The joy of receiving and a great big thank you

Me and the MiniMads have been blessed this last couple of weeks by the kindness and creativity of bloggers.

Firtly we were lucky enough to win a copy of a children's book that Cystal Jigsaw wrote herself. The mini's and I are treasuring reading a little of this each evening and are trying to make it last. Did I tell you she wrote it herself!

The wonderful Sandy of Baby Baby, who I often think is me in disguise sent me some chocolate sustenance and some buttons for the boys (who open the package and ran off with them before I could take a piccie) and some fabric she has been meaning to do something with. Thank you Sandy the fabric is wonderful and I have my thinking cap on for what to make with it.

I was also blessed to win a giveaway over at Sew Mental Mamma, a very talented lady who makes the most wonderful clothes for her children, please pop over and say hello.

I was blown away with her generousness, not only did I receive a zakka sewing books, to patterns, some Alice in wonderland fabric, a stunning pin cushion, ribbon and a large button, but she popped in some green bath foam for the minimads and it is wonderful as it contains no nasties or SLS so they can use it! Oh and I almost forgot there was also some Gin and Tonic Chocolate in the parcel too. Thank you ever so much.

Isn't the blog world just wonderful. I have had a hard month and I have to say that I have been in awe of the wonderful things we have received.

Also a very special lady Ang over at Tracing Rainbows wrote the boys the most amazing letter all about the Easter Story and we have been reading it after dinner each evening and the now can recite it pretty much off by heart. It was such a wonderful thing to receive, such a joy and so perfectly tailored for my little men. It has bright images and well it is just wonderful.

She also send an Easter present for each of the boys and for me and MadDad too.

I was also given an unexpected Easter Present from the very clever Liz at Violet Posy.  Look up, see that new header, well Liz made that and I had no idea.  She is a super and very talented lady.

Writing Workshop - Do not be defined by what you can be, rather who you can be

What can I say about a mothers love, the love I feel for my two boys

The need to give them happiness throughout their lives

To see joy in their faces

To be privileged to experience with them so many firsts.

First Steps

First Smile

First tooth

The first feel of sand in their toes

To be able to pick them up after their first fall.

To be able to give unconditional love.

To love their faults.

To instill in them the morals of their father.

To teach them to be righteous men, with big hearts and a strong comprehension of good and bad and the sense to make the best choice.

To go down the right path.

To be blessed with experiencing wonderment.

To introduce them to Father Christmas and to instill in them that giving is better than receiving.

To watch them grow and blossom

To find the love of their lives and watch them mature

I am truly blessed with two wonderful boys and the chance to make a difference

I wrote this on 22 August 2006, when mini was less than two months old and Maxi was just 17 months old and it means just as much then as now, if not more.    I wrote it after a 2am night feed and was unable to get back to sleep, whist I watched mini sleep peacefully. 

I chose option 3 What do you secretly dream of your children doing?

When I think of what I hope my children may grow up to do, there isn't one job, one career that comes to mind and that is OK.  I am resigned to the fact that I place more emphasis on who they are and who they can be, rather than what they can be.

The one thing they do both know, is that they can choose to be the best that they can be and that I will always be there.

 

15 years ago my body let me down

I could go down the I have a genetic spelling mistake and my body is my biggest enemy, route,  but been there done that and there is something more apt, something more perfect for today.  As today is my 15th Wedding Anniversary.

Picture this I was 21 years old and we had set the date, MadDad and I.  March the 18th 1995.  The dress was bought, the hair was planned.  I had the tiara and the veil.

We had been together a year, yes not long in the scheme of things, but we knew that it was the right thing to do, in fact I had knew that MadDad was the one from the minute I met him when I was 16, but he was taken and that is a whole different post!

We had decided that we would announce our engagement and the date for our wedding a the same time and we also decided we didn't want a big engagement, so September 1994, we told our parents we were getting married and there was 6 months to plan it.

Long enough to get everything in place, but not too long to start fretting about things and also not long enough for the costs to get all silly.

Everything was in place, just the final little bits to sort, nothing major and then I realised that I couldn't see right, that road signs weren't clear and that there was something wrong, so off to the opticians I went.

It was a disaster I was short sighted and I needed glasses.  The optician was baffled as I had only had my eyes tested 6 months previous and the deterioration was pretty serve.  So I needed glasses.  I went home and I sobbed my heart out.  I was so upset.  I got some glasses and I hated them.  I didn't want to wear them to the wedding, but how would I see anyone.

So back to the opticians I went to ask about contact lenses.  Yes I could have some, but they would be pretty expensive, in fact they were going to cost in excess of £100 and it was £100 we didn't have, especially as we had just found out MadDad had been made redundant.  So I went home sad and defeated.

The next day I received a phone call from the opticians to go back in and collect my lenses, I was baffled, he went on to explain that my mum and dad had paid for them for me and that he wanted me back in so that I could get used to them over the week before the wedding.

So on March 18 1995 I walked down the isle to here comes the bride and I could clearly see MadDad looking at me with tears in his eyes.  I could see the congregation, I could see my mum crying in the front pew and I was overjoyed.  As I walked down the isle Mrs Mad to I vow to thee my country I could see everyone looking at me.  

Yes my body let me down, but my family didn't.

