If one is going to be sixty, possibly one should start thinking more seriously about one's finances. The power of denial is about to be broken!
We had some questions about the Canada Pension Plan because the rules are changing Jan. 1 2012. Because my birthday is Dec. 27 I could legally retire at 60 3 days before the rules change. Last year we really tried to figure this out, we asked several people and could not seem to get a straight answer. The website was daunting. So this year, with all this talk of change, I was really praying for a breakthrough when a lady from Welcome Wagon visited me at work, made her presentation and ended with "the last sponsor is my husband, who is a financial planner". I had sandwiched this woman into a busy day in a busy week but that made the Holy Spirit light bulb go off in my head, so I told her if her husband could explain the CPP changes we would meet with him.
Of course he phoned with answers available, so now I had to put on my big girl pants and go see him. I know we look like morons on paper, and now I was to be undone publicly. I feared a fear and it came upon me!
I won't bore you with all the details, but here's what I learned: it's all about tax planning. Does everyone know this, and I am once again bringing up the rear? I realized I don't even know how much we pay in taxes. But that is about to change and there is nothing here I can't learn, even if it's my least favorite thing in the universe.
One day I was driving in a beautiful neighbourhood in Portland past gorgeous historical houses and I asked right out loud "what do you have to do to live in a house like that?" I knew that there were a lot of professionals and money industry people there, but I realized that I am just as smart as any of them and I know how to work hard. If my family had been in insurance or real estate or similar business I would have thrived in that environment; I probably would have done very well and could be living in one of those lovely homes.
But God knew what I needed and I was marked for ministry from an early age. And now I live in a lovely historical home at peace with my family - priceless. I have to trust that I'm smart enough to figure out what I need to learn to put our money in order for this season of life as well. What a 60 project that is!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Open House
Last blog, I alluded to the idea of changing my approach to a big event that I was invested in and resolved to give it a try for Open House at the school, which happened on Tuesday March 8. I decided to look forward to event, to imagine how it would feel to be successful, and to enjoy the fruits of our labours (I have some great help).
The thing about an Open House is that you really can't have any idea how many people are going to come. I read a scripture in the morning from Acts 2 that mentioned the countries that people came from who were gathered in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost, who carried the messages they heard that day back to their own nations - a pre-internet information superhighway. I occurred to me that God has the power to gather to our Open House in Chilliwack whoever needs to be there to spread the story of our school to wherever it needs to go. A phrase I learned in Phoenix at Lifelink: God is God and I am not.
I had a blast that day. Our visitors were spread evenly over the day, with a bulge in the afternoon, which we have never had before. I relaxed and enjoyed every visitor I met, asked questions, listened to the answers, took some folks around the school myself just for fun, enjoyed the concerts. Students involved in performing, serving, touring and playing basketball had a blast and felt ownership in their school. The day ended for me with two visits that can only be described as divine appointments. When it was all said and done, we had 4 times the interested families visit and begin the registration process than ever before. At the end of the day I was not even tired - I went home and taught a bunch of piano lessons!
I think I'm beginning to get the hang of this thing. Now on to the next project......
The thing about an Open House is that you really can't have any idea how many people are going to come. I read a scripture in the morning from Acts 2 that mentioned the countries that people came from who were gathered in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost, who carried the messages they heard that day back to their own nations - a pre-internet information superhighway. I occurred to me that God has the power to gather to our Open House in Chilliwack whoever needs to be there to spread the story of our school to wherever it needs to go. A phrase I learned in Phoenix at Lifelink: God is God and I am not.
I had a blast that day. Our visitors were spread evenly over the day, with a bulge in the afternoon, which we have never had before. I relaxed and enjoyed every visitor I met, asked questions, listened to the answers, took some folks around the school myself just for fun, enjoyed the concerts. Students involved in performing, serving, touring and playing basketball had a blast and felt ownership in their school. The day ended for me with two visits that can only be described as divine appointments. When it was all said and done, we had 4 times the interested families visit and begin the registration process than ever before. At the end of the day I was not even tired - I went home and taught a bunch of piano lessons!
I think I'm beginning to get the hang of this thing. Now on to the next project......
