God has been so good to me. Jon has been away from us so much in the last four months (maybe five). God has been so faithful to keep my spirit up, to give me the encouragement I need just in time, to give me patience (most of the time). I look back and think, how did I get through that. I would have never imagined myself capable of being alone with the kids so much and still being sane. And not just sane but the most joyful and hopeful I've felt in a long time. As I contemplate this seemingly unnatural peace and joy I can only see God's hand. 1Peter 2.9 came to my mind last night. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." For you this might not seem to fit with what I'm talking about but for me it totally does. It says to me that, I'm God's for the purpose of His praise. All the good, all the trials and peace in them make me remember I am God's and I praise him for it. All I have, physical and spiritual, all I am, is because of Him who has call me.
Thank you Father.

A clean house

Lately my pleasure has been in keeping my house clean. In the past this joy has come and gone and so I don't know if this is just a phase or the beginning of something new for me. I just seem to have to motivation and organization to stay on top of most of the house. I am enjoying keeping things in order. I have to admit to myself that I have always loved order. Not just in my surrounding but in a perdictable day and so on. (something I inherited from my mother)
I can't believe the way it has helped me be a better mother and wife. I think its more my adittude. In the sense that if I am willing to serve my family by keeping the house clean I will be more likely to serve them in other ways. Looking at the people around me and their needs instead of being stuck on myself and my needs. Giving feels so much better than taking. I have felt so much love from my husband the last few days.(he's only been home a few days).
My moto is "No excuses" Just get up and do it. I don't know how long this motivation will last but I'm going to cease this God given blessing now and maybe I'll be able to make something of it.
Lord, I want all I do and say to point those around me, back to You. Maybe my service to my family will show my children what it means to love as Christ did. Laying down his life me.

Off to bed now.

God's blessings

Just sitting here on a windy Monday afternoon. Both the kids are sleeping and I have nothing to do. Well there is always something to do I guess. Nothing I want to do.
Jon is gone again for the week. God is so good to keep me going. Keep him going too. Its just as hard for Jon as it is for me. He really dislikes being away from home. I wish there was a way for me to make money magicly appear so that he wouldn't have to be gone all week for the whole summer. God is providing for us. I just have to trust that he knows the best for us, even when it doesn't look like the best at the time.
I found a nice wading pool and some toys for the kids at a garage sale the other day. There was a really nice bunk bed set there too, but I didn't have the money to get it. So I left it. It was actally my girlfriend's garage sale and she phoned me and suggested that I have the beds in exchange for teaching her kids guitar. I assured her that I was not a professional and had limited knowledge, but she was confindent that a little would go a long way, so I agreed. So now I have bunk bed! Elijah was not very happy that they would go in Grace's room. Now I have to get them together some how. It might be a bit before that gets done. Anyways, see God provided again. Even things we don't exactly need but just want. Wow how blessed are we!
So that's all I have to say. Really nothing else going on. Going camping this week with the kids and Cheri. Jack, Joelle and Jon are hopefully joining us on the weekend. So that will be fun for everyone. It will be nice to get away from the house for a little break.
Ta Ta For Now.

Don't waste your life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKNFbZa9cH4

I hope this can be as much of an encouragment to you as it was to me.
Blessings

wasting

Am I wasting this life I've been given? What would a "waste" look like? This is so simple. I don't want to make it seem more profound than it is. Christ asks me to value Him above all else. Actually, I don't think He's actaully asking me to, He's expecting me too, because valuing anything above Him is putting my affection on the lesser. He is most valuable, He is most worth, He alone gives worth to everthing. (Col. 1.17)So am I wasting my life? Yes. Everyday I turn to milk when I could have the meat. Everyday I live off waffers that disappear as soon as they have been comsumed when i could drink the living water and never thrist again. All that energry given to nothing, given to things, and Christ stands forgive me everytime I chose the "other" over Him. Forgive me Father? Grace unmeasured. The knowledge of my idolatry and your grace dispite it, make me praise you all the more.
Crown Him with many crowns, The lamb apon the throne.
Thank you for sending your Son for the sin you knew I would commit.
Praise the Lord, oh my sould and all that is within me, praise His holy name!

Christmas tree

Well i gave in this year and bought a cheap fake Christmas tree. I'm actually amazed at the many advantages to having a fake Christmas tree (FCT). I will list them for you
1. no pine needles in the rug
2. Sturdy bows to hold ordiments
3. Your fingers don't hurt after decorating. the FCT doesn't poke the way real pine needles do. And you don't have sap all over your hands.
4. NO WATERING!
5. Basically no fire hazard. I mean anything can burn but a dry light wood seem more likely to go up in flames.
6. Pre-lite. This was another one of those great ideas that has changed everything.
7. And though I did not buy the best FCT it looks as good or better than some of the real trees Jon and I have purchased in the past.
8. Don't have to pull it down right away after Christmas. I could potential leave the thing in the living room until July and we'd still have a nice tree.
9....I wanted to make it to 10 but I've run out of things to say about my FCT.

