The Much Anticipated Reunion!

I wonder in 1916 when this handsome couple married whether they could ever have imagined the dynasty that they were beginning! They have ended up with 6 children, 36 grandchildren, 93 great grand children and so far, 42 great, great grand children!

With spouses and a number of step children there was a potential of 250 living relatives attending the Reunion. We were thrilled that over 130 made it.

We booked one whole area of a large facility which has camping, caravans and units. This made it possible to spend the maximum time catching up and reminiscing. The site is on the Capricorn Coast as the majority of us live in Central Queensland, but we had relatives from as far north as Cairns, south to Brisbane and Toowoomba and one family living in the US coinciding their holidays for the big event.

This is part of the play ground and barbecue area, taken in the early morning on the Saturday before we invaded! The whole complex is set between many acres of bush land so it was ideal for all the children who attended. There were tennis courts, volley ball, basket ball, slides and swings and the big winner, a huge jumping pillow. More relatives came from the older generation (mine!) and the young singles and I think that is because young families find both the expense and the logistics of taking little ones away for the weekend a bit of an obstacle. We decided to do the live in weekend because after our last reunion 10 years ago we all felt not enough time was spent together when we were booked into various accommodation and just met for dinner and then lunch the next day.
It really was worthwhile to do it this way and everyone agreed
that is the way to go again next time.


The picnic area later in the day.
Friday night and Saturday we had picnic/barbecue meals in the outdoor area. Quite a few who weren't staying for the weekend but lived close enough joined in here.
On Saturday night was the big event, the Reunion dinner.


The Tribal Elders!

My dear mother (almost 80) and her brother (almost 88),
the last two remaining children of my grandparents, and
honoured guests of the whole event, along with dad and one widowed aunt.

I joyed when to the house of God......

Yesterday marked the closing of an era.


Last night we held our last worship service in the little old-style church where I have attended for the last 24 years, since I first became a christian. THE CHURCH of course is the body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, but I am referring to our little church building. I have been thinking upon those years, the great joys, the depths of sorrow, in which we have celebrated and mourned together as a congregation. Here is a little snippet of why this is an occasion tinged with sadness for me, even though we are just moving along to a new meeting place.

Though I had already professed faith, I first heard the gospel preached sweet and clear .

I was deeply moved by the singing of Psalms in the worship of God.

I made a public profession of my faith, having already been baptised.

I married my husband in 1985.

The congregation mourned with us on the death of our first son '87.

The congregation joyed with us on the births and baptisms of our four children.

We've buried beloved saints after thanksgiving services here.

We've witnessed the marriages, professions of faith and baptisms of other members.

We've welcomed strangers and fellow Christians in our midst-

and grieved when dear ones have left for various reasons.

We've seen our much loved Pastor of 25 years decline in health and retire -

and welcomed our Godly new shepherd - an answered prayer.

We've worshipped together, we've communed around the Lord's table

and shared many a meal in the hall out the back.

-

The CHURCH is the people of God, this church building is the four walls in which our small part of that church has met - and it is hard to leave.

But praise God we start a new era, looking forward to the many more joys and sorrows still ahead on our pilgrimage together.

.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 133 : 1

.

(And yes, that's the church building in Walnut Grove!)

Psalm 122

A Song of Ascents, Of David.

...

I joyed when to the house of God,
Go up, they said to me.
Jerusalem, within thy gates
our feet shall standing be.

Jerus'lem, as a city, is
compactly built together:
Unto that place the tribes go up,
the tribes of God go thither:

To Isr'el's testimony, there
to God's name thanks to pay.
For thrones of judgment, ev'n the thrones
of David's house, there stay.

Pray that Jerusalem may have
peace and felicity:
Let them that love thee and thy peace
have still prosperity.

Therefore I wish that peace may still
within thy walls remain,
And ever may thy palaces
prosperity retain.

Now, for my friends' and brethren's sakes,
Peace be in thee, I'll say.
And for the house of God our Lord,
I'll seek thy good alway.

Scottish Metrical Version

Mum-me's Meme

I told Mum-me at Our Aussie Half Dozen that these tag games can be a bit time consuming and thought not to participate. Now ( Thursday night) I have decided I'd join in and schedule it to post Saturday. So, while I am away at the coast, talking myself hoarse at the Family Reunion, you can learn at little more about me! (That's a little fact for my file - I am a good talker!)

This meme obviously started in the Northern Hemisphere, so June to September is actually Winter here. Never mind, think October to April for Summer, but remember that in sunny Queensland the Winter weather is beautiful one day, perfect the next!

What's your fav day of summer(June 1-Sept 1)?

We have a big family get together around New Year every year. My mum started this years ago and now they have retired we still all go to them. There's heaps of food, laughter and kids!

What's your fav indoor activity during summer?

Anything in air conditioning! We get up into the 40s Celsius so finding a cool spot is a priority.

Fav outdoor activity?

Not a swimmer but like to be beside water, watching and listening to kids splashing.

The pool or the beach?

I love the beach for coolness and walking and it's only 40 mins away. The pool is better for swimming and supervision. Interestingly, the sun is so severe here most everyone covers up well.

Have you ever camped in a tent during the summer heat?

Yes, when I was much younger and much sillier.

Popsicles or ice cream?

(Naughty but...) Weiss bars - ice cream

What flavour?

Mango and Macadamia

Do you help in your church's VBS?

Don't run one.

Do you get bored during summer?

No. I do not allow my children to be/say they are bored and try to lead by example.

Are you going anywhere this summer?

Not staying away but we'll head to the beach (east) and to relatives (west) a lot.

Is summer your fav season?

Absolutely NOT! The Winters here are magnificent and I thrive on them.

As with all these meme type things I am supposed to 'tag' several other people. So if I have ever commented on your blog - you're tagged!

Blitz Report Week 3.

Done and Dusted!

I really want to thank my blogging friend Organizing Mommy for the motivation to do this project which was hanging over me for a LONG time. Go to her site Organized Everyday to read about the Blitz concept and get other handy organizational tips.

Read here to view my 3 week plan. Then here and here to see my weekly progress.

Before

The fact that the before photo isn't quite clear just adds to dishevelled look, don't you think?

After

This is an old TV unit which serves nicely for storing my scrap booking and family history gear. It has two little cupboards with doors at the bottom and they house the family history folders, photographs and a box of art supplies. Sadly rarely used in this non artistic household.

These shelves have the organized photographs and scrap booking paraphernalia.

I actually didn't stick closely to the week 3 plan as I knew I would be pushed for portions of time each day (Even this post is being pre done!) I spent quite a few hours last Saturday sorting the family history files but I already had folders going so it was manageable.

All of my holiday projects are smaller but it has given me a boost to get this biggy out of the road. Another incentive is that my mother-in-law is coming to stay! I am looking forward to actually doing some scrap booking to enjoy the fruit of the labours.

Thanks again Organizing Mommy.

P.S. I actually have a terrific mum-in-law!

The Christian in Complete Armour

Ephesians 6

10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities , against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