Supermum did ALL of her Christmas shopping yesterday morning in just 4 hours!!! Its a record, but not very wise! Next year I will be like all those mums I admire so much, who do their Christmas shopping months in advance. The 'wise' men carried their gifts for months while they travelled to see Jesus, ready with gifts before they went on their holiday.
It really is mums who make Christmas special. All the preparation for presents, food, decorations. When I was a kid, it was so magical to wake up on Christmas morning and see presents piled under the tree. My little brother and I would be up first, peeking through the wrapping, and we'd wait til everyone was up. All four of us kids would be ripping off the colourful paper, which would cover the room by the end of it. We'd always love all our toys and have something to play with for the rest of summer. And Mum had orchestrated it all! Thank you Mum for making Christmas so special for us, beautiful memories to cherish.
So, well done Mums for all you have done and all you are about to do.
Here is my gift to you ... a link to a beuatiful blog about a designer mum who takes gorgeous photos of her bub while she is asleep. Have a look, they are lovely ...
http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/p/about-blog.html Click on the video.
Have a wonderful Christmas! And you are very welcome to check out the blog that Mark and I have begun - about the excess exchange - its a 40 day journey for the heart, starting today ...
http://notwant.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 24, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Creative Parenting
There's something quite freeing about realising that you're the parent and you can decide the way things are going to be for your family. You don't have to do things the way they've always been done, you don't have to do what you're parents did, though they probably did a great job and have lots of wisdom, you don't have to do what everyone else is doing or what the latest book says. There is so much wisdom to be gained by parenting books, and believe me, there have been many times of desperation eating up every parenting book I can find! And it's so wise to ask advice and to glean from those supermums you see around you.
But how wonderful, that in the end, God entrusted you with your kids and you get to make up the rules. You get to make the culture of your family. You get to dream how you want it to be - whether you want to home school, grow your own vegies and teach the kids to make their own clothes and knit blankets for the poor, or maybe you want to send them to the best high tech schools to become brainy heart surgeons, or to just be normal, suburban loving families like most of us - its all good. But what do you want for your family?
God gave us an imagination and creativity - he reminds you of it everyday in the faces of your children who are each unique in looks, personality and demeanor... and temptations. And each of them requires something different from you too, whether to be soft in discipline or strong, whether to laugh when they trip, or to hug... seriously my little girl used to say when she fell over "it didn't hurt, it was fun!"
I love that God made us creative, but we also need to be discerning, what is God's Spirit speaking into your heart about your kids when you take the time to listen?
He has creative amazing answers for your kids, creative ways to have fun, creative ways to train, creative ways to teach and to dream with them. He loves your kids so much. He loves them so much that He made you their mum - because He knows that you and only you can be the mum he needs you to be for them.
You have what it takes! What can you do differently this week? What do you need to apply creativity to? God has an amazing future for your family, and He has an amazing NOW for your family too.
Much blessings,
Sarah
But how wonderful, that in the end, God entrusted you with your kids and you get to make up the rules. You get to make the culture of your family. You get to dream how you want it to be - whether you want to home school, grow your own vegies and teach the kids to make their own clothes and knit blankets for the poor, or maybe you want to send them to the best high tech schools to become brainy heart surgeons, or to just be normal, suburban loving families like most of us - its all good. But what do you want for your family?
God gave us an imagination and creativity - he reminds you of it everyday in the faces of your children who are each unique in looks, personality and demeanor... and temptations. And each of them requires something different from you too, whether to be soft in discipline or strong, whether to laugh when they trip, or to hug... seriously my little girl used to say when she fell over "it didn't hurt, it was fun!"
I love that God made us creative, but we also need to be discerning, what is God's Spirit speaking into your heart about your kids when you take the time to listen?
He has creative amazing answers for your kids, creative ways to have fun, creative ways to train, creative ways to teach and to dream with them. He loves your kids so much. He loves them so much that He made you their mum - because He knows that you and only you can be the mum he needs you to be for them.
You have what it takes! What can you do differently this week? What do you need to apply creativity to? God has an amazing future for your family, and He has an amazing NOW for your family too.
Much blessings,
Sarah
Friday, December 3, 2010
40 days of Christmas
http://notwant.blogspot.com/
Hey:) I'd love for you to check out the new blog that my husband and I are writing together, and with some guest writers, for the 40 days of Christmas from Christmas Eve until February 1st. Its a journey of change that we want to go on as a family. It will be officially launched on Christmas Eve, but we've posted a few things so that you know what its all about. And then we will definitely be posting our thoughts, our journey, some cool links and quotes and ideas everyday for 40 days.
Really, we'd love to create a movement and get as many people involved as possible, so tell your friends if you like! Who knows what will come out of this? Maybe 2011 will be a year of great change for all of us:)
I hope that you are doing well and that your spirit is prospering.
Much love,
Sarah
Hey:) I'd love for you to check out the new blog that my husband and I are writing together, and with some guest writers, for the 40 days of Christmas from Christmas Eve until February 1st. Its a journey of change that we want to go on as a family. It will be officially launched on Christmas Eve, but we've posted a few things so that you know what its all about. And then we will definitely be posting our thoughts, our journey, some cool links and quotes and ideas everyday for 40 days.
Really, we'd love to create a movement and get as many people involved as possible, so tell your friends if you like! Who knows what will come out of this? Maybe 2011 will be a year of great change for all of us:)
I hope that you are doing well and that your spirit is prospering.
Much love,
Sarah
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Grace and holidays
Soon we'll be visiting our favourite secret secluded holiday spot for a good rest and refresh. I wrote this last time we had the pleasure of staying there.
One afternoon I half jogged, half walked, down to the beach to see the final stages of sunset, just a few moments before dinner was needed to be put on and Simeon to be fed. Mark had just rushed back from the beach to give me the opportunity to see the sunset and have a quick breather.
As I came over the sand dune I saw a rainbow over the expanse of the ocean, and another part rainbow on top of it. I could see all the colours, purple, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, lilac. It was as if the rainbow were singing over that beach and landing in the trees near the rocks at the end of the beach.
As I gazed at the rainbow and the waves glistening in the light of the sunset, washing up on the shore and washing over footprints and disheveled sand, smoothing away the traffic of the day, I think of God's promise to never flood us away again. The rainbow, the message of the cross, that He won't flood us away, that He washes our sins away and won't hold them against us.
A couple walks past me, have they seen the rainbow? Are they walking by enjoying their walk but oblivious to the amazing beauty set before them? Although it feels like this experience is just for me, it's available to all of us on the beach that day.
Just before I turn to go back I spot something in the waves. Could it be? Then on the next wave I see the dark shadows diving through the waves, their fins exposed just above the surface. Dolphins diving and spinning and turning. Diving over the waves and then riding them up the beach. I watch as they dive over and over through the waves on their journey from one end of the beach to the other, flipping over on their tummies, enjoying the last warm rays of the sun, dancing under the rainbow. A whole family of dolphins swimming together, enjoying creation together.
