To know Liam

I have been reading (as I am sure we all are) Kimberley's blog for updates on Liam. I hesitate to write as Kimberley's account is obviously the most accurate we can get. However, I wanted to share with you the amazing kid that God has blessed each of us who know him.

This is a kid who first of all loves the Lord Jesus with all his heart. He's the cutest little evangalist I have met. Liam's smile entices his eyes and together they touch your heart to the very deepest part. His polite nature compliments his inquisitive personality. His beautiful brown eyes see so much - and if you look closely you can almost see what he's thinking.

A comic clown he often is. Pranks, jokes and funny remarks are always fun to share. A child who listens to his parents - I am sure even in times when he would prefer not to. Like the times when he KNOWS like he knows that he shouldn't accept offers of the candy machine at the sports centre where we worship on Sunday's. He waivers only for seconds before saying "no thank you". His hugs sometimes are given on the run - just because he knows he has to hug his mom's old friends until he turns 18! Some days he almost smashes you over as he runs to hug you and say HI! He's 8 going on 23 - wiser than I think we realize.

He brings a smile to my face every moment I think of him.

Pray for our beautiful little friend for complete healing!!

xxoo
Cheri

When you REALLY least expect it

Once again I can share that it has been a while since I wrote. Honestly, I have allowed the "busyness" of my life to take a foothold. Have you heard the old saying that the older you get the faster life flies by? Well... I can personally say that it is not an old "saying", it is the truth. My days although the same hours as everyone around me, seems to have less minutes in the hour!! My intentions often don't get further than the thoughts processed in my brain. So back to the drawing board to get myself on track with many things!

The past month has brought many needs for prayer for friends and families around us. We have been praying continually for Liam (Jason & Kimberley's son - my "adopted" nephew - long story!). Laim's diagnosis of a brain tumor has truly left all of us overwhelmed. My personal thoughts and feelings have been what I call "honestly human" . You know, those moments when you jump into "react " mode before even going to God in prayer.

When Kimberley called me to share the news from the doctor, I must admit I was so emotional that I was of little support to Kimberley. It took me quite a few days to get it together enough to to keep from breaking down around them. Sometimes you get hit right in the face with a situation that you have no choice but handle. I was thinking of skipping church the first Sunday after I found out the news, however Kimberley didn't give me a chance to even entertain the idea. She and all four children showed up at the store the Saturday after the news, with flowers and smiles. What more could anyone do but smile in the face of a strong and incredible young boy and a mom who truly needs each of her friends to stand strong and faithful in prayer for her son? If nothing works to keep you together - try Strawberry Frapachino's with four little kids!!

I was thinking how could I share the prayer requests for Liam without repeating the updates Kimberley is sharing? I wanted to write prayer requests on the blog, yet didn't know which way to do it. So... what I hope to do is share the jouney ahead from what God is doing in their lives that effect us as we walk with them. I have watched as Kimberley & Jason's incredible faith and belief that Jesus is who He says He carry them forward and hold them up. It is without a doubt that they know like they know that Jesus hears their prayers and is watching over Liam. They have stood firm in the face of such an incredible trial. They live out what they know and believe.
All of you who know Kimberley have heard her say if only I could get them to "know what I know".

In times of trails when we are tired and possibly doubting, we must go back to what we know! Jason shared with me a thought about being so close to a situation that we can't see the entire picture...only what is immediately in front of our eyes. He had me stand right up with my nose to Liam's picture. He then asked me what I saw... to which I responded, hair and one ear. He then had me stand back a bit from the picture and again asked me what I saw. From a distance I was able to firstly see Liam's face in full, his long hair his grinning smile, dancing eyes, his shirt and the background of the picture. Ahhh I discovered, to stand back and see the picture in it's entirety brings a total different perspective. I think Jason shared it like this... "God is the artist/painter -we don't know the strokes of the brush until He places it on the paper. He knows the strokes of His brush, we don't. We have to wait to see the entire picture to know or understand.

So..I am working hard at not asking "why". I am focusing on what God is going to bring out of all of this. One thing I know for sure is Liam is an incredible witness to Christ and without a doubt the nurses and doctors at the hospital will be in for an anwesome experience as they get to know our Liam.

Please continue praying with all of us as we walk with Kimberley & Jason.

Cheri

When we least expect it....

Life just keeps happening. I get up in the morning with so much intention and by the end of the month (after many mornings of intention), I realize that somewhere along the line.... I just didn't get to it, whatever it was!

I have attempted to write a few times this past months. I start out with a few lines and then once again face the writing "dry spell". I was encouraged by a friend to write about the "dry spell" and I think I tried... but faced little success. And then sometimes when we least expect it....

