Sister Files

Millas current Big Sister status:

• Loves rearranging Katies blanket so she's completely tucked in, with a big push on her belly just to be sure
• If no blanket is in sight Milla will share her precious yellow fluffy blanket with Katie, she'll spend whole minutes arranging it on her, only to rip it off quickly and yell NO
• Being the first to hear Katie cry she'll say "Katie milk, Katie wake"
• She's suddenly realised her toys and dolls need a Mama too. They get tucked in and get bibs and nappies on as well.
• Being protective, if someone gets too close to Katie and they haven't been pre-approved visitors she'll try and pull Katie away from them.
• Kisses. Lots and lots of spontaneous kisses.
• Milla loves to hold Katie in her arms in a big cuddle position. When ever Katie squirms she giggles with delight
• Katies sneezes get an immediate "Bless you Katie" response... Which actually sounds more like "BledoTatie"
• Loves to put hats on Katie. If there's a hat nearby and Katie doesn't have it on her head there'll be trouble!
• Rocking the bouncer, rocking the capsule, rocking anything.
• Walking down the hallways towards our bedroom and saying "shhhhhhhhh"
• Laying down next to Katie when she's getting changed.

Katie's current favourite things about being a Little Sister:

• Being rocked. There's always someone to rock her.
• Being squished beneath a blanket that has been lovingly laid out.
• Having her hand held (and squeezed).
• A protective Big Sis.
• Being safe and clipped into the bouncer every single time.
• Having toys and books placed around her by Milla.

I'm loving watching this relationship grow! They complete each other.

What's been your favourite part about watching your kids together? Anything I should watch out for (lovely or otherwise? I've been warned about eye poking...!) Leave a comment and let me know!

LOVE [bomb] Making

On Saturday night 8 other ladies come over to my place for dessert and to help make up LOVE BOMBs for The Sisterhood.

I was completely humbled by this. I so wanted to have everything organised before they got there, to have all the Love Bombs done and read to send, to be able to show them that I was superwoman. But I'm not *sigh* I'm just Sophie. Heavily pregnant, tired, human Sophie.

Instead of making Love Bombs I vaccumed, printed and organised so that these generous 8 COULD help. And they did. They helped so much. Each of them so enthusiastic about doing so, I was well and truly blessed to have them care so much about The Sisterhood and the women (and man) we were bombing.

Thank you to Michelle, Roz, Miriam, Amy, Amanda, Treena, Rachel and Holly! I couldn't have done it without you. And if you couldn't make it, or live in a different city, thank you for your kind thoughts and willingness to help. I really did feel your presence on Saturday night. I felt wrapped in support. Thank you! 

(the chocolate aisle at HQ)

Each of the ladies were given at least two nominations, they were given a few details about who they were making the Love Bomb for and then they went about "shopping" for them. I had all your goods layed out (soooo much when it was all pulled from The Shelves and displayed!!) so they were accessible. 

I flitted around between everyone answering questions, printing off more poems and finding addresses. 

Throughout my flitting I heard ladies suggesting items for others, caring about all of the nominations not just their own. "Oh! This will be perfect for your Mums son!" etc. It touched my heart that they were taking their Love Bomb role so seriously.

Miriam lay on the floor most of the time writing out heart felt cards. She had a pained knee at the end of it, that woman sacrificed herself! 

Once goodies were collected they took them down to the HQ room, photographed, boxed and wrapped them up with the addresses. There they were stacked, 29 of the in total (and more to add over the next few days)

Michelle bought me muffins for my freezer (for post baby!) and did my dishes for me when the night was over.

Like I said, I felt well and truly blessed. The Sisterhood was blessed. 29 women around the country were blessed.

I can't wait to show you the photos of all of the LOVE BOMBs and to tell you a little more about the recipients. 

Just think, in the mean time a courier could be knocking at your neighbours door, delivering a parcel just for her. A parcel that needs no thanks, just acceptance, because we wanted to love and appreciate. Women all over New Zealand pooled what they had so they could do that loving and appreciating. So we could say "you aren't alone" or "we can see what you do" or "kia kaha"

Thank you for making that possible. Be back in a few days with more LOVE BOMB updates

Thanks to Post Haste for the free postage! Phew!

(beauty aisle at HQ)

PS - Sisters, have you entered the jewellery giveaway happening on my blog right now?

RIP CeeCee, Welcome Home Avril

Summer Vacation 2013

At the beginning of the summer, right as we found out we were pregnant and MrMoo was going on a trip to Australia for a family wedding this happened:

The car that we had saved months and months and months for was clipped as a big bus ran a red light. Thankfully the damage was minimal to the eye and MrMoo was perfectly safe, but the car was a write-off.

There went my dreams of road tripping around the South Island for our summer holiday. 

We appeased my disappointment  and a little stress of not knowing if we would be covered by insurance (thankfully the bus had a security cam which proved it was in the wrong), and then subsequent difficulty at finding a new car by planning a Stay-Cation!!

