Parenting cards

Recently I came across the idea of 'parenting cards' which are little daily reminders of how to understand or treat our children. I decided to make some so I can randomly choose one each morning and try to remember it and act upon it throughout the day.



They have challenged me to slow down and think about ...

:: How I spend my time at home with my children
:: How I react when something goes wrong
:: How I physically and verbally show them how much I love them
:: How I am affecting the way my children see the world
:: Whether I am a positive or negative influence on their lives...and so much more.

I certainly haven't got it sorted...just this morning I had to hold myself from getting frustrated at MJ for making a mess with the muffin mixture when really he was being a two year old who was trying hard to be helpful.

My aims for becoming the wife, mother, daughter and friend that I desire to be are to...

:: Be gentle and not pushy
:: Be slow, thoughtful and considerate
:: Bring comfort and happiness
:: Listen without being distracted.

I have alot of work to do!

Just now...

Sorry I haven't been blogging for awhile. Life with two kids is double the fun but takes away any free time I had before! The thoughts of crafting are still there but the reality of crafting has yet to take place.

Just now I am...

:: looking at birthday cake recipes for M

:: inspecting my post pregnancy stretch marks : (

:: drinking a hot lemon and honey in the hope it will cure a sore throat

:: wondering if there is anything urgent I should be doing while my babies sleep

Oh dear I spoke too soon...little eyes are open and peeking at me.

Lilyjean has arrived

Words can't express the wonder, joy and priviledge I feel when staring at this precious gift of life.

Today we are...

:: still waiting for baby to arrive



:: enjoying goodies from the allotment...only a few strawberries made it home...they tasted too good to wait!



:: excited that baby Jamie has popped into the world safely

:: stealing chocolates while MJ has a nap

:: about to meet friends at the park.

Giving and receiving.

Last week was a week of 'giving and receiving'.



Bunting for baby Amelia.



Bean bags for Coulsons third birthday.



Purple mangetout for me : )

Back to blogging.

What we have been up to...





Lots of baby girls have been born into our world in the last few weeks so we have been making cards and gifts.



Everyday MJ seems to surprise me with something new he can do. Today I caught him jumping around the kitchen with a ball between his legs...thankfully I had my camera to hand.



The sun is giving us oranges on our orange tree.



I can't believe we have peppers growing outside.



First pickings from the allotment...purple mangetout...looks even more amazing in reality.



My rose bush blooming, reminding me of my grandmother.



We are eating salads everyday...salad leaf glut in the back garden. Would like a salad recipe book for more inspiration.



Establishing a better bed time routine with MJ has meant that we all have a little more personal time and space. MJ decided one day when we had friends for dinner that the only place he would get some personal space was to sit in the front garden!

Life and death

As I send a present to a newly born baby girl I discover that another little girl has been left without a mother.

Last night I was flicking through 'Homemade: Gorgeous things to Make with love' desiring to be inspired by the pages of beautiful crafts. I made a mental note that I hadn't looked at the co author, Elspeth Thompson's blog in some time. Today when browsing the internet I flicked to her blog and with horror read the meassage left by her husband announcing her death. It breaks my heart to think that an innocent little girl (Elspeth's daughter) has been left in this world without her mother.

This week I have been struggling with tiredness and an increasingly adventurous (and naughty) son but I am finishing the week by being reminded of how blessed I really am. When life seems tough it is so easy to believe that we are the only one who is suffering. That is so far from the truth. There is suffering all around us if we just open our eyes and hearts to it.

I want to finish with some words of hope. What comes to mind is a verse underlined in my bible which says ' Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.' Psalm ch 30 v 5.