Some Christmas Cheer

Classic Christmas morning with scooter and gee I sound like a cranky Mum in that video - ouch!

Some Christmas Cheer

Classic Christmas morning with scooter and gee I sound like a cranky Mum in that video - ouch!

Reflections

I come from a very large inspiring and amazing family and to celebrate this I am starting a new kind of regular theme post and for the first one it is from my brother number 2.

What an honour, I have been asked to put in a blog for my lovely big sisters blog site. Tam asked me about why I get up every morning to read the bible and to write about it. I have put this off for 3 months, because in a way it is a pretty confronting thing; talking about something very personal, and not many people know I do it. But it was a good process for me.

I don't want to go in to the specifics of the bible and why I believe in Jesus, because typically people in Australia just get all claustrophobic when God is mentioned, so I will approach it from a process point of view.

I try to get up every morning and read the bible and pray. I say try, because sometimes it's not easy, and other times it doesn't happen.

Why do I do this?
I think the best answer to this is that I am selfish. My life is about making sure that I am happy and that I feel good inside, knowing that I am on the right track in life. And this is from a selfish motive. It just so happens that for me to have this feeling I need to be chatting to and reading about Jesus. I have tried life without this and it's not fun.

How does this time put aside in the morning return to you during the day?
The main thing about this daily ritual is to move my focus from myself and what things I need to do, on to someone who actually knows what is going on and can do something about it. Not to say that I just sit there and things happen, but to step aside from wanting to control everything and realise there is more to life than work.

How is bible study directed?
I follow a plan from the old church I went to, there are heaps of these, they just suggest different passages each day. Then after that I pray in my prayer book. I find writing things down puts more focus on things, otherwise my mind goes off and I don't feel much meaningful has been said

Is there any relationship between your exercise and bible study?
I think there are heaps. Again, doing exercise (weights and runs) is a selfish thing. I want to feel fit and healthy. Reading the bible is a selfish thing, I want to feel satisfied and happy in my life. Both of these I have to work at. I have to plan for them both and sometimes they both hurt - but there are real benefits; otherwise I wouldn't do them

A gym is useless to you unless you go there and use it. The bible is useless to you unless you open it and chat to people about it's meaning

Anything else you would like to share about your inspiring dedication?
Well first off it's nice that Tam thinks this is inspiring. But I think the only other main point is that in a purely reductionistic and boring point of view, just praying and discussing things with God could be seen as a great way to work through issues. That just writing and purposely thinking about my life, reflecting, means that I will make better decisions. And in a way that is probably right. But there is more to it and I would encourage others to think about understanding this faith, which has changed the course of the planet.

Thanks darling brother for sharing this with us xxT

Reflections

I come from a very large inspiring and amazing family and to celebrate this I am starting a new kind of regular theme post and for the first one it is from my brother number 2.

What an honour, I have been asked to put in a blog for my lovely big sisters blog site. Tam asked me about why I get up every morning to read the bible and to write about it. I have put this off for 3 months, because in a way it is a pretty confronting thing; talking about something very personal, and not many people know I do it. But it was a good process for me.

I don't want to go in to the specifics of the bible and why I believe in Jesus, because typically people in Australia just get all claustrophobic when God is mentioned, so I will approach it from a process point of view.

I try to get up every morning and read the bible and pray. I say try, because sometimes it's not easy, and other times it doesn't happen.

Why do I do this?
I think the best answer to this is that I am selfish. My life is about making sure that I am happy and that I feel good inside, knowing that I am on the right track in life. And this is from a selfish motive. It just so happens that for me to have this feeling I need to be chatting to and reading about Jesus. I have tried life without this and it's not fun.

How does this time put aside in the morning return to you during the day?
The main thing about this daily ritual is to move my focus from myself and what things I need to do, on to someone who actually knows what is going on and can do something about it. Not to say that I just sit there and things happen, but to step aside from wanting to control everything and realise there is more to life than work.

