Wishing that life was simpler and distances weren't so great! But I guess life is pretty simple most of the time. It's just when things get challenging. Distance between family members can be quite challenging. Especially when it's an elderly parent and an only child.The only child then has to travel quite a ways and sometimes on short notice to take care of their parent. My thoughts are heavy with this today and praying and hoping for safe travel and for God's will to be done in the situation.

Pirate Christian Radio

I just posted a new widget on the right side of my blog. This is an awesome talk radio online broadcast that has programming that you can listen to online. I would recommend listening if you are interested in learning more about the Bible and hearing what it's all about. If you are a new Christian or have been a Christian for a long time already. Anyone can learn something from the shows on PCR. I've listened to a couple of the shows as a podcast and started listening to the other shows directly from PCR just recently. I love it! It broadens my knowledge of Christian issues and Biblical truth.

Impressions

Sometimes I wish that I looked mature rather than young. I remember that growing up I always looked younger than my age. Now that I'm in my twenties people older than me tend assume certain things of the "young" people, like me. Things like inexperienced, knowing little, single or with a not married partner, immature, don't make smart choices, and probably others. While some of these might be true, I don't always make smart choices for example, it would be nice to not give off these impressions with my looks or age.

Yesterday Tim and I were told that we seemed too young to be married. Once she found out how old we are she reasoned her statement with the fact that a growing number of people are waiting till their thirties to get married and many don't get married but just live common law. Somehow her comment made me think about how we come across and why people make assumptions.

Most of the people I can think of that are married and in their twenties are Christian and therefore have the Bible as their foundation setting the rules and morals for life.

Maybe if I didn't look so young I would also be taken seriously more often too.

Awesome things

I found a new blog yesterday. www.1000awesomethings.com. If you don't know it you may want to check it out. This guy started writing about the little positive or enjoyable things in life that we take for granted. Or the things that we can appreciate if we are aware of them. Things like clean, warm sheets right out of the dryer. I personally love having clean sheets and clean pjs on the same day! There are so many little joys we can see in each day. And we can give the glory to God for these things. That's one of the best parts for me. When you're having a low day, when you can't quite get out of a sad mood noticing the little joys around you can help. Or reading something from this blog of awesome things can too!

Neil Pasricha who writes this blog says that the Three A's of Awesome are Attitude, Awareness and Authenticity. Having a positive attitude that does not focus on the sad things but on positive things. Awareness to notice your surroundings and I would think especially the details. Authenticity to be true to who you are and be ok with that.

I think I agree with this and would add from a Christian standpoint that God made us who we are and we can strive to live that way. God created all the blessings and joys around us. They are gifts from God for us to notice and enjoy. And God gives us the strength to have a right attitude. A self-less attitude of love for others and an attitude to do God's will.

Whether you credit the awesomeness around you to God or not it is still a joy to notice these things and enjoy them!

Shine God's Light

A couple of verses that I thought worthy of sharing as I was reading Philippians Chapter 2 last night. Good things to remember in daily life.

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing

If we grumble or act selfishly, thinking of ourselves better than others then we are not living our life in the way that the Bible says to. We are not shining God's light in the world but rather are putting God's Word in a bad light by our words and actions. Shine God's light by thinking of others and not grumbling today.

Quadra Island

10 minutes away by ferry from Campbell River is Quadra Island. A nice place to go for hiking and picnicking.
This picture is taken from the east side of Quadra Island looking at the rocky mountains.

A fun pic of Tim and me and a big tree.

Apparently one of the only lighthouses in BC that you can access by a road. Which we did....obviously.

On the west side of Quadra Island you can see Campbell River. Yes...there is snow on those roofs. It's February.

See how close Campbell River is to the mountains on the Island? But I don't know which peak that one is. Anyone know?

Lent

I believe you would say that Lent is a time to ponder the reason that Jesus came to earth. The pain and suffering Jesus went through so that we can be saved. To reflect on the great sacrifice and remember that the reason that was necessary was that we are all poor miserable sinners. This lent I am attempting to read my Bible instead of other books as I normally would. I've decided to focus on the early Christians we learn about in Paul's letters.

