musings on a morning in January...my hopes for 2023

Last year was w i l d with the addition of a new baby...  

I feel like we barely survived Nicholas' first six months and that we are only now adjusting to parenthood and finding our groove as a little family of three...

I am hopeful that 2023 will be a quieter year for us and that there will be no major changes...  

I hope we will be able to grow strong as a family and put roots down in our new home.  

I want to really savour and enjoy these days...

My hopes for this year are simple...

Be more present

Not take on too much 

Live a little slower

Enjoy the little things

Take care of myself 

Spend time with the Lord each day

Nurture relationships

Prioritize my marriage more

I have a few things I would really like to do this year...you'll see that everything is pretty achievable.  Life with a little one has taught me to set very small goals so that I won't become discouraged and frustrated and give up altogether.   

Pick up blogging again

Write letters

Print and frame photographs

Make our house homier in small, inexpensive ways

Create a simple but beautiful bedroom for us

Make a linen apron for myself

Plant a small garden

Make a recipe book and write out all my favourite recipes

Journal more

Read more

~

I have changed so much since getting married and becoming a mother...  In many ways I feel like a completely different person...

I do finally feel like I am in a better, stronger place, and I am more confident and comfortable with who I am, what I believe and the direction in which my life is headed...

My hope for this blog is that it will be a lovely space my readers can come to be inspired...a place I can share snippets of my life as a wife, mother and homemaker, without any pressure.  

I don't plan on delving into any deep issues or sharing anything too personal or preachy...

~

Thank you to all my lovely readers for your love and support last year even though I was pretty MIA with a new baby to care for.  

I look forward to what this year holds for my little corner of the great wide web.

May this year be a beautiful one for you...

With love, Kelly-Anne

a happy new year...

From our little family to yours.

So excited to keep making sweet memories as the three of us...

"What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet."  ~Anne Frank

P.S.  I just updated my about page which you can visit over here.

in my world ~ september

23 weeks along with our sweet baby boy...

 Cuddles with Fletch...

~

the world outside ~

 I have just come home after from taking our sweet new puppy, Fletch, for a walk down the road...lessons on the leash have commenced...

We had gentle rain in the night which has left the world around us feeling sparkly clean...

There is something so peaceful about an overcast morning.

 

 around the house ~

I am enjoying establishing more of a cleaning routine which means I can pace myself better...these days I don't have much energy.

in my cup ~

Earlier it was coffee. 

reading ~ 

I finally finished Miss Read's Over the Gate, and am now working my way through a rather heavy, but fascinating non-fiction book called Childbirth Without Fear which several of my friends recommended I read...

watching ~

After working our way through four seasons of Poldark, we lost interest...but on one or two rainy afternoons, I decided to watch a few episodes of season 5...I have to find out what happens.  {{Smiles}}

listening to ~

I have been enjoying listening to David Phelps' Hymnal again...so uplifting.

I also enjoy singing while busy with the dishes or cooking supper...

in the kitchen ~

As with household chores, I am becoming better at meal planning and cooking double meals so as to give me time to tackle some sewing the next day...or take a nap.

We eat a lot of soups and stews, and have also made it our tradition to have homemade hamburgers on a Friday evening.  They are absolutely delicious!

in the garden ~

Spring is here and there are new leaves on the fruit trees we planted last month...

And finally things are starting to grow...I sowed the first of my seeds last week...marrows, beans, gem squash and some salad things like radish and lettuce...

out and about ~

We have been out of town a couple times lately...first for an ultrasound which revealed we are expecting a baby boy.  Oh, how precious it was to see our little one moving about and receive some pictures for our scrapbook...

 A week later we drove two hours away to pick up our new Border Collie puppy, Fletch.  We stopped at my family on the way home to introduce them to the new member of our family and to share supper with them...

