One of those days

Already today feels like a bit of a write-off, although I am trying not to let it be so. It's 'one of those days', or at least I could label it as that and then just let the day take over! But I am still trying to resist, I am still trying to fight this day because I don't want to come to the end of it and just feel like it's been for nothing. Even when I feel exhausted and beaten, it doesn't mean I can't give God glory and make a difference to someone, although i'm not quite sure what or who yet.

I dragged myself out of bed this morning feeling strangely fatigued even though i'd had 7 hours sleep. I traipsed downstairs, sleepily laid out some cereal for the boys and set them up for breakfast, prayed with them and then stumbled back up the stairs bleary eyed and got in the shower. That helped, and once dressed and out the door to take Asher to nursery I felt much more normal. Once back at home I ate someone, took a multivitamin and omega oils and settled on the sofa to do some reading. But after 3 chapters of Job, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I tried to shuffle about, change positions but I admitted defeat realising I wasn't taking in any of what Job was saying, and fell asleep, like turning a light bulb off, click, I was asleep. I haven't felt THAT tired for ages!

During which time Pete (who doesn't start work until 1pm and works til 10pm) made lunch and went out with Isaac to pick Asher up from nursery at 11:30. I woke up for lunch, which helped and cleared up, put Isaac down for a nap and now I am sitting here trying my hardest to stop my head hitting the pillow again!!! It's a miserable rainy day outside which doesn't help because I would force myself outside for some fresh air, but I don't want to get all soggy and cold and wet today. Not today.

So in the hope of salvaging this day and not spending the rest of it dosing on the sofa while the boys run riot, I am going to go peel potatoes for dinner, set up some painting for the boys to do, make a phone call and write a letter, and then once those few things are done maybe I will permit myself a 20 minute sit down and not feel guilty because at least I would have done SOMETHING!

Nana Miles

The ironing is done, bathrooms are cleaned, the whole house vacuumed, meat marinating in the fridge, clothes put away, uniform laid out, floors mopped, kitchen cleaned, facebook checked! Yes, it's Sunday night, Monday morning looms! But this is not going to be just any Monday, THIS is going to be a special Monday! During prayers tonight we prayed with the boys for safe travels for their Nana Miles who they are so very excited to see tomorrow after 2 years! What a treat they are in for! We are looking forward to hugs, laughter, walks, stories, meals together, trips out, and new memories made. So I shall say goodnight because I have muffins to make in the morning!

Christmas Morning Muffins

I think it only fair to share with you the muffin recipe which got us through the christmas season!

Christmas morning muffins

250g Plain flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

100g caster sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 clementines/satsumas

approx 125ml milk

75ml veg oil or melted butter left to cool slightly

1 egg

175g dried cranberries

3 teaspoons demerara sugar for the topping

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas mark 6. Line 12 bun muffin tins with muffin papers or silicone inserts

Measure the flour, baking powder, bicarb, caster sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a large bowl.Grate the zest of the clementines over and combine.

Squeeze the juice of the clementines into a measuring jug, and pur in the milk intil it comes to the 200ml mark.

Add oil and egg and lightly beat until just combined.

Pour this liquid mixture into the bowl of dried ingredients and stir until everything is combined. Lumpy batter is a good thing here.

Fold in the cranberries and spoon the batter into the muffin cases and sprinkle with demerara sugar on top.

Bake in the oven for 20 mins. ENJOY!

Carpe Diem

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/dont-carpe-diem_b_1206346.html

Grace

I doubt anyone ever reads this, but that's not too important really. It's a really nice outlet to just type all your thoughts out. Like a diary or journal, but much more efficient - much faster than handwriting and my hand isn't aching after 10 minutes. I find handwriting tiresome for some reason, although I love to send letters to friends, but my handwriting is AWFUL, and I mean awful, like my teachers used to struggle to understand my essays at school!!!

I actually forgot about this blog to be honest, and reading the last post I had written a whole year ago makes me wonder how time can go so fast without noticing! I am put to shame reading last years new years resolutions because I have totally failed, and that's hard to take, but I will not be discouraged because I am human and God's Grace is sufficient.

This year has been FULL. Moving house was fun, (and stressful and tiring!!!) but it's good to be settled in our own place that we can call home and do what we want to it. Today we had plasterers in to fix the hallway and landing walls so we hope to paint when that has dried. We have not chosen a colour yet, really have no clue what to pick, am hoping it will just come to me when we go to B&Q. So today has been pretty hectic trying to keep the boys from accidentally running into the wet plastered walls or tripping over ladders and dust sheets! I have had little patience today actually which didn't help and struggled when they decided they didn't want to listen when I asked them to tidy toys away or sit on their bottoms to eat their dinner! It's bizarre how some days I can be over-spilling with patience and other days the smallest thing will tip me over the edge. At least I can walk into their bedrooms tonight while they are sleeping and with one look I fall right back in love with them as they snore away and know tomorrow is a new day and God will supply all my needs.

God's Grace is so apparent in my life at the moment. Whenever I just don't think I can rise to the challenge he has set me, his constant Grace and mercy pulls me through. In finding out I need more surgery...my human thinking is anger, frustration, disbelief and pain, but then he reminds me that 'Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked will I depart. The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. May the name of YAHWEH be PRAISED' Job 1v21.

Every breath I breathe is from him and every step I take is because he keeps me from stumbling. And so I ask him to help me remember that every day and go on living with gratitude in my heart.