On Sunday we stood together and prayed to God, a dedication prayer in which we committed our children and ourselves to God.
We prayed for strength, grace, love, commitment and that God would be with us, always.
Both of our families came with us, that's my Dad on stage behind us. And that's Steve and Dawn, our pastors but also the greatest of friends.
We are beyond blessed.
----------------------------------
Camilla, for you everyday I pray for strength. Strength to stand up for who you are, what you believe in, and even more strength to stand in the gap for other people. To lift them up and be their support, to believe in others and the goodness in the world. I pray you would be a mighty warrior, fighting for the things that are important to you. And just as you are strong, I pray you will be soft. I hope your heart could accept people as they are, it would be moved to love and care for those who need it, and you could serve them.
----------------------------------
Katie, for you every day I pray for purity of heart and mind. I know that within you there is something special. There is a sweetness and holiness about you, and I pray that for all of your days you would be friends with Jesus and you would know and trust Him. A faith like no other, one that allows you to dream dreams and see miracles. I pray you would constantly be blown away by the bigness of God and how much he loves you.
We are dedicating Camilla and Katie to God this Sunday, also Katie's first birthday.
It's something we have wanted to do for quite some time. We are excited to stand with our family and Church family and pray together for them, and us as parents.
Last night we launched our connect group again that we have ran for the last 4 years. It's a group for young married couples to hang out, do a study on relationships, pray together and eat good food. Now that we have merged churches with another local church (that happened at the end of last winter, somehow I never mentioned it here though) there's a whole lot of new people to meet, and lots of them newly married! We had 14 of the lovelies in our lounge last night for the first one. I really do LOVE connect groups, and I'm thankful for every person that showed up, all new to me besties :)
Tomorrow is the launch of a connect group I attend, its a women's ministry group on a Wednesday morning. Worship, prayer, bible study. I've never been to anything like it (except have been going since the end of last winter) and since joining it quickly became one of my favourite parts of my week. Our Church even set up a creche for all of us young mums from our "original" church (theres a lot of us! It means we can go without our kids(!!!!!)) so we could attend this already established group of ladies most of whom are much older in years, but young at heart, and full of wisdom. It's a pleasure to belong there. I'm looking forward to tomorrow relaunching.
Toddlerock finally starts back this week, another "connect group" of sorts that I am involved in running. I've missed it, and I've missed all of the beauties who come loyally each week who feel like old friends.
Finally, after long holidays things are getting back into a routine.
Every few months when my Mum comes 4 hours to visit she always offers to babysit for us. This weekend we took her up on the offer and I joint MrMoo at our Sunday night Church service.
We sat in the front row as usual, sans baby.
Suddenly I remembered what it was like to be in Church and have my hands free. I could clap, lift them during the music, and just generally use them for whatever the situation called for. Rather than always having one eye open towards the ground, being ready to pick up toys, defend personal belongings, dish out food, hold a restless toddler etc. I felt free!
I held MrMoos hand.
At the end of the service our great friend and pastor prayed for us together. That doesn't usually happen. We both had tears leaking down our cheeks as we felt the weight of Gods call on our lives.
Afterwards we went to see Skyfall in a tiny cinema in Sumner. We have had free tickets since November but haven't had an opportunity to use them yet! Hello free movies!
It was a great night. By the end of it I felt very loved and with a full happy-tank :)
We got home to a Milla Moo who wouldn't sleep but had a big grin and laughter for her Mum and Dad
Whats your favourite date night? If you've written a blog post about it leave a link in the comments, other wise, tell me about it!
My brother with his daughter, My husband with his. Matchy Matchy.
Fathers Day this year was a lot more exciting than last, being that Camilla didn't spend the majority of the day asleep (and wasn't 7 days old).
We woke up and I made Mr Moo coffee and toast, as he went to sip his coffee he discovered his face on it, with Millas and "greatest dad" written on it. Cheese? Totally! But let us indulge, its kind of exciting.
Fathers Day is always spent at Church in the morning, I love their special services, the Dads each got kebabs on the bbq afterwards and during the service were treated to SUCH a cute video of our kids in kids church. Oh my. It bought tears to my eyes with all of its cuteness! I wish I could show you it.