The couple are now almost to the end of the beach, they've missed this beautiful sight. I want to call out to them, but it's too far to call, and instead I just stand there in awe of
His creation, filled with joy while caught in this moment.
The family of dolphins are disappearing from view and I turn to catch the fading pinks and hues of purple. As I turn to walk back a tiny bird hops across my path wagging it's little blue tail.
He has given us this beautiful life and tied it up with a bow, a promise of forgiveness and grace and eternity, if I only we stop and receive it, it's available for us.
As the darkness deepens, I see the lights of the house glowing up the road, calling me home. My pace quickens as I think of my family waiting for me, their beaming smiles, the giggles, the tight squeezes, and I'm filled with joy to meet them and tell them what an amazing sunset I've seen.
One afternoon I half jogged, half walked, down to the beach to see the final stages of sunset, just a few moments before dinner was needed to be put on and Simeon to be fed. Mark had just rushed back from the beach to give me the opportunity to see the sunset and have a quick breather.
As I came over the sand dune I saw a rainbow over the expanse of the ocean, and another part rainbow on top of it. I could see all the colours, purple, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, lilac. It was as if the rainbow were singing over that beach and landing in the trees near the rocks at the end of the beach.
As I gazed at the rainbow and the waves glistening in the light of the sunset, washing up on the shore and washing over footprints and disheveled sand, smoothing away the traffic of the day, I think of God's promise to never flood us away again. The rainbow, the message of the cross, that He won't flood us away, that He washes our sins away and won't hold them against us.
A couple walks past me, have they seen the rainbow? Are they walking by enjoying their walk but oblivious to the amazing beauty set before them? Although it feels like this experience is just for me, it's available to all of us on the beach that day.
Just before I turn to go back I spot something in the waves. Could it be? Then on the next wave I see the dark shadows diving through the waves, their fins exposed just above the surface. Dolphins diving and spinning and turning. Diving over the waves and then riding them up the beach. I watch as they dive over and over through the waves on their journey from one end of the beach to the other, flipping over on their tummies, enjoying the last warm rays of the sun, dancing under the rainbow. A whole family of dolphins swimming together, enjoying creation together.
The couple are now almost to the end of the beach, they've missed this beautiful sight. I want to call out to them, but it's too far to call, and instead I just stand there in awe of
His creation, filled with joy while caught in this moment.
The family of dolphins are disappearing from view and I turn to catch the fading pinks and hues of purple. As I turn to walk back a tiny bird hops across my path wagging it's little blue tail.
He has given us this beautiful life and tied it up with a bow, a promise of forgiveness and grace and eternity, if I only we stop and receive it, it's available for us.
As the darkness deepens, I see the lights of the house glowing up the road, calling me home. My pace quickens as I think of my family waiting for me, their beaming smiles, the giggles, the tight squeezes, and I'm filled with joy to meet them and tell them what an amazing sunset I've seen.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
she who changes a nappy changes the world
A world changing mum knows that the world is bigger than just her family and the four walls of her home.
She knows that her short time as mum sows seeds for generations, and the potential of that seed to change lives is unending.
She creates the world how she sees it, how she dreams it.
She doesn't settle for the ordinary, but is continually pushing the boundaries to make things better.
She knows that every thing she does matters, from the small things to the big things, someone is always watching and learning.
She believes in the dreams of those she leads, she encourages their dreams and supports them to finish what they start.
She provides the best for her children, knowing they will learn (in time) to provide the best for others.
She doesn't shy away from poverty and illness, and is always ready to help others.
Her heart is stretched wide, accepting of differences, and always sharing what she has.
Though she is grieved by the injustice in the world, she has joy because she knows that one generation can change everything.
She prepares her children for their future.
She connects her children with their maker.
Though she fails at times, sometimes often, she puts her trust in her God who gives her strength, forgives her weaknesses and holds her close. She follows his lead and gives her life for others.
She knows that her short time as mum sows seeds for generations, and the potential of that seed to change lives is unending.
She creates the world how she sees it, how she dreams it.
She doesn't settle for the ordinary, but is continually pushing the boundaries to make things better.
She knows that every thing she does matters, from the small things to the big things, someone is always watching and learning.
She believes in the dreams of those she leads, she encourages their dreams and supports them to finish what they start.
She provides the best for her children, knowing they will learn (in time) to provide the best for others.
She doesn't shy away from poverty and illness, and is always ready to help others.
Her heart is stretched wide, accepting of differences, and always sharing what she has.
Though she is grieved by the injustice in the world, she has joy because she knows that one generation can change everything.
She prepares her children for their future.
She connects her children with their maker.
Though she fails at times, sometimes often, she puts her trust in her God who gives her strength, forgives her weaknesses and holds her close. She follows his lead and gives her life for others.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Searching for superwoman ...
Proverbs 31:10
"A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies. "
Seriously where is she?
The man who finds her is rich indeed!
Though I'm pretty sure it will be a life long search. She isn't made that way. She is formed and cut and moulded through trials and hard times, through patience and tears.
Amazed at how my man can see the treasure in me no one else can see. Funny how he finds superwoman in me, when I can't even seem to find my way through a pile of laundry.
Thinking about this week, who do I want to be? What woman do I want to be? I've been thinking about women in my life who inspire me and hoping to grab a few of the jewels they are arrayed in, for my own collection. We really can choose for ourselves.
"She wears a demeanor made of bright pretty things... what she wears, what she wears, what she wears..." Brooke Fraser
I'm hoping that as I go on my journey through life, that on the way I will find a wife of noble character in me, I'm hoping my husband and my kids will find her too. And that will be worth more than jewels, more than a beautiful home, more than Christmas presents.
"A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies. "
Seriously where is she?
The man who finds her is rich indeed!
Though I'm pretty sure it will be a life long search. She isn't made that way. She is formed and cut and moulded through trials and hard times, through patience and tears.
Amazed at how my man can see the treasure in me no one else can see. Funny how he finds superwoman in me, when I can't even seem to find my way through a pile of laundry.
Thinking about this week, who do I want to be? What woman do I want to be? I've been thinking about women in my life who inspire me and hoping to grab a few of the jewels they are arrayed in, for my own collection. We really can choose for ourselves.
"She wears a demeanor made of bright pretty things... what she wears, what she wears, what she wears..." Brooke Fraser
I'm hoping that as I go on my journey through life, that on the way I will find a wife of noble character in me, I'm hoping my husband and my kids will find her too. And that will be worth more than jewels, more than a beautiful home, more than Christmas presents.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
smashing the perfume bottle
For my thirty somethingth birthday I thought I would finally choose a perfume for me - one that I love, that my husband loves, one that is ME in a bottle. It was going to be a life defining moment, to finally find that one fragrance that is the 'essence of ME'!
