Clay Jar People

I have previously mentioned not being able to hold it all together… and having a bit of envy towards women/moms who seem to be able to cook,clean, raise kids, have great marriages, craft and look like they stepped out of a magazine.

I’m there again.

When I read this post this morning, it helped to let me see its not really just me. Of course, as much as I know it, believing it in my heart is a whole different story.

My cleaning lady resigned, we got a puppy and we all came down with the flu in the same week. Meaning, my house is a tip, I feel like crap, and I’m trying to save the puppy from being tugged/chewed/chased to pieces.

This is where I need to sit. To be still. To focus on Him. To feel His grace.

To realise, this too shall pass, and so quickly. Not only that, but to see the gifts in every moment, even the ones that feel like curses.

I started my list of one thousand gifts, a long time ago, but keep forgetting about it. Now I think its time to consciously work on it. To find the beauty in the chaos. To see God’s grace in every single moment.

I’m praying for new eyes, to see things through His view.
For new lips, to give thanks for everything.
For new ears, to hear His voice in the noise of each day.
For new hands, to give everything I have to Him.
For new feet, to go where He leads.

1. warm tea
2. snuggles with my sleeping boy
3. his laughter at the dogs
4. a small house to clean
5. birds twittering on the deck
6. blogging
7. being close to my folks

…

I feel the need to write something… but what… my brain is stuffy, my nose is running, and I feel generally awful. But I am content, it just dawned on me.

My house is a mess, with me feeling poorly I haven’t gotten to cleaning. But the cleaning lady comes on Tuesday.

I haven’t really cooked this week, or for that matter in a long time, but we have food to eat daily.

Our house is cold, as in it haemorrhages heat in winter, but we have warm blankets and heaters and warm coffee to ward off the cold.

The laundry pile is really high, Elijah has about 3 clean nappies, because of the wet weather and my cold. But thankfully we gave about 30 towelling nappies and a bag of disposables.

I have no transport because the bike’s tyre burst and also needs a service, but thankfully Chris was unharmed in the incident and can drive to work safely and get there dry.

Elijah keeps us awake most nights, but he is healthy, growing and getting teeth.

I know one day I will die, but I know what waits for me is so much better!

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All in all, we are blessed, want for nothing and therefore can be content and joyful.

” Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4

I have been following Ann Voskamp’s blog for a while… wow that lady can write! Now she’s written a book, which I really hope comes to South Africa soon! I am dying to read it. She’s been making lists of things she sees as gifts in her life, for a while now. I actually started doing it too, but as it was in a notebook, I ended up forgetting to do it. I want to try doing it on my blog, it won’t be a set thing, just whenever I have a few things together, I will list them. Its a kind of gratitude journal without it being Oprah-esque.

1. Smell of baby skin
2. Hugs from my husband
3. Having a clean house
4. A warm shower after a hectic day
5. Clean, line dried washing
6. The soft snores of my baby boy
7. The blood that washed away my sin
8. A outlet for my thoughts in blogging

PS… My blog is officially 2 years old :) Yay! Now if only I had cupcakes…

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