• Jan. 10, 2008
Beach Mission

We are getting ready to go to beach mission this weekend.  I must admit, I have a bit of a bad attitude about beach mission at the moment.  Well, maybe 'bad attitude' isn't the right term.  I just find it hard to really get 'into it' when I am so busy with my responsibilities as a parent.  My heart and passion if for my family, my home, and I find it hard to stretch myself even further for beach mission. But...God has been gently reminding me (how thankful I am that he is so patient) that there will be many little things I can do.  Just being there to support my husband is a big one, encouraging Sally (who works tirelessly organising the programs), helping my children to feel included, talking to any mothers standing on the fringes...

Anyway, this week has been busy with BMX meets and birthday parties. Today I am going to visit my mum and dad ( in the drizzling rain), then this afternoon and tomorrow I will have to start packing to go to beach mission.  I hope it stops raining tomorrow, otherwise I won't be able to get my washing dry.  And, if I can't get it dry, it will be very hard to pack!

Jesse's fifth birthday is while we are at beach mission.  Then we are having a party for him at the beach the day after beach mission finishes.  Then....our lovely week of holiday together as a family!

Life will be very busy when we get back - my birthday, starting school, awards night, Sophia's birthday, Lauren's party, Abi's dedication...hopefully things will quieten down at the end of February!

I do love this time of year, though.

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• Jan. 8, 2008
WHERE ARE SOME AUSTRALIANS????

I have been trying to search for some Australians on here, but I can't find any. I feel silly on here blogging away with no homeschoolers reading what I am writing. I know homeschoolers all over Australia, but wonder if any are on here.  If not, I'll have to round some up!! If you are an Australian reading this, can you please leave a comment? Thanks.  I want some names on my friends list....

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• Jan. 7, 2008
I Love This Time of Year

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• Jan. 2, 2008
Words of Affirmation from the Lord

I was feeling a bit emotionally sensitive yesterday for some reason.  (Typical woman!) I had those all too common lies in my head that mothering was all too hard, and that I wasn't cut out for it, and that something must be wrong with me.  As I climbed into bed, I prayed that the Lord would 'just let me know I'm doing OK'. 

Anyway, we got up this morning and got ready straight away for our fortnightly shop - an ordeal that we have all learned to despise!! (Taking five children aged 7,6,4,2, and 6 months is quite a juggling act!) Because I had put off shopping for a few days, we were out of bread, milk and butter, so I had nothing easy to offer them for breakfast.  That gave me the idea that maybe, as a treat for going shopping, I could buy them breakfast on the way to the shop.  They LOVED that idea, and getting them ready and out of the house was a breeze, compared to normal.

They were just lovely while we ate breakfast, then just as good (although their usual bouncy, busy selves) while we shopped.  I was so pleased with how it went.

As I was heading from the shop to the carpark with all my precious children and our shopping trolley loaded high, a lovely older lady looked at me and said something like, "You are an amazing woman."

When we got to the car, I got the children to climb in, gave them something to eat, loaded the shopping bags in, then quickly addressed a few letters I had.  I asked the children to do little things for me here and there.  When we were all settled and loaded in,  a lady who was sitting in the car parked next to us called to me.  'Excuse me', she said, "I must lift my hat off to you. You have a lovely little bunch there. Everything you said, they obeyed. They look very loved.  You are doing a great job"

I expressed my gratitude for her encouragement, we chatted for a few moments, then we left.  As I drove home with my heart full, I remembered my prayer of the night before asking God for His affirmation.  He had used a lovely lady to speak the words that my heart needed to hear.  Thankyou,. Lord!

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• Jan. 2, 2008
Check Out My Beautiful Slideshow

I had so much fun making this slideshow.  It made me feel so rich to see shots of my beautiful family.  I just wish I could work out how to get it to a better place, rather than in my sidebar! Never mind.  It looks OK, I think.

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• Jan. 1, 2008
New Year

This last week since Christmas has been really lovely and relaxing. I have hardly been out at all.  (I am dreading our next big shopping trip, which will be due soon!)  My boys (7,6,5) have been playing the Nintendo Wii that we got for Christmas.  The original plan was that it would be put up and taken out when we all played together.  But it has been a wonderful, quiet, and settling activity for my busy boys.  it's only been Sam (6) who has had to be reminded to have a break.  The others have been playing outside and with their other Christmas presents, and their baby sister!

We have this week, then next week, then we are off to Bribie Island for two weeks.  It will be so nice to have that time together as a family.

