Christmas

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas to All!!

May your hearts and homes be filled with warmth and love and your tummies with turkey!!

In the World, Not of It

Well we're still here.  The Solstice has passed...the 13th baktun has ended and a new one begun.  Whew!!

Apparently 1/10 Canadians believed that the world was actually going to end.  I wonder what they were doing today.  I've met a couple of folks who said they believed, but their actions said otherwise.  They went to work, they've bought Christmas presents, they've generally lived life no differently than before.  I gotta think that if they really believed, I mean really, really believed, then this belief would be manifested in how they lived.  We would be able to tell that there was something different.

I suppose it's the same with many people that identify themselves as religious of one sort or another.  I'll speak of Christians specifically since that's the community of faith that I am a part of.  Too often we are no different than the main-stream culture that we are surrounded by.  We get caught up in all the same worries, strive after all the same things, and generally if we didn't go around claiming to be a Christian, no one would be able to tell anything was different about us.  I think it's a far cry from the counter-cultural lifestyle we probably should be living.  If we truly believe all that we say we do, then shouldn't the way we live reflect those beliefs? 


We should be known for our love for one another.  In a world that generally emphasizes looking out for the great and mighty "I" we should be looking out for and watching for opportunities to serve others.  Instead of pride we should practice humility...we are easily offended because of our pride.  We become indignant and defensive rather than forgiving.  We let the worries of this world and the lust for more stuff rob of us our joy, contentment and peace.

There should be a connection between how you behave and what you believe. It's easy to get swept up and away in the inertia of it all, but we really ought to pause and consider how our beliefs and convictions are manifested in our actions and lifestyle.  If our beliefs and actions are incongruous then there will be dissonance.  Where there is harmony, there is peace.

More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

I don't watch a lot of television.  In fact our little 13 inch television circa the turn of the century broadcasts the same amount of channels as the cardboard box in our drive-way waiting to be recycled - zero.  We don't have cable or subscribe to any movie providers on the net and one of the main reasons we don't is because of the commercials.  Not because they're annoying but because they tend to propagate materialistic values that we would prefer to keep away from the girls as much as possible.  To be sure the girls are still exposed to them, it's nearly impossible not to be, but it is much more controlled and intentional most of the time - at least they're not inundated with commercial messages on a regular basis.

I do get my fix for television through the net (especially football) and of course commercials have invaded the net and you can no longer watch videos or highlights without being forced to view an ad or two (forced may be a strong word, no one is holding me down forcing me to watch these things...).

One of the things I've noticed this holiday season, in the commercials I've seen, is an emphasis on getting the things I want...in fact one of the slogans is, "I want that," or something to that effect.  Whatever happened to the commercials that promoted getting the perfect gift for that special someone...someone else?  Oh they're still out there...but I've been shocked with the blatant appeal to selfish greed over thoughtful blessings.  Maybe I'm just getting old and sensitive and maybe I've just never noticed before.  Or maybe I'm onto something here.

I'm not even sure what I want this year...but I have a ton of ideas for my ladies.  I sure have fun thinking up gift ideas that will really put smiles on the faces of certain someones in my life.  My wife is pretty prescriptive when it comes to gifts (which is good because it saves me from having to exchange that horrid sweater I would have picked out for her).  But I love finding something that she isn't even expecting and thinking about her reaction...like I did today...I can't tell you what it is in-case she overhears but I think it's nice.  It's not extravagant or especially fancy or anything like that (so don't get too excited sweetie), but I think it's great.  I do the same with my girls - I like to try to find something that will give them pause in the carnage that is Christmas morning, smile and wonder how I knew that they would like it even though they hadn't even thought about it themselves...maybe they're too young to connect the dots, but I like to give them a gift that shows them that I've been thinking about them...that they're on my mind all the time as I walk through my day.  There's no place I'd rather be than with my ladies, day in and day out, but that's just not possible presently - but I'd like them to know that I carry them around with me in my heart and mind each day.

I like getting presents, I do.  But for me there's nothing better than seeing a loved one's face light up after opening a gift from me, not because they're awed by the "coolness" of the latest gadget that in 4 months will be another outdated piece of trash, but rather because they are filled with the joy of knowing that they are cherished, adored and loved.

Gifts given in this spirit remind me of a gift we received from someone who gave because there was no other place He wanted to be than with us...and us with Him.

