Early

In a past life, before kids, I used to be an early bird.  I grew up in a family where 7am was a sleep in.  Everyone was pretty much in bed fast asleep by 9pm - I think I could have counted the times I stayed up till mid-night before I was 18 on both hands (and they were probably sleep-overs at friends). 

I'm sitting here wondering why I am struggling (more frustration and grumpy feelings) with getting up with my children.  They go to bed at what I deem a reasonable time (between 6.30-7.30pm, depending on the littles ones last naps).  That happening - any-time from 5.30 is an eleven hour sleep - which is very reasonable.  They don't last much past that bed-time, with Mr.4 often putting himself to bed if we don't.  He's a very light sleeper; some days I think he's often awake from the baby's 4am feed.

I think (ok, I know) it is my attitude rather than them.  If I find a magic cure to help them all sleep through (last night was one of those nights where I was up with a scratchy, itchy baby girl) I'll let you know ... but until then .... I need to rest in God's strength that He will help me re-adjust my attitude and enjoy these early mornings.  One bright spot for today - the bread is raising, the fires both started first pop (somehow I forgot to load them when I crashed into bed last night, so they were out when I first got up) and apparently it's not meant to rain - so maybe a beach trip.

Blessing for Sunday!!

Source

Fellowship Friday

I'm lucky that I can still do this, even though it is Saturday morning on this side of the world.

It has been school holidays here - for the past two weeks I've been blessed to have my big boy home with his younger siblings. After a trip into town with a sick baby last week Tuesday - I've actually stayed away from town for nearly two weeks. Let me tell you - what a blessing! And that isn't by my strength. Usually I'm straining at the bit to get away and have some space, to buy, consume and blob in town. I love exploring the op-shops, slowly doing the groceries and catching up with friends. BUT ... it has been amazing just being at home and allowing God to work in me and be at rest where I am. We have had absolutely amazing weather for this time of year - it feels more like spring than the middle of winter. This week we have taken a lunch-time trip to the beach (15 minutes away) and also had a trip to the school playground for the past three afternoons (2 min drive away). I love that we've been able to get out and do things just around here.

If I look at where I am at, there are still things I don't like about where we are at - but aren't we all a work in progress. God is redeeming the time!! I have been able to get on top of some extra (well, not extra, needed to be done really) jobs. Not going into town has meant I have had time to just relax into some more routines. While I am looking forward to school starting again (I'm really not the home-school type and find teaching little ones very hard and trying to my patience), it is also hard as it will be my last term with my next boy at home with me as he starts school in the fourth term. I think I am more concerned about him starting than I was his big brother. He's just got a different personality - but we'll work towards it.

 So thankful for these sunny holidays. So thankful for amazing everyday blessings. Thankful for cupboards that are being emptied (eat the pantry clean week) and a sparkling fridge (one of those extra jobs). Right ... I have a load of sheets in the machine and four little people to get into play clothes. Blessings everyone!

 Ps ... if you're into an amazing birth story check out the link to the blog Talia Christine on my side-bar .... turned me to total mush within two seconds. Amazing lady!!

 Fellowship Friday (link not playing ball today - my bad not the link)

Congratulations

Not that they are every going to read it - but just because I get mushy with any baby being born. Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son. Any life is special - and I wish them every blessings. And as a post on my FB page yesterday said ... remember, 2000 years ago another Son was born - and that son adores you and wants the best for your life today, to bring peace and healing, grace and love.

See saw

Right now I feel like a see saw.  One day I am fine, my faith seems to be strong, the next I am a crumbling pile of cookie crumbs ready to hide out in the nearest cave.

I may have to take a wee break from blogging.  Some things are just too personal to put out there in cyber space, and where I am at now is that space.  I might get up some stuff that speaks too me, but as for my voice, right now it's just needing some tlc from the Creator.

It is a new day

Let us rejoice and be glad in it ....

I am not going to lie to you.  Right now there is some stuff happening in my life that I am struggling with, but with support it is getting easier.  Dear friends who care amazingly for our family gave me a DVD to watch those week and I watched it last night while folding this wash.  One thing really struck me and that was the lies that we let ourselves believe, voices in our head that we start speaking out and  taking for a truth, and slowly but surely they eat away at us.  Today I want to refute those voices and speak God's peace and authority over my life and join with me and do the same in yours.  I was reading this morning (thank you technology) and had two translations beside each other. 

Psalm 120:1,2 I'm in trouble, I cry to God, desperate for an answer.  Deliver me from the liars God, they smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth. (The message version)

I didn't have to read past verse one and two this morning for God to speak to me.  Here I am desperately craving for peace and answers right now, a solution right now.  I know I am in trouble, I cannot solve this on my own.  All the lies do seems sweet, they tell me what I want to hear, but it is empty.  Really the only thing that can help is this.  God and his peace and protection over my life and family.

