A Day in my Life- February

SO, the other day I discovered a lady who is hosting a "One day in my life" thread each month.  Technically, it's meant to be done on the 14th, so seeing as how I missed the 14th for this month, I'll just run this one on my own, without the link.  Stay tuned for March 14 to join the fun........

I absolutely love finding out how other people spend their days, how they run their homes, what they do with their time.  It's also fun to share and record mine!  So without further ado, here it is.  A day in my life...........  Today:

Woke up at 6am with Elijah beside the bed, "Mamma, I need a bandaid and I'm hungry".  Got up, leaving William and Stu to sleep.  Put on bandaid and made Elijah's breakfast, and helped him dress for the day.

I sat expressing some breastmilk while checking emails.  Aunt B's comment on my last post really lit up my morning. :)  Woke Stu, packed his and Saraya's lunchboxes and made him brekky.

7am- Will woke up.  I sat giving him his milk and read to the children on the couch. 

I then made my breakfast, leftover pikelets from yesterday and an orange.  Made Saraya's breakfast and sat eating with her.

Got dressed, and helped Saraya dress and do her morning jobs.  Packed her schoolbag and put by the front door.  I cleared the dishrack and washed the breakfast dishes.  The children played with the trainset and squabbled.  This is a very big problem at the moment, and worthy of a whole post. :(

Saraya's bus arrived and she rushed out, shoes in hand.  Woops.  Time just flies in the morning!

After waving her off, I made William his cereal and sat up at the table feeding him and reading my Bible, trying to brighten up and thinking of how to help the children with their current squabbling.  Jesus' commandment to love one another as He has loved us really struck chords with me.  Hmmmm....  Lots of thoughts running through my head!

I made a cup of green citrus tea and took my vitamins.  Found Elijah playing in his room, and we had a cuddle and prayed over our day, to be happier and more loving.  I put on a worship cd, surrendered our day to God, and felt better!

8:30 ish- joined Elijah in his room for a play.  Got into a creative game where I was "Marie", the cleaning lady, visiting him and his baby brother.  Managed to get his and Will's and mine and Sraya's beds all stripped and clean sheets on, as part of the game.  Cleaning day today.  Love incorporating my work into play with Eli- great fun, and I get more done!!

I love getting all the beds changed- clean sheets are one of my favourite things!

Checked emails and facebook briefly.  helped Elijah tidy up the trainset.  Put on ABC Kids for him.

I made a cup of coffee and put the first load of washing on.  Tidied under Elijah's bed, the playroom and saraya's floor in preparation for vacuuming later.  I changed Will's nappy and into a fresh singlet,  and rocked him to sleep at 10:15.  Elijah and I made morning tea together (funny fruity faces), then sat and ate it.  I drank my coffee. We chatted and I grabbed another few minutes with my Bible.

10:45am- I set Elijah up with some "split pea" play, some little tiny cups and tiny animals.  I  prepared to write a reply letter to a letter I received from a friend last week.  

When WIll woke he joined us at the table and munched on a biscuit.  He got fussy so I finished off the letter and headed with him outside to do some chores.

Will crawled around while I hung the washing and got the next load into the machine.  We moved the chicks out into their "run" and gave them fresh water and grain.

After crawling all over the garden and into the sandpit, Will was SO dirty, so I gave him a bath.  ELijah was doing some ironing with the toy iron.  I joined him at the table for a play with his game he'd set up for awhile.

I thought about vacuuming (it is Friday after all, housework day) ... then decided we'd have iceblocks instead. :)  It was very very hot today.  We listened to a kids' cd whilst sitting under the fan eating iceblocks- much better.

I then cleaned the bathroom and toilet, with a curious WIll watching my every move.  

I read Elijah a story, then tried to settle a very cross William - ended up giving him panadol to help with those teeth cutting through. He felt better after that, thankfully!  Many tears.

I made a simple lunch of sandwiches and milk arrowroot biscuits with a peppermint tea for me and a pink milk for Eiljah.  Will ate mashed pumpkin. :)

Elijah hopped onto the computer just before 2pm, to play PBS KIDS.  I washed the dishes, cleaned the kitchen and highchair while Will played with the fridge magnets. :)  Took him outside to bring 1st load washing in, hang the 2nd, and put the 3rd into the machine. We moved and fed the chicks, cut some flowers for a vase for my room, and checked the mailbox.  No mail.. :(

I love this photo!!!

