Harvest Box...

Yesterday was one of our "home days". I love those kind of days... just being at home. The girls playing, me getting on with general houseworky stuff. They are quiet, peaceful, nothing days and I'm appreciating them more and more as the girlies get a little bit bigger. I'm realising its the "nothing" days that are what give the girls their routine; they are a safety net of just being. Family. Home. Things I want these girlies to value.

Ava and I have been talking a lot about autumn. She's mesmerised by the changing colours and loves to collect any conkers and pine cones she can get her hands on. It's the perfect time for thanksgiving. A thankful season. Something about the cool crisp air, the beautiful colours. Even in suburban London we can appreciate it.

And so we started talking about Harvest... This Sunday, at church, is the harvest service. An opportunity for us to give, both financially and practically, to those who have less than we do. It was a wonderful opportunity to share with Ava how blessed she is... that our cupboards are always full of food, and for her to recognise, even at the mere age of two, that there are many people in the world for whom that is not the case.

And so we decided to make a Harvest Box...

A box that we would fill up with dried goods to take to the service on Sunday, but also a box that would give us the opportunity to thank God for his provision - not only of food - but in every area of our lives.

And so we got to work...

First we got an old box and covered it in glue - somebody enjoyed discovering PVA for the first time!

(And I'm not gonna lie - it was fun... who doesn't love peeling it all off their skin afterwards?!)

We then tore up lots of little bits of paper in autumny colours - browns, yellows, oranges, reds and greens - and stuck them on, and then repainted over it all with PVA glue as we went along.

When Heidi woke from her nap, we packed ourselves up in the buggy, and headed to the local shop to get the goods!

And then Ava packed them all in herself (with a little guidance!)

We had a big discussion afterwards about the chocolate fingers... a little someone was very keen to keep them for herself, but we had a great conversation about how it would be kind to give them to somebody else who didn't normally get to have chocolate fingers. Eventually she was won over!

It was wonderful to be able to share with Ava a little bit more about the wider world. She is gradually grasping that life consists of more than just our little family of 4...

What life lessons are you learning and teaching this autumn?

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 -