Patience Strong

I'm a big fan of a little known English poet from the 1940's and 1950's.

I grew up reading my Mum's "Women's Realm" magazines. Each week, they'd feature a poem by Patience Strong.

I don't know much about her, but I have always enjoyed the simpleness of her poetry and her faith in God.

Tomorrow is Muriel's (my Mum's) birthday. So in honour of your birthday, Mum, here's a poem which, funnily enough is found in a daily poetry book I own ... for tomorrow, May 4th.

"Someone is Thinking of You" by Patience Strong

Someone remembers - and somebody cares.
Your name is mentioned in somebody's prayers ...
Keep the bright hope of the future in view.
Someone is thinking of you.


I love you, Mum. I'm so proud of you. I still hate being 4952.32 miles away on our special days. Take care of yourself, keep dancing, keep happy, keep healthy ... we're counting down the days!

Don't Stop Believing ...

I have this song stuck in my head today, thanks to a new TV show being advertised ... Glee. Anyways, Don't Stop Believing by Journey is the song - and I can't stop humming and singing it - and its driving me slightly nutty!

It does have a very special place in my heart though ...

It takes me back - waaaay back! It reminds me of Star of the West Pub, meeting Craig, falling in love... ah... those were the days... not a care in the world... I was young ... too young!

This song was always the last song played by the DJ at Star of the West at "Last Orders at the bar now please, Lads and Lasses" on a weekend - the whole pub would sing along - the DJ would turn down the music to hear us singing! Corny really! A pub full of merry folks, singing their hearts out, the DJ turning the volume off and swearing at us for bumping into his "gear" with our dancing and scratching the vinyl!

I remember chatting to Craig many times before I realized that there was "something there" to this song. I remember my girlfriends and I singing our heads off, laughing, dancing and fooling around to this song. I remember being stuck in the long line for the ladies loo - all the ladies singing and doing the "potty dance" in line to this song!

It is a classic song of the 80's. There are probably a gazillion memories conjured up by this song ... what's yours?

Have yourself a merry LITTLE Easter ...

... just like Curtis!

Lynnwood Food Bank

Tonight, 6 of us from The Rock Church stood outside the local Safeway Grocery Store for 90 minutes. Although it was sunny and warm in the sun, we were in the shade. My toes were sooo cold!

Thanks to Paulette, Maddy, Carmen, Dante (our secret weapon - he's so stinking cute - folks couldn't refuse him:) and Cadence, our work produced:

3 boxes cereal
4 boxes oatmeal
6 lb can of Hominy
30 Top Ramen noodles
2 bags pasta
8 boxes mac & cheese
9 cans veg
3 cans fruit
2 cans chili
2 bags lentils
2 jars grape jelly
3 jars peanut butter
15 cans soup
4 cans tuna
4 boxes baby cereal
4 packs kids juice
35 jars baby food

and .......

$120.48 in cold hard ca$h!!!

All that looks like this:































If you ever feel inspired to do this - it is so rewarding - and restores your faith in humanity.

Fasting Week Summary

Its taken me 10 days to process how my week of fasting went - here's my (lengthy) summary:

Well, I survived my week of not using the computer (sort of).

I hit hit a few bumps in the road, but overall, it was a pretty productive week for me.

Monday - dilemma - Cadey forgot her homework. By the time of the 3rd phone call, she'd enlisted the assistance of her teacher! I had told her no. (I'm a tough mummy - but I do recall the email from teacher on Friday and I also remember reminding her on Sunday ...) I had been out all Sunday afternoon, so she had time to get organized ... instead, she'd sat and watched all her TV shows and not even bothered to clean up her mess in the kitchen after 'snack-making' for herself and her Daddy.

Cadence's teacher called me - explaining that if I didn't email in her work, then my daughter would receive a zero credit for all her work done - I felt like I was being bribed by her teacher!

Cadey had explained that I was 'fasting' from the computer - teacher must think I'm a little Wacko, but I don't really care about that. I care more about my daughter growing up to be a responsible adult and learning to accept the consequences of not being prepared ...

What did I do ...? You guessed it, I caved in and emailed the work (poo!)

Tuesday - This was a very productive day for me spiritually. I'm reading The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian. We're reading it in our Small Group too.

I hit upon a chapter titled "How can I be Holy?" and the chapter referred to Psalm 29 v 11 ... The Lord gives strength to his people, The Lord blesses his people with peace.

Wow! This spoke volumes to me! And it totally floored me as I began my prayer time - I was repeating the words over and over, feeling the strength - physical, emotional and spiritual which we gain from Jesus, which helps us gain hope, which in turn we see as a blessing, which ultimately leads to peace.

The more I meditated upon this, the more my heart became aware of the calming spirit within me. I pictured certain people and their specific needs ... and my heart felt calmed - I felt Jesus literally taking these requests and noting them down on his "to-do" list.

This was a very moving time for me - I felt empathy for the people I know (and love) who are going through personal pain and turmoil ... and I felt Jesus' acknowledgement of their pain to me. I am overwhelmed by the peace I've felt and so I want to pass this message of His strength-giving-power and ultimate peace to the people I love.

