February: Hello

January has been and gone, already. How fast did those 31 days fly by? Well, in our house: very! I think that the baby calpol and ibuprofen ranges are going to be recording an increase in profits this month So many bugs, so many upset nights, so many coughs and colds. And I’m pretty sure Beth and Ben brought a different bug home, which they gave to each other. Phew. Glad all that is over…. I hate it when my babies are sick.

So. February. What will we do this month. Its the perfect month to do ’28 day shred’ although I am a little late starting, but if I don’t start today, then I never will… I used to walk to work (yes, I did) it was over a mile – and I walked back I was a lot slimmer then. I asked Ryan to find me a mile route here in the village, but we concluded that without the pressure of having to get to work, or some other dangling carrot me just going for walks wouldn’t actually be exercise. So after having a rather home bound January, I’d quite enjoy walking or something to get me moving… I mean I do move, but it mainly involves running up the stairs, and back down, with or without baby!

This is my last month of maternity leave, and I want it to matter! I want to do some really lovely things, see some lovely people, and have a party. I had the party last night. My favourite girls came – and their guys. We sipped champagne. I read some of my book. And we ate canapes & mini sweet treats. I had fun with everyone – and enjoyed signing books for friends!

I have some craft ideas, and a love for pinterest… so I’m going to try some patchwork There’s going to be a new baby in my extended family (you didn’t think me did you? Remember: three is my perfect family!) and I’d quote like to make something special for my niece or nephew

I have been reading some prayers in the bible, let me share this one from Ephesians 3:16,

 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (NLT)

Amen!

That is my prayer for today, that I will know God’s love and show it to my children, my husband, family and friends.

Have a Fantastic February, love A xox

 

Devoted -book release

Hi friends
Well today is a very, very momentous day: my book arrived. Yes, you know how long this journey has taken and now, finally(!) I am published.

Thank you for sharing the journey so far, to buy your copy send an email and location and I can send you a PayPal invoice and p&p charges. Email: bakerbarnes@mail.com
We are working on the ePub version for kindle and iPad apps, it won’t be much longer although friends wanting to get the kindle version have emailed to say they need the pretty book instead!!

My heart is that as you read this you will know more of God, you will know peace and that you will step further into your destiny.

With so much love and thanks for sharing this with me.

Love a xox

And the back cover too:

Right place // Right time

 

Have you heard that phrase recently: ‘I was in the right place at the right time’ More and more often I am hearing this, when I talk to friends, or when I overhear conversations, or when friends retell their friends’ experiences.

So. Have you been in the right place at the right time? I have, many times. For the right job. For the right home! And many more besides. And what about meeting new friends, right place – right time isn’t it? Or could it be more?

Of course, I believe it’s more than that. I was reading the story of Rebecca and her son Isaac in Romans 9:10-12 (MSG)

To Rebecca, also, a promise was made that took priority over genetics. When she became pregnant by our one-of-a-kind ancestor, Isaac, and her babies were still innocent in the womb—incapable of good or bad—she received a special assurance from God. What God did in this case made it perfectly plain that his purpose is not a hit-or-miss thing dependent on what we do or don’t do, but a sure thing determined by his decision, flowing steadily from his initiative.

Do you see the promise, and the destiny for our lives? There we are: incapable of good or bad and God makes the most wonderful plan for our lives, determined by His decision & from His initiative we enter the world. I see this for our children as I know they are born for a purpose with a HUGE destiny, and then if you think back… This means that for their destiny and our future grand-children’s destiny to be outworked so much in the past was to happen. Ryan and I were to meet and marry. Our parents were to meet and marry, our grand and great-grandparents and it goes on and on and on

And there we are: plain and clear: God’s purpose is nor a hit or miss thing. So often we try to work towards the bigger picture, afraid that we might somehow miss it, or mess up on the journey. However we’re learning that each and every single day counts towards the ‘bigger picture’: everything matters. So every day then we must be in the ‘right place at the right time’?