 It was a way to convince myself that even though we didn't have money, or a car, we could still enjoy MrMoos time off work and still make the most of it.

A(nother) list was written, this time with ideas and things around Christchurch that we could do together as a family. The list included things we already loved doing and things we had never tried before. We aimed to do at least one of them a day. We decided each morning what we would do depending on what the weather was like and what we felt like doing. We still planned (with ideas), but we were flexible and it worked best that way.

MrMoos fortnight off work was full of adventures and family fun. I fell in love with Christchurch all over again, and looked at my family through rose-coloured glasses.

We went to animal parks, swimming pools, drives (a friend who was away lent us a car!), walks, beaches, cafes and restaurants and berry fields. Most of it was new to us, and many were Christchurch's best kept secrets. I'll be sharing a few high lights later on in the week in my 2013 Summer Series. Most of what we did was for free, or costed very little.

And you know what? We found a new car! Her name is Avril, she was found at the very last minute, late at night, and before you knew it MrMoo was on a plane the next day to collect her. This buying a car business is cut throat stuff. We were sick of getting our hopes up for a car that was taken from our grasp so we made a quick decision and it payed off. We ended up getting a little extra money from insurance than what we payed for CeeCee and had a little in the bank so were able to upgrade our car a little and bring her home from Auckland.

She and MrMoo arrived home safely and the next day we went on a family trip to Akaroa for a few days over New Years.

[This week I'm reminiscing in my 2013 Summer Series. I had a great summer but most of it wasn't blogged about due to morning sickness. Here's my record!]

We Sent Deb Away To Bless

Sisters, in all our time, never have we before been so privileged to know someones personal situation so well. Often I do, but we mostly work under cover and anonymity so private details and specifics aren't shared, choosing to believe that we dont need to know every detail about someones lives to know that we can bless them.

That was until I introduced you to Deb, a friend of mine, and Cam, a friend of hers. Two ladies, two precious quilts, and one big opportunity.

At Easter time Deb mentioned on Twitter and Facebook that she was looking for someone flying to Melbourne who could take a quilt over there with her. Because the quilt was too precious to be trusted to a postal company.

The quilt was a big hug, made by people in New Zealand and Australia for an inspiring, colourful and creative woman who had just had a life saving double lung transplant.

image from Curly Pops (Cam)

I had watched this quilt grow on Instagram as people from Australasia sent in quilt blocks with their embroidered names on them. This quilt brought people together and it meant something.

I had already been gifted a quilt by Deb, my Kindness Day quilt, and I knew first hand how talented she was, and also what such a gesture could mean to a persons spirit. I knew that Deb needed to deliver the quilt to Cam and give her one of her healing hugs. The kind that can only come from someone who truly cares about you and means it. Thats what every hug from Deb feels like.

I knew that this act of love needed to be delivered in person; The power of the internet needed to be transferred to the power of a real friendship.

So when Deb mentioned she needed the quilt to get to Melbourne safely I thought the only way for that to happen would be for Deb to do it herself.

My heart started to race as The Sisterhood came to mind. Maybe we could raise The Money that was needed. I asked Deb how much she thought it would cost. $567 she said. *gulp*.

I had never asked The Sisterhood for money like that before. We've never been about money, deliberately so that those who don't have any extra dont feel like they can't be involved in what we're doing. I knew The Sisterhood were face-cream givers, but I didn't know if they were money givers.

I heard that YES. That urging inside that I know only comes from God. I told Deb we'd do it, all the while sweating beneath my clothes.

FOUR HOURS.

Thats all it took to reach our target to pay for Debs flights.

image from Curly Pops (Cam)

I had no idea that would happen. As email after email came in about transactions being made I learnt what stepping out feels like. It feels terrifying, and then ridiculously rewarding.

I also learnt more about Deb - someone recognised her photo (not knowing her) saying she had let their family take a doctors appointment when they were too late for their own. She made a donation. She knew of Debs Kindness. She wanted to bless Deb in return, while blessing Cam at the same time.

I announced to The Sisterhood that we had raised the money, but it still kept coming in.

$930 in total. 

With Deb on her plane we also sent Cam our Sisterhood card and $100 Australian cash - She dreams of having a bike, something that was not possible with her previous lungs. But now that her lungs are all shiny and new it can be a reality. Hopefully she'll use The Money towards a bike, or just on herself. Whatever it is, its hers.

More money was left over and with your consultation I decided to send two beautiful Mamas a Money Bomb - they each got a few treats and $100 to use however they wish. Both ladies are in different situations and have different needs, but money comes into the situation on both counts. I asked them to use The Money on paying off a bill, or something on the "to get list" or just something to spoilt themselves and relieve some pressure. It's theirs. It's not a lot, but a woman on a budget can achieve many things!

Isn't it amazing that we are able to do that?

THANKYOU:
For being so prepared to give:
So many of you gave within minutes. Thank you for listening to your hearts and acting on them within the same beat.

