Family Journal

Posts Tagged ‘Family Journal’

Off the Hook!

Date: 2011.05.19 | Category: Family Journal, Life, Off the Hook, Photos, craft | Response: 0

As you may or may not know I like to crochet. So I thought I’d actually add some info on what I’ve been doing and making. I’m not sure if I have any photos on hand, so I’ll take some today and add them later.

Some projects I’ve finished in the past:

Diagonal squares lapblanket (Pink/Purple)
Green Squares Throw (Greens, Dark Red, Yellow)
Big, Easy Granny lapblanket (Grey, White)

Some projects I’ve just finished:

Tunisian Wrap (Grey, Grey & Yellow) (oops forgot to take a photo of this one!)

Broomstick Scarf (Red Pure Wool. Thanks to ZigoZago!)

What I’m working on now:

Charity Blanket (I join the squares a lady at craft group knits, she uses a variety of colours, so the result is very interesting!)
Flouro Orange One Piece Jumper (for my youngest who fell in love with this yarn in Big W when we went to Perth a couple weeks ago).

What I’d like to do next:

I have some Cream through to Dark Chocolate that I’ll be making myself an article of clothing with.
I found some Dark Chocolate through to Red that will be something else for me.

I have a blue skein of Pure Wool (Abeulita) I won from ZigoZago that I’ll make another scarf with. It’s NOT SCRATCHY soooo soft and lovely. I think I’ll be purchasing some more from them. It’s a bit pricey being a natural yarn, but so worth it.

I will be making something for the new baby that is due in our family (not me!) just need to get the right colour indication from the expectant Mum!
Not sure what else I can make, probably another blanket, I usually have one on the go, maybe a tartan this time.

So there you have it, my new category Off the Hook and what I’ve been doing with myself when I’m not doing housework, helping the girls with school, shopping for groceries, talking with friends or family or going online! Do you crochet? If so, why not answer the above questions on your blog, (include photos!) and link back to me.
15 minute day

Date: 2011.05.14 | Category: Family Journal, Home Tips, Life | Response: 0

Today I’m doing a 15 minute day.

I find this a good way of getting things done without feeling like I’m working all day.

I used to do 15min on 15min off when I was low in energy.

Today I’m doing it a little differently because I have different objectives to accomplish.

I want to read more bible, so that’s one 15min. I want to get housework done, so that’s another 15min.

I want to limit my time on the computer, so that’s another 15 mins and I want to finish a jumper I’m crocheting, so that’s the 4th 15min per hour.

I’ve set my timer for 15mins and am just starting it again at the end of each period.

I’ve also allowed 30min break for food/doing nothing at the end of each 2 hour block of 15mins.

So by about 7.30pm tonight I’ll have done 1hr 30 mins of work, bible reading, crochet and computer time and break for meals.

I think that is a pretty productive day!
Travel

Date: 2011.04.29 | Category: Family Journal | Response: 0

Tomorrow I’ll be travelling by road to see family for a few days. Usually I’m a bundle of energy, organising and planning and wondering what I’ve forgotten. This time I seem to be so much more relaxed and happy for the few days to just play themselves out. I haven’t planned where we’ll be or what we’ll be doing, Usually we have to do this to fit in all that we need to do. This time we have more time than things to do. So it’ll be a kind of holiday. I’m glad to get a chance to have a break from preparing meals and the daily jobs. It will be good. So I’ll not post again when I get back. I’m looking at reading a bible book a day and also the word “vindication”. Hopefully I can explore those two things more fully in the near future.
Grace, groceries and growth.

Date: 2011.04.17 | Category: Encouragement, Family Journal, God, Health, Home Tips, Life, Vegetarian | Response: 0

Grace: Today I’ll be experiencing God’s grace. The same as everyday, but on purpose. I watched Joel Osteen’s message this morning on Australian Christian Channel (Foxtel) which seemed to condense a general message that I’ve been receiving for the past few months. That God’s grace covers everything for those who believe.

What is Grace? According to Dictionary.com grace is:
the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God;
the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them;
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God’s favor or one of the elect.

So when I chose to believe that Jesus saved all of humanity, including me, when He took on the sins on the world and died of the cross He extended GRACE to us and now calls me one of the elect.
Also daily the Holy Spirit operates with GRACE in my life (and body) regenerating and strengthening me (as I go from glory to glory).
Both of these aspects of GRACE are freely given, unmerited favor and love of God which is more GRACE! Grace upon grace.