I had some funny interactions with people today. A lovely 83 year old granny (with a 12 year old white westie dog) told me how old she was and there she was carrying her shopping as she walked around Merry Hill. I was so proud of her: I think she wanted to talk to Alyssia, but she saw I had time and told me her story, I didn’t want to look rude and rush off, but after a few minutes she said: right, better go then…

 

Sometimes it hard(er) to see the big destiny that is unfolding before us, but as I look back, I know for sure that I was in the ‘right place at the right time’ as I made choices to step into the destiny planned before time, for me. Thank you God for incredible destiny you have for us, the way that you bring lives together and then bring children into those destines. Thank you God for your incredible plans, purposes and adventures – and that each small choice is part of the big destiny, whether we see it, or not. Thank you God that you see those choices and give us wisdom in each one. Amen

Love A xox

ps £100 challenge is going amazingly….. although I have spent nearly all of it (!) I have to say I was so careful at the shops today. I could easily have spent £30 on baby clothes/girls accessories/things for Ben. So well done me And if you’re doing it too just don’t add lentils to everything hoping that the food goes further. It does because less people want to eat lentils, not because lentils are money saving in themselves. The country soup barley mix however did fill out a few meals, but need to boil for longer as the dried beans didn’t swell, so would be more costly in gas/electricity as they need longer to cook. who knew?! xox

2013: hello!

2013: hello!

What a lovely Christmas break we had. Before Christmas, we (our family of FIVE!) went to Cornwall for a week, we had booked a gorgeous barn and it was fab. So so relaxing, fields, peace and quiet! Then the hot water didn’t work for bath time, and the owners upgraded us to the farm house- we were treated to an Aga, a log burner, a jacuzzi in the courtyard and too many bedrooms for all of us! It really was a wonderful week off – we enjoyed walking the beaches, coffee shops, tea rooms, a little walk a through the farm and lots of chats!

What a lovely start to our Christmas holidays! We had so many family days, relaxing days and a big family party with a lot of my aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and my lovely Nanny!

On new years’ eve, Ryan and I had a meal together (yes, it was at home, but it was a proper 3 course meal with everything we love from restaurants: soup, steak and creme brûlée!) we remembered our highlights from 2012- the best thing from each month. I look forward to making more memories this year! 2013: I haven’t got any big plans, definitely no new babies for us! I am hopeful that this will be a wonderful year ahead, hard to think bigger when life is so full of lovely family, friends, things and hope already! Although I do want to be more regular with my blog, after all Alyssia is 6 months old and is falling very nicely into a routine that fits around us all! Ben is starting a new nursery-he just turned 3, and maybe this will be the start of term for Bethany who will enjoy going to school, and hopefully no tears… (after a long time of her not wanting to go because she misses me…)

Ohhhh yes: the £100 challenge is upon us again. This year we want to save up for some exciting things and have realised we can probably reduce our weekly spend to £100. It may not be the most exciting, I already tried lentil lasagne (way too many lentils!) but it worked the past 2 times we did it and we were able to do some amazing things with the savings! So I’ll try and be a bit more thrifty with the food shopping and buy a lot less “cute, gotta have it” things for the bbs-this part will be hard! I’ll let you know how it goes!

I do hope you have a wonderful year ahead full of promise, and hopes that are fulfilled <3

Thanks for following my blog! Love a xox

Friends <3

As if having children weren’t enough delight, the mums I get to meet because of the things Beth and Ben do mean I have such lovely, lovely friends. I’d have never met them without our littlies: creatives, hr advisors, magazine designers, makeup artists, accountants: all mums. It’s as though I’m part of a club, and the entry requirement was a baby- so with 3 I get to stay in the baby years just a little longer.