After an hour and a half of sniffing every perfume in the plaza, I came home stinking of perfume, with a gigantic headache and a realisation that perfume and me are not to be. My husband thought I stank too and was soon sharing my headache, thus abruptly ending my romantic fantasies of me and my perfume together forever fairytale - back to Mitchum baby powder scented roll-on (apparently so effective you could skip a day!)
I wish I did love a perfume and that it didn't seep into my veins, slowly emitting toxins into my blood and poisoning me with allergens.
One of my favourite Jesus stories happens just before he is crucified. A woman smashes a perfume bottle at his feet, bathing his feet with her tears and the expensive fragrance, drying his feet with her hair. The perfume fills the room with the aroma of extravagant love.
Apparently that perfume would have been worth a years salary. It was probably her life savings. What an extraordinary sacrificial gift. Ultimately that woman was giving away all she was worth and her future savings for just a moment's display of affection. Some in the room said it was such a waste. Really, that perfume could never be put in that bottle again to be used or sold. She gave away everything she had to show her love for one man - smashing her future hope and trust in anything other than him. What a beautiful moment to be a part of, I can imagine watching the intimacy of that moment, with the perfume surrounding me and filling every pore - how alive that woman must have felt, really she was pouring herself out.
I'm sure she didn't know how significant her gift was to him, or how it would mirror the gift that he was about to give to her. He was about to smash his own perfume bottle. His body would be whipped to within an inch of death, thorns piercing into his head and through his skull, nails through his hands and feet, ripping his limbs as his body hung on them, the weight of his body crushing his lungs until finally he breathed his last. Such a violent and inhumane death, it could almost seem a waste of a life. But as his body was broken, his perfume filled the earth - the perfume of forgiveness, grace, mercy and love - that if we let it, will wash away the brokenness, pain and emptiness in our life, and fill us with the very life and love of God.
It was a divine exchange - she gave away her savings and any hope she held in material things and she gave him her heart. He gave away the very life of God so that she could have real God life. He became poor so that she could become rich in him. He suffered pain and humiliation so that she could be healed and made whole.
It's in those moments of sacrificial love, when it feels as if we are being broken ourselves, that true love is a fragrance about us. Whether it is those sleepless nights caring for a baby, the times when you are doing everything for your kids to see them do well and to not be appreciated, the times when you really don't have time but you give someone a call to bless them or bake them a meal, the times when you wake early to pray for those in need, or give a financial gift when you don't have enough for yourself - that is when your love is a sweet aroma in your life. Its only when the perfume bottle is broken that the fragrance about you is one of extravagant love.
After an hour and a half of sniffing every perfume in the plaza, I came home stinking of perfume, with a gigantic headache and a realisation that perfume and me are not to be. My husband thought I stank too and was soon sharing my headache, thus abruptly ending my romantic fantasies of me and my perfume together forever fairytale - back to Mitchum baby powder scented roll-on (apparently so effective you could skip a day!)
I wish I did love a perfume and that it didn't seep into my veins, slowly emitting toxins into my blood and poisoning me with allergens.
One of my favourite Jesus stories happens just before he is crucified. A woman smashes a perfume bottle at his feet, bathing his feet with her tears and the expensive fragrance, drying his feet with her hair. The perfume fills the room with the aroma of extravagant love.
Apparently that perfume would have been worth a years salary. It was probably her life savings. What an extraordinary sacrificial gift. Ultimately that woman was giving away all she was worth and her future savings for just a moment's display of affection. Some in the room said it was such a waste. Really, that perfume could never be put in that bottle again to be used or sold. She gave away everything she had to show her love for one man - smashing her future hope and trust in anything other than him. What a beautiful moment to be a part of, I can imagine watching the intimacy of that moment, with the perfume surrounding me and filling every pore - how alive that woman must have felt, really she was pouring herself out.
I'm sure she didn't know how significant her gift was to him, or how it would mirror the gift that he was about to give to her. He was about to smash his own perfume bottle. His body would be whipped to within an inch of death, thorns piercing into his head and through his skull, nails through his hands and feet, ripping his limbs as his body hung on them, the weight of his body crushing his lungs until finally he breathed his last. Such a violent and inhumane death, it could almost seem a waste of a life. But as his body was broken, his perfume filled the earth - the perfume of forgiveness, grace, mercy and love - that if we let it, will wash away the brokenness, pain and emptiness in our life, and fill us with the very life and love of God.
It was a divine exchange - she gave away her savings and any hope she held in material things and she gave him her heart. He gave away the very life of God so that she could have real God life. He became poor so that she could become rich in him. He suffered pain and humiliation so that she could be healed and made whole.
It's in those moments of sacrificial love, when it feels as if we are being broken ourselves, that true love is a fragrance about us. Whether it is those sleepless nights caring for a baby, the times when you are doing everything for your kids to see them do well and to not be appreciated, the times when you really don't have time but you give someone a call to bless them or bake them a meal, the times when you wake early to pray for those in need, or give a financial gift when you don't have enough for yourself - that is when your love is a sweet aroma in your life. Its only when the perfume bottle is broken that the fragrance about you is one of extravagant love.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
completely nuts
If you didn't have a chance to follow along on our Darwin blog, please click on the link and have a read.
When our feet finally hit the ground I'm hoping to write back on here again on why I'm completely nuts taking 3 little ones on a missions trip and why it was completely worth it:) lol
darwinadventure.tumblr.com
When our feet finally hit the ground I'm hoping to write back on here again on why I'm completely nuts taking 3 little ones on a missions trip and why it was completely worth it:) lol
darwinadventure.tumblr.com
Monday, September 20, 2010
off to Darwin
We're off to Darwin in a few days. I've started a tumblr just for the trip. I'm hoping to do a short blog each day with some of the highlights of doing a missions trip as a family. You're welcome to follow along at darwinadventure.tumblr.com .
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
traveling companions
I'm so excited! In just a few weeks time we'll be off on our adventure! This is something we've all been waiting for, not just because we are going to Darwin (somewhere we've never been before, which is really cool. I just can't wait to see crocs in their natural habitat - argh!), but this our family's first missions trip all together. Mark has been on heaps of trips overseas since having kids, and Josiah was born in Japan when we were serving there. But now we have our complete family of five and we'll be doing this all together.
Something we really believe makes up the DNA of our family is changing the world together. We want to raise our kids to have confidence that they can change the world, and we want to do that by showing them the way and including them while we have a go at it ourselves.
So off we're going to Darwin, where our home church has just started a new church run by our good friends Troy and Nicole.
It's got me thinking about traveling companions and journeys. It would be so easy to just jet off on my own, leaving the kids behind, and go on a superwoman world changing expedition, at super lightning speed, nothing to hold me back, no extra bags to carry, no extra mouths to feed, no nappies to change. And believe me - that is very tempting, and may still happen one day!
But for this journey - we are doing it together! And that means things are going to have to go at a different pace, have a bit of a different feel, and have a little extra grace and patience added.
