pIECES Of oUR daY

As the brittle and stark days of winter leave trees bare against granite skies. Emmy captures the last blinking glimpses, lingering gazes and fading traces of Autumntime.
Here is our day through her eyes.
With the pictures she found.
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A sycamore leaf surfaces from the birdbath.

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Early morning shivers, blue and crisp as any day in early spring might.
Clouds rustle against the trembling edges of emerald green Bayleaves.
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Details, flutter, pause, wonder, glint. Unassumingly. Washing the days in their own colours. Defining the hours, with their own outlines.

As afternoon wanes, birds chirrup amongst the naked branches of a sycamore tree.

Emmy's candle made of the leftover's of candles, a glass ramakin, some essential rose oil and... Glitter...of course! Will it be lit today? Or saved for tommorrow :0)

Books undercovers! A few favourites ready for an evening read with little ones.

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Lot's of "helpers" making a mess, *ahem* I mean a set of birdfeeders of course!

And here is what you will need, so Emmy tells me:

• 2 and a half cups of wild bird seed.
• half a cup of raisins
• 1 packet of lard
• Lots of wiggly. wriggly messmakers!
• 4 sturdy twigs donated by a kindly nearby tree
• 8 pieces of garden string
• A dust pan and brush and a nice big bowl of soapy water for the floor afterward ;0)

One last picture to share as the pieces of our day scatter gently to the earth like the last of the Autumn leaves. ~

A day with Matilda

Tilly "washing" her little toy dog!

She loves to wear her "Bella- Mina" (Ballerina) dress all day ( everyday) :0)

This week we have started learning phonics! And the best place to start? The begining of course :0) So here is the letter A!!! Both upper and lower case! We have found lots of animals and other things to colour in that start with the letter "A" Online. Letter A Printable Activities Animals A to Z
"and then we found a couple of great sites online for signing. Here's a really good one....
babysigns Which I'm starting up with the girls this year.

Here Tilly signs the letter

"a"

For
apple ( lower two pictures!

And here is the painting she made with Bujana to go along with our bible story for this evening. "The lost Sheep"

Sharing a link

"There are two ways to live your life.

One as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Einstien (1879 - 1955)

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this Incredible Story posted over at Hinds Feet on High Places of high profile abortionist Stojan Adasevic's conversion to the pro life movement. It brought tears to my eyes. Tears of sorrow for all those lost little lives and Tears of amazement at how God tries, tries and tries again to reach into the darkest of places that humans can go. Warning ( it is not an easy read at times )

And a new blog I created called Choosing Life and Joy Created to share a little of my own story to hopefully touch someone elses life in someway for the good. Well that is the hope :0)
God's grace is everything :0)

SACRIFICE ( A post revisited and updated :0)

(c) Tomo Yun www.yunphoto.net/hl/photobase

It is in a womans nature to want to nurture, protect and care for those around them. I've been thinking about this for a while now.

Sacrifice is the way of a Christian life. It is a beautiful aspect to our faith.. The beauty is that when we give we are really only giving a little of something up in order to recieve a part of something so much greater.

Yet, sometimes (at times) even the giving of ourselves can be done for the wrong reasons. We can overly focus on one thing or another and this in itself can weary us. We forget that this is a sign that we are not leaning upon HIM enough. Either by seeking HIS word, praying or doing the thing HE wants us to do even though that thing in itself may seem less important or rewarding or noticable or grand.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

I remember when I only had two girls instead of four! I would get so tired all the time. I was wearied, much more than I am now. Looking back I was not taking HIS Yoke upon me but my own carefully crafted one. The one of " a perfectly clean and well presented home" The one of
"looking especially after my appearance" and the one of "Taking on responsibilities" outside the home which although seemed like they were the right things to do, were in fact simply feeding my sense of personal fullfillment. They were serving my identity, not my soul and not my God.

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'

Eventually, and somewhat conversly with nothing left inside to give I felt myself become even more burdened, even more incapable.

