Those were the days....

My eldest child just turned 13!
13!!!

Wow....we have closed the door on her childhood and opened another on the wonderful world of the Teen years.... It was a day that dawned like any other,  but something had changed. My honey-eyed girl had blossomed into a young woman. It didn't really happen overnight....more a gradual metamorphosis over the last few years. When we left to travel around Australia she was just a girl, now 2 years later she is most definitely a young woman! Her Dad and I have had a front row seat, watching as she negotiates life. It is such a blessing to raise a family. There are so many side splittingly hilarious moments. More than a handful of "grrrr moments" and many powerful lessons to be learned for both the parent and the child. I think we have many more to yet to come as well. 

I remember the day I turned 13. I know it took me a while, bit of a stretch on the memory retrieval. My parents gave me a 'Pig Out' T shirt (I never said I was classy!), a 'Ghostbusters' Album on cassette, the book "The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4" and various other bits and pieces...clothing and the like. I remember Dad playing the Inspector Gadget theme song over and over again in the car....(he still plays this :) Those were the days of spiked hair, mullets, fluro socks and rah rah skirts! When Madonna dominated the airwaves and my favourite movie was 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'. When we all thought we could Dance any time, anywhere, 'Footloose' and 'Dirty Dancing' just re-inforced that belief!!! When break dancing was cool and Michael Jackson taught an entire generation to moon walk. Aaaaah the 80's! Those were the days when I rode motorbikes for fun, spent most of my school holidays outdoors and spent my school terms at Boarding School in Charters Towers. Yep...those were the days that filled my 13th year of life. I am still living down the haircut! What was I thinking..?! Crazy crazy crazy!

As I reflect on my teen years and pause to take stock of my honey-eyed daughter's teen experience thus far...I can't help but notice how different our "teen" years are. She is so much classier than I ever was. I am delighted in the beautiful young woman she is. She is so bright, where I struggled at School. She is super talented at music, specifically violin, where my musical ability was limited to what I could enjoy on cassette. She is actively involved in Scouts, where I dropped out of Girl Guides. She is so very brave, pushes herself to the limit of her comfort zone all the time, where I was often held back by my fear of what might happen. She has a close relationship with our Lord and Saviour where I didn't come to know Him until much later. She has travelled extensively around Australia and I, as a teen, had only enjoyed my home (a sheep & cattle Property) and the surrounding area in remote Western Queensland. She has lived in a tent for the past 2 years, had to go without a lot of the things other kids probably take for granted, forgone friendships and security....and yet she has experienced first hand what it means to live by faith, to sit in the presence of God, to go where He leads, to share with His people, to give the gifts and talents He has blessed us with to further His Kingdom. Yes...our teen years are very different. I don't regret my teen years, it was what it was. I didn't know there was a different way to live, but I do now. I am trying not to worry about what could have been and choose to focus on what is and what will be. I am so very blessed to be Josie's Mum. To have the privilege of witnessing this delightful young lady blossom into a woman. I praise God for her, she is such a gift to this family. There is much ahead of her....highs and lows...learning curves....so much life to be lived. Josie, my love...be bold, be strong....for you are not alone. The Lord your God is with you and will not forsake you. He has brought you this far and He will lead you on. Take hold of what He has promised and keep yourself grounded in His word. You will have so many choices to make over the next couple of years....seek His wisdom. 

Love you beautiful girl
xo

The Next Chapter...

Here I was thinking with no small degree of nostalgia, that the chapter had closed on my little ones' infancy... Only to find we have begun another adventure. One that often takes me by surprise and completely blows out my previously established sense of order.

I just found a trail of Rice Bubbles trickled randomly down the Hallway, even though breakfast was hours ago! When I was washing earlier I discovered not one, not two.....but six favourite small toys buried in pockets accompanied by rocks, leaves, grass clippings and one screw. I went to check on the children who were all suspiciously quiet to find Leisl and Connor "bathing" midget teenage mutant ninja turtles on the back verandah (hey, at least they were outside!). Rosa was just beginning to dress up...she is a Princess after all!!!! And Josie was sitting happily drawing.

