Posts Tagged ‘Family Journal’

• 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

• 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!