How You Can Help Our Ministry...

Last week, we announced an important and difficult update about our upcoming 

East Coast Tour.

You can read the whole update HERE.

Losing our April and May events
means we have no income for this season.

We would love for you to please consider offering some support to our ministry. 

Below, you'll find 5 ways you can help support us during this challenging season.

We're lifting you all in prayer! 

We can't wait to get back on the road, 

and bring a message of hope and joy to your community.

Thank you! We love you and are praying for you...

Blessings,

Allison + Gerald

Infinitely More

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     

How You Can Help Our Ministry

We would love for you to please consider supporting our ministry 

in some small way:

#1. Donations.

We've just added a Donate button to our website. 

Please consider a donation to support our ministry. 

All donations will receive an e-gift!

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store

#2. Purchase Music. 

Downloading songs or purchasing CDs directly from our site 

is a great way to add to your playlist, while also supporting our ministry. 

CDs are also great Easter gifts! 

You can purchase our music here:

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store

#3. Book a Summer or Fall Concert.

We'd love to bring our music to your community this year!

Please email Allison for more info...

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact

#4. Take an Online Lesson!

Why not take this quiet time to write some songs and learn a few new skills? 

We're offering lessons via Skype!

Gerald is teaching Songwriting. 

Get feedback on your latest creations, prepare your songs for recording, or if you're a beginner, 

learn the basics of crafting your first song!

Allison is teaching Performance Coaching
and Singing for Beginners.

Learn healthy vocal technique,
or new skills to help best communicate the message of your songs. 

Perfect for singers, musicians, or worship leaders.

Please email Allison for more info...

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact

#5. Pray for us.

We believe in the power of prayer! 

Please pray for our practical needs, 

but also for our spiritual and emotional needs during this time. 

We're also keeping you in prayer!

Thank you for helping us during this difficult season!

Please feel free to contact us with any questions...

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact

East Coast Tour - IMPORTANT UPDATE

Like all of you, we’ve spent the last few weeks glued to the news about the Coronavirus. In our efforts to “flatten the curve”, we’re staying indoors, not socializing, and endlessly washing our hands.

With increasing restrictions of live events, we’ve had to face some very difficult decisions around our ministry. We’ve lost most of our Easter performances, which is very upsetting. But the hardest challenges have been around our upcoming 10th Anniversary East Coast Tour.

With a heavy heart, we’re cutting our tour from 7 weeks down to 3.

Unfortunately, to give us the tightest tour route possible,
this means cancelling all events in Newfoundland, Quebec, and PEI.

We can’t tell you how much it hurts us just to write this.

Our new plan is to offer a 3 week tour of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, starting after the May 24th weekend. Our prayer is that social distancing will do its job, and by that time, we’ll all be ready to gather together for a night of singing and praise.

We’re currently booking concerts, worship services, and music team workshops for churches of all sizes and denominations across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
We’d love to bring our message of hope and joy to your community!

To book your concert, please contact us HERE.

As a freelance duo, these tours provide approximately four months of income for our family and ministry. Cancelling any event is always a last resort for us! We’re booking events now because, if we wait until May when things start to clear, we won’t have enough time to put everything together. We would love for churches to please keep working with us in this regard, booking events, and planning for a more social spring season.

And we promise you: we won’t risk your church finances or your community’s health!
We’re closely monitoring the situation across the country. If we need to make adjustments closer to the tour dates, we’ll work with your church leadership to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone!

We know the communities of the East Coast are resilient, with a deep tradition of caring for one another. This is the spirit that runs in our veins, and we’re thankful for this heritage.

Planning anything in these uncertain days feels like a leap of faith,
but isn’t that the stuff that God is really good at?

As our inspiration verse tells us,
“God’s power, working in us, can do Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine.”

Please join us in this leap of faith and hope this spring.

Blessings and peace,

Allison and Gerald

Infinitely More

To make a Donation and support our ministry, 
please visit HERE.

