Saturday 18 June 2016

Mj's first Cub camp


My excited big boy heads off to cup camp.  I am amazed how much he has changed in a year. This time last year when offered the opportunity to go camping with Cubs he flat out refused. Fast forward 12 months and I asked if he would like to go this year. He confidently answered yes and has been so excited as the weekend drew nearer. It has been a long time since I have had a night without him (apart from two months ago when I was birthing his brother and he stayed with my sister!!!) and I think this is the first time he will have a night where he is not with a family member. He seems  undaunted by the weekend ahead and I am personally reassured by the fact that he is going with his best friend and his dad. I can't help but wonder if this is the beginning of having to say goodbye to him and let him find his own way. Although there is a tinge of sadness on my part I am also really proud of his strength of character and his growing maturity.

My sister reminded me of Psalm 139 this week and told me to put in the place of 'I' or 'me' the name of my children...it is perfect for MJ this weekend. The whole chapter is great, have a read. I have just picked out a few verses and substituted 'MJ', 'him' and 'he' for 'I' and 'me'.

Psalm 139.

You have searched MJ, Lord,
    and you know him.
You know when he sits and when he rises;
    you perceive his thoughts from afar.
You discern his going out and his lying down;
    you are familiar with all his ways.
You hem him in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon him.
Where can he go from your Spirit?
    Where can he flee from your presence?
10 even there your hand will guide him,
    your right hand will hold him fast.
15 His frame was not hidden from you
    when he was made in the secret place,
    when he was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw his unformed body;
    all the days ordained for him were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious are your thoughts of him, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were he to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand
    when he awakes, He is still with you.

Thursday 9 June 2016

Skipping


The half term holiday challenge was set when we arrived in N.I. and Lj learned what a great skipper her cousin was. Nana supplied the ropes and for the next 3 days Lj skipped from morning til evening. On day two I set her the challenge of 20 consecutive skips by the end of the week. By the end of day two her best run was 47 skips. She showed unbelievable determination and energy!!! I had witnessed her determination to succeed when the dentist said she must stop sucking her thumb and here again I marvelled at her stickability and commitment to achieve. She did take the odd minute out from skipping to draw some pictures of herself and MJ skipping!

Wednesday 8 June 2016

Wimpole Farm- National Trust



Now that our time in this part of the world is finite I have been feeling nostalgic about the times we have spent in our favourite places. As we visit them for perhaps the last time I am enjoying them even more. One of our favourites is definitely NT- Wimpole Farm. My photos are sparse as I juggle the addition of No. 3 but I want to document what I can while the memories are rich.

Sibling love!