For giving so JOYFULLY:
I received so many beautiful emails from you about this opportunity. Thank you for understanding that giving is a Joy and thank you for living in that. I prayed you would be blessed in that Joy.

Here's a little note from Deb:
"It was amazing. The afternoon I spent with Cam was perfect. I was wondering if I was meant to do something but I think being there was the something. There was something very special about actually handing over the quilt she had watched grow in Instagram. In this age where we are connected by technology, it is very special to actually be able to hug someone you have prayed so much for. Cam is the loveliest person too, it was a real treat to hang out with her. I met another lady Michelle and the three of us just sat and chatted and ate cupcakes. The quilt was the perfect size to wrap her in... Thanks so much for what you did. I know it was scary for both of us, but wasn't God so good to us both?? Amazing."

Sisters, I am honestly so blown away. Stunned. When I think back to those initial feelings of not knowing if we could pull this off, but hearing that YES anyway, I know now that when I hear the YES it will be possible.

I know that it is so important to equip others to do the blessing and to make that a possibility. I hope that as The Sisterhood grows and moves forward that would be something we are good at.

You shared the post about blessing Deb so well, please share this in return - tell the world that goodness is alive. Tell the world WE DID IT. 

READ MORE:

Sending Deb Away To Bless

Debs Reflections on What Happened at Easter

Cams Reflections on her New Quilt and Kindness

Sending Deb Away To Bless

Today I want to introduce you to four things that are important to me and if you're in The Sisterhood I especially hope that you will read this post and respond to it. Let it move you.

Those four things involve two beautiful ladies and two quilts. As I write this my heart is pounding.

First let me introduce you to Deb:

Deb is a full time Mum and Student and she is honestly one of the Kindest (capital K) women that I have ever met. Her Kindness seeps through her whole soul. A minute with her will leave you feeling blessed. She has been an active member of The Sisterhood for about a year now and I consider her to be one of our greatest supporters. When Deb put a public call out for help this weekend I heard my own spirit respond YES. Lets help.

Now let me introduce you to my Kindness Quilt:

 In February when we ran our National Sisterhood Kindness Day Deb told me on the 16th of February that I should go around to her home because she had a gift for me. I did, and it was an absolutely beautiful and huge handmade quilt for me and my family to snuggle under.

I had followed her journey making in on Instagram - She had constructed it from all the scraps in her fabric stash, she often commented on how mismatched it was, referring to it as a "vomit quilt" but I was in love with it.

To me it expressed how so many tiny pieces of fabric that were "left overs" could be joined together to make something meaningful that had a purpose: A real visual picture of The Sisterhood. Deb wanted to give it to me so she had it quilted and bound and bundled it up and trusted it to my care on Kindness Day. It keeps us warm at night on our bed and I am so often reminded how The Sisterhood warms other peoples lives too. I'm reminded that Deb used what she had, her amazing talent for quilting to warm our family.

I feel so utterly blessed by this quilt, and its not the only one that Deb has ever given away. She is -always- using her talents with the sewing machine to bless others.

Now let me introduce you to Cam

Cam lives in Australia, I don't know her personally but Deb has been friends with her for a while now through the online crafting community. Deb and Cam met in December this year. At the time Cam was breathing through oxygen tanks and was waiting for a double lung transplant. Deb loves Cam, Deb prayed for Cam, and when Cam finally received her life saving transplant last month Deb did what she does best.

She made a quilt.

Let me introduce you to that quilt:

Its bright and colourful, just like Cam. And not just any quilt: Sewers and crafty people from around New Zealand who had been inspired by Cam sent Deb their quilt blocks, she sewed their names onto them all and turned them into this beautiful quilt.

It is made up of a whole community of love here in New Zealand to keep a friend in Australia warm while she recovers in rehab with her shiny new lungs. 

You can read Debs blog post about Cams quilt here. But make sure you come back to this one, I haven't finished yet! 

Isn't that so beautiful? I know that just like me, Cam will be blessed by this expression of love. 

And here's where The Sisterhood comes in. 

I see The Sisterhood playing a HUGE roll in resourcing others to bless, inspire and be kind. I am always looking for ways that WE could be those hands and feet, making the way for those who have gifts and talents, or ideas and passion, or who have a heart to be Kind to those around them.

Deb is one of those people. I want to use The Sisterhood to resource her and equip her, to help her in her Kindness mission.

Now that you have met all those involved, I hope you want to be a part of making something special happen, just like I do. 

Here's my big plan, and as I am about to type it I am nervous. So very nervous. But it is something I care deeply about so I am willing to go out of my comfort zone and put it out there.

I want The Sisterhood to fly Deb to Melbourne to hand deliver Cams quilt to her while she is in recovery.

I want Deb to humbly hand over the quilt (she will, trust me, I've witnessed it) and explain that women all over New Zealand joined together to make it happen. Women cut and sewed fabric, they embroidered messages and their names, and they joined their funds together so that when the quilt is handed over, hugs can be exchanged too (and Deb does give the best hugs).

