Pause

Following a long four-day weekend, I decided to send the kids to daycare so that, if nothing else, I could at least do a blog post! And given that it's the first day of the winter school break, I thought a pause was in order...

I'm thinking about...
my untidy house. Really. It's at the point where it's so deurmekaar I can hardly see the table and floor in the living room, and I can't actually think about anything else until it's been tidied. So I've started sorting things out (I'm blogging on a cleaning break) while the kids are away, and am optimistic that we'll be able to maintain a relative amount of order.

I'm also really looking forward to getting away for a few days to Knysna for our annual family winter getaway next weekend. This is traditionally a full four/five days involving a road-trip, cycle race, log cabin accommodation and tons of fun. Watch this space for an update on how it all went down!

This is the actual house we stay in

I'm watching...
nothing. Actually, I managed an old movie last week at my Mom's while waiting for the kids to wake from their nap. But other than that,during this last term from hell (I kid you not), I could not fit in a single television series or movie or sports match or kiddie anything. Andel recommended I spend today catching up on some mindless tv - but you tell me how I'm meant to do that in an untidy home.

* I just remembered though: I plan to take Zac to see Finding  Dory this holiday - so that's a start!


I'm listening to...
tons of worship music. At first it was just to get me through the day. Now I'm looking at new music to do with my band at church, as well as some songs that we're getting the kids to learn and lead. They did their first song last Sunday, and brought me to tears. There's something about the innocent sincerity with which they worship that demands breakthrough.


I'm loving...
having a big boy. Sure, Zac only just turned four two days ago, but he's grown up so much since starting school at the beginning of the year. We have the most mature conversations in the car to and from school. He has such insight, and articulates himself so well. And he makes me laugh because he says the funniest (version of) things. The latest is "I think I'm losing my mind", usually expressed after he makes a mistake, forgets what he was doing or says the wrong word for something. Hilarious!

He is also very good with Sam. He readily assists with looking after or occupying him, and they both enjoy playing together. There have been a good number of nights, sometimes two hours after they're supposed to have gone to bed, when they are sitting together (both in Sam's cot) playing until the point of exhaustion, when they literally collapse into sleep.

Even shopping is a whole lot easier (even Dad can do it!)

I'm busy...
doing Sam's photo-book. I did one for Zac when he was a year old (From Womb to One), and have decided to do the same for Sam (Memories and Milestones). It's a painful process though, trying to decide what to put in and what to leave out, and how to lay everything out... But I have to get it done. Before the end of the holiday. Preferably before the end of the month.


I'm going to...
a seminar called "Unspoil your Child" by Hettie Brittz's from Evergreen Parenting tomorrow night, and I'm super excited about it. In 2014 I attended two of her workshops on Parenting and Grace, and it was life-changing. She provided so much insight into Zac's temperament - at a significant time when things were tough and we were convinced we were just not winning at this parenting gig - and her advice made all the difference! As Zac starts to exercise his strong will and independence, it is such a gift to be given guidance on how to develop it for good.

Tickets available from Computicket

I'm battling with...
paranoia. Seriously. Over the last while, I have heard so many stories of tragic incidents involving babies and toddlers, some international (the near miss of the boy who fell into the gorilla pen at the zoo; the horrific freak accident of the toddlers who was pulled into the lagoon by an alligator) and two friends who lost babies that was just too close to home. Honestly, I try not to read too much of anything these days, because all I can thinking of when I do is: "this could have been us". And I know I should have faith, and trust God's perfect plan, regardless of the hurts in the world, but the truth is that it's hard when there isn't really any reason that I should be spared that kind of pain. It's morbid, and I'm sorry. I'm just being real. Being a mom is the most vulnerable I have been. Ever.


I'm resolving to...
not eat myself out of (or should that be into) the house this holidays. I have this problem where, as soon as I'm home for an extended period of time, I begin to believe that I'm starving - every second of the day. And because my hunger is so immediate, I don't have the patience to cook something nutritious, and end up eating any- and everything in the pantry cupboard. Does anyone else relate?

I'm also determined to finally (a year and a half after moving into this house) put up the family photos - all of which have yet to make it out of the box they were moved into the house in. If I manage to do this this holiday, I'll be sure to post some pics!


Here's to a productive break - and hopefully a few sunny days to treat the boys! One holiday blog post down... #winning!