Yesterday, someone who hasn't seen me in years said, "You still look the same." We went to university together 20 years ago and haven't had the opportunity to spend significant amounts of time with each other during that time. It was a compliment and I LOVED the 30 minutes we got to spend together. I thought about that today and said to myself, "No, I don't. I have wrinkles." Wrinkles are inevitable but they are proof that I have LIVED, and not sat on display somewhere.
I am decidedly low maintenance and choose to embrace wrinkles and grey hair rather than resist them. Resistance is futile, as they say, and I would much rather spend my energy on other pursuits...although I have taken up flossing. (I'd like to have my own teeth when I'm 92... that, and my dental hygienist has put a holy fear into me!)
In these last 20-some years I have been married for 19 years and Ray and I can say we still love waking up next to one another. My husband thinks I look great, even though my body tells that I have given birth to and nourished two children, who are now strapping young lads. I'm not who I was 20 years ago, but I love who I've become. Having said that, I am excited that God is not finished with me yet.
I love being middle aged and knowing what I want and don't want. I want to serve as a volunteer at my school and I want to scrapbook and make cards for people. I don't want to waste my time on things that make me busy but not useful. I love being the mom of teenagers. I love being the wife of a nature loving man. I love my job taking care of the church. I love my family and they love me, and I love my church family...and they love me too... wrinkles and all.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Organizing .....I Kind of Like It
I haven't had anything profound to say in a while. (That doesn't mean that something profound is coming!!)
I am just kind of excited lately by having wonderful sheets of lined paper with schedules on them. Stuff is happening in my life again after some real down time. Let's just say that I have been giving my hammock regular workouts, complete with naps.... I think everyone should have a hammock, even people with vertigo...just keep one foot on the ground. I'd like to bring it on our holiday but Ray said it won't fit in the canoe.
He is actually heading out into the bush tomorrow with some college buddies. It should prove interesting since college lies about 20 years behind us. I know...I don't feel like I am old enough to have 20 years of "past" either....
But back to paper. I have had a grand time scrapbooking the past few family reunions. Great challenge!!! Can't wait to see everyone's memories and creativity. It's good to delve into your good memories, dwell there for a while, and document them. Not just describing a picture but trying to write down the atmosphere and how time feels. It was such a cool way to get excited about this upcoming reunion. (The Nieuwhof Family Reunion 2009!! We're even getting commemorative sweatshirts!!!!) I think I should suggest an appropriate field trip where we purchase scrapbooking supplies of some sort....because that would fall under "souvenirs"...very appropriate indeed.
In the preparations for holidays there are always things that must be organized:house sitters, dog sitters, grass cutters, church openers, church closers, church cleaners, etc... So now comes the fun part and writing everything down, making a schedule and filling up the spaces. . After having spent an appropriate amount of time relaxing...it is kind of fun to get to the busy part and see everything fall into place.
I'm very excited about spending time in Algonquin. We spent a day there last summer and it wasn't nearly enough time. We will spend a few days there by ourselves: Two sons, one spouse, myself, four paddles, two canoes, and a myriad of gear. Then we drive straight to the camporee and we'll be very busy once we get there ...but I can't wait!!! Then home again...unpack, wash, and repack and head out again.
Today....I kind of like it.
I am just kind of excited lately by having wonderful sheets of lined paper with schedules on them. Stuff is happening in my life again after some real down time. Let's just say that I have been giving my hammock regular workouts, complete with naps.... I think everyone should have a hammock, even people with vertigo...just keep one foot on the ground. I'd like to bring it on our holiday but Ray said it won't fit in the canoe.
He is actually heading out into the bush tomorrow with some college buddies. It should prove interesting since college lies about 20 years behind us. I know...I don't feel like I am old enough to have 20 years of "past" either....
