Easter Sunday 2016

 

 



And did you see this clip on the news? So moving. It won't let me embed but you can click here to see it.

{Soulfood Friday}

This week I have felt a little more awake and clear headed than I have for a while. I think I've been slightly depressed without even realizing it. Maybe those vitamin D tablets are finally kicking in! Or maybe it's the brighter, crisper, longer days. And sunlight, finally, sunlight! I am beginning to feel stronger and can do more than I have been able to for some time. I feel like I'm coming out of a fog and hoping that my body, mind and soul are finally overcoming the health problems of last year. 

It has been hard to blog, write and do my art and craft work over the last year or so. My energy reserves have been precious, fragile and used on the most important work of making meals, hugging kids, keeping some semblance of order, resting, you know simple things. 

I saw this quote on fb the other day and it spoke to me. Sometimes you have to readjust your focus and re calibrate your value systems to what matters most.

Yet it has been frustrating at times. I have so many ideas for my work and writing projects simmering like  good, broth concentrating, concentrating down, ready to be served up. 

I think there is something about reaching your mid thirties. You feel the culmination of years within you. Then you get a little shocked by how quickly they've passed! 

Perhaps you begin to wonder once again, what your real purpose for being here is.

I feel good about the choices I've made so far. There were times when I wondered whether the choices we made seemed rational under the circumstances. Our choices were certainly questioned by others at times. But when I look honestly at the premise behind the choices we made I see love.  I feel strong.

The choices we made were motivated by heart and soul. When we chose to have the children close together, to home school and for me to stay home without many resources at the time, it didn't feel all that logical, but it did feel deeply right. 

Plenty seem to believe poor people shouldn't have children. Yet during those leaner times God provided for us beyond that which money can buy. It wasn't easy, there were no singing choirs of angels but we grew, we learned about our strengths, we were confronted with our weaknesses, we were humbled and we learned about real joy.

In the last few years we have finally found that material form of security too. A beautiful place to live. A friendly community. A feeling of hope and possibility. 

It is hard not to become attached to the material stuff. Or feel guilty for it! It is hard to keep making choices from the heart and the soul instead of fear. 

Looking back I see that my health issues really started when Tani was made redundant. He has now found a wonderful job, but those times were a test for sure. I have never felt like a materialistic person, but I was profoundly scared of losing that which we had only just found; stability. 

It has been a process of accepting the transitory and ephemeral nature of existence. The constant letting go. The ebb and flow of life and all it's transmutations. Every change has a piece of loss in it. There is no real security. Every moment is a gift. We can't expect to be able to control every aspect of our lives. The unexpected will happen. 

When it does I hope I'll have my real home built on a rock, not on sand. 

I think what I'm trying to say is the only building that lasts, is founded in the heart or the soul. It is forged from the stone of our experiences and the choices we make. It is those little, everyday interactions and memories. It is the moments we put down the phone and stare our the window at the trees and the sunlight. It is internal. Whatever happens we can find an indwelling, a harbour, an abode within that place. 

"Jesus, Son of Mary (on whom be peace) said: The World is a Bridge, pass over it, but build no houses upon it. He who hopes for a day, may hope for eternity; but the World endures but an hour. Spend it in prayer, for the rest is unseen."

 A quote carved in kufic script all the way around the arch of Fatehpur Sikrithe the ruined Mughal capital built by the Muslim emperor Akbar just outside Agra at the end of the 16th century. 

Wishing everyone a peaceful and sacred Easter weekend in whichever way you celebrate it! xx

Some pictures from our walk yesterday.

Every Friday I'll be pausing to notice something from the week that has nourished my soul. 
* 
A special, sacred-everyday moment captured on camera, or perhaps a snippet from a book, a recipe still warm from the kitchen or something whimsical that simply made me smile.
 * 
Here are a few simple things that have fed my soul this week. 

What has inspired/fed/nourished your soul this week friends? 

 
*
 Feel free to link up to your own soulful spaces either at the bottom of this post or in the comments.

 
   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

{Soulfood Friday}

What a difference a week makes. I am finally an Omie! Little Rowan Joseph was born by Cesarean Section on Sunday 13th of March 2016.
Mama and baby are doing well.
Emmy had quite a bumpy ride at the end of her pregnancy. Baby was being monitored for decreased movement when they picked up that she had the first signs of  pre-eclampsia which can be dangerous for both mothers and their babies. In fact I had to be induced for the same reasons when I was 41 weeks pregnant with her.
So she was induced on Thursday but by Sunday it still hadn't taken. The OB tried to break her waters to get labour going but her cervix was posterior and only dilated about 1cm so it was impossible.
They decided that a C Section would be the best option at that point.
Emmy was very brave during the whole experience.
Rowan was born a dainty 6.3 and barely fit into any of his newborn clothes although knowing babies, I'm sure he'll grow into them fast enough.
He is ever so calm and peaceful but feeds a lot, especially through the night. He has the sweetest eyes and a curl right at the top of his head, and he loves to look around and take in everyone's faces.
The girls are all thrilled to be Aunties. We actually all came down with flu last week and to top it off Nola had Chicken Pox so she hasn't met her little nephew yet, but we are all looking forward to lots of cuddles this weekend.

 

Every Friday I'll be pausing to notice something from the week that has nourished my soul. 
* 
A special, sacred-everyday moment captured on camera, or perhaps a snippet from a book, a recipe still warm from the kitchen or something whimsical that simply made me smile.
 * 
Here are a few simple things that have fed my soul this week. 

What has inspired/fed/nourished your soul this week friends? 

 
*
 Feel free to link up to your own soulful spaces either at the bottom of this post or in the comments.

 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

{Soulfood Friday}

I may be a little busy this coming week. Emmy was induced yesterday as she has tested positive for Pre-eclampsia, though thankfully it is only in early stages. Which means that sometime this weekend we should be welcoming a little baby boy into our family!

These pictures were taken from Emmy's 18th birthday a couple of weeks ago.

 Every Friday I'll be pausing to notice something from the week that has nourished my soul. 
* 
A special, sacred-everyday moment captured on camera, or perhaps a snippet from a book, a recipe still warm from the kitchen or something whimsical that simply made me smile.
 * 
Here are a few simple things that have fed my soul this week. 

What has inspired/fed/nourished your soul this week friends? 
 
*
 Feel free to link up to your own soulful spaces either at the bottom of this post or in the comments.

 
   

    An InLinkz Link-up