Today God reminded me who's in control and that everything happens for a reason. I had plans to have coffee with Leonie, but instead He brought someone to my house to have coffee with me (since as it turned out Leonie had to cancel our coffee time due to a man's passing in the community). It's actually quite interesting how everything happened. Had so many things been different this morning I would not have met Jeannie. I was supposed to be gone but (as usual) I was running late. Jeannie came to see Brian at work to drop something off but he wasn't in the office so she came to my door looking for him. It was really cold and she was on foot so I asked her if she wanted to come in for coffee and we started chatting and sharing stories. She mentioned she had a son going to school in Ottawa in a special program for Inuit students. I was really excited to tell her about the article in January's edition of Reader's Digest (Titled "Northern Elite") about this school (Nunavut Sivuniksavut) and how the article highlights a young man from Coral Harbour. Well would you believe that the young man in the article is Jeannie's son? She had no idea about the article. Can you imagine how excited she was to see her son's name, his story and his picture in READER'S DIGEST? It made her day, probably her week, maybe even more. Jeannie was encouraged today and I think she really needed it. We had just been talking about how God only gives us what we can handle and nothing more. I am humbled how God really does work things out for the good of those who love him. I know this truth in my head but sometimes I need to be reminded. Also, please note that my mother-in-law Donna was also part of The Plan today since she's the one who noticed the article in the first place and sent us a copy of the magazine... Amazing.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
The blessings didn't stop there. I was able to go to my exercise class, I ran into a woman I had met only a few times and we talked about getting together to pray and tonight I received a letter from a woman back home. This was a very pleasant surprise considering I didn't get to know this lady very well while I was in Selkirk. I realize now through her writings that we have a few things in common. The floodgates were opened today in many ways I never expected. It's truly humbling.
P.S. Brian is now famous. He is indirectly mentioned in the article as it states a "two man RCMP detachment". I hope it doesn't get to his head.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
More Ramdom Pictures
These are my boys and the girls enjoying the maple tire that my dad had sent up.
Isaac bundled up on one of the first really cold days here.
Nathan having lots of fun on a snow plowed snow mountain on a "warmer" day.
This is Benjamin taking a second to pose while playing on the same snow mountain. This esclalading is Benjamin's favourite activity outside.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Vanity is out the door
Well let's just put it this way. If Meghan my wonderful hairdresser at Burns & Black, a salon in downtown Winnipeg was here, my hair would get chopped ALL off. Think of Jessica Stroup's newer haircut. What's the point of having anything more than a pixie around here? I wash my hair, blowdry it, style it a little and then stuff my head under a belaclava, a hat AND a hood, daily. By the time I get back home from picking Benjamin up from school, it was a waste of time. There is no pouf, no oumf, no pizzazz. Makeup is out of the question too. Why wear any when it would all rub off onto my gear and whatever left would freeze on my face (I'm sure THAT would be good for the skin). Even a bit of mascara would be an exercise in futility since the cold makes my eyes tear up like a teenager whose boyfriend just broke up with her. Now for clothes, who wants to wear a nice pair of crispy jeans underneath a thick and bulky pair of snowpants? The easiest and most comfortable to wear under snowpants is a pair of tight leggings (poor Brian, it's not the most flattering outfit I own). In order to be warm, I need to be comfortable. So cute tops under my jacket simply don't cut it.
My point in pointing all this out is, when we first moved here I promised myself that I wouldn't let myself go. I'm not the kind of person who spends hours on her looks - I'm actually rather plain compared to some. I was going to however, keep on wearing my regular clothes (nothing fancy but nothing too frumpy either), do my hair and wear a bit of makeup. I'm a mom of three boys living in the Canadian Arctic for Pete's sake I want to feel good and girly. Well I'm not sure what the answer is to all of this but this is where I'm at (at least until it warms up to maybe - 20s degrees instead of - 40s...
