In My Life This Month 2.

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?

 

 





Tears for Time

For those who know me, you know that there are a number of things that can reduce me to tears.  Sad stories, Happy stories, Christmas parades (parades of any sort actually) Bag pipes, Medal Ceremonies, New Zealand Post Ads, Happy endings, other peoples tears....my list could go on and on!  Some are rather embarrassing and I would rather not mention them.  Some tears are on public display but some are private and only share with a few.  And at the moment tears come easily, especially when you are an over-reflector/thinker like me.  Oh I am so an over-thinker.  Normal people, think, feel and then move on. But not me. I think, think, reflect, analyse, analyse some more, feel, feel and them FEEL some more. Sometimes I write this process down, sometimes I pray and sometimes I just need to talk.  Thank you to the person that listens.

Time is really getting to me.  We don't have much and it goes far too quickly.  I mean my little man is TEN days already!! Where did the time go?  Casey is 11 now and I know that it is such a cliche but where has the time gone?  I may have only 7 years left of him being at home.  SEVEN short years - that's not long enough!

Time is relative to whats going on in ones life.  Time in the past has gone quickly. But if you are a kid, this time of year will be going at a snails pace.  The end of pregnancy can go slowly. A deadline can loom up at an impressive speed.

We all have the exact amount of time in the day and some people can pack a lot into their day, others plod through it.

The speed of which time is going, makes me very aware of how I spend it. Am I doing the things that really matter, things that are of lasting value?  Or am I just going through the motions just doing the things that steal moments or memory-making opportunities.  I am really trying hard to be better organised. I wouldn't say I was dis-organised I just feel I could be better at it.  Being disorganised is a time stealer.  I am making an effort to fold my washing AND put it away on the same day ( this is such a biggy because I REALLY hate folding washing).  In the past washing would pile up for a few days until I would reluctantly fold it!!  I am getting better.  So if you come to my house and fold some washing - I'll love you forever!



 

I am making an effort to have my bench clear by the end of the evening - I don't know why but my bench is a dumping ground for poor homeless objects! I am determine to win the war on bench-dumping practice!

I want to soak up the moments and time spent with my husband, my children, my family and friends!  Time with good friends is absolutely  priceless and I can't get enough of it.  It leaves me refreshed and uplifted.

 

Birthday picnicing in park with special friends!

 



 At the moment I am basking in the precious moments I have with Jesse, nourishing and nurturing him.  Especially at night where I can have him all to myself (during the day I have to share him with 6 other people - and just sometimes I don't want to share).  He oozes snuggly-ness and by golly I love it when I can lie in bed at night and envelope him into me and he suckles away and then drifts back off to sleep making all those delicious noises that only wee babies make.  Only God himself can make moments like that so delightfully precious!

 

 

 



Very VERY proud big sisters!

(although I have heard Kaitlyn pray on a number of occasions for a baby girl!)

 

 We have a poor wee sick Sophie at the moment who hasn't left the couch since yesterday morning.

As sick as she is, she loved having her toes painted bright pink!

 

 

 



We can only make a conscious effort to spend our time wisely, on people we love and things that matter!  To live intentionally!  To do away with time and moment stealers.  To be more organised!

Now I am off to get the washing in and FOLD it! 

 

But I might just have a cuddle with this wee little man first!

Isn't he delicious!

Delighting....

Winter for me is my least favourite season.  Everything is asleep, dormant, and lying low.  I like to  lie low too.

Home is where I like to be, hibernating.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) one has to venture out at some stage even if its to the grocery store.

Winter is all about...

Mud....this is in the paddock next door to us.  Three boys + mud + oodles of energy = mountains of washing!!!  Need I say anymore!  (You can feel sorry for me if you like)

 

Cows, cows and more cows... its calving season round these parts....

 

 

 

Gumboots...winters uniform!

Essential for winter sport watching!

 

 

 

Gods abundant supply of a winter remedy!

 

I just love how God has everything all worked out, right down to the abundant supply of fruit that has all the essential goodness that we need during the winter months!

 

But to see me through these winter months I love to find things that I can delight in, small things that provide me with a smiling ray of sun (even when its crappy weather outside)

 

Delightful things like...

 

Small people and playdoh...

 

 

 

 

my three pet puddle ducks, Jasper, Jemimah and Jillian...

 

 

 

the first of springs gifts, flowers from a friend...

 

Springs first flowers for me is like a sign of hope, that winter that WILL come to an end.

 

The rare day when washing can be dried on the line in th elate winters sun.  You can almost smell summer on the clothes if you burying your nose deep into the washing and sniff....ooo this ones a goodie!

 

 

 

This one warms my heart.  Big brother Casey (11) made his wee sisters a 'Tinkerbell' house!

 

 

 

 But the thing that is delighting my soul the most at the moment is....

 

a good old pot of tea!

 

 

Tea ALWAYS tastes better out of a teapot and even better if its in a cup with a saucer!

This is relaxing and peaceful no matter when or where you drink it.

 Conversations with a friend, the early morning wake-up cuppa, the post lunch cuppa or the 4pm cuppa when you are trying to ward off the urge to raid the marshmallow or chocolate chip container!  Yes I do do that! 

 Desperate times makes for desperate measures I tell you!!

 

I have noticed that the things that warm my heart the most are the little things, each days little touches.  Moments, that if you let them, go un-noticed.

But I encourage you

NOTICE!!