A picnic for our bear!

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We celebrated Byron’s two years of life at our favourite park down by the river.
A teddy’s bear picnic was the order of the day. The looming rain clouds and then the down pour didn’t dampen our spirits even though we did get a bit wet!

Crispix!

Name tags for the teddy’s!

Picnic food!

Cake!

When talking about his party Byron was very clear that he would be having cake and candles and that is what he got!

We give God…

our many thanks…

for our fun, colourful, miracle boy!

Love Martine

Two!

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Byron turned two today! He has always been a cuddly boy and we have always thought of him as our cuddly bear…and just recently discovered one of the meanings of Byron is bear…very apt!
 

A brown bear for our boy – and for his teddy’s bears picnic birthday party!

Byron you are strong, powerfully affectionate, loving, quick to say sorry, have a very cute scrunchy smile, you can be LOUD with your deep voice, you love to run, jump, dance and sing, play hide and seek, the Wiggles are your favourite/obsession at the moment :) and you love to put your head under the water at the pool. It is a joy to be your mum and I thank God for so wonderfully giving you life and giving you to us!
We love you so much!
You bring energy and joy everywhere you go!

Love Martine

A whole lot of….

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Around here there has been a whole lot of love (thanks for the beautiful card Dan!)…

A whole lot of fun!

A whole lot of Buzz Lightyear!

A whole lot of scootering, skateboarding, bike riding fun!

A whole lot of someone else doing the cooking!

A whole lot of enjoying my new hair cut!

A whole lot of driving to new adventures!

A whole lot of dreams coming true…

and a whole lot of colour too! 

2013 – I am looking forward to finding the FUN in the everyday, going on many new adventures and FLOURISHING with my family, friends and my God!

Love Martine

It is for freedom….

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Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Dear One, I don’t know if the following words will be of help to you but I pray that if you find yourself in a situation, set of circumstances or maybe even years that have lacked freedom, I pray that you will find freedom through Christ.

So many things can hold us in slavery….

For the Israelites in the Old Testament often it was a hard hearted Pharaoh or a single person in a place of authority that had such hatred for the people of God that they attempted to completely destroy, enslave or control the Israelites.

In 2013 maybe you don’t have a Pharaoh to contend with….
But maybe you have been abused or mistreated or maybe your identity has been attacked. Your captor could be your unforgiveness, fear or bitterness….

Maybe you need a Red Sea experience…
God asks you to place your faith solely in him, listen only to him, submit to his ways for your life and let him take care of the details…
Maybe freedom is a place where only God can part the waters and even though you have an army and a very angry Pharaoh chasing you, you need to step out in graciousness and submission to God’s authority in your life…cling to him and praise Him as you walk across on dry land.
Freedom my friends is worth fighting for.
Its what Christ achieved for us through his death on the cross.
It is so easy to slip back into slavery and maybe it is your pride, your desire for control, your need for approval or habitual sin that holds you captive.
Flee to Christ, come humbly before your Creator, lay your life bare and he will be your mighty deliverer….
Seek the help you require to unbind the chains that hold you fast.
Know whose you are and know who you are in Christ.
Read His word, the Bible, submit, pray and seek Him and you will find freedom.
He will give you the strength to endure and you will come out rising high with the eagle.
Soaring above your pain, your former captors and everything that seeks to destroy the person that God created you to be.
Dare to dream….
For the best is yet to come…
Here is to FREEDOM!
I search for You God of strength
I bow to You in my brokenness
And no other King could have so humbly come
To save my soul and heal my heart
I have nothing more than all You offer me
There is nothing else that’s of worth to me
I love You Lord
You rescued me
You are all that I want
You’re all that I need
I pray to You God of peace
I rest in You my cares released
I have nothing more than all You offer me
There is nothing else that’s of worth to me
I love You Lord
You rescued me
You are all that I want
You’re all that I need
In Your freedom I will live In Your freedom I will live I offer devotion, I offer devotion

Martine

Your love is all around…

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No matter what…smiley face or sad…

…the Great Artist…

…speaks…

…with love…

2013 – I greet you in your newness and one day into the year I know…
God’s love is all around…
Your love is all around – All Sons and Daughters

Majesty enthroned in beauty
All my life, Your love pursues me
and I’m found in You
Oh Holy One, the King of glory
You’re the Author of my story
and I’m found in You

‘Cause You give me life and lead me to find
Your grace and Your mercy, given so freely
Your word is my light, it leads me to find
Your comfort and healing, the hope that I’m needing

Your love is all around
Your love is all around

Oh Living One, You reign forever
Drawing me into Your presence
and I’m found in You
Oh Great Redeemer, Precious Savior
You are faithful, though I wander
and I’m found in You

‘Cause You give me life and lead me to find
Your grace and Your mercy, given so freely
Your word is my light, it leads me to find
Your comfort and healing, the hope that I’m needing

Your love is all around, Oh
Your love is all around, Oh

And I hear Your voice
I hear the words You’ve spoken
This love is Yours
This love restores the broken

Oh, Your love is all around
Oh, Your love is all around
Oh, Your love is all around

And this is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
And this is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

And oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh, Your love is all around
Oh, Your love is all around
Oh, Your love is all around

My song for 2013,
Love Martine