Last year, and I’ve said this before, was a countdown kind of year, we counted down to my big birthday and then to the birth of my baby Alyssia. I think since then I’ve been finding our new pace of life. Having our three beautiful children dressed/fed/happy/playing/being kind/loving them/and back to feeding can sometimes feel like a demand. I keep reminding myself that however selfless I have to become, it is nothing at all in comparison with the selfless gift of life that Father God gave when he sent His Son. And God who is everything has enough grace for me to complete what I have started! There is enough grace for each situation we face, to be content in all that we do and to do it well!

Isaiah 40 in the message explains it so well:

27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.

Tired out to me, in this season, is waking every few hours to feed my little baby. But tired out in a previous season was lesson planning, project planning, writing reports, completing assignments. I don’t get brain tired right now, just physically tired so the promise for me is that God will energise me. I was reading ‘The Art of Mentoring’ by Darlene Zschech she poses the question: what would you do if you could do absolutely anything? And that is what I’m going to find the rest of this year finding out. I want to spend my time on things that matter and not just busy myself “doing good”!

We have planned a week away for writing and talking and relaxing over Christmas and I’m so looking forward to what we come up with, new songs for Ryan ?! Although I do feature as a co-writer on one of his songs… No, I really do. But I must be about 3-5% co-writer as I don’t even remember the song, and really, it wasn’t my effort, I was reading and talking as Ryan played guitar and he used one word out of what I said I do however remember where we were: in a tiny chapel in south Africa. It was 5 years ago and it was a beautiful time away, sunny, hot and relaxing! Less of the hot this winter break, but more writing and creating for sure.

Have an energising day too xox

BOOK RELEASE: DEVOTED

I am here. It’s 5.30am. I have a pot of coffee and a 6 month old beautiful baby playing here next to me. Sleeping beauty is upstairs, along with sleeping ‘little guy’. Scratch that. Ben is awake now Well. I took 2 months off blogging and I have a lot to show for it. When I didn’t write it wasn’t that I didn’t want to. It was that I was writing and editing and editing and editing and writing and editing and thinking and planning! So now wait for it:-

I have important news……

I did it. I have actually finished my first book: Devoted (cover pic coming soon!)

This is what they have to say about it:

 

The thing that appeals to me most about this book is that it’s written by a mum with her hands full. She knows how hard finding time to yourself is etc, and that’s why I want to read what she has to say! JN, England

 

I really loved it. I found it refreshingly normal and easy to relate to as a Mum and wife who wants God in my every day. EM Australia

 

I really enjoyed reading it, found it thought provoking and it really made me look at my life and myself. Truly Fascinating! CL, England

 

I loved your writing. You are a great writer and it was so easy to read. I wanted to keep reading.I think you are on to something!! Go for it! Run with it! Go big!! I love your heart and your passion for relating with people and encouraging them. And I know this pleases the Lord! AJ, Canada

And this is what it’s all about: 

Hit by the realisation that if nothing changed, instead of fulfilling her destiny, Anna would be found somewhere beneath a pile of laundry and a mountain of baby toys. She discovered that now was as good a time as any to continue to pursue her relationship with God. She has spent time studying the word, writing and living it out. As you read Devoted,  With chapters on devotion, contentment, faithfulness and love, you will enjoy her funny stories and learn that more than anything God has a heart full of love towards you and wants you to succeed in all that you do!

–You can buy it directly from me £4.99 (plus postage to wherever you live) The book is with the printers, so not sure on delivery date (yet).

–OR you can have the ebook (PDF) emailed to you from Monday 10th December.

(buy it, you will love it!) 

Love. A xox

coffee – with friends

So. Here we are, with an almost finished book. Closer than ever to the finish line. It’s so exciting for me! I am almost published!!

There are still some things I am awaiting, endorsements and alike, an ISBN and which font is the cutest – really don’t want to be using times new roman

Life is going so fast. Super fast infact. To think Alyssia is almost 18 weeks old. That’s four months. She is so beautiful. Ben will be in Nursery every afternoon after Christmas, and is going to LOVE it! Bethany is learning to read and write. Her first letter to me was:

To Mum. To Dad. I lv y. Bethany.