Psalm 121:7,8
GOD guards you from every evil, he guards your very life.  He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.  (The Message version)

I think these two psalms must have been in some way connected, first the speaker is crying out from the depths of his soul then the answer  came, the rest aNd reassurances he needed.  For me personally m to tell  the honest truth, it has been too long since I have opened the WORD and let it soak m mind amid calm my fears. I have trained ago make things work on my own, but they haven't.  I have leaned on everyone else but God.  Yes, prayers of desperation, prayers of I don't get it, why?.... What now?  Then .... Nothing it seemed.  

Today, and tomorrow and hopefully the days after that I, not through my strength, but with amazing grace - I want to listen for the true voices of the Holy Spirit as he speaks to me throughout the WORD. Maybe I'll get a chance to share this journey with you more - right now, baby is awake.

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Friends

Friends are amazing!  I am so wonderfully blest to have some amazing friends who listen, care and pray! 

The windy is howling, the rain is pelting down so it will be an inside day today - I have Mt. Foldmore to attack and feeling thankful for the dryer that I will put some of the little things in.  I'm not sure what else we'll get up to, but it will probably include a healthy does of play-dough and cutting and glueing.

Leftover Lamb

We're having a version of lamb curry from dinner.  When growing up my Mum used one similar to this.

I have changed it it a bit, adding garlic and cumin and using red curry paste instead of curry powder.  I also add raisens.  Serving it over rice with brussel sprouts (my kids hardly ever get brussel sprouts, so they are a treat food to them .... great huh?) on the side.

"borrowing"

Borrowing a couple of images today from www.timewarpwife.com   They sum up me today - after a very fleeting night.  We have decided that it really is time to cut out bottles for mr.2, or at least transition him to water as otherwise he's going to have no teeth by 3 from all the milos.   So, last night was not a very happy space for him or us.  To be honest, I caved by 11pm and gave him a milo, but by then he was wound up and I was wound up and it went downhill.  The baby girl is still struggling with her excema.  We can't get testing done till August (need to wait till she is one).  Thankfully not to far off, and in the mean time it is a matter of finding a cream/lotion/potion that helps her itching - any advice gladly received.  Throw in me forgetting to nappy the middle one - and a 3am bed change ... today is about gratfully receiving the grace from God to keep on keeping on in this job I've been given.  Thankful for a husband who has gone out in the cold to work for our family - thankful the fire is going and thankful there are friends on the other end of the telephone if I need it. 

Just for the night-nurse!

Hope you have an amazing sleep today.  Thanks for the overnight chit-chat and will talk later!!

Girls

I took a photo of the girls playing together this evening.  Miss 3 thinks that the baby is ready to play with her at all times as her baby, so it was nice  to see her playing with her at her level.  It made my heart go awwww.  I hope and pray these two will grow to be best buddies as well as sisters.  While I have several very special heart sisters, special SIL's - sometimes I wonder what a blood sister would have been like.  I'm super thankful the girls have each other and also pray that they will have heart sisters who are as amazing as mine are when they grow up.  I hope you know who you are ... Love you all loads!!!!

Lists

I like lists.  I like writing them, looking at them and best of all, checking them off - I especially like it if someone else writes the list for me.
I've found an app that does this!  It's brilliant - It is called Motivated Moms and it is available as an app or as an e-book. 

I have to admit, I did pay for the full version, which was about $5 - but it is great.  I can add in things the night before if I have any extra jobs or things I need to remember (today I had to ring the Tuppaware person), but it also has it's own extra jobs above the daily chores that we all do (well, the ones we want to do) daily as well.  I like the load/run/empty dishwasher checkbox ... I can do that pretty much first thing in the morning.  I like that is has a daily bible reading if I want to follow that.  I just like it. 

Right ... off to get the little man to bed, he had a big afternoon sleep, so he's not quite ready, but I am :-) 
Blessings.

Mid week

It's a Wednesday.  Wednesday for us usually involved playgroup in the morning - then tired kids in the afternoon.  Today we only went for a short while as we had an unscheduled hair-dresser's appointment.  Miss 3 chopped her hair last week, and DH and I decided it really needed to be given some attention by a professional to even it out.  So now she is sporting a cute little bob cut just above her chin.  It has tided it up nicely, although her own hair-dressing efforts are still a little obvious.  Mr. 2 also had his first hair-dresser cut.  Neither DH or I are keen to give him the buzz-cut yet, I am sure once we do his blonde hair will disappear - it's already starting to darken at the roots.  So he's looking more big-boy and less baby - which I guess is inevitable - but still sad.  He's still my baby boy, even though his baby sister is only three weeks shy of being one!!  Time has gone so fast.

10 Years

Ten years ago my world changed.  A family lost a daughter and sister.  I lost my best friend. 
Sarah went from driving her car to heaven in the twinkle of an eye through the hands of a young man driving under the influence.  Back then, if felt like life would not be livable - it was a heinous time for everyone.  Now - I have lots of thoughts going through my head.  So much has changed.  While Sarah will remain forever nearly 21 - life has moved on.  I'm hoping to see her younger sister today - might get back later to write some more.