Quote of the week

"I have a mustard seed, and I'm not afraid to use it."
Pope Benedict XVI

What is left.

There is a lovely lady at our church who has Alzheimer's. She has very little memory left, and frequently doesn't who where she is. She also can no longer remember who people are, including her family. Do you know the thing she can remember? That Jesus loves her. That God is good. That she will be going to heaven. And although she is sometimes confused she is also full of joys and smiles. And I am humbled and amazed by the grace of God. I know that this is not true of all people with Alzheimer's. Some people suffer a lot. But for this lady who has lost so much to this horrid disease the fact that God is good and loves her remains. And is shines out of her.

I have a totally unproved theory that in heaven God keeps our memories safe. All those things we forget. The way our children looked the first time we saw them, our own first glimpses of the world. They are all kept safe for us. And I look forward to seeing this lovely lady again. She will be with the Lord she loves so much, she will have the same joy and she will be restored.

Poorly

I have been ill. It was either a tummy bug or IBS that gets me sometimes. Either way I am well on the mend now. And I can only see it as a blessing (odd that). I really do believe that "all things work together for good". I have been so blessed with a fantastic husband who constantly puts us all before himself (and work). He stayed at home and looked after the girls so that I could rest and get better.
The other way it has been a blessing is that today, as I have no energy at all, I have put all those thing I "have" to do on hold. I have spent a really lovely morning with Tilly and Evelyn just playing on the floor and reading stories. It has been really lovely. And I think we have all benefited from some chill out time. My to-do-list has only 2 things on it today and one of them was writ ting this blog! The other was to change the CD's in the car, which I have also done. So all in all being ill was not nice at all (and I pray that my girls don't catch it). But the end result has been a blessing. I need to get down on the floor to play more often without illness dragging me there.

Modesty - a thought (and a bit of a rant)

Some people think I am a bit of a prude. Some people think I am odd and go over the top but I am a BIG fan of modesty. I am not talking about Laura Ashley dresses here, I am talking about being attractive, not attracting. (I stole that phrase from someone else!) I think we give men a really hard time. We all know that men are very visually focused and yet we continue to taunt them by wearing things that aren't ...er...helpful.

So you know what I am talking about when I say modesty here are the guide lines I have set myself and my girls. Skirts should be no shorter than knee length, trousers shouldn't hug bottoms too much , no bare midriffs, shoulders covered, no sexual/demeaning slogans. (I can't believe I have to say this about "children's" clothes.) The list could go on but you get the idea.

I think this has really begun to be an issue for me since I have had my 3 girls. I think that anything I expect them to do I should be doing already. I should be setting the example. I am also the one to teach them about modesty. I want them to start now so it isn't something that is suddenly imposed when they hit the pre-teen age. So I have started thinking a lot about what I wear and how covered I am. I have read LOADS of really encouraging things on line and it is good to know that there are others who share this view point. What worries me is how hard it is to find funky clothes that are modest (and not too expensive). I have taken to buying school skirts a couple of sizes to large for Martha just so they reach her knee. And it is getting harder and harder to buy clothes that cover my children. (I am very grateful for the recent rise in long skirts and tunic tops for me!)

I was shocked and horrified the other day when I saw a 4 year old girl wear a denim mini-skirt. It was barely long enough to cover her bottom. Yes, she was wearing thick tights but what sort of message are we sending out when we let our children dress like this. I think we are taking away their innocence. They should be given the chance to be children. They should not be dressed in scanty sexualising clothes. I want my girls to be known as people who love and care, who are helpful and considerate. I want people to see 'them', not what they look like. I want boys (in the very distant future) to notice their personalities before thinking them "fit". I also want them to not be stumbling point for men.

I am only at the beginning of this and am searching for the way forward. (I am thinking a lot about swimmies at the moment, and will let you know what I come up with.)I know that some people might think it I am silly and over-reacting. But I would prefer to land of the side of caution even if it seems over the top. I am trying to find a way of us dressing that reflects who we are. I don't mind being different. Jesus was different and he has called us to be the same. One of the way I am choosing to be different is in the way I dress myself and my children.

Any thoughts?

Honesty

The thing about blogging is that you share a part of you life. A part of yourself. I think that I, and others, share mainly the good or the funny bits. But life isn't like that. Life with 3 children under 5 is hard. I wouldn't change it. But it is hard. And I think that is one reason for my long blogging break. You don't want to come here and read things that are grumpy. But maybe you do.... maybe knowing I am not perfect will make you feel better about your own lack of perfection. So I have decided to blog regardless of my mood. Some days will be full of cheer and others full of woe. Like life really.

