Home...

I have always placed a huge importance on the atmosphere that is created at home. I believe in creating a place where you can be yourself, where you can have fun and be free to be you. I believe in home being a safe place, where you can take refuge, or recharge or reconnect. Home is a place to escape, to grow, to rest, to play, to find protection, to find love.

Home is a place you go when you have something great happen in your life, home is also a place to go when you have failed or found some disappointment in life.

Everyday, I am mindful of the home environment in our house. I am tuned in to what changes that atmosphere and what impact and influence I have upon that. I want for my children and husband and for myself to know there is no place like home.

But home is about way more than a house. It’s about the people. It’s about God. It’s about relationship. Without that in my life, my house would not be a home.

Home to me is my husband and children. Connecting with our hearts. Living life together. Home to me is sitting in the presence of God. Learning about his heart and connecting with Him. Home to me is a place filled with friends and family. Home to me is a place filled with warmth, love, honesty, and heart.

There’s no place like home.

From Simone Turner's blog

Simple gratitude...

There's this lovely little day calendar on our kitchen windowsill, a precious treasure found at the local favourite op-shop (now closed!) called 'Forever Family: thoughts and ideas for the Christian Family". It's lovely, a little bit daggy, a bit American (apologies to my American readers!!!), but I choose to put aside the not-so-useful bits and ponder on the good.

Going back a couple of weeks I flipped it over to find the day's proverb:

'As a family, sit down and write a letter to your pastor, telling him what each of you appreciates about him (or her!)'.

What a lovely thought, a gentle reminder of gratitude in our ever-busy world. Think I'll do that. Too many special people in our lives are at the receiving end - mostly - of criticism, sarcasm, persecution, doubt in their dreams or just plain tired out.

When was the last time you wrote (no, not emailed, not texted, but in old-fashioned... gasp! your own handwriting) to a special person who has impacted you in the most amazing way - someone who has sown into your life, believed in you, inspired you, brought out the best in you, enriched your life?

Do they know how much you've grown by knowing them?

Charming the Birds from the Trees: True Beauty, Passed By?

Charming the Birds from the Trees: True Beauty, Passed By?

Amelie!

I am so delighted to finally have this beautiful artwork framed and hung on our wall in our living room. Wow, isn't she amazing?

My husband commissioned this precious original, painted by my lovely and super-talented friend Amy, for an amazing surprise for my birthday this year. Knowing that I love all things francais, hubby suggested a french theme for the painting - who better personifies something french than lovely Audrey Tatou from 'Amelie'?

Amy, my friend - you are amazing. With all my heart, I love you!

Check out more of Amy's amazing work at amymiddleton.com

Thankful, thankful, thankful...

I am so thankful for my Dad. We had lots of fun times together when I was little - trips to the library, 'suprise' on Saturday night (which normally meant a trip to McDonalds - what a treat!) horseback on night time walks, trips to the park...

Now, what a blessing he is to my poppet. Every little girl needs a fun poppy to take her for horsies, walks in the pusher, and little thoughtful gifts to bring a smile to her face.

Thanks, Dad.

What are you thankful for, today?

Reading this week..

I’ve been really taking some time lately to think about what I used to appreciate and look forward to from my childhood – one of the many things was a trip to the library with my dad. He’s always had a lifelong love of learning – one of the many things I love about him.

So, with a lifelong love of reading and learning myself, I’ve decided to encourage my little ones in the same way. We were off to the library for a quick trip yesterday…

...to look for some books that poppet has been keen to know more about (and mummy needs some answers too)...

...to keep learning Francais for poppet...

...a story book of her own choice...

...something for mummy to dream about and enjoy...

...and a delightful little book of poems...

...full of beautiful illustrations and lovely rhythmic prose to encourage a love of literature and expression of language...

...her favorite is 'Old Horses' by Max Fatchen. Enjoy:

Old Horses,

Leaning on fences,

Old Horses,

Rubbing on trees,

Old horses,

Lazy rumps pointing

Towards the cold gusts

Of a southerly breeze.

Old horses,

Never a gallop,

Old horses,

Heavy hoofs slow.

Old horses,

Down by the creek-bed,

Down on the flats

Where the sweet grasses grow.

Old horses,

Sweeping tails twitching.

Old horses,

Tossing their manes.

Old horses,

Gone are the hauling,

The shouts of the driver,

The tug on the reins.