Then, when we get back, I'll have to work out what we are going to do for schooling.  I love reading about unschooling and natural learning.  The structured, formal-style learning was what I thrived with as a student .  It was even what I studied as a teacher, and I always thought my children would be the same.  But, they're not.  I know that God will help me to find the delicate balance between the two.  It will be Christ-directed learning.  Lord, help me to listen!

Have a happy new year!

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• Dec. 29, 2007
A Lovely Unschooling Day

Today was what I imagine, in my limited knowledge and understanding of the subject, that a typical unschooling day would look like.  It's because we are in holiday mode that we have the freedom to enjoy this type of day.

There were many activities that the chlidren enjoyed today.  Of course, there was playing on the Wii.  And, without trying to sound like I am creating reasons to defend my children enjoying so much, it really is good for them in many ways. (Of course, this is only the third day that have had it.  I may be 'singing a different tune' when we have had it for three weeks!)  There are many coordination and problem solving skills that I see them develi\oping. I still can't get over the fact that I am so often beaten by my 4 year old!

But, there were also many other lovely activities, like drawing and colouring with the new pencils and sketching books.  TJ, my seven year old, who normally would say he couldn't draw, drew a beautiful turtle and a seahorse, following the steps in his new sketching book.  He is going to keep going and create a sea scene in coloured pencils. 

They all had a quick go at a few mazes and a Bible quiz on a new CD ROm that came in a Bible story book; they all watched (and some danced along to) some Hi5 songs.  They all had a quick go of battleship, and Sophia helped me make the pizza dough for dinner. 

I'm sure there were many other little things that i have missed; but, all in all, it was a lovely day.  I would love all of our days to be like this.  I would love to know how to direct my children towards deeper learning in our everyday life.

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• Dec. 28, 2007
Back With Purpose and Excitement

I haven't written for over two months, because I have been very frustrated in a lot of areas of my life.  It's all just part of the journey of learning and life.  But, I seem to have come to a place of peace now, and I am excited about the new year.

In the past, I have used this blog spot (not that I have blogged that much) for all my ramblings, becoming annoyed with myself when I teeter between spiritul musings, homeschooling musings and general musings. I have come up with the perfect solution to my frustration. I am going to have three blog spots!! It sounds crazy for someone who has never had time to upkeep one blog spot to now have three! But I really want a place to reflect spiritually, and to share with others going through a similar phase (like my friend, Joanna (which will by a myspace account), a place to just document the general day to day goings on in my family (which my sister-in-law, Sarah likes to read, so I will open up an account in blogspot which is where she blogs) and I love to record my homsechooling journey too.  Even though there will probably be noone reading it, I know it will give me a sense of satisfaction to record our goings on and to learn from others here.

So...that is my plan. 

Just quickly, I am excited about learning more about natural learning.  It sounds so exciting, but will I be brave enough to let go of convention and tradition??? Time will tell.

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• Oct. 14, 2007
Finally a New Entry

Finally!! After two weeks of a camping holiday and a week trying to get over the camping holiday (!), I am finally writing again!

It won't be very long tonight.  I just felt like writing a few things down. It's nearly 10pm, and I have to have Trent's work clothes ironed before he goes and does another night shift like last night.  I find his night shifts hard.  I miss him at night, and I find the days strange since he is there but he isn't. 

Anyway, I am feeling so good at the moment, feeling so......normal.  Is this what normal feels like?  I really think that perhaps I have had a hint of post natal depression (baby blues) after each of my babies, and that this is my time after Abi's birth that I am getting over it.  I feel overwhelmingly tired so often, but I still feel like I could conquer the world...at least one nose blow at a time, or one pooey nappy at a time, or one cuddle with my precious children at a time!  It's a lovely feeling, and I don't think it's just because we had a holiday.  I actually found the holiday quite tiring and stressful at times (with a lot of packing and setting up and the dusty, hot BMX titles in the middle of it.)  I found it stressful mentally and spiritually as well, because I was trying to work through some issues.

But...I have felt so peaceful and so....me....for just over a week now, and I can't remember the last time I have felt like this.  I am so excited about life, and so looking forward to all that is coming up in this busy time of year. Oh, I'm sure there'll be many, many more bad and hard days, but I just feel as though God has helped me through a really hard time mentally and that I have made it through.  It's nothng that I have done.  How thankful am  I that God is so patient with me!

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• Sep. 22, 2007

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• Sep. 21, 2007
No Absolutes

THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES IN THIS WORLD.....except for God and His Word.

How thankful am I for that wonderful fact.

