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. :)


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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.

Sometimes life has such a dream like quality..I feel the same type of anticipation before entering sleep. When I'm trying to force myself to sleep, I know that if I just relax I'll drift off so quickly, I'll wake-up and wonder where my sleeping time went..and just when it was that I fell into slumber when I was so awake a moment before. So with life..I anticipate it's flying by, but day by day I wonder when it will start flying, I then turn around and see...where has it gone? It's been flying since the day I was born, and right when I thought it was standing still.

Jode

Thankful for: What time I have, that I can use it wisely, and for sleep..

Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

I'm here, I'm alive and I'm bloggin'. So new news, or old news. New news.. my parents have arrived in Calgary, and will take the second leg of their journey tomorrow morning, all the way back to the cold yet beautiful Fort Nelson..I'm not saying the beauty pays for the cold..but it should count for something right? I have yet to find out how the first part has gone, but for the fact that they've arrived.

I took out my sewing machines the other day, made myself some PJs, not big news but I was happy with how they turned out. Still have yet to conquer my serger, as it has been dropping some of my chain stitches, has something to do with the tension, but I have yet to line it up just right, and when I came close to perfect.. is decided to cut a couple threads so back to the beginning with rethreading. :D All this for PJs? Well that and experience, and at least the overlock part is functional.

Donated blood yesterday for the seconds time. That went well, only took 5 minutes and if it wasn't for having to do so much waiting I would have been out of there in no time. Oh, some photographer for a news paper came in to take a yearly photo of some poor person who is stuck to their seat so they don't have the option of running. Well this year that person was me, I just hope my photo doesn't end up in there..and if it does that it isn't accompanied by some great article about how I "rolled up my sleeve" for the x-mass season.

Ah, hm, I'm now drawing a blank so maybe I'll leave that as a short update? Haha I'm such a cheater, but alas life as been so smooth and fast, I can't remember what has happened. Oh, I did the yearly cleaning of the top of the cupboards..there's a thrill.

Off to sort emails or something. :D

Jode

Thankful for: Another weekend, that my parents arrived safely, that I'm able to spend some time on the net, that I don't have as many junk emails as I could have, haha.

PS Put up some newly scanned older photos, if anyone would like to see them just let me know so I can add your yahoo ID. My photos

Oookay, whatever it says. I figure by the end of all these quizzes if I don't know my personality yet I'm not very observant, and never will be.


Splash Mountain: Everybody's got a laughing place
to go-go-go-woah! You are a romp through folk
lore from the old south, a cheery log ride that
is always pleasant despite such unfortunate
circumstances like a five story drop into a
briar patch that proves to be more fun than
scary. You are casual, friend, warm, and
inviting, if a little reckless, it's always a
zip-ee-dee-do-dah day for you even when you get
yourself into some mighty steep trouble. What
movie you sprung from, Disney doesn't like to
tell, some consider it racist, but never you
mind, the critters inside of you (previously
stars of 'America Sings') are always cute and
you are just here to have a good time. You
love the camera and you live life to your
fullest, your thinking is that if 'you WILL get
wet' you might as well sieze the day!


What Disneyland attraction are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Blogging, a duty or a pleasure, you be the judge.

Well, I'm not sure that I'll ever quite understand God's providence. This morning I was on my way to get groceries, when I heard quite a loud continuous noise when I started to driver faster. I got some groceries and when I came out that's when I saw it. Yep, a nice big flat tire, I've never had one myself when driving, although I've had the "how to change" lessons from my parents. Oh great, (that's what I thought at that moment) what to do now? I don't have a phone..and I see no spare, I don't even have a key that will open the back of the van, even if I did see a tire. Well thankfully I wasn't too far from Tim Horton's, maybe a 10-15 minute walk. So off to Tim's I went in search of Mark. While I had a coffee Mark called his boss (who used to own the van) to ask him about the tire. Well turns out there was "convenient" spare pinned under the van, so after getting a good back-of-the-van-opening-key, I walked back, grabbed the manual and got to the first stage of tire changing. Some nice guy (yeah, pretty typical eh?) helped me while his wife went in to do her shopping. By the time the ladies came back out we had the itty-bitty "convenient" spare on (I have to call it convenient in quotes because it's such a sad state of a tire that if I didn't say it was a "convenient" tire, you'd never know it. :D) Then back home to wash my hands and off to the next grocery store..going no more than 50 kilometers an hour. I can say God is very kind, because it was a nice enough experience, no crashing, or being 50 miles from home (yah, so I have yank and canucks mixing with the miles and kilometers, but thankfully you can't sue me for it :P). So all in all it was good, but I'm still left wondering why..I guess I'll never know, or not in this life. :D


I've been doing a lot of thinking about this world lately and it's sad, sinful, wretched state. How as Christians we are no longer part of the world, no longer fitting into the mold of society. Sometimes I wonder how deep my feels are for the things of the world, in my heart of hearts, since the heart is so desperately wicked, who can know it..I know I'm not qualified(Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? vs.10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. ) I just pray that God will continue to soften my heart to Him and the things of heaven, and harden it to lusts of this life. Ah yes, to be a travelin' man (er woman, whatever).

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

My dad is getting treatment in Mexico, but is still in a lot pain. I would write more, but typing with one hand and a sleeping baby can become quite the task.:)

Hope everything is running smoothly in your part of the world, as smoothly as it can.

Jode

1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

My kinda quiz, thanks Willena. :)



You are Eliza Bennett from Pride and
Prejudice! Yay, you! Perhaps the
brightest and best character in all of English
literature, you are intelligent, lively,
lovely-- in short, you are the best of company.
Your only foibles are that you stick with your
first impressions... and your family is quite
intolerable.


