The changing room

I had such a laugh with Rebecca yesterday. We quickly dashed to the shop to exchange something and we went into the biggest changing room I have ever seen. I tried on a top and then strutted for Becca and did a little dance... I needed to use the space given to me!

"So, Becca, do you like this?"
"I don't think so"
"What don't you like about it?"
"That top is very cool." Like a splash of cold water... I'm just not that cool...

Late afternoon light

Reflections

This morning I was thinking about what we are entrusted with in... around my birthday I do a little evaluating... thinking. What has this year meant, what will the next year hold. What to do with what we have, will I be a wall flower or will I dance?

I thought about being fearless... pursuing and reflecting who we are on the inside. Not a polite facade but the depths of what we feel and who we are. I thought to myself... if I were really brave, how would I choose? With work, with service, with life. It is for freedom that we are free, after all!

What about continuing to dream and learn. Continuing as the scholar throughout our lives. Where would we go? Scores of paths and opportunities I think.

I read Matthew 25 about the virgins and their oil. Oil talks about intimacy, passion, worship. I don't want to run out of oil. I want to be a seeker of the real thing. The stuff that's under the surface. I also want to seek the One that entrusted our passions to us in the first place, the Giver not just the gift.

I hope my ramblings make some kind of sense, from one 'reflector' to another.
Pursue the better things!

Weekends are for...

finishing projects... I almost thought that I wouldn't be wearing my scarf this winter... slow knitter.



and I finished Rebecca's sherbet pink one.



Now I must complete the vases.

Happy Day

Yesterday was a happy (birth)day for the one I love. Happy Birthday You!!

There are lots that I love about him... I love his realness! He is honest without being harsh. He dreams big. He is v e r y consistent. Sometimes it drives me dang crazy but it's so good. The world is confusing but he is not. His words and his ways are intentional and how he ended up with a gal that ... "uuuuuh... must we decide that today?... any day?..." is a minor miracle. Opposites attract and all that, I guess. Then there are other things... his green eyes, his hands, his understanding of the fine print, his tenderness - what's not to love. I definitely got the long end of the stick!



Nothing like a pink paper crown for a celebration.

I read something by C Spurgeon this week that I thought I would pass on, 'May your character not be a writing upon the sand but an inscription upon rock' - an abiding thing!

Simplicity

After running from pillar to post since sunrise, I feel wilted and it's still not over as mealtime approaches. In today's curious heat, something cool (and hasty) is required. A crisp salad and leftover Spaghetti.



Enjoy... what I think will be a glorious sunset tonight!

An surprising morning

My little one woke up this morning, came slowly up the stairs to where I was and crawled onto my lap where she was covered with a blanket... and gently returned to her slumber.

I got to hold all her preciousness in my arms for a long while and breath in her sleepy scent. It was wonderful. This rare incident will undergird me all day long. I'm smiling now, just thinking about it.

"Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well"

Psalm 139.14

Good ole baking

There is nothing like baking to make me feel domestically competent... okay I'll admit it... a bit of a Nigella.

In my early days of baking I left the kitchen feeling like I had been on 'Domestic Gladiators' - I was smeared in butter, red-faced, flour everywhere, sticky hair and too many dishes. Now it's much simpler and not as much fun to watch. Today I returned to the Lawson camp for my Banana Bread and yes its very good. This book is a favourite and its been well used over the years.




Nothing like good ole baking to sooth my soul...




These are two other books I've been digging in lately. I took Delia out from the library and she is always spot on. Wayne gave me Gordon Ramsay's Make it Easy recently and though I had never thought of purchasing him before, this book has loads of great, uncomplicated recipes that I want to try... will let you know how they turn out.



Happy Days in the kitchen.

Playtime

Following a day of school schedules and homework comes playtime. Afternoon playtime is free-range! Any toys, ball sport or romping around outside with her favourite snack bowl.

Weekends are for

contemplation...


"therefore... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other, forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as God forgave you and over all these virtues, put on love which binds them together in perfect unity" ~ Colossians 3


May your homes be filled with binding love! Happy Sunday!

A crisp and sunny day

is for walking up a hill




splashing in the mud



looking for tadpoles



and making mudpies.

Opting for Joy

I've was thinking about my daily walk this morning - what would a full and loving heart bring to a day, what does it look like to bring that kind of a heart into every day... choosing to be relevant, helpful, joyful, peaceful. Sometimes when people 'distract' us from our tasks we get annoyed but really those are the things that can be a great blessing - to them and to us. An opportunity to sow love, hope, encouragement. I know its a cliche, but a smile is the simplest thing to sow, it is such a precious gift and there is no outlay.

This morning I decided that instead of reacting in the flesh, I would try and react with the heart... with tenderness and joy. For me I need to purpose these things, they are not always natural for me. I believe that with persistent choosing you can become a godly woman... I don't think it will drop into my soul while I'm sleeping and I'll just wake up wise and joyful. It's about being intentional.

"in this cynical and sophisticated age, someone must believe in joy"
~ Richard Rohr

All our choosing leads us up a path... its all (even the tiniest thing) significant.
Sow what you want to reap.

New beginnings...

Today is the beginning of a new month, ushering in a new school term, colder weather, new challenges and new victories. I've always been a summer baby, but the last two year's I've noticed a decidedly new opinion emerging in me... I like winter. I like the wet, the crisp air, the fireplace, the books, the red noses and the fact that you have more sacred time at home. I also like the calmness that seems more evident this time of year. Plus, there's more time for poetry...


"Calm is the fragrant air...

Look for the stars, you'll say that there are none;
Look up for a second time, and, one by one,
You mark them twinkling out with silvery light,
And wonder how they could elude the sight!"

William Wordsworth