So here goes another blog. :)

Last night Belinda was reading part of a book to me (while I was folding laundry) that she picked up at a library book sale. The book is titled something like "Motherhood Stresses". The lady was discussing the many ways that our society is different from the "old days". Mind you it was written in the 80's so still not entirely recent. She talked about how the roles in the family were different, as far as the men would do more household types of things, such as the grocery shopping. Of course it would be at the one grocery store in town, rather than the 5 major chain grocery stores and the guy would maybe pick between two brands (if there were that many) rather than say 40 brands of something as simple as oat bran. Oh, there's another one, laundry was much different as you only had maybe three pairs of clothes which would be due for a washing every couple of weeks.

It's true that our world is much more advanced, but also much more stressed out from that. No doubt the stress just comes from the sinful part in the world, not the advancements themselves, but from the misuse of them. We spend so much of our time working to gain things we don't really need and don't even highly value; in that work we strive and strive never really "getting ahead". Most of us work at building the things that other people spend their money on, rather than working to supply ourselves directly with the things we need, by growing our own crops etc. So we do this to turn around and spend the money on what those other people over there are working to make (buy no means bashing a lot of cool things ;) ). At the same time buying and selling homes, moving around and away from the family support system and buying the majority of our food in stores. But of course food growers are also trying to make more of a bang for their buck, so there goes our "better for you" foods and here comes the treated and over processed stuff, which only adds to our stresses and works to make our lives shorter. Ah yes and don't even mention the new illnesses and the hordes of crimes and unlawful laws that are raising their ugly but hard to ignore heads.

There are also the stresses of raising kids..all the millions of options of how to do it, but not many people around to show you how to do properly. So we pretty much start from scratch, largely depend on books for this knowledge as we didn't learn how first hand. But of course books on "how to raise a covenant child in a ungodly world" are few and far between when it comes to the specifics of educating them, trying to instill the desire to be faithful, as well as having some common link of knowledge with the other children in the church..all leading to a commonly held form of sustainable and desired unity (sorry if that doesn't make much sense, kinda complex for me to explain at 1 am ;) ). Most kids grow up in small families, never learning to care for younger siblings; not many teens who would rather help care for a little sibling than go hang out with friends of their own age. Most parents fret and fear the out come of their children's bodies and their happiness in having all the latest do-dads but never consider nurturing their souls. (of course she didn't really go there). Hm, kinda sad how little respect full time mothers receive from this world. People seem to have the tendency after hearing someone is a full time mother to drop the jaw and ask "is that all you do??" as though you live like a couch potato, who has nothing better to do than catch the latest Soap.

Kind of weird how the lady expressed how our society is going down in a lot of these regards, but then turns and praises a lot of the things that are taking us there. I guess that's a result of only seeing one half of the equation.

Anyhow, enough ranting on that for one evening, although wouldn't be hard to trail off for a couple of hours.

Been having a lot of good thought provoking conversations with M & B lately, about doctrines, day to day life, money, entertainment, education, family, children and everything in-between.

Okay, I'm off and no doubt you're very thankful as it was getting hard to endure another messy sentence after another..not to mention the confusion of thoughts. But remember this is my blog after all, and if you did endure it all..could have saved the time and skipped right to the end. :)

Chow main

Jode

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The five of us and Liberty 

As most probably already know, my father passed away on the 4th of this month. He died from the cancer I mentioned a few posts back, called Pleural Mesothelioma. I know that he is now free from all pain and worldly cares and sorrows, totally happy and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. Many times I have seen God's mercies at work now more than ever and I know that this was the best for all of us, especially Dad who was bearing so much pain every day. It was becoming harder to talk to him because his voice was failing and the only question that would come to mind is "how are you?" but none of us wanted to remind him of how he felt or to make him repeat himself when we didn't understand. God is so merciful that he didn't have to endure this for years; sometimes the selfish side of me wishes he had..but I know in reality that we never wanted that. It's really hard to find the right words, so forgive me if I don't come across clearly. Despite whatever the expectations were, there was no knowing the number of days left, so when Mom called on Tuesday it still hit with a shock (to say the least) for all of us. Even after two weeks of realizing he's gone it still seems surreal, you realize it in a factual kind of way, but until you apply it to a memory or a new hole in your life it doesn't feel like this is reality. In that way memories are both joy and sadness, it only takes one memory to venture back into tears, but I am so happy to have all of my memories of times with Dad: steam rolling, spinning his belt buckle on his lap, cutting our pancakes, telling us to "rise and shine little pumpkin heads", even cold porridge has meaning to it. There's no one to call me "Jody-babe" anymore... I miss that one too. My dad had many gifts.. a strong love for God, a great sense of humor, a ready ability to teach, a variety quirks, and many practical skills which included training us in the way we should go. :) Haha, when we were little he made this spanking board..and with a marker wrote soft on one side and hard on the other, and inscribed it with verses from the proverbs, so that whenever we did something wrong we'd cry "the soft side daddy, the soft side!!". Funny, even that becomes more of a fond memory.

Well the laundry calls and I must answer, catch ya later.

Jode


Phi 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

PS If you'd like to see more childhood photos of Dad and his siblings I have them up on yahoo here and sorry they're not really in any type of order yet. :)


. 


. 

The C's 

Me 

Resent visit 

Geneva 

A few highlights. :) 

Albany Wedding 

2 

Here we are in 2005, who else thinks we should be in flying cars by now that run on air??

I really liked 2004, went pretty fast, full of events, fun, family, friends. Just had a visit from Dor and Jord which was very enjoyable. :) They stayed for about five days, talked lots, watched movies, ate chocolate, did some clothes shopping, had some white hot chocolate(;))and last but best..lots of fellowship. The weather is once again cold for January, unlike the last couple of years in which the snow and cold couldn't decide whether to come or go. I think the wind is the worst of it, but that shall pass. Went to Albany, Edmonton and Fort Nelson. Attended two weddings, in the bridal party both times..added two family members and have two new little family members on the way. :D

I wonder what the highlights of this year will be, but Lord willing a trip to Edmonton will be one of them. :)

Jode

PS No, I didn't make any resolutions, never have, don't think I ever will. :)

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.