It's a Jungle Out There!

"Why don't you tell something funny?  We've got SO many things to share that would make people laugh" my sister told me.  And, she's right, we've had our adventures (as I'm sure most people have). I had been unloading on her, talking about a cancer diagnosis of a family member that I had just found out about.  I've already lost two friends to cancer in the past month.  So, this news kind of threw me 'off' a bit, my father in law is still in and out of the hospital and it takes a lot of effort to not dwell on these things.  So, she suggested I write down funny things to help 'lighten' the mood. With that, my mind started going back, to the time I fell on top of my guitar in front of the entire class in highschool and then, when my teacher tried to help me up, I fell again, this time on top of three students.  Or, I remembered the time when I reached for my husband's shoulder, gave him a hug and started playing with his hair, only...

Sometimes it's the little things that can make me feel like giving up.  The days when you're already behind schedule and you end up spilling coffee or tea on yourself.  Or, you get behind the wheel of the car and discover that the gas tank is empty when you've already had a tough morning.   We've been searching for the car keys for over a week now and I'm not gonna lie, it SUCKS.  You may be thinking " Really?  That's IT, that's what's upsetting you?  Just lost keys??".  But, truth be told, it is a big deal.  It's a big deal when my hubby losing his car keys is a regularly occurring thing (and really, it gets expensive when you are getting keys cut every few months, especially the newer car keys which are computer based).  It's a big deal when you are struggling with sore backs and sore shoulders because of health issues and you have to keep looking through furniture. Yes, I know... I'm complaining, but sometimes, it's h...

Legacy My Grandma would have been 98 today and as I thought about her life, I became incredibly grateful that I knew her so well.  I grew up knowing all my Grandparents and even most of my Great-Grandparents lived well into my teenage years and the impact they had on my life is significant.   You see, both of my Grandmothers were devout Christ followers.  I remember my Grandma Smith, her Bible sitting open on the kitchen table, how important it was that even in the summer, when we were up at the cottage, going to Church on a Sunday was a must.  She loved to play hymns on the piano and her excitement when my husband and I went on the mission field was huge.  My other Grandma loved the Lord too.  She had an infectious laugh and I look back fondly at how often I talked with her on the phone, with her encouraging words reminding me to keep trusting in God.   Both of these women impacted me immensely.   I learnt to give and support missions throu...

Be at Peace As I was hanging the laundry out last week, I started dwelling on all that was wrong with me and I immediately started comparing myself to others.  Why did I feel that everyone else seemed to be capable of accomplishing more?   Normally, I end up sad and feeling like a complete failure after I start down the rabbit trail of comparison.  But, this particular day, as I reached for the clothes pegs, I did something rare... I started thinking about WHY I hadn't done more that month and I reminded myself there were good reasons for me to have not kept up with my normal routine.  For starters, my family had endured a brutal month, and by brutal I mean just that, brutal.  My husband and I had both been laid off and only had a couple of weeks left of work,  in the midst of that stress, there were car repairs because our car broke down, close family members and some friends were in and out of the ER (complete with a week long hospital stay),...

Welcome! I hope you can feel at home here.  I want this to be a safe place, where I'm hopeful that you can at least be encouraged, where we can realize that we're just muddling through this thing called "life" together. Life is often never easy and it's certainly never dull!  So, as I talk about my life, it is my hope and prayer that some of the struggles I have walked through will find a place with you.  That something will resonate with you and you'll maybe be encouraged or will start a path towards healing.  Or, at least know that you're not alone!  Like I said, we're ALL in this together. So, sit back, grab a coffee (or, in my case, a cup of tea) and even laugh at my misadventures as we talk about life, because, yunno, it's a JUNGLE out there!!