In which I admit to an unreasonable affection for the Royal Family

I know it's not very cool to admit but here it is: I love the British Royal Family. I know an embarrassing amount about them and their lives. Every time I see OK! magazine has the Royal Family on there - and oh, if there is a wedding! The joy! - I buy it and devour it while eating Dairy Milk bars. If a documentary is on, I watch it. I have an opinion on Fergie, Autumn Phillips (a Canadian! In the Royal Family!), succession planning and I cannot for the life of me wait until William marries Kate.

It's a sickness.

But I have my excuse. See, I grew up in Canada in the 80s. The HEIGHT OF THE PRINCESS DIANA YEARS. We grew up on frothy wedding dresses, doe-eyed beauties and fairy tales. We grew up alongside William and Harry and every morning, after we sang O Canada, we sang God Save the Queen. (Of course, I secretly added "and Princess Diana" to that song.)

Even as the reality of the fairy tale came to light, by now I was a grown up, and able to handle the despair.

And oh, I had a hate on for Prince Charles.

When I was 18, Princess Diana was killed. I remember it like it was yesterday. My Labradorian roommate, Lisa, and I had only known each other for a week or two. We were living in the dorms. We had no TV. And the news broke that Princess Diana had been in an accident, we nearly had a heart attack from lack of news. This was before the Internet, you see. And we were living in Tulsa, Oklahoma so none of the Americans really cared the way that we cared. Their hearts weren't breaking, like ours were, so even when we sought out friends with TVs and begged to watch the news, the coverage was minimal. But at least it was something.

I called my parents, long distance, and begged for $100 to buy a TV. They said yes and so Lisa and I ran to the WalMart in Tulsa (literally, because we had no car) and we bought a 13" TV with a VCR built in, ran back and set up the TV. Still no coverage.

So my mother videotaped about 8 hours of coverage, including the funeral, and priority mailed it to us in Tulsa. We sat on our beds and howled while we watched it, three days later.


I still have that tape (and a VCR, one of the last people in the world with one, I'm sure. It goes nicely with our 27" 10-tonne television.) and I saved every People magazine with her picture on the cover.

Like I said, it's a sickness.

And when William and Kate get married, I will likely sit in front of the TV for 6 days straight and will be able to tell you more about their bridesmaids dresses than I could tell you about my own while eating my body weight in Cadbury's chocolate.

In which I put their life verse up on the walls

Some of you guys may remember that before our tinies were born, we selected a scripture from the Bible for each of them.

When I was a teenager, my parents chose a passage of the Bible and christened it my 'life verse'. By "life verse", they meant that it was meant to be a blessing to me, to speak life over me and to help me. It was meant to be something I turn to, something that I memorize so that at least one Scripture would always be hidden in my heart whenever I needed encouragement and focus.

The verse they selected was Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope."

I just typed that out from memory. Evidently, it worked.

I've found over the years since then that it has indeed been my "life verse" in ways that they couldn't have foreseen. When I struggled with direction in my life, when I lost my babies, when I was confused, angry, lost or afraid, this verse would rise up out of the ashes of my heart and remind me that God had plans for me, good plans, and that I have hope. It amazes me how many times in my life I have turned to these thirty simple words for comfort and hope.

So when we discovered that I was pregnant with Anne, I informed Brian that we decided that our babies would each get a life verse. In the evenings, I would pour through the Bible, praying, and wait. Wait for that quickening in my spirit when I was reading, that jump in my heart as if to say, "Ah, yes. THIS is it." We did the same thing with Joseph. I always knew when I found the right verse...it just fit.

Then we would begin to pray this verse over our babies. I whisper it into their baby hair when we rock in the middle of the night.  I write it in their baby books. We put them on the walls in their rooms. We even put the references on their Christmas stockings, for heaven's sake. (Maybe we overdo it? Us? Overdo something? Never.)

Anne's life verse is from Ephesians 3:17-19 - Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

And Joseph's life verse is from Colossians 1: 9-12 - So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

We chose verses that contain our hopes, prayers and dreams for their lives. We pray, hiding the Word in their heart - and our own, praying that we are setting them on a path so that when they are old, they will not depart from it.

So I contacted Urban Walls, a Lower Mainland based designer, and they bravely took ALL OF THOSE WORDS and made a vinyl wall decal to our specs. We just put them up on their walls and are so thrilled.

Originally, I had planned to do a lovely script for the font but my mum suggested making the letters plain to read so that they will be able to read them sooner.

I am having a hard time not going overboard with their Etsy shop.

The one with the Fruit of the Spirit? The trees?

I could paper my house in these things. (Obsessive? Me?)

Do your tinies have a life verse? Do you?

And yes, I know that Jon Acuff makes fun of all of us for doing it. But I still love it - I'm not ashamed! (After all, I'm no hipster...)

