A Trip To Neverland // Jonas' Peter Pan 3rd Birthday Party

The sun shone, little pirates and fairies and lost boys ran merrily around the garden, Wendy and Tink, baby Michael and our own little Peter Pan lost in all the excitement. Such a fun-filled morning celebrating our Jonas-boy with all his little friends around him!

And the Garden becoming our own little version of Neverland!

Dear Jonas... You're Three!

To our little Jonas...

Hard to believe that’s its been three years since you first meandered your way into our lives, 12 days overdue, and with no sense of hurry! You’ve always taken things in your own stride, done things at your own pace and, holding firm to your convictions, not worried yourself too much about what other people expect of you, or what you should be doing! I love that life is never a rush for you, that you somehow manage to run around our house at breakneck speed, and yet, for the most part, always seem cool, calm and collected.

You are our little joker... you love nothing more than making your sisters laugh, and are very quickly becoming Elias’ favoured comedian too. You are a master at facial expressions and exude an inner confidence that reveals a happiness in your own skin. What a gift that is!

You adore Ava, you are thick as thieves with Heidi, and Elias and you have your own little secret world of hilarity that I really wish I understood, but that brings me a smile every time I hear the two of you ferociously cackling over goodness knows what. I’m pretty much sure you’re his hero already, and I really hope you are always as tight as you are right now.

You are such a little articulate person these days - in all three languages - and you daily make me laugh with little phrases or quips. You are an affectionate soul and love your family best of all. If asked who your best friend is, you will answer without pause for thought - ‘Elias and Heidi and Ava and Mama and Papa!’ Oh Jonas- you are our best friend too... funny and sweet and kind and generous, you are such a good little friend to us all and we love you dearly!

On your third birthday, my prayer for you is that you will take the gifts and characteristics the Lord has given you and use them for his glory... your strength of conviction, your humour, and your loyalty to others are all characteristics that can serve you well. Our prayer is that, as you learn more of the Saviour, you will take him as your own and will be moulded into HIS likeness, and that people will see his character shining through yours! 

So Jonas boy! We hope you enjoyed your wonderful, fun filled 3rd Peter Pan birthday!

Just don’t go growing up too fast!

I love you little man,

Mama xx

Siblings in June // Fun in the Sun

                                    

It feels like summer has come early this year. Long afternoons in the sunshine, dinners gobbled down before requests are made to return to the great outdoors... The games have been varied over the last few weeks - detective clubs, horses and stables, exercise areas, water fun and good old fashioned mud pies. It's so fun to see the four of them interacting together, and while I'm still very much supervising Elias' involvement, the big three are completely independent now. It's lovely to see!

Of course, we've had our fair share of bickering and arguments too - part and parcel of the whole sibling deal! Sometimes I feel like I'm forever referreeing, and then other times, I won't see them for hours because they're playing so beautifully together!

So here are my four in June...

Ava (6 years, 10 months) is loving...

- The Greatest Showman Soundtrack

- The Five-Find-Outers series

- Staying up a bit later than her siblings

- Drama club

- Songwriting

Heidi (5 years, 3 months) is loving...

- The Greatest Showman

- Happy Families books

- Rearranging the furniture in her playhouse

- Dance club

- Completing all the Reception spellings list

Jonas (3 years tomorrow) is loving

- Batman books from the library

- planning his birthday party

- puzzles, puzzles and more puzzles.

- Playing with his baby brother

- Peter Pan

Elias (1 year, 1 month) is loving

- having raspberries blown on his tummy 

- food - literally anything!

- singing

- Singing the batman song!

- Waving at everyone!

Love these kids! My tiny tribe in June.

Self Care or Soul Care // A Few Simple Truths

Excuse the silence round these parts... it’s been a little purposeful, and a little accidental. Life with four little people around allows no moment of space during the day, and life can feel pretty whirlwindish right now. That’s been the accidental part.

The purposeful part has been a long time coming. That still, small voice has been probing and whispering... urging me to set aside my pride and re-prioritise. When I have too much on my plate, things get skewed and the most important things get shoved to the side - communion with the Lord, time with my husband, thoughtful parenting.

Instead life becomes one long cycle of knee-jerk reactions which does no good to anyone.


I’m so thankful for the Holy Spirit who nudges and challenges and corrects me. So often the pull of recognition and opportunity can feel more appealing than the day to day care of my family. But I feel like the Lord has been reminding me that this is a season... there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved in projects, to take up opportunities in a few years, but right now my soul needs, and wants, to be happy at home.

And so self-care has become soul care. The simple steps of going to bed earlier (which has had a direct impact on my blog - my writing time has always been late in the evening), of spending daily time with Jesus, of investing time talking with my husband about bits and bobs, and about big life stuff, and purposefully engaging with my children. Eating well and thoughtfully, taking care of my body. All things that so easily become neglected in the day to day of busy life. All things that directly impact my ability to function, and to honour the Lord with taking care of the gifts he has given me, and also recognising that I can’t do everything or be everything. 

It’s not rocket science. The simple truth that when I stop striving and reaching for the next thing, but instead learn to be satisfied and contented in what I have, my soul is happiest. The recognition that "stuff" or "projects" or "opportunities" will never fulfil me, but simply resting my soul in Christ, appreciating his gifts and delighting in the small things.

Isn't that what we all deep down crave?

And so baby steps to soul care is where I'm at right now - dependence, trust, contentment, the humility to recognise my limitations, wise choices that feel costly, but bring riches of the non-financial kind.

And remembering the sweet words of my Saviour...

" Come to me, you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

Amen.