Made up mixed up game of fun

 It started with a piece of chalk and some dinosaurs

add more boys a stone and some bugs

and you have some wild hopscotch, jumping, bug rescue fun.

As the days get longer, the boys have headed outside to burn off energy and let Mum cook dinner.  They usually just muck about {as boys do}.  This day was a little different.  Amazing what a piece of chalk and an idea can spark in the mind of a 3 year old with a bit of creative input.

It didn't last long, but it was magic while it did.  For all my plans and ideas on Pinterest things to do with them  it really doesn't take much.

New Chairs from Old

Before

When I wrote this post about our the table the chairs were in a rather sad state.  I had been thinking about having a go at recovering them.  Now I can say I have.  It has been a slow process.  First was the donation of the material from my mother in law.  It was a perfect match for the fabric on our lounge suite.  I finally found out where to get the foam from and managed to get it on sale.  We tracked down the gun stapler and staples.  Finally add in a very wet day where we were stuck inside and a helpful husband to pull things apart and put them back together and there you have it.  They look so much better and are much more comfy to sit on.

After 

They say good things take time.

5 Minute Friday - Roots

Every week Lisa-Jo Baker at Gypsy Mama invites us to join her in writing for 5 minutes.  Write what you are passionate about.  Without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 

2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 

3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you and encourage them in their comments. 

Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community

I have been reading for some time. This week's prompt caught my eye.  Time to join in the fun, I think

Roots 

GO

I was sitting in church that Sunday.  Watching as someone was being baptized.  A verse came to mind as the woman shared her story.  I thought it was for her.  I searched and I stumbled and I couldn't find it.  Little did I know that the next few minutes would change my  life forever.  My mother called and held the news that at that exact time my father had passed away suddenly.

I crumbled and fell the news hitting like a full force blow to the soul.  My heart aching for a man that was so precious to me.  Gone in a instant.  We left and we went home and travelled that day into a week of together remembering all that he was and still is to us.  And I held on to that verse it was not for her but for me.  It carried me

The verse - Jeremiah 17: 7-8.  But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.

My roots go down deep and I long to go deeper.  To hold on to the strength that is mine from the Lord.  

STOP

One thousand gifts

I follow Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience.  In today's post - How Do You Find joy? she shares a DVD series that she has put together to go with the book.  So I took the opportunity to finally purchase the book.  I have been on and off writing my gifts.  Time to make it more.

It starts with this.  The dare to live fully right where you are.  To count gifts.  Not the gifts that you want to receive but those you have already been given.

What a difference a day makes

Sunshine. It does wonders to the soul. 

This may look just like a pile of washing.  But, do you see the sunlight?  It brings new life and joy.  It may seems simple but the act of getting washing out, in and folded and away in the same day is bliss.  It has been so long wet, windy and grey I had almost forgotten what the warmth of those rays can do.

When life gets chaotic and I struggle to find breath for even the basics of life I take hold of what I can control.  Embrace the imperfection and instead do enough to make it better.  There are so many things that I want to improve around our place.  If you check out my pinterest page you will find many beautiful images that I would love to have in my space.  Until then I am content with what I have.  It is not an easy choice.  I am learning to find joy in the scratches and dings and the brokeness by holding on to what has already come to be, through time and hard work and saving for better things.

So yesterday I set about making some changes {sorting again as my darling husband calls it}.  I started with the car.  It is well used and needed a clean.  Heading in to summer calls for beach gear and hats and sunscreen to replace the beanies and jackets of winter.  It was getting into a shambles so I added a bucket for the new found bits and pieces and tidied away the old.
 

Spare clothes bag.  A set for each boy plus spare hats etc 

so we can enjoy wherever we go without fear of getting dirty or wet.
Bucket with sports gear, towels, hats, sunscreen and a picnic rug.

On to the pantry.  If you look closely into the back you will see that my pantry is actually the hot water cupboard. One day I will have a pantry.  Till then I was sick not being able to get at things and everything tipping out so I pulled it out and had a rearrange.

