Prayer for Haiti

I was trying to think of some small way that I could help the people of Haiti and when this arrived, I found it to be the answer I was looking for. I hope you will join in so that we can pray together at this difficult time....

Keep the prayer going……….

Lord, I just want to say THANK YOU, because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were. Because this morning my home was still standing, because this morning I am not crying because my husband, my child, my brother or sister needs to be buried after being pulled out from underneath a pile of concrete, because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water, because this morning I was able to turn on the light, because this morning I was able to take a shower, because this morning I wasn't planning a funeral, but most of all I thank You this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti. Lord, I cry out to You, the one who makes the impossible, possible, the one who turns darkness into light. I cry out to You to give those parents strength, and those children who have lost parents someone to watch over them, that You give them peace that surpasses all understanding, that You open the streets so help can come, comfort to those who have lost family members. Give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to go on! Protect the children and shield them with Your power. I pray all this in the name of my Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ.

To all my friends please continue to forward this so that we can pray together for the people in Haiti .

New Year

It has been a while since I last blogged, not since the last decade infact!
This is not because I haven't had anything to be thankful about, because of course I do!
I just am not in the swing of all things bloggable and it is easier to do quick updates on Facebook!

Something to be majorly thankful for was New Year.

Almost every 31 December in the "naughties" was spent with greenfingers and a varying combination of our friends in some cosy cottage/modern house in the depths of Kerry, Cork, Waterford or Wicklow....to start with we were either single or dating. We are now all married and even more bizarrely some have procreated...

So New Year was looming and the desire to have us all together was high.

But where to find a five bed house for 8 adults and 5 children-aged 2 years 4 months, 21 months, 9 months, 3 months, and 3 weeks....
Kilkenny!!!!

Since one couple with two kids including the newborn couldn't drive, she having had a C-section and he having had an epileptic fit earlier in the year which disqualified him from driving for a year-they had headed to her parents farm where there was a "spare" 5 bed house for them to recuperate in. Which left 3 bedrooms for 3 couples! An answer to prayer.

Snow, icy and floods couldn't hold us back and we spent a lovely 48 hours together.
The older kids played together and the younger ones were passed around to give tired parents a break.
Granted not a lot of decent rest was had with 5 kids up at various stages of the night- and some of the menfolk playing poker til the wee small hours, but it was totally worth it. To see us all together, as spouses, parents and friends was unique. I even managed to get a photo of us all together and it will be framed and displayed prominently as a reminder how blessed we are.

On the way home a dear friend-espero- and her husband-jaybercrow- with her three wonderful children were staying only 15 minutes away. We normally live at the total opposite end of the country to each other so to be able to spend a whole day together was just the best start to the year. Watching our children play along side each other warmed my heart. Meeting her little Princess for the first time was just tear jerking. Again special memories were captured on camera.

Now how to get ALL my friends, spouses, offspring together at once....??

Reflections on friendship

When I moved to Cork six years ago I didn't know anyone that wasn't associated with Greenfingers. I didn't find any girly friends for myself. These I sadly left behind in Dublin, or others had already moved to other countries. So there were many weekly phonecalls across the miles that divided us and wonderful reunions when we went to Dublin or had visitors to the "real capital". But I needed girls close by, that I could call into and be Me with.

And then Acorn was born...and I connected firstly through a wonderful website here...and then with the mothers and their babies in flesh. We have shared so much together, opened up about everything to do with motherhood, parenting and just life in general. We have given support, encouragement and hugs, daily. We have had countless playdates, parties and nights out without our little ones. I honestly could not have survived these last two years as relatively intact as I am without these women.

It saddens me though when I think of my wonderful friends in Dublin. That because of distance and time I have not been able to involve them as much in this huge part of my life. But they are all still so dear to me. They were part of my formative teenage years, and through my twenties. They were my support throughout my courting of Greenfingers, a testing journey in itself. They have always been at the end of the phone, willing to meet when we go to Dublin, responsive to texts asking for prayer, quick to comment to facebook updates and photos.

I almost feel guilty that I am betraying them by finding other friends! But I know they would only want me to be happy and not sitting at home with Acorn feeling lonely.

So to my long-term friends, thank you for always caring, for pursuing our friendship despite the miles.

