Well, I finally did it!  I am so proud of myself. This morning I got up before the rest of my family and sat and wrote in my journal. I have been trying to motivate myself to do this for quite some time. So I set an extra alarm just for me and I got up when it went off!!! That in itself is a miracle! None of my family stirred until my husbands’ alarm went off a half an hour later. It was great I didn’t want my time to end. Maybe I will wake up earlier tomorrow to get more of that coveted time.

I am reading a book from Debbie Macomber. Many may know her as a fiction writer. I definitely enjoyed reading her Blossom Street Series, but the book that I am currently re-reading is her non-fiction book called Knit Together. I am finding that I relate to her on so many levels and I am just soaking up this book and enjoying it.

This morning I was reading from the Chapter “Created for Success”. I have a problem with this whole success thing. I often dummy down my success because I don’t want to be seen as proud or a show-off but my success is something that should be celebrated. Here is why - God gave me my gifts and talents - and by me being recognized for those is a cause for me to celebrate because I was obedient in the use of my gifts, but also it is praise for what God can do. And that I am a huge testimony of. With the choices I have made in my life and the struggles I have every day, I do not deserve the title of National Award winning author. But that title is an obvious sign of what God can do through someone who is willing.

I am often so shy when it comes to talking about my book and its’ award win. But now I have to start changing the way that I think and be willing to share it as a miracle of what God can do. I am denying God the credit for this because I am worried of what people might think. How dumb is that? And some people may judge and think that I am conceited or arrogant but I believe that people who truly know me and know my heart - know without a doubt that it was through my obedience and God’s grace and gifts that I have achieved all that I have in my life.

We have to remember to give credit where credit is due. And know that it is by His strength and not our own that we can truly accomplish great things! 

My family went on an adventure.  We travelled from Saskatchewan to Ontario hauling our trailer with our puppy in tow.  We were travelling to visit with my family - it was four and a half days of driving 8 – 9 hours a day.  We saw a lot of sights, I took a lot of pictures (over 800) and we had a lot of family time. 

I am so thankful that our family doesn’t mind being trapped in small quarters for long periods of time.  Whether it is the truck, camper or boat we like to hang out together.
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Every couple of years we do this trek and we have discovered a few memorable campsites that we have stayed at that we wanted to visit again - Rainbow Falls, Ontario was one of them.  Last time we stayed in the campground on the shores of Lake Superior, what a beautiful campground.  We stayed there again this time but we also visited the campground with the falls.  Our family and puppy did the 3K hike and it was beautiful.

On our way back we crossed a bridge and I could help but pause and stare at the tree that was growing in the middle of the rapids. 

So many times I feel that tree. 

Like I am standing in the middle of rapids with everything rushing around me.  That overwhelming feeling of continuous chaos.
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But as I stood there thinking, contemplating, taking pictures I thought about how strong that tree must be.  That it is determined to stand its ground no matter what is going on around it.