Film Review: I Still Believe

I love storytelling. 

Gerald and I mostly express our passion for story through our music, 

but in our early careers, we loved creating plays and films.

So today, I'm excited to offer a review of a new film: 

I Still Believe.

In the world of Christian music, Jeremy Camp is a superstar. Millions of albums sold, gold records, sold out tours, shelves of awards - the stuff of music career dreams. We see him and hear him, and we think we know him. But do we ever really know someone else's story?

I Still Believe introduces us to a young Jeremy, leaving his loving family for his first week of college. He's passionate about music, and, like most people in college, he discovers first love.

Melissa is smart and quick, and full of a beautiful faith. On their first date, she takes him to a planetarium to witness the beauty of the stars. As they gaze at the wonders of the galaxy, she says,

"This is the definition of wonder... 

The God of a trillion stars knows my name, 

and He has a destiny just for me."

Jeremy and Melissa are played by KJ Apa and Britt Robertson. They're natural and charismatic, with lots of chemistry. The filmmakers did a lovely job of capturing first love - flirting to test the waters, wanting to know exactly how the other person feels, weighing every word the other person says, and losing hours to just spending time together.

The supporting cast is also fantastic. It's great to see a bit of "Canadian Content" with superstar Shania Twain as Jeremy's mother. The always wonderful Gary Sinise is understated perfection as Jeremy's Dad.

And, of course, the soundtrack is fantastic! Music plays a key role, and the performances are beautifully woven into the storyline.

Because I love good storytelling, I'm not giving you any spoilers, 

but I will say this: 

wear your waterproof mascara!! 

I love stories that show people of faith who aren't weird. You now what I mean? So often, Christians are portrayed as 2-dimensional. We're either demonic villains or Bible-thumpers.

The families in this film are just normal people who are also Christian. I truly appreciated seeing people of faith going through the stuff of life without perfection or pat answers.

The film's website describes this as a story "of love and loss that proves there is always hope in the midst of tragedy and that faith tested is the only faith worth sharing.”

Trust me: they don't shy away from the tragedy or the testing. 

Waterproof mascara. 

I'm not kidding...

Before watching I Still Believe, I thought the target audience was teens and young adults, but I'd definitely broaden that demographic now. Without revealing too much, this story resonated with my own story, and I found myself deeply moved by so many scenes. If you've also experienced "love and loss," and wondered where God is in it all, you'll definitely be moved by this film, too.

If you're interested, here's the trailer, as well as a special video from Jeremy.

Have you seen I Still Believe?

What did you think?

Leave your thoughts (but no spoilers!) in the comments...

Book Review: Praying Women, by Sheila Walsh

Yay! Time for a new book review!

A few years ago, I reviewed Sheila Walsh's inspiring It's Okay Not To Be Okay. I loved it, so I was super excited when offered the chance to review Praying Women.

First let me say this: 
If you're a notetaker, 

you'll want to read this book with your pencil!

Even though I occasionally read an e-book, I'll always have mad love for proper paper books. My copy of Praying Women is completely marked up. Pages are turned down, passages underlined, and notes in the margins. It's not a journal, but my copy kind of became one.

The images in this post are just a few of many provided to me as a review resource, but seriously - it was tempting to skip the review and just post quotes from the book. So many wonderful thoughts!


Praying Women in organized into ten chapters, each exploring a different challenge to prayer, such as:

• Pray When You Don't Know What To Say
• Pray Hardest When It's Hardest To Pray
• Pray When God Seems Silent
• Pray When You Need a Breakthrough

And perhaps my favourite chapter in the book:

• Pray with the Power of the Word of God - an inspiring dive into the Psalms, and literally praying Scripture directly back to God. This chapter alone is worth the price of admission!

Sheila is honest about her own story and struggle, but never makes it "all about her." Her stories share her heart and her sensitivity to the pain of others, all of which create a great feeling of trust between writer and reader.

