The British Homemaker - One day at a time

Christmas is a little late in our house this year. 11 days too late to be precise. First we decided we’d get a fresh tree so we moved round the living room, re-homed the piano to the dining room, swapped the display unit in the hall and voila, one room ready for a super tall, super wide tree. Just not on the 1st December! Severe weather conditions meant that many of the tree’s weren’t able to be delivered here so we were on ‘hold’. Through this last week whilst waiting to get internet connection by the new supplier (see The British Homemaker Diary for more info) I worked through my to-do list like it was a marathon. The temptation was almost overwhelming to just give in and go buy an artificial one. Today I’m glad we didn’t! This baby has made himself totally at home in the living room, so much so we had to cut his diet branches back an inch or two! Next challenge comes from the erm, lack or ornaments! Last  year I gave a lot away and dumped the rest. The few I kept ar...

The Lds church don’t believe that Jesus Christ was born on 25th December but we do celebrate the day for a few reasons. One being that it’s an opportunity to share in the birth of Christ with other religions and non faith people, two being that we love to have a good time when it is good and uplifting and three because it’s an event that very often brings people together. Our church is all for unity; unity of people, of faiths and of hearts. Today, in our Branch Council Meeting I was deeply touched by the vision our recently called leaders have for the coming year. We have been called the ‘happening branch’; we are well liked and respected by other wards/branches in our stake and I  know from experience we give the warmest welcomes to visitors, members and non members. Our activities are driven by the spirit (I know cos I am the activities leader!), we are driven to include anyone that wishes to come along and take part. We do not ‘bible bash’ and preach. We are friendly, bus...

Remember the last post when I said I have so much going on that I won’t have time to blog? Well I have decided to hold myself accountable and blog my daily to-do list over on The British Homemakers Diary . Today is day 2 and so far I’m doing pretty ok, but lets see what happens in a week or two! Lol While all is good and well here, the kids are busy doing their to-do list to ensure that when Jay, Tara, Bailey and Scott arrive they are organised and ready for the best Christmas ever. Me, I am determined that this year, while busy now, come Christmas Eve it will be the first day to relax and enjoy all the wonderful blessings that I have. My philosophy this year is ‘’preparation & organisation’’. So far, though I have a little more on my plate than I’d like, I am happy to actually have so much stuff going on. I am meeting more wonderful people, doing some things for the first time and having a ball with it all. I love that my friends know my talents and want to include me in ...

For about a year now Charley has enjoyed playing on the Lego site testing out most of their games, entering competitions and printing off there colouring pages etc. Some days he will get an hour straight after school while I begin dinner. Most days I am running up and down the stairs because he wants to go back a page or something. Tonight, after not hearing him call after about 15 minutes I went up anyway. Yep, he is totally super glued to the screen, he is on the edge of the seat racing against the clock on a game! When I asked him if he needed help with anything, he simply said: No mom! I am 6 and I know what all the buttons do and I know when to use them! Of course, what do mothers know? :D   Debs

Monday Charley nominates me to be one of 4 to make Christmas goodies for the school fair. Tuesday Having 2 ear infections/sinus trouble and a head cold qualifies me to not cook dinner. Yay to two kids! Wednesday There is nothing better than sitting and talking in front of a log fire with someone who is as as appreciative as me on the rights and wrongs of life. Thursday Official meetings can be fun. Businesses can grow by just a good and balanced reputation, which thankfully I happen to have. Friday The day we go for a walk as a family. The Kymin - steep but awesome views and a great trail for gathering natural foliage for my winter/Christmas projects.      

You understand why the family unit is so important Becoming a teacher of all good and healthy things feels like you should earn a degree by the 10th year Giving up is not an option, simply because the Lord has made it clear on a load of occasions that He will get me through Being so tuned in to your children fuels your sense of worth and purpose Quitting on your kids is not an option Knowing that the kids have security, faith and acceptance from me is priceless Cooking and baking becomes second nature, especially with all the activities we and the kids share in Some days its hard to remember that we have a deeper understanding of parenting, some days its just so very overwhelming Accountability becomes another title Faith and gratitude override all the downsides, the tough days and the worries. Debs

Ok so I don’t usually bother with Halloween. Over the years the kids have gone trick or treating but over all I just don’t ‘do’ it because I think its beggars glory and potential for nasty outbursts. Anyone reading the news lately will know that 1 in 3 children will be injured by an adult who’s door they have knocked on. The latest and sickest trick is to put razor blades in a bowl of sweets. I mean, who could be that evil? Yes I know there is a lot worse out there but still, let the kids be the kids, if you don’t want them at your door put up a sign or don’t answer the door, but please, don’t harm them. As for the beggars, they are the ones that get mean when they don’t get something ‘decent’ then claim it to be a ‘trick’. Both methods has totally taken away any fun for the kids that do enjoy the day. Me, I love it when the kids come to my house, I love to hand out something that I've baked and wrapped all nice n halloweeny but then that’s cos I’m nice :) As Kirsten has got olde...

