Life

Well, life just keeps right on rolling. Which is the way I like it. :)

It is school holidays for us at the moment, which means Stuart has two weeks off work. Except that he's going to Adelaide next week for four days Professional Development.......... Aside from that, we're together every day! It's so wonderful having him home. We have already enjoyed lots of chat time and achieved much around the home too. We have spent the last two days changing the bedrooms around. Saraya moved into what was the play room - she now has her very own little girl room which she just loves. It works well because she can lie awake reading in bed until 7:30pm, whereas Elijah really needs to be asleep between 6:30 and 7pm, he gets so tired. William moved out of his cot and into a BED!! and is sharing a room with Elijah. The boys have bunk beds and love them. This has given Stu and I our room back (yay!) and William has even been sleeping better in his big boy bed. Hoooooooray. :D I will post some photos of their rooms tomorrow. We've worked hard but I'm so happy with how they look!

What else?? Well, we have been pretty inspired by Junior Masterchef and I hope to give Saraya more time in the kitchen with me - really cooking, not just helping. I had her go through recipe books with me this morning and she helped do the meal planning for the week. We braved the rain this afternoon and went to town to do the shopping. And tonight, Saraya cooked dinner!

She made a delicious, hearty meal of Baked Potato Soup and Parmesan Twists (recipe in my Donna Hay Seasons cookbook). It was, seriously, delicious. I am so full! Saraya loves to cook, and I need to trust her more in the kitchen as she really is an excellent little chef.

I have (mostly) been enjoying being caffeine and alcohol free. Not that I drank a great deal of either, but after abstaining completely I do feel more settled within myself, my heart has been feeling more normal again, and the alternatives I have been drinking are much healthier! I have also been trying to walk daily, and get to bed before 10pm. All these things, as well as having my husband around at the moment, and prayer of course, are helping me feel much better. It is so so so nice.

In bigger news, God has lead our family to the decision to put Saraya and Elijah into school next year. This is huge for me particularly, as I have always felt so right about having all my children close to us and at home together. The primary reason for this is my health, but there are other factors as well. In my little package of "lifestyle changes" which I need to make, one of the steps is to minimise physical and emotional stress. The doctor was very clear about this. Being honest, homeschooling simply hasn't been working for a good many months now. With me being constantly unwell, and tired, and stressed, Saraya particularly has struggled both emotionally and behaviourally. She complains of boredom at home, lacking friends and stimulation. She is disinterested generally in anything but reading, though becomes cranky after doing that for too long. Ordinarily I can cope with this - we plan excursions and outings, playdates with friends and lots of interesting projects at home. Unfortunately I have been unable to provide her with these things since about July, and am still slowly getting back on my feet. We feel that one year at the Christian school where Stuart teaches (Elijah will actually be in Stu's prep class :)) will do us all good. William and I will spend time at home together next year, and the older children will receive more time with their daddy, and some broader opportunities. I know there are pro's and con's to everything, and we are focusing hard on the pro's of school for next year. I still very much have homeschooling on my heart, and we have always said we will take one year at a time. I will cherish the rest of 2010, having all my children under our roof each day. Next year, I will pray and trust and share the load, rest and recuperate. This hasn't been an easy decision. I have shed many tears over it. But, this is life, our life, for now.

The other step in this whole plan is our probable need to move house, to downgrade, to minimise our mortgage in order to afford school fees - and to take away the stress which has affected us all (but mostly Stu) since buying our dream home last November. It's beautiful, but it has us stretched to the max. We're looking around at some houses in town, just getting a feel for the market, getting our place here looking ready to list if necessary, waiting, and praying. It isn't easy, but once again I trust God completely for His perfect provision. He has always provided for us, and I trust this time won't be any different.

So yes, that's us this week. :) Lots going on, as always. But we're together, and life is rolling, and that's what is most important. The spring rain is falling outside, filling our water tanks and watering our budding fruit trees; two little boys are fast asleep and my little girl and her daddy are reading a book all about the Romans together on her bed. Life is a gift. :) Blessings, friends! xx