Posted in Thoughts to think about...

So the other day I had a difficult phone conversation with someone close to my heart - ie I care for this person but it's so hard to reach to said person...

And honestly, this person said things that made me doubt of decisions we have made - like me leaving government to work on the private sector then on our home business, me staying at home with my kids, me homeschooling... and so on.   As much as I would like this person to support me and accept the decisions that I/we make, there is no point of trying anymore.   I'm giving up.

But the doubts crept in my mind... depression hit home, tears came down the cheeks...

Things that were said:

"knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have help to pay for your master degree since it is almost as thought we have thrown the money through the windows"

" you have a master degree in IT not in teaching"

"I am not sure your kids will be equipped properly when the arrive in high school because you yourself (as in me...) have lost more than 60% of your French and don't know how to write it anymore because of the  errors you make"

and so on...

But it hurts so much when it comes from someone you love and you care for.    *sigh*

So this was my day a few days ago... depression, tears, deflated, unsure of my decisions.

Then I finished to watch a DVD I have borrowed from the library title Be Still.   It is about contemplative prayer.  And one section of the DVD is listing scriptures to ponder on. The one that caught my eye was Psalm 62:1-2.

"For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
     He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved."
Amplified version

These verses were a balm on my soul the next day and since then I feel better.   Do I have teary eyes sometimes still?  You bet but I also know that God is there for me and sustain me and love me.

Further down in the Psalm it says " Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him.  God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Shelah [pause and calmly think of that!]

Yes indeed God is my refuge and when I feel attacked and start doubting because of the lies someone throw at me (whom is guided obviously by the Father of Lies), I know that God is there to give me strength and show me the Truth.

Never forget that God is bigger than lies.   I know I got reminded of this truth over the week.

Posted in Homeschooling my kids

I guess I am not as often as I would really like on this blog.   I find it hard to be splitted in two and between the business, homeschool, family, this blog and my review blog - I am a bit out of breath.

So to my friends on homeschoolblogger and others (family and friends reading about our life), I apologize.

As I said, my review blog is keeping me busy.   Wondering what books I would suggest to read, please jump to Canadianladybug Reviews! to check it out.  I am starting to expand my review experience.   Back in the Fall I reviewed a game called TriviaThon.   Quite interesting game actually.   I would recommend it to anyone - even the people who are not too fond of trivia type of games.    In 2010, I have already two extraordinary products lined up.    I'm becoming more bold and offer reviews to various companies.    Already I know two products are coming my way but I won't tell  you what it is yet.

On the family side of things, every one is healthy.    No H1N1 so far and no we didn't take the shot either...   That caused some tension elsewhere but I prefer not to expand on this.   Business is getting better slowly so I won't complain.  Problem is when you are in contracting, you work and sometimes you get paid later.   We are fortunate to have one third-party that pays every two weeks but most third-parties pay a month later.   So for one contract we are paid as we speak while the other... we wait. 

Jérémy, Jasmine and my husband has a birthday.   Jérémy was back in November while Jasmine and Daddy was not too long ago - respectively the 19 and 21 of December.  Also on the 19th, we (my husband and I) were maître of ceremony to the wedding of our friends Rachelle and Tyler.   This was the first time we were doing, the first time I saw a bride spinning at her own reception ( for 30 minutes) and the first time I heard Tyler speak in French for more than a couple of words.   He said his vows in French in honor of Rachelle - isn`t it cute?   I thought it was very impressive and very romantic.

As I write this, they are on honeymoon so we won't see them until next year I think.  

On the homeschool front - we are advancing at a steady pace.   Math U See is more than half way done for Alexandre and Dominic, and I don't feel as stressed as as I was in the previous years.  So I guess it's good.  The kids go to AWANA and have swimming lessons.   All are doing great at swimming even Jasmine who now jumps by herself in the water - mind  you I need to catch her...!

As you can see we survived our chaotic year on multiple fronts.  

I wish all a Merry Christmas.   For now I need to get some accounting done.... *grin*

Posted in Thoughts to think about...

"You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, and training them up in God's fear, and minding the house, and making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts." - Charles Spurgeon

What else can be said...?  nothing.   Thanks Mr. Spurgeon for the encouragement.

I'm planning to enjoy every minute of it while I can.

Posted in Homeschooling my kids

This year, as part of our homeschool, we registered the kids for Awana.   First time ever and they love it...

It is quite amazing how much they learn and how much I am learning too!    So we practice verses all week and on Thursday nights the kids have to tell them to their leader.

We have one T&T, one Sparky and one Cubbie who are having fun going to their meetings.  

My T&T is so eager that sometimes he does too much - so he has been told to slow down...   Slow down we did.   He has an advantage on the other kids because he is homeschool which means we incorporate the Awana lessons in our days.   Obviously the kids who goes to school during the day do not have as much time to spend on their book/projects to do.   So to make it harder I asked him to also do the silver and gold sections.   In a recent project, he has to do a poster on creation.

My Sparky has a blast.   I find that it is more difficult for him to do memorization.  He was having trouble with the New Testament books the last two week.   Fortunately, his Sparks book came with a CD (which Jasmine had broken and we got a new one!) and I had bought the extra CD with songs as well.   So we popped these in the CD player and listened to them.   He was able to say them no problem after that. 

