"That looks delicious!"

That's what Mr Samoa said last night when I put his dinner in front of him. I couldn't help but chuckle. I mean it WAS delicious looking (thanks Sophie Gray and her Destitute Gourmet cookbook for the Bean and Sausage Cassoulet recipe), but it so wasn't something Mr Samoa would usually say. He never uses the word "delicious".

Don't get me wrong, he does appreciate my cooking but he'll eat pretty much whatever I put in front of him and is just as grateful for recipes like the above as he is for bacon and eggs.

Why I laughed, you see, is that Mr Samoa has been doing a course through our church called The Valiant Man teaching them all about what it means to be a man today, handling their sexuality in a godly way, and most importantly (he he) all about women and what they need. And I bet that saying a meal was "delicious" is a tip he got on the Tuesday night just gone. He's been coming home with some good stuff, I tell ya!

I'm so grateful there are courses like the above one around. And I'm looking forward to a women's conference our church is putting on in 5 weeks time. Can't wait!

I've been reading a few books on marriage lately and watching some great (free) webinars through the Parenting place. One I watched part of today was called Mums and Sons. Such treasures in it! Watch it if you can. I've put the link up. And there are other free ones to watch if you don't have sons.

I was just thinking the other day that as a parent and wife, learning about ourselves and each other is vital. I want to make it a culture in our home that we keep learning and improving in how we relate to each other. Mother to sons, husband to wife, father to sons and brother to brother. Because what's more important than the people in our life?

Hey, wait a minute! That's me!

{First of all, thanks so much for all your comments on the post before the last one.

Blogging is made great by all the lovely bloggers out there and I'm glad to be sticking around.}

Well, lookie here. It's me! In a real life magazine. Exciting!

Shows what happens when you just step out and do something you've been thinking of doing for years but for whatever reason,
(fear? insecurity? laziness?) you've held back.
I'm so glad I did and wonder now why I didn't do it sooner.
It really wasn't that hard.

What am I complaining about?

I am grateful for posts like these that put things in perspective. Especially if you're a mother, please read it.

I've been feeling dissatisfied lately. Not quite happy with my lot. I don't know why I've been feeling this way. I think my eyes may be on the wrong things. On the natural instead of on the heavenly. I've been wanting...things. Nicer things than the ones I've got. An easier ride. Been dwelling on regrets. But when I read posts like the above one, I realise (again!) how insignificant all the things I think and worry about are.

Here's a little excerpt from the blog:
"I have never had to discuss the two day journey that was made walking to the hospital. The fistula I developed after the heartbreaking four day labour and stillborn birth. I've never had to think about getting through labour on my own, no doctor, midwife or even someone remotely qualified to help. I've never given birth in a camp or walked across a war zone and had a bullet that was three inches away from my womb removed, like a woman in Afghanistan did late last year."


Turbo's birth was long and hard. Without medical intervention, one or both of us would have died. The umbilical cord was around his neck and so he couldn't put his chin down to progress down the birth canal. Because of this, he was also a little distressed, and his heart rate was fluctuating quite a lot. Eventually after trying many different things, they managed to suction him out, one and a half days after when my labour started.

But he was healthy, apart from a tender and misshapen head, and full of beans.

Check out the cone head!

So today I choose to put things in perspective and be grateful. And tomorrow, and the day after, I will do my best to make that same choice, as many times as it takes to start feeling that way again.

My very first attempt...

 ...at Christmas biscuits and working with dough. Vague memories of making mince tarts with my mom came back to me when I was presented with a mass of sticky, not very pliable biscuit dough.

O that's right, you have to keep adding flour and kneading it. The recipe I used obviously took it for granted that people would know what to do because it had no instructions!

And little chubby armed helpers did not make it any easier. But that was the point, remember? (talking to myself). To make some memorable Christmas traditions.

Look at the finger holes and overlapping shapes. O well.

It's about making memories, it's about making memories.

 We did manage to get it right in the end.

Bake until golden. Hmmm....are these golden or reflecting the oven light? 

Managed to figure out how to dust icing sugar with my oversize sieve.

And found some Christmas bags in my wrapping paper and gift bag stash. Perfect!

And of course, someone had to sample the goods.

He wanted to sample them several times actually and I had to pack them away super fast.

Here Turbo told me he was counting them! Hmmm.

All in all it was a success and they taste fine so I'll do the real batch, that will be packaged as Christmas presents, next week. 

Well done me...O and um, you too, Turbo.

Blast from the past

I found some treasures in my parents garage on Saturday.

As soon as I saw them I knew that Turbo would love them. Ever since having Smiley, his nurturing side has come out and I've observed him playing lovingly with baby dolls whenever he could get his hands on them.

So when I saw my baby doll from when I was a little girl, I knew it was the perfect gift for Turbo.

She's a lifesize 6 month old...or probably four month old in the case of my boys!

After a wash and some new clothes (wish I had taken some before photos), she is now a 'he'.

And is being doted on! He's had rice, water, a bottle, a sleep, a walk...and it's only day one with him. I've tried to give him a name but he firmly remains just "Baby". Look at the love in Turbo's eyes!

Another treasure was this Cabbage Patch doll. Anyone remember these?

The dress was missing but I cleaned her up and she looks cute in a new born t-shirt that kind of looks like a dress, so she can stay a she.

She is actually for Smiley, who couldn't give a toss about her right now, and so is being looked after by Turbo a little as well.

Love that I get to pass these on!

My Mom and Dad are amazing at keeping things for us because their parents kept nothing of theirs and so they have no treasures from their childhood at all. Here are some other things my Mom and Dad kept so I could pass them on:

Turbo is really rough on toys and I cringe when he throws these treasures around. But what are toys for other than to be played with?

Note: Yes these are boys toys. But I was from a family of three daughters and my Dad thought it was his duty to educate us with boys toys as well.

We even had a collection of Matchbox cars and were taught things like how to change a tyre, re-wire a plug, use a drill etc. Invaluable skills!