It seems that everywhere I turn, someone is trying to cram their 'absolute' down my throat until I get so full I nearly suffocate.  There are 'absolutes' for raising children, eating healthily ,education, discipline, worship, housekeeping, having children, dressing, etc,etc,etc,etc,etc.

The older and more experienced I get, the more I am drawn back to the Word of God and reminded that it is all I have to measure up to.

That thought offers me such sweet relief and peace. 

I think it all started when I was at college studying education -- I started to take every reasonable-sounding, Christian idea that I felt was right and Biblical, and I tried to apply them as absolutes in my life. No wonder I have spent many, many years being confused. 

I've had such a peaceful few days recently, because I have 'given up' (in a way) and just lived as myself - the myself that GOD created me to be.  This realisation happened by default, really, because I gave up in frustration, only to find the peace as I lived as who God had made me to be.

Now, I realise that my goal as a mother is to discover who I truly am in Christ, so that I can lead my precious children into who they are to be in Christ.

What a challenge...but what an adventure!!

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• Sep. 20, 2007
Starfish

"A man saw an old woman stooped over on a beach covered with starfish. He asked her what she was doing, to which she replied, "I am throwing the starfish back into the sea - if I don't, they will dry up and die."

Laughing, the man said, "But Old Woman, there are so many starfish on the beach, you can't possibly make a difference."

She picked up a starfish and threw it back into the sea. Then looking at the man, she said, "I just did to that one."

I was thinking of this well-known story today in relation raising children.  Sometimes it's easy to look at EVERYTHING we have to teach them, show them, guide them into...and we get overwhelmed and think we can't possibly do it all. 

The truth is: we can't! But each time we teach them just one little thing, are making a little bit more difference in their lives.

 

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• Sep. 15, 2007
Busy, Busy Day

Today was a full day, but it was one that everyone enjoyed.

It was my wonderful mother-in-law's birthday.  She had decided on a day of 4WDing (which all the big and little boys in the family like), a picnic, and some time at O'Reilly's feeding the birds and going on the rainforest walks. 

Altogether there were 6 4WD to transport the 23 people who came along.  It was all the Asmus family, plus Sally's parents (Nanny and Poppy) and a few of the boys from church (who so graciously came along so we had some extra  4WD seats.)

I travelled in our 4WD with my brother- and sister-in-law, Brendon and Nadine, and all the baby girls.  Baby Abi and Baby Lauren were in their baby seats in the very back.  Nadine sat in the middle with toddlers Sophia and Paige in their booster seats.  And I kept Brendon company in the front. 

Trent took his little two seater 4WD with Sammy with him on the way.  TJ travelled in a car with his Uncle Jamie and Nanny.  Jesse was in a car with Matt Hill , Grandpa and the other Hill boys. 

We travelled through Beaudesert, then took the picturesque 4WD trip along the beautiful hilly road towards O'Reilly's.  We stopped part way there at a picnic spot at which we felt at the top of the world!  We had a feast of bread rolls, cold meats, salads, burritos, quiche, slice and birthday cake.  We are blessed with an abundance of food in our country, aren't we? 

Then we travelled the rest of the way to O'Reilly's.  The children loved feeding the rosellas and the king parrots.  Most of us also enjoyed a walk through the rainforest and along the treetops walk.  All the children climbed the huge ladder up to the 2 treetop viewing platforms.  Even the little girls, Sophia and Paige, had a go.

I am so, so tired now.  Trent and the boys are now up saying goodbye to Nanny and Poppy who leave early in the morning.  I am just about to have a little snack, get ready for bed, and join my little princesses in slumber land. 

 

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• Sep. 14, 2007
Sammy's birthday

We had such a beautiful day yesterday for Sammy's 6th birthday.  His birthday celebrations actually started on Tuesday when he went shopping with daddy to get his motorbike boots.  He came home, proudly wearing them in the house to show me.  He looked so beautiful.  His smile is so radiant.  It was so lovely that he and Trent could have that special time together.  They had lunch together on the way and an icecream on the way back. 

Then on Wednesday morning, grandma took him shopping for clothes.  He was so excited about going.  Apparently, after being at the shops for only a short while, though, he said, 'I've got a headache from too much shopping'1  He is just like his daddy1  He came home with two lovely sets of clothes, though, and a pair of summer PJs.