Old horses,

Sleepy heads hanging,

Old horses,

Of yesterday's teams.

Old horses,

Soft nostrils breathing

The wheezy contentment

Of hay-scented dreams.

Doesn't this just evoke amazing memories of lazy days spent in the country? Air fresh tinged with hay, warm wind through your hair? Love it!

Entertaining at home

"She...provides food for her household..." Proverbs 31

One of the things that our family enjoys the most is sharing our home with friends and enjoying discussion about things close to our heart, or inviting new friends over to get to know them better. And one of the ways that I want to keep growing in is being a more gracious, more generous, more amazing hostess than ever before!

As a result of many nights at the dinner table, watching what works and what doesn't, and wanting to develop a bit more creative flair when it comes to entertaining, I've found myself recently on the lookout for a new recipe, or a new piece of silverware, or interesting antique piece to add to my kitchen table for special dinner nights.

I found a book at my local library called 'Table Inspirations : original ideas for stylish entertaining' by Emily Chalmers.

It gave me lots of great hints to use - using a little creativity from items around my home I've been able to produce some

interesting new table arrangements. And tonight, I've just discovered a site that I'll be poring over for some fresh ideas,

Sunday Suppers. Take a look - this really steps it up a notch, but one day, one day.... I dream of having a place where

lots of friends and family can congregate in one place, over an amazing table, with deliciously prepared home-made food...

So, next time you're over for dinner, and you notice a few of these ideas have been stolen,

just don't let on!

French grooming...

The classic French hairstyle comes in two versions: one for short hair, one for long. Short hair is severely bobbed: long hair is worn in a twist. Chignon is for evening, bien sur. What else could you possibly need?

How To Style The Modern Chignon With Ted Gibson

French!

We had an exciting event yesterday, poppet, tiny one and I all attended a little French class for toddlers - aged three to five.

Oh, it was sweet, with the little ones and a teacher, fluent in french speaking to them and bringing in props like the french flag, then getting them to touch the rouge (red), blanc (white) or bleu (blue) on the flag, with little hands a little unsteady, reaching out to touch the right couleur... They sang a little song in french, went around and said their names, and conversed a little with the teacher in some simple phrases and words. Then it was off to the craft table to make a little crown and coloring in the french flag.

I was really encouraged as poppet has been gaining confidence with her french. I must be on the right track at home, as I realised a lot of the props the teacher was using, I've just made up on the fly! We sing a lot, we converse a lot in basic phrases, and, when we are out shopping or just going for a stroll around our neighborhood, I'll use repetition to build her vocabulary:

Êtes-vous bon aujourd'hui ? Ou êtes-vous triste aujourd'hui ? (are you good today? Or are you sad today?)

Quel est le nom d'aujourd'hui? (what is the name of today?)

Regardez, ce qui est cette couleur ? En français ? (look, what is that color? In french?)

For those who knew me way back in high school, I always had a little dream to teach french to little children. Little did I know, it would start with my own...

Television...?

"...She watches over the ways of her household..." Proverbs 31:27

Oh, I love the Lord. And I am committed to raising my children to becoming all they can be in Him. It's because of a grateful heart that He has set me free from so many things, and yes, aren't we all a work in progress so I can look forward to an even more amazing tomorrow. But I want them to know about a God who is close by at all times, who has promised to do as He said He will (what was that again?), see themselves as He sees them - precious, chosen, virtuous, courageous, a daughter of great worth and value.

So on that, I've been doing a lot of thinking and making a few changes at home here. I've been questioning the content of a lot of children's TV shows - as innocent as they appear - they are fuelled with subtleties that little children are not ignorant to. Subtleties of disrespect, sarcasm, disobedience, fear, folly, and of course - everything magic appears so harmless...

It's been facilitated by the breakdown of our (very old) VCR, which DVDs need to use in order to operate on our TV. Somehow, I don't think it's a coincidence, more of a gentle reminding to keep focused on the important things and limit what my children are seeing via the media. So, we've had the telly off for the last week, and we are relating so much more as a result.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be some religious fanatic - but I really care. I do care, I am being careful to make sure my children are fed a healthy diet of creativity, creative activities, art, talking, singing, reading, nature walks... because she who has been forgiven much (me), loves much. I just can't handle anymore a lack of passion when it comes to the things of God.

This is putting it out there, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.