God does provide us with the strength to continue on our ordained path when we need it. He is our rock and fortress when we become weak. Through faith and obedience we are given the grace to endure struggles in life. But sometimes we try to take our own ways instead of his.

Our nurturing, protecting and caring starts to involve issues such as control, pride, idolisation. An attempt to recreate the ideal, picture perfect life that our minds and hearts desire and aspire to instead of allowing life itself to mould us gently.

"Abba Abba Father. you are the potter we are the clay."

We have to allow those gentle rivulets of turning clay change us slowly. If we try to speed up the wheel our whole pot will collapse!

If we are taking on more than we can handle it may be the case that we are not listening to that still, small voice of God within us.

It maybe that we are trying to plough our own field without the necessary tools instead of Gods field where every tool is provided when needed.

By stepping back a little we allow others the opportunity to flourish and grow. My husband and children all help with the chores around the house. I do the largest proportion, which is only fair as I don't work outside the home, however my husband is as hands on with the little ones as I am. As a wife and mother my duties don't stop at 5 pm and as a husband and father my husbands don't either.

If I as a wife and mother take over every responsibility from childcare to household chores am I not robbing other members of my family of the chance to learn how to serve in love and grace within their home. It warms my heart to see my little ones eagerly clamber up the stairs, polishing rags in hand in search of any piece of wood they can find to shine up good as new : )



Robert A. Heinlein: "Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy".


I take great pleasure in watching the older two care for their youngest siblings.


"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings." Hodding Carter

The impression of Jesus related within all of the gospels is one of resounding peace. The time for every eventuality was pre-ordained, he knew this and did not contest it. And He wanted to give this same gift of Peace to us too.

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

I believe God means for all his people whether they be, young or old, male or female, both within the realms of family and community, to work together in praise and servitude for him as well as each other.

Even the best of intentions can come undone if they are not in keeping with Gods plan.

Sometimes all we are asked to do is take a breath.

Inhale his word;

receive his grace.

Here is a great link on the subject from The Flourishing Mother called Take my yoke I found the other day :0)

Blessed be your Name

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.(Isaiah 35:10)

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For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.(Isaiah 55:12)

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Sometimes I look at my life and I feel so overwhelmed. How did I get to be so blessed?
Everyday is filled with grace in some way or other. Yes, there are struggles and tears and trials amoungst the joys and wonders but there are gifts.... Hope, Faith and Love! Transforming and transfiguring all into a song of praise!

Praise that finds a voice to sing with even when the tears sting and the heart aches. Still and silent. A waiting praise where hope flickers once more from the dowsed embers. The ashes of all sorrow. A flame of Love brought to life by the oxygen of a faith in something greater, and more wonderful than we may ever behold. And there is beauty here.

For the whispers of clouds Bring grace and blessing in abundance. And behind them the sun still shines on and on.

All is written by His hand. All is planned " Every hair is numbered" and peace dwells in the sanctuary of His word, that formed the beautiful world, His breath that gives life to all, the children's smiles, the eucharist, the sun that rises in the morning.

There are times when life is really full and bursting at the seams... it seems! Yet droplets of joy sparkle across the whole picture, right to the frayed edges and muddy clots of running colour.
Droplets like Moments, intermissions, silences, pauses, undulations, cadences punctuating the movements of life.
And I think of this song : ( remember toturn off the blog music at the bottom of the sidebar to hear the clip :0)

For life is like a poem.

And my poem is a Poem of Praise. The hope, the mess, the crazziness, the tears, the fears, the wonder, the joy. Blessings. In. Abundance.

And I give Thanks.

Beautiful girls enjoying their books before getting ready for bed.

A new composition on a Sunday afternoon.

Trying so hard with her little wooden needles and ball of moss green wool :0)

These two are best friends :0)

And one funny little baby girl who keeps trying to take a ride on her toy cars, and trains and .... now it looks like it's this poor caterpillar's turn :0)

Autumn 2008

A few details:
Leaves dipped in sunilght, dew glinting like polished jade upon the long green grass. Sheep grazing yonder, gentle and serene.

