She hath wings

Learning to soar above life's storms

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about

I am a wife and mother of three beautiful children. I love to write, do craft, cook, visit the beach, shop, go for walks in picturesque places, play music and sing.
  • Princess Mozella

    Princess Mozella

    Today my little princess has a birthday. When indulging in pretend play, she often calls herself “Princess Mozella”. She is only a few years old and yet she has achieved a lot in a short space of time and is growing every day.

    Today we hosted a little afternoon tea with a couple of games and a Frozen theme. Her friends were so excited to dress up as princesses. What a wonderful thing it was to sit back with a few other adults and watch the children use their imagination. It was refreshing to see them happy with simple things and not requiring a screen.

    They played musical statues, “keepy uppy” (keeping a balloon in the air) , made masks and did a “snowball throw”; (the boys who were taller, had to throw plastic balls into the trampoline while the girls I the trampoline tossed them out, pretending they were in a castle). They also searched for little objects I had hidden around the room and swapped each one for a lolly.

    The cake was an ice cream cake remodelled with pre-made Frozen cut outs on top. This was a real hit and it was good that it suited the little girl who needed to avoid gluten.

    The kids reluctantly went home just after 5pm and we knew the afternoon had been a success. Days like today make me brave enough to organise and host more play dates in future and even offer babysitting!

    Princess Mozella will no doubt change her name a number of times and one day, disappear, but for now, the rest of the family enjoys her theatrical ways. Life for her is a musical and she takes centre stage, making sure there are at least 3 or 4 costume changes a day!!!

  • Ode To One Who Cares

    Your reassuring hand on my shoulder,

    Your empathetic eyes;

    A rare gem who cares more than many in the field,

    Clear-thinking and wise.

    Never-judging- always positive ,

    Declaring the distance I’ve come;

    You make the mountains shrink away

    And affirm all the hope that’s begun.

    You’re a calming influence ; Your humour disarming-

    As well as healing hands-

    I’ll never forget your timely words

    And the knowledge, ‘he understands’.

    © M. Patterson 8.3.22

  • A Little Howdy!

    A Little Howdy!

    Dear Readers,

    It has been quite some time since I wrote anything and published it on this site. I haven’t forgotten about writing. In fact, I am on the brink of trying something new. I am going to learn some skills to help me try my hand at writing a children’s book. For many years now, I have had the desire to write and publish something, yet I knew I needed to know more about drafting and publishing my work. One of the local mums I know, led me to an online course and has inspired me to start the process. My Dad, who I am missing very intensely (I lost him early November), encouraged me to make some goals and learn what I need, encouraging me that I had the seeds I needed to write well. In a season of healing and processing loss, what a wonderful thing it is to have a love of writing. I believe it will be a source of comfort and sorting out the myriad of thoughts which are all clamouring for attention.

    I am wondering what your favourite books were as a child, or what, in your opinion, are must-haves in a good picture book? Please comment below this post. I will reply as soon as I can.

  • Farewelling My Father

    Farewelling My Father

    Just a few short months on and I am now crying, not tears of anticipation, but of farewell. I watched my dear father pass away – that very spiritual moment when his soul left his body and went to be with the Lord, almost 2 weeks ago. This week we will celebrate his life and are fortunate to have a larger number to be there to support us than when his illness first began, thanks to the double vaccination rate being over 80%. I learnt so much in the last weeks of Dad’s life and though there weren’t many days between his homecoming from hospital and when he breathed his last, I will always treasure the precious times I spent with him and the words he spoke personally to me. Writing is something he always encouraged in me and yet it was so hard to even pick up a pen in his final days or shortly afterward. It will be my honour to stand and tell his friends and family and one day, perhaps a broader audience, about the impact of Dad’s life on mine. Like a unexpected gift, the words came to me and flowed together, succinct enough to not require much reworking. I wish, like so many other loved ones of his, that I could have had more time to ask him all the things I wanted to know and to tell him more from my own heart. Yet the important words were spoken. “I love you. I’m proud of you. God has a plan for you…”. I walked into his room as he was unconcious and dying, and told him, “I love you Dad!” and a dreamy half smile, like a baby having a pleasant dream, came upon his face as it was radiant for a second. That was the last response I had from him and I knew he had heard me. Dad had been there for me in so many ways over the years. Now at last, he could be at peace, knowing his wife and children were with him to say farewell.

  • He Sees You

    Tonight I finally accepted that Victoria wasn’t going to go back to zero Covid cases in the foreseeable future. It was such a blow – we worked so hard for it in 2020 and the start of 2021. If not for those months of respite when we could almost return to life without worry of Covid, I would have wondered if it were in vain.

    Today the Premier stated that case numbers, in fact, would surely increase. Not even the optimist within me could make that go away. I felt the strain already this week – in the midst of our 6th lockdown, and only halfway through as declared today, even the children are increasingly more gloomy, despite their ability to lose themselves in imaginative play. When everyone had gone to bed and I found myself in the quiet at 10.30pm I should have felt elated – silence is hard to come by thesedays. Yet, I wanted company in the room – I just didn’t want to have process anyone else’s issues. I wanted space for my own thoughts. How difficult it is to process them in this season of my life.

    Thinking about some other events this past week, I am able to finally step back from it all. My father experienced a number of miracles which resulted in him being able to recover at home instead of being stuck in hospital for weeks, wondering if he would make it out to see us all again. It seems as though the rollercoaster has finally returned to the ground. It will be a challenging road ahead, but I am so grateful that he is here to tell his story. One day I hope to have permission to write it in full – it would help so many people.

