What do you do when your child has an "accident" on the bedroom carpet, and while you're cleaning it up with vinegar water, another child trips over the bucket, sending it flying all over what was left of the dry carpet?? You put down lots of towels and vacate the house for a while!

We woke up this morning to a cold, grey and rainy day. And some sniffley and out-of-sorts children. Oh no! I had to cancel looking after two little boys, who's Mumma was due to give birth a few days ago (the poor thing) as  I didn't want to pass along any of our sickiness to their blossoming family. So, after a sloooww morning, and everything turning to custard, I bundled up my babies and we took off for a visit to some friends, who don't mind our germies. :-P It was such a blessed time of fellowship! The lady is such a sweet Christian woman, who just oozes warmth and the love of Christ. Me and mine trudged into her house and were welcome with open arms. It was so lovely! She has four young boys of her own, so it was an absolute delight to my munchkins to spend times with hers. A cup of coffee, wonderful conversation, and some freshly baked cookies (at which Livvy could barely contain her excitement!) made my morning seem soo much easier to cope with! She sent me home armed with a child-training dvd (one I've been wanting to see for the longest time!), an Above Rubies magazine, and Christian's freshly washed and dried blankie. I'm so spoiled!!
 God is so wonderful to give us friends to help along life's way. It is a treasure that I will never ever take for granted! Of course, I came home all inspired and have been busily making up stock concentrates to take to various other friends. Just sharing the Love! :-)

Oh the excitement!!

I've just been sitting down having my quiet time with a cuppa coffee, but the excitement welling up in me just can't be contained anymore! My MUM is coming for a visit! Like...on Tuesday!! Ohhhhhh! I am so so soo excited!

I can't wait for her to hear Christian talking in his sweet husky voice

I can't wait for her to see Rachie scooting around and saying "Daa duuu" (Rachie language for LOVE YOU!)

I can't wait for her to spend some time with Dede, painting her toe-nails and reading stories

I can't wait for her to see how much Jimmy has matured and the fine young man he is becoming

I can't wait to take her out to coffee at Choco-Latte. She's gonna LOVE it!!

I can't wait to go to the beach with her and sit on the sand, with a basket full of fruit, laughing at the kiddies and their funny antics

I can't wait to sit next to her in church and say "This is my mum!!"

I can't wait to go for walks, and chat together

I simply can't wait!!!

Thanks Pa for organising all this. I'm so excited! You're the best. :-)

I love you Ma, and I can't wait to see you!!

We have had such a delightful day!

The kiddies and I raced around furiously this morning getting all our housework done fore 8:30am, so that they could have the treat of watching Sesame Street, while I did some extra bits and also got some time alone with the Lord. It was lovely! Time alone, for me, doesn't come very often, so it was a real blessing to be able to stretch across my newly made bed and read a chapter of the Bible without being chatted to by my sweet children! I then quickly whipped up a chocolate cake (ohh yes I do love my Thermomix!), and after dusting the finished product with icing sugar, we took off to the park for a fun morning in the sunshine. As I now sit and reflect back on that time, I'm realising how well-behaved they were! They played, all three of them together on each of the activities, laughed and had such a delightful time! It was priceless to watch them giggling with each other. I am so blessed to have my children so close in age! I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yes our days are busy, yes it's demanding on my body, yes it's noisy, yes it's messy, yes it's stinky, yes it's oh so tiring, and yes...it's molding me into someone that I would not have been without my sweet babies to teach me the simplicity and JOY in life!
I've felt so bad lately, as when it comes to nighttime...I'm had it. I'm exhausted. I'm like a limp dishrag. And so I find myself snapping at the children, my patience is at nil, and I rush through the "get into bed" routine, because all I can think about is some peace and quiet with my feet up.
And yet...I miss so much! This is the time of day when they want to snuggle. The bedtime stories come out, the thumbs go into the mouths, the blankies are dragged around, and the satisfied chatter about their day is spread throughout the house. How I long to be a Mother who is "swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath". It's so easy to find myself frustrated that yet AGAIN Livvy is pulling Christian off the couch by his feet, Jimmy is wearing his Pyjama pants on his head (grinning like the chesire cat), and Rachel is fussing because all she wants at the moment is to be held. Yet, fustration shouldn't be my first response. My Lord doesn't repond "frustrated" when I, yet again, forget what He wants me to do...or get sidetracked organising someone else. He is ever patient, and when He does chasten, it's done in love. What a wonderful Example we have to follow!!

