20/52

Joel: You let daddy bribe you with Lego to cut your hair yesterday. Dad asked the hairdresser to trim it, but once you were in the chair, you were adamant you wanted it short, like his. I miss your curls, but can't help admiring that grown-up face, now that I can see more of it

Eden: Your sensitive soul continues to capture me, and I love your growing awareness of what you like... and what you don't

Amie: You are not fussy about what you wear, but you are imitating your big sister with your twirls, and headbands, and cute poses when you see the camera in my hands

We are all a bit glassy-eyed and under the weather today, hit with the sniffles, we are rugging up, taking it easy (and I am working on my essay with the box of tissues nearby)

xx

Can it really be week 20 already?! Wow

little by little

I stitched these for beautiful Dee as a little crafty swap. I'll show you the gorgeous doll she sent me in return, the lady has talent!

I have an essay due soon, that I am finding ridiculously difficult. 

My mantra the past week, has been "She is determined. She is determined"

I am focusing on the grace I know He has given me for this time.

And I've needed it.

Keeping on top of washing, and cleaning, and the never ending dinner menu, I have all but thrown my hands up in the air this week and cried, 

"What was I thinking?! I can't do this!"

I have come to the edge of my own "can do" and quitting seems like such an easy, safe option. 

But I determined in my heart when I started this course that I would persevere. Little by little, gradually.

It's the little by little that works.

It's the little by little in the paying off debt, that gets us to financial freedom.

It's the little by little helping the seven year old with the spelling that he is struggling with, that gets him confidently spelling those words he struggled with last week.

It's the little by little each day that we keep doing, and keep doing, and keep doing... that actually sees results.

Even when the little by little seems like such a stretch!

I'm in the stretch with my little, right now.

I feel like I am never going to get the words of this essay down on this page the way I want them. Ideas are refusing to make themselves into structured arguments and I am so at a loss!

But, little by little, I will get there.

Set goal.

Work hard.

Reach goal.

And then I can blog. Properly.

Because I have much to tell you (and show you!)
My niece was born this week. Baby Evie. So cute!
Kristy is home now, and recovering - thank you so much for praying!

I attended The Nursery here in Perth today. Amazing.

I cut off all my hair. And I mean aaaallllllll my hair! [So b r a v e]

And I am going on a trip to Bali at the end of this month, for a bestie's 30th birthday. Excited.

But first, the essay.

I'll be absent here 'till it's done.

Bye for now

xx

19/52

A portrait of my children, every week.

Joel: The bond you have with your Granny is so sweet - happy mother's day to my beautiful mother, who loves my children as much as I

Eden: My little bowerbird, you are a collector of pretties, a hoarder of the teeny tiniest things. I loved collecting these autumnal leaves with you

Amie: You sat yourself down by this tree and played with a collection of leaves and nuts, singing softly to yourself. I want to remember moments like these

xx

Joining with Jodi and the others here.

my kinfolk

This was another of our dinners, this time my turn to host. 

A welcome pause in a week that was riddled with chaos, and vomiting children.

A kinfolk-esque table setting, and a simple Donna Hay meal. 

And the most incredible lemon meringue pie you've ever tasted. Real Italian meringue, home baked. Amazing.

I wasn't going to blog about it, there was a lot going on, and it was the brink of school holidays. I played with my new lens anyway, and now, I'm so glad I did.

My friend Kristy, the beauty on the right is the one I mentioned yesterday.

We have been friends since I was sixteen, and started attending my local youthgroup. She was a youth leader there, a couple of years older than me, with a licence and a car, and a full-time job [aka really, really cool]

Before long, we were friends. 

She drove me, included me, and made me laugh.

Kristy makes everyone laugh. Her brutal honesty combined with her dry sense of humor and the fastest wit on the planet makes her so, so much fun to be around. 

You don't have to put on airs or graces, or pretend. Because she doesn't. 

Plus, she is the most loyal friend.

You know how I'm lazy? She's not. She calls, she invites, she remembers.

She is so loved. And honestly, probably doesn't even see that.

The four of us have seen each other go through a lot. And we've encouraged and prayed.

kinfolk: related or connected, akin, allied

Kristy has been through a lot too. And she is an amazing mother of three.

And this is just one more thing. 

We visited her today. The four of us together in a cramped hospital cubicle, surrounded by curtains (and thankfully, a window with a view)

And she's doing so much better.

Today she could keep her eyes open, and join in on conversation for a little while.

