Angels watching over

This new book coming out looks beautiful and encouraged me as a mum. With my second little one starting kindy next year, I think about how she will get along without me. Have a look at the promo clip for Gabby, God's little angel - it's gorgeous! http://youtu.be/sfwhWae_h04

Beauty and other fairytales

I was watching 'the devil wears Prada' with my besty last night (what a good man!) There are some really sad moments in this movie - when her boss tells her that she decided to hire her, 'the smart fat girl'. Tears well up in her eyes - of course she is beautiful and not fat at all! But something happens that day and she begins to conform to the image set before her. Her workmate hasn't eaten for weeks so that she can be skinny enough to go to Paris - she is 'only one stomach flu away from her goal weight'. In the end the distinct contrast is seen between the image of skinny, rich, successful and the reality of alone, sad, betrayed and cruel.
For us girls, this beauty, image, skinny thing can be a big deal. I think about what I want for my daughter, especially when I'm walking past all the teenage fashion shops. Do I want her to be a teenage girl obsessed with her image and always thinking that she is not pretty enough and not skinny enough?
I remember when I was in year 6. We went on our first school camp and were going canoeing. In our group of 3 we had to decide the heaviest in the group, who would sit at the back of the canoe. This was the first time that I remember thinking that I was fat, I don't think I'd ever thought it before. Even though I was a normal weight, I was the heaviest of the three. This moment began my battle with my self image and later on a season of bulimia. 
As an adult, my weight has gone up and down. When we first lived in Japan I was maybe slightly over the weight I should have been for my height. But in the Japanese people's eyes, I was a giant. The women didn't have any qualms with telling you that you were fat, and quite enjoyed pointing it out to you. I love that my husband always loves me and adores me no matter what my body shape - pregnant, post-pregnant and all! This has certainly helped me to have a healthy body image at times. 
There is so much to explore on this topic and I think I'll come back to it. My daughter is climbing on my back and its time for an activity. I tell her everyday that she is the most beautiful girl in the whole world. Maybe that's what your daddy God is saying to you today.
I'll leave you with a verse:
Romans 12:2
²Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Beautiful

I'm really enjoying listening to Kari Jobe at the moment, especially 'You are for me' and 'Beautiful'. I'm loving taking the time to just dwell in His presence. The end of the holidays brings some business but also some time to just chill while bubs is asleep.
I'm reading a book called 'love, acceptance and forgiveness'. The last chapter has been about taking away all the rules of religion and just allowing yourself to be His, and to share His love with others naturally and organically just as you are, not because you should or because you have an agenda for people, but just to love people because you love them. I don't know how I can love others, other than simply knowing that I am loved and dwelling in His love. I make excuses too often for not just sitting with my Lord, at His feet. There's so much to do, important things, but only temporary things, the time I spend with Him can sometimes even become a means to an end. But what is wrong with being with Him and in His love simply because He is the desire of my heart and I love Him and He loves me?

holidays

Ideas for less work in the holidays:
*if you're playing inside, you can wear pajamas
*if you're playing outside, you can wear your outside play clothes - one set, washed once a week
*or dress-ups only allowed
I must admit that I have haven't stuck very well to this plan this week because we keep going out and getting dressed into adventure clothes that come back covered in sand and grass stains.
*get back into 'one toy at a time', 'pack away before you get the next thing out'. (easier said than done when you've got three running around and miss the transition from one toy to the next)
* I put out a plastic box for them each to put in their craft and drawing when they're finished. I'll sort it at the end of the hoildays and keep the good stuff (when they're at school and have forgotten about the amazing toilet roll dolls and pages and pages of practise words and stick drawings!)

One wise mum once told me that holidays aren't about mums getting refreshed, but about creating memories for the whole family. But if you can, take some time out to get refreshed, hang out with a few friends, go on a date with your man, or a quiet bush walk.
What memories can you create this week? We plan to create memories with our family and visit our favourite secluded nature retreat, go for long exploring adventures, have rugged up afternoons watching movies and playing card games, long drives and long chats and lots of cuddles. I hope you have a lovely holiday!

grace to the Joneses

(From Wikipedia) "Keeping up with the Joneses" is an idiom in many parts of the English-speaking world referring to the comparison to one's neighbor as a benchmark for social caste or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating socio-economic or cultural inferiority.

Two people are sitting on my lounge, one of them is Mrs Jones and the other is my best friend.

Mrs Jones says, in a posh British accent, 'these walls are ghastly! bright yellow walls! who ever heard of a thing? You really need to redecorate with neutral subtle tones. Have you swept these floors lately? You must clean up those toys, you can't just leave everything lying around. When will you be finished these renovations? This house looks positively trashy!' And on and on she goes, noting every flaw, every possible improvement to my home.

My best friend smiles and says, 'thank you for inviting me to your home. I love sitting here having a chat with you. Don't worry about your house, whether you have enough, or where you are going to get it from. I know everything that you need, its already sorted, I'm taking care of you.'

Mrs Jones butts in, 'have you even brushed your hair today? You look a mess! What will people think?'.

My besty always know what to say, 'who cares what people think? I think you are radiant and beautiful! And I'm not even talking about your outward appearance, I can see right into your heart.'

'But what are you doing with your life?', interrupts Mrs Jones, 'and what do you have to show for yourself? What have you achieved? What are you planning to do next? What about when the kids go to school, what will you do then?'

'You are doing exactly what you are meant to be doing. Hang out with me, and I will take care of you. You are my pride and joy. I love the way you love me and the way you love our family. Don't listen to her. I will show you a more wonderful way to do life. I love you just the way you are.'

I say, 'thank you Jesus, I needed to hear that.'

'Its my pleasure Mrs Jones,' he says.

iphones and nutella

The above are two things I know I'm going to regret giving to my 14 month old yesterday! Already I can't take a photo of him without him crying for the phone. I had to secretly place it on the lounge this morning just to get some video of him.
One of my first nutella memories is my brother and I hiding under the dining table demolishing a whole jar. My kids seem to keep on forgetting it is in the cupboard, but I'm sure I will find them one day with nutella all over their faces and hands. I think I'll probably grin, take it off them and find a hiding place to lick out whats left!
Proverbs 31:25 "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

Cute nutella kid (of course, not mine, because he'd be crying and trying to get his grubby hands on my iphone!)

one hour of supermum

In the past hour I have single handedly cooked a yummy dinner, while feeding the baby, teaching my son how to sew, and directing my girl through cleaning up a creative mess, bathed and pajamed them all, and homeworked the eldest. Suddenly I have nothing to do while waiting for hubby to return and have a few minutes to write a blog. It feels pretty good to have juggled so many things and to come out smiling - so far.
Mums are amazing! well done for making it almost to the end of the day:)
Stay tuned for the next post - "Excuse me Mrs Jones, can you please stop being so perfect!"