All About April Day 19 - Helping Out

I am not sure what I did to deserve today but whatever the reason I was blessed. My girls came to me this afternoon and told me I needed a holiday from all the jobs in the world that I do. Now that's a lot of jobs. 

They folded four days of washing and put it into the right rooms. Then they tidied the lounge, dining room and vacuumed. Then they pulled everything out of the pantry, wiped out the shelves and stacked everything tidily. I was told to sit down and relax and that they would do all my jobs forever! Of course that lasted after only until they had finished the pantry but the sentiment was there. 

They both just wanted to do something nice, something of value to me. They never asked for anything in return either. Usually when one of the kids does a job unasked it's for a Xbox turn.....sneaky things. They got great joy out of doing that for me. Of course I showered with hugs and kisses afterwards. ...come on four days of washing for 9. They needed a medal. 

So maybe sometime soon I'll whisk them off for fluffy hot chocs and cake.

All About April Day 18 - Mother and Daughter

I have said previously that getting one on one time with any of my kids that's more than a trip into town for soccer practice can be pretty difficult. It just happens that its easier to lump all together or into groups. Older three boys, re girls and then Jesse and Frankie. 

So it's really really important that we are intentional and committed to making good quality one on one time a high priority. For obvious reasons we can't do it all the time but as much as we can and as opportunities arise to make it happen. 

Tonight I spent the evening with my eldest daughter Kaitlyn who is nine. Kaitlyn my first born daughter, creative, fashionable and fiercely passionate about justice and equality. Lover of designing clothes, bananas and baking (both eating and doing). As soon as we got in the car to head into town she started talking and didn't stop until we got to the church. How have I missed this! Missed the chatter of the things that are important to her. It made me more aware and even more determined that I cannot let life get in the way of being mum. 

We simply take back control of our time, our days and spend it wisely. Our children will not be young for long, she will not be young for long. She needs to know just how amazing how beautiful she is. And as her mother, her parents we need to make sure she knows. 

Creative Journaling was tonight's activities. ....totally her cup of tea, mine not so much which why tonight was so important, so cool! The coolest thing was she couldn't stop hugging me all night. I loved that. I will have to increase the amount of hugging and giggling I do with her I think.

All About April Day 17 - Preacher Husband

I wonder if I will ever get used to seeing this guy up the front preaching the Word of God. It still amazes me this whole journey we are on, where we have come from, what we have been through and where we are going. 

When we got married never ever in a million years would I have ever thought we would be here.....it was never on the radar or part of either of our life plans. 

BUT here we are.....here he is preaching the Word of God. Cafe-style church. Tonight he spoke out of Song of Solomon on passionately pursuing God in order to find him and have an intimate relationship with Him. It doesn't just happen. Seek Him with passion not only for yourself but also so you can be a vessel to be used by Him. 

Love this guy with all my heart and so very proud of him. Love I get to do life with him by my side.

Ps Please excuse the poor quality of photo!

All About April Day 16 - What's on Your Bookshelf?

Yesterday I spoke on things that, like sprinkles make you happy. One of the things that makes me happy is books. I love everything about them. I love to read them, to smell them and to flick the pages through my fingers. 

Books have so much depth to them, so much more than reading from a kindle. Come on you can't smell a kindle. I reckon you can tell many a thing about a person just by what's on their bookshelf. 

If you take a look at my bookshelf you would probably come to the conclusion that I am a closet hippy, a wanna-be expert gardener and crafty person. I have an interest in herbs and other natural medicine and those books sit alongside books about pioneering days. If you didn't know already you would find out that I am a birth-nerd with a special interest in home birth. I have enough alternative parenting books, books on homeschooling/unschooling, and books on amazing people overcoming amazing hurdles. I have leadership books, bibles and other ministry or church interest books. 

My section of novels is not nearly big enough but if I have the chance to get lost in a book it would about pioneering days, wagon trains out west or Alaska. 