In which this is my perfect Sunday because I am easily pleased

Much as I like having company, it's nice to have the house to ourselves again. To return to the routine we love, to wash and fold sheets, to be Just Us again. I'm of a personality that retreats, pulls back and quiets down when tired or over-socialised so I indulged in some serious cave-dwelling this Sunday.

Brian has been working on call all this week. On the positive side, he's nearly doubled his paycheque with all of the extra hours. On the negative, we hadn't seen him for about 6 days and he's only had about 3 hours of sleep a night. His phone is constantly ringing and he just finishes one job when the phone rings again. So he was gone for the morning but we were pleasantly surprised that his phone didn't ring past 4 o'clock, giving him a whole evening with us.


We skipped church because my tinies were in a state of exhaustion after the full house and I could foresee a meltdown that would snag the pantyhose of the pew gentry if we ventured to church. We lazed about and the tinies took an early (and long) nap each.

I laid in our broken lazy-boy and watched Steel Magnolias while knitting a slouchy little hat in some mighty fine yarn. I just finished a winter hat for Anne and a hockey-watching afghan for Joseph, so I feel perfectly justified in making something just for me.

Then I came upstairs and turned the iPod to Patty Griffin's Downtown Church. I could listen to Patty Griffin sing the Doxology and You're Coming Home to Me for about 607 years and still not be tired of it. We went to see her and Buddy Miller live at the Commodore in Vancouver a few months ago. I remember that I stood up in the balcony with a small glass of red wine, my eyes closed, just breathing it all in, because it felt like water on a thirsty soul, neglecting to talk with friends or sway appropriately, just standing, stock still, absorbing the warmth of the upright bass.

I set up concocting some comfort food for us all. Brian came home, exhausted, so I tucked him into bed for a quick nap before the tinies woke up. Sunday afternoon naps, cool breeze through the windows, sprawled limbs are a gorgeous sight.

It makes me happy to stand in my kitchen, when the house is still, just chopping the carrots and green beans Brian grew in his garden, making gloriously creamy mashed potatoes, thinking of feeding us on good simple food. It also makes me happy that summer is coming to an end, the Autumn-Lover in me is full of anticipation, and it's cool enough to turn on the oven, to plot cinnamon candles and think about baking.

When the tinies woke up, Brian took them outside so that they could ride bikes and draw with their sidewalk chalk. I could hear them outside the window. Anne is learning how to print her name. She did about 20 versions of A-N-N-E but her N's have about 14 lines in them. She has informed me that she doesn't like how I do N (you know, the right way) and her way is much more fun so these will be her N's from now on.


And don't show me! Don't show me! Let me just do it myself, my way! 

(Somewhere my parents are laughing and hooting "Karma!" at my expense, I'm sure.)

After supper, we bathed the babies. They smelled clean as a whistle, like heaven on earth and comfort disguised as wet lavender hair and baby lotion, fabric softener scented jammies. We curled up on the couch and read The Little Engine That Could and Stellaluna and Madeline in London again. Joe still lays close, his chubby fist buried in my hair, hanging on tight.

When they tinies were prayed and kissed and tucked in, Brian collapsed into bed, too tired to carry on. I made a gigantic mug of Earl Grey tea, dropped a shot of vanilla syrup into it along with a splash of milk and started to read Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson, about honesty and tearing off your mask and being vulnerable in Christian community, letting go of the culture of perfectionism but it's one part book, one part poetry, one part art project, a beautiful book.

Then I went to bed. And Brian woke up so we laid in bed and talked. We'd get to laughing and someone would SSSSSSHHHH! the other because the babies might wake up. We held hands in the dark and fell asleep, like we have for nearly 10 years, beside each other.

So it was a lovely Sunday, full of the simple joys that make me feel more settled in my soul. 

I'm easily pleased, when it comes down to it, and my list of things that make me happy is very extensive.

How was your Sunday? What are a few simple pleasures that make you happy?

In which these are capturing my eyes and my heart this weekend

A few links for your weekend wanderings. Enjoy!

Parenting

What an incredible story this is about the importance of skin-on-skin contact with newborns and following your instincts.  Miracle mum brings premature baby son back to life with two hours of loving cuddles after doctors pronounce him dead

My tinies love to "help" around the house and I found this age-appropriate listing of tasks and how to involve your children in caring for the home over at Simple Kids very helpful.

Me, Elsewhere

This is all it takes to be a hero evidently from 5 Minutes for Parenting

Grand Dedication: Milestone for the first Mercy Home in Canada at SheLoves

My post about the Instructions for the Morning has also been picked up by Mamapedia Voices now.

Back to School! at the Fraser Valley Pulse.

