Loneliness: The Aftermath of Urbanization?

Metropolitan. Full of loud sounds, fascinating people, and beautiful architecture. This place of wonderful chaos is one place I thought I would feel the least amount of loneliness. However, in this fast paced city I find myself looking at only strangers. Unidentifiable people who are going about their lives as much as the next person. Yet, I feel there is no interconnecting web between my life and any of these strangers. No recognizable regular customers from work, or familiar faces from the grocery store. There is a lack of community in my little bubble of Winnipeg. Even though it is refreshing to go down the street and know that no one knows your family, where you were born, or what you have experienced in life, I still feel a sense of detachment from my own self because of it. We are designed to be in fellowship with one another and this lack of attachment to others has left me feeling an imbalance in my veins. I have been challenged this past week with unimaginable, sad news from a friend. It took me a week just to begin to process this information because I have been physically alone. I am truly understanding the importance of these "creatures" called humans. These beautiful people that God has created to live in harmony with one another. I feel trapped in such a vast province because of this distancing from people. 20th street is Saskatoon represents the kind of community I crave. People walk down the street with their heads carried high giving a slight smile to new friends they met on the street opposed to the followed manner of most "urbanites" with their heads held low trying not to make contact with the fellow pedestrian. They eat at one table, go to smudging ceremonies with one another, sit at the local park bench and "people watch" together. This is what fellowship is. It's living together with one another. I am becoming more thankful for the people and the home I have in my life. Even though these are times of sadness and loneliness,  I am beginning to find hope in knowing that it only takes a grin on the street, or a gentle "hello" to get closer to feeling whole.

Little things.

 

I have realized a lot of things this summer. One revelation I have made is that I am not made for urban life. I love city living but I miss the fields, lakes, and smells of the country. I am so very glad my beautiful friend could show me her home this weekend. Altona is beautiful. I am so very happy and content dreaming about the future with my kindred spirit in the fields of Manitoba. I thank God for these moments. 

Invisible Mommies.

Today is the day to remember those women who have sacrificed everything to raise their children. It's the day that children bring burnt toast and warm milk to their mother's nightstand. It's the day where children honour their mothers for all that they have done to raise them. There is this visible interaction between children and mothers today. However, I can't help to think,  on this day, so many mothers who ache to eat burnt toast and drink warm milk. They ache to be exhausted, holding their crying baby in their arms. And they ache to wake up at 5 am to the sound of children's laughter. These are the women that are invisible on this day. I want to say thank-you to these mommies who have babies in heaven. You have put up with the awkward greetings today, the children all around you who hugging their mommies, and the lack of cards and gifts given to you. I want to say that you are a mom and you are loved. Thank-you to the mommies who are missing a part of their family today. You shouldn't be invisible because even though you don't hold that one precious part of your family in your arms, the scent of mother for that child fills your entire being. I want to say to you because I know if I was in your shoes, I would want those words said to me.

Blessed.

Being thankful. A concept we are taught at such a young age and are told to practice but I find it so hard. Why do the hard things seem to mask all the blessings in my life? I have been thinking about this and realizing that being thankful is a choice. It's my responsibility to be thankful. I have the choice to dwell on the negative or look to the good in life. My desire is to continually find the positive in life yet why is it so hard to achieve?

I went to my auntie and uncle's cottage this weekend and as I took a walk on the trails, I thought about everything that I had. I have so much. I have so much that has been handed to me, so much to give, and yet I don't. I think this is a goal I need to make. A goal to give. I think then I can I will find the choice to be thankful. It's easy to say I'll just give back when I'm not a college student anymore or I'll just give back when I have a full time job but it starts today. It's journey to thankfulness starts with giving back today. 

I hope that this gives you a little inspiration for how you can begin to be thankful again.

DIY Painted Globe

A little sunday afternoon crafting was needed. I have made it a goal to have a rest day this semester so, I decided to make my roommates' birthday gift and thought I would share it with you, my friends.

What you will need is a globe, paint and a paintbrush. Then I just painted the globe with my white paint before putting my base coat on. 

Then I put this light purple colour on as a base. But after this the rest is up to your imagination. I decided to put a quote from C.S. Lewis on mine, but the choices are endless. 

                     

Take a day to rest and have fun crafting.

The Balance.

I wonder.

I wonder if I am doing the right thing with my life, who I am supposed to meet, where I am to be. 

Do I wonder too much? Some may ask this and I have asked this myself but I have come to the realization in these last few months, that it is okay to be curious. It is okay for me to be constantly wondering. People who I haven't even said a word to me, have told me I am curious. I never really knew how to react to that.  However, I am starting to find that my curiosity is somewhat of a good thing. Curiosity has helped me get to where I need to be right now. I wouldn't have found my college or the amazing people I have in my life if I didn't wonder. I have such a desire to learn and stretch myself I find it hard to stay still and really love life where I am at. 

This brings me to what is on everyones brain this week, Christmas. I am constantly searching for the "ultimate goal" that when I have a break like this, I start to truly look at things at a different perspective. I start to think about how life would have just stopped as soon as Jesus was born and there would have been such a rich peace. That is my desire this week. Peace. A kind of stillness that is so rare and beautiful. Curiosity can be part of the noise as well as the silence. I think finding a balance in letting our minds think too much or too little is an exercise that is so important. My holiday has been full of thinking in regards of what to do next year, but I know one amazing Lord who will always be constant in my life and I think that is something I really need to hold onto. 

   

Etch a sketch.

As of late, the weather in my town has been quite muggy and cloudy. My natural instinct for less sunny weather is to create! I decided to show you all how to create your very own custom glasses or tumblers with a simple glass etch. 

All you'll need is a glass, tape, scissors, craft knife, printed out image, glass paint, sticker paper (I got mine at dollarama in the office section, just find any sticky paper.)

Take your printed image and tape it to your sticker paper. Then take your knife and start cutting our your stencil.

Next, take your sticky paper and apply it to the glass. Then, take a stencil paint brush and your glass paint and begin dabbing your paint on. Tip: use a very minimal amount of paint to ensure it looks like an etch and not messy.

Finally, peel off the sticker paper and reveal your stencilled image!

There you have it. Your very own glass etch. Enjoy!