A.musing.mama! 4.8

Oh Christmas tree,

Oh Christmas tree,

how barren are your branches!

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With kids in tow,

and falling snow,

the perfect tree stands aglow.

Now we all know,

until these ones grow,

the ornaments hang low.

A, musing mama,

Mel ;o)

You can catch up on previous COMICS here, friends!

a walk. a wreath.

:another family tradition:

The annual hike to collect cedar and nature's supplies to create a rustic wreath together.

 A beauty-full weekend indeed!

Mel ;o)

 

crafty Christmas creativity:

It's always at this time of year, usually after the first real snow fall, that I start hatching way too many projects in my head.

They flutter about, distracting my thoughts, until I sew/sketch/sort them out!

If you're feeling the bug, too, I thought today I would post some links to projects (D.I.Y's) I've done in the past for young and old(er).  In case you wanted some inspiration for your own creative moment!

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You can click here for 10 different kid's craft/gift ideas.

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Or, click here for some more adult sized cozy creations and decor to make.

Happy Crafting friends!

Mel ;o)

All things pink and purdy:

 The nest is filled with pink, tacky, girly-girl overboard vibes today.

A certain lil' princess is turning 5... five!!

The tom-boy in me is fighting a gag reflux at all this decor, but it makes her little heart happy, so that's good enough medicine for this mama.

 Annnnd, check out my first attempt at making a fun cake... ok, stop laughing!

We usually just opt for cupcakes each year, but this year it's cake.  I stared at a rectangle pan and wondered what to do (much like starting at a scrap of fabric envisioning a pattern to sew) when I realised I could just cut the bottom corners off and put them up top as kitty ears!

She also loves kittys.

Pink, kittys, princesses.

Need I say more?

 Another sweet moment: this morning she said "Baby Talia is my BEST gift ever!!  You know why?  Because she's SOOO cute!"  end quote.

Happy Birthday to our dear Azriel!

She's full of creativity, energy, spunk, imagination, sensitivity, faces, emotions, and sweetness!

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Stay tuned for the surprise post in a day or two.

Sorry for the delay, we've been in a never-ending, gauntlet of sleepless nights, fevers and all around exhaustion here lately.... wheeeeee!

Mel ;o)

away we went:

Well hello again.

For the two of you out there who may have thought we dropped off the inter-webs recently... well, we did.  This was our little family getaway.

A family conference camp.

A week of meeting new people (and large Dutch families!).

A week of hearing great messages and singing.

Of gorging on carbs and sugar... and drinking lots of coffee.

Little sleep, and lots of baby holding.

Exhaustion and encouragement.

Fun and fatigue.

The kids had a great time it seems.

Azriel was eagerly running up to kids and saying: "Do you want to be my best friend?!" and then they're all running off squealing and catching frogs.

Hudson stayed close, and liked playing with the water fountain.

Talia warmly smiled and cooed at all the people beaming down at her.

We survived another family vacation.

Now, Ben and I just want one to recover!

But, it's nice to be back in our nest,

Mel ;o)

sweetness savou(red):

* a berry good time indeed *

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Happy Canada Day/Weekend fellow canucks! 

Mel ;o)

growing up(wards)...

Hello friends,

Things are getting a bit quiet around here since the rhythm of our days are pretty consumed with things like: playing out in the sun, reading books, visiting with friends, having meltdowns, nursing a baby...  that kind of stuff.

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But today I wanted to post about the blessing of birthdays.

Because.. yeah, I just had another one recently.

Much like New Years' Eve... a birthday hits me with a tangible thoughtfulness.

A time of reflection over where I'm headed - and where I've been.

Can I just say that being in your thirties is awesome.

Sure, I'm not as young as I once was...

and the physical upheaval and 'let down' after three kids has put me in a whole new realm.

(Side-note: shopping for a new summer wardrobe is like a mine-field!)

But the real blessing of ageing is learning.

Or, 'growing in wisdom'.

Life deals so many highs and lows, so many blessings and woes, and as we navigate through them we are always changed.

Learning is a humbling thing, or, maybe one needs to be humble to learn.

 Either way, I think the biggest message being echoed over my heart this past year has been found in the blessing of brokenness.

It's that feeling of trying to 'unlearn' everything your world, and your heart has been preaching to you in your twenties: "look like you have it all together"

"confidence is key"  "self-sufficiency is where it's at".

I'll always remember a girl saying to me years ago that she was intimidated to be my friend because I looked like I 'had it all together'.  Maybe that said more about her than me... but since then I've always wanted to be more authentic.  (That's why I practise posting so many confessions on this blog).

I'm real.

I'm a real mess.

So being in my mid-thirties is awesome because I'm learning to trust my identity with the One Who made me.  In Christ alone my hope is found.

The more broken I am, the more His grace shines through.

I'm not justified by my performance.

I'm not condemned by my failures.

Because my identity is not focused on me.

(Well...that's the daily battle actually).

It's swallowed up in the LOVE of those Holy, hole-y hands that hold me.

