In stark contrast to yesterday’s beautifully lit, dreamy eyed child staring out of a window, here is today’s messy and miserable, grizzly and grumpy, refusing to have his photo taken, chocolate moustache wearing toddler. Here’s my confession – this morning I didn’t even bother setting the table for breakfast. I waited until they were hungry and offered them toast. Just so I could stay sitting in my chair whilst they watched tv and ate. I’m hindsight, maybe that’s why he was grumpy. Although you’d have thought Nutella for breakfast would cheer anyone up.

Unfortunately the downside of leisurely mornings with children who do better with routine, is that there are often wobbles come mid morning. After we had another choice-making dressing challenge, we then had some struggles over what to do. So I gave out three tote bags, and sent them off on a soft and hard object scavenger hunt. It provided sufficient entertainment to distract for a while, and also the emptying of my entire shelf of crocheted teddies. Which I’m trying to not be precious about.

Meanwhile Megan and Micah developed lockdown game number 342: ‘Tray Football’. Despite the significant size difference between their chosen trays, Micah did surprisingly well in the competition.

Given the general unrest, and the need for fight-minimising entertainment, I suggested we make name places for the table. My ulterior motive was not only to try and make sure they still know how to use a pen next week (I’ve heard scary things about their teacher this year), but also to try and lessen the table time battles over who sits where. Despite the fact there are designated seats, some family members struggle to find anyone they can happily sit next to, whilst others are extremely fickle in who their bestie is today. I’m hoping if it’s written in pen and ink it might be taken as law. Until someone screws up the paper and throws it out of the window. But I can hope!

After lunch the little trio made themselves homes under the climbing frame, whilst Toby and Liam cleaned out the paddling pool for re-filling.

Which the boys promptly made use of for the afternoon. For safety purposes I posted myself next to the back door with crochet and a podcast whilst I was on lifeguard duties. The sacrifices I make for my children know no limits.

Maddie joined them later on, and Liam raised the paddling pool to water park level with a sprinkler fountain.

Which he decided to join them in after a hot day’s work in the garden.

The pool was definitely the popular place to be this afternoon in the heat. It was one of those days where making dinner was hard just because I didn’t want to cook. But I’m so thankful for the weather. 8 of us in a house in weeks of rain would have been very very hard going. And there is so much fun to be had outside.

Maddie’s struggling to get to sleep at the moment, with the heat and light and worries in her head, but the Toniebox story reader she had for her birthday is proving brilliant, especially the little character we can record ourselves reading stories onto. Tonight she lay and listened to me reading three stories whilst I sat downstairs with wine and crochet. Absolutely genius! Obviously I did go back up and sit with her until she was sleepy enough to drop off, but for a brief respite, it’s a gem.

I can’t pretend it’s not wearing for Liam and I at times, being woken every night by different children, then getting up early with small ones, settling an older one at 10pm last night who asked me to stay with him, then as we were heading to bed at 11:30, our eldest reappearing with various issues including but not limited to – a finger pain/a broken blind/a moth or spider/a dripping tap.

And then through the day being mediator for the squabbles, counsellor for the worries, café for the endless hunger, whilst still trying to care for the house needs and have more than fleeting conversation with Liam over the cacophony of voices.

But then I’m reminded of words like these from Isaiah. God cares about the weakest and the vulnerable. He delights in hearts that love and care-and make ourselves available with eyes open to the needs around us, and the needs in our own families. More than ever right now I have the opportunity to be available. And the One who made each member of my family and knows their every need, who cares and loves far beyond what I can imagine, He’s the One who hears when I call for help. And He comes.

“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The GOD of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, GOD will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’” (Isaiah 58 The Message Version).