The one down side is no Real Christmas tree smell!
We've already had one Christmas with my parents before they moved back East. Elijah was pretty excited about that. Oh and we had our Koop Christmas. So only two more to go and we'll have to season over with. That sounds like I want it over with...I don't.
We were making ordments for the grandparents the other day and Elijah said, "Grandpa is going to love this." Then he said, "Papa is going to love this too." And I said, "I know they will!" Then we made cookies for our neighbours and friends and he said, "The big boy next door is going to love his cookie." and " our volleyball friends are going to love their cookies" and I said, "yes they are!'
So if anyone is reading this and you receive a gift from Elijah this Christmas, tell him that you love it.
So that's about all I have to say. I should get to bed so I'm rested to for tomorrow. Busy, busy, busy.
Oh and if you are reading this and you live is Caronport or MooseJaw come out Sunday Dec. 9th at 7:00 to the Alliance church. Terry Smith and I are leading worship at the young adults worship event. I don't know the official name of the evening, but it happens once a month and it looks to be fun.
good night all!

its been a while

I've gotten into this FAcebook thing and its hard to do the blog and the facebook, but I don't want to leave my blog for good, so I've come back today so refresh it.
Well, Caronport is turning out to be a very nice place. I'm enjoying having family close. Christine, my sister-in-law is here with her family and we ahve been able to spend some time together. Also nice for the kids to spend time together, since they are moving next year and who knows where we will end up. My other sister-in-law is here also. She is in college and I love to hear the excitment she has. Reminds me of the great years I spent in Caronport as a student. She's great o come over and just hang out, or babysit.
Jon is playing volleyball. Its a job basically. He's in the gym three hours a day, plus team meeting, and team time (they hang out together to bond) and then they are gone every weekend. I'm excited for him because i know he loves it. I'm always telling him to enjoy himself because I don't want to be alone with the kids if he's not having any fun.
I'll admit I've had my days that I've questioned whether this was the right decision for us (him playing volleyball), I've felt alone, and overwhelmed by the kids. But I'm trying my best to take life as it comes to me, make the most of it, and know that God's will is bigger and better than my own. I'd rather Jon be playing volleyball than working some silly job that he hates. Atleast when he goes out the door I know he's happy. I can always go over to the gym and watch them practice. The kids and I do that quite often actaully. They love it. the guys are all so nice to them. Grace love to collect all the balls. and Elijah likes to play on the bleachers.
Still trying to find our place in a church. A good friend of mine, who goes to the church we've pretty much settled on does worship and has asked me to help once in a while. I hope that works out. I need to invest in something, or I become purposless. ( is that a word)
So that's life right now. We're happy, God is providing for all our needs and ofcourse still teaching me how to become more like Him.

this girls got talent

Found this on YouTube just now, and had to share it with you. What an amazing voice. I guess she posts every sunday and her songs are amazing. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjMRf4egAyA

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Just finished "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy. very good book. Written during a very interesting time in Europe's history, when the Evangelicals were gaining strength and titles and religion were beginning to lose strength especially among the educated. Tess's story is a tragedy. At times I felt like I could bare it anymore, but Hardy had made her such a lovable heroine that I couldn't but it down. The books subtitle is "A Pure Woman". Which is many ways she was night. But this was mostly by means out of her control. In all other ways she was a "pure" woman. Faithful, honest, hardworking, valiant, etc... I wonder if Hardy was pointing his figure at the church for writing off those of unfortunate circumstance. Or, what he perceived as their inability to be flexible. Showing what he felt where the wrongs with the Letter of the Law. It is fairly sinicle towards the evangelical movement. He writes alot of it up to emotional conversions with little weight and as I said perviously, rigid, unforgiving, law.
Tess's story ends in the only way approperiate for her time. She is caught between two "sins" with no way out but her demise.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. He rambled a bit at times, but I just skimmed over the landscape descriptions. I really enjoyed the detail he payed to the life and ways of life. Like the back sleeve adequately says, "Hardy poured all of his profound empathy for both humanity and the rhythms of natural life..."
Mom tells me there was a mini series made on the book, so I'm looking forward to looking that up.
I would recommend this book.

New, New, New

So we've moved into our new digs. Loving the trailer. The only two rooms that feel squishy are the kitchen and the bathroom. Other than that we are sailing with lots of room. We've had a good week to get settled in. We were so tired after the move that its taken this long to recover. Next week starting Monday, though, Jon starts volleyball and all the students come and life immediately gets busy. Its going to take some determination on my part to figure out how to do this family and the volleyball together with grace. I'm really praying God puts some creative ideas, abundance of patience and grace to give110% to my husband and kids. I know this is what God has asked us to do, School and Volleyball, so I want to trust He has a plan to make it work. All I can do it rely on Him in all things. Like Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives up what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose." I'm giving up my husband, my supposed stability, all the other stuff in life I want control of, so that I can lean completely on Christ and gain eternity, and true joy in Him.
All things for Christ.

