Discoloured LACE

Have you ever soon what should have been beautiful lace that has not been cared for?
The way it is discoloured, worn and has little bits of uneven pattern or even parts that are torn. This is quite a distressing sight to see I think. To see such a beautiful piece of work that was lovingly crafted now in a state of ruin or at least unloved and uncared for.

Even though LACE has a  beauty and Strength , all of it's own, as I have said before, it is a fragile and delicate fabric. It does require extra effort to care for, but it is worth that extra care because of it's beauty and delicacy.

If only we could see this in the people God has placed in our lives.
First off our own family, as charity and love begin at home, yes OUR homes and then in the people around us.

I know you have seen, as have I,  those people around you whose LACE has become discoloured, worn and weary from lives filled with many burdens and cares.

It is a sad sight to see and yet we often miss the opportunity to 'fix' the LACE in their lives. We choose to think that a 'master lace worker' would do a better job, and I would agree with that......However The Master Laceworker has given to us, that job.
He has given to us the splendid opportunity to be 'original lace workers,' in our ability to have the gift of serving and helping these people.
We can give this LACE a new lease of life with our thoughts , words and actions.

I think that we also need to remember that we do not cause any distress to other peoples LACE. That we do not cause any discolouration and little torn parts. That we treat other LACE with infinite and gentle care.
How can we do this you may ask?

 Our words and actions can cause many imperfections  to happen, not only in the fabric of our own lives (lace) but in  the fabric of all those we come in contact with.

This seems such a small and quite a trivial task to be given and yet so many of us have affected others with these 'trifles.' We also have in our own memories the LACE that was torn from someones unthinking or even deliberate attack on ourthe  fabric of life we hold dear.

So I would challenge myself and anyone else who can see the beauty of lace in others to treat the fabrics of those lives with the most utmost care and respect. Giving thanks for the opportunity to share the love of God with them in our thoughts words and deeds.

Joining in with Trish and my other LACE loving friends reflecting on
Philippians 4:8
Whatever is..LLovely, Admirable, Cheerful and Encouraging. ~ LACE

Blessings to you and your homes,

Beauty in the Morning............

I think one of the most beautiful sights we can see is the world as it wakens each day. For many years I was awake and outside in it enjoying the beauty God gives us to brighten our day.

This morning I was awakened by Autumn who was most enthusiastic about my coming to see the frost outside and how beautiful it was when the sun shone upon it.

 I admit my response was less than enthusiastic as I had not long before hoped back in bed after feeding Trahaearn.

I did roll over to snuggle Arwen who had come in for a morning cuddle and then I thought how excited Autumn was and how she wanted to share this moment with me and I realised that was more important as Arwen was a asleep again now anyway.

I went down stairs and outside to view a wonderful fairytale look

 Autumn had taken these photos before to keep a memory of this beautiful day.

 She had gone around our property near the house and tried to capture so many different things with the frost on them.
Athough I won't show them all here it seems that Jack Frost did a very thorough job.

AS I came down stairs Corbyn wanted to know what we were doing and so after finding him his Gumboots and a dressing gown he came with us. Then Auutmn, Corbyn and Moran went together (again) and choose different things to look at an marvel over.
I am so glad I started my day this way...........

 And because I think that Jack Frost created some beautiful LACE today I am joining in with Trish for her weekly sharing of beauty

Blessings to you and your homes,

Entwining LACE

 Have you ever watched LACE being made? It is a process of twisting and twining around and around that creates a pattern as it is worked, continuing on until it is a finished product.

Our lives I think are like that lace we entwine our lives around a central theme or love for me this is God and my faith followed by my family and friends.

Daily we entwine our lives continuaiously around those we know personally or online or through conections with other people (hearsay).

What a blessings we have when our lives  become LACY with good firends and kindred spirits. However LACE can be a beautiful working of art that produces a pattern that is pleasing to the eye and touch. How I want to creat LACE like this.

On the other hand not all LACE is beautiful I am sure some of you ahve seen  LACE that is rotting and falling apart, perhaps it  was once beautiful and has fallen into disprepair due to neglect or dispair.
Or perhaps the maker was one who never really appreciated the beauty of the LACE and so sadly was not concerned with the final outcome.

