Inspiration Point
There’s a change afoot in our household. Eight days ago I resigned from my job. I have been there a year and believe that it has not been a very good fit. The need for travel is intense, and with the HQ being on the US East Coast, the demands for late night calls very high. I could have discussed reducing these two stressors, but then I would have been a bottleneck in the name of progress. There were other factors that contributed to my deciding to leave, but the main ones were mixed up priorities and not being able to focus on the family. My last day is June 23rd. A few days later we head back to Canada for the summer. We return the first week in August. Shortly thereafter I will begin work in a similar capacity in another company, still based in Hong Kong.
Spiritually, I laboured forever over joining my current company, concerned that I be following God’s will. Similarly, I deliberated this departure for quite some time. I still haven’t figured out if spiritually I made a wrong turn or a right turn a year ago. A friend of mine gave me some very good advice when he said, "In many ways this is a petty decision. It’s really all about what you’re doing with where God places you, not so much where you think you should be or not be." Therefore, I am on the road again. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months. Speaking of being on the road ~ it’s officially cottage season in Canada! We’ll be staying at Fintry for several weeks this summer. In honour of the season officially opening I have posted a picture of Sebastian from a few weeks ago… he’s tubing at about 25 knots in this picture. To learn more about Canada’s cottage season, be sure to stop by my sister’s blog at Cottage Life Magazine.
Sebastian’s confession… or maybe mine
As I write this blog I am listening to three or four different versions of "I Surrender All." Matt Redman recently recorded a superb cover version of this song, which is to die for if you like old hymns turned into modern Christian songs. (Even if you don’t like old hymns turned into modern Christian songs, this song is very, very good, but sorry I don’t have a link to it right now!) Meanwhile, we had quite a good weekend but I was exhausted due to new developments in my life. I think the stress of the whole thing was finally released over the weekend and Saturday my body crashed. Saturday afternoon a birthday party took place. At left you’ll find all the gorgeous mothers who keep our building glued together… okay, a few of the gorgeous mothers are missing but this is a good snapshot. Regardless, something happened at this party that neither Tess nor myself was aware of… Sebastian wondered. I discovered this 24 hours later in the car.
Post-church we are on our way to the ABC, Tess was at home nursing a cold but meeting us at the Club. While sitting at a stoplight Sebastian said, "Daddee, I did something yesterday that I wasn’t supposed to do." Seb was sitting in the back seat of the car, so the triplets listened to this loud confession, too.
"Yes, Sebastian, what was that?" I inquired.
"Yesterday during the party **** and I went to his home when we weren’t supposed to," he explained.
"Aha, I see. So, yesterday during the playground party you went up to ****’s home without permission even though you knew that you shouldn’t leave the playground without letting us know?" I confirmed.
"Yes," Sebastian replied with some sheepish confidence.
"Hmmmm… well, Seb I have to tell you that I am very proud of you for being honest and telling me that you think you did something wrong. Thank you. Can I count on you to not do that again and tell me if you want to leave the playground?"
"Yes," Sebastian replied rather confidently.
"Thank you, Sebastian, and I am REALLY proud of you for telling me about this. I love you and I forgive you. If you pray about this, Jesus will forgive you, too." I explained.
"I already prayed to Jesus yesterday asking Him to forgive me," replied Sebastian.
"Wow, Sebastian, that’s even better," I said in astonishment.
On Sunday evening I recounted this story to Tess after the kids were in bed. Tess was amazed followed by silence. Then it was my turn, "You want to hear something shocking?" I asked Tess.
"What’s that?" she asked.
"I was younger than Sebastian when I tried my first cigarette," I said.
Tess shot THE LOOK at me with "I DON’T BELIEVE YOU."
"It’s true. On the cruise south to the Bahamas when I was six years old with my family, we were at the last port in Florida before sailing across to Nassau. I had befriended a boy about my age who must have swiped some cigarettes from somewhere. I took two drags but didn’t inhale and then we washed our mouths out with water from a hose. Shortly thereafter I went back to my family’s boat for dinner, completely terrified they’d smell the smoke on my breathe."
"That’s unbelievable," Tess retorted.
"I remember not liking it… probably a good thing," I said.
"I still don’t believe you," Tess murmered.
"I wonder where he got those cigarettes from?" I pondered…
Now I am listening to "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and going deep down memory lane… sigh.
Barnaby Bear
This week Barnaby Bear came home from Sebastian’s class for an overnight visit. Barnaby visited each member of Sebastian’s class for the past six weeks – even before the extra long holiday thanks to the bad flu circulating Hong Kong just before Easter. Each host then writes about Barnaby’s visit to their home that are placed into a binder that captures Barnaby’s travels. Wednesday when Barnaby came home to our place, Tess broke out the camera. Afterwards Tess and I downloaded the photos that I arranged into a collage. The next morning I took one last photo when Sebastian returned to school with Barnaby.
Thursday night Seb’s homework involved writing descriptions for the collage and the story of Barnaby’s visit. I had a business dinner that night followed by a conference call lasting until 1:30 AM. When I returned home about 2 AM I quickly pulled out Sebastian’s completed homework. I was so impressed that I scanned the written portion. Sebastian also wrote next to the pictures but to maintain picture quality I used text here instead of re-scanning the pictures. Below is the description of the afternoon and evening. (Click to enlarge images.) What do you think?
