Blessings and my Bed Time Routine

 Yes, you read that right, my dog and  I have a bedtime routine and here it is.

    A few months ago I realized that my dog has dry skin and needed some coconut oil for moisture. Well, being the princess that she is she did not want it on her food. So being the good dog mommy I am I started spoon-feeding it to her instead. Worked great. A week later I remember that she likes to lick feet, she does not care about licking your hand or your face. She likes feet. Yes, I know, a little odd. Works for me though because  I do not like dogs licking my face.

    So, being the smart doggy mom that I am I added coconut oil/foot licking to our bedtime routine. After I shower, Blessing goes into our bedroom and waits for me to come to bed. She knows she is not allowed on our bed without permission, so she patiently wants on my side of our bed until I am ready for bed. Once I climb into bed and put down a towel to prevent any oil from dripping on my comforter I invite her up onto the bed and she excitedly lays at my feet and waits for the coconut oil. Occasionally I also turn on my battery-operated candles and my diffuser for extra relaxation and if I have enough energy I also read a book. All of which are calming and relaxing activities for me. For Blessing, she is simply excited to be on the bed with me getting her oil.

    To some, this routine may sound silly or gross. For us, it's one of our favorite parts of the day. It's a chance for us to continue building our bond. It also gives her the nourishment that she needs and from a human perspective, who does not like a foot massage at bedtime? We all do. The texture of her tong is very relaxing.

    A co-worker asked me the other day what I do to come down from the stress of the day when I get home. At first, I did not have an answer for her, mainly because I was so tired I could not think straight. Then I got home and realized that Blessing's and my routine is what helps me come down from the stress of the day and puts me to sleep.

    For those of you who are also pet parents, I would love to hear about the things you do with your dog that others may think are silly. To me, my dog is more than just a pet who needs to be fed and walked. She is my little girl, my four-legged best friend and I love spending time with her and enjoying all kinds of different activities. It also helps that my hubby and I do not yet have children of our own, so Blessing is our baby.

So as always I hope this post blesses you and gives you a little chuckle.

God Bless

~Ruth

All Jobs Are Essential

    Note: This post is in no way slandering Premier, Dough Ford, our current Covid-19 situation, or any other politician at this time.  It is simply my thoughts on the importance and purpose of all jobs.

    I saw a meme on Facebook, it was one of the characters from the TV show The Office saying that all jobs are essential if they put food on your family's table. I thought it was well said. After our latest lock-down orders I started to think about all the different jobs that work together to run an economy and society and of the importance of each of them.

    Grocery stores and farmers are important because they provide us with food to feed our families and nourish our bodies and giving us the energy we need to do our everyday activities. They also offer the ingredients for those who enjoy cooking and consider it a hobby. To all those who do work in these two industries, and especially during these difficult times. Thank you. I see you and see how hard you are all working to provide us with all the necessary food that we need.

    Car factories are important because they make our cars so that way we have something to drive. They may not be the most glamorous job, I know I am not a fan of working in factories but some people do enjoy them and if you are reading this and work in a factory, thank you. By you working in a factory and producing a car or any of the thousands of products that are made in a factory, you are creating important everyday items that if we had to go without, life would be very different. So thank you for doing a job that I do not wish to do.

    The list goes on and on counting all the different jobs and explaining how each one of them is important, but this is a blog post and not a book. :) 

    After I thought about these few basic industries and how they keep society as we know it running smoothly I thought about hairdressers and nail salons. Now, I do not get my hair cut regularly, but  I know people who do and enjoy getting it done. It's an important job because not everyone wants their hair as long as I do and thus they need regular cuts or colours.

    Nail salons are also important because on occasion I enjoy treating myself to an acrylic nail set. Just like the people who maintain one hairstyle, some people like to get their nails done regularly because they work in an office or because they consider it a part of their self-care routine. If that is you, then I am happy you have found something that you enjoy doing.

    For myself, I enjoy retail therapy via Value Village and have done so all my life. I have some amazing memories shopping there over the years with my mom, my husband's grandmother, and on my own. My last job was actually at Value Village and I loved working there and now hurt for my former co-workers because they are currently out of work due to the lockdown.