"He must increase,

but I must decrease"

John 3:30

I am loved more than I can imagine, I am more broken than I can conceive.

All these truths intersect at the cross of Christ.

As I reflect on these things it's a very happy birthday to me indeed.

Growing upward.

Mel ;o)

 

the treasure hunt...

Soooo, do any other parents out there find the holidays hard to navigate?

As in: 'what message do we want our kids receiving'?

Because Christmas and Easter are the two most significant celebrations in the Christian faith.

Yet, they're also the most commercialised and confusing in our culture.

I wonder if our kids simply see this as yet another event that rewards them with gifts?

Chocolate eggs, fancy outfits and feasting with family has all of 'what' to do with the betrayal, death and resurrection of Jesus exactly...?

(By the way, NO, that wasn't a guilt trip for anyone).  

Do we get so distracted with the superficial frivolities... that we neglect the deeper spiritual truths?  I pray that isn't the case.  

Because sure, we all love to eat a good fistful of chocolate on any day, but a sugar rush doesn't feed our soul.

I want our family to feed on the real sweetness:

the Bread of Life.

The words of Christ, and the Christ of the Word.

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So today we hid the Resurrection eggs all around the back yard for the kids to hunt.

Each colourful plastic egg held a small emblem inside.

A simple piece of the Easter story narrative.

The broken bread - Christ's body.

The coins - His betrayal by Judas.

The whip - Christ's beatings.

The robe - His mockers.

The thorns - His crown.

The nails - His suffering.

The cross... and more.

And it hit me afresh.

Just as Ben, the kids 'Daddy' hid these eggs around the yard today.

God, our heavenly 'Daddy' has left us gifts to find too.

Just as these symbols tucked in the eggs pointed to the gospel message, 

so all of history - all the stories in the Bible - have pointed to Christ.

It's like a divine scavenger hunt.

Looking for Christ in every Bible story.

 Having the eyes to see His presence in every day.

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It's like a bread crumb trail.

Reading the Word, seeing the world around me... it all points me back to the Bread of Life.

The bread that feeds my soul.

That sustains me.

For when the days are hard,

and my heart is weak,

and parenting overwhelms me,

and the doubts engulf me...

...I follow that trail.

Bread crumb.by.crumb.

Those tiny treasures the heavenly Father has hid throughout our day.

I pick them up.

Dust them off.

See the presence of Jesus afresh.

This day, this moment, we celebrate that He is risen indeed!
 

Speaking of bread... here's the gorgeous loaves our man made too.

Happy Easter!

mel ;o)

this little light of mine.

It's New Years Eve.

The familiar 'pops' of cheap fireworks are lighting off around our neighbourhood.

Bang!

Fizzz....

Silence.

Bang! Fizz. Silence.

On the eve of a fresh new year, we tend to grovel in resolutions for change - tend to reflect back on the year fizzing out in smoke behind us.

Not to be (too) morbid with you - but I'm picturing our lives as a sparkler.

 Here for a moment - a flash of dazzling light - snuffed out in another moment.

Or, as Scripture would put it: "your life is a vapour" James 4:14.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to waste it.

 I trust that as this new year begins with one small step.. we would each be stepping in the direction of showing more kindness towards one another.

Loving more, judging less.

Reading more, watching less.

Listening more, talking less.

Trusting more, worrying less.

Much to grow in, much to prune away.

Or, back to the sparkler imagery... "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine".

Happy New Years friends,

Mel ;o)

 

winter, wonder, and waiting.

It is Sunday.

All things are still.

The world is in frozen wonder outside.

White and shimmering like a crisp blank page...

... waiting.

Warmth inside.

Christmas lights twinkling.

Fresh baked bread from the oven.

Gifts being wrapped in crisp colourful papers...

...waiting.

Now is the season of waiting.

The advent calendar is in it's last few days.

The preparations have been baked, wrapped, written...

...waiting to gift them to loved ones.

A baby kicks within the womb.

...waiting to enter the world in a fresh new year.

Likewise we wait,

in a season of blur and busyness,

chaos and consumerism.

We seek to carve out a sacred space.

A humble hollow into our hearts.

That the King of glory may be birthed there.

I hope the wonder and beauty of this season fills your homes and hearts with warmth.

From our family to yours,

a blessed and Merry Christmas to you!

Mel ;o)

...and MORE Christmas crafting bits:

 Can you keep a secret??

Ok, a week left until Christmas - a week!  The last threads have been stitched (almost) and there's just a few more wee projects I hope to finish in time.  But, this labour of love for our daughter... the fabric mini playhouse I mentioned before... is done!  Happy dance.

I wasn't going to get too crazy detailed with embroidery work..  so a hot glue gun saved time with some features (like the button 'plate' wall above the couch).  Windows on each side reveal a peek-a-boo owl under the curtains.

I'm pretty smitten with the lace 'snow covered' rooftop, of course.

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Now I just have a simple toy drum to make for our little guy.

A larger version of this one from before... made this time with one of those big metal coffee tins.

