Holiday blog hopping

Hi there. I have been off for a while but things were a bit manic at work and then I went on holiday ( or am still on holiday). I have had a bit of time on my hands and have had a lot of fun blog hopping. I have found some blogs with gorgeous felt crafts, like this pajama case which I found at Decor e blablaba. Isn't it so pretty and girly. It comes with a tutorial ( all in Italian) and I really would like to try to make it.

Then there is the all consuming question of where to go when we have a free moment for a date or a Saturday off. I loved this idea of a leisure book from Jordan ( see right). She made a book for her husband, divided into different categories, of places to go, things to do, books,movies and plays he might like to see, amongst other things. I always seem to have great idea until the moment comes to make a date and then they fly out of my head, like clouds on a windy day. I am definitely going to try this out for our family.

 Isn't this play room lovely? If you need some inspiration for  a home makeover or just want to daydream, you really must go to Apartment Therapy. There are home tours, DIY ideas and  plenty of things to inspire you as you turn your house into a home. There are a couple of other blogs I visited  but will save those for a follow up post.

I LOVE Natalie at Busy Budgeting Mama and spend far more time on her blog than I really should. She has a lot of ideas for activities with children. Reading her blog is like sitting down with a good friend for a long chat. She also has some great links.A final blog I must mention is Michelle Ainslie's. I have been looking for inspiration and assistance in getting a dream of mine up and running and her blog is great. She has some awesome products, great interviews and links and her really helped me get a clearer picture about how to get where I want to go. Watch this space.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog hop with me. Next time I hope to share some other great blogs I discovered as well as a follow up post to The Great Cars Party.

Blessings

Today's post is so different to what I had planned to write, so maybe someone needs to hear this. I discovered Laura Story's music on another blog that I follow but did not know her name or the name of the song.  Blessings by Laura Story just spoke to me so deeply, as I am coming out of what has been a very difficult time in my marriage, when I cried and prayed with seemingly no answer. Yesterday my husband and I were in a music shop and this song was playing. Isn't it awesome how God works. I happened to be in that shop just as this song was playing. It talks of how God's blessings sometimes come in the midst of our greatest trials and sorrow. It is so difficult to believe this and yet how do we grow if we are not tested and our faith is never stretched. It is so easy to believe in a great God when the bank balance is full, your marriage has a fairy tale quality, your children are healthy and happy and all is right in your world. How can your faith be tested in times of plenty? When you lose a baby to a miscarriage, when there is no food in the house and no money in the bank, when it seems as if your marriage is about to implode with no chance of restoration, when you are sick and the doctors cannot find an answer, when your beloved newborn lies in NICU, covered in tubes and fighting for life, when you only have God to turn to, THAT is when you see His blessing. I can testify to this as I have been there. He is  a great God and He is faithful and merciful.Thank you so much Laura for helping me to remember this. If you want to read more about Laura's and her music, she can be found at www.laurastorymusic.com