tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87730533983635814102024-03-13T07:21:19.602-07:00Wild Island LoveTales of an island by the sea, a life of love, and adventures with a border collie and twin foxesSara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-63199089548384653552018-07-19T07:27:00.003-07:002018-07-19T07:33:07.619-07:00Farewell Comox Valley<br>
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It is our last day in the Comox Valley. We officially roll out of town this afternoon.<br>
<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2018/07/it-is-our-last-day-in-comox-valley.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-38945771557639707762018-07-03T22:16:00.001-07:002018-07-03T22:16:24.419-07:00PackingBoxes... chaos... packing tape... toys... dishes... more boxes... packing!<br />
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With just a week to go, our house is now totally in a state of chaos. Being my personality that it is, my packing days began early, probably too early, as I purged and organized all the stuff that has accumulated for the past 13+ years. Yet I managed to keep the chaos to an organized state, cleaning up after myself each day, clearing the counters, and sweeping and mopping floors. Now we are a week away from D-day and there is no point of cleaning up as I go. It is time to embrace the chaos around me, though everything in me aches to do otherwise.<br />
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I'm learning (again) about putting aside my needs for those of others. I would rather push through, work hard, and get it all done no matter what stands in my way. And yet there are two 4-year olds, crying for attention throughout this major life upheaval. I've given them new toys but they want to play with me. I pack a box, then stop to color. I pack a box, and then they need a bike break. I give them a snack and pack a box, but they want me to sit with them so we sit out on the deck and sit side by side enjoying a cold smoothie in the warm sunshine. <br />
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I'm learning about my relationship with things, as I have been forced to take stock of every single item we own. We have purged, dumped, donated and sold SO much stuff. Yet I am not a minimalist. But neither do I want to be ruled by "things." (Almost) Every item I own has a use, a purpose, a meaning. We share our lives with many people so many of the things I use provide an ease for hosting, entertaining, or supporting. I also have growing kids, and what they need to learn and thrive changes with the seasons. I like space to feel beautiful and warm. I like everything to have a place.<br />
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I'm learning that I do not thrive in chaos (who really does?). There are half finished piles everywhere, as the kids dash in and out of my rhythm of packing leaving toys and snacks behind. I have no energy to keep up with the dishes throughout the day, but they have to be washed at some point, as the available supply dwindles. There are piles of garbage, piles to donate, and piles to give away to friends or family. It is summer holidays, and the kids have energy to burn, and there are people to say goodbye to - and the job of packing drags slowly on. </div>
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The packing WILL get done...so everybody tells me. It may mean late, exhausting nights, and lots of screen time at the end so that we can focus in and get done. My priority is not on pushing through, not pushing my kids aside, but getting the job done as best as I can. It's not easy for me. I've been closing to my breaking point and I'm sure it will come again. I'm growing and learning. Guess this is what moving is all about. </div>
Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-50376932878984320752018-06-10T16:10:00.000-07:002018-06-10T16:10:14.530-07:00Goodbye to our First Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The word arrived today, in bright red letters sprawling over the sign on our front lawn - <span style="color: red;">SOLD!</span><br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2018/06/goodbye-to-our-first-home.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-86499746139156755092018-06-02T22:03:00.001-07:002018-06-02T22:03:31.400-07:00May...where did you go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The month of May has just flown by! Can it really be June already?<br>
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This month was, by far, the most whirlwind month of my entire life. We started the month with our trip to Calgary to candidate, and ended it with a house nearly sold and the countdown on until we move and start a new chapter of our lives. In-between this month also included: announcing our resignation to our church, spending a week plus the long weekend cleaning/packing/decluttering/beautifying our home to list on the market, listing our home on the market, showing our home (only lasted 3 days), taking a trip away to family camp with our church, and accepting an offer on our home!<br>
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Has anyone experienced such an action packed month?<br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2018/06/maywhere-did-you-go.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-29025109876855892312018-05-22T17:19:00.000-07:002018-05-22T17:19:03.014-07:00New Beginnings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Kangs are going on an adventure! A permanent adventure, at that. We are moving to Calgary!<br />
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My husband, Daniel, has accepted a position of lead pastor at an Alliance Church in Southeast Calgary. It is kind of crazy, right? I think I am still in shock about it all.<br />