Each chapter is also supported by Scripture, meaningful quotes, and Sheila's own wonderful thinking. Her writing is focused and thoughtful, with lots of practical ideas for enhancing and strengthening your prayer life.

At end of each chapter, you'll find a 3-point summary, as well as a prayer for that particular chapter's focus. I can see these prayers being particularly special to people, and heavily bookmarked for future use.

If you're a fan of free bonus content (and who isn't??), Sheila offers lots of resources on her site, including a Bible study and videos.
You can find it all here:

https://sheilawalsh.com/pray/


So much of Praying Women resonated with me personally,
and I can already feel it making a difference in my prayer life.
I hope this book is a blessing for you, too!

Have you read Praying Women?

If so, please leave your thoughts in the Comments...

BONUS REVIEW!

I love reviewing books, but every once in a while, I get to review a movie!

Stay tuned to the blog for my review of Jeremy Camp's story:

I Still Believe

Coming next week...

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Turn Around - A Lesson from Niagara Falls...

My totally expert opinion:

The best time to visit Niagara Falls is in the winter!

The subzero temperatures and constant mist create the most beautiful ice formations! Imagine if Elsa's dream castle had a raging Wonder-of-the-World waterfall, and you have a hint of what the Falls look like in the depths of winter.

And not just the Falls: when it's super cold, the surrounding hillsides, trees, and buildings are all covered in shimmery splendour.

There's also that perk of the tourists!

The summer is a crowded time in Niagara Falls. Millions of people cram around the edge of the water to get that perfect honeymoon selfie.

In the winter, you get a sparse, more reserved crowd. And if polled, you'll probably find more locals like me.

Last week, I took advantage of a quiet Sunday to enjoy a stroll by the Falls. It was breathtaking! The sun was bright on the water, and the cascading mist formed billows of brightness.

As usual, I was struck by the diversity of the crowd. All ages; all races; all abilities. All gathered to look at one majestic sight.

All eyes were glued on the Falls in their winter glory. All cameras pointed in one direction. All attention stage right...

I took my fair share of photographs, too, 

but then, 

something told me to turn around...

I pointed my camera in the opposite direction, 

away from the attention-grabbing noise and wonder of the Falls, and that's when I saw this...

The rainbow.


Not in the churning of the Rainbow Falls, but clinging against a wall.

Nestled on a bit of ice, out of sight for most people.

I wanted to scream, "Turn around! Look at what's right here! Isn't it fantastic! So unexpected..."

I didn't, of course. Not just because it would have surpassed my own weirdness comfort level, but because, somehow, I felt it had to be discovered to be admired.

There are things like that, 

aren't there?

Sometimes, we get into a truly amazing, spectacular place, full of noise and busyness and wonder. There's so much to see and take in, and we find ourselves transfixed by the big, loud stuff right in front of us.

But what happens if we slow down, 

turn around, 

and just for just a moment, 

look in the other direction?

What quiet, beautiful wonders will we find hiding in the corners?

What miracles are happening, not centre stage, but just at the edge of the wings?

And how might we be blessed by seeing the things that other people miss?

I snapped a photo of my secret rainbow. 

I wonder how many other people turned around and noticed it? 

I wonder how many other people would call it their favourite photo of the day?

Today, I encourage you to take a moment to turn around.

Discover the beauty in all corners of your home, your community, our world.

Let's share that beauty with one another...

Favourite Things - February Roundup!

Welcome to my new blog feature:

Favourite Things!

Gerald and I are blessed to travel each year to every province in Canada. 

Even though our tours involve lots of work, we always try to take time to explore the sights, sounds, and, perhaps most importantly, tastes of the places we visit!

Because of that we get lots of requests for referrals:

What's your favourite cafe in Fredericton?

Where should I stay in Old Quebec?

Where's the best noodle house in Kamloops?

And, of course, we also get regular requests for help with songwriting, guitar, 

and worship resources from all kinds of musicians.