Some noticeable changes that accompany this particular stage of the Parenting adventure I shall affectionately call.... "The Primary School Years"

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  More washing to deal with (after all they are bigger, and Leisl has to wear...oh I don't know....at least 3 outfits in 1 day!)
  
  
  
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  Kids that can take their own baskets, fold and put their own clothes away (as long as I don't watch how they go in their drawers)
  
  
  
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  more food consumed (Bigger tummies)
  
  
  
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  Higher grocery bills
  
  
  
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  More lunchboxes to pack (although they are packing their own)
  
  
  
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  More books to read (Got to love those learner readers)
  
  
  
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  More hair to do (was so much easier when they were bald!)
  
  
  
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  More ummmm intentional stimulation
  
  
  
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  A house that is no longer baby-proof
  
  
  
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  Glasses on the table instead of plastic cups
  
  
  
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  Kids that can pop their own dirty dishes in the dishwasher (I love that)
  
  
  
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  After school activities
  
  
  
• 
  
  Children learning Instruments
  
  
  
• 
  
  Cuts, scrapes, bruises...more injuries!
  
  
  
• 
  
  Head Lice! (Feeling itchy yet?)
  
  
  
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  Worms! (eeeeewwwwwwww!)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Teeth falling out and leaving Gaps! (amazingly Connor still has all his Baby teeth!!!!)
  
  
  
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  Visits from the Tooth Fairy
  
  
  
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  Homework
  
  
  
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  Sleep overs!
  
  
  
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  Kids that can click themselves in, in the car, clean up their own rooms, brush their own teeth (well my 8 and 10 year olds do)
  
  
  
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  Very interesting prayers
  
  
  
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  Lots of laughs together
  
  
  
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  Kids that can wipe their OWN bottoms....Hallelujah!
  
  
  
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  Lots of singing, especially songs from School that we never expected them to know!!!!
  
  
  
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  Long Legs that dangle down to touch the floor when you pick up your kids for a cuddle!
  
  
  
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  Training wheels off their push bikes.
  
  
  
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  I'd love to say a clean and tidy house, but that would be getting your hopes up! (I heard that sigh of relief!)
  
  
  

Suffice to say, this period of parenting is in it's early stages for us...and we are enjoying it immensely. I love that new found independence (well some of the time) and I love the extra helping hands (most of the time)....I still haven't figured out the total prevention of Head Lice or discovered exactly why there are Rice Bubbles trickled down the hallway....

But we so appreciate the words in Ecclesiastes 3:1...

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven...

I hope you are enjoying the chapter you are in.....it will be over before you are ready for it.

Blessings

xx

Dust Off Your Dreams

I wonder…. What did you want to be when you grew up? Or maybe I should ask what did you think you wanted to be? I had many flights of fancy in this department as I transitioned from little girl-to primary school-to high school and so on…. Having spent my childhood on a remote western Queensland Sheep property, I had ideas of being a Teacher, marrying a grazier and staying on the land…which grew into being a singer (no really I’m not that good but kids do dream!!!!), I distinctly recall loudly declaring to my parents that I wanted to be just like Dolly Parton when I grew up

(what was I thinking? You know, I never knew why a guitar was shaped that way until I saw her hold one).

I had many ideas about working for Playschool! I loved Playschool! I wanted to learn several languages, study Art, teach Art and travel the world. But always with a home to come back to….and even in my immature mind I wanted to have a family complete with a Husband as wonderful as my Dad was, and children (although I thought 2 was enough…hmmm). Ah dreams!

On leaving High School, most of us left our lofty ambitions entrenched firmly in our childhood where they belonged and set about living life on a whim. Isn’t it interesting how well-rounded an education we receive when we are doing the steering, directing and decision-making. It’s in those times that we “grow”. We tackled our new found liberty on leaving school. Some of us studied, some worked, some travelled, some completed degrees and became known by that, others have swapped from field to field doing many things. Whatever it was that you did then, it may be a far cry from what you have become. Somewhere along the way you ‘became’ something.

You are a Mother! Enter the biggest growth phase of your life! A time where your dreams/wants/desires get placed out of reach. You live life for another now, you have responsibilities and expectations and demands. You sacrifice yourself, sometimes unknowingly, for those you love dearly. You live your life “on hold”. That speaks volumes about how much you love and care for your family.