I pottered for awhile holding Will, then rocked him and got him down at 2:30.

Helped ELi finish off on the computer, then lay with him on my bed with some books.  Read him a couple then shut my eyes for awhile. He flicked through his books then announced it was time to get up.  We (unwillingly, for me at least) got up at 3:15, and made some cupcakes for afternoon tea.

Saraya arrived home at 3:30pm.  I had promised lollypops (from last CHristmas, the kids found them hiding in the pantry....) and a dvd as a Friday afternoon treat, so they got into that.

I sat down in the living room with them, a cup of coffee (yes 2 in one day, I know, it's bad) and my "Nurture" book which we're doing for Bible study and enjoyed some quiet reading time.  I iced the cupcakes and ate too much leftover icing. :)

 Popped outside to check washing and harvested the remaining corn.

William woke at 4pm and I gave him his bottle.  

The children and I headed outside, I got the washing off and folded.  Had to discipline them again for squabbling/ pushing, and seperated them and talked through all that for awhile.  :(  I got then into some seperate playtime (again), brought William in and started the vacuuming- last cleaning job for the day.  I put the last load of washing into the dryer.  Elijah loves to "put away the cord"..........

Stuart was home and catching up with the kids, so I sat and looked at a few blogs for 10 minutes or so, then dinner was delivered!  A kind friend who homeschools was doing cooking with her boys today, and had offered some of their meal to us.  I gave them some cupcakes in return. :)

We ate dinner of lasagne, salad and fresh fruit, and then I bathed a very messy William.

Stuart did the dishes (sweet hubby) while I took a shower.  Children playing (happily, yay).

I did their night-time jobs with them.  

While Stu settled ELijah, I made Saraya a chamomile tea to help her settle, read her a chapter of Farmer Boy, prayed with her, sang to her, said goodnight to Elijah, gave WIlliam his milk, ate cupcakes and had cold drinks with Stuart (it's still HOT!), tidied up a bit........... and here I am!!!!  Phew!!  It's now 9:30pm and we'll soon head to bed. Stu is reading his script and doing some stuff for work.  He has very long rehearsals tomorrow.

So there you go.  A pretty typical Friday for me.  Probably WAY too many details, but hey, I love details so please share all yours if you decide to participate in the "A day in my life" thread...... more details coming soon!

William

Today I am marvelling at my littlest little man, William.

I cannot believe that he is nearly 9 months old.  He is crawling fast now, pulling up on everything, jabbering away in babytalk all day long, and becoming very curious about the world around him.  He is enjoying all kinds of different foods, and still loves watching his big brother sing and play.  He loves spending time in Saraya's room (lots of dolly faces to look at, and little tiny things which get snatched away quickly- beads and such), and absolutely adores being free to crawl outside.  He is a dirt-magnet, and loves digging like a wombat in soil and potplants. :)  He finds birds enthralling.  He could sit and watch our chicks all day long.  And he seems to have an interest in toy cars.  

But just 9 months ago (almost), he was a newborn baby!  He was a teeny tiny being who relied totally on me for everything.  I have to remind myself that that tiny baby, and this adventurous crawler, is the same little fellow.

This week he is like a flower, opening up and becoming his own little person.  I always find that going through a sickness changes the children.  They seem to come out the other side more grown, older, and different.  Add to that William's decision to wean off the breast, and it's been a huge week for him (and me).  He is still having expressed milk a few times a day, and is happily drinking from a bottle.  Neither of my other children ever had bottles, and didn't wean until the age of 2, so this is really different for me.  It's bittersweet in many ways.

I took this picture of Will yesterday while he was napping.  He loves sleeping with this soft blanket. He is growing up and changing so fast!!  See the little bruise on his eyelid?  He fell in the bath 2 days ago, and hit his eye on a toy- poor baby.  He is going through that standing up, falling down phase at the moment.  He is so brave!

Anyway, isn't it incredible how these tiny little people develop so fast?  I feel overwhelmed this week by God's creation, his provision and his grace.  And I'm just loving my little man!!

A brighter day!

"Why are you downcast O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,

my Saviour and my GOd."

"By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me-

a prayer to the God of my life."

"God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble."

