In Awe

As I snuggle with Charlotte and breathe in that sweet smell of a new born baby, I am time and time again so very humbled and amazed at the awesome  power of our creator, God.

The task ahead wont be easy; raising a godly child in an ungodly world. To keep my focus on Him when the distractions of worldly success are all around.

I choose to cherish these moments, these round the clock feeding hours. To have sweet memories to hold onto when in the days, months and years ahead, the narrow path lacks companions and the journey seems long.
To return my focus to Him, His awesome power, His purpose for our existence.

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No Spend Month... and a road trip (unrelated!)

We need to buy a new car! We don't all fit in our current car and have been on the lookout for a while. We almost found what we needed but our mechanic said that repair work hadn't been done well after an accident and so not to touch it... sad, because it was mechanically sound!
Pete's off to look at another this afternoon... priced beyond what we can afford, even at a streeeetch but if it's a good car we'll make an offer but are prepared to walk away. We can't bargain with more than we have!!!

Either way... it's now a NO SPEND month. The grocery budget has been cut from $650 for the month, down to $250, I've dropped the home ed allowance altogether, entertainment which sits at a low $40 has been scrapped and so on.

Thankfully we have a reasonably well stocked pantry and freezer, along with many pumpkins from our summer harvest. The well stocked pantry includes about 13kg of basmati rice LOL... so we could be seeing a bit of that!

The hardest bit for me was choosing to ditch my home ed allowance... I know it will be made up down the track and there's nothing I need urgently (that's next month LOL) but I'm so used to having it there. And tonight there is our monthly home ed gathering where I often see some great books I'd like us to own. Aah well, onto the list they will go.

So, for the road trip... which is only related to the no spend month in that the car I'll be driving for said road trip is why we're having a no spend month.

I'm thinking October - probably just myself and the children - up to 2 weeks away, but WHERE? Where to go? What to do and see? I've driven loads... like 1/3+ of a non stop trip to Queensland, to Sydney multiple times just sharing the drive with hubby and so on. I'd probably want to go no further than 10-12 hours from Melbourne and with a couple of overnight's on the way. It'd be cool to do the trip with someone else but I don't like my chances of anyone in my immediate circle of friends joining us; till we leave though, I'll keep hoping. Also, the thing that scares me most is accommodation costs so if you've some cheap (and safe!!) ideas, throw them my way. If my dad were still alive, he'd know enough people all over that we could borrow plenty of lounge room floors or church halls.. in fact, he'd probably come along for the trip!

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First Week as a Mother of 4

A week can make a huge difference - for the first half of the week Charlotte was feeding almost ALL night and then something changed (I suspect my milk being in!!) and now the night's are sane. Each night improving and last night being the best... she slept 7.30-10pm and then from 12-5am and back in bed soon after 6am...which is where she is as I type... and I'm showered and dressed (can I do a happy dance?)
I'm still pretty sore when she latches on for a feed but oh soooo much better than earlier in the week when damage could be SEEN.

Meals are 'coming together' and 2 have been provided by church family - which was enough for 3 dinners. I cook when I can manage it and save the 'heat n eat' ones for the days when me cooking a meal is just not going to happen. Yesterday, Mother's Day, Pete cooked the most awesome roast... I'm thinking a new weekly tradition could be in store?!?!

What's driving me most nuts and wearing me out at the moment is the NOISE... 3 older children that have very little of my attention for the time being, seem to take up so much more HEAD SPACE. As of yesterday though I've been able to pin my extra stress on that and am now thinking through the plan to restore sanity!

I NEED quiet time while I am awake, not just so I can nap.
I NEED to be up early in to the morning to get the children off to a productive start for the day vs a dvd start to the day.
I NEED to know what activities I can put in front of them or direct them to.
I NEED to have a loose daily schedule/plan for everyone.
I NEED to make a list of what they can do to help around the house when I'm unavailable and they are at a loose end.
I NEED to get them out of the house a couple of times a week, for their sanity!

and specifically, I need to figure out a quiet time hobby for Nathaniel - 7.5yo. I'm thinking an electronics kit of some sort might be the go? Melinda has latch hook and will move onto cross stitch etc and while I want my boys to be able to do basic sewing, now is not the time for me to teach him.

For those of you that have boys, what 'quiet, sitting still' hobbies do your boys have?

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Introducing Charlotte Grace

Born Sunday evening 9.05pm after a speedy labour of 50 minutes.
Weighs 3820g or 8lbs, 7oz; 50cm long.
Sooooo very excited about our new daughter... there's a story there but I'll have to share it later - family calls!