The Lifter Of My Head...

Today I was doing pretty good. Actually the day started really well.... Daniel went off to work early (he started a new job today, Yay). I had a quick Brekky, read my devotion, dropped my 3 girls off to school and took my boy back home because his asthma was really bad. On the way home, we stopped and listened to the roar of the Malanda Falls in flood! It was an awesome sight. Once home I snatched a few minutes to take a phone call from a  friend I had been meaning to call, such a breath of fresh air. Then, a beautiful new friend dropped in unexpectedly with a little House warming gift - a set of 12 glasses! Imagine! Glass cups after 2 years of plastic! Such a thoughtful gesture! I love our new Church Family :)
It was turning out to be a beautiful day..... Okay, so it was excessively wet and I swear my feet are growing webbing. I am noticing an increase of mould popping up here and there also. But mould aside, it was still a glorious day.
Then it happened....
I read something that made me feel so very sad. A simple comment about something I do when I write. It was unexpected. It probably wasn't meant to upset me but it did. I felt discouraged. I don't want to go over the top and get all dramatic about it....but It really did make me feel like what I write is not good enough. I wondered if this was a sign I was to stop writing for this particular organisation. I started to stress about the other things I had committed myself to write for this organisation....would they be acceptable? Would it be good enough? Should I close the chapter? I think I felt this way because I often do not hear feedback for the things that I do write or have written so I am left wondering how it has been received. And then to have the suggestion that I do not meet the criteria, it just felt like I didn't measure up. I'll be honest.....I cried. Then I prayed....
"Lord, am I doing the right thing? You know my heart Lord....you know how I go about writing.....you know I felt prompted to share those things after asking you.....am I to stop? Is it time to close the chapter?" And I felt very clearly, these beautiful encouraging words from my Lord and saviour....

"You don't write for ______ (enter name of that person) You write for me! It really doesn't matter what that person thinks. You write for me and my purposes." 

I am so grateful that He is the lifter of my head!
He is the King I serve.
He has given me many gifts and abilities and I choose to look to Him.
Thank you Father for helping me see this from the right perspective.....and thank you for being the lifter of my head!

Those were the days....

My eldest child just turned 13!
13!!!

Wow....we have closed the door on her childhood and opened another on the wonderful world of the Teen years.... It was a day that dawned like any other,  but something had changed. My honey-eyed girl had blossomed into a young woman. It didn't really happen overnight....more a gradual metamorphosis over the last few years. When we left to travel around Australia she was just a girl, now 2 years later she is most definitely a young woman! Her Dad and I have had a front row seat, watching as she negotiates life. It is such a blessing to raise a family. There are so many side splittingly hilarious moments. More than a handful of "grrrr moments" and many powerful lessons to be learned for both the parent and the child. I think we have many more to yet to come as well. 

I remember the day I turned 13. I know it took me a while, bit of a stretch on the memory retrieval. My parents gave me a 'Pig Out' T shirt (I never said I was classy!), a 'Ghostbusters' Album on cassette, the book "The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4" and various other bits and pieces...clothing and the like. I remember Dad playing the Inspector Gadget theme song over and over again in the car....(he still plays this :) Those were the days of spiked hair, mullets, fluro socks and rah rah skirts! When Madonna dominated the airwaves and my favourite movie was 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'. When we all thought we could Dance any time, anywhere, 'Footloose' and 'Dirty Dancing' just re-inforced that belief!!! When break dancing was cool and Michael Jackson taught an entire generation to moon walk. Aaaaah the 80's! Those were the days when I rode motorbikes for fun, spent most of my school holidays outdoors and spent my school terms at Boarding School in Charters Towers. Yep...those were the days that filled my 13th year of life. I am still living down the haircut! What was I thinking..?! Crazy crazy crazy!

As I reflect on my teen years and pause to take stock of my honey-eyed daughter's teen experience thus far...I can't help but notice how different our "teen" years are. She is so much classier than I ever was. I am delighted in the beautiful young woman she is. She is so bright, where I struggled at School. She is super talented at music, specifically violin, where my musical ability was limited to what I could enjoy on cassette. She is actively involved in Scouts, where I dropped out of Girl Guides. She is so very brave, pushes herself to the limit of her comfort zone all the time, where I was often held back by my fear of what might happen. She has a close relationship with our Lord and Saviour where I didn't come to know Him until much later. She has travelled extensively around Australia and I, as a teen, had only enjoyed my home (a sheep & cattle Property) and the surrounding area in remote Western Queensland. She has lived in a tent for the past 2 years, had to go without a lot of the things other kids probably take for granted, forgone friendships and security....and yet she has experienced first hand what it means to live by faith, to sit in the presence of God, to go where He leads, to share with His people, to give the gifts and talents He has blessed us with to further His Kingdom. Yes...our teen years are very different. I don't regret my teen years, it was what it was. I didn't know there was a different way to live, but I do now. I am trying not to worry about what could have been and choose to focus on what is and what will be. I am so very blessed to be Josie's Mum. To have the privilege of witnessing this delightful young lady blossom into a woman. I praise God for her, she is such a gift to this family. There is much ahead of her....highs and lows...learning curves....so much life to be lived. Josie, my love...be bold, be strong....for you are not alone. The Lord your God is with you and will not forsake you. He has brought you this far and He will lead you on. Take hold of what He has promised and keep yourself grounded in His word. You will have so many choices to make over the next couple of years....seek His wisdom. 

Love you beautiful girl
xo

Sweet Solitude, Muffin Mix and Love notes...