"Come, and see the works of the Lord".

Dreaming

Here in the House of Dreams today, we are dreaming of many things.

We are dreaming of sunshine.

We are dreaming of autumn.

We are dreaming of dancing, and singing, and having fun.

We are dreaming of being healthy again.

Stuart is back at work today after playing Doctor yesterday.  I miss him!  I've wound up with what I've self-diagnosed as "Viral Uvulitis"- in other words, my uvula (the "hangy bit" in your throat) is enormous, swollen, puffy and red raw.  My throat is so sore too.  That whole area is burning like fire.  I wound up at the hospital late late last night seeking antibiotics- I couldn't sleep a wink with the pain every time I swallowed, and thought I'd nip it in the bud- but apparently it's viral so it's just a wait-it-out thing.  Lots of salty water gargling, pumpkin soup eating, and the spraying of Difflam anti-inflammatory throat spray which I may be becoming slightly addicted to. :)  Lets just say I've blurred the "spray every hour and a half" lines a little!  It's the only relief I've been getting.  Anyway, I had about half an hour's sleep all up last night, so today's been.... interesting.

Saraya has still had low fevers on and off.  She also had a few vomits this morning, not that there's been anything in her tummy since Sunday, other than water and a few bits and pieces of fruit here and there.  Poor little baby, she's looked so grey and quiet and little all day today.  She kept down a bit of lunch though, and dinner.  She sat up with Stu and I tonight getting some one-on-one cuddle time and seemed a bit brighter. I'll keep her home again tomorrow for more dvd-watching and colouring in!

William is miserable as can be.  He is cutting several teeth (ugh! timing!) and the virus has given him a very runny nose and difficulty breathing at night etc.  He is clingy.  He's also decided he prefers drinking from a bottle while he's so stuffy so I'm trying to find time to express with the pump..... I really need an extra few hours in the day.........

Eiljah..... is fed up with the lot of us!  He was ill last week but is basically better as of today- and wanting to do more than laze around in his pj's!  So tomorrow I will endeavour to give him a more interesting day.

I notice the swelling in my throat has gone down a bit tonight, and I can now swallow without getting tears in my eyes and needing to grip on to something.  A sweet friend brought us some dinner over tonight and I actually ate it and it tasted wonderful.  Another friend brought chocolate (always welcome, and enjoyed particularly by Stuart!  I also had a little nibble and the sweetness was SO good) and another friend sent beautiful flowers.  Fancy going down to the laundry and finding a big bunch of flowers waiting on the back patio!  Well, they were the 3 highlights of my day.  No, there were 4 highlights- Mum also phoned from Brisbane to see how we're doing.  

I wish I had something more interesting to blog about.  All day today I've been longing to get to the computer to write one of the many posts I've constructed in my head.  But now that the day is done, Stuart is home, William has been resettled for the 5th time, and I"m HERE!! at the computer.......... I write the boring, real details of my day.  This, for now, is my reality, and I must embrace it!!!  And dream of the healthy, happy, energetic days to come.......................

Happy Birthday Mum!!!

We are home.

I am SICK with a throat that is beyond swollen - I actually wonder if there is any passage through there at all?  My glands are all swollen up and I'm achy and feeling pitiful...

William has a goopy runny nose, and Saraya is down with fevers.  She's sleeping lots.  We got home last night, and all new the night would be bad- and it was.  Will is having trouble breathing and feeding because of his runny nose, and he is miserable.  The good news is that Stuart decided to stay home with us today and he is helping me run the ship.  I would be desperate without him today.  He has unpacked the bags with Elijah, cleaned out the chicks, and is now playing lego.  I'm sending him to get groceries soon......

THis is actually the first time I've got up properly this morning and after taking panadol yet again my throat is semi-bearable.  Enough to sit here and blog anyway.

Aside from us dropping like flies yesterday, we had a great birthday celebration with Mum and Ray!  Here are some pics:

with gifts for Nanna

my handsome little brother :)

This is cake I made for Mum- it turned out, thankfully!  Have a great birthday on Thursday, Mum!  I love you. xo

Hope everyone is having a good Monday.  I'm going to go put some washing on and then get some more rest....

Might make a big pot of garlic-y vegetable soup later.  Go away sickness!!!!!

An extra measure of grace.....

