Category Archives: Motherhood

Freedom of Little Child

Posted in Birds, Family, Motherhood, My thoughts by

Hello this new morning.

Whether in the town or country I always hear a bird singing in the early morning while it is still dark.

It’s a new day and a new year. I learn from the little children they awake and expect they will get breakfast. They play and look for something they enjoy doing. Until mum calls them to get washed and dressed.

Isn’t it easier to start if we have something to ease us into the new day and the work ahead of us. For someone it is that hot cup of coffee and sitting by the heat to wake us up. Or listening to the radio, checking one’s Facebook or a chat to a friend.

Whether you are happy or sad there is someone who is with you whom you can’t see but He is there. His name is Jesus. He sticks closer than a brother. You have a guardian angel with you all the time. He watches over you. Take time to welcome Jesus presence. Just like that little bird singing outside, I can’t see him but I can hear him.

I was blessed this week by the little children. On New Year’s morning we went along to a friend’s gathering. There was a little girl there. She was about six years old. She skipped and danced the whole time. When the worship music started she twirled and did head springs. Her mum gave her a bag of sweets to share. She had no fear and approached everyone to offer him a sweet.

When I visit with my son’s family his daughter greets me and wants to show me how she can dance and pirroet. Next time I will pay more attention and share in her joy.

My son’s children are free like little birds that jump about near the mothers nest till they can fly. When we visit they run, leap and dive from the chair into the settee. I would have been correcting them in the past and wanting them to behave. But no. Let them be free.

Know the Truth

Posted in Family, Motherhood, My thoughts, Nature, Thoughtful Thursday by

Happy New Year to all my readers. Everyone wants to win the lottery. Everyone would not refuse money. I am offering you today something that is better than fine gold and it is free.


I’ve started reading from my daily Bible again. A little bit of scripture every day. Why not start the New Year with reading from the scripture. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

I have studied at university but I didn’t find out the truth about how to live on the earth with others. I studied about history, nature and gained much knowledge. My first essay was on the Origin of Man. My teachers were denying the truth that God created man and woman and that they were created in God’s image. They tried to tell me we evolved from apes!

I am on day five of reading the Bible. There is so much basic truth for life on the first chapters of the bible. God spoke to me when I read Genises 1 forty six years ago. I learnt that God who created the heavens and the earth made me in his image and told me to increase and multiply. God blessed me with fourteen children and twenty five grandchildren since I read that word. I received faith when I read those words.

I can assure you that if you pick up a bible and start reading it God will speak to you through the words you read. You can start anywhere. Your mind will be renewed.

Our countries in the west are proud of their universities. They are sources of knowledge. Poorer countries are envious and would love the opportunity to go there. But our centres of learning fill us with more knowledge. God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of good and evil. They disobeyed. We are descendants of Adam and Eve. We are full of the knowledge of good and evil. We are gods in our own mind. We feel we don’t need to submit to anyone. We know what is good and evil.

When I open Facebook I see advertisements for how to live better, loose weight, look younger, heal yourself, eat this, don’t eat that. The best way to live is by doing it according to God’s will and not our own. Not by might, not by power but by His Holy Spirit.

One can live on the earth but if we don’t submit to the One who is God of gods and Lord of lords we will not have eternal life. Read the Bible and you will get to know the truth.

Study the Bible. From the mother at home, the factory worker, the prisoner to the lorry driver you can listen or read the Bible as you work. There are so many ways of accessing the bible, radio, cds, pod casts etc.

I found much of the truth I know about child rearing and healing from reading the Bible, a little every day. Start your new career today by reading the Bible for yourself in this New Year. I’m giving you a gift that is better than fine gold.

Lady Healed of Cancer has a Baby Boy

Posted in Cancer, Family, Healing, Motherhood, My thoughts, Prayer, Restoration, Slovakia by

Here is a testimony about what the living God has done for a family in Slovakia.

I was invited to speak about having fourteen children and how God healed me of Cancer to children in a school in Trnava, Slovakia. The children were aged from fourteen years to eighteen years old.

It was a bit formidable at first standing before a crowd of children and their teachers. I remembered that over the years I had to interact with my own teenage boys and girls just like the audience before me.