Today marks an anniversary of sorts. We drove into Malanda on a Monday three weeks ago, with all our worldly possessions packed tightly into our Troopie and Camper Trailer. Three days later we moved into the timber house on a green hill overlooking Dairy Cattle country. With the children all attending school in nearby Atherton, I am relishing a little solitude. The first few days they were at school I wasn't entirely sure where I could best utilise my time. Those first few days were more about giving me a little head space than anything else. That moment when the Troopie drives out the driveway, transporting my family to school and work, and silence settles upon the house is bittersweet. Yes, I am a sook....I miss my family. After 2 years living in a one room camper trailer, in each other's pockets 24/7, who wouldn't miss them??? Yet the chance to sit and soak uninterrupted in the presence of my Lord and Saviour is so very sweet. This morning was especially lovely. Let me back track a little....I have been feeling a bit down. Nothing major just a longing for female companionship. I am blessed to have some beautiful friends who know and love me for who I am. It's just that geographically I am very much alone and lonely! (It has been this way during our travels as well, unless of course we were in a MOPS town :) This morning sitting there with a coffee, reading, praying, singing and soaking in God's presence has taken the sting out of how bereft I feel. I am not alone, He is with me....He is right here! I was encouraged as I read this morning...

"Our heavenly Father is the Creator of all, and the Giver of all good gifts. His children should bear His likeness, which means they should be creative."

I spent quite a bit of time just sitting in silence, letting it settle in upon me, listening.... It is such a cool thought that we are to be creative to emulate the Master Craftsman. I have so much mundane stuff to do today...washing, cleaning, cooking, preparing..... I asked for His help to get creative, to find joy and meaning in the works of my hands, and mostly for motivation. I was feeling so tired..... I decided that if my work was to glorify the Lord today I had better get moving. So I put on some upbeat Praise & Worship music (I started with "Make Way For The King" available through Victory Life Church, Perth  then flowed on through a Hillsong album - "Saviour King Live", and a Wow To Worship compilation CD), plastered a smile on my face and I haven't looked back! Although I have paused many times just to join in with the various songs. It has been a balm for my soul. I attacked the washing pile. I mixed and baked some chocolate mini muffins for the children to take in their lunchboxes to school. I planned Dinner : Sundried Tomato Chicken Kebabs with salad. I have re-arranged some of the minimal furniture in the house. I have hung out the washing around the house, swept and cleaned up. It's been full on! But I feel so much better for it. A lot can be said for music therapy!

Mum & Dad ROCK (from) Rosa

Mum & Dad love me (from) Rosa

I was walking through my room, pondering creativity when I discovered these two little sticky love notes from Miss Rosa. How special. She had at some point decided to pop these little notes on the swinging doors in our Bedroom. What a cutie.... It got me thinking..... Maybe I should arm myself with sticky notes and go attack the house.... Leaving random little notes here and there for my family. They should know they are loved both by their Mum and their Saviour..... 

But first, time for a cuppa, a muffin, 15 minutes of a good book and a killer view!!!

Home - a timber house on a green hill…

Well it’s official, we are putting down roots! 

We are settling down, pertaining to Geographical location, as opposed to calming down our exuberant personalities!!! 

We have moved out of our camper trailer….that took all of hmmm, 2 hours! And we have found places for all our bits and bobs and managed to spread out! The children have unpacked their toy boxes and rediscovered all manner of treasures they had hidden away. I have tried to fill the new kitchen but the fact of the matter is our stuff is very minimal. There is just soooooo much space! It’s wonderful to have room to swing the proverbial cat after living in a 1 room tent all together for the past 2 years! We are so thrilled to be living in this little green patch of paradise. The children each have their own Bedrooms! Wooo Hoo! Daniel and I have privacy! Wooooo Hooooo! The Fantastic Four even have their own Bathroom! Bliss!

This beautiful property we now call home is nestled amongst the greenery (did I mention it’s green???) of a nature reserve. This means we are not permitted to have pets. Oh well…who needs pets when you have children, right? There is a rainforest and trickling creek down the back and we do share the property with a neighbour although we have not yet managed to cross paths. Her house is right along the creek and we are a whole house block up the hill. I do hope we get to meet soon. I am a big believer in getting to know your neighbours! The house water is pumped from the creek, so we are adjusting to all this means for a family of 6. There is no rubbish disposal, so we are adjusting to that as well, Saturday is currently “Dump Day”. The house is a 2 storey timber home, with lots of wide open space. There are high ceilings and no hallways!  And wait for it……there’s even a stage! I know……random! We fully expect our family will make use of the stage! At this stage it has been set up as a creative corner! All manner of creative resources are just begging to be used…. We have quite a collection from home-schooling during our travels. Paints, watercolour pencils, wax & oil crayons, textas, coloured pencils, glitter glue, coloured paper/cardboard/wrapping paper/crepe paper/drawing paper…. There does seem to be a lack of glitter though. And since we moved in I have had to buy glue or sticky tape, or both, every time I grocery shop!!! Clag is my friend! The beauty of having a creative corner is that it is always in use! They have been busy creating Art work to personalise their Bedroom Walls! Some really Beautiful work too! The down side I guess, is the mess. Honestly though I am loving seeing The Fantastic Four busily creating after so long of constantly travelling and the restrictions of that lifestyle. 

The view of the house from the driveway (it’s pretty steep that driveway!)	The road where we live…it’s so very green!
“Creative Corner” set up around the edges of the stage area!	This is Josie’s Bedroom. She wanted to be able to look out over trees…well she has trees one way and rolling green hills the other way.
The sleep-out upstairs! Mostly used for playing games!	This is my Bedroom
The Kitchen…is enormous!	The Dining Table is in the middle of a very wide, open space
A broader view of our space…	We call this ‘the road to nowhere’ it’s directly above the Dining Table!
The ramp that’s being built into the top level of the house	My sister Kris, her kids: Benji, Zoe & Kita and The Fantastic Four standing on the bridge over our little creek in the rainforest down the back!

