The Kindness Of Kids

We have still been working on thinking about others and blessing folks where we can; however the last few days of the 40 Acts series have been more difficult to implement and I didn't manage any last week due to the icon workshop.  Benedict and Pip have taken the challenges to heart and so I thought I'd post some of their independent efforts here:

 A pop up cafe.

 Only a Lego mad kid could work out his own unique way of apologising and the really cool thing is that the pieces were all interlocking :-)

 

 A chocolate treat for Mother's Day on Laetare Sunday, which marked the midway point in Lent.  I cannot believe we are now in Holy Week.

Icon Workshop

Just over a week ago I spent a precious three days in the icon studio and was blessed in so many ways:

 Peter helping Brenda with her icon.

 Sr Mary Stella working on her icon in the far corner.

 Peter demonstrating how to work with gold leaf on Jan's icon.

 My St Michael almost finished.  I have to paint in his staff and add more definition to his hair. 

 I am very pleased with him and my progress as he is only the second icon I have completed.  Since I was unable to attend the first two days of the course, I did not guild the background or the halo of my image, instead I used another perfectly acceptable method of floating the paint on to the board, thus adding depth and definition.

Beatrix Potter

We have had another round of very busy days, so I thought I would start with today's main event and hopefully I will add the others at some point!

We kept our trip out a secret and only told the kids once we were on our way.  Sara and Tom had arranged to meet us in Kendal and it was here that we deposited Benedict.  They had lunch and then spent the afternoon at Games Workshop painting figures and watching other kids play role playing board games.  Benedict met another few lads his own age and they had a great time chatting about various interests.

Whilst the three of them were occupied we took the opportunity to take Pip to the Beatrix Potter Museum in the lake district.  The last time we were here Pip was only this big  She enjoyed following the trail but I definitely think there was something magical about taking her when she was a lot smaller.  Regardless we did actually manage a trip out of the house, other than visiting people's houses and that was certainly an achievement!

 "Hey, mum I'm taller than Peter now!"

 Straight from the oven gluten free seeded rolls and a yummy cream of tomato and sweet potato soup.

 Decaff lattes, one chocolate brownie and one berry and almond slice, both gluten free.

 Filling in the first box on the quiz.

 Peter Rabbit and a cheeky robin.

 Neat Writing.

 A blurry picture of Dave deftly hiding his walking stick ... "I don't need a walking aid!"  Who is he trying to con?!

 

 Gorgeous colour on a very wet, dark and windy day.

 Pip watching Mrs Tiggywinkle hanging the washing to dry.

 The old lady herself.

 Looks like Peter is receiving a scolding from his mother!

 Peter's nemesis, Mr MacGregor!

We had an extra passenger in our car on the way home, a very large Peter Rabbit!  I wonder what Mary Grace will think of him when she next visits!

A Big Ol' Catch Up!

We did not fall off the face of the earth :-)  These past few weeks were more crazy than usual and by the end of each day I was too tired to log on line.  

Kathryn started a new job just over two weeks ago and her training has necessitated a trip across the border to the big city an hour's drive north from here, so we looked after MG whilst she was at work.

 Playing with the jigsaws before bed ~ I did have to referree one or two minor spats!!

 Helping Grandad with the laundry!

Pip is finally back at school for morning's only.  Her health is slowly improving but her return has not been without some difficulties.  Every morning for the past two weeks she has been very upset and angry about having to go to school.  I know that when she started school we always knew the time might come where she would want to be at home. 

 In an ideal world I would remove her from school and teach her at home but we don't live in an ideal world.  Our house is stretched to the limit with health difficulties and other needs and I know that we would struggle to meet her need for social interaction and getting out each day.  Still it is quite distressing to see her in such a state.  I have a meeting with her teacher next week and will be raising our concerns including the dreaded "star of the week" rewards programme, the link is not for Pip's school but the premise is just the same. 

 Since the New Year Pip has obsessed about why she hasn't had the star of the week as she works hard, completes all her home work and tries her best each day.  She has become demoralised and her confidence has been shattered and I think this is one of the reasons for her unhappiness.  I am all for genuine praise for kids but I do not agree with this motivational carrot. Needless to say these past few weeks have been more tiring than usual and I am at a loss as to how to help her.

Benedict has also had some whacky blood sugars and as always the diabetes keeps me on my toes.  My sanity saver has been the icon painting at Hyning and I will be in the workshop for three days next week as part of the intermediate course led by Peter Murphy 

 Homework!  Prepping the St Michael icon for the course next week.

We have done a pretty good job at keeping up with our 40 Acts challenges and so here is a rundown of the past week:

 Love Letters, either on paper or by text.

 Blessing a stranger ~ I bought the chocolates whilst shopping on Monday.  I had the opportunity to bless the cashier with them as she was looking worried and so I stepped out of my comfort zone and handed them over.  She was thrilled and shared with me that she was worried about an up and coming house move, so that nudge from God was spot on!!

Sending some treats to some green parent mums who needed cheering up.