But back to paper. I have had a grand time scrapbooking the past few family reunions. Great challenge!!! Can't wait to see everyone's memories and creativity. It's good to delve into your good memories, dwell there for a while, and document them. Not just describing a picture but trying to write down the atmosphere and how time feels. It was such a cool way to get excited about this upcoming reunion. (The Nieuwhof Family Reunion 2009!! We're even getting commemorative sweatshirts!!!!) I think I should suggest an appropriate field trip where we purchase scrapbooking supplies of some sort....because that would fall under "souvenirs"...very appropriate indeed.
In the preparations for holidays there are always things that must be organized:house sitters, dog sitters, grass cutters, church openers, church closers, church cleaners, etc... So now comes the fun part and writing everything down, making a schedule and filling up the spaces. . After having spent an appropriate amount of time relaxing...it is kind of fun to get to the busy part and see everything fall into place.
I'm very excited about spending time in Algonquin. We spent a day there last summer and it wasn't nearly enough time. We will spend a few days there by ourselves: Two sons, one spouse, myself, four paddles, two canoes, and a myriad of gear. Then we drive straight to the camporee and we'll be very busy once we get there ...but I can't wait!!! Then home again...unpack, wash, and repack and head out again.
Today....I kind of like it.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Not A Lot....
That would be the answer to "So...what's new with you?"
I should share that life is quite normal and very relaxed now that it is summer. August is going to be really busy and I was doing some scheduling and contacting people, today, to keep our world turning properly in the future.
It's been a bit of struggle the last few days. I'm not sure why that is. Once in a while you just get this feeling that a lot of life, and the things in it, are really insignificant in the Grand Scheme of things. There are so few things that are of eternal consequence and the rest....well it is just clutter. It's all important stuff, and God is in the small stuff. But...so many things can cause us to scurry around and lose sight of that. I was reminded today in one of my readings that worship is anything that gives God pleasure. So if I approach my day with the intention of giving God pleasure...then all of a sudden....the attitude I use to approach my work, changes. It goes from being a chore, to choosing to honour God and then it becomes a privilege....worship time.
I'm glad I read that today....and I'm glad I posted today or I wouldn't have remembered I read that.
PS I work every Sunday at church, and often you look at the whole day like that. Yesterday I honoured God by observing Sabbath rest all afternoon. I read a book in my hammock. I started out in shorts, too chilly in the shade, and ended up in pajama pants, my favourite hoodie, and an afghan. Then came the time that I just couldn't keep my eyes open anymore and I drifted off to sleep.... Woke up and finished my book. Ray barbecued a couple of venison steaks, I fried some leftover new potatoes, made a Greek salad and we ate supper together on the deck. Then the boys came home from hither and yon and we headed off to church.
PPS So...does anyone out there have ANY Irwin Lake pictures???
I should share that life is quite normal and very relaxed now that it is summer. August is going to be really busy and I was doing some scheduling and contacting people, today, to keep our world turning properly in the future.
It's been a bit of struggle the last few days. I'm not sure why that is. Once in a while you just get this feeling that a lot of life, and the things in it, are really insignificant in the Grand Scheme of things. There are so few things that are of eternal consequence and the rest....well it is just clutter. It's all important stuff, and God is in the small stuff. But...so many things can cause us to scurry around and lose sight of that. I was reminded today in one of my readings that worship is anything that gives God pleasure. So if I approach my day with the intention of giving God pleasure...then all of a sudden....the attitude I use to approach my work, changes. It goes from being a chore, to choosing to honour God and then it becomes a privilege....worship time.
I'm glad I read that today....and I'm glad I posted today or I wouldn't have remembered I read that.
PS I work every Sunday at church, and often you look at the whole day like that. Yesterday I honoured God by observing Sabbath rest all afternoon. I read a book in my hammock. I started out in shorts, too chilly in the shade, and ended up in pajama pants, my favourite hoodie, and an afghan. Then came the time that I just couldn't keep my eyes open anymore and I drifted off to sleep.... Woke up and finished my book. Ray barbecued a couple of venison steaks, I fried some leftover new potatoes, made a Greek salad and we ate supper together on the deck. Then the boys came home from hither and yon and we headed off to church.
PPS So...does anyone out there have ANY Irwin Lake pictures???
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