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Let me tell you a bit about how we came to this decision. I will say, this is probably one of the biggest and hardest decisions we have ever made. Dan and I travelled to Calgary a few weeks ago to meet the church, and interview and see the city. After such a long winter, Calgary was not the most beautiful place I have seen. In fact, it was really quite ugly haha. The snow had JUST melted a week prior, so the ground was brown and dead and nothing was in bloom on the trees yet. The city is HUGE and still expanding, so everywhere you look there is a sea of houses. It was such a drastic contrast to "green" life here on Vancouver Island.<br />
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However, the city itself seems cool and has a lot of features we loved. And when we met the people at the church, we knew that was it. The church is predominantly a Filipino church, with a desire to expand more multi-culturally. That's where we come in. Dan has had a dream of ministering as a pastor in a multi-cultural city setting for a number of years. Over the past year, this vision has been growing and we started to explore different jobs. We didn't expect that our search would lead us to Calgary, but it has. Dan is also able to complete his Master's Degree, as the Alliance university is right in the city. One of our other priorities is to give our children the chance to grow up amongst different cultures. That can happen on a small scale in Comox, but it is quite limited in terms of opportunities. We are excited to have them grow up in one of the fastest growing immigrant cities in Canada!<br />
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It is going to be heart-wrenchingly sad to leave our lives here. Of course, I am an "island-girl" at heart. I've had one foot on the island since I moved here at age 3. More than that, though, this is our first real home. Dan and I moved here 5 years into our marriage and bought our first home. We brought home our fur-baby Kaya, and had many adventures with her. We struggled through a long battle of infertility. We said hello and goodbye and lived life with SO many people - homestay students, roommates, brothers and sisters in the faith, friends, and family! And this is the place where we first brought our beautiful baby boys home to.<br />
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Our future ahead is still uncertain. We don't know yet where we will live. I don't know where I will work. The kids will start Kindergarten in a new city with all new friends. And yet, we believe without a shadow of a doubt that God has orchestrated this down to the last detail. We are stepping out in faith, following the call on our hearts to proclaim His name to the nations.<br />
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Wow, so there it is. I still can't believe this is actually happening. Like I said, my soul is still in shock as I start to experience the range of emotions this move brings with it. I plan to write about our journey and our new adventures, probably in a new blog, so I'll keep you posted! <br />
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To the adventure ahead! <br />
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<br />Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-69185625784000631512018-04-23T14:24:00.002-07:002018-04-23T14:24:20.540-07:00Little boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am a mom of little boys.<br />
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When I was pregnant with the twins, I was convinced they were a boy and a girl. We didn't find out ahead of time what their gender was. From what we could tell from the outside, they seemed so different - heart rates, movements, size and shape. We even tried the old wives' tales, which was tricky with twins, but I swear with the ring test, one side of my belly responded differently than the other side! So we just planned for one of each. Turns out, we were wrong. And now I am a mom of two boys.<br />
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I have to say that I am thrilled to have boys. For as long as I can remember, I have LOVED little boys. From the time I was little, my first neighbourhood friends were little boys and I remember collecting ants and playing in the dirt with them. When I was in youth group and helped with the little kids groups, I always had a soft spot in my heart for little boys. There is just this wild, sweet, rough exploring side of boys that I have always loved.<br />
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Now I get to live with boyhood all around me. It's not exactly what I expected. It's not just muddy and aggressive and all about cars (though it was when they were little). It's fast moving, and messy, and competitive, and full of sound effects, and many sweet moments of snuggles and kisses.<br />
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Take the other day for example: We had a no agenda, no plans day at home. By 7:30am they were convinced we HAD to make rockets. We gathered supplies, built cardboard rockets and they were painting them. While they dried I went out to work in the garden and they collected bugs and jumped on the trampoline. We stopped for a snack/coffee break and watched the Snowbirds fly overhead. They wouldn't sit to color but we spent a few minutes (max) using chalkboard paint outside. Lunch, quiet time (which also only lasted a short time) and then it was time to head to the park. They rode their bikes there, threw frisbees, played ball, rode bikes home, and stopped to climb on rocks. At home I tried to get them to stay still for a few moments and lie in bed for a cuddle, and they crawled all over and made funny noises. I made dinner while they ran around with cars and blasted me with shooters from their airplanes. They ate quickly, wiggling around the whole time, splashed in the bathtub making a mess all over, squealed and run around in their PJs, and finally tucked into bed for snuggles and lullabies.<br />
