Monday, Monday

Today the sun is shining and there is definately a promise of spring in the air.


My DH came home from his week away from work and when I met him at the door:

Such a sweetie!

It has been a lovely weekend and I feel refreshed and full of hope.




I have for months been missing the fresh veggies we usually always have from our garden but with all the hospital trips and things the garden has fallen by the way. I really miss this place of harvest and abundance- of seeing things grow and watching God transform tiny little seeds into crops, I miss popping out and grabbing some fresh peas or some spinach and the wee ones used to eat so much more fresh veg as often they would just eat t raw from the garden.



Well I spent some time out in the sun in my veggie garden yesterday afternoon, I have been inspired by many of the pics of everyones gardens and with winter drawing to a close for us here in Australia I really am itching to get back out into the beds.



Everyone had a great time- Lil 3yo, DD was in there- not a care in her lil heart about medical reports or the events of last week- after all there was dirt to be played with! So refreshing and so lovely to hear and watch some much needed giggling. My heart was lifted.



We did lots of digging and there was weeds to get rid of and rocks to throw out and then when everything was nearly ready for planting we spread ALOT of manure over the garden- this manure made the garden rich with everything it needed to support the coming growth and harvest, then in went the seeds & seedlings and we put back the little protective netting to keep our ducks out and let the veggies grow in peace.



This is so like what is happening all around at the moment- the turning over and breaking up is difficult and hard, then stuff is added to life that just seems wrong and dreadful, but with the things of God, protection, sunshine and a little rain the garden will grow & grow and the harvest will come. Thank you Lord for the lessons you teach me in my garden.



Have a great Monday,

Hugs

C

In the water

Today I read this an it really touched my heart: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 NIV"



God says the storms they will come but He will be with me when I am IN them. So WHEN the storm passes, I might be soaked but I won’t be swept away.

I will be supernaturally protected by Him and what everyone thinks should happen/ the natural or expected outcomes are not the rule. There is evidence of this everyday in my life- children with senso-neural hearing loss never in the natural regain their hearing- but my yo DD has been without her hearing aides for 6 months now & her hearing & speech is developing everyday.

I do fear and I need to remember the promises that God has spoken to us through His word and not get into reaoning and the natural outcomes.

Thank you Lord for the history I have in my life of how you have brought me through the storms. Help me trust You more and lay my worries down and stop trying to pick them up again and try to work them out in the natural world. Amen.

Check out steadymom’s 30 min. blog challenge:

http://www.steadymom.com/moms-30minute-blog-challenge.html

Decluttering I go!!

I have gone on a mission to de-clutter my life & my home.
I need to be able to de-stress and this cluttered disorganised home is not helping!!
I did my pantry and freezer 2 weeks ago and I made a big list that is in my iphone of whats in there and it has helped with my shopping and meal planning heaps.
We could go a month without needing to put anything else in there!!

Going to tackle under the kitchen sink next, wish me luck- Im going in!!

Managing Monday- Am I managing?

Today is very quiet at home.
My DH went back to work after being off for the last 4 months. We have had a season as a family of health crisises. Firstly it was DH that was ill, then our toddler contracted encephalitis after an ear infection and was hospitalised for a month and the family was on full stress mode.
As a mum I have been doing, doing, doing- planning & working to create a stable, peaceful home. I have been running on empty emotionally and my time with God has suffered. I have spent time reading in The Word, but most of my prayer times have been in the "desparate plea" category.
Last week this stress caught up with me.
I was sitting with my teen helping her prepare for her NAPLAN tests which grade her reading & writing & numeracy for her age and compare it nationally.
I felt an odd sensation in my head and I lost a part of my vision in my eye. I had a mini stroke.
I went to the hospital and this week has been one big blur surrounded by very worried faces. The Dr has started some medicine to keep my Blood pressure down and has said that it has ben a timely warning that I need to take better care of my family by taking better care of me.
This has forced me to have a long hard look at what I do and why I do it. What is necessary in my day and what just isnt. What things do I consider important and a "must have" in my day and funnily enough - those things are usually the things that I have been foregoing in order to keep on top of everything else- like my time with God, my Family First Four,(the first things I say to each person each day is a greeting not an instruction and endeavouring to keep a mental tally of 4 specific times that I tell each one "I love you" each day)I want to change my focus from tasks back to the people that I am striving to make this home a place of security and peace.

What do you give your energy to, is it wearing you out? is it important to you or to your family? What is necessary? What are your goals for your family as a mum?
This week is a time of change for me - a time of back to basics:
* Spending time reading & praying as a priority- not an after-thought
* Remembering my "Family First Four"
* taking time to love & play!

have a wonderful week,( and maybe a good nap or 2!!)
((Hugs)