Tag Archives: spiritual journeys

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

Blessings!

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Oh, beloveds! What a week it has been! What a few weeks it has been! Apologies if I haven’t been keeping up. There has just been no time to do regular things like keeping a Blog. I’m jumping ahead of myself. Rewind. We bought a house! Not just any house…. an old-century farmhouse on 4 acres of land! That dream of chickens you’ve heard me talk about 100 times… it’s coming true! I’m trying to convince the hubby we also may need a small goat. That may take some time. He’s a work in progress. Anywhoo… I am super excited. But terrified.

The emotions have run high. We raised our kids in this house. Our first house. Twenty-one years in this house. So. Many. Memories. And a whole lot of clutter. I’ve just begun to unearth and box up “stuff”. Some things hold dear memories. Some do not. Some hold memories for others and I’m not allowed to cut out those things because of their thoughts. It’s a learning experience for all of us! I ask myself, “Does this hold emotional attachment for me?” Marie Kondo would be so proud. So. Many. Memories.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska

I’m asking myself “Why?” “How can things contain emotion?” Or how can other things contain absolutely no attachment? I don’t have the answer. I am sure there is some deep psychology behind emotional attachment to inanimate objects. I’m sure those who work with hoarding and OCD behaviours have all the answers. I’m sure there are psychologists and therapies for the stress of moving and how to communicate appropriately to your grown children that they need to get rid of Legos. Or why I can’t throw away a rubber band (because I may need to it wrap something — and safety pins cost money?) Choices need to be made.

Now don’t get me wrong… I love a good purge and clean. Still… thinking about the whole house at once is overwhelming. Slowly, like eating an elephant, we take one bite, and then another, and another… until eventually all will be packed in a box and neatly loaded on a truck. It will be big big changes for all of us. And I count it as a blessing.

I have begun to see the blessing in memories. I have begun to see the blessing of time and how God has allowed this season of life to shape and mould each of our children to life beyond the nest. To see the hubby and I embrace, dare I say, retirement planning? To see the blessings in our finances to be able to carry mortgages and costs and know He holds our future. To see Hope where many do not. To wonder in excitement about a new, quieter lifestyle in the country. To learn new skills. To make mistakes and work through them.

The Bible tells us not to store up treasures on Earth and to not put our trust in Earthly measures. Yet Jesus witnessed life here among people and “stuff”. Maybe he didn’t have Lego to pack, but I am sure there were precious “things” that belonged to Him. Did Mary save a piece of “useless” straw from the manger because she was emotionally attached to it? Maybe not.

I’ve convinced myself that God gives us things. Tangeable, hold in your hand, physical things, because He knows we need them as practical reminders of all that He has given us. Peace, Hope, Comfort, Joy, and Pain. Emotions that are stuck on stuff. I have no other words. I know you know what I mean. So, beloveds, humour me in the next few months. mittonmusings.com may morph into my personal journal of sorts as we make these transitions to “country life”. Will you stick with me? Will you share a post or two? Besides, who’s gonna listen to me talk about my new chickens? I’ll keep you updated about the goat.

Spring Planting

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Happy Spring! It certainly doesn’t feel like it around here – with sub-zero temperatures and five feet of snow on the lawn, but the calendar tells us Spring has arrived!

By now we should have started some seeds indoors… but it hasn’t happened yet. The cold weather and my poor results from attempts last year have deterred me from being adventurous with my seed selections this year. Buying small plants and seedlings is easier. Let the professionals start the hard and delicate part of planting seeds. Then, I will just carry on from there. I don’t have a hothouse for tomatoes or peppers. My soil is not ideal for some of the more particular crops. And I’m too impatient for Lufas or teeny seeds like daisies and other flowers. I’m excited to try – last year we geared up in February for the first fruits. Failure makes me cautious. You’ve heard me say that growing is God’s miracle, we just plant the seed! I should just leave Him to His job.

Photo by Nikola Jovanovic on Unsplash

I watched a cute little YouTube clip from a kid’s object lesson on this topic. I love how Nature is so good at teaching even the most straightforward lessons. Jesus used them often to help His students learn. I’ll link the video in case you need a Sunday school lesson…

Seeds are dormant, hard little creatures that sit around waiting to die… protectors the “Bible mom” calls them. Keeping everything safe until just the right time at just the right moment to bloom, explode and display all their blessings. Plants and seedlings, on the other hand, are vulnerable and out there. They start out delicate. And if they get good care… well, they can become the mighty oak!

Unfortunately, last year my seedlings didn’t grow well. I let the protectors down and the producers just didn’t catch and flourish into the big plants they were intended to be. The few my mom got did pretty well at her house… she got some fruit. I guess her conditions were better.

And so it is with us. We need to be in the right conditions to flourish and grow. We need to be in a good church body with good teaching. We need to be mentored, encouraged and coaxed to grow. We need to feel confident enough to break down that hard protective shell of seed and sprout into seedlings and vulnerable plants. We need to be watered and fed and protected from the outside when we lose our shells.

And we need to be that protector for others. Those of us that are parents are all too familiar with this. We raise our kids, giving them all the attention and allowances we can. Eventually, they sprout and produce their own fruit. (Eek… am I heading to grandma zone??) But it’s true! Time waits for no one. We have limited chances to do our best. Still… it’s never too late! Even sickly seedlings can pick up with a bit of sunlight, a little water and some good food. They may never be the strongest in the garden, but the fruit is possible!

Photo via Jenni Haikonen

So let’s learn from spring buds, shall we? Encourage. Help grow. Seek it for yourself. Plant yourself in good soil. Break down your hard seed shell and bloom!

Here’s that kid’s video clip. May have to look up the “Bible Mom” again. Seems like a nice lady! 🙂 Bible Mom Lesson