I just realized that I haven't been on for over a year. Good grief! I guess my life got busy or I've just gotten lazy! We just celebrated Easter.In the States Easter is a sign of Spring and new life. Here in Australia its school holidays and Autumn. The weather is cooling off, or it should be, and people are soaking up the last rays of sunshine before we spend the winter curled up by the fire. I can still hang out my washing in the morning and it will be dry by sunset. It won't be that way for long though. The cooler weather means the clothes take longer to dry. I do miss Easter in the Spring. I miss getting a new dress (not the custom here) and showing it off in church and admiring everyone else's. But no matter where you live if you are a christian, Easter is just about one thing. The death and resurrection of Jesus. I really tried to convey that message to my kids of just what the Lord did for us. What he went through so we could have eternal life. We should give thanks everyday for the amazing gift that He has blessed us with. We should give Him our all like He gave us His all, every- thing He had. Well, hopefully, now that I've come back I'll be back more often. I'll try to post some pictures of our trip to the States for Christmas with my family. We had a blast!! Blessings...

  The other day a friend came over and brought some photos of her two children. They were adorable babies and still are beautiful children. I got out some of my old photos as well. It was interesting to look back and see the kids when they were little. I was very  busy with four under 6 years. And as hard as those times were I did get past it. I did survive with God's abundant help. The photos brought back all the laughter and joy we shared watching the kids play and be themselves. 

  Christmas is fast approaching and so is summer in our part of the world. My kids put up the Christmas tree yesterday and I was surprised that they did it without arguing and fighting. I was very impressed. I was doing some craft at the table and listening to them, ready to step in if I needed too. I wasn't needed. Every once in a while my kids surprise me like that. You know the saying too many chiefs and not enough Indians? Well, that saying is true in my house. They all want to be chief so I was glad that they actually worked together and did a good job! 

  Until next time!   

  I thought it was time to give you an update on my washing machine. I did get a new one, a front loader. I love it. What I love most is the water and electricity I will save. Its great. I did backdown and use credit. Was it the wrong thing? I don't know. I know I'll be in debt for a while longer but thats the price I pay, right? Did I miss an opportunity for God to bless me? Maybe. It makes you wonder how much we miss out on cause we feel like we have to step in and help God out.

  What I really wanted to talk about was "contentment". The last couple of days I have had such an overwhelming feeling of contentment. I can look outside and see the National Park that is my back yard and the Evans River that is my front yard. I live in a beautiful spot right on the coast. I have four gorgeous children who delight and inspire me everyday. A husband whose love for me after 18 years ( come 4th of December) still brings me to tears. He is my best friend and the companion I never thought it possible to have. We attend a small church where I am on the worship team. My family and I arrive early every week to set up and get things ready for church. The people there are my family. I've got good friends who are there for me if I need them or just want to chat and have fun. 

 God has given me so much how can I not be content? I'll tell you how... If I start looking at things I don't have. Things I think I need to make my life happier. We don't really need things. They are good when its the right time to have them but they don't bring contentment. They don't make you happy or bring peace to your life. There are times (lots of them) when I start thinking I need "something". Oh, it would make my life sooo much easier, but you know what? When you finally get the thing you wanted it only brings temporay joy.

 So I guess the moral of this story is to learn to be content with what really matters. Keep your thoughts on things above. Be thankful every day for the real blessings of life.

 To those of you who wanted to see some photos... I'm still trying to figure out how to do it. I might have to get some help. So be patient a bit longer.

  We just had a week away at Woody Head Camping Ground at the Bundjalung National Park. It is absolutely beautiful, right near the beach. We got to stay in a cabin which was nice but we all missed the experience of camping in a tent. We are going back in Febuary for our local homeschool camp. It will be in the hottest part of the summer so I was glad to book the shadiest site on the grounds. I was glad to get away for a while. I needed the break. Its been hard to get back into the daily routine again.

  We got back from camping to discover that both my washing machine and dryer have broke. My dryer is fixable, just need a fan belt. My washing machine because of its age and make may not be fixable. So I am currently doing laundry at my mother-in-laws. Who knows how long I will be doing that. We can't afford to get another one just yet. But I'm not really concerned. At first I was trying to figure out how we could get another one, but it would have put us in debt. I decided to trust God. Do what  I can with what I've got and learn from this experience.