As I know she can spell love properly rather than phonetically I realised she must have been in a rush! I send her little notes in her lunch box – which she forgets to read til she gets home… How can you forget?! Anyways, too busy talking and eating and talking I bet! 

Yesterday I met up with Lovely L and we had such lovely chats, our 2 years olds were aware of each other and after about 2 hours they did play together! Our cute-as-can-be girl babies smiled at each other! Although the coffee and chats were the best! 

It feels as though my life-on-pause with a new born is probably over. Which is wonderful!! I have continued to write, talk, plan, and pinterest (if you get addicted to pinning things, please do NOT blame me… One of my friends got me started which has developed into a whole new style, new ideas for home decoration, new ideas for teaching Beth, new hairstyles, and I haven’t been to all of the pages there yet!! ty by the way, I do love it!)

Anyways, with writing I keep on remembering significant times in my life when people have spoken to me and encouraged me in the Mummy Years. (And you know I love these) The gist of the prophetic words: keep on pursuing God, keep being close to Him, remember what you are called for in life after nappies….!

Initially I thought, no ways. I love this season. I love having lazy mornings, I love relaxing, being at home, kind of taking a break from the fast pace of life. And then realised that that is a part of me. I am Anna (too). I’m a stay at home mum – make sure there’s good coffee and good cake, a coffee shop close by, maybe a cleaner *dream* and plenty of people to talk to… I don’t watch tv in the day, I listen to podcasts. I try to be organised (and fail a lot). I told one of my friends I was going to split my housework into 7 zones and target each one per day. She laughed – in a gentle, endearing way – yep I got it. As if I’d remember which zone is for thursday say…..? Ha. I have the best plans, but getting them in motion… not so much

Anyways, back to the words: Keep on thriving in the season you are in. For me, my pretty little baby is growing up way too fast and my blonde boy will be three at Christmas (Well, almost. 23rd: remember we share a birthday ) And if I’m not careful Bethany’s writing will overtake mine! So when I can I get up early to read and pray to write and think. And when I’m not editing tada: you get a blog too!!! 

I want to urge you to keep pursuing the things that God has placed within you. Don’t let the routine of daily life stop you from running after the things that God has placed within you. Follow your dreams. Run fast! remember what makes you feel alive. And by keeping on pursuing you will be surprised with what comes your way – it’s as though you will be walking in your destiny and only suddenly realise it.

Like me. Like now! Here I am writing, dreaming, playing with train track, thinking, pondering, praying, baking, walking baby to sleep in the pram. And all of a sudden (!) I get an email asking me to preach to 200+ at Church. What if I hadn’t listened to the ‘words’ and just done the baby stuff… well, destiny would be waiting for me and I’d get there slower. Yes this Autumn will be truly fabulous. Make it fabulous for yourself too. What are you dreaming of? 

Keep dreaming, and run fast! Be blessed in all you do, and keep on thriving.

Love xox

It’s happening :)

My dear blog readers. I am not silent really. I am just working overtime editing. Please stick with me – and come back for the cover of my new book. Yes. You read that correctly

‘Devoted’ will be released this Autumn. It is a selection of devotions on living a good life. Living with faith. And the journey with God.  It is my favourite writing project to date – and you will enjoy reading it. There are stories, scriptures, prayers, encouragement and a lot of dreams being fulfilled for me as I write. I love writing. A lot more than editing. But you will thank me (and I will thank you for buying it – details on web orders soon, or email me if you want to pre-order so you get yours shipped as soon as it arrives £4.99 (+ £1.50 p&p or collect from me!) email: bakerbarnes at mail dot com)

The editing process is taking me back to the editing times at university. I now (obviously) have a bigger house, so there were more things to sort out before I got round to typing the edits…. My baking drawer looks totes amazing!!!!! (will have to photograph my sprinkles for you to enjoy!!)

