Dear 14 year old Naomi

I just saw a prompt on a journaling group that said think back to when you were 14 years old.  What advice would you have for yourself knowing what you know now?

(You were really 21 here but thats ok you kind of get the idea of what you looked like)

Dear 14 year old Naomi,
Hello it is much older Naomi here.  I don't know that I have much wisdom to pass on to you. I can barely remember you but I have a haze of memory that seems to linger around you.  I know that you yearn for things. A perfect family. A boyfriend. A deeper faith in God.  You are imaginative and creative but way too sensitive. You need to toughen up and not take things so personally.  Think about others, the world doesn't revolve around you no matter how much you want it too.

Be kinder. Think more before you speak or act.  Consider others. Don't worry so much about what others think and just be you. You are NOT FAT. NOT UGLY. Believe me that is to come. For now you are gorgeous if only you knew it.  Raise your expectactions for yourself and lower them for others. Others will never be able to give you what you need - only God can fill that hole. I am still learning that now too. Push yourself harder at things. You coast along on natural talent when you could be really really great if you put your head to it.
Don't press your insecurities onto others. Allow others around you to make mistakes as well and forgive them when they do just as you want to be forgiven. Laugh, enjoy, be spontaneous, have fun. Don't worry about boys and all that stuff. You have the rest of your life to pay bills, and worry about things. Be carefree. Live for God. All the rest falls into place if you do this.  He has a plan for your life. It isn't the plan you have made in your head and that is OK.  His plan is the best one.  Enjoy the friends you have because believe it or not in  a decade you will know less than 10 percent of them and a decade after that you will know even less of them.  Extend yourself. Reach out to the ones that you naturally reject as not pretty enough, popular or funny.  Everyone has something to offer and your life experience will be richer for stepping out of your comfort zone.
Nothing in your life will be as you expect and thats ok because yes you are imaginative but God is amazing and he way exceeds your biggest dreams.
Love your older self.
Naomi

I was thinking

Last night I was lying in bed telling God how tired, stressed and anxious I have been feeling lately.  Mathew 11:28-29 came to mind

"28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

I was thinking about the yoke part and thinking why would I want to put your yoke on? It would just tie me in and make me feel even more burdened.  But as Gods voice gently whispered to me I realised that  taking on His yoke wouldn't be tying me in but giving me boundaries, keep me on track and most importantly my hands would be off the reins. God would be steering. And that would have to relieve some stress right?  Not to be steering all the time.

I thought about how my anxiety levels were high and realised that of course they were. Steering your own yoke and wearing it at the same time is quite challenging. But allowing God to steer would take me in the direction He planned for me.There would be far less stress and anxiety going His way for sure. His word tells me gentle and humble and that just sounds so good to me right now.
 
So its hand off the reins, relaxing into the rhythm God plans for my life and leaving the stress, tiredness and anxiety behind.
 

I was searching for pictures of yokes to put with this and realised that there are single and double yokes. I kind of like the thought of sharing a double yoke with Jesus. To think that he is saying Here I will carry your burden and mine too. What a great God we serve.
 
These thoughts have been very much off the cuff, I am going to have to look deeper into this I think.

PS I just found this on this website and it stirred my heart as it is how I felt last night lying in bed.


In the hour of my distress



When temptations me oppress,


And when I my sins confess,


Sweet Spirit, comfort me!






When I lie within my bed,


Sick in heart and sick in head,


And with doubts discomforted,


Sweet Spirit, comfort me!






When the house doth sigh and weep,


And the world is drown’d with sleep


Yet mine eyes the watch do keep,


Sweet Spirit, comfort me!


Taken from this site  http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/05/sweet-holy-spirit-pentecost-2010.html

Masterpieces from Paris.

This weeked my mum, sister and I went down to Canberra to see the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition at the National Art Gallery. It was amazing. I didn't love all of it. In fact some of it bored me alot. But it was thrilling to be able to see real live Picasso's and real live Monets, Van Goughs and all the rest.  This bloke called Félix VALLOTTON was one artist that I enjoyed most of his work. This one picture enthralled me. Not sure why. I wondered who the little girl was and the ladies in the distance. It had a kind of menacing feel to it and really captured my imagination. But then my sister looked at it and found it light and sunny and happy. I guess thats why art is interpretive. In real life the brush strokes were incredible, he had a fantastic style.

Starry Night by Monet was wonderful. Although my mum did tell a few people that she was dissapointed in this one. LOL. Just so gorgeous in real life.

This was my sister and mums favourite one. I liked it too.  The further back you stood the more amazing it was.

But I chose this as my all time fave, I don't know why I just love it. So peaceful and calm and reflective and serene. Makes me want to paint thats for sure.

My cartoon style family

I have seen lots of people doing cute embroiderys with their familys picture. I am seriously thinking about doing one using this picture. So cute.

Out of the mouth of babes.

This is just so so precious. I love it.

Professor Charli

Just how cute is this photo?  I love it so much.  This is the new reformed Charli with the short hairdo. Yes she gave herself a haircut. One side only, the hairdresser did the other.

I have had a few health challenges this year but just received the all clear so can relax, start living, breathing and blogging. Looking forward to catching up with you all.

Church came this weekend. Will let you know all about it next week.

{Anthropologie}

So I went and checked out this shop called Anthropologie that I hear everyone talking about and while the cost was prohibitive I found lots of things that I love that maybe I could replicate.  Let me share some with you.

This one is my fave for sure. I am going to check out some op shops and see  if I can make this. I LOVE it.

