Sunday Stillness

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

We had a picnic lunch together in the beautifully cool autumn sunshine today.

Togetherness, resting, listening, savouring, soaking in the stillness.......

And preparing for William's 2nd birthday, tomorrow!!!!!! Who can believe my baby will be 2 years old? How I love that boy. Preparing to make his day special has been such an honour. :D

Sweet, Slumbering Sunday....

It's been one of those super-restful Sundays today. We woke early, but lay in bed for ages. 3 little ones and 2 kittens joined us too of course. :D

I have read a good many chapters from Liz Curtis Higgs' new novel, Here Burns My Candle, which is in the exciting stage! It's a bit hard to put down. It's cold, so we've been snuggling with blankets. I admit I've been in my pyjama pants all day. I was planning on doing some gardening, but then I'd have to get fully dressed! So the gardening will wait until tomorrow.

The kittens have been cuddled and cuddled and have been alternating their sleep times and play times, just like any babies. :) They are using their kitty litter and were quiet all night last night for which I'm thankful! I think having two means they won't feel lonely. They slept all cuddled up together last night, limbs draping limbs.... very cute.

Stuart has made a scratching post for them from some bits of wood he had in the shed, and an old rug which he cut up. We've just given it to them, and they seem to like it. He's also been working on school stuff today, and a bit of mowing. And now he's taken all 3 children to netball practice....... they love to play around on the spare courts; sometimes other kids go along, and it gives me an hour or so all to myself! Which is very welcome right before we resume another working week.

As I said, I've been reading. :) I've also been praying, and listening. And I've planned our week ahead. Just need to add a craft project or two for some fun for the children. I also baked with Saraya this morning. We worked side by side, on our own projects. She made chocolate brownies and washed all the dishes, and I made muffins and dried the dishes. As she says herself, "I'm so into cooking at the moment!". Yep, she is. She's been helping me chop veggies at dinner time, kneading bread dough, just whatever I'm working on she's by my side. At this rate she'll be a highly skilled cook by the age of 10!!

Mess has been getting to me lately. You know those piles of stuff that just accumulate around the house? My kitchen needed cleaning / sorting this morning. I spent an hour or so doing that and I feel so much better. I can see my bench tops again, every bit of them! I've moved some things around as I always find change refreshing. I spend so much time in the kitchen, I want it clean and tidy so I'm going to try to keep on top of the clutter.

And that's been our Sunday. Slumbering...... well, resting anyhow. :) And definitely sweet. These days of just being home together, getting a little done but having time to sit and be and plan and rest..... they are my favourites, hands down. :)

Winner and Other Bits!

Well, today is the day to announce the 500th Post giveaway winner! The random number generator popped up number 6 - Christy! Well done Christy! Leave me your email address so I can get in touch, and your seeds will be on their way. :)

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Ah, long weekends. Love them. :) I actually keep forgetting this is a long weekend, then getting all happy again when I remember! I don't what our plans are for tomorrow. Quiet stuff at home I guess. I think Stu has some school work to do so maybe we'll stick to our normal routine in the morning too.

Well, Saraya has a new passion following yesterday's little lesson on finger knitting.

She made this dolly scarf yesterday afternoon, and was up and into it again first thing this morning. She made a little gift for a birthday girl which she tells me is interchangeable as a bracelet or a bookmark! This is a great craft for children as they can do it completely independently and leaves plenty of room for their imaginations to take hold.

Stuart took the children to town this morning and they marched in the Anzac Day Parade. A new experience for the children; all the Anzac Day remembrances have sparked lots of interesting discussion on the two World Wars. So hard to explain to them.

Here are Saraya and Will on their way to the car for the memorial service and parade. Will looked really dapper! :)

After doing a bit of housework I spent some time singing and playing the piano while they were gone. What a blessing to me! I seriously need to do more of this, it just fills my spirit so so much. No more excuses, I just need to do it!