That afternoon Mr Moo played tennis with some friends while we were at home and Milla was learning to walk!!! The best fathers day present ever, by the time Moo got home he was treated to witnessing 20 steps! Amazing stuff! 1-20 in one day!
We posted the video on Facebook (I wish I could show you that video too) and our Sister in law promptly dressed her daughter in the same dress for our dinner out with my own Dad, which the Moo Moo inlaws came to aswell.
A pretty great day if you ask me (and yes, Mr Moo loved his mug)
Last night we had 11 people around an extended dinner tables to celebrate the middle of winter. Winter in New Zealand is so darn boring - no special holidays or celebrations, just cold and miserable weather and sad people. Yes, I'm a winter hater. But I LOVE celebrating with friends, so midwinter dinner works out pretty perfectly.
Actually our church commissioned about 10 dinners to happen around our city this week, and every member of our church was personally invited to one of them. I love being a part of a church that sees the value in hospitality!
More on our dinner later. For now I wanted to show you the after math.
We have a teeny apartment, our dining area and lounge are crammed into a small space so to accomodate 11 people we move out all of our furniture for the night and just have our table set up in the middle of the room. It creates a lot more work but it means we can all fit and its quite nice having just the table in the room.
Because of this we rolled our coffee table down to the end of the hallway to sleep for the night.
This morning while I was doing a spot of sewing I noticed a trail of toilet paper and a lot of happy laughter, I came to find little Milla sitting on top of the coffee table having fun with all of our bits and pieces that had been thrown down there at the last minute! Hilariously cute.
I love it that Milla was an early mover. She has been crawling and pulling herself up since her 6th month. It actually makes life easier, I know she can move from thing to thing as she pleases, and I love that she has the freedom to explore our home.
What strange places have you found your babes in? What do you celebrate in the winter? Leave a comment and let me know!
On Saturday night I had the huge honour and privilege of being able to share with 50 ladies about whats been going on in my heart recently.
The night was called Hunger and Thirst and it was an opportunity for the women of our Church to get together and thirst after the things of God. I was asked to speak and I shared about girly friendships.
I shared about how, as a female, you are so unique and special, and that should be embraced and understood. It's okay if you need constant affirmation, its okay if you need to put on a dress. As girls, we make great best friends because we know what other girls like and what they need.
I was inspired by Ruth from the bible, a great story between a mother and her daughter in law. The mother had nothing to offer her daughter in law, Ruth. She was bitter, alone, not very great friend material. But the bible says that Ruth clung to her despite that. She stuck around. She was there when Naomi needed her the most.
Later on Ruth (the DIL) goes to Naomi (the MIL) for advice, Naomi gives her some pretty wise selfless words of wisdom which later lead to employment and then to marriage for Ruth (score!). As great friends we need to be giving each other encouraging, wise advice that builds each other up. And as a woman, seek to be around these people. Don't bother with drama or pettiness, instead encourage friendships that build each other up in faith and good things :)
I have really amazing friends, they are a great part of my life and there are things that I get from my great girly friends that I can find no where else.
Did you know that in a Dove survery they concluded that 70% of women feel prettier because of their close female friendships.
My friends are essential to my wellbeing and happiness.
Its my prayer that you would begin to understand the huge value that the ladies around you have for your life and that you would be a great friend in return, one that sticks around and offers sound advice and encouragement.
I loved having the opportunity to speak, its been a long time since I've been behind the mic or having to prepare a message, I was definitely out of practice but it all comes back [kind of] naturally. I'm looking forward to more opportunities like this in the future :)
The whole night was a great opportunity to minister to each other, throughout the night I was able to hear many testimonies and have the opportunity to pray for many people. So so cool! Super big thank you to Wendy and Toni, a mother daughter duo from our church who put on the whole night for us. It was such a gift.
Its been a long while since I posted here about everyday life. For the most part I have been leaving my camera at home which is most un like me and with a lack of photos comes a lack of posts about the everyday mundaneness that is our life.
I kind of love that. So here's a quick recap:
Easter weekend here in Christchurch was absolutely beautiful. For the last 6 years I have always struggled to maintain a "this weekend is about Jesus" and also "Yay! Four day weekend!" attitude. We attended 3 church services over the course of the weekend and each one challenged me in my relationship with Jesus. I am praying that God would help me understand more the sacrifice he provided for us. We also decided that next year we'll do an easter egg hunt for Camilla. It's kind of a little bit exciting to be thinking about the future and about what our kids will remember as traditions and fun family times. Why an easter egg hunt? Mostly because its exciting and fun. That's about it really.
