'S' 2

So, again today I was teaching skating.  Again, I had a circuit marked on the ice.

But today, as I stood at the letter 'S', indicating our starting spot, my little friend 'Stephen' (remember from November 10), approached, looked at the mark on the ice and said, "I have that in my name."

Learning has occured. 

Thank you dear God, for the gift of these little ones in my life.

Spelling Lesson

At one point in our circuit we have a the word 'STOP' written on the ice.

I stood at the word, looking at it up-side down, but knowing that as my little friends approached it would be facing them properly.
As one of my friends attempted to stop, he fell and slid atop our word. 
"Look," he said, pointing to the letters on the ice, "It says, 'P-O-T-S'"

Of course it does!

'S'

We use circuits that have been written on the ice with marker, when I teach skating to 4 and 5 year olds.  The letter 'S' marks the place to start our circuit.

Today, I stood at the 'S' when my little friend 'Stephen' approached. 
"Look", I said, "I found the letter 's'. Do you know anyone whose name starts with the letter 'S'?
I could see he face contort in thought. Finally he said, "No"
Before I could respond little Matais approached, very excited to see the 'S' on the ice, he exclaimed, "Hey, I have one of those in my name!"

Oh well!

Found, Lost and Rewarded

I learned today that we lost a friend.
Each Sunday, as I entered our place of worship, I could count on my special greeting, "Hi Sweetie!".  It came from one of our street people, who each Sunday posted himself by the stairs of my spiritual home, dispensing greetings and receiving coins from those who knew him. 


This spring he was proud to show me a photo of his grandson, whom he had only recently met. A man who had been lost had been found by his family. A man who was once nameless and homeless, now found a  home as part of our Parish family.

Just weeks ago the children prepared and delivered a special gift for him.

This man whose living example was a gift to us has returned Home, receiving his reward.

Thank you Lord for the gift of Lee.  He will remain forever in our hearts. 

Beauty Beneath

Nature, light, shadow...gifts from the creator. 

Thank you!

Good Shepherd at Work

This week I had a most unexpected experience. While working with families to help their children prepare for the sacrament of reconciliation I took the opportunity to take the parents aside to discuss faith, while the children learn about the concepts of life, love, joy and hope (with other leaders).

I had my sacred space set up before parents walked in.  They gathered around the table and I introduced the exercise.  I had 12 sheep and a shepherd on the table. I had planned an adult version of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

While I prepared for this evening, I  had found three different pieces of the Good Shepherd parable in my children's lectionaries.  This allowed us to read, reflect and then go to the next section (book). So we had three discussion/reflection opportunities.   This was a very quiet group. I would ask a question and then rephrase it and still not get much of a response. Silence was my best friend. 

When we were done, I discussed the next activity - I gave parents a note book and encouraged them to reflect on the Good Shepherd and the message for them as parents of children preparing to receive the gift of Reconciliation for the first time. Wow!  The silence had left them loads of time to think - some people wrote volumes!  I also left a sheet of stickers with bible based sayings around forgiveness that parents could use to label their notebooks - those were really well received! Then I gave parents a blank game board.  I encouraged parents to fill in blanks on the board with things they could do with their child to promote the experience of the Good Shepherd in their lives. Parents were given pens, crayons, stickers etc. Parents quietly created creative and 'full' game boards.  They had so many great ideas of things to do with their children.

Then I reunited parents and children, gave them game instructions and playing pieces and encouraged them to play. Again wow!!!  Parents and children played, discussed and reflected together.  it was amazing to watch the sharing of some pretty deep stuff. Then...I saw some parents offer their notebook for their child to read or parents read from their notebook to their children. Shivers!!!

This was an incredible experience to witness and be part of. I read three stories, Christ did all the work!

Late Harvest

A warm fall has extended the growing season and even tricked our plants into more growth.  While I picked an enjoyed these fruits, new blossoms promise more good things to  come.

