The Soul Of My Feet

Walking and Talking with Children

nada — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:22:49 +0000

In the last few months I have been really trying to walk for at least 20 mins every day, not so much for the physical benefits but more so for the mental benefits. I just find I’m in such a better mood and I’m able to achieve so much more. Recenty my five year old son has been coming with me and it has been such a blessing to spend some one on one time just walking and talking together. I asked him at dinner one night what his favourite part of the day was and he said the time he gets to spend with mummy going for a walk. Wow, it blew me away how important that time is that we spend together, we discover so much more about each other and come back feeling refreshed. Our own Father wants us to walk with him also on a daily basis so we can discover, unload and learn more about the path we’re travelling on…

Housework Tips

nada — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:17:44 +0000

If you’re feeling a little unmotivated with the housework today, simply tell your five year old you’re going to have a short nap and that he is free to find something to do…when you wake you’ll find all your cupboards have been cleaned out ready for you to organise!

Sometimes love hurts

nada — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:14:17 +0000

In my efforts to discipline my 5 year old recently I experienced for the first time being hurt verbally by him. Whilst I held firm and continued on, when he wasn’t looking I let out an almighty cry to my Father in heaven. Motherhood can be so painful sometimes and I’m positive that without Jesus walking me through every step of it I would be a bundle of nerves. It certainly made me reflect on how I’d hurt my own parents as a child and ultimately how I treat my heavenly Father when I don’t get my own way. Though it was painful for me and my son training him in how to live and behave, which each hurdle we both grow more and learn how we can love each other and ultimately how we can please God in what we do. If you’re struggling today, take heart, He is with you every step of the way you just need to call on him to help…

School is coming…

nada — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:28:05 +0000

I never thought I would be old enough to have a child at school, but it’s coming next year and to be honest I’m not sure that I am ready… my five year old can’t wait and I’m pretty sure there are not going to be any separation issues.

I think my biggest fear is that I will lose a little bit of control over his behaviour and I guess I’m a little worried that he might pick up some not so nice habits from the bigger kids. I can only pray that God will be there to keep an eye on him for me as I know I’ll have to let go a little bit in order for him to grow. We are heading into a new season which I’m hoping will be filled with new friendships, new experiences and more opportunities to speak Gods grace into others lives.

How are we spending?

nada — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:21:58 +0000

I’m always amazed at how toys just seem to never last long in our house before they’re missing a piece, broken or just simply have gone missing. In fact it’s incredibly frustrating that I sometimes feel like boycotting the toy buying process.

I’m guessing the kids may not like the idea but seriously… didn’t things seem to last longer when we were kids? I guess I’m a little guilty of sucking up stray lego or accidently losing the odd noisy toy but with each birthday and Christmas I let out a little sigh when I think where that toy might end up in a few months. I’m just hoping my kids will learn how to look after their things better as they grow and I’m hoping that I can do a good job as a mum to model how we should be managing the resources God has provided and how we can best serve Him with them…

Who are we being guided by?

nada — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:46:39 +0000

I recently ventured into a bookshop and couldn’t believe the number of books available in the self-help department. It seems as though there is a secret to the good life and the only way to discover it is through paying out big money for books, dvd’s and conferences.

Is this the way God intended for us to be guided, by man’s philosophies, could it be true that to be successful we only need to hang out with someone that is considered successful, that somehow their qualities will rub onto us? It seems we are even choosing which suburbs to live in, which schools to choose for our kids just so they have the best chance of hanging around the kids of those successful people.

You know what though? Jesus actually hung out with those that hadn’t made it in life, he hung out with those that we cross the road just to avoid, he was the most successful, yet it was his qualities that rubbed onto them. There is a secret to success in life but it’s not about expensive books and conferences in tropical destinations, it’s simply about spending time with the most successful man ever known, Jesus.

Are they addicted?

nada — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:38:47 +0000

Sometimes I wish I had the courage to get rid of the TV, the computer, the iPod, the mobile phones just so my kids don’t get addicted to them…

It seems as though there is a battle for us parents to find that right balance between enjoying technology and enjoying God’s creation outside the house. We actually had to lie to our 5 year old recently about daddy’s iPod, that we’d accidently left it on holiday… so now after hours we have to sneak around with our technology just so our 5 year old can believe the lie. I’m not sure what God might think of that but as a parent I am fearful for this generation that are faced with so many distractions and consumerism at such a young age. When do they get a chance to be a kid and create and discover butterflies and caterpillars? Could it happen that books might become a thing of the past soon with the invention of ebooks?

We can only pray that our children will be children for as long they can be and enjoy the free things of life on God’s big screen and not the 120 inch plasma…

Taking Time Out

nada — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:29:16 +0000

My Hubby and I recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary by leaving the kids with Nanna and going on a holiday together – something we hadn’t experienced in the last 5 years. And well, it was simply blissful to spend a week without someone’s bottom to wipe, without dealing with an unexpected tantrum, without backache from picking up random toys and toddlers. It was wonderful just being us again and not once did we feel guilty about it. In fact, it actually strengthened our marriage and it enabled us to appreciate our kids even more and the grandparents for that matter! But seriously it’s so important to take that time out for each other to spark up that love and fire for each other. It made us so thankful that God has given us such a precious gift of marriage and children and to never take either for granted…

Affinity With Luther

nada — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:25:52 +0000

Decided tonight that Luther and I are kindred spirits. He speaks my language and thoughts when it comes to living out the Christian Life. Somes times the Church really does get it wrong by pushing people into service in order to take them out of secular life. The notion that if we busy them with spiritual things then they wont get distracted by worldy stuff. But Luther was right in saying that everything we have, see, touch, taste is a Gift from Him and we should enjoy it with thanksgiving!

Amen to that!

Is my House Better than theirs?

nada — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:11:25 +0000

My jaw dropped the other day when my almost 5 year old after enjoying a play date across the street, came out with “is our house better than theirs” . I honestly couldn’t believe that the thought should even cross a childs mind. But obviously the need to compete begins quite early. Why do we constantly compare ourselves to others? Why must our house be slightly bigger, with better appliances and furniture than our friends? Why does it even seem important that we measure up to our supposed equals? Eventhough I was shocked and dissapointed that my 4 year old would even care it was in that moment that I was able to teach him the things that do matter, and it’s not where or what we live in. Some have big homes, some have small homes, some don’t even have a home. What matters most is that our value rests on our relationship with Him.

Amen