Our first photo

This is the first 'photo' of my wee grandson, I haven't met him yet, but we are looking forward to his arrival in September. He is 28 weeks old. And maybe it is a Nana's eye, but I think he looks like his daddy when he was first born, same cutie nose.

How things have changed since I had babies 29 and 30 years ago, we had scans and ultrasounds but nothing like the modern 3d versions.

My DIL had to go for an unexpected scan yesterday, and they made this 3d scan.

ANZAC DAY - Lest We Forget

For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn in drums thrill: Death august and royal
Signs sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again:
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labor of the daytime;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
felt as a wellspring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars that are known to the Night.

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
to the end, to the end, they remain.

Binyon
(1869 - 1943)

Things We Told Our Children

Guilty..

Google-ized

I am not usually a stooopid person, but it has taken me several day to work out why I have not been able to log into my blog.. one little tick on one little box, made all the difference. Shame it took so long to wade through all the Google app info to find it.
If something is working why change it :-)

Attitude of Gratitude

 I have been away from blog-dom, because I felt the need to build a fortress around my family and I needed the energy to help our family heal. Some of the experiences over the last month or so have been painfully hard and left us feeling quiet vulnerable, so we have been working hard at not letting these feelings sour how we see the world or the people in it. 

Life is such a precious gift, it is fragile and fleeting and I think the older one gets, the more this truth reaches out and reveals itself to you.  I can not speak for others in my family, but I know I am still very much living one day at a time, looking to find grace and beauty and gratitude in all that I do each day. I feel blessed that I am learning to be wise and graceful enough to say thank you, even in the face of adversity.

There will be many more hard weeks and months ahead however I am thankful in-spite of all that has happened and all that will be heading our way, to be grateful for all I have, for the strength I have as a woman, and for the ability I am learning to adapt and overcome. 

Some of the initial fog is lifting and I am again enjoying the sanctity of my home, the cleaning and the meal preparation, knitting and gardening - all the while redefining those boundaries that keep us as a family feeling united and secure.
I have a few wee craft projects I want to try, so when I do I will share them here.. I think they are nifty even if I do say so myself. 

I found this on facebook a few days ago..

B is for Beauty - PBP

It was not until I started following a Pagan path and a simplified life,  that I truly started to see the beauty in simple, Goddess given gifts..Over the years I have learnt beauty does not come in a bottle and I still work on beauty not just coming in a size 12.. *smiles*
Today, I looked purely around my home and garden to enjoy the things that delight me.

The smell of freshly cut grass, it is one of those very fresh, raw scents, that breaths beautiful summer days and abundance.

 The beauty that is the size of this flower. Sunflowers standing tall, their faces following the sun as it crosses the sky.

The beauty and the joy seeing the humble buzzy bee, working busily in his camouflaged work place. What a precious gift to see.

I love the sound of a wind chime, there is something beautifully ethereal hearing this one picked to honour the dragon flies, as it tinkles above our garden for the fae.

Nothing soothes like the sounds of water tricking over rocks and back onto it self.. there is beauty in this serene sound.

There is such wonder in the simplicity of a fragrant bud, this one scents the garden and adds such a beautiful contrast of colours.

This banner, a wee dedication to the Goddess... and asking her if she may bless the beauty in my yard.

The peace and tranquility of our home.. there is beauty in the stillness and the silence.

The goodness of nourishing food, made with love and beautiful organic goodness.. Such a blessing to share this wonder of natures bounty.

There is beauty to me, in the flickering of a flame,  the rising smoke and scent of incense.. both burnt to honour the Gods and Goddesses - to celebrate all they bring to our lives. Blessed Be

A glimpse of a miracle

My husband and I have had a week of running in damage control.. trying with all we have to be pro-active not re-active.. I doubt I will ever share the reason for the turmoil, we are still coming to terms with everything.. but today.. there was a phone call from my son that made this mother happy.. I'm excited to learn today, there is a little miracle going to happen in our lives come September. My thoughts and prayers are with my little grand baby (frodo bump) I am so looking forward to meeting the new buba..  May the first part of your journey be blessed with health, and a safe cocoon to nourish you.. Blessings to your Mummy and Daddy..

I would be most grateful if those of you who read my blog and who practice a faith, if you could offer a prayer/ light a candle or however you worship do this for this wee one. This bubs little haven needs to remain snug and secure, a warm cocoon until the birth..My DIL has a bicornuate uterus and this has led to a previous miscarriage which was heartbreaking for all of us.. We could all do with a wee miracle and please let it be this wee baby bumb. Blessed be little one..