The weekend after we unpacked everything into the House, I looked around and wondered how on earth we were going to do this? Re-establishing ourselves after selling and giving away everything we owned to travel Australia 2 and a bit years ago!!! There are all sorts of hurdles to be jumped and obstacles to be navigated. Mostly though it feels like we are on holidays in someone else’s home. I am sure that will pass. Isn’t it funny, I have happily used our plastic plates, bowls and cups as we’ve travelled but now I long for the day we are financial enough to purchase a Dinner set. I have my eye on one already. I have been content with making do with an 80 Litre fridge freezer, and now I am eagerly anticipating storing such decadent things like ice-cream and ice-cubes in a much bigger receptacle! I have used a great variety of washing machines as we traversed the continent but I long for the day we can bring home a washing machine that is all ours! I have been enjoying a little reprieve from Home-schooling the Fantastic Four. It has been wonderful to start over at a new school, but also quite daunting. The uniforms, the school bags, lunch boxes, the shoes, the hats….the great influx of “stuff” that comes with that territory. It has been great to hear their daily reports, and a great relief that they’re enjoying their new school. I pray they will make good friends. It’s early days yet and I have to say it’s been a struggle for them in the “making friends” department.  I am sure that with time and a good deal of prayer that will happen   As Daniel is working, he takes the car, drops the children off to school in Atherton and continues on his way. The kids are loving this time with Dad. However it has posed a problem for me in that I am “stuck” at home. I don’t mind really, it has been nice to potter around the house, I have even managed a little sketching (watch this space). We had to find a way for the children to get home from school, and thankfully there is a bus service that will pick them up from the front of their school and deliver them safely to Malanda. As a result I am getting my daily exercise walking the 1.5kms down our hilly road, across the dodgey 1 lane bridge perched nonchalantly across the swiftly flowing creek, to meet the Bus and then the 1.5kms back across the dodgey 1 lane bridge perched nonchalantly across the swiftly flowing creek and up our hilly road home again. Quite an adventure, especially in the rain!

The dodgey 1 lane bridge perched nonchalantly across the swiftly flowing creek	The walk is quite pleasant really!
Nearly Home after an afternoon stroll!	Settling down in North QLD means MANGOES! Yummo!

It has taken quite a lot of getting used to living in a nature reserve. It’s not all that different to living in a tent really. “Nature! It’s all over me!!!!” The thing about wildlife….they just don’t respect Human boundaries. We have been amused by the buzz we have created in their Habitat. There is an abundance of brown Beetles here, I have no idea what they are….but come nightfall they fly in through the windows (forgot to mention, we have no screens!) and proceed to re-group and play the latest Beetle Game. Last night’s game was how many walls can we fly in to!!! A very rambunctious game! I have to admit quite a few Beetles were harmed in the proceedings . There are an abundance of Butterflies, and yes we regularly see the beautiful Blue Monarch Butterfly flutter by. The other really cool thing we see are Fireflies! They like to provide a twinkling fairy light effect around the Gardens after dark. We’ve seen a few inside the house after all the lights have gone out as well (thanks to the screen-less windows again). Every night this week I have done the washing up with my mate “Kermit” the green tree frog perched on the windowsill. Daniel informs me that Kermit is an unoriginal name for a frog, but it works for me. Last night must have been ‘Bring a friend night’ because there were two green tree frogs perched there. Now I have to come up with another name, something original…..got any ideas??? Talking about names….there is apparently a timid tree Kangaroo living somewhere around the creek down the back, and his name is Bruce! We have not yet had the pleasure of seeing Bruce. Perhaps the cacophony my four children create has kept him away. We have marvelled at the little antics of the Firetail Finches. The critically endangered Star Finches are so cute! I have also spotted some Red-browed Finches as well. Suffice to say, there is an abundance of birdlife to be observed. We have been woken every day by the morning Gossip amongst the bird community! I believe the collective noun for a group of birds should be a “Gossip of Birds” as opposed to a “Flock”. Hmm, just a thought. There has been the odd arachnid, yuck! And we discovered a snake skin on the bricks on the driveway (as in very close to the front doors) the day after we moved in! Eeeeek!

As I sit and write this we are coming into our 3rd weekend in a timber house on a green hill in Malanda. The last few weeks have been quite tricky at times, and yet we feel so very Blessed. God is amazing! I am so thrilled He has called us to settle here. It hasn’t been easy, in fact it has been a whole other adventure! We still feel a little clueless as to why here…? But that’s okay. We hold a few small pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and we’re seeking the other pieces. Just as it takes time and a few failed attempts to put together a jigsaw puzzle, it will take us a bit of time to re-establish our family and find what it is God would have us do here. In the meantime we are looking at the big picture (the one that the Designer displays on the jigsaw puzzle box lid). We may not know “what’s coming next” but our Lord and  Saviour does and I’m okay with that! We’re just praying for that next piece in the puzzle…

Settling in, and simple pleasures!

Taking a few minutes to share shome thoughts.....

After being on the road for 2 years....living in a house again has been an experience! It's so weird to hear the rain on the roof and not on the canvas just inches from your head! It is so nice to be safe and warm inside as the thunder and lightning roll around the hills. It is absolutely amazing to have our own flushing toilet, to not have to re-pack all our shower gear every time we have a shower... When we unpacked our 80L fridge/freezer into the Fridge/Freezer (on loan form my sister) it was just comical how much room there was. We all celebrated by making up cordial and placing in the fridge so that we could drink it chilled! Imagine that....chilled drinks after drinking cordial at room temperature for 2 years! This is so appreciated! The other thrill has been to utilise the oven. It has had quite a work out! From Roasts to Cakes and Bickies. Everyone is enjoying having an oven again. Can't wait to make a Quiche in it :) I had to rediscover all our old favourite recipes. I have carried only 2 Cookbooks around Australia with us. The "MBC MOPS Family Secrets Recipe Book" and Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen's "Classic Country Collection." Amazingly, that has been all we have needed on the road. I have used both regularly. Practical recipes. Flo's book has the best damper recipe! But that is another story. My family have enjoyed coming home from school to home-cooked goodies. I thought I'd share one of the recently enjoyed favourites....