My point in pointing all this out is, when we first moved here I promised myself that I wouldn't let myself go. I'm not the kind of person who spends hours on her looks - I'm actually rather plain compared to some. I was going to however, keep on wearing my regular clothes (nothing fancy but nothing too frumpy either), do my hair and wear a bit of makeup. I'm a mom of three boys living in the Canadian Arctic for Pete's sake I want to feel good and girly. Well I'm not sure what the answer is to all of this but this is where I'm at (at least until it warms up to maybe - 20s degrees instead of - 40s...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
You're All Invited To a Pity Party
The following is an excerpt from an Facebook message I received yesterday from one of my dear high school friends
Darling Tan,
I am so proud of you, I read your blog every day when I turn my computer on, and I tell my friends all about your adventures. My best friend and sister in law Gill is passioante about native studies and they are interested in moving up north one day, so she finds things particularly fascinating!
I just keep feeling so humbled by your posts. I read them and think, I could never do that. I would be so resentful, and it would affect everyone around me. But you do it with such grace, and share your stories and your struggles with us, and it's an amazing living testimony. It challenges me every day to appreciate what I have, and to share more each day with those who go without. My Matt is always reminding me of that. :) I adore my husband. I never thought God would have such a perfect, generous, selfless mate for me. I make him sound perfect, and he's not, but he's perfect for me! He is very excited about the baby. I hardly think about it! Most of the time I forget until someone reminds me. I've been totally fine, no sickness, (sorry!) and feel no different really at all. I guess taht's what makes it all feel so surreal. Claire is 6 wks ahead of us, we're due July 4, she's May 15. She emails me each week where we;re at, what size teh baby is, I woulnd't know otherwise! I keep getting embarassed when someone asks me and I always say 4 mths. haha.. I'm mostly worried about how my life will change. Having a baby at 33 is different! I'm so independent, do my own thing, and I keep reminding myself that having a bab will help me to learn about the selfless and loving sacrifical nature of Christ. That's the only thing I'm really excited about - learning that lesson. Oh boy! Big lesson..
So that's where we're at. Life is good, we are so rich even though we don't have a lot of money, or a house yet. We have great friends, family, fab job, and a super relaitonship with God. What else do we need?
Please keep updating us my dear, God will use you mightily out there it seems. We pray for you, please post more pics of you, Brian and the boys, and the house of course. I love reading about it all.
Love em xxxx
Alright so this isn't an excerpt, it's actually the whole thing. I didn't include this message to toot my own horn or to divulge all of Em's life circumstances. I included it for a few reasons.
1) This message brought tears to my eyes when I read it.
2) I was happy to hear all about Emily's life, her husband, her great news and her wonderful and peaceful outlook on life. She is content and we can all learn from that.
2) I was encouraged by Emily's message. It turns out that after reading this message yesterday, I ended up having a bit of a meltdown (NOT because of the message NO NO NO, because of what happened yesterday). I ended up having my very own pity party. Then, I couldn't help but feel like a fraud. People have sent messages, written cards and have told me verbal compliments similar to those Emily wrote in her message. And here I am writing all about all kind of stuff when really, sometimes, I neglect to write about how I really feel or of who I really am sometimes. I am far from being a saint. I am resentful sometimes. I lose my patience with my kids. I feel sorry for myself. Yesterday I didn't feel quite right. Emotionally. I was shaky and anxious and on edge. I tried to keep a low profile but things didn't go "my way" (BTW, as of last night I am determined to be disciplined in taking my Vitamin D and I purchased a therapeutic light today on sale from the Sears catalogue). All I really wanted to do yesterday was to prepare a nice meal for my family in advance so that I could go to my exercise class and then to the craft store to buy fur. Well guess what? I got a call from Brian telling me that I couldn't go to my class because he was waiting for a call at work (therefore he couldn't be home with the kids). They had been sitting there for 3 hours WAITING for this call. This is not a busy detachment. but lately if feels as though when things come up, it's often me who has to sacrifice. I wasn't impressed. It's a daily exercise class but I hadn't been since last Monday due to school cancellations and Brian's work. Brian's response to my being a little snippy was less than empathetic (feeling of I-can't-do-anything-about-it-so-deal-with-it). I bawled. I sat there and cried while my boys ran crazy around me. In my stubborness I packed the boys, at