Posted by in Devotionals, Stories It was a beautiful warm autumn day. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and two Canadians living abroad had been freed. When Rob and I first moved to London, we were content, perhaps even thrilled, with public transportation. We happily rode the underground tube, the above ground trains, and the double decker busses. It was…Read more »
Posted by in Devotionals, Stories The year was 1997. Newly married, Rob and I had moved from our small hometown to the busy city of Calgary. There was much to take in. One of the things that captured both my eye and my imagination was this huge sign at our neighbourhood Gas Station. Recent improvements had been completed, a new LASER touchless car wash had…Read more »
Posted by in Devotionals, Stories Silence. With today’s pace of life, perhaps you long for it. Maybe you actively seek it. However, there are times it comes unbidden. Times when we most long to hear something, anything; and are met with silence. Fearing the void we fill this silence with our own noise. Doubt starts in a whisper but quickly…Read more »
Posted by in Stories Confession: I don’t always take advice when offered; even when it’s probably great advice. Sometimes it’s because I’m too busy. Sometimes it’s because I don’t think I need it; I’m pretty sure I have things under control. This was one of those times. I was a first year teacher and teaching in another country. (Yes,…Read more »
Posted by in Devotionals, Stories There was this mother. She carried secret life close to her heart. She dreamed of promise. One day, these dreams had to change. You see, her promise would bud but not flower. With strength of steel this mother dared to love anyway. Life grew, protected within her as shadows darkened above her. Life cries out into the gathering shadows. Mother picks up…Read more »
Posted by in Devotionals, Stories The kids are back at school, this year, all of them. For the first time in ten years, the house is quiet. Thus, I reflect. Parenting. This life-altering fumble in the dark. This ever-changing minefield of high impact decision-making. In the six or so months since I started this blog, I have attempted to offer…Read more »
Posted by in Stories Do you ever stumble across information that illuminates an element of your character with all the subtlety of a spotlight? It happens to me a lot. I once heard some research which stated that when presented with shortcomings in ourselves, we tend to make excuses for them based on circumstance. Yet, when we see these same faults in others, we will attribute…Read more »
Posted by in Stories Had I to define it, I’m not sure what I would call my parenting style. (Desperate?) With my first two children, I was calmer, more organized, better able to project being in control. Yes, they were close in age, but there were only two of them. When number three and four burst onto the scene less…Read more »
Posted by in Stories The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” (Obadiah 1:3) My adventurous spirit restored, we escaped into the streets of Paris. Shunning such pedestrian ideas as visiting the Eiffel Tower or…Read more »
Posted by in Stories October, 2001; fresh out of university and living in London, England, I felt fairly sure I was nearing the peak of my culture and sophistication. My husband and I lived in a quaint flat and shopped in trendy open air street markets. We dined in European sidewalk cafés and frequented internet cafés to keep in…Read more »
A Space for Grace 