My favourite recipe for an easy Chocloate Cake...

1 Cup Self/Raising Flour (I use White Wings Gluten Free)

1 Cup Castor Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

3 Tablespoons Cocoa

3 Tablespoons Butter (I use Nuttelex as we are Dairy Free)

1/2 Cup Milk (I use Zymil Lactose Free)

2 Eggs

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl for 4 minutes. Pour mixture into a well-greased 20cm cake tin. Bake in a moderate oven for 45 minutes. I use good quality baking paper as I can't be bothered to grease and flour cake tins, and much prefer less washing up anyway... I am wondering if this mixture will make good mini muffins for lunchboxes. Hmm will have to experiment. As for icing, my Mum (Bless her) taught me a simple icing recipe when I was a young girl making a mess in the family kitchen. It is a keeper, I encourage you to try it out. Simple, but functional.....

Mum's Quick Fail-Proof ICING

2 Cups Icing Sugar

1 teaspoon Butter (again, I use Nuttelex)

2 Tablespoons of either Juice, Diluted Cordial or Water. (Any flavour of juice or cordial will suffice, although Raspberry cordial is awesome with Chocolate Icing....Just saying!)

[For Chocolate Icing : add 1 Tablespoon of Cocoa and a drop or two of Vanilla Essence]

Combine all ingredients and mix to a smooth consistency. You will need more liquid, so add more 1 Tablespoon at a time, until you reach the right consistency. Yummo!

The Art and Science Of...Me

Who am I?

That The Lord of all the earth,

would care to know my name...

would care to feel my hurt...

If you really knew me...you wouldn’t like me. Do you ever catch this thought beetling through your head. Usually followed closely by the troublesome: Am I good enough? Am I worthy? Or recently thanks to the popular rock song.... Am I pretty enough?

When I was a little girl I used to spend hours pretending to be somebody else...not just anybody, specifically those I perceived to be beautiful, attractive, successful, even fascinating. I was often frustrated by my gawky self, my unruly straw coloured hair, my voice that was just lacking “something”, my freckly face, chubby body and totally un-appealing flat chest!!! I longed to be as sensual as Sandra Dee (Olivia Newton-John in “Grease”), as beautiful as Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn in “My Fair Lady”), as free-spirited as Maria (Julie Andrews in “The Sound Of Music”) and I’m super embarrassed to say....as voluptuous as Dolly Parton!!! 

With these beauties of stage and screen to compare myself too, I never really stacked up! I often felt awkward and uncomfortable with my body, my singing voice, my “self” and my um lack of a bust! And then I stumbled over Psalm 139. And over time have come to accept the “me” that God made! It didn’t come easily! I didn’t wake up one morning and suddenly think “I’m gorgeous – strike a pose!” Quite the opposite actually. It took me a while. I would take all my insecurities, stinging comments (like “do you have a baby in your belly” when I wasn’t pregnant) to God and pour out my heart in prayer. There, curled up in a tight little ball in the arms of Jesus, repeating all those hurtful, critical remarks and comparing myself to someone else’s beautiful outsides....God slowly began to reveal to me just how carefully he put me together, how dear I am to Him, how He deliberately wired me for His plan and His purpose! And each time I come back and sit in His presence I am reminded that it only matters that I’m His! He knows me, He sees my very thoughts, He thinks about me more often than I can even comprehend....and He loves me just the way I am! Of course it helps that I married an Electrician, a fella that really sees me...and likes the way I’m wired!

God is with you and rescues you from your troubles. You are not alone in this world, quite the contrary actually. The one who lovingly pieced you together, who knows your very thoughts; has a plan and a purpose for your life! You are not some random collection of cells coming together unexpectedly...you are a delicate framework, put together with great care and consideration, knit together, formed in His image! I love that song that goes... “You made everything Glorious! You made everything Glorious! And I am yours....what does that make me?” He walks with you and calls you His own...How blessed are you to have God as your companion in life! Cling to that thought...God is with you! He will not forsake you! 

“even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:10

 Read through Psalm 139

Take a moment to capture your thoughts; the verses that speak to your core and the areas you feel need ACTION

1) What jumps out at you?

2) How are you wired? What specific gifts and abilities has God given you?

3) Psalm 139 speaks volumes of a Father’s love...I love the verses about how His thoughts towards you outnumber the grains of sand. (vs 17-18) Take a moment to tell your LORD and Saviour what it is you love about Him? “How do I love thee...let me count thy ways”

4) SEARCH ME: Read Psalm139:23-24 Ask God to show you where you need a little “tweaking?”

Application verses:

Joshua 1:5

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

Psalm 103:1-5

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalm 103:12

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”

Proverbs 20:24

“A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?”

Proverbs 31:30

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Turn your mind from Churn to Burn...

My family are living on the road permanently these days... (see our BLOG over at a-dventure.blogspot.com)

It's been quite an experience packing up all and sundry...and hitting the road. We now have no official Home, no stuff left to store, all we have is what is in our car and camper trailer.

Life is...an adventure!

It's funny how a few weeks living in close quarters affects you.

Our white shirts are no longer white.

Our shoes are very grubby.

I have not slept through the night since we left as now I have to escort little people to public toilets for that urgent call through the night!

Our meals are very simple, we have no microwave and the only Dishwashers we have are the ones on the ends of our own arms!!!

Our children have limited toys but a whole wide area to play in...unless it's raining! They each have their own small toy box. And since the twins have already had a Birthday, whilst we were on the road...their boxes have been re packed numerous times to accomodate their pressies! christmas saw all 4 pulling their boxes apart, cos they knew....if they can't fit it in the box...it goes!

And being a typical Mummy I'm programmed to feel guilty about the slightest thing....

Does that happen to you?

I churn over stupid things like...