Today I am having one of those days where I need to ask God for an extra measure of grace.  You know the ones?  I woke up this morning thinking "I just don't want to do this today".

During the night last night my throat started to become scratchy and my bones ached.  Elijah has woken sounding snuffly.  Could it all be linked to the fever day he had during the week?  William is still waking for at least 3 feeds every night.  I'm trying to be strong and just rock him or do the let him cry for a bit, visit, cuddle, let him cry thing......... but I'm so tired I often just take him to bed with me and feed him.  It gives us both more rest.  

Today Stuart has gone. Again.  He's at rehearsal from 9am until 5pm.  It's Saturday, and I want him home with me.  I want him to play with the children and offer me a cup of tea.  

It's raining outside and my heart feels all rainy too.

There, that's my whinge.  On the up side, the kids and I have some special things to do today.  We have an Almond and Raspberry cake to bake for my Mum's birthday, and bags to pack as we're off to visit her tomorrow.  That will be so lovely.  We have gifts to wrap and washing to complete.

Now Lord, just give me the energy and enthusiasm to do these things..... and some joy to go on the side!  I love my family and am so blessed to have them.  It's just that an aeroplane ticket to a tropical island is oh so appealing right now............

Cleaning Day

"As much as I converse

with sages and heroes, 

they have very little of my love and admiration.

I long for rural and domestic scenes, 

for the warbling of birds

and the prattling of my children."

JOHN ADAMS

Letter to his wife,

March 16, 1777

Don't you love this?  It sums up how I feel today.  Homey and happy.

Friday is housework day here in my home.  I have, over the years, fiddled about with various ways of keeping the housework up-to-date, and finally have settled on the "do it all in one day" approach.  Friday is the day.  I prioritise it as such, and the children know it and assist me (with a little coercion....... er, encouragement, at times. :))  Today is pupil-free, so Saraya is joining the fun with us!  We are washing and drying, getting all the laundry up to date.  Beds get stripped and fresh sheets laid on, the floors vacuumed and mopped, the bathroom and toilet scrubbed.  The dusting is done to a fashion.  It is not yet midday and we are nearly done!  Much playing has been done on the side, too.  Little bits of paper and toys seem to be floating about the house, so I've sent the children after their own messes through the morning.  

Friday night dinner is always simple- either leftovers or sandwiches/ wraps with salad.

We tend to eat earlier than usual, and this gets the children to bed early.  

And the best bit?  Friday night is "date night" for Stuart and I.  A tidy, clean and yummy-smelling house, minimal dishes, clean sheets, kids in bed early for the night, a movie, chocolate for certain.....  well, I love Fridays!!

"Farmer Boy"

Saraya's prayer tonight?

"Dear God, thankyou that I had a good day at school. Thankyou that we had a waterplay afternoon and that I had swimming.  Thankyou that I don't have to come home and do chores. Thankyou that we don't live on a farm!!"

Okay, to explain, we are currently reading the LIttle House books and are up to Farmer Boy. (we're reading them slightly out-of-order...)

This is Laura's telling of Almonzo's childhood (she marries Almonzo as a young woman).

We read the first few chapters tonight, and my goodness, what an incredible story!  He is 8 years old, lives on a big farm with his family, walks about 5 miles to and from school each day in the freezing snowy conditions, comes home and works for a couple of hours doing farm chores (really exhausting chores), eats a big dinner (oh to be able to cook like his Mother!), goes to bed around 9 pm and is up again at 5am doing more chores.  Oh, and then off for the big walk to school again.

And apparently in the wintery 40 degrees below zero temperatures (aagghhhh!!!!), cattle can't be left to sleep all night because they will freeze in their sleep.  So at midnight Almonzo hears his father heading outside ...... in the -40 degree temperatures...... to "exercise" the cattle!!!  He runs them around, whipping their behinds to make them walk and run and warm up enough to then resettle them into a safe warmer sleep until he heads out again for milking at dawn.  Hmmm.

Saraya found this absolutely hilarious, and  I think for the first time ever is fully embracing her quiet surburban lifestyle.  :)

A change of plans..

