparently, even though they fed him 3 times a day, he was on the verge of starving all the time, no snacks, no extra food, just enough to sustain you and keep you alive, but cooked for him! So he couldn't complain! Off I go.......
Monday 16 December 2019
Friday 6 December 2019
Newspaper, Radio and a Reader
Patience is really all it took to get through this long time without our extra vehicle, but we are finally back in business, though we are all half-expecting something else to go on the truck any time as it is older. The worst thing, of course, was the extra driving I had to do, but in the big picture, was that really so awful? No. I enjoyed all the extra conversations I got with all the different passengers I had and all the extra Bible lessons I heard on the radio....it ended up being all good.
But it was a funny week. Right before the truck was fixed and we were still without it, an ice storm hit. The power went out. When it came back on the power surge must have done something that scared our fridge literally to death and die it did. We looked at each other with our, "That's about right" look. But, knowing it was just another test, I have to say, we all took it in stride as we know by now, there's no point freaking out. Somehow we would get by. So, we took everything out of the fridge and froze what we could (at least we had a freezer with space), put some things on the back porch and threw out anything that wouldn't last anyway. We had a small bar fridge in the basement and we trudged up and down the dungeon stairs (you have to see the basement to believe it) for a few days. Then, a bizarre thing happened. I honestly don't know how to explain it. My husband says there is a logical explanation as he knows all about refrigeration mechanics, but somehow, to our shock and awe, the fridge restarted. It was fully dead and it somehow revived. Fully working. We couldn't believe it! So, it gave us a great opportunity to clean it, clean behind it (disgusting) and restock. Thank you, Lord! So strange. I can't see that story making it into the Bible somehow, but it is in my life story for sure!
So two revived machines on the farm. That makes for front page family news! Speaking of news, my husband is not exactly a celebrity that the world would know, but he has enjoyed some minor footage recently in both a national paper and the local radio station. We smile because this is not his cup of tea at all, but sure enough, there he is in a full page article featuring the college and the research that is going on in Niagara. Then yesterday morning he was interviewed on the radio as well as Niagara is becoming known as a new center of both research and innovation, creating lots of new jobs for people to stay and work at as opposed to leaving to bigger centers. His new position is giving him so many exciting opportunities. When we first considered moving ten years ago we never could have guessed this is where God would take us and all that would be in our future.
But that makes complete sense in a way. Every move we make is predetermined by a loving God who knows what we need and how He will provide. Acts 17:26 says, "From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." I've always known this, that God has literal appointed places where we should live. I've always found that so reassuring. Yesterday, I was reminded of this when I was reading with my 7 year old in his reader. The story was about Isaac and about a famine in the land. No food for anyone around him. The reader paraphrases the story into easier words for children to read. This is what is said,
"In the land where Isaac and Rebekah and the twins lived, there came a hard time. The people did not have enough to eat. Before Isaac was born, there had been a time like this, too. At that time Abraham and Sarah had gone down to a strange land. There they had food to eat. But God did not want Isaac and his family to go to this strange land. God said, "Stay in this land. I will be with you." Isaac did not need to be afraid to stay even if there was not much food. God had promised to be with him. God told him where to moved so that he would have enough to eat. Isaac moved to a new place, but it was still in the land of Canaan. It was not in a strange land. God kept His promise to Isaac. Isaac planted a crop. God made it grow and give them a lot of food. They had plenty to eat."
That is essentially what happened to us. We were living in a place prior to this where we felt there wasn't enough food, perhaps not literally, but we knew we weren't thriving. For 7 years we looked and prayed for a place to go. I love that number, 7, as in the seventh year in the Bible, freedom is often given. In the seventh year of looking for us, we found the lot we ended up building on which moved us out this way. Interestingly, it was still within the time frame of driving that made us feel we didn't have to move to a "strange land" either. We were open to moving farther if God had wanted us to, but we're so grateful he allowed us to stay within the hour of visiting family on both sides. "I will be with you," God promised Isaac and He has kept that promise to us.