• Are my kids going to be worse off for this round Australia experience....having had to leave their closest friends, give away all their toys away, down size their clothing to a handful of sets....? I hope not. 
• Are we even going to like each other at the end of this? We've had many a  Raarrrrrr over simple things like..."backing a trailer", being too exhausted to get up during the night and "could you please go"....? Who's washing up...? Dumb stuff you know. I guess after being together 24/7 a couple of dumb blow ups when we're tired are fairly normal. 
• Will I ever get to dye my hair again?
• How on earth am I going to manage teaching my kids and travelling and keeping them fed, clothed and bathed...?

Sigh.

I have, I confess, had a few nights, and days, when I've cried out to God in total desperation....

Lord I need you!!! I can't do this!!!!! Lord, are you there? Can you hear me? Am I just being dumb? What were you thinking sending us around Australia? How on earth are we going to afford this? I miss my family...I miss my Church family...at least they sang songs that I know.... I miss my MOPS groups....I miss my Neighbour! I'm cold!!!! Are we ever going to get off this Island and back to Mainland Australia?  Sob....

And you know what... Every Time!

Not some of the time...but EVERYTIME He has provided for our needs...

We have had money turn up unexpectedly in our Bank account, just when a Big Bill came in...We've had people offer Daniel work when he desperately needed it. We have been kept safe and secure, our tent got twisted and blown sideways and nothing broke! We've heard people speak in Church that were Missionaries in PNG and wouldn't you know it but they were from the same Church that a fellow MOPS Regional Coordinator attends And the lady was a MOPS Mum...coincidence...hmmm I think Not! The message that day was on: being a part of a Church Family and...wait for it....Doing something Radical in your Christian Walk!

God has been with us every step of the way...
He has been there with me, when I'm bawling my eyes out...as well as when i'm cracking up laughing....
He is with me...
His still quiet voice is the voice I so desperately crave, and when I spend time seeking him....earnestly....somehow the pop and crackle and white noise of my crazy mobile life fades into the background and He comforts me...with quiet assurance that He is with me...I am not alone... He will strengthen and Protect me and He will provide for me....

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

I am quite sure that I will have more days when I lose the plot, and when I wonder how on earth we're going to manage... Life on the road is fraught with a miriad of problems to solve. I just pray that in those moments, I will be able to step back, take a deep breath and get His perspective on things....

Teary & weary!!!

Well it's official... I'm EMOTIONAL!!!

I'm not sure why I'm on this emotional rollercoaster at this particular point in time...I just am!

Teary, over sensitive, and tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddd!

I know that it's normal for us gals at certain times to get a little, well....tense and twitchy! But this is ridiculous!

I hear a sweet story and I cry!

I open and read a Birthday card from a dear friend and I cry!

I can't get rid of the ants for the kitchen and I cry!

I go on a beautiful mountain drive surrounded by vistas that take your breath away...and I CRY!

What is with me?

Hmphf.

And where is the CHOCOLATE???

Oh it's alright, I haven't lost the plot for at least...hmmm, 5 hours (when I was perched on the edge of a high free fall; had this crazy idea that today was the day I could confront my fear of heights! WRONG!!! It just left me a sooky, shaky mess, embarressed and dissapointed with myself. I think it was made worse by the fact that I had an audience. Yep, my 4 precious children were watching me to see what I would do. And I blanched, I choked....I, you guessed it...CRIED!).

Days like today, when I've tried something scary for me...

when I've been sitting on the edge, CRYING...

They are the days that not a single tear falls to the ground without notice.

I know that as lousy as I feel, those tears are serving a purpose....they are like a pressure valve going off...and they are catching the attention of our LORD and Saviour who is diligently collecting them.

Why?

Because he cares so much about us. Because each and every tear that rolls down our cheeks are worthy of his attention. The King of Heaven is not only interested in our tears...His concern for us goes much deeper than tears...He loves us. He longs to comfort us and give us peace.

I think after today's harrowing experience I have nothing left, so I'm going to crawl into bed.

I'm done! I'm over it! I'm....tired.

As I drift off to sleep I choose to focus not on my shortcomings, or my leaky face....but on my Lord and Saviour. And the knowledge that I am His, set apart, and loved no matter what! And this verse is playing through my mind... 

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Hobbits and Eggs ...

It seems bizarre to me that after being out of the House all week at School come Saturday morning all my kids want to do is lie around INSIDE and not "DO" a whole lot.

As they are up first, they help themselves to their first Breakfast...(I do believe I gave birth to Hobbits!) then they either play or watch Saturday Disney.

Daniel actually blesses us with a Saturday morning tradition: cooking a Hot Breakfast. The contents of which are usually determined by what is present in our refrigerator at the time...Short Cut Gluten Free Bacon, Eggs (whichever way we want them), Tomato, Hash Browns (on the odd occasion), Mushrooms (I know others like them but seriously....YUK!) all served with a cool glass of Orange Juice and just for me a steaming cup of coffee. He insists that the adults are to be served first...then the Kids all line up for their Second Breakfast!

It's a simple tradition in our family, and one that I really appreciate....

I love Saturdays. It is one of the only days we start all together. That time together as one family is so precious to me. I love it!!! I crave it!!! I neeeeeed it!!! It helps me to feel that we are in this together. We are a Team....and quite often it is a time when we get to talk. The children inevitably wander off to do their own thing and I have my dear Hubby's attention, all to myself! Well for a little while. He works Saturdays. But for that small window of time not even Hannah Montana can compete for my attention! I secretly love that show!!!

We seem to have more and more demands on our time, running this child to violin, this one to cello, these two to Cub Scouts, dragging myself to Book Club and MOPS (nothing gets in the way of attending those invaluable head space creating events) sharing Daniel with the men's ministry he is involved in, work...not to mention clearing out the house in preparation for leaving in 29 days to travel around Australia permanently! Think Gypsy lifestyle, although I don't think we'll be Singing or Dancing for our supper, no-one would pay us.... So any time I can get with my Husband is like gold to me!