Have you ever been for a long drive with your kids? Lots of potty stops, vomit stops, games of eye-spy, and especially sleeping tigers. The drive definitely has a different pace. You can definitely have a deep conversation with your husband, just with lots of interruptions.
One long drive we had, I made pirate maps for the kids, that led all the way to our holiday place and had pictures of things to circle as we passed them on the way. Other times we've pretended the car was a giant spaceship that sped and jumped and twisted and turned along the way.
What I love is when my oldest has some deep question to ask, and I have hours to explain in imaginative ways the meaning of life, creation, God, space and boogers.
I love that as we journey together, our kids grow up, they learn new things, and we get the chance to walk alongside them and help them to discover things that they haven't seen before. I love that we can pray together. Whether we are building a sand castle together or God's kingdom, we can have fun and enjoy our adventure of life as a family.
Something we really believe makes up the DNA of our family is changing the world together. We want to raise our kids to have confidence that they can change the world, and we want to do that by showing them the way and including them while we have a go at it ourselves.
So off we're going to Darwin, where our home church has just started a new church run by our good friends Troy and Nicole.
It's got me thinking about traveling companions and journeys. It would be so easy to just jet off on my own, leaving the kids behind, and go on a superwoman world changing expedition, at super lightning speed, nothing to hold me back, no extra bags to carry, no extra mouths to feed, no nappies to change. And believe me - that is very tempting, and may still happen one day!
But for this journey - we are doing it together! And that means things are going to have to go at a different pace, have a bit of a different feel, and have a little extra grace and patience added.
Have you ever been for a long drive with your kids? Lots of potty stops, vomit stops, games of eye-spy, and especially sleeping tigers. The drive definitely has a different pace. You can definitely have a deep conversation with your husband, just with lots of interruptions.
One long drive we had, I made pirate maps for the kids, that led all the way to our holiday place and had pictures of things to circle as we passed them on the way. Other times we've pretended the car was a giant spaceship that sped and jumped and twisted and turned along the way.
What I love is when my oldest has some deep question to ask, and I have hours to explain in imaginative ways the meaning of life, creation, God, space and boogers.
I love that as we journey together, our kids grow up, they learn new things, and we get the chance to walk alongside them and help them to discover things that they haven't seen before. I love that we can pray together. Whether we are building a sand castle together or God's kingdom, we can have fun and enjoy our adventure of life as a family.
Monday, September 6, 2010
embracing life
This morning after pressing snooze on my phone about 5 times, I finally woke up at 6:30 and opened up my Bible on my iphone, which was open at Psalm 139, specifically these verses:
"certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother's womb. I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth. your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence."
One of my favourite Psalms, that I've read over and over - but today it suddenly awoke in me something new, and was just the thing I needed to hear.
While I struggle with my mind and my heart, He not only knows my thoughts and emotions, but he created my mind and my heart - He understands me intricately, more than I know myself. He has grace for the way I think and feel and act, and though perhaps the way I work/feel/think seems strange to me, He actually created me that way. He knows me thoroughly. He gets me!
What a relief to know that I am loved so thoroughly, so knowingly. He made me, and what he makes is awesome and amazing. Though I don't know how I will get over the hurdles in front of me, especially sometimes the internal ones, He knows.
He has written a book about me, about my life, every single day, in beautiful intricate detail, about every day to come. And He is the most creative, interesting, deep and thoughtful writer.
Through all the twists and turns of the story, the low points, the high points, only He knows how the story will end. And all I know is that the ending will be good and perfect.
And so today, though the journey may take me through a dark valley, I will embrace the story, I will endeavor to make it to the next page and the next chapter.
You are the heroine of His story, and He is your hero.
Jeremiah 29:11 - 13
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Masterchef vs Supermum!
Are you having Masterchef withdrawals? I am. Every night at 7:30 I sit down on my comfy lounge with a big sigh of relief, the kids are in bed, my toasty heater is on, my best friend snuggled up beside me. After a hard day at work, I’m now ready to be entertained!
When Gary and George don’t bounce up on my screen, my feet begin to jitter, my stomach rumbles, my left eye twitches, and I found myself furiously searching the pantry, as if it were some gigantic mystery box calling on me to make an amazing three course dessert. Sugar – check, butter – check, cocoa – check. Three ingredients you can make anything with!
Who will be the winner tonight? My stomach or my hips?! …if only I had some cream….
Sorry… I completely forgot what my point was, I had to duck into the kitchen for a piece of last night’s mud cake, warmed in the microwave with a quenelle of ice-cream on top (formerly known as a 'scoop' of ice-cream). I know its only 10am, but don’t judge me! I am a very busy and important mum of 3 who needs her vitamins!
Which brings me back to my point about how being a supermum is just like being on masterchef.
Most days you are served up the Mystery Box. What is under the lid today? Placed before you is a mix of teething baby, 5 year old birthday party, toddler peed on the floor, clothes on the line got rained on, mangos, and a zit on your nose …. Can you make a masterpiece? Will you be today's winner?
On other days you have, my favourite, an invention test – ‘its Saturday, you’re a family of 5, the theme is “fun!”. Can you make some “fun” today?’ I’m sure whatever you think of will be great. You can never add enough sugar!
Then you have your team challenge days, where its tag at the car, while you juggle groceries, meetings, going to the gym, picking up kids, dropping off babies, stopping arguments, cooking dinner, baths, reading books and finish just in time to collapse into bed.
There are some days where it’s all you can do to keep from being eliminated! Ever been surrounded by judges in the biscuit aisle with a screaming toddler wrestling your leg and you just want to melt into the floor?
While life is throwing at you every kind of challenge imaginable, somehow making it through all this is a beautiful little life in your hands, shining brightly with joy and love and giggles.
A mother’s love gently molds the soul, warms the edges, sweetens the bitterness, stirs out the lumps and sugar-coats the cracks, hides from judging eyes, tasting along the way to add a little salt, or cook a little longer, using every last drop of patience, step by step turning some raw ingredients into a rich, smooth, tasty, interesting, beautiful and delicious life.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Where the power comes from ....
I heard a wonderful mum of 6 girls say this week that we are not super mums, we are super natural mums!
So true!
While I'm not going to change the title of my blog, its awesome to be reminded that the real power comes from God!
He created our kids. He made them individually unique and wonderful, He intricately designed their minds and planted wonderfully imaginative dreams inside them. He knows their future. He knows their thoughts. He knows who they will marry. He has amazing plans for them.
And He plops all of that into our hands as a completely smoochable bundle of pooping and spewing, gurgling, goo-ing and gaa-ing baby.
Do you remember bringing the first one home from hospital? I remember leaving the hospital and walking past the reception desk and asking 'can I take him home now?' (of course in Japanese) and thinking... I can just walk out of here with this baby... no guidebook... no accountability...i don't have to pay anything... he's free... really you trust us to care for him?
What a bizarre feeling... a bit like being given the keys to some brand new expensive sports car and having no idea how to drive it, where to put the keys, what all the buttons do... and where are the brakes!