Marring MadDad was the best thing I ever did, it was the best day of my life and I love him more today than I ever though possible.  So I want to say thank you, my soul-mate for being there for me through thick and thin, sickness and health and for being the constant companion by my side.  I love you.

Five

The most destructive known hurricanes rate as Category 5
Muslims pray to Allah five times a day
Five the number of digits on one hand or foot
The pentagram, or five-pointed star  

five elements: (water, fire, earth, wood, and metal)

The five basic tastes are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.

Maxi's last night as a four year old

Five for me is the age that Maxi turns on the 16 March.


For five years we have been blessed to have watched you grow and develop
To see you start to become the man you have the potential to be.
You fill my heart with joy, with optimism and excitement.
You have brought many smiles to my face and many tears to my eyes.
You have made me realise that being responsible doesn't have to be scary all the time.
You make me jump in ice cold sea and allow me to feel the sand between my toes.
You give me the freedom to sit next to you and listen to you read to me.
You are a shoot waiting for the right elements to allow you to grow
Sometimes I just have to look at you, to watch you sleep and eat and play
To see a glimpse of the world through your eyes
The innocence of a child coupled with a worldly wiseness beyond your years.
What a wonderful ride these first five years have been 
Here to many, many more

Who is Maxi?

He is a whirlwind, a ball of energy
Tenacious, persistent, a know it all
Cheeky, endearing and charming
A flirt, a firm friend and a joyous heart
He is kind and caring
Perceptive and knowing
An eternal optimist,
A tryer, a doer and  an ever inquisitive mind
He shines in a crowd
He is a affectionate and a contemplative
Creative and inspiring
He has a wonderful imagination
He is compassionate and honest
Generous, brave and loyal
He lights up our lives

Thank you for lighting up our lives, for being the best big brother and for being a wonderful son.  I would go to the end of the earth for you.  I have spent hours and hours in surgery to be with you and to have the pleasure of seeing you grow.  Wow how can you be five already.  I love you.

Awards and Link Love

A while back I received an award from Kelly at A Place of My Own - Shining Light: The blogger that receives this award has left a comment or written a post that has helped light the way for the blogger who presents them with the award.

 I also received the honest scrap award for Aingeal over at Mum's Survival Guide

I am ever so proud of this, as it signifies and highlights what blogging means for me.  It is a community of people who I am happy to call my friends.  I am all for offering support, in one way as a mother I find other mothers the first to judge, but also offer great advise and support.  I would rather be positive and offer support.

Kelly say this of the award "Please take this award in the spirit that it is meant and adorn your blogs with it as you see fit. You can keep it, you can pass it on today, you can hold on and pass it on when someone really helps you. You do not need to be on this list to give this award to another blogger, if there is someone that you feel deserves it please just take it. No rules, no meme, just a special way of acknowledging how we help each other. I am sure I will have occasion to pass this on to others in the future".  A perfect sentiment in my book and a great reason for an award.

Now the meme that goes with this is I have to list 10 things that no-one knows about me.  Well I will try, but adding the disclaimer that MadDad knows all there is to know!!

I hate birds, no I really do, their flippy, flappy wings urgggggg.  They give me the creeps

My secret vice is nutella and peanut butter sandwiches
I suffered really serious PND after giving birth to MiniMad and refused to acknowledge it until he was a year old and it was far too advanced.
I am still receive counselling and treatment and he is 3 year old.
I only learned to drive when I was 32 and passed my test when I was 32 weeks pregnant with MiniMad.
I used to have a serious and responsible job, but nothing is more responsible than raising children in my opinion.
I used to be a perfectionist and something of a control freak before the children came along.
I had a dog called raffles
My husband is my hero

I would die for my family

The deal is pass this on to 10 bloggers who blogs I admire, now you may have received this award before, but I wanted to pass it on as a sign that I really love your blog.  I would also like to pass it on to a number of bloggers who I would like to know more about or who are just starting out.

Bad Penny at the HenHouse as she has lived such an interesting life and I want to know more!

Flos at Troc Broc and Recup as I am so envious of where she lives and love all her finds

Geriatric Mummy as I know there is so much more information there waiting to come flooding out as she holds a wealth of information on  Holistic Health and Aromatherapy.

Overflowing Mum at The Overflowing Family as I am in so much admiration that she has six children, is a child psychologist, business woman and still manages to be a great mum

Sew Scrumptious as I love her fabric porn and the fact that she is gathering 70 presents for her mum for her birthday at Christmas!!

Stephanie at Bah! to cancer, this woman is an inspiration, she has and is dancing with cancer in such a way that even Craig Revel Horwood would give her a 10 and also tell her how fab u lous daaaarling she is!

Liz at Violet Posy for all the support she has given me - she is fantastic and made the wonderful Crafting with Children button.

Josie at Sleep is for the weak - she is trying hard to be the best mum she can to Kai, plus she gives me inspiration each week with the Wedensday Weekly Writing Prompts and and she called me the Queen of Creative (I was so happy).

Sandy at Baby Baby - I really identify with Sandy, we both had children close together and her blog just seems so familiar.

New Mummy  - I read her Wednesday Writing post and sat with tears in my eyes.  It is not often that you read such a honest and brutal post.

So a bit of Friday Link love going on, enjoy and thank you from me!