Wednesday - Doctors visit - I have carpal tunnel syndrome - and now I have 2 very unattractive black wrist braces to wear AT ALL TIMES - yeah right! I can't do a thing when I'm wearing them! Also, wearing them makes my wrists feel worse.

I had a Tetanus shot too - I was fine on Wednesday, felt crap all day on Thursday (even went to bed around 7.30pm - not like me) still felt unwell on Friday, Saturday, Sunday ... but soldiered on.

Craig and I also managed to find the time to watch Shawshank Redemption - now I know why folks rave about this movie - and yes - I need to watch it again!

Thursday - I had to visit my doc again for a fasting (food) blood-draw. I don't do well without breakfast immediately upon waking. I've always been like that - I can't shower, dress, or get ready before I eat, because otherwise I feel like I'm going to pass out! So, having to get up, get Cadey ready for school, drive, arrive at the docs to get blood drawn - all on an empty stomach - makes me cranky and a little light-headed!

Friday - still not feeling up to par, so I stayed home and worked around the house. My bible study today was "Praying for those who have hurt you" - I am not one to bear grudges. I like to think of myself as down to earth and level-headed. I think I've caught this from Craig - or have I just grown up ...? Anyways, I'm much more mellow these days - life is simply just too short to bear grudges! Of course, I have past hurts and things which I can't do anything about - except to "get over it". Easier said than done! But I'm working on that thing called forgiveness :)

Over the weekend as I was reflecting upon my week and my achievements (and still no computer) - volunteering my time, blessing a family with a meal, managing to make time to connect with my Mum, chores all up to date, dogs toenails trimmed (THAT takes some doing with a squirmy dog like Meg). I felt that I'd drawn closer to what fulfills my life - all thanks to Jesus.

I hadn't had time to connect with many people, partly because of not feeling well for a few days. I think I just have to make that a priority in my life ... coffee, anyone ...?

After church on Sunday, there was a knock at our front door. Standing there was this neighbour guy (Fred) who'd spent a couple of mornings loading up his truck with free wood from our yard. He had a HUGE gift basket - full of treats for us - even doggy treats! He wanted to show his appreciation for the wood - I was so touched by this - a blessing! We're saving most of the treats for the first warm day of Spring ... (if it ever arrives) and we're going to enjoy a picnic at the beach.

On the subject of Craig's fasting ... I'm sick of drinking Red Tea (Rooibos)! I have kind of become Craig's evening caffeine-free fasting partner. He has another week to go - he decided to fast for a month, not until Easter as I'd previously written. He's drinking a lot of the rooibos because its caffeine free and is full of antioxidants and he can take it with milk. (Its been so cold lately and he needed something more than water, especially since I don't buy juice or soda - Food Nazi thing again). I must admit that I usually do enjoy this tea too, but I've simply had too much of it as of late - I'm sitting here typing and sipping on a big mug of British Blend - sweet, malty, Mmm Mmm delicious!

Growing ...

As a church, we've been called to a time of fasting and prayer.

Fasting, in my understanding has always meant going without FOOD.

AND I AM NOT GOING TO DO THAT!

I've spent the past year-and-a-half going without the foods I once loved in order to balance my blood sugar. Plus, I don't think that would be a healthy thing for me to do - my diet is already restricted - and I doubt my doctor would recommend this.

Going deeper into the thinking of "going without", I came up with several other ideas:-

housework - we could get a maid for a week
gardening - we could get a gardener for a week
laundry - the maid can do that
cooking meals - maid too, but she'd have to do the whole low carb, low fat, low sodium deal - and cope with interference from a certain "Food-Nazi"
Meg - send her to doggy-day-care
family - hmmm ... who'd take my kids?

Then, as I prayerfully considered these (and some more personal) options, a light bulb went off in my head - THE INTERNET!

In Pastor Scott's sermon message last Sunday, (click highlighted text to listen) he challenged the church to enter a season of giving something up. I think he worded it as "Give up something which potentially causes a distraction from talking with God".

The reasoning behind this is that we (The Rock Church) face an immense task ahead of us, which is to reach out to the people of Lynnwood and move the church forward. We need to become stronger and deeply rooted in our own faith in order to do this.

I've fasted once before, but that was as a family. We abstained from television and computers for a week. We (Craig and I) thought about doing this again, but felt like this time, we need to make a more personal sacrifice.

Craig has already given up his tea (a hard one for him), coffee (he doesn't really drink coffee anyways), hot chocolate and the occasional beer until Easter! I wonder what (and if) the kids will be giving up ...?

I am trying to tie-up my loose ends - paying bills and answering long overdue email. I am excited about this as I spend too much of my day on the Internet, Facebooking, sending emails, "window-shopping", reading BBC news, my Hometown news and Google-ing insignificant questions which pop into my mind. It sucks me in to its virtual world, instead of getting out into the big wide world and making a difference.

So, I'll be going off-line for one week, starting Monday, March 9th. I am excited about making new connections with people over this coming week, but, more importantly, making a connection and the time to be with God.

Bye!

I obviously have too much time on my hands ...

... to teach my dog these tricks (she's not the sharpest tool in the shed). It has taken a year to teach her to play dead!

Also, I didn't realize it at the time, but Curtis has his 'home accent' going on too :) Recorded for one and all to enjoy!