homework is for the birds

It's 5:30 and I'm still in my pyjamas. I asked myself this question this morning: "Why would you get dressed when you are just going to stay inside and do homework all day?" Okay maybe I didn't ask myself the question directly, but I know that subconsciously I kept that resolve in my mind all day.

Seriously (srsly), I did homework all day. And I'm still not done. But I'm a lot closer than before. So that feels pretty good. I'm pretty much doing homework all day tomorrow and probably all day Thursday too. It's not a lot of fun. Especially when you'd rather think about your baby coming or decorate for Christmas or just do nothing.

I took about a half-an-hour break to eat lunch and managed to catch an episode of "A Baby Story". I had seen it before. I'm not sure if watching those is helpful or just frightening. Either way, I can't stop myself from wanting to take it all in.

Peter and I cleaned out the baby's closet yesterday (that's not a metaphor). We have a few boxes for Salvation Army now. The baby's clothes and belongings are put away in the dresser and the closet now and we have the crib all set up and ready to go. It feels good to go in there now, we're just one step closer to being prepared. If I had some thread I could finish up those bumper pads that Health Canada doesn't even recommend having in the first place, and then I'll share photos of the bedding that I have created. I like it.

We still have some things to get ready before the baby comes but I'm starting to feel more and more prepared (materially that is). I don't think I'll ever be prepared for parenthood. But I'm going to give it my best shot.

Anyway, Victoria's still pretty much shut down from the snow. Our prenatal classes were cancelled last night (a true snow day) and I know that the schools were still closed today.

I think the birds are confused. They keep eating bird seed off of our patio and then flying into our patio door. Srsly, it happened at least three times. And another bird was flew into our other window a couple of times, but I closed the blinds to help him out a little.

They just don't know what is going on.

Housekeeping

Click here to see pictures from the baby shower.


Also notice that I have added more links... (although it might be hard to tell because I have so many on there):
- James Davies
- Mike & Kim Fowler
- Tamara Knutson
- J'Nea Muller
- Jessie Nickolett
- Kris Olson
- Nic Olson
- Karl & Helen Roberts
- Alicia Slywka


Annnnnnnd Blair has changed his blog address and that has been changed also.

snow day!

Yesterday:

Today:

Routines

Driving down Quadra street during the morning rush is no easy feat. It requires a lot of skill and a lot of patience. There are just two lanes: in the left lane you need to watch out for left turners, in the right lane you need to dodge the buses. This is a route that I have come to know quite well as Peter and I have used it to arrive at Tolmie Avenue every morning for five months.

You tend to become pretty familiar with a route that you have taken every day for five months. As we come down Parkwood there is always a red headed boy walking himself to where the school bus picks him up. We see the group of students waiting on the corner for this bus every morning too. If we're running late sometimes we even see the bus. Then once we're on Quadra we pass by two kids that used to be in my group at Kids Klub. They're waiting for the city bus in their school uniforms. I always wonder if they see me. There's the same Victoria Business School van that seems to be en route with us every morning. There's the approximately 40-year-old woman with extremely blonde hair that walks on the right sidewalk every morning. I notice all of these things.

But now there is one thing missing.

It's us.

We no longer take Quadra street every morning.

We don't have to.

Because I'm on my leave now.

Yessssssssssssssssssss.

I wonder if those little characters that were a part of our morning will miss us.

Back from the dead... or living in light of it

So last night Peter and I went for coffee and he was talking about how when he was little he used to try to picture what it was like if God didn't create the earth. He said he used to picture himself floating in outer space and there were no stars, no planets, nothing, just complete black. He said it used to upset him quite a bit to think about that.

I said I used to think about that same kind of thing when I was little too, only it was me picturing what it would be like when I died. I said I would picture myself floating aimlessly through outerspace but it was completely black and I couldn't even comprehend how black it was and then I would realize that there would actually be nothing, I wouldn't even see the black because I would be dead and I wouldn't exist.

