Beautiful Crazy

Apparently I am fascinating.  How about that! Really? I always ask. I don't see how or why because I really am normal...well actually I am probably more abnormal because I am pretty sure I do some really weird stuff that no one else does...things like ummmm  smelling books. Does anyone else smell books? Does anyone else reheat their coffee at least 7 times before they actually get to drink it all? Or lose cups of tea around the house because you are never still. My husband tells me I use words that belong in the dark depths of the dictionary in everyday conversations. I miss characters in the books that I finish reading and wonder what they might be doing. I absolutely HAVE to have a glass of water bedside before I can go to sleep at night, its like my security blanket. And I watch people, I LOVE watching people. See I am so weird.

So perhaps I am weirdly abnormal normal.  Maybe that's why I (and my family) are apparently fascinating.

So you may or may not have noticed that my blog has had a bit of a revamp, a change of direction.  I did change the name not because life isn't lovely anymore because it is, but I feel like we are in a different space and new chapter now.  Living Life Lovely (for me) was a time when life was simple, lovely, neat, contained and nice.  A time when life reflected my faith. Nice, neat and tidy. A cookie-cutter faith. It wasn't a bad time but it wasn't deep, it was well.... just lovely.

Looking back we thought we were blessed and doing life right. Loving our kids, loving each other, attending church every week, paying our tithe, smiling and doing all the right things. A just lovely faith, a Sunday faith.

But during that time of Living Life Lovely, somewhere along the way we prayed a prayer of wanting to be used by God, to live a life of faith, a fearless faith. A word to the wise here...God will take you up of that offer and maybe like us it will be through something that will knock you out of the park!

A job loss, a sickness, an injury or a financial hardship, something but what ever it will be it will take your breath away. BUT it is a good thing, it will be a good thing. I promise. And more importantly God promises! And you know what he NEVER breaks his promise.

Ours came through a sudden job loss. I don't  how I got through those first few days and weeks, months but fast forward four years and here we are....living a life, a life of a Beautiful Crazy Faith.

Now life is messy, chaotic, unpredictable, crazy, and unknown BUT its also beautiful, miraculous, faith-filled, amazing, emotional, well...its just the best. Its a life that has given us a wild ride on the lowest of lows and the highest of highs (and no we aren't on drugs). We wouldn't go back. We don't want to go back. Its our Beautiful Crazy Faith!

We are a large family of seven kiddies, a dad and a mum, three cats and four ducks. We home-school. We have a messy linen cupboard, a dishwasher that doesn't wash dishes well. I constantly have washing to fold, sometimes 3-4 days worth. I am certainly not the best housekeeper. I get distracted way too easy. We love, we help, we assist, we encourage and we pray whenever, however and wherever we can.  We have been living on very minimal income for four years now and we are still here. We have our own dreams, visions and promises for our future. So we are on a faith journey, doing what God has called us to do.  Will you join us?

4+ days of washing!

You won't find any tips on organisation a household or family here because I am essentially crap at it. Its "by wing and a prayer" around here!  I don't have any great talent for crafting and art. Nor do I have a fail proof plan for raising children because in my opinion there is none. Love, respect, kindness, fun and food...lots of food. Couple that with large amounts of coffee and copious amounts prayer!!

Seven totally rocking kids!

So there you have it...I want to take you along on our beautiful crazy faith journey.  Join us.

"Then Christ will make his home in your heart as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong......Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."  Eph 3:17, 20