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No wonder when the day is done, I am wiped. Emotionally, physically, mentally drained! But when those little voices at the end of the day, whisper sweet nothings like, "I'll meet you in my dreams" and "When I grow up mom, can I marry you? I love you so much" my heart melts and I am filled anew to take it all on for another day. They are busy. They are loud. They are messy. They are sweet. They are caring. They are funny. They are full of life. Little boys.<br />
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<br />Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-34369897701766827252018-04-14T21:00:00.001-07:002018-04-14T21:00:28.931-07:00Saturday musingsToday my thoughts are whimsically floating this way and that, and I can't figure out what to sit down and write about.<br />
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It is the end of the day. I am sitting with a glass of wine, a sweet potato Paleo brownie, and a pile of folded laundry surrounding me. Today was a "deal-with-it" day. The house needed to be cleaned, the laundry needed to be washed, the fridge needed to be stocked, and the day was mostly rain-free, which meant we had to take the opportunity to work in the yard before it rains again. It was a FULL day. I am wiped. I am content.<br />
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Right now the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and CF-18 are doing Spring training here in Comox. Twice a day we get to watch our own air show as they fly overhead and practice formations. The CF-18 is loud! When it passes right over us, our house shakes and is filled with the noise. I remember when the kids were babies we had to adjust their naptime since the fly-bys would wake them up. Now it is such a treat for the boys to see! Last night I dreamt all night about the CF-18. You know you are a mom of boys when... lol.<br />
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In the next few months we will be saying goodbye to a close friend of ours who has been staying with us for the past little while. He's moving on to bigger and better things. It has had me thinking, though, of all the people who have passed through the humble doors of our abode. When we bought our home, Comox was in a housing boom. The market was flooded! We came one weekend and looked at 20 houses at least, all in our price range in this area. There was just 2 of us and a dog back then, so we hadn't planned to buy such a large house, but with the prices, we couldn't resist. We ended up with a good ol' BC box (as they say) with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The layout was just right that we have all we need upstairs and the downstairs could be separated out for room and board.<br />
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So, just a few weeks after we moved in, we started hosting International students. Now the stories I have about that can go on and on... but suffice it to say, our house has been well lived in! We have had around 20 students come and go through our doors, and have been able to host friends and family needing a place to stay for a while. I do enjoy my privacy and space, so I have to admit this has been challenging at times, but it also has filled our lives with such richness. We've learned about ourselves, and expanded our horizons through the lives of others. The friends who have stayed with us really have become family. It's been nearly 8 years in this house and I can say with certainty that it has been a HOME. There is nothing sweeter than home.<br />
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<br />Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-7334595404468674752018-04-11T20:49:00.001-07:002018-04-11T20:49:04.631-07:00Spring Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unlike the rest of Canada, we in BC have hit spring. The daffodils have appeared, the magnolia tree has bloomed, cherry blossom scent fills the air, and the rain is falling, falling, falling. As much as I am tired of the grey, I think that by April, I'm happier to have rain and green grass and flowers, than snow like rest of the country. This has been a long winter for Canada.<br />
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We just had a wonderful, busy, full Easter and spring holiday. Our Easter is always full of lots of church services and gathering with friends and family. After we finished our last service on Sunday, we took off down island to visit with some extended family in Victoria. It was lovely! We ate lots of food, visited the famous petting zoo (which I still remember from my childhood), saw a castle, and just sat around sharing family stories. After that just our family took off to the west coast of Vancouver Island to tuck away at a little Air BnB for a couple of nights. It was all quite rainy, but we ventured out to the beaches, watched movies, and cuddled up in bed with books (while the kids watched Disney channels we don't get at home).<br />
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What I hadn't counted on is what it would be like to be around my kids for 24/7 for two weeks straight! I am used to the breaks of work, preschool, and having my parents around to offload them for a while. That was all absent for the past two weeks and by the end of the two weeks, we were ALL ready for a break from one another lol. Today I am extra savouring my precious time alone.<br />
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In other news, we finally, finally are almost ready to start planting things in our garden. I found time to put up a fence so the dog (and neighbour's cat) stay out of the garden while the seeds are getting established. I need to plant grass in one corner, and I need to relay the bark chips around the garden. Then we can plant! I am so excited. This year especially I am finding peace and solitude in working out in the yard. It is my happy place. <br />
