Pride and Taxes:

So begins that time of year when we start receiving in the mail our tax receipts for donations, RRSP's and T4 slips. I just received one today from an organization I've donated to over the year. I was surprised at the amount and I confess started feeling a little proudful of the total. Then I read my daily reading from Exodus (36):

"The men were eager to get started and engage in the work. They took from Moses all the offerings that the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the Sanctuary. The people kept on bringing in their freewill offerings, morning after morning. All the artisans who were at work making everything involved in constructing the Sanctuary came, one after another, to Moses, saying "The people are bringing more than enough for doing this work that God has commanded us to do!" So Moses sent out orders through the camp. "Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!" The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings! There was plentry of material for all the work to be done. Enough and more than enough."

Not feeling so proudful now.

Thanks Lord for the reality check.

Otherthan that around here, life has been chugging along. We have had my husbands nephew in law from BC living with us for the month. He has been really easy going but a big eater so though we haven't had to adjust that much with him living with us, I have had to be more conscious of cooking bigger and more nutrious meals on a daily basis. My family has been appreciating that. My slow cooker hasn't been used so much since we bought it!

My youngest daughters school marks tanked big time and I'm hoping it was a wake up call to the importance of being more consistent with her studying. She was very disappointed in the marks and now has been following through with bringing her school work home everyday and going over it again. Which I am very thankful for. She also applied for a job and had her first interview. Doesn't think she got it but I think it was a good experience for her.

Oldest daughter learnt the lesson of choosing what she can and she can't afford. She needed new prescription for her glasses and thought about contacts and new frames. After a discussion about needs and wants, and what she and her parents could afford - she decided, on her own, to only get new lenses. My baby is growing up.

Thank you Lord for my children, my husband and opportunities to really think about what I believe in...oh, and for those all important humbling reality checks.