An Update

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions re: the party.  I think I'll take shifts with a couple of friends caring for Will here at home.  The party is being held at our church 5 minutes away.  I think that will work, though I'm a bit nervous about leaving William..... he's still only little and he's a real "Mamma's boy", especially when he's not well!  :(  I'd like to be there to be part of the "formal" bits of the party, but will probably miss quite a bit, sadly.  

It's funny, my post on Sunday regarding Undivided Worship........  I mentioned that one thing that divides us from God is our circumstances.  Easy to pray and praise when things are great, but harder when they're not.  Well, I'm getting plenty of practice with that one this year. :)  A few days ago I didn't know that William was going to get sick.  Again.  I think his immune system is still a little compromised after having had that chest infection at 3 weeks of age.  He seems to be picking things up and struggling with them more than the other two children ever have.  Thankfully he's breastfeeding, and will continue to (God willing!) for another year or two.  I hope he'll fully recover and be a strong healthy toddler by then!!  I find it hard seeing my kids sick.  At least it's usually a rare thing.  Will's doing pretty well today though.  He seems a bit uncomfortable, but I've been bathing him in lavender baths and putting some special cream on his spots.  He had some panadol before bed tonight and is sleeping at the moment the longest he has in awhile.  

I'm tired and I'm trying to remember what it's like when we're all well.  It's been a bit of a nasty winter up here.  But I've always been one to try to focus on the positives rather than the negatives.  Even more so in the last few years as my faith has grown, but still there have been plenty of struggles for us as a family.  Take this past 18 months for instance...........

*  Losing our closest friends.

*  .... and losing more than $20,000 because of that loss of friendship.

*  Stu's broken leg.

*  Stu's injured eye.

*  Saraya being hospitalised.

*  Some health issues with me.... pregnancy, migraines, mastitis, etc.

*  William's challenging birth.

*  William being hospitalised.

*  A very unreliable car, causing all sorts of issues.

*  William getting chicken pox. :)

*  And the list goes on .........

BUT I can think of many many blessings too.  And these are what I try to think about on a daily basis.  There is absolutely no point in stressing about things beyond our control (easier said than done, but possible!)  Lean on God.  Ask Him to help in every situation, and praise Him in every situation.  Here are some blessings of mine, good things for which I'm ever so grateful .............

*  A wonderful, wonderful husband and 3 beautiful children.  The chance to journey through this life together, to live and learn and grow side by side.

*  A lovely home- my very own "house of dreams".

*  Our finances holding out through the storm of this year!

*  Help and support from beautiful friends and family.

*  A new car, which we're picking up this week!  Praise God!

*  A new haircut. :)

*  Plenty of good food to eat.

*  My garden.  And dreams of what my garden will be. 

*  The spring weather.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is

 pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise - keep thinking about these things".  Philipians 4:8

"Turn all your anxiety over 

to God because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7