Saturday, 31 March 2012

Creation speaks

"I tell you that if these (his disciples) should keep silent the stones would immediately cry out."
Jesus, Luke 19:40
Creation has a story to tell, words whispered into the wind. She gives glory to her Maker, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Creation is full to bursting of things to teach our children should they have an ear to hear. She is my favourite tutor, these sparrows drink deep of things they can touch and see and smell.
Daddy sparrow with the help of small eager hands built this 'bird builders yard'. We hung it next to our feeding station, which we have a wonderful view of from the lounge. The sparrows stocked it with nest building materials- string, cotton wool, moss, grass and hay....Now we wait to see what the birds will choose...
"Come look, come look.... signs of Spring mummy" and I was greeted by lovingly piled Dandelions and Daisies pinched from our lawn (and yes it IS full of them!). So easily overlooked by all, but worthy of enthusiasm in their eyes....
Our new babies, delivered not by a stork but by thoughtful neighbours in a tiny glass jam jar. Endless hours of education swimming right in front of our eyes. One week later and the glass hotel is full of boisterous bodies swimming round in circles. Many times have I found little knees crouched in front of these new friends gazing in wonder!

A trip to the seaside unearthed many treasures which made the ridiculous flight of stairs we had to tackle with pushchairs galore so worth it!
Planting out, dirt, spades and watering cans, they were as happy as pigs in mud. We planted 2 varieties of these potatoes, a gift from the 'Potato council'. There is one buried in soil in 2L coke bottle on the kitchen window sill so the sparrows (and I!) can see how the potatoes come to be.
And so much more! Creation, she is no respecter of persons and is ready to inspire all those who have time to spare to seek her out...

Thursday, 29 March 2012

Reasons to smile

Today I realised I'd forgotten how to smile. When the sparrows look for me, are they looking for the all too familiar frown?
The strange thing is I love what I do. I mean really, I love it. Sure its hard and often times it's not like it is in the movies. But the sparrows they are with me and it's so much fun.
So why is it that my face tells a different story?
The sparrows they laugh loud and often. Why can't I?
Somewhere in between the trump jokes, the fights, the dirty washing and the instruction thrice yelled, I lost it. My smile.
But I have much to smile about.
Tomorrow I will set out to smile on purpose. To use those muscles that seem to have wasted away. To bless the sparrows with my countenance instead of squashing their youthful exuberance with a carelessly raised eyebrow.

Thursday, 15 March 2012

The gift of spring and other things....

Just as the daffodils expectantly wait for signs of warmer weather so the sparrows are ready to burst into spring. There have been those who doubted whether I could homeschool 4 boys through the dark winter months and keep my sanity, so much so that I feared a little as December approached, January hot on it's heels. Homeschooling does indeed change with the seasons- how wonderful! But as I look back on our winter experience I feel Blessed. Blessed by slower paced days, boys bundled snug in dens absorbed in Lego and icicles on noses-the sparrows seem impervious to freezing temperatures when it so suits them...
But now spring is come and what a glorious entrance she has made!
Time slips like sand through my fingers how do I hold onto all these moments?
I have grown into these 4 boys of mine, always growing, always new challenges. So much joy do they bring to us. I have the time now, if I can remember, to take things a little slower, less of the rush and hushing and more of the moments.
Would it shock you to know that often times I don't do what I've scheduled for the day? That I skip 'school' in favour of boys huddled round encyclopedias and bundles on trampolines? Call me irresponsible, but the gift of moments, they don't wait. I want to grab hold of them with both hands. Sometimes life gets in the way of the reading lesson and that's fine by me....

Saturday, 10 March 2012

You take the high road and I'll take the low road....

And I'll be in Scotland before you...
For a special Uncle's birthday we took a road trip to Scotland, the Young clan's place of origin...
.
Daddy sparrow says the air is different the right side of the border..
We were celebrating with grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and, best of all for the sparrows, cousins- 7 of them!
The Sparrows spent most of the weekend outdoors in our own private woods.
The Young's are into their fine arts.....To celebrate that special number there was Barber shop singing and a theatre production, screen play by daddy sparrow- The life and times of a certain special Uncle.....
A local secrets walk to the nearest waterfall ended up in 30minutes of rocks and river play...so much cheaper than Toys 'R' Us.
Grandpa Huge. Huge by name, Huge by nature.
The night of the show....Glow stick fun!
Nana D and all her sparrows. A happy day for her. Did it make me think more of when mine will leave the nest? Absolutely.....permission to cry into my soup already?!
And here we all are...
Last but not least, that certain special Uncle and his family, thank you for such a wonderful weekend!