The crux of Joel’s message was that God’s grace is sufficient always but we only need it for today. Today is where we live. Our minds might be in the past where we can’t change things or in the future where we can’t influence things but today is where we live and where our minds should be. Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawerence was one of the most influential books of my life. It changed many things, but mostly it introduced me to NOW. God is here NOW. You are here NOW. You only have this second. Live NOW. God’s GRACE is NOW (yet eternal). We can rely on His Grace always, especially now.

My now is Sunday. I am listening to quiet small birds enjoying coolness. I am hearing the hum of the computer and the morning movements of people in the house starting their day. I’m thinking of what to cook for the week as I shop on Mondays and I’m thinking of what I’ll be doing to relax today. I try to treat Sunday as a rest day in my mind because otherwise I feel like I never stop. In reality, the household needs never stop, of course, we eat daily, we do things daily and these things need to be cleaned up after. But I give myself leniency on a Sunday to sit longer in between. To do more crochet. To read more online. To play more games. To not exercise. To do simple yet indulgent meals. I guess it’s a kind of grace.

Groceries: I like to think about the week’s meals in advance because as I become more busy on shopping day my mind tends to become stressed and overwhelmed and I just want to get the whole thing over with and get home again. The girls could be in a talkative mood or want to show me lots of things I’m not even looking for or I’m feeling a bit off with a headache or something else, so I can’t really think clearly and forget things if they aren’t on the list. So the list has to be finalised.

I tend to be the only one to write on the shopping list now, even though it’s posted on the fridge, because it was becoming a wishlist instead. Things that the girls wanted me to buy, not what we needed, started appearing. Such as chocolate, soft drinks and other junk food. Of course I do buy these things sometimes, but they’re definately not NEEDED. I plan dinners down to the ingredients needed. We are all pretty boring when it comes to breakfast and eat the same thing, so that is supplied. Also with lunches, but not quite so boring, so I keep the fridge and cupboard supplied with enough ingredients for my family to get their breakfasts and lunches. I ask what would be wanted for different meals and sometimes specific things for other meals are requested also.

I try to plan according to weather, seasonal availability and recent meals. We go around and around on the same meals much of the time, but you can only eat so much of the same thing. Recently I’ve be trying to introduce one new meal a week. Something a little different to what we would usually eat, such as Polenta Stuffed Capsicum or Ratatouille. This week I think I’ll try a Chili. Something I’ve never made and only eaten a few times because my Mum doesn’t like and can’t eat spicy foods, so I have limited experienced with it. Just this morning I read three different recipes for Vegetable Chili from three different sources! I think I have to give it a go. Hope the family likes it.

Growth: This, trying something new each week, is a kind of growth for me because I’m a relatively new Vegetarian. It’s so nice to have the energy to try new things and not be overwhelmed and too exhausted to do it. My growth over the past few months has been mainly in the health and nutrition areas of life, but before that (and during) it’s been spiritual. I’ve grown in many ways with God and am so thankful for it. I’m glad He isn’t distant like people think He is. I’m glad He cares for the little things in life and works it all together for good.
Why I am dairy (and meat) free.

Date: 2011.04.14 | Category: Family Journal, Health, Life, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 0

I have been on a journey over the past 5 or 6 years to become completely dairy-free. I’d always had sinus problems really all my life. Mum used to say we should tie a bag on my nose. Little did we know, until only 5 years ago, that I had an allergy to dairy. More specifically the caesin, or the protein in cow’s and goat’s milk.

It all started when my Mum got a virus when I was a baby, breastfeeding. She said the doctors at the time told her to feed me on a corn-based syrup formula and that I would grow out of the symptoms. To an extent I did. But I always had a blocked nose.

Fast forward about thirty years. I still had a permanent blocked nose plus felt like I always had a cold, infected throat, achey joints, bloating, acne/bad skin, Endometriosis, poor concentration, foggy brain and extremely fatigued. I didn’t know this was not normal and couldn’t understand how people did so much. I decided to go off milk for a week and see if this was the cause. My throat dried up. It hurt. It was weird without the post-nasal drip, but I could breathe! And smell! (not so good when you have pets). My endometriosis seemed gone too (symptom free) for a couple of months. Of course my love of cheese, chocolate and milk made it hard to stay off them and everything went back to the way it was only worse. Every month was hell. I would be in so much pain it was excrutiating (just ask my family) I couldn’t walk or do the normal daily things without a lot of effort, I’d just sit on the couch for about a day, sometimes crying. It made it hard to plan things, or follow things through.