So, nighttimes are changing around here. I'm planning on starting bed-time routines half an hour earlier, just to allow for the fun fooling around, and the extra stories, and the extra cuddles. I want my children to go to sleep knowing that they are loved, secure, and not a bother to this tired pregnant Mummy. I sure do love my kids, and I thank God for them daily!

Now.. I'm going into my boys room to read some stories with them, and share some smiles. xxoo :-)

Excuses, Fare thee well, and Happy Birthday!

Hi everyone!

I knoowww, I haven't "blogged" much lately. My excuse? It's tiring being pregnant, and no longer do I have the luxury of sneaking computer time whilst the children are napping! When they go to bed, then I do too! My days have been jam packed full lately, but we've have some good times. The kids and I have been scouring the Op-shops lately, looking for baby furniture. (because, of course, I had to leave everything behind in New Zealand!). God was so good, and we found some wonderful bargains. I now have a changing table (a pure treat for me, as I've managed four babies without one yet.... but it's fun and does make changing the nappies easier!) and a rocking chair. I've always wanted a rocking chair. It's been like one of those romantic notions... you know, sitting in the lounge knitting with the squeak squeak squeak of the rocker. As of yet, no knitting has been done, but the kids sure have had a grand ole time playing on it! Rachel was fussing this morning, and next thing Jimmy had scooped her up and was rocking her in the chair. She loved it! And so did he. :-) And so did I! It's wonderful having a spare pair of hands!

Anyway. Tomorrow is October 16th. And two very interesting things are happening on this day! First of all... my little baby sister is stretching wide her wings and going faaar faaar away on a cruise ship for many moons. Working, of course. ;-) We will miss her greatly (I already do!!) but I'm sure she's going to have a wonderful time and come home brimming full of stories to entertain everyone with. Until she heads onto the next adventure. Farewell Secret Agent 001 - you are entering into unknown waters, but I'm sure you'll do us proud and have a blast!!! (secretly, we're all jealous, you know that aye. haha)

And secondly, it's my Mummy's birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!! I hope you have a wonderful, fantastic, amazing, awesome day!! I would love to be there to go out for a coffee with you, and let the grandkiddies amaze you with their cuteness... but since we can't, we thought that this might help...

And then of course, they all wanted to do a special one for you...

We love you Grandma!!!

And that's all folks. :-)

 

What a lovely weekend!

Just thought I'd share some photos of what we've been up to this weekend...

 

The weekend started out with a bang and alot of wrestling fun. When Daddy gets home from work, without fail the kiddies will ask him "Can we jump on you Daddy????". Well, this time he obliged them, and they had a wonderful time out there on the grass. The days have been very hot, so it's so nice to muck around in the cool of the evening outside. :-)

Saturday morning bloomed bright and early, with a trip to Bunnings to get some wood to fix our fence. While the boys were working with the tools outside, Dede and I were working with our "tools" inside. She's such a great little helper, and we got lots of lovely cleaning done!

 

After Rest Time, we headed off for a bit of a hike through the "woods", Steve Irwin Style and looking for snakes. Much to our pleasure and the children's dismay, we didn't find any! But we did had a great family time, and will definately be repeating that excursion again. :-)

This morning was our church's 30th Anniversary, and there were lots of fun thing happening all over the show. :-) If you check it out online (www.lighthousebaptist.com.au) and scoot to about halfway through, you'll see James and I saying a few words. Fun fun fun!

And with that, I shall sign-off. Tootle Pip!

Sillyness?

Something has been on my mind lately, and since I've had not much success trying to come up with answers of my own, I thought I'd put it to the "crowd" and see if any of you have pearls of wisdom to offer me.

I've been observing teenage girls, watching the way they dress and interact with others, and the sillyness that seems to be clouding all their judgements. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not so far out of my teenage years that I can't remember what it was like.... I had my own fair share of sillyness and immaturity, and quite frankly it really scares me. We're trying to raise two little girls here, and we don't want them to follow down the path that so many others do. Paths of naivety and the belief that the world is here to amuse and serve them. The girls of today (in our churches) seem to have no discernment and because they have been sheltered so much... (now, don't get me wrong here, I believe in sheltering and protecting our children...but you also need to teach them about the world and the wickedness therein. ) they can't seem to discern between right and wrong. There are young Christian girls, on my facebook page, who are being raised in good homeschooling families. Sheltered to the utter max. But once they're let loose online (silly silly parents! How foolish can you get?!) they're into all sorts of evil stuff...and they don't even realise it! Actually, maybe they do realise it... and maybe they're enjoying it, because it's "forbidden fruits" and they've never been allowed to see the evil consequences of it.

Ohhh it bothers me so much!