My husband's work dramatically changed from having his own business which fed us for 12 years to a time of want where we sought the Lord again, asking Him what direction He was leading us, to this current work situation. Once we moved here, we, too, have literally planted crops, from almost the time we arrived. We've also had animals that are still feeding us. I have beef in my freezer from one of our last cows from a while ago. We have planted hay which has been a good source of income at just the right time more than once. We have now planted vines, which tend to grow well in this area and happen to be a crop mentioned in the Bible all the time, so I love that. We will be coming up to our first crop this summer. I pray that God will bless that crop, allow it to grow as He did with Isaac.
As I read the story with my son, he just read along without realizing the significance, but I read it and was thinking to myself all along, "Hey! That's exactly how I feel! We are so much like Isaac and Rebekah!" Reading that story yesterday made me realize God never changes. Just like He cared for Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, He also cares for me and my husband, and all the other couples of the world. He knows about the famines in their lives and in each case allows them for one reason or another. He knows whether they should move to a "strange land" or not and He customizes solutions for each family. He doesn't do the same thing in each situation, but in each case, He provides. In some cases, it's in the move to a strange land that He brings provision. In others cases, it's in the provision of a crop. But in all the cases, He says, "I will be with you".
Being in the paper was a strange confirmation. Though the story wasn't about my husband exactly, he was just the face they used as he is the "face of research", they could have used anyone's face. Why his? Same with the radio interview. Yes, he is in the position of research and it makes sense they interviewed him, but why this week? I have to say, it feels like God needed to show me, in a real tangible way, "See? I'm in charge. I brought you and your husband here for a real purpose. I have a true plan for your life." I wasn't asking for a picture in the paper, a news story or an interview, but that's what God sent to reassure me, as I have to admit, sometimes I get fearful still and God needed to shut me down with literal footage to show me, "You're good. Stop worrying so much." Then, he showed me a picture in a paper and said, "This guy? The one in the picture? He's your husband? Yeah, he's got this job that I gave him and I'm using him here and I just wanted you and all of Canada to see that." Then, in case I was still worried, He used not just a picture, but his voice over the radio, just days later, and again, "This voice you're hearing? He's your husband. He's in the exact job that I want him in right now. I'm using him." I shouldn't need that kind of reassurance, but I have to say, it helped! We joked, what next? A reality TV show on research? I guess not.
No one else will see or hear what I saw when these segments on my husband came out, but I saw them. Reading the story in my son's reader tied it all together. I know God loves me. I believe it, but sometimes God allows these unusual confirmations to reassure me, but it takes some reflection to see it and I'm grateful that my eyes were opened to how He continues to work in our lives, provide, and then reassure me when the doubts creep in.
But it was a funny week. Right before the truck was fixed and we were still without it, an ice storm hit. The power went out. When it came back on the power surge must have done something that scared our fridge literally to death and die it did. We looked at each other with our, "That's about right" look. But, knowing it was just another test, I have to say, we all took it in stride as we know by now, there's no point freaking out. Somehow we would get by. So, we took everything out of the fridge and froze what we could (at least we had a freezer with space), put some things on the back porch and threw out anything that wouldn't last anyway. We had a small bar fridge in the basement and we trudged up and down the dungeon stairs (you have to see the basement to believe it) for a few days. Then, a bizarre thing happened. I honestly don't know how to explain it. My husband says there is a logical explanation as he knows all about refrigeration mechanics, but somehow, to our shock and awe, the fridge restarted. It was fully dead and it somehow revived. Fully working. We couldn't believe it! So, it gave us a great opportunity to clean it, clean behind it (disgusting) and restock. Thank you, Lord! So strange. I can't see that story making it into the Bible somehow, but it is in my life story for sure!