Today I received a note from my one daughter. She shared that sometimes she didn't really see things and sometimes doesn't say much - but she thinks I am a big part of the "spark" she carries in life. I was very touched and humbled by her words. I joked a bit inside thinking... "oh no - her crazy and passionate personality is my fault"!. After the chuckle, I was more humbled by my ability to effect who she is and who she could and will be. A racing thought entered my mind, if only I could start over with all four of my children. Start over with a purpose and plan of how I was going to guide their walk, encourage each of them in their individuality, shape them to incredible heights with my utmost ability. If only.....

I think about the "silver lining" of who each of us really are. The lining that lies quietly below the worldly elements of who we are in reaction to a world around us. The protected core that is tucked safely below the human walls we create to survive the crashing waves of life. The core that shines like a precious gem. This core is the element of who we are. He created that core - do we know why?

I can only begin to imagine how our Father paces with anticipation, excitement and wonder just waiting to see what we are going to do with all He has done to ignite our individual sparks, to mould us exactly as He wants us. How touched He is when we just stop and share our hearts with him. How thrilled He is when His precious child thrives with love, passion and spark.

How blessed we are that we have our Father who watches from above with more love in His heart for us than we could possibly imagine.

Catching up....

I can't believe that since I last wrote, the months have carried off heat waves, dusty veranda's, rain, pine trees topping off with snow and ice storms that have left slushy sidewalks and highways behind. You will notice that I kind of ran through summer, fall and winter months that I have watch fly by. I do hope the past months have been significantly less hectic for most of you.

Gerald and I have kept ourselves busy at our home church, the Milton Sanctuary with plugging into our "body builder team" (I will explain that one another time), our home church group and the challenging adventure of opening our new business. We opened our business (Invitations by SanSheira's) in the middle of October and have learned much (business opearation can be a university eduction!!) We are blessed and have begun to see good results of the hard work. God has brought some very interesting moments through the people we hvae met in the store, moments that go beyond the growth of the business. We have met people and connected with them on a personal level and on a few instances have had the opportunity to pray for some of them and their families.

We recently adopted a dog who was facing life in an animal shelter as his "mom" had taken seriously ill. This dog's name is Rayner (Ray as I prefer). He's a cute dog - but seems to have some trust and fear issues that have become apparent in a few not so thrilling moments with him. There have been times when we wondered if we made the right choice to rescue him and make our home his. However, he has us over a barrel with his continuous wagging tail, and display of incredible intelligence and obvious appreciation and love he has for us.

Our children are doing good and we are hanging in ( personally by my fingernails!) through some interesting events ranging from yellow-green hair to nose peircing. I can't help but wonder what some of the "trends" are really all about. I had an education yesterday in the world of real fashion. I picked-up a magazine at my daughter's work and commented on a model who had a beautiful hand knit scarf wrapped so heavily all over head that she appeared to have a cobra snake as body. The words "who in the world would wear this outfit" sprang out of my mouth, which brought some almost silent giggles and finally my education in the world of fashion. This particular magazine displayed the "couture" of fashion (not how someone would actually wear a fashion). So, apparently people don't really wear these crazy outfits (like lampshades on their head etc). I had to laugh at myself and my lack of "fashion" understanding..... Oh how interesting it has been.

In speaking to many people recently I have noted a common element in moods these days. The negative thoughts and attitudes (ever had moments like this?) So, I have decided to decide to ensure I don't dwell on the negatives we are faced with, but to choose to look and focus on the positive. With a chosen positive attitude we will be able to encourage others and in turn we will be surrounded by incredibly positive people who will shine down like a ray of heavenly sun.

I recently read in 1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love eachother deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewarts of God's grace in its various forms. If you speak, you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If ou serve, you should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. "

Praise God that He is always faithful and watches us ever so closely, loving us through the good and the bad. Let us continually focus on the positive as we ditch the negative. May we love eachother with all we have and may the only grumbling we hear is the thunderstorms brought on by the heat waves soon to be upon us!!

God Bless!

Cheri

The Best Friendships

We have been quite busy these days - and it seems as though two weeks have flown by since I last shared. We spent this past weekend with our friends CAMPING at Long Point. An adventure that both my husband and I have not experienced in many years. Despite sleeping on a mattress that did not have the "memory foam" stamp, we managed to make it through two nights of tent sleeping. It would be beneficial if a remote control device was invente that would open the door zippers of the tent so that we wouldn't have to bend down to the very bottom of the floor to get out!