Its saying "heres something we made" but also "we're here, we joined together, we made this happen so that we can support you".

Sure. We could pay for postage. We could wrap it up in a New Zealand post bag and hope it gets there.

But this quilt, this expression of Love needs more than that. It needs the smiles behind it, the physical support, the caring touches, the cups of tea and the meaningful conversation. And Deb is the one to do that.

I told Deb we'd do it. I told her we'd get her there. Because I really truly honestly believe that is the way it is supposed to happen. I told her to book flights. She believed me. She booked them. For THIS WEEKEND. (they were the cheapest for the next while)

It's going to cost us $567 to get her to melbourne and back safetly.

Which seems like a lot. It is for a Mum and a student. But thats the price of true friendship and support, and I believe if we all pull together and give something little, in the true Sisterhood way "we can achieve something great"

And we do. All the time. We always achieve greatness, and its always the scary commitments, the ones that seem too big, that work out the best because we have to step out of our comfort zones to make it happen.

Will you help us? Will you join with us?

Debs going to Melbourne this weekend to hand deliver this handmade quilt.

This week we will be raising money to get her there. $567. We can do it. 

HERES HOW YOU DO IT:

You can transfer money to The Sisterhood account BEFORE Friday 5th April 2013.

ASB: 12-3149-0209199-13

The amount you give doesn't really matter - I believe if everyone gave something little there would be MORE than enough, always. Please dont feel like your contribution isn't worth it. It is. 

I will be updating the Facebook Page every night with what has been raised so far. 

When you do, please email me on sophie@moo2.co.nz to let me know you have done so, because sometimes transfers take a few days to appear and I want to know what is coming in so we will know if we hit our target or not. 

If by chance MORE money is raised, we'll buy Cam something nice and anything left over will be used for future Sisterhood projects. 100% of the money raised will be for The Sisterhood.

Please be aware that as of right now (we are working on it for the future) we are not a charitable organisation. You can't claim tax back from this. :)

God bless you Sisters. I know you will astound and amaze me. I know your generosity will bring tears to Deb and will fill Cams shiny new lungs with belief in the Goodness of others.

Sunday Night 31/3/2013 UPDATE::
Total raised so far: $664As I said in my post, any extra money raised will go towards a gift for Cam / be used for future Sisterhood projects. Deb has suggested that as a gift we buy Cam a bike, which she has wanted for so long, as a celebration of her new lungs! 



I linked this post in with I Bequeath Love to celebrate friendship

Human

Enjoying the sludge

These last two days I have been living radically, without a to-do list. Its insane, I know.

The sun has been shining, I have stayed in my PJs until lunch time, my brain has been winding down, feeling as if it should be doing something but with nothing pressing to do.

Lately its all been a bit of a mess, my brain and my skin (totally related). I've been having showers where I have been buzzing, going over and over what I needed to do when I finished rinsing my hair so I wouldn't forget anything, working late into the night only to go to bed with a disappointed husband because we haven't spent any time together. That "Goodnight!" with a disappointed "Oh..." in reply.

I get ideas, I can't help it, they just come at the most random of times, and I'll suddenly think "YES! Thats what needs to happen". Most of the time my ideas aren't for me, they are for someone elses adventure, I'll quickly email them telling them what they need to do. Probably, these emails could be quite offensive. I'm not sure. I have the best intentions behind them, trying to enlighten them to an idea they might not have had before.

Lately I have, unusually, been having a lot of ideas for myself. Most unusual. I set about to do them all with pages and pages of to-do lists. Lists for our home, receipes, The Sisterhood, blog business, craft, advertising, cleaning, church happenings.

I'll be honest, in a month of panic and stress I achieved most of the things on my lists until I realised that I didn't actually need to do them all.

Just because I have an idea doesn't make it a good one.

Just because I feel inspired doesn't mean it needs to be done then and there, it could be worked on, moulded, grown into something much greater.

Yesterday when I put the call out for a new Sisterhood LOVE BOMB I was excited. I felt like it was inspired, I had prayed and prayed about it, felt like it was the right thing to do (because we're doing it a little bit differently this time round).

Previously when I have put these opportunities out there I have been terrified that no one would respond and then I have instantly been surprised and blown away by the response.

Yesterday I went into this new Sisterhood opportunity with courage, I knew we were doing something amazing, knew God was with us, I had high expectations.

The response? A few blog comments and the birds chirping. Silence. Crap. What have I done??

Perhaps its because I put all of the information in the blog post? I gave out our address. Whereas in the past I said you had to email me for it. Maybe there was no need to respond...?

Why am I telling you this? 

You need to know I'm human. I jump into situations, sometimes they fail, sometimes my husband gets left to play the playstation all night, sometimes I doubt myself and everything I do.

I'm learning to say no to myself. I can say it to others but to myself is a different story. I'm learning to recognise when things are a good idea that will benefit me and my family. I'm learning to not abuse myself. To prioritise and be happy.

I am reminding myself that any response to The Sisterhood is a miracle in itself. We dont need thousands of responses, we just need one, and then its like Heaven came to Earth for a little while.