We walk, wait, gaze, continue. Weave a story in gold and green...

A story wrought among the brambles and ragged grass. A fairy tale maybe? For three princesses ?
A little one sleepy from the fresh air and the glow of the trees, the sparking embers of falling leaves...
Searching for the last speck of a gleaming horizon upon the hillside, a pencil line of glinting silver.

The perfect woodland dwelling for a fairy princess!

Boo finds..... Another leaf.

And I amaze. At the wonder she finds in each and every fallen "treasure" she collects. For her they are all "treasures" to her.

A hundred or more leaves that scatter to the ground around us, similar in form, colour and shape are all uniquly crafted in her sight. Her eyes see.

Her child's eyes see and set apart. To recognise the beauty and sacredness in every stem and vein and frayed edged Autumn leaf that finds her.

Together...
Deer grazing on the meadow beyond.

A church Spire silhoetted against a naked tree.

Beholding the last light of an Autumn evening.

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"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23.

And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. [Genesis, 1:1-3]

Lighting Candles for the world as Family

okay i know i said i was on a break but as usual as soon as i say that i read something i just have to share with you all don't i ;0)

You are called to Evangelization.

Extract from Handbook for today's catholic family.

*A sense of Celebration*

" If we celebrate feast days and make our life festive in expectation of the eternal feast, then we know that life is good, that it is wonderful to live together, that life has an ultimate purpose beyond all the purposes of organized work. We have every reason for contemplation and celebration. We are constantly being invited to rejoice in all that is good, true and beautiful as we recall our roots which come from God who is love, goodness, truth, bliss."

For our Family: One day we will be together sharing God who is love , goodness, truth and bliss. What shall we do to deepen our sense of this eternal adventure and delight as we worship together on Sundays? What shall we do to make our weekends together times of greater joy to remind us of our eternal future?

Influencing Mass Media
"The simplest means of influence is by judicious choice of the products provided b the press, films, cassettes, radio and TV programs; in this way the client speaks forcefully through the market itself.

For our Family: What shall we do as a family to "send a message" to movie makers, TV stations and publishers whose products tear down human life? What shall we do to affirm the ones who are doing good work? What shall we do about trashy TV shows in our own home?

Protecting Human Life
" Our crusades against abortion, against war and mass starvation all must go hand in hand; otherwise we would not be consistent and credible. Those protesting loudly against the threat of nuclear weapons, which can destroy the whole of humankind, do well. But all, while protesting against these striking evils, should ask themselves if they are also willing to make their personal contributions to alieviate dangerous hunger and contagious diseases or to take political action to bring about more generous help to the poorest countries. As the Vatican has documented - the arms race " kills the poor by causing them to starve" And further, they should ask themselves whether they are caring properly for their own health or endangering the health of others."

For our Family: Are we as a family willing to be brave and stand up for what we believe in even though it may go completly against the mainstream? It can be as simple as writing letters, signing petitions, donating money or time to events, organisations and our church. It can mean being a friend to the one who is friendless. Reaching out to the immigrant, the housebound, the young mother or the homeless in our town. We can show that Christ dwells in the least of our brothers and sisters on earth.

Protecting Our Good earth
" Forty years ago nobody would have expected to find a chapter on ecological responsibility in a book about morality in everyday living; only a new world situation and a new knowledge have brought this dimension to the foreground....

" The earth is part of an interaction between the sun and all the planets.....

" This interaction has already been seriously disturbed by recent developments: for instance, the waste of irreplaceable minerals, especially fossil energy resources, and by pollution of water and air. Billions of fish, destined by the Creator to reproduce themselves for all generations, die because of water pollution and as a result of various poisons from industrial wastes. The margin of tolerance of ionizing radiation by industry and armaments has been exceeded in many parts of the world. Asbestos is produced and used in increasing quantities, although it is now known as a principal cause of cancer, second only to excessive smoking."

