Much has happened since I was here last.  There has been 3 birthdays, Christmas, New Year and there is another birthday coming up in a little over a week. 

Anyway, I won't be updating this blog much, if at all, this year.  I need to focus on other things which means reprioritising my time.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and safe New Year.

Until we meet again,

~Grace go with you!

NOTE: Michael still hasn't gone for his colonoscopy (*sighs*), but he hasn't had any further problems either.

I don't even know where to start with this post.  I feel like there has been so much happening lately and I just can't keep up.  We have really done nothing toward Christmas this year.  We haven't even put up the tree.  *sigh*

Michael spent a few hours in the hospital on Thursday.  Here's the story:

On Wednesday we took the kids to one of the local skate parks to ride bike / scooter / skateboard.  As Michael is still not working, he was simply enjoying being with the kids.  He was riding on the scooter and as he went up one of the ramps, the scooter knocked the top and slipped out from under him.  He fell and landed heavily on his rear.

The next morning (Thursday), he had a relatively large bleed when he used the toilet.  When he told me, my first emotion was panic*.  Michael thought that perhaps he had done some internal damage when he'd fallen the day before (which I hadn't even thought of!), so we organised for the kids to be looked after by a friend and went to the hospital.

At the hospital, they did a couple of tests and basically said it was nothing life-threatening so he could go home.  The doctor gave him a letter to take to the GP to get a referral for a colonoscopy.

I really wasn't happy when we saw the GP.  He didn't even really read the letter we gave him.  His whole attitude was to simply get us out as quickly as possible.  He basically re-wrote the form for the feacel test and said to wait for the results before getting a referral for a colonoscopy.  Michael asked if the GP thought it may have been caused by the fall.  The GP's response?  

GP: "What fall?"

MIchael: "Oh, didn't she [the doctor from the hospital] write that in the letter?"

GP: "No."

Me: "Yes she did"

GP: hastily begins to read letter again..."Oh, well I guess I should give you a referral for the colonoscopy."

*sigh*  I had read the letter previously.  I was upset.  I was (and still am a little) scared because of the family history (see *).  I just felt like this GP didn't care one ounce.  Anyway, we have a referral and Michael just needs to book in.  Of course, he's in no hurry!  LOL

I know the men in Michael's life group prayed strongly for him and my ladies life group prayed too.  I know that whatever happens is in God's hands.  Whether an answer for the bleeding is found or not, I still want him to get the colonoscopy done.  Whatever the result, at least I'll know!

This is only one of the many things that have been going on in our lives lately, but that's all you're going to get!  LOL  It's getting late and I need to get to bed.

Please pray for us!

Until next time, grace go with you!

Conversation between Jeremiah and Michael:

Jeremiah: "You not a man anymore!"

Daddy: "Oh...  well what am I then?"

Jeremiah: "You a Daddy!"

We took the kids to McDonalds for breakfast this morning.

Elijah: "Mummy, Jesus made McDonalds?"

*LOL*

Precious Moment:

This afternoon I was changing Naomi's dirty nappy.  Bethany came to help and upon seeing the -  ummm - mess, she said: "Ooh, painting".

Ah, no Treasure!  Wouldn't want you painting with that! 

It seems that rolling is just not interesting enough.  Naomi has only rolled a couple times since that first time at the beginning of November.  It's as if she's saying, "Okay, I've done that.  What's next?"  LOL

If she is on her tummy on the floor, she either pushes herself backward until she runs into a wall or under the couch, or she's up on all fours rocking away and getting frustrated that she can move the way she wants to!  Sometimes she will manage to move her legs forward and, as a result, her arms collapse under her and she just about crashes her nose into the floor.  It won't be long before I'm chasing her away from the staircase!  LOL

Jeremiah is doing fabulously with his toilet-training.  His challenge is the "number 2s".  There have been a couple of accidents there, but "number 1s" are right on track...or in bowl, whichever way you want to look at it!  I really think that he'll even be out of night nappies soon - he wakes dry so often!  I just have to pick up a few more mattress protectors.  I've only got one at the moment and that's on Eljiah's bed as he wets occassionally - although he hasn't for some time now.

