We gave the morning to making preparations. Hanging bunting and paper chains, adding to our chalked wall messages, and baking. Because we may have already had plenty of cake here, but Theo’s homework was to make butterfly cakes for VE Day, and what British party is complete without scones? My hope is I won’t have to make any other food for several days. You may wonder if I stockpiled flour, and the answer is no I didn’t. But on the one day that there was enormous amounts of strong white flour in Morrison’s, I bought a bag for me and one for a friend who didn’t then need it. And it turns out you can quite effectively swap both plain flour and self raising flour with strong bread flour. Who knew?!

Megan and Maisie’s preparations largely involved painting their nails patriotic colours. Especially when asked to help to do something. And Megan within about 5 minutes went back upstairs to take it all off again, because, it turns out, she doesn’t like the feel of it.

In a moment of fun I suggested we all wear red, white and blue. This inadvertently caused an almighty meltdown for Maddie, who despite the fact that last night she had decided she was going to wear a t shirt of those very colours today, now suddenly couldn’t bear the thought and hid in her bed. At which point I said I really didn’t mind what colours she wore, it was okay if she wore yellow, black and purple. Anyway eventually we got through it and she joined us for the two minute silence. In the original top.

It was so lovely to eat outside and enjoy the sunshine, to hear our neighbours laughing in their garden, and to have a family party on a Friday. In all honesty, were it not for lockdown, I don’t know if we’d have done a lot for VE Day. Liam was due to work the bank holiday, and I probably would have been stressed out from two birthdays, parties at the weekend, and another one to come, that it would have been the thing to get missed out.

But I’m so glad we took part. Our street is unfortunately not prone to social interaction, but it was good to watch the BBCs programmes, and to see the historical footage of what VE Day meant to those there 75 years ago. And to do it together, to help the children understand some of their history, to see Toby’s fascination growing as what he’s been studying comes to life. And to be thankful again for those who sacrificed for our freedom.

The afternoon involved re-filling the paddling pool, and large amounts of chilling in the garden.

It also involved avoiding water pistols. Easier said than done.

And running around making bubbles. Which I thought it would be fun to lie down and take pictures of, and Liam enjoyed how much bubble mixture could be dripped on my head in the process. Still, sometimes you have to suffer for your art.

It can be a bit of a daily battle to extract the older three from their hibernation in the house, so I have to lure them out with frequent food. And then sit with them until I feel they’ve gained sufficient vitamin D to sustain them for another day. Although the hammocks are proving a helpful asset in this.

This morning a friend called for a socially distant chat after doing her food shop and left peonies on the doorstep, my absolute favourite flower. I love their softness, their fluffiness, the shade of pink, the fragrance, the way they open into a billowy cloud of pastel heaven. Sorry, I might be getting carried away, but I do really love peonies. And the fact that my friend remembered. But more than anything, I love to see people’s faces, and chat in real life. Because nothing quite matches up to that interaction.

After we put the little ones to bed this evening we heard that the Welsh government are extending lockdown for another three weeks. It’s not a surprise, but it’s not easy to hear either. And yet, having watched the stories from the war, and trying to imagine what six years of blackouts and air raids and missing loved ones must have felt like, makes these weeks seem very little in comparison.

Today was about being grateful for sacrifice, and celebrating freedom. Which in some ways felt a little ironic, at a time when we’re so restricted. And yet in many ways it was also a timely reminder to me of how much I have to be grateful for, living with freedom of speech, in comfort, with more than enough food, in safety, with my loved ones, and able to easily connect with those I’m missing. Freedom is no small thing. And freedom costs. I don’t celebrate war, but I’m grateful for those who sacrificed for our freedom.

And I’m beyond grateful to the Jesus, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Who gave His life so that I can be free. So that I can have hope. So that I can have community. I kept thinking of the words to one of mine and Maddie’s favourite songs today:

‘Who am I that the highest King
Would welcome me?
I was lost but He brought me in
Oh His love for me
Oh His love for me

Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I’m a child of God
Yes I am

Free at last, He has ransomed me
His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin
Jesus died for me
Yes He died for me

Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I’m a child of God
Yes I am
In my Father’s house
There’s a place for me
I’m a child of God
Yes I am

I am chosen
Not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me
Not against me
I am who You say I am.’ (Hillsong).

Freed. To be loved, and to love.

‘For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another’. – Galatians 5:13

Celebrating freedom was special today, but it left me feeling challenged too. To use my freedom for good. To make sacrifices count. To not waste it by being inward looking, but to choose to love. And with more weeks locked down, there will be plenty of opportunities to be creative in loving those distant, and even more opportunities to choose to love those in my home.