Last night was meant to be Bible study night for me.  You know, candles, quiet music and some much-needed "down time".  Instead, I caught up on the daily chores which

 had become night-time chores: folding, laundry, washing dishes, etc.  Yesterday was a bit of a right-off.  Elijah came down with a sudden mysterious illness.  We were at music, and during the morning tea bit I noticed he was very quiet.  When I picked him up for a cuddle, he had a temperature so we came straight home (didn't want to pass anything on!).  He slept on and off for most off the day, fighting the fever which I tried to keep down naturally with cool cloths and tepid baths.  He ate nothing all day, had one huge vomit (ick, that was fun to clean up....), and went to sleep yet again by about 8:30 last night.  Praise God, he's had no more symptoms, slept well and woke up happy and back to normal this morning!!  I'm so thankful; I detest tummy bugs and was worried that's what it was.  Who knows what it was!  He's being fed on super-good stuff today- we all are.

Anyway, today we were meant to go visit friends in Hervey Bay but are instead having another quiet home day.  I don't mind.  :)  As you well know, I like being home.  And it's rainy outside which makes it even better. We've played trains, had a swing outside in the undercover area, drawn on the chalkboard outside (elijah is quite interested in learning his letters at the moment), and I've done washing, cleaned out the chicks etc. in between.  Saraya didn't make the bus this morning (slow start, mostly thanks to yesterday for me) so we drove her out to school a little late and watched a big truck tipping a new load of softfall into the playground area.  Just about made Elijah's day, I think!  We popped into the stockfeed store and got some more feed for the chicks too.  They are growing so fast!!

I was trying to think of a photo to attach and came up with this idea.  This is all 3 children at *about* the same age, 8 months.  What do you think?  Easy to tell who is who??  Let me know your thoughts!  I was surprised at the similarities actually.

Heartache

My heart is aching today as I have just read this story.  Little baby Cora was just a month older than William when her parents found out she had cancer in her liver.  She died, and went to be with Jesus yesterday- only 3 weeks after her initial diagnosis.  I cannot begin to imagine the grief her parents are experiencing.  They simply took Cora to the doctor for recurrent ear infections, never in the world expecting the weeks ahead of them.

Please pray for them as her funeral and burial is today.

This really puts things in perspective.  Life is fleeting and unpredictable.  If we have our life today, and our health, this is something to be truly thankful for.  Our families, our friends.  Today I'm not taking these things for granted.

Having fun at home

Since Elijah has opted not to go to kindy this year, I've had it constantly in mind that I need to give him enough stimulation / activity/ opportunities to play with other children, learn and explore his little world.  Not that Saraya went to kindy either, but then I always knew what she needed, when she needed it!  She is one to make her needs and desires clearly known to the world.  :)  Elijah is different; quiet, passive, content.  I enjoy just pottering through the day with him by my side.  But is it enough?  Well, I asked him myself the other day.  I suggested other things we could do (and will do, from time to time), even suggesting that maybe he could give kindy a go as his friend Ruby is enjoying it so much.  But no, he tells me he likes being home and is happy just being here with me.  I think I'm getting it through my head, relaxing and embracing having this year with him and William (who is becoming a busy, active crawler!).

So this post is:  Having fun at home:  Ideas for non-kindy-goers. :)

(there are so many things to do, but these are all things I did with the boys last week....)

1. Gardening.  This is a great thing to do with kids.  THis week we have one simple job (aside from the daily watering)....... to plant in these 2 rosemary plants.  Elijah likes to dig with me.

2. Join your local toy library, if you have one!  It's a fun outing, and you will end up with amazing and wonderful toys like these, save money, teach the concept of sharing, waiting with patience (you can put your name down for things you really like but are popular).... and get new toys every fortnight!!

3.  Art / craft.... this does not have to be messy!  Last week we enjoyed making and using playdough (Elijah will sit for about an hour with a ball of dough and a small box of animals and small tools to work with). He also did some cutting and pasting.  I sat Elijah down during one of those "Mamma, PLEASE play with me!!" right-when-I'm-cooking moments, gave him a few pieces of blank paper, some scissors, glue, and a box of old cards and stamped pictures.  And he created these!!  I was impressed.

4.  Get chicks!!!  Ours have been popular with the kids, just watching them, helping me with their care (though I mostly do it all), and cuddling them.