Packing...Again

We packed up dad and moved him at the beginning of July and now we are packing ourselves up. Too much packing for one summer. I am not motivated at all. The task a head looks too large and overwhelming. I packed some boxes today, but I kinda held out for tomorrow. Jon will be able to help and I'm hoping that we can motivate each other. With both of us working our every morning, it makes for a late start to the day, but I don't wan to give it up. When we get to Caronport Jon will move his workout to later on in the day. Anyways, I don't even know which room to attack tomorrow. Jon wants to do his books and office, so maybe I'll help him there...if he'll let me. I hope we have enough storage room in the trailer. I'm getting a little worried about that. Jack and Cheri have offered that we store some stuff at their place for the year.
Right now I'm too exhausted to think about it anymore. I'm going to hope there is something decent on TV and plunk myself down in front of the brain sucking thing. I don't care if it eats my grey matter tongiht...I'm too tired to care.

Running

I've started jogging. I can't believe I can actaully do it. Its amazing what your body can do if you decide to push it. I'm excited to get better and run further. Its a nice change, and I new way to push myself. After I ran yesterday I was not as sore as I had been before.
Anyways, God has given us amazing body. I want to use my body to give Him glory. Even this running has pointed to back to God. He really is in all things, if we are looking.

Lord give me patience

Lord give me patience to be in the days and things infront of me now. So not being always waiting for what will come next. But to be obedient and honour You in the moments I have been given.
All things for Your glory

A 4 mile walk and the good John Piper

Yes, I walked 4 miles today. Kept up a good pace. forgot to take my drink of water before I left so i was pretty thristy by the time I got home. It feels so good to accomplish a good walk. I listened to one of John Piper's sermons in a series on marriage he did this year. It was called Forgive and Forbearance. So good. Its so amazing how he works the work of Chirst into every sermon. What hit me the most? Well I think if I were to choose one thing it would be that, we must live with the cross formost in our minds, because it will change everything. He said something like, the day he leaves the cross to look or focus on something else Noel (his wife) suffers. Like, if I could only remember what I have been forgiven of, if I could only seek to always live the example of Chirst, than my marriage would always glorify God. He admitted that of course this is impossible because we are not made prefect yet, but it is the standard Chirst asks of us to be reaching towards.
Oh and the other thing was to always remember that I am Holy, Chosen and Loved!
Okay got to go. Got to go spend some time with my husband!

Pain

Pain. I'm am feeling alot of pain. The last two days I have been having my chest pain again. I don't know what I'm eating that could trigger it. Its just so intense. I really need to get to the bottom of it, because I just don't know when it will start up. I read this verse in my devotions yesterday,

Yet, You are He who brought me forth from the womb

You made me trust when upon my mother's breast

Upon You I was cast from birth

You have been my God from my mother's womb.

Psalm 22.9,10

Every breath I have taken has been given to me by His hand. My life has always been relient whole on Him. From my birth to my death and each day in between. So even this I can carry because it is from Him. In all things may He be glorified.

Packing

We have come to Melfort to help Dad pack up the house and move him into the apartment they are going to rent for a while. The apartment is considerably smaller than the house and this has required that we down-size the belongs of my parents. We are having a very big garage sale. I guess Melfort people do garage sales, thursday, firday, saturday. Crazy I know, but i guess what ever works. We are doing it Thursday friday evening and all day saturday. Hope we can make a little bit of money for Dad.

So I'm hopfully learning how to pack now so that when I have to do it to my stuff at the end of the summer, I'll have some idea of what I'm doing.

Jon is outside cutting the grass, what a nice guy, cutting his father-lin-law's grass. Boys did I hit the jack-pot when I fell in love with him!

Okay well that's what's going on at the Chalmers'.