So two revived machines on the farm. That makes for front page family news! Speaking of news, my husband is not exactly a celebrity that the world would know, but he has enjoyed some minor footage recently in both a national paper and the local radio station. We smile because this is not his cup of tea at all, but sure enough, there he is in a full page article featuring the college and the research that is going on in Niagara. Then yesterday morning he was interviewed on the radio as well as Niagara is becoming known as a new center of both research and innovation, creating lots of new jobs for people to stay and work at as opposed to leaving to bigger centers. His new position is giving him so many exciting opportunities. When we first considered moving ten years ago we never could have guessed this is where God would take us and all that would be in our future.
But that makes complete sense in a way. Every move we make is predetermined by a loving God who knows what we need and how He will provide. Acts 17:26 says, "From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." I've always known this, that God has literal appointed places where we should live. I've always found that so reassuring. Yesterday, I was reminded of this when I was reading with my 7 year old in his reader. The story was about Isaac and about a famine in the land. No food for anyone around him. The reader paraphrases the story into easier words for children to read. This is what is said,
"In the land where Isaac and Rebekah and the twins lived, there came a hard time. The people did not have enough to eat. Before Isaac was born, there had been a time like this, too. At that time Abraham and Sarah had gone down to a strange land. There they had food to eat. But God did not want Isaac and his family to go to this strange land. God said, "Stay in this land. I will be with you." Isaac did not need to be afraid to stay even if there was not much food. God had promised to be with him. God told him where to moved so that he would have enough to eat. Isaac moved to a new place, but it was still in the land of Canaan. It was not in a strange land. God kept His promise to Isaac. Isaac planted a crop. God made it grow and give them a lot of food. They had plenty to eat."
That is essentially what happened to us. We were living in a place prior to this where we felt there wasn't enough food, perhaps not literally, but we knew we weren't thriving. For 7 years we looked and prayed for a place to go. I love that number, 7, as in the seventh year in the Bible, freedom is often given. In the seventh year of looking for us, we found the lot we ended up building on which moved us out this way. Interestingly, it was still within the time frame of driving that made us feel we didn't have to move to a "strange land" either. We were open to moving farther if God had wanted us to, but we're so grateful he allowed us to stay within the hour of visiting family on both sides. "I will be with you," God promised Isaac and He has kept that promise to us.
My husband's work dramatically changed from having his own business which fed us for 12 years to a time of want where we sought the Lord again, asking Him what direction He was leading us, to this current work situation. Once we moved here, we, too, have literally planted crops, from almost the time we arrived. We've also had animals that are still feeding us. I have beef in my freezer from one of our last cows from a while ago. We have planted hay which has been a good source of income at just the right time more than once. We have now planted vines, which tend to grow well in this area and happen to be a crop mentioned in the Bible all the time, so I love that. We will be coming up to our first crop this summer. I pray that God will bless that crop, allow it to grow as He did with Isaac.
As I read the story with my son, he just read along without realizing the significance, but I read it and was thinking to myself all along, "Hey! That's exactly how I feel! We are so much like Isaac and Rebekah!" Reading that story yesterday made me realize God never changes. Just like He cared for Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, He also cares for me and my husband, and all the other couples of the world. He knows about the famines in their lives and in each case allows them for one reason or another. He knows whether they should move to a "strange land" or not and He customizes solutions for each family. He doesn't do the same thing in each situation, but in each case, He provides. In some cases, it's in the move to a strange land that He brings provision. In others cases, it's in the provision of a crop. But in all the cases, He says, "I will be with you".
Being in the paper was a strange confirmation. Though the story wasn't about my husband exactly, he was just the face they used as he is the "face of research", they could have used anyone's face. Why his? Same with the radio interview. Yes, he is in the position of research and it makes sense they interviewed him, but why this week? I have to say, it feels like God needed to show me, in a real tangible way, "See? I'm in charge. I brought you and your husband here for a real purpose. I have a true plan for your life." I wasn't asking for a picture in the paper, a news story or an interview, but that's what God sent to reassure me, as I have to admit, sometimes I get fearful still and God needed to shut me down with literal footage to show me, "You're good. Stop worrying so much." Then, he showed me a picture in a paper and said, "This guy? The one in the picture? He's your husband? Yeah, he's got this job that I gave him and I'm using him here and I just wanted you and all of Canada to see that." Then, in case I was still worried, He used not just a picture, but his voice over the radio, just days later, and again, "This voice you're hearing? He's your husband. He's in the exact job that I want him in right now. I'm using him." I shouldn't need that kind of reassurance, but I have to say, it helped! We joked, what next? A reality TV show on research? I guess not.