5.  Pack a picnic and go to the park.  We did this spontaneously last week and had a blast!!

6.  Visit a friend's house, or have a friend over

7.  Go to the library

8.  Go to the pool.  Saraya has lessons on Thursday and I pack togs for E as well- they both enjoy it!

9.  Play with your little person.  I have now structured our days at home to include a definite playtime with ELijah- and this has in turn helped him play independently at other times!  His favourite things to do with me are creative play with Little People, and reading books- his current favourite is a Pirate "Where's Wally" type book (thanks Grandad!!).  It's good because we do 2 or 3 pages together at one time.

10.  Cook together.  This is something that's great when I'm needing to cook but ELijah wants to spend time with me.  He has his own small kid-size apron, and he stands on a chair to be bench-height.  He loves peeling bananas, cutting soft fruits/veges for me, putting cut veges in the pot, and mixing batter for cakes or pancakes.  He also has fun (and makes an enormous mess!!) washing dishes sometimes.

So there you have it... 10 ideas for this week.

Oh, and by the way... all you need to keep your 8-month old VERY happy is a newspaper.  This is Will this morning after discovering last week's Sunday Mail.  We let him go for half an hour or so, and boy did he have the time of his life!!!!

Sunday afternoon child-free time

How I spent it:

*  Tidied the house of toys etc.

*  Put clean sheets on Saraya's bed (we had a billet stay overnight last night, up with a group from Brisbane for a youth weekend at our church; a lovely Samoan boy, and a great hospitality experience for our family- especially little miss who gave up her room!)

*  Sat down for 20 minutes and read a magazine :)

*   Hung a load of washing

*  Folded and put away a load of washing

*  Watched the chicks scratch away for awhile (stu has made them a "tractor" type chicken-wire creation; they're growing, feathering and LOVING their time out in the garden!)

*  Did a little window-shopping on Ebay (and um..... bidded on a couple of skirts and shorts for Saraya......... shhh......)

*  Had a little look at Etsy.com for the first time - oh my goodness, it's handmade-stuff heaven!!

*  Sat with my diary and wrote some notes for the week ahead

*  Ran a lavender bath ready for the children's return (they're enjoying the benefits of having a Prep teacher for a Papa, having fun playing in the Prep yard while he does some work out there)

*  Headed outside to water the gardens and greet the weary wanderers.  We were out late last night at an engagement party, plus So You Think you can Dance is on tonight, plus it's Sunday night so it'll be early to bed for the little people!

I love my Sunday afternoon time.  The best bit?  The quiet.  It doesn't matter how I spend this time, the house is mine, it's peaceful and it's quiet.  And I don't have to talk for a whole 2 hours.

A little harvest

Late last week I harvested about 1/4 of the sweetcorn from my garden.  Its been a big hit with the children!

And these roses have the sweetest smell.  

I love the way they fragrance the house, naturally.  

Summer days are winding up, and so are my gardens.  I'm looking forward to the weeding,the composting, mulching and replanting for the Autumn/Winter crops.  Seasons and gardening - two of my favourite things!

God's plans for our children

On Tuesday night as planned, I did my bible study here at home.  

I listened to the audio cd, prayed, and read some more of the first chapter of Nurture.  I'm just starting on the workbook too.  It was great!!  I know it's going to grow and challenge me, and I'm really looking forward to joining the other ladies once Wizard of Oz is finished.

I wanted to share the thing that struck my heart most from my reading so far.

Lisa Bevere was speaking of a conversation she had with her teenage son when he implored her late one night, "Mum, what do you see in me?  What do you think is my purpose for life?"  She reflected that she knew how important this moment was; her young, vulnerable son looking for his mothers affirmation, and desperately seeking after the heart of God.  

She writes:

"In the instant of this encounter I realized Alec's possibilities were limitless. I could fathom 

his life stretching and expanding so much farther than John's and my own.

I hesitated because I knew that what I said would go directly to his soul.

I told Alec I never wanted to limit what God had for him with my parametres.

I shared how he was quite possibly called in a way I had never seen modeled here on Earth.

 I found myself almost afraid to say too much, to paint a picture too precise or construct a box too small, for.........

How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders!  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.  Daniel 4:3"

I've been thinking a lot about this this week.  As our children grow, it's easy to begin to formulate in our minds who they are, what their talents are, and who they may become.  But I've been challenged now to think bigger, less precise.  Our plans are not God's plans.  If ever my children ask me the question Lisa's son did, I hope I too can answer in a way which will expand their minds, encouraging them to think big!!  God does.  He knows intimately WHY he has created each individual person, each child, and what He has in mind for their lives.