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I also have an idea, which I can't believe I haven't thought of until now! I am going to start to put together a travel journal, writing and sharing about all the places in the world I have visited. I am not a huge world traveler, but when I sit down to think about it, I have actually made it to see a lot of interesting places. I would love a chance to share and write about my experiences. Anyone have any tips/ideas on a good format/way to start a travel journal??? <br />
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So there's our "spring" break in a nutshell. Now we're halfway into April... let's bring on the SUNSHINE please!!! <br />
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Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-75515739118819101682018-03-19T10:51:00.004-07:002018-03-19T10:51:59.244-07:00Lent - CheatingWe are over a month into Lent... only 14 days to go... This is the point where I start to get really excited about Easter. This year my birthday falls on the Easter weekend (Good Friday), which I really feel is an honour and a special time. I became a Christian on Easter weekend when I was just a wee little person, so it kind of is like having a double birthday weekend. I've always taken aside special time to celebrate and remember what God has done in my life through the Easter season. This year feels full of anticipation.<br />
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I must say, Lent hasn't gone all smoothly. I have "cheated" three times in what I gave up for Lent. I really wrestled with it each time and could have said no, but didn't. It really got me thinking about motivations and desires and how we rationalize things ALL the time. Lent is more than an exercise in self-discipline (though that is a big part of growing in it for sure). I always was pretty good at self-discipline. This time, that is actually the part I have found hardest. I am way more lenient to excuse myself and give myself a break in the name of "grace." It has also been eye-opening to see the areas and the struggles that I have that I try to handle on my own. Self-sacrifice is not natural. It takes intention and effort and constant choosing. I know grace does exist, but it has been quite a lesson of self-awareness to see my frailty and weak flesh. Today my daily Bible reading was Romans 8. This is, by far, my most favorite chapter in the Bible. It is SO rich.<br />
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Set our minds on the Spirit...<br />
The body is dead (and weak) but the Spirit is alive because of righteousness...<br />
We are God's children...heirs of Christ<br />
Creaton will be "liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God...<br />
We hope for what we do not yet have...<br />
The Spirit helps us in our weakness...<br />
If God is for us, who can be against us...<br />
Nothing... will be able to separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus!<br />
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Easter is coming. We celebrate HIS victory. We celebrate HIS love for us. What a beautiful day!<br />
<br />Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-75010064617412001862018-03-04T19:44:00.000-08:002018-03-06T09:21:41.547-08:00Lent - CommunityI'm writing this ironically on a day where I am staying home from church. We've been fighting a bug all week and my body gave in today and just said, "I need a little break." So it's a blessing that my mom can take the kids and I can go back to bed for a bit and listen to a sermon at home. There is one thing I am finding to be more difficult this year with Lent, and that is finding community.<br />
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I do not believe that Lent is something to be experienced in isolation. Yes, it is about your personal relationship with God and growing in discipline and self-denial. But I think this can only happen in the context of community. We need people to encourage and exhort us when the "flesh is weak but the spirit is willing." There is also a dependency that comes when we open up to one another in vulnerability and support each other in prayer. For me personally, this is the crux of Lent. Community is such a vital part of following Jesus.<br />
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In past seasons we have engaged in weekly prayer meetings, meals and Bible studies through the season of Lent. The one year where we saw an incredible move of God during Lent (maybe I'll write on that another day), we ended the time with a huge Easter feast! It was a party. We ate, we drank, we sang Karaoke, we glorified God. That is what I would love to see more of in our Christian life. This year, we have none of that structured into our schedule. I have made a point of remaining accountable to a few friends, and reaching out to others for support, but I definitely feel the lack of that community. It is a time of life (with young kids at home) that this is a challenge in general, but I guess I feel it more amplified through these weeks of Lent. I love my community. Lent has again awakened my desire and longing to see our lives intertwined with others in community again.<br />
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There's my thought for today :) What's been your experience with community? Where do you find connection with other people? How has community caused you to grow? <br />
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<br />Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-58409364869645716452018-03-03T16:21:00.000-08:002018-03-03T16:23:13.485-08:00Lent - Finding Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Through this time of Lent, I am striving somewhat more than usual to be intentional with my day and my time. This doesn't mean it is glamorous, but I am seeking the joy in the ups and downs. I thought I'd share a common day with you. Let me reiterate again, it does not always FEEL joyful, trust that these moments are meaningful and contributing to the Kingdom of God, despite how mundane they may feel.<br>