It’s just there is an innate desire in each of us for self-improvement that can’t be brushed aside.

You were made that way. Just because you have brought another life into the world that relies on you, doesn’t mean that your needs cease to exist.

“Mums, too, have a legitimate need to grow as individuals, to develop their talents and abilities (doing) as well as strengthen their character (being).” (Elisa Morgan & Carol Kuykendall)

It is possible to care for your precious little ones and yourself. So what! if something doesn’t get done, or you eat frozen veggies for Dinner, or the washing doesn’t get folded… You will be a much better person, and parent, if you take some time (even as little as 15 minutes) to nurture your self!

Ready, set, Grow!

Read, walk, write, draw, paint, sew, dance, play, type, plan, decorate, shop, cook, sing- whatever it is that you would really love to do!

Decide today to use your unique God given abilities and dust off your dreams.

Which will you choose? To be a human doing or a human being?

As Mothers...

"As mothers, none of us want to look back in regret that we
did not take our children to the playground, kiss them, hold them,
and put them to bed,' 

says Heather Hurd, author of A Book of Hope for Mothers. 

'The time we spend with our children when they are young
is irreplaceable -- for them and for us.'"

Live A Life Of Design

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. --Stacia Tauscher

We can learn much from our children. They delight in even the most ordinary things, they find ways to play with whatever they have. Whether it is a discarded box, toilet roll or somebody’s shoe….even car keys possess a little mystery and warrant a thorough inspection by the Toddler Police! Everything inevitably finds its way into the mouth; every sense is used to ‘check this thing out’.

My children at various times have conducted elaborate games with seed pods, the little dark almost tear drop shaped ones. It seems that whenever I am washing inevitably I will have to take these and a variety of other unexpected little presents out of pockets. Leaves of all shapes and sizes have been boats or stickers or baby blankets or artwork. The glittering whirlwind of dust particles that swirl around and through streaming sunlight has been glitter falling from fairies wings or simply viewed as something very magical to behold. Pegs have been soldiers, paddle pop sticks have been gloriously gowned princesses and my sarongs have been veils, painting aprons, turbans, baby slings, capes and even a running river! Radio and Television advertising jingles are great compositions worthy of singing at the top of your lungs or dancing and twirling to. I heard recently that adults laugh on average- 15 times a day; whereas children laugh on average- 400 times a day!

Who would you rather be like?

When is it exactly that a box becomes-just a box?

A jingle something to mute and toilet rolls, rubbish?

I think it’s when we start taking things for granted, when we learn to shut down the ‘think centre’ of the neck-top computer. When we have ‘system error’ and cannot log-on. In the same way that our computers pick up viruses or bugs from associating with the Internet and other people’s computers, we allow things to get us down, kow-tow to other people’s demands, start looking for all the problems and bad things in our life, start comparing ourselves to the flash new model on the market and slowly but surely become bogged down in rut Ville!

This is not the life you were intended to live! You are allowed to have joy in your life; you can see the fun in simple things again…. We get caught up in making a living rather than designing a life! Live a life of design! Not one of resign….. I heard a very wealthy man say once…

“All those little things that get to you are like tiny pinpricks that eventually let the air out of your life.”

Why not let the child within you out to play, laugh more, and seek out some fun in the everyday? Lighten up! Bring a joke to the Dining table once a week. Learn from Jesus, he wasn’t driven by other people’s demands. In Matthew 11:30, he says “Keep Company with me and you will learn to live freely and lightly”.

Having Fun Yet?

The ache for home lies in all of us; The place where we can go as we are and not be questioned -Maya Angelou

From Karen A-D's cluttered desk… (Because she’s out, involved in frivolous or hectic activity!)

FUN=a source of enjoyment, amusement, diversion, etc. Pleasure, gaiety, or merriment. Jest or sport. Frivolous or hectic activity.

FUN! Have you ever heard the saying that “the family who plays together stays together”…? Perhaps you’ve heard it with the word ‘couple’ substituted for ‘family’. Either way, it’s a compelling thought for all of us parents today!

How do we put that ‘Fun’ element into action?

How do we make it happen?

How do we take our eyes and ears away from the tyranny of the urgent and turn them onto our little children, and spouse?