Saturday, March 5, 2011
How I survived Worship X Change
Worship X Change is a worship conference that our school hosted this past week for other Christian schools. It began as a thought among a small group of music teachers at a conference 18 months ago. Our association director suggested we carry it out at our school with our teachers, alumni and students, and this week that's what we did. I spearheaded the organization with a team that kept it on the rails.
By all accounts it was a success. The general sessions ran well, with great response from the kids, everything happened pretty much as planned, and the exit surveys were overwhelmingly positive. It was all cleaned up in less than 2 hours, and the planning staff went out to dinner to celebrate. Lives were impacted, God was honoured, and good seeds were planted. As an added bonus, we broke even on the budget!
I realize today that I should be feeling euphoric, elated, satisfied, fulfilled - something, anything.... We had a vision, dreamed a dream, started a challenge, and came across the finish line with flying colours. But I feel almost nothing, outside of being dismayed at what a mess my house is after days of neglect.
I don't think in all the preparation that I took time to picture what success would look like. I didn't imagine how it would feel, what the impact could be. My own part in the actual event was more like this: tracking down the lost photocopy, looking for a tablecloth, pounding out documents at the last minute, realizing what I forgot to put on a list, spending money last minute that I didn't anticipate - like that. By the time it was over, my feet and knees were killing me, and I could barely speak a coherent thought.
Today I rested, went to breakfast with my kids, had a nap, read a book, saw a movie. I sat down with the exit surveys and read how kids felt they had grown closer to God, learned a new guitar technique, met some new friends, bonded with their worship band, understood the Bible in a whole new way - wow, wow, wow.
On Tuesday, we are having an Open House at school that I have also spearheaded, so I think I'm going to take some time tomorrow to anticipate the success, imagine how it will feel to meet the goals we have set, to try to see what God sees, to appreciate how the little things I do on Tuesday impact people for a lifetime, and prepare to celebrate down to my toes when it is all over. If being in the development end of the school is part of The 60 Project for me, it needs to be something that strengthens me emotionally and spiritually - something more than just a pile of To Do Today lists that I pitch in the trash at the end of the day.
Excuse while I snuggle up with a good book......
By all accounts it was a success. The general sessions ran well, with great response from the kids, everything happened pretty much as planned, and the exit surveys were overwhelmingly positive. It was all cleaned up in less than 2 hours, and the planning staff went out to dinner to celebrate. Lives were impacted, God was honoured, and good seeds were planted. As an added bonus, we broke even on the budget!
I realize today that I should be feeling euphoric, elated, satisfied, fulfilled - something, anything.... We had a vision, dreamed a dream, started a challenge, and came across the finish line with flying colours. But I feel almost nothing, outside of being dismayed at what a mess my house is after days of neglect.
I don't think in all the preparation that I took time to picture what success would look like. I didn't imagine how it would feel, what the impact could be. My own part in the actual event was more like this: tracking down the lost photocopy, looking for a tablecloth, pounding out documents at the last minute, realizing what I forgot to put on a list, spending money last minute that I didn't anticipate - like that. By the time it was over, my feet and knees were killing me, and I could barely speak a coherent thought.
Today I rested, went to breakfast with my kids, had a nap, read a book, saw a movie. I sat down with the exit surveys and read how kids felt they had grown closer to God, learned a new guitar technique, met some new friends, bonded with their worship band, understood the Bible in a whole new way - wow, wow, wow.
On Tuesday, we are having an Open House at school that I have also spearheaded, so I think I'm going to take some time tomorrow to anticipate the success, imagine how it will feel to meet the goals we have set, to try to see what God sees, to appreciate how the little things I do on Tuesday impact people for a lifetime, and prepare to celebrate down to my toes when it is all over. If being in the development end of the school is part of The 60 Project for me, it needs to be something that strengthens me emotionally and spiritually - something more than just a pile of To Do Today lists that I pitch in the trash at the end of the day.
Excuse while I snuggle up with a good book......
Friday, February 25, 2011
Role Model Me
Do you have a role model? Did you have a role model when you were a kid? Was there someone in particular that influenced you to go one way or the other with your life? Did you reach the goals that you set as a young person? (Let's all take a moment to prepare our answers)
OK, I'm ready: No. No. Yes. No.