How honoured and blessed I have been to be entwined in the lives of some beautiful LACEY women.

Our beautiful Trish sent to us the gift pictured above for our precious Trahaearn's baptism.

I see the LACE in this gift as my life is touched by her generosity and care. So too has my life become more LACY by so many other beautiful women who have their lives entwined with mine and for this I am very grateful.

So to be involved with some beautiful LACY women based on Philippians 4:8
Whatever is..LLovely, Admirable, Cheerfuland Encouraging. ~ LACE

Blessings to you and your homes,

Preparing for the Day

This morning as I was preparing for day, you know getting dressed before the baby needed me, I was pondering the preparations that I tend to make each day to achieve this physically.

Not the spiritual preparations that I need to sustain me each day but the outward side that is seen by anyone I come in contact with.

Now I know that we as christian women should not dwell too much on our outward appearance BUT I also believe we are ambassadors for Christ and that as such we should present our best physical appearance as well for most people will judge us on our appearance and we should give them some interest in seeing what it is about us that is worthy of note.

Now I also believe that as a home maker I spend most of my time in the home surrounded by those special persons God has placed in my life and as such I should present a worthwhile image to them as well.
For these are the most special people in my life and so I should dress and be well presented for THEM as much as I would for an guests or for going out into the world.

Most of the time I achieve this by wearing clothes that do not require me to get changed if I need to make a quick trip to town or if someone arrives unannounced on our doorstep. I wear shoes as well ( boots actually) because I feel incomplete with out my shoes on.

My wardrobe is by no means extensive or excessive: my standard of dress involves a skirt (usually quite long) a skivvy or long sleeved blouse in the winter or t-shirt/ shirt sleeve blouse in the summer.
I also wear a cardigan in the winter and have a lovely selection at the moment built up over some years.
I also have pull on jumpers (or sweaters for my American friends) that once again I have had for some years. When I am not breast feeding a baby I also wear dresses!
This for me is my 'uniform' so to speak. I add my apron when cooking and doing other jobs that require it and am quite content and even feel very homey and fulfilled in this 'uniform.'

I wear make up most days and am trying to get back into the habit of everyday. For many women this isn't a staple but for me it is one of those things where I feel more confidant and 'finished' with make up on too. I have had times when I let this slip and I know it when one of the younger children ask me if I am going out if they see me putting make up on.

When I have made all these physical transformations I feel ready to take on the day with all its challenges and all it's joys.
I am prepared for battle.

I feel that this is another area of LACE management for me because due to the  imperfect person that I am I find that the qualities that Trish asks us to adhere to, those being .........
Philippians 4:8 Whatever is..Lovely. Admirable. Cheerful. Encouraging. ~ LACE
that I am more able to stay focused on these qualities and share the positive that results from this with the precious and very dear people in my life.

I would ask you if you would share how you manage your LACE to be all that God has called you to.
Joining in Trish this week....

Blessings to you and your homes,

Extra LACE........

Dear Friends,
Do you know I just LOVE my LACE posts!!
I love thinking on the meaning of LACE and the criteria behind Trish's ideas on this.

Philippians 4:8 Whatever is..Lovely. Admirable. Cheerful. Encouraging. ~ LACE

A while ago I posted on the beauty and yet the strength that we have as women and in our vocations.

I was sharing my thoughts on the beauty we have in our most everyday activities
And yet while LACE can be functional and beautiful it is at the same time optional to many and a bit of an extra.

Does that mean we cannot have these extras in our lives? I don't think so we can be uplifted by these extras and be thankful for them as they come in to our lives. Mostly that means that we have to wait for the little extra something to be blessed by it and sometimes those waits are a long time in between and even though we love and nurture our roles as wives, mothers and home makers, we know intrinsically that the extra LACE is a bonus and to be valued because of it.

Making time for these extra LACE activities in our lives is important too.
I know in my own life if I have no time for 'LACE and frills' I tend to not be grateful and thankful for the many blessings in my life.
What constitutes as LACE?

Well for all of us it can be different, but a basic I believe is looking for the beauty in the surroundings we have in our immediate lives. Bing watchful and aware of the environment in which God has placed us to live out our lives.