Yesterday we decided to drive the 2+ hours to see Scott up in Birmingham. The drive was easy, not too much traffic and not many idiots along the motorway either. Hitting Birmingham town centre though was another story, I had forgotten how crazy it is to drive round there, and trust me, it is no fun at all. The Satnav died just as we got into this big crazy non stop city. I had not been to Scott’s new apt before so I knew I was going to really have to think back on my earlier years of touring Brum. By luck I pulled into the right street, but only cos Scott called at that minute and I wanted to touch base with him. You see, I trusted my satnav. A lot. Too much. The mobile internet was coming up too small for me to read and I didn’t have time to change the settings, I just wanted to get to Scott! By the time we got to Scott we were oohh, 2.5 hours later than planned! Even though I was actually IN town at the exact time I said I would be…just took a while longer to get in the righ...

Checking in on Facebook I see that Tara has uploaded some pictures of my gorgeous baby granddaughter and my rather worrying son! If I didn’t know better I’d say Bailey-Boo was  doll…isn’t she just totally gorgeous? :) Debs

Charley: This week Charley started a new school . With having rather drastic winters here and having no car for a long time I realised that the local attachment school held more appeal than I realised. So I checked it out, both my neighbours send their kids there and they gave great reviews. We looked around, asked questions and Charley was sold. Bigger school, lots of after school activities, bigger classes and more advanced work than he was doing. Monday we spent most the day getting the sweaters, PE kit, book bags and all that stuff ready. We labelled, washed, ironed and set out the weeks requirements. Charley loved doing this and is definitely showing signs of preferring to be organised and up to date with things. We made cupcakes, lollipops and bread, packaged some up and gave them to friends in his old school, including teachers. We collected his new glasses, picked up his shoes from Clarks and chose the winter coat he will need shortly, just a shame we had to order one in f...

For those of you who are Lds you will know those commercials they do that remind us that time is more important than anything else when it comes to our kids. When I got up this morning, the first thing I heard when I put on the byu.tv (the ritual I have each morning whilst we are getting ready) was the commercial where the little girl repeatedly asked her daddy to read her a story. Each time he put her off for one reason or another. Eventually, late into the night she goes to her dads bedside and asked him yet again for a story, his drowsy words were to ask her mommy. Cutely, she walked round the bed, tapped her mommy and said ‘mommy, can daddy read me a story?’   I laugh each time I see that but it irks me too. I was often caught saying the same thing to the kids, I’m busy or later. What hit me though was hearing the kids talking, Charley wanted something and Kirsten asked him to ask me, to which his reply was ‘mom will say later’ I was arm deep i...

Sometimes I wish I didn’t feel things. Sometimes I wish I just didn’t care about people or situations. Sometimes I wish I just didn’t care. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a ‘care in the world’ in the literal sense. I’m told, so often that I care too much, or I should not care so much or better yet that I should control my caring. Umm. Well, when I think about this in the quiet of my room my heart is turned to Jesus Christ. He cares. Unconditionally. He wants us to care. Unconditionally. He was vulnerable, he hurt, he was abused, ridiculed and tortured. But He still cared. To me that is unconditional caring. While I don’t think for one minute that I should be treated as He was, I do think that to be more like Christ I should not condition my caring to conform a ‘what if’ strategy. Neither should I condition it to only care when I get something in return. So that leaves me vulnerable, or does it? No, it leaves me open to upset, hurt and being let down and that is the risk I take when I ...

Today is the first day that I make time out for me. Just me. Alone. Today I have walked 3 miles. Today I have swam 20 lengths. Today I have done the exercise bike for 30 mins to work my knees. Today I have ate breakfast and prepared my lunch. Today I feel on top of the world. Today will come around again tomorrow. Then I will pay for today and consider giving up. But I wont, because I am determined to: return to my size 10 jeans. be able to breathe without gasping for air. feel like I am 41 not 60. respect my life and good health. build up my self esteem and really feel like I am worth something. In just a few weeks I turn 42. I don’t mind my age, I have 4 great kids and an awesome granddaughter to show for it. I have memories that no one can take, destroy or rewrite. I have laughed till I fell off chairs, cried till I couldn’t breathe, loved till my heart exploded and all because I have a life. I am a person. I have an individuality that makes m...

Becoming a Nanna has been a great thing for me so far. Being a mom I have always enjoyed that role and felt it is truly best area in life. That’s not saying I’m the best mom or I get it all right or that I or my kids are perfect, I am just continuing to do the best I can and never unwilling to try new ideas or methods if it means my kids benefit and grow the be the best they can be. Now I have a baby granddaughter to add to that mix. I have a new role to move into and for as much as I love that little girl I know I will play an integral part in her life so I want it to be appropriate, fun, strong and as supportive to her parents as possible. Bailey makes me feel things that only my children have managed so far in my life. She is a perfect gift from a loving Heavenly Father to me as well as my son and daughter in law. It’s time for me to review my relationship with the Lord to be sure I get His approval of the things I hope to do and share with Bailey. Checking my email I found o...