    I watched the news of Kabul closely – feeling as though any lockdown would be better than permanent hiding. It was hard to make sense of how some got rescued but many didn’t. Tonight, I listened to a beautiful song sung by Nicole Mullins which made me cry by the time I was a few minutes in . I was so grateful to the kind friend who sent it to me in the moments when I felt so downcast. It was as if God had tapped her on the shoulder to send it to me, so that I would know the truth.

    It is very easy to feel like a statistic thesedays. You have either had Covid or not had Covid. You have either recovered, are recovering or sadly, you didn’t make it. Life is more than that. Life is precious and unique for each individual. We didn’t lose that in 2020. God didn’t stop noticing us when our world changed forever. He has felt every pain that we have and come alongside us.

    Tonight I was reminded afresh, that God sees me (and you!). I have no less purpose than I had before. I still have access to that same power that raised up Jesus, through knowing and following Him. I’m not defeated or less of a person because I am in a tough season.

    It is so important that we reach out and encourage others in these times. That timely word or song or gift on the doorstep will disarm and keep those channels of communication open. We mustn’t shut down. This is a time to embrace the vulnerable in each other and help each other stay strong.

  • Never Mind “Shoulds”

    Never Mind “Shoulds”

    I’ve come to the end of my strength;
    Will, nor circumstance enough-
    My best not amounting to anything much;
    I’m doing it really tough.
    I tell myself that, one day “this”
    Or one day, maybe, “that”;
    But I keep falling on the floor
    Where once, I calmly sat.
    And he’s not here- he’s in pain- in there-
    The one who made me calm;
    Everything is not alright,
    Causing great alarm.
    I’ve had faith, and faith some more-
    I know there’s greater good;
    But right now I just need to cry;
    Never mind what I “should”.
    Knowing the weakness of one so strong,
    Has shaken me to the core;
    Sitting up in the early hours wheezing;
    I could take no more.
    Not even the primary care giver-
    Just one who cares for so many;
    I felt guilty making little complaints,
    And felt I shouldn’t have any.
    The last time that I saw his face
    He faced the other way as I left;
    I had to shake off that metaphor,
    As inward, the doubts have crept.
    Lockdown pending, I had to visit him promptly-
    And so glad I did that day;
    Never did I expect he’d have weeks of isolation,
    Or that I’d have to stay away.
    My own body failed me, right when I wanted
    To be a dependable support;
    I know though, it was appreciated-
    Every prayer and thought.
    And when my hands were tied the most,
    I realised it’s not my story;
    All of these struggles with greater purpose,
    When gone through, will bring Him glory;
    Yet right now I sit, tears close to the surface,
    Wondering if I’ll be strong for the fight;
    And this time it’s not Dad’s reassurance-
    It’s God saying, “You’ll be alright!”.
    Never truly alone in this world,
    His help will remain with me-
    No more striving - only rest,
    As trusting in Him is the key.

    M. Patterson © 29.7.21

  • Torrents of Tears

    Torrents of Tears

    Have you ever received such painful news that you couldn’t think beyond that particular sentence? Where the world stood still and even a small child, so beautifully dressed as a princess, crawling into your lap to request a story, could hardly have removed you from your stupor? I sat in that grief late afternoon today, not able to move towards child-like faith just yet. I longed to share the news and reduce the burden but I could not. Only the grownups could know.

    A torrent of tears flowed then and have mainly flowed since, just as the heavy rain that falls outside my window. Rosie the cat came close, more like a dog than a cat, in terms of empathy. She burrowed her head in my lap, flopping down next to me, commanding the attention which would give me necessary diversion for a minute.

    She knows. Whoever said cats are selfish doesn’t know my Rosie. She reminds me of another cat I had long ago, affectionately nicknamed The Shy Grey Hunter. Rosie isn’t shy, but she sure does know how to provide comfort when comfort is needed.

    It’s ok to let those tears fall. Sometimes it’s the very least we can do. I figure if Jesus could weep over someone He was going to raise to life, I certainly can weep over someone too. Tears are part of being human. Some of us cry more readily than others, but how ever many tears want to fall, that’s how many should.

    Tonight the torrents flow; tomorrow I will be more resolute and once more I will bang on heaven’s door, asking for not a change in facts but a display of God’s truth in the matter. I leave you with one of the most profound verses in the Bible, too short to forget…

    Jesus wept.

    Psalm 56:8 NLT

    8 You keep track of all my sorrows.[a]
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book.

  • Holding Your Balloon

    Solitude.

    Often oblivious to surrounding movement;

    Ears filled with a barrier of music;

    Gently, I drew near.

    Resolve.

    Never a harsh word- you were always gracious,

    Allowing support;

    I longed to help you rise.

    Pressure.

    Mountains of work –

    Easier to sleep, than try;

    Concerned, I spoke for you.

    Turning point.

    Line by line, task by task;

    With care,

    You succeeded.

    Pass!

    The year was over; schooling complete –

    Balloons were soaring high into the air…

    But you held yours close – not ready to release it.

    Courage.

    You stood your ground;

    Determined not to follow a set path.

    Parting words, then goodbye.

    Relief.

    Grateful to see you standing there;

    Saddest of days – I needed to find you…

    Timidly, I drew near.

    Compassion.

    As if I had lost my own brother, I felt your pain;

    Searching for words of comfort;

    I handed you words of life.

    Downcast.

    Unsure if I would ever see you again,

    Praying that you would find hope in the Everlasting Arms…

    Heavy-hearted, I walked away.

    © M. Patterson 2021