Wednesday 30 April 2014

Me and Mine: April 2014

I know that when I look back on the years, I'll never regret this little project. Purposefully taking a photo of our little family as our girlies grow and change, and documenting their growing up years has been so much fun. When I flick through our albums of the past two years, I realise how few photos I have of all of us together as a family before I joined in with #MeandMine. It has been such a positive challenge to take a photo of our family every month!

This month we have enjoyed the Easter break. Precious time with Papa, and the girls have lapped it up. They adore him. When they're tired and grouchy, they just want Mama, but the rest of the time, Papa is where its at. When Ava comes into our room, bleary-eyed in the morning, I get by-passed...

"I want to cuddle Papa" she whispers as she clambers over me.

This month Heidi has also been learning to walk. She is in that wobbly, take-a-few-steps-and-then-face-plant phase. The girls are still figuring out the dynamics of this. Ava is having to realise that if she goes in for a hug with Heidi, they may well both end up on the floor, as Heidi falls at the slightest unbalance. But its fun. And she'll get there. And I think both her, and I, are enjoying our new-found independence.

We have had some lovely family time out and about, enjoying the great outdoors this month. The term time is hectic as Dave works crazy hours for School, but the holidays are a chance for us to unwind and be together without the ever-looming lesson plans, marking or assessment. I savour these special days.

So here we are. Our little family in April.


Calm. Relaxed. And happy.



 Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall


dear beautiful

Tuesday 29 April 2014

It is not death to die...




Home from the funeral. A hard day, but glorious too.

We will see her again. 

Such hope through tears.

These words have helped me this evening. I pray they will be a blessing to you too.

It is not death to die...

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high 
Who’ve found their home with God
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne 
Delivered from our fears

O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save 
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die


It is not death to fling 
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing 
To live among the just
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years 
To praise You evermore


© 2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Monday 28 April 2014

For my Granny

 
    
In the early hours of yesterday morning, my Granny went to glory.

She was 91 years old, and had lived a full life.

One husband. Six children. Seventeen grandchildren. And as of this week, seven great-grandchildren.

But most importantly of all - one Saviour.

What hope that brings.

She was an amazing problem-solver, still beating us all at Scrabble and "Countdown" even in her old age. She loved to talk, and loved to have company. And she was generous - so generous. Probably the most generous woman I have ever known.

And she was ready to meet the Saviour. She was ready to go home

We are sad. We grieve and mourn because death feels wrong... Death IS wrong. It was not part of God's original design. And we miss her. But we smile through the tears, because we know that right now, she would not wish to be back with us. She is safe at home with Jesus.

Hallelujah.

‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ Revelation 21

Friday 25 April 2014

Make Your Own Pretty Placemats!


For Easter, I threw together these pretty burlap and lace placemats. It literally took me about 5 minutes to make all four of them and I'm seriously pleased with how they turned out.

I just think anything burlap and lace is adorable... don't you?

So if you want an easy project, that requires NO creative skill whatsoever, but looks super-cute and you can say you made-it-yourself, then this is the project for you!

You need:
* Half a metre of burlap or equivalent (hessian)
* A metre of lace
* double sided sticky tape

Step One:
Cut your burlap into whatever size placemats you want! Burlap shreds, so they will look a bit shabby chic, but that's part of the appeal, don't you think?!


Step Two:
Put a strip of double sided tape down the left-hand side of each placemat, then simply roll your lace over the top.


And that's literally it! You're done! Just dress them up with a nice bit of crockery, and a flower or two if its a special occasion... and there you have pretty placemats, whipped up in no time at all.

Pretty tableware always puts a smile on my face!





So there you have it... a nice little weekend project for you all!

Thursday 24 April 2014

Easter Round-Up: Savouring the Season Linky Party 30

We had a lovely Easter here... wonderful that the sun was shining, wonderful to enjoy being with family, wonderful for the girls to enjoy a stash of chocolate, and wonderful to remember the reason for it all.

A very special Easter.


And now it's your chance to share your Easter fun! Link up all you got up to over the Easter weekend and lets share our celebrations, fun and reflections below. Then we'll head round and leave some comments!

All you have to do is link up your post below, add the badge to your post and then pop round and leave a comment on a couple of the others.

Easy!

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Wednesday 23 April 2014

They love, We love: April 2014





Our Heidi - 13 months
She loves... 
* Taking steps all by herself (eeek!)
* Her shoes (which she calls her "hew")
* Standing up in her highchair with her arms in the air (which she's not allowed to do!)
* Trying to destroy the wicks on Mama's candles
* Cuddles with her big sister



Our Ava - 2 years, 8 months
* Finding the letter "A" everywhere!
* Singing "Super-Saviour" with actions
* Messing around at bedtime
* Looking after her "babies"
* Colouring in (not just scribbles all over the page any more!)