But for some reason, God trusts us with this little life.
All I can do is hold out this crying baby and look up to God and say "help".
I find that whenever I think that I have to have it all together, whenever I'm trying my very best, whenever I'm trying to control every variable and put on my biggest smile, that really I feel so weak and strained and stressed and tired and completely incapable and afraid.
But when I shrug my shoulders, collapse on my knees (or on my face), when I hand it all over to Him and say "I really have no idea, help me", that's when His presence comes, thats when His peace comes - above all my limited understanding - and He says "its ok, I'm here".
Without Him we're empty vessels wandering around aimlessly. But with Him we have life in abundance and fullness. In my weakness, He is my strength. In my uselessness, His grace is enough, it carries me, it sustains me.
So true!
While I'm not going to change the title of my blog, its awesome to be reminded that the real power comes from God!
He created our kids. He made them individually unique and wonderful, He intricately designed their minds and planted wonderfully imaginative dreams inside them. He knows their future. He knows their thoughts. He knows who they will marry. He has amazing plans for them.
And He plops all of that into our hands as a completely smoochable bundle of pooping and spewing, gurgling, goo-ing and gaa-ing baby.
Do you remember bringing the first one home from hospital? I remember leaving the hospital and walking past the reception desk and asking 'can I take him home now?' (of course in Japanese) and thinking... I can just walk out of here with this baby... no guidebook... no accountability...i don't have to pay anything... he's free... really you trust us to care for him?
What a bizarre feeling... a bit like being given the keys to some brand new expensive sports car and having no idea how to drive it, where to put the keys, what all the buttons do... and where are the brakes!
But for some reason, God trusts us with this little life.
All I can do is hold out this crying baby and look up to God and say "help".
I find that whenever I think that I have to have it all together, whenever I'm trying my very best, whenever I'm trying to control every variable and put on my biggest smile, that really I feel so weak and strained and stressed and tired and completely incapable and afraid.
But when I shrug my shoulders, collapse on my knees (or on my face), when I hand it all over to Him and say "I really have no idea, help me", that's when His presence comes, thats when His peace comes - above all my limited understanding - and He says "its ok, I'm here".
Without Him we're empty vessels wandering around aimlessly. But with Him we have life in abundance and fullness. In my weakness, He is my strength. In my uselessness, His grace is enough, it carries me, it sustains me.
Friday, May 7, 2010
changing nappies vs changing the world
Return of the supermum blogger!!
Sometimes the biggest things in life are the smallest things - like babies. They are so tiny and little, but the biggest thing in your world! Or in my case, huge babies, but really so little and fragile and still need to be handled with utmost care - as my 3 year old little mummy is trying to learn!
The other day I shot a glance at Max Lucado's "Cure for the common life" (in between answering questions from toddlers, breaking up disputes, baby's tears, and reaching for the toilet paper!) He had written that the answer to your call in life is finding your 'uniqueness'. What are your individual skills, your unique gifts and talents, what do you love, what do you hate, what do you find riveting and intriguing? - your 'uniqueness' - there lies the secret to your calling, your destiny, and ultimately your unique way to change the world.
Today my wonderful husband said something to me. He said that this year is going to be really special for me and Zoe (the year before she goes to prep school, this year that I have her with me all the time). "This year she is learning how to be a mummy."
All the small, seemingly insignificant things that I am doing - changing nappies, cooking cupcakes, cleaning up, smiling, singing, reading, praying together, showing her how to be gentle, teaching her about babies, wiping bottoms, hanging out clothes, resting, watching tv, playing, driving, picking up kids, toys, junk and cuddling - are brought into focus and suddenly seem so much more meaningful. I realise again that I am training my little girl into being a precious woman of God, a great wife, a wonderful mother and a caring friend.
Although I am constantly reinforcing the boundaries - don't touch his head, don't pull his head while cuddling, don't touch him while he's sleeping, he doesn't want to play with that sharp object right now - I do see so much love in her for her brothers, constantly talking about how much she loves them, wants to be with them, wants to cuddle them, always looking for ways to help them and be included in whatever they are doing. She already seems to know exactly what a mother does, wanting to bath her baby brother, change his nappy, kiss him and cuddle him. The other day she squealed with delight that she was helping me put clothes in the washing machine!
No matter how small changing a nappy seems, right in that moment I'm changing two little ones' worlds. And in actual fact, even though it is sometimes tiring and repetitive and messy - for some reason, I really love it, I even love the newborn baby poo smell! So there is my uniqueness and calling in life. What a wonderful thing to be a mum:)
Sometimes the biggest things in life are the smallest things - like babies. They are so tiny and little, but the biggest thing in your world! Or in my case, huge babies, but really so little and fragile and still need to be handled with utmost care - as my 3 year old little mummy is trying to learn!
The other day I shot a glance at Max Lucado's "Cure for the common life" (in between answering questions from toddlers, breaking up disputes, baby's tears, and reaching for the toilet paper!) He had written that the answer to your call in life is finding your 'uniqueness'. What are your individual skills, your unique gifts and talents, what do you love, what do you hate, what do you find riveting and intriguing? - your 'uniqueness' - there lies the secret to your calling, your destiny, and ultimately your unique way to change the world.
Today my wonderful husband said something to me. He said that this year is going to be really special for me and Zoe (the year before she goes to prep school, this year that I have her with me all the time). "This year she is learning how to be a mummy."
All the small, seemingly insignificant things that I am doing - changing nappies, cooking cupcakes, cleaning up, smiling, singing, reading, praying together, showing her how to be gentle, teaching her about babies, wiping bottoms, hanging out clothes, resting, watching tv, playing, driving, picking up kids, toys, junk and cuddling - are brought into focus and suddenly seem so much more meaningful. I realise again that I am training my little girl into being a precious woman of God, a great wife, a wonderful mother and a caring friend.
Although I am constantly reinforcing the boundaries - don't touch his head, don't pull his head while cuddling, don't touch him while he's sleeping, he doesn't want to play with that sharp object right now - I do see so much love in her for her brothers, constantly talking about how much she loves them, wants to be with them, wants to cuddle them, always looking for ways to help them and be included in whatever they are doing. She already seems to know exactly what a mother does, wanting to bath her baby brother, change his nappy, kiss him and cuddle him. The other day she squealed with delight that she was helping me put clothes in the washing machine!
No matter how small changing a nappy seems, right in that moment I'm changing two little ones' worlds. And in actual fact, even though it is sometimes tiring and repetitive and messy - for some reason, I really love it, I even love the newborn baby poo smell! So there is my uniqueness and calling in life. What a wonderful thing to be a mum:)
Monday, March 1, 2010
What to do?