When I told them I had fourteen children I got their attention. I went on to tell them about my family, my children just like them, praying for me to be healed of cancer. Jesus said to pray to the Father in his name and the Father would answer their prayers.

“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭23‬ NIV)

I encouraged them to help and pray for their parents just like my children did for me. I blessed the school children and gave them a copy of my book Staying Alive.

Six young people stayed behind and asked me to pray for them. One of the young ladies began to cry. She told me her mother was going into hospital the next day for an operation for Cancer. I prayed for her mother and asked the Father in Jesus name to heal her just as he had healed me.

Two months later I received an email from the young lady. She told me her mother was pregnant and the doctors could not believe it. When one has cancer and undergoes treatment one of the side effects is infertility. The doctors warned her there could be abnormality with the child. A healthy strong baby boy was born some months later.

The mother went for tests to check for cancer later. She got the all clear. The doctors were amazed. This mother is enjoying life with her new baby boy. Jesus promises to give us life and give it more abundantly.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ KJV)

I tell this story to give Glory to God who is healing people today. Jesus, when he was on Earth healed people of all diseases. As God has comforted me and my family, he wants to do the same for others.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ KJV)
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ NIV)

People often ask why I quote the scriptures. I believe the scriptures are the inspired word of God and I repeat what God says. I give testiment to the fulfilment of what God has said. His word promises that he will answer our prayers to heal and he does. It is not in my power this lady was healed. It was through the power of the name of Jesus.

What God, the Creator of the Universe has done for me and this lady from Trnava, he can do for you.

Angels on Guard

Posted in Family, Motherhood, My thoughts by

Brendan and I called down to visit our son and his family one evening. It was around bedtime. Some of their children gathered in the living room as their mum and I talked.

They were telling me that they had been at the River Quoile Countryside Park. One of the boys said to Esther “Show granny the feather you found today.” She produced a large white feather.

I said, “Oh your angel may have dropped a feather.” I had just been reading a book called “Seeing Angels” by Joshua Mills. In this book he describes that some angels he has seen have very large feathers!

Everyone went quiet and listened. I continued telling the children that there are angels encamped around them to deliver them. Also each child is allocated an angel. Scripture says Your angel beholds the face of God in heaven. I told them not to be afraid of the dark or danger.

Their Mum told me they were climbing over the ruins of a castle without fear. A man came up to her and rebuked her for not looking after her children.

She remembered me telling her about a New Zealand couple who let their children run and climb and jump with freedom. Irish parents are more fearful. Don’t let Jimmy climb that tree. He might fall and break his neck. We took our friends example and let our children roam as well.

Later Mum said she was talking to two of her boys the night before about angels after one awoke with anxiety. I repeated exactly what she had told her boys. I got my grand children’s attention.

The Wooden Spoon

Posted in Family, Motherhood, My thoughts, Restoration by

Yesterday I was at a funeral service for an 89 year old lady. Towards the end of the service her sixty year old son spoke about memories he had about his Mum. He has been living in Florida for a long time.

He thanked his Mum and Dad for the “Wooden Spoon” referring to discipline his parents used when he was young growing up with five siblings. “In America people don’t know about the wooden Spoon”, he said. “My parents taught me values when I was growing up. I haven’t forgotten them.”

To live in a big family there needs to be unity and order or there will be chaos, each individual wanting their own way. The parents working in unity can bring about that leadership and bring peace to their family. There needs to be boundaries set and for anyone to break the rules there needs to be something done to deter any further wrongdoing.

Many families of old have used a smack with a wooden spoon as discipline when rules were broken. There is a saying “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” The Word of God gives us guidelines.

Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them

Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.

Proverbs 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

A child will learn obedience when he listens to his earthly father who disciplines him. It will be easy for this child to hear from his Heavenly Father and obey Him when he grows up.

Jesus listened to His Father in heaven. He went alone to pray often. He learnt obedience through the things he suffered. He was obedient even to death on the cross.

Sometimes we go through hardship and suffering. Don’t despise it. It is our Father disciplining us for our good and teaching us to choose the right way to go.