I am reaping the rewards of working hard and being organised so I can relax this week before my next two weeks are crazy busy (Sister visiting from London, bridesmaid, family birthdays etc) so I am enjoying each day without a to-do list, knowing I have already done the to-dos.

I am learning to push the stay-at-home-mummy-guilt aside and not over compensate with unrealistic goals just so I can be "busy" for "busy"s sake

Does any of this sound familiar for your own life? What have you been learning about yourself recently? Leave a comment below and let me know! I'd love to start this conversation!

READ MORE:
Our next LOVE BOMB
Like The Sisterhood on Facebook
Like Sophie Slim on Facebook

Happy 1st Birthday Milla!

This time one year ago I was dozing in my own bed with a sleepy new born by my side. The bright light from the sun was trying to push its way through our curtains and our oil heater was cranking hot.

My husband was on my other side, wearing his blue flanellete pijama pants, they are so cuddly to sleep next to. Next to me lay little Milla, naked except for a nappy and wrapped in a hand knitted green blanket made especially for her.

Her forehead was a little purple, and only hours ago had been pushed up together in what I can only describe as looking like squished up knee or elbow skin. Now it lay smooth and flat across her head, her bones back into place, except for the evident purple mark.

Would it stay? I wondered. I didn't care.

She was marked with a birthmark on the back of her head presently covered by straight dark hair, for that I was thankful. Something from me I thought as I have my very own strawberry mark on my neck. We are the same. 

As for this little girl, we really had no idea. No idea about anything really. We didn't check her nappy at all that first day, forgetting completely about it until the midwife asked us about it later that night. Thankfully there were no sticky messes she had been laying in for hours. We had no idea about how to let a little baby sleep, not sure of when to put her down or get her up, or anything really. We just went with the breeze and where ever it took us.

We had no idea how much she would change our lives. We had an inkling, of course, we knew she would, but we had no idea how much. How much. Everything is still the same, yet completely different.

Now I am starting to understand Love with a capital L. I've always thought I did but this is something quite different.

My little bundle of Love lay there quite peacefully in our own bed, only hours after her birth.

Today, in 2012, she turns one. A busy little girl with a toothy grin and crazy hair. A girl who is always on a mission, always has a place to be and something to stack. A girl who is learning sounds and words and confidence. I feel like One is such a big age but then I see her innocence, her complete need for her parents just like the day she was born and I remember she is still my little girl who needs me.

READ MORE:
How we celebrated Millas first birthday: Teddy Bears Picnic
Millas we celebrated Millas first birthDAY

Thank You Z, Plunket and LLL and Church

Last week I found myself at my local Z Energy petrol station nibbling on a cupcake and cup of coffee listening to the owner tell me how it was one of the best days of his life.

I was there because Z Energy were donating my local Plunket (of which I am on the committee, hence being there) a $1250 grant.

The owner, who owns about 8 stations in Christchurch (if my memory serves me well) said handing over those cheques is one of the greatest things he's done.

Each new Z station are giving away $5000 to projects and charities in their areas.

If you filled up at Z Woolston and put a chip in our Plunket container thank you.

As a new Mum I have found support to be absolutely vital and there were a few community groups who have provided that support.

My church has always offered love and support and after the birth of our baby that came in the form of visits and 3 weeks of meals, organised by some of my closest friends. Since then we've been attending and volunteering at Toddlerock, which myself and Milla absolutely love! Its so much fun going and socialising with lots of other babes and Mums and getting our dance on!

My experience with Plunket has been nothing short of brilliant. My Plunket nurse, Jackie, is a total star and completely loveable, she came to my home when I wasn't able to make it out and always made me feel so relaxed and taken care of. She rooted for me and encouraged me to take on the health care system which led to my surgery, and has continued to be excited about Milla and our family. Plunket also provided a free Pepe course to attend where I made some great friends who I still see on a weekly basis.

Although I'm not a member, I follow the La Leche League on facebook and have found their posts to be incredibly encouraging. I have never needed to ask a question of them but over the last year have thoroughly enjoyed reading other peoples questions and responses / experiences. I love that for LLL breastfeeding is completely normal.

Birthday #LOVEBOMB

Last week The Sisterhood sent a birthday surprise to a lovely Mama doing it solo in a new city. Our main aim was to brighten up her day and give her something to celebrate with because we think she's worth celebrating! We knew a tiny bit about her from her friend who nominated her so know that the gifts we sent are hopefully somethings she will enjoy.

Thanks to our recent publicity we had a lot of new generous Sisters who were ready and willing to give! Gifts poured in even though we only had a week to do it all in!

We wrapped them all up and shipped them off in time for her birthday.

With your help we were able to send our Birthday Sister:
Handmade quilt, cook book, Mollie Makes magazine, two romantic novels, Chicken Soup book, I Dont Know How She Does It DVD, 250gm delicious wool, handmade bag and hair accessories, $40 Spotlight voucher, fat quarters of fabric, book mark, soap, Clinique lipstick, chocolate, hand made crochet brooch and tea leaves.

