Inside out

Thank you for inside out days.

Some may figure this picture out right away and others might take  a few minutes. 

Let me help!

The picture shows a picture of my pants (butt side sorry).  As I looked in the mirror for a quick side view I noticed my new grown tail.  No relation to the bunny we got at Christmas.

I love the joys of being a stay at home mom.  11 years later and I still do not know how to put pants on early in the morning.  I thought it was so funny and had a good laugh with God. Wonder how I will put on my Angel wings...probably upside down.

I am proud to say I am a stay at home mom of 11 years and I do not know how to put my own pants on some days.  Just some days.

Our life of faith

God be with those that read my blogs about you.  May they have an open mind and know how I love to share what you are doing in our lives and so how real You are.

Saturday morning I found myself in a meeting with other people from Selah fire (church) who lead small groups.  We gathered to share all that God was doing in our groups.  Encouragement fills the room as all who shared about their groups is full of amazing stories and beginnings.

Finishing up anyone was invited to sit in the centre to get prayer.  Usually at this time I always chuckle and wonder if I should just quick run and sit in the chair.  I love to have prayer.   To have my Selah family surround me and love on me with prayer is like no other feeling.  I did not get up and run this time.  Instead another lady took the chair and asked for prayer in a certain area of her life.

As our pastor began to pray and talking about "anointing" I immediately had a vision of Jesus standing at steps.  They seemed to be steps in her house.  Voices around the room began to filter up prayers and not hearing a word they were saying I zoned in on my vision.  I was asking myself why Jesus was not moving up those steps.  He seemed stuck there.  "Lord should I ask her if she has steps in her house?  Why are you stuck at the bottom of the steps?" I asked with my eyes closed.  I then thought to myself I will see if He moves as others move through their prayers.  Still not hearing a word anyone was saying my heart began to beat fast, I felt something so strong and yucky about Jesus being stuck at those steps.  My hands began to sweat.  Doubt began to set in.  I began to feel as though this lady needed to anoint those steps and the steps of the person in her life we were praying for.  The moment came and I asked, "Do you have steps in your house?"  Oh gosh she is going to say no.

"Yes I do. " she confirmed.

"I really feel like God wants you to anoint those steps and those steps of who we are praying for.  I feel like Jesus is stuck at those steps" I explained and began to cry as it began to feel more and more like a strong hold there.  This is a first time this has happened with so much emotion during a prayer. I still had little phrases of doubt pop in and out like, "Way to go Heather, really Jesus at the steps, everyone has steps in their house.  Your just emotional cause you are a loser." Satan says passing on one of his infamous lies.

"Heather," the lady says, "Four years ago I was praying in and over my house and when I looked over at my steps Satan was standing right in front of those steps" she confirmed.  "I thought I had kicked him out but He must be back." (paraphrased)

At this point I began to fill with excitement and emotion.  God had used me in that moment.  I wasn't done though.  Our pastor asked me to pray into that vision.  I do not remember my exact prayer but it definitely was to smash Satan while he stood at her steps.  We all stomped and emotion was not hiding.  What a fun moment.

If I had not been there at that moment, with the faith that I have, surrounded by sisters and brothers of faith our friend may not have got the vision I had.  If I trust and have faith He, God speaks and reveals.  It may all seem unreal to some but when moments actually happen to you like this you know with  your heart of hearts it is really true.  I had a vision and the lady we were praying for confirmed it. 

Luke 11:1

[ Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer ] One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

 

Luke 4:18

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.

 

God is good.

Oh and REAL

A week long day

Monday Feb 10 I watched as Dean took three of our kids to school and say, "See you in 10 days."
Not long
after Emma and I loaded up in the van and drove Dean over to our Selah Fire gathering home where our mission team was to leave on our usual yellow bus.

Honestly after four years of going to Peru my emotions were that of a Dairy Queen blizzard.  The coldness I felt as I had a tinge of jealously Dean was going and I was staying home. The smell of the sweetness was that of all the hugs Dean would give from the both of us.  Can not forget the yummy candy and that is of my husband who was going to be off on a 10 day mission trip.  Ten days of doing God's work. 

I knew he would not be stuck in some factory welding.  Trying to make money.  Earthly treasure.  While I missed the routine of him coming home each night after work I knew each day he would arrive back at the Casa de Paz, orphanage after a treasure hunt/prayer walk and would love on the children/family there.

Each night I had to hurry the kids to bed as I was so tired.  As my head hit the pillow I would think of how tired I was those years I went to bed but knowing I had done Gods work all day so made it worth while.  As I closed my eyes I felt proud knowing my husband was out doing that work.

Day after day would go by.  Kids were in school.  Two major projects to complete.  Reading to do.  Two Brownie meetings to lead. Hot tub to get rid of (surprise for Dean).  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... they all went by all 10 of them. 

Those around me said how fast the days went as we approached the night before Dean.  I felt as though I had no response.  Ten days did not feel quick nor long.  So much had happened and been full busy days that the first feeling that popped in my head to describe our ten days home here in Drayton was a week that felt like one big day.

I love what God is doing our little family.  Mission trips are like no other experience.  We do not build homes or schools but rather relationships with God right dab in the centre.  Our family in Peru have invited us to their weddings and to their child's baptism.  A few of our friends have flown up to stay with us here in Drayton.

As I have the Oscars on in the background I can not help but think of a night where missionaries go up to receive a heavenly treasure and the only person we thank in our acceptance speech is God.  For He plans our steps.