Jesus Healed my Broken Heart

Posted in Dreams, Family, Healing, Ireland, Motherhood, My thoughts, Nations, poetry, Restoration by

Good morning friends across the nations.
How are you today?

It’s Valentine weekend. Songs of love are played on the radio. Desire and hope for love are stirred in our hearts. Love is in the air. Will I get a Valentine Card? Does someone secretly admire me?

I did have those teenage dreams. I did get a Valentine Card. My heart was stirred with love. I had met my husband Brendan the previous summer. He is still very romantic, kind, giving and forgiving.

Fifty three years on my heart is stirred with love. Brendan and I were celebrating with some of our family the birth of twin grand daughters to Ruth and Stuart. It’s been a roller coaster week. Thank you Nora and Colin for the lovely meal.

My girls were looking down memory lane. One remembered with tears being bullied by the vice principal of her school. Another was caught by another school’s vice principal smoking at break time. Stresses and joys of living in a big family were recalled with more tears and laughter.

It hasn’t been easy for Brendan and I to rear a big family and still be alive. My heart was broken many times; children leaving home, difficulty in my marriage or sickness. My children asked me “Do you remember that?” as they recall some difficult incident. I was busy rearing the next child or making dinner. I wasn’t aware of things going on behind the scenes.

My husband thought if I had HRT medication it would make it more easier for him to live with me. Despite our love for each other we did have our difficulties in our twenties, thirties and fourties. So HRT was not the solution then or now. Forgiveness and love sets the captive heart free.

No I dont have dementia either because I don’t recall difficult times. I told my daughter a story recently about walking down my street. We moved here one year ago. It was dusk and I glanced through a window where the blinds had not been drawn. It looked homely. I turned back. It was my house! My daughter wanted to bring me to the optician to get my eyes seen to and was worried about my mind.

As I drove back home last night the reality hit me. My heart is not broken any more. Jesus has healed my heart. He was with me in all my troubles and he delivered me out of them all. He has restored my body soul and spirit. He had caused me to live to see my children’s children.

The scripture in Isaiah 61 is true. He healed the broken hearts and binds up their wounds. He gives a garment of praise instead of despair.

For anyone of you today who has a broken heart because of disappointment, loss or sickness don’t despair. Jesus is acquainted with your grief. Bring your troubles to His cross. He will pour in His love and heal you and bless you.

“Keep right on to the end of the road, keep right on to the end. If you are tired and weary still journey on round the bend.” Lyrics by Harry Lauder.

Turn the Hearts of the Parents

Posted in Family, Motherhood, My thoughts, Nature, Thoughtful Thursday by

Malachi 4

The last paragraph of the last book of the Old Testament ends with

Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all of Israel. 

See I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.  He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the hearts of the children to their parents. Or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.  

0n the media this week we hear of a father and mother who were sent to jail for the neglect, torture and death of their son.  Twenty eight children have died in Great Britain last year, at the hands of their parents.  Those who should nurture and protect the young killed them.

Laws are passed in these islands to allow a mother to kill her young in her womb. 20,000 women needed hospital care after using DIY home abortions. The law of the land allows a woman to get a pill from the chemist to get rid of a baby in her womb. These mothers hearts are not turned to their young. Where are the fathers of these babies?

The laws of God, our creator and Father of mankind, have been broken. Are we headed for total destruction? Is very creation crying out? Man is destroying the earth, the place we are given to live in. Our very climate is changing. There is a pandemic happening over the nations.

God started mankind from one family when he created Adam and Eve. God destroyed mankind because of evil in the time of Noah. God saved one family, Noah’s. He doesn’t want to destroy mankind again. God has put eternity in our hearts. If we respond to our hearts we will find God. If we don’t we will be judged.

God hasn’t changed. God is patient with us. He is merciful. He is waiting for men and women to seek him and turn from their sins. There is hope for our hearts to change. God promises to send someone who will tell us where we have gone wrong. If we listen and believe in God one will be saved from destruction. One of the signs of change will be if we turn our hearts to God, to one another and to the children and elderly.

