Love in Action Journey

Dear Zac, Sweetest boy, there is a never a day that you are not in our thoughts and in all of our hearts as your family. We think and talk about you all the time. Sometimes Jesus gives me beautiful pictures of how sweetly you must be growing. This mommy will always anticipate the day when I get to smother you in kisses again! Do you watch your big sisters bragging about how much they love you? It makes me smile. I'm sure it makes you smile too.  So my boy, Daddy told me that I wasn't allowed to tell anyone until we first told all our family ... so this clever mommy thought I would tell you and the whole world at the same time ;0) You are going to be a big brother! When I carried you in my tummy I always told daddy that you would be a big brother one day. Falling in love with you opened our hearts to dream of having one more little treasure. Today we got to tell your big sisters. The tears threaten to pour when I think of the unspeakable joy in their faces at hearing this ...

I woke up this morning and officially declared the morning to strictly be "Jan time"! After a very busy few days helping my hubby out in his office, doing school projects with my eldest and helping her study for her exams in between the day to day running-my-lovely-home-chores, I decided that this morning would not be spent rushing around or cleaning out cupboards at home, but will solely be used for some relaxation! (Wow - that was a looooong sentence! I seriously need to learn how to say things in less words - ha ha. What the heck - I'M A WOMAN therefore I CAN say lots of words ;0)  So, instead of more-of-the-routine rush ... I took a walk with a friend, ate my breakfast soaking up some winter sun on my porch, ate a piece of cake while I soaked in the bath, caught up on some of my reading, wrote a little and am now off to meander through a mall with a cappuccino in hand. Life is about balance. Too much rushing around has never been good for the soul. I'm going to...

A friend and I were chatting yesterday about how we so often put off every-day happiness waiting until this grand elusive moment when we will either finally feel ready or have met some self-set criteria . Our feelings about ourselves and our lives are a big factor in this mindset. For some it is waiting until they meet the right person, for others it may be having children, or about being a certain weight / looking a certain way or it could be when they are debt free or financially independent etc. It's simply " that" something that is stopping us from enjoying abundant life each and every single day. It's not so much that setting goals for ourselves, or that any of the above desires are wrong - not at all! We all need goals that we are working towards, but it's when those goals that we set for ourselves become the only way we determine our happiness or allow us to fully live life in freedom, joy and peace. (Side note - clearly I am LOVING the various fo...

Anybody who knows me well, knows that I love a good makeover :0) I've been hunting for a new blog template for a while now, and finally found this whimsical one. It feels like a peaceful, good fit for my current frame of mind. It's a little dreamy and a lot soothing and I love, love, love the soft baby blue and chocolate tones. So heres to a comforting, whimsical new space for Love in Action Journey.  Love Janine

Oh my goodness ... this gave me the sweetest giggles this morning. Take a look at this adorable 2 year old dancing. His total freedom and simple joy is contagious. Go on ... turn your music up and find a moment to dance today! Who cares who's watching ;0) All my love xxx Janine

Just after Easter, we had a big home project to tackle. One we have been putting off for years. The roof had to come off and be replaced. The-ENTIRE-roof!!! Eish!!! When we got back from our Easter get away, we realised that we could not wait any longer. We came home to a house with leaks in 5 rooms. Our faithful old roof was just beyond any more patch up jobs. It was time. When I look at the above picture I can relate to this old house of ours. In so many ways it feels like the roof got stripped off my life for a season, but the difference between me and this old house is that God never leaves us bare and exposed. Though it feels like a hurricane stripped away so much ... His Grace and Presence has been a constant shelter over my heart as the rebuilding has ensued. The last 7 months of surviving child loss have been the hardest journey of my life, yet I have never known the closeness of Jesus more. I haven't blogged much lately because I have been negotiating new layers of gr...

My Jesus, I choose to trust. In the blessings, in the joy, in the laughter, through the tears, through the questions ... through what I do and don't understand, I choose to trust You with all my heart and I won't forget how good You are. This song is my prayer to You today.  Held in Your arms xxx Janni