Archive for the ‘Family Journal’ Category

• Comments and other things.

  Date: 2010.05.31 | Category: Encouragement, Family Journal, God, Life, Scripture | Response: 2

  Today I realised I have to turn my comments back on.  So I will be doing that.  I hate prefacing things, but please don’t attack my views.  If you are an “Internet Warrior” (one of those people who have too much time on their hands and go around picking what is wrong with everyones belief systems and persuasions) please don’t even bother to comment as it won’t be approved.  I’m not into conflict, debating or showing all sides of things all the time.  If this offends you, look up what it says about offence in the Bible.

  Now onto other things.  It’s been beautiful weather here, cold winds and warm sunshine.  Winter is definately on its way as we even had some dew, almost a frost the other morning.  Last night as I was microwaving Thumpers warm pad I stood outside and I could feel the damp cold rolling in, sooo glad we have houses around us and fences.  It would have been cold out of town on the farms and paddocks.

  We have a stray cat living in our backyard.  We’ve called him Tabby for obvious reason (he is a grey/brown tabby. I’ll get a photo.).   He’s so timid though, just slinks away into the shed when we approach.  I just want to pick him up, give him a huge warm hug and bring him inside.  Kind of reminds me of us with the Father.  Some people come to God every so often to be fed then when He approaches they slink away to hide in the dark again.  All He wants to do is pick us up, give us a warm hug and bring us inside.

  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

• For 13 Years She Filled a Space.

  Date: 2009.08.04 | Category: Family Journal | Response: 0

  

  Kuching 1996-2009

  Kuching means “cat” in Indonesian.

  But she was more than just a cat.

  She was with an Indonesian family originally, then an Anglican Minister and his wife.

  After 5 years with those families she came to us.

  Kuching was a “good cat”.

  She was a friend.

  She came when she was called.

  She was happy to warm a lap in winter.

  She was a good “mouser”.

  She had a loud distinct purr.

  She was a family only cat, she hid away when visitors came to the house.

  She was slightly skittish – especially when she spied herself reflected in a window (the first time I’d actually heard a cat spit!)

  As she got older she became unwell but could still catch a mouse and scare it to death with her growl.

  Same with chicken necks!

  She would walk on her hind legs for dinner while meowing her old lady meow.

  She could paddy-paw with the best of them.

  She mentored our younger cat, Chloe by showing her how to do some things that her Mum didn’t teach her.

  Poor Chloe will never be the same after being shown what to do with a mouse the first time! (ew those crunching noises!)

  On Saturday 1 August 2009, at the ripe old age of 13 her kidneys defeated her.

  We have a small empty “Kuching shaped” space in our house and our hearts.

  When she was younger she’d come inside covered in Plumbago flowers after snoozing under a bush in the sun!

  This is where she will remain in my mind, happy and snoozing in the sun.

  WE’LL MISS YOU OUR KUCHY-CAT.

  

• Larissa’s Tuna Casserole

  Date: 2009.05.19 | Category: Family Journal, Home Tips, Life | Response: 3

  I just finished eating dinner, one that the whole family ate, without complaining, all gone.  A WINNER!

  Serves 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children (hubby wanted more!)

  Put 1/3 – 1/2 of 500g packet uncooked tri-colour vegetable spiral pasta in a casserole (3L).  Drain a 420g tin tuna (in springwater), break up with a fork to desired size of chunks then mix in a can of cream of celery soup, 250ml cheese sauce and some pepper.  Pour over pasta and add a little water to make sure pasta is completely wet.  Grate some cheese over (about a cup if you want it really cheesey).  Add 1/2 to 1 cup of mixed frozen veg (or just peas and corn if you prefer – basically getting some veg in there, improvise!) Bake in 180.c/350.f oven with lid on for 45min remove lid and bake for a further 15min.  Serve up and dig in!

• Waking Earlier

  Date: 2009.05.14 | Category: Encouragement, Family Journal, Fun and Trivia, Life, Prayer | Response: 2

  I’ve been waking earlier the past couple of days.  I am famous in my family for sleeping in – 10hrs of sleep is nothing (just look at me in the morning and that’ll proove it!).