Those very people that we yearn to know deeply and walk through life in close relationship with! I think like everything worthwhile in life, we choose to! It’s up to us! We have the power in our own hands to determine the temperature of our homes… Our Fun-O-meter responds to the choices, decisions and actions we make! We need to step up here, take charge and make it happen, it’s up to us. Nobody wants to live a life of quiet desperation or frustration. We enter into this role of ‘Mum’ to train our little ones, to guide them, to love, nurture and protect them. The best way to do that is by making it fun for them and yourself! I admit there are times when I feel so overwhelmed that the idea of adding another thing to the agenda seems crazy… but then I take in a little bit of ‘perspective’… by asking myself; is it really going to matter in 5 years if this washing gets folded today? Or if the house was tidy today? I believe it’s going to matter more then, that the time I took away from doing those things and investing in a little silliness with my kids; dancing, reading, chasing, teasing, marveling, BEING…. is soo much more important and, necessary! Our lives are so crammed full of deadlines, schedules, meeting needs etc. that sometimes we need to take stock of where we’re headed long-term. As Dr. Heartsill Wilson put it….

A New Day

This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it- or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it! When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good, and not evil; success, and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price that I have paid for it.

The easiest and most enjoyable way to do that for everybody; is with fun! I read recently that “your home will always be the most beautiful when you stretch out your arms in welcome!” So, I encourage you to welcome your children and your partner into your home with open arms, tender hearts, and joy on your face. Plan for and set aside a regular ‘family night’. Play board games, go on picnics, play dress-ups, lie down on the rug with your baby, go through a car-wash with your toddler sitting on your lap, turn up the radio, turn out the lights and have a disco night, run through the sprinkler on a hot summer’s day, lay out your sleeping bags in the lounge room and all have a sleep over watching movies and eating popcorn…. Add your own special touches to your family.

What do you want your kids to remember about you when they grow up?

Could it possibly be that they had a mum who was willing to play? My prayer for today is put so eloquently by Emilie Barnes: “Life is about Living! Dear Lord, let me live fully each day and find time for laughter so that Your joy is always evident in my home.”

Mum = A Drink Of Water

Just as I was putting my children down to bed one day, I bent over to kiss Josie goodnight and said “Goodnight Ski-jump” to which she responded…. “Goodnight drink of water”. I laughed at what seemed like a strange choice of pet name for me, and asked why am I a drink of water? Her reply floored me;

“Mummy you are a drink of water because we (referring to her brother and sisters as well) need water, we’re not allergic to it, you give it to all of us all the time and it’s good for us”.

Suddenly I realised that what started out as one of our family games had resulted in a beautiful example of what my job as Mum is!

My bright little girl had a better grasp of what my role was than I did. She chose water because it is life-giving; nourishing; essential for life; readily available; everyone can drink it, ie/they’re not going to have an allergic reaction to it and it’s healthy! The parallels here are many…. A mother gives life to her child. A mother nourishes and nurtures her child. Her child depends on her for protection and guidance. A Mum pours herself into her children and her family. She is always there for her child, to love, support and protect. Everyone needs their Mum! And mums are good for you! Mum’s even experience their own form of precipitation!!!

It’s been said; that if you wanted to see a living, breathing physical example of Jesus today…. Just look at a mother….. Jesus is the ultimate life-giver! As essential for our daily living and dietary requirements as water itself… and lets face it, we are made up of mostly that--water! He is the definitive thirst-quencher.

My prayer for you is that you drink deeply…..

Jesus himself said…. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38

Mirror Image

Isn’t it funny how we can just cruise on through daily life with nary a thought about those innocuous little things like the speckles of toothpaste splayed over the Bathroom mirror and then all of a sudden you can’t NOT notice.

Your reflection in the mirror seems marred by the artfully arranged spots – of, well, toothpaste spit eeeoooew- that your precious family have left there as evidence of their last several brushing episodes! Little darlings....

There’s a couple of ways to look at this I guess.