No one else will see or hear what I saw when these segments on my husband came out, but I saw them. Reading the story in my son's reader tied it all together. I know God loves me. I believe it, but sometimes God allows these unusual confirmations to reassure me, but it takes some reflection to see it and I'm grateful that my eyes were opened to how He continues to work in our lives, provide, and then reassure me when the doubts creep in.
Monday 2 December 2019
More Surprises, Emotional Interpreters, Parties and Perspective
I don't love surprises being planned for me, but I'm totally ok with planning them. This time, irony of ironies, we pulled one off for my almost-16 year old daughter. My sister and all the nieces were in town to see my bro's new baby, so I knew we had to use that small window of time to pull something off real quick. I quickly messaged everyone and said, "Can we do this?!" and, thankfully, they were all in. It was easy to organize because everyone was staying over at my other sister's house anyway. The next morning I simply had to show up with food and say "Surprise!" Easy!
They had all been up almost all night as my out-of-town sister didn't arrive till nearly midnight, but oh well, tired or not, we were having a party - nearly a month early. My daughter walked downstairs into the kitchen and we all shouted, "Surprise!" She was caught off guard big time as it was so early before her actual day, so a big success.
I was going to write none of her friends were there, just family this time, but that's not true...somehow over the years my sisters and I have been able to foster best friend cousins. It is such a gift. As each one of us went around to share what we loved or appreciated about my daughter, all the cousins shared that they were best friends, including the sisters. Nothing could make us happier as moms. We all feel so grateful that they are there for one another as each one has had friendships come and go, but as family, they are stuck together forever. They all share a common faith heritage as well, so we know they will literally be with one another forever, too. To hear them share their faith together and to hear them encourage one another in their walk with God, it's amazing.
The funniest part of the entire morning was when it was my turn to share my thoughts with my daughter. Naturally, as everyone would expect, I couldn't get through it. I had been led to share Proverbs 22:6 where the Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." My encouragement to her was that we've attempted our very best to train, to sacrifice, to instill faith, to model a life that is pleasing to the Lord in our feeble attempts, etc. and then, big surprise.....I broke down....but, wait...who is speaking?! My sister, who was standing right behind me, immediately stepped in and started talking for me, as if she was me! She literally finished saying everything I would have said while I blubbered away in front of her. It was so funny. We were all laughing hysterically. I started using "fake" sign language and she would then say what I would have said. My brother, who was also there, saw this and said, "She's her emotional interpreter!" We all howled. So, there's a new career opportunity for my sister, she could be an emotional interpreter! Or, better yet, I'll just bring her now for all my future speaking engagements where I typically cry, which is, oh, all the time. But, that said something to all of us there, too. Not only are the cousins close, but the sisters are, too, and also with our brother. He had his baby there, barely two weeks old and that little girl was NEVER put down. She is loved beyond measure. Seeing my younger brother as a dad is so cool. And what a great Dad he is. Never in a million years could I have pictured this moment for him, holding a newborn, so amazing.
This week is going to be a pretty fun week for me. I have always felt ripped off when my husband worked for himself. There were never any Christmas parties to go to, never any fun staff meals, except with our family! Never any gift exchanges....I was always jealous of those people who had those fun events through work! But now, with his new job, there are events I get to attend! Starting tonight we'll be a two different Christmas events this week, which is something I love to do. Some might seem them as an obligation, but, being so social, I love them.
