Five Minute Friday: Roots

It’s what we cling to really; the hope that what we’re sowing every day, every hour, every minute of every day is doing something in the realms of eternity – something is taking place in the depths of our children’s hearts that cannot be shaken, can not be uprooted; and there remains the evidence of our mother heart: the fruit!

We plant for harvest but we mother farmers may not see the crop for many years yet we continue to sow, to water, to watch and to protect.

The bible tells us not grow weary in doing good – for in time we WILL reap a harvest of righteousness; but we do, we grow weary, we tire from the work, the unseen ‘results’ and the hard labour of early mornings and we’re trying to tap. out. our. feelings. about. this. on. our. blog.

It’s not failure – it’s just hidden.

Chin up as we say in England (!); HE is the lifter of our head; mother you WILL see that harvest in your child’s heart; don’t give up – keep going; you’re doing amazing!

STOP

Moments of Beauty

There are so many

Woven throughout the (blessed) chaos

The conflict resolution

The creating

The caring

The kiss

..and the ‘caught on camera’ moments of bliss

The ‘peekaboo’ bath time where they swim ‘like fish’

Daughters helping Mama, taking care of every dish

Siblings ‘testing’ team work; both eager to lead

Children’s hands occupied while I snuggle up and read

What ‘moments of beauty’ have you had in your day?

Spilled out and broken

My four little ‘pumpkins’ on our recent visit to a pumpkin farm

I learnt very early on in my journey of motherhood that there really is no point ‘crying over spilt milk’; mainly because it happens a lot…and their are lots of other things you could be crying about (smile!).

Recently we’ve had a ‘season’ of breakages and spillages in our home; from their milk to my tea and everything in between. We’ve broken plates and bowls and glasses and…wait for it…my tea pot lid (sniff sniff) and the majority of which have just been ‘accidents’ (that probably could have been prevented by a very attentive mother!).

My response is usually “oh dear, don’t worry, it doesn’t matter, we’ll clear it up”; I remove said child to prevent them from further injury or ‘mess’ and I clean up the remaining shards of beloved tea-pot lid or juice…and we move on with the day.

I get to show grace over and over (and over) again to my children. Some of the ‘accidents’ test my grace boundaries or how high-pitched my ‘oh dear’ can get but I’ve decided and realised that my response is deemed higher in the realms of eternity and in my child’s heart than my ‘beloved’ coffee mug or cake plate.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matt 6:20

Isn’t this how God is with us? He shows His grace; His free and ready favour again and again in our lives. He looks at us spilled out and broken and says “Oh dear, don’t worry, we’ll clear it up”, and with His loving arms He removes us from the place as to prevent further injury (even if we feel like we’re left in the depths of it He lifts our face to His eyes to shift our focus to Him and not on what we’re in the ‘middle’ of) and says “come on, let’s get back on track and run this race together“

May god’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 6:24

As I picked up the broken pieces of my tea-pot lid and noticed that the ‘pot’ itself was undamaged my creativity was unleashed (I let it out occasionally!) and I lovingly placed a mint plant inside it and I decided to use this ‘broken’ situation for growth.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so
that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Cor 12:19

The remnants of me

It’s in these moments at the break of dawn (well it feels like that!) when the baby is woken by the other little one  just as I was about to start to read my ‘devotional’ study for the day when I rub my tired eyes, lay down my plans and give them all I can give at that time of the day; my arms, my knee and my space.

My kids get the whole of me but they also get the remnants; and they take it all.

I’m poured out, weary, forgetful and bleary eyed but they take me as I am; they’re happy, they’re content, they’re safe, they’re home in my arms.

Even if I feel empty, they climb into the space on my lap and envelop the air and fill it with their beauty and innocence.

I’m reminded of God’s grace; His free and ready favour, ready to take me as I am; empty, lost, forgetful (of His gift, His gospel), weary and laid out and He accepts me; He envelops me in His love, He pursues every part of me and fills my emptiness with His strength, love, hope and joy.

He makes me whole, He defines me, He brings fullness and breathes life into my day, my marriage, my motherhood, my ministry and my calling in Him.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me. Gal 2:20

The Prayer Jar

“Never stop praying” 1 Thess 5:17

About 6 months ago I was asking God for creative inspiration (I do this a lot!) with regards to prayer; my husband and I lead a local church and I wanted to make sure I was covering our precious people in prayer but how does a busy home schooling mother of 4 bring all those people (as well as my own family) before God in one day…or even week!