 Thursday's challenge was to think of the marginalised and I am grateful that we were able to make a subscription to this organisation, who in turn will bless a prisoner in need.

The 40 Acts project has given me a focus outside of myself and the immediate family and this has helped enormously during those difficult moments.

It is Mother's Day here in the UK tomorrow.  Debbie and the boys are visiting so the kids and I have a different afternoon treat planned from our usual chocolate twirl bars!

Thanks for popping by :-)

#40 Acts ~ Tick Tock

I was too tired to post yesterday's challenge here on the blog but I did upload my picture and the enclosed commentary on the facebook and instagram page:

 

Bang on time!  Punctuality could be my middle name and I get totally stressed if I am running late.  Today's post got me thinking about how easy it is for some to manage time keeping and for others it is an all round nightmare.

The post mentioned that habitual lateness can sometimes mean an inability to put others needs before your own but it can also mean that a person has a recognised disability such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.  So the next time you are hanging around waiting at a bus stop or feeling a lemon all alone at a restaurant table, spare a thought for those trying to make sense of the chaos inside their head.

As a result of my posting on FB a lady left a comment stating that as a result of reading my post she had decided to be more charitable towards some of her friends that are consistently late when meeting.  So my post had done its job in encouraging others to think of other possibilities beside an uncaring or selfish attitude.

  Benedict himself has all three of these difficulties and I witness daily how these impact not only on everyday life but also on his management of the diabetes.  Whereas most kids his age with diabetes are off doing their own thing, Benedict needs constant monitoring over and above the norm. He often forgets to check his bloods or give himself insulin and working out the maths behind each morsel of food is a major headache.

All of these conditions are hidden and it is only when a very able child is falling further and further behind does it become apparent that other factors are at play.  Knowing what I do know has helped me work out the best way forward for him and following set curriculums with copious amounts of writing and notetaking are a non starter.  We are working with a home made package of mainly practical work with the odd work book thrown in!  It is a case of mother and son working together, looking at the problems and trying to find the solutions.  It is not an easy journey but it is certainly an interesting one!

Farm Visit

Here are the pictures from our farm visit last week, which I had intended to post on Sunday but was too tired.

 Feeding the goats.

 Holding a silky bantam...

 ... and stroking a very large rabbit!

 A roaming emu.

 Feeding a hungry horse.

 A mummy sheep and her newly delivered lamb.

 Colouring before lunch.

A great day out!

The theme for today over at 40 Acts was generosity.  I am still pondering a way of blessing another person with one of my possessions and since I have just recently had a massive clear out, the charity shop option was not an option today!  If you are interested in today's challenge then click on here

 

#40Acts ~ Thankyou

Today's challenge was to say thankyou either verbally or written, so I decided to send this card to my brother-in-law and his partner:

They have been a great support over the years and this card says it all!  #40Acts  #sayingthanks

 

#40Acts ~ Giving Thanks

Our family challenge today was to give thanks.  Benedict's list included food(naturally!) warmth and a treat in a local cafe.  My list is as follows:

1. Thanks for Benedict and Pip.  These two keep me on my toes, they make me laugh, cry and every emotion in between!

2.  Four loads of laundry washed, dried and put away.

3.  A productive day in the home school.

4.  A decaf fairtrade latte and a shared fruit slice after a not so great diabetic appointment :-(

5.  A roaring fire on a very cold and rainy day.

Today's challenge:  Fair and Square

#40 Acts ~ Love Bomb

Today's challenge was to surprise someone and so we decided to love bomb our neighbours with chocolate rice krispie cakes!  It was great fun making them and then organising them into assorted sizes depending on the number of folk in the household.

Benedict came with me to distribute the treats and it was an opportunity to explain a little more about our challenge and the info on the packet would enable them to search on the internet if interested.

 

Of course the best person in giving surprises is God!  In fact Fr Gerry Hughes SJ wrote a book about a "God Of Surprises."  Even though we have only been following the challenges for just a few days, it is amazing that we have been able to bless others and provide support, friendship and encouragment at just the right moment, "It is in giving that we receive."

 

Take a look at today's video if you can, each day they get better and better and this one brought a tear to my eye, God is good!  Surprise!

#40 Acts ~ Clean It Up!

The kids' challenge was to change their bed linen and remake their beds.  Benedict stripped his bed upon waking and so I posted the photograph to my instagram page.  Within a short while, one of the 40 Acts team left a comment:

"Well done Benedict!  Not even 9am and he has already championed today's challenge!"

 Sleepy Head!

After breakfast Pip stripped her bed, loaded the washing machine and helped switch Benedict's sheets into the dryer.  It was then time for an adventure!  We took all of our plastic waste to the reclamation centre for recycling:

 Pip with our family friend.

"Oh no!  My hand is stuck!"

Our final challenge for the day was to pick up litter in the local neighbourhood, so we tackled the area around the children's play park:

 A Womble-ing Pip!

