I’m not sure if anyone will be greatly interested to read the daily musings and actions of my day, but I will one day want to look back and reflect on these busy and blessed days, and I don’t want to forget.
In many ways my busiest days are behind me, otherwise I wouldn’t have time to blog! There was a time when I was surrounded by littles, the busiest days were probably when I had 7 aged 11 and under, with the last 3 coming within 3 and 1/2 years.
I suspect I look back on those days with rose tinted glasses and yet I remember feeling God’s grace each day. At that point our eldest 2 boys were content to be each other’s best friend and they spent many happy hours in the garage making go karts, or in the garden building a treehouse in a holly tree!
The 5 oldest used to put on shows, with the big boys always undertaking the ‘sound and lighting’ and our eldest daughter was in charge of the performance.
For years they used our lounge curtains as the place to prepare behind, ready for the great reveal, which the smallest children and I would watch with delight.
We didn’t spend much time at clubs or outside activities and it freed up time, time I no longer have, to bake rolls, wash nappies, make homemade dressing up costumes or upcycle clothes. Of course, in those rose tinted days we didn’t own a small holding, our life was in every way smaller, but they were very blessed days. There were inevitably many challenges and yet clearly we kept having more children, it was God’s grace that kept us buoyant and faithfully following his lead.
Then we moved…
Everything changed…
Everyone grew up, found activities to be part of, some left home, some went to school and life evolved.
So how does that look today?
We now have one son married, one daughter in New Zealand farming, one son doing an architectural degree apprenticeship, whilst living at home, 2 children at school doing A-levels and GCSEs and 5 learning at home, the youngest of whom is 3.
I have more wiggle room in my day now for a shower, or to write, or to go to the lavatory alone! I also have more time for reading long stories aloud and teaching is much easier without so many littles to occupy. But as we have grown out of one phase we have rolled into another, one which includes a dog, chickens, 3 acres, a house twice the size, accommodation for guests, RAF cadets for 2 of the children, swimming lessons on 2 days, 3 different evening youth or children’s church groups, teaching driving, all normal activities, but just multiplied. Last year Matthew was in the school show Oliver! an amazing opportunity but of course that involved many lifts to and from school.
Meals are different now, as some of the young adults are not in at teatime and so I need to plan carefully to make sure that everyone eats healthily and at the right time for them. We still have family dinners and Bible time, but inevitably somebody won’t be there.
We can never turn back the hands of time and I wouldn’t wish to, however sweet they were. They were tiring days and I’m grateful for a new season. I delight in seeing the fruit of my labours, young adults pursuing their dreams and growing up to be wonderful people. I can couple this with the joy of still raising little children and the added sweetness this brings in a home filled with teens and adults too.
God calls us to different seasons of life and each one is beautiful and shouldn’t be rushed. Whether you are in the spring of mothering, feeling the newness of everything or further along the journey, there is sweetness to be found. Sometimes the sweetness is found in the waiting for the next season, for there we grow, like a bulb in the ground, just waiting to bloom. To each and every one you I send prayers of blessing for you and yours.