Thank you to the 11 ladies who gave specifically to this Love Bomb, its because of you this could happen.

This was all couriered free of charge thanks to Post Haste

READ MORE:
Read the recipients response here
Learn more about The Sisterhood
Join The Sisterhood facebook page

I have since been in contact with the recipient of this love bomb who found us online. She is an amazing woman who so deserved this. She has since joint the sisterhood and has begun to 'pay it forward' to other Sisters in our love bombs. Isn't that incredible?! I am learning so much about generosity through all of you. Thank you! 

5 Year Together-Versary

Circa 2007

This weekend Mr Moo and I celebrated our 5 year together-versary! We became official on the 7th of the 7th 07 - the day of Mr Moo's 21st birthday party!

I think we're both a little better looking these days, have a little more sense in fashion and are learning even more how to treat each other like we want to be treated. I love my husband :) 

To celebrate we had dinner together! At a restaurant! Nana was in town so she babysat for us. It was so nice to go out together. Most of the time when we take advantage of a baby sitter its because we have friendships to uphold so go and see other people. It was really nice to sit with Mr Moo all by myself!

 On My Mind This Week:

• I am still completely stoked on The Sisterhood, I really can't believe that people actually like my crazy little idea that I thought up in the middle of the night when I should have been sleeping. Hopefully things will settle down soon, its starting to feel like a full time job!
• We are celebrating this week with a midwinter dinner! Our little lounge will be packed. Can't wait to show you more. Lots and lots of organising to do in the next two days
• My borrowed phone is seriously dying, the screen likes to turn off mid text and the whole phone likes to switch off at the beginning of phone calls. Awkward much? Hopefully I'll be getting a new phone soon. It looks like Mr Moo will be upgrading his iPhone when they come out at the end of the year and I'll be getting his. A little bummed that I'm not getting a new phone, but still exciting. I will be able to take pictures! Amazing.
• Its really nice to have my Mum come and visit every now and again
• We're going on a little family trip with my B.I.G family soon. Also excited.

So much excitement going on around here! No wonder I feel like I constantly need a nap! Much love for the beginning of the week! (thank God its Monday!)

xx

Whats happening at your place this week? Leave a comment and let me know!

READ MORE:
Other things on my mind

Our last midwinter dinner

Laying My Burdens Down

Flowers from a Sneaky Sister - Thank you!

My heart stopped again.

Ten ladies. Ten ladies who I have never met. Whose stories and lives have touched my soul. Their stories and lives have reached out to me and changed me for the better.

For me its so easy to forget what goes on in other peoples lives. I'm a self focussed kind of person, I naturally assume other peoples lives are just like mine.

The Sisterhood reminds me that we are all completely different. Different lives, backgrounds, hopes and dreams. Everyone is going through something different.

When I hit that publish button on the post that is going to tell you that we are raising love bombs for these ten ladies, I hope that you will see it too: See the real people behind those fake names. I hope you will see that we have an opportunity to create some smiles, bring some joy and share some love.


And after I hit that publish button, for a moment my life falls down. I think I have over committed and there is no way I can pull this off and I hear my Father say to me "I have this" and I see my Sisters say "We want to help" and I know that what we are doing here is something incredible.

Over these last few days I have been letting go of the pressure that I feel to perform. I am practising leaving results in the hands of God while I do the best that I can and use what he has taught me so far.

Also, I have also been letting the stories go to him.

My inbox has been full of tragic stories this week. Ones that would make me go "Where were you God?!" Instead I have been saying "Here you go God". Handing over peoples lives to Him, their anguish and pain, their disappointment, has been a huge relief to me. Their burdens are not ones that I can carry but I can point them in the direction of Him. I am thankful that He listens.

I'm so glad I am doing it with Him. I couldn't imagine it any other way.

This may all be a bit waffley - There is a lot of my mind right now (in a good way)


READ MORE:
My thoughts after I hit publish on the last LOVE BOMB
This round of LOVE BOMBs

The Next LOVE BOMB

Sisters, we couldn't put this off any longer. We have had a few weeks break and now we are back into it. The truth is these stories in my inbox make my heart hurt. They ache. They are heavy. I read them and I think "How could we not do anything??"

At the same time they are also a happy burden. Knowing that we are actually doing something to eleviate some stress, bring about a few smiles, provide a date night for a burnt out couple. That brings me the greatest joy. You too?

Lets read this poem together, written by Cass Henderson...

That is why we are doing this. Our Sisters need us right now, and no is the time for giving if you are able. If you are in that season of life, even if its just an extra chocolate block in this weeks groceries, please help a Sister out.

Below are the details for the ladies in our next LOVE BOMB. Last time we started with 5 and extended it to 6. This time we are starting with 10. If we receive donations above and beyond that I have the details of more ladies who could use a blessing. I know we can do it! (p.s, a lot of these ladies are in the north island, thats just the way the nominations worked out.)