Hoping to take a road trip out the Calgary this month some time. I have my doubts whether that will happen but who knows I may be surprised!

write a song

So, I was telling Jon yesterday that I wanted to write a song. Being the very supportive husband that he is, he began to think up ideas for me. One of these inspiring thoughts was, "the Simpson's never grow up...that would be a great line Amie, you've got to use that." I ask you how int he world am I going to put that into a song? Jon thought it was very porfound though. Funny guy!
I think that when I first starting writing I was just doing it because it was so natural. Now it seems like when I go to write a song I have to work so hard to get my words out. I want to say something so badly but I can't find it. I wonder if I wouldn't have this problem if I had never made my first record. Like now there is some kind of pressure. Maybe I just have to rediscover the joy of writing for its own sake.
I've been learning so much about the Soveriegnty of God lately and love the thought that God holds all things in His hands, and love how the bible just makes so much more sense with God at the center instead of me. So I would love to write about that but to get my thoughts together seems impossible.
Well, I guess if I'm going to say I believe all things are in God's hands then I should believe that if He has a song for me I'll get it some time. And if not...well I guess I'll be thankful for all the other things He has blessed me with.

recent project

I love going to quilting shops and looking at all the beautiful fabric. When I find something I really like I buy a little piece. So I had found these fabrics in different places and decided it was time to use them. So this little bag was created. I had no idea what the bag was going to look like when I started but luckily it all worked out. I even figured out how to line it. I love creating things. Jon is laughing because I have too many bags and this is the second one I have made in the last month. I think I'm going to make some book marks with the scraps I have left over.

Actually my original plan was to cover my bible with the blue fabric but I decided against that. i don't have a hard cover and I thought it would probably just fall off of it all the time.

so that's it...I can't think of anything else to say.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I have been reading a non-fictional book in the evening and grew tired of its weight (not physical weight) and yesterday I read this classic by one of my favorite authors. What a joy Jane Austen's works bring me. I love the style of laugugue, the customs and the behaviours of the time in which she wrote.
Northanger Abbey is believed to be her earliest work although it was not publish until after her dealth in Decemeber 1817. In it she uses her favorite theme, mainly, the danger of imagination uncontrolled by reason. As the author of the introduction so adiquitely says, "The heroine's, Catherine Morland, folly lies not in indulging a taste for meladromatic fiction but in imposing it value on the life around her." Actually, Jane Austen evidently had a distaste for the "melodramatic" fiction of her time. And it is thought that is novel was a reaction to it. The Heroine is by no means prefect and although the novel ends well for the heroine and hero, there is something very undramatic about the conclusion. This disappointed me for a while, but in reading some reviews and understanding more the intentions of the author I now value the work in greater degree.
I do not claim to be an expert on Jane Austen or hre work, but my humble observation is that she must have been a modest person herself to prefere the heroine whose life is believable and whose character is not flawless. As said ealier she continued in many of her novels to return to the theme of being controlled by reason. The characters in her novels that are to be disliked usually are without reason. Fluster, chattering, vain, overly imaginative women who have little time to think rationally.
Something I enjoy about her work is the timelessness of it. Although written almost 200 years ago, her characters have resinence with me. For example how are woman falls in love seems to have changed little. What will humble a man, the hurt that can be afflicted by words, the jealousy, the gossip, the enjoyment of nature, and more. The human race changes so little. I guess that why the bible is still so relavent today. "There is nothing new under the sun"
Overall I would recommend this book as a delightful read. Not a challenging read in anyway. Although is does challenge ones vocabulary at times.

Aways Learning

I have started reading "Desiring God' again and am amazed at how little I know about this God I serve and love. One of Piper's assertions is that God is Supremely Sovereign. Which I believe but to really believe this you have to believe that God has purposed everything. That nothing can stop His plans and will.

"God says, ' My counsel will stand and I will accomplish all my prupose.' Therefore Job says, 'No purpose of your can be thwarted.' His purposes encompass all things, including sin. Thus the crucifixtion of Chirst was the will of God, even though it was the greatest sin ever committed. 'The lot is cast i the lap, but every decision is from the Lord.(proverbs 16.33)' "

So that's a lot to swollow. This next quote kinda clarified things for me. "How can God be happy and decree calamity? Consider that he has the capacity to view the world through two lenses. Through the narrow one hei s greived and angered at sin and pain. Throught the wide one he sees evil in relation to its eternal purposes. Reality is like a mosaic. The parts may be ugly in themselves, but the whole is beautiful." Piper's main assertion is,

"The chief end of God is to glorify God and enjoy himself forever."

It would be unrighteous of God to value anything more than what is supremely good, whick of course is Himself. So if God plans all of history, the good and bad, and values himself above all, all of history must be good from the view point of an all-knowing and all-righteous God.

So, when I look at my life I feel so much more hope. I can see in the past how God has put things together in my life and how he has asked me to be pained at times. And all this ulitmately brought Him glory...the story of my life is obviously still playing out, but I can rest in the assurance that God would not let my life be wasted because he longs for His own glory through all things. I can only pray that in death and life I can point to Him more and more. ( actually i don't have to hope because He will make it happen whether I want to or not)
I mean the death and resurrection of His son is the first and foremost moment in history that I must glorify God for in this life time.
So I will read on and hopefully learn more about as Piper as, "the cheif end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever."
I hope this hasn't been too confusing. Obviously I don't have all my thoughts together. But as I am reminded regularly, life is a journey and to God be the glory for the grace to grow and learn in progressions.