Why I blog #14

So I've been feeling like I need to write about this for a while. I keep this blog for us a family. I wanted to record the small things which over time would otherwise be forgotten. I want to be able to look back and read ; the funny quotes you all came out with; the moments of craziness; the firsts; the lasts; the adventures and the normal. I also want to have it as a record of our physical but also spiritual growth. So many times in church lessons we are asked to reflect and recall times when certain aspects of gospel living have touched and blessed out lives. Often I sit there and think and think and I know that I have had such experiences but I just can't bring them to my memory at the time. So I need to record them, write them down and so when you ask when I've had an experience I can at least look to this to bring back the memories which have built and edified my testimony. 

Over the past months, well since the beginning of 2013 we have been abundantly blessed as a result if tithing. Our testimonies have been strengthened that Heavenly Father does indeed hear our prayers and he does answer them in His time. We have to have faith in His time. We have been praying for the help necessary to get our finances straight for many, many months if not years. With the nature of our jobs it has not nor is it easy to make plans.  Last year was particularly tough especially for Nathan at work. In October we sat down with heavy hearts and questioned why things weren't happening for us the way we needed them to. We both acknowledged that we needed to be stricter personally with our money and set out a strict plan as to how we would claw out way up to stability. The plan would take about 24 months it was going to be tough but worth it. Two months in and we had an accident with the car, the dryer broke and we needed oil. It kind of felt that we'd taken one step forward and three back. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that angels we sent to help us. We don't go publically proclaiming our trials but Heavenly Father knows them and though other people we felt His loving care. Since the beginning of the year or as Nathan points out since Seth has been born financially the windows of Heaven have been opened. Nathan has seen work improve dramatically. We received a very unexpected payout from some mis-selling from the bank that we couldn't even remember having. Through these factors we have been able to make great head way with our plan cutting it down from a 24 month to what we now hope to be only 10 month plan, of which we have only 4 months more to go. I believe Heavenly Father has a plan for our family. His ways are higher than our ways. His time scale is different to ours but His time scale is right. We have grown, we have made mistakes with our planning in the past. We have now adopted habits to help us plan miuch better. I believe tithing is a blessing. I believe when we desire to do what is right Heavenly Father will help us in the way which is best for us. Sometimes that means we have to stay in the slow lane as we have things to learn. Then sometimes it means the fast lane is opened up to us and what seemed like an up hill struggle is over with the blink of an eye.  

36 Yea, and ^acry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy^bdoings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy ^cthoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

 37 ^aCounsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for ^bgood; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the ^cmorning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

  Alma 37 : 36-37

Big Boy can ride a Big Boy Bike

27th April - Joseph rode his new bike for the first time, no stabilisers and peddling. Balance bikes work!

I love it when one of our boys learn something new :)

He was so proud of himself and took great delight putting on a performance for me when I returned from Anabelle's party with Ben. 

On note of other firsts during the week of the 22nd; Seth rolled over for the first time and subsequent other times, from his front onto his back. He can also pivot and move backwards in a seal like movement.

Jedi Rules

A Jedi Knight must use his intiative and find a suitable holster for his lightsaber whatever outfit he is wearing, A pull up is perfectly acceptable and can carry a light saber down the back and a blaster (in the form of an Earthling's megaphone) down the front.

A Jedi Knight need not be concerned with the trivial matter of putting one's wellington boots on the right way round.

Easter Holidays round up

I love the Easter Holidays. We relax, we have family time. The nights are getting lighter and the weather somewhat better. Though this year  we had unprecedented snow drifts in March. 

Check those bad boys out ! This is on the road from Long Lee to Cullingworth and this was almost a week after the snow fell - still car roof high.

Good Friday we were at the Grandma and Grandad's. Seth got to meet Nana and Aunty Diane. He wooed with his conversation!

During Easter we -

Mon - attended the ward BBQ and football match. it was really chilly but the children all played really well together and the men played well together on the pitch (well done them no fall outs!)

Tues- Railway museum with Jack and Charlie

Weds- We went to Kirtstall Abbey  had the first picnic of the year and then on Dad's request we went to new lego shop in the Trinity Centre in Leeds.

Thurs - Creepy Crawlies with Emily and Isabelle.

Fri- Granne came we went for a walk around Brayton Barff and then took the boys over for a sleepover at Grandma and Grandad's so we could go out for a meal with Nathan's colleagues.

