Does the SPCA offer a club card?

We are on a first name basis at the local SPCA thanks to our old yellow lab. I can assure you this is not a good thing. If they offered a frequent flyer program or issued tax deductible receipts for impound fees then then sting of repeated "pick ups" wouldn't hurt so much. Needless to say, they don't have a club card so we need to figure out a better system of pet confinement. You would have thought that after 13 years either we would have smartened up or our dog would have tired of running away. Regardless of his arthritis and large growth on his back leg, he can't seem to resist the temptation of roaming the neighbourhood scoping out garbage. To make matters worse, the SPCA is located less than a half kilometre from our house. How convenient.

On his most recent visit the kind ladies had a soft heart and (after my sob story) said "how about we just pretend he never came here today".

"He's old, somedays he barely makes it off his bed" I told them, "our other dogs are always fenced or contained but this old guy is clearly not a public hazard".

So, this morning when I went for a run with our other hound and her sister in crime (my sister's dog) I had to make good on my declaration that I always contain these pooches. The fact of the matter is that when I run with them I don't usually use a leash. But now that the SPCA has given me a free pass I had better follow the rules more carefully. As I was dragged down the road by 200 lbs of fur sharing a single leash I regretted my claims of being a perfect pet owner. Great, now I am the neighbourhood weirdo who is too cheap to buy 2 leashes so instead risks life and limb taking 2 massive dogs for a run on what was designed to walk one cocker spaniel. I did my best to control them but have to confess that my bylaw following persona only lasted until I reached the trails at the end of our street. "The SPCA isn't open until 10" I told myself "I will figure out a safer method and turn over my new leaf tomorrow". I guess that I will be making a trip to the pet store today. Arrggh.

The best curriculum choice

Here I sit enjoying a little break at a coffee shop (by myself), sipping on a warm and soothing cup of chai. Mmmm. My hubby volunteered to solo the after supper clean-up and bed time so that I could get out for a bit. I came here hoping to do some planning for the fast approaching school year and to read my bible without distraction.

On my drive here I had some time to pray silently and to ask God what He would desire for my children this year. I have 3 kids school age this year so I want to start the year somewhat organized and with at least a rough plan of our goals for each subject. Most of my books have already arrived and our school room is looking neater than it ever has!! Still, I find myself asking "so I have the book curriculum but how do I really teach my kids to love Jesus and desire to serve Him"? I often hear people talking about character development of their children. Sounds great. So I prayed to God as I drove asking Him to direct me to curriculum or studies that would help us with character development.

His answer came to me as I sifted through blogs and articles online with sweet chai spice still on my tongue and warm in my tummy. "I don't want children with good character, I want children who love me. Character is the fruit, we first of all need a healthy tree. Jesus did not come to change the outward but to renew the inward." I know that there isn't a workbook or a curriculum that will satisfy this. I need to rely on His word in the bible and daily prayer and submission to His spirit. He wants more than boxes checked off and learning outcomes satisfied, He wants all of us.

Home sweet home

Holidays are great but it also feels good to come home. It is especially nice to come home in the summer to blooming flowers and an abundance of fresh veggies in the garden. Thanks to a great drip-line watering system and some faithful family, our garden stayed nice and lush in the heat. What a treat to feast upon homegrown peas, cucumber, zucchini and tomatoes. We were also spoiled this morning with a visit with family and some freshly cured bacon and farm eggs. Yes, it is good to be home!

I am mindful at the same time not to hold on too tightly to my treasures here. I am thankful for the temporal comforts we have but they won't last eternally. God keeps reminding me of this truth and my need to focus on His unfading truth and treasure and not the things that "moth and rust destroy" (Matthew 6:20).

Opening New Doors

I love watching my kids try new things and take on new challenges. Our oldest daughter has really enjoyed  learning how to kayak on this vacation. She is only 7 but has great balance and strength for her small size. She loves the independence of paddling her own boat and of being in charge of her own little expedition.

Our oldest son hasn't taken so keenly to kayaking. He often struggles with sensory issues and anxiety about new things. He joined his dad for a short paddle but made it quite clear that he didn't like getting wet from the cold water. It is always a balancing act of encouraging your children to try new things yet not pushing them to do what they don't like. This can be especially hard with kids that are wired in a unique way- such as our oldest! He is a wonderful child with many hidden doors. You just have to find the right key sometimes to access those talents and ideas. My goal for tomorrow is to see if I can find another key and help him enjoy a new discovery. 

Vacation time!