Then Thursday was the big day.  We had a few small gifts wrapped up that we gave him as soon as everyone was awake.  (His main present had been the motorbike boots.)  He made a fuss of all of those; how lovely! I had brought them some strawberries and grapes for breakfast along with a toffee apple for each of them.  They loved the novelty at first, but I must admit, I was glad that they didn' really eat much of them.  So much sugar!

Then it was off to Wriggle It, the indoor playcentre that Sammy has chosen for his birthday for the last two years!  They had such a lovely time, but I couldn't help but notice that TJ (7) looked as though he had nearly grown out of it. 

We came home for a quiet afternoon, then off to Sizzler for dinner with the whole family.  It was a lovely time, and Sammy enjoyed himself immensely.  What a great birthday celebration it has been for him. 

 

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• Sep. 9, 2007
Who am I?

How do you know who you really are?  I know the answer - you need to be immersed in the word so that God can show you who He has made you to be.

Still, I felt like putting some thoughts in my blog.  I wonder if anyone else has the experience where you have all these questions, you really know the answers deep down, but you still want to ask them?  I wonder if that is a rebellious spirit?

I have had a really funny day;  I get them from time to time, but it's been a while since I've had one.  This time, I finished it off a lot better than normal, though. Often the day ends up being miserable for the children (trent was working), but I held myself together this afternoon and everyone got to bed peacefully. 

Is it possible to be totally peaceful all the time.  Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit, so if we are walking with God, shouldn't we feel peace all the time, even when times are hard? 

I feel like I'm wearing masks all the time - trying to please everyone...well, everyone that I think matters.  (I'm not caught up in trying to please the world, which is a relief.)

I remembered, today, what my friend Joanna told me about what God was showing her about idolatry ages ago.  Anything that gives us comfort before God has become an idol.  How do you reach a place of finding comfort in God when you are feeling overwhelmingly tired, the children need your attention and you just can't focus? (I could answer this question myself too!!  Turn on the praise music and just dance around the house; take a blanket and lie under the clouds and talk to the children about how great God is; lie on the bed with a pile of Bible story books and read the afternoon away....why didn't I enjoy those things today instead of wallowing in my self-pity?  Why do I have to be such a slow learner? Instead I thought, "I'm too tired and overwhelmed with being a homemaker to do what I am 'supposed' to do, so I will just give up even trying and have a miserable afternoon being grouchy."

I'm rambling now.  Forgive me.  I'm really OK. I'm sitting here with a happy heart, just wanting to write.

I should go to bed now, though.  I should go and take my Bible and spend some time with my patient Lord before I get some much needed sleep. I am a funny girl.  I hope that tomorrow I can just relax, be who God has made ME to be, and enjoy my wonderful husband, my precious children, and the many, many other blessings that God has given me. 

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• Sep. 9, 2007
Batty and Scatty Mother

I feel a bit lost today.  It's a funny feeling that I get from time to time. I wonder if it's hormonal?  I've had it enough to know that it will soon pass, and to realise that I just have to get through the rest of this day.  For I am sure there will be joy in the morning.

I feel a bit like Peter walking on the water to Jesus.  When I get this feeling, I have taken my eyes off Jesus and am looking around at everything else.  When I mentioned this feeling to my sister-in-law today, she commented, "Yes, it's easy to look at all the problems, isn't it?"  Yes, it can happen with problems, but that is not what it is today.

It happens when I take my eyes of Jesus and what He wants from me, and I look to everyone and everything else and try to live up to what they expect of me.  I think this would cause anyone to go batty!  I feel that way  today - a bit batty and scatty.  (I think the scatty part comes from being so overwhelmingly tired.  Where does a mother go to rest and reenergize?)

BUT...on a positive note (there is ALWAYS a positive note in life)...my children are wonderul and healthy and happy, and I feel so blessed when Iook at them.  Even when they have a batty and scatty mother, they continue to love, live joyfully and thrive.  We can learn a lot from our children. 

My husband is patient  and loving and wonderful.  How I love that man!

And, of course, my God.  How He keeps loving me when I fail Him so much is a mystery.  How thankful I am that I don't have to fully understand, just accept and enjoy His love and blessings. 

My boys are outside building a cubby house at the moment, Sophia has been bathing her doll and pottering around, and Abi has been feeding a lot.  They are lovely.  They bring so much richness into our lives.

I am glad that my children and their daddy keep loving this batty and scatty mother. 

I am glad that that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. I am sure that, by His grace and with His strength, I will be firing on all cylinders again tomorrow and that it will be a very good day. 

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• Sep. 8, 2007
Budgies Today

Today was a busy, busy day - but very rewarding.