Saturday - Nathan and I went for a drive around Saddleworth moor, dramatic views accentuated with blue sky and the remaining snow.

Sunday - General conference and birthday tea for Granne and Isabelle (she loved her cape)

Mon  & Tues- chill!!!

Weds - Hung out with friends at the farm shop and park. the sun came out and it felt warm, lovely.

Thurs - Took a trip to Thirsk with Nathan. he went to an appointment and the boys and I scoured the charity shops of Thirsk. In the afternoon we went to the Birds of prey centre - It was fab. The flying display was great!  

The boys were really thrilled that they got to hold two tiny owls.

I love these photos of Ben, he looked really chuffed with himself.

All in all, a great holiday.

Sunday best

One, then two, then three boys ready for General Conference.

Great weekend full of spiritual enlightenment.

Loved Elaine Dalton's talk about being daughters of God and Jeffery R Holland's about belief.

Lambing Live 2013

The thursday before Good Friday, the children broke up from school. We had a quick tea, then at 6:30 we set off on adventure! It was something I wanted to do last year but being in the zombie-state of early pregnancy, I just couldn't hack a late night.  This year inspite of the unusal snow which had affected large parts of Yorkshire with snow drifts like I'd never seen, I was determined that we would go as a family to 'Lambing Live.' 

It takes place one night a year at Cannon Hall Farm in Barnsley - can I just point out - who knew Barnsley was so close????? It took 50 minutes to get there, less time that it takes to get to Mum and Dad's?! I think I just have the feeling that going south is a lot further than going west, north, or east for that matter. Anyway back to the matter in hand. One night a year the farm stays open all night so people can come to the farm and hopefully see lambs being born during the night. 

On the way there the thought of - do my boys really want to see how lambs actually come into the world did cross my mind! But then they have seen it before when I took them to the farm in North Milford and a couple of lambs were born then - one of which had to be swung from side to side to help it breath. There is just something magical about spring and lambs which I love. God's creative powers on show - I love it and hope that our boys will also grow to love the wonders of the world on their doorstep.

It was really quite busy, dark and  a chill in the air. There was a large shed where the expectant ewes were assembled and a crowd of people watching in anticipation - quite random if you think about it!!! The boys weren't into playing the waiting game, they wanted to explore. We 'ahhed' at the one day old kid and the few hours old lambs which were huddled together to keep warm. The piglets were really cute snuggled up and clambering over each other to get to the warmest spots.There is something about them which is quite human baby like all pink and wriggly! The animals were my favourite part but for the boys it was playing in the snow covered parks at 10 o' clock at night!! Ben led the way in his dare devil style up and down the big slides. Joseph was a little hesitant after his slide accident the day Seth was born, but came down when Ben went with him. They pretended the see-saw was a Star Wars  rider. There was a small fall from a ladder caught on camera and a moment of madness when I hoisted Ben onto the zip-wire and Nathan stopped him from falling off head first (Must be obedient to signs which state that rides are for over 6's, they're there for a reason!) but they came away unscathed - a blessing of prayers for safety I'm sure. We had hot chocolate in the tea room (which also stays open all night too_ then back to check out the birthing shed!!! 

It was a lovely night though by the time we left, at 11:00, Ben was asking to go home! I'd like to make this a family spring tradition where we gradually go later and later  and hopefully see some lambs being born in the dead of night.

 Nothing quite cracks Nathan up more than pulling crazy faces for 'couple ' photographs!!!

Oliver & S Red Riding Hood Cape

This has to be up there as one of my favourite sewing projects to date.

 The Oliver & S red riding hood cape.

The pattern is found in Oliver & S Little things to sew book. I love this book. Having made the bear hat, the doll carrier and now the cape I can say that the patterns are well designed and the instructions easy to follow.

Having seen a glimspe of one Rhiannon has made Izzy for her birthday I was inspired to make one for cousin Isabelle. She turned three this week and with her cherubic face she most certainly pulled off the 'Red Riding Hood look' when she did a little fashion show for us at Granne and Grandad's. 

Putting a button the inside, makes the cape fully reversible and I thought this blue spotty fabric would look great during summer.

Looks like I will be using this pattern again to make one for Emily too, as she put an order in for her 6th birthday in october!