Reach Out & Touch Someone

It's hard not to consider what has recently happened in Japan and it not effect you at some level.  Even if it is to realize that what we spend out time on is quite insignificant.


You may or may not feel that there is anything that you can do to help the Japanese at this time (there are lots of organizations to donate to like Salvation Army or  Tzu Chi)but there is something we can do in all circumstances, every day of our lives.  


“I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.” -- Maya Angelou


It may seem insignificant, but in somebody's life it may make a huge difference. 


If you aren't walking in their shoes, you have know idea how uncomfortable to them their shoes are.

Be a Blessing to Someone Today.

No Schedules?

I occasionally plan out a schedule, in hopes that I might feel like we've accomplished more at the end of the day.  I know there are things we would like to get done, but often we are poor managers of our time and we allow it to be wasted away at doing mindless stuff.

But schedules have never seemed to fit my personality.  I feel very restricted by them.  Controlled from the outside, imposed upon, rather than self-controlled.

What works best for me/us is to have a basic outline, an idea of the most important things we want to get accomplished on a typical day, and then we see to it that those things are done, but not at a pre-scheduled time.  For example, we have Reading Aloud Time, where I read to the children (usually all of them).  This usually takes place at least 5 days a week, and we try to get it done before noon but sometimes it takes place during lunch while the children are gathered to eat.

I know that schedules don't work for a lot of people, and so I wanted to pass on what Jessica/FishMama has so openly shared about managing her own time while home-educating her 6 children and making the household function well.  So, check this out!

I don't like to add more Obligations into my life, and that's what a Schedule says to me.  I like to live a Simplified Life, and having a basic game plan from which I work, but that allows lots of flexibility within its parameters......that's something I can work with.  It IS what I work with.  And I like that.

Peaceful Persona

Centenarians, those who live more than 100 years, have one thing in common it seems, all over the world.  They have an ability to maintain a peaceful persona, which enables them to outlive many people they love and live in community with.


The brain and our attitude are more powerful than most of us believe, or live as if we believe.

Weigh Your Thoughts

I'm reading 'Soul-Full Eating' by Maureen Whitehouse.  Working through this 400+ page book slowly as I have much to think about.  It fits nicely with my Word for 2011, Be Mindful.

Her chapter on "Weigh Your Thoughts" starts with Galatians 6:7, 'As ye sow, so shall ye reap.'

"The most powerful way to affect your outer world is to be mindful of your inner world.  Your mind is like a field into which you can plant any seed and it will grow.  That is why it is of utmost importance that you notice what kinds of thoughts you consistently think and then weigh them to see if they are life-seed-thoughts of compassion, joy, accomplishment, acceptance and love, those things will appear in your life abundantly.  Conversely, if you choose to plant a briar patch of negative, doubtful and fearful thoughts, they too will grow.  Choose wisely. "

image from Garden Web World

It reminds me of scripture in Deuteronomy where God says "I put before you Life and Death, Blessings and Curses.  Choose Life, that you and your children may live."

We have choices.

Are you Choosing Life???

About Shame & Vulnerability

A heart to heart about our biggest fears and the door to joy and authenticity.  Living a life where "I am Enough" and "I Accept Myself" even though I know I am not perfect.  And needing to ingrain that in my children.

With all of our imperfections, we are still worthy.

One Thing at a Time

Like I quoted from Kevin Gianni here we actually need to be just trying to change One Thing at a Time.

Look back at all the New Years Resolutions you've probably made over the years, and how many have you actually succeeded at?  I would venture to say that most of them fell by the wayside.  You worked really hard at change for the first couple of weeks in January, and by February you were probably feeling guilty that you failed yet again.  You want change, but you don't successfully achieve it.

If we keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.....isn't that the definition of insanity?

Well, I agree with Kevin G, that we need to be making just one change here, making it successful, and then building on it.  Don't try and fix your life all in one sweep.   "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The journey of changing oneself also begins with a single step (change).

Take for example, Diet.  Many people start the New Year with the intentions of changing their eating habits in some way.  Maybe its to lose weight. For a few people it might be to actually put some weight on. Or it could be that you want to improve your eating habits, or incorporate super foods, or eliminate sugar.  All of those are somewhat interrelated, but just start with one.  One thing that you will focus on, make a change, make it a permanent way-of-life for you now.  Get it under your belt, so to speak, before you move onto another thing to change.