Lying around the kitchen I have had several boxes and bags of goodies - chilles, grapefruit and more.  So I tidied and squeezed and cut.  Now I have bench to work on again and nothing to trip over.

It may seem like a lot but it didn't take too long and everything I used I already had on hand.  When all was done I was even able to bike to the park on the way to kindy for some time with my little helper.

Even better is that today I am having a great day.  The morning get up and off was the best it has been and the cupboard is now full with groceries.  It feels good to be sorted.

A new beginning

It has been sometime since I wrote.  Where have I been? On Sunday September 16th, 2012 my world was changed forever when I got the news that my Dad has passed away suddenly.  It has taken some time to get back to routines and do more than just going through the motions of life.

Yesterday was the first day I have felt the heaviness lift.  I heard this line in a song - Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, and read this post - How to Handle Losses at A Holy Experience.  I choose to praise Him.

Through it all I have learnt much. Even as I write this post I found these posts How to Live the Really Best Bucket List and How to Live, Blog, Write.  I know that I have more to say.  It is just going to take some time.

For now here is the poem that I wrote for Dad.

 

There are not enough words

Or pages I can find

To write a fitting legacy

For you are one of a kind

But the words they start to come

And the memories overflow

The stories keep on coming

From the lives you've touched of those you know

At the place that we call home

Your fingerprints are everywhere

There's not a place I can look

That doesn't radiate your care

You always had the time

No matter how long it would take

You knew what was important in life

It's not things, but the memories you make

You always taught us to be our best

In your quiet way

I'm proud, stand tall, be true, be you

Do what you've set your mind to is what you'd say

The greatest gift a father can give

You proved time and again

Is to love their mother

You were her soulmate and her friend

You are our rock of strength

A solid stone beneath our feet

You gave us roots and wings to fly

And touch the lives of those we meet

You've laid your tools to rest

Hung up your rod and hat

Your hard work is now done

Put your boots down by the mat

The time has come, it is too soon

I still can't believe you're gone

It is good night and not goodbye

In us your legacy lives on

With hugs and kisses I know full well

He's waiting for you there

So into the Father's arms

I dedicate your care

Now to those of you who knew him

There is just one thing I ask of you

The love he shared, please pass it on

One of the greats has gone, but it's time the ripple grew.

Colleen

The last verse of the poem refers to the stones that we used in the service.  When you throw a stone in water the ripples that result radiate outward.  Dad was our rock and in memory we can carry on the love that he shared.  So everyone was invited to take a stone when they came to put a flower on the casket.  The idea was to throw it into water or place it somewhere as a reminder of how Dad touched their lives.

Till next time

To the power of three

To the power of 3

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

A car is made to run on gasoline and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is not any other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way. God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. CS Lewis

Whatever you think of me and what I do. It is not about me. For everything I do there is one thing I changed to make it happen and several things that I choose not to do. Since making the date for the night  I originally shared this message,  I had been so challenged about what I  shared. I had nothing else booked for that week. As it happens things changed and I had had more than I could possible imagine fitting in. That day alone I prepared for the night, went to the school cross country, visited my son's intermediate open day, and had soccer practice on top of what I already do in a day {which always seems like not much when you have a 3 year old helping}. At every turn I have met with struggle. 

But I am always reminded that He has overcome the world and I need to press on.  Phil 3:14  If God can handle eternity then I can handle today.

There is something powerful in meeting with someone and sharing the journey.  Why wait for the next big thing, inspiring speaker or programme. I believe we have what we need, we just need to access it. We as a group of women have the opportunity to do more than has been before. To define our lives not let life define us. To stand together to be enough. Confident with where we are, yet fighting for who we hope to become. And pass it on.

There is so much more but for now - enough said

but keep watching this space..........

Plus One

+1

Ever said to yourself I will do............. when I …............ but, I am not there yet. Something I always said until I discovered there is no there. There will always be something else. Life is continually changing. Even with a destination it is not about the arrival but who we become. We get so overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done we do nothing. The phrase that women can do anything has been misinterpreted as women can do everything. We can do everything................. we are supposed to do................ but not all at once.