We went to the beach on Good Friday, our first proper beach trip of the summer season (even though its now autumn) Graeme skim-boarded and lost his glasses (okay, technically I lost his glasses) and we introduced Camilla to the sand and the ocean. I kind of forget that these are all new and massively big deals to a little baby. Camilla was suspect of the sand and ended up crying if she looked at it for too long and the waves come in up the beach had her yelling. Oh dear. More beach trips needed me thinks (yay!)
I'm going out this week sans baby and husband (he's away for FOUR days!!) to a hens party. Oh deary me. I just realised that I've forgotten to go OUT!! Wait. I have to dress up? And make small talk? And for a few hours pretend like I'm not breastfeeding and don't have a baby and my ladyparts aren't still sore from surgery last week!? How does all this going out business work anyway? It's going to be different, thats for sure.
This has also made me realise and I need to get out more. I got out during the day lots, and often we go out at night but its always with husband and baby and I am always in Mother Mode. I think I should have a few nights in Friend Mode. That's healthy, right?
Last week I got off my bum and figured out my sewing machine and made something new and exciting, I'll show it too you some time, but it has also reminded that I like to make things, and this has caused the crochet hook to come out of its jar to finish off a project or two. Hoorah! Happy hooky.
Thus concludes the thoughts of Sophie at this current point in time.
Oh, one last thing - We have awesome new friends, and we love them to pieces! You might hear about them some time in the future too.
I took these photos last Sunday during a sermon. Milla munching, trying to keep her entertained with a fuel card.
Camilla will grow up in Church. We hope not to shove Christianity down her throat but through action and word we hope to raise her with Christian values and lead her to the cross where she can build her own relationship with God. When she looks back on her childhood I hope that she can see that.
It's morbid I know but we still haven't decided what will happen to Milla if we were to pass away. I suppose the rational answer is that our families would take over her care. However, both of our families don't share the same values that we do. I know that each of them would do the best job they could. Maybe they would take her to Sunday school every now and again. But who would pray with her? Who would teach her to forgive like Jesus forgives us? Who would parent her in a way that shows the same Grace and Love that God has for us?
Jury is still out on that one.
Top Right: Millas Friend came to our church for the first time! They were very happy to sit next to each other! :)
While only a few weeks pregnant I enjoyed my lack of responsibility and abundant freedom that was available to us while sneakily writing about it on my blog while no one new of our little blessing. Our trip to Westport mentioned in the post was really us going over to tell my parents of our news. Hehe.
February was a slow month for me. We spent a lot of time in Auckland and without power or internet so I was unable to blog. I managed to get my social networking policies blogged about before our big earthquake. We were so lucky to have the first flight out of Christchurch after the quake (already pre booked) and escape up north for a leadership conference but our hearts belonged in our city with our families and friends who were struggling. It was an odd feeling. I wanted to be away but I wanted to be back. I still mourn and feel for those who have lost in the earthquakes. There are still people without working toilets and running water. Thankfully we are fully functional with all of our loved ones still around us (except for those who have sadly moved away).
Amongst the mess of the earthquakes and my emotions I forgot to mention here on the blog that I was with MiniMoo. I wrote this post about how much I loved her Daddy and for a very long time it remained in my "top 5 viewed posts" stats. Through this people realised that I was having a baby and I began to blog about her more regularly. It was really hard for me to make any sense of anything that was going on inside my head, let alone type it out and publish it.
We went to Brisbane in March for a prebaby holiday and to celebrate some family birthdays over there. It was a really great time for Graeme and I. We love to travel but money usually restricts us. It was really great to get out of Christchurch again and escape the ongoing after shocks. I finally blogged about it in April in this post.
My largest and most worked on blog post to date and also one of my top viewed posts, The Great Quakes. I finally make some chronological sense of whats happened.
Also, I had a shared baby shower with 2 of my favourite Mamas!
