Clay Jar People

Do you walk around the house in a frump? Constantly wearing tracksuits? Never bother doing something nice with your hair?

Then do yourself, your husband and kids a HUGE favour and read this book! Sarah Mae is awesome, her blog is the second one I started reading many moons ago, and she has inspired me over and over with her posts.

Frumps to Pumps is not a book to guilt you into dressing up, but rather as Sarah Mae puts it, a motovotional (a motivational devotional), with daily motivations and challenges to help you get dressed in the morning. This 20-day challenge is perfect for moms with small kids, as Sarah breaks the challenges up into bite-size chunks.

(isn’t she lovely?)

As a mom of 3 kids, age 6, 4 and 2, she has a really good idea of how chaotic life can be with littles. She really inspired me to make an effort to get dressed, and realise the heart behind it – so the godly reasons to get dressed.

One part I really loved and that challenged me, is this:

“My life is an ongoing story that my children are reading every day. What kind of a story am I?”

That’s such a challenge in all scopes of life!!

I loved this book and really challenge all my readers to get this e-book and read it!!

I love this post… and I really needed it. I am a busy person, I need to be doing something at all times or I feel like I’m wasting my time. I also feel the need to do something like cleaning or tidying or cooking or cleaning or cleaning all day. Which means I inadvertently feel that my son is interrupting my attempts at doing things…

Sarah Mae is a blessing to so many women, and this post of hers is really awesome! Go and read it NOW!

I am copying the resolution part here, but please, I implore you to read the entire post!

My Mama-Resolution

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 (ESV)

I resolve, before God and by His grace, to intentionally bring up my children in the training and instruction of the Lord.

I will give my children my time and attention during the day, choosing not sit down with my computer between the hours of when my children wake up to when they take naps/quiet time in the afternoon, or in the evenings before they go to bed.

I will read to them out of God’s Word every morning and teach them how to love God with all their heart, mind, and soul.

I will be kind and compassionate, and sensitive to their needs and their age.

I will help them to face their sin, go to God, and accept forgiveness and grace. I will remind them that they can never lose my love, and if they know God, they can never lose His love.

I will show respect to my husband, especially in front of my children.

I will play dollies, dragons, ponies, games, or do projects with my children at least once a day.

I will take them on adventures and show them the wonder of God through nature and art.

I will teach my son to be a gentlemen, to be brave, to serve, and to protect the weak. I will trust my husband to teach my son to be a man.

I will teach my my daughter to be strong and dignified, to serve, to be modest, industrious, and how to be a mother and homemaker.

I will pay attention to my children’s bents so I can nurture them in developing their giftings.

I will pray for my children every day.

I will tuck my children in with songs, blessing, and prayers every night. I will not rush this time.

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

I love this Psalm… and in the last few months it has become somewhat of a mantra for me. With the choices we have made as a family to live in God’s light and not in the world, even if its hard financially etc, these verses have been an encouragement.

That said, due to the choices we have made, we have been consistently attacked by Satan. He knows that we are trying to live a godly life and live a life in the world but not of the world, and so its feels as though he is challenging that and trying to break us.

I feel that God is calling us to stand stronger as a family, to stand stronger in Him and to place Him at the centre of everything in our lives. We try, but we fail, and so now the pressure is on.

As a couple, Chris and I have really been through a ridiculous amount of stuff in 8 years together, the bulk of which while we were fairly newly-married. I prayed then that if the Lord wants this marriage and this family for Himself that He help us and save us. He is good! He is really a God of promises, and the one promise He gave me during the darkest part of our life was Jeremiah 31:3 – The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
This verse is true today also, His love for me has sustained me, and has helped to love my family more.

In the past year, God has laid family on my heart, and raising our family for Him, in all ways, in the amount of children we have, in whether we send them to school or homeschool and in laying on our hearts to have our children in the church with us, as opposed to sitting in creche or Sunday School. All of these decisions, have been attacked by Satan, through friends and family. And it hurts.

It hurts and makes me doubt myself and fills me with guilt, “am i a bad mother and wife?” or “am i failing as a mom because i don’t do what everyone else does?”. It sucks! I know that I’m not perfect, but that through God’s grace I can be perfect in His sight… however this does not make me a perfect mother, or wife.

Unfortunately, Satan also uses one of my favourite things, blog reading to make me feel inferior, so instead of feeling inspired to do cool things with my family, I feel like I’m failing because I’m NOT doing those things. I feel like I am juggling too many balls and they will all come crashing down.

Another part of my problem I think is also that we have effectively been in the same church that I grew up in since I was 11. I have hordes of history in that church, and some people remember me one way… not necessarily a good way. Maybe they don’t but I feel like they do. Chris and I have also been very hurt by people in that church and mostly well-meaning people showing apparent concern. This stuff all happened years ago and I have forgiven, but it still gets to me in occassion. I no longer feel at home there. Yes, its a great bible-teaching church, and I have some really amazing friends there, I am just not sure it is where God wants us to be. I know that there is no perfect church and that people will always hurt you, so no need to inform me. I also feel that real friends will remain no matter which church we are part of.

