Favourite Moments

My favourite moments or memories from 2022. It was a hard year in many ways and yet, it was also wonderful. I guess life is like that. I have a separate blog post about a lot of these, but I wanted to mention them here again as I reflect on the year. I'll try to go in the order of the pictures somewhat...

my job: I am so blessed to love teaching, to love my class, to work in a great school close to my house and to have some really lovely co-workers

Bible study: I did a lot of Bible study with a friend as well as at my church. I even attended an all-day workshop which was fantastic. What could be more important than getting to know God?

overnight in Fort Langley: we stayed in an adorable bed and breakfast called The Princess and the Pea. It was one of my favourite places to stay at ever.

Joonas' ball hockey season which ended in provincial gold. It was so amazing and not just because we won, although that certainly didn't hurt. The icing on the cake was Joonas scoring a goal during the gold medal provincial game!!

Two weeks on the east coast. The architecture, the weather, the company, the lighthouses, the beaches, the escape....it was so, so wonderful. Celebrating my birthday there was amazing and included my first gondola ride!

Our 23rd anniversary. It was a good day.

Celebrating the 50th birthday of two of my childhood friends. Too bad one of them got cut off from the picture. 

Emmi and her bff Ellie. They have known each other for 7 years, but only really became close this past year. I am so happy for my little girl who is shy and introverted and used to say she had no friends.

The family reunion in Lumby at my brother's house. What a perfect weekend!

Two sunflower festivals. They were very different, but I loved looking at all the flowers, which included more than just sunflowers.

The Canyon Lights. So magical.

Time with Henry and Ruut, which included going to Frankie's jazz club and so much more. Any year that we meet up with them, they will be included on my list of favourites, that's just a given.

Other things that make the list, but not the collage of pictures were church, community group, 6 concerts, Van Dusen and countless times at the beach, going for walks and coffees with friends.

Delicious

My life became a lot more delicious when I met my friend Serene. She is an amazing cook. Yesterday when I went over, she made me asparagus, crispy-skinned salmon and mashed potatoes with bacon and cheese on top. I have had countless delicious meals at her house and I am very, very lucky.

Christmas Events

 

This year I was determined to do some of the Christmas things I haven't done for a long time, or have always wanted to do, but haven't. One such event was the Canyon Lights at Capilano. I've always thought the tickets are ridiculously expensive and then not gone. This year I decided I was going to finally do it and boy was it worth it! It felt magical and other-worldly. 

I went to the Singing Christmas tree for the first time in years. I attended 2 Christmas concerts. I wandered around the light displays at the PNE winter festival drinking hot apple cider. I looked at the gingerbread house competition at the Hyatt. I wandered around downtown admiring all the Christmas lights and displays. All in all it has been a wonderful Christmas season. I already blogged yesterday about how lovely Christmas Eve was this year. Wouldn't you know it, today the Christmas dinner at my sisters got cancelled. And I suddenly developed a terrible pain in my back. But whatever. I am still grateful and wondering what events I might get to next year...

Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve. I especially love the candlelight service at my church. It is hopeful and beautiful and glowing. This year we went to the 6:30pm service and it was perfect. It made me cry.

This year, we also went back to celebrating Christmas (with the kids) on Christmas Eve. The kids are older, stay up later and like to sleep longer in the mornings. So, early Christmas morning in our pajamas appealed to exactly no one, lol. Finnish people, along with all Scandinavians and a lot of others, celebrate on Christmas Eve, in their fancy clothes, not pajamas. Back in the day when someone in the family would dress up as Santa, we celebrated on Christmas Eve. In Finland, Santa is very civilized and knocks on the door on Christmas Eve instead of that chimney business. But then we switched to Christmas morning because of the kids. But this year we went back to Christmas Eve. I loved it.

We went to church. Then we came home and had dinner. Then the kids opened their presents. In the morning, we will get up late and have our traditional french toast with bacon and orange juice and coffee!!

Snow

Snow brings with it a quietness that I love. Sitting on my couch, with the Christmas lights twinkling on the tree, the fireplace going, I can see the piles of snow outside and it brings a quiet to my soul. It's like a deep sigh of relief that I didn't know that I needed.