Hack Hack Sneeze

Well we're still sick. How exciting for you to read I know, but it is the dominating factor of my life at this point in time. Usually I pride myself on our robust and healthy family. We almost never see the doctor, and rarely get more than the common cold. However this season just seems to be knocking us out again and again with hacking coughs, sneezes, headaches, "bowel issues", and the most recent problem ear infections. We ended up having to take our oldest to a walk in clinic at 8:30 pm last night. We had to drive frantically around the city just to try and find one that was open; quite an adventure in itself.  Evidently you cannot trust the hours that are posted on the net - actually the three I had chosen were shut down altogether...the one I finally did find was purely by God's good grace as I was heading home to let my fingers do the walking (or driving in this case) and just happened to gaze out my window at a red light to see the faint glow of a walk-in clinic sign on a pharmacy.  I actually did say a really informal prayer (okay maybe it was more the expression of an exasperated father saying, "Come on!  Please just let me find a clinic that's open...") only moments before I found the open clinic.  Perhaps it's a sign of my lack of faith that I was not looking for a clinic at all but was in fact on my way back home to solve the problem on my own by looking-up and calling some clinics to find one that was open (what I probably should have done in the first place).  Nevertheless...I digress. 

One interesting tidbit that I found when we finally arrived at the walk-in was that the doctor that was attending us was actually trained and certified outside Canada and was therefore not able to prescribe medicine. He instead consulted, via video-conference, with a doctor in Toronto to validate that his diagnosis was correct and then get the OK to issue a prescription with the Toronto doctors name on it. I personally feel very confident with foreign trained doctors. I feel that their proven initiative through getting a good education in their home country, and then come to a new country and continue on in a different system that makes them jump through some ridiculous hoops to practice their vocation here, makes for one smart and dedicated Doctor. Not that becoming a Doctor in Canada is all that simple but I would guess its a bit harder for someone coming from Somalia, but maybe I'm wrong. Either way I'm glad to be living in Canada where I can walk-in to a clinic free of charge and get good care in a very creative way. Yay public health care!

I do hope that our sickness saga will be coming to a close soon and I can report more fantastic events soon. But for now I need to finish up this blog so I can get another Kleenex.

Can I Hide

In the wake of the Connecticut shooting I wanted to take a pause and try to hash out some of my feelings about the horror that happened there. When I first found out about the little children that had died I was nauseous. The Bible verse that came into my head (and often does when I hear about tragedy) was, "My God my God why have you forsaken me!" Of course this did not touch my life in a direct way; but initially I could not help feeling abandoned by our Lord. That  somehow God must have said, "Forget it they're all too messed up for me to deal with anymore." For how could this happen on his Earth? How can little children be fodder for this reigning evil?

I switch back and forth from turning away from the news and then turning it on just to be disgusted again. Does engaging in the information about this Honor their memory, or does the crass coverage of the information sensationalize it?  I don't know.

For now I will pray for peace in our world in the midst of pain and sorrow...and hold my family closer.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Christmas Time

A Plague O' Both Your Houses

'Tis the season of sickness and it has come to rest upon my house.  I'm telling you I can't remember a more persistent season of illness in my home than this present one.  As soon as one of my girls gets over a bug another one gets it or something new, just to keep us on our toes.  None of the girls have been very sick rather they have all been intermittently "under-the-weather" for the past couple of months. 

Finally it has come to a head this week (I think) with Evie having a low grade fever for the past couple of days and generally just feeling like crap.  It has wiped her out (thankfully due to a school bus cancellation on Monday because of weather and the teachers' strike today, she has only missed one day of instruction at school).   I think she has emerged from the worst of it and is on the road to recovery but it sure has taken its toll on all of us. 

The past few nights have been akin to sharing a small room with Doc Holliday except my little Doc requires more attention which I happily bestow upon her.  My poor wife has borne the brunt of the burden this week - it's not easy taking care of a sickly child with two other young'uns in the house.  She has pretty much been housebound herself for the past three days (and just between you and me I think she might be getting a little stir crazy...in a good way).