  Recently I’ve been pretty busy with our annual homeschooling moderator visit, possibly fighting a mild virus and just general lack of energy/motivation.  So I found myself struggling to stay awake at about 7pm a few nights ago and thought, I’ll go to bed early and read for a bit. (I’m currently reading a Wanda E Brunstetter series – The Brides of Webster County).  A hour and a few chapters later I felt my eyes drooping and I was yawning like nobody’s businees, so I switched off my light.  I woke about 12 hours later.

  I felt pretty good, not dragging around, but still tired.  I felt the need to go to bed early again that evening, so I hopped into bed around 8pm again, read a few chapters and had my light out by 8.30pm.  Again 11hrs later awoke to a new day.  Felt pretty positive this time.

  Repeat two more times only the last time I woke at 5.50am instead of 7 or 8am.  So I decided to take this rare, precious time (called being alone – homeschool Mums just don’t get that all that often.) and used it to talk with God, do some uninterrupted craft and run a virus scan on my computer!

  This morning I woke pretty easily but it was chilly – so I have turned on the heater, but it’s not on my too directly otherwise I’d fall asleep again!!!  I had energy to go for a walk the day before yesterday and take my oldest daughter to her netball practice.  I find as the sun goes down I’m getting tired.  There is absolutely nothing on TV for me to watch, so no loss there.  I get to read in bed and I miss out on the stress of telling the kids to get to bed because I’m the first one going!  I wake up before the sun is up and get to see the beautiful morning star and the setting moon in the cool of the morning (while letting dog out for morning release!).  About half an hour after the sun is rising so I don’t even need to switch on artificial lights – I pray until I can read properly, then do my devotions.  Right now about an hour and a quarter after waking up I can see the sunlight hitting the top branches f the Liquid Amber in next doors backyard.  It’s nice to wake so early instead of feeling like I’m behind when I wake at 8.30 or 9am.  I just hope it continues!  If it’s not in your routine to rise early, you should give it a go – getting up before the family is refreshing.

• Bare Necessities

  Date: 2009.05.02 | Category: Family Journal | Response: 0

  In this current climate – everyone seems to be paring down to the bare necessities.  I had to do this when hubby left his job and decided to study over 12 months ago.  I find the biggest change is eating a lot less meat.  We also have not done our big spend-up down in the city for a long time and when we do, we only buy necessary things, like winter clothes and things we can’t get instead of wants, like DVD’s.

  One of the things that I didn’t do was get our cat immunised.  Some may be gasping in horror, others may be thinking, so what.  I don’t generally agree with immunisation, but for Chloe to be boarded at the vet, she needs to be protected from possible infections.

  

  Because we haven’t been down to Perth in AGES it just hasn’t been needed.  But today is the big day.  Chloe is getting her immunisation, then another booster after that then there’s an exclusion time before she can be boarded.

  Apart from that, today I need to shop for the fortnight and do a bit of washing.  The girls are happy it’s the weekend and the girl  next door has a friend sleeping over so there are 4 of them to play together.  So I’m pretty sure they’ll be playing all day!

  Time for breakfast and getting ready for the weekend.

  Hope yours is relaxing.

• Save money – cut your hair at home.

  Date: 2009.04.29 | Category: Family Journal, Home Tips, Life, YouTube | Response: 2

  I have been to a hairdresser approximately nine times in my life.  Yes only nine!  I cut it myself now or as I was growing up (and sometimes still now!) my Mum does it.  The cost saved would be a lot.  I can’t justify paying someone else to do something I can do myself.  This tutorial shows you easily how to cut long hair.  There are many on YouTube if you are looking for a particular type.  Turn your sound off as it’s just bad music, no speech.

• Craft

  Date: 2009.02.25 | Category: Family Journal, craft | Response: 3

  I’ve just realised that I don’t blog about a huge part of my life – craft!  I love to crochet and turn out things that are pretty and useful.  I taught myself using a book from the library designed for children.  The reason why I chose a children’s book is because they generally have much better pictures.  I’m a visual learner and so found it much easier.  Written instruction doesn’t work as well with me, nor does verbal, so that’s why.  I’m still hazy on the terms because I think I learnt from an american book, so I’m confused on “doubles” and treble” etc.  But it doesn’t matter because I don’t follow patterns.  I make up my pieces, sometimes as I’m going along or sometimes before I begin.  Often I’ll work for a couple of days on something then I’ll be unravelling it.  Just ask Dave, he used to ask what I was doing and I’d say “I’ve changed my mind!”.  He’d say “Wish I could do that with wood!” (his chosen medium).  I don’t even get a blink anymore, they all know me so well!