HINT: eliminating the bad things out of your diet is actually more important usually, than trying to put the good things in.  What I mean by that is that although its great to start putting super foods into your body, it will be of greater importance to curb your sugar addiction.  Tame the sugar monster.  Then do the next step which might be to incorporate super foods, or drinking more clean water, or starting your mornings with fresh juices.

What One Thing are you planning to change in your life this year?  I'd like to hear from you.

In Flanders Fields

Class/Grade IV Cancer STINKS

I'd heard of stage 4, as in the last stages of cancer before one is expected to die.

But I hadn't heard of Class IV or Grade IV.

I enter a whole new arena, from a (unfortunately) personal position.  It isn't just somebody I know or have heard about.  It is my brother. My brother has Class IV brain cancer.

David with his wife and their sons.

Well, this isn't the first time cancer has touched our family.  My father had skin cancer, but it wasn't a big concern, and it was heart failure that took him (22 years next month!).  And my paternal Grandma (whom I didn't know) died of cancer.

The most involved I've been with a cancer patient was when Everette's Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer just over 5 years ago.  They figured he'd have about 2 years to live.  We buried him in 3.5 months.  And during those months we dropped most of our family projects (we were doing major landscaping) in favour of spending as much time with him as we could.  And when things suddenly turned for the worst we were so glad we hadn't banked on the two-years-we-didn't-get.  Danaka and Rauchelle had spent the last week staying with Grandma & Grandpa, memories they can always hold on to, knowing they were loving on them with their presence,  a held hand, a sip of water offered, a needed hug.

I believe in instantaneous and progressive miracles.  I do.  I've seen them.  My husband has been a part of them.  I WANT ONE NOW!!!  Yes, I'm yelling that.  My insides are screaming for that!  I WANT MY BROTHER HEALED!!!

Born on Christmas Day, next year we will be celebrating David's 50th Birthday.  It shall be a BIG CELEBRATION.  I say that in Faith for a great outcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tumor grade

The grade of a tumor refers to how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread. Cells removed by biopsy are used for grading. The following grading system may be used for adult brain tumors:

Grade I
The tumor grows slowly, has cells that look similar to normal cells, and rarely spreads into nearby tissues. It may be possible to remove the entire tumor by surgery.

Grade II
The tumor grows slowly, but may spread into nearby tissue and may become a higher-grade tumor.

Grade III
The tumor grows quickly, is likely to spread into nearby tissue, and the tumor cells look very different from normal cells.

Grade IV
The tumor grows very aggressively, has cells that look very different from normal cells, and is difficult to treat successfully.                            (from http://wiki.medpedia.com/Brain_Tumors)


I wish I had never had to know that.  I wish I didn't even know that Class IV existed.  Sometimes naivety seems more comfortable.  But that's not my option.  Unfortunately.

I know I will have much to learn as we walk this part of our journey.  Learn some things about cancer and health and the medical system.  But more than that, we have much to learn about relationships, about supporting one another in spite of personal view points, about patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, etc.....and self-control.  About forgiveness, about gentle answers turn away wrath, about preferring one another above ourselves.  Tough life lessons.

And about letting go.  Hopefully, we don't need to let go of David because hopefully he's stuck with us for a very long time.  But I probably have lessons to learn about letting go of my ideals, agendas, etc.

Class IV Cancer STINKS!!!!  but the lessons that surround it will be priceless.  This I do know.

7 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About Me

1.  My feet went from about a size 8 to a 9-9.5 shoe due to pregnancies, and have not returned to their previous size.  I somehow did not read about this Hazard in the Pregnancy Literature.

2. I won the Elementary School Top Student Award in Grade 7 (Teachers Pet) and received an S badge and a coffee table book on Photography.

3. I begged my dad for a new 10-speed bike and received one over the summer, to have it stolen by October.  I swear I locked it up at the school bike rack!

4. I get faint at the thought of needles, and have been dragged across the gymnasium floor after getting a shot, and once I fainted at the medical clinic (after getting a few tubes of blood taken) when I needed to use their telephone to call home and get some pertinent information.  When I went down, so did the nurses stack of files and papers ;)  I can deliver a baby no problem, just don't prick me!

5. I no longer believe that hell is an eternal place. 

6. I think that a woman's breasts are fascinating.

7. I still don't bake with raisins, but I am more likely to eat your baking with raisins in it than I used to.  I was so adamantly against raisins in any type of food that when Everette once snuck 1 lonely raisin into my morning oatmeal,  the moment my mouth identified the foreign object it was propelled across the table to my astonished husbands chest. 