A name change

Today I want to change my name. Not the Amy bit... the "mummy" bit! Then I won't have to answer the 1000's of questions (most of which are repeats of previous questions) I won't have to cope with the whining, the demands. I won't have to break up the arguments. Today it would be nice if someone else was the mummy. They could hold the crying baby, who then continues to cry. They could cook meals that children won't eat. They can listen to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on repeat in the car.

But then they would be cuddled and kissed goodnight. They would get to kiss the ows better. It would be them who are begged to sit and watch TV, to play jigsaws, to read stories, to draw (very bad) pictures. They would be the ones to hear the "love you"s.

Maybe I will be the mummy after all.....

Me and my girls

Has it really been that long.

I haven't written anything here in 2 months. That is what having 3 children under 5 will do to you. Life has massively caught up with me over the last couple of months and I seem to be constantly busy. A good day at the moment is when I realise that the washing baskets aren't over flowing. A bad day is one where I get to the end of it and am amazed that I haven't lost one, if not all, of my children along the way. But I am going to try my hardest to make some time for some quality (well, i can hope) blogging. Because I have missed it. I have had a lot to say and not much time to say it in.

Here is a little catch up:
Evelyn: Is now 3 months old. She has started taking an interest in the world, which is simply lovely. She smiles a lot and loves her sisters talking to her. She is also sleeping well, normally from 7pm-10.30pm then I feed her and she goes back to sleep till about 5.30am but I don't feed her till about 6am. So not too bad really. She has had lapses but I am hoping that we are nearly there now.

Tilly: is heading towards the 2 year old troubles. Her will has joined us, but common sense hasn't! It is an interesting time. She is so different from martha who would shout and scream. Tilly sulks. I have to remind myself that she is only 2 1/2 and that makes all our lives better. I am prone to expecting too much from her. At her heart she is still a smiling, loving child and I know without a doubt that we will get through this difficult stage and she will be that again.

Martha: is so grown up. She has blossomed with Evelyn arrival. She is proving herself a very motherly little girl, for all her tom boy ways. It is a delight to see. She is the reason I know that Tilly will be ok. Martha (whom I love) eas horrid (at times) during the two year old phase. But she has come through it now. and is obedient and kind. She still has her moments but don't we all. I am just really proud of her.

So that is how my girls are getting on. I'm getting the hang of this mum-of-three lark, slowly. I am a big routine fan and am in the process of changing everything to fit our new family. It is a slow process but I am making sure that I get blogging time!

Evelyn's montherversary

Evelyn is now a whole month old. Here are some up-to-date photos.
This next one is my favourite. It's her "oooooo" face.

Another one of those quizzes

you know the quizzes that your friends email you, so you can get to know them better. Most people hate these...I love them! I got sent a good one so i thought I would share my answers here too....