I actually had concert tickets for tonight, to a concert that I really wanted to attend. But, the roads are treacherous and the risk is too great. I decided not to go. And I felt the peace of cancelled plans and a warm cozy house. 

I am determined be still this Christmas season. I want to experience again the wonder of the Christmas story. I was reading one of my favourite writers today and she said, "you can't keep Advent if you can't be a listener. You can't really keep faith at all, because to love God means to be one who waits on the Word made flesh, spoken into our darkness with the first words of a story whose telling remakes the world." I have also been listening to a Christmas album by the Rend Collective. There is an extra refrain added to Silent Night that says, "Be still my heart, be still my mind, May I still see the magic of that silent night. Fill me with wonder, keep mystery alive, may peace on earth be my song tonight". That is my hope this Christmas 2022. 

Church Family

Yesterday was a super packed day. Somehow I ended up with three social events in one day. Some days, especially around Christmas, are like that. As an introvert who finds social interaction draining, I was exhausted by the end of the night, but also so, so grateful.

All of the events were with friends from church. There are some really lovely people who attend my church and I feel privileged to spend time with them, but my favourite was afternoon tea at The Secret Garden. There were only four of us. We all attend the same community group and so our friendships are built around much more than just Sunday morning fairweather conversations. We do life together. Yesterday, we happened to be celebrating Ruth's birthday. 

The venue was lovely and relaxing even though it was full of people. There was SO MUCH laughter, I actually wonder whether we bothered the other guests, lol. There were yummy treats. There was copious amounts of tea. It was perfect.

Blackbird in Fulham

A John the Baptist bird which comes before

The light, chooses an aerial

Toothed like a garden rake, puts a prong at each shoulder,

Opens its beak and becomes a thurifer

Blessing dark above dank holes between the houses,

Sleek patios or rag-and-weed-choked messes.

Too aboriginal to notice these,

Its concentration is on resonance

Which excavates in sleepers memories

Long overgrown or expensively paved-over,

Of innocence unmawkish, love robust.

Its sole belief, that light will come at last.

The point is proved and, casual, it flies elsewhere

To sing more distantly, as though its tune

Is left behind imprinted on the air,

Still legible, though this the second carbon.

And puzzled wakers lie and listen hard

To something moving in their minds’ backyard.

P J Kavanagh

I love this poem, above all for the line: "its sole belief, that light will come at last". That is Advent. Hope. Light coming into darkness. And to experience the beauty and brilliance of the light, one must first sit awhile in the dark. Feel the hopelessness of a world of evil, sin, destruction, war. It's into that darkness that Christ came once already. At Advent we remember that coming. But, we also look forward to His second coming which will be quite different. So, even though the light has come, we also live in the tension of the now and not yet. Things are still very wrong. At His second Advent, all things will be made new.

pre-Christmas

Pre-Christmas is my favourite. I don't like the crazy, the scrambling, the crowds and noise of Christmas. But I love the peace and carols and lights of pre-Christmas. When I can sit in the evenings and stare at my Christmas tree. When there is no hurried last minute scramble to find gifts or to cook or clean. One of my favourite bloggers reads an Advent poem every day and I love to listen to her read and mull over the words. 

Surprisingly, however, this weekend turned out to be a super busy opening to the Christmas season. We went to our first Christmas party. We attended two Advent church services. We went to a Christmas carol sing-along. And much to my surprise, I loved every minute! Yes, it was a lot for one weekend, but it was great. Mostly, it was great because a lot of it was with my church family. There are some really, really lovely people who attend my church and I am so blessed to be in a community with them.

Below is a ridiculous picture from Friday's Christmas party. I'll leave it at that....

Rest

It's a beautiful day to choose rest over a false sense of urgency.

November

 

I am really tired. The fall has been wonderful in many ways, but it has also seemed very long. Routines have taken much longer to get going. I have a student teacher in my classroom and although she is great, having her in my class brings with it an added level of stress. Last weekend, I attended a concert, a women's conference, church, and I hosted a birthday party. All the events were fabulous, but that's a lot for just one weekend. So, I am taking the month of November off. December always ends up being super busy anyway and I feel the need to recharge before then. So, I will not be meeting up, socializing, taking on extra activities or spending time with people who exhaust me. 

"𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝..."

A friend sent me this poem by Paul David Tripp today and I love it so much I'm just gonna post it with no further comment.

In the ebb and flow of this 

middle world

between the already of rescuing grace

and the not yet of final victory grace,

where things are not yet what they

should and will be

yet so much better than they would be without

the gloriously transformative interruption

of the cross,

where the process of

rescue

reconciliation

restoration

recreation began,

there is reason to mourn.

There are times in this middle world

where sadness is profound,

darkness seems deep,

victory is a distant shore,

and the journey seems too hard.

In the dark night of mourning,

human suffering seems too great,

the messiness of the church seems too prevalent,

the power of remaining sin seems too strong,

the failure of heroes too frequent,

too many false messiahs,

too many lost ones,

God's army consumed by too much infighting

to have strength left to fight the one true enemy.

The world around us groans

and we, too, groan for the final redemption,

that distant victorious shore,

promised, but not yet realized.

But in the dark valley there is a presence,

one like us but completely unlike us.

He is with us in the night,

a shining light of holiness and hope,

wisdom and power,

justice and mercy.

He is resolute yet tender,

on the march but patient,

convicting and comforting,

ruling and rescuing,

commanding and empowering,

promising and providing.

He beckons us to walk through the darkness,

eyes on him,

trust in our hearts,

with confidence and courage,

humility and hope,

meditating, not on the darkness,

but on the light of his presence,

his rule on our behalf

and the grace he brings with him.

He gifts us with reasons to celebrate,

we are no alone,

so much provided, that we could never provide

for ourselves.

The fruit of his rescuing and transforming grace

are flashes of light in the darkness.

They punctuate the night,

causing the night not to be so dark.

In the darkest of nights,

his presence and his grace

give us reason to celebrate.

We are not alone;

his presence with us means that we will reach

that distant shore.

We see the final victory,

we will eat at the banquette table of the 

redeemed.

He is our guarantee,

our destiny is secure.

So we don't just mourn, we celebrate.

The days are often dark and sad,

but we have divine assistance for the journey,

a divine guarantee of victory.

Tears mixed with joy is the way of 

the middle world,

because in darkness we begin to hear

the distant sound of songs of victory.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever." (Psalm 23:4-6)

church-in Hope

We just had a lovely time in Hope at our cabin there. The weather was very warm for autumn (27 C) and it was beautifully sunny the whole time. We read, we ate, we went for walks. This morning, Pentti and I went to church. I love the Baptist church in Hope. It's small, like everything else there. But it's cosy. The people are really friendly. The music isn't super polished, but I love it anyway. The sermon was really good and I was so glad that I had gotten out of bed to go.

In the 17 years that we have been going to Hope, this was only the 3rd time that I attended church there. We used to not go because we were on "holiday" and that was totally acceptable. One does not need to be uptight and legalistic about having to always attend church. But the thing is, church sets up my week. It fills me up like nothing else can. So why wouldn't I go, holiday or not? 

When I woke up this morning, I did think about whether I wanted to get up to get ready or just roll over. I considered not going. But then I figured I should just do it. And I am so, so glad that I did. 

The Queen

Queen Elizabeth died yesterday. What a sad, sad day. Having followed the British royal family since I was a little girl, I am personally saddened by the news. But also, what an incredible woman. To be known for 70 years of faithful service is quite astonishing. To be so tireless and stalwart and constant is an amazing feat. We could (and should) all learn from her example.

family reunion

We just spent four nights in Lumby at my brother's house with the whole family. There were 24 of us ranging in age from 1 to 69 and it was really wonderful. I was very anxious about how it would work out with so many people and so many mouths to feed. How does one cook so many meals for 24 people and how much food do you even need? And where would everyone sleep?

