Snow drifting, temperatures dropping, Christmas lights light up my dark country lane.

December

Garland and lights, stuffed snowman and Christmas music fill my house

December

Advent readings, new traditions, baked good, and icing tasters

December

 Tonight as I wrap my hands around a cup of warm, spicy tea, and listen to a new album by a very talented friend, I can't help but linger...

Karla Adolphe is a very talented musician and a good friend. Her songs have a hauntily beautiful sound to them. They make you think of a light fluffy snowfall, and a walk in mild winter temperatures. They encourage you to fold into a blanket, warm drink of choice in hand and reflect on what this season's meaning truly is.

I love how when she sings "We three Kings" you are drawn in and it is personal, this is not an overly common Christmas song, but I become expectant and long to see the Star.

In the song " Do you hear, what I hear?" She encourages you so that you wish you could have heard and seen, she invites you to the precious serenity of the stable home of Jesus Christ.

There are three more songs on the album, one being an original. I can see this album playing over and over in my home this season as I linger with my Father.

Karla describes the songs as  "The songs express themes of pilgrimage, longing, hope, revelation, visitation and prophecy. I hope in them you find rest, linger with me and thank you for joining me on this journey." ( as quoted from her blog)

Advent means COMING

I invite you to come, linger here with me, pick up a cozy blanket, warm cup of choice, come sit at the feet of our God, meet Him as we have been beckoned to. Let this season be about HIM, his love, his sacrifice, and the greatest gift.(More on that inspiration from a favourite blogger and encourager Ann Voskamp tomorrow.)

Please follow this link and be blessed this season,

Lingering

motherhood

when I think about this day, like all women I can't help but think about my mom.

Laurel Evangeline Fortune, is truly a gift from the Lord for me...

She has raised 10 kids, in the North of Canada, Whitehorse Yukon
She was a Pastor's daughter and a Pastor's wife
She balanced the home while Dad worked to provide for us,
many times doing two separate jobs at once

I don't have bad memories of my childhood, even with all of us to care for I remember..
Mom, caring for my friends, our church family, our family friends, and even taking in people in need of a loving family.

I remember Mom, wholeheartedly loving and serving her Heavenly Father and teaching us to do the same.

One day when I was (probably grudgingly) vaccumming the couch, I  found a list and on it was all the names of us kids and notes beside each name. When I asked my Mom, she said it was her prayer list. I later found out that before she started each day with all of us, she would start each day with God.

Mom is the woman I look up too, the woman I hope to emulate. Mom's favorite words are "Yes!" and "Obey!" They have become mine as well.

Thank you Mom, for all that you are, for being obedient to the Lord and teaching and encouraging me to do the same.

Do you need to be encouraged to say "Yes!"? I encourage you to get your hands on a copy of Rhinestone Jesus #Yesinmymess by Kristen Welch.
This lady has read my heart.
Trust Jesus, Say Yes, and take the ride of your Life.....you won't regret it.

Grumpy hearts

Sweetest sounds grace my living room, as my daughters ask for music and sing along to church songs. "Hey Mom! This is a Jesus song!"  "Mom, can we sing "Sing and Shout(Matt Redman)?"

How precious to see my daughters enter into worship all our their own. How thankful I am to have a worship party in my living room.

My day did not start this way, before the above moments, I was wishing for quiet, for no one to climb on me, my heart was grumpy and I was not someone you wanted to be around. How simple it is for our hearts to change when we do not focus on ourselves or our to-do lists...BUT instead focus on our Christ. 

Today in Manitoba, is the last Friday in March, the last Friday before spring break. It is not warm out today. Today I dressed my son like it was December outside. This has been a LONG winter.

SO I  #thejesusproject

I was at a funeral yesterday for an elderly woman in our Church. Levina Plett was a woman who was remembered to never complain. Levina lived rough the dirty 30's, her father passed away when she was 20 and planning to be married. Putting off her marriage to serve her family, keep up worth the farm work, to be a support. I heard a story yesterday, of how she badly injured herself in a horse and buggy accident but did not complain even though she could not get to a doctor. When she did, it was too late to sew up her leg, so it healed on its on. BUT SHE DID NOT COMPLAIN.

I knew Levina for two short years, but she left a legacy even for me. 

Find JOY, be GRATEFUL, be WORSHIPFUL, Wait On The Lord.

May I be a woman, who does not complain, who does not navel gaze, but who always looks for Jesus, who is EXPECTANT of God.

The song that was her favorite was "Tell me the story of Jesus"

Oh soul, change your focus, oh God lift up my eyes, that I search for the Story of Jesus, that I seek after you. That I wait for YOU.