1. You have proof, they actually do clean their teeth!

2. your outward appearance really doesn’t matter that much or you would have noticed the “spots” sooner

3. or could it be more accurately said that you are lucky if you get Breakfast in the morning let alone time to put on your day face

4. you know it’s bad when your 5 year olds start playing dot to dot

5. you know who the culprits are because the “spot” line is considerably lower than your reflection

I think we are really good at going on our way, squeezing as much as we can out of each day. But every now and then the “spots” just stick out. They become glaringly obvious, and where we barely even noticed them yesterday, today we can’t stand them. Strangely reminiscent of our role as a parent. We cruise along, keeping everybody fed, afloat, organised, fed, bathed, happy, clean, wiped, fed etc and then their flaws slap us up the side of the head. Hello! You catch yourself thinking…

“Will he ever learn?” “Will they ever close their mouths when chewing their food?” “Will she ever learn to wipe her own bottom?” “Will I ever get a full night’s sleep?” “Will they just do what they’re told?” “Will I ever get on top of my washing?” “Actually will I ever get my washing sorted/folded/put away?” “Will I ever get to draw/read/watch a movie/eat my own meal/have an uninterrupted adult conversation again?”

I wonder if that is how God sees us. Are our profiles obscured by the spotty record of our comings and goings? Are our flaws more glaringly obvious on some days than others? Undoubtedly they are. However I believe that God is the only one who really sees us. Who overlooks the speckles of lingering “baggage” from our past that we insist on dragging around. And he loves us for the people we are. In his eyes you are nothing but a pure and beautiful person, and he loves you.

Psalm 139 (New International Version)

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, ^[a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to ^[b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

I’m off to clean by Bathroom mirror, to lovingly wipe away every spit and speckle left there by our children. And I’m going to do it with a thankful heart, thankful that God chose me to be their mum, thankful that they are a precious part of my life, thankful that most of the time I overlook these spots because I guess really in the scheme of things….it’s no biggie….

Thankful that you didn’t drop in today with it looking like that!!!!

Dummy Mummy

I have been replaced!

I know that when you take on the roll of primary educator, sooner or later it's going to happen. You are going to be replaced! When your children are small you are the smartest Mummy in the world. It appears your IQ level and general knowledge seems to decrease proportionally as their little legs increase. I have twin 5 year olds who think I'm pretty clever, it's so lovely....That wide eyed trusting is so precious and so very short lived I can tell you.

Miss 9 and Miss 8 have taken it upon themselves to point out the flaws in my statements, correct my pronunciation and even (to my absolute disgust) argue categorically that I am WRONG!!!! Hmmmm, not good! The thing is, Miss 9 makes these sweeping statements based entirely on her opinion and wonders why people argue with her. It's really very funny when you are removed from the front line verbal assault she has launched.

My parents always used to make those really annoying yet cuttingly accurate observations, like

"it's better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt!" or "would you THINK before you open your mouth!"

I think Miss 9 has been around her Mother too long, not only have I reached my use-by date but I'm just too familiar. She is genuinely astonished when I actually know something she doesn't! And when I'm feeling particularly brave I correct her pronunciation....simple things like pronouncing "heir" "hair"....

Have you ever heard of "baby brain" or the fact that with the passing of each placenta, your brain function diminishes? I think God planned it that way so there wouldn't be one child families all over the world. We have to forget about childbirth, that hurts!!!!

Just as an aside I liken childbirth to pushing out a pineapple....

Well, I have had 4 placentas which should explain my struggling synapses! Nearly a decade has passed since my firstborn came into the world loudly declaring her opinion even at birth! Perhaps she's just one of those kids, born crying out her opinion and continuing to do so even today. It's just the details that have changed: in this case the length of her legs and my decreased brain function. Really I am still wearing most of her verbal barrages. I'm sure these attributes will suit her well later in life, and you never know maybe one day soon she'll ask my opinion.... For now, I will be content to deflect the onslaught of her newly formed opinions, reliably fielding her questions as effectively as a Google search page.

Oh no I can hear a commotion in the background Miss 9 is directing Miss 8, Miss 5 and Mr 5. Time to enter the fray I feel. Okay, deep breath, arrow prayer for wisdom...shoulders back........

Oh my, what long legs she has!!!!

Time To Take Down SuperMUM!

To know me—who I am and who I am not—is to love me.

It’s time to take down Supermum!