Now I have been dairy free for nearly a year, I also decided in October 2010 to follow my husband’s lead and give up eating meat. I still had eggs and fish (I’ve since stopped eating fish as well). I have substituted some things, like having soy milk or almond milk instead of cows milk for my coffee and tea, but other things I’ve just eliminated, like cheese. I did try soy cheese, once. I’ve lost about 8kg since being vegetarian. I have energy, a clear mind, clear sinuses, less painful months, joints less achey, no bloating or water retention, no sore throat and clear skin. Whether it’s the lack of dairy or meat in my diet, I don’t care, I’m just glad I’m healthy now and I can function!
Menu Planning Monday

Date: 2011.04.11 | Category: Family Journal, Health, Life, Menu Plan Monday, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 3

This weeks weather is going to be a little warmer this week compared to last. Nothing extreme so I don’t need to warm us up with hearty meal. Maybe Saturday I’ll look at doing something with little cooking to reduce the relative heat in the kitchen. 33c will feel hot after it being so cold.

Monday: Easy Night

Tuesday: Pasta, Garlic Bread & Side Salad

Wednesday: Polenta Stuffed Capsicum & Salad

Thursday: Potato, Baked Beans, Spinach & Garden Salad

Friday: Vegie Burgers & Chips

Saturday: Salads

Sunday: Vegies

Of course there is every chance that we’ll eat these in a different order, but that’s the meals for this week!
With Hope

Date: 2010.08.02 | Category: Christian, Family Journal, God, Inspiration, Life | Response: 0

Recently I bought the CD “Speechless” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Last night I was listening to it, probably for the first time all the way through, while doing the dishes. When the song “With Hope” came on, it explains one of the reasons why I became a Christian. It made me think of my brothers. I have two you see, one on earth and the other passed before I could met him. He was only young and severely disabled, so I know one day I will meet him. That will be the second most important meeting for me after standing face to face with my Saviour. Here are the words.

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you’ve gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but…

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
‘Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
(There’s a place by God’s grace)
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God’s plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father’s smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
‘Cause now you’re home
And now you’re free, and…

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
‘Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
(There’s a place by God’s grace)
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

We have this hope as an anchor
‘Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so…

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
‘Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
(There’s a place by God’s grace)
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope
Simple Woman’s Daybook

Date: 2010.07.17 | Category: Family Journal, Life, Simple Womans Daybook, craft | Response: 0

FOR TODAY
Outside my window… Cloudy skies, bare Moreton Bay Fig branches and Quongdong tree leaves swaying in the cold southerly wind blowing.
I am thinking… Of half of my family down in Perth (Hubby and oldest daughter)
I am thankful for…God’s mercy. It covers so much.
From the learning rooms… School will start back Monday (from our 2 week holidays). We may start Tues if Dave and Liv come back Sunday.
From the kitchen…I will be warming up the coffee machine for “morning tea” and having a home-made cuppacino/latte.
Lunch will be banana toasties (too many bananas and not enough people – a favourite meal for me!)
Dinner will be Vegie Delight Sausages, Mashed Potato, Peas, Corn on the cob and broad beans
I am wearing…Pj’s still! It is holidays.
I am creating…A dark green knitted vest for Dave. My f’irst attempt at knitting a piece of clothing. (I always have a crochet blanket on the go, it wouldn’t be right otherwise!)
I am going…to take youngest daughter to the bakery today to remedy the uneveness of donuts (Dave and Liv had some yesterday!)
I am reading…another Di Morrissey book but her style is so samey so I may jump over to the new Left Behind prequels I recently purchased.
I am hoping…Dave and Liv have a good time down in Perth and a safe drive home today/Sunday
I am hearing…Some inane tv show on foxtel that Tash is watching and the happy twittering of little birds outside (after the nice rain the otherday)
Around the house…I’m planning on vacuuming today and maybe sneaking into Liv’s room while she’s away and tidying up a little. I need to tidy the house up in general and also want to get to the pile of craft stuff in my bedroom that needs a new home (probably back out in the caravan).
One of my favorite things…Quiet, which I had for a while this morning (until Oscar started meowing after breakfast).
A few plans for the rest of the week: I will be sorting through the girls books to see if any are nearly finished and warrants an order. Planning on finishing my tension square and starting the vest.
Need to go to the vet for Billy’s special bits.
Buy some more firewood.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

I appologise for the lack of pics in this post – I can’t seem to upload at the moment…
New Look

Date: 2010.07.08 | Category: Family Journal, Life | Response: 0

I have been content with my simple blog but began to think it was too simple once I started seeing all these beautiful and groovy themes other people seemed to be finding! My wonderful husband came across this theme and instantly thought it suited me. When I saw it I loved it and he imported it for me straight away (what a great hubby!).

I really really like it and have even added some extra pages. These pages incorporate the elements of my website. Soon I will bring the Articles across and then my blog will be the main page. I may even add in some other pages in future to bring in some other things that I enjoy and want to share.

I hope you enjoy the new look as much as I do.
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