    Banquet halls and wedding venues are also essential because without them a bride and groom have no place to host their wedding and celebrate the start of their lives as husband and wife. Now, most people do not get married more than once in their life and thus will not rent a banquet hall regularly, but there are enough couples in the world who wish to get married and thus those halls and venues are very important and needed on a regular business. Besides, have you ever tried to tell a bride that a banquet hall was not essential or an important part of her big day? I know I have not and do not plan on it because I was a bride a few years ago and I know how essential that building was for my fiancé's and my big day. Plus I also worked in a banquet hall for years. If they were not essential, they would not be in business.

    So you see, there are so many jobs out there and in their unique ways, they are essential because they provide a product or service that we will all at some point in time need or want. Because without all these different jobs, and of course, I only mentioned a few, life would be very different than what we are used to here in Canada, not necessarily bad, but different.

    On the Covid-19 side of things, to all you front line workers, whether that be in health care, emergency response teams, grocery stores, etc. Thank you. Thank you for doing your part and getting us through this difficult season.

    To those who are working from home, in whatever capacity that may be, thank you. Thank you for staying safe and continuing to take care of your families and the rest of your community by continuing to provide whatever product and or service you do all while trying to balance your home/work lives. I know I could not do what you are doing.

    Lastly, but certainly not least, to those who have been laid off because you cannot work from home and because in the eyes of the government your job is not essential. I am sorry. I too was laid off last year before switching to another job, which I would later find out is an essential job. So I too was stuck at home last year for a few months, it was not fun. There is only so much housework you can do or only so many walks you can take your dog on before you go stir crazy. Like the rest of you, I too had a routine of going to work every day and doing certain activities and this pandemic has messed with that. So I see you and my heart goes out to you.

    The one thing that brings me comfort in all this is that I am a believer in The Lord Jesus Christ and therefore I know that God is in control of everything and I do not need to worry because He is bigger than the boogie man and bigger than this pandemic. Yes, I am human and therefore I still stress over our current situation and cannot wait until my hubby and I can go see a movie in the theatre. It has always been a favorite date night for us and we miss it. Thankfully though I know that God is in control and will take care of everything.

    As always, I hope that post encourages and blesses you wherever you find yourself during these times.

God Bless

~Ruth

Day of Rest “aka” Learning to Sabbath

 

First off, yes, I know that my title is not grammatically correct, being that the word Sabbath is a noun and not a verb. So humor me and enjoy.

    Last night I decided that tomorrow "aka" today I needed to rest and recharge because it has been a rough week and if I expect myself to function properly next week, which I do then I needed to rest today (Sunday). So, I picked out the activities I wanted to do and planned out my day of rest. I was getting rather excited because not only do I love to plan but I was also going to do activities that I like doing but do not make nearly enough time for.

    When I woke up this morning I was ready and excited for my "Day of Rest." I got ready and went to church. It is so good to be back in the building and not just watching my pastor preach on-line. I am grateful for the technology and how we can use it during these difficult times of Covid-19, but watching my pastor preach online versus in person are two different experiences, both good of course, but different. Plus it is great to see the familiar faces of my church family again. God did not create us to be by ourselves or to be isolated. He created us for the community, so being back in the building and seeing people in person is very refreshing, especially for the extrovert that I am.

    After church, it was time for a Sunday afternoon nap. Partly because I did not sleep well but also because who does not love a good nap on a Sunday afternoon.

    Once I woke up Blessing and I (my dog) went for a good trail walk/run. She loves a good trail run and I love to watch her enjoy it. Once off her leash she takes off like a shot, runs fifteen feet or so and, then looks back to make sure I am coming. She takes a minute to sniff and then once I am closer she takes off running again and the routine continues. She loves her off-leash freedom to run but also likes to stay close to me. You could say we have a special bond and I love it. My husband and I do not yet have children, so Blessing is very much our baby, and yes, she knows it. After our five km walk, we headed to a park where I practiced my photography hobby. Flowers are my favorite thing to photograph, so I love going on photo walks with Blessing in the Spring and Summer. We do enjoy the snow and winter, I was born and raised in the North after all, but there are only so many pictures of snow-covered trees that I can take before they all look the same to me. Blessing also makes a great photography assistant, she is happy to sit by my side while I focus on the perfect shot. Then she is rewarded with a good sniff while I look for the next flower to photograph.