That's pretty troublesome for a little tiny kid. I didn't know anything about God back then, and I think it's pretty clear that I didn't have a concept of heaven.

Now that I know God a little bit, it totally makes sense that just our bodies die, not our souls. As a little girl, I just couldn't understand that I wouldn't be able to see the blackness. I would try to wrap my head around it, the fact that I would be completely non-existent, no thoughts or feelings, just a skeleton in the ground with snakes going through my eye-sockets (seriously I used to picture that too). I think the reason it was so hard was becuase it just didn't make sense. How could I not see the darkness? How could I just not exist anymore when here I am thinking and feeling and experiencing? That little girl was on to something. She just didn't have fancy words.

It makes so much sense to me now that we are spirits in these bodies, and eventually my body will slow down, and I won't be able to walk very fast and then I won't be able to use this vehicle very well. Young kids will think I'm stupid. But I'll still be the same person inside, with the same soul, and once that body dies, my soul will go on to what's next. I'm not even going to pretend that I know anything about heaven or hell or what happens in the next life, but God has made some pretty good promises that it's going to be some kind of wonderful.

Now that I know that... does it change the way I live? Does it change how I feel about the world? Well, somewhat. But I don't wake up every morning pumped about someday being able to be with God in Heaven. I mean, that sounds pretty great, but what really changes the way I live isn't God's promise of heaven... it's God.

God is teaching me in this life about loving others. Through His character and His prime example I have been shown a way that I cannot ignore. Just like it makes sense to me that our souls don't die, it makes so much sense that we love each other. Jesus goes so much deeper than just doing kind little deeds for people, you know the ones that make you feel kinda fuzzy. I mean those are good and everything, but he went so much deeper and is showing me the way too. It rings so true, I can't deny it, even if there is no afterlife (which, God says there is).

I have a quote written down somewhere, and someone pretty smart said it, but I can't remember where my book of quotes is, so you're just going to have to hear my re-phrasing... this guy, well, people thought he was pretty foolish for believing in something that "wasn't true". And he basically said that even if what those people were saying was true and God didn't really exist, he'd still rather be considered an idiot and be with Christ than to live apart from Him.

I had had those exact feelings before so when I read that in whatever book I read it from, you can just about imagine the "Hmmm"ing, eye-widening, and head nodding that was going on in agreeance.

It is I, Peter!

Well, since my wife has not cared enough about you all to post a new blog for a while, I thought this might be the perfect chance to step in and take over our blog. She is such a blog hog!

Actually, the truth is that Chelsey has been very busy and hasn't really had a chance to sit down at a computer lately since she's still at work till 5 every day and our evenings are usually filled until it is so late that she can't bare to be on her feet any more. I wasnt sure what to write so I thought i'd begin by honouring my beautiful, courageous, strong, and confident wife. I know this sounds cheap and it may seem like i'm just trying to suck up, but I have honestly been amazed by my wife recently. I'm not sure if you have experienced the feeling of being almost 8 months pregnant. I know I haven't, but I have witnessed it first hand and I have to say, with all due respect to all you ladies out there, that I could not wish for anyone more courageous and strong to carry my child. I know that it has seemed to everyone so far that our pregnancy has been without flaw and that Chelsey's health has been smooth sailing, which technically it has, but what you don't hear about is how she comes home from work every day with such a sore back that its hard for her to walk. Not only that but when she does finally sit down, she sometimes gets leg pains that are so sharp, her muscles feel like there tearing (I might be exagerating a little, but i dont know exactly how it feels and I think she deserves a little embelishment). Did I mention yet that our baby is kicking the heck out of her. Sometimes this violent little baby kicks so hard her whole tummy shakes. I dont know what he's doing in there but he's definitely going straight to 'the naughty mat' as soon as he or she gets out. Also, I'm not sure if you've ever thought about it before, but it's pretty much impossible for a pregnant lady to lay on her stomach. This is obvious but did you also know that pregnant women are not supposed to lay flat on their back either? Something to do with pinching an artery and cutting the bloodflow to the legs. Anyways, this only leaves the sides and I think only the left side is recommended, but at the same time when she lays on her side the tummy's weight pulls on her stomach muscles so much it hurts, so she has to prop up the tummy with a pillow. We now sleep with two new friends. The pillow to prop her tummy up, and the pillow to keep her from rolling onto her back. As you could imagine this has made it difficult for her to sleep well. Which reminds me that this human being that has grown inside her belly has taken up so much room that it is crowding her diaphragm and bladder which makes it hard to breathe and makes you need to get up twice every night to empty yourself. I'll stop there as I may have already shared too much, but my point is that Chelsey is defintely a lot more strong and courageous than I am. I would be whining by now like you couldnt believe. Chelsey has faced this all with a humble attitude and accepted it as normal. I just had to take this opportunity to honour her for this and for doing an incredible job of carrying our child. She is amazing!

