Follow February Day 1 - Mini Me

Ahhhhhh this! Totally totally gets me every time I look at this pic. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and super blessed to have such an amazing man as a husband and as a dad to our kids. And if I am really honest makes me clucky!.....I mean how cute is this pic. Our kids are blessed. 

More wedding prep taking place today in the form of building steps and painting. Fortunately it rained this morning so it was a bit cooler and we didn't have to be watering the lawn. I figure there must be two types of people who water the lawn....old people and people who have weddings at their house. Fortunately we are in the latter group.

Only five more sleeps to go and I am working on getting more movement in my hand. Slowly though so no need to panic! Really its been a nice and cruisy day....surfer son has been doing just that and everyone else has been just doing odd jobs here and there. 

I did manage to squeeze in a sneaky coffee with my gorgeous friend. I believe that even in one's busyness it's vitally important to make time and room for friends. Because friends and family are Gods gift to you. They are the ones that are there for you when everything else is falling to pieces. So everything else can wait!!! Plus I get to coffee and chat....really there is nothing better! 

And what do you think of Follow February? Does it work? 

P.S. You know I would really love it if you think others might enjoy these daily entries if mine then please share it around or tell them about it. Every writer likes to have their work read. I have received some beautiful words of encouragement and testimony of how my words that I have shared have made a difference in their lives. And that right there is why I do what I do. I am very blessed!

Journaling January Day 31 - Six Faves of January

t's officially two thirds through summer! Nooooo it can't be I feel like it's only just begun. 

One of my favourite things about homeschooling is that we can still enjoy these summer days at our leisure rather than being caught up in the rat race of school days and all that entails. I don't know how we would get out the door if the kids were in normal school. They are all still up and outside or swimming until well into the evenings so our mornings are very slow. 

I thought I would share my six of my favourite moments from January. Boy was it hard to pick only six too....this entire month has been filled with faves!

From left top. Today daughter and her dad chilling in the pool. So much joy, love and trust she has in him. Top middle: Our time in Hawkes Bay with my family. Good times. Right top: My hot hubby and me ....enough said. Left bottom: Sweet baby girl enjoying the garden. She is growing too fast. Bottom middle: Our impromptu trip to the beach. Our true gift from God. Bottom Right: My sweet eldest girl experimenting with colour and funky hair. She is gorgeous! 

So the consensus is I will try and keep going through February as you lot seem to enjoy what I share. So thank you for your words of encouragement and keep a look out for February's daily installments.

 PS if you have an idea about what I can call it please share with me!

Journaling January Day 30 - Blah Nothing Grumpy Kind of Day

Ever had one of those days where you just wake up and EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is just plain frustrating? Where nothing goes right and every thing you do turns into a giant drama?

The kids are laughing one minute then yelling at each other over some minute injustice. Every single thing is unfair from the 5ml of extra juice that someone gets at lunch to the accidentally on purpose sneaky splash that someone gets in as one of them enters the pool.

I don't want to adult today. I have far too much going on to even be remotely responsible or bothered with such dramas as above. Both Jamie and I are feeling more than a little fed up with our current situation and today it's taking its toll. It's hot, very hot, too hot. Can you tell I am more than a little grumpy? 

On another note it's a day away from being the end of January....so the question remains, do I continue writing and recording snippets and thoughts from our everyday life as we continue this journey of a Beautiful Crazy Faith?

Are you interested?? Thoughts?? Suggestions?? I would love to hear them!

Journaling January Day 29 - Wedding Preparation

It's busy busy around here. 

Just over a week to and everyone has their jobs to do. That is everyone except me and my fat bruised hand! By golly you don't realise how much you use your hand for! Getting dressed, showering even eating!

But enough about me and my dramas....check out what's been going on today! Painting gates, pillars and water blasting the front concrete and the rest of the house. I must say that the place is looking ģreat! 

So love this photo of my 3 year old who just wanted to give his uncle a hand with the painting. I gave him a container of water as his "paint" and he busied himself painting the house wall. HAPPY as he was!

Not long to go now! 

Journaling January Day 28 - Not a Good Day

So this is what "not a good day" looks like. It's also what forced rest looks like. It's not something that I recommend either. 

I may or may not have tripped over my own feet whilst out for an early morning run. Clearly hot pink shoes with pink sparkly laces don't protect you from such a feat! Fortunately I had my phone with me this time so I could ring Jamie to come and get me.

Only one car drove past me as I lay in the wet grass on the side of the road. Perhaps they thought I was resting....a look that I was indeed going for.

A trip to the medical centre and an xray later I was home with chunks of skin missing from a number of places, a badly sprained wrist and broken finger, banged up and bruised knees and elbows! To top it all off I nearly fainted and puked in the nurses station. Not my finest hour! I have decided that running is dangerous! 

I think I will get frustrated at this forced rest....already Jamie has had to dress me and my 14 year old son has had to tie my hair up for me! Just great! I laugh at the magazine subtitle in the pic....Sharing the Good Times! NOT! 

Take care everyone, it's a dangerous world out there!