Faith

I twittered one day that if I heard one more reference to the phrase "hipster Christianity," I was going to barf on my shoes. Julie Clawson wrote one of the best responses to this popular and misguided book o'stereotypes and missing-the-point-ness I've heard yet. 

A unique voice in Christian blogging, Kathy writes "and while i’m not in any way saying that “big is bad” i think i’m more convinced than ever that  “small is plenty.” i was in a conversation with a dear sister-on-the-journey a while back & she said, “kathy, i just want a small deep rich life.  that’s enough for me. i don’t want to travel the world, change the course of history. i just want to live my little life well.” those words have lingered.  that’s what i want, too.  sure, i have visions of grandeur here and there, but that mainly comes from getting sucked into what other people are doing instead of keeping my eyes focused on the loveliness right in front of me that is made to be enjoyed, valued, treasured, nurtured, cultivated, honored."

A powerful little parable completely animated on an iPad and read beautifully.

Life or something like it

Remembering Katrina, 5 years later from The Big Picture. They've collected iconic images of New Orleans and the devastation, the clean up and current situation.

Hobo Mama writes about Losing Weight and Keeping Self-Worth. As someone that has a complex relationship with her body and weight (meaning: I hate when I'm fat which I am right now) I found her perspective refreshing as she shares about letting go of the fantasy of being thin and just living your life now while appreciating your body.

"We all know that when we invite transparency into our lives, the first thing it unpacks from its suitcase is risk."  Megan at SortaCrunchy shares about being transparent, resisting the "Edit" button and the Photoshopping. Given my commitment to living a life free from approval addiction, this really resonated with me.  .

For the Win!

We are welcoming our first residents at the Mercy House this coming week. We're so excited, nervous and full of anticipation! It's a dream come true, the end of the beginning. 

If you'd like to take a look at the newly renovated home, visit Jamie Delaine's blog. She's a renowned Vancouver photographer that donates her sessions and photos to Mercy Ministries as part of her partnership (and tremendous heart). You'll be staggered at the details to communicate love, worth and value to these precious women.

So if you wouldn't mind praying for the girls as they transition into their new life as well as our staff, we'd appreciate it.

In which this is what I'm into this month

 
What Am I Into This Month - August 2010 

On My Nightstand:

• Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson,  
• Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community by Andrew Marin,  
• The Message,  
• Approval Addiction: Overcoming Your Need to Please Everyone by Joyce Meyer and  
• Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ by Jeanne Guyon.

Want To Read:

• What Bothers Me Most About Christianity: Honest Reflections from an Open-Minded Christ Follower by Ed Gungor,  
• The Misunderstood God: Lies Religion Tells About God by Darin Hufford and  
• Scouting the Divine by Margaret Feinberg.

T.V. Show Worth Watching: I've become a ginormous (what? That's not a word? Pssssh.) of Glee and my husband has politely asked me if we will ever again listen to anything other than show choir versions of pop music on the iPod (answer: not anytime soon, luv). Also I picked up Season 1 of Heartland at the library and am pleasantly surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. It's a great show to watch while knitting - interesting and family friendly without being sappy or lame.

Movie I've Seen (in our out of the theatre): Capitalism: A Love Story and Date Night. I'm mighty impressed that there are two movies there - it's usually closer to, um, none.

In My Kitchen: My dishwasher is broken! My dishwasher is broken! And this month has been crazy  between Anne's birthday party, my in-laws visiting and now having a houseful of Gina-sprites, I am good and done with washing dishes. 2 more weeks until our new dishwasher arrives. *happy sob*  Otherwise, I'm currently eating a lot of Brian's garden bounty and are up to our necks in green beans. Once the tomatoes are finished ripening (late season this year for some reason), I'll also be learning how to do down.

In My Ears: I have just discovered Audrey Assad and am thoroughly in love.Seriously. Love.

Three Newest Blog Reads:

• Kristin at Halfway to Normal. Fantastic writer and incredibly personable and kind. According to her, she's "daily defying what it means to be a divorced-Christian-liberal-remarried-Midwestern-mommy-writer."
• Crunchy Domestic Goddess is a very well known blogger but I'm a new reader. Great content from someone wanting to "change the world, one blog post at a time."
• Permission to Live also known as A Young Mum's Musings. She writes openly and authentically with conviction about her beliefs, her decisions and even her realisations such as this heartbreaking but victorious post about never being good enough.

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month: The arrival of the dishwasher, September 2 (more on that shortly), Joseph's 2nd birthday and our VERY FIRST getaway weekend since having our tinies. We're headed down to Seattle to meet one of Brian's dearest friends and his wife to see the Nebraska Cornhuskers in action (I'll be bringing my knitting) and generally hang out. But you know, able to sleep in which sounds brilliant right now.

Linked up at SortaCrunchy for this fun idea.