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Our Autumn 2022: Being here now

Man, we're busy again!

There's our regular activity schedule - Co-op every other Monday, Gymnastics on Wednesday, Grandparents Thursday and Lego Club Friday - but since we've had Cody, we've also been forced to be out and about a lot more than we did with Fred. If Cody doesn't get out for a really good run at least once a day, nothing at home is safe from his mischief!

We are blessed to have a wonderful nature reserve literally behind our house, which is a bit of a best-kept secret: it's really rare to meet anybody there. And while we did know of it ever since moving here, and did visit the tadpole pond in it almost daily during lockdown 2022, it's only now that we are really exploring it and trying different paths. I often go there on my own, when the kids aren't around, just me and Cody: a good hour of walking, praying, enjoying nature. Never thought walking the same area so many times could feed my soul like that - but it's really become something I look forward to and do, as often as I possibly can. 

It's fun with the kids too, of course. We've had the most amazing weather up to now, not that it hasn't rained but we had stunning sunny days and really mild temperatures. Here are a few pics, all of them at the nature reserve near us... how great to have this on our doorstep!






Last weekend, Mr. spontaneously suggested we take our Campervan Tilly and just sleep in it on my in-laws' driveway. A way of getting away, but without the planning! This meant we could spend lots of time at the beach on both weekend days, which everyone loved...





One of those days, I was sitting in Tilly with Mr. and we both enjoyed our cups of coffee while watching the ocean, Cody laying on a mat right outside the van, and the kids playing happily on the dunes behind. A man walking by remarked, "You guys are really living the life."

This little remark stayed with me all that day and beyond. How true that is. I give thanks to God for my life every day and I am happy, but what I'm not good at normally is to just stop and enjoy. I prepare, I organise, I keep things going; I don't stop and enjoy. Mr. however is good at this - as it would never have occurred to me to just take a weekend out, using what we have, and simply enjoy being together in such a low-key way... being in the here, the now, with what we have and who we are. Nowhere to get to first. 

That is something I want to get better at - being here, now. Enjoying, taking in that which is, not tinkering along the edges or thinking of all the things I need to get done. I often catch myself doing something to the kids - wipe a nose, put cream on skin etc. - when all I really mean to do is enjoy them and show them my love. I have a lot to learn about just... being. I'm glad to have my Mr. who brings that into our family, and I'm glad to have found the walks with Cody which are giving me just that - time to be present in my present.

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