 

 creating ~

While in town, I stopped at the quilt and fabric shop to pick up a couple pieces of fabric for Baby's quilt.  I have started cutting the blocks out, but keeping Fletch stimulated and out of trouble means I don't have all that much time for sewing at the moment!

I have found a few other things I want to make for our little boy...hoping to share these projects as I complete them... 

 

quiet moments ~

My husband, who is a bladesmith, has started creating videos for his YouTube channel...  He recently had two students on course and made a video (watch it here) to show other potential students what they can expect from his courses...  He works on these videos in the evenings, and I enjoy sipping a cup of tea and reading a book while he is busy...or cuddling our puppy.

thankful for ~

Having found an amazing midwife to assist with our baby's birth...

 

thinking of ~ 

 How quickly the days are going by...in just a few weeks we will be holding our baby boy in our arms.

hoping ~ 

To send off some new stock of reindeer, Miss Lettice Rabbits, snuggle bunnies and birdy tea towels to the one shop I supply with my handmade items... 

 one of my favourite things ~

Taking Fletch to a nearby field for a good run....  My husband enjoys archery, so often he'll take his bow and arrow with and do some target practice...  I love walking with him to retrieve his arrows, talking all the while and soaking up the beautiful scenery...

 

for the love of words ~

My sister, Gabrielle, shared this beautiful quote on her blog the other day...and I just had to share it too...

"Happiness is the result of an attitude of mind. I believe we can build it out of small things."

- Miss Read

 

~

Happy Spring, sweet friends...

May September be a beautiful month for you!

Do share what is happening in your corner of the world...it is always a delight hearing from my lovely readers!

Blessings,

Kelly-Anne

mr & mrs

  My beloved is mine, and I am his...  ~ Song of Solomon 2:16

 ♥03.04.21♥

in my world ~ february

outside my window

The day is still fresh and the grass wet with dew...

I am rejoicing in the coolness of the morning, and hoping that the hot weather we have been melting through lately, will soon be gone.

in my cup

why, hot coffee of course.

around the house

How strange it has been to come home after being away so long...

Thankfully, slotting back into family life wasn't as challenging as I anticipated it being.

reading

Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot.  

This beautiful little book, written as a letter to her daughter who was preparing for marriage at the time, is so pertinent to the season I find myself in...

listening to

I discovered the composer and pianist, George Winston, and have had his albums playing on repeat while wedding planning.

watching

Season 11 of Counting On.  I love watching this family do life.

from the kitchen

  With Mom being so busy with sewing my wedding dress, I am trying to be more present in the kitchen while having little ones help me.

We have been enjoying so many meals from the garden...

creating

With the wedding a mere seven weeks away, my mom, sisters and I are pretty busy these days.

Mom and Nancy are sewing my dress, while the younger girls and I tackle projects like fabric napkins, little boxes and place settings.

 in the garden

I spent almost five months away from home, working as a sous chef in the next town (and that is where I met my fiance), so the garden became solely Mom's.  

Lately, Beth has taken an interest in gardening, which makes my heart so happy.

I have been pottering about sowing seeds here, weeding there, and keeping the garden watered.  I eagerly anticipate being able to work in my own garden someday soon...

out and about

Saturday saw the two of us taking a little road trip and exploring a nearby town...

hoping

 To pick up my camera more regularly as well as write more often on my blog.

one of my favourite things

Going for long walks along gravel roads and through the orchards with my love.

thankful for

My wonderfully creative family and a community of Believers who are helping us prepare for our special day.

quiet moments

Not too many of those at the moment.  The days are filled with daily household tasks, wedding planning and time spent with the people I love most in the world.

thinking of 

How quickly life can change...

One day you are a single young woman, trusting the Lord to bring His best along at the right time, and the next you are swept up in a beautiful love story written with care and precision by the Father.

 

~

A blessed Saturday to you, sweet friends!

Thank you for stopping in...  How wonderful it is to be writing here again!

 

With much love,

Kelly-Anne

this sweet new season♥

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...

