January Light

I just realized I never posted photos from December.  Hopefully I'll rectify that but tonight won't be the night as I want to get to bed.  

I am sitting typing in my kitchen with a new bright light shining over my sink.  An electrician came this morning to fix a light that stopped working in our laundry room.  To make the most of the one-hour fee, we also had three light fixtures changed on our main floor.  Isaac commented how nice it was to have a bright light when he came in the door from his piano lesson tonight.  

Graham also changed the light in the garage and laundry room to motion-detector lights and those have brightened up those spaces as well.  I'm so thankful God brought those other lights to mind as two of them have been here for almost 20 years (well, we've been here for almost 20 years) and they have never been my favourite.  

Graham blessed me with a Kindle for Christmas.  While I do enjoy turning the pages of a real book, I decided to jump in and order some books I've been wanting, thankful for the reduced price.  I've really been enjoying Justin Whitmel Earley's book called Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms.  

I've only read 70% so far but we have a few new practices in our home that will become habits.  I try to kneel beside my bed and pray as soon as I get out of bed in the morning "and spend the first moment of morning looking for the light" (Loc 708), we now light a candle before we start our supper and say, "Christ is our light and Lord."  Once a week I am asking a new catechism question during supper (I use an app with simple answers).  I'm also trying to include reconciliation as part of the process of apologizing and forgiving in the family.  There are other ideas I want to implement as well.  It was published in 2021 but I wish I could have read it when my kids were small.  Here's one long excerpt from the chapter called Waking:

"When the first thing I do in the morning is roll over, grab my phone, and begin scanning work emails, I wake to the monsters of performance.  The story of reality is about what I can get accomplished today and whether I can justify my existence.  When I begin the morning in social media, I wake to the monsters of comparison and envy.... When I begin the morning in the news headlines, the monsters of fear and anger nearly jump through the screen.... Or when I lie in bed recounting the day's to-do list (or when I jump up and immediately start the rush to get everyone out the door on time), I wake to the monster of busyness.  The story of reality is how there is always too much to do and never enough time to do it.... At best, the morning rituals of a household support the reality that God loves us and that his love is the defining fact of the universe.  Here our habits of waking serve as gospel liturgies that push us into the arms of a father who loves us, and then send us out into the world to love others.  But at worst, our habits of waking indulge alternative realities where the universe depends on us and what we do today.  This is the gospel of humankind, where our rituals tell us that we have to keep up to survive and turn the household into a school of rush, fear, and frustration.... we must see that the first role of a parent is not to get everyone up on time but to root our household habits of waking in the truth of the gospel.  For in the story of God, our call is not simply to wake up our bodies each day but to awaken our hearts to God's love." (Loc 660-669)

I've been enjoying volunteering with Strong Start one morning a week, playing literacy games one-on-one with three children.  

Isaac had his grad photos taken last week.  How is my first-born going to High School in September?  We toured his future school earlier this month and he's looking forward to attending.  

I went to a presentation on Vaping, Alcohol, and Cannabis at Isaac's school last night.  It was quite shocking and sad to hear about new nicotine products that are not restricted by age and look similar to one gum or candy package.  One local gas station attendant told the public health nurse that this product sold out the first day they had it in stock.  I looked  at some of the packages for cannabis edibles that look just like candy or even Doritos.  One mother commented about how cool vaping looks.  The devices look slick and they smell fruity and they start addictions young.  

Isaac was invited to play in a new jazz band at his school and I just registered him for an Honour Band in May.  He enjoys playing the trumpet.  He's also going to take part in Kiwanis to help him prepare for his next piano exam later this year.  

As a treat before school started, we went to the movies for the first time as a family.  This was also Lily-Anna's first time at a movie theatre.  We watched Migration and we had reclining seats.  That was a first for me but it made me want to only have reclining seats in the future.  I was sad that I didn't discover until after the movie ended that I could have raised the arm rest between Lily-Anna and me.  I missed out on some snuggling.  We had a fun time.  

We've been playing some more games including Dutch Blitz.  The expansion pack arrived today so that we can all play together.  Isaac also looked up how to play the game oware and mancala that I bought in Ghana in the summer of 2000.  Both boys can easily beat me. 

I'm also loving writing down three blessings in my Gratitudes and Beatitudes Journal each night before bed.  Speaking of bed, it's time to say goodnight.  Hopefully photos will come but not tonight.  

Blessings,

Elizabeth

Matthew 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.