The final day for FDC has been set!  December 1 will be the last day the kids attend FDC.  I'm excited about it!  LOL  Today Elijah spent the day with Michael, Naomi and I instead of going into care.  Next week Jeremiah will stay home and the following week Bethany will stay home.  Then, they will all stay home! 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not confident in the kitchen.  I have been spreading my wings a little lately and trying out some recipes.  I am accutely aware that my children won't be confident in the kitchen when they are grown unless they are taught to cook.  And to teach them to cook, I need to know what I'm doing myself!  LOL  A few of the things I've made lately (without the packet mixes) include:

• Chow Mein
• Curried Broccoli Soup (I gave some of this to my parents and it got a glowing report   The kids loved it too!)
• Homemade Sausage Rolls
• Vegie Dip with Crouton Shapes
• Blueberry and Banana Bread
• Smartie Biscuits

The kids helped me with some of these.  They are always asking to help in the kitchen.  Even little Bethany!  She loves to stir whatever is in the saucepan or decorate the biscuits...  I'm wanting to start baking more.  I figure if I make snacks for the kids instead of buying them we can save some money.  (We always have fresh fruit hanging around for snacks too.)

Please be praying for us.  Michael is not working now (that will have to be another post!), and things are uncertain for us.  We don't know...but God knows.

Until next time ~

Grace go with you!

My kids are growing up too fast! 

Remember Jeremiah's gorgeous curls???  Well, now they're gone!  My little boy is "a big boy now".  And as a result is toilet training!  (Oh my...what will it be like to have only 2 children in nappies???) 

2 days ago, on November 3rd Naomi rolled from her back to her front.  On November 4th Naomi rolled from her front to her back.  I haven't been able to get a photo or video of her rolling.  She simply refuses to perform on cue!  LOL  This is all I have:

Naomi preparing to roll

And today...this is what she did:

Where did the time go??? 

It was my birthday recently so Michael organised a weekend away.  He booked two nights at the Abbotswood Motor Inn.  We arrived at 1930 and, after being shown to the room (honeymoon suite) and freshening up, we went to the shops to collect some groceries to get us through the weekend.

I couldn't believe that I woke at 0230 missing the kids!  *lol*  Even Michael admitted that he woke up and thought, "Gee, the kids are quiet".  hehe

Anyway, on Saturday morning Michael got up, cooked breakfast (eggs, ham, tomato, mushroom and english muffins) and successfully set off the smoke alarm.  *LOL*  Seeing the idea was to simply relax, we spent the morning looking through a large second-hand store we had passed on our way to the motel the previous night.

After heading back to the motel for lunch, we went for a stroll through the nursery that was a couple doors down and chatted.  We just had a really simple day together and it was great!

Michael had to leave by around 1500 to get back to the kids, so I read for a little while and being totally unaccustomed to the silence, decided I needed to get some fresh air.  I asked the gentleman who was at reception for a map and went for a walk through some local parkland.

When I returned, the spa bath looked very inviting, so I had a good, long soak before heating myself some dinner.  Again I needed to combat the silence (it was sooooooo quiet!) so I switched on the TV and watched a couple of movies that were on whilst working on a sewing project I hadn't touched in months.  I really enjoyed being able to do some stitching.  I find it relaxing.

I slept well, and didn't even get out of bed until 0900 Sunday morning.  Michael had organised for me to have a late check-out (1100), so there was no need to rush.  I had some breakfast, washed up, packed my things and Michael arrived with the kids about 1030.  We showed the kids around and headed home.  All in all a really lovely weekend.

Things have been hectic...and I can't even explain why!  LOL 

Can you believe it is almost the end of October already???  Where did this year go?

I'm hoping to get my act together soon and get some updates posted, but I need to focus on other things at the moment.

Until soon, grace go with you!

Mandy came to visit for the second week of school holidays and we decided to do some baking with the kids.  I bought some new biscuit cutters recently and the kids had been itching to try them out.  LOL  I didn't think to pull the camera out until the very end though   ...and I only thought about it then because Bethany was so cute icing (or 'painting' as Elijah would say) her teddy bears! 