Journaling Journay Day 27 - Girls Night Out

Phew getting my party on! 

Second night out in a row but it's not every day your mother-in-law gets married. So tonight we were celebrating this special lady and her up and coming wedding. Lots of laughs (at her expense) and a load of fun. She deserves great happiness, kindness and a heap of fun too. 

I thought I would try out her red wig, just one of the many things she had to wear for the evening. It's quite Katy Perry don't you think? Actually Jamie had a hard time working out that it was me! Whatcha think????

I'll have a home night tomorrow I think...I am missing bedtime snuggles and goodnight kisses from my kids! 

Journaling January Day 26 - Girlfriends

This was tonight's yumminess at our ministry planning meeting so aptly named Girlfriends! Chocolate raisins, chocolate, chocolate biscuits and slice all over a cold coke zero! 

I am forever blessed to be serving alongside such beautiful big hearted women who passion is to connect and empower other women in their lives and their relationship with God. These women are incredibly funny, vibrant, enthusiastic and are always laughing at something...actually how we get anything planned I 'll never know. We have an exciting year planned. 

Women need to have connection and friendship with other women. We need to be loved, included and valued. So we hope to see many many ladies along to our Girlfriends evening this year. You really won't want to miss out!

Journaling January Day 25 - Yes

Here are my feet. Just taking a little moment for myself to reflect on my day. So I am hiding outside my bedroom door. I hope the kids don't find me! So my day didn't go exactly how I thought that it would. Very early on I decided I would say yes to whatever came across my path especially if meant helping someone out! So I said "yes". What a precious and very important yes it turned out to be! Pivotal one might say. 

Sure my day didn't go to plan and I didn't get the things done I deemed that I needed to. My day was messy. Would I change it? Of course not. Am I pleased I said yes....absolutely! In more ways than one! 

Jesus was the master at being flexible. So many times in his ministry he set off for somewhere or to do something only to be interrupted by someone or his plan diverted to somewhere or something else! I so want to be like Him, to have my life mirror His. Yet so often it doesn't but He gives me the gift of grace and that makes it ok that I drop the ball once in while. Could anyone have done what I said yes to? Of course they could of some perhaps even better than me.

 I saw the opportunity to say yes so I did and I am thoroughly pleased and blessed because I did. Truly more blessed to give than receive even if you are giving of yourself. I encourage all of you...look for ways and people to say yes to. It may just take you on a journey you will be crazy blessed by!

My challenge to you...tomorrow have a 'yes' day! 

A 'Yes I can help' day! 

And see where it takes you!

Journaling January Day 24 - A Few Short Years

Yesterday I was thinking about my last year of high school and how it seemed just like yesterday that I roamed the halls to my locker outside the science lab, hung out with friends and studied madly for the end of year exams. I won't tell you how long ago that was but it does seem like yesterday. 

Today we had the entire youth group start their afternoon of pool-hopping at our house. So many sunscreens bodies in and around the pool. It was loud and wet! But they had a great time. I am such a mother ....grilled some as to whether they had sunscreen on or not! 

Today marked the occasion of my second son joining the youth group something he has been hanging out to do since his older brother started going along. *sigh* they are growing up and fast! Just like high school seemed like yesterday so does the days when I only had one, two and then three little ones. 

Those days were hard, so hard. Much harder than today. I was still having you do everything for these little people, stuff still freaked me out, I still tried to tidy all day after them and I was still parenting for everyone else. I did my time and I did it hard BUT I came out the other side in one piece and here I am today. Seven kids and parenting for ourselves and God. Parenting to how it feels right to us. 

Things don't freak me out anymore. I still don't have all the answers as things get tackled at one thing at a time. And tidying up is totally useless until the very very end of the day. I don't have it altogether and I am ok with that. I have done my time in the trenches and now I am here. Just me. Right here.

 As I put this sweet wee girl to bed tonight I am 100% in love. She sleeps in arms reach with me all night and more often than not she is curled up into my back. Time goes fast and before long she will be pool-hopping with the rest if them. So she can sleep there as long as she wants to cos I know that this time is far too short! 

The saying " the days are long but the years are short" is so true. So mama's hug your wee babies tight. Don't wish this time away too fast!

Do you remember high school clearly?  Do the years seem like they are speeding by?

Journaling January Day 23 - Family Day Out

Out at the speedway this evening. Not my cup of tea but the kids love it and that makes me happy! It's stifling hot here so thankful for the gazebo. 

Did I mention the noise?! Big noise, big heat and BIG crashes! 

Journaling January Day 22 - Bloom Where You Are Planted

Today was a "meh" kind of day. Ever had one of those? I am sure you do. I didn't feel particularly inspired for anything great today. So after today I really don't have anything to say.

But I came across this late this afternoon "bloom where you are planted" and it resonated with me straight away. Where have you been planted today? Then BLOOM. What is right in front right now? Then BLOOM. Do what you can for right where you are to the very best of your ability and BLOOM. 

Don't you just love it?! Short and sweet today, maybe I'll have more for you tomorrow. Night night xxx