suppertime, and we walked to Leonie's store in -50 degree weather (younger 2 in the stroller but Ben had to walk) because there was no way I was going to cancel this. Well there's nothing like hauling 100 lbs in freezing weather to cool a temper. And I thank Jesus for that since when we got home, Brian was home having a snack before returning to work. So the boys and I ate my nice supper and I got them ready for bed. When Brian got home I didn't know how to act. I couldn't take it out on him because he was right. It wasn't his fault. This was MY problem, MY attitude, MY party (everybody sing it with me "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to...). Yet I was mad. I couldn't help it. Brian and I didn't exchange many words. He dove into the dishes and washed every single last one of them (and there were many). It took him all night- his only true free time of the day. He may not have been very understanding earlier in the day but without saying a word, by his actions, I knew he understood. This was him saying "I know you've had a long day, here's a break". Today I had to miss my exercise class AGAIN for the same reason. Brian and his partner came over for my nice dinner and rushed off back to work (they are still there and it's 9pm). Today was different however. Today my expectations were lower and today, Brian called me 2 or 3 times to give me updates. A number of things have been going through my mind all day. The first being the following verses from Ephesians chapter 5
Instructions for Christian Households
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
While I hope you read the whole passage to get the big picture I highlighted the main points that keep reeling in my head. While I'm no stranger to these verses and while Brian and I have always tried to model our marriage after these verses, today I realized an important truth regarding them. While Brian would never be a tyrant and make me be submissive to him personally, I do however, need to learn to be more submissive to his job. Unpredictability is the nature of his job and I need to try not to make him feel bad when things come up because it really isn't his fault. We are a team and I need to support him and respect him (and his job). We both have a job to do, but it just so happens that the pay for mine is terrible at times... And yet at other times, I get all the perks...
The last thing I will leave you with is an adapted quote from Emily's message that I loved and it sings truth for Brian and I as well: Brian isn't perfect, but he's perfect for me! All is well in Coral Harbour.
Now to do the dishes. Yuck. On the other hand, nah. Maybe I'll go exercise instead...
Darling Tan,
I am so proud of you, I read your blog every day when I turn my computer on, and I tell my friends all about your adventures. My best friend and sister in law Gill is passioante about native studies and they are interested in moving up north one day, so she finds things particularly fascinating!
I just keep feeling so humbled by your posts. I read them and think, I could never do that. I would be so resentful, and it would affect everyone around me. But you do it with such grace, and share your stories and your struggles with us, and it's an amazing living testimony. It challenges me every day to appreciate what I have, and to share more each day with those who go without. My Matt is always reminding me of that. :) I adore my husband. I never thought God would have such a perfect, generous, selfless mate for me. I make him sound perfect, and he's not, but he's perfect for me! He is very excited about the baby. I hardly think about it! Most of the time I forget until someone reminds me. I've been totally fine, no sickness, (sorry!) and feel no different really at all. I guess taht's what makes it all feel so surreal. Claire is 6 wks ahead of us, we're due July 4, she's May 15. She emails me each week where we;re at, what size teh baby is, I woulnd't know otherwise! I keep getting embarassed when someone asks me and I always say 4 mths. haha.. I'm mostly worried about how my life will change. Having a baby at 33 is different! I'm so independent, do my own thing, and I keep reminding myself that having a bab will help me to learn about the selfless and loving sacrifical nature of Christ. That's the only thing I'm really excited about - learning that lesson. Oh boy! Big lesson..
So that's where we're at. Life is good, we are so rich even though we don't have a lot of money, or a house yet. We have great friends, family, fab job, and a super relaitonship with God. What else do we need?
Please keep updating us my dear, God will use you mightily out there it seems. We pray for you, please post more pics of you, Brian and the boys, and the house of course. I love reading about it all.
Love em xxxx
Alright so this isn't an excerpt, it's actually the whole thing. I didn't include this message to toot my own horn or to divulge all of Em's life circumstances. I included it for a few reasons.
1) This message brought tears to my eyes when I read it.
2) I was happy to hear all about Emily's life, her husband, her great news and her wonderful and peaceful outlook on life. She is content and we can all learn from that.