So, I am writing, but not blogging right now.

The baby is not so small anymore – Alyssia is so beautiful. Beth has started writing letters to me. And Ben just got given an electronic drum pad, next on his wish list is a selection of pedals, an electric guitar etc, to go with all his cables. Yeah. My boy is just like Ryan , and my (eldest) girl is just like me! Oh and we got a brand new baby kitten. very cute.

Back to the edits on this cosy, rosy sunday afternoon  - enjoy your rainy day too xox

Baby, Baby, Baby oooh :)

Alyssia has now been in our lives for over a year She is 14 weeks old today, and add the 42 weeks of pregnancy = 1 year I read the blog from last year.  Where I prayed for a baby who would sleep well.

AND SHE DOES  :)

Sweet Lissy is THE dream baby. She sleeps from 8pm – 3am, feeds and settles back to sleep til when we all wake up. Who knew babies could do this? I am in shock, well, I used to be, when I was only woken once. I would sneak up to her and listen to her and check her… nope still sleeping. Not at all like Beth or Ben (8-9 wakes per night… no joke… almost not really worth calling it sleeping is it?)

Alyssia gurgles and smiles and laughs and coos and makes our family complete. She is totally loved by Bethany: who prayed for a blonde, blue-eyed girl. And she got it And Ben who just yesterday said to her (whilst I was pretending not to be watching him like a hawk… you never know!): ‘Liss, I think you are cute’. Ahhh what a sweet brother and sister Alyssia has.

There is so, so, so much more I could write about having a chilled out newborn, and the comparisons between babies who sleep in the day (Beth and Ben) and those who sleep only at night (yes, she doesn’t really like napping – but it means days are full and fun and nights are sleepy!). I love their three personalities, I love the way our house is full of laughter and toys and fun and when they are asleep we thank God for the blessing of them all.

I love what I have been given and am really enjoying maternity leave, being at home most of the time. Thinking of the future and all that I am made for, this season at home means I am focussing on writing. Thank you for the lovely comments on my book. It’s being proofed as we speak and then THAT graphic designer who I love soooo much is doing the rest <3

But even though I’m not working, I find myself trying to fit things in. I was walking into the village earlier, and heard the sound of the brook. I stopped. Listened. And paused. It was amazing to just listen (yes, the small things) I could have carried on walking up the hill and over the bridge but I wanted to wait and be still. And know. Just a moment. But it was a perfect moment.

Enjoying the moment Love Anna xox

When wondering becomes more like reality

 

Here I am, fresh coffee and cream (I know, cream + 30 day shred dvd = 35 day shred dvd… but anyways) I’m here. I have found the rhythm to write again. Well I think that is what it is. Perhaps it is discipline. The act of getting up and writing and working on what I have.

The past weekend was one of those ‘defining moments’. I wanted to go to a Christian Event – we have a lot at our church but during the summer there are so many of these events at other Churches and I really wanted to go. I suggested we go camping: Ryan thought I was not doing so well, thankfully he was right. It turned out I just wanted to have a few days off as a family, not specifically camp – phew – when we did go to visit our friends at Rivercamp um well. Um. Um…. there was a lot of rain, mud and well, more mud than you really want. So we went to Rivercamp in Evesham for the Saturday.

Beth and Ben were checked into the ‘little fishes’ creche and there we were with Alyssia. It turned out that Mark Stibbe was speaking – he has spoken before at our Church as is very inspirational, speaks about the Father’s Love in a fresh way, has a wonderful way of speaking – and is the husband to Allie Stibbe, you know ‘Barefoot in the Kitchen’ author.

So, I was preparing my heart, wondering how God would show His love to me afresh. And all of a sudden, Mark begins speaking about God the Father and how He anointed him to write. How everyone of us is made in the image of Creator God. Therefore, we are utterly creative. He continued: we are condemned to be creative.

