floe dancing

Photo by Rinda Dean

Taking a walk along the beach on a sunny winter day - exploring the ice floes ... I feel a little like Amundsen or Byrd. If you have a hankering to try your own ice floe expedition here's a little hint...watch out for offshore breezes!

Calm Blue

"With ties to water and cleansing, blue has long been a bathroom favorite. It's the sort of color that transports you to another place -- that whole feeling of floating around in the sky with the clouds above you and the sea below..." from Kitchen and Bath Ideas

Help! I'm renovating my bathroom! What do you think of "calm blue"? I rather like the idea of "floating around in the sky with the clouds above and the sea below..."

It's probably appropriate for an island bathroom....

Opinions welcome!

I'm it!!

Phew!! - I feel like the little kids who hold their breath waiting to be chosen for the team - I can breathe!! I've been "tagged" on the Blogland playground - which I have just learned means that I have to answer a bunch of questions.....is this really a game or a quiz???Just joking Donna :) I'm really glad to be in the game!
OK

For all those who have always wanted to know....

* silence*


Oh well... for you Donna anyway...here goes....

Meme in Four-Four Time

Four jobs I've had: I was a lifeguard - which works really well living on an Island, a librarian - I love to read which was a little troublesome when I was supposed to be shelving, camp counsellor - a really fun way to spend the summer, worship leader - no $ but my favourite!

Movies I (could/would) Watch Over and Over Again: I don't watch movies over and over again but I have watched these more than twice Little Women - my kids won't watch it with me because I say the lines and cry when Beth dies, Lord of the Rings and I know that as soon as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe comes out I will add it to this list. Also Pride and Prejudice

Four Books I (could/would) Read Over and Over Again (besides the Bible): OK - now you know why I don't watch movies over and over again - because I'm reading books - they are like old friends and it's very hard to narrow this list to 4 - Country Child by Allison Uttley, Larkrise to Candleford, Practising the Presence of God, Champagne For the Soul, Spiritual Classics, anything by Amy Carmichael, Hearing God (Dallas Willlard), anything by Andrew Murray, the Anne books.... see I told you this was impossible - I could fill 5 pages - I'm a teacher/librarian...I read all the time.

Four Places I've Lived: Otterbourne Manitoba, Lancaster Ontario, Ipswich Ma andHuemoz Switzerland (OK just for 2 and a half mos but doesn't it look good on the list?)

The view from my front step in Huemoz Switzerland

Four T.V. Shows I Watch: I was sick one day and I watched 4 back to back episodes of Commander in Chief I really enjoyed it which was surprising to me as I don't like political shows. Oprah- once in a blue moon - CBC news - and one episode of OC - I was told that the parents were really cool and I wanted to see what cool meant to my 17 yr old. The father surfs....

Four Places I've Been on Vacation: Nova Scotia, Greece, Isle of Skye, Amish country in PA

Four Websites I Visit Daily: My sidebar sites My school website - and other than those places I could be anywhere....

"Strawberries "
by
Pierre Auguste Renoir

Favorite Foods: Strawberries, lobster, seafood chowder and fresh rolls - I live in the right place!! I have to add new potatoes - fresh from the garden!

Four Places I'd Like to Be Right Now: here and Northern Ireland (where my husband and son are attending a Robin Mark conference) and a tropical beach somewhere - anywhere - please take me....

there - finished!

Thinking...

Photo Credit - Rinda Dean

I've been thinking....

Donna over at Quiet Life quotes Jen Ig asking the question "....honestly, do you feel like you do enough? Do you feel pressured to do more? Do you think you do too much?"

I was interested to read the replies because almost everyone I know feels that they do too much and,conversely, not enough! The standard reply to "How are you?" is "Busy!". Yet, almost in the same breath, these people will reply "I should be doing----or -----". So many of us feel pressured at home - at church - at work - even at play! (check out the hockey moms up here !!!)

I started thinking what would happen if I had the courage to always do just what I want to do!

Donna says "As long as I am loving God (and I mean loving Him by obeying Him), loving my husband and loving my children.....anything after that is gravy."

and I think that Augustine would agree with her although his statement is even more succinct and encompassing.

"Love God and do what you want" Augustine

That quote feels both freeing and a little dangerous to me - I was almost afraid to say it to my 20something as he figures out what to do with his life.

But it is the reality for believers - If we love Him, and are growing in that love for Him, our lives will be changed - transformed. Like Moses, who spent time with God and was called the friend of God, we will shine with His reflection.

You see I think the danger in doing "what we should rather than what we want" is that we may miss those desires of the heart that the Lord is revealing and nurturing.

What desires - wishes - dreams - are hiding beneath all the "but I have to and I should be or I can't" s?

We may never "do enough" in some people's eyes (usually those who feel no one is doing enough - chronically unhappy people) but we will rest secure in His love and approval as we delight in Him. And isn't that what counts?

Just thinking....