2) I was encouraged by Emily's message. It turns out that after reading this message yesterday, I ended up having a bit of a meltdown (NOT because of the message NO NO NO, because of what happened yesterday). I ended up having my very own pity party. Then, I couldn't help but feel like a fraud. People have sent messages, written cards and have told me verbal compliments similar to those Emily wrote in her message. And here I am writing all about all kind of stuff when really, sometimes, I neglect to write about how I really feel or of who I really am sometimes. I am far from being a saint. I am resentful sometimes. I lose my patience with my kids. I feel sorry for myself. Yesterday I didn't feel quite right. Emotionally. I was shaky and anxious and on edge. I tried to keep a low profile but things didn't go "my way" (BTW, as of last night I am determined to be disciplined in taking my Vitamin D and I purchased a therapeutic light today on sale from the Sears catalogue). All I really wanted to do yesterday was to prepare a nice meal for my family in advance so that I could go to my exercise class and then to the craft store to buy fur. Well guess what? I got a call from Brian telling me that I couldn't go to my class because he was waiting for a call at work (therefore he couldn't be home with the kids). They had been sitting there for 3 hours WAITING for this call. This is not a busy detachment. but lately if feels as though when things come up, it's often me who has to sacrifice. I wasn't impressed. It's a daily exercise class but I hadn't been since last Monday due to school cancellations and Brian's work. Brian's response to my being a little snippy was less than empathetic (feeling of I-can't-do-anything-about-it-so-deal-with-it). I bawled. I sat there and cried while my boys ran crazy around me. In my stubborness I packed the boys, at suppertime, and we walked to Leonie's store in -50 degree weather (younger 2 in the stroller but Ben had to walk) because there was no way I was going to cancel this. Well there's nothing like hauling 100 lbs in freezing weather to cool a temper. And I thank Jesus for that since when we got home, Brian was home having a snack before returning to work. So the boys and I ate my nice supper and I got them ready for bed. When Brian got home I didn't know how to act. I couldn't take it out on him because he was right. It wasn't his fault. This was MY problem, MY attitude, MY party (everybody sing it with me "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to...). Yet I was mad. I couldn't help it. Brian and I didn't exchange many words. He dove into the dishes and washed every single last one of them (and there were many). It took him all night- his only true free time of the day. He may not have been very understanding earlier in the day but without saying a word, by his actions, I knew he understood. This was him saying "I know you've had a long day, here's a break". Today I had to miss my exercise class AGAIN for the same reason. Brian and his partner came over for my nice dinner and rushed off back to work (they are still there and it's 9pm). Today was different however. Today my expectations were lower and today, Brian called me 2 or 3 times to give me updates. A number of things have been going through my mind all day. The first being the following verses from Ephesians chapter 5
Instructions for Christian Households
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
While I hope you read the whole passage to get the big picture I highlighted the main points that keep reeling in my head. While I'm no stranger to these verses and while Brian and I have always tried to model our marriage after these verses, today I realized an important truth regarding them. While Brian would never be a tyrant and make me be submissive to him personally, I do however, need to learn to be more submissive to his job. Unpredictability is the nature of his job and I need to try not to make him feel bad when things come up because it really isn't his fault. We are a team and I need to support him and respect him (and his job). We both have a job to do, but it just so happens that the pay for mine is terrible at times... And yet at other times, I get all the perks...
The last thing I will leave you with is an adapted quote from Emily's message that I loved and it sings truth for Brian and I as well: Brian isn't perfect, but he's perfect for me! All is well in Coral Harbour.
Now to do the dishes. Yuck. On the other hand, nah. Maybe I'll go exercise instead...