And to my new-found friends. Thank you for accepting me and encouraging me through this rollercoaster. Do you realise that you are the answer to years of prayers?! Funny that it took becoming a mum to find you all!

Three isn't a crowd

There are three of us in our marriage. It is a relief. If it was just me and Greenfingers it would be a disaster. Thankfully we have a third cog in our marriage wheel who causes unrest in our hearts when we are being overly selfish, mean , impatient or thoughtless. If this voice didn't exist we might have fallen apart a long time ago. We are thankful that we know a real God who gives us grace each day, offers us unconditional love, constantly pushes us to be better people, to be more like Him. I admire Greenfingers for striving to me a better man, a more loving husband, to understand me more.
On our wedding day six years ago we didn't just make wedding vows to each other, we made a covenant with God. And that promise will last "til death do us part".

Light in the darkness

Greenfingers' family has been through a lot the past few months, cancer scares and cancer realities. And yet another cancer discovered yesterday in his brother. Hopefully nothing gravely serious but a shock all the same.
There has been blame on God which is a natural reaction. But someone reminded us today that if greenfingers' mum had not had her initial cancer diagnosis then they wouldn't have found the second, more serious cancer. If his brother hadn't had a reflux problem then they wouldn't have found the cancer. If his sister hadn't had her tumour then she wouldn't have shown the inspirational way that someone can deal with scary, uncertain illness by a total dependence on a loving, caring, strong God.
A woman who goes to the church I work for passed away from cancer last night leaving a husband and 3 young children behind, including a two year old son. No words can explain the heartache or reasons why these things happen. It has made me hold Acorn tighter today, hold on to her longer. Every day should be treated as a gift, every milestone a blessing. We were with greenfingers' family today and the joy and laughter and delight she brought to the uncertainty really lifted everyone. Again I am thankful for her. For the light and joy in her little body.

Tuesday 27th October (can't think of a title)

hmmmm how does one be thankful when they are lightheaded and a bit dizzy, queasy, snotty and lethargic? When they went to Dublin for the weekend and didn't get to see their girlie friends and anyone they did see they couldn't engage properly with? When their house is a tip and wrecking their head? When the weather is dull and grey and winter is approaching?
ehmmmmmmm.....ok here goes some positivity....
My daughter is not whingey and irritating like she was last week. She went happily off to creche this morning. It was bizarre because I dressed her in a pair of trousers that I bought for my niece 3 years ago which have now been passed on to Acorn. I never thought then I would be blessed to have a little girl to dress. I never felt particularly maternal or had a desire to have children of my own. I guess something changed along the way. I met the lovely greenfingers and knew that life didn't revolve around me and that it would be a positive thing to create our own miracle, an extension of ourselves, a child of God.
She is a joy, our little Acorn. Full of fun, of life. Adventurous, but not recklessly so. Loving but not clingy. Confident but still mummy's girl. Beautiful. Healthy. My darling girl.
It is hard to admit that I am doing a good job. I spend a lot of time looking at my failures in parenting. But greenfingers recently reminded me of how much love I have given her, and how much more I have to give. I must try and focus on that.

Right...off for a clean-up....

Tandem Cycling

After an epic two hour nap by Acorn (something to be thankful for!) which left me unable to do anything but relax on the couch with her while she snoozed on me-usually her naps are no longer than 40minutes- we went for our first tandem cycle down to the village to pick up a prescription from the pharmacy.
Greenfingers had fixed our new front facing child bike seat here (thanks to PS for bringing it down from the North for us) to the bike last night so today was my first test-ride. I had bought Acorn a Postman Pat helmet here and she was thrilled to wear it-as long as Mummy was wearing her helmet-not a Postman Pat one! And off we went, it was fantastic. Acorn chatting to herself, and getting all excited whenever she saw a "doggy". She adores all animals, has done so since very young. When she was born we had 2 cats and a dog, unfortunately since then one cat has disappeared, and we moved our dog to my in laws where she has tons of space to run about and other dogs to play with. Any mention of the "dat" distracts her from tears and tantrums (well most of the time!). So I made it down to the village and back, probably 4 miles in total. It was lovely to have her so close and so happy, as well as getting some exercise.
Tomorrow I hope to cycle to creche and pick her up on it. There is a nice hill to whizz down on the way home. Don't think I'm ready to cycle up it just yet though....