She is a fighter, and God is a Healer.

And I'm thankful for friendship.

And thankful that she'll read this post eventually, and laugh, and make a joke about getting sick so she could get famous on my blog. No, probably an even better joke than that. 

And I will tell her to shut up and bake another lemon meringue pie.

Keep praying.

xx

18/52 & a call to pray

Joel: So at home in the waves, by the sea. A boy after your mama's heart.
Eden: So at home in the arms of your adored brother. You cherish the rare moments he is slow, and affectionate.
Amie: Content.

We stayed with my Daniel's Papa, on our south coast. 
We played from sun up till sun down, and then drank tea, and listened to the stories Papa would tell about when Daniel was a child.
We five shared a bedroom, and often, the king bed. Warm with togetherness.

I cherished the time, as I would, yet a little more.
More, this time, because a close friend of mine is sick.
Really sick. 
The doctors don't know what is wrong, and she was so sick, that while I was away, they placed her in a coma to protect her body, and her brain. 
Thankfully she is awake now, but still hooked up to machines, and barely able to speak.
She's scared, and so are we, for her. But confident in a BIG God who protects, and loves.
I'm putting my faith there, and I'd love if you would too. 

And cuddle those smalls, under your feet, and look into your husband's eyes, and see, really see what you have. And be grateful.

Please pray for Kristy, my heart is aching for her.

xx

{tea with me} when you just know

Hear that? The kettle is boiling... what'll it be lovely?

Lemongrass and ginger is a good pick, especially with my favourite honey.

I've been writing lists today, ready for our little getaway. By now, I'll be off, and already there. Down to our south coast, into the cold wind south winds, and absolutely stunning landscape. I can't wait to show you some pictures.

I went last year with my gorgeous girlfriends. And the husband has been off down there on a couple of weekend adventures lately for fishing (we are hoping Joel will be able to reel in a salmon this time, too).

This time, it's the five of us.

I've been list making, and tea drinking, hoping that I won't forget anything, but knowing I probably will!

How are you going? How is your heart? What is inspiring you lately?

Lately I've been thinking about how easy it is for me to forget about others, in plodding along in my own journey. 

I should ask, I should text, I should call. 

I think about my friends, near and far, often. 

Usually in the middle of cooking dinner, or other crazy times that a phone call or text message just wouldn't happen. 

And I can be a lazy friend. 

Caught up in my own stuff, loving my friends and thinking of them without actually telling them. Oops. And maybe they need the reminder? Or the invitation? 

Even if the kitchen is a mess, and there's a to-do list as long as my arm, maybe they wouldn't mind sitting amidst my mess, and helping prepare a meal?

Next week school goes back, and it's a fresh start again.

A new beginning, for organisation, and the determination to actually do reading, and homework, and pack healthy home baked lunch boxes.

And make effort with friends.

Sorry friends, I do love you, I do!

And it's MAY. May already!

How have your new year's resolutions gone? Is it time to make them afresh?

Maybe time to make some more lists, set some more goals?

It's never too late! 

Not too late to change the pantry, or quit sugar, or pray more, or start a Bible reading plan?

We'd chat about these things, today, if you joined me.

And I'd be gleaning from you inspiration to make my own lists, and start afresh again this month.

Hope you can join me for tea this fortnight! Don't forget, you can add my new cutie button to your blogpost too, yippee!!

<center> <a href="http://teacupstoo.blogspot.com"><img border="0" src=" http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34XTmL4X6lQ/UX5hqaGc57I/AAAAAAAACOY/ZGkJEIMssjA/s300/teawithme.jpg"/></a></center> Much love,
xx

ready for tea?

Guess what? The gorgeous Jenny from French Press Mornings has designed for me the most gorgeous blog button for my sidebar. And there is one for your sidebar below too, if you'd like! Just copy and paste the code!
We are off on a little holiday to the south coast tonight, me and my four favourite people. Imagine warm woollen jumpers and scarves, drinks to warm us from the inside, and beautiful scenic places to visit (and don't forget the fishing!) I'll have a 'Tea with Me' post ready for you for this Thursday too, and you can link up any time until next week. I'm looking forward to having you!
Much love
xx
<center> <a href="http://teacupstoo.blogspot.com"><img border="0" src=" http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34XTmL4X6lQ/UX5hqaGc57I/AAAAAAAACOY/ZGkJEIMssjA/s300/teawithme.jpg"/></a></center>