Beautiful Crazy Faith: July 2013

I feel I have so much to say, so much to tell you that I have decided to do an 'In My Life This Month' post. Whether or not anyone finds it interesting remains to be seen though. July is one of those months that I just wished it hurried up and finish. And while there are aspects of winter that is fun and unique to the season I generally don't like winter very much at all. Too much mud, too much washing, too many foggy and grey days and so on and so on. I do however love having the fire roaring every night and sometimes just sometimes getting to sit and relax with a cup of coffee right next to it.

So anyway
In My Life This Month......

In our home school.......

Since its the school holidays no 'school' work has been done, well certainly not in the formal sense. There is no way my kids would want to do 'school work' while everyone else is on holiday. Funny thing, I get asked that question all the time "Do you do school holidays too?" Even though we are officially on holiday (even Dad is) doesn't mean no learning hasn't taken place. We have been Geocaching and learnt about local history, deciphering clues, co-ordinates and riddles (logic).

Possibly the worlds smallest Geocache!

We have been very busy in the garden too. From putting top soils into our established gardens to erecting a 'glass house' to planting bulbs, plants and seeds. All which are doing well. (Apart from the lettuce who had their heads and most of their bodies nibbled off by naughty rabbits)

Sophie was so excited to be planting the crop of garlic on her own! She is especially excited now they have poked their heads up above the ground.

Helpful Home school Tips or Advice

Ummm... I don't know about advice but I am currently working on Pre-planning, Preparation and Time Management. I am currently waiting for a couple of books to arrive from Fishpond. One being 'The Arrow and the Apple' which is about the story of William Tell. I am planning to feather out a unit study based around that book since my boys are totally archery mad! The other book is 'The Giant Jam Sandwich' is which I will feather out a unit study for Kaitlyn and probably Sophie even though she is only 4 as she hates to be left out. We will look at Wasps, Teamwork, Map-skills, Community and of course Chemistry in the Kitchen (aka Jam making and bread making). Exciting. I am really looking forward to it.

I am inspired by....

Beautiful Women and Real Friendships, Stunning views from my window every morning, Inspiring Blogs about 'Gentle Parenting', 'Real Food' and 'Purposeful Living'. Newborn calves born right outside our window, bright red flowers on our Camellia Hedge, and our three pet puddle-ducks.

Places we are going and people we are seeing...

So apart from our geocaching jaunts and soccer games, we have been to visit family who are in the midst of calving season.

And I was super blessed to be able to hang out with some lovely women at a precious friends 'Mother Blessing' or 'BlessingWay'. This is an alternative to the common Baby Shower where the focus is more on the mother and the momentous and sacred occasion that is about to happen.

She enjoyed a deliciously thick hot-choc while we decorated her pregnant belly with henna art!

This candle is decorated with coloured thread that each women chose and tied around it. She can light this when she is in labour and know that these beautiful women of strong faith will be praying for her.

My favourite thing this month...

School holidays! Our garden slowly coming to life. On-going games of Scrabble and the occasional game of Memory.

What is working for us.....

Bedroom inspections! Even if a bribe is being offered. At least they are tidy.

What isn't working for us.....

The price of petrol! It is such a downer. Being on a limited income every kilometre is taken into account.

Questions/Thoughts I have....

I have always thought about writing a book, but would anyone read it? (ok so now the secret is out) How do I squeeze more out of my day? I wonder when Jesse will start eating? Is it worth hanging out my washing today? Where can I find a milking goat?

Things I am working on....

Eliminating the words 'Hurry up' out of my vocabulary, especially when interacting with my children. Folding my washing everyday...yes I am still working on that. Being better prepared for school this term. Ordering my thoughts into action and then completing them.

Things I am reading...

Book last read: The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson

"How can your church get the attention of your community?"

Current Book: The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene

"A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated Children"

To Read: Mission Girl by Fleur Beale

Heroes of the Holocaust by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun

I am cooking...

We have been challenged recently by a number of sources to cut down on the amount of sugar we consume. Not that we were particularly bad but like most people we could certainly do better. So I have been making a conscious effort to reduce by at least half the amount of sugar I use in baking. Fortunately we do have an abundant supply of honey so I can afford to have a dollop or two of honey to sweeten things up a bit if need be.

I was pretty proud of this batch of biscuits which are both sugar and dairy free. I was making up the recipe as I went along replacing the butter with Peanut Butter (which happens to have half the amount of fat that butter has) and two dollops of honey (harvested from Poppa Peters hives). Best of all the kids like them, so I am pretty happy with that.

This pizza was made the other day from left over roast chicken and roast potatoes and kumara. Hmmmm was really good too. When you use up all the leftovers from a meal like that I feel like I am getting a meal for free.

I am grateful for....

- Our house. Its large enough to fit us all in and not be standing on each other too much during these winters months.

- Firewood. Friends with trees chopped down have kindly kept us in supply of firewood for the winter.

- Health. Up until today we have been quite healthy. Casey has had a spot of asthma and today Jesse was discovered to have Bronchiolitis (sad face here).

- Gods Continual Provision. Much to the amazement of others (and occasionally ourselves) we are still living on next to nothing. We have been in some very scary places but have gotten through them by the grace of God.

I am praying for....

Healing for Casey and Jesse.

Gods continual provision

To know Gods will for us as we continue to venture forth on our journey.

Wisdom and direction for 'home schooling' and other extra-curricular activities.

Day in the life photos..

Biggest Brother and Littlest Brother

What happens when the kids have a real life baby to role play with. Jesse happily complied and was content to lie in there for ages.

Someone has not only mastered the art of crawling but pulling himself up to standing. With one hand even! So clever!

Google and YouTube is a marvellous thing!

Here is our attempt at making a wee stove out of a tin can.

The beautiful view off our deck!

I wonder how many babies will be born today.

Again Google is a wonderful thing....

We re purposed an old down pipe into a chicken feed dispenser and it worked a treat.

Feeling very self-sufficient indeed!

Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. it means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” - Unknown

What has been happening in your life this July?

Its official, we the Budd family have finally caught on to the global phenomenon of Geocaching. Actually I don't think its a phenomenon because a large percentage of the people I told about it had no idea what I was talking about. So for those of you that are one of those people I'll share the secret with you. Its like a world wide treasure hunt. Boxes, tiny to large are hidden all around us (actually over 4 million around the world) for normal everyday people to find. You plug the co-ordinates into your phone or GPS and it will lead you to a place where someone has hidden a Cache (treasure box), you fill in the log book and maybe exchange a treasure or two and go on your merry way. Check out the web site for more information and to check out how many there actually are around the world.

http://www.geocaching.com/

Its a good way to see the country side and go places that you probably normally wouldn't go. Like us, we found one just around the corner from us (who knew) and we had never visited this lovely and very old church. Driven past it yes but actually walked around it, read about its history and the people that are buried there. Given that our kids are home schooled it was a great learning opportunity about local history.

Aren't they a good-looking bunch?

We have long since realised that anything remotely fun and a little quirky then the kids are totally on board. Once I had showed them the website then I heard about nothing else for days. So today we finally made it out. I just hoped that they realised that it wasn't an actually treasure, you know like one with gold and jewels in it.

We find ourselves standing outside this beautiful over 100 year old church. I wonder how many people actually attend here. It would of been the heart of the community once upon of time.

Even though the grounds are beautifully kept I felt a sadness for the place. Sort of like the kid who is the last picked for a team. Left out.

I guess I felt sorry for it.

The first signs of spring, even though its still six or so weeks away yet.

I love reading headstones (is that weird?) I wonder about the people and the lives they lived and the stories that were buried with them. Yeah I think I am a little weird.