End of the weekend…
It’s the end of a gorgeous Hong Kong weekend. The weather was terrible on Friday, but surprised us on Saturday by clearing up – the partly cloudy and breezy day presented a wonderful opportunity for the junk trip that Tess wrote about here (includes pictures). I was amazed that this morning the kids didn’t sleep later. Regardless, after church we met a friend of a friend of Tess, Harmony, and had a somewhat relaxing – as relaxing as it could be with four kids equal to our less than six years old. At the end of the weekend we had a fun moment, so entertaining that Sebastian insisted I tell him the story THREE times.
As we approached Sunday evening, Sebastian and Tess headed to a neighbour’s flat to drop off a birthday present for a friend whose party Seb missed because he was on The Junk yesterday. While they were gone I started dinner for the triplets… vegetable fried rice LOADED with veggies that Jasper would never eat but so good that ultimately all kids wolfed down. (Veggies disguised as very small bits.)
Sela and Carys finished first, because naturally, seems that JJ’s bodily functions always call him to the toilet during dinner thus delaying the consumption of his meal. Carys was the first to polish off her yoghurt and other after dinner treats. I whisked her off to the bathroom where she wee’d, changed, brushed her teeth, nappied and got into bed. Next it was Sela’s turn, but Sela needed quite a bit of prompting. Sela was messing around in the kids’ bedroom with Carys, much to my changrin. Flash to Jasper, now eating his yoghurt, drinking his milk etc. Before I know it JJ is at my feet, "FINISHED!" he exclaimed upon which JJ – who normally takes forever – quickly wee’d, changed and brushed his teeth. As I was putting on Jasper’s nappy, Sela pranced before JJ and I with a "tah-dah" to announce she’d finally changed. However…
I had meanwhile been saying to Jasper, "JJ, you are going to beat Sela."
"HO, HO," he laughs, chuffed at his little impending victory, "Why?" he asked.
"Because Sela hasn’t brushed her teeth!" I replied.
"HA HA HA," he laughs, "Sela, I am going to beat you!"
"NO NO NO," Sela yells, turning to race into the kids’ bedroom with Jasper in hot pursuit. Sela landed first on her bed with JJ landing a close second on his bed. Sela spun around to face JJ in his bed, arms raised to the heavens, yelling, "Jasper, I beat you, I beat you!"
"NO YOU DIDN’T SELA, YOU HAVEN’T BRUSHED YOUR TEETH!" replied JJ with certainty… trusting that Dad spoke the truth.
With screaming, laughing and yelling erupting from all three triplets a small moment of silence registered in Sela’s mind when she realised she was completely and totally BUSTED. That moment could have resulted in a major pout, but instead she was a very good sport, laughing hysterically that she lost the race due to her unbrushed teeth. I whisked her away for a quick clean after which the three of them made absolutely no effort to go to sleep.
By this time Sebastian returned. I sat with him as he ate his veggie-rich rice, recounting the story of JJ’s 2nd place victory that brought him so much joy he insisted the story be told three times. Why do you suppose this story brought him such delight? A great weekend had by all. (Above, two adults – Arnaud & Richard – on yesterday’s junk trip trying to stay on the tubes while moving at top speed.)
New pics of the kids…
Okay, I confess… it was a Shrek Birthday Cake. We’ve created a new photo album of the kids out and about from February & March. Click here to access the photo album at Tess’ blog.
Happy Easter
Today we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt on the playground with a dozen other families in the building. In the morning we made the bags with the kids. Due to the terrible weather the hunt was off, then it was on, then if was off and finally it was on. Click here for a report from Tess. With eggs laid the kids poured onto the playground and sure enough, the heavens poured onto them in buckets. Afterwards shivering kids rationalised, "But why do I need a hot bath when I just got washed in the rain?" Twelve hours later it is Easter Sunday and I have been asked to give the Offertory Prayer for the 11 AM service and here it is:
Good morning, while preparing for this morning’s offertory prayer I happened upon a cute story. The story is about a man who drove to a very run-down section of town for a business meeting. The man left his new car parked at the side of the road. After the man’s meeting he approached his car to find a small boy gazing at the car with wonder in his eyes. The man asked, “Do you like my car?”
The boy replied, “Mister, I think is it the most beautiful car I have ever seen.”
The two stood in a few moments of silence, and then the man said, “My brother gave me that car.”
“Wow,” said the young boy and then he asked, “Do you know what I wish mister?”
The man thought he knew, but waited and then politely asked, “What do you wish?”
After a few moments the boy replied, “I wish I could be a brother like that.”
The point is, that each day as brothers and sisters in Christ we have the opportunity to be generous both in spirit and pocketbook to those around us who are in need. Let us pray the Offertory Prayer…
Loving and gracious God, we thank You for being such an extravagant giver, You have blessed us beyond our wildest imagination with what we need and so much more. We come to You in thanksgiving, knowing that all we are and all we have is a gift from you. In faith and love, help us to do Your will. We are listening, Lord God. Speak Your words into the depths of our souls, that we may hear You clearly. We offer to You this East Sunday all the facets of our lives, whether it be at home, at work, or at school – to be patient, to be merciful, to be generous, to be holy. Give us the wisdom and insight to understand Your will for us and the fervour and courage to carry out our good intentions. We offer our gifts of time, talent and possessions to You as a true act of faith, to reflect our love for You and as brothers and sisters in Christ to our neighbour. Help us to reach out to others as You our God have reached out to us. In Your name Christ Jesus we pray and ask you to receive today’s offering, Amen.
Above, Tess with some of our Union Church friends.
