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..........