Category Archives: Education

How Nature’s Harmony Reflects Life’s Lessons

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Welcome back to another episode of me and my little piece of the internet. The hubby asked me what I was writing about this week. I told him “symbiotic relationships”. He gave me the blank “okay fine” look and slowly walked away. I hope you don’t feel the same way. Let’s see where this thought goes, shall we? I hope by the end of this post you don’t “okay fine” stare and keep scrolling. I hope it makes you smile. So, yes, I was thinking about how cool it was that things all mesh together. Classic science calls this “symbiosis”. It’s where two different species have a relationship that somehow connects. For example, anyone who’s watched Finding Nemo knows about the clown fish and sea anemone. The fish gets protection and the anemone gets its daily cleaning from the fish. This is a fairly positive relationship. Parasites are an example of a negative symbiotic relationship… only one half benefits. The other half usually gets eaten. You can dig deeper if you want, but my original muse kind of expanded from there.

Therefore, we need to back track a little. This winter has been quite snowy. Snow has piled high and there was storm after storm. Most of us are sick of it. Finally, this weekend, it rained and rained. In fact, there was a thunderstorm with lightning and thunder. The rain has washed quite a bit of the snow away and we are finally seeing some grass on the ground (and mud… but that’s a topic for a different day). This is where my brain went: How cool is it that God set science in motion to bring rain to wash away snow. And this for that, and that for this, and … well you get it. Life and seasons all work in such as way to progress.

Time keeps ticking. We age. Life moves on whether we like it or not. The sun rises and sets and we mere humans can do very little to stop it. I think about all we do to mess it up. We cut down the rain forests, we pollute, and politics erase borders and plot, kill and pillage. History is full of human attempts to mess up God’s design for the perfect world and all that ebbs and flows naturally. At least that’s how I see it most of the time.

Perhaps that’s a pessimistic view of the world, and we should change the direction of this rant. Let’s go back to a mutualistic symbiotic ideal earth… where we all get along and benefit from others. You have to admit, it’s pretty cool that two species just hang together and help. Did you know that there is a bacteria designed simply to help the cow digest its food? Just living its best life in the warm, juicy rumen stomach breaking down all those cow yummies. Only a creative, imaginative God could set (even the fallen) world in order. And then keeps it ticking.

“Takes a licking and keeps on ticking”

We tapped our trees tonight for maple syrup. There’s grass. The chickens are so happy to be out and about again. The bunnies will soon be back in their run soaking up the sun. The pool and pond will eventually melt completely and be green again so the hubby can start his quest for pool boy of the year all over! Spring has finally started – as we knew it would eventually – and I am just feelin’ it! Are you?

Our pastor spoke on worry this past week. Admittedly, I’m not a huge worrier. I know, lucky me. It’s because of muses like this. I see how the world around me simply keeps on moving on, and me worrying cannot add a day to it. I get the whole “birds don’t sow or reap but they eat just fine” verse. I see it. And I hope after reading today’s post, you see it a bit more clearly, too. Happy Spring, my beloveds: Enjoy it!! God designed it to be a new start to refresh us all!

Weather Reflections: Lessons from Jesus Calming the Storm

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Greetings! The next few days are supposed to be wet, wet, wet! So, as a good Canadian, I’m going to start this week’s post with small talk about the weather. If the weather does what it says it’s going to, our piles of snow are going to melt away to puddles – with flooding, mud and general chaos of spring. I’m okay with that, as long as the temperature stays above freezing and it doesn’t turn into a slick ice rink on the roads! I’m done with that type of country driving (see here for my great winter driving story! HeHe!)

Speaking of the weather… it was the topic of my Sunday school lesson this past week. (They don’t call it “Sunday school” anymore; who wants school on Sundays? Showing my age here -but whatever… you get it – lessons for a bunch of little kids from the Bible). I’m loving getting back to hanging out with 3 year olds. They are brutally honest. They won’t let you rest for a moment… nor do they let you get away with faking it. They’ve got to trust you or it won’t fly. Which makes it difficult if they are a little shy and don’t want to hang out with a newbie who they only see once a month on the kids ministry schedule instead of mom or dad. We had eight blessings this week. One handsome young man melted my heart when he wanted only me to play with him. Alas, I digress… back to the weather.

Our lesson was Jesus calming the storm. In case you are not familiar… the gospels tell the story of Jesus and the disciples out in a boat when a storm arises. Jesus is asleep, and the men become afraid and wake him up. Bottom line: Jesus tells them He’s got it all under control and proceeds to “rebuke the winds and the rain” and calms the storm back to a gentle breeze. Yada Yada… disciples are again amazed at God’s power, Promote to kids that Jesus has the power like Superman and all is good in the world. The kids and I have a snowball fight with cotton balls, we laugh and run around with blue streamers being wind and crazy rain and I roll play Jesus and make them all STOP and be calm again.