This whole novel-length post is really a mixed up way of me saying that we as a family are trying to hear God’s word for us and follow Him. If that means packing up and going somewhere outside our comfort-zone, then so be it. He has opened doors for us since day one, and He is still opening some doors. One of which being Chris’s new job, and whatever goes along with that. I trust Him to help us decide where to go from here, as we know he will lead our family. We want a family that can be strong in God, not in our own power – in which case we will fail. Heck, the only way I have managed so far, being a fairly-decent mama (although Satan would have me think otherwise) is by His GRACE! Daily I need grace to face the challenges a toddler throws at you.And daily He provides it. Daily He blesses my family… maybe not in the ways we expect or think we want/need, but in the right ways for His glory’s sake.

I am blessed with a lovely man, who loves me and works really hard for our family, and tries to do God’s will. We are blessed with a little boy we never thought we could have, who challenges us daily to grow in patience, and who teaches us things about God and His wisdom, love and grace that we never could have learnt another way. We are blessed with friends and family who love us, encourage us, rally around us in times of need, and pray for us.

Yes, blessed indeed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord!

i am going through a season where i think God may be trying to teach me something about being thankful. its a trying time. its about being thankful for what i have and what He has done instead of focussing on what could be or what i would like to have.

its a hard lesson really.

i have so much to be thankful for, yet daily i am inundated with things i want. things that would make me happier, make my life easier, or just seem great at the time. a bigger house would make my life so much easier, with direct garden access and such. another kid would be so awesome, as elijah would have a friend. a dishwasher, a washine machine… the list go on.

God is teaching me these things… (i know the lessons but i am still trying to accept them in my heart):

(source)

(source)

but most of all, He is teaching me this…

(source)

so while i don’t get what i would like even when i think its part of God’s plan, i know that He has always given me what i need. and i know that His timing is perfect, so i will get the things i dream of when He deems the time to be right.

until then, i shall be content and happy with my little family in our little flat, praising God for His love and goodness and provision for us.

listening… chirping birds, ticking clock… silence

eating… ate some tuc biscuits

drinking… going to get coffee shortly

wearing… jeans and a cream shirt

feeling… sad.

weather… cool, but sunny.

wanting… money. kids. big house.

needing… some sleep and chocolate

thinking… Faith in God means faith in His timing – even when it feels like His timing is out…

enjoying… some me-time

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
Pablo Picasso

At Mammas and Munchkins this morning, Elijah painted there lovely pictures with EDIBLE paint! He had heaps of fun… and insisted on giving the bottom picture to Uncle Daniel and the top one is especially for Ouma and Oupa.

Kudos to Cindy, Kirsty, Zoe and the team of fabulous creative mammas who organise the monthly Mammas and Munchkins meetings!

Mooshka is a special quilt, made with love and it is loved by Karla. Its her constant companion, and comfort. It tells stories of days gone by, whenever Karla touches a block of colour on it. Until one day, when baby Hannah arrives… suddenly Mooshka is silent.

This is a sweet story, which I think would help teach children to share and be kind to their younger siblings. I was drawn to the book because my mother-in-law makes the most beautiful quilts and has gifted Elijah with a whole lot of them. One day I will tell him stories about all the quilts, and maybe, just maybe the quilts will tell stories of their own to him… or his children.

I really enjoyed this book and would really recommend it for young children, especially older siblings in preparation for a new baby.

(I received an electronic copy of this book, via the NetGalley program. I was not reimbursed for my review, and all opinions herein are my own.)

So I never thought I would actually speak about this topic on my blog… never thought I would review a book on sex. Oh well, you have to live on the edge I guess ;)

I actually thoroughly enjoyed The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex, it really opened my eyes to some things. Although it is very graphic at times, there is definitely no room for misunderstandings.

I really enjoyed how Shiela emphasised that sex is really a gift from God, and that the world warps it, and our minds to think otherwise. It made me realise that eventhough I have been a Christian for many years and been married for 4 years, I have a world-view of sex that is not God’s view. She helps and challenges us as women to change that view.

I have previously mentioned our take on birth control… here and here. So I must add that this part of her book was one I did not agree with. But that is just how God has led us as a couple.

The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex is for soon-to-be married girls, newly-weds and women who have been married for many years. It is full of sage advice and helpful tips. All based on the Word and how God designed us for sex.

You can buy the book via Amazon. I highly recommend it.

(I received an electronic copy of this book, via the NetGalley program. I was not reimbursed for my review, and all opinions herein are my own.)

I have officially found kiddy-heaven… and hey, its nirvana for moms too!

The Greenpoint Bio-Diversity Park.

Its FREE… its in Cape Town… and it has the most awesome freaking play areas!

There is a special fenced in area for the toddlers to play in, which leaves moms with the chance to mildly relax, and not stress that their mad toddler will end up at the stadium. The play apparatus is all safe and made for little kiddies. Special swings, a low slide, a weird funnel shaped roundabout… all just for under 6′s. The ground under these amazing play-things is a cork-like material, which means less of “Jack fell down and broke his crown”.

I went there with 2 friends and our total of 5 kids, and it really was great. We could chat a bit while the kids played all the while resting in the knowledge that our kids could not escape.

Another fab feature of the park is the adventure course for kids from age 6 to 16… man I wished I was 16…
The climbing things and the swings all called my name… well my 16-year-old name!

I wish I could live closer… and go every day…