Thank you Lord for blessing me with a man who works so hard for his family. Thank you Lord for our special Saturday morning tradition, for hungry little Hobbit like people who eat well and for time to just "be together". Please help us to appreciate each other and enjoy each other's company, no matter how brief those moments may be.

Rotten Eggs, Kidney Beans & a dash of Perspective...

When I was a baby I crawled under a table and rubbed golden syrup all though the wiry leg hairs of my dear Uncle Ted.

When I was a toddler I drank kerosene whilst our remote western property was flooded in.

When I was a little girl I cleaned my pet cat’s teeth with my Uncle Jack Back’s toothbrush! (Not my most endearing moment)

When I came across a big egg in the reeds one day with my older sister, we decided to take turns sitting on it to keep it warm and make it hatch. The egg was rotten which is why it had been discarded from the nest, but we thought we were hatching a baby. Mum told us to get rid of it so we hid it in our pantry and it eventually exploded. (again not my most endearing moment)

When I was in primary school my mother went on a health kick and grew weird so-called healthy things on the kitchen bench, we thought they were disgusting…and she seasoned every meal with a disproportionate serve of kidney beans! To this day I am traumatised at the very sight of them… We detested these beans and went to great lengths to avoid actually consuming them. My sister and I came up with this plan- we set the table with paper napkins, discreetly spat the kidney beans into them as we “wiped” our mouths and then passed them to the Jackeroo under the table and unbeknownst to Mum, he would feed them to the dogs after dinner. All went famously until he got sprung and myyyy mother made us eat a whole bowl of kidney beans for punishment! Uuurgh!

And now I have children…

The ultimate pay back for my childhood misadventures

Children who: have vomited in my husband’s armpit, have rubbed mashed banana onto my sister’s neck, have mopped the walls and every surface imaginable with a sodden mop – even the toilet paper was mopped! Have “washed” their toys in the toilet bowl, have decorated their bodies with my makeup, have drawn on each other with permanent marker, spread self raising flour throughout the house, decorated the walls with my expensive face creams……

Can you see a common thread here?

I am sure we drove our mother to distraction at times. But my Mum bless her heart always seemed to understand that she was “raising kids” not rushing from one disaster scene to the next. She had a long term view, an idea of where she wanted to grow us to. So when I feel like I’m running from disaster to disaster….. It helps me to think that this thing that's happening is not permanent, my children will survive childhood, because I did. And some things are just not worth getting upset about. Ask yourself “will this matter in 5 years?” and if it won’t, let it be water off a duck’s back. Jesus parents you with a long term perspective, follow his example.

Oh, and just a wee tip: kidney beans make kids rebel!

Love your neighbour....she might just save you!

I love my neighbours! They are the best! Always there to help me in a cooking conundrum with recipe advice, cups of flour, packets of rice or a bag of potatoes! They have sat vigil with me whilst my children have been very sick and they have picked up my kids from school when I couldn't. They are just the best!!!!
At the moment, My neighbour is going through a tough time. She has one child in Hospital, her Husband is with him and she hasn't slept for days....So I gave her a call tonight just to check up on her and see how things were.
What started out as an ordinary conversation quickly escalated into a series of squeals and then full blown hysteria! It seems the family cat had very dutifully brought home a little present. Now my neighbour, bless her heart, is terrified of mice! Interestingly, the technical term for this phobia is Musophobia or Muriphobia! So, not being able to get any sense out of her on the phone and knowing her chief rescuer was away I offered to come and catch the errant rodent!
It was hilarious!
My 4 children and I marched across the road sensibly armed with a lunchbox (cos that's what you do....and I needed to catch the poor wee thing somehow) only to find the offending animal had already been apprehended by a tea towel bearing teenager. I already suspected this because of the random shrieking that was drifting up the driveway! (It's a teenager thing!!!) Unperturbed and armed with my trusty lunch box I entered the house only to find it wasn't a mouse, but a baby bat!!!
Then I realised that my neighbour's 4 children were accounted for but she was conspicuously absent!!!! It was at that moment our eyes locked.....She was outside having run for the closest exit leaving her 4 children shut inside!!!! I caught sight of her through the glass door, eyes wide, face flushed, mouth open & in shock! Apparently in her haste to escape the great vicious mouse-like beast...she had completely forgotten to save her children, and was horrified! Her children on the other hand were totally amused....it was funny!
Eventually the poor stunned critter was released onto a citrus tree from the back verandah, which again illicited much shrieking and squealing from the tea towel bearing teenager....And all of us had a good laugh.
The Bible says to love your neighbour as you love yourself... Well I took that very seriously tonight...because I know that there will come a time when some large hairy legged arachnid or slithery slimy serpent is going to scoot across my floor and my chief rescuer is going to be away. And I know with absolute certainty that my neighbour will do what any other sensible mother will do...
She'll send the tea-towel bearing teenager!!!!
But only if her chief rescuer is not at home!
I just hope, when that creepy crawly hightails it across the floor and I am in the grip of the flight reflex....that I remember my children!!!! :)
Thank you Lord for the blessing of wonderful neighbours, for tea towel bearing teenage rescuers and for belly laughs!!! :)

Some times you just have to blow it!

Well it started out as an ordinary family meal...
We were doing the normal Tea-time routine...you know: "eat with your mouth closed" "Use your cutlery" "No, don't wipe your face on your shirt!" "Ask for things to be passed to you, don't just grab it..." "Sit on your chair properly"
Annnnnd it all changed in an instant!
One minute the tension was rising, the frustration was palpable, the conversation had trickled to just about nothing....
Then the unexpected happened.....
Connor had picked up a pea examined it and decided it fit perfectly inside his right nostril!!!! He then expelled it with great force, and blow me down if that pea didn't fly out of his nose and bounce across the table!
Ppppfffft!
Now I don't know about you but there are some times when you just have to laugh and it's really not appropriate, but you can't help it nor can you stifle it. The more you try not to, the more likely you are to explode in fits of mirth!!!! And when that green pea came flying out of his nose and bounced across the surface of the table....my Husband and I locked eyes and he said "Don't! Just Don't!!!!" But it was too late, no amount of pretend coughing was going to disguise my shaking giggling shoulders!!!! Hee Hee. I mean seriously...the pea bounced across the table!!!! Very Funny!
Thank you Lord that sometimes I just have to blow it out...and Laugh! Thank you for the faithful instruction you give me for the day to day "stuff", and thank you for the curiosity of little boys!!!!
 

