2013

I have been thinking a lot lately about my 'goals' for this year. I was a little too preoccupied over the New Year with having a baby and all to set down any resolutions ideas. (There is no point in trying to fool myself into believing that I am the type of person who will ever successfully master the idea of New Year resolutions. They always only last a maximum of 3 days before I have totally forgotten about them!!)

My goal for this year is to be more purposeful in how I live my life. To be intentional in my parenting, to spend deliberate time in prayer (and not just those fleeting prayers that seem to be all I ever manage) to be intentional in the time I spend with my husband and intentional in my thankfulness for the small things that make up my day.

My beautiful friend Anna gave me this book a couple of years ago when we were going through some particularly hard trials as a family and it was completely inspirational - helping me to discover beauty in the small details of life that are so easily overlooked. I think I need to read it again!! I found last year that despite there being SO much to be thankful for, I constantly found myself focusing on the negatives - there never seemed to be enough of anything to go around - whether it was time, energy, faith, money or patience!!

Here I was expecting a much loved and anticipated baby (God took home three babies at 16, 8 and 7 weeks prior to blessing us with Theo) Tim had just started an amazing new job - one he had dreamed of having for a long time, we had moved into a beautiful  home, our children were settled and happy and to top it off Tim and I were able to have a 10 day break in Melbourne for the first time since we got married 15 years ago!! 

Like I said - SO much to be thankful for and yet here I was complaining about things I KNEW better than to complain about! God has shown me time and time and time again that he has our lives firmly in his hands, that I don't to worry or fret about anything that I simply need to just Trust Him.

Soooo... this year WILL be different.

I purpose to be Thankful. To delight in His unending love and unfailing mercy, to celebrate beautiful sunrises, fragrant roses, little sticky fingers, freshly baked bread and milky smiles...

I purpose to be Prayerful. To spend deliberate time everyday thanking my Saviour for blessing me with so many gifts and to seek His help and wisdom as I endeavor  to live a life that honours Him.

I purpose to Love my husband and spend deliberate time everyday with just him.

I purpose too to Parent my kids better. To remember to protect and train their precious hearts individually not lump them altogether to make it easier in the moment! To remember that I am growing adults - not just kids, to have a future focus to my parenting...

Starting today.

xxx

10 days.

When our wee babe was 10 days old the very talented Levinia came and took the most adorable photos of him. I am thrilled to have this beautiful record of his early days...

xxx

Billy.

Yesterday our beautiful Billy turned 8. It was a wonderful celebration of this precious child's life so far... he is the most organised, precise boy with a big heart! 

We love him to bits. 

   

the cake

the clues

Billy was given an envelope when he woke up.. it was the first clue of 6 that led him on a treasure hunt to find his new bike!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR PRECIOUS FOURTH CHILD

xx

New Beginnings..

why hello there!

Welcome to my blog.. a place for me to reflect, share and record our Crazy, Mad but Beautiful life as a family of eight.
This is something I have wanted to do for a while but I have never made the time.. however we have just welcomed the newest member of our family -  wee Theodore -  and it seemed the perfect time to begin. 
I love the idea of recording the milestones, the ups and downs and the craziness that is sure to be a reality as we adapt and welcome one more.

For the record... so far this journey has been amazing! Theo is 12 days old today and utterly delightful! He is adored by all of us and is already spoilt rotten! Not so much by his dadda and I but by his siblings! They just won't put him down and I for one am thrilled at the way they have welcomed him with such love.

p.s - a big huge THANK YOU to my Mollie for setting this all up for me! xx