sunny days :: happy days

 How gorgeous is she even with an endless runny nose.

Friends.....at this moment anyhow.

They are encouraging each other to throw things in the fountain at our local courtyard cafe.

the sweetest gift

This is where I keep the most special gift I have ever received.   On my pillow.  This arrived some weeks back from a friend across the world on another continent.  Let me share with you this amazing gift of 

love.

The card read :: Iv'e made this prayer shawl especially for you.  I prayed for you as I was knitting, then a group of ladies laid their hands on it and we prayed the prayer that is enclosed with the shawl.  You have become such a dear friend to me and I hope with this shawl you can feel truly wrapped in prayer.

I am amazed and humbled by this profoundly moving gift.  From a woman who is going through her own share of hardness right now.  This is truly one of the moments of knowing in a deep way that you belong to a spiritual family knitted together by the spirit of God.

As you wrap yourself in this shawl of comfort...Father, Son & Holy Spirit wrap you in their all -encompassing love this day.


May you find comfort from all that appears too much to bear at this moment
from all that feels as if it might be the breaking point
from all that seems to threaten your peace of heart.


May this shawl be : a shelter for times of overwhelming grief
a shade in times of sorrow too deep for words
a shield from unimaginable loss.


May you be comforted by the presence of those who love and support you
by faith in the eternal Loving one.
by the memories of what you hold most dear.


May you be strengthened
in your daily comings and goings
in your tentative new beginnings
in your unfolding new memories


Blessings of the Angel of Comfort be with you
And all you love, now and forevermore. Amen.

happy birthday

 The most amazing bunch of enormous flowers :: just gorgeous!

 An hour of time alone, walking our beautiful city in the sun on a glorious spring day.

 Moments of curiosity about the heritage of some lovely old building I saw.

A meeting with friends for a surprise birthday treat :: afternoon tea :: the fancy way at a hotel in town.

sunday cake

 Pink Velvet Cake.  Inspired by my friend Angie.  She bakes too.

My real reason was to totally show off my new glass cake display stand keeper thingy.  I have wanted one for so many years and finally, I am that one step closer to a kitchen bench that would make Martha Stewart proud.  

The first days of spring

 Felix and his friend George playing on the swings at the Margate train.

The smalls drawing at their new art desk. A bargain for three dollars at the tip shop...what an amazing find!  Naturally Felix is in charge and has directed me to position Miss Belle right beside him for instructions.  She is just rather happy chewing on the pencils.  She is not a very good student.

Always a request for more "chocolate chip muffins"  the term used to describe all cakes and biscuits and other delicious things to eat.

 Focused on building a "fantastic" tower for mum.

 Little Annabelle who is always happy playing on the back deck in the sun.

Everybody is "a bit sad" (another of Felix's fave quotes) that all the toys have gone now that someone has taught Annabelle to throw them downstairs.

 A garage sale bargain.  A train set that really works and is lots of fun to watch.

A visit from Willow the Wombat who lives at Felix's school.  Willow managed to survive all the attention bestowed by the kids and is now safely back at school after spending the week at our place.

 
He had a lovely time with his new friend Teddy.

 Not even a hint of crawling now for this big girl.  She is so fast on her feet now.

Her pretty little curls are growing by the day into tight little ringlets.  She is such a precious little sweet thing.  She babbles all day long and can say mummeee, baby and car.  She is particularly proud of car.

Hiatus

It's been a while since I have had the will to write. I had let the uninformed and misguided critique of a lonely old woman get the better of me.  This blog is not just about shallow everyday events........ as if I have the luxury of that being all that occupies my thoughts.

This is my way of choosing to see the special in the ordinary.  It is choosing to enjoy and record and share the brief time I have as guardian to my children and to value all the mundane and sometimes repetitive tasks that comprise my day.

This is me choosing to live and see beauty despite ugly circumstances.  This is me sharing and wanting to know and be known, as an extension of my honesty and transparency.  This is me choosing to look the giants of defeat squarely in the eyes and not flinch.

I have cared too much in years gone past what people thought about me and who I am.  These days I am brave enough to blog and invite people to see a part of me and know that I have a lot to offer.  Mostly I think people like it because I am real and I am flawed, I live in a flawed world, with flawed people yet I still have desire to live and live big.  

People can relate to the ordinary.  It brings connection and solidarity.  It makes my sisters' day to see their precious little ones so far away in the simplicity of their daily activities.

So I will keep writing, keep living and keep dreaming despite the small beginnings of the new normal of my life.  There is hardly enough energy or hours in the day to write, let alone think of something to say that is positive.  That was after all the intention many months ago when I started.  My children need three of me instead of the worn out one that I am. 

There is so many things to enjoy right now and to look forward to so I will share in coming weeks because it has been far too long away from the keyboard.