~ James 1:17 

 Hello dear friends...a blessed 2021 to each of you... ♥

I have missed my little corner of the web and each of you dear readers.

During my unexpected hiatus from the land of blogging, the Lord brought about something truly remarkable...

This special man walked into my life towards the end of last year and took me completely by surprise by being the one the Lord had set apart for me...

 We became engaged on December 12th after a two week courtship, and now we are planning our wedding for the beginning of April.

Our story is unique and a beautiful testimony to the Lords faithfulness...

I anticipate being able to stop in and share it with you soon...  ♥

With much love,

Kelly-Anne

in my world ~ june

^My sweet new kitten, Tabitha ♥

^After four weeks, Oscar is still unwilling to accept the new addition to our family.  Sigh.

~ outside my window ~

It is pouring with rain...after a few unusually warm days, cold weather is predicted for the next while, and I am beyond thrilled.
I do so love cosy weather!

 ~ in my cup ~

Strong hot coffee, of course.  {{smiles}}

~ around the house ~
 As usual, we have several projects on the go. 
Mom is sewing pyjamas and leggings for everyone, Nancy is creating a play kitchen and fridge for the children from cardboard boxes, and the rest of us are trying to recover and reorganise ourselves after a big reshuffle of the bedrooms on Sunday!

~ reading ~

I am currently reading an Amish book called, A Sister's Hope by Wanda Brunstetter, but I can't  say I am enjoying it very much...  

I am still anxiously awaiting the arrival of the books which I ordered at the beginning of May, including another one by Miss Read!

~ listening to ~

At the moment I am listening to a lot of hymns sung by Chris Rice...  I find my heart uplifted by the words of truth in the old hymns.

Great is Thy Faithfulness is one I am clinging to at the moment.

~ watching ~

We just finished a series called Living with the Amish.  In this six episode series, six British teenagers are invited to spend six weeks staying with various Amish and Mennonite families between Pennsylvania and Ohio.  

It was lovely to get a peak into the lives of the Amish and we found ourselves inspired in our quest for a simpler, quieter life.  

~ from the kitchen ~

I continue to do most of the cooking.  Lately I have been cooking a lot of double meals to free up a few of my afternoons.  However, cooking double for a large family means I need to quadruple a recipe!  {{smiles}}

~ creating ~

With so much filling each day, I am not finding time to be creative, but I have enjoyed teaching "my" children (in case you didn't know, I am an au pair and teach sewing to the children I help with) some patchwork and applique lately, which they have loved.

~ in the garden ~

 With Winter just around the corner, my garden has been slowing down, and only salad greens, a few herbs and peas are growing well.  Most of my brassicas were annihilated by caterpillars, but thankfully there are still a few plants intact...  Otherwise, the sweet potatoes and beetroot are growing steadily.

~ out and about ~

Now that we have moved to level 3 of lockdown, restriction of movement has been lifted slightly, which means we can walk at any time of the day.
We have enjoyed meeting friends in the forest and at the dam for a walk and hope to get some cycling in too!

~ hoping ~

With a few seasons in life drawing to a close and new possibilities on the horizon, I am hoping that things will become clear soon.  Patience is definitely not one of my virtues.

~ one of my favourite things ~

Having my sweet kitty, Tabitha, sleep on my bed each night.  I love waking up to find her still fast asleep next to me the next morning.  ♥

~ thankful for ~

Being able to go for a long, refreshing walk on the beach on the weekend.

It was really quite cold and windy, but it didn't bother us in the least.  It felt wonderful to feel the sand beneath our feet and breathe in the fresh ocean air after nine weeks of not being allowed on our beautiful beaches.

~ quiet moments ~

Not too many of those...I find myself enjoying the strangest times of peace such as when I am in the car driving down the road to work, or when I get up to make coffee for Mom and I each morning.

~ for the love of words ~

Each morning I love reading Spurgeon's morning devotional.

This was yesterday's reading...