  My specialty is blankets.  I find them functional and easy.  I have made poncho’s, shawls, beanies, moccosains, scarves and dolls clothes in the past but find blankets satisfying to make.  I recently finished one in “boy” colours to send off to the Vic Bushfire Crisis and have now started a green one for Tash’s bed.  (When I do Liv’s of course it will be pink!).

  I can’t work with wool (or yarn as some call it) in the hotter months so I turn to cross stitch.  Generally it’s only about 2-3 months that I can’t crochet or knit, so in that time, which includes Christmas, I only finish one piece.  I find cross stitch painful at times, but it reinforces dicipline in me as when I make a mistake (not if – when) I MAKE myself go back and fix it.  I hated to do this years ago, but now it is rewarding to know I’ve finished a job and done it well.  Some things don’t need such precision (crochet!!!) and so I skip and go on.  Quilting on the other hand needs precision and is something I have always wanted to do.  I don’t think I’m ready for it yet.  I need A LOT more practice in sewing!

  Recently I discovered things called “softies”.  I’ve never heard of them before, others may have and you may be thinking where has this woman been all her life?  Under a rock???!!!  If so, I’m sorry!  I think they’re cute and may be just the thing to begin my sewing pursuit again.  I’ll put up some links for craft blogs/sites that I find insprational in the next few days.

  I need to go help one of the girls with their homeschooling…

  as Tigger would say TTFN!

• Unable to Blog

  Date: 2009.01.17 | Category: Family Journal, Life | Response: 4

  I have been unable to blog for a couple of days because I’ve had so many things running through my head.  I’ve been unable to assemble anything that would be worth blogging about!  Too many thoughts render me useless!

  - It’s been cooler then hot again, which zaps me.

  - Natasha’s birthday is coming up, so I’m organising to make it a special day.

  - School is rapidly approaching and I feel WAY behind

  - I’ve read a great book.

  - The girls are on the longest holiday break they’ve ever had and are getting bored. (read as coming to mum and dad with bored look on face and just staring at us until we suggest stuff!)

  - I feel like there is constant noise in the house, because it’s so hot the girls can’t play outside. (I guess we have cabin fever of sorts)

  - I’ve been in constant pain for a bit now (a few weeks) and it’s zapping me.  I know I need to get it checked up on, but I really can’t be bothered.  I know what it is, just don’t want to deal with it.

  - I worry about the health of the animals when it’s so hot, we have an elderly cat who I expect to find lifeless anytime.  That totally zaps me.

  I guess I’m just all zapped out and look I even made a blog about it!

  C’mon Autumn!!!

• We have a pool

  Date: 2009.01.14 | Category: Family Journal, Life, Weigh-In | Response: 2

  After Dave slogging for days putting up a shade sail and levelling sand, yesterday we put up our pool.  We began doing this at the end of last year, but the site we chose just wasn’t suitable, too sunny (read as children will fry within seconds) and very difficult to level without adding sand.  So we waited until the one bobcat from the one hardware shop was fixed and got some lovely clean sand to level the site.  We had it set and as it was filling the kids were paddling and Dave and I were laying in it like starfish!  I wish someone could have taken a picture!  As it got deeper we all had a swim.  Last night I felt lovely and cool, until my sunburn started eminating heat!  I now don’t really care that it is forecast over 40 again tomorrow and so on…we can cool down properly now!!!

  Oh and I forgot to write about my weigh in on Monday – I’ve dropped another 0.5kg – only 15kg to go!!!

• Happy Birthday to me!

  Date: 2009.01.09 | Category: Christian, Family Journal, God | Response: 2

  I got most of the way through today before realising it’s my second birthday.  I’m 15 years old today.  Yep 15 years ago I was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven!  I usually remember much earlier in the day, but today I had no idea what date it was!  I feel blessed because I was led to put on a worship CD which got me singing and then after that I put on two more CD’s.  So I worshipped for a couple of hours this afternoon, a most appropriate way to spend my second birthday I think!