New Clothes!

Beyond the understanding of some is the inherent love for shopping which is familiar to so many of the female species. I admit that we do not all fit this generalisation, but as a 'thirty something' mum with little time for the luxuries of clothes shopping, I myself very much appreciate the opportunity to wander quietly round the shops without some small someone tugging at my arm, requesting sweets, toys, or just needing the toilet, AGAIN!!!!! Over the last few months I have found myself on more than one occassion walking the supermarket aisles late into the evening, sometimes as necessity dictates: the nappies I forgot to buy; the emergency shreddies' expedition; and other essentials (Yes, I mean the chocolate!) Quite often, however, I will end up in the clothes aisle, perusing the latest bargains and if I am really reckless in the changing room itself!!!! Yes, I know I need to get out more! I like clothes, but often in the craziness of life it is the least I can manage to grab some that are clean and flat, without paying too much attention to fashion or coordination...a shocking but true reality! I recall however, the great, if somewhat distant, feeling when I manage to cast aside the old clothes and find something that fits and looks good (always a challenge in the ever fluctuating world of the pregnant/nursing mother!)

Yesterday morning, having read a bit from Zechariah to the kids, Poppy drew a picture of what God had said to her! She drew one girl wearing dull boring clothes, another wearing what she described as "Fab, new clothes", covered in hearts and stars, and she wrote "You've got to change out of your old life and get a new life!" The word became even clearer when I read Zechariah 3 this morning. God wants us to come back to him, to listen and turn from our sinful ways, and to swap our dirty, filthy clothes, for fine new ones! I am reminded of the makeover programmes and am challenged. How many of us would choose to continue in the old clothes if offered a new designer wardrobe!?

God wants us to experience his new life! He wants us to be clean and feel fab! He has fine new clothes for us to wear! We just have to put them on!

Romans 13:14
Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Galatians 3:27
And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

His way is higher!

Was supposed to be swimming yesterday with a friend of mine and her lovely daughter but, having spent all morning getting things together, we got there to find that the pool was full! We were, of course, a little disappointed, but decided we would try again another time and instead set off home for coffee and a playtime. However, on arriving home, we found that our lovely elderly neighbour had taken a tumble outside her house and was unable to get up. She had already been there for some time and, had we been able to swim as planned, who knows how much longer it would have been! But God had a plan! And his plan was bigger than ours!

The Bible tells us that we can make our plans but it is God who determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9). The pool being full was not a spanner in the works, it was God redirecting our steps and pointing us in the right direction! His plans are greater than our plans. His thoughts are higher than ours!

So, next time something happens to wreck your plans (or mine), let's just take a moment to contemplate...perhaps God has a bigger idea, something different to achieve. He wants to use me and you to show his massive love! His way is higher and so much better!

Never give up!

I like to be real and to relate to others, so it is not difficult for me to admit that my life is sometimes far from perfect. Often, however, when things do not live up to my expectations it can get me down, I can become discouraged or feel like giving up. As I get older I find my attention more easily diverted to the failings, the gaps, the imperfections in life than to what is good and right. I am losing my shininess!!!! I was challenged and provoked today by the words of Winston Churchill, quite a number of them!!! So here are a few I thought I would share with you...

"It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations."

"It is a fine thing to be honest, but it is also very important to be right."

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

"Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiam."

"Difficulties mastered are opportunities won."

"I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else!"

Love and Blessings, Sarah x

Top 10 free kids' activities...

A bargain hunter at heart I am a great fan of all things cheap (or even better free!!) You don't get much for free these days, but you don't have to spend a lot to get a lot! Sometimes when surrounded by stuff it is easy to forget the simple truth that some of the best things in life are free! So here is a 'off the top of the head' list of fun but free things to do with your kids in the holidays...Feel free to add a comment to share some of your own favourites...
1. Curl up with a book. Grab your slippers, a blanket and a GOOD book. Read to them and escape into another world together!
2. Visit an art gallery or local museum (so many of them provide cheap or free activities for families during school holidays)
3. Get crafty! Get out the paint, glitter, get messy...don't just leave them to it, join in!!! Its very therapeutic and a great opportunity to chat whilst your creating together.
4. Do some baking! Fresh bread, cakes, biscuits...all are usually cheaper to homemake than buy in the supermarkets, and taste sooo much nicer too!
5. Play games. A simple game of dominoes, cards, pencil and paper games, or even hide and seek!!! Just watch out grown ups...last time I attempted to hide in a wardrobe the bottom fell out!!!
6. Make a den! Indoors or outdoors...there's nothing quite like a den for fuelling a new adventure! Let them make a mess and have fun being young!
7. Get outdoors...walking, collecting, exploring, discovering together.
8. Make your own cinema. Buy some cheap popping corn (a 60p bag should be enough for about ten film showings!!) Make tickets, close the curtains, watch a film & chill together.
9. Visit the library. If my kids are anything to go by a trip to the library is usually enough to give a much needed lull in the business of it all. And if you manage to return the books before the return date you are doing better than me!!!
10. Get together with friends. Sometimes even the most mundane activities are more fun with friends in tow.
Hope you enjoy your half term holiday!!!! xxx

Valentines...

Have had the most amazing romantic day!!!!! Was bashed awake this morning by our baby followed by the obligatory mountaineering expedition (yes I was the mountain!) Next, Levi (our seven year old son) proceeded to read his most recent favourite read "Dirty Bertie" sleepily to us whilst the girls were 'secretly' making us breakfast in bed. By the time we had finished the cereal we were spitting feathers (a serious flaw in the milk to cereal ratio!) And it just gets better... Simon, keen to please, had decided to make an authentic curry for me (one of my favourite dishes!). Hence, the house has been filled with the romantic aromas of onions and garlic all day....mmmmmmmmm! To top it all, as I speak Simon is still writing my Valentines card (made by Poppy, as mine was also!). We could be inclined to think that romance is dead but with a smile I enjoy every minute (well maybe not quite the rude awakening!) but I am thankful for my lovely family and faithful husband. Life is not always the romantic comedy I imagined it would be, but love is more than a feeling. I am thankful that I have kids and a husband who love me as I am (just like God does) and I make it my challenge to love them unconditionally too! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day & lots of love to you from me and from Jesus xxxx He loves you...Yeah yeah yeah!

"God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not die but have eternal life" The Bible

Charlotte's Web: EB White

I sobbed through the last few chapters of the story with the children yesterday. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read! A story of friendship out of loneliness and love that overcomes against all odds. Whatever your age, if you have never experienced this wonderful story, you really must! Turn off the TV and read it to your kids (or to yourself) today!

"Greater love has noone that he lay down his life for his friends" The Bible

Time to dance!

I love my kids! They always make me laugh! Well not always, sometimes they make me cry too! At the moment, though, Lottie is an absolute delight! She is so full of character, so happy and always ready with a cheesy grin or a bit of crazy baby dancing. I frequently catch her grooving along to the hum of the printer! Its true!!! However, yesterday bedtime topped it all! I fell about when I spotted her dancing along to the toilet flush!!!!!!!!! It really was one of those moments you wish you had a camera handy.

Kids are so simple, so straightforward, they really can find the fun in just about anything (apart from of course tidying their bedrooms!!!) I am not suggesting that we should join them in their crazy toilet dancing (though that may help pleasurise the whole cleaning process?) But sometimes I can be so boring and grown up! I need to learn to be young too! To hear the music, to see the opportunities for fun and to dance! Life is good! God wants us to enjoy him and enjoy his life forever!

Jesus said "I have come that they may have life and life TO THE FULL" The Bible