God was there

My dear, dear friend Sara is getting married this weekend. She is the last of the Warren girls and to celebrate we organised a weekend away. Before leaving I was a little nervous. Partly it was getting everything ready here at home, partly about leaving Jouke with the kids, partly about having to take Lolly and partly because I wasn't sure how us girls (now women) would get on. The last time we were all together was at my wedding and since then we have all found our life partners and I have had 3 babies.
I needn't have worried. Within minutes it was like old times. Laughing, talking, catching up and sharing some really deep things. The first night we didn't get to bed until about 2am (Note to self: Best avoided with babies who do not understand sleeping in). I haven't had a weekend where God was so present in a very long time. He was part of every conversation and we spend some wonderful time praying together. I came home refreshed. What a blessing to have such wonderful Godly friends!

And to Sara and Ben, I pray that your wedding and the remainder of your marriage will be equally blessed. I hope that you will be able to say "God was there".

The week that's been

I realise that it has been a while since I last posted. Sorry to those who have been waiting for an update. I wanted to post, but this has been a crazy week. Let me tell you what happened.

1. The biggest event has been that Lolly has been under the weather. So besides not eating she hasn't slept for over a week. No, that is stretching the truth. She sleeps some in the day but keeps us up at night. Last night was a better night and I only had to get up to her 6-7 times. I say better because the previous nights we got on average about 1 1/2 hours sleep. She is getting there though and is looking a whole lot happier. Concerning though, is that she isn't gaining weight and hasn't been for the last 2 months and so the community health nurse is coming on Monday to see if they can figure out what is going on. I will keep you posted.

2. Our two pooches decided it would be fun to break through the back fence and go on an adventure. After much searching and praying we found them over 8 km from home.

3. Miss A has got Tonsillitis. She is taking antibiotics (as much as I hate the stuff) and it on the mend, but her disposition is making the days very long.

4. I have applied for a casual position and have been offered an interview. This is happening tomorrow and has got me a little rattled.

5. One of my old friends is getting married in a week. We are taking her away for a few nights this coming weekend. While I am excited about the prospect of being away just getting ready right now seems bigger than me. Also, I am taking Lolly with me a leaving Jouke with the older two. It sounded good in theory, but we will see if it is going to work in practice.


6. My brother and his wife came down for a visit last weekend. We had a great time with them, but with the serious lack of sleep in this house and the resulting mood, I wonder how much fun they had. Sorry guys!

Anyhow, these things happen. But let me tell you, anyone who thinks that parenthood is always great, not true! It is mostly great, but there are times when I want to stop the world and get off. This week has been it.

Picnic in the Woods

Last Saturday Jouke suggested that we head over to the pine forest near-by for a picnic. I packed some honey sandwiches and fruit and we were off. It was so lovely. We sang ABBA songs on the way there, gathered pine cones and hunted for fairies (they were very illusive). Unfortunately I left the camera at home and so these photos were taken on Jouke's phone. We really should endeavor to do these things more often.

Bibs

Our local school holds markets every month. My neighbour suggested that I sell some of my things there. So I am having a go and seeing if I can make some money our of my hobby.

The first thing I am making is plastic covered bibs, because it is the one thing that I have not been able to find in the shops. Once you have tried to get pumpkin stains out of a bib once you can see the value in a bib that cannot stain. I do hope they sell well.

Wish me luck!

Siblings

One of my friends said the other day that while she was surprised by the love she had for her children, she was even more surprised about the love she held for them as siblings - seeing their love for each other, the bond they share and the things they get up to. How right she is!

Refusing to feed

When Miss A was only 7 months old she weaned herself overnight. Suddenly she didn't want a bar of me, completely refusing feed and biting anytime I got near her. It was painful (physically and emotionally) to say the least, but I had no choice, she became a bottle baby.

So far feeding Baby Girl has been going really well. She was gaining weight and doing all the things she should. However, things have changed. Over the last few weeks she has not put on any weight and now she is plainly refusing to latch. The monkey! It looks like she has taken lessons from her big sister and Mamma is not at all happy about it. Pray with me that she will continue to let me feed her. Weaning before mother and baby are ready is difficult and not something I thought I would have to deal with twice.

Challenged by Deuteronomy to turn the TV off

This term in church and in our small groups we have been looking at Deuteronomy. When I first heard what we would be studying I was a little disappointed - surely there were books of the Bible that would be more relevant, more applicable. How wrong I was! Every chapter has been teaching and changing me. Every study I walk away challenged and stretched. Two things in particular have become very clear to me:

1. Our God is a jealous God who demands and expects obedience.
Again and again it is written: The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees...(7:24) and again, Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees and his commands always (11:1) and again, Obey the LORD you God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today (27:10). This phrase is repeated over and over and over and it is followed nearly always by this command: You shall have no other gods before me or The LORD our God the LORD is one (6:4) or Serve Him only... do not follow other gods (6:13-14) or It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere...serve him and hold fast to him (13:14).

While I have known this, read it before, never before has it impacted me quite so. I started to think of all the times I have loved another or something else more than Him. Many, many times!
And then in the middle of the night I was thinking about this world I am raising my children in. My mind flashed back to an episode of Oprah where she talked about god, or a force or a presence or what ever you choose to call it. She talks about spirituality, about finding your centre, about forgiveness and patients. While it all sounds good, never once is God mentioned and when he is he is not the LORD the only, awesome, true God. This realisation made me see how I have let people into my home (by means of the television) preaching and teaching things that are detestable to the Lord. I have become softened and accepting. The Bible talks about people "inciting rebellion against the Lord (13:5)" it states that those people must be purged, stoned and destroyed. How enticed I have been, blinded. Somethings will be changing around here.

2. The Lord's name is holy
Yesterday in church as the Bible was being read, one verse in particular stood out to me:

If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and revere this glorious and awesome name - the LORD your God - the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants...(28:58-59)

Too often I hear God's name used in detestable ways. It roles of people's tongues, used like another adjective, an acceptable swear word. Again I have become softened, it doesn't cut so deep or sound so harsh anymore. The other day Mr. T used it, testing to see our reactions, confused by the messages he is receiving. Quickly we explained that we do not use God's name like that, that it is sin, before returning our attention to the television where minutes later God's name was again misused. Shame on me!

The list of things I have been learning is far longer. God's standard is high and I fall short, so short. However, thanks to God's grace and mercy Jesus has come and placed me in a right relationship with Him. Because of Him I can be called "child of God". I am overwhelmed that that is even possible!