Making Room

Minimalists don't spend their time and energy collecting, cleaning, moving, & maintaining unnecessary stuff.  They de-clutter so that they have more time and space and energy to devote their time to doing the things they enjoy more. 


Whether that's  traveling,         cooking,
         reading,               writing,       
    visiting friends,
playing games,      dancing,  
          making music,      
scuba diving.
                     Whatever.

The average person from developed countries is busy working to pay for new stuff, most of which is unnecessary stuff.  Or they are working to pay for the stuff they've already acquired on credit.  Or working to maintain their stuff, or store their stuff.  

While we've been looking for rentals, we've seen our fair share of opened garage doors, and the vast majority of those garages are full of so much stuff that the vehicles are left parked outside of them.  

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Give Every Day

I've added a new button over on the right sidebar, and wanted to highlight about it today.


About the Sheaffers:

"We are a family of four who are planning to travel the country with the intent purpose of giving – every day.

We are selling our house and almost all of our possessions. The next step will be to buy an RV, map our route, and give more than we’ve ever given before."

You can check out their blog and see for yourself what adventure they are beginning, and consider supporting them in prayer and financially, if your heart says to. 

I admire the journey they are beginning, and know from our own experiences that it will be greater and grander and a whole-lot different than they could imagine at the moment.  And something SO well worth it.  What a heritage/experience to give their beautiful daughters.  We would all do better to Give Every Day. 

Blessings, Sheaffers. 

Minimalists

My new vocabulary word.

Minimalist.

I love it, and it seems to be fitting our family's lifestyle. And I think the transitions we've been going through both recently and over the past 3 years since we originally left BC are leading us to embracing Minimalist ideology whole-heartedly.  Seems we started choosing this minimalist lifestyle 3 years ago without having a label to give it. 

Maybe we wouldn't be at this place if all of our plans had worked out the way we originally planned. Maybe we wouldn't be making the changes on purpose that we are now choosing to make. Maybe this is another Beginning of Change that will change us forever.  And we will be forever Thankful for.

Anyways, by following the rabbit trail I somehow ended up checking out Everett Bogue's site where he shares how he "adopted a minimalist lifestyle, and discovered that a little can go a long way, if you choose to live the right way." Click here to view more details

And I know that near the beginning of the rabbit trail it was Tammy Strobel that got me hooked.  I read this article and then started following her blog, and now she has this Just-Released Book out which is so exciting.  Click here to view more details 

Then there is a book called The Minimalist Cleaning Method which is right down my alley because I hate the thought of using toxic chemical cleaners in my house, because its bad for our family, and its bad for the environment, and its bad on the pocket book.  And I love the look of space under my cabinets, which seems rare to see in the average person's household.

(Note: I've become an affiliate to the above mentioned books because I believe in their message and want to share it with the world.  Its not only for your own benefit, but for the world's benefit.  So, if you want to read them, please order them through my links so I can benefit from the sale.  Thnx.)

I'm feeling a bit like a child in a candy store.  I am tantalized by so much that I see here in the Minimalist lifestyle circle.  I stand in awe at their creativity, their thinking-outside-of-the-box, their ingenuity, their guts to march to a different beat.

It doesn't seem like such a big deal for me, in a sense, to march to a different beat.  It seems we've been doing that for along while now.  With home-educating for more than 20 years now, to having more than the average children, to unschooling, to leaving institutional church, and eating High Raw, home- and water-birthing, and, and........

So, not much more to becoming a minimalist........

Well...... change always includes some discomfort and work.

But its so exciting and rewarding.   

PS  Realistically, this will be more of a challenge with so many people to 'convince' in our household, but I think my dc are very, very flexible, and so willing to change to better the world and their own health.  After all, they've all basically given up raised mattresses for sleeping on and prefer something thin on the floor, like just a couple of blankets or a sleeping bag with blankets on top.  That's a huge hurdle for some.

The Genopocalypse

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Sadness & Rememberance

You can't go on feeling sad without first consenting to stand in the ashes of some past event and then rubbing the memory of it all over yourself.


~ Guy Finley

This statement really struck me. 


It struck me alot because I've been practicing Living in the Now!


And when I Live in the Now, I'm not living in the past event which isn't even occurring other than in my mind.  The past doesn't exist.  That moment is gone. And neither does the future exist....Other than in my mind.


