In an hour I need to go to Sick Kids for an appointment for Josh but until then I have some free time (it does happen on occasion)...
I was checking out my site meter and I am noticing that I have a lot of traffic from all over the world and it makes me curious to see who is reading my blog, what their thoughts are and why they arn't following me ;)
So, here is the plan... tell me about you in the comment page!! I would love to hear about you, where you are and all that kind of stuff. I would also love to hear your thoughts on my posts... don't be shy!! :)
July 14, 2010
Accomplishments
I am finding it such a welcome and exhilarating thing to transform an ugly old home and make it into something beautiful, something that we can call our own and love accordingly. Yesterday I did little things, now that the painting is pretty much finished and Tim is busy with floors I had a little time to do smaller projects. I restored the door, a beautiful old wooden door with stain glass. Felix (the previous owners dog) had made some pretty huge gouges in it when scratching it, I assume to warn off the mail man or some equally abhorrent visitor). I transformed a VERY ugly fireplace into something I am really proud of, and I puttered in my new garden. It was a day filled with little things, things that being a stay at home Mom don't give you.
In my ordinary day I change a poopy diaper, only to have another poopy diaper in just a few hours (or minutes depending on the meals eaten previously). I clean the kitchen after breakfast, only to mess it up again at lunch, I pick up toys all day long... basically, I accomplish nothing in a day but keeping our heads above water so to speak. This house though, this is giving me something to accomplish, something to finish and take pride in. I didn't realize how much I needed that. Now I need to find ways to make this a part of my everyday life.
I am looking forward to making some changes in my life, to accomplishing more lasting things, whatever those may be.
In my ordinary day I change a poopy diaper, only to have another poopy diaper in just a few hours (or minutes depending on the meals eaten previously). I clean the kitchen after breakfast, only to mess it up again at lunch, I pick up toys all day long... basically, I accomplish nothing in a day but keeping our heads above water so to speak. This house though, this is giving me something to accomplish, something to finish and take pride in. I didn't realize how much I needed that. Now I need to find ways to make this a part of my everyday life.
I am looking forward to making some changes in my life, to accomplishing more lasting things, whatever those may be.
July 10, 2010
The house
In all my life I have never had to paint so much! I am covered in primer... oil based... it's hot and the smell is stuck to my nose hairs... I think I might be high! It's amazing though, as I stroke the paint onto the trim and the walls and slowly the house becomes more of what I envisioned it would be, it becomes mine. I imagine that it's like my heart... dark and dirty, then as God works his paint brush over me it slowly becomes clean and white and fresh... more of what he envisioned me to be when he created me.
I never thought all this work would be so much fun, with music blaring in the background and the changes slowly taking place I am filled with a sense of pride. This is the place that I will watch the boys grow, where Josh and Kaleb will toss a ball in the back yard (hopefully escaping breaking the stainglassed window in the kitchen...) I imagine Christmas mornings and the pitter patter of their little feet running down the hall to our bedroom, I imagine them coming home from school, heading into the kitchen for a snack, throwing their bags down in a heap in the mudroom... I imagine the nights we sit by the fire, snuggling up to read a story or chat together, I guess I am imagining a home. My home, a place to finally settle and feel relaxed.
Things are coming together, I see God's hand all over it, from the deals we are getting on the tiles and flooring, and in the friends who are helping us.
It's so good to finally have a home to call our own!
I never thought all this work would be so much fun, with music blaring in the background and the changes slowly taking place I am filled with a sense of pride. This is the place that I will watch the boys grow, where Josh and Kaleb will toss a ball in the back yard (hopefully escaping breaking the stainglassed window in the kitchen...) I imagine Christmas mornings and the pitter patter of their little feet running down the hall to our bedroom, I imagine them coming home from school, heading into the kitchen for a snack, throwing their bags down in a heap in the mudroom... I imagine the nights we sit by the fire, snuggling up to read a story or chat together, I guess I am imagining a home. My home, a place to finally settle and feel relaxed.