Anyway, it was pretty near perfect how everything worked out. My brother Miika is used to cooking and preparing for large numbers of people, so the food ended up being no problem. He bought everything and we just took turns preparing it. We ended up renting an rv for our family, which gave us our own space and some escape from all the togetherness. But ironically, I didn't even need an escape. My brother has lots of outdoor space at his house, with three different seating areas. He has a pool and a sauna. He has a huge garage/man cave/games room where the teen boys spent the majority of their time. There was space for everyone and we had such a good time. We laughed, we played cards, we ate, we drank, we had sauna and swim, we read...we did all those things one does on vacation and it was so lovely. What a great way to close out the summer of 2022!

feelings

"I won't be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is true." That lyric from a song we sang at church this morning stuck with me.

Feelings are king in our culture. Whatever you feel is true. Whatever you feel cannot be wrong. If your feeling changes, then you should definitely react accordingly. If you no longer feel love for your spouse, you should walk away because you should always feel happy. Everything should be based on your feelings. Not on responsibility, or commitment, or the creation order or anything or anyone else. Definitely not on God.

But guess what? Feelings are a terrible, shaky foundation to build your life on. I am an anxious overthinker. My feelings have in fact often been completely WRONG. I don't want to be in control based on my feelings. I want an unchanging solid foundation that is unshakeable no matter how I am feeling.

So, instead of feelings, I hold fast to what is true, as the song says. God is the creator of the universe. He is in control and He sets the rules. He loves me and knows infinitely better than I do what is best for me. The end.

Family

Today we celebrated (my nephew) Oskar's 1st birthday. This time the family celebrations included the extended family for the first time since COVID. I had not seen my aunts and uncles for three years!! It was so good to see them and catch up. I am so blessed to live near family and that our relations are so harmonious. My family is amazing and I am grateful.

PS. My sister in law Mimmi made the cake and it was delicious!!!

childhood friends

Childhood friends are something else. I met up with some friends today that I have known since we moved to Canada when I was 4 years old. We know each others' siblings, parents and we even knew each others' grandparents. There have been marriages and babies and jobs and pets and everything else that fits into decades of friendship. We are not super close anymore and we don't see each other that often. But, the bonds are unbreakable.

ten days, ten books

I don't feel like doing the ten days, ten books challenge on Instagram. Instead, I thought that I would post some answers here all at one go. Because I DO love books.

Favourite book from childhood: SO MANY, but Anne of Green Gables if I have to choose just one

Best book I had to read for class: Jane Eyre

Interesting book club pick: The Da Vinci Code

Shaped my worldview: Mere Christianity

In my favourite genre: anything by Louise Penny

About my home: Spit Delany's Island

Made me feel less alone: Pippi Longstocking (in grade 3 my teacher read it aloud and it was the first time I had heard of anyone else anywhere being named Annika)

I really want to read: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

23 years

It's our anniversary today. I am grateful for 23 years with Pentti. It has not all been perfect and rosy, but I know without a doubt that he is the one that I am meant to spend the rest of my life with, that God brought us together. 

We had such a lovely dinner at Gotham Steakhouse. Everything was perfect. The food was delicious and our waiter was funny. But, when we returned to our car in the parkade, someone had smashed our passenger side window. I was struck by how fitting it was. 

I know that sounds weird, but it struck me how our evening so perfectly reflected on the highs and lows of marriage. How we could on the same night have a wonderful meal and an annoying inconvenience. How we were happy and carefree one moment and frustrated and annoyed the next. 

All relationships, but especially marriage, is full of highs and lows, excitement and the ordinary, fun and routine. It is truly a blessing to find someone who sticks it out through all of it. For better or worse, that's really what it boils down to. And for better or worse, I choose him.

books

Today's writing prompt: what was the last book that took you by surprise and why.

I recently discovered Frederick Buechner. He died last week and some of the writers and bloggers that I follow had commented on what an impact his writings had made in their lives. So, I went to look. I took a few of his books out from the library. How had I never heard of this man before? I have read a few pages and I'm totally in love with his writing. He writes reflections on literature and faith and art. The back cover of one of his books describes him thus: "Pay attention says Buechner. Listen to the call of a bird or the rush of the wind, to the people who flow in and out of your life. The ordinary points you to the extraordinary God who created and loves all of creation, including you. Pay attention to these things as if your life depends upon it. Because, of course, it does." Wow. One thousand percent yes.