<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2018/03/lent-finding-joy.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-57272011320625429992018-02-20T09:15:00.004-08:002018-02-20T09:15:56.092-08:00Lent - Prayer You know writer's block? Well right now I have prayer's block.<br />
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I started Lent last week. I love this season in anticipation of Easter. It is not always glamorous, and more often that not I fail and don't keep up with my end of the bargain (I already had a cheat this week). Yet it is a time to recognize our dependence on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and that is clearly displayed in my human frailty. The thing is, this time I am having trouble "finding" Jesus. <br />
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I have adopted some daily habits to turn my dependence to God, but the pressures of this life keep pushing me aside. I read a daily devotion to the kids in the morning, but if they're not eating their breakfast or listening, or we are rushing out the door, the meaning is lost. I try to read my own devotional after they're done, and some days am non-stop interrupted until my coffee is cold and I have tried to re-read the single page devotion 5 times. I try to pray throughout the day, but between breaking up fights, and making snacks, and handling meltdowns, and cleaning the toilets, I sometimes forget. So I rely on my evenings once the kids are in bed... but sometimes my brain is dead tired and keeping focus is hard. Even at church, I rarely get to sit through a service, as I tend to my children, and fill in for Sunday School teachers who are away. Those aren't excuses. I am just saying that it is hard. <br />
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I won't give up. I have a longing to reignite that flame and passion for prayer. I just realize that this season in life brings challenges. I share to express that amid the beauty and fun and joy of life, there are hard part too (they don't get showcased as often). I hope to share more of these times throughout this season. <br />
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God, grant me grace as I seek you more. <br />
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Amen.Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-34431591780120916622018-02-14T12:45:00.001-08:002018-02-14T12:45:51.724-08:00For My Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Valentine's Day! While today is a day for lovers, I couldn't help but showcase some of the love I have for the boys in my life. <br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2018/02/for-my-boys.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-910452121642552412018-01-29T15:11:00.000-08:002018-01-29T15:11:43.419-08:00January updatesI'm sitting here sipping hot coffee, listening to my favorite music in the daytime while my kids play quietly in their room. What???? Is this really my life right now??? I had to sit down and spend just a brief moment jotting down my thoughts while the magic lasts.<br />
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It is not always like this. Not at all. But the twin veteran moms were right. Something shifts at age 4, and suddenly these little beings can handle some independence. We have built in a structure of "quiet time" after lunch for a lonnnng time now and it is finally paying off. It doesn't always work (or last more than 10 minutes), but some days it does. Those days are treasures. Yes I have laundry to do, and the garbage is overflowing, and dinner needs to be prepared, but for 15 minutes, I am sitting down. Enjoying the moment. Savouring my coffee. (And just as I type this a child has come out with an angry request).<br />
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We had a rough few months of sickness, through the Christmas season. We went away on vacation to Mexico, and it was wonderful, despite that we were still sick through it all. We are back into routine. We moved the boys to 3 days of preschool to give us (mainly me) an extra bit of kid-free time to keep up my sanity. That has just begun, but I am already so happy. I just need a little more space at this point in time.<br />
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This winter has felt long, and dreary. Over time the years here on the island have felt more oppressive through the rainy seasons. I love the storms and the wind. But living it day in and day out, with young kids who are stuck inside, and carting groceries through the rain, and taking out a dog twice a day is wearing. I am so grateful for their preschool this year. It is a nature-based program and nearly every day they ARE outside, rain or shine and when they come home they have played and explored and are ready to tuck in and be content inside. Still, I am ready for the new life of spring to come. Being in the sun on holidays was wonderful, but it made it especially hard to come back to an intense storm season.<br />
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As for New Year's resolutions, mine don't tend to shift much year to year, and I am probably still in works of the same things from last year and the year before. Three priorities at the top of my list are:<br />
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1. Read my Bible every day. I started this year with a 30-day devotional called Awaken, which includes a journal portion and I'm so glad to be back at it. <br />
2. Exercise - starting back at the gym. I've done home workouts for a few years, and while I have strength, I think this will take me to a new level of discipline, so I am starting 3 days at the gym, in addition to my weekly walks and runs.<br />