And so, I muse. This story has been on my radar three different times this week in three different contexts. And I always say…”if you don’t listen to God’s still, small voice, then He’ll hit you with a 2×4 until you get it”. Jesus calming the storm. What am I to learn? Do I need reassurance that God, is in fact, always in control? Especially right now when Canada and the USA are battling out tariff wars and the news is all a buzz about what’s going to happen next? Am I to share it here, in my little corner of the internet, to encourage you, my beloved readers, that yes, God has the power to rebuke even the wind and rain and make the earth stop shaking? Or am I to reflect on how I can teach the next generation about the simplicity of the Gospel miracles… through play and fun?

Perhaps it’s all of the above. Weather is one of the simplest, and yet complex observances we can make on a daily basis. We have apps that keep us up to date hour by hour. Driving conditions and school bus cancellations… flight delays, weather watches and our outfit of the day. We are so influenced by something so seemingly simple as what ever is happening in the sky. Perhaps this is why it’s hitting me threefold this week. Something’s about to come down the tubes that will prompt me to remember that Yup, God’s got this one too… and a snowball fight with 3 year olds will be triggered in my memory.

Photo credit Etsy

And so, I pass it on to you, this week, my beloveds… so that we can be encouraged together that no matter what, the Creator of the universe and all the crazy weather that comes with it, still has you and I in the palm of His hand. We can peacefully sleep in the bottom of the ship (on a pillow says only one of the gospels… which is a weird observation in itself, but I digress again) as the storm rages on around us, knowing that Jesus “got power”! Take it to heart… and bring your umbrella just in case.

The Role of a Rooster in your Flock: Introducing “Morris”

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Welcome back! If you’ve been following mittonmusings for any length of time, you’ll know that a flock of chickens have been on the want list for a very long time. It sparked a three year long search for the perfect country farmhouse and an uprooting of my entire family to move away from everything we knew and held dear. Which seems a little crazy now that I see it in black and white… but here we are! I planned, prepped and did my research. I sought out what breeds of chicks would be friendly, cold tolerant and easy for a beginner. I asked questions and read lots. I went through a reputable source and ordered six day olds… three of each kind. (In case you care to know, I have Americanas and Lavender Orpingtons). I discovered the order list was a little late, but in May of this year, the little bundles of fluff moved in.

My family tolerated the chicks and their crazy mom as they ran through the living room… and made a complete mess of my beautiful farmhouse. Still, mom was happy, and the dream was a reality, so what could they say? Eventually, the babies finally moved out and #itsnottafarm got a bit more “farm like”. And then tragedy struck.

“Mort” my dumbest (but most favourite) chicken got “lost”. Literally, lost. She more than likely wandered off into the woods and couldn’t make her way back. We saw no evidence of predators, so I would like to think she is happy somewhere… So we were down to five. And then: “Mavis” became “Morris”. Yup, I got a rooster. Which is not a surprise if you buy a “backyard mix”… it happens more than 50% of the time… but I had done my research, and planned remember? My chicks were supposed to be 98% guaranteed female. Laying hens. Alas, life always has other plans, eh? I denied it when she grew a bit bigger. I denied it when a friend commented. I denied it when her comb grew. I could deny it no longer when the crow came. We are now down to four girls and a very handsome, but definitely male, rooster. We now have “Morris.”

We now have a “Morris”

Is it so bad to have a rooster? No, not really. The rooster’s role in a flock is protector. A role “Morris” is taking on well. It’s actually kind of fun watching him call to his ladies … especially if one is falling behind. He’s a big boy, so can’t hop the fence as well as the hens… and he often gets stuck at the back of the pack. We are learning to “tame” him (although he is fairly friendly) as he is beginning to strut his stuff and challenge the hubby and the dog. I bring him treats so he likes me most of the time. He’s screaming in protest in the background as I type this! Oh brother… they are out on my porch… he’s calling them back… See? Welcome to my crazy life dream!

So, as we adjust to life on the “farm” now with a rather loud and unexpected rooster, I hope you find your own protector. I hope that God gives you someone who “has your back”. Who calls you back to Him when you stray a little too far. I hope there is one who may have been unexpected in your life, but is a vital part of it. I know God is good. He gives us what we need – when we need it most. It’s not always what we want… but He makes it all work out. There will be casualties. No one is perfect. Even if they are in authority and have a very important role in leadership. We will lose our friends sometimes. We will be challenged, and have to act on the defensive on occasion. I heard a tidbit of farm history, that weather vanes on top of barn roofs depicted roosters to remind us to be bold in our faith… and to not be like Peter who denied Christ three times before the crowing of the morning rooster. (By the way…they crow all day… and at any time of day…so yeah…there’s that).

“Morris” and his Ladies

I hope a “Morris” comes into your little world to bring you a bit of the unexpected. To keep you on your toes. To be bold and tough and a good protector. Yet, a beautiful soul who has every good intention to be wise and wary. A father figure, perhaps. Let this be your reminder to muse on them a little today – and be thankful for their role in your flock. Blessings, my beloveds.