Make a joyful noise...just not near me!!!!

I thought I'd share one of the humorous moments of my week with you  :)
The other day I was chauffeuring our four children to School with the music up loud and overcome by the moment I burst forth into song....

At this point Josie, Miss 10, turned the music down and very seriously said... "Muuuuummmmmy! That's not singing!"

I replied that "the Bible states that we should make a joyful noise unto the Lord"

Josie didn't miss a beat....she simply stated. "Mum that is NOT a joyful noise!!!!

A Mother's Code...

My 9 year old is learning about Medieval times with her class at School.

How fascinating... As a result today she wanted to know exactly what people wore in medieval times (as an aside I remain convinced she will be a fashion designer one day...). So after some diligent Internet research, we came up with all kinds of things Medieval! Everything from how to make Medieval food to Shields, Lances, Parchment, Hats, Footwear, Music...and one of the coolest finds was how to make a catapult out of paddle pop sticks some wooden pegs and a plastic spoon.

Anyway....at some point we stumbled upon "The Knight's Code". And read it with interest.... If you haven't had the pleasure...here's an example of one (there are other versions but this is the gist of it)... If you Click on it, you will be able to read it...

Reading this got me thinking...

Do we have a Mother's code?

A code calling us to a higher purpose. Overflowing with Integrity, Honour, and Gracefulness... Then I had a single profound thought....Perhaps, I could write one...No pressure! So strap yourself in, here goes...

1. Be always available to your children, and forget about the "rest" part until they're at least 9!
2. Stand up for your Children, you are as soft as a Kitten & as ferocious as a Lioness!
3. Be a good example with your actions and your words.
4. Be prepared to GRRRROWL when you have to.
5. Carry out your daily routine with great purpose, you have been chosen by God to raise these precious lambs. This is your mission field! He has a plan & a Purpose for you...
6. Always keep your word. A promise is a Promise! Let your Yes be YES and your No be NO!
7. Be a person of good character! Do the right thing, and apologise if you stuff up.
8. God will bless the work of your hands....whatever that may be. Each chore you do for your family you are also doing for Him.
9. Laugh often! Give Generously!
10. Speak words of Kindness and affirmation.
11. Anything that is in your power you can do to help another...Just do it. Give of yourself, your family, your time, your resources....
12. It's never right to do wrong and it's never wrong to do right!

Refer to the book of Proverbs Chapter 31 for more details.....so that you too can, as Lysa Terkeurst says... "Let God write your Motherhood story"

Hang in there Honey... You're doing the greatest job in the world!

Once upon a time there was a busy mummy...

I wonder sometimes just how my four perceive me???
Do they see me as a stressed out Psycho-Mum?
I wonder....

Once upon a time there was a stressed out Mummy who was always busy. Her favourite thing to do was have her turn on the computer. She didn't like mess, always wanted us to help clean it up, especially when someone was coming over to visit. She often rang her handsome prince to find out exactly when he would be home and then kept looking up expectantly as cars drove past. And spent all her days doing the washing although she never did actually get it folded and put back into drawers. She loved us, cleaned us, fed us, fixed our sores and wiped our tears and our snotty noses. She tucked us in to bed, came running when we called out in the night, gave us ventolin when we were having asthma attacks....!

Sometimes, it is a delight to have a snuggly wiggly bony bottomed little one on your lap reading to you.
Or to have a cuddle under the covers on a chilly morning before getting on with the "to do list".
Or to go for a burn on the scooter in the driveway....just because.
Or to make choc dipped strawberries for dessert, and use the last of the chocolate to cover 4 large marshmallows as an extra treat for 4 precious little darlings.
Or to warm up the day's clothes in the drier on a cold morning so they're snug and warm and sooooo nice.
But sometimes I forget. I get tied up in the crazy paced day to day survival that belongs to working Mums. You know what? I wouldn't be surprised if my kids missed "their Mum" sometimes. I certainly miss them. I feel so overwhelmed with love for these four precious people and their Dad....but sometimes I just wonder...am I always to be a busy Mummy?

Lord help me today to take time to play, to laugh and slow down and hold hands and appreciate the children that you have blessed me with. Help me to relax in your sovereignty, help me to be a better Mum, help me to spend time on the things that really matter today. Thank you for your advice to "come away with me to a quiet place...." Now I know you have kids too!

We come to him broken and empty...

I don't know how you celebrate Easter. But in our family as much as we try to make it about Jesus, the little furry visitor always seems to illicit unparalleled excitement or should I say Eggscitement.
So the dilemma becomes...how do we return the focus to the real reason we celebrate Easter?
I'd love to hear what traditions you have.
Our family seems to tweak our traditions every year. One of our traditions is to make resurrection cookies, looking at the Bible verses as we go.

Easter Story Biscuits (aka Resurrection Cookies)
Preparation Time: 20 mins / Total Time: 1 day
Ingredients:
1 cup pecan nuts
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Tools:
large plastic bag
wooden spoon
sticky tape
Bible
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F)
2. Place pecans in the plastic bag and let your children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into
small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman Soldiers. Read
John 19: 1-3.
3. Let each child smell or taste the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when
Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19: 28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us
life. Read John 10: 10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own
sin. Read Luke 23:27. Beat mixture until soft peaks form.
6. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves
us. He wants us to know Him and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34: 8 and John 3: 16. Beat mix for
another minute until sugar dissolved.
Explain that the colour white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1: 18 and John 3: 1-3.
8. Fold in the broken nuts.
9. Drop a teaspoon-full of the mixture onto non-stick, baking paper on a tray. Explain that each
mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27: 57-60.
10. Put the baking sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off.
11. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read
Matthew 27: 65-66. (be careful when putting the tape on the oven - it'll still be hot!)
12. Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave them in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers
felt despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
13. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a biscuit. Notice the cracked surface and
take a bite. The biscuits are hollow! Explain that on the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed
to find the tomb open and empty! Read Matthew 28: 1-9.