What else....... Ah, we had a really foggy morning today!!

I've honestly never seen fog this thick. The children went walking on the property and I couldn't see them through the fog! It was amazing. We brightened up the morning with pancakes which has become our Sunday breakfast tradition. We've also started having a walk as a family on Sunday afternoons. It's nice to do something together and chat before beginning a new week. I'm loving it! Sundays in our family have become a very relaxing Sabbath - there is always music, reading, chatting, opening of the Word, sharing meals, resting, planning and dreaming...... and now walking - it's becoming my favourite family day of the week. It is a peaceful day spiritually too.

The little boys are needing me so I'd better go. Happy Sunday friends, and congrats Christy!

A peaceful Sabbath

Today was a restful, peaceful, family-and-friends filled Sunday! A wonderful way to finish off the winter holidays.

Scrambled eggs for breakfast (tell me, how is it possible we keep getting 6 eggs a day from 5 chickens?? Seriously!), books and board games and outside play through the morning. Lots of warm tea and coffee (for me :)). We baked a chocolate slice. I read my Bible and the book I'm working through this week.

We had a picnic at the park for lunch- it was a perfect winter sky up there! So clear and blue, and so warm today. We just couldn't stay indoors.

Sandwiches and oranges, dried apple rings and roasted almonds, and chocolate slice to eat.

Ball games with Papa.

Lots of tickling, lots of giggling.

A happy baby with a mouth full enjoying the sunshine.

(this pic is for you Michael- remember when you bought this shirt for Saraya?! ;))

Peter Rabbit, dressed up for an outing. Do you like Elijah's choice combination here?

A hide and seek game with the walky-talkies around the park.

Nice long rests for the children this afternoon.

And friends for tea! I made a meat pie (again- I'm kind-of stuck on experimenting with these...), little potatoes, bread rolls and salad. Warm custard (thanks Petrina!) and chocolate slice for dessert. A nice play for all the little people- and then there was this sweet little poppet.

Baby Hannah. Red haired, beautiful, and adored by all. Oh how we love newborn babies around here!! Interestingly, Will put on quite a show when Stuart had a cuddle with Hannah. He didn't seem to mind when I held her, but he really didn't like Stu holding her! He just wanted his Papa. I think Stuart secretly quite enjoyed that feeling. :)

All in all, a good day. I have clothes laid out for tomorrow, and I'm about to sort out the kitchen and get books ready for tomorrow morning. Bring on Term 3!

Sunday afternoon child-free time

How I spent it:

*  Tidied the house of toys etc.

*  Put clean sheets on Saraya's bed (we had a billet stay overnight last night, up with a group from Brisbane for a youth weekend at our church; a lovely Samoan boy, and a great hospitality experience for our family- especially little miss who gave up her room!)

*  Sat down for 20 minutes and read a magazine :)

*   Hung a load of washing

*  Folded and put away a load of washing

*  Watched the chicks scratch away for awhile (stu has made them a "tractor" type chicken-wire creation; they're growing, feathering and LOVING their time out in the garden!)

*  Did a little window-shopping on Ebay (and um..... bidded on a couple of skirts and shorts for Saraya......... shhh......)

*  Had a little look at Etsy.com for the first time - oh my goodness, it's handmade-stuff heaven!!

*  Sat with my diary and wrote some notes for the week ahead

*  Ran a lavender bath ready for the children's return (they're enjoying the benefits of having a Prep teacher for a Papa, having fun playing in the Prep yard while he does some work out there)

*  Headed outside to water the gardens and greet the weary wanderers.  We were out late last night at an engagement party, plus So You Think you can Dance is on tonight, plus it's Sunday night so it'll be early to bed for the little people!

I love my Sunday afternoon time.  The best bit?  The quiet.  It doesn't matter how I spend this time, the house is mine, it's peaceful and it's quiet.  And I don't have to talk for a whole 2 hours.