  Right now my kids are on the floor searching through the fabric scraps. They like to make little things and use my sewing machine. I get kinda nervous, its a new machine. But you never learn if you never try so I make sure they take it slow and steady. I should be baking cookies. We have bible study tonight and I need to take something as I bring the majority crowd with me and with my daughter having Coeliac I need to make sure there is something there for her to eat.

  Know what? God is a good God! Every once in a while I just sit back and think about all the blessings that He has sent my way. I feel blessed and loved.

I thought I'd share a poem I wrote the other day. It is dedicated to a close friend who lost her life several years ago. Even though at one time she had excepted Jesus I didn't know how she was living when she died. She was my best friend for three years. I still miss her and think of our times together often.

 

Will I See You?

 

Will I see you?

Will I see you in that place,

That place beyond the stars?

 

Is your name there?

Is your name in that book,

The Lamb's Book of Life?

 

Was is real?

Was it real that night,

That night you stood for Jesus?

 

Did you understand?

Did you understand it was for you,

That it was for you He died?

 

Were you welcomed?

Were you welcomed into His arms,

That night you died?

   written by: Lisa Pottle

                     11 October 2006

 

 

Recently our music team at church learned a new song. Its by Delirous one of the best christian bands around. Its called " Majesty" Its a totally anointed song. The first line is: Here I am, humbled by Your Majesty... I looked up the word majesty in the dictionary this is what it means- supreme power and authority. Sometimes I don't think we realize who we serve.He is the supreme power, the creator of the heavens and the earth. We know so little about who God is. I heard Matt Redman at a conference a few years back and he was praying. This is what he said that I'll never forget... Lord, we know you in the shallows. Let us know you in the deep.

 What we know of God doesn't even fill a thimble! I want to know more of who God is.

Job 37:22  He comes from the north as golden splendour, with God is awesome majesty.

Psalms 145:5  I will meditate on the glorious splendour of Your majesty and on Your wonderous works.

 

God in all His Majesty loves us. Isn't that awesome to think about?

 

  Where did the weekend go? Friday was our Homeschool Sports Day. We were all excited, no one more than my 8year old son Joel who was ready to race. The rain held off which was an answer to prayer otherwise it would have been cancelled due to the rain. It had already been postponed once. There were about 50 kids there from all over our region. It was great! The kids had a really good day mixing with the other kids and making new friends. I made some good connections as well. We are looking forward to meeting up with them again.

   Saturday I went shopping and had to take all the kids which is a huge lesson in patience for me. But we survived!! On the way home we dropped the two older ones at a friends to spend the night. Which ended up being a huge mistake as I forgot we were having dinner with Mum. She didn't like it one bit, especially since it was also Erin's 13th birthday. When I got home from shopping and put everything away I had to make dinner to take to Mum's with us. By Saturday night I was sooo tired!

  Sunday, up for church,  which is never a chore. I am the worship leader and my hubby sets up. It is a long morning for us but we do it gladly. I do really love serving in church. I heard someone say once " see a need and fill it". I've also learned that while you are filling that need you do it with a good attitude without complaining or whats the point of doing it?

  So here we are at Monday and we are having the day off! We've done our house cleaning and some rearranging and later we are going to the beach. Every once in a while you need to unwind and relax!

 

Here we are at the weekend already. Fridays are busy for me, shopping day. Today I took my mother-in-law who is 90. One of my older girls goes with her and helps her shop. She enjoys their company and gives them a little reward for helping. She is always worn out by the time we get home and goes straight to bed for a nap. We have tea there every Friday night and two of the kids spend the night and do odd jobs for Grandma the next day for a bit of extra pocket money. Its a time I know that Mum treasures and one the kids can look back on later in life. Because I've been out here for so long I didn't get to spend time with my Grandma's in their later years. I'm glad that my kids have the opportunity to spend time with their Grandma and appriciate the different ways she does things.

I finally registered to homeschool. I was a bit nervous about my meeting but it went smoothly. I just have to change a few things but nothing major. I'm having trouble understanding the NSWcurriculum guidelines for each year. I think they make it too hard. I'm praying that God would give me clarity in my thinking so that I can understand it. They've given me 6 months so I've got a while to sort some things out. I'm taking it slow. Mostly I've got to have a journal of what the kids are learning and the different things we do. Its all new and another part of this journey called homeschool.