Live Out Loud - Adventures of a mom

This week my kids were sent to the local museum for a full day program.  About half way through the camp week my son, during dinner time, shared this with us: Lunch at Ikea - do we pray together or individually? Samuel:   "Mommy, I almost forgot to pray during lunch at camp today" Me: (looking for words to respond as I didn't see this coming).... Sarah:  "But you don't need to pray goh goh" Samuel:   (feeling frustrated) "But you do! I almost forgot but then I prayed" Me:  "Did you pray too Sarah?" Sarah:  (getting upset now) "No, because no one prays at day camp...you don't have to" Samuel:  "But you do!" Sarah:  "You don't!" ...... What is prayer after all?  What have we taught our kids about prayer?  Why do we say 'grace' (what does 'grace' mean to a 4 year old?) before every meal?  And why do we pray before lunch and dinner but sometimes rush through prayer

It is Canada Day today - and as I sit in my bed sick (arg) I am counting the blessings God has given to my family through this amazing country called Canada. 1)  PEOPLE When my brother Andy was sick with leukemia we experienced true love and care beyond expectations from strangers:  church people we didn't know, neighbours in my condo, teachers, doctors, nurses and social workers, and even the lady handling my brother's health care care paper work.  They did not just took care of their 'jobs' (e.g. doctors healed).  Little things like finding hot food by my door, books sent to my little brother in Peru a year after he spent 2 months in school here from his Grade 1 teacher, strangers visiting us every day at the hospital.... 2)  BELONGING Being born in Hong Kong and then living in Peru, I never felt I truly belonged anywhere.  I had a British passport that said I was not British, I Hong Kong Identification Card I could not read, and a Peruvian Residence Card that