In my previous enough posts I outlined how we need to see who we are, what we have and what we do, as enough.  God loves us just as we are but he loves us too much to leave us this way.

We all have to do lists and things we want to improve on.  What if instead of trying to do it all we chose one thing that would make a difference and do it.  I always ask myself 'how good would it feel if I ...........' 

I have been really challenged by the Faith at Home series that the church has put together. There are a number of things that I have been meaning to do. My Faith box is collecting dust, we really only say grace on occasion. So I was inspired by something I saw on the internet. A family basket that had prayer sticks and study notes and children's bibles. . Til then I had put the bibles by the childrens beds thinking we would read them more. So I put it together and put it on the table. No we didn't do anything with it. It sat. The boys asked questions. I told them what it was. We eat meals to nourish us and give us energy for living. We read the word – the bread of life to give us food for our growth as a Christian. I have been reading my word for today more. At the end of meals we have read one or two stories and studies. All from doing one thing. 

If I know where I want to go then each step I take towards it is a step in the right direction. I remind myself how good it feels to be where I want to be. As much as I love achieving something I am enjoying what happens along the way. Something my boys have taught me. Riley loves to stop and smell the roses.

You have to know where you are headed. What is your purpose?  What is your one thing? I read this post just the other day from Brave Girls Club

Dear Seeking Girl,
So much of the greatest joys in
life come from moving something out of the way so we can see what we are
intended to see. Often we focus on a problem or an issue, sometimes doing it to
ourselves, and sometimes allowing someone else to keep putting something
stressful in front of us over and over again. And then it grows so big that we
can not see everything else around it, behind it, above it, below
it.
Everything has a place. Everything has a time. Everything has a
season.
When we allow something to consume all of our thoughts, all of
our vision, all of our energy, to suck up all of our joy, all of our heart, all
of our goodness, we are not letting anything else in our life have its place,
its time or its season.
If the issue that is causing you to struggle was
written on a tiny piece of paper and you put it RIGHT in front of your eyes, it
would make it so that you could see nothing else. It wouldn’t MEAN that nothing
else was there, it would just mean that it is not in its place. Take that “piece
of paper” and put it down on a table where you can see it with everything else,
how small it is, how much surrounds it, how much bigger the sun and the sky and
everything good is, how it does not deserve as much attention from you as it is
getting.
Dear friend, beautiful girl, take that worry from in front of
your face and see the people who love you, the way things keep working out, the
way the sun rises each morning. Hear the sounds of your life, taste the tastes
of your life, remember the things you have already learned and been through.
Remember how you want to feel and where you want to be. Pick it up as needed and
deal with it as needed, but then put it back down and live your life. Life is
meant to be joyful.
You are so loved. There is a better way. Always go
where the peace is.

What change could you make that would make a big difference to how you live your life?

I am happy. Not because of my circumstances but because

I do not do this alone. 

To be continued.....

Wardrobe Wednesday

Such a great post today.  Miriam gave some great thought into how we play the numbers game. I love the fact that by linking in at Wardrobe Wednesday we are keeping it real. I found this verse via pinterest. 

1 Peter 3: 3-4

A great reminder to keep things in perspective when it comes to fashion.  We shouldn't be obsessed about it but neither should we be so unconcerned that we don't bother.  I am enjoying putting together different pieces that I have and finding gems at pre-loved clothing stores.

Last week at Wardrobe Wednesday I mentioned having a pattern for a wrap that I wanted to make. Well I found the perfect material and got onto it last week.  My first attempt at creating something myself.   So here is me in some of the different styles you can wear it. Still getting used to how it works. Definitely have my favourites. Still thinking that I put too much material in the back piece as there seems to be a lot to gather.

Turtleneck

Blouse

Cardigan

Poncho

Tunic

Joining in at Create Hope Inspire

I do enough

I do enough
You have probably already heard - Take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else and 'They grow up so fast' meaning leave what you think you need to do and do what you ought to do. Its just not always easy to just leave everything that needs to be done. While the washing will still be there tomorrow so will another couple of loads to add to it. It would be great to be able to prioritise what needs to come first and leave all the rest.  I can't do that.  I find it really hard to focus on what I am doing when there are other things to be done.  I wrote more about this in the She Will Run study - Guilt. You can read it here.

