I've officially entered by 39th year, having turned 38 yesterday. Birthdays always make me pause and think about the year. Counting blessings, listing challenges, reflecting on things learned, and memories treasured. Makes me think of this song...
525,600 minutes of my life has passed for the 38th time, and my 39th round of minutes has begun. I will be counting the seasons of love this year. Measuring how I gave love, received love, treasured love and was grateful for love.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
May the Word of My Mouth...
What does it say about our world, and about the culture in which we live, when the most popular post of all time on my blog has and continues to be "When God Doesn't Make Sense"?
A while back I discovered the ability to review the "stats" for my blog. This tool allows me to see where my readers are coming from (geographically), how they are finding my blog, and what posts are getting read the most. I was amazed then, and was reminded of it again today, to learn that the post I wrote way back in April of 2007, continues to be the most read post in all of my entries. Readers of this particular piece come from all over the world, and they find it by doing a Google search. Yes. Google.
It turns out, actually, that doing such a Google search brings my post up in 3rd place... just below Amazon.com's ad and Amazon.ca's ad for Dr. Dobson's book by the same title.
Think about that for a moment. Someone in say, Denmark, does a search on Google for the words when-god-doesn't-make-sense, and in the results they stumble on my blog. This knowledge creates in me a number of things... I am humbled by this, that God would allow my words to (I hope) bring someone comfort. I am surprised by this, that my words and the experience that led me to write them, would be read by so many. But mostly I am saddened by this. Yes. Saddened.
It saddens me that there are so many people out there suffering, struggling with loss of faith, and asking whether or not they can trust God. It saddens me that these same people are turning to the internet in their time of need, relying on Google to give them the answers they seek. Where is the church in this? Has our message as the Bride of Christ been so silenced or tainted that Google is the better choice when faced with suffering? I hope not, but it certainly makes me stop and think.
It makes me wonder what more we could be doing to make an impact in a suffering world. It makes me question how I'm living and what I could be changing, so that, in the words of my pastor and the faith community I am a part of, God is made famous. And it makes me think more seriously, and pray all the harder, for the ministry I am called to with the non-profit I work for... knowing that I encounter such suffering daily and have a responsibility to point them to Christ. And it reminds me of the opportunity I have to use this blog to honour Him.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14
A while back I discovered the ability to review the "stats" for my blog. This tool allows me to see where my readers are coming from (geographically), how they are finding my blog, and what posts are getting read the most. I was amazed then, and was reminded of it again today, to learn that the post I wrote way back in April of 2007, continues to be the most read post in all of my entries. Readers of this particular piece come from all over the world, and they find it by doing a Google search. Yes. Google.
It turns out, actually, that doing such a Google search brings my post up in 3rd place... just below Amazon.com's ad and Amazon.ca's ad for Dr. Dobson's book by the same title.
Think about that for a moment. Someone in say, Denmark, does a search on Google for the words when-god-doesn't-make-sense, and in the results they stumble on my blog. This knowledge creates in me a number of things... I am humbled by this, that God would allow my words to (I hope) bring someone comfort. I am surprised by this, that my words and the experience that led me to write them, would be read by so many. But mostly I am saddened by this. Yes. Saddened.
It saddens me that there are so many people out there suffering, struggling with loss of faith, and asking whether or not they can trust God. It saddens me that these same people are turning to the internet in their time of need, relying on Google to give them the answers they seek. Where is the church in this? Has our message as the Bride of Christ been so silenced or tainted that Google is the better choice when faced with suffering? I hope not, but it certainly makes me stop and think.
It makes me wonder what more we could be doing to make an impact in a suffering world. It makes me question how I'm living and what I could be changing, so that, in the words of my pastor and the faith community I am a part of, God is made famous. And it makes me think more seriously, and pray all the harder, for the ministry I am called to with the non-profit I work for... knowing that I encounter such suffering daily and have a responsibility to point them to Christ. And it reminds me of the opportunity I have to use this blog to honour Him.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Forced Creativity
An interesting thing happens when you become a mother. No one ever tells you about it, and no book will prepare you for it.
I called it "forced creativity."
Bred solely out of pure desperation and a direct result of hair pulling, head banging and shed tears, "forced creativity" is what happens when mother meets toddler in the fight to get food (and not just any food, but healthy, brain-boosting, vitamin/protein-packed food) eaten. Driven by sheer determination to ensure my child does exist on hot dogs and cheese, I've been forced to get creative in how I sneak veggies and even protein into my little rug-rat.
I know I talk about it a lot. I write about it in my status on Facebook on a daily basis, blog about it continually, and have even written about it for the non-profit I work for. My apologies to readers who are tired of hearing about it... at least those readers who aren't fellow sojourners on this adventure of toddlerhood! I will write about something else, someday, but for now, as a frustrated mom with only one thing on my mind, indulge me. Pray for me. Encourage me. Help me! ;-)
(I'm adding to my list of Deceptive Tips daily, as I find success in hiding veggies and protein. If you are a fellow frustrated mom, I hope you find it helpful! If you are a mom who has "been there and done that," I welcome your feedback, tips, words of encouragement and hugs! And if you are neither, well ... again I apologize! LOL!)
I called it "forced creativity."
Bred solely out of pure desperation and a direct result of hair pulling, head banging and shed tears, "forced creativity" is what happens when mother meets toddler in the fight to get food (and not just any food, but healthy, brain-boosting, vitamin/protein-packed food) eaten. Driven by sheer determination to ensure my child does exist on hot dogs and cheese, I've been forced to get creative in how I sneak veggies and even protein into my little rug-rat.
I know I talk about it a lot. I write about it in my status on Facebook on a daily basis, blog about it continually, and have even written about it for the non-profit I work for. My apologies to readers who are tired of hearing about it... at least those readers who aren't fellow sojourners on this adventure of toddlerhood! I will write about something else, someday, but for now, as a frustrated mom with only one thing on my mind, indulge me. Pray for me. Encourage me. Help me! ;-)
(I'm adding to my list of Deceptive Tips daily, as I find success in hiding veggies and protein. If you are a fellow frustrated mom, I hope you find it helpful! If you are a mom who has "been there and done that," I welcome your feedback, tips, words of encouragement and hugs! And if you are neither, well ... again I apologize! LOL!)
Monday, February 07, 2011
Score One for Momma!
Today is National Fettuccine Alfredo Day. I didn't even know that until after I made dinner, and that's what we had.
Well, we sort of had it. Ok, well it was rotini pasta instead of fettuccine. And ok, I added pureed white beans and grated zucchinni to the alfredo sauce. But hey, it was my version of fettuccine alfredo for my picky eater of a two year old. And it was good. Very good actually. And she didn't even notice!
Score one for momma. It was a good day.
Well, we sort of had it. Ok, well it was rotini pasta instead of fettuccine. And ok, I added pureed white beans and grated zucchinni to the alfredo sauce. But hey, it was my version of fettuccine alfredo for my picky eater of a two year old. And it was good. Very good actually. And she didn't even notice!
Score one for momma. It was a good day.
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