    After I was satisfied with a couple of great shots I used a gift card for Starbucks and treated myself to a double chocolate chip frappuccino. I had intended to get Blessing a Pupiccino but they were out, she was not impressed. Maybe next time.

    Once we arrived home I took care of a couple of chores in preparation for this coming week, had supper, and, then went back outside where Blessing and I worked on her "heel" or as we call it "with me." Very happy with her progress thus far. She is eager to please and loves her food. Yes, she worked for her supper tonight. I figured that her grumbling stomach was the perfect motivation for her to focus and learn this new leash skill.

    After a wonderful restful day, we are snuggled up in bed. Blessing is passed out at my feet and I am topping off the day with journaling, another hobby I enjoy, which is also being typed up for a blog post. Have not blogged in ages but I want to start being more intentional about doing it. As I reflect on the events of today I think I have finally learned what it is to take a day and rest or as we believers in the Lord Jesus Christ call it, Sabbath. I know that when I have rested and am recharged I can better serve my family and those around me and properly represent the love of Jesus Christ to those around me. Because I am pretty sure that being cranky and short with people is not how God wants me to treat people. Luckily God knew this about me and everyone else on earth and planned accordingly, because, when God created the world He did it in six days, and on the seventh He rested and blessed the day, making it holy and, then gave us the commandment to keep it holy. I admit I am not very good at taking a Sabbath, despite it being a gift from God, but going forward I am going to be more intentional about taking that God-given day off. He has blessed me with activities that I enjoy, ie photography because when I am taking pictures of flowers and other such things in nature I get to enjoy His creation and artwork and then share that with my husband and dog. Not that Blessing cares about the pictures, she just likes to be outside with me.

    So, friends, I pray that you too would find the things that give you life, bring your joy, recharge you and bring you closer to God.

God Bless
~Ruth

I planned, God laughed.

They say if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. Well, I think God got a good kick out of my day.

My hubby and I discovered a new and unpleasant sound coming from our SUV. So I booked time off work and took our SUV to my husband's grandfather's mechanic shop and had my father-in-law fix it. Turns out our brakes were starting to die, so a quick brake change and a short visit and I was on my way home. My plan was to arrive back home in time to pick up my husband from work, maybe get some groceries done and then head to Youth group.

Well, if you think my day went according to plan then you are wrong. The first part went smoothly, got our SUV fixed and left the shop on time. Here comes the part where God starts giggling. After an hr of driving (two and a half hr car ride), with smooth traffic, we come to a halt and everyone turns their motors off for about thirty minutes. I looked at google maps to see what happened and how to get around it. Turns out there was an accident and the detour route is just past it. So I'm not going anywhere for a little while. By now my anxiety has kicked in and gone full tilt.

Traffic eventually started moving and we got onto the detour route and started heading home. Expect with all the traffic that needed the detour and the time spent waiting for the accident to clear, we ended up adding two hrs to the trip. Needless to say, I did not pick up my husband from work. He walked home, a solid thirty minutes. I am very proud of him for doing that. He is not a fan of exercise but he said that taking a taxi or an Uber was a waste of money. As you can imagine by the time I got home I had ten minutes to spare before leaving for Youth group, so I grabbed a Pogo and walked out the door.

When we stopped for the accident my anxiety shot up to the roof. I tried to calm down but it did not work. A few minutes later God stepped in and explained why we were stopping, besides the accident that is. He simply wanted me to slow down and stop trying to control everything, and that's when I started to gently cry, along with thanking and praising God for this unorthodox rest.

So that was my day. I hope you had a wonderful day and as always I hope that this encourages and challenges you to schedule rest because it is just as important as getting all of your work done.

Note*

I journaled this post on October 22nd and forgot to post it until now. I'm really good at writing a journal entry that God puts on my heart, but terrible for making a blog post out of it in a timely manner.