3. Declutter! The boys are nearly out of all "baby" toys/clothes/supplies so I have purged those and want to continue through my house this year and bring the other rooms back to some sense of normalcy.<br />
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So that's where we are at, on the verge of February awakening and the prospect of spring (my tulips have pushed through the dirt and are waiting to make an appearance). What does your new year look like?<br />
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<br />Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-12536664802801734102017-11-28T12:43:00.002-08:002017-11-28T12:43:36.147-08:00The act of sacrificeToday my kids are home sick. It was their preschool day. The one day of the week, out of 24/7 days a week, where I get a break for 3 precious hours. Today that is gone. <br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-act-of-sacrifice.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-72568675812736247122017-11-14T11:02:00.000-08:002017-11-14T11:02:02.503-08:00We are FOUR! <br>
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The goal of reaching the magic age of 4, has been on my horizon for, well, the last four years. When the twins were little, every veteran twin mom we met would say the words, "Just wait until they are 4. That's where the good times begin." Of course, there have been good times before this point, but there is something about the development of twins and how they learn independence and to play with each other, that makes the age of 4 the best yet. We are still getting to that point lol. There are some glimpses of that magic, but there also are still power struggles, tantrums, tears and fights. <br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/11/we-are-four.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-44331079345706686342017-10-18T10:04:00.000-07:002017-10-18T10:04:25.388-07:00As it's the boys' birthday today and they turn 4, I found this old post I have not yet posted. There are no pictures attached, but here is a description of life with 3-year olds. More to come soon!<br />
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The boys are 3 1/2 years old, and right in that stage where they do and say the cutest things. Things that will likely be forgotten, if not recorded somewhere. So here is the place I have decided to jot down some memories and moments to remember what having 3-year old twins is like. <br />
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I'll start with the "older" twin, RJ. RJ is our spit and vinegar, wild and free. little rascal. He is strong-willed, independent, and has to figure out everything for himself. He is also our little lawyer. He won't accept "no" for an answer, and unfortunately he spends most of his day asking for things that he can't have. This must be very disappointing for him all day long. When I say no, he has 3 regular responses. <br />
1. First, he tries to argue why he should get what I am saying no to, and why I should change my mind and say yes.<br />
2. Second, if he really can't get his own way, he attempts to come up with a solution as to when he will get his request fulfilled (ex. Maybe after I have a good nap today then I can have a jelly candy when I wake up)<br />
3. Third, if the answer is a final no and he is not willing to accept it, he will either run full speed and try to attain/achieve what I have said no to... or he will just pull out his loudest voice and scream full-on in a tantrum over and over again. This will happen despite where we are, or who we are around. He has no shame. <br />
At the moment, the only way to calm him down out of a tantrum is to pick him up (through his flailing), or take his hands and drag him into a quiet space to help him calm down. If I leave him for a few moments alone, he is actually good at calming himself down and will come out and say, "Mom, I'm okay now. I'm calm." And then he will usually go back to response number 2.<br />
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RJ is also still our entertainer, although he does get some stage fright at times. Other times, he is completely free-spirited and wild and will express himself however he feels. He loves to dance to good music, make up songs, play his guitar alongside his dad, and run around and do "tricks." He practices yoga moves and exercises along with me, and hardly ever stops long enough to sit and eat a meal. He is our wild child. <br />
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MJ is younger, but wise and sweet, and innocent. So innocent. MJ hates to get into trouble. Almost always when he does get in trouble, he has an actual explanation as to what he was doing and why. And probably 97% of the time it is unintentional (the 3% of the time is usually that his brother is bullying him and he is fighting back). MJ is highly concerned with other people's emotions and will often ask us when reading books, why certain characters look angry or sad or upset (often times it is just the drawing has funny eyebrows or something). He loves babies and will be gentle and bring toys for any little people to play with if he is around. That is not to say that he is always cautious. Oh no. MJ LOVES rough and tumble play and wrestle-time. His favorite "game" right now (both the boys love it), is a game they made up called "Gorilla Grodd," based off of one of their Batman books. Basically, their dad is Gorilla Grodd (the bad guy) and RJ is Batman and MJ is Spiderman and they have to fight him off. They wrestle on the bed and come up with different "tools" to impair him. He plays along and they laugh and scream and wrestle like crazy.<br />