I believe Elijah has been gifted musically.  He has always loved and made music since he was a tiny tot.  I took this photo of him with his toy guitar yesterday.  All I can do is continue to encourage and expose him to music, keeping music playing regularly in our home, taking him to the Preschooler music group we go to, getting him lessons if and when he desires them, and praying that God would reveal to him as he grows the way He wants Elijah to use his gift.  I don't know yet what that will look like.  Maybe he'll compose, or conduct.  Maybe he'll dance.  Maybe he'll be a musician- a drummer, a guitarist, a pianist, a cellist.  It remains to be seen!!  Maybe he'll become the lead singer in a band and change the world.

Or maybe he'll come home from an everyday job, and sit strumming a guitar and singing in the evenings........ quietly bringing delight and the gift of music to his wife and children- and changing their world.

Let's not box in our children, or our God!  His ways are perfect.  Our job is to encourage, to expose our kids to the world, to give them opportunities to discover and enhance their natural gifts- whether they be for writing, sport, music, mothering children, medicine, science, or politics!!!  I'm excited to see all the children I know grow up, to see them blossom and become beautiful young adults.  I know this is years away yet, but still it's fun to dream!  And I know the time is flying by.

Saraya and Elijah were having a conversation the other day about their futures, and made a joint (spontaneous) decision to both become doctors.  They would have a clinic together, but their own offices and their own patients.  I joked that they would both have "Doctor Fern" on their doors!  "Which one of you would I come to see when I was sick?" I asked.  "Me!!!" they both chorused.  Well, it would be tough one but I always hoped a good female doctor would open a clinic in town.  How amazing to think it could be my own daughter!  Last I heard though, it had switched to becoming famous singers.

Whatever they do, I always hope they will follow their dreams and listen to God as He speaks to their hearts and guides their steps.  That will make me one very happy Mamma indeed. 

An exciting night!

Last night we exchanged a nice relaxing evening at home with home-cooked meal for running around the theatre, rehearsing munchkin scene, and eating KFC amid costumes and make-up people........ and a film crew. Yep, you read that right.

Yesterday afternoon/ night was the Channel 7 filming of the tv advertisement for the Wizard of Oz. Exciting stuff!!!!!!! There was a real buzz, mostly due to the last-minute costume finalising........... and the trying-out of makeup/ hairstyles/ prosthetic masks etc.!

Here is a sneak peak.... (I hope it's okay that I'm putting these pics on here- Stu has okayed it!)

The boy who is playing the "mayor of munchkin city", half-way through makeup

The tinman - he looked awesome!! This photo isn't his costume complete- he also has a metal breastplate, some armor on his arms, etc.

And the king of the forest himself!!

We're actually thinking the mask might be given the flick as it hides all Stuart's wonderful facial expression....... maybe more "Cats" style makeup instead? But the costume and mane etc. is allg getting there and looking brilliant!

The theatre adrenalin is pumping through our entire family. Well, maybe excepting William- though he did seem to enjoy himself last night, crawling through the theatre and entertaining the chorus members as they waited backstage for their turn to rehearse post-filming.

Seriously, if you can manage it, come and see this show! It's looking so great and I know it will be a huge success!!!

An award for a dear friend

Many many months ago, I discovered a lovely blog called Graceful Girlhood.  I pop in from time to time and always enjoy reading it.  I have found an award started there, and wish to pass it on to a very very special friend of mine............. my sister (in spirit), Cathy.

It's the Kindred Spirit Award.  If you have seen or read the "Anne" series, you'll understand. :)

Just as Anne and Diana were kindred spirits, like-minded friends who loved one another "for as long as the sun and the moon shall endure....", I am blessed to know and share daily life with Cathy.  She is a beautiful person and has been such a blessing to our entire family through the many ups and downs of our lives!  It is rare to find a friend who knows you so well you can communicate often without words, is intuitive to what you need, will stay up into the late hours of night praying for you, will create delightful hampers when you are sick or move house, will create a home away from home for your children, ....... and the one in my heart forever..... - will keep vigil praying by your side through a labour that goes on and on and on!!!!

