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About mittonmusings

A Canadian, lifestyle blog with an inspirational twist!

Anticipation

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Definition: anticipation (noun) “a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen in the near future”

Cambridge Dictionary

You’ve all been there. Christmas Eve. Job interview. Wedding day. Those butterflies in the stomach that keep you up at night. A mix of unknown fears and hopes for the future. Plans to do this or that. Expectations. For me, right now, it’s 10 days till we get the farmhouse keys!! And I am full of anticipation. I lie awake thinking about paint and plans and occasionally wander into the “oh my what have we done?” thoughts. Emotions are funny that way.

I’m sure the hubby is questioning his sanity and life choices right now. His wife is googling “best goats for first-time pets” and Pinterest boards on what colours to paint chicken coops. We are chatting about “rural” internet towers, cell phone services, and figuring out what the purpose of a sump pump is. I love it. The hubby? Lamenting about our current neighbourhood and the dog-walking route that he won’t be taking in the near future. And his bank account dwindled away like chicken feed. Literally for chicken feed perhaps.

Anticipating can be scary though. Our human nature wants to know. We want to be ready. No one likes being thrown into a situation they were unprepared for. I suppose because of this we tend to do our homework – well – at least some of us do. Some of ya’ll thrive on the adventure of the unknown. Fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants people love the adrenaline rush of anticipatory feelings. It’s “fun” to you to take the risk. To jump in with both feet. Others try to research all about future endeavours so we know what might happen when. Can you identify what kind of person you are? Your partners? Family?

Today is the last day of high school for our middle son. He’s been challenging for me because he’s one of those fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants guys. And he’s good at it. Two days before post-secondary applications are due, he scrolls and accepts a program and applies. Volunteer hours are due at the end of this week. Four long years he’s had to collect signatures. We signed off on them today. One on behalf of some other leader. God makes us all unique, and we must learn to deal with people. But, oh, my mother’s heart.

I guess the fact remains that no matter what kind of person you are there are no guarantees. We will all face our Maker one day. I don’t know of anyone who’s cheated death yet. We don’t like to think about that one, do we? Have you prepared yourself for that conversation? That’s gonna bring up some feelings, isn’t it? Oh friend, I hope you seek wisdom when regarding your eternal home. Ask the hard questions. Do your research. The Bible tells us that if we seek wisdom, it will be given to us. Time to do some research! You won’t get the chance to sign off on behalf of someone else. It’s work we have to do on our own. Be confident that your future anticipation is one of true excitement. That you know your heart is right with God and others. Only then can you dream about your “many mansions”. Mine’s gonna have a cute painted chicken coop.

Photo via : Backyard Chickens.com

White Washed and Waiting

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Oh, my beloveds! I am still here! I have not abandoned you! Yes, I have been absent for a few weeks — but it’s because we’ve been busy! I’ve been riding the real estate rollercoaster of prepping a home to sell. We’ve been painting and packing and cleaning and purging and panicking! Have you heard of this thing called “staging”? Alexa tells me it sells a house at 10% higher. My realtor says it helps with “a house like ours”. Like a lived-in one? With teenagers who leave their socks on the floor and milk drips on the counter? Not to mention the zoo which also lives here. We now have pristine white duvets and throw pillows fluffed on beds. “Art” on the walls and nothing left on the counters. We flush and wipe the bowl. We pack up the cats, and the dog, and the kids, and drive around aimlessly in 33-degree Celsius weather while strangers peek in my closets to see what kind of soap I use.

Leave it to Amazon to have a book…

I’ve given away my children’s childhood book collections and cried when the sign went on the lawn. Neighbours who we talk to twice a year are messaging to say “How can we leave them – we’ve been such good friends?” I secretly ask the pastor if it is okay to pray for profit because we need to make some money. We are at the mercy of friends who host and feed my large and hungry crew because we need a place to crash. The dog joins us. Heaps of blessings on my mom who is hosting the rats. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to see rats in their potential new house? 🙂 My children are tired. My husband is stressed. I’m an emotional basket case. And yet, we press forward. We take offers tomorrow.