Icing:

Coconut:

All finished:

Alphabet

Bethany contemplating the lemon

Bitter

"I can improve this with icing and coconut"

 Becky came to visit for the first week of the school holidays* and our entertainment one of the days involved paint...

I must tell you that these photos don't do justice to the day at all.  I stopped taking photos because I wanted to join in!  You should have seen us all by the time we were finished...  We had so much fun!

Becky - I apologise.  I didn't get them posted within the week...but enjoy them!

My blogging life is pretty much on hold at the moment.  Although we have worked things out with our ISP, we have issues with our desktop computer.  Michael takes the laptop and internet connection to work every day, so I only have access in the evening after the kids go to bed.  Of course, by that time I'm usually exhausted and my brain refuses to stay "switched on".  LOL

I will try to update with something soon, but I must say I can't promise anything.  Until things get sorted out with the desktop and we come up with a solution to the limited internet access my posting will be very patchy if not non-existant.

On the up side, God is teaching me much and I feel totally at peace!  No TV and limited computer access can certainly be a very good thing!

Grace go with you!

I am so frustrated with our internet connection at the moment.  I wrote a long post last night on the desktop computer, only to have it completely disappear when I tried to publish it.  I also haven't had any success with uploading photos.  *sigh*  I don't know what's going on with it, but I do know that the problems are worse when we connect at home.

So, my posting may be rather erratic in the coming days / weeks until we get things sorted out.  I am keeping other records now and am even tempeted to simply close this blog down as my only real purpose has been to keep records for my kids.

Until next time,

~Grace go with you!

I know it's been a while.  It's not that I've been avoiding you - promise!  It's just that I haven't been able to access any website that has "homeschoolblogger" in the address.  At first I thought that maybe HSB was down, so I just waited...and waited...and waited and nothing changed.  I sent an email to ask what was up, but no-one was else had reported the problem.  So I started checking everything I could think of on my computer that may have been blocking the access.  Nothing.  *sigh*

Finally, Michael contacted our service provider and apparently it possibly has something to do with the fact that we transfer the modem between two different computers in two different locations.  Something about changing IP addresses and the difference between dynamic and static status.  You can probably tell that I really have no idea what I'm talking about, but that's the general gist I got from Michael...who may have totally misunderstood our ISP.  *LOL*

For now, our ISP has done something to get it to work but if the problem is ongoing or causes issues with other systems, I will move my blog to another host.

I don't have time to post anything more now (I'm out to my life group tonight), but I will update you soon.

Until then - Grace go with you!

PS.  To save yourself the feelings of panic that were starting to build in me, I urge you to BACK UP YOUR BLOG!

Assignment 3 for TTL-DP101* was all about better composition.  We had to take 8 photo's to demonstate 8 guidelines that Hallie taught us.

The rule of thirds:

Uncluttered background:

Don't cut people off at the joints:

Different viewpoint / perspective:

Get in close:

Lines:

Look for the details:

Know your subject:

Thanks Hallie for another great lesson...and sorry I was so late on this one!  Looking forward to the next assignment.

*Through The Lens - Digital Photography 101

Remember I said we'd been given heaps of clothes?  Well, these are just the size 00's we've been given for Naomi!

They used to be in a large cardboard box.  Michael's response?  "Well, they're a lot easier to carry!"  *LOL*

They are now stored under Naomi's cot.

Here are the promised photo's of the kids helping with the clothes for charity:

And now some others:

Elijah helping with dinner preperations:

Feeding time at the zoo Snack time:

Enjoying the new beanbag:

Okay, had enough now:

*Please note the safety vest.

I was recently sorting through a box of papers I had stored a whlie back and I came across this story.  I don't know where it came from* and I don't even recall reading it before, but I thought it would be good to share it.  Enjoy!

