Another little taster...

Little video from the farm trip today....

Believe it or not, this was when Noah had calmed down a little bit and I was able to even contemplate taking my eyes off him for two seconds to video him. Before this he was running soooo fast squealing a LOT towards all the animals. So funny, but equally exhausting! Lots of photos tomorrow in a whole other post!

What a difference a year makes!

28th February 2011

28th February 2012

(Oh and yes I'm wearing a waterproof - it was the only thing I could find at very short notice that could be easily cleansed of painty toddler handprints!)

An Extra Day to.... Blog?

Oh dear, I've lost it on the blog front again haven't I! I just checked in and realised it was exactly a month ago today that I last wrote a post. If this had been last year (or the two years before that) it would technically have been over a month ago, but 2012 is a year of the leap. So I can be consoled over my lack of effort by telling myself that I'm still managing to pop onto my little blog at least monthly. Not that it makes much of a difference to anyone but I like to scribble a few random thoughts, anecdotes or pictures to remind me of what's gone on when I look back. To clarify, I don't scribble the photos; I upload those. Except actually, I do have a photo to upload of a picture I kind of scribbled, kind of sketched.

I hadn't even thought about drawing since before I had M.E but having got stuck into creating Noah's 3rd & Bird mural, and then some canvas paintings of In the Night Garden characters, I've rediscovered a forgotten love of arty things. I'm hoping to start sketching things every now and then, if only to feel like I have basic skills besides nappy-changing and nursery rhyme-singing, worthy and valuable as I believe those skills to be!

Watch this space....

Until March 29th, if not before, night night ;)

Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for you"

"My power is made perfect in your weakness".

I am so thankful to God that He reminds us of this powerful, incredible truth on a regular (nay, frequent!) basis. In our family right now it is a huge part of how we're getting from day to day - or more accurately, from night to day. If you're feeling weak or broken or burnt out or beaten down, you're in the best possible place for God to reach you and do the work He needs to do in you; the work He desires to do in you will enrich your life in the long run.

When we feel strong, when we have everything under control, when we know exactly what to do and how to do it, when we have the strength required for the task ahead, we can forget all too often that we need Jesus.

For those who are weak, struggling, in pain, worn out, (insert whatever weakness is yours here)....our need for Him is so great that we just cannot ignore it. Leaning on Him can sometimes be the only way we get through a day or a week. It's then that we see His power at work; we see Him do things and bring us through situations which we could not overcome or achieve in our own strength. I totally understand why Paul said he "boasted" in his weakness. It can almost be a relief to realise that we aren't meant to battle through these things all alone. Thank God that He allows certain situations and challenges to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we can find Him. He's there, waiting to perfect His power in our weakness. I believe Him when He says His grace is sufficient. It is always there, it never runs out and it lifts my head and heart. And when we accept that grace, we allow His power to shine through. Please Lord help us to do that.

Why I'm not "religious"

Flying Start Fame



I got recognised yesterday at a children's Christmas party. Four times!

Why? Because of this blog, would you believe.

I'm going to be even more careful what I write on here since it appears that more people have read at least one post than I ever thought would. The post in question is this one last month, all about the wonders of "Play Jane," our Flying Start friend with all the messy play ideas (and materials!)

After we had our final session with Jane last week, I gave her the gift of a collage of photos taken over the months of fun we'd had with her, along with a print-out of the blog post I wrote about her, both of which were intended simply to show our appreciation and huge gratitude to Jane. I thought it said it better than any cheesy card I could write to her.

Thing is, the collage attracted some attention back at the Flying Start office and that spiralled as more people saw it and read the blog post (eek!) It got into the hands of Jane's boss, then her boss's boss. And according to the people who recognised me at the Flying Start party yesterday it is currently with the Chief Executive of Flying Start as a whole! Self-conscious doesn't even begin to cover it - the thought of all those strangers reading what I wrote, without any expectation that they would ever see it is a bit weird.