I'm not sure what's worse, a short burst of violent illness or this long drawn out illness that seems content to slowly grind you down until all you want to do is crawl under your desk at work to have a nap.  I remember a couple of years ago when Evie and Noli had one of those nights of voluminous violent vomiting.  Whew-wee!! That was quite a night.  They were so considerate that they took turns being sick...repeatedly.  It's as if they were on a cycle...as if they had timed and rehearsed the exact time either one would blow.  My wife and I would just finish cleaning up one messy child, tuck them back into bed and be drifting back off to dreamland (that's wishful thinking, we never got anywhere close to dreamland that night) when the other child would puke all over the place.  Despite having buckets and towels in place, I believe we had to change each girls' bed about three times throughout the night.  That was an awful night...

I never stop being amazed at how much one can get done on so little sleep or how difficult being a parent can be.  It's plain draining some days.  I don't have much of a point today except to laud my wife for holding down the fort and to say to everyone else dealing with this bug or that one...I feel your pain.  Here's to better, healthier days ahead!

 Here's a little something for your viewing pleasure and something you can enjoy with your kids should they happen to be home sick with you today.

Countdown to the End

Well I guess you know what today marks, right?  According to 2012 doomsday believers, there's only ten days left until the end of time (aside: check out some doomsday preppers on youtube for an interesting watch).  I'm not a global doomsdayer, but I find it interesting to consider different approaches to the end.  What would you do if if there were only ten days left until some global catastrophe and almost certain destruction?

While I am not convinced always preparing for the worst case scenario is a good way to live one's life, it does lend some perspective that I think can be useful.  Even though I don't think Dec. 21, 2012 has any significance beyond being the shortest day of the year and the end of a cycle in the Mayan calendar (like Dec. 31 in our calendar) I have no doubt that it will be the end of the line for some people - probably about 150,000 people (global death rate/day according to several sources).

Many of us are very quick to dismiss specific doomsday predictions, rightfully so, how many times was the world supposed to have ended in the past couple of years?  Just as always living with the end in mind is not a good idea, neither is it a good idea to go about our lives as though it has no end.  We don't know when our time on this planet will be up, death is a certainty...timing just needs to be determined.  It could be Dec. 21, 2012 - maybe more and maybe less.

How are you spending your remaining time?  Are you ready?

I believe I'd do more of what I'm doing right now.   I would ensure to spend as much time as I could with my family and look to increase that time (if I only had 10 days left, I'd probably stop going to work and spend that time with my family).  I would continue to write (not just this blog) as I think it's a great way to pass on knowledge, values, and memories to my girls.  It's a way of preserving my thoughts and contributing to a larger conversation.

There have been times when I've been discouraged with the output of my life, thinking that if I were to die in that moment, I'd have been disappointed with my accomplishments.  Not now, now I have purpose and I have goals and I'm doing my best to fulfill both.  I'm trending in the right direction.  I may not get to accomplish all that I'm setting out to do, but I'm working towards them and am making the journey along the way count.  That's good enough for me and really I think all we can do.  Who knows where the road will take us and how long it will take?  All I know is that our time is finite on the Earth, so make it count today.  

Beyond considerations of an unfulfilled calling, I've never been bothered by the thought of death and my own mortality because I'm confident in the promises of Jesus Christ and don't believe this is all there is.  As Paul once wrote to the church in Philippi, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Have a Crackin' Good Weekend!!!

Looking forward to taking my girls to see the Nutcracker ballet tomorrow!  It's always a splendid production that the girls thoroughly enjoy.  Thanks John and Bonnie!!

Bringing Down the House

Did you read about the fracas in the House of Commons the other day?  I'm talking about the near brawl, as some news sources called it, stemming from a "heated discussion" between Government House Leader Peter Van Loan and NDP House Leader Nathan Cullen. 

Now, let me say that I understand passion...I want our leaders to be passionate about their convictions. That's cool.  However this seemed to be less about a point of view and more about frustration and squabbling over procedure.  I understand frustration as well, especially at the end of a particularly long day, but there's gotta be a better way to deal with it guys!  

It's really disappointing to see the leaders of our country meltdown to nothing better than a schoolyard tiff complete with naughty words, finger pointing and the main combatants' buddies "holding them back."  Really, I don't think it was anywhere close to a brawl, simply a lot of empty bravado and attempted intimidation that if it had taken place on a playground would be called bullying.  "Boys will boys..."  

Come on!! 

The thing is these are supposed to be men, so grow up and act like it.  Unfortunately some men don't ever progress past the stage of deferring to such antics when things don't go their way. 