Friendship

A blogger I follow asked recently what makes a good friend when someone is NOT in crisis and that got me thinking. I've always thought true friends were the ones you could call on in the middle of the night when something horrible happened. But, maybe I have been thinking about this all wrong. Maybe true friends are actually the ones who are there during the mundane, boring, everyday times. Because really, how often do those crisis moments happen? Hopefully not often; most of life is made up of the mundane, the everyday, the uneventful.

So maybe the regularly scheduled Tuesday meet up when there's nothing special going on is actually the bigger blessing. Because I do think that close friendship requires doing life together. That includes the middle of the night crisis moments, but it should also include the ordinary. And so I am grateful for the friends who include me in their ordinary and who are there for my boring moments. They are the ones that I can be myself around. They are true and good and constant.

anticipation

What am I looking forward to before the end of August?

Seeing my brother Henry and his wife Ruut. I have blogged in the past about how much I like spending time with them. How well the four of us get along. How much my kids really like them. So, I won't get into all that again. I'm just really looking forward to seeing them after not seeing them for two years. Spending time with them is easy. Going back to yesterday's question about being myself...I can definitely be myself around them! I look forward to listening to music together, cooking together, hanging out on our deck, playing poker, having deep discussions and so much more....I can't wait!

 

Feeling Like Myself

Today's writing prompt asks where do I feel least like myself. The honest answer is not a place, but around certain people. I feel least like myself around certain people. Not because I morph into someone different, but because I get very quiet and don't feel safe to really be me. I am sarcastic, I have dark humour, I complain about people a lot. I don't tolerate stupid. And there are certain fluffy, sweet people I know who would probably start praying for my dark soul if I let them see the real me. So I don't. 

As I've gotten older, I choose my company more carefully. I no longer make time for people who I can't be myself around. I am living the last year of my 40s and I wouldn't go back to any other decade. No way. I feel way more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have. Yes, I am sometimes misunderstood or seen as antisocial when I refuse to attend certain events. But I don't care. I'll happily stay home in my pajamas and be myself.

Vancouver

So, I'm failing with this daily blogging challenge...lol. Oh well, it's summer and I refuse to have guilt over it. I'll just write when I can.

The other day I went to the Sunflower festival in Richmond. It was a bit early since it wasn't even officially open and some of the flowers were still budding. But, it was virtually empty, which was perfect. There was a wagon ride to the fields complete with a singing tour guide. It was great. 

Yesterday, I went out for dinner with a childhood friend. We sat on the terrace at Seasons in the Park and then we walked around Queen Elizabeth park and admired all the flowers. 

I also watched the sunset at two different beaches on two different nights this week. Unobstructed views of the sun setting, right off the ocean.

All that to say, I live in such a beautiful place. The greenery and the gardens and parks in BC are magnificent. When I was away in the States, I realized once again the beauty of BC. But not only that, but also how good we have it here. Our tourist attractions are actually quite spectacular. Granville Island is better than the famous market we went to in Boston. Van Dusen and Queen E are better parks than the gardens we toured in Providence. We are spoiled here.

self-care

 My favourite self-care practice is my prayer app called Lectio 365. It makes me feel grounded and hopeful. There are Bible verses, some thoughts, some background music. There is a different one for every morning and evening. I especially like the closing (evening) prayer:

God of all seasons, the sun has set, the night has gathered in, my soul sinks slowly into your rest, trusting now in the resurrection to come. Amen

Engage

Today's writing prompt is the word "engage". It makes me think of all the plans that I have for my classroom in the fall. I think my number one goal is to engage the students: to make learning fun, to make them love reading, love school, to think, to ask questions. One of things that I am planning is a celebration on Fri Sept 23rd for Open The Magic day. Open The Magic day is actually on Sept 25th, but that falls on a Sunday this year, so I'm going to do it on the Friday. It's a day that celebrates books and reading and "confetti moments". I think it'll be a great way to start off the year and hopefully inspire even those somewhat reluctant readers to love books.