So, at the end of each month, I'll be sharing my Favourite Things I discovered in the last few weeks!

These lists will be ranging and eclectic. The only theme is "I like this!" or "I found this useful!"

And, hopefully, you'll find something useful or fun on the list, too! 

Click on the names to find links to each resource. 

Stay tuned at the end of each month for the new list.

And in full disclosure: I'm not receiving any compensation for sharing these links.
I just truly love this stuff! 

And now, here's the first edition of 

Favourite Things - February Roundup!

#1. Modern Mrs. Darcy - It's only fair to give Anne Bogel the honour of being my first Favourite Thing, since her "Links I Love" blogposts inspired this new feature! I reviewed Anne's book - "I'd Rather Be Reading" - last year and, since then, I've become a huge fan of her blog. She write about all things reading, including themed booklists to help you find the perfect tome for each season!


#2. Come From Away - We cried, laughed and cried again. My theatre heart swooned and my Newfoundland soul felt 10-feet tall. Run to see this show!


#3. Michael Hyatt "Lead To Win" Podcast - my favourite podcast for productivity that supports a healthy balance of work, home, and spirituality.


#4. Lavender Pillow Spray - we never leave home without it! Made right here in beautiful Niagara...


#5. Worship Vocalist - our go-to vocal training site! Great for all levels of singers.

These are my Favourite Things for February!

Have you tried any of these?

What new things have you fallen in love with this month?

Please share in the comments below...

3 Acts of Love - Join Our Valentine's Day Challenge!

February is definitely the Month of Love in our family!

Our wedding anniversary, Valentine's Day, and our sweet puppy 

Sebastian's birthday all land in the same week!

That said, like many of you, we're feeling a lack of love in our world these days. 

It seems like we're all more divided than ever, and that those with the ugliest opinions 

often hold the loudest microphones.

BUT, we all have the power to choose what we put into this world.

We have the power to choose LOVE!

In the spirit of this truth:

We're inviting everyone
to take part in our 

3 Acts Of Love

Valentine's Day Challenge!

This week, we encourage you to share a simple & selfless act of love with three people:

#1. A family member

#2. A neighbour 
(in your office/school,
or on your street!)

#3. A stranger

We encourage you to be creative! 

Perhaps you'll choose a Valentine's tradition, such as giving out heart-shaped chocolates 

(who doesn't love getting chocolates??) 

Or maybe you'll perform a much-needed act of service for someone? 

Or pay for someone's coffee?

Or send someone a word of encouragement?

Or ... or ....

the possibilities are endless! 

Bonus points if your Act of Love is anonymous! 

All we really ask is that your 3 Acts of Love are simple and tangible.

If we all join in, imagine the power of hundreds of Acts Of Love 

moving through our families and communities this week...

We can't all change the World, but we can all change our Corner of the World!

So please join us this week for the 

3 Acts of Love

Valentine's Day Challenge!

We'd love for you to share your experiences with us on:

Facebook 

Twitter

#3ActsOfLove

#ValentinesDayChallenge

Let's fill our world with countless acts of love this Valentine's Week!

24 Books for 2019

What a year for reading! 

In 2018, I set a New Year's resolution to read 24 books - a huge increase from my meagre 2017 reading. 

For me, 2 books a month is the perfect number. It's not unattainable, but it does require me to be intentional about it. Carving out more time for reading has been a welcome lifestyle change, and my only complaint is that I can't read even more books! My "To Read List" grows daily!

I don't pick my books with any specific theme or plan. 

Sometimes, they came from recommendations, some I received for review, and sometimes, one book will naturally lead to another. I aimed for a mix of fiction and non-fiction, with mostly first-time reads.

That said, two interesting themes evolved from this year's book choices:

#1. Local Authors

In our touring, I started to ask for local books and added them to my list. Seriously, this was our 5th year touring Canada (9th year touring the East Coast!) Why didn't I start this sooner?? I wasn't looking for travel books. I really wanted either real life stories, or locally inspired fiction. I highly recommend adding this to your reading practice!

