My Ebenezer Stone

Today I remember a verse I have visited over and again in the past.

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” ”

EBENEZER “Thus far the LORD has helped us”.

and I look back on my life and I see time and time again where God has helped me.

When I was only little, scared of storms. 

When I was just a kid and frightened of growing up.

When I was a teenager, worried about what people would think.

When I was at university, excited to step out into a whole new world.

When I was newly married, learning so much through the ups and downs of life.

When I first held each of my precious children overwhelmed by the blessing God had given me

When my children got that tiny bit older, as i struggled  to teach them and guide them

and As we waited in uncertainty, not knowing how God would provide or where God would send us

EBENEZER thus far the Lord HAS helped me and I see how he has given me blessing after blessing along the way. The blessing my husband, our children, of friends, of church, of growth and of salvation...

And today I remember, I remember how God has been with me, all along and I know he will continue to help me.

When I’m scared of the storms raging all around me.

When I’m frightened of what God has put out before me and the change he is working in me.

When I worry about what others think of what I do or what I say.

As I step out to do the amazing things he gives me to do.

As he teaches me wonderful things in the trials and triumphs.

When it all seems so much and I’m overwhelmed by the  emotional buisiness of life.

When I struggle to connect with my children and teach them the awesome truths of God.

And so I wait, and wait again, trusting God to provide, to guide and to help

Ebenezer, God has helped me, God IS helping me, God will help me.

And so today, here, now, I say again. EBENEZER: “Thus far the LORD has helped me”

Thankyou God

“Here I raise my Ebenezer,

Hither by thy help I’ve come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home”

NOTE: This has been one of my favorite stories in the bible since I was a child. When I was at Highschool I would stop at the creek near our house on the way too or from school and remember That God had helped me “this far”. One year I befriended a duckling and named him Ebenezer as a reminder to myself. Years later a friend bought me a duckling for my birthday- he also was called Ebenezer
The Hymn above was one of Nathan and my special songs that we had sang at our wedding. A perfect time to remember Gods past blessings and pray for continuing guidance.

I hope I continue to set apart times in my life to remember what God has done for me, and therefore have a sure hope of his continuing love for me.

Spinny Dress for Antigone

A bit of a change from my normal Blog.


My daughters Birthday was in March and one of her presents was a "spinny dress" like most little girls, my Antigone LOVES a pretty dress. the main requirements of a pretty dress in the eyes of a 3 yr old are: It has to spin- REALLY spin, and it has to have some frilly bits and it has to be pink. I had a look online for inspiration

(especially  here  (Love these dresses!)
                        but also this one
which i might also give a go one day.)

and created this:



Now for those of you who want to know how i made it... I'll give explaining it a go.  (please excuse the hastily drawn up images and bad photos!)

Notes: 

-measurements fit Tiggy- so are about a size 3.
-measurements allow 1cm for seams and 2cm for hem.
-I would probably make the bodice a bit longer and the waist a bit bigger- don't make the elastic too tight. (it would still look good as a loose fit around the bodice)

Bodice:

-sew lining to the arch on the front and the top of the back then sew sides.
-sew a wide piece of elastic into the back
-sew button holes

Skirt:

Just because it might be helpful, this is what the skirt looks like fully spread out.

-fold material A (pink) into 4 and cut along lines as shown in pic. (measure around waist generously, work out radius and add 1-2 cm for the inner cut. - you can see how well it fits and cut more if necessary before sewing) I wish I'd made it slightly bigger.

- Fold material of contrasting colour B (and any other colours you want), according to how many panels you want on the B section. use 'A' folded the appropriate amount of times to obtain the curve, cut, allowing an extra cm for seams.





OK this might look a bit odd- and I'm sure most people would be able to do this "properly" but this is what i did...

-sew panels together except last seam (unless your measurements are very exact)- so you have 2 pieces 'A' and 'B' as shown.

-sew 'B' onto 'A' except for right at the ends, sew last seam so 'B' is a correct fit ( its a bit fiddly but i do it this way- just in case 'B' is a bit too long- If your sewing and cutting are accurate you should be able to do it the 'normal' way.)




-cut the 3rd colour 'C'- at least 5m long, gather, match the middle of 'C' to the center front of 'B' and sew from there to back- once again just because it is otherwise really hard to get the length and gathers perfectly accurate.

Finishing

-Sew bodice to skirt, stretching bodice at back as much as needed so the skirt gathers at back as needed. (the skirt is not gathered at the front at all.)
- hem
- make straps (about 50cm) and sash.

On Being 'Super Mum'- or Not

“Super Mum!” …an idea designed to make Me and my fellow mums feel better about ourselves, say it or be told it enough times and I might start to believe it. Google it and you'll find 'Super Mum' hats, T-shirts, mugs, cards, even CAPES!  Problem is- it doesn’t work for me, see… I’m not a super mum- not by a long shot. 

But, God hasn’t called me to be a “Super Mum”. I don’t have to do it all, I don’t have to take the kids to the park and playgroup and swimming lessons every week.  My baby doesn’t have to be read a story, taken for a walk, have tummy-time every day. Relax. God has called us to be free from all the do’s and do not’s of motherhood and of life.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.     Galations 5:1

So if there is no list of “things to do" how should I mother?  

 …but through love serve one another.         

                                                   Galations 5:13

I am to serve, care for, teach and encourage my children in love.

Through the mess and haphazardness of life I am to love.

Through the business of life I am to love.

Through the baby tears, I am to love.

Through the tantrums I am to love.

Through the nightmares I am to love.

Through the pain, through the happiness I am to love.

Through the laughter and noise I am to love.

  

So simple- but NOT by any means easy!     And so I run into another problem. I am free from being a Super Mum, But I can't even be a loving mum.

I get frustrated when the baby cries in the night, I get annoyed at the kids when they want a cuddle but I’m busy, I get angry and yell at my children when the house is messy.

That’s when I found two other common ideas

“I’m not Super Mom, I will make mistakes but

I will always try my best”

 But If I'm honest I know I don’t always try my best. Often I just give up and hide in my room, the bathroom (if I can get away with it), a book or my computer.  

And even if I do give my best, deep down I know that it's just not good enough.

“But in the eyes, heart and mind of my child, I am Super mom!” OK, this MAY be true for my under 5yr olds, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t going to hold up once they’re teenagers!

What then? That’s when once again Jesus makes me free. A different sort of freedom, freedom to BE the mum I should be, freedom from the guilt of failure.

Firstly, when my best isn't good enough: God won't let me fail.

The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in Him; 

though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with His hand.    

                                              Psalm 37:23-24

When I acknowledge that I cannot do it myself but go to God for forgiveness and strength I know that HE will hold my hand all the way and pick me up again and again.

And secondly, when I'm struggling to even do my best: God will forgive me and give me the strength and freedom to start again and serve my children in love.

But with you there is forgiveness,

    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.  Psalm 130:4

And I know that as I fail, and turn to God for forgiveness and strength and as God picks me up again I will GROW in perseverance, in character in hope. And in love because of the love God has shown me. 

 

He will teach me to

Love through the mess of life, 

Love through the business

Love through more tears, 

Love through even more tantrums, 

Love through more sleeplessness than I thought possible, 

Love through the nightmares, 

Love through the noise 

Love through the pain and

Love through whatever else the future holds,

No, I'm not Super mum, not by my standards, not by other mum's standards, not by my kid's standards. But I do know that God has given me these kids, and God made ME their mum. God forgives and looks past my failings and  in Gods eyes and His plan, I am the best mum for these kids.