Here I introduce to you strong, beautiful, courageous women:

**Like their names? ;)

The Details:

• My email address is sophieslim@moo2.co.nz
• Please email me if you would like to give to any of these ladies
• Once emailed I can supply you with either my postal address or bank details
• All postage to get your gifts to me is at your own cost
• All money donated goes 100% to the recipient in either vouchers or put towards something big we think they might like
• If you are stuck for ideas of gifts to send I can always give you a few hints.
• You have TWO WEEKS from today to get anything to me. That's the 18th of July.
• Head over to The Sisterhood Facebook Page - there I'll be sharing photos and updates as things arrive.

READ MORE:
Meet the Ladies of this LOVE BOMB

Thank You and Whats Next for The Sisterhood

Thank you cards to all who donated something - 26 ladies in total

Sisters, consider this an 'it's over' and a 'I can't thank you enough'

It truly is incredible when a few generous ladies join together and contribute something. Big or small, any contribution was worth it. Our LOVE BOMBs were a complete success.

It was a blessing to us when kiwi mummy blogs heard about us. They advertised us on their homepage and on Facebook. More and more people came to learn what a LOVE BOMB was.

So much so we extended the collection period by another week and have a few last minute parcels arrive on my door step. In the last hours I decided to add a sixth lady to the LOVE BOMB - Looking at the pile of gifts on my table I was sure we had plenty to go around and that afternoon had been emailed about a well deserving lady. "Yes!" I thought. So we extended it. 6 in total.

I gathered the gifts, distributed them out, and turned them into these LOVE BOMBS.*

*Someone asked why the gifts were different sizes and didn't think that was fair. To answer: Most of you sent gifts for particular people because their story struck you in your heart, Also, a few of the ladies had allergies and couldn't have any beauty products or types of food. Also, some ladies liked particular books. I hope you understand that I did the best I could in distributing them.

Alex's LOVE BOMB

Amy's LOVE BOMB

Dawn's LOVE BOMB

Katrina's LOVE BOMB

Libby's LOVE BOMB

Sally's LOVE BOMB

 Then, The Press got hold of us and we were featured in their newspaper and on Stuff. That afternoon we had over 100 people on our Facebook page who were eager to contribute and learn more! 

The next morning I had a phone call from the second most read womens magazine in New Zealand. They wanted to do a piece on us and I asked them to highlight the amazing women who give into this, and also receive something from it. 

The magazine with us in it will be out in the next few weeks and I'll definitely let you know which issue to get your hands on when its printed!

Thank you

Most of all, my heart (and I hope yours too) feels full.

I know that because of us, little ol' us, we were able to send these parcels of love from Northland to Dunedin. I know that tears were shed and thanks were said.

I hope you have celebrated. 

I think the reason this story must be so interesting to the media is because its just us, ordinary us. We can do a lot when we put something together. And what for? What do we get out of it? That's why its so interesting. Thats why people want to be a part of it. Generosity is the new black. 

2 Corinthians 8:3-5  ^"For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,  they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.  And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us."

You gave as much as you were able, entirely on your own, some of you pleaded to be a part of this privilege of giving. You have exceeded all of my expectations.

The Future

We will be continuing on with The Sisterhood. For now there is a solo Mama of an 11month old who has no family in New Zealand. We're going to send her birthday gifts next and that is happening very soon. (I'm going to give you more details in the next post). 

While that is happening we will be planning another series of LOVE BOMBs. I'm unsure of how many people we could do this time around, 10, 15, 20? Who knows. To start with we'll be taking nominations from our own Sisters. 

If you already know you want to give to this get in touch (sophieslim@moo2.co.nz) (I have already received a few. Thank you!). That way I might have a better understanding of how many resources we have and how far we can spread that around.

If you completed our Sisterhood Survey: THANK YOU. Your answers have been an invaluable help to me. Thank you thank you thank you.

Love always,

Sophie

P.s - Does anyone have any courier company contacts? ;)

Published!

Yesterday I had phone calls and texts telling me The Sisterhood had been published in The Press and on the Stuff website!

First of all, I wasn't even aware that people still read print media - for that I am thrilled! Go you paper readers! Print is not dead!

Secondly, I was also thrilled that The Sisterhood had some publicity! 26 Sisters gave to our most recent LOVE BOMBs. I am over the moon for them because that article is like a little bit of recognition. Most of these ladies don't know me, most of them haven't met me, they get very little recognition for their generosity and I struggle to express just how thankful I am. Hopefully this article can stay thank you to them. Sisters, buy a news paper, cut out the article, stick it on your fridge and tell everyone "I am in The Sisterhood!"

Celebrate. You are doing good. You are living life well and its okay to be proud of that. Be proud of what has been achieved because God is proud of us. Just like how you would be proud of your own son or daughter achieving something, so is He.