THE CHINESE PAINTING

The old Chinese artist shuffled up the street of his small Chinese village and knocked on the door of his good friend, the missionary.  Under his arm was a large parcel wrapped in cloth.
“I painted this for you,” said the old artist as he gave him the parcel.
The missionary was thrilled and eagerly pulled off the cloth.  He held up the picture admiringly.  It was a picture of a Chinese home, with a little painted wooden fence and gate at the front.  Sitting outside in the warm sun was a Chinese father in his slippers reading his newspaper.  Away down the road, the artist had painted the son walking slowly home, wondering what his father would do to him when he got home.  But the father was too busy reading the newspaper to even notice that his son was coming back home.
“It’s the story you told about the son who left home, wasted his father’s money, and then came back sorry.  Do you remember?” said the old artist.  The missionary remembered.  Every night the old Chinese artist would sit in the corner listening as the missionary told stories from the Bible to the villagers.
“But what does it all mean?” he asked the missionary one night.
“The story is really about God and you and me,” explained the missionary.  “You see, we are like that boy.  We want to live our own way, without our Heavenly Father, and we muck up our lives.  But when we remember how much our Father God loves us, decide to come back to Him and say we are sorry, he welcomes us back again.”
“Oh!” said the artist.  But the missionary was not sure that the old man really understood.
So the missionary again looked at the painting.
“Don’t you remember in the Bible story that Jesus told,” said the missionary, “how the father was watching to see if his son would come back, and ran down the road to meet him when he saw him coming?”
“But a Chinese father wouldn’t do that,” said the artist.  “My father would have been ashamed and disowned me if I had done what the boy in the story did.”
“Ah!” said the missionary, “But that is what makes God the Father so awesome!”
The eyes of the Chinese artist grew wide with surprise.  He nodded his head.  “Oh, yes!”  Suddenly he understood what this Father God was like.  His face beamed.
“Excuse me, could I take the painting back?” asked the artist.
It was some days before the missionary saw him again.  The artist had been thinking about this wonderful God and had repainted the picture.  “Here it is,” said the artist when he brought it back.  “I have made some changes.”
The missionary looked carefully at the painting.  Most of the picture was the same.  There was the same white painted house and fence with a gate.  The son was still in the picture trudging slowly home, wondering what his father would say.  The big difference was in the father.  He was not sitting reading the paper now.  Instead, he was running through the open gate to welcome his son home.
“Yes,” said the missionary, “this is like the story Jesus told.”
Then he noticed something strange.  The artist had painted a shoe on one foot of the father, and a slipper on the other foot.
“Why have you painted a shoe on one foot and a slipper on the other foot?” asked the young missionary, pointing to the father in the picture.
“Well,” said the old man, “the father was so glad to see his son coming home that he didn’t have time to put both shoes on.”
The old Chinese artist and the young missionary laughed together.

As you'll remember, Michael has been getting some regular temp work and he worked his last shift today.  As we were talking after dinner tonight I used the phrase "recycling plant" and was quickly corrected - "Waste Transfer Station".  *lol*

Anyway, time for praise points:

Michael has been offered a job on the weigh-bridge!  Same company, but much cleaner work (*lol*) and extremely conducive to the needed study / work balance for next year.  So he starts tomorrow.

His hours will be 08.00 to 16.00, Monday to Friday with the occassional Saturday thrown in.  He was asked if he could work some weekends to which he quickly replied "Not Sunday's".  (Sunday's are not only church day, but also our specific day set aside for family.)  They are fine with that.  Basically this job will allow Michael probably 6 hours of study time a day...while he is on the job!  It's really easy and pretty boring work really, and he's not breaking any kind of company policy if he studies during work hours.  In fact, the 2IC's comment was, "You'll be able to watch plenty of *insert some soapy type show*" but was changed to "You'll have plenty of study time" when he learned of Michael's plans. 

Only God could have arranged these circumstances.  We were wondering how we would survive with Michael studying and only being able to work part time and even finding part time work to fit uni hours.  It appears this could be the answer!

Let me explain a little further.  Michael originally thought he would study off-campus (the course is fully available off- and on-campus) so he could also work to support us.  However, Michael has an 'issue' with locking himself in a study and leaving me alone to look after the kids.  If he is at home he feels guilty if he is not involved.  So, I suggested it would be better for him to study on-campus as he wouldn't have to struggle with any feelings of guilt and would therefore be more productive.  He agreed.

The applications opened on August 4 and Michael planned on applying on that date.  But he hasn't gotten around to it yet.  Coincidence?  Maybe, maybe not.  With the ability to study during work hours, he needs to apply for off-campus as he originally thought.  God is so good!