In between the recycling centre and litter picking we did manage a fun time at our local open farm, but I will blog about that hopefully on Sunday when we do not have any challenges :-)

 
Today's video link is even better than yesterday's and will appeal to the musical minded, The Clean Challenge  and if you would like to see the original salvage crew then look no further than The Wombles Of Wimbledon Common!  A favourite childhood show of mine and an Aunt very kindly made me a Madame Cholet as a Christmas present, I am sure she is still up in the loft at Mum and Dad's! 

#40 Acts ~ Be Generous :: Be Neighbourly

Yesterday's challenge was to write a blessing list for those we wish to bless in Lent and to also work on a generosity kit.  We decided to nominate the back pack project run by Mary's Meals as our generosity offering.  The kids also worked on decorating a giving jar.  The sunflower design is the logo attached to our local hospice and the money raised will be given to them at the end of Lent.

Whilst shopping this morning I plucked up the courage to speak to someone who I had not seen in over twelve years, I wasn't sure if she remembered me but she did!  It was good to share what had been happening in our respective families during that time.  I also managed to buy some potted primroses for another friend and we were able to bless her with a surprise when she came to visit later in the day:

By God's grace I was also able to support another friend in need.  It reminded me of all the times that friends have stepped in when we have hit a crisis and it was good to be on the giving side for a change.

If you have a few moments watch the video attached to today's challenge, it is priceless ... remember to watch right to the end as the camera kept rolling and it was just fab!  40 Acts Challenge Chinwag

A Dragon Came To Tea

Pip and I actually managed a short outing yesterday, we visited our local library and apart from choosing some books Pip joined in with some Chinese crafts for Chinese New Year.  This inspired her to make a dragon once we were home, so out came the craft supplies and with a modicum of direction from me she made her dragon mask:

We are still dealing with health hassles at this end.  Pip has been absent from school these past three weeks (four if you include our current half term break) since her recovery from the flu and the accompanying secondary complications has meant a protracted return to full health.

Benedict is now on his second virus in just under a month and has been confined to bed on and off these past few days.

Dave and I are trying to work out if food allergies are causing a dip in our combined health and so we are on an elimination diet.  I seem to be suffering the worse for withdrawal symptoms and have been laid low with a terrible headache, brain fog, exhaustion and depression since yesterday.  Dave seems to be holding his own, but I wonder if this is due to the specialist teas form the herbalist which are working on his liver and kidneys.  What I can say is that we are exhausted and in the past month have only slept through on two occasions, as we have  been disturbed by one or both of the kids.  Consistent lack of sleep does not equate to good health.

It is the start of lent tomorrow and we are hoping to undertake the activities suggested on this site  You never know I might just manage to post any completed challenges along the way :-)

Flu

First Benedict and now Pip, so we have had broken nights since the early hours of Friday morning.  Typically the diabetes has been very whacky and in addition to waking as a result of the kids waking, I have also had to set my phone alarm on a two hourly rotation to make sure I keep the diabetes in check.

  Benedict was able to be up on the sofa for part of the day but Pip has slept in our bed since the small hours.  Our homeopath was on hand to dole out remedy guidelines and I set up camp in the bedroom and worked quietly whilst she slept:

 In between boughts of fever and sickness, Pip was quite settled as long as I was nearby and in a funny way I accomplished a fair bit of work sat in that chair!

Hoping and praying for a fairly quiet night!

Conquering Ourselves

It has been a really tough week and therefore it has been easier to check in on others rather than visiting here.  I know my mum-in-law has missed my ramblings, so much so that she telephoned earlier this week to check in that all was OK, secretly suspecting that it probably wasn't!!  So here I am turning up and highlighting some of the better bits about our week:

Eva's parcel arrived earlier in the week and was a definite highlight of our day, thank you Eva, Peter and Co!
  
The kids received fabric bins which were immediately put into use beside their beds, the Hershey's Kisses were rationed with afternoon teas, the pretty pincushion is in my sewing space and the inspirational calendar will provide encouraging food for thought each month as we turn the page.  In fact January's thought is part of the title of this post:

 Handmade Card.

Cute and Practical.

 It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.

Cheeky Miss Pip.

From The Kitchen ~ the slo cooker has been pressed into action this week, making breakfasts, lunches and dinner.  We cook overnight oatmeal which is great and I also found a berry cobbler recipe on Pinterest,which I tweaked according to what was in our cupboard:

Mixed berries and bramley apple topped with almond flour, oats, butter and a sprinkling of maple syrup.  Once it was done, I toasted some almonds for extra crunch, so yay for instant breakfasts!

Weather ~ we have had a fairly consistent cold snap with accompanying sleet, frost and ice.  Pip has been hoping for real snow but in its absence made do with ice this morning:

Craft and Gardening ~ Pip received loads of craft style presents for her birthday and Christmas, so today we worked on the decorate your own craft bag from big sister Kathryn.  She also made a trip to Homebase with her dad and sweet talked him into a planting kit, I guess she's trying to get a jump start on the garden!

 They should grow quite nicely up the trellis on the side of the garage.

The compost was gently shaken to loosen the particles, the seeds were added and the lid replaced.  The pot now sits on my kitchen windowsill.

One sweet "Pip" and a whole heap of stars and flowers!