The beginning of the New Testament tells us about John the Baptist. He called for people to turn to God. He pointed to Jesus. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”. Believe in Jesus and he will give us his Holy Spirit and power to live in uncertain times and we can overcome and be healed.

We will not live forever. There is a heaven and hell after we die. If we turn to Jesus he will forgive us our sins we will have eternal life. If we don’t one is faced with destruction and eternal hell.

I am a Sign

Posted in Dreams, Family, Ireland, Motherhood, My thoughts, Nations, Nature by

About forty five years ago, my husband Brendan and I were having a drink in our local bar. The owner always enjoyed our visit. He would have conversations with Brendan. One night Harry gave me a bible.

I read the first chapter of the first book of the bible, Genesis. Verse twenty seven jumped out of the page at me. It says,

So created man in his own image. In the image of God he created him. Male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them Be fruitful, and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it.

In this passage some facts are recounted. God created man and woman in the image of God. God spoke to man. These words encouraged me. My heart was thrilled to realise I am made by God and that he can speak to me on the earth. At that point in my life I didn’t know God can speak to people on the earth or that He can be involved in my life.

God was giving me permission to increase and multiply and fill or populate the earth. That day I read these words, I received faith to have many children. At the time I had two young children. I was hoping to have more children but nothing was happening. I prayed that morning to the God who created the earth to give me a child. God answered my prayer. I became pregnant soon after.

My life changed that day. I no longer needed to be anxious to get a job. God was giving me a job. And his blessing as well.

I went on to have fourteen children in total. He also speaks to me through his word in the scriptures. I hear his direction in dreams and prophecy. I am a sign to you today pointing you to God in heaven our creator who wants to speak to you.

All over the world God’s Spirit is moving. All over the world mankind in different nations sees the same sun and moon at different times in the day. We can see God’s handiwork. Wherever you are today look up to God who created the earth. He wants to speak to you. Talk to him today just as I did all those years ago. He will answer you.

My Eldest Daughter’s Success

Posted in Family, Ireland, Motherhood, My thoughts by

It was fifty years ago around Easter time that I discovered I was pregnant. I was in my second year at university, What should I do? What will my parents think? Will I finish my studies?

I was aware that the University Medical Center arranged for a student to go to England if she wanted an abortion.  Not everyone wanted the responsibility of a child.  One was at university to further one’s prospect of a job and career.  Having a child would interfere with those plans.  Best stop the pregnancy and no one will know, some students thought. 

The western world was going through revolution.  Youth in the west threw off the customs of their forefathers and guidelines on how to live.  The pill was available so one didn’t have to get married.  Abortion became available.  Music was being blasted over the airwaves about love, all you need is love.  The result of throwing off the wisdom gained from previous generations has resulted in millions of children being aborted.   

I decided I wanted to keep my child.  I didn’t listen to my peers.  I wasn’t passionate about a future career.  Brendan asked me to marry him.  We were twenty years and twenty one years old respectively.  We were willing to face the future together as many people before us have done.  My daughter Shann was born later that year.

Recently we celebrated Shann’s success in getting the highest mark in her Masters, doing research for community health care. If we had aborted my unborn child we wouldn’t have had the joy of raising and being responsible for another human being. Brendan’s mother wouldn’t have had the joy of seeing her first grandchild and spending many happy days with her. In nannie’s old age Shann cared for her.

Shann has brought love to many.  The world would not be the same without her. Shann has been a blessing.  She is married to Mark.  They have four beautiful children.  As a health professional she has worked with sick children and elderly.  She encourages her colleagues when they are having a bad day.  She is compassionate to her neighbours.

 Our eldest child has loved us and her siblings unconditionally.  We look forward to many good days together in the future.  

This story is the result of my choice fifty years ago not to have an abortion.

Pinky my Dressing Gown

Posted in Cancer, Family, Family Friday, Healing, Motherhood, My thoughts by

There is an item of clothing that is very important to me. When I get up in the morning the first thing I reach for is my dressing gown. I was often so tired after feeding a baby through the night I eeked out the last few minutes before I got up to get the children out to school.