For me it also means taking time to play and create, not only with our precious children but to play and create on my own too.

Some times we feel guilty for taking this time to our selves after all there is so much to be done in our homes and lives. We have family to feed, a home to manage and our own personal devotions to work on not to mention the man of the house to love and nurture as well.

How can we possibly justify spending time on our selves?
I once when traveling on a plane with our baby was told in case of crash to put my own  life jacket on first, so I am would be to help the baby.
In some ways we are like those in an airplane crash we do need to take the time to put on our own life jacket  so to speak in order to minister to those around us.

So today I would like to share the extra LACE I received to day : the flowers from ,my dear husband and the beautiful sunset we had this evening

May your day be filled with all the extra LACE you can find !!

Blessings to you and your homes,

Family Lace ♥

I see it each time we come closer to the birth of a new child.

How sentimental I feel about the family we  have right now and how the addition of a new little person complete with his/her own personality will change life as we know it.

I see my self picking up the current baby of the family and just getting all the love and cuddles I can from that little precious child.

I see myself focusing more on the gifts and talents of each child as they are now and how that will change when little 'buttercup' (pet name for the baby not born yet) arrives.

I see myself more and more thankful for the husband I have who willingly loves us and wants to spend his time with us, rather than activities outside our home.

I see the slightly older children being more able to focus on the special event of a new baby, the time before  they weren't old enough to remember.

I see maturity in the middle children as they choose to become more responsible around the home and take on more adult responsibilities.

I see as our young adults emerge from our home into the world, how time marches on. For as we welcome the newest addition the oldest edition has left the nest.

I see that we all have trouble focusing on our 'everyday' tasks as we wait for the day to finally arrive.

I see friendships that will last forever, as they share intimate yet funny moments together.

I see our children loving life through the small and unique way they each perceive it.

I see the comfort of knowing you are loved for who you are and cherished for your individuality.

I see the sharing that goes on each day, in not only material items but in time invested in loving others

I see the sweet joy that only childhood can bring to our family and I am thankful.

I look and I see a FAMILY but not only that.........
I see OUR FAMILY

Today as I join Trish  (although late) I am truly thankful for the LACE that binds our family together ♥

Blessings to you and your homes,

Mother......

"The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral--a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body . . . The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation . . . What on God's good earth is more glorious than this; to be a mother?"
--Joszef Cardinal Mindszenty

As I come closer to the birth of our baby I look again at the value of Motherhood.

I know that there are some women who desire to have children but have not been blessed.
I know of some beautiful ladies who are going through the unhappy time of miscarriage.
I also know that some ladies struggle with the guilt that is forced upon them by our society -that if you have more than a couple or even a few and still desire more children then you are ether stupid or greedy.

As if the love we can bestow on lots of children would be less because of the numbers.

How can anyone of sound and reasonable mind doubt that children are a gift from God.
If we were offered a million dollars from God each couple of years we would not refuse, however everyday women and men are saying No to the greatest gift God entrusts to us....another human soul to love and cherish.
Love is spread by giving more love.
Sadly those people who seem bitter and lonely are  those who limit the  people they share their love with.....like it was a limited commodity, that can be used up!

How very, very sad!
Our Saviour's love is so generous and I believe when He asks us to live our lives as He did that the expectation is to LOVE like he does!

In fact the greatest commandment confirms this~
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Obviously from these verses, you can never give too much love and I believe Motherhood is a great training ground for this.
We as mothers have the opportunity each and every day to give so much love to those who are entrusted into our care.

And as I believe we are blessed indeed!

So as I join in with  Trish in her lovely 'LACEwork' this week (click on the image below) I wish to uphold  Trish's guidelines in my own life:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

May your own individual LACE be an inspiration to all you come into contact with this week ♥

Blessings to you and your homes,

'Lacy' - can that be me?

 When pondering LACE this evening I was struck by the beauty and yet the simplicity and versatility of what Lace (the fabric) actually is.

Truly it reminds me of my role as a wife and mother. For not only is lace decorative and so intricately woven it is unique in the role it has in our use of fabric.

