Saying Yes....

In the midst of a blog flick last week, I stumbled upon a suggestion from Unplugged Sunday - to say 'Yes!" to all of the requests that the day might bring. Hmmm, an interesting suggestion - one I recommend that you give a go- you never know quite where the day will take you!

A pair of skate pants I make for little Buddha in the morning...

Became a tailored pair of girls pants for Missy in the afternoon, when she asks " Can I wear them too?" Ahhh, "Yes?", and 'Ta - da!', I have the newest idea for girls pants this Summer!

I pull out the baking bowls, and three little people crowd round ( Groan.....) - can we help?

( Grudgingly I mumble "Yes" ) 'Ta-da!' - my shortbread becomes something rather wonderful and beautiful with the suggestion to dip it in chocolate and add sprinkles!

Hubby gently notes " The wind is kinda good today - want to come down and watch me kite board?" Hmmm, becoming more practised in this, and wondering if it will open up to other more exciting things, I calmly say "yes" ( Hubby is rather surprised, but happy, and scuttles off quickly before I change my mind!) It ends my Sunday perfectly, as I am roped into saying 'Yes' to cartwheels, digging caves, and running freely on a windy, wild beach!

Operation Christmas Child

Crowding around the computer screen, the kids are mesmerised by the sunny smiles and dancing children, laughing at them from the screen.

They're watching a DVD from Samaritan's Purse. A charity group that, at Christmas time, delivers shoeboxes full of delight, for those children that would otherwise go without presents at Christmas.

As a family, we decided that we wanted to be a part of this wonderful initiative, so we brought three shoe boxes home, and set to the task of filling them with beautiful and practical gifts, for a child the same age as our own.

I do sometimes struggle to give to charity in this way. The two sides of my brain wrestle in conflict, "Am I pushing the Western notion that Christmas is about presents onto the kids?" , then "Would my children learn more, by going without this Christmas, and learn that Christmas is about being together, rather than giving to each other?"

But in the end, my heart wins over my head. I watch the kids decorate their shoe boxes, and the effort and time that they put, into making it a beautiful box for the receiver. They cut, paste, draw and put love into that box. It seems to me that they are less concerned about the contents of the box, and more concerned about how the opening of that box, will make another little person, just like themselves, feel when they are seeing it for the first time.

That, is the spirit of giving.

Making spaces

I love this roman blind! Avalon Organics fabric, paired with white waffle for my almost finished bathroom.

It was a labour of love. 5 months of slowly plodding away every now and then ( the perfect winter project! ).

There were so many hurdles - I got lost in the fabric, sewed some slightly wonky lines, and cut the lining the wrong width! Ahhh, the challenges of a good sewing project to get your teeth into!

The pattern was found on a google search at this site http://uktv.co.uk/home/stepbystep/aid/145. It's a simple easy to use pattern - I recommend making the casings 10cm wide as opposed to 5 though, or you won't fit the doweling in.

Hubby and I had some fun working out how to attach it to our window - we ended up using curtain brackets turned upside down, and drilling the top piece of doweling into the bracket - this gave it some room to hang away from the window.

A very satisfying project! This fabric matches the cushions I have on my couch - beautiful fabric again from Avalon Organics!

Camping...

What the world gave back to me...

This weekend, was bird sounds so deafening...

Cascading water so thunderous...

Sunlight so bright and reflective off the pools of water...

That I had to close my eyes...

The little one's stopped jabbering, and stood in awe, listening...

And the sounds were so loud, that I couldn't even

hear my thoughts ( the most perfect, easiest meditation ever! )

And in the tent the next morning, little Missy sleepily climbed in beside me, snuggled her cold little nose into my neck, and curled up in a ball.

Thinking she had nodded back off ( as it was only 4am! ) I smiled as the Kookaburra's started laughing cheekily from the trees ( most likely at me, as I was the only one in the campground awake! ), and the ducks quacked their response, and then the wildlife orchestra began. Then Missy slumbily mumbled "The birdies are so noisy..." then she gave a little giggle and snuggled in deeper. And I cuddled her a little closer, as I realised that her awareness and connection with Mother Nature had just begun.