I'm incredibly glad though to know that Jane and other staff were so touched by something so simple but also gobsmacked that apparently they rarely get thanks. I would imagine they would be showered with praise and gratitude on a daily basis for the work they do but evidently our appreciation is not normal and their reaction proves it. It shows how important it is to let people know when they make a difference in our lives, I guess.

Thank you Flying Start, once again!

:)

Gratitude

“@MaxLucado: Cranky? List 10 good things about ur life. God cures grumpiness with gratitude.”

Yes, cranky is a word I might use to describe myself this week (at times, not constantly!) However, gratitude is something I feel so strongly about; I have a lot to be grateful for. Let's do as Mr. Lucado suggests and narrow it down to ten things!

1) My faith in, relationship with and experience of Jesus Christ.
2) Fantastic, selfless husband. He's my best friend.
3) Beautiful, precious son.
4) Fabulous family.
5) Wonderful friends.
6) A home and food: two bare necessities (are you humming it too?!) never lacking, however tight things get.
7) My health returning.
8) The bar of Lindor chocolate in my cupboard, just waiting to be attacked!
9) Laughter. Whether it's triggered by the hilarity of some people in our lives or entertaining programmes like Miranda or How I met your Mother, for example.
10) Flying Start and the support they provide.
11) {Yes, eleven! I'm breaking the rules.} Freedom. Sure there are big problems in our society and politics but we are a free country.

And specifically today I am grateful for:

1) Home-made mincemeat cake. Yum.
2) Calpol.
3) CBeebies. Specifically, 3rd & Bird and In the Night Garden ;)
4) That Lindor bar. Yes it is worth mentioning twice!
5) The book, "The Science of Parenting."
6) The Internet, specifically twitter, Facebook and hotmail. Keeps me feeling connected and did even when I was too ill to leave the house for days and weeks on end.
7) It being Friday.
8) NCT for introducing me to one or two very nice new friends.
9) A 40% off voucher for a shop I need to visit anyway.
10) A potential tax rebate :)

Thank you God. I am grateful.

An Advent Calendar Worth Opening

Check this out each day guys, I reckon it will be worth your time. A couple of minutes each day. The first one is a bit longer but after that, it will literally be a few minutes. Be blessed...

http://www.igniteme.org/advent-calendar/index.php#

I blinked...

...and he went from baby to proper little boy.

3rd & Bird creativity

This week I have decided to embark on a little art project. Can I draw? No, not really. Can I paint? Erm...no. Luckily the target audience for my little masterpiece is a very forgiving, not overly discerning thirteen-month old!

During Noah's bathtime the past two nights I have been happily sitting on the landing listening to him squealing with delight and splashing Daddy whilst I merrily draw and paint. Or attempt to ;)

I'm making slow progress, as I need black and white paint to complete Mr. Beakman! :)

What I'm actually painting is the MDF board we had to use to block the gaps in our banisters upstairs about 6 or 7 months ago!! Trying to spruce it up with a little help from those colourful 3rd&Bird characters is keeping me entertained and Noah fascinated ;)

Perks

For all the challenges (and struggles, at times) associated with living in gibby, one of the big positives (or perks) is that our postcode falls right in the middle of a Flying Start area. What a fantastic organisation! So much support and so many services available to families with children under the age of four in communities considered deprived. We are so fortunate and have met some really lovely people through Flying Start. Our health visitor deserves a whole blog post all to herself. As does "Play Jane" as I refer to her. And this is hers!

Jane comes to play most weeks, always bringing with her some random new toy or game or messy substance for Noah to have an amazing time with. Favourites over the months have included cooked spaghetti, tea leaves, a massive tin-foil first aid blanket, squidgy, lighting-up balls.... the list goes on.

I don't know which was the most bizarre, they're all pretty crazy! Today's fun was water play. The pictures say it all.

The number of times these visits have brightened up a challenging or just generally quiet day and turned it on its head is quite amazing :) It's one of those grace notes in the symphony that is life here. A real blessing.

On this day last year....

It was snowing!!

And he was so dinky!!

Habakkuk: An inspiration.

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are no grapes on the vines.....yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19

That's all :)