The Languages I Speak

I thought I only spoke one language fluently - English. I've dabbled in Italian and of course took French in school which was, as the kids say these days, an Epic Fail. But it has occured to me I speak two other languages quite well. That would be Charismatic Christianese and Governmentalian.

Common words/phrases you would hear in Charismatic Christianese: called, sensed, led by the spirit, claimed, believed, portal (this one is still a little iffy to me), establish, authority, honour.

Common words/phrases you would hear in Governmentalian: processes, initiatives, budget constraints, targets, champions, project, data analysis, input, tasks.

So you see, I can sit in a church setting and discuss quite fluently and understand all the lingo around me and likewise I can sit in probably any Government meeting and get a pretty good picture of what is going on.

It would be rather funny if I started mixing the two up.....picture Cyndi sitting in on a meeting with a number of government bigwigs:
Government Figure - "What are your thoughts on the budget issues?"
Cyndi- "I feel the budget constraints can be established if we claim our authority and I sense I am called by the spirit to support the initiatives"

And cue the crickets......

You Can't Beat a Good Sunbeam

In our house, and all year long, there is competition for a good sunbeam. If you find it, you take it.

That means I have pets and people curled up in odd places thinking vicariously about the beach in the dead of winter or just warming their old bones.

I'm not very good at curling into a ball on the floor. I don't find that too comfortable. But once that sunbeam hits the chair in the front room, or creeps over my bed, I'm all in.

Around lunch time, come January and February I will open the back door leaving only the screen door closed and allow the sun to flood the dining room. Immediately there are chairs reposititioned and pets vying for a spot on the floor.

Sunbeams are truly a gift from above. Enjoy yours!

I Am Woman

All in all, it's been a very productive day. But then again, I'm a woman, w-o-m-a-n, I'll say it again (thanks Helen Reddy). I got up, walked Amelia, spent some time with Jesus, did a work out, took Randi to the doctors, then took Randi all over the place (Shopper's Drug Mart, bank, OSAP place, the Mall, Walmart, Kelseys), then we picked up a couple movies for tonight. By the way, it's movie night tonight. Finally picked up groceries and back to Shopper's to pick up Randi's perscription. All accomplished before 2:30! We shovelled the driveway, started some cookies and enjoyed a Tim-Tam Slam. This is something new to me - Randi introduced me to it. Let's just say it involves Hot chocolate and chocolate cookies known as Tim-Tams and is very yummy!
So, feeling pretty multi-tasky, I thought I would start some laundry. Last I checked there was a load to be started. Upstairs, I find my husband has left me about two full hampers full! He tends to save up his laundry, much like he saves up his overtime, and then Kablam! There it is! Enough laundry to spend the day in suds and folding motion. So I pile up the two hampers full into one, gather up at least another hamper full from the rest of the household and attempt to stuff that into the already overflowing hamper, hobble carefully down the stairs with my clothing mountain, around the corner, shuffle down the hall, and hobble again down the stairs to the basement grabbing a plastic bag along the way because I might as well do the kitty litter while I'm in the basement (I'm a woman). Lo and behold there is that other load of laundry I was thinking about.
Pride cometh before a fall my friends - never forget that.

Resolute - To Be or Not to Be

Happy New Year Everyone. Today is January 1, 2010. The house is very quiet. Dog is snoring behind me, both cats curled up on the couch, husband out like a light and my son, who wandered in around 5:00 am this morning will not likely see the light of day until this afternoon. There is snow falling of its own accord outside and not a breath of wind to kick it around. All this gives me lots of time to consider the year behind me and the year ahead.

I'm not one for making resolutions. The dictionary describes being resolute as "being firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion." So to make a resolution you need to be determined about it, you need to be set in it's purpose and clear on your opinion. This seems to be something longterm and ongoing whereas resolutions, particularly New Year's ones, are more often than not fleeting and temporary in our culture.

I personally am resolved and determined to continue to look after myself, to live a balanced lifestyle, to be open to growth and learning and wisdom that comes from the experiences of life. I'm resolved and determined to continue serving Jesus, to listen to hear His voice, and (if I'm getting any better at this Christian thing) will obey what He calls me to do.

Which leads me to an experience I have never forgotten. When my daughter was just a toddler I would often plop her in the stroller and head down town, not far from where we were living. On the corner at the end of our street was a house close to the sidewalk where an old man was often sitting in his enclosed porch watching the world go by. He was dirty and unkempt, usually smoking in an old ripped T-shirt. I would zip by this old man and generally ignore him. One day I felt I should stop and chat - just say hello or "nice day" or something. I didn't. I was in a hurry, he did not look like a nice man to chat with and he made me uncomfortable. This urge to stop and chat stuck with me for about a week and for about a week I continued to ignore the still small voice. Then one morning I woke up to find this old man had been murdered. Stabbed to death on his little enclosed porch for I believe cigarettes or cigarette money. I realized all God had asked me to do was simply show this man some care and kindness, nothing more, just a good morning how are you. And I missed this opportunity when this man's life was so soon coming to an end. I wish I could say the lesson was learned but there have been many other situations where I have missed or purposely ignored what God has wanted me to do.

So if I'm to make any resolution it is the same one I have made for the past 20 years. To continue to look after myself, to live a balanced lifestyle, to learn and grow from life's experiences and continue serving Jesus - listen to His voice and hopefully obey.