We moved into our new [rented] home after living with the inlaws for many months. We moved in with them when our lease expired, we found out we were pregnant, and I lost a job. It was a blessing living with them but it was also very hard. I desired our own space. We moved into a scummy area behind a security gate and the apartment was everything on our wants and needs list at the time. We've just done a reshuffle so now its no longer a 3 bedroom apartment. We turned the master bedroom into a very small lounge and will be using the old lounge as a sitting room and dining room. It means our bedroom is down next to Camillas when she moves into it and we can get our dining table out of storage and start using it! Hoorah!
July
We hosteda lot of parties and it snowed! The parties were for Camilla and also a midwinter dinner for members of our connect group from Church. (We hosted a fortnightly connect group for young married couples).
We ended up having two large snowfalls (large for Christchurch anyway) and it just seemed to add on to the abnormal-ness of the whole year. More time off work. More shovelling to be done. I loved having Graeme home from work as I neared the end of my pregnancy.
Of course, August was the birth month of our beautiful baby. Camilla has changed our lives completely and I feel like a whole different woman. I wrote about the birth later but this Welcome Post received so many hits. I wrote it the day after her birth, early in the morning, in the days when they just sleep and sleep and sleep. Throughout my pregnancy I wrote weekly updates from week 20. Week 37, written during August was the most popular one. In it I write about how someone asked me for a cigarette (what the heck is the world coming to??) and also I peed myself at a friends party. Beautiful huh.
We settled into life with a new born baby, we had a few sleeping issues but they were quickly resolved, and mostly we just loved and enjoyed our little precious. We spent hours with her skin to skin, we carried her, rocked her and shared our bed. It was a wonderful month of bonding and I am 100% sure we are still reaping the benefits. Camilla is so attached to us and gets very upset if she is held by someone else and I am not in sight. I wrote about Camillas birth in September and to date it is my highest viewed post.
Right at the end of the month I posted my very first Vlog (Video Log). Camilla had just started making little noises and I tried to get some captured on my webcam. Now she talks and talks and talks. Especially at 7am. Its really cute but some times I'm too tired to appreciate it. Here she is adorable. This is around the time that I started to actually get dressed properly too and take a little pride in my appearance after a long winter or preggo clothes and having a baby. PJs are much too comfortable. Note for the future - set money aside for nice clothes after a birth. Nothing fits anymore (either you've changed or you've stretched everything).
I went to a bloggy party with other awesome Christchurch bloggers. They have invited me to many things before, they are all so social and lovely, but I was (unusually) to shy and fear ful. I finally got over it, took another blogger and went along. It was so much fun! These ladies are all seriously lovely and I love keeping up with their blogs. I'm so happy I went in the end!!
A very slow blogging month, I was without a laptop for most of it as it was being fixed before my warrant ran out and we went on a 9 day holiday to Westport. My favourite post was definitely my Christmas update. I love love love Christmas. Can't wait for next years already!! In December we also hosted a car park party for our apartment complex which I didn't blog about. We have 30 apartments around us and quite a few people came, it was so awesome!!
Thank you 2011, you were probably the hardest year yet but the one with the biggest blessing. Thank you for bringing our daughter safely into this world and looking after us through destruction and trials.
I got this review idea from Mama Kats Writers Workshop. Thanks Mama! I've been signed up for a while but this is my first completed prompt.
This week C3 Church delivered us a hamper full of deliciousness and pamperness!! :)
Considering the last hampers we did I was organising - so it was a super surprise and great to be on the receiving end of something. I know that sounds selfish (?) but it was a real blessing to be surprised with a gift like that and we really appreciated it.
Yesterday I read an article on why an author does not go to "church", although professes to be a Christian. He has many reasons, all of which I have heard before but none that I think are legitimate. You can read the article here if you really have some time to kill. Over the years I have seen many people used in churches in the wrong ways, just as people are used in businesses or in families. It is a sad sad story when a business man or leader tries to build a Church. It does happen and when it does I can understand why people feel used and tired. Some people do actually need to find a new church, others have inner issues (perhaps a fear of commitment or vulnerability) and probably just need to be planted where they are and grow. Each individual is different. Above all, I have the very firm conviction and belief that you will not flourish or survive as a Christian without a body to belong to.