I want to raise my girls to be able to discern between right and wrong, even when Mummy and Daddy aren't there to "make" them choose right. I want them to grow up confident and assured of their place in Christ, and knowing that dabbling in the world will only cause them heartache. I want them to be modest and pure, and desiring only what is good for their lives. I want them to grow up and marry strong men who will lead and guide their families for, and only for, the Glory of the Lord.

But how do I do it?

How do I instill in them the character that they're going to need to bypass all the silliness of youth? How do I practically teach them to be meek and sober-minded (and no, that's not "quiet" and "dull-minded"!)?

I know that the first way is to do it myself. :-) More is caught than taught. And prayer, as only GOD can change lives and give the wisdom that comes from above. And if anyone else has any suggestions, feel free to comment! It's not easy being a parent, and I very much do value the imput of others, especially the older women who have been here and done that. :-)

I told ya to watch this space didn't I??! Hehe, she's not walking yet, but today she pulled herself up and stood for aaaages playing with this toy thingy. Won't be long now!!

We all enjoyed a fun morning at the park with friends, today. What a blessing it is to have friends!! They are one of God's richest gifts to us, and I really do treasure them. :-)
 

Snippets of News

Oh dear! I have been rather slack lately, haven't I??! My days have been passing in a blur, with barely enough time to get the dishes done, let alone sit at the computer for hours! Unless I'm skyping with Wozzie, of course. :-) It's been suuuch fun being able to talk to my family and catch up with them on Skype. On Saturday my face got "passed around" at a family party (for Wozzie who is going cruising around the world soon, BAH!) and I was able to see babies that I've never had the chance to see before, and dear familiar faces who are such an important part of my life. Most of the people at the party helped to shape me into who I am today, and I love them all very very dearly. It would have been nice to actually have been there, but with the price heading around the $2000 mark for the kiddies and I to make the mad dash back.... well, we're grateful that Skype is free. Haha.

Everyone here is doing just fine. James is busy working, and doing a maaaarvellous job of selling and marketing Solar Hart. He's a clever cookie, he is! Jimmy is growing up like a weed. I was cuddling him in bed this morning, and he was rivaling me for size! Won't be long and I'll be like the Hillbilly Granny shaking my fist at him. ;-) He's such a sweetheart, and is always telling me how much he loves me and doing the sweetest little things for me. Olivia, too, is growing growing growing. She's such a hard worker, and is happiest when she has a cloth in her hands and is scrubbing away at something. Think Mum Fraser, and you have Livvy. :-D Christian is such a little machine. That kid can go and bump, and go and fall, and go and bump again...and still keep going! Nothing rattles him! He's starting to experiment with words a little bit. He still thinks it's "funny" to not talk, but is getting used to the idea of experimenting with sounds and finding his fun in that. Sigh. I think Rachel is going to beat him to talking! She's is such a honey! She LOVES playing with the other kiddies, but will often just disappear into the boy's bedroom (where the toys are stashed now) and spend big chunks of time just exploring their treasures. Jimmy is her hero, and she can barely contain herself when he pops into her range of vision. They have such fun together! Won't be long till she's walking, so watch this space for a "First Steps!" video clip, haha. 

We have all been really sick this past week with a flu bug. The poor kids were really hit hard by it, but have all recovered now. The sickness also coincided with a week of pouring rain and flooding, so we just hunkered down with lots of "Princess" and "Soldier" dvds and took it easy.

As some of you already know, I am pregnant with baby number 5. :-) We are, of course, very excited! I get mobbed by my oldest three, all the time, asking for a look at my belly. I think they're hoping that Button (yes, I've nicknamed it. haha) will come right then and there. Well, they have a loooong wait ahead of them, I'm afraid. Jimmy is already planning on being at the birth (dreams are free!) and Livvy spends her days bustling around getting ready for the new addition. I've been feeling quite nauseaous, usually at the end of the day when I'm very tired, but it's so completely worth it and I've decided to enjoy each and every moment of this pregnancy. I sure do love being pregnant!! Yes mum, I'm eating well and taking my vitamins. Not spiralina, but have been using up some Floridix tablets that Tracy gave me.

I decided on a new motto for this pregnancy:

Leave the Housework and Love the Children.

I have a tendency to stress about always having the house tidy, and can often be guilty of neglecting the children in the process. How silly is that?! No more! haha. Sooo....if any of you come over for a visit, either close your eyes to the toys everywhere, or bring your working apron. ;-)

Anyway! Baby is due, ooohhhh.... sometime earlish June I'm thinking. Maybe earlier. Maybe later. Who knows. :-)

Must flit, my husband is home from the gym and I have a salad to make.

Cheerio!