In short I have certain things that I do so I know I have done enough.  My solution is to simplify what I do so I can do what I was made to do. For every task required there is a simpler way to do it.  And there is always more to do

You do enough

Heard it all before?  

Are you saying to yourself.......

I could never..........

Its all very well for her she.......

that is just the point - the equation is I not her.

I don't think we need to learn anything new. Rather we need to acknowledge what we already know and do something with it. It is about making a start. Even if a little imperfect. 

Wardrobe Wednesday

I have been wanting to post some more fashion pics since this post.  I enjoy linking in with others so now I have the chance. 

Of late I have been checking out the second hand stores for pre-loved items and putting together different things that I already have in my wardrobe.  Always up for a bargain I also love end of season sales..  This is where I picked up these pieces. My aim is looking good, feeling good while still being comfortable.

Here's what I am wearing today.  Purple is my favorite colour {it used to be blue till I had all boys and needed something more girly in my life}  Despite this I only have a couple of purple outfits. The tunic is from Farmers and the merino top and skinny jeans are from Glassons.   The boots are from No1 shoes.  I have real troublw with such big feet to find styles I like in my size.  The pendant was a pressy from a craft market.  I love the skinny jeans and boots look.  These are the only pair I have.  Must add to the wish list.

Although it is spring we are still having some chilly weather this week.  I picked up a light cardigan to wear but after a night out at Wot Not to Wear by Suz at OOsh Shannon I am keen to put together a wrap.  I found this post with instructions so am keen to get one together.

Joining in with Miriam at Create Hope Inspire for Wardrobe Wednesday

I have enough

So it continues. I have enough

Take a moment to think about your place. As you walk from room to room are there things there that are just taking up space. Do you have things stored away that haven't been used that you are keeping just in case.  Do you enjoy going to your wardrobe and choosing something to wear?

Wouldn't we all like to have our place featured in Home and Garden magazine looking just as beautiful. Not me. I don't have the space or the money to keep up appearances. I am grateful for what I have. What I have is enough and I will use what I already have on hand or have been given.

– William Morris said this 'have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful'

Decluttering. Something that I have been working on for some time. There is a process to work through. More than I can outline here. In short,  I believe there is always a solution to make life easier and I can live with less. Many do

You have enough

 

The practice of new habits

Where do I start?  Well I sat down to put do some of the little things that needed doing like paying some bills, filing papers and printing information that I wanted to keep.  As well as this I cleared the emails.  And thats where this post came to my attention.  As usual I don't hear from God in just one place.  I have been following the Inspired to Action blog and read constantly about their Hello Mornings challenge.  I also read this post at To Overflowing.  Along with the message that I heard on Joyce Meyers Enjoying Everyday Life today about using your talents I was certainly challenged.  She talked about how we should use what we have been given not just do the required amount.

The habit I am wanting to develop is having better mornings.   Around here mornings are crazy.  I'm definitely more of a night owl.Getting 4 boys up feed and organised for their day is always a feat. I am seeing some of the same traits starting with my boys.  Late nights and sleeping in is not the best way to have a good day.

I have things that I do to feel sorted.  As well as getting boys dressed, breakfast and making lunches, they include making beds, putting on the washing and dishes off the bench.   If I stay in bed just 15-30 mins later it means the house looks like this when I go out and I have to do it when I get back. 

Unmade beds, clothes everywhere, dishes all over the place.  A disaster zone. It always takes longer.  This means that I don't get on to what I need or want to be doing.  Apart from this I want to be spending time in the word and being focused on what God wants for me in the day.

So instead of writing my next installment of the enough seminar I have taken a step towards deliberately making some new habits that I have been wanting to make.  I have printed out a 100 days calendar to start a focus on creating new habits.  The first is something creative, the second something personal and the last something healthy.

1  Spend 15 mins at my creative space.
2  Start my day right getting up and having time in study and prayer.
3  End my day right to get enough sleep

Joining in with