I'm grateful to be sitting here with warm air blasting at me. It wasn't looking so good yesterday as we were without power most of the day after the ice storm that whipped through here. I want to thank the hydro people who had to go out into the storm to fix the lines that were down! Knowing how bad it was church was even cancelled and a good thing. There was even an accident just down the road where a young person was killed because of the icy road conditions. So awful.
Last week was the week of driving. This week we are getting closer to having two vehicles again, but it isn't quite finished. The fix is taking time as it is such a huge project, but we figured he is saving soooo much money by doing this. Will I be driving all week again? Probably, but oh well, I've learned to keep my perspective and to pray with perspective, knowing there is a greater picture being worked out in my life that I don't even see, even if it means being in a car many hours a day. There are so many worse things that could be going on, so I'm grateful for whether I'm in a car or not.
They had all been up almost all night as my out-of-town sister didn't arrive till nearly midnight, but oh well, tired or not, we were having a party - nearly a month early. My daughter walked downstairs into the kitchen and we all shouted, "Surprise!" She was caught off guard big time as it was so early before her actual day, so a big success.
I was going to write none of her friends were there, just family this time, but that's not true...somehow over the years my sisters and I have been able to foster best friend cousins. It is such a gift. As each one of us went around to share what we loved or appreciated about my daughter, all the cousins shared that they were best friends, including the sisters. Nothing could make us happier as moms. We all feel so grateful that they are there for one another as each one has had friendships come and go, but as family, they are stuck together forever. They all share a common faith heritage as well, so we know they will literally be with one another forever, too. To hear them share their faith together and to hear them encourage one another in their walk with God, it's amazing.
The funniest part of the entire morning was when it was my turn to share my thoughts with my daughter. Naturally, as everyone would expect, I couldn't get through it. I had been led to share Proverbs 22:6 where the Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." My encouragement to her was that we've attempted our very best to train, to sacrifice, to instill faith, to model a life that is pleasing to the Lord in our feeble attempts, etc. and then, big surprise.....I broke down....but, wait...who is speaking?! My sister, who was standing right behind me, immediately stepped in and started talking for me, as if she was me! She literally finished saying everything I would have said while I blubbered away in front of her. It was so funny. We were all laughing hysterically. I started using "fake" sign language and she would then say what I would have said. My brother, who was also there, saw this and said, "She's her emotional interpreter!" We all howled. So, there's a new career opportunity for my sister, she could be an emotional interpreter! Or, better yet, I'll just bring her now for all my future speaking engagements where I typically cry, which is, oh, all the time. But, that said something to all of us there, too. Not only are the cousins close, but the sisters are, too, and also with our brother. He had his baby there, barely two weeks old and that little girl was NEVER put down. She is loved beyond measure. Seeing my younger brother as a dad is so cool. And what a great Dad he is. Never in a million years could I have pictured this moment for him, holding a newborn, so amazing.
This week is going to be a pretty fun week for me. I have always felt ripped off when my husband worked for himself. There were never any Christmas parties to go to, never any fun staff meals, except with our family! Never any gift exchanges....I was always jealous of those people who had those fun events through work! But now, with his new job, there are events I get to attend! Starting tonight we'll be a two different Christmas events this week, which is something I love to do. Some might seem them as an obligation, but, being so social, I love them.
I'm grateful to be sitting here with warm air blasting at me. It wasn't looking so good yesterday as we were without power most of the day after the ice storm that whipped through here. I want to thank the hydro people who had to go out into the storm to fix the lines that were down! Knowing how bad it was church was even cancelled and a good thing. There was even an accident just down the road where a young person was killed because of the icy road conditions. So awful.
Last week was the week of driving. This week we are getting closer to having two vehicles again, but it isn't quite finished. The fix is taking time as it is such a huge project, but we figured he is saving soooo much money by doing this. Will I be driving all week again? Probably, but oh well, I've learned to keep my perspective and to pray with perspective, knowing there is a greater picture being worked out in my life that I don't even see, even if it means being in a car many hours a day. There are so many worse things that could be going on, so I'm grateful for whether I'm in a car or not.
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