14 and counting....

Dear Phoebe, you will always be my baby girl...

 

I know that the day will come (maybe 30 years from now) where both your dad and I will have to let go and hand you over into the loving hands of your future husband; but until then:

 

I will love you and protect you and guide you and lead you in the way you should go. I will always love you no matter what and I will be there for you no matter what. Together we will pick up the pieces of any messes made; no matter what they may be. I will always be on your side, I will always have your best interest at heart. My love for you is endless, without limits or expectation. Just you be you; YOU ARE AFTER ALL FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE, ON PURPOSE AND FOR A PURPOSE.

 

 

I blinked And Then She Was Thirteen!

Today, 13 years ago, I became a mother...

I don't think I will ever forget that Saturday morning and how it happened, how I felt and who was there and as my children age I am more and more fascinated how God chose me to be their mom. It is not by chance, it is a predestined situation and as I ponder the wonder of how God fashioned this relationship and joined us together as mother and daughter; I stand in awe as I realize that raising this child, as with everything else in life is not about me, it is not in my own strength or wisdom that I am able to do this, it is only by the grace of God.

Thank You Abba Father for the privilege of placing this wonderful child in my care and as I say these words, with it comes the realization that she is ultimately in His hands... may Your will be done in her life Father God, today and always. Bless her and keep her; make Your face shine upon her, and be gracious to her; Lord lift up Your countenance upon her and give her Your perfect peace today and always.

 

May she dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

 

May she say of the Lord, that He is her refuge and her fortress, the God, in whom she trusts.

 

She is in your hands Lord.

 

Celebrating Phoebe... 1 year later

I always try to imagine or remember what it was like for me at the age that my daughter presently is, in the hopes that it would help me understand what she needs from me, her mother. I find that as she gets older it gets harder; don't fully know why but it is like one minute she was this cute little thing laughing and giggling and enthusiastically wanting to explore and share experiences and then I blinked and puberty came knocking looooooong before I had the chance to completely mentally prepare myself, or my husband for and now she's 12!!!!

No longer does her world revolve around her mommy, needing to be in my presence all the time, no more enthusiasm about wanting to explore and share new experiences with her mamma. No longer are my opinions and explanations esteemed above what anyone else says. My little girl is now a little lady and her need to explore and experience new things, sadly does not include me anymore... for the most part anyway. 

I do believe that it is around about this point in most homes, where parents, (especially parents like me who have smaller kids who demand most of one's attention) sigh a breath of relief at the prospect of having a child that needs less attention because they are able to do everything for themselves... not me, no, I have realized that now more than every do I need to be attentive to the needs of my child, the radar needs to be super sonic now, paying attention even more diligently to those things she says and most, most importantly those things she doesn't say.

I can only hope that the foundation that she has been given is firm enough to keep grounded through those things the world has to offer her and my biggest hope and prayer is that my little girl will remain wise and in her wisdom remember all her momma's sermons to her about how we do not need to conform to the ways of the world, to not simply follow the crowd but to question everything and everyone and not just accept what she is told or taught.

I will end off my note with a sigh, not a sigh of relief but a sigh as I let go of the little girl and embrace the fact that she is now a young lady and as such I need to see her through those lenses now and remind her 2 dads of the reality as well; as it seems they refuse to believe that she is growing up :)

Celebrating Phoebe's 11th Birthday

On Saturday the 23 February we celebrated the 11th birthday of my firstborn Phoebe Alexandra Haskins.

 
Phoebe is my star  child; she displays traits that are a combination of her mother's style and ladylike grace and her father's taste for all things expensive yet she has the ability to adapt to all kinds of environments. You could take her with you to have tea with the Queen or the yard in the roughest neighbourhood and she would fit in.
 
I am so proud of Phoebe and it is like she told me on Saturday; it feels like we are friends today. I think our relationship is entering a new dimension and I look forward to the next phase as my baby girl enters the transition from little girl to little lady. To celebrate Phoebe and her 11 years, my BFF (who was present at her birth and literally cheered me on) and I spent a funfilled morning with her...

Civvies day at school on Friday just
becasue it is my Birthday!!

 

 

7am on Saturday morning and sleeping beauty was woken up by mom singing Happy Birthday and bringing her some mor prezzies (she had her first installment of gifts on Friday morning - pre birthday gifts!!)

 

Pink Bible for a fabulous little lady

Pencil bag to store all her writing materials along
with her journal for 2013

 

With Aunty Bianca

Bay Harbour Market, Hout Bay



 

 Being treated to a back neck and shoulder

massage, compliments of Aunty Bianca

 

 

 Having breakfast at the market

 Enjoying the view on Chapman's Peak!

 ... And we ended off the morning with Frozen yoghurt at WAKABERY :)