This is an appropriate time to be mentioning Cathy, as she shared news of her own on her blog today.  She is expecting baby number 3 this September!  This baby has been prayed for for many many months, and all the family (and ours too) is overjoyed.  Would you join me in praying for my beautiful friend in the coming months?  I am looking into creating a blog button- she doesn't know this yet, but will once she's read this post :)- so we can create a network of prayer over Cathy and the little one(s) she is expecting.

Thankyou my friend, may God richly bless and protect you and your dear family forevermore.

My new-look school day!

Okay, life is seriously going to be different around home during the school days from now on.

Starting this morning, Saraya is catching the bus to and from school which means no more school drop off and no more school pick up.  This is HUGE!!!!  

First, let me explain that the bus is only a 12-seater (more like a large van), with about 10 students from Saraya's school, and only from the junior school. Second, it picks her up and drops her off right at our front gate.  Third, the driver is the school chaplain, also known as a member of our church and a good family friend.  Forth, it costs approximately the same amount as we're currently spending on petrol doing the drive out to school and back twice a day.  Brilliant!!

Saraya is so excited about this little bit of independence (as if she needs more- isn't going to school enough in itself?), and she couldn't wait to try it out this morning.  THis makes me very happy.  It also makes life SO much easier for me.  Of course, I've never minded doing the drive- it comes with the job description of motherhood!  And I will miss seeing my friends out there too...... but that can be fixed with a phone call in the day or a visit.  Elijah is thrilled because it gives him more independent playtime, plus playtime with me, plus he doesn't need to sit in his carseat for half an hour or so each day.  William will finally be able to sleep when he wants to.... this morning he went down happily (he is loving his cot and self-settling so well, hooray!) and slept for 1 1/2 hours.  Generally he times his sleeps for mid-morning and mid-afternoon, right when we're normally driving and hopping in/ out of the car. This has always been tricky.

And I am happy because they're all happy.  And because it's less going in-and-out of the house- something I never enjoy!  Also, including the driving, parking, walking in, chatting, etc. etc. I'll be saving nearly 2 hours a day which means a slower, more calm life in general.  The boys and I still have the car sitting there and can plan to have outings/ do jobs in town or whatever, when it suits us all to do so.  Oh boy, am I excited!

I wanted to attach a photo of Saraya getting onto the bus with her beaming smile this morning, but someone has borrowed my camera (hmmmm, Stuart, I need it back!  can't blog without photos.....)  I'll try to take one tomorrow.

It will be quite surreal to have her arrive home this afternoon and to be able to have afternoon tea made and set out on the table, all ready to go.  I'm hoping it will be a blessing to her to be able to come home to a happy house that's just bursting to see her after her long day (not that the bus adds much more time- only 20 minutes in the morning).  I found this quote yesterday and loved it:

"It was the policy of the good old gentleman to make his children feel that home was the happiest place in the world;

and I value this delicious home-feeling as one of the choicest gifts a parent can bestow."  

Washington Irving

I pray I can bestow this gift to each of my children, as they go off into the world, and come home again to safety and comfort, peace and belonging.

Elijah and Declan

These two buddies had a great time playing together last week!!

Since Elijah has zero interest in going to kindy this year (he was booked in to go but we've pulled his name out), these playdates have become even more valuable!  I just loved watching them get creative out in the garden.

Oh, and isn't William just too cute for words?  

He's had a great day today, very happy and his sleeping is certainly improving slowly........ patience, patience.  :)

"Oh yes, we remember him!"

Yesterday (Saturday), Stuart donned his mane for rehearsals from 9am until 5:30pm.

But today, he was actually home,  present for the all-important role of husband to me and father to 3 little children who have been missing him very much!

This morning we took the liberty of sleeping in, reading the newspaper, having cups of tea, pottering about playing with the children, and generally just enjoying the currently rare experience of being home together.

This afternoon we headed up to Hervey Bay for lunch, a bit of shopping (I found lots of little things for the children on clearance racks at Target- yay!), and spent a couple of hours swimming at the aquatic centre.  It was wonderful.

My little fish Saraya LOVED the water-slide!  She's just started swimming lessons this term too, just to get some *technique* into that enthusiastic little body. :)

Today I feel very thankful for some great family time.  Makes me appreciate Stu and the children even more!

Have a great week everyone!!