Summer holidays- relaxing, stress free fun. Well kind of, except for the packing. I find the packing has become exponentially more difficult over the years. Not only do we need more stuff with more children, but I have become more uptight about making sure we have enough food, clothing and comforts to last. Since this particular holiday involves boating to remote destinations, there isn't the option to stop at a store if we need to pick something up. The past few days I have just kept telling myself "it will be worth it once we are there". Now we are here and it was worth it.

My hubby and I sipped on drinks on the deck of our rented boat this evening admiring the beauty of the surroundings while our children watched a DVD inside. The air was calm, the ocean like glass and the temperature perfect. What a blessing to be able to spend a week like this as a family. Of course today had its share of meltdowns and arguments but we can't expect to leave the realities of family life at home when we go on a vacation. I have sometimes been guilty of thinking that holidays should be a time of peaceful bliss. What a crazy notion! Who crams a family into a confined space with a new routine and expects it to be calm? Wishful thinking, I know. God has been revealing to me that unrealistic expectations breed disappointment and unthankfulness. He has a wonderful plan for us when we adventure together as a family, but it won't unfold the way my simple little mind would like it to! God always has such a better itinerary when I commit each day to Him. I can't wait to see what He has in store for us over the next week. Thankfully I can still blog as long as we have cell service!

The Greatest Little Tour Guide

I often find myself trying to hurry the kids through the routines of the evening so that they can get to bed at a decent time. It is so much harder to settle everyone for the night when the sun hasn't yet set and when their daddy is away and can't cuddle and pray with each of them. So, the other night I tried to run down to the field to bring the horse in for the night while the kids got on their PJs. The youngest wasn't going to let me go on my own so I reluctantly brought him with me knowing it would slow down my quick job.  First, he had to find his yellow boots. He insisted that shoes or sandals were NOT appropriate "Mommy I da farmer" he explained. Fair enough, boots are much better in poop than sandals. Then he was determined to walk down to the barn in spite of the fact that he tripped twice between the door and the edge of the patio. Excitedly he half ran, half stumbled his way across the yard. Once in the barn, he designated himself as the rope carrier. "Mommy, you carry the halter"- wow, who can argue with a 2 year old that knows what a halter is! Awkwardly he carried the lead rope by himself all the way out to the field where we both agreed that I should be the one to put the halter on our horse. However, on the return trip he proudly held on to the end of the rope while he pointed out everything that caught his attention.  He laughed as we passed the goats in the field "you see that, you see that goat mommy". And as we continued "mommy, look at that big tree", "mommy, you see that bird? It goes caw caw", "look mommy, the piggies say oink oink", "mommy, you hear that airplane?"

Yep, little J sure had the right idea. What was the hurry? If I hadn't slowed down enough to take him I might have missed out on enjoying the beauty of God's creation and I certainly would have missed out on the greatest evening walk I have had in a long time- with my little boy at my side so eager to please me, so eager to share all that he was learning and experiencing. I silently prayed for forgiveness as we returned to the house. I know that these are the moments I will cherish for years. "Sorry Lord for being in such a hurry that I almost missed out on your blessing. Sorry for being more worried about the clock than the growth of my child's character. Sorry for not slowing down and asking for your strength and guidance on these busy evenings." And as He always does, He forgave. With a smile and renewed patience I returned thankfully to the evening routine- later than I had planned but happier too!

Not just a bunch of round pegs

Sun, friends, family and laughter. That is what a good summer day is made of. Yesterday was filled with those things and I went to bed thankful and satisfied. My kids went to bed dirty but happy.

Playing and having fun with people that enjoy each other's company, quirks and all, is something that I really appreciate. Letting my kids be themselves and relax isn't always "acceptable". I am not talking about letting my children be rude or disrespectful of others but of being able to celebrate our own uniqueness. Not everyone understands this perspective, but parents of non- typical kids certainly know what I am talking about. It is more about realizing that God has given us each our own unique way of perceiving and interpreting the world around us. One person may be enthralled by the bee buzzing on the flowers, another by the passing vehicles, and another may not notice either as they carry on a conversation with a friend. If you look around at a picnic you might notice that people can enjoy the same event in very different ways. Some people favour the food, others the games and others the people. Others may struggle to figure out how to fit into the bustle of activity, what is appropriate and how to participate.

Having a child with autism spectrum disorder is a blessing in this sense because it opens your eyes to the beauty of diversity. It shows you that square pegs don't need to be forced into round holes- the Lord created square pegs for their own specific purpose. We can appreciate one another's uniqueness and laugh at our own blunders. Next time you are with someone that is a square peg, be thankful. Learn from each other and accept each other- after all, maybe you're not such a perfectly round peg yourself.