"The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and preserved us until now. Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon them to be the bass part of our life's song, "He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."

~ thinking of ~

June 7th marked the 3 year anniversary of the fire which destroyed our home...

It is amazing to look back upon something so terrible, and see how the Lord's hand rested upon us and how He has provided for us...  

We have seen miracle after miracle over the past few years, and now trust Him for another one...

If you think of it, please pray for our family as we face another difficult situation...

Pray for guidance, pray for provision, and pray that we would remain strong.

~

Happy June, dear friends!

Now that we are halfway through the year of 2020, what have the first six months of this year taught you?

For me, I have realised how fleeting life on earth truly is, and how vitally important it is to keep an eternal perspective...
I have also learnt that my trust needs to be in Christ alone, and that we cannot look to man for provision.

The Lord continues to work in my life and draw me closer to Himself, and I am thankful for His patience and grace.

~

Thank you for stopping by, sweet friends. 

Your visits brighten my day!
 ♥

With much love,

Kelly-Anne

A Story of Grace & New Beginnings

Dear friends...

I have a beautiful story to share with you today; a testimony of God's unfailing love and grace.

I am sure most of you know by now that my dad has been working in China for the past year.
 We saw him in February when he came home for a month long visit and I recently spent a month with him in China.
He came home in July for a seven week holiday - how delightful it was to be together as a family again!
When the time came for him to fly back to China, his long journey wasn't made alone...{{smiles}}

Many of you also know how difficult the time of separation was for our family and how we had been praying for the Lord to make a way for our family to be reunited.

We had explored so many different options over the past months but kept reaching dead end upon dead end.

Eventually we again surrendered this area of our lives to the Lord and decided to wait upon Him for further direction.

Sometime during my month with my dad, the Lord answered the cry of our heart's and made a way for our family in a truly special way...

I will skip through the many details and share with you the wonderful news that the end of August saw my mom and five younger siblings joining my dad in China
Nancy and I have had to remain in South Africa for the time being...
I could write about how this all came about, but that would take much too long.  {{smiles}}

Of course it is true that our family is still be separated - but we know without a shadow of a doubt that this is indeed the Lord leading us and that His will is that Nancy and I remain here for however long He sees fit.

He opened doors for the two of us to rent a small but adequate sized flat in a very nice area - this flat is actually on the property of friends, so we have the added comfort of knowing we are right next door to people we know and trust.
My dad also has that peace of mind knowing we are not completely alone.  

Housing for the rest of the family in China was miraculously taken care of too...

Once my dad was back in the country, he and my mom could take the five younger children to apply for their passports...

Once their passports arrived a few weeks later, we drove to Cape Town to do the visa applications for those going over.  Six days after that the visas were approved and we could earnestly begin selling off household items, moving into our new little flat and packing the suitcases the family would be taking over with them.  

By the grace of God, all this was achieved in approximately three weeks.

It was a stressful, exhausting few weeks to say the least!

Many have asked how our family feel about Nancy and I having to stay here in South Africa.  

We did look into Nancy and I going over too, but at this stage it isn't possible due to the two of us being over eighteen...
We hope to spend a month or two with the family in the new year, though...

^ Dad and I made so many special memories during my recent visit with him in China...

The month I spent in China opened my eyes to just how small the world really is and how possible it is to travel.  Flying across the world alone also gave me the tremendous boost of confidence I really needed!

~

We are excited about this incredible opportunity for our family.  

Nancy and I feel we are ready for this next step and are truly humbled that the Lord would see fit to reunite my mom and siblings with my dad!

We do not feel scared, but rather at perfect peace with what the Lord is doing in our lives...

And if you read my previous posts on my recent trip to China, you will know how I long to go back.

Having the whole family there will mean another visit in the near future!

Nancy and I will also have enough to keep us busy what with our work and hobbies so I know we won't be bored!  {{smiles}}

^ How I love these girls!