Counting my Blessings

Tonight I climbed into my truck after doing groceries and thought to myself, "I have a full tank of gas, groceries and a home to go to. I am blessed." Then proceded to tear up a little. It has been a difficult season with my husband being out of work and all the stress that comes with that, but tonight I choose to count my blessings. Because when we choose to count our blessings instead of all our problems our perspective changes. Our problems do not seem so big or bad anymore. It is at this time that you should also get into your Bible and see what God has in store for you (I am going to dig into mine once I post this). You and I are now in a place where we can properly hear God's voice in our hearts and can accept what He has for us because we know that He is a good God and wants nothing but the best for us.
For the first time in ages, I am at peace with all the junk in my life and I hope and expect that I will be able to properly hear God's voice in my heart, now that my perspective has been changed and my focus is back on Him.
First things first though, count your blessings. Even if you can only think of a few small everyday items that we normally take for granted, like our warm houses or food in the fridge. God will do the rest.
I pray that this blesses you as much as it blessed me tonight.

God Bless
~Ruth

Attending Church on Our Bad Days

Sometimes making it to church on a Sunday morning is a full out chore for me. There are some mornings that I just do not want to "people." I do not have the energy to put on a smile and pretend that everything is going wonderfully in my life. I missed church this past week because of this and then last night as I was falling asleep, God reminded me that those are the days where we most need to be in church and fellowship with the body of Christ. These are the days when we need prayer and encouragement from trusted fellow believers. You see, the church is not for the healthy, I mean they are welcomed with opened arms, but the church is really for those of us who are lost and in need of a savior. Which by the way is everyone, but that is for another day. God tells us in His Word, the Holy Bible in Romans 3:23-24 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

You see, it is easy to attend on our good das when everything is going well, but it is even more important to attend on those bad days  so that way you can be lifted up by the body of Christ in prayer and best of all, God will get the glory, which is the ultimate goal.
So after God and I had our little heart to heart last night, I look forward to attending on good days and on the bad days as well. Because I also now that the devil would love for me to stay home and isolate myself away from the body of Christ, letting Satan win, and last I checked, Satan is not allowed to win.

It is my hope and prayer that those of you who are reading this take courage in knowing that you are not the only one who has bad days and now we both understand just how important it is that we attend church and connect with the body of Christ on a regular basis.

God Bless
~Ruth

Making Your Dreams a Reality

What is holding you back from your goals and dreams? Are you scared of the unknown like me? I have a few hobbies that I am trying to pursue and yet I am terrified. You see others around you working towards their goals and yet you cannot make yours a reality. For just over a year now my husband has been working hard at making his Youtube channel success and for a while, I was jealous that he was pursuing his hobbies and I was not. You have made commitments to yourself and are challenging yourself to take the first step and yet it feels impossible. All you can do is make excuses as to why you are not making your dreams or hobbies a reality. So what do we do?

First, find a friend to talk to and then get someone willing to be an accountability partner for our, someone who will gently push you and encourage you through the rough start.

You may also struggle with mental health like I, if you do then this is likely what is holding you back from your goals and dreams. If this is the case then seek help and then work towards your goals. But, before you do anything, talk to the Lord. Ask Him for strength and guidance. Philippians 4:13 comes to mind; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God wants the very best for you. You may feel all alone, but I assure you that you are not. He is with you.

Then when it is time to start practicing your hobbies, dreams, and goals it does not have to happen in one day. It will take time. Start small, like 10 minutes a week and build from there. By starting small you will feel successful, accomplished and proud of your self for having done the activity. This even I took my puppy out to play fetch and brought my camera along. The first five minutes or so I took pictures of her and then the rest of the time was focused on fetch. But even though it was only a few minutes and a handful of pictures I feel accomplished and excited to go out again soon. Maybe even tomorrow.

All in all, it is a process and a journey and yours might look a little different than mine or someone else's but that is okay. That's how God planned it. All you need to do is figure out what you want to do, seek God and our friends for help. It's going to be scary and hard at first but in the long run, it will be worth it, and you will have discovered new dreams and experiences you never knew you wanted to experience or needed to experience. There will also be days when you want to give up or you will stumble along the way and have to start from the beginning again, and that is okay. As they say, Rome was not built in a day. It takes time, but it will be worth it in the end.

I pray that today's post and the posts that will be coming in the next few weeks will be encouraging, challenging and a blessing you to all.

God Bless

~Ruth