It’s really no wonder people say moving is one of the most stressful events that happen in our lives. It’s true. And everyone has an opinion. Don’t settle for this. You’ll get this. Do this or that to improve your chances of a good deal. Wait. Move fast. God must have a sense of humour though. Every time I go to “tidy up” or clean out a cupboard Lauren Daigle has been my go-to playlist. Coincidence she sings titles like “Look up Child” and “Trust in Me?” The kids say she has been my “theme music” for the last few weeks. We’ve also been studying the story of Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and very courageous as you embark on a new and promised land… but first, you must tackle these big scary giants that lay before you. Like surviving a weekend of open houses.

It’s funny how we often white-wash things to cover them up, isn’t it? Sure, a fresh coat of paint really does make a difference. Clean and tidy hallways and fancy decorations in my empty bookcases look great! But it is no longer “my home”. People comment about how different it looks. So clean the family says! Admittedly, not sure how to take those comments. My house was clean – enough. We all know outward appearances don’t always dictate what’s happening on the inside. Jesus commented on this on more than one occasion. People are fickle. We are wooed by pretty shiny things. Myself included. Yet, I love a house with character! Wonky walls and squeaky floors. Neighbourhood kids who played in your backyard and made messes in your kitchen… and then message you they’ll miss you.

Too many times we “hide” behind a mask in order to impress. So many times we get away with it, too. Alexa tells me it’s true for real estate, at least. Still, those who truly know us see the white-wash staging and laugh because they know it’s not the “real us”. God knows too. I’ve given it over to Him. At least I’ve tried to. He sees beyond the walls and knows exactly what we need, and when.

A Rose by any other Name

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When I was in grade school I did a speech project on Shakespeare’s adage “A rose by any other name…” from Romeo and Juliette. I was a young romantic teen who was all into roses and romance and goo-goo-eyed gossip and summer crushes. Why wouldn’t I write about such a phrase if, in fact, we had to study Shakespeare? But that was a long time ago. Now I realize that Shakespeare was right. Sort of.

I suppose the point of Shakespeare’s monologue was to imply that it doesn’t matter what things are called, it matters what they are. Roses would smell just as sweet if they were called bluebells or snickerdoodles. Although snickerdoodles have their own sweeet aroma, don’t they? So here lies the muse. Are names important?

I’d like to think that we chose our children’s names based on research and good intentions. And we did. We talked about how they flowed and looked up their meanings and origins. I think most parents do. There is significance to who you were named after, your legacy, your family tree, etc. etc. Do you agree?

I suspect marketers and logo experts debate about what to name their products. Maybe not. I’ve heard many a story of music groups randomly picking names that seemed to stick. The Beatles? Really? Wham? Hootie and the Blowfish? Do they smell as sweet? Yeah, I guess.

I guess I was thinking about this these past few weeks as I was dreaming about our new place. The hubby says it’s not a “farm”… but it has a barn and a coop and so it must be a farm, right? Either way, a good property needs a name, right? I heard from the neighbours that most of the neighbouring farms were once owned by The Tinney family. The other half were from Linton’s. Dairy farmers. The name “Linton” seems to have it’s roots in the classic novel “Wuthering Heights” … which unlike Shakespeare, I did not read. Still, like most classics, there is a villian and a love interest and yadayada.

Why am I saying all this? Well. Names are important. They link you to your past. They connect you as a character in a story. They leave you a legacy to follow or one to create. Proverbs tells us that a good name is greater than silver or gold. What it means is that your character is connected to what people call you. Just think of all the names we have for God. Each describes a bit of His charcter. And that character helps us hold Him (and us!) in a good standing compared to others. Do you see it?

Anyway… my brain is kinda wandering around in this subject. Perhaps my thoughts are not as clear as I’d like them to be. Bottom line: names are important. But character is more important. And your name links you to your character and it’s legacy. Which is most important. So our new farm needs a name.

The Linton’s of Wuthering Heights lived in the Moors. Mitton Moors? Not really a moor. Not really a meadow either. Money pit? Maybe. Retirement Acres? Chicken’s paradise? Let me know your thoughts. I’m curious.