So here birthed the ‘Prayer Jar’! A simple idea that has triggered a revolution (albeit a mini one!) amongst our friends; so what is it?

Ingredients:

1. 1 large jar (scriptures stuck on the front optional)
2. lots of names (typed or written) of people you’d like to pray for on individual strips of paper, folded and placed in the jar
3. A daily slot where you and your family pick one name out each and pray for that person!

Easy as that…but it is SO effective!

We put all the names of people in our church family in there, as well as friends and family, and who ever else God puts on our heart.

Every morning after breakfast and bible, the children and I take a name out each and cover that person in prayer. Each evening after dinner, Dave, myself and the children take the jar, pick a name out each and pray for whoever we’re holding in our hand.

It really is  amazing and has become part of the culture of our home; if we (almost) forget you can guarantee that either one of the two younger members of our family will find the jar and bring it enthusiastically to the dinner table to remind us!

We don’t worry about getting through the whole jar, we give it over to God and believe He ordains who He wants us to pray for. We’ve had countless times when the same person has come out again and again over a few days and I’ve contacted them to let them know to find out they’ve been really in need of prayer over that week for a specific situation – God is so good!

It’s great fun texting or messaging someone to say “you came out of the prayer jar today, consider yourself covered in prayer” or “Micah prayed for you this morning”; imagine blessing someone in this way!

Have a go and let me know what God does through your family

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

Do you have a creative idea for family prayer?

Books on my coffee table!

I like to keep my favourite things in sight and at hand; maybe that’s why I stay at home with my children (smile)!

I have book shelves all over the house and cabin but I like to keep a few ‘flickable’, pick-up-when-up-like books/mags on my coffee table for that quiet moment when no one is asking for food or climbing all over you (and that’s just my husband)!

Sometimes this basket acts as my ‘soul time’; each morning it holds tools for my ‘quiet’ time and it always holds gems of inspiration for my homemaking and cooking.

So what is in there at the moment?

(Front to back of basket pictured above)

• My Kindle; loaded with lots of delights – this week I’ve wading through ‘In defense of food’ by Michael Pollen
• My prayer/Word journal that I write in every day
• My new ESV bible with lovely green material on the front (did I tell you I loved green?!)
• Spooning with Rosie – book #1, I LOVE her recipes and her style
• Supper with Rosie – book #2 which Dave bought me recently, another gorgeous recipe book that I get tons of ideas and inspiration from
• Kirstie’s Homemade Home – working my way through this one, lovely (some easy, some not) ideas for homemaking
• The Thrifty Forager – absolutely LOVE this book; a great one for Autumn inspiration, walks and frugal/free cooking
• The Beloved Burden – a perfect and beautiful gift from my friend; a book all about baby wearing around the world, amazing photo’s…a gradual read!
• Country Living Magazine – this is a treat (mags not in our budget at the moment!) for me but a friend got me the recent copy for my birthday
• Landlove Magazine – a treat from my precious daughter, also for my birthday!

  Another one that is usually on there is the ‘Charlotte Mason Companion’ by Karen Andreola, but that is by my desk at the moment as I use it lots!

  What books are on your coffee table?

Preparing your little ones for a Charlotte Mason Education

“Thought breeds thought; children familiar with great thoughts take as naturally to thinking for themselves as the well nourished body takes to growing; and we must bear in mind that growth; physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual, is the sole end of education”

Charlotte Mason

Out of our four children the two youngest have never been to a nursery, school or any kind of government institution; Micah is now 4 and is eager to ‘start school’ on Wednesday (hopefully will have got ourselves organised by then!) along with his older siblings, but what he’s failed to realise just yet is that his ‘home’ education started from birth.

Most children grow and develop in a society where ‘learning’ starts at the age of 4 or 5 in a small class room; it begins at 8.30am and finishes at 3.15pm; I consider it a great privilege to raise and educate my children at home; to be their greatest influence and to be able to create a ‘supportive atmosphere for learning’ from the moment they take their first breath.

Education truly is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life and what greater way to train up a child than in an atmosphere of freedom, peace and gentle direction.

I’m already preparing my 19 month old daughter for a ‘Charlotte Mason education’; a life long love of learning in God’s creation. Two of the first signs she learnt (baby sign language) were ‘bird’ and ‘flower’ – it thrills me to see her running around the garden excited and shouting ‘Mama Mama’ whilst signing at every bird she see’s – she’s learning to look and soak in the world God has put her in.

Remember to take delight in everything your young children are learning; be intentional in your listening and observing of their play and behaviour – it’s amazing to capture.