I only have Now.  And when I'm present in my Now, I have no need to be sad.


I breath deeply Now, and I come back to being present Here & Now.  And Life is Good.

I choose to spend less energy and time on what's gone and what hasn't even come yet.  And give that saved energy to the moment.

Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

"But if God so clothes the  grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'

 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for  your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matt 6:25-34

Does God Have a Specific Plan for Your Life? Probably Not.

Sarah at Emerging Mummy always has great links. Wish I were a speed-reader like she must be!

She often has timely links to things I've been pondering, and recently she had a link to Don Miller, the author to books such as "Blue Like Jazz", & "Writing a Storyline: An Alternative to Mission Statements".

Does God Have a Specific Plan for Your Life? Probably Not.

The hundreds of comments on his blog are also interesting, although there's no time for me to read them all. I haven't learned to speed read (yet).

I've been really pondering the idea of our hearts' desires, and having discussion with friends along our cross-country trip. I find that most Christians I've spoken with are very uncomfortable with doing what their hearts' desires are, because they think that is selfish, and not God-honoring.  They expect that their own hearts' desire will likely be in conflict with God's desire for them.

Actually, many of us have been told that we can't even trust our feelings, our hearts, nor our imagination. We've rejected these things as if they are evil, rather than realizing that they are marvelous gifts from God. We've thrown them away and instead we have puffed up with head knowledge.

But I believe that those desires that we actually have are actually given to us from God, and that's why He says that He will give us the desires of our hearts.

It really bothers me when people say things like "You never should tell God that you don't want to be sent to Africa, because that's where He's definitely going to send you then!" as if He's purposely going to make you go where you don't want to go. He's a meanie. What an ogre!!

I believe that when we are walking in communion with our Creator, and we are living true to ourselves (vs to religion & obligation) then our desires will be in accordance with the will of God. And I don't believe that His will for us is laid out in detail, like what University we should attend, the 'one' we should marry, the house we should buy.

I know that scripture says "In all things give thanks, for this is God's will for you." Its full of patterns we can follow, character we can nurture. But the details are for us to discover, in our intimacy with Him.



I'd love to hear what you have to say about it.

The Victorious Dandelion

" Why doesn't constant trampling defeat the dandelion? The key to its strength is its long and sturdy root, which extends deep into the earth. The same principle applies to people. The true victors in life are those who, enduring repeated challenges and setbacks, have sent the roots of their being to such a depth that nothing can shake them."  Ikeda

Debate & Prayer

It's been a busy and invigorating day today.  Alot of debate, discussion, hashing over.

We spent the morning in debate with Micah, with Layne often being the mediator as we must be speaking a different language than Micah speaks, & vice versa.  Mom doesn't like these kind of discussions so it makes her squirm a bit, and suggest we go to the park or something.  But Micah enjoys the stimulation just like we do.  Iron sharpens iron.

Then we took children for a swim, which they always love.  And Barb & Darrell Kent came over as Barb needed prayer for her back. 

We are believing for fluid to fill up those discs supernaturally.  We had a great time of testimony, about the goodness of God, about healings, and some prayer.  I always feel encouraged when visiting with them, and today was no different.  Like spirits.

Laars is feeling better, although not yet up to par.  No throw ups today, and less of a fever, and he slept most of the day away.  He ate little which is really good to give his body energy for healing.

We anticipate leaving in the morning for the Island; the last leg of our trip, but we will see how the day is lived out.  We make our plans, but let the Spirit direct us.  He brings people and circumstances into our lives to bless us in ways we hadn't imagined.  What an exciting life.

Shopping, for How Long???

Shopping is not my favorite pastime.  Sure, there have been times when its been fun, but its usually more of a chore to me than an exciting adventure, especially grocery shopping.  It's like an evil that must get done.




Ok, I've never gotten this angry, ever.  Not even close.

Well.......?

On my last shopping trip I was with Everette and the two little boys, Anders and Laars.  Everette likes pushing the buggy, following behind me (lets say, be-hind me!!!  especially since I've been losing all this weight!! giggle giggle)  Anyways, I whipped around a corner entering the baking aisle to find some poppy seeds, and I don't know why, but when I saw a 70-ish older couple there, my immediate thought was....
"I'm gonna have to be buying groceries every single week until I die!!"

Where did that thought come from???

I have no idea.  But, I guess I better get used to it.

And have a better attitude!!