#2. Authors I Know

I'm blessed with lots of talented friends! Most of them are musicians, but this year, I read 4 books by authors that I know personally. In most cases, what followed were interesting discussions and a greater sense of friendship. Added reading perk!

Here are my 24 books of 2019.

What did you read this year?

Leave your top picks in the comments below...

THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS
By M. L. Stedman

I grabbed this book while traveling through Jasper, and I'm so glad I did! Its January setting and themes of trying to see the past and future in the turns of our lives made it the perfect book for the New Year. Add in a lighthouse, a dramatic setting, and all the emotions and you're in for a fantastic
read!










LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
By Celeste Ng

I read this captivating book our on flights to and from Edmonton to attend the Covenant Awards. An engaging story rife with family drama, small town politics, long held secrets, and the various faces of true maternal love.













THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ
By Heather Morris

A fascinating and compelling memoir. There are scenes that will turn your stomach, and others that will have you cheering out loud. And if you can believe it, it has one of the most beautiful love stories I read all year!

EDUCATED
By Tara Westover

This was on everyone's 2018 reading list, and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! Tara Westover is a marvel, and her story is beyond amazing. I can't recommend this enough!! The book stands on its own, but due to its popularity, there are lots of fascinating interviews with Westover online if you like to do follow-up reading.

YOUR BEST YEAR EVER
By Michael Hyatt

This was a reread, and there's a good chance it might be on my 2020 list too. Probably the best book I've read on goal setting. HIGHLY recommend!!

THE PASSION OF MARY MARGARET
By Lisa Samson

Even though I'm a Christian who makes my living making Christian art, I never read Christian fiction! Someone once told me she loved Christian fiction because it's "safe", and I could never get over that saccharine impression. So, I was quite shocked when another passionate reading friend recommended I read this "Christian fiction". The book was well written, engaging, with a wonderful protagonist! It led to some great post-book discussions, too!

THE LIVING DIET
By Martha Tatarnic

I was so excited when my dear friend, Martha Tatarnic, launched her first book! I wrote a review of it for the Niagara Anglican newspaper that you can read HERE.

WE HOPE FOR BETTER THINGS
By Erin Bartels

I loved this book! You can read my review HERE.















THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN
By Lisa See

Lisa See is possibly my favourite author ever! She always opens up a new page of history for us, and fills it with engaging and heartbreaking stories and characters. Her latest novel introduces us to the all-female fishing community of Jeju island (Korea) and takes us on a journey of friendship that will tear you apart. I love this book in so many ways!!

LOVING MY ACTUAL NEIGHBOR
By Alexandra Kuykendall

Loved this challenging and inspiring book! You can read my review HERE.














SEARCHING FOR SUNDAY
By Rachel Held Evans

I'd heard of RHE, but really knew her by reputation only. I knew she spoke out about her evangelical experience, and was considered controversial by many. But her sudden and tragic passing brought messages of love and respect from both her supporters and her detractors. That had to mean something, right? I turned to her writing to see what all the fuss was about. I can see why she would have offended many people, and I'm not here to challenge those feelings, but at the core of it all, I read a story of grace, redemption, faith in the face of doubt, and unconditional love. If that isn't the Gospel, I don't know what is...






JESUS DOESN'T FIX EVERYTHING
By Mark Smeby

I met my talented friend, Mark Smeby, when we were on the same worship team in Nashville. He has a fantastic voice and a powerful message of hope. This short book is full of honest, inspiring thoughts on moving with God through the challenging seasons.

WHOSE WAVES THESE ARE
By Amanda Dykes

Such a great summer read! You can read my review HERE.

