Summer...

Summer is such a beautiful season, and bountiful too. This morning, the children and I helped Andrew in the garden. First we shucked corn, we had 40 cobs from about 30 plants. These are now in the freezer ready to be boiled and buttered  for future dinners.

  We then pulled the french beans out of the ground, and Emily and Nicholas went over them to get the last of the beans off. Just enough for dinner! The calendulas have finished flowering, so we picked the last flower heads for soap making. I made some calendula cream last week, but it smelt so bad, that nobody will want to use it. I really need to find a better recipe!

 

God bless,

 Jenny

Christmas

  I love this time of year! The christmas tree is up and the house is decorated.  The little ones had so much fun putting baubles on the tree - non breakable ones of course. Jess does the glass ones whilst the kids have their rest after lunch. Although this year, she was at uni so it was left to me.

  I haven't looked properly at our decorations for the last few christmas'. They bring back memories of where we got each one...the christmas shop in Mittagong, or the little  shop we found in Launceston. It seems where ever we go we find these little shops, chock full of christmas wonders, and now with the internet the world is my oyster........

  With the big day only a few days away, I have last minute sewing to do for stocking stuffers. We are giving the school aged children pencils and textas in their stocking this year, so I thought that I would make pencil cases toy go with them. Just simple rectangular bags, quilted with button closures. The boys also want "super capes" to play super heros in the backyard, so I will be doing them tonight.

  My christmas cooking is almost finished, I think I have made a least 10 doz. fruit mince tarts! Andrew does love them. The pudding is ready to be steamed tomorrow, and the turkey and ham should be delivered on thursday.

  Christmas can seem like a lot of work, but when I think about the childrens faces as they watch Andrew and I do a nativity play with puppets on christmas eve, or see their eyes sparkle as they watch the christmas lights display at our local park, it is all worth it.

  Merry Christmas from my family to yours,

  God Bless,

  Jenny
 

 

God made the little boys for fun, for rough and tumble times of play;

He made their little legs to run and race and scamper through the day.

He made them strong for climbing trees, He suited them for horns and drums,

And filled them full of revelries so they could be their father's chums.

   Edgar Guest

I love.....

I love being a mother. I love being pregnant, giving birth, breastfeeding, cuddling babies, toddlers and even 18 year olds! I even love changing babies nappies, and giving them baths.

  I love to look at  my childrens faces and marvel at their similarities and differences. I love their zest in the morning when I can barely wake up.

  I love to watch their first tentative steps turn into bold cartwheels in a few short years. I love to watch them love each other. I love it when they want another baby as much as I do.

  Children are wonderful!

  God bless,

  Jenny

Growing Up

It seems like just yesterday I was looking into the eyes of my newborn baby daughter with her shock of fuzzy brown hair. Now, as she prepares to try her wings out, flying from home into the wide world, I find that my own outlook on life has changed.

  I remember being that teenager, looking forward to university days and what lay beyond. Now (many years later!), I am the mum, looking at life from an older point of view. Still excited about what adventures lay ahead, but also realising how quickly the last years have gone by, and how precious the time is!

  I realise that I need to make the most of every moment with my other little ones, because soon they too will be trying out their wings and flying from the nest.

So I am going to enjoy the potty training, learning to walk, the  getting into mischief part of life. I am going to enjoy teaching my little ones to read and write, teach them their mathematics and all about God, because I know that these days will all too soon be gone and one day be just precious memories.

  Enjoy your children at whatever stage they are at.

  God Bless,

  Jenny

A Simple woman's Daybook

Outside my window....  the sun is shining and I can hear the children playing in the yard.

I am thinking...  that  I wish I were a morning person. I love early morning sounds!

From the learning rooms... Nicholas' reading is coming along so well. He is learning ee sounds.

In the kitchen... Bread is cooking for lunch. Yum

I am wearing... my usual denim skirt with a long sleeved shirt. My ankle is still bound up from when I sprained it, so I have joggers on to support it.

 I am creating... soap!

I am wondering... how to make our lives more full filling without just making us busy.

I am reading... " The Mom  You're Meant to Be" By Cheri Fuller

I am hoping... that the chicken pox has finally left our family.

I am looking forward to... Andrews holidays..7 whole weeks!

Around the house.... Emily and Nicholas are playing Trio and Jacob is playing with Duplo. Katie and Beth are playing an imaginative game outside, and Benjamin is joining in any way he can.

  From the creative mind of  The  Simple  Womans Daybook.

Spring....

  "All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirit soars."
                                                          -Helen Hayes