Role model? No. I have women I admire and learn from, but I think the women older than me never thought about being role models, of reaching out to younger women and challenging them. Sharon Wagar is probably the closest to a role model, but she's also my best friend - does that count?
Role model when I was a kid? No. When I was growing up, pretty much all the women I knew were housewives till the day they died. They just did the basics and enjoyed themselves the rest of the time. My mother taught a few piano lessons on and off - sometimes for survival, sometimes for spending money - but she hated teaching and couldn't wait to quit. She was very capable - decorating, gardening, sewing, crafts, entertaining - and she was a spectacular pianist. I learned so many skills from her because I was interested in many of the same things. I wanted to be and do something significant in my life, but my parents thought I would never cook, never drive, and that it was a waste to educate a woman. They felt quite strongly I should marry my high school sweetheart and teach piano in the basement. (I have thought of this many times after I married my college sweetheart and was teaching piano in the basement). I don't think the women of my mother's generation ever thought of being role models.
Someone who influenced me? Yes. I had a teacher in Gr. 11 that I really impressed me. I was in her Honours English class. Every Friday we had a coffee house - no lights, candles, guitars, Leonard Cohen, poetry - it was so creative, challenging and cool. I was teaching my first piano lessons at the time. With my first earnings I bought a suede jacket and a guitar so I could be cool too. When the spring musical was cast, I got on the costume crew headed up by the English teacher. I learned to design clothes, sew masses of ruffles, use a curling iron, plan wardrobe changes etc. The crowning achievement for me was designing and creating the bridal dress for the female lead - I was forever changed. Later this teacher recommended me as the only student to represent my high school on the Hudson's Bay fashion council, on which I served my Gr. 12 year - that was a great experience.
Reach the goals I set as a young person? No. These were my goals: become a fashion designer, visit Paris, and do missions work in Africa. I still haven't made it to Paris or Africa. I don't really care about Paris anymore (now I want to see the gardens of England) and I will get to Africa - hopefully in the next couple of years. Funny story about the fashion designer part. I wanted to go to UBC but my mother wanted me to go to a Christian university so I visited Oral Roberts University and got a scholarship. I left in September with a suitcase full of new clothes I had made myself to take fashion design at ORU. In 2 days I learned two things: 1. ORU didn't have a fashion design program 2. if you get a music scholarship, you have to study music. So I studied music, met the love of my life, got 3 music degrees and have enjoyed teaching hundreds of people, my own kids included.
I had a dear friend named Dorothy Williams who passed away a couple of years ago. She was a teacher, a missionary to Africa and Taiwan, church planter, Bible college founder and president who preached all over the world and wrote books. She also was a fantastic knitter ( like her best friend and Scrabble partner Fran Huebert) and sewed her own clothes with fabrics she collected from around the world. Before Dorothy died, I asked her if she had met all the goals she had set for her life. She snorted, then said she had never set any goals. She just did whatever anyone asked her to do: one thing led to another and she ended up with an adventure-filled, satisfying, God blessed life.
That's a pretty good role model.
OK, I'm ready: No. No. Yes. No.
Role model? No. I have women I admire and learn from, but I think the women older than me never thought about being role models, of reaching out to younger women and challenging them. Sharon Wagar is probably the closest to a role model, but she's also my best friend - does that count?
Role model when I was a kid? No. When I was growing up, pretty much all the women I knew were housewives till the day they died. They just did the basics and enjoyed themselves the rest of the time. My mother taught a few piano lessons on and off - sometimes for survival, sometimes for spending money - but she hated teaching and couldn't wait to quit. She was very capable - decorating, gardening, sewing, crafts, entertaining - and she was a spectacular pianist. I learned so many skills from her because I was interested in many of the same things. I wanted to be and do something significant in my life, but my parents thought I would never cook, never drive, and that it was a waste to educate a woman. They felt quite strongly I should marry my high school sweetheart and teach piano in the basement. (I have thought of this many times after I married my college sweetheart and was teaching piano in the basement). I don't think the women of my mother's generation ever thought of being role models.