I was recently bathing Micah; he had two toys in his hands; one was metal (strange for a bath toy but he’s 4!) and one was plastic – he enthusiastically explained to me how one of the toys floated and one sank to the bottom of the bath – I didn’t ask too many questions or push what he had ‘learned’ but just delighted in this early years bath time scientific and mathematical discovery that my son was having.

Our children love to learn and as Miss Mason reminds us in her seven keys of learning ‘active’ involvement is vital to learning.

Although we may not embark on too much formal ‘teaching’ and narrating in these early years we can gently prepare our little ones for a love for learning; for listening and for looking. So why not let your 3 year old lead you on your next nature walk (at your own risk ha ha!) or snuggle up tonight with your nursling and read a few of the Mother Goose classics or A. A Milne’s ‘Now we are Six’ – it’s never too early!

How are your younger ones preparing for a Charlotte Mason education?

Clinging onto Summer

September is just around the corner and I’m grabbing at the last moments of our precious summer time; lazy days and rainy days, cooking, laughing, holidaying, outdoor candlelit evenings; just being – reconnecting with friends and family. This year, despite the very few glimpses of British sunshine we’ve ‘sucked the marrow’ out of this seemingly fleeting season.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of my planning for our new home school year which will start on the 3rd September; I’ve been blessed with a child-free day to pray, read, write and prepare for my little learners; my four year old has requested his own desk so he can do his ‘work’ – what do you think?

“His lessons should be joyous”
(Charlotte Mason – Vol 1, Part V Lessons As Instruments Of Education, p.178)

We still have things to tick off our summer wish list, but we also have just under two weeks to complete it!

Swimming and camping are next on the agenda – the children are so excited for our tent adventures this weekend…Mummy is also somewhat ‘excited’ about the work this seems to involve but it’s all memory making hey?!

Our garden hasn’t seen too much action this year apart from these yummy loganberries that keep appearing; unfortunately they get picked and eaten quicker than I can snap a picture but I caught these beauties before the children got in there!

One of my favourite summer activities have been our family walks, no agenda, no time to be home – just walking; gazing at the beauty around us and taking a few treasures home to enjoy!

…and I love the still evenings, as the night creeps in and you don’t quite want another summer’s day to end

Moonlight, summer moonlight by Emily Bronte

‘Tis moonlight, summer moonlight, All soft and still and fair; The solemn hour of midnight Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere,But most where trees are sending Their breezy boughs on high, Or stooping low are lending A shelter from the sky.

And there in those wild bowers A lovely form is laid; Green grass and dew-steeped flowers Wave gently round her head.

How will you be spending these last few precious summer days?

Big Impact!

I’m savouring the last of our summer evenings here in our little corner of the world; I love the August air and the light streaming into our living room as the children begin their descent upstairs; P.J’s, stories and snuggles after a full afternoon of activity at home.

As I was at my sink tonight cleaning up the remains of dinner and a days work of creative concoctions in my little kitchen, a large shadow took me by surprise above my head, I ducked expecting to see a large moth swooping above my head only to find a tiny fluttering insect with a magnetic pull towards my kitchen light bulb!

I laughed at my reaction and was reminded by the Holy Spirit how small things can make a huge impacted when they are near the light.

“But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

1 John 1:7

As we walk close to Jesus and do not grow weary; the every day simple things of life that we do so diligently will have a big impact for His kingdom, His purpose’s and the legacy we leave.

What have you done today that went unnoticed? What is it you do everyday to make someone elses life easier but no one ever realises? Think of the smallest task, act or action you have performed today; when we do it for His glory, when we walk close to Jesus the impact will always be bigger than we expect.

The young shepherd boy David slayed a giant with one small pebble; just think what impact that cuddle with your husband would have (despite your unfinished ‘to do’ list), that home cooked meal for your family, that hot chocolate with your daughter, that 10 minutes of uninterrupted Lego play with your son can have when it is done with Jesus and not out of duty or frustration!

The biggest lesson we mothers need to learn is that we can’t do it in our own strength; we must keep our eyes on Jesus as we walk out our noble and honoured calling.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Prov 16:3

Small things have big impact when we walk close to Jesus – nothing you do is insignificant; you are precious and loved today!

We have a WINNER!

My little adventurers having fun in the Lake District

 

Congratulations to Lanaya at Delightful Education – a copy of the Charlotte Mason booklet all the way from the Armitt in Ambleside will be on its way to you very soon…

Be blessed!

Leah