VIOLA DESMOND: Her Life and Times
By Graham Reynolds, with Wanda Robson

Every since she graced our new $10 bill, I've been wanting to know about the elegant Viola Desmond. Hailed as "Canada's Rosa Parks," Desmond's role in our own civil rights movement was almost forgotten until her face appeared on our currency. I was thankful to find this book in a Lunenburg bookstore (thank you, indie bookstores, for still hosting a "local authors" section!) I encourage all Canadians to learn about Viola Desmond, and to continue the ongoing discussion of civil rights in Canada.








THE ENSEMBLE
By Aja Gabel

Another great recommendation from a book-loving friend. Follows the journey of a chambre quartet from their shaky start through decades of friendship, rivalry, and music. Fantastic book, especially relatable as a music-maker myself.












BEING LENA LEVI
By Bobbie Ann Cole

I met Bobbie Ann several years ago when we sang a concert in her church in Pennfield, NB. She's since moved to England, which provides part of the backdrop for her latest novel. You can read my review HERE.












TOMORROW IS SCHOOL... And I'm Sick To The Heart Thinking About It
By Don Sawyer

At our neighbourhood Canada Day party, I discovered that the couple across the street had started their teaching careers in a remote community in Newfoundland! They weren't from there, but since I am, we shared a great conversation. A few minutes later, he ran across the street to give me a copy of this book, a memoir of their exciting NL adventure. A great read about the power of creative teaching.

BEARS IN THE ALLEY... Among Other Places
Compiled By Val Delill

After 10 years of touring across Canada, Gerald and I finally had our first shared bear sighting! I celebrated by buying a few bear-inspired treasures in Jasper, including this charming little volume. A compilation of local stories, primarily ranging from the 1930's-1960's when bears were as common in Jasper as squirrels in Toronto.











WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
By Delia Owens

If you haven't read this yet, get it tonight, cancel all your plans, and prepared to be fully engrossed by this awesome tale. Seriously. I'm not kidding. Do it now!! Coming soon as a movie, but of course, read the book first...

THE UNCOMMON READER
By Alan Bennett

What if an unidentified queen (who happens to own corgis...) discovered a passion for reading? A charming and enjoyable quick-read from the creator of stage and film hits "The History Boys" and "The Madness of King George III".













THE THREE SISTERS BAR AND HOTEL
By Katherine Govier

This was another travel find, this time recommended to me in the absolutely gorgeous Cafe Books in Canmore. A sweeping historical fiction, inspired by the sites and history of Canmore, Banff, the original trail guides, and the birth of Parks Canada. As bonus, you can visit the bar and hotel that inspired the title just a few doors down from the bookstore...










THE DUTCH HOUSE
By Ann Patchett

I'm a big Ann Patchett fan (her heartbreaking "Truth & Beauty" was a favourite 2018 read), so I snapped this up as soon as I saw it on the shelf. We follow three generations, and their relationship with the imposing Dutch House, in their discovery of home, family, and place. This one took me a while to get into, but once I got into it, I was hooked.










LITTLE WOMEN
By Louisa May Alcott

I read this when I was a little girl, and in my excitement for the upcoming film, I decided it was time to read it again. What a book! I think I love it now more then I get when I was a child. The characters and relationships are bold, relevant, and completely endearing. It's both of-its-time and timeless. From what I hear, the film is true to the spirit of the book, so I can't wait to see it!









GRACELACED
By Ruth Chou Simons

What a lovely book to round out the year! Gracelaced takes us on a journey through the year, with gentle and inspiring thoughts on God's faithfulness in all seasons. Light on text, the book encourages a slow pace, with page upon page of Simons' stunning artwork, filled with Scripture and nature images.

So, there were my 24 books for 2019!

Did I read any of your favourites this year?

And I'm making up a list for 2020... 

Let me know if you have any recommendations! 

Why I Remember...

This is my maternal grandfather, Charles (Charlie) Ryall.

He served in the 166th Newfoundland Regiment.

When he came home, he didn't talk about the war much, or the things he saw.

The closest he would come was when my Mom or my Aunt would leave food on their plates.