1. If you could have any first name in the world, what would you choose:
Amy - it means beloved, so I am always reminded that I am loved.
2. If you could be any item of stationery which would you be:
a pad of squared paper.
3. If the world could only be one colour for the rest of eternity which would you pick:
blue... or maybe yellow
4. Starters and main course, or main course and desert:
Main course and desert
5. What song has inspired you most in your life so far:
Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof
6. Who was your fave teacher and why:
Can't remember her name but my English teacher... she truly loved her subject.
7. How would you spend a million pounds:
Buy a house with a bit of land round it. Have chickens and lots of children.
8. What is your favourite book:
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham.
9. If you could swap lives with someone for a day who would you choose:
At the moment it would be Evelyn... I could really use the sleep.
10. What cartoon character do you most relate to:
Marlin from Finding Nemo
11. What was your favourite subject at school:
Drama
12. Which celebrity would you like to be stuck in a lift with:
If I'm allowed someone dead then, Jim Henson. If not then Judy Dench.
13. Which celebrity would you like to hit over the head with a wet fish:
Anyone who hasn't worked hard to get where they are... in other words anyone from Big Brother!
14. What is your favourite type of weather:
Spring Rain
15. Do you have a favourite month, and why:
May because it is my birthday and it is just getting warm, but not too hot.
16. Do you have a 'bolt hole' and where is it:
The book that I am reading at the time... I vanish into books.
17. If you were to bunk off work on Monday, where would you go:
To bed, then for a long walk through the country side followed by chips in a pub garden.
18. Who has been your favourite Prime Minister:
Not a clue
19. What do you love about yourself:
That I get very passionate about things
20. What is your favourite train station:
Swanage - the stream railway one... it is like being in the railway children.
21. Tell us one embarrassing fact about yourself:
I still sleep with a soft toy elephant.
22. What is your favourite smell:
The air after it has rained, baking and backstage in a theatre.
23. Do you have a favourite photo, and who is in it:
It is me and my dad (I was about 3). We are on a beach and I am sitting on his lap eating a ice cream. It had dripped all over him. My dad hates being sticky. but he is smiling at me. This is what love is.
24. What is the last film/TV programme that made you cry:
"Swallows and Amazons"
25. What do you most regularly order in starbucks/the coffee shop of your choice:
Smoothy and a huge slice of wheat-free cake...yum.
26. If you could dye your hair a wacky colour, which would you pick:
I have dyed it blue, maybe a very red red.
27. Are you happy:
Yes.
28. What did you dream last night:
Not a clue
29. Who was your best friend at school:
Katherine, Denise and Jo.
30. What colour is your duvet cover:
the one on at the moment is a deep red.
31. What is your favourite pizza topping:
Anchovies.
32. Do you have a favourite make of car and what is it:
Renault Espace
33. Tell us three words which describe you:
Creative, mummy, tired (I have just had a baby... so the last is available to change)
34. What is your favourite fruit:
Raspberries, eating whist picking others in my Granny's garden.
35. What world situation worries you/drives you to prayer/makes you cry:
The fact that my beloved England is turning it's back on God.
36. Are you tidy or messy:
Messy with a tidy person trying to get out.
37. How many pairs of shoes do you own:
Not sure, about 8.
38. Who is your hero/heroine:
Ellen MacArthur
39. Who did you last shout at:
Martha for not wanting to change out of the winter clothes she had just put in, dispite the fact that it is boiling and she is a very hot child.
40. What makes you happiest:
My children.

The Gas Man cometh...

"Was on a Friday morning (about 4am) the gas man came to call..."

The alarm woke me at 3am this morning in order for me to wake up Evelyn so she could feed. I took the opportunity of being awake to do a wee and that was when it happened... i smelt gas on our landing. This is not what you want at 3am. I got nick to smell it too. And then he went down stairs and checked down there. (nick has hay fever and so his sense of smell is not at it's strongest in summer) So i went down stairs too. There it was again. It seemed to be hoovering near our gas hob. All the little knobs were off so we were at a loss.

Having had it drummed into me that you never ignore a gas leak (and having a 4 week old baby who I didn't want breathing the stuff) we called the emergency gas leak people and they came round in 20 mins. By this time it was 4.12am. After used big sensor things the nice gas man couldn't find anything.

After some probing (and very loud banging on front doors) he discovered that it was coming from our neighbours house. They had accidentally left the hob on and the gas was seeping into our house. I felt a guilty about them being woken up by someone battering on their door. then I remembered they were smokers and praised God for keeping them (and us) safe.

We have not had the smoothest of relationships with our neighbours and at times I shout at God about them. But it struck me as i was trying to get back to sleep (for 1 1/2 hours before the alarm went off again) that although they can drive me mad God really loves them and cares about them. And is keeping them safe.

And that I need to see them through his eyes more often.

Quote of the day

"When my kids become unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out."
~Erma Bombeck

Quote of the day

"Anyone who thinks objects are inanimate has never owned a toaster."

Quote of the day

"If I wanted sarcasm I would talk to my children"
M in James bond, Golden Eye

Facepainting saves the day

Yesterday was a bad, grim and dark day. The girls were grumpy and overly sensitive. I was shockingly tired. Even Evelyn decided that screaming was the way forward. It was raining out so we couldn't go outside and run off the grumpiness.

What saved our day was facepainting (suggested by Martha). It cheered us up a lot. Tilly wanted to be a duck, but it ended up just being lots of colours (she wouldn't pose for a photo). Martha wanted to a lion....

and we all know that lions go ROOOOAAAARRRRRRR!

We had a really quite nice afternoon after that.

Greater love has no girl....

This is Evelyn with Tilly's most beloved bear, Wilbur.

Quote of the day

"There are no bad days when you are going God's will. Some days are hard but there are no bad days."
A Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory

Evelyn isn't the only cute one...

Quotes

As I now have 3 small children and not much time I thought I would post some of my favourite quotes to keep you all entertained until I get back some of the brain cells needed to blog properly! So here is the first:

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito"