She writes words for my soul...

"Establishing my household as a place in which the greatness of God and a devotion to him is lived out each day has given me focus. Loving my children and nurturing their hearts and minds while training their characters and leading them to know the Lord and his purposes, has satisfied my soul's need for purpose"
- Sally Clarkson from THE MISSION OF MOTHERHOOD pg 29.

Thank you Sally! It IS my mission + ministry and I *heart* it :) She writes so beautifully.

I am also reading another of her books right now called THE MINISTRY OF MOTHERHOOD. She has written two of my other all time fave books - 'Season's of a Mother's Heart' and 'Educating the Whole Hearted Child'. Sometimes I can almost feel and hear my heart singing when i read her words. Sometimes I cry because I know that despite these being my deep longings, i fall short pathetically. I laugh when I read her words at other times because she describes me and my kids to a T! I am encouraged when I read what she has to say because I hear the Lord encouraging me + strengthening me.

Now speaking of my fam, here are some random shots from around our place lately of stuff we've been up to.

Stass + I enjoyed a 'date night' together last week sipping on hot chocolates + marshmallows while she made a mini book + i made some cards...


Zippi enjoyed some chicken + vegie soup...
Brett + Elijah went on their 'date night' to the cafe at the school on Friday night...

Liji feeding Zippi a top-up. I just LOVE the look of adoration on his face as he was feeding her and chatting with her...

The kids decorated some foam sun visors with stickers and things and we planted some flowers they'd chosen from K Mart...


We found a nesting masked lapwing (plover) recently a couple of doors down and realised that the mumma was sitting all the time on the ground because it was her 'scrape' or nest which has literally been scraped out of the ground.

Well last week the mumma hatched her little egg and look at the little gorgeous chick (hard to see but oh so cuuuuute!)...

Other signs that spring has sprung - lavendar in our garden (+ picked by liji for almost anyone who drops by!)


Hmm i thought it was spring but here is proof that it is still cold! Hail/sago/snow fell here on the weekend! Only a few flakes but still...can anyone say brrrrr?....

Stass has used a computer program to teach herself how to play chess. Then she taught the boys. I seriously was like what the? I have NEVER been able to learn to play this game (trust me- ask Brett how frustrated i get!!!) BUT now I have even learnt how to play! Yep we have gotten out the trusty board and really played and thanks to Stass - for the first time i actually GET IT!!!! :) So proud of her for persisting and teaching us!

Books sitting on my stool at the mo...The Big Rescue Bible which is what I read from for the Bible read a louds, Swiss Family Robinson, Organic Living + 10 Years of Australian Country Style...

Ethi + I went out on our date night on the weekend. We went to a little cafe with candle lit tables, ate icecream and he wanted me to read him the 'Little Red Caboose' lol :) So cute - we took it with us from home. He had a baby cino too (a real treat b/c liji can't have them when we go out normally the kids get just chips at a cafe but since it was just the two of us i told him he could have one as a treat and he was stoked!) We drew on together, chatted and just enjoyed each other's company :)


Just another sign that spring has arrived - lots of butterflies around when...
the kids helped Brett wash the car...


monkeying around trying to avoid dad's hose...


This is what it looked like here on Monday morning - i found some sheets that I made into a book form full of activities for Day of Atonement...

Check out these cuties - i love Zippi's little smile here :)

Wall in the new homeschool space with some of the kids canvas artworks...

And to finish off, this is a gorgeous photo i took today of Liji who came to give me a posy of flowers he'd just picked especially for me. Loving all these little moments :)

5 things I am thankful for today:

1. The writings of Sally Clarkson

2. Fellowship with new + old mates

3. Date nights

4. Seeing the kids love for each other growing stronger

5. A half hour free to update my blog :)

Love Lus x