"I wish I could pack that up and send it to the starving children in Italy," he would say.

There was no lack of poverty in Newfoundland, so I can't imagine what he saw in Italy that would have prompted such a consistent response.

I never met my grandfather. He died just before I was born. But I know I would have loved him. He loved the outdoors, a great time, and a good laugh. He was beloved by everyone who knew him.

And he's why we are free.

He, and the thousands of men and women who fought for our freedom during WWII,

and countless conflicts before and since that time.

They looked at what was happening and thought, 

"Nope. This is not the world I want for my children and my grandchildren."

For my Mom and my Aunt.

For me.

He didn't know me, didn't even know I was going to be born, 

yet he fought and suffered for me.

My story is not unique. There are thousands of us who have war heroes in our families. Some can remember the coming home stories. Some, sadly, don't have those stories to tell.

And yet, because of their bravery, 

to fight for the future of unknown generations, 

we are free.

Charlie Ryall and two of his fellow soldiers.

I can't help but think about the parallels to the cross. How Jesus bled, died, and sacrificed it all so that unknown generations could also be free.

Most days, I wear a cross 

to remind me of that gift.

This week, I'm wearing my poppy,

as a simple and public declaration: 

We remember your service.

We give thanks for your sacrifice.

We honour your gift to us all.

And in addition, I'll be praying...

... in thankfulness, for all who have gone before, risking and sacrificing in countless ways for our freedom.

... for all those who continue to put themselves in harm's way for our safety and security.

... for those in power, that they may be wise and compassionate in all their decisions.

And my loudest prayer of all:

Bring peace in our time, O Lord!

This Remembrance Day, please join me in wearing a poppy, 

giving thanks to our men and women in uniform, 

and praying for a peace that will transform our world.

Amen.

Thankful For My Journey Of Pain

I only left the worship because of my allergies.

I never leave church mid-service, but something in the fall air had me sneezing. Thankfully, it was a rare Sunday where I was in the pew and not leading worship. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even in my home church. I was attending with a friend in a different province. The worship was beautiful but I was sniffling and needed a tissue, so off I snuck to the ladies room.

When I opened the door, I found that I wasn't alone. A young woman turned into one of the stalls. I could hear her sniffling, but not from allergies. She was crying. 

Not just crying...

Weeping.

I was a guest in this church. I knew from the morning's prayers that they had just lost a senior member of the congregation, but I didn't know the depth or extent of the loss. 

I wanted to step lightly...

"Worship songs make me cry sometimes, too..." I shared softly.

She turned to face me.

"Are you okay?"

With that, her floodgates opened. The senior church member was her grandfather. He'd been sick for a while, and was quite old, but the loss was still so powerful. She shared the difficulties of sitting in church this morning - the same space where, just a few days ago, she and her family had gathered for the funeral. Her eyes overflowed as she talked about seeing her strong tough uncles break down in tears, and the heartbreak of watching her grandmother bury the only man she'd loved.

I wanted to step lightly, 

but so often when we're with someone in grief, 

stepping is barely needed.

Just standing...

Standing, listening, being present.

I listened to this young woman pour out her pain.

But I also listened for God.

"Okay Lord, I'm here in the ladies room, with a worship service happening just on the other side of the door. I know you brought me in here for a reason. What do you want me to do? Is there anything I can say that will help? If not, please keep me quiet. Just don't let me say anything that will make it worse!"


As she spoke, my heart was taken back to my own experiences with grief. I thought about the recent loss of my beautiful aunt, and the pain that moved through my family. I remembered my own grandmother's funeral. I was just a teenager when it happened, and I also remember being shaken by the tears and grief of the "strong tough" men in my family.

So, when I felt she needed a breath, I gently shared a bit of my story.


We talked about things that can make grief harder, like holidays or familiar spaces.

We acknowledged the very real hurt of loss, and the heartrending struggle of watching those you love in pain.

And we also talked about Heaven. How it doesn't erase the pain of losing someone, but that the promise of seeing one another again brings hope into the most unbearable of seasons.


And after a while of chatting, her tears lightened, and I was able to see her beautiful smile.

As I returned to my pew, I lifted a quiet prayer.

First, I prayed for this young woman and all those grieving in the church that Sunday.

And second, I lifted a prayer of gratitude for my own pain.

I've had some very dark seasons of grief in my life. And this particular year, I've experienced two terrible losses, both tragic in their own ways.

I will never be thankful for the loss of someone I love. 

But today, I was thankful for the lessons that I've learned in my grief.

I'm thankful to know what it is to be in pain, so that I can empathize with someone whose heart has been broken by loss.

I'm thankful that I've had terrible things said to me in my grief, because it's taught me to be gentle in my own choice of words.

I'm thankful that I've had people ignore me in my grief because they "didn't know what to say," because it's taught me that it's okay to be be present but silent with someone who's hurting.

And I'm thankful that I don't need to rely on my own limited strength or wisdom in these moments. I can be still, and listen for the One who always responds in love, and encourages us to do the same.

Being grateful for our own pain doesn't come easy. It's been a long journey for me. 

But today, I felt the fulfilment of that journey, and I am thankful for every step.

Book Review: Being Lena Levi by Bobbie Ann Cole

One of the perks of being an artist is enjoying the art of your talented friends. 

Today's review falls into that category!

I first met Bobbie Anne Cole when she attended our Infinitely More concert in Pennfield, NB. At that time, she gave me her inspiring first book, She Does Not Fear The Snow. Since then, Bobbie has moved to England and continues to write and teach.

When I saw she had written a new novel, I jumped at the chance to review it. If you saw my reading list from 2018, you'll know that WWII became an unexpected theme in my choices of fiction. Well, it seems to be a theme I can't escape! (Or maybe, a theme I keep pursuing? I'll let the psychology students hash that one out...)

Being Lena Levi starts five years after WWII. Young Marlene returns home from school one day to find her mother acting uncomfortably and a strange woman in their living room. When Marlene asks about the stranger, her mother tells her, "She's your mother."

Marlene, born Lena, discovers she's not a born-and-bred English schoolgirl. Instead, she's German Jew, who had been sent to England on a Kindertransport to escape the horrors of Hitler and the Holocaust. Her birth mother, her "Mutti," has finally returned to bring her home.

What ensues is a romp through England and Israel as Lena takes on the challenge of discovering her true identity. Who is her "real" mother? How can she reconcile her Christian faith with her Jewish heritage? And what is the real country that shapes us?

Lena, Mum and Mutti are all strong and wonderful characters. 

Through each, we see different versions of passion, family, and independence, 

all reflecting their unique upbringing and life circumstances. 

One of the reasons I love historical fiction is the opportunity to learn about little known chapters of human history. With all my WWII reading, I'd never heard of the Kindertransport and its legacy on the lives of German and English families. To save their children, Jewish German parents put their children on trains and sent them off to England, with the hopes that they'd be safe through the war. The initial separations caused tremendous pain to German families. Over the years, many children, especially young ones, made deep bonds with their English foster parents. Reunions were often complicated, especially as German parents struggled with the physical, emotional, and financial toll of the war and the Holocaust. Many parents never returned, leaving a lifetime of unanswered questions for their children. Bobbie uses detailed research to share a fascinating piece of history with heart and passion.

Being Lena Levi is categorized as "young adult" or "adult fiction" and I think it works for both age groups. The fast pace makes it a quick and engaging read for adults. I think teenagers, in particular, will identify with Lena and her fierce independence in the face of a such a life-changing discovery.

I encourage you to pick up your copy of Being Lena Levi 

and discover this charming heroine and her fascinating journey!

You can learn more about Bobbie and her beautiful writing at 

https://www.bobbieanncole.co.uk/