The Lord is working everything together for our good - we look back over the course of the last year and stand all amazed to see His hand in every little detail.  

We know now that that even the fire was in His will for us...

I pray that I might encourage you today - whatever season you may be in...whatever you may be facing...stand firm in your faith. 

The Lord is faithful and He will give you the grace and strength you need for each moment.  

This time last year our world was in total confusion after losing our home in the terrible fires of 2017 and trying to rebuild our lives while facing my dad going to China for work.

Many days we thought we just couldn't take another step...but by God's grace we made it through another year smiling.  

How good the Lord is to us...all the glory to His wonderful name!

We would truly appreciate your prayers as we enter this season of change...♥

With love and joy in Christ,

Kelly-Anne

P.S.  I actually wrote this shortly before our family left...they have been gone for almost six weeks now...  They arrived safely after a long, grueling journey (most of the children and my mom were sick with flu on the flight) and are settling into the rhythm and routine of their new life in a faraway land...
I hope to write another more detailed update soon...♥

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And So a New Year Begins...

''Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood through the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen"

~ 1 Peter 5:6-11 

While I had the best of intentions to stay up to date with blogging throughout the holiday season, here I sit, cup of tea in hand, thinking about the new week beginning which will see life returning to something of normality with my dad returning to work and orders for me to complete.

My new year began with quite a bang - Sunday morning Nancy and I had the special blessing of being able to sing in church with our two dear friends for a special communion service.  It was so special to give glory to God through the lifting of our voices in praise to Him...

Early Monday morning we picked up three of my closest friends and headed to one of our favourite spots...Jubilee Creek which is nestled in the heart of the Knysna forest.  The five of us enjoyed a morning of chatting, walking in the forest, swimming in the freshwater pool at the waterfall and having a delicious picnic.  We came home for cheesecake which was something I really wanted for my birthday.  My birthday is actually on the 3rd of January but seeing as I had camp counsellor orientation in the afternoon, we decided to make the celebratory picnic the day before...

On Tuesday, my family greeted me with joyous birthday wishes and gifted me with such sweet and thoughtful items...  My mom and dad surprised me with two beautiful books by one of my favourite authors, Beverly Lewis.  I had mentioned I wanted to increase my collection of books and now I have The River and The Secret Keeper to read when I have some down time!

For about a week before my birthday, Nancy teased me by saying she couldn't wait to reveal what she had picked out for me...  I tried to guess but when I opened her gift, I was truly delighted and surprised...she had bought me a Casting Crowns album as well as the most darling ceramic sugar spoon for my collection of tea items!   She is a treasure!

Each my sisters and even little Caleb gave me something small...scrapbook paper, washi tape, ribbon and the most enchanting heart shaped floral tin - all things I absolutely adore and can never have too much of!  Oh, they blessed me and my heart felt so full! 

That afternoon my dear friend and I headed to counsellor orientation - both of us signed up to be counsellors on a summer youth camp with our church which started the next day.  It was a wonderful time of learning and by the time I got home, I could hardly wait for camp to begin!

Camp was a completely new experience for me and I grew in so many ways...I learnt plenty about the Lord and myself, formed close connections with the girls in my group and cried bitter tears upon leaving Saturday morning!  I am so grateful to the Lord for the wonderful opportunity this camp presented - it is something I will hold dear to my heart for years to come!

And now I sit here, as mentioned afore...  To think that a new year has begun and that 2017 is indeed upon us is mind blowing!

What are my hopes for this year...?  

I am not one to make resolutions, but as midnight drew near on December 31st, I penned a prayer for the new year and thought through the ways I hope to grow in the next 365 days...

One very important desire of mine is to draw very close to the heart of God and to seek Him more faithfully than ever before.  I long to hide His word deep within my heart and overflow with love and joy for serving Him and leading a righteous, upright life.  I do not claim to do it in my own strength, but only by His grace.  Therefore, His Word is the lamp to my feet and the light to my path as I journey through this year and beyond.  I know not what lies ahead or the challenges I may have to face...but I know He is my ever present help in times of trouble and that His grace is sufficient for me!  

