The Best Things in Life

The best things in life aren't things.

This saying holds more truth in my life right now than it ever has before. I have made the life-altering decision to resign my full-time job and stay at home for awhile. It is time for me to spend time looking after my family and yes, even my friends.

There have been so many things that I've wanted to accomplish lately and never seem to have the time to even start them. Everything gets put on the back burner because I have a full-time job and with the added commute every day, time just slips by too quickly. I am too tired when I get home to do more than cook a quick meal and crawl into bed.

I spent a week and a half in Ft. Mc. last month and I realized how much my family could use my help. I can't ignore it any longer. I have a sister in Kelowna and every time we talk she asks when I'm coming for a visit. She has come to visit us at least once a year since her babies were born and she sends updated pictures regularly. God bless her for that because otherwise, they would be growing up without me knowing them. My niece is now 9 and my nephew is 7. The last time I made the trip to Kelowna, Daniel was about 2 months old. Shame on me!

It's time for me to get my priorities straight.

The first reaction of everyone that I've told has asked "Can you afford to do that?". I don't know... can I afford not to? Ok... so I'll have to make some changes in my life. Isn't that why I'm quitting in the first place? What do we need other than the basic necessities of life? I know God will provide what we need. He tells me He will in Philippians 4:19 which says "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Wow... according to His riches? What could I possibly need that he can't afford to give me?

My Dad and I have had this discussion because he is my father and Jesus is the Father of both of us. Dad has always been there for me my whole life. It doesn't matter how many times I've disappointed him or done something wrong, he's forgiven me and we've moved on. He has never seen me go hungry, or without warm clothes, or without a home to live in. We didn't always have full cupboards... I don't remember having designer clothes (at least not on a regular basis), I shared a bedroom with my sisters until they grew up and moved out on their own. But like our heavenly Father, Dad supplied our needs according to his riches. We didn't appear to others to be rich... but we were. We had two loving parents. Our Mom stayed at home and looked after everything. I don't remember ever missing a meal. Over the years, the more God blessed my Dad, the more our family had. Each and every time we moved, it was to a better, bigger, warmer house. His jobs went from "just barely making it" and "hardly ever home" to owning his own successful company through which he is still blessing our family. We're not 'children' anymore but we will always be his children. Jesus treats us just the same... we are His children. Once we are His children, we will always be His children. That doesn't mean we cannot be disinherited... but my earthly father could do the same if I turn my back on him.

John 6:35 says, "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst". As long as my Mom & Dad are alive, I will be loved and in times of need, I will be provided for. As long as I remain a child of God... my needs will be met by Him too!

So... as I started to say in the beginning, 'the best things in life aren't things'. The best things in my life are
my walk with God,
my family,
my friends,
my marriage,
my peace,
my health,
my spiritual well-being,
my relationships,
my happiness,
having tranquility in my home,
taking care of my family,
helping my friends,
having time to make a quilt,
taking time to plant a garden,
watching my nieces and nephews grow,
taking time to take pictures,
having time to phone my friends to 'chat',
sitting on the deck in the summer,
and in front of the fireplace in winter,
influencing a child in a positive way,
keeping in contact with old friends,
sunsets,
sunrises,
being a supportive wife,
being a loving mom,
saying grace,
taking long walks in the country,
... loving God... and loving people!... (not things!)

What time of day are you?

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Back to Basics...

My favorite things right now are the things that remind me of my parents, grandparents and my childhood. I went to an antique sale in Red Deer recently and I've discovered that things from my childhood are now being sold as antiques! As much of a shock as that was, it was worth going just for the walk down memory lane. I was reminded of my Grammy's house, I was reminded of our skating parties and sleigh rides, I was reminded of the times when people used fine china for everyday meals. I don't believe that your best plates should be saved for special occasions. Use them while you can and celebrate each day that God gives us. I regularly drink milk out of a stemmed glass and I find the prettiest china plates at thrift stores. I don't pay a lot, so if it gets broken from daily use... oh well!

I thank God for my parents. We were not rich in world's standards... but we were rich in family. We had the basics growing up. I don't remember ever washing dishes where we had to extra careful because "Mom paid a lot of money for that". The kids did the dishes, the parents relaxed. My parents made every effort to create memories for us and they succeeded. I'll always remember the skating parties, the sleigh rides, the corn roasts, the days spent at the beach, the kickball games, the 4seater swings full of us kids, the homemade cookies and breads, the fellowship... and the friendship.

Let's get back to the basics! Let's spend more time loving and less time striving for 'things' that don't mean a single thing in the grand scheme of life. Let's love each other despite our differences and accept each other for who we are. Let's take the time to bake cookies and bread and to go skating and visit each other and take care of each other.

I love you all and I pray that God blesses each and every one of you in an awesome way!