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Oh, and I finally whipped off two more jumbo silk stockings to add to the mantle.

Having been almost out of the previous fabric with that tree motif ... I used this ivory silk and leftover scraps of the tree fabric for accent pockets (perfect size of a chocolate bar.. hint hint, husband!).  I also used a green damask fabric for the back since I had no more of the red.

I figure these two stockings will either be for the boys in the house - and we girls will have the original three.  But it may just be the parents that get the two new, and the kids have the three...

 ...either way, I have to sew the large bells back on to the toes of all the five stockings since our lil' guy was delighted to tear them off.

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So there you have it.. a few more projects hot off the press from this nest.

Have you been creating much for this Christmas?  I'd love to hear!

Mel ;o)

Seeing the real gifts among us:

"Where society is rightly ordered children are regarded, not as an encumbrance, 

but as an inheritance; and they are recieved, not with regret, but as a reward"

C.H.Spurgeon.

I read this quote in a book the other day and it hit me right between the eyes.

Because some moments it's really hard to see your kids through eyes of grace and gratitude.

Cue those times of whining, power struggles, disobedience and all around mayhem.

Those moments when you shock yourself with how hot your blood boils, and how insane your thoughts whirl.

Motherhood can be really hard.

It can have you so discouraged you wonder how any of you will make it through another day.

That's just the honest truth.

 But it truly is a gift.

Children are an inheritance.

We mothers 'in the trenches' sometimes lose sight of that.

 The stick and grime of daily messes that require continual cleaning cloud our eyes to the sparkling truth beneath.

That little 'mess maker' is a beautiful soul entrusted to our care.

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Sometimes we just need to step outside of the daily chaos and hear the voices of those with a clearer perspective:

The aged Grandma... who's eyes twinkle with the remembrance of tiny footsteps.

The empty-nest Mother... who wonders at how quickly her kids grew and moved away.

The friends/family who have miscarried... and long to hold such a gift in their own arms.

The Author of Creation... who knits the soul together in their Mother's womb.

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These voices all say remember.

That precious child in your care is a gift.

Better than any parcel under your tree.

Opening layers of your own heart you didn't know were there.

I know my heart needs these reminders daily.

To treasure these moments 'gifted' to me.

When I look back at moments like these, how can I not delight in our inheritance?

Hope you squeeze the ones you love tighter today

(just not around the neck)!

mama Mel ;o)

 

The craftiest time of the year!

It's that time of year.

Once the first dusting of snow hits the ground.. my brain turns into Santa's workshop, just busting with creative notions wanting to be made!

There's the homemade decor for the nest to be created with the kids.

The crafting of gifts for loved ones.

The making of goodies to sell at a craft show.

Just time... and energy, required.... yeah, those are rare commodities aren't they?

Needless to say I've dusted off my long neglected sewing machine and wedged my bulging belly into the crafting corner - a few hours here, a few moments there.

My wrist warmers (seen above) are all ready for our local FOCUS FAIR.

They sell out every year.. but I think I made enough for now. (I'll only be there for Sun.dec.8th).

Then, there's the labour of love creation for our daughter... a fabric mini play house.

I'm very loosely being inspired by the pattern from One Yard Wonders here.

You know I hate patterns.. and committing to a project that takes more than one sewing session... but, if it turns out - it should be cute!

I'm also needing to add a couple more stockings to the mantle (granted I'm all out of this tree fabric so I'll have to get creative).  The rest of my scheming and dreaming will take the back burner until I know there's an inch of time/energy left to throw their way.

What about you?

Crafting and creating and homemade goodness this season?  Do tell!

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

 

D.I.Y: paint dipped pinecones (kid-friendly).

Finally.. an actual Do.It.Yourself crafty project from this blog... I bet you just choked on your egg nog to see this miracle!

Granted, we did quite a similar creation last Christmas.. (you may recall dipping pine cones in red paint with my daughter).

Anywho ~ this is one of those kid-friendly projects to decorate the house with for this festive season.

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1. Dip pine cones halfway into a can of paint.  Let drip dry/brush off excess.

(Kids love dipping... but it's less messy if you just dry brush paint straight on to the cones).

2. While paint is still wet.. sprinkle sparkles all over it.

(Yes, this mama finally caved and brought the dreaded demon of sparkles into our nest!).

3.  Once they are dry, the adult can hot glue a dab at the base of pine cone and attach pretty ribbon or twine to hang the decor in your window.  Ours are all dangling in our large living room window... with this gorgeous view outside today:

Goodness, it's a merry sight!

Happy crafting with yourself.. or your kiddos!

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

Four > she's the birthday girl!

How do four years hold so much... heavy with rich memories, laughter, lessons (and lunacy).

Yet they disappear so quickly like rainbow coated bubbles from the playful blow of a child's wand.

We are richer for these four years.

We celebrate our darling daughter.

The silly, playful, dramatic, sensitive, creative spirit that she keeps growing up in to.

Happy 4th birthday you sweet lil' imp!

Mel ;o)