Someone who influenced me? Yes. I had a teacher in Gr. 11 that I really impressed me. I was in her Honours English class. Every Friday we had a coffee house - no lights, candles, guitars, Leonard Cohen, poetry - it was so creative, challenging and cool. I was teaching my first piano lessons at the time. With my first earnings I bought a suede jacket and a guitar so I could be cool too. When the spring musical was cast, I got on the costume crew headed up by the English teacher. I learned to design clothes, sew masses of ruffles, use a curling iron, plan wardrobe changes etc. The crowning achievement for me was designing and creating the bridal dress for the female lead - I was forever changed. Later this teacher recommended me as the only student to represent my high school on the Hudson's Bay fashion council, on which I served my Gr. 12 year - that was a great experience.
Reach the goals I set as a young person? No. These were my goals: become a fashion designer, visit Paris, and do missions work in Africa. I still haven't made it to Paris or Africa. I don't really care about Paris anymore (now I want to see the gardens of England) and I will get to Africa - hopefully in the next couple of years. Funny story about the fashion designer part. I wanted to go to UBC but my mother wanted me to go to a Christian university so I visited Oral Roberts University and got a scholarship. I left in September with a suitcase full of new clothes I had made myself to take fashion design at ORU. In 2 days I learned two things: 1. ORU didn't have a fashion design program 2. if you get a music scholarship, you have to study music. So I studied music, met the love of my life, got 3 music degrees and have enjoyed teaching hundreds of people, my own kids included.
I had a dear friend named Dorothy Williams who passed away a couple of years ago. She was a teacher, a missionary to Africa and Taiwan, church planter, Bible college founder and president who preached all over the world and wrote books. She also was a fantastic knitter ( like her best friend and Scrabble partner Fran Huebert) and sewed her own clothes with fabrics she collected from around the world. Before Dorothy died, I asked her if she had met all the goals she had set for her life. She snorted, then said she had never set any goals. She just did whatever anyone asked her to do: one thing led to another and she ended up with an adventure-filled, satisfying, God blessed life.
That's a pretty good role model.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Just me blowing my nose again
So I'm into the 60 project thus far like this: I've changed to a less stressful job, I'm sleeping and eating well, I'm losing weight again, I'm walking fairly regularly and being nicer to my husband. I'm basically a candidate for sainthood. Did I mention that I'm taking my vitamins? I am. And calcium too.
And yet..... The ghastly head cold that leveled me in December and January IS BACK! with a VENGEANCE!
Now I'm not naming names, but I work with healthy adults and no children except for 2 little blue-eyed blondies of excellent heritage that look something like this:
You can see my problem here :). As some old crusty Canadian said, "Life is tough and then you die".
And yet..... The ghastly head cold that leveled me in December and January IS BACK! with a VENGEANCE!
Now I'm not naming names, but I work with healthy adults and no children except for 2 little blue-eyed blondies of excellent heritage that look something like this:
You can see my problem here :). As some old crusty Canadian said, "Life is tough and then you die".
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Administrators change the world!
When I look at success in politics, institutions, families, businesses et al, I see that leadership makes all the difference. In my world, I've seen small Christian schools with the same numbers, same stated goals, and same chances end up in opposite directions, some growing and affecting kids lives, some shrinking and sinking, some becoming powerhouses. The obvious difference is the quality of the leader. Duh. But here's my epiphany: one major weapon of a great leader is working hand in glove with effective administrators.
Administrators change the world. I learned this studying church music history, of all things. The first music ever written down was in the 7th century, thanks to an amazing man - Pope Gregory. He only reigned as pope for 13 years, but in that time he not left a legacy that formed the basis of Western music, but he also evangelized Ireland, which eventually led to all of Europe being converted to Christianity, and effected great changes in the Church. Great leader, but you know it wasn't Greg penning all that music or shipping out to Ireland. He had administrators that did that, and did it well.
Martin Luther did something similar. This man completely revolutionized the religious, cultural and political structure of Europe and the known world by challenging the authority of the Roman Catholic church. He cared about the people in the pew who not only didn't understand the Latin service, but were not allowed to sing - only the professionals could do that. Martin Luther translated the Bible into German so the people could understand it and created a whole new genre of sacred music by taking songs the people were singing in everyday life, setting German words to them that were based on the Bible, and printed the first two hymnals. Marty did not create this all that himself. He had helpers - administrators - that got those projects done and out there.