Which Jane Austen Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Well, what to say..sometimes words don't come so easily, whether I have something to say or not..and it can be even harder with a wiggly little Geneva on my lap. She continues to grow bigger everyday, and as she grows her smiles become bigger as well, although sadly they can be quickly accompanied by a much louder cry. :) Ah yes, the human plight, she desired to be entertained 24/7, so she isn't very content with the seat in front of the computer.

As most of my readers probably know, my dad has lately been diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma, which is a very aggressive form of cancer, caused by the inhaling of asbestos about 25 years back. It's still kind of surreal, even though I know the statistics... it's hard to believe my dad is one of them. I must say that seeing him going through all these trials the way he has and continues to... has made me so proud of him, more so than ever.. I'm so thankful to God for all of His goodness towards us..to know that no matter what happens..my dad will live
(1Tim 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.) . Far too often you see people going through these circumstances, but they can find no purpose in it but only fear, because they do not trust in the grace and mercy of God (Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ). They despair for they know not that all things work for the good of those who love God and trust in His Son (Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.) How I pity those people, for we have been shown..how thankful we must be, because as God's people there is always hope of life (Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.). Through these trials we draw closer to God, putting off the flesh and adding to our santification. My dad has truly shown this.

Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

May God truly bless your Lord's day, as you seek to honor him. :)

Jode

PS. Please keep my parents in your prayers.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Saturday, October 23, 2004

Look who's not dead, yup I'm still alive and pretty well. I'm sure so many things have happened since I posted last, and although I can probably name a few in some order, most of the details are lot forever, but perhaps that's not much of a loss... I guess we'll see. So then, I guess I haven't blogged since the end of August, which means that we've had 3 birthdays in the family since then, today's being Belinda's 28th, yesterday's being Calvin's 7th, and before that was Tam's 25th. Time flies when you're aging, or is it because you're aging that time flies? Oh well, either way it's a truth, whether you're bored out of your skull, or keepin' busy.

I joined the hospital auxiliary awhile back, volunteered in the gift shop a couple times. Had the joys of observing the lotto machine hard at work, I always wonder at that..that people can never keep track of the fact that for every $4 they win, they spend $8 on more tickets, and if they do keep track of their loses why on earth do they continue? There was one lady who spent over $250 on her visa..yeah that's right gambling can be an addiction, just another proof. I dropped the gift shop thing, since it was too hard to arrange getting there, but I did however replace it with going to a quilting thing every Wednesday. A bunch of ladies make quilts to sell in the gift shop, that works. So for about 4 hours I get to work around a bunch of chatty ladies with lots of history, travel, aches/pains, and fashion savvy. Why do I list fashion savvy? Well that would be because I've talked to one lady (or rather she talked to me) about how small her feet are, so finding shoes is rather hard, and I also learned all about her wardrobe, with the colors, and how nice it was..and so on and so forth, haha.

Went to my parent's place in Fort Nelson and back in 3 days, that was interesting and a good trip, even though it was really short and included a lot of sitting. It also included a lot of talking, which as you (whoever you may be) know, I like to do. :D So yes, we went for the sake of my popsy who's been having a lot of painful health problems for the last few months, with his organs, stomach etc. While Cheryl spent most of her time with my parents, I spent most of my time with my parent's computer. Ah yup, poor ol' Stupid was running out of space and causing my mom a headache, so in the short amount of time I had I did what I could. Got to see my aunt, uncle and a couple cousins, but that was pretty short. Things just aren't quite like they used to be, well they'll never be "like they were" again. Back on the road and with my dad in tow, we arrived back in PG, hope skip and a jump and I was back on the road again to Edmonton...sing it with me, Ooon the road agaain, juust can't wait to be on the rooad agaain..okay you can stop! (besides I don't really remember more of it) :D

Had a splendid trip to Edmonton, went with Dor, Kris and my best pal Amy to a Sarah Harmer concert. That was a lot of fun, very talented group of people..and Sarah had the cutest shoes..and I'm not even much of a shoe person. Other than that I'm a little short of details unless you wanted to know about everyone else that went to the concert, but assuming you couldn't care less, I'm ready to move on. Stayed at Jord and Dor's the first half of the week, than the B's till my departure. The rest of my visit we mostly just did whatever came to mind, a few crazy things, but nothing dangerous. ;) Oh, also got to watch the wedding video from PG, hopefully we'll be able to get a copy of that out to my sistas..would have already if the machine wasn't being a git.

News news, what else..well one of my cousins has recently married. I believe he is the first of my nonstep cousins to do so. Sadly I haven't really been able to get to know his bride, I have met her once at Jord and Dor's wedding, but it was the pretty short version of "met" kinda like "Hi, I'm Jody, and you must be Christy?" "Nice to meet you" * now keeping it moving down the receiving line. :D"

Parents are both in Edmonton right now, my dad is waiting for surgery, which will Lord willing take place today, but if you're short on those details you can read more on the prayer list. :)

Alrighty, well as for now that's all folks and here I thought I had nothing to say..

Jode

Hey ya'll I know it's been an age, but if you still check this I'm pleased to announce that Jordan and Doralynne are going to their first little babe. :) Yeah wow.. my Dorry, the little girl I used to play with for hours without fail is going to be a mother, life is so wonderful, can't wait for another little nephew or niece. Josh and Manda will also be having thier baby around the same time. God is so merciful, and continues to bless us with covenant children. :D

Well I know this isn't long but I plan on getting to bed early this evening, I'll try to blog again soon, although sadly no promises. :)

Jode


Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.