However, Jesus says that he will build His Church. Through that statement I believe that a church should reflect the characteristics of Jesus and be flowing with gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I found a Church to grow in, one that loves me, uses my gifts (often not enough), and builds me up in faith and the Word of God. I know our Senior Pastors and consider them great mentors and friends and I truly value their leadership. They are both so wise and have a complete love for people. I know our pastoral leadership team (and am on it) and I have faith in everyones ability to love God and love others. For me, going to Church on Sunday is a joy. Attending midweek leadership meetings are an honour. I dont consider these things to be a burdon or feel as if I am guilted into them. I receive so much from being a part of a church.
Perhaps thats the difference between myself and the person who wrote that article? I am a part of a Church, whereas he just attended a church and got bored. If you show up late, sit in the same seat, clap your hands when you are told, say your Amens at the right time and then leave as soon as the preacher puts down the microphone I can guarantee that you will not grow.
Like the article said, Church is people. However, it is not just me and not just you. It is all of us, fellowshipping, swapping stories, doing good deeds, receiving and participating in ministry, encouraging one another and swapping cellphone numbers. Then, through the week you contact each other. They become part of your life. You care for each other.
The Church is a beautiful thing and I am thankful that I belong to a great one. I hope you do too.
This week our Church funded 9 Midwinter Dinners to happen all across Christchurch and hosted by different members of our pastoral team. We hosted ours last night and it was truly wonderful. I dont want to sound like a lunatic, but it really warmed my heart and cemeted in my heart what I have stated above. The essence of Church is doing life together and I am grateful that we can do that. Most of the dinners are for 10-25 people however they are hosting a community wide one tonight which everyone is welcome to. They have a pig on a spit and everything. I hope you can get down there and socialise and connect with a few people.
These photos are of our dinner and I know each midwinter dinner will be different depending on who goes and who hosts. That's the beauty of connecting in smaller groups - personalities can shine through and you can get to know each other.
I would like to thank our Church for displaying the characteristics of Jesus - Love, generosity, a heart for the poor and broken, community, fellowship and giftings. Thank you for funding our dinner last night too. It was a real treasure being able to serve people from our community and I am thankful that it is one of your highest priorities!
Right now there is a team of about 15-20 Aucklanders in our city who are here specifically to serve you. One of them took me grocery shopping yesterday because I cant lift anything without pulling my stomach muscles. These 3 helpful guys turned up last night to finish off the dinner I cooked and to serve everyone and do the dishes afterwards. These people have been walking around our neighbourhood handing out gift baskets filled with goodies and are preparing tonights huge community dinner.
Feel loved, Christchurch. There are some very generous people around who have not forgotten you.
[Footnote: I felt as if these two posts went hand in hand with each other and I wanted to share them with you. I hope you can see where I am coming from :) Also, I'm more annoyed than you that some of the photos are blury - the lighting wasn't the greatest)
If you are single, engaged, married, happy, upset, divorced, widowed, remarried, this is a great series for you.
www.peasantprincess.com
It is a video series by Mars Hill Church, teaching pastor Mark Driscoll and goes through the book in the bible called Song of Songs - it's a series of love poems or love songs about a young peasant girl who married the great King Solomon. There is so much to learn out of it.
I have been married for nearly two years, and as I type this I am only up to the 4th video, but already I have learnt so much.
check out the preview or Part One and let me know what you think.
I'm considering doing it as a study in our connect group after we finish our current one. For This Love members especially, flick me an email with your thoughts.
Today I organised and hosted a women's clothing swap at Church called Swap-eroo!
Holly May Bruce painted these beautiful "Super models", they were stars of the show...
We had awesome helpers, including the Sorting Team and the Front Desk Stars
I loved our Herbal Tea Cafe
We gave away vintage tea cups and herbal tea too
There were lots of good bargains to be had, and I picked up some awesome items (posts on those later on in the week). I wish more people had come and experienced the goodness of it all, what a great time I had!
Now, I am very tired and relaxed and all packed up, ready for a quiet night in.
So, what to do next?
Big thank you's go to (in no order): Wendy, Rachel, Dawn, Amy, Hollie, Kate, Caitlin, Gemma, Christie, Judie, Holly, Luke, Simeon, Chris, Kirk, Joe, John, Toni, Luana, everyone who came, and lastly, My husband <3
** EDIT: After you went home, the amazing packdown team came out to play and tried on your left over clothes!! This is the Sweater Edition...
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
