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Last week, I attended my granddaughter's Christmas concert. It was held in a church situated in lovely Hespeler where I used to live. Afterwards, as I took a short drive around the neighbourhood, my mind was suddenly flooded with memories. Our little house on 6 Phin Avenue was a place I dearly loved. In fact, the years we spent there were some of the happiest. Our children were young, our friends were many, our community was close, our future looked bright. Then everything changed. Suddenly, ... Read More about If This Christmas Looks Different

I've been thinking a lot about those women in my life who are currently walking through deep waters. Cancer. Loss. Silent pain. During the Christmas season, it always seems to hit harder than the other eleven months of the year. December is a time when loved ones gather. A time when parties are planned and carols are sung. A time when trees are decorated and presents are shared. So is it even possible to celebrate the season when suffering is deep? Joy is actually a theme throughout both ... Read More about Can There Really Be Joy in Pain?

On the weekend, we celebrated the season with all of our kids. There was laughter and hugs and lots of conversation. There was a Secret Santa gift exchange between cousins, a fun game of "Pass the Present," and gingerbread cupcakes for dessert. But the fridge got a dent. The armchair got splashed with candle wax. (Don't ask!) The kitchen seemed too small and the chaos a bit too much. Still, we were together and that's what mattered, craziness and all. Sometimes our expectations at ... Read More about Invite Christ into the Chaos

Tomorrow it's officially a month until Christmas. As much as I love this time of year, I admit that I can also quickly become tired and stressed out over the next 30 days. With a busy church ministry to oversee and the complexities of a blended family to navigate, the Christmas season can easily turn into a race to December 25th. Who else feels this way? The American Psychological Association has reported that 9 out of 10 people experience some type of stress  during the holidays. ... Read More about Taking it Slow at Christmastime

Last week, we were hit with the first snowstorm of the season. As good Canadians, it would make sense that we'd be prepared, but past experience tells us that we never are. For drivers, the squalls meant traffic jams, slippery side roads, and unplowed parking lots. For the women at my church, it meant a cancelled Bible Study. As my husband and I took to the driveway with our shovels, I noticed the planter on my front walkway. Cleaning out the summer blooms and replacing them with winter ... Read More about How to Flourish in the Storm

On Tuesday, we will remember. In 1918, the Armistice that ended World War I was signed on November 11th at 11 a.m. Remembrance Day remains an opportunity to pay tribute to those who fought for liberty in times of war. Today, we enjoy freedom, both personally and nationally, because of those who sacrificed their lives on our behalf. Remembering is an integral part of the human experience. Our memories not only connect us to the past; they help inform the present and guide the future. ... Read More about Why We Remember