Spring 20 day challenge

Welcome Spring!

It is absolutly gorgeous and sunny outside today. As Levi has pointed out to me, I don't need to dress him in so many layers anymore :)

Well, with Spring comes the Spring cleaning.  This year, 'The Organised Housewife' has set a 20 day challenge. I decided that I would try it.  With three kids, it seemed easier to do it in 20 days rather then wearing myself out and (probably not) getting it all done over a couple of days.

I decided that with the challenge, I would work at memorising scripture and would also have one person or thing to pray for while I'm slaving away :)

So, day One...
The task was to clean the kitchen
The passage to memorise was Proverbs 31:10 - 12
And the person to pray for was Ben

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

Kitchen: Before

Kitchen: After

 

So far I am loving this challenge. I am really loving the prayer time also. I think I might adopt this cleaning and prayer idea for every day.

Thankfully, the kids were very good while I cleaned so I got it done in good timing and could also spend time with them.

While I cleaned this is what Mr Lazy was doing :)

Nanna, Snow, and Dress Ups

Here are some more photos of different things that have been going on with us lately.

Well, firstly, here is just a photo of Levi and Me. First thing in the morning, he is a very happy boy. A good nights sleep will do that to you :)

 

Here is a photo of Levi at 1 hour old and 3 months old.  I tried to put him in the same pose so you can really see how much he has grown.

I know I'm bias, but isn't he just too CUTE

Friday the 17th...

was GRANDPARENTS DAY.  Lydia was lucky enough to have Nanna come visit (and thank you Nanna for waking up at 5(ish) to get here on time - what a great Nanna.

Lydi has such a great time and is still talking about the excitment of having everyones Grandparents stay at their school for the morning. Lydi says the best things were painting with Nanna, making cookies for Nanna and reading books with Nanna.

To top off all the fun, it also snowed. This was the first time anyone in our family has seen snow so we were all pretty excited. It looked so so pretty falling down on the school oval.

  The kids wanted to build snowmen...unfortunatly, there really wasnt enough snow to do that.  They had to just live with making paper snowflakes. 

BOOK WEEK

Lydia had book week at school this week.  She got to dress up as a character from her favourite book.  Her favourite book at the moment is a book called "It's Mine" by Leo Leonni.  The book is about three rather selfish speckled frogs who constantly say "It's Mine" but in the end they learn to share everything together and realise that life in the pond is a lot more fun to play in TOGETHER. Well, one of the frogs names is Lydia (I'm pretty sure thats the only reason Lydi likes it). Here is Lydia's costume - designed and made by Lydia (with Mum's help obviously) :) Don't you think she did a great job?

Baptism

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant

between me and you and your descendants after you

for the generations to come, to be your God 

and the God of your descendants after you.

Genesis 17:7

On Sunday the 19th of August our son Levi Jacob was baptised. I love watching baptisms, especially when it is your own child.  

Firstly, its fun to see how the baby is going to react. Well, Levi was his usual chilled out self. I think he just enjoyed being up on the stage so he could see everyone looking at him.

Secondly, it is wonderful (and daunting) to promise to bring up our children in the way of the Lord, teaching them God's love and saving work. It is a great reminder (especially when it is so easy to be slack) to use every part of my children's lives, to teach them about God, their sin, repentance and forgivness. And also, how to be bright, shinning lights in this world.

My Prayer for Our Levi...

Dear Father, Thank you for this treasured child of mine. Although you have entrusted him to me, I know he belongs to you and he is always in your care.

Help me as a parent, Lord, with my weaknesses and imperfections. Give me strength and godly wisdom to raise Levi after your Holy Word. Please supply what I lack. Keep Levi walking on the path that leads to eternal life. Help him to overcome the temptations in this world and the sin that would so easily entangle him.  

When it’s hard to be patient… make him willing to suffer
When it’s ridiculous to be thankful … make him see all is grace
When it’s radical to forgive…make him live the foundation of our faith
And when it’s time to work… make him a holy wonder.

Send your Holy Spirit daily to lead and guide him. Ever assist him to grow in wisdom and stature, in grace and knowledge, in kindness, compassion and love. May he serve you faithfully with his whole heart devoted to you. May he discover the joy of your presence through daily relationship with your Son, Jesus. 
 

Help me never to hold on too tightly to my boy, nor neglect my responsiblities before you as a parent. Lord, let my committment to raise Levi for the glory of your name cause his life to forever testify of your faithfulness. And raise me, Lord, from the deadness of my own sins to love this wonderful boy like You do…In the name of Christ...Amen…

"A Parents Prayer"

Full of Smiles

My baby is just growing up too fast!!!

I can't believe how much Levi has changed in 8 weeks.  Looking back at the last blog post...he has grown so much and has now lost that newborn look.  He's not only changing in appearances either - he is becoming more alert every day.  He loves to just lie down next to the kids and smile at them playing. He now enjoys his own toys too and is starting to try and grab them.
He is starting to realise that playtime is more fun then sleep time which does make for a tired mummy but he is so cute when he plays and the kids love it when he is awake and smiling at them.

My Adorable Baby

So, I thought I should put up some photos of my gorgeous little man. They aren't the best photos because they are taken on the phone but you can still see how cute he is :-)

Just born

I love this photo...it really shows just how HUGE he was (an hour old)

 

Poor boy didn't fit in any of the suits I packed for him

We finally went home

Lydia and Levi

Zac and Levi

Lydia and Zac love their little brother to bits :)

Quite content after a feed

Our little thumb sucker

Cuddles with Mummy

The Busy Birthday month

June is a very busy month for the Kastelein family, full of lots of celebrations.

Happy Birthday to Dad, 

Happy 30th Birthday to Chris, and 

 Happy 28th Birthday to Penny

Although I miss you all lots, I do love our phone and Skype chats.

Happy Birthday to you all. Love you lots.

And now, moving away from the Kastelein family, and onto the Wyllie family...

Happy Birthday Jacob

(I just discovered that the latest photo I have of Jake is when he was 10. Probably because he is always the one behind the camera)

Ben

With all the chaos of having a new baby in the family, I totally forgot to wish my hear husband a Happy Birthday.

Ben really wanted Levi born on his birthday and he almost got his wish. I went into labour on Ben's birthday but Levi actually decided to come an hour into the next day.

Ben and Levi have both decided that maybe this is better because in the future, if they want to share a birthday, they can; but also, if they want to celebrate separately, they can also do that.

So, Happy 26th Birthday to my wonderful husband. I love you lots and I am very thankful to God for you.

May this next year be a wonderful blessing to you.

 

The 2 birthday boys on Levi's Birth Day - Ben and Levi