She has to go. The damage she does to you is HUGE! You are soooo much more than the “Supermum” illusion tricks you into thinking you need to be! There is inside you a great person, a fantastic mother, a friend, a comforter, a whole myriad of beautiful and complex pieces that blend together uniquely to reveal the real you. I can hear you thinking…..

“But you don’t know me”

that’s just it. I believe that we women suffer universally from a low self-esteem epidemic. Like a virus it creeps up on us when we are feeling a bit down or lonely. We make the mistake of comparing ourselves to others when things aren’t quite turning out the way they should be, maybe we’ve lost sight of where we’re going, what our purpose is.

The way we view ourselves seems to be a transient day to day thing. Some days we’re pretty cruisey and the next we feel like absolute failures, unworthy, insecure, desperate! I encourage you to abandon the notion that as a woman you can do it all without any help! Help yourself by first admitting to yourself your role as a woman and mother is not easy. You have a lot of needs to meet, but you aren’t giving yourself a chance if you’re doing it all. Perhaps as a result, you’re not too exciting to be around either. You can’t go back and change yesterday, but today is a new day. What happens today is in your control, your thoughts, and your choices. You can do this! Focus on what really matters. Don’t be embarrassed to be who you are, there is no-one else exactly like you in the whole world! Be the mum you were designed to be, not the “ideal woman” but the real woman! God made you for this. As Emilie Barnes wrote so eloquently;

“Your life as a mother is a life of significance before the Lord”.

I know that it’s hard sometimes; I have struggled with my own self-esteem for my entire life. It seems we are indelibly programmed to think the worst of ourselves at any given moment. I know I am. However I also know that I have a loving God who knows me intimately and STILL loves me, who wants the best for me and is protecting me. Did you realise that you are worth the life of his son?

Bless you.

Weary Mummy

As a mum chances are, you’re a self-sacrificing champion! 

Are you looking after yourself? 

Do you have time for stillness? 

Time to soothe your soul and recharge?  

Our lives are so filled up with “stuff” that we literally get to a point where we can’t hear ourselves think! I know for myself; when I can’t afford the time to stop or slow down, that’s usually the time I most need to. Kind of like a wind-up toy…the more I give out, the slower I get…. until eventually I can’t give anymore and I come to a standstill. Then I have to take the time to wind up my own energy reserves, so that I can keep powering on.

It’s in these times that I lean on God. I find a small window of opportunity to simply be still, let everything go and let God take over. I cling to the promise of Psalm 29:11 “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” He’s got it covered! He’s looking out for me and he will keep me going, even if that means stopping for a moment. Taking my turn, before being wound up again.

Easy said, but how do we recognise those pockets of stillness to recharge ourselves? I think the answer lies in choosing to grab hold of them, wherever you’re at, with simple pleasures! I can hear you saying… “But how?”

Maybe for you it could be by; taking a walk, getting outside to breathe, lying on your back looking up at the shapes in the clouds, taking a long shower with some aromatic shower gel, painting your finger/toenails whilst the children are sleeping, ringing a friend to catch up, having a cuppa and reading for 15 uninterrupted minutes whilst Playschool’s on, praying, putting on a face masque, taking a soak in a bubble bath with only a candle for light (after the kids go to bed), having a foot spa, listening to “Focus on The Family” (on 106.5FM at 10am or 9:30pm), writing an encouragement note for somebody, getting a haircut, buying yourself something special, putting on some music turning it up and singing LOUD, going to the Gym, or for a swim, taking a nap, going out to Dinner with your Hubby, having a water fight, going away for a weekend, reading, drawing, getting down and playing with the kids, reading an Officework’s catalogue…. I mean who knows, whatever energises you!

When we take a moment to savour a few simple pleasures we might just come back a nicer “Mummy”. For each of us it’s a different thing. What recharges you? I really encourage you to find a way to find that stillness, cut the stress down to size and rediscover the fun. I really love the way Emilie Barnes puts it in her book “Keep It Simple For Mom’s On The Go”:

“I see you in the stillness of early morning, Lord. I listen for your voice in the stillness of an afternoon moment of rest. When I pause to hear the song of a bird, I am letting myself breathe in your peace.”

Tell me, are you letting yourself breathe?

God Rest you!