For our Family: Do we care for the beautiful earth God has created for us like we should? Do we live in harmony with the animals, fish and plant life? It can be as simple as using non toxic products in our homes, walking, riding bikes or using public transport instead of our cars so much. We can make little steps. Recycle, compost, save water and electricity. Eat a little less even. Hand wash and dry clothes and dishes as much as we can. Small steps make a difference.

Transforming the economy

" For today's Christians - more so than for the first generation Christians - active participation in economic life is imperative....

"Once we have exercised our option to view economics under the banner of the Beatitudes we will gradually rid ourselves of our blindness, and begin to realize how frequently and how easily economic success and power are leagued with " unjust mammon" with sinful economic structures, and degrading exploitation and relationships....

"Where people believe in the kingdom of God and concentrate on God's saving justice above all, there the weak and poor are no longer degraded and exploited.

" Where disciples of Christ hunger and thirst for God's justice, there the greed for more money and more power over other's fades away.

" Where believers practice Christ's gentleness, there will be found a solution to conflicts.

" Where people faithfully and gratefully praise the God of mercy, there will be no class hatred, no group selfishness, and no neglect of the handicapped.

" Where believers' hearts are purified by embracing God's love, there will grow a sympathetic understanding of people's genuine needs.

"Where men and women consider themselves highly blessed and honored to be called children of God, there will be total commitment to peace, justice and reconciliation.

" Where people truly believe the message of the Gospel, there will be brave souls like Bishop Romero of El Salvador and thousands of others who are ready to suffer persecution and death for the sake of authentic peace and saving justice. And despite temporary lack of success, they will not lose hope for they have entrusted themselves to God."

For our Family: Does our family make responsible choices when buying products. Do we choose fairtrade wherever possible. Do we recycle, buy secondhand? How much does accumulating, saving and aquiring mean to us as a family? We can make small steps toward, letting go of our need to consume or spend. We can make choices that affect the quality of life of people on the otherside of the world. Do we make choices that affect other's positivly? We can try to be more mindful of how we as a family imprint the world.

Sharing the Good News of Peace.
" What every lover of peace needs is a profound knowledge of Chris, the Prince of Peace, and through appreciation of the peace which he grants....

"Mere passive pacifism, which stands clear of political controversy and other realities, will not do.

As blessed peacemakers ( Matthew 5:9) we must face the realities of life - right on the front line - in order to work for peace in a nonviolent way....

" Mahatma Gandi and Martin Luther King risked their lives and finally sacrificed them for Satyagraha, a system of nonviolence which emphasized the power of truth, love, justice and solidarity in the service of the down trodden. Gandi, though not formally a christian, was a fervent disciple of Christ; he was convinced that this method embodied the central message of the Sermon on the Mount and the life and death of Christ.

" In their ashrams (houses of prayer) the followers of Gandi are trained in the use of Satagraha. They learn that it means nothing less that total dedication to the liberating truth that God is Love and that He is a God of Peace.....

" This Gandian method of achieving social and political reform on the art of detecting our Inner forces of Truth and Love for ourselves and others ( including our enemies) of regarding them as precious gifts of God, and activating them by unwavering love.

" This will require of us the courage to eliminate our primitive patterns of hatred, our trust in menacing armaments, our classification of certain people as " cunning enemies" who fully deserve to be debased.....

" IT is my firm conviction that the only way we Christians can break out of the vicious circle of the armaments race is for all of us to take on the attitude of and apply the skill of Satyagrha. This will be a concrete sign of our faith in the Gospel of Peace, and it should become the most effective " defense contract" we ever made.

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For our Family : We pray for peace within our own homes and in the world beyond. We can seek forgiveness within our own family and our wider world family. We can encourage instead of critisize, and hold out a hand of compassion instead of judgement. We can seek the way of peace together.

These are candle which our family may light to bring the light of Christ into the world. The light of Peace, Goodness and LOVE...
"You are the light of the world" Says Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."




( all "quoted " content apart from biblical quotes are from Father Bernard Haring a leading theologian and spiritual adviser at the second vatican council)