I already know that some of the students in my upcoming grade two class are behind in reading. Generally struggling readers do not love reading because it's hard and there isn't much joy in sounding out those (boring) early readers. But, loving books can make all the difference! One boy in my class last year was struggling. But, he REALLY loved this one picture book that I read out loud to the class. So, he kept at it (unbeknownst to me) and one day he came up to my desk and asked if he could read it to me. He read me the whole book!! It was a rather challenging book for a grade one, even one who wasn't struggling. But, that's what books can do. Great books make you want to be able to read them.

And seeing kids develop a love for books and reading is what inspires me. In fact, just thinking about it makes me excited for school to start. But, I'll try to enjoy the rest of summer first...lol

Sit

My favourite place to sit in the summer....I actually have a few. And it depends who I am with or if I'm alone. If I'm alone, then it's my deck or my living room sofa. I need a lot of time alone to recharge, and those are my two favourite places for that.

Outdoors, my favourite is anything with water nearby, whether the creek in the backyard of the house in Hope or the ocean at the beach. I love the sound of water. I love crashing waves. I love the peace of mind it brings. If there is a beautiful sunset, even better!

Yesterday, my friend and I walked around Ambleside. There was an arts festival and food trucks and live music. Honestly, we were just there for the Thai food, but it was cool. We got our food and sat at the beach and watched the sun go down. It was lovely.

The taste of August

August tastes like:

-fresh, sweet corn

-plump, juicy blueberries

-pie made with gathered wild berries

-nectarines, peaches, plums

-new potatoes

-chilled wine outside

-fragrant basil picked from my patio

-unhurried morning coffee

-tomatoes!!!

Pace

Today's prompt asks what is my pace this season and how do I feel about it.

My pace is slow. Leisurely. And I love it. Summer holidays is definitely one of the advantages of teaching and I make no apologies. I have very little on my schedule that requires alarm clocks and that's just the way I like it. Waking up and enjoying my coffee with all the time in the world makes my day.

I was worried, however, when I went away with my friend recently. We had travelled together before, but not as a tourist thing where we booked hotels and had itineraries etc. I wondered how we'd travel together. You just never know what kind of tourist someone will be until you're somewhere being touristy. Would she want an agenda that maximized all the possible sights? Would she want to get an early start so we could see as much as possible? Would our schedule be chock full and exhausting? Fortunately, our pace was perfect. We did things every day, but we were never rushed or having to wake up at the crack of dawn. In fact, we were both quite happy one evening when it rained and we "had" to stay in. It was lovely to not have to go anywhere. I should've known that it would all work beautifully, but you just never know....

Observe

I'm starting a new blogging challenge for the month of August. Each day (assuming I stick with it) I'll get a prompt telling me what to write about. Since I love writing but am often stuck for ideas, I'm happy to be given a word or idea and then seeing where that takes me.

So, today's word is "observe". I have a few thoughts about this. First of all, I think observation is a lost art. To really stop and notice things and people around you. Do you know how many people feel invisible because those around them aren't observant and are instead completely focused on self? Seeing people matters. Seeing nature matters. It's one of the things I really try to drill into my students, especially when we're outside. What do you see? Hear? Smell? What fills you with wonder? 

I think deeply connected to observation is quiet. If you're babbling a mile a minute, you can't possibly be very observant. You're missing out. I read somewhere that if you're talking, you're sharing what you already know. But if you're listening, you're learning. Of course this exposes my deep introverted way of thinking, but it doesn't mean I'm wrong.

As to what I've been observing lately on a personal level, it is the extravagant lavishness of God's creation. I was recently on vacation on the east coast and now as I write, I'm at our cabin in Hope. The variety in creation amazes me. God could've created one kind of tree and one kind of flower. Instead He created hundreds of varieties in various shades and colours and for no other purpose than for His glory and for us to enjoy. He is extravagant in His abundant provision for us. Going back to the creation story in Genesis, you can notice many references to "all"...That was the original plan, that we'd live in perfect harmony with God and all of creation and that we'd have all we could ever need. The fact that this is not our present reality is not part of the plan. But, we live with the assurance that He is making ALL things new. Meanwhile, even in the brokenness, there is much beauty and goodness to observe, if you open your eyes (and maybe occasionally shut your mouth...lol)

10 questions

 I love getting prompts from other writers that make me think. This week, one of them commented that July 2nd is the exact middle of the year and called for an evaluation/reflection on how the year is going through a series of questions. So, here are my answers:

How do you really feel?

