Oh, My Goodness!!!

For those that have followed along on the Loving Arms journey will know that this is a very exciting new chapter!

I feel like crying!

Soooooo many feelings going on right now.

Today we received news that Loving Arms Charitable Trust...is live and actually a very real thing. We are all very excited around here as it has been quite the journey to get to this point and i have learnt new things and stretched my poor brain to no end.

Today marks the end of a pivotal chapter in Loving Arms and the beginning of an excited new one.

Thank you to all who have held my hand throughout, explained the big words and legal jargon to me. Thank you to my new board members, my AMAZING team of volunteers and my wonderful family who saw more than a few tears shed in the process.

I'm off to buy bubbles!

Kaiawhina

Well, my new baby is out there now....and I'm kinda petrified. I am not sure if that's the correct response one is suppose to have though. I so badly want new mums to feel valued, seen, supported, cared for and special.... I think I'm just worried about stuffing it up.

The time after welcoming a new baby into the family is so sacred and precious. We as a society so badly undervalue this time.... passing it off with comments such as..."you aren't going to lie around all day, are you?" New mums feel the immense pressure said or not said to bounce back to our normal selves.... NEWS ALERT FOLKS....you will never the same again!!

I could go on but I'll save it for another post.... I don't get time to get a big head around here ...I showed my kids the picture in the newspaper and it was not even an hour before someone nearly screwed me up and used to light the fire. I managed to rescue myself for at least another 24 hrs.

Kids will always keep you humble in my opinion...always. It was back on mum duty...baking, nappy changing, bed making and face wiping. Right back in the trenches for me.

I had some really lovely texts, messages and phone calls....so I just want to thank you ALL for you very kind support and very kind words. I really do feel so humbled.

Loving Arms Turns 5

If I wasn't excited, then I am now. Not only did we get to celebrate Loving Arms 5th birthday yesterday with a fabulous breakfast, but we launched our brand-new initiative out into the world....Kaiawhina. I will do a later post all about it but if you are at all interested you can click on the link below and have a read all about it.

Yesterday was so really special as we celebrated with our long standing and very hard-working volunteers, former mums that have received help from us, local midwives, board members and our local MP Barbara Kuriger MP and Paula Bennett. There are so many people I want to thank that helped pull this occasion off because if it was left up to me, they would have been eating weet-bix. Our amazing pancake breakfast was lovingly cooked for us by former Chef David Raine who gifted us his services. He had the pleasure of my husband Jamie as his kitchen hand. We were treated to coffee by Kelan Attwood who too donated his barista skills to this special occasion.

The room looked absolutely stunning (again not at all me) was dressed by the ever-lovely Sylvia Craig from Tussock & Co. And thank you to our other wonderful supporters that helped me pull this breakfast off.... you all are such gems!

But what I think I loved the absolute most was watching every single person in the room engaging in genuine conversation and enjoying themselves. That was touched my heart the most.

So, as we head into this new chapter of Loving Arms, I can't wait to see what the next 5 years holds for us....I hope you all will join us on this journey.

Much love

Sharni xxx

Be Brave

Some of our beautiful volunteers

Resting in God

It's been a bit of a tough day round here.... I'm trying to be super positive and all...but it's hard. This morning we found out that the offer we put in on this house was declined.... well actually a counteroffer was put forward well over our budget. I'm gutted. I truly thought and felt that we weren't going to be moving from here. Some of you if you have been following along for a while know the story of how we were homeless for a while...prayed very specifically for a rental that ticked all the boxes for our large family. How God gave us this house in the street that we had said "this is a nice street we'd love to live in this street". So now two months after the landlords put this house on the market we bravely stepped out and put our very best offer in this house, but it just wasn't enough. Did I tell you I'm gutted?

I have been trying to rest in Gods peace and His promises, trying to tell myself that if God has closed the door, then He has something better for us.... I'll get there and embrace the excitement of the journey eventually but today many tears have flowed. I know God is good but today I'm asking the question why things can't just be easy for us for once.... knowing full well that if things are easy, we're more likely to rely on ourselves than on our Heavenly Father. I simply can't imagine what God is doing but I know it is good. What I do know is that.... God has already told us that at the beginning of the year that we would be in our own home by the end of the year... (I confess I didn't believe him until the house was put on the market.... because you know... money).

If it hadn't, we wouldn't have investigated options to buy a house for our family or been pre-approved by the bank and consequently be in the position, we are in now to buy. So now as I'm flying solo for four days ...waiting for the landlords to serve us notice...all I can do is simply rest in knowing the God is good, He is faithful, and He's done miracles before...He can do it again! Tomorrow, I'll do it better tomorrow.

What do I do?

A throwback to when it was pleasant to be outside and I could let my baby roam free.

I know I know I have been so MIA of late it's not even funny....sorry everybody. Truth be told I have so much going on that I can't even know what to write about.

It's like I'm having some kind if writers block or identity crisis. Second guessing myself every time I go to post of share something. "Really who wants to see or hear about that?" "Who do you think you are?" Someone has already done that or is nailing that already.... don't even bother" So I hit the delete button....so I have nothing.

So, what do I do...close this account down, keep going with random stuff or combine it with @loving_arms_nz .... I just don't know!

There are so many facets to my life, and I guess so many points of interest to different people.... a social justice warrior, a mother to 8 children, a pastor's wife, in ministry, a mother of babies, a mother of teenagers, not-for-profit founder.... or just general make the most of life geek. I don't pretend to have all the answers because I know I don't and it's dangerous to think one person does. One can be forgiven if they're confused...heck I'm confused half the time.

To be honest the stuff we as a family is journeying through is HUGE....and I just know that there is hope for others to be found in all of it. The big thing for me is what and just how much to share. I'm not one that can cope with negativity or criticism very well....and we all know that not everyone is kind and understanding. I suppose its finding that all important balance like everything in life....*sigh.

I have been told sooooo many times that I need to write a book....I might have to be a series at this rate.

What do you all think? Am I going crazy? Actually, don't answer that!