Things are coming together, I see God's hand all over it, from the deals we are getting on the tiles and flooring, and in the friends who are helping us.
It's so good to finally have a home to call our own!
Albert Yu
Not so with Albert, I remember the first house we were interested in, we thought about putting in an offer and Albert (though losing a sale) said that we should keep looking, that he thought we could find better for our price range. So, we took his advice and kept looking. Then we found the house, we both loved it and loved it even more the second time we went to look at it. Albert came over and we signed an offer, he talked us through the entire process without getting impatient with my never ending questions, or at my own impatience that wanted me to not try making deals but just give what they wanted.
The part that amazed me though, the part that brings me to write this blog in honour of Albert is this...
On July 8th we got possession of our new home, when we arrived, keys in hand to begin the painting and flooring process we were disbelieving to find the previous owner still there, and not only not moved out yet but a lot of things still unpacked. Disappointing to say the least. So, we decided to help her, we went to the basement which was entirely unpacked and we began the process of packing her things for her. Then hauling it upstairs to the living room where the guys were packing it into the Uhaul.
Within 5 minutes of us packing the basement she came down stairs and said that her truck was full and that the guys were going to unpack it and then not return (this was her nieces boyfriend keep in mind). My heart sunk, we had 2 weeks to get going on the work that needs to be done before we ourselves have to move in, and immediately after we move in we are going on a previous planned holiday... and I had babysitting all lined up so that I could work on the house as well. What were we going to do???
Call Albert!
He had a direct line to God that night, he must have because he called a moving company he knows who just happened to be on the Danforth bridge (not far from us) who had no intention of answering the phone except that at the last minute he remembered that he had left a drill at another clients house and he figured if it was her he could go pick it up. It wasn't the lady about the drill though, it was Albert asking a HUGE favour! They agreed and shortly after the call was made we had two movers and one large truck standing in the living room ready to tackle the problem with us. Then, about 5 minutes after that Albert showed up, he too ready to dig in and help pack and move!! I couldn't believe it??!! What real estate agent do you know who is willing to dig in and move someones stuff so that you can move in on time?? He even went so far as to tell the movers that if they didn't get paid that he would pay them out of pocket... ??? HUH?? What? In today's world there is someone out there willing to go above and beyond when the sale is already finalized? WOW!
I saw Christ is Albert... I hope that one day someone can say the same of me.
July 7, 2010
Flight 621 Memorial...
On July 5th 1970 on a hot but breezy Sunday a flight carrying 109 people flying from Montreal to LosAngeles with a stop in Toronto, crashed shortly after take off at the Toronto airport. It slammed into a farmers field in Brampton Ontario... No on survived.
40 years ago, it's a long time... more than I have been alive... and yet as I watched people gather on Sunday morning to remember their loved ones at a the crash site in Brampton I was touched by the rawness of those emotions. People spoke of Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts & Uncles and friends... all with tears in their eyes and heavy hearts. It made you ache to watch. How do you move past something that leaves you not only totally winded but without your natural support system to help you recover?
One man, lost his wife of just 33days, as he speaks of her his eyes fill with tears and his voice cracks, the pain still very evident in both his anger and his grief. When does that kind of pain stop? How long? U2 sings a song called 40, it came to mind while I stood listening to the voices of so many hurting people.
While I hurt for those who were devestated by the crash of flight 621, I am thankful and hopeful for them as well, that they have finally had a chance to gain some closure, that they are here, sharing in the love of others who have been hurt by the same tragedy, and that together, they may just find the power and the strength to sing a new song.
One man, lost his wife of just 33days, as he speaks of her his eyes fill with tears and his voice cracks, the pain still very evident in both his anger and his grief. When does that kind of pain stop? How long? U2 sings a song called 40, it came to mind while I stood listening to the voices of so many hurting people.
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song
While I hurt for those who were devestated by the crash of flight 621, I am thankful and hopeful for them as well, that they have finally had a chance to gain some closure, that they are here, sharing in the love of others who have been hurt by the same tragedy, and that together, they may just find the power and the strength to sing a new song.
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