How is bible study directed?
I follow a plan from the old church I went to, there are heaps of these, they just suggest different passages each day. Then after that I pray in my prayer book. I find writing things down puts more focus on things, otherwise my mind goes off and I don't feel much meaningful has been said

Is there any relationship between your exercise and bible study?
I think there are heaps. Again, doing exercise (weights and runs) is a selfish thing. I want to feel fit and healthy. Reading the bible is a selfish thing, I want to feel satisfied and happy in my life. Both of these I have to work at. I have to plan for them both and sometimes they both hurt - but there are real benefits; otherwise I wouldn't do them

A gym is useless to you unless you go there and use it. The bible is useless to you unless you open it and chat to people about it's meaning

Anything else you would like to share about your inspiring dedication?
Well first off it's nice that Tam thinks this is inspiring. But I think the only other main point is that in a purely reductionistic and boring point of view, just praying and discussing things with God could be seen as a great way to work through issues. That just writing and purposely thinking about my life, reflecting, means that I will make better decisions. And in a way that is probably right. But there is more to it and I would encourage others to think about understanding this faith, which has changed the course of the planet.

Thanks darling brother for sharing this with us xxT

Here is my Joy

Here is my Joy

I wish it was Christmas

Christmas Tree up!



Here is Kd making Christmas cards - we are involved in an international card exchange organised by an extraordinary woman who runs a site called Kids Craft Weekly.

We probably wont be sending off our cards until Monday (we were meant to send them off yesterday!) Kd got his first yesterday - just lovely and we have Christmasssy sprinkles all over the front mat now!!!

Last year I was very organised (dont ask me how I did it with a one year old and three jobs!) and made an advent calendar with a family activity to do together each day - will sort this out on the train to Melbourne tomorrow morning - only 3 days late!

I wish it was Christmas

Christmas Tree up!



Here is Kd making Christmas cards - we are involved in an international card exchange organised by an extraordinary woman who runs a site called Kids Craft Weekly.

We probably wont be sending off our cards until Monday (we were meant to send them off yesterday!) Kd got his first yesterday - just lovely and we have Christmasssy sprinkles all over the front mat now!!!

Last year I was very organised (dont ask me how I did it with a one year old and three jobs!) and made an advent calendar with a family activity to do together each day - will sort this out on the train to Melbourne tomorrow morning - only 3 days late!

Christmas is here

I am very pleased it is the 1st of December - nearly Christmas!

I am surprised at myself for being so excited - as I am VERY unorganised - which is unusual for me. A month of being ill and recovering made all of my plans not really work out - oh well.

Here is J in his 16th Century Ball Room Dancing outfit for his work Christmas Party.



Lots happening Kd attending his third day of school orientation tomorrow. A baby soon to arrive - a new niece or nephew and we are working on lots of things around the house including new blinds and getting the outside painted!.

Christmas is here

I am very pleased it is the 1st of December - nearly Christmas!

I am surprised at myself for being so excited - as I am VERY unorganised - which is unusual for me. A month of being ill and recovering made all of my plans not really work out - oh well.

Here is J in his 16th Century Ball Room Dancing outfit for his work Christmas Party.



Lots happening Kd attending his third day of school orientation tomorrow. A baby soon to arrive - a new niece or nephew and we are working on lots of things around the house including new blinds and getting the outside painted!.

Festival of the Wheel

Yesterday we went to a community sustainability celebration in Castlemaine - it was a lovely family day called The Festival of the Wheel.

I was doing a bit of sticky beaking for a sustainability/family festival I am putting together for next March YEEKS).

It had some great ideas like having a hay bale arena with lots of fun activities, bands, and also the bike theme was fabulous - with displays from Cycling Victoria and also people to ride in their bikes and dress them up. Really liked this idea.





J and Kd have been hit by hay fever - as you can see Kd up in the pram up top (although that was after an icecream, cooled by donkey power and a ride in a hot wheels bike as well!)



Hj kept herself busy with discovering other children's bikes and dolly prams temporarily abandoned around the place. Check out her stare down with this little girl for her pram - I wonder where she learnt this intimidating glare from?

Festival of the Wheel

Yesterday we went to a community sustainability celebration in Castlemaine - it was a lovely family day called The Festival of the Wheel.