Pause: So if I am made this way, then how come I don’t feel ‘utterly creative’ or how come there is a block sometimes to write, or how come I don’t know what to do next with my writing…

Mark explained that so often we are stopped by a lie. The lie of ‘you can’t do it’ (often spoken by a parent/ teacher).

In one sentence my mind began to whirl:

You can be creative

 

These are the notes from what he spoke on for the next few minutes:

There is a synergy between creativity & prophecy.

John saw: Rev 1
Seeing. Knowing. 
Writing angel. Quill. 
Gift of seeing
Writing is the task. To activate what you have seen.
The treasure of Discovery always found in the field of discipline 
Work hard at the task. 
Make Him famous. 

As he was speaking, I was thinking, wondering, trying to work out where my writing future would head. Yes I have pursued writing, and have studied literature and creative writing. I almost subscribed to the ‘writers’ magazine. I have books on how to write. I have the self-publishing company (that I will use one day) saved to my favourites tabs. I hope. I have an envelope of money with the exact amount it costs to publish 100 of my very first books.

But I did not know if this was what I was meant to do.

I have been working on my 6 chapters for my first book for a long, long time. I know the cover design, I know the font, I know who I will thank and I still didn’t know what to do with my ‘book’.

As I write this, I realise that there has been a journey, that without the journey, I would probably have launched into writing without it being the right time. Yes, there would have been grace (indeed I hope so) but I can’t believe I was so close to clicking ‘send’ to the publishers and yet have never done so.

I have told friends about ‘the book’. I have even written it on my twitter account (maybe not facebook as I have actual friends there). The publishers even came for lunch one Sunday, because my parents were ill and we were available- ha who says that?! I cooked Pork dinner [I feel this is rather like the 'tiger who came to tea' except 'the publisher came to lunch'... ]

And yet. It still didn’t feel like the right time.

I would meet my friend for coffee and she would ask time and again: how’s the book? I would always come up with some really good reason as to why I hadn’t clicked send.

And then I met up with my sweet friend and she asked the same. This time I didn’t have a really good answer. I just didn’t know the right time. Friends at church were asking what I would do with my blog as there were a lot of followers and readers, similarly I had a lot of comments on the marriage one.

And yet still I wasn’t sure. I knew ‘something’ would happen as I hit 10,000 hits on the blog. But it happened so fast that I didn’t know which day it happened, and now a week or so later we are hundreds over it – thank you dear reader. You are truly wonderful.

Another thing happened on 16th August. I switched my phone on and the time was 16:16 and the date 16/8. Things were lining up. I heard someone explain the alignment of God in ways that we could see. Who knew what was lining up for me?

As I sat in that meeting last Saturday. I knew I had to get prayed for by Mark – I knew that the time ahd come. As I stood there, my dad (who is a friend of Mark) asked him to pray for me.

And: as he prayed I really knew that THIS IS MY TIME. You know I pray a lot, you know I pray for others a lot. And yet in this instant it was as though I felt my heart shift from not believing I could do it. To feeling the urge to press ‘send’! I was encouraged in the discipline – I told him I have three children, a blog, a degree, etc (and then felt like i was garbling…) He prayed for me and I received all that was imparted to me

I could have left it at that. But then I wouldn’t have been wise with the investment… Have you been prayed for about certain things and been wise with your investment?

But now, I have been studying and researching in a new way. It feels as though this was the next thing. My children take lie-ins in the morning so I have more time to write in the morning. And new topics and ideas are springing up.

So this is where my wondering has become reality. The years of waiting and writing. The years of writing. The years of preparation. The time is now for me.

And for that I am thankful. To all my friends who have suggested it to me, for those who have been stronger and told me to write more, for those who have watched, and those who have prayed.

THANKYOU. This step is an exciting one and as soon as I have the cover finalised I will place a link to the book. [fyi £4.99 +£1.10 postage and packaging... you can pre-order if you leave a comment, I can email you]

Love A xoxox