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The boys have actually made up a few "games" that they play that are hilarious right now. One is called the "Muffin Man" and I have no idea what it is except that they dump out their stuffie toy bin and put it over their heads and walk around being the "Muffin Man." Another one is mama and babies. This started with their foxes but now they use their blankets (the big on is the mom and the small one is the baby). In this game they basically just replay parts of our day, such as going to church and nursery, or having a nap, or going to the park. They talk in different little voices and it is hilarious. They certainly aren't short of imagination, and it must be a great perk to have a twin to play along with you! In fact, I realized the other day that they don't have a lot of alone play time. MJ is always asking Dan or I to play with him, and I think it is because RJ calls all the shots when they play together, and when MJ plays with us, he actually gets to play his own way. Haha! The woes of being a "littler" sibling. <br />
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As far as what they say/talk about... it really is hard to keep track and remember. I think we are just so used to it that we don't notice the cuteness of the phrases they use. RJ still uses "them" instead of "they" so he sounds like a hick: "What will them do when they come over to play?" MJ just has a really sweet-sounding voice and a little lisp where he can't say his "L's" and it makes him so cute: "Mommy, will you pway wif me?" At bedtime, they always ask for a lullabye (or 10) and often sing along, especially if we sing a worship song they know. MJ has the purest voice when he sings. As soon as they're asleep, no matter how hard the day, I am filled with so much pride and love for them! They are so sweet when they're asleep. <br />
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<br />Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-47268216423416468952017-07-27T21:46:00.000-07:002017-07-27T21:46:42.884-07:00A Day in the Life: Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Today was much more a back to normal day for our family. <br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-day-in-life-tuesday.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-56067058454714313552017-07-26T20:09:00.000-07:002017-07-27T21:47:01.860-07:00A Day in the Life: Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Our family got hit with a bug this week. <br>
<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-day-in-life-saturday.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-79007498850794465142017-07-25T22:26:00.001-07:002017-07-27T21:47:18.405-07:00A Day in the Life: Wednesday<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">I decided to share a few posts of "A Day in the Life." Previously I have written these as schedules, just outlining how we were using our time with young twins. These new posts are more descriptions of the </span><strike style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">insanity</strike><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.24px;"> </span><strike style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">madness</strike><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.24px;"> reality of what parenting twins is like. I'll post a couple over the next few days to give a glimpse into our lives. Happy reading! </span><br>
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We are nearly half-way through summer (at least for what we tend to get here on Vancouver Island), so it's time to check-in to see where we stand with our summer bucket list. It has been an awesome time so far, and I feel like we have really been able to take advantage of the beautiful weather we are having and have fun! If you follow me on FB, you may have heard these stories already, but for those of you who know me from afar, here's a glimpse so far on how we have occupied our summer.<br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/07/summer-bucket-list.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-50014364298947426272017-06-29T21:33:00.000-07:002017-06-29T21:33:45.713-07:00Welcome Summer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Summer is here! We have been waiting for a long time, and we are embracing it as best as we can!<br>
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</div><a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/06/welcome-summer.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-14567945882579018272017-03-30T22:23:00.002-07:002017-03-30T22:34:48.334-07:00Self Care<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Today I was thinking a lot about self care. I know it's kind of a buzz word lately and potentially lost its meaning, but I think it is so important. <br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/03/self-care.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-26920178388062227352017-03-24T22:00:00.000-07:002017-03-24T22:00:36.295-07:00This is 3My crazy, wild, fun-loving twins are right in the middle of being THREE! These years are such a whirlwind of busyness and activity and yet monotony at the same time. I feel at times like the years will just creep on by and I will look back and strive to remember what exactly it was like. So, I write it all down!<br>
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Three can be summarized by the words: TALKING, MOVEMENT, and SWEETNESS.<br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/03/this-is-3.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8773053398363581410.post-65281929261282032862017-03-10T15:03:00.000-08:002017-03-10T15:04:33.407-08:00Spring Fever<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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We sure have a case of Spring Fever going on over here, like never before!<br>
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<a href="https://wildislandlove.blogspot.com/2017/03/spring-fever.html#more">Keep reading >></a>Sara-Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106264089310972938noreply@blogger.com0