Bebe Bloemetje

See him.....

well 6 years ago today I married him.....in a huge princess dress and he in a military uniform.

We had only known each other just over a year but it always felt like a life time.

Ten things to know about Harry

1. He is the biggest football fan in the world, there is NOTHING you can tell him about "the greatest game in the world"!

2. Samuel and Jesse have an amazing father who lives to make them happy.

3. He loves God.

4. He loves beer and Indian Curry is the first thing he asks for when he arrives at my sisters.

5. He is a marine commando!! (ummmm)

6. At 48 he is often mistaken for a 38 year old.....even though he was already a marine when I started school!!!!!

7. He still wears the same size trousers that he did at 17...

8. He misses his dad every moment of every day.

9. He has an amazing affinity for talking to the young, who respect and listen to him....its his true gift.

10. He has the patience of a saint with me and my "collecting" rubbish thing, never complains and just smiles.

I couldnt ever ask for a better friend, companion, husband or partner. He is everything that is opposite to me but it all seems to fit and we do good.....Over the last few months his support has been unreal and beyond what anyone would expect.

I truly have the best of the best and I have everything I ever dreamt of in one man......

Happy anniversary Harry .......looooooovvvveee you!!!

They never left England but.......

My nana and grandad never left England....well my nana did go on a day trip to a french supermarket...but I dont think that really counts!

My grandad didnt visit London until he was in his seventies....but they both had passports.....

My greatest wish was for them to visit me here in Holland, but sadly it was never to be.

After all that, they finally have gone transatlantic.....they are here

My first adventure into my favourite magazine......to see them starring out at me it sort of makes this whole scrap journey worth it......

An lo scrapped just for the love of it, no money, need for recognition or deadline involved.

Today is the sort of day I like scrapbooking again....

All the Changes'......

Over the last 10 days there have been lots of changes.

Childhood homes have flown away;

Children have gotten older over night and becoming little boys in their own rights;

Clothes sizes are decreasing for me and increasing for Samuel and the swimming pool has returned from the abyss.

Circles are getting smaller and the world bigger.

A new adventure for my family and I, the start of a new career.

The realisation that some of the oldest friendships matter most and that 3 scrapping friends support my choices and blessings all the way.

The discovery of a bunch of pictures showing the one relationship that keeps me level....and I will never loose...

What a 10 days.....what an adventure!

Bumbling along....together

I wonder why we are all so wound up in perfection?

I have a thing about perfection.....something that is not usually paid back to me, but needless to say I still keep going for that perfect thing!

This week I was in discussion, with someone, about being a perfect mother. Its the BIG thing in my life, my major goal and she explained that it was not achievable. She did tell me though, that I was as close to it as she had ever seen.

But why dont I see that, why dont I bask in that glory?

It frustrated this person so much.....to the point where I started to see the truth...the light started to shine.

This morning I opened the newspaper. 

"are you a good mother....take our survey"

I didnt go so far as to take their offer but as I glanced through the questions and answers I started to realise.

Societies idea of this perfection comes from those who actually have no idea how hard this job is. No idea how guilt ridden one can feel, no perspective on real life....

I think I will from now on not take notice of any judge, jury or individual at a birthday, who wants to criticise me for working and having a child.

I am going to listen to the only one who has any idea whats going on in me as a mother.....thats my son.

So JUDGE ALL YOU WANT....SAY WHAT YOU THINK.....THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME...but

Samuel and I are just fine, bumbling along and learning together and thats just the way we like it!!!!

With all my heart

On a hard day, a year later, I learnt a lesson in confidence.

It doesnt come from wealth or status, from fame or beauty. 

Confidence comes from God, from knowing he knows our way, keeps us safe and ensures that our life is fulfilled. He will put us on our path, making sure he catches us when we rise or fall.

Tomorrow step outside the door and know that you walk with the confidence that God gave you.......I realised today that I have to accept the pain I feel, from my loss, with confidence. The confidence to know I was loved totally and cherished and that this pain is only a reflection of that love.