At first I tried to hide from it, honestly, it was a little overwhelming. People kept telling me how well I had done. What was just a little article lead to thousands of blog views in one day, a lot of emails in my inbox from well wishers, new sisters, older sisters, from people wanting to share others stories, from people wanting a hand out or two. I felt my head beginning to swell and my heart beginning to race.

By noon I realised that was silly, I was just me, Sophie, and I had spent the whole morning on the computer and I had to get out of the house. I shut up shop and headed to the mall with my beautiful daughter who is willing to sit in her pram for a whole afternoon while her Mama shopped. Isn't she a delight? She is actually so patient like that. She goes anywhere and does almost anything so patiently. *brag*

Milla looked on while I found things to spend my Westfield voucher on. Hubby and I are taking part in a Canterbury students research paper on how the earthquakes have effected couples relationships in Canterbury. For the last part of the research we had to keep a small journal for two weeks each and send it in, and in return we got a $50 Westfield voucher! Score! So as you can tell, I had free money to burn (which is a rarity). I ended up buying some new Natio make up (new foundation and blusher), new Natio cleanser and a little cheapo outfit for Milla in the spring time. Sorry Mr Moo, you didn't get anything in this shopping trip!

We ate rice-balls, lollies (just me, not her) and perused the daily paper where we found our little article!

When we got home with the hubby we declared we must pop a bottle of wine open to celebrate being published and also having paid off one of the hubbys credit cards from pre-marriage! Hoorah!! PARTY TIME!

We never did open that bottle and settled for just juice instead. It was a long day.

Today I have already had a phone interview with a womens magazine and taken a bazillion (bad) self timed photos of myself (how do fashion bloggers do it!?). I think when Milla is up from her nap we're going to go buy a chocolate bar. Yes. That's it.

If you have read the article, thank you! As usual I will continue to post the rest of the LOVE BOMBs once I am sure they have been received. 2 more are still in transit as they are rural deliveries. Keep your eyes peeled!

If you're new around these parts why not leave a comment and introduce yourself?

Meet The Ladies

Meet our LOVE BOMB ladies* and learn a little bit more about why we're doing this:
*All names have been changed to protect privacy

 Libby was nominated by one of her long distance friends. She is the wife behind a very public-figure husband, you could say she's a long suffering wife. Late nights, extended business trips, and everything Libby does during her day is for other people. She puts on events for the city of Auckland and helps families in need. She gets nothing in return. She has two beautiful primary school aged children and we think, along with her friend, that its about time Libby got something back!

Any finances you donate will go towards a beauty pamper voucher for Libby to enjoy on one of her rare days off. We'd also love to send libby a whole lot of goodies in the post. Think magazines, books, chocolatey treats; Something to enjoy when she has the opportunity to sit down and put her feet up.

Alex has been anonymously nominated by one of her best friends. She is a full time student along with her husband. Together they have two little girls and they work very hard to earn what they have. They have enough for everyday living, but not much more. 

I think a full time student and Mum must be in desperate need of a treat! We'd love to send Alex some coffee, chocolate, wine, and a "real" book, as recommended by her bestie. 

Dawn is a cheerful positive Mum who was made known to us by one of her friends. 

She is faithful, generous, dedicated and works very hard to raise her family. She is due to pop out a brand new baby in the next few months and as a reminder to never undervalue a mothers work, we would love to thank her for doing such a tremendous job. Just showing up each day. Amazing.

We'd love to send Dawn some treats in the post, and any finances that you donate will be going towards a clothing voucher for her so she can dress up a little bit after the birth of her new baby. Some times its hard to prioritise your changing figure with the needs of your own family, but we think thats important too. Look and feel great! 

Sally is the Mama I mentioned in my initial post about our LOVE BOMB. Sally works extremely hard to raise her family amongst difficult and challenging circumstances. She often doesn't have any extras to look after herself, so we would love to provide some for her.

Clothing or department store vouchers, bath washes and gels, chocolates, beauty products, magazines, Growing Great Girls and / or Growing Great Boys and perhaps anything else you might think is useful.

Finally, Amy is expecting her first child any moment (seriously, she could be in labour right now). While she has everything she needs for her new babies life, Amys pregnancy is not being supported by her partner or family. She's in need of a lot of soul lovin'. 

With any finances donated we are going to buy a beauty pamper package for Amy so she can spend a little time being looked after. New nail polish is good for the soul, right? 

Fortunately she has some amazing friends who nominated her, so we know she'll be well looked after.

YOU CAN BE INVOLVED:

If you have any other ideas or would like to contribute something else that I haven't listed please get in contact with me, sophieslim@moo2.co.nz . For any finances contributed (a few people have asked me if this is okay) (anything "big" or "little" is SUPER helpful) I have set up an account for this very purpose, please also email me for those details.

You are all superbly generous. What we're pulling off here is AMAZING. Please do not under estimate it. 

Also, if you are of the praying type, please take a moment today to pray for these ladies and their families. 

Thank you. Love you.

READ MORE:
Why we're doing this LOVE BOMB
How to belong to The Sisterhood

How The Sisterhood responded to a mum of three and a house fire