He loves -
"The Muskateers" on catch-up
Don Carson on Jeremiah at Word Alive
Coming home to a tidy house!
Beef and Onion Pie
Friday night football


She loves -
BBC drama, "The Crimson Field"
"For the Love of God" by Don Carson
Bluebells
"This is amazing grace"
Watching my girlies friendship blossom

Tuesday 22 April 2014

The Bluebell Hunt...

Sunshine. Woodland. Time with family. Beautiful views. Little girl giggles.

It's the traditional way to spend a national holiday, and that we did. Savouring our last weekend of being together, of not getting up at the crack of dawn, of flexible routines and days that stretch out with no plans.

After church on Friday morning, soaking in the beautiful truth of the cross, we packed the girls into the car and joined my family in heading off to a little village not far from us for lunch, a walk in the woods and a hunt for the bluebells...





 Finally we found them!



The bluebells were beautiful. But what really melted my heart was this moment. Ava was on my back, and Heidi was in the rucksack on Dave's back, when my brother captured these shots. What warmed my heart most was that, for once, the affection was instigated by Heidi. Every time Ava let go, Heidi would reach out that chubby hand until Ava's was back there.


Yesterday I had some "pulling my hair out" Mama-moments. As I looked through these pictures last night, I realised that however crazy these little ladies can drive me sometimes, its moments like these that make those hard spots fade away.

The Easter holidays have come to an end, and while this bunch of girlies are feeling somewhat forlorn this morning that Papa is back at work, we are thankful for a fabulous two weeks of being together, soaking ourselves in the gospel, and enjoying the sunshine.

Back to reality now!

Monday 21 April 2014

Easter Sunday


Easter is always special round here... this year, perhaps more so. The day was overshadowed by the tragic news of a friend. The beautiful hope of Easter made all the more poignant in sadness.

Death is not the end.

It is not victorious.

Christ offers hope, and a future.


And that is the message we try, year after year, to portray to our little girls in a tangible and memorable way. We want them to understand that Christ came, not only to be a good man who walked the earth and did amazing things, but to die... and rise. So that death's hold could be defeated once and for all. So that they can know what it means to be truly free.

So that life, even with its tragedies and heartaches, can begin to make sense.


Jesus died the death I deserved to give me the life he deserved.

And then he rose again... promising me the glorious hope of life after death too.


So on Sunday morning, I was up at the crack of dawn putting some finishing touches to our Easter breakfast ready for a celebration. The sadness of Good Friday was not the end of the story...

The joy, hope, mercy of Easter Sunday is.

Hallelujah.












Saturday 19 April 2014

Easy Make Easter Cards


This was meant to be my #SavouringtheSeason post this week... but with being away, and just enjoy holiday mode, I missed my Thursday spot. Apologies to anyone who popped by to take part. The linky will be back up and running next week!


It is just incredibly British to make cards for everything, isn't it?! I'm not a big fan of the "cards for the sake of it", but I do think there's something lovely about giving a card to someone with a little message inside to let them know they are being thought of...

As I've mentioned before... Easter is one of the biggest celebration dates in our calendar, so it seemed only right that the girls could make some Easter cards! I can honestly say these were the quickest, least painful kids cards I have EVER made... Ava loved it and if I'm honest, I pretty chuffed with the result!

All you need:
Yellow Finger Paint
Blank Cards
A black biro
An orange felt tip


As my Mother-in-law would say, it is "as easy as 1, 2, 3!"

1. Dip thumb into yellow finger paint and make thumbprints! You can do it nice and controlled (as above), or you can let your kid lose on the card, which tends to have more of the below effect (which I actually ended up preferring!)



2. Let the paint dry, then, using the biro, add little eyes and feet to your little chicks.

3. Using the orange pen, draw a little triangle beak on.

Then write your message inside, and voila! You're done!

We're off to deliver some to the neighbours now!



Thursday 17 April 2014

WA Day Five

The Encouragement: Seeing so many of our church family have had such a fantastic week!
The Laugh: Our inability to have an uneventful journey (previous escapades here and here!)
The Highlight: Winning "Group Organiser of the Year"... Genuinely honoured!
The Challenge: "Why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord" but don't do what I tell you?'"


       
                                   Word Alive sunset... Photo courtesy of Krish Kandiah

WA Day Four

The Encouragement: Talking to Ava about all she's learning in Rocks Group
The Laugh: The disappearance of the birthday boy right as we bring out the cake...oops!
The Highlight: Picnic in the sunshine followed by big church BBQ
The Challenge: Is Jesus my joy and my delight? Or am I allowing other things to steal my joy?