Merry Christmas!!

By the time you're reading this I'm probably in my parents home, with my little family, and my brother and sister and her husband. Today we're exchanging gifts, relaxing, playing games, preparing and eating Christmas Supper (my Mom and Dad are AMAZING at holiday meals. . .and all meals, in fact!), and remembering Christ's birth and sacrifice.

Merry Christmas all! May you be filled with awe and true joy at the realization of Christ's coming and works.

Love - Vanessa

Mary Did You Know
written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that youve delivered will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy youve kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Did you know that your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM

God is my Portion: Meditations

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep

to gain that which he cannot lose.
- Jim Elliot

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
- Be Thou My Vision, an Ancient Irish Hymn

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
- Psalm 73:25, 26

Heaven itself could not make us happy without the presence and love of our God. The world and all its glory vanishes. The body will fail by sickness, age, and death; when the flesh fails, the conduct, courage, and comfort fail. But Christ Jesus, our Lord, offers to be all in all to every poor sinner, who renounces all otherportions and confidences.
- Matthew Henry

Remember our Missionaries

I've been thinking alot this Christmas season about Sacrifice. Specifically Christ's sacrifice in coming to earth.

As we prepare to celebrate many times over with our friends and families, I've also been thinking about our missionary friends who are sacrificing their extended families in Canada/USA for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Below is an email I sent to my missionary friends recently.
________________________________________________________________________
To my Brothers and Sisters in Sudan,

What I've been thinking:

He left behind Glory
You left behind the praise of the world and pursued God's Kingdom in a bush in Africa.

He left behind comfort
You left the familiarity of the places, people and culture you know. You left behind the wealth, the medical care, the abundance, the seemingly secure.

He left behind His Father
You left behind family. Your parents are missing your children grow up. You are missing family celebrations and meals. You are trusting God to care for and provide for your loved ones in your absence.

He left it all behind for the Glory of His Father and His love for us
And so you have left it all behind for His Glory also, your love for Him, and your love for His people.

This Christmas I've been meditating on Christ's sacrifice of leaving Heaven to come to earth. He left the glorious for the base. And all I must to is leave the base for the Glory. Thank you for helping me to understand Christ's sacrifice for me. Thank you encouraging me to be a living sacrifice for my God.

_________________________________________________________

Maybe we could take time to pray for those in ministry at home, and abroad, who sacrifice so much for God's Kingdom and Glory.

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

God's Grace

There are some times in life when God's Grace seems so present.

When His Hand is clearly on you or a loved one.

I have been blessed to know God's Grace many times in my life.

Below is one such occasion.

I have footnoted some points to bring special attention so that God may get the Glory

and you may also rejoice with me in His Goodness and Grace.

So that I will remember.

_________________________________________________________

Henry (1) was 4 weeks old. I had just been on a big walk with my sisters and mother in law (2). I had a quick errand to do and my mother in law offered to watch Henry for the 20 minutes it would take me to run this errand.

I came home to find an ambulance in front of my house and a stretcher on the front porch (3).


Henry had stopped breathing (4) and my mother-in law quickly called 911. By the time I arrived home Henry was breathing fine (5) and was ok other then a little bit nervous around the paramedics and their equipment.

My Mom and I (6) had already long self-diagnosed him with laryngomalacia. Within a few days of birth Henry began to make a funny noise which we soon learned was called a stridor (also self-diagnosed). This stridor became much more pronounced and worrisome as each week of his new life passed. When we finally got a referral to a specialist we were disappointed to be told that we had several months to wait. Didn't they know my son sounded like he was struggling to breathe almost 24 hours a day?

Well, after the ambulance incident Henry quickly became a priority (7) and we were seen by the pediatric ENT specialist (8) immediately upon arrival at the Hospital (9).


He had a laryngoscopy, our diagnoses was confirmed. The Doctor had us spend the night while Henry's oxygen was monitored. The ENT felt that Henry's oxygen results were abnormal and surgery could be required. A respirologist reviewed Henry's results (10) and found them normal for an infant and suggested anti-reflux medication (reflux is a common symptom of laryngomalacia) while we went home and watched to see how his condition progressed, and would come back 6 weeks later (11).


In that 6 weeks Henry's sleeping and eating habits VASTLY improved (12). His stridor remained the same (13) but that was to be expected. It was now just a waiting game -Laryngomalacia is a condition children grow out of. (14)


Several months later I find myself again in the specialist's office. I have a follow up appointment. Over the past few months I have miraculously watched as his stridor decreased. Yesterday I was told I didn't have to come back. Henry was through it. (15) Only because of God's Grace.