While rearing a big family, there was no time to get washed and dressed first before everyone else was up. There was always a rush to get using the bathroom in the morning with so many children. I helped the younger children get ready. A wipe with a facecloth and hair brushed was sufficient to look respectable for school. 

I have lived in big, older houses so the air can be chilly first thing in the morning. I like to wrap up tightly before I go to make a cup of tea. The kitchen can be the coolest part of the house unless one has the luxury of an AGA cooker. My dressing gown helped me keep warm tied tightly around my waist.  

I have had different dressing gowns over the years but I’ve had two favourite ones. A friend bought me a new dressing gown for going to hospital to have my daughter Mary forty years ago. It was full length, made of silk like material, navy in colour with flowers printed around the bottom. I had it for many years. I felt quite glamorous in it. When we were in Kerry one year I mistakenly left it behind. I regretted losing that dressing gown. I wasn’t able to find another one like it since.  

Ten years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer, my daughter bought me a dark pink gown made of towel fabric. I suit pink and it felt very warm and comfortable to wear. I’ve worn it these last years. I call it Pinky.

No children to get out to school now. I enjoy my garden on a sunny morning still in my dressing gown inspecting the new growth of spring time. I would be out there for hours unmindful of the time passing. I better get dressed.

My husband would be particular about what I wear. If he didn’t like something I was wearing he would soon let me know. He never commented on either of these dressing gowns. He bought me a sheepskin pair of slippers. When I saw them first I told him they are what grannies wear. I didn’t think I would wear them. In my home they are my constant footwear, so warm and soft on my feet. Pinky and the granny slippers have been a comfort to me in the cold nights and mornings.  

I am often awake through the night. Sure enough my favourite dressing gown would keep me warm in my night watches. I did most of my blogging at night, prayed or worked on my mosaics. I would be caught up for hours in my workshop. Later in the morning I could be found still pottering about my kitchen, baking or cooking into the late morning still with my dressing gown on.  

During the last two months Brendan and I have moved house. Initially it was quite daunting to start packing up. Two of my daughters helped during the Christmas holidays pack up some kitchen ware. Mary helped me with some of my clothes and other items in my bedroom. She was strict with me. Do you wear this? Have you worn this item this last year.? Yes I am guilty I had many dresses that were hanging in my wardrobe that hadn’t been worn for a long time. I did succumb to my daughters wishes to get rid of many items., less packing.  In the following weeks I packed clothes, books, jewellery that I didn’t want to get lost in the general afray of un named boxes.

The time came nearer to the final leaving date. Two other daughters came to help pack. I was glad of their help and I left them to make decisions.  I was trying to adjust to the change that was on the horizon for me. Leaving a large home with a beautiful view over Strangford Lough. I didn’t have the energy to do much packing. They did a thorough work giving up their time to help us move. 

A big blessing for me was Ruth finding a ring that my husband bought for me while I was on holiday in Egypt many years ago. It was made of silver with fourteen dark stones on it, representing all my children. I thought I had lost it fifteen years ago. It meant so much to me, and I missed it. No matter what the girls did in the move after that I forgave because they found this precious piece of jewellery in a desk cabinet.

One of the casualties of the move was my pink dressing gown. It was discarded with other worn clothes. Another daughter has tried to replace Pinky with other dressing gowns she bought for me a few years back. One made me look like a polar bear. I dreaded to wear it in front of Brendan. Another was a dark full length satin gown which wasn’t comfortable around my waist. I went back to good old faithful Pinky.

It had been with me through cancer, when I was writing me book and in the night when I would be working on my mosaics.  

When I spent my first night in my new home Pinky was not at hand to keep me warm in the morning. We were separated. I had left the rest of the packing to my girls to finish. Pinky became a casualty of the move. My daughters thought Its time for Mum to get a new dressing gown! Like my other favourite gown I can’t find another one like Pinky.  

My girls and I joke about it. All is forgiven because Ruth found my favoite ring that I thought was lost forever. I now wear the ring on a string around my neck. I can carry my children close to my heart.  

I now seek to wear a different garment , one the Lord wants me to wear.

“You are chosen by God for this new life of love, so dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”(Col 3:12,13). And where will you find that on the “High Street”?