Other than all of this, our child is healthy and we are really looking forward to it's arrival. We started pre-natal classes last monday night(TERRIFYING). I don't know if the videos were necessary. Chelsey is actually finished working on Monday at noon. She'll be on medical leave until the baby comes and then maternity leave for a year. Man, it would be sweet to have a year off to relax. (Thats a joke in case you didn't know) I'm preaching my first sermon since coming to Victoria this Sunday. A little scary. Youth and Worship stuff is going well. I've been continuously challenged, busy, and either discouraged or encouraged which I believe are all good things. I may be done hunting for the year now(Im pretty sure chels is happy about this). Did you know we get a four month hunting season here in BC (thats exciting for me) I definitely took advantage of this. Ended up with a small whitetail buck and a nice bull elk. Enough meat to fill the freezer. Can't think of anything else right now. Thanks for reading.

Peter

i'll be back.

Oh, honey honey

Sugar...

Before I got pregnant, I was looking into how to cut back on refined sugars. Then a couple of weeks ago when I thought that I might have diabetes, I started looking into it again. I found this report on CBC.ca and thought that I'd share it with you. A lot of you probably don't care, but this is my blog and I can do what I want.

Besides, Tim does it all the time ;)

A Long Obedience

Martin's always graciously lending out his books to people. A few weeks ago he lent one to me. It's by Eugene Peterson and it's called "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction". The tag line is: "Discipleship in an Instant Society".

Friends, I have to say, this book is very good. Every chapter is so full of truth and wisdom. I started writing down specific quotes but I stopped because I was wanting to write down everything. I'm just going to have to get this book for myself. It's one for the permanent collection.

In the first chapter he talks about living life as a tourist (only wanting the high points) or as a pilgrim (someone who is going somewhere). I had never really thought about that before, but it's so true of who I am, who we are conditioned to be. I want things here and now so that we can move onto the next thing. I always start learning something new but when I find that I am not skilled in excellence after a few tries, I give up or I get bored, or I just simply lack the determination to continue on. Usually I am not willing to put in the time to practice, I just expect that I can decide to do something and instantly be amazing at it.

But becoming a disciple takes time. Peterson says that a disciple is a learner, but not in the academic setting of a schoolroom, rather at the work site of a craftsman. He says that we are constantly in a learning-growing relationship with Jesus, whom we are apprenticed to.

I've seen the Rob Bell DVD called "Dust". Recently the young adults had a discussion about it. After a very interesting history lesson, Bell talks a lot about how Jesus is our Rabbi and he picked us and he believes in us and that we are disciples. And that disciples would follow their Rabbis everywhere and were consistently striving to be like their Rabbi. He says that because the disciples were following their Rabbis everywhere, at the end of the day they would be convered in whatever the Rabbi had walked through. He says "May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi".

I don't have any big conclusion or point to ponder.

I just wanted to share with you some things that I've been reading, watching, thinking about, discussing, and trying to live out.

Man, I am so out of the blogging habit.