One hope I have is to take a piece of Scripture each week and commit it to memory, beginning with the above passage from first Peter...  

Of course I have many hopes and dreams for this year, too many to share here in fact.  Instead I have written them down in my journal with the intention of referring to them every so often to refresh my memory!

It is amazing to think that the Lord has given me another year to serve Him and to be a light for Him in world of darkness - this is something I do not take lightly.  The more I learn about Him the more I realise how much I don't know and so I admit my need to spend more time in prayer and seeking His will for my life.  

It is strange indeed to think that I have put my teen years behind me and am now moving on into young adulthood...  It is a daunting place to be and often times confusing...however, I pray that Jesus will bring comfort and peace to my heart and show me the way in which to walk.

I do see Heartmade continuing to grow from strength to strength this year...already I am fully booked for the next couple of weeks with a bulk order for ellie softies and reindeer for whenever I can have them completed by!  My market stall is also so empty...  I was unable to purchase my own sewing machine last year as I intended, but certainly I see my way clear to being able to do so very soon and look forward to that happy day!  

It is wonderful making a lovely space for myself in my little bedroom/workroom - it is slowly becoming a haven and a beautifully creative place!

I began decorating my room halfway through last year but didn't make too much progress so hopefully I'll be able to finish the things I set out to do including my quilt which I wrote about here.

Although I don't generally pick a word for the year, something that stood out to me when thinking about beginning a new year was the word intentional.  I want to be more intentional about enjoying each day at home, cherishing my loved ones, drawing nearer to my Saviour, embracing the simple pleasures in life and taking time to read a good book, take a walk, bake a cake, write a letter or sew something for the sheer pleasure of it.  Life is not a destination but rather a journey.

I don't know where writing on my blog fits in to the picture but I intend to take it one step at a time.  Over the years the Lord has given me many other loves as well as the vision for forming a discipleship group for young ladies with Bright Lights.  This is something I am prayerfully moving forward in, especially as the Lord graciously provided all the material I'll need for the next year!  

I am excited to see where He leads me in this regard and realise that I may or may not have the time to write as often here...  I have a peace about this and know I can always pop in with an update...pictures of my handsome little brother or a new project.  I have formed some of the most amazing, precious friendships and am so grateful for the wonderful fellowship with like-minded ladies!

Thus, I do not bid you goodbye, but rather farewell for the time being...  You are all so dear to my heart and never far from my thoughts and prayers.  Please do not hesitate from popping me an email - it is a wonderful joy to hear from my dear friends and I love to respond!

May the Lord strengthen you and fill your lives with His presence, His joy and His grace!  

Love and blessings to you, sweet readers...

Kelly-Anne

A New Chapter Has Begun...

With a crisp white page before me and pen in hand, I have begun work on a new chapter…

~

Welcome to my diary…the diary of this somewhat old-fashioned, country maiden with a love for all things vintage and beautiful…

You may have been a reader of my previous blog, Beautiful Girlhood for many years or even a few months, or you may be a new friend altogether…  Nevertheless, I do warmly invite you to stay awhile and enjoy the things I wish to share…

From much loved recipes, to sewing ideas and crafty projects…to beautiful quotes and lovely vintage finds…to musings on my garden and my love of country living…I do hope you will find something to enjoy in my diary...

And of course I will write about the wonderful blessings that enrich my life, the joy of being a daughter at home, my precious younger siblings and my thoughts on homemaking and Biblical womanhood…

Do make yourself a cup of tea and stay awhile…may your heart be blessed and inspired!

Oh, and I would love it if you stopped by my Guestbook and signed your name...making a new friend always brings a smile to my face!

Blessings,

Kelly-Anne 

~
Painting by:  Ernest Walbourn