It is a big deal to think that those believers were hearing this for the first time. Without much to prove it right, or written documents to back it up. Jesus resurrection and existence was the news of the day. To some of those of the day the Christian's news probably sounded like the new fad that wouldn't last, or the some crazy religion.

Maybe it's not much different today but I think at least in the Western countries most people have at least heard of Jesus and we have the Bible, written word about Jesus, that is from hundreds of years ago. This is not just the news, or the new fad, but the real truth. Jesus did die and rise again to save us from our sin. And if we believe that Jesus will take us to heaven to live with him forever when we leave this earth!! :)

Believe it and live!

Light

Today on this beautiful sunny day I read in my bible about Jesus being the light to the world. What a beautiful picture, light that shines in every corner of our lives. I've also heard it said that we are children of the light. Isn't that so true. I don't know about you but I am happiest, have more energy and are more willing to get outside and do things when the sun is shining. It's like a great big element of our world that we could not do without in the least. In the same way Jesus is a light we can not live without. Things usually tend to fall into place better when we trust God to lead the way. Without Jesus we have little purpose in life. But with Jesus we know that we should spread God's Word, and be there for our neighbours in any way we can. Of course we all fail at this daily because we are sinners and can not help that. But through God all things are possible and he will work in us to do good. So for now we can imagine the light of Christ in this world and know that he is here with us always. We can see the sunlight and be reminded of Christ. And we can look forward to the brilliance that we will see in heaven. For the bible says that the heavens are filled with the light of God.

Life since Christmas

So, Christmas was really great. got to spend time with some of our family. Those that are closest geographically.

I've been working 20-25 hrs a week and filling the rest of my time with various activities like household chores and hobbies. I still play piano for church services twice a month and teach Sunday school 1-2 times a month. Sunday school teaching certainly doesn't come easy to me but somehow God uses me to teach the children about him.

I've been singing in a community choir which rehearses one evening a week. That's been a lot of fun and I even have a friend to go with now. That makes it so much more enjoyable. :)

My husband is doing very well at his work, learning lots and we are half way through our time here. Now the topic of moving in August often comes to mind and all the changes and plans that have to be made for the move to work well. Seems stressful to think about having to find an apt and a job for me while hubby is in school again.

Only a year and a half to go until hubby is done school and we'll be able to settle somewhere for more than one year. At least that's my hope and prayer.

In a couple weeks my sister-in-law is coming to visit! That should be fun although the weekend is filling up fast. Hopefully we'll get to show her the sights and make her time here enjoyable.

And so life goes on. One day at a time, with the Joy of the Lord with us always.

Disappointment and Hope

Perhaps the novelty has worn off. Perhaps this town, this experience is only exciting for a certain length of time. Maybe that time is up and so now I am only aware of the less than ideal circumstances.

Perhaps our schedule is really getting me down. If we continue on the way we've been I believe our schedule with very little time for each other will make me to feel very lonely. We've already made a little adjustment toward the better and I hope that we will continue to be aware that time together is very valuable.

I have little motivation to do housework. I want to be busy but something in my mind is holding me back. I'm frustrated that every evening is scheduled with something for one of us and every day one or both of us is working.

I'm frustrated still that yesterday, the first day off we've had together in a while, I was called in to work. And you might say that I could have said no, and while that is true it would have really put a strain on the workplace that I didn't want to create. You see there is almost nobody to fill in when someone is sick.

I didn't envision our time to work out this way. And while I try to make the best of each day and each situation I'm finding that harder to do this week.

I pray for God to give me the strength to persevere and the wisdom to know how to be the best help to my husband. I pray for God to forgive me as I am less than appreciative of what I have at this moment. I pray for God to show me the joy in each day. Amen.

My thoughts are there even if I can't be.

Do you ever feel like you'd love to be in two or three places at once? I don't just mean like at home and work at the same time. I mean like here and at somewhere 4 provinces over too. There's a friend I'm concerned about and I'd really like to be there to be a good friend to her. I know that God is with her but it's always good to have a good friend close by. For now phone calls will have to do. :)