It's embarrassing, and really unfortunate that it was caught on tape.  There's so much emphasis on curbing bullying in children and youth but if these "gentlemen" can't even curb their own behaviour, how can we expect mere children to do any better? 

I am continually trying to instill a sense of civility and control in my girls.  I tell them that when they use anger or frustration as an excuse to act-out it only makes matters worse and will probably lead to trouble.  Things don't always go our way, we can't always control that, but we can control our responses in those situations.  A calm answer does turn away wrath...as long as said calmness isn't rooted in smugness. 

The sad thing is that when you let your anger get the better of you, your message is lost in the delivery.  Perhaps Van Loan had a valid point to make, but it doesn't matter because he lost it.  Remember, it's not just what you say that matters...but how you say it too!

We need to be aware that our children are watching and learning from us; regardless of our position we are role models for them.  Be intentional in the example you are setting for your children (and the other children who may be witness to your behaviour). 

Watch the brouhaha here!

Whoah!! Christmas Tree!!

Well we got our Christmas tree today and let me tell you, it's mammoth.  We've nicknamed it the Giant Beast and I think that accurately captures the essence of the tree.

I didn't set out to get a big tree; I wanted a modest six footer that would fit nicely into our post-war veteran's house.  Alas the place I got the tree from was sold out of the nice sized ones and so I had a decision.  I could have drove elsewhere looking for a little bit of a smaller tree and be end up getting home later than I wanted or I could grab what I thought was a good sized one from the store I was at and be happy with it.  I did the latter - I picked one that fit in my little hatchback and away I went.

It seems much bigger in my living room than it did on the lot, and judging by my wife's shocked silence, it was a wee bit larger than she was expecting.  We had trouble deciding where to put it.  We tried the dining room and unfurled its branches...but it didn't quite work there.  So we moved it to the living room and in so doing messed up its placement in the tree-stand (which I suspect is a bit small for the size of tree we have).  We fiddled and fussed and generally worked up a sweat trying to keep this behemoth from falling over...so far so good. 

The girls were ecstatic.  When questioning if it was too big, Noli very confidently said, "No Daddy, it's beautiful."  Evie couldn't wait to decorate and asked about a million times if she could start while I was under the tree getting needles in my ears, eyes and mouth while trying to make the tree straight and secure.  I'm tempted to say that setting up the tree was a pain in the neck at the risk of sounding like Scrooge.  I have to admit though, my spirits though dampened by the extraneous effort on the tree were still buoyed by the festive mood of the night and the joy of my girls.

I had to stand on a chair to reach the top and I regret that the girls couldn't put the star on top this year.  Last year I held both of them up at the same time and they did it together.  This year, what with the size of the tree (not to mention the girls are bigger than last year) I couldn't get them close enough without risking knocking the tree down.  So we set up Christmas-star chain.  Noli passed it to Evie who passed it to me and I held it high for Mommy and Mimi to behold its beauty before I placed it neatly on top.  Everyone was very happy.

Whew!!  What an adventure!  But it stands (and hopefully stays up - I'm taking bets on who will
 knock it down first, our dog Chief or Mimi, my 10 month old) and it's beautiful.

Golden Weekend

Ah...another weekend come and gone.  What a great weekend.  My 'rents were visiting and brought along my nephews and niece.  They only live six hours away, but we just don't see them enough.  On our end, our kids make travel difficult.  Not so much the two oldest...but the baby.  None of our babies have enjoyed traveling.  In fact they have each hated it with our newest having the strongest negative reaction to the car-seat than either of the first two.

I don't know about these stories of parents using the car as a means of soothing a cranky baby - to me that's as much a myth or as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  I sure would like to believe it...but...

It is such a joy though when we're all able to get together.  The girls love seeing their cousins and have a blast playing with them.  What makes it even more fun is when my nephews and niece from my wife's side of the family is around too - it does my heart good to see my girls with both sets of cousins and with everyone playing and getting along.  It's important to build those connections with the extended family.  It gives them a sense of the family's heritage and identity.  I think it makes them feel a part of something larger than themselves and builds cohesiveness.

I'm grateful to the family we have in town and for my parents taking the time to come and visit when they can - and for bringing the kids.  It's wonderful!  And now I'm off to bed.