Last week my son took a sudden interest in helping me fold clothes. I don't know if he felt sorry for me never finishing folding the piles of washing, or if he just discovered that he could fold things up and put them away. But he actually wants to have the job of folding up clothes - even all of them!! I can send him over to your place when he's finished this week's 6 or 7 baskets full!! :)
But when he was asking me the other day about kids in slavery, we thought that this would be a great way for him to start to help. While helping us with the housework, he can earn some money to give to people in need.
I don't just want him to give money without first understanding the value of it. So to start with he'll be getting a small amount of money for helping fold a basket each week. Then each month he can give that money at church especially for helping kids out of slavery.
After the last blog someone asked what I actually said to him. I don't exactly remember, it was a bit late at night. Basically we just told him that in other countries some kids aren't treated very well and are made to work really hard and don't get paid any money for their work and aren't looked after very well. Maybe they are made to dig for diamonds or to pick coffee beans. Of course there are a lot worse things, but he doesn't need to know yet.
But when he was asking me the other day about kids in slavery, we thought that this would be a great way for him to start to help. While helping us with the housework, he can earn some money to give to people in need.
I don't just want him to give money without first understanding the value of it. So to start with he'll be getting a small amount of money for helping fold a basket each week. Then each month he can give that money at church especially for helping kids out of slavery.
After the last blog someone asked what I actually said to him. I don't exactly remember, it was a bit late at night. Basically we just told him that in other countries some kids aren't treated very well and are made to work really hard and don't get paid any money for their work and aren't looked after very well. Maybe they are made to dig for diamonds or to pick coffee beans. Of course there are a lot worse things, but he doesn't need to know yet.
Friday, February 26, 2010
getting to the heart of things - ouch
Last night my son showed me a picture in a world vision pamphlet and asked me what it was - "mummy it looks like he's in jail".... sudden heartbreak ....
Here is a photo of a child about the same age as my son, behind barbed wire, looking out, lost.
What do you say?
Suddenly my heart is torn, firstly for my son, I didn't want him exposed to this, I don't want to give him a truthful answer, I don't want him to be sad or feel hopeless, he's only 5. But suddenly mummy needs to talk to him, in a moment when his heart is vulnerable and soft, and help him to understand his feelings, help him to understand the fate of a child in slavery, nurture his compassion, and give him hope.
And all at once, the millions of children in slavery are my children, and I want to save every one of them.
I want to say "la-di-da, thats a funny picture, they must be playing a game" and protect him from the pain of knowing that children just like him are in prison, and that little is being done to help them.
So often we say "la-di-da" to ourselves and block our ears, giving the token offering that we can, or saying a token prayer.
But if we are to truly live a life of love, we need to open our hearts bigger. And if we truly want our children to really live in life and to really love, to grow up with open and big generous hearts, then they need to be exposed to pain and reality. But only if we have faith and hope to offer to them.
We can't afford to say "oh well, thats life, thats the way things are, theres not much you can do about it". That would kill the love and compassion in them for others. Children have a great capacity for love, compassion, sympathy. They know that they are loved and cared for, so they have moments where they would be happy to give everything away for someone in need. And we can't afford to take them from them.
If our children are going to be world changers, then they need to know about the world, they need to be given hope for the world, and we need to nurture their love and compassion.
When I speak to my children about the things that are happening in the world, it makes me accountable to them. I can't ignore the problems any longer, I am responsible to show them the way. I need to teach him to give, to give his love, to work hard, to give his money and most importantly to give his prayer. Because in prayer we find hope, and we remember that these children are God's children, that he loves them more than anyone does, and that he hears their prayers as they cry out for help. It keeps us honest and filled with faith that if we submit our hearts to God that he will find a way for us to help them.
Here is a photo of a child about the same age as my son, behind barbed wire, looking out, lost.
What do you say?
Suddenly my heart is torn, firstly for my son, I didn't want him exposed to this, I don't want to give him a truthful answer, I don't want him to be sad or feel hopeless, he's only 5. But suddenly mummy needs to talk to him, in a moment when his heart is vulnerable and soft, and help him to understand his feelings, help him to understand the fate of a child in slavery, nurture his compassion, and give him hope.
And all at once, the millions of children in slavery are my children, and I want to save every one of them.
I want to say "la-di-da, thats a funny picture, they must be playing a game" and protect him from the pain of knowing that children just like him are in prison, and that little is being done to help them.
So often we say "la-di-da" to ourselves and block our ears, giving the token offering that we can, or saying a token prayer.
But if we are to truly live a life of love, we need to open our hearts bigger. And if we truly want our children to really live in life and to really love, to grow up with open and big generous hearts, then they need to be exposed to pain and reality. But only if we have faith and hope to offer to them.
We can't afford to say "oh well, thats life, thats the way things are, theres not much you can do about it". That would kill the love and compassion in them for others. Children have a great capacity for love, compassion, sympathy. They know that they are loved and cared for, so they have moments where they would be happy to give everything away for someone in need. And we can't afford to take them from them.
If our children are going to be world changers, then they need to know about the world, they need to be given hope for the world, and we need to nurture their love and compassion.
When I speak to my children about the things that are happening in the world, it makes me accountable to them. I can't ignore the problems any longer, I am responsible to show them the way. I need to teach him to give, to give his love, to work hard, to give his money and most importantly to give his prayer. Because in prayer we find hope, and we remember that these children are God's children, that he loves them more than anyone does, and that he hears their prayers as they cry out for help. It keeps us honest and filled with faith that if we submit our hearts to God that he will find a way for us to help them.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
children are a treasure
I heard Melanie Stockstill speak on Monday morning. She is a beautiful woman who has raised 6 children, home schooled all of them! Now that is amazing.
What she had to share was like water to my soul, so I thought I would share some of the nuggets of gold on my blog....
Children are a treasure and a gift from the Lord.
Imagine God himself gave you a little baby, all snuggled up in a blanket and warm. And He said to you, I'm giving you this child as a gift, he's my special treasure, and I entrust him to you for a season. And I entrust to you to raise him to serve me, and for you to give him back to me when he is 18 to serve my kingdom. Wouldn't you feel like God had given you a special treasure and gift, and also a charge? How privileged would you feel? Wouldn't you need to ask for wisdom regularly on how to raise this child of God's?
Well, that is our children. God has a plan for each child, their future is special to him, their hearts are precious to him, and we are to raise them for that great future in God's plan.
We love them, not because they are perfect, but because they are God's precious treasure.
Psalm 127:3 "...children are a gift of the LORD"
DISCIPLINE
This is my favourite proverb on discipline...
Proverbs 29:13 "Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did—they'll turn out delightful to live with."
Discipline is about raising godly children without rebellion in their hearts.
The thing about helping your children to be disciplined, is that we have to be disciplined first. We all know that children will do what they see done not what they are told to do.
We need to firstly have self-control ourselves, to be consistent in following through on consequences, to be consistent in loving and having grace and to not discipline out of anger.
I've seen this happen for us, when the kids know that mum and dad are serious, that if you break that rule there are consequences and we will follow through, and that we won't get all angry (showing self-control ourselves), that the kids do learn the boundary.