My Cubbie is having fun.   I'm glad he was able to adjust himself easily for this.   I had a bit of fear but he is so happy of his vest and getting new patches for it.   It is so cute.

While the kids are going to AWANA, hubby, Jasmine and I are having a date night.   Mostly we do groceries... LOL  but it has to be done.  The funny part is that Jasmine doesn't want mommy to push the cart is has to be daddy - ALL the time.  *grin*   Daddy's girl through and through.  

Posted in Just life...

Oh I wish I could give good news about contracting but the kind of work we are doing has nothing with computers and programming unfortunately.

For those who don't know, we collect comics.  Mind you it has been years since we bought new ones and recently I've discovered that HULK was red at one point. 

A few years ago, we bought about 186 boxes of comics for a really good price and sold some during a garage sale.   Out of these we have about 35-40 boxes we kept to create two separate collections to sell eventually.   The work we have right now is to bag the comics and price them (we are still waiting for the price guide to come in) and open our basement for potential buyers. 

And let me tell you it is a BIG job.   Alexandre is very helpful and the three of us can do a lot in one afternoon but we are still only three.   We are almost done going through collection #2.  Now my job is to try to place in alphabetical order the 10-15 boxes at one corner of the basement.

So we are having fun.   The funniest thing is that right now it makes me want to read some comics.   It has been a long time since I did that.  

Posted in Little Blessings!

Check out the cool chocolate my kids got during Halloween...!  Isn't it cute?

The best part is that my kids gave them to me because the REALLY know I love this little creature and that I am known to be the Canadianladybug on the net.   I do have sweet kids!   I love them.  LOTS!

This little ladybug comes in three flavors - caramel, a green paste and a pink paste.   The pink paste one is the best I think - flavor is like cherries.

Posted in Thoughts to think about...

You are probably wondering what I am talking about... 

Some of you know that we were trying to plant a church in the downtown area.   Our events - christian raves - were a success having from 50 - 150 people coming depending of the theme.   We had wonderful DJs from outside, Toronto, California and New York coming to spin for us.  We had people coming through the doors and not staying during the service because there wasn't enough people to blend in.   It is hard... and we had to decide to close for the time being.    Two of our leadership members are getting married to each other in December - they need time to concentrate on the wedding.  We need time to seek what God is doing both on the church side and the business side.   Lots is going on.  We have just so much energy in us and we can't duplicate ourselves to cover every bases.

So with wisdom - we had our last service last Saturday.  It hurts.   Lots.  Never though it would hurt like that...  but God knows better...  He feels the hurt as well right?

I figure that a seed needs to die in the soil if we want it to become a plant - like a rose, a maple tree or a simple tomato plant.   Just the same way, HEAT has to die so it can grow while we take a time to regroup, pray and seek God.  

Slowly, God is bringing opportunities to us - both business and church.  Ideas brought to us about our church format.   Ideas that we are slowly consider and bring to God.   Great ideas actually.  

So for now - we pray and seek God...

In the meantime this morning Dominic, age 5, came to me and asked me to come and see his church that he made on his bed.   His stuffed animals worshipping God.   Cute!    He might be unto something a friend told me...  LOL   I don't know.   If church planting would be that easy....   but then again we wouldn't grow would we?  We wouldn't experience pain and seek God for every aspect in our lives.   And we wouldn't trust Him.

I'm thankful for the experience of this past year and a half.   We learned a lot.  Experienced a lot and twicked our service time.   The kids love it - saw God working in our midst and learned the importance of prayer and helping others.   We didn't loose our time.  Definetively not.

Posted in Thoughts to think about...

Today it is national poetry day... (as well as grouch day but I decided not to celebrate that one...)

And one poet we really appreciate is Helen Steiner Rice.  And as we ourselves are going through a tough time with business and the church plant, I thought to put a poem about faith and perseverance.

Climb Till Your Dream Comes True

Often your tasks will be many,
   and more than you think you can do.
Often the road will be rugged,
   and the hills insurmountable, too.
But always remember, the hills ahead
   are never as steep as they seem,
And with faith in your heart, start upward
   and climb till you reach your dream.
For nothing in life that is worthy
   is ever too hard to achieve
If you have the courage to try it
   and you have the faith to believe.
For faith is a force that is greater
   than knowledge or power or skill,
And many defeats turn to triumphs
   if you trust in God's wisdom and will.
For faith is a mover of mountains -
   there's nothing that God cannot do -
So start out today with faith in your heart
   and climb till  your dream comes true.

Posted in Devotions

A friend of mine posted something on facebook and I wanted to share it with you.   He had found this on youtube I imagine since I've found the code there...

Thanks to Albert Einstein for standing up and be firm on his faith.

Posted in Days of frustration...

Eveyrone around the world is experiencing hard times.

We thought we might not feel a thing since back in the 80s where there was a recession hubby didn't felt a thing because of being in the National Capital.

But this is a different time.   We are in 2009 now... and it hit hard everywhere.

We are currently looking in various options for us... for the company... for homeschooling.

I still have hope but the thread is thin.  very thin.

Only a miracle would help.   So God please bring contracts our way!  Thanks