 

Preparing for Sleep

Previous generations likely didn't have sleep issues like we do today.  One clear reason would be that they weren't dealing with the stimulating effects of artificial lighting, entertainment (TV, videos, loud music, texting), and even working during non-daylight hours.  With our western societies working 24/7, and our houses being filled with light from within (and even from outside ie. streetlights) we are totally disconnected with the lesser light that rules the night time sky.....the moon......and its cycles.  Even when we close our eyes at night, our room usually has artificial light within it, from our alarm clocks, the street lights, nightlights, etc.  This can interfere not only with our sleep & its patterns, but can even play havoc with some women's fertility.

(I've been curious if women notice relationship between the phases of the moon and their menstruation, and their sexual arousal.  I know that seems like a weird idea to some, but I'm curious.  I'd love to hear from you if you've seen any correlation, specifically with new or full moon phases. It's something that I'm trying to pay more attention to.)

The darker it gets outside (naturally), the darker we should be letting it get inside of our homes.  Take the natural signs from outside and bring them inside.  Use a dimmer light.  Light some candles.  Turn off the television and computers at least  an hour (ideally, several hours) before you head to bed.  Do things that help you relax and set the stage for falling asleep.

Many of us heard that every hour of sleep you get before midnight are worth two hours after midnight.  Well, there is a truth to that, and in essence that would be giving you more hours in your day!!  But there is another issue to that.

You probably have experienced being exhausted and wanting to fall asleep around 7 or 8 pm, but once you get the children to bed and clean up the kitchen or write some emails or whatever, you seem to get a burst of energy and stay up way later than you had planned.  And it seems that the hours can fly past before you even get drowsy again.

The problem is that in the late evening, different organs start to kick into high-gear for the cleansing cycle of your body, and if you aren't already asleep before that happens it becomes difficult to fall asleep.  Particularly between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am.  So ideally, you should already be asleep by 10 pm.  That may sound early, but it is totally do-able.  One just has to decide to make sleep and health a priority, and make the appropriate changes.  You can find all the excuses you want, but then you can also suffer the consequences.  It's your choice.

Now, if you were to do this (be asleep, say, by 9:30) and if 1 hr before midnight was worth 2 hours after midnight, you'd have gotten 5 hours worth of sleep by midnight, and a total of 8 hours worth by 3am!  You could be raring to go well before the sun is even up!!

This is what's happening at our house.  This is The Ideal.  Not the way it happens on a daily basis.  But give me a break.  You think things run smoothly every day with 8 kids still at home? (Rauchelle, being an adult can choose her own lifestyle.  Overall, she follows suite.  But not stringently.)

computers/TV off by 7 pm
8-8:30pm put the boys to bed
9-9:30pm everybody else to bed
4am Everette & I wake up.  We are just transitioning Laars to sleeping in his own bed so that I can start my day.  If he's in our bed, I lay awake meditating until he wakes up.
5:30-6:30am the children awaken.  The little boys are almost always awake before 6.  Gaelyn and Tov around 6.  The others shortly afterwards.
7:30-8am breakfast
12pm Lunch
4-4:30pm supper
only herbal teas allowed in the evening, with stevia for sweetener (if any)

We have found it all an adjustment; the going to bed early and the rising early.  I would consider myself a Night-Owl, but I like what we are experiencing.  I see every sunrise now.  I feel more rested.  I feel like I get a deeper sleep (unless the children wake me, of course, or when I am heavily detoxing and my liver wakes me up between 1-3am).

Last year I would never have imagined that we would be sleeping/eating/scheduling the way that we are today.  But I really like it, and overall we all seem to be flourishing with it.  Even my sister, whose had difficulties with her sleep for a very long time, is now starting to have some really great sleeps.  She's been home here for 2.5 weeks and pretty much sticking with The Daylight Diet because the rest of the household is (while her dh isn't here!).  She's dropping pounds and sleeping sounder.  Yahoo!

Apple Butter

'Aunt Beatrix' brought us over a tub of apple butter awhile ago, and our children love to have it on Rye Crisps.  But as you can see, Laars decided to forgo the crisps and put it on his lickable fingers.  He hid behind the island while mama was on the other side, distracted,  putting lunch items back into the fridge. 

I remember hearing a story of a young family whose children were often doing mischievous things, and the mom learned to pick up the video camera or the regular camera and take pictures and have a good chuckle or laugh, rather than freak out about it.

Good choice, Linda.  I'm trying to follow that pattern.