This year we tried to do something a little bit different.
We encouraged the children to make their own nests for the Easter Bunny (an activity guaranteed to occupy them for an entire day). Then before they went to bed we asked them to take these plastic eggs and place them in their nests broken apart. This is when we asked them what Easter was really all about. I took a broken egg, held it up and told them that we are like these eggs. We have an empty space inside that can only be filled by Jesus; that though we have sinned and fall short time and time again....he takes it all away and fills up up with hope and a future; though we are broken and empty he completes us and improves us and makes something wonderful out of our brokenness. On Easter Sunday when the children awoke they found their eggs filled with treats and surprises. And the eggs were whole.
I pray that your family has had a Blessed Easter. And that you have too have found a way to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and to intentionally teach your children.
I wonder what did your family do?
And, how has he put you back together, filled you up and made you into something very special, whole and complete.....?

Crazy Last Day Of Term 1...

The last day of School for first term was one crazy day indeed. After a week filled with tummy bugs and an attack of the grumps, we were thrilled to find ourselves on the brink of 10 special days together to rest, recuperate and recharge for next term.
With much delight the children dressed in plain clothes for "free dress day" and then we got down to business..."crazy hair-styling". No Easter bonnet parades at their School, just "crazy hair and free dress day".
Having won the previous 4 years Josie (Miss 10) insisted she wanted to look crazy but not win this year okay Mum! Leisl (Miss 8 & 3/4)was determined to go to school even though she was feeling a little off, so I did her hair to match. Rosa (Miss 6) wanted to look like a Princess (of course!!!!) and Connor (Mr 6) well, he just doesn't have much hair! So after a bit of effort on my part with the girls we dashed down to the local shops to search out some coloured hair spray for one little man. Armed with said can we arrived at School, and under pressure applied it artistically in the car park, as you do. Here are the results (P.S if you click on the pics they will open up much bigger):

Josie's "zzzzzz zzzzzzz do"
was twisted and spiky and whacky.







Leisl's was quite pretty at the back but very unusual at the front...


Rosa was quite beautiful... a true Princess!

Connor was short, and swirly! And we plaited his little Rat's tail....

All in all it was a lot of fun, and four happy littleuns headed into the School eager to show off their new "dos".
It made me think though...it doesn't matter if they win, or if their Teachers and Peers like their hair-dos...at the end of the day the pins will come out, the dye will wash out and the ribbons will be put away...but they will have yet another memory to hang on to. Another story about their whacky Mum and the crazy creations she came up with. And how we scoured the local shops for coloured hair spray (even considering for a brief moment using crazy string!) The perfect end to a topsy turvey first term for my two Grade one-ers, one Grade 4-er and one Grade 5-er. One that often left me scratching my head trying to figure things out, or yanking my hair out as I tried to come to terms with the frustrations of Bullying, or the many moments of stress and borderline hysteria as we negotiated the thrills and spills of 4 little people trying to make sense of their ever changing world. I love that at every moment God has walked with us...gently coaching us, providing for us and smoothing out the bubbles. I love that...when I find myself in the thick of it and feel like I'm going a little bit Psycho-Mummy Crazy he is there...helping me to take a deep breath and brush it off.
Sigh. I often catch myself repeating "I love my kids! No, really, I LOVE my kids!!!!" Just to remind myself that when things get a bit sticky..."I really DO loooooove my Kids!"
I can only imagine how much my God and Father looks upon the tangled, tousled mess of our crazy mixed up world and says..."I LOVE my Kids! I really Loooooove my kids!"
Let's face it, he's crazy about us too!

5 Minutes To Decadence and Belly Laughs!!!

Leisl recently had some time off School with another bout of Tonsillitis. Another day off work for me, part of the joys of juggling children and part-time work! But it couldn't be helped, she was sick, she needed her Mum and that was all there was to it.
Well, knowing that she loves to cook, I thought that she and I could try out this Mug Cake recipe that I had been emailed. (Thank you to the numerous people that emailed me a copy of this - you know who you are and you are sooooo in trouble!!!!!)

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour 
4 tablespoons sugar 
2 tablespoons cocoa 
1 egg 
3 tablespoons milk 
3 tablespoons oil 
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) 
a small splash of vanilla extract 
1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour  in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. 
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. 
EAT!

Well we dutifully followed the recipe. Note the part that says "The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!" Well this is what happened...
When I read that note, I was certainly not expecting it to rise over the mug that much!!!!
What do they mean don't be alarmed??
Leisl and I got a good belly laugh out of it, she was more than a little tickled by the whole episode and happily sat down to eat it.
I, on the other hand...thought "mug cake hmmm I don't think so!" And proceeded to transfer all the contents into a large pasta Bowl....
The end result was absolutely delicious! Definitely large enough for 2 people to consume and very yummy! I did what any woman in my position would do...I rang my neighbour and invited her over to "help" me eat it. Which was just lovely. And very funny!
Isn't that typical, what we expected and what we ended up with were vastly different realities, despite our careful adherence to the instructions provided. Life's a bit like that too isn't it. We kind of have an expectation for how things are going to go, we carefully follow the instructions we've been given and what do you know the cup overflows and it gets kind of messy for a while but it's still good.
Worth the effort and so worth the belly laugh!!!
Enjoy, with Leisl, and my, blessings!