Somehow this always reminds me of my great grandmother, Elizabeth McCann. She was a remarkable worman with the most amazing set of adventures - I'd like to write about her someday. The reason I know about her escapades is that she wrote and published small tracts about her life and I am lucky enough to own a couple of them now, a hundred years later. Out on a farm in the prairies with so many children, she ran a churchand had everyone stay for dinner after service, yet she found the time and gumption to get her tracts published so that she could give her story to people she met. Now that's administration!
Now it's me playing follow the leader to Dave Shinness. He is a good leader who sees the big picture, works well with his own leaders, and eats, sleeps and breathes Christian school. One of his great strengths is that he identifies leadership and administrative qualities in the people he works with and gives them opportunity to try out their wings. That's what he did with me too, after years of teaching music - he thought I could do an admin job with special needs. It was a massive learning curve for me; more paperwork than I care to think about (which is not my strength) but I worked my way through it until I got on top of it and I like the feeling of learning something big again. I earned myself a sideways move to development and another huge learning curve.
I may not have the effect that Pope Gregory, Martin Luther, or even Elizabeth McCann have had, but I want to finish what I start and be one of my principal's secret weapons. It reminds me of that other famous couple, Pinkie and the Brain:
"What are we doing tonight, Brain? Same thing we do every night, Pinkie; try to take over the world!"
Administrators change the world. I learned this studying church music history, of all things. The first music ever written down was in the 7th century, thanks to an amazing man - Pope Gregory. He only reigned as pope for 13 years, but in that time he not left a legacy that formed the basis of Western music, but he also evangelized Ireland, which eventually led to all of Europe being converted to Christianity, and effected great changes in the Church. Great leader, but you know it wasn't Greg penning all that music or shipping out to Ireland. He had administrators that did that, and did it well.
Martin Luther did something similar. This man completely revolutionized the religious, cultural and political structure of Europe and the known world by challenging the authority of the Roman Catholic church. He cared about the people in the pew who not only didn't understand the Latin service, but were not allowed to sing - only the professionals could do that. Martin Luther translated the Bible into German so the people could understand it and created a whole new genre of sacred music by taking songs the people were singing in everyday life, setting German words to them that were based on the Bible, and printed the first two hymnals. Marty did not create this all that himself. He had helpers - administrators - that got those projects done and out there.
Somehow this always reminds me of my great grandmother, Elizabeth McCann. She was a remarkable worman with the most amazing set of adventures - I'd like to write about her someday. The reason I know about her escapades is that she wrote and published small tracts about her life and I am lucky enough to own a couple of them now, a hundred years later. Out on a farm in the prairies with so many children, she ran a churchand had everyone stay for dinner after service, yet she found the time and gumption to get her tracts published so that she could give her story to people she met. Now that's administration!
Now it's me playing follow the leader to Dave Shinness. He is a good leader who sees the big picture, works well with his own leaders, and eats, sleeps and breathes Christian school. One of his great strengths is that he identifies leadership and administrative qualities in the people he works with and gives them opportunity to try out their wings. That's what he did with me too, after years of teaching music - he thought I could do an admin job with special needs. It was a massive learning curve for me; more paperwork than I care to think about (which is not my strength) but I worked my way through it until I got on top of it and I like the feeling of learning something big again. I earned myself a sideways move to development and another huge learning curve.
I may not have the effect that Pope Gregory, Martin Luther, or even Elizabeth McCann have had, but I want to finish what I start and be one of my principal's secret weapons. It reminds me of that other famous couple, Pinkie and the Brain:
"What are we doing tonight, Brain? Same thing we do every night, Pinkie; try to take over the world!"
Thursday, February 10, 2011
To think or not to think about work - that is the question...
I'm trying, folks. I'm trying not to think about my job night and day. (I have a new job as a development coordinator for our school.) It's so tempting! Everything I'm doing right now is so exciting, so full of potential - lots of events that happen in the next few weeks that need to be planned, things we have never done before. There is such a warm reception for this new approach, so many good ideas, so many folks around me with great expectations, all of them possible to fulfill. By me.
Such a typical reaction for women, isn't it. We have to do it all. We have to fulfill the expectations of everyone around us. Because we can do it, we feel we have to say yes, or else we feel selfish. Here's my personal twist: I have more backbone than your average girl, and I don't have a problem saying no to anybody or anything. But I know that strength can be overwhelming and intimidating to people around me, so I try to temper that effect by going the extra mile if it is within my power to do so. And because I am strong and capable, I usually do have the power to do so and no excuse not to.
Now I'm trying to pull back a bit because I find if I don't put that job in a box, I won't have the strength or presence of mind to be able to extend myself to Dave or my kids or grandkids. I want to be able to extend myself to neighbours and friends more than I do now - that's going to take even more time management.
Today is my day off and I'm home. My little grandson Xander (5) is sick and my daughter is throwing a birthday party for his big sister today so I asked if I could have him for the day. I have a bunch of sewing to do for the school so I would normally just let him play while I worked. But on this sunny morning, I knew I would get the sewing done somehow but I didn't want to miss an opportunity to enjoy my friendship with my little man.
Xander arrived today and had refused breakfast at home because he wanted to have dippy eggs with Grammy. I introduced all the grandkids to dippy eggs, my favourite breakfast when I was a kid: a soft boiled egg held up in a little cup with a cap cut off so you can dip a toast strip (called a soldier) into the egg yolk and eat it with your fingers. We have special Nigella egg cups and special egg spoons that we use to scrape the egg white out to eat after the yolk is done. Xander and I sat on the love seat in a cozy nook in the kitchen and ate at a little wicker table that he had set himself.
Next he had a bath so he could play with Grammy's bath toys and take as much time as he wanted. Then he went outside to play while I set up the sewing. He asked me to come out and play soccer so I thought, why not? We played for about 30 minutes. I could not for the life of me kick that plastic ball in a straight line, but he was so patient with me, giving me extra points, while kicking the dickens out of the ball every time. I was distracted by the messy garden I wanted to stop and clean up, but I can do that any day - not today.
I didn't think about work even once.....
Such a typical reaction for women, isn't it. We have to do it all. We have to fulfill the expectations of everyone around us. Because we can do it, we feel we have to say yes, or else we feel selfish. Here's my personal twist: I have more backbone than your average girl, and I don't have a problem saying no to anybody or anything. But I know that strength can be overwhelming and intimidating to people around me, so I try to temper that effect by going the extra mile if it is within my power to do so. And because I am strong and capable, I usually do have the power to do so and no excuse not to.
Now I'm trying to pull back a bit because I find if I don't put that job in a box, I won't have the strength or presence of mind to be able to extend myself to Dave or my kids or grandkids. I want to be able to extend myself to neighbours and friends more than I do now - that's going to take even more time management.
Today is my day off and I'm home. My little grandson Xander (5) is sick and my daughter is throwing a birthday party for his big sister today so I asked if I could have him for the day. I have a bunch of sewing to do for the school so I would normally just let him play while I worked. But on this sunny morning, I knew I would get the sewing done somehow but I didn't want to miss an opportunity to enjoy my friendship with my little man.
Xander arrived today and had refused breakfast at home because he wanted to have dippy eggs with Grammy. I introduced all the grandkids to dippy eggs, my favourite breakfast when I was a kid: a soft boiled egg held up in a little cup with a cap cut off so you can dip a toast strip (called a soldier) into the egg yolk and eat it with your fingers. We have special Nigella egg cups and special egg spoons that we use to scrape the egg white out to eat after the yolk is done. Xander and I sat on the love seat in a cozy nook in the kitchen and ate at a little wicker table that he had set himself.
Next he had a bath so he could play with Grammy's bath toys and take as much time as he wanted. Then he went outside to play while I set up the sewing. He asked me to come out and play soccer so I thought, why not? We played for about 30 minutes. I could not for the life of me kick that plastic ball in a straight line, but he was so patient with me, giving me extra points, while kicking the dickens out of the ball every time. I was distracted by the messy garden I wanted to stop and clean up, but I can do that any day - not today.
I didn't think about work even once.....
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