Basically most of the bookshelf is mine with the exception of a few books scattered throughout but down the bottom is my husbands giant collection of hunting magazines. ...Can you guess what he is into? 

I am generally a nosey person when it comes to books shelves. I will always check yours out if I come to visit. I not only might find something exciting to read but it will tell me what you are all about. 

So whats in your bookshelf?

All About April Day 15 - Sprinkles on Top

Don't sprinkles make everything happy. Sprinkles on top just make look happy, feel happy and in turn happy people make others happy just by osmosis. 

I have some people in my life that make me happy. I am not talking just about my hot hubby or my awesome kiddies but friends that just ooze authentic friendship. I am very blessed to have these people in my life. People that aren't afraid to challenge, to call me out on things, to say um "do you think that's a good idea? " and people that take me as I am. People that when you have been in their presence I feel lighter, more energized and just well....happy! Just like sprinkles. 

I love being happy. Don't you? So in order to be happy I put people and things in my life that make me happy. What makes you happy? I love being able to spend time filling myself with the Word of God, I love my family and good friends, I love good conversation with like-minded people, I love food, coffee and wine, I love being outdoors, helping people, inspiring mothers and families, reading and stretching myself to growing more in God. I love to write. I love my family, I love to watch them have fun and how they interact with each other. I love to blessed them by just doing nice things for them. Those are the things that make me happy, they are my sprinkles! 

What about are you? Do you have a go to list that makes you happy? Tell me.

All About April Day 14 - Change

This was view this morning as I drank my morning coffee and tended to my baby girl as she was the first one awake. I am not a morning person at all so it takes me a while to get with it and function fully. I am inspired by views like this though....aren't you? Inspired to get up, get out, live life well and change the world. Just the frame of mind one needs to be in when you have a five hour meeting in front of you on just that thing. 

I came across a great thought-provoking quote the other day..."Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity." Doesn't it ring true? If you know anything of the history of the suffragettes, Joan of Arc, La Leche League and other pioneering women of late you will know it does. I want to be one of those....not for people to think I am insane of course (maybe some do already) but to fight fiercely for something, to believe in it and to make change. 

I have things that I am passionate about, truly crazy passionate. I know how God has wired me and where he is leading me.....and sometimes I do feel a little bit of a pioneer. Old Joan of Arc would probably laugh in my face though...but seeking change and seeking better than the status quo is lonely, it is not for the faint- hearted and it's hard work. 

At times I have to admit I would love to be "normal", to not be so "weird" and more mainstream. But I am not....I am me and I will continue to do what is before me, doing what God has called me to whether it be as a mother, as a homeschooling mum, in ministry or in the maternity system. I will be me....passionate me. Now go on....go be you!

All About April Day 13 - So It Begins

So here we are at the beginning of winter sports season, soccer season for us. It's a long season too as it goes all the way into September. It's not too bad at present it is freezing cold on practice nights and we aren't standing on frosty ground on a early Saturday morning. 

I love that my kids are so passionate about playing soccer. I just wish I was passionate about playing taxi service to five players on three different nights of the weeks and then five different games on a Saturday morning usually in five different directions. 

Jamie and I rock at the logistics at getting everyone where they need to go and with the correct gear. I have also learnt we are not super parents. There is only two of us and five soccer players, we are not going to be able to watch everyone play all of their games every week. Not unless we clone ourselves that is. 

I have learnt that we are going to have to ask other parents or coaches to help us get kids to where they need to go. It's just what we do now. 

So our crazy Saturday mornings will begin on my birthday......how kind of them. But one of my favourite things about winter sports is coming home with the fire going and having hot hearty soup with crusty bread. Ahhh. Nice. That and wrapping my poor freezing fingers around a hot cup of coffee while standing on the sideline. Which is made even better if I dont have any little people hanging off my legs or needing to go to the toilet. 

Good times ah? Bring it on.