As usual, it took a long time to get through our normal morning routine - having breakfast, cleaning up, and just generally doing whatever takes our fancy along the way.  TJ slept in until nearly 10 due to a very late night with BMX racing then watching football semi-finals with daddy.  So, it wasn't until about  11 that we finally managed to leave the house.

It was a lovely peaceful and relaxed morning, though, and we left the house looking tidy and fresh.  The children's new job charts have been working wonderfully. They almost fight me to do the jobs now.  It's lovely.  I'm really enjoying having them around me more, and the lovely little conversations we have while we work.

We went to the pet shop in Marsden first, but we weren't there very long.  The was only one green baby budgie there and it was $25.  I got a bit of a shock.  I gave the children the choice of putting their money together to get one budgie instead of one each or to go and find somewhere else.  Of course, I knew what the answer would be.  I was glad, too.  I felt like I was just as excited as they were about them getting a budgie each.  They were using their own money, so it was extra special.

We tried a pet shop down the road and they only had two baby budgies for $26 each.  We had fun looking at all the fish and lizards at this pet shop, though.

Then I had the idea of buying the Saturday paper and looking in the weekend shopper section. Sure enough, there were plenty of budgies for sale (even some give aways, but I knew they would be gone by that time.)  I rang a place in Alderly that was selling them for only $10.  He had plenty left.  How exciting!!

So, off we went on the half hour trip to Alderly.  The children had so much fun choosing their budgies.  TJ chose one that was mostly yellow and called him Sun.  Sammy chose one whose tummy is so blue it is nearly purple and he called him Water.  Jesse chose one with a light blue tummy and called her Sky.  I helped Sophia choose a white and grey one.  She called hers Pink, since she had been saying all morning that she wanted a pink bird.  Funny girl!

It was quite an ordeal when we got them home.  I was so glad that grandma had chosen the same moment to pop down, because we had budgies flying and biting everywhere!  She helped to catch them and cut their wings and get them into the cage.  They all got lots of cuddles and Sky even got trodden on.I hope she'll be OK!)

The children are so happy, and it's so lovely to have a cage full of pretty birds hanging here next to me as I type. 

Raising children is such a joy.  It's a journey full of so many special adventures and memories. 

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• Sep. 7, 2007
Budgies

My boys have been wanting a budgie for ages.  I kept putting it off, because we have cats and I thought that it would be too tricky to have birds and cats. 

But, today, when I was talking to the children, I remembered that when I was a child I had a cat at the same time as my brother had a bird.  I am sure it could work. When I told the children they could buy a budgie with their pocket money, they were so excited!! 

We will get up in the morning and just casually do our morning jobs, then we'll head off to the pet shop.  I am feeling really excited too.  It will be a delight to see the children getting a reward for their hardwork this week. 

They are all talking about breeding budgies now too.  I read on a website that it is easy to do...but we'll see. 

Tomorrow will be a lovely day. 

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• Sep. 7, 2007
Busy Day

Today was such a busy day -but I loved every moment and felt that we, as a family, were just flourishing. 

My life has been so different - so peaceful and full of joy - since I started taking a lot of the advice from the book, "Created to Be His Helpmeet".  It's amazing how many blessings God sends our way when we simply obey Him. 

Putting Trent and his needs first has helped me to sort out a lot of difficult areas in my life.  I have found housework easier, disciplining the children more natural, schooling more enjoyable and rewarding.  And it has been by simply  thinking of Trent and the children before myself. 

I am very, very tired at the moment, so it's hard to focus and concentrate.  It's about 11pm and 3 of my 5 small children are still awake!! Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday. 

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• Sep. 6, 2007
Tip of the Iceberg Parenting

I have felt a real change in my parenting in the last few weeks.  It's really been since I've been reading "Created to Be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl.  I suppose it's getting all the priorities in order that has helped me with my parenting as well.

I was thinking this morning that I used to be a "tip of the iceberg parent".  I would do just the basic things that could be seen.  I thought I was being a good mother by making sure my children were clothed and fed and loved.  But, really, these basic things are just like the tip of the iceberg.  It's been when I take the time to go deeper that I find how much more parenting involves.  In a way, it's quite overwhelming to see all of the areas that need to be covered.  With five children, the training is continual!  But, oh, it is so worth it.  I have seen character, moral and behavioural changes in my children already.  It's so lovely. 

I love my children so much.  They are each so different, but each one is a treasure.  I thank God for the opportunity to raise and guide them.  I crave His wisdom, grace and strength each and every day to be able to manage this colossal task. 

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