Wednesday 30 April 2008

Where Have I Been?

If you have been checking my regularly you will have noticed that I have been quiet for a while. It is not that there have not been things to write about but I have been having trouble finding the time to actually sit down and type. Oh the joys of a large family!

The At His Feet Ministries Spring Retreat weekend has come and gone and there are many things for which to be thankful. The Lord blessed us with fabulous weather, an amazing new venue and wonderful company! Thank-you so much to all of the women that came to the retreat to worship with us. Thank-you for sharing your hearts and what the Lord is doing in your lives. I pray that you will continue to endeavor to live out Hebrews 10:19-25. Remember the lesson of the giant redwood trees that interlock their shallow roots with other trees roots so that they do not get blown over in a storm. If you were not at the retreat try to spend some time this week with the passage asking God what it means for your life.

I promise to write more soon about the retreat and everything that is going on at the McGibbon Zoo! Have a blessed day!

Tuesday 1 April 2008

Dance to the Music

I had a chance last week to spend some time with Liam. Liam is almost 8 years old and he is a passionate kid. He loves basketball, biking, music and hanging out with his family. The other thing about Liam is that he is always making noise. He really can not be quiet. Even at the dinner table he is constantly humming or singing or reciting a rhyme or poem. As you can imagine in a house of seven people, constant noise can be overwhelming. I have to admit it is usually me that gets overwhelmed first. I can't think when the noise level is over a 100 decibels! So over the past few months poor Liam is constantly hearing the words, "Liam please turn your volume down." or "Liam you have to be quieter." or sometimes "Liam, enough! I can't hear myself think."


I have always said that Liam is the kind of kid who is very secure in our love but as I look back I think I have concentrated more in the last little while on the noise that drives me crazy instead of encouraging the boy who wants some attention. He was having a particularly loud day last weekend when I said, "Please Liam, tone it down. You are going to drive me crazy." The next thing I knew Liam was in tears. "You don't like anything I do." was all he could say. I quickly realized that my constant criticism of his volume was being seen as a removal of my love for him. We needed some one on one time together.

Jason took the rest of the kids out for a walk, and I asked Liam if he wanted to stay home with me. "So what do you want to do?" I asked him. "He responded immediately, "Let's dance." Well, the next thing you know there is my son teaching me how to hip hop to the blasting music of "Can I get a Witness?" by Nicolle C. Mullen. (http://www.nicolecmullen.com/ )

Let's just say it was a good thing that the blinds were closed or the neighbours would have gotten quite a show. After he had played the song a few times I finally had to say that I needed to rest. If the truth be told I thought I might pass out! We laughed some more as we lay on the floor looking up at the ceiling and listening the Newsboys. Once I caught my breath and the oxygen started returning to my brain I realized this was one of those moments with Liam that I would remember forever. How blessed I am that God would allow me to raise such an amazing kid. Now I just need to remember to always be showering him with copious amounts of love as well as encouraging him to adjust his volume. Who knows one day Liam might even be able to teach me how to dance!