I was doing a bit of sticky beaking for a sustainability/family festival I am putting together for next March YEEKS).

It had some great ideas like having a hay bale arena with lots of fun activities, bands, and also the bike theme was fabulous - with displays from Cycling Victoria and also people to ride in their bikes and dress them up. Really liked this idea.





J and Kd have been hit by hay fever - as you can see Kd up in the pram up top (although that was after an icecream, cooled by donkey power and a ride in a hot wheels bike as well!)



Hj kept herself busy with discovering other children's bikes and dolly prams temporarily abandoned around the place. Check out her stare down with this little girl for her pram - I wonder where she learnt this intimidating glare from?

woolfie

Today at Kinder Kd had a literacy festival and the children were asked to dress up in costume; fairy tale or nursery rhyme - as if this is literacy, but any how.

Kd said that he wanted to be an Evil woof so Mummy and Daddy got snipping and making.

Last night he was delighted - but this morning he informed me that everyone would laugh at him because his costume is hand made and not brought from a shop.... it was a bit of a battle to get him there dressed up - but he did and he did enjoy himself.

woolfie

Today at Kinder Kd had a literacy festival and the children were asked to dress up in costume; fairy tale or nursery rhyme - as if this is literacy, but any how.

Kd said that he wanted to be an Evil woof so Mummy and Daddy got snipping and making.

Last night he was delighted - but this morning he informed me that everyone would laugh at him because his costume is hand made and not brought from a shop.... it was a bit of a battle to get him there dressed up - but he did and he did enjoy himself.

Happy Birthday my Darlin Hubby

I am sorry they are awful pictures from my mobile phone - but never mind they are still very special from our last night celebration for my Husband.

Full credits to him cooking his own yummy white chocolate cheese cake!!!

Happy Birthday my Darlin Hubby

I am sorry they are awful pictures from my mobile phone - but never mind they are still very special from our last night celebration for my Husband.

Full credits to him cooking his own yummy white chocolate cheese cake!!!

october evenings in the vegie patch

Inspired by yet another library book* we have made bean and pea tee pees in the vegie patch.

* Yates Gardening for Kids: Growing Things to Eat by Janice Marriott

october evenings in the vegie patch

Inspired by yet another library book* we have made bean and pea tee pees in the vegie patch.

* Yates Gardening for Kids: Growing Things to Eat by Janice Marriott

Look what came from out of my garden

Look what came from out of my garden

a post for Mum

10 Rules

1. When in doubt, don't throw it out
2. Rust is a variation of red; red is always an acceptable colour
3. Never be the early bird at a yard sale. The real possibilities are in the rubble
4. Never sell among yourselves; trade only
5. Broken? All the better. Imperfect is perfect
6. Don't look at it for what it is, but what for it could be
7. It's about the EUREKA! moment, not the thing itself
8. Make the recycling bin your first stop for art supplies
9. Hunt, find and tell
10. Never worry about how to get it home; just get it.

(this is from The Salvage Sisters, recently borrowed from the library)

Especially loving this book too



taken from this book of children's poems is this little traditional gem;


My love for you

I know you little,
I love you lots
My love for you would fill ten pots,
Fifteen buckets,
Sixteen cans,
Three teacups
And four dishpans

a post for Mum

10 Rules

1. When in doubt, don't throw it out
2. Rust is a variation of red; red is always an acceptable colour
3. Never be the early bird at a yard sale. The real possibilities are in the rubble
4. Never sell among yourselves; trade only
5. Broken? All the better. Imperfect is perfect
6. Don't look at it for what it is, but what for it could be
7. It's about the EUREKA! moment, not the thing itself
8. Make the recycling bin your first stop for art supplies
9. Hunt, find and tell
10. Never worry about how to get it home; just get it.

(this is from The Salvage Sisters, recently borrowed from the library)

Especially loving this book too



taken from this book of children's poems is this little traditional gem;


My love for you

I know you little,
I love you lots
My love for you would fill ten pots,
Fifteen buckets,
Sixteen cans,
Three teacups
And four dishpans

Spring

Spring