Gathered Family

We all know what's it's like to have a family. Some of us come from really amazing families where the love is spread around and the good times never end. Some of us come from families where...it's a bit awkward. And unfortunatly some families don't know how to be a family at all.

Then there are our gathered family. What's a gathered family? It's the people in your life that you have no blood relationship to but they feel like your family nonetheless. You make them your family. I've got a very large gathered family, and I love them to pieces!

I'm not super close to my real family, it's always been a little bit awkward for me to fit in with them. I love them, but it's sometimes hard to be a part of them. It's something that I'm working on. That's why I started "gathering" family members a few years ago. It was more a fact that I realized I was closer to these people then my blood relatives. It's not something that I've verbalized to these people in my life but I hope I show it to them through my words and actions. In my gathered family I've got brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, moms, dads, crazy uncles, cousins, a grandpa, a couple grans, I've even got a son and some daughters!

SBBC has played a big part in the gathering of these family members, many of my gathered family are in my life because of the camp. In fact I spent this past weekend with a bunch of them! On Saturday we had our staff appreciation banquet followed with a camp wind-up on Sunday afternoon. Hence my "busy" blog just before this one. It was a great weekend! After the appreciation banquet a group of us (many of them who I consider to be part of my gathered family) stayed together and played 4 on a couch, then we watch old camp movies (home videos?!) and I was so blessed by our time together.

Having a gathered family is one of my favourite things!

tea parties and ballarina moves

Last week I had a tea party with my friends 3 year old daughter. It was a marvelous time! She brought over her princess tea set...I drank from the Sleeping Beauty cup. I made ice tea, served some chocolate cookie type things as well as apples with cheese slices. The tea party began! We drank a lot of ice tea, ate he entire plate of goodies and talked about life, from a 3 year olds point of view! After we had devoured all the tea party goodness we turned on the tv to watch the Wiggles. If you've never watched them you should.
We were dancing along with the amazing Wiggles when T. looked at me and said, "Watch me okay, it's going to be incredible!" She did a twirling, tippy toe ballarina dance move...and it was incredible.

The Meaning of a Hug

Arms go out to another in a warm embrace. The gesture is self-explanatory, "I include you in my circle of caring." A hug is a spontaneous signal of acceptance. A hug holds a universe of silent meaning. Loving mothers hug their babies. Parents hug children of all ages. In all of humanity, embracing is a symbol of togetherness and belonging.

Our Father in Heaven will greet each of us back into his presence with a hug. Christ reaches with outstretched arms to enfold each of us in his love.

Hugs are loaded with benefits. "Hugging is healthy: it helps our body's immune system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug." (Author unknown, from Adventures With Personology) Hugs benefit both the giver and the receiver. Renowned psychologist Leo Buscaglia stresses the importance of daily supplements of hugs. Every person needs at least three hugs every day. Husbands, wives, parents and children all have their own minimum daily requirement of heartfelt affection. More hugs would improve our overall well-being.

Rules For Hugging:

1. Let your hug be pure, meaning simply, "I care for you."

2. A hug is neutral territory. By closing the space with your loved one, there is no room in that moment for disagreements or grudges--only acceptance, understanding and sympathy.

3. "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven ... a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing" (from Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher 3). If you aren't sure if it's the right time for a hug, it's appropriate to ask.

4. A hug may only be given, not taken.

5. A request for a hug from your spouse should never be left ungranted.

6. Live in the moment of a hug. Don't let anything distract your attention. From an early age, our little one seemed to be aware of everything going on around him. He was so aware that, when I wanted to cuddle, it was like trying to hug a radar antenna. He was eager to absorb and assimilate the whole world in every moment. He was everywhere except in the hug. I resigned myself, thinking that was the price to loving a baby genius. But as he grew he became more cuddly. Now at 15 months, he melts into hugs and enjoys cuddling to sleep like other babies. For small children, a hug is a moment of eternity. Sometimes they can sustain a hug forever, without being distracted by the cares of the world. We can learn a lot from babies.

Let our hugs be pure and our affection for our loved ones genuine.

Full of crab meat and content

Today was a great day! First off I had an awesome hair and outfit day, that always makes a girl happy! Then I actually got to go to the adult Sunday School class because none of my students showed up (I know that may be a strange thing to be happy about but hey.) Then during church a whole whack of my youth group friends that I grew up with showed up! (You see my youth group pretty much married each other and now are all related so when one comes home they all come home!)

Then after church Debbie and I went to Rick and Colette's house for lunch. After lunch we wound up just hanging out all afternoon, talking and having a good time. We also wound up calling Cory who as well came to hang out. We hung out for so long that we all wound up staying for supper! (I used the phrase 'wound up' a lot up there, my English teacher would be angry!) We had a crab leg feast! Which reminds me, I think I may be intollerant to shell fish... but that's besides the point.

I love hanging out with Rick, Colette, Debbie and Cory. It just makes my day! it's amazing what a little fellowship with good friends can do for your heart and soul. After today I walked home content and happier then I've been for a few days. We had some good laughs, discussed some important points brought up in church today, I got to hold baby Jordan (he puked on me but that's okay, baby puke isn't that gross!) we played a game and I got to play with Trenace for a solid 20 minutes! It was a good day indeed!

I am thankful for...

...a roof over my head on these cold, cold nights
...a job with which I can support myself
...my education
...my mum and papa
...Debbie, Colette and Rick...I would be lost without them here!
...the ways GOD has enabled me to serve Him this year in the church
...late night discussions about outreach and the church
...Jenny (You know I love you for calling me today!)
...my car
...my MRI being all clear and me being MS free!
...my SBBC family
...my Healing Hearts family

And that's just a start! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!