If I had never loved and been loved.....it would never hurt.......God bless you...I miss you with all my heart...xxx  

 

Bookworm....

So a few weeks ago I was asked to design a "look book", each month for SISTV's collection.

This was my first....THE BOOKWORM

It is such a fun kit.....check it out.

You get the look book free with each kit. I made four projects and the instructions are all there, its basically 4 mini workshops!

Here is a sneaky peak of one of my projects....

My lovely lovely Martha queen of thrifting is designing the other monthly kit look book so check her out too.

I had an amazing suprise yesterday, I am so hoping this is my path. It could change my whole family life and is an unreal chance for me to move on. I am just waiting and having patience.

Teaching a cool christmas online class in december at SISTV and have been asked to teach at a BIG BIG event next year .....watch this space for more details!!!!!

So the weekend is here, my boys and me. Harry had an accident this week and has stitches in his head and a HUGE black eye, so I think we will take it easy. I promised Samuel to make a pumpkin pie....no idea how but I made he promise!!!

I think Jody might have to help me here!!!!!

Have a great weekend

Hugs

x

October wishes

Its been a funny few weeks. Not ha ha funny but just strange.

I started scrapping again for just me, realised there are again some not so nice things in the world and went home.

This week my big dream didnt work out, not because of me but "other" reasons. Corinne helped me through it and kept me level and her dream is coming true so that sort of makes the world better. I was so sad but the "reasons" I understand and there are other things tied to the dream that are now mine.....so it will be all ok.

I am missing my sister, my friend Jody and I would love to spend nights scrapping with Martha on her library table.

I had my faith in people tipped on its head, felt the wrath of a nasty tongue, heard lies and saw history repeat itself. Infact if it all werent so distressing it could have been a movie!

So for October.

Sarah emailed me and asked me to join Craft Critique. I am excited about this as it embraces other crafts and of course Kim and my girly vintage friend Martha are there too!

I am going to talk about taking a new position at work.....

A good friend had good news with her breast cancer.....

My family home will have a new family....

My sister got an Aplus in her first uni assignment.....

I made my first "look book" for SISTV......

I am decorating a friends nursery......and her crochet shawl will be finished!

I am going to fall in love with myself again......

I am learning to trust......

Its my babys last month as a 3 year old......

And after 8 years my husband will be home EVERY night to sleep with us and there will be NO MORE exercises!!!!! (all we need to do now is pray that Afghanistan is not his calling)

So October is here and it looks full of promise. Somewhere in there is my path and HE is steering me....it will all make me stronger....

The most important thing I learnt in september......trust your heart and listen to your soul.....glory only comes from God and only he can give it.....

Home sweet Home?

We arrived home last night....this time with mixed feelings.

I miss my sister and the normal things. Shopping trips, giggles, playing together with samuel.

Having someone to ask if your clothes look ok, watching girls tv........

We had a shopping trip to Selfridges and I bought this from Cath kidson.

Its a huge sewing box, I have wanted it for a long time but now it seems more appropriate. I will be adding a number 30 to the door.....my family home in england.

I finally said goodbye to my home. My nana and grandads house was sold. So after 60 years it wont be my family home. It still smelt like home....I could still hear my nana shouting me, my grandad singing and the radio in the kitchen....it made me very very sad. The door handles they had touched, the step where I ALWAYS stubbed my toe. My great grandads spot on the garden wall where we would sit as he smoked his woodbine...waiting for sunday lunch.

Buried treasure in the garden, wild raspberries.....home made swimming pools and 37 years of laughter and love.

It was there I first felt loved, and there I last felt it......there I learnt to love and to see beauty in the smallest flower.

It was my place and my heart will always be there, it will never leave.

As I left I shouted back through the door, just like I always did...."love you millions see you later".......

I have a funny feeling 2 people smiled and for an instant the world was right again.