A fabric so costly for so many dare I say centuries that it was only ever used in the most special and elaborate gowns and often not in large quantities. hence we see the lace colours or edged hankies that seem so delicate and yet so feminine and beautiful to look at.

So I would dare to suggest that our vocations as wives, mothers and homemakers can be compared to 'lace'. For although not everyone values this beautiful fabric and there are so many 'cheaper' version that on the surface can seem to be the real thing that it seems to have lost it's prestige in our modern society.

And yet in it's own way 'lace' is strong, as we who are following this not glorified path need to be as well. We can each within the 'dress style' of our own hearts and the gifts we have been bestowed with can bring not only beauty and resilience to those who love us and who lean on us to help and support them.....namely our families.

We can bring beauty to those mundane and everyday tasks if we simply remember that 'lace' once upon a time was lovingly crafted by hand, as we each have been lovingly created by our Heavenly Father~
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" Psalm 139:13
and therefore each of us is indeed a  beautiful work of LACE , chosen and gifted to bring glory to God through our most humble and yet beautiful selves as we cherish our vocations as wives and mothers and homemakers.

So as I join in with  Trish in her lovely 'LACEwork' this week (click on the image below) I wish to uphold  Trish's guidelines in my own life:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

May your own individual LACE be an inspiration to all you come into contact with this week ♥

Blessings to you and your homes,

We are Watched...........

How often do we remember that we have eyes that watch 'not what we say' but 'watch what we do?'

This is even more important as we live out our vocations as mothers as we KNOW that our little and big ones are watching how we respond to the trials of life. Not only large ordeals but even our small and seemingly simple challenges that sometimes turn into larger trials.

I know that I fail in this giving a good example of how I respond in everyday life situations and yet I try to remember that the way I act is so much more important than what I say.

In fact I think the best situation is to actually have the words you utter backed up by the actions you take...sounds simple, and yet in 'real life' often so hard.

I think this little poem says so much about why it is important to try to live our lives this way, and not forgetting that the most perfect example of this is of course Our Lord!

Little Eyes Upon You

There are little eyes upon you
and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.

There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do;
and a little child who's dreaming
of the day he'll be like you.

You're the little child's idol
you're the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you
no suspicions ever arise.

He believes in you devoutly,
holds all you say and so.
He will say and do, in your way
when he's grown up just like you.

There's a wide-eyed little child
who believes you're always right;
and his eyes are always opened, and he
watches day and night.

You are setting an example
every day in all you do;
for the little child who's waiting
to grow up to be like you.

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove ... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. "

~Author Unknown

Joining in with dear  Trish this week to share my LACE (click on the image below) I wish to uphold  Trish's guidelines in my own life:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Praying for your own 'lacework this week ♥

Blessings to you and your homes,

My 'Lacework' this Week

New life is a precious gift we are given and while not everyone appreciates this it is an honour to be involved with other families that also value this. I guess I am pondering this as the time draws near to our own new arrival but because a very close and dear friend had a new baby last week as well.

I wonder at the generosity of the Lord as he places this brand new life into the arms of new mothers and fathers, and although for some of us it is another child to treasure.
It is a NEW and wanted life to treasure.

So many new beginnings that come with each child, for each of us is created by our heavenly Father  ON PURPOSE and with a purpose in our lives. Some of us may never know that purpose to completion and most of us muddle our way through.

However that does not negate the fact that each of us is special, loved and of most value to Our Lord, and at no other time I think is that more obvious than at the new birth of a child when we as parents look at this miracle of life and thank God for this blessings.

So many hopes and dreams we have for our new child.  And with each child we are still more aware of how much we ourselves rely on the love and support of Our Lord to achieve His aims for the beautiful gift he has entrusted into our care for a short time, but always to return to him  intact and ready to be of service to him for ever.

So I would encourage each of you to really look at the 'gifts' we  have been given and think of all the beautiful memories and joy that we have been privileged to bear, as we still try to bring honour and glory to HIM in all our imperfections.

So as I join in with  Trish in her lovely 'LACEwork' this week (click on the image below) I wish to uphold  Trish's guidelines in my own life:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Praying for your own 'lacework this week ♥

Blessings to you and your homes,