Goodnight

Day 4 treasure hunt

Tradition in our house when it comes to Peru mission trips.

Five years ago I made my first 24 hour trek to Pacasmayo Peru. In preparing to leave I felt as though I needed to somehow talk to my kids (3 at the time) while I was gone in  way that did not involve the phone. 

Putting the brain on the move I came up with making a web cam movie with a message and a prayer for each day I was gone.  Also in the message highlighting what I would be doing at the orphanage each day.

To make it even more fun I hit treasures each day for the kids to find.  Leaving clues behind they must find them.

This year Dean left on Feb 10th for his first ever  mission trip on his own.  I have gone on three Peru mission trips myself and Dean and I went on the last one together. 

Right now he is probably snoring away on his mattress on the floor.

The picture below is the kids with the clues to find today's treasure (so far yummy treats)

We end up down  in Troy's room and Bella found the treat in Troys closet under some clothes on the shelf.

 A little pack of suckers enough for two each. 

 

While daddy does his Treasure hunts for God our kids are having fun doing treasure hunts for their daddy.

 

We love and miss him but we are all so proud to have a man in our life that is down in Peru doing what he is doing for God with an amazing group of people from Selah Fire and our amazing family who live in Peru.  HUGS HUGS HUGS

 

80 years

Lord thank you for my grandma.

Have you tried to imagine being 80 years old?  I really had not until I celebrated my grandmas 80th birthday yesterday.  A flood of memories come back as I reflect on half of those years I have spent with her.

This is my reflection on her 80 years:

black and white t.v.
sleepovers
divorce
church
many fun family get togethers
picking yummy vegtables in the garden
a life of mediating
watching siblings be with the Lord
working
hard times with not alot of money
grandchildren
great grandchildren
trips to florida
trips to vegas
taking care of her sister Rosie
swimming
horseshoes
lots and lots of crocheting
Bingo
lots of playing cards
wordsearch
St. Clements
2nd marriage

How exciting to celebrate 80 years of someones life.  God has been watching over her all these years and has a great plan for her. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To bow or not to bow heads

Today I attended a funeral for a friend of ours and during the service I was reminded how my heart tells me to lift my head while we prayed.  For me this is not new.  Everytime someone says bow your head in prayers I find myself raising my face to God. 

I did a teeny bit of research to see why we actual bow our heads when praying.  Here is what I found; that is not scriptural persay or is a must.  It is a sign of adoration, submission, means of respecting God is King, humbling yourself and probably many more.

Being at my friends funeral I wanted and needed to look up.  When my kids are hurting they look up to me for comfort.  It is only when they do something wrong do their little heads go down.

Why I look up.  My reasoning seems so simple.   If I bow my head I do not feel His light on my face.  As though I am missing something by looking down.  I raise as though to say, "God I praise you and thank you despite losing my friend."  I feel darkness when I look down.  Brightness shining as I close my eyes and head up.  As though I am a cat soaking up the sun on the only spot on the floor.

Basically it doesn't matter how I pray or you pray.  I chose to face our God when I am talking to Him.
It is not up to a "church" or man to dictate how my relationship should be with Him.  The fact that when I do it my heart is sincere and looking to Him is all He can ask for.

Heartnut

Wednesday morning we left at 7 am to head off for Troy's appointment in Hamilton with the surgeon that keeps an eye on him.  As a mom I always have my own ideas and thoughts of what we want for Troy.  Not always remembering it is not up to me.  For God only knows the plans for Troy.  None the less I really had the expectations they would considering doing Hamstring lengthening surgery on Troy since he has grown so much and is crouching alot more.  More honestly I wanted them to say she would schedule the surgery.  It may sound strange for a mom to want her child to go into surgery for a third time however I know what his last hamstring surgery did for him and would love for Troy to have that again.

"Hi lovey, I have something special for you at the end of our appointment,"  Dr. Burrow said as she walked into our room. 

I had my battle words ready.  She asked Troy to walk up and down the hall and asked him how much stretching he is doing.  Well stretching is a huge battle but he is getting some stretches with his stander at school.  Up Troy went on the examining bed where she flexed both legs.

"I still see no need at this point for surgery.  More and more we are finding in older kids it is beneficial to do an increase of therapy stretches.  His left leg is surgery material but there is no point doing one leg and not the other.  He would 20% muscle use after surgery,"  Dr. Burrow said. 

How can I argue with that?  How far do I push?  Do we get a second opinion? 

Dr. Burrow continued, "We could try leg casting for a couple of weeks and see how that goes.  Come back the end of March and we can discuss it further.  For now try to get 3-4 hours with his gator on along with his leg brace for really good stretching."

The conversation went further  and was ended as she left the room to get that something special for Troy. "Do you have any nut allergies?" Burrows asked out in the hall.

"No!" I replied thinking yippppy we are getting candy oh I mean Troy was getting candy.

In she comes with a little baggy with nut shells.  "Have you ever heard of the heartnut?" she asked.

"The heartnut?" I asked back puzzled.  In seconds my mouth dropped as she was showing us what the heartnut/shell looked like.

 

Turns out this is an amazing tree and the nuts are very nutritious.  That aside Troy explained to the doctor that I love finding hearts everywhere.  Who knew God was making a tree full of hearts. 

 

My heart then revealed that it was yet another small message from God in those heart shells that He is in control of Troy. Trust Him and do not be in a hurry for surgery.  Just like his last visit we had a rainbow on the way home. 

God we hear you this time.  We will wait!

 

I totally want this tree.