Jeremiah update:

Although Jeremiah woke much better yesterday, he still wasn't 100% so I decided to keep him with me instead of sending him to FDC.  He was going quite well for most of the day.  We spent the morning at the shopping centre (grocery shopping and bill paying etc) and then visited with a friend after lunch.  Mid afternoon he started to look a bit peaky.  I thought that he was perhaps just tired as he'd missed his afternoon nap, so I headed home.  By the time we got home he was pale, lethargic, complaining of pain, clingy and running a temperature.  I gave him some children's panadol and cuddled up with him.  Soon after he just wanted to go to bed, so I tucked him up and he went straight to sleep.

By this time, it was very close to the time I had to pick up the other kids from FDC, so I called Mum and she picked them up and bought them home for me.  Mum watched the other kids while I took Jeremiah to the doctor.  The panadol must've started to kick in by then because he was beginning to perk up again.  Turns out he has a throat infection and the tube of his left ear is partially blocked but not yet infected.  He is on antibiotics now.

He was much better today.  I guess the antibiotics are doing their job!

Changing track now - In the 'reorganising' section of our day today, I had the kids transfer the clothes to be taken to charity from the pile on the floor to a large rubbish bag.  All three of them helped and played "dress-up's" with the clothes while working.  It was so funny and cute!  I will post a couple of photo's when I get them uploaded to the computer.  Who says 'work' has to be tedious??? *lol*

I know I mentioned a lengthy, informative post was planned for you, but the last two weeks or so is pretty much a blur for me!  (Not to mention that the book I was recording notes in has mysteriously disappeared!)

A couple of Saturday's ago, Michael joined with some of the other men in our church to do some maintenance for a few of the older women who have no-one to help with those odd-jobs about the house and garden.  I thank God that we have such active men in our church.  They take on the job of caring for the practical needs without question!  Many weekends they are out helping with odd-jobs or moving someone to a new house or driving someone somewhere.

We have begun to reorganise our house.  We are sorting, storing and getting rid of clutter.  In the process, the house seems to have become more cluttered!  It seems to take such a long time to get anything done!  4 children under 5 require alot of attention and there is only so much they can really help with.  But slowly and surely the task is being achieved.  And the kids will learn valuable lessons if we keep them involved - even if it means things take longer to do!

In the reorganising process, the office has moved upstairs and the school-room downstairs.  This is good space and practicality wise.  But, it means that I can't simply pop into the office and quickly do something online.  My computer time needs to be more scheduled.  Actually, it's a good thing.  I'm getting all areas of my life back on track.  Scheduled and organised...bring it on!  *lol*

The school-room is actually more like clothing factory at the moment though!  I have been sorting through all the clothes we have been given (believe me when I say we have been given heaps of stuff!)  to be either washed and put in the kids closets / drawers or stored away for later.  I think I need to buy a few more vacuum storage bags...

I mentioned previously that everyone has had coughs and colds.  Mostly we are better.  Tonight however, Jeremiah has been quite ill.  He was definitely a knight out-of-action.  He fell asleep on me around 5pm...so unlike him!  He had a big throw-up earlier on and has been shaky, pale and generally not well at all.    We are praying a good night rest will do him the world of good.  I'll see how he is in the morning, but judging by tonight, I might keep him home from FDC tomorrow.

We have gone TV free!  It had been planned for the last couple of weeks and today the TV offically went "on holiday".    It could be considered bad timing really...with the olympics and all, but we feel that God has been steering us to be TV free for a while.  It's funny.  Just after we made the commitment, I came across this poem by Roald Dahl:

Television

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set --
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink --
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK -- HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY ... USED ... TO ... READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and-
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How the Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rate and Mr. Mole-
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks-
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something to read.
And once they start -- oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.

Roald Dahl (1916-1990)

On the work front, Michael is still at the recycling plant - until Tuesday.  Then the work runs out.  We'll see what God has planned next!

For the moment, that's all from me.  I'll be back on track with posting soon.  I want to organise my photo's and post some of those too.  And I am so behind in TTL - DP101.  I haven't even started assignment 3!