On Happiness

The Truth about Cranberries

Despite popular belief, the famed treasure of Thanksgiving celebrations, the cranberry does not grow in water. In fact, it grows on hardy low-lying vines in sandy soil.

The berries are white when ripe, but turn to the familiar red when exposed to cold temperatures.

Ripe berries have air chambers which allow them to float, so farmers flood their field and use specialized equipment to gather the berries.

This season, as you gather with families and friends to give thanks, remember also the express gratitude for this special North American treat.

Falling

Today, as I was teaching skating one of the little ones was talking about falling, specifically how she falls and gets back up.  So I replied that even the big skaters fall. Then she asked if I fell. I replied that I am afraid to fall because I do not want to break anything.

And she answered, " Yeah, if you fall, you could break the ice and make a big whole and everyone will fall in."

Thank you God for the gift of humour!

They Prayed for Safety

When asked today what they wanted to pray for our young friends asked to pray for 'safety'.

In a week during which a shopping mall is under siege, people in the Philippines are at risk due to weather conditions and even riding a city bus is risky, our children had chosen to ask our Lord for his protection, not for us, but for those at risk in this world.

I am so proud of our young friends.

May God cast His loving eyes towards these areas in our world and bring His peace. 

May His people find comfort in His loving embrace.

Empty Network

Once the sunflower seeds had been enjoyed by the family of blackbirds, the remaining flower head revealed a marvelous network that so neatly held the seeds in place.

The precise intricacy of an empty seed head is yet another gift to behold.

Our gratitude again extended to the creator who graced us with this gift. 

Treat Day

For weeks I wondered how I would know when the sunflower seeds were ready for harvest. I found out today when I found this blackbird and some of his friends enjoying a tasty treat.

The treat was so good that hours later the birds had eaten a hole right through the flower head.

While I had hope to have my share of the sunflower seeds, I am grateful that was able to share with God's creatures.

Shades of Pink

These begonias shimmer in the bright light of the sun. A delight for the eyes, these flowers demonstrate hundreds of shades of pink, inviting us to not only stop and smell the flowers, but to also enjoy the show of their blooms.

Itzy Bitzy at Work

Woven of fine  threads in a delicate pattern of both strength and beauty, the web, glistening in the evening sun, is the final resting place for a wasp. Having caught his prey in the web, this spider now works to move his meal.

Following God also means that we need to work before we can have our reward. 

How beautiful our work is in God's eyes!

No More

 In the past I have written about my little budgie friend, adopted from my mother, who had the habit of chewing through his perches.

Tonight, his perch is empty. After a long and wonderful life in the company of his human and feathered friends, Hanzi returned to his first owner, my mom and to our Lord.

I imagine, the first seconds of his new life, as my mother reached down her hand to offer him a finger perch.

Enjoy your new life my friend, we will miss you!

Practice makes Perfect

As winter nears, trees begin to change colours, the air surrounding us grows chilly and the geese begin to demonstrate their 'V' formation as they prepare for their flight to warmer climates.

Today we witnessed hundreds of these magnificent birds fill the skies.

Life is practice. As God's people, we must practice each day to follow Him faithfully.

Above and Beneath

A family staple, the potato.  These are the flowers of our purple potatoes. Adding colour to the early fall garden, they are a sign that the vegetable beneath is almost ready to eat.

 At the same time, potatoes that were planted earlier in the year, were ready for harvest. The fruits of our labours now await our enjoyment.

Gift above and gifts below the earth.

What a generous Lord to grant us such delights!

I Didn't Do It

If they did not see me, I did not do it. 

Sometimes, like children, we believe that God may not see our transgressions. But, we know, like the parent that He is, God sees all. 

Yet, like a loving parent, He always forgives. It is human to think that if we live poorly God will neglect us.  But, God is not like that. God will always love us. In fact, it is in our moments of disgrace that God offers us His grace.

It is in our weakness, and especially in our admission of weakness, that our loving God reaches out and embraces us.

We need to see our moments of failing, not as failing God, but as those opportunities to ask for help and to accept His grace.