So so girly and elegant another fave.

I love the color of this one.

I think these hooks would be so cute in the kids rooms to hang their hats on. I know I could make these for much cheaper.

Now I love these headbands and know that I could make these. So so sweet.

The idea of heads on the wall doesn't apeal to me a lot but the fact that this one is made out of newspaper is cute and I think Mooey would love one of these in his room.

My mum would love these in her garden.  If I had a garden I would too LOL.

I adore this tea set and I am looking for a pattern to make one for my girls, I just know they would love playing tea parties with it. There has to be a pattern out there right?  If you know of one please let me know.

Too cute. I couldn't replicate it but I am sure I could come up with stuff from around the house and make my own cute robot. 

Which little girl wouldn't like one of these?

We don't have this shop in Australia, not such a bad thing as I am sure I couldn't afford to buy anything from the shop anyway but it is nice to look at and get good ideas.

I am back to work on Monday. Back to normal life. Woohoo. NOT.

Soccer games, grandparents visits, weddings, motorbike rides

Here are the boys getting ready to go and see their beloved Mariners. They are big fans and they love going with Dad for special BOY time.

This photo was taken when Cate popped out to the car for something and came across our camera.  She looks a bit surprised doesn't she?

Grandpa came for a visit before Aunty Cathryns wedding. Here they are having a bit of a giggle.

Here is our beautiful Charli girl at her auntys wedding. She looked so so sweet.

Here is our handsome Bay dressed in his cool vest. He looked so cute on the day. He made friends with his new cousin Luke who is the same age as him and had a great time at the wedding weekend. He didn't want to come home.

Here is Hamish going through the unnatural smile stage. He has a gorgeous smile but ask for one and he does the most silly faces. Oh well.

The happy couple. Cathryn (Jims sister) and her new hubby Steve.  Between them now they have 8 children. 14,12,12,11,9,6,4,2.  Steves wife died two years ago from cancer so it is lovely that they have found each other and can start a new life together.

James looking.......dubious. LOL I think he was going for something else though.

James brother Simon.

And finally the motorbike shots. The wedding was on their farm. They had caravans out on the paddocks that the girl cousins  and boy cousins stayed in. The older ones.  They had a great time. Riding the bikes, chasing frogs, eating whatever they wanted and having a lot of laughs.

Hamish

Bailey

Grandpa and Caitlin.

We stayed in this really lovely loft that reminded me of Little house on the prairie.  The kids slept upstairs, we had our own room with ensuite downstairs. There was sausages, bacon, tomatoes, eggs and fresh orange juice for brekky. Plus the bonus at 8AM there was a knock at the door and the hostess had brought some fresh from the oven bread. Mmmmmmmmm it smelled so good, tasted great too. With some homemade strawberry jam and vegemite. But not together. LOL.

We had a fun weekend. Jim go's back to work today after 8 weeks off.  Tomorrow we are getting new carpet laid in the girls room, Hamish's room, the front room and my bedroom, so today there is lots of cleaning, sorting and moving going on. Fun fun fun. I still have two weeks holidays left. I am really enjoying being home with my kids. The house is clean, we are eating healthy meals and I can spend quality time with each child listening to them and seeing areas where they need help from their Mamma. Loving it. I don't want to go back. Until next time.

Happy New Year

We arrived back from camping today. Tired, dirty, but happy.  I hate packing everything up. SO MUCH work. This was the view from our tent.

And this was looking across at the beach from our tent. SO so pretty.

It rained a LOT never stoped  but we adapted quickly making the best use of what we had. Garbage bags and plastic bags for hats to protect us against the rain as we walked the 400m to the loo.LOL

This is how Cate kept warm.

And Charli took the cheerful approach. Living in Australia we know not to waste water, Charli took this very seriously. LOL

That bulge in the tent was water. Which when we emptied it out fell to the ground and made wonderful mud that the children loved playing in and dragging into the tent.

We had lots of entertainment at the camping grounds. One night Jim and the boys went and saw this fire dancer. They all said it was the best one they had EVER seen. Not sure how many they have seen.

They had jumping pillows which were very popular with all the children.

This was a position we often found the boys in when it was raining.

Lots and lots of swimming in the freezing cold pool that honestly took your breath away no matter how hot it was outside. I literally had to force myself to go under.  The kids loved it no  matter how hot or cold it was.

Charli got the lastest Tinkerbell DVD and the DVD player came in very handy while we were there. Sadly it stopped working on the last night.

Sparklers on New Years Eve were a BIG hit. But sadly went way to fast.

This year all the kids took their bikes and had a great time riding around the park. The boys had a bit more freedom than the girls and were allowed to ride anywhere within the park. Cate was only allowed to the loos and back but she constantly went further afield and had to be punished.and Charli had to hang with us.

This was a photo James took one dready dull day. Beautiful isn't it?

And this was last nights Goodbye from God. Glorious.

We had barbies, disco's, bingo nights, friends for dinner, shopping trips. swimming. UNO. Made some great friends that we are going to catch up with next week. I was excited to be able to talk about God to our neighbours who had been a bit burnt out from church  and offer them some encouragement.

Downsides were the really bad heavy rains that flooded us. The winds that blew our camp apart.  The mattresses that we slept on and that made James wake up every morning saying Bad back bad back. But even that was fun.

I had time of begging James to let me go home and times of really loving it. I also had a great time reading the bible and praying to God. Came home relaxed but not ready to go back to work on Monday. I don't want to do that at all.

Hope you all had a Happy New Year.  Praying that 2010 will be a great year for us all.