Melanie talked about being humble. We all know that we did the same things or worse.
She talked about the biblical way to raise children. That when Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eve, God set clear boundaries for them and clear consequences. And though God was loving and gracious to cover their sin, he never reneged on the consequences. He never asked why they did something, but just asked for a confession.
We want our kids to take responsibility, to make a quick confession, and that we always follow through on the already stated consequence. This helps them to grow up into adults who are quick to recognise and admit their mistakes, taking responsibility, and also acknowledging that doing the wrong thing in life has consequences.
And God always comforts after discipline if there is clear repentance. We should do the same.
FAITH
No one believes in their kids as much as you do! Melanie talked about having faith for our children. Believing great things for them, and preparing them for great things in life.
And when things aren't going so great, still believing for them, and praying for them.
She spoke about when one of her children went quite wayward as an adult and how she would fear for his life each night. But God put a verse in her heart, that her son would love God with all his heart, mind and strength. She began to pray and speak this verse over his life in her prayertime, and soon she began to believe that this was his future. Instead of being fearful for her son's future, she began to have faith for his future. And it wasn't long before her prayers were answered.
We can choose to fear for our children or we can choose to have faith for them and believe great things for them.
Lastly Melanie spoke about leaving an inheritance for our children, not a monetary one or a physical one, but leaving them an inheritance of faith filled, love filled, godly parents who love each other and their children, and inheritance of parents who love God's word and doing good.
Earthly riches may last a few days, but heavenly riches last for eternity.
Well, I hope you enjoyed those insights from Melanie Stockstill. I know that we can change the world, if we raise our children with love, discipline and faith.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
mums
We went to a park yesterday where there were heaps of mums with kids. At first I thought it must be a play group, because all the kids looked about the same age. But then I realised that with all these mums standing near their kids, that none of them were actually talking to each other!
I really miss what it must have been like in the old days, when towns were small and everyone knew everyone in the community, neighbors helped each other out, everyone knew everyone's business, and you always had someone to have a natter with.
You find the same situation when you go to kids sports, like kindergym, where my little girl goes, that most parents talk only to their children and not to each other.
I think mums really crave community and friendships, but are too shy, don't know how or have given up on the idea.
I love talking to other mums and making new friends. Sometimes the greatest need that people have is friendship.
I want to be bolder when I meet people and really go out of my way to show kindness, interest and investment into friendships. Who knows that it could be exactly what that mum really needs and is hoping for?
I know that I've always been really blessed when someone has gone out of their way to start a friendship with me.
I really miss what it must have been like in the old days, when towns were small and everyone knew everyone in the community, neighbors helped each other out, everyone knew everyone's business, and you always had someone to have a natter with.
You find the same situation when you go to kids sports, like kindergym, where my little girl goes, that most parents talk only to their children and not to each other.
I think mums really crave community and friendships, but are too shy, don't know how or have given up on the idea.
I love talking to other mums and making new friends. Sometimes the greatest need that people have is friendship.
I want to be bolder when I meet people and really go out of my way to show kindness, interest and investment into friendships. Who knows that it could be exactly what that mum really needs and is hoping for?
I know that I've always been really blessed when someone has gone out of their way to start a friendship with me.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Prakash
A few years ago our church started supporting a slum transformation project in Jaipur India, and we were given a photo of Prakash - he is one of the students at the new school with now over 300 students, who without support would be unable to have an education. He is quite a cute little boy!
We wanted to include him in our family, so that the kids can connect with what and who we are giving to.
So we started to pray for him each night when we pray before dinner. We'd pray that he'd have enough food to eat, and that his family would, and that he would enjoy school and be healthy.
Then last year Mark and some teachers from school went to visit the Jaipur school. Bob and Janine Mann run it and they have buses that take 300 students to a school just outside of the slum each day. Without this education, these children may always remain in the slum, with no other choice for work but to continue in the family line of business. In Jaipur, most of the people in the slum work in puppetry busking, it sounds creative and interesting, but does not provide an income that could take you out of the slum.
The team ran 3 days of workshops with the teachers and helped them to understand Christian education. They also helped them to understand grace in discipline, which is pretty important as most of the time they'd just hit kids on the head with a ruler when they were mucking up. After the team left, the teachers of the Jaipur school saw massive breakthrough with the students by using more gracious methods.
But, the really cool thing is that Mark got to meet Prakash, and to see the fruit of who we have been giving to. When he mentioned Prakash's name to Bob Mann, he knew exactly who he was talking about.
Bob had been helping Prakash's family out for the past few months. Prakash's father had developed a horrible disease in his arm and it was wasting away. He had no way to pay to go to a dr, he couldn't even afford a bandage. Because of the generous giving of many churches, Bob was able to help him out, to pay for him to see a doctor and to be treated weekly. This is the love of God in action.
That night Mark got to visit Prakash's family. Squatting in the small makeshift dwelling, made from bits of metal and timber, dark and smokey, Mark met Prakash's dad. When Mark told him that our family has a photo of his son at home and that we pray for him each day, Prakash's dad was overwhelmed with thankfulness. Mark prayed for him and was able to share the love of Jesus with him.
Even though our whole family couldn't go to visit Prakash that time, we feel so blessed that we can be a part of their lives in our giving and praying, and that we can share that with our children.
We wanted to include him in our family, so that the kids can connect with what and who we are giving to.
So we started to pray for him each night when we pray before dinner. We'd pray that he'd have enough food to eat, and that his family would, and that he would enjoy school and be healthy.
Then last year Mark and some teachers from school went to visit the Jaipur school. Bob and Janine Mann run it and they have buses that take 300 students to a school just outside of the slum each day. Without this education, these children may always remain in the slum, with no other choice for work but to continue in the family line of business. In Jaipur, most of the people in the slum work in puppetry busking, it sounds creative and interesting, but does not provide an income that could take you out of the slum.
The team ran 3 days of workshops with the teachers and helped them to understand Christian education. They also helped them to understand grace in discipline, which is pretty important as most of the time they'd just hit kids on the head with a ruler when they were mucking up. After the team left, the teachers of the Jaipur school saw massive breakthrough with the students by using more gracious methods.
But, the really cool thing is that Mark got to meet Prakash, and to see the fruit of who we have been giving to. When he mentioned Prakash's name to Bob Mann, he knew exactly who he was talking about.
Bob had been helping Prakash's family out for the past few months. Prakash's father had developed a horrible disease in his arm and it was wasting away. He had no way to pay to go to a dr, he couldn't even afford a bandage. Because of the generous giving of many churches, Bob was able to help him out, to pay for him to see a doctor and to be treated weekly. This is the love of God in action.
That night Mark got to visit Prakash's family. Squatting in the small makeshift dwelling, made from bits of metal and timber, dark and smokey, Mark met Prakash's dad. When Mark told him that our family has a photo of his son at home and that we pray for him each day, Prakash's dad was overwhelmed with thankfulness. Mark prayed for him and was able to share the love of Jesus with him.