Wings of Beauty

That God would put so much effort and so much beauty into an insect, says to me that He would put as much, if not more beauty into each of us, made in His name.

Before placing judgement next, consider that care and consideration the our God put into that being.

Judge not, but stand back and admire the unique beauty standing before you. 

Blessed

What a show! What voices! What acting! What love and joy!

I was graced today with the privilege to watch a performance of Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar by a local youth theatre group. The energy and enthusiasm that each performer brought to the stage could be felt in every gesture and every note.

Hidden among the blessings of this performance was that the vocal coach has recently beaten an aggressive form of cancer and that the show's producer is about to start his internship to priesthood in a two weeks.

Imagine the grace to be supported in this stellar theatrical performance about Christ's last days on earth and the dynamics of the relationship between Christ and Judas, by a man who is devoting his life to the glory of God.

This performance was a truely a gift for us all.
Thank you God!

Also Ran

In life and apparently even in death some people are simply meant to bare the title 'also ran'.  This stone, found in a Southern Ontario cemetery is proof.

With God we are all important. With God there are no 'also ran's'.

For our God we are always first. Shouldn't we strive to put Him first as well?

Why Birds Sing

This is why birds sing.

A family that flies together, stays together.  This was a binding experience.

My daughters and I leaped out of a plane this weekend for our first ever tandem jumps.
While the first seconds of free fall were a bit terrifying, the experience over all was a thrill.

Falling from 13,000 feet, the view, the rush of air, the experience of the earth rushing to my feet.

In the moments before leaving the plane, no fear did I feel. I was confident, fully trusting that this experience was in God's hands and that He, and He alone would bring me safely back to earth.

This was the experience of a lifetime that has brought to me a greater appreciation for the huge trust that I place in God each day, in every way.

He is near. He walks with me. And now I know that He flies with me too!

Authentic Self

"Do you think you are being true to yourself? Do you think that you are leading the life you are meant to live- one that most honours the real you, celebrates your deepest values and respects your highest dreams?"

Robin Sharma

As I read these words wondered for myself, am I all that I can be in relation to the dream that my god has for me?  How do I live my authentic life? How do I live in a way that best honours all of the great goodness that my God has blessed me with? 

Here, I am. I am, that which my God has made.

Let all I do, be done to honour Him.

It's Not Every Day

It doesn't happen every day, so today was a day to celebrate.  My husband, an avid golfer, got his first hole in one!
As we celebrated with him, we give thanks to the God who gave us this day, this place and this time.

With God, every day is as special as a hole-in-one.

Not So Very Poa

In Swahili, 'Poa' means 'cool'.

When, in 2009, we were in a tense situation, our driver, Richard explained to us that things were "Not so very poa".

Today, we learned that at age 28, Richard died in his sleep last month.  For us, this is not so very poa; it is a tragic loss. Let's celebrate a life well lived, memories made and shared and the beginning of a new life with the Father.

Thank you Richard, go with God. 

Feeding Time

During my afternoon on the lake this family of loons enjoyed some time on the bay swimming together and fishing.

  

 From crayfish to fresh fish, we were privileged to watch as the parents brought food to feast with their baby.

Our God also shares the fruits of His labours with us. As His family we can enjoy all of the gifts given to nourish both body and soul.

Loon Lesson

Loons are known to stand on water as a means to dry their feathers. While watching adults perform this act with grace, it is the baby's attempts that drew my attention.

Just like children learn from their parents, we too need to learn all that we can from Our Father.

Rare Gems

The daisies and delphiniums are in bloom.

Lightly touched by God's loving raindrop embrace, these flowers glistened.  Like diamonds on the petals, the raindrops are a rare gem to be admired. 

It Was a Ducky Day

Loving Rain

My God loves me so much that He brings rain to remind me of his omnipresence.

From the impact craters created when a drop hits the lake, to the rebound, these photos of rain drops landing on the lake are a gift from Him to all of us, with love.