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Footnotes:

(1) - Henry, one of God's most precious gifts to me
(2) - Wonderful in-laws
(3) - Truly amazing and caring paramedics.
(4) - If Henry hadn't stopped breathing we would have waited months to see a specialist.
(5) - Henry started breathing again. Praise God.
(6) - A Mom/Grandma who researched incessantly. She correctly diagnosed his breathing sounds and condition.
(7) - We had an appointment immediately
(8) - The student Doctor recognized Henry. She just happened to be at the hospital where he was born, and while I recovered from my c-section, she was the doctor who had Henry's case. Therefore she was very familiar with Henry's history (he had some trouble after birth).
(9) - We live 8 minutes away from an incredible Children's Hospital. We have publicly funded Health Care system.
(10) - The ENT wasn't too proud to seek out another opinion. Had we sought his opinion we could have had to wait for an appointment. Instead we had to very gifted doctors debating over my son's medical case.
(11) - A mild medication seemed like a MUCH BETTER option than surgery
(12) - Henry had been a slow to gain weight previously. I was now getting much more sleep.
(13) - It didn't get worse
(14) - While a worrisome condition, it would not be a life long battle.
(15) - Hallelujah!

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I realize that many people go through situations much more trying then my own.

This was just intended to remind myself of God's Grace in this case.

No matter the trial may I always remember:

We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28

Meeting Matty

Two days ago Henry climbed all over Matty while he and his Auntie Kate played.

Sunday he met Matty - unaware of the future friendship and mischief I'm sure they'll share.

I so rejoice with my Kate and their beautiful little boy. Kate and I have a very special history together.

We met in University (it took a few meetings before we were friends).

Shared the Gospel with students in the cafeteria (being accountable to each other helped).

Challenged each other in our faith (and skipped classes together; yet, somehow, managed to graduate very successfully!).

We also had a lot of fun and laughed way too much.

In the midst of all of this I met and fell in love with a man named Cory. Then Kate met Cory's brother Dave. Kate and Dave were married the year after Cory and I.

Cory and I found out we were expecting just as the larger and more affordable apartment above Kate and Dave became available. We now live in the same house in two separate apartments. Us on the second floor, Kate and Dave on the first.

April 1st Cory and I had our first child, Henry. Sunday afternoon Kate and Dave had their first child, Matthew.

Kate is my neighbour. Kate is my best friend. Kate is my sister in Christ. Kate is my sister in law. Kate is my son's Aunt. Kate is the mother of my favourite nephew (and only, so far) - Matty.

We have long awaited your arrival Matty and were so excited to finally meet you!!

Sons are a heritage from the LORD

Children a reward from Him.

Psalm 127:3

Sacrifice

"Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests"

Eyes fixed on a duck breast puffed, mother plunging beak in deep, I question wondering self: “How else did you think nests were lined?”

With leftovers. With feathers discarded, the molted, the not-so-necessary feathers. I thought mother ducks picked feathers up from what was laying about, scraps, lining nests with what simply could be mustered after the fact.

But no. (Is that only the way of human mothers?) No, a mother duck plucks each feather out from the heart of her bosom, warm and soft.


She lines the nest with bits of herself.


The best of her, from the deep spots. She cups her young in her sacrifice.

**read the full post here**

Around this time a year ago.

Tied Down - Edgar Guest

“They tie you down,” a woman said

Whose cheeks should have been flaming red

With shame to speak of children so.

“When babies come you cannot go

In search of pleasure with your friends,

And all your happy wandering ends.

The things you like you cannot do,

For babies make a slave of you.”

I looked at her and said, “’Tis true

That children make a slave of you,’

And tie you down with many a knot,

But have you never thought to what

It is of happiness and pride

That little babies have you tied?

Do you not miss the greater joys

That come with little girls and boys?

They tie you down to laughter rare,

To hours of smiles and hours of care,

To nights of watching and to fears;

Sometimes they tie you down to tears

And then repay you with a smile,

And make your trouble all worth while.

They tie you fast to chubby feet

And cheeks of pink and kisses sweet.

They fasten you with cords of love

To God divine, who reigns above.

They tie you, whereso’er you roam,

Unto the little place called home;

And over sea or railroad track

They tug at you to bring you back.

The happiest people in the town

Are those the babies have tied down.

Oh, go your selfish way and free

But hampered I would rather be,

Yes rather than a kingly crown

I would be, what you term, tied down;

Tied down to dancing eyes and charms,

Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms,

The fettered slave of girl and boy,

And win from them earth’s finest joy.

It was around this time one year ago that I discovered I was expecting our first child. To say that we were excited is an understatement. We cried tears of joy, laughed with a giddy excitement and were reverently contemplative as Cory and I pondered the great miracle and blessing that our Good Lord had decided to give us.

When he was born on April 1st, via a planned cesarean section due to a stubborn breech position, each hour revealed greater and greater the mystery of a parent's love for their child. All the selfish questions that stirred in my heart were quieted when I met my precious gift.

Henry has brought us great joy. Again, I will say - Henry has brought us great joy.

I realize I will have many more trying times in this glorious and sanctifying experience called motherhood but I can safely say, come what may, it is worth every sacrifice. It is worth every moment I put off Vanessa's needs and meet Henry's needs now. It is worth every tear. It is worth every heartbreak. It is worth living on one income. It is worth indefinitely postponing that vacation. It is worth eating on a budget. It is worth shopping second hand. It is worth the false perceptions and stereotypes. It is worth it - no matter what others may say. It is definitely worth being Tied Down.