Daylight
As I was walking home this morning from having dropped off the boys, and while I was willing my eyes/eyelids not to freeze (the only exposed part of my body), I noticed how bright it was outside! Of course this is relative. The sun had not risen yet of course, but there was daylight. It looked like dawn. You will remember with me that when we first moved here, it was pitch black when I dropped off the kids in the morning. The other day I noticed the same thing in the afternoon. That it was much brighter much later. I'm figuring that within one month of being here, we've acquired an extra 1.5 hours of daylight at least. This all of a sudden scares me. My boys sleep until on average 7:30 everyday. I am scared to see what all the daylight will do to them ESPECIALLY Isaac. I realized today that we have to crack down on his sleep habits (he still wakes up once or twice a night and wants maman...) before it gets too bright. Can you imagine trying to "sleep train" a child to go back to sleep at 4am when it bright as day out? OK so we have a bit of time, but still, in a month it will be brighter much earlier and so on and so forth at a much faster rate than it does down south. I'm not ever sure it gets TOTALLY dark here. The blinds in the house are made for the extra daylight (with side blinders) but it's not total darkness. The light still creeps in. I guess good 'ol aluminum foil will have to save the day. AGAIN. Alright, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Random Pictures
Well I'm feeling quite sick right now (stomach thing going around the family) so I may as well keep adding pictures while I am forced to sit down.
This is the Coral Harbour Airport. Yes you can laugh. The Winnipeg airport is what you call small. This? I have no idea what to call this. Obviously passengers have to walk onto the tarmac and go up the airplane stairs to get on. The airport is about 15-20 minutes away from the Hamlet.
This is me standing in our new home in front of some of the boxes that were left to unpack. I am thrilled to say that as of today, I am down to 4 boxes and 3 bins to organize and/or unpack. I really can't wait to be settled in.
Movie afternoon at the Ward household. There was no room to play (or do anything for that matter) because of all the boxes so I put on a movie and the kids had lots of fun (both young and older ;-). The boys don't have many friends their age yet so it's been really nice to have these older kids come over. It's a different kind of playdate compared to the ones I'm used to but my boys are loving it and so am I.
This is the Coral Harbour Airport. Yes you can laugh. The Winnipeg airport is what you call small. This? I have no idea what to call this. Obviously passengers have to walk onto the tarmac and go up the airplane stairs to get on. The airport is about 15-20 minutes away from the Hamlet.
These are my precious boys: Benjamin (5.5), Nathan (3.5) and Isaac (19mo). What makes this picture funny is that they came downstairs looking like this all on their own (I'm sure someone helped Isaac get his on).
This is me standing in our new home in front of some of the boxes that were left to unpack. I am thrilled to say that as of today, I am down to 4 boxes and 3 bins to organize and/or unpack. I really can't wait to be settled in.
Movie afternoon at the Ward household. There was no room to play (or do anything for that matter) because of all the boxes so I put on a movie and the kids had lots of fun (both young and older ;-). The boys don't have many friends their age yet so it's been really nice to have these older kids come over. It's a different kind of playdate compared to the ones I'm used to but my boys are loving it and so am I.
Inuksuit
Here's a bit of "FYI".
The following was taken from http://www.theinukshukstore.com/kiln%20inukshuks.htm
Inukshuk
pronounced (in-ook-shook), is a stone monument erected in the image of humans. One of their purposes was to serve as direction markers in the harsh and desolate Arctic. They were a tool of survival and a symbol of unselfish acts of the Inuit people. The Inukshuk symbolizes co-operation, balance and unselfishness; the idea that teaching and group effort is greater than individual effort. Each stone is a separate entity, yet each supports, and is supported by the one above and the one below it. No one piece is any more or any less important than the other. It’s strength lies in it’s unity. Its significance comes from its meaning as a whole. The Inukshuk reminds us of our interdependent responsibilities to invest our efforts today, to direct a better way for all of us tomorrow.
The following was taken from Wiktionary
Noun
inukshuk (plural inuksuit)
- In the likeness of a human being.
Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Noun
- A structure of piled stones, designed to resemble a humanoid figure and traditionally constructed by the Inuit.
- The symbol of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics is an inukshuk
These pictures were taken down by the two Inuksuit (plural for Inukshuk) situated behind our house. It was a gorgeous sunset at around 3:30 in the afternoon. In the first picture you can see Benjamin and Isaac (Nathan didn't want to be photographed so he was hiding behind) but also Tamika (far left), Lilian (middle) and Haley (far right). Tamika took the second picture of the boys and I (Nathan still hiding).
I can see this sign way off in the distance looking out our back windows. This sign greets all those coming from the airport. In the background you can see buildings on the outskirts of the Hamlet. One of those is our duplex.
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