Exhausted. Happy. Excited.

What is going well?

Bible study. My job (which of course just went on summer break, but still). 

What needs to change?

My eating habits. How I spend time with my kids. How much I shop.

What will pass?

The rainy weather. My vacation-I better enjoy every moment.

What brings you peace?

God. Church. Music.

What has been a win?

sports (resuming) for the kids. 

Who needs some attention?

Pentti-he's been away for two weeks

Who are your guideposts?

Pentti and Serene

What is the *one* thing that must get done?

Cleaning of the top floor, especially the laundry

What does finishing well really mean?

investing in relationships that really matter to me

reading more books

continuing with Bible study

Saying Nice Things

Why do some people never seem to be able to give compliments? I know that some people are especially gifted in encouraging others, but surely this is a skill that all people should develop whether it comes to them naturally or not. And if there's any group that should be known as the most encouraging, surely that should be Christians? And yet... there seems to be very little encouragement. 

I am sure there are lots of reasons people keep their compliments to themselves. I know some people don't encourage because they worry it'll lead to pride. But will it really? People are so discouraged right now that I feel like a kind word could go a long way to just making it through another day.

I know there are some people who don't give compliments because they don't want to gush and they think carefully about their words. But if someone is actually deserving of a compliment, why hold back? A sincere compliment is not gushing. Besides, is it possible that withholding encouragement is actually worse than gushing?

Last summer someone suggested to me that I might have the gift of words of encouragement. I found this laughable. Me? I've always thought encouraging types were warm and fuzzy and full of words. But then I started to reflect on how many people I had sent notes to during the pandemic. How many pastors I had sent positive feedback when they had preached an especially inspiring message. There are multiple times when I have given encouragement and gotten feedback about how it was exactly what they needed that day. What if I had just thought it but not said it out loud? What if I had withheld my encouragement and the person who so desperately needed it had become discouraged instead?

In my classroom this year, I started to give out "happy mail". Whenever I noticed a student improve or try hard or show unexpected kindness, I gave them positive reinforcement by giving them a happy mail in front of the class. I was amazed at how popular this was and how much the students looked forward to seeing who would get one. Parents told me how their child kept their happy mail on the fridge and how proud they were. It cost me very little time and effort and yet to my students, it was a big deal.

So, I am going to make it a point to be an encourager. There is more than enough toxic negativity in the world. If I can temporarily make someone's day through a kind word, then I will do it. 

12 things

Here is a list in random order of the things that are saving my life right now: 

-church

-coffee

-my best friend

-my grade 1 students

-my colleagues

-tulips

-music

-cherry blossoms

-my prayer app

-Bible study

-Acorn tv

-Hello fresh

Resurrection Sunday

Today was a beautiful day for so, so many reasons, but the greatest of them was going to church and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Last Easter, we were not allowed to gather, but today we were, and with no restrictions. I have blogged many times in the past about my church and why I love it so. But today, I will let the picture below do most of the talking. The blonde with her hands raised in praise and worship....that's me. I didn't know someone would take a picture of that moment, but I am glad they did. It captures my total lack of inhibitions and awareness of those around me as I worship the one true God who sent His Son to die the death that I deserved for my sins. I feel free at church, uninhibited and accepted and that is a truly beautiful thing.

Friendship

I push open the door and my shoulders relax

my jaw unclenches and I breathe a deep sigh of relief

I am safe and loved and free to be me

A long hug and everything feels right with the world again

We settle on the couch for tea and conversation

it's easy and relaxed and full of laughter

we catch up

the deep, the trivial, the frustrating

we cover it all

sometimes it comes rushing out all at once in a torrent

guess what? I have to tell you!!

other times bits and pieces come out over the hours

that reminds me, I forgot to tell you...

either way, it doesn't matter

we will never stop talking

we are best friends

deep, forever, connected.