Even though our whole family couldn't go to visit Prakash that time, we feel so blessed that we can be a part of their lives in our giving and praying, and that we can share that with our children.
Friday, February 12, 2010
the small things
I've just been sitting here typing up a bunch of lunch orders into a spreadsheet for the missions week canteen at Mark's school.
It probably seems like such a small thing for kids to order pizza, hot dogs and sausage sandwiches to raise money for missions. If they order lunch every day that week, its only $20. But altogether so far, its adding up to a few thousand dollars, with still more orders to come in!
Each year group in the school has a different project to raise money for. Last year they did all sorts of creative things to raise money - crazy hair days, selling cans and junk food, collecting spare coins. I love that the kids can engage in something, and feel like they are doing something together - not just learning about the world, but actually giving their creativity and time too.
Last year the school kids raised over $12,000 for a slum transformation project in India; Mercy Homes in Mumbai - rescuing trafficked women from sex-slavery; orphanages; church planting; and lots of other projects.
But its not about the money, or the projects, but that the kids were actively engaged in changing someone's world. I'm pretty proud that our boy's first kindy lunch order is going to be helping feed or educate kids across the world. I love being able to teach him about why we give, that he knows he is helping another child across the world to go to school or that he is helping to feed their family this week. To us its just a small thing, but I'm sure it's not to them.
It probably seems like such a small thing for kids to order pizza, hot dogs and sausage sandwiches to raise money for missions. If they order lunch every day that week, its only $20. But altogether so far, its adding up to a few thousand dollars, with still more orders to come in!
Each year group in the school has a different project to raise money for. Last year they did all sorts of creative things to raise money - crazy hair days, selling cans and junk food, collecting spare coins. I love that the kids can engage in something, and feel like they are doing something together - not just learning about the world, but actually giving their creativity and time too.
Last year the school kids raised over $12,000 for a slum transformation project in India; Mercy Homes in Mumbai - rescuing trafficked women from sex-slavery; orphanages; church planting; and lots of other projects.
But its not about the money, or the projects, but that the kids were actively engaged in changing someone's world. I'm pretty proud that our boy's first kindy lunch order is going to be helping feed or educate kids across the world. I love being able to teach him about why we give, that he knows he is helping another child across the world to go to school or that he is helping to feed their family this week. To us its just a small thing, but I'm sure it's not to them.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
the beginning
This blog is about bringing the reality of changing the world into our families. Its a journey of our family and our dream to change the world and to bring that dream to life for our kids. I hope that you follow along, join in, bring ideas and that together us 'supermums' raise a generation of creative, daring, adventurous, compassionate world changing kids!
I don't know about you - but as a little girl I wanted to change the world, and I was brought up to think that I actually could, that anything was possible. The problem with growing up is that when you get old enough to actually be able to do something, you don't think you can anymore, or it all seems so complicated, where do you start?
I want my children to know that they can change the world... everyday, that life is more than just about themselves, that life is exciting, an adventure, one world-changing day after another. I dream of seeing the world a different place by the end of my lifetime, and especially by the end of their lives. I want to see them living with hope and abandonment to dreaming and stepping out in faith to see those dreams become a reality.
So how does your family become a world changing family?
... well, actually I don't know...! But here is our journey (each day - I'm going to try!) to becoming a world changing family.
So here I am 2:30am in the morning (procrastination always comes back to kick you at unreasonable hours), glass of soy milk in hand (32 weeks pregnant, indigestion, can't sleep... ohhh), feet up high in the seat (having recently acquired a cute little mouse friend, and my wonderful husband not having brought home the very mouse friendly trap - actually she's very cute, probably building a lovely little nest for her babies!!), starting our blog on being a world changing supermum.... mmm ... gosh, I just re-read my paragraph.... did I tell you we're going to change the world?!
.... so a few quick thoughts to start ....
Here are some great mums who have inspired me - well the first mention would have to be to Mother Theresa. I remember in primary school a little milk container going around the class with a picture of Mother Theresa on it, and we would all give our change to the milk container to help the poor. I remember thinking that I wanted to be like her. I wanted to be a nun, live with poor people, help poor people and give my life for others (on other days I wanted to be a princess, an astronaut or the first female prime minister).
And of course, the best mum in the world, always inspired me when I was a kid, to be creative and to learn. She introduced me to the paint brush, the giant encyclopedia, the world atlas and the dictionary, and would often sit with us at night helping us to research our assignments and find out all about the world. She showed us photos of when she went to Papua New Guinea as a young woman, posing with semi-naked people and she inspired me to want to be an adventurer, to be inquisitive and to be interested in the world outside of myself.
So supermum world changing idea for the day...
Idea #1 Be inspired.
Well, off to bed, baby number 3 needs his sleep.
Luv Sarah
I don't know about you - but as a little girl I wanted to change the world, and I was brought up to think that I actually could, that anything was possible. The problem with growing up is that when you get old enough to actually be able to do something, you don't think you can anymore, or it all seems so complicated, where do you start?
I want my children to know that they can change the world... everyday, that life is more than just about themselves, that life is exciting, an adventure, one world-changing day after another. I dream of seeing the world a different place by the end of my lifetime, and especially by the end of their lives. I want to see them living with hope and abandonment to dreaming and stepping out in faith to see those dreams become a reality.
So how does your family become a world changing family?
... well, actually I don't know...! But here is our journey (each day - I'm going to try!) to becoming a world changing family.
So here I am 2:30am in the morning (procrastination always comes back to kick you at unreasonable hours), glass of soy milk in hand (32 weeks pregnant, indigestion, can't sleep... ohhh), feet up high in the seat (having recently acquired a cute little mouse friend, and my wonderful husband not having brought home the very mouse friendly trap - actually she's very cute, probably building a lovely little nest for her babies!!), starting our blog on being a world changing supermum.... mmm ... gosh, I just re-read my paragraph.... did I tell you we're going to change the world?!
.... so a few quick thoughts to start ....
Here are some great mums who have inspired me - well the first mention would have to be to Mother Theresa. I remember in primary school a little milk container going around the class with a picture of Mother Theresa on it, and we would all give our change to the milk container to help the poor. I remember thinking that I wanted to be like her. I wanted to be a nun, live with poor people, help poor people and give my life for others (on other days I wanted to be a princess, an astronaut or the first female prime minister).
And of course, the best mum in the world, always inspired me when I was a kid, to be creative and to learn. She introduced me to the paint brush, the giant encyclopedia, the world atlas and the dictionary, and would often sit with us at night helping us to research our assignments and find out all about the world. She showed us photos of when she went to Papua New Guinea as a young woman, posing with semi-naked people and she inspired me to want to be an adventurer, to be inquisitive and to be interested in the world outside of myself.
So supermum world changing idea for the day...
Idea #1 Be inspired.
Well, off to bed, baby number 3 needs his sleep.
Luv Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)