We had a wonderful time with our friends sharing meals, playing "golf", swimming, chatting, visiting, sweeping sand from our shoes, swim suits, vehicles, coolers and anything else that sand would find home to. My favorite time was the volley ball games at the beach Saturday afternoon (and into the early evening) in the rain. It was especially rewarding watching the younger children displaying their talent as they wacked the ball around the sandy court (often knocking someone off their feet!). I wonder if my husband's position in the sand was one of those moments??!!

We shared in laughter, pranks and pure FUN with our awesome friends. There were quite a few moments that I smiled in awe of the 29 people who were strangers to eachother six years ago - have been brought together and now share an incredible bond of friendship, love and extended family.

On behalf of each of us - we thank you Louise for arranging this weekend. It was a blast!

Shadow of His Wings

A couple of weeks ago I had a great weekend with my cousin, her husband and their three young girls at our cottage. It had been quite a while since we were able to spend time together so it was quite a gift. Tonight I opened a picture of their youngest little girl holding the neighbour's puppy. She was so excited to pick up the puppy and wrap her arms around him. She held him tightly close to her and looked up at us with a look of excitement, love and pride. The poor little puppy wasn't as excited to be hugged and loved by our little one and he began to squirm his way out of her arms. In no time he fell out of her arms to the floor. Without broken paws, bruises or bangs he ran into the living room with his tail wagging. Our little girl quietly looked at him with worry and I am sure a bit of a hurt heart.

That memory had me thinking that Jesus must feel the same emotions when He sees us. He is so excited that He wants to pull us near and hug us close with His protective arms. Only too often we squirm out of His loving, protective arms, running away and often falling on our faces. The good news is that He is still standing there waiting to scoop us back up again, despite the number of times we struggle to squirm away.

I am thankful He never tires of picking us up. It is not He that drops us to our faces, it is our squirming that does. He loves us and covers us with abounding love and grace. I am confident that I can run to Him for protection and refuge in the most difficult of times. He will pour out His reassurance and love and provide a place of rest for us at all times.

Matthew 18:12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will He not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if He finds it, I tell you the truth, He is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

Psalm 57:1 "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed."

Sometimes in the midst of trials or troubles, I have found myself running, flailing my arms and pacing in a place of confusion forgetting to seek refuge in His arms. This week if you find yourself facing trails or troubles, seek Him through prayer, worship and scripture. He promises to be there.

Night....... Cheri

Part 3 - "The Beginning"

As you have probably gathered from my writing the past two days, I am truly in awe of the world around us - the incredible and magnificent miracles we are surrounded by. I seem to take more notice of the creations of nature when I am at the cottage. I look forward to my moments of ponder and reflection where time almost stands still for me in the "forgotten village" where our cottage is.

In the forgotten village, there are no interrputions of busy highway traffic, the rush of the world in my normal days in the city with the honking horns, barking dogs and squeeling car tires a place where it is not possible to hear the buzzing from the bees, dragon flies and other such insects. Sitting by the lake I am able to hear the buzz of the black fly as he furiously zooms about his business. I am able to hear the small still quiet of the day.

I find myself wondering things like;

How awesome it is that He formed so many rocks of so many varied textures and colours.

How interesting it is that He planted grass to grow in such diverse blade sizes, shapes, and colours. I wonder why He created so many types of birds, each with their own distinct colouring, size, chirp and cry? I continually ask, why did He create snakes?? (that's with a double question mark!) He created so many little creatures for our distinct pleasure, yet I am not sure why He thought we'd find pleasure with misquitos all summer, black flies in May and again, snakes slithering almost hidden in the grass.

I am grateful for the magnificent beauty, power and wonder of the lakes of water. I smile as I watch the blue dragon fly land on my toe as I ponder creation, but why is it that he never sits long enough for me to get his picture? I adore the little chipmunks that rush along the side of the cottage looking for food, stopping only for an instant to check me out.

After spending a couple hours pondering and writing, I lay back on the lawn chair, arms folded behind my head, I am met with blazing warm sun caressing my face and I know it is He who waved His hand so that a warm breeze of wind would gently brush over my face leaving the swishing sound of air in my ears.

Please be encouraged to continually bask in the glory of all He has created. Be aware of the most magnificent power and glory of our God, the creator of not only this beautifully forgotten village, but of our universe and all that is in it.

Oh, by the way, I hear the loud banging of dropping charcoal on metal and a sigh of relief.... looks like my husband has completed his venture.... dinner shall be served from the BBQ tonight.

Genesis 1:1-2 - Recap

And God said, "Let there be light", and there was light......."

And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water...."

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky...."

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth..."

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground....."

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea...."

Take time this week reading and pondering Genesis 1-2 - "The Beginning"

Night & God Bless,
Cheri