Can I leave that with you?

Delegation is a great thing, although I can't say I'm an expert at employing it. It's generally a last resort option for me... I will pull others into a project or task when I start to have a feeling like I'm drowing. Why do I put it off? ... I don't want to burden people! I want to believe that I can do more than I can! I don't know exactly... its an auto-response to try to do it all myself first.
When I do delegate to others, I tend to say something like: "Can I leave this with you?" (as in a project or task.) I realized tonight the freedom there is in knowing that we CAN leave all things with God. There's no wondering if He's too busy, if He'll condemn us because we should have managed our time better, there's simply no second guessing. We pray and its done. The answer is always : "Please do! That was my intention all along!"

Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Note re: previous post; I finally got the pictures on! I'm still having trouble with photos on blogger, but I figured it out!

Winter in Hepburn

It might be because its all new to me, but I've been feeling like Hepburn is exceptionally pretty in the winter time. I called my friend Gloria up last weekend, and we went for a walk around town and I took some photos.... so here they are.

okay, well the tool bar that allows me to add photos has disappeared, I guess thats a message to go do the laundry. I'll try to put those photos up later today or tonight.

Has anyone else noticed that google products are all messed up since i.google was introduced??!?!?



UPDATE: Photos!


When these photos were taken it was a gorgeous day, a bit chilly, but fine for a brisk walk. The hoar frost lingered for days!
Now, its quite a bit colder! I walked to work today and my scarf froze to my face.. I think the temp with the wind chill was -37!

Everything in moderation

We're doing a series on Christ's "I am" statements at church... I love reading the selected passages as we go through a series. Last week we read John 8 and 9, and the focus was on Jesus' statement "I am the Light of the World".
The gospels are such 'easy reading', story after story, some humor and daily life stuff. But I don't read them that often... because I hear the voices and cynicism and legalism of the Pharisees and there's a little too much identification going on... Maybe I read them as little as I read Proverbs 31, even.
This read through of John is showing me that I struggle with the idea of moderation and extremes... I would like to have no 'extremes' in my life and be balanced, moderate, calm... all the time. And I know I've judged others for being 'extreme' in some way... you know, they're over the top, 'too much'. ... I don't want to be like them, I want to be moderate, easy, likeable!
It struck me today how ridiculous I am... I am a Christ follower, and his relationships weren't moderate and his conversations were subtle; He was extreme to the extreme. Why is this idea of quiet, subtle moderation something I think I always need to work on? Why do I want to do away with the 'extremes' in me, in others?
Thats the thing about reading the gospels -- I realize how much of a Pharisee I am .... and as I read, I hear the words of "How Deep the Father's Love" -

Behold the man upon the cross

My sin upon His shoulder

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

Jesus then said, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind." John 9:39 (the message)

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Sheryl.
The rules of the game:
• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, as we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Random Things About ME:

1. I am list crazy. I make lists of my lists, and I get a bit frantic when I don't have a list to tell me what I'm supposed to be doing.
2. I can count on one hand the number of times I've driven my car since I moved to Saskatchewan.
3. Instead using the treadmill today, I did Dance Dance Revolution for 30 minutes. It was fun, except I had trouble concentrating for fear someone might see me.
4. This will only be admitted ONCE. I whine a bit when I'm ill. If anyone (at home) asks me anything at all, the answer is: "I'm sick." As in: "Mom, do we have any tuna?" ... "I'm sick". "Kelly, can you answer the phone? "... "I'm sick". "Should we watch the news?" ... "I'm sick".
5. My husband is doing the supper dishes while I do this. He thinks I'm working. He also made supper. I have a few guilty feelings...
6. I really like accounting.
7. I really can't think of anything else. See #6.

I'm tagging:
Paul
Cora Lynn
Melanie
Kelly P.
Shelley

5 is the best I can do... I just don't know that many bloggers!

One of each

I've harrassed Bren and O to post something, but to no avail. Owen almost did, but then I got distracted and he wasn't interested later. We try to get something new on here once/week, so here goes. What to post? We've tended towards three variations of posts:

1. Random, obscure sorts of posts about not much at all

2. Posts that are insightful, spiritual, an attempt to provoke thought or inspire; cause our readers say hmmmm...

3. Sharing about our day to day experiences.

Today, here is 'one of each':

Something random - It's worth attending Bethany just for the cafeteria. Never mind that there are great faculty and the community is amazing.. the food is awesome! Every Friday Baked Oatmeal is served for breakfast. This delightful meal is totally new to me! I've actually only gotten it twice, but those were tasty Fridays!! Sydney had some friends sleep over last night, so we tried Baked Oatmeal for brunch this morning. It was a hit!

I'll put the recipe at the end of this post in case anyone is interested in trying Baked Oatmeal for themselves.

Something 'deeper' - Thinking and reading about Mary over Christmas has inspired me; it says a couple of times in Luke that she "treasured these things and pondered them in her heart" in response to situations related to being the mother of Jesus. She didn't know the magnitude of all that being the mother of the Messiah meant, but she sure knew this was no ordinary boy she was raising. What does it mean that she treasured things in her heart? How did Luke know that she did this? Why don't any of the other storytellers, maybe Matthew, communicate that little bit of info? What does it look like for me, having motherhood in common with Mary, albeit of a couple of just regular kids, to 'treasure these things in my heart'? Whatever it means, it includes noticing, remembering, praying, ... those are some of the best privileges of being a mom. I was glad to notice Mary a little more this year, to think about her more.

Something from our day to day life - Games, games, games... Owen and Syd are thrilled that we have not played Settlers at all over the holidays! Last year was the year of Settlers, to the point that both kids roll their eyes and run when I suggest a game! However, we have been playing a couple of other games - Scattergories and Cranium are big hits lately. We also got Canasta, a new card game for Christmas. Looking forward to playing that one together; maybe tonight!

Baked Oatmeal (an Inn-keeers recipe from About. com)

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes

3 cups oatmeal
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine
2 eggs
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

A handful of chocolate chips or raisins if desired.
Preparation:Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together and pour into 13 x 9 inch buttered pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Cut the baked oatmeal into squares, serve with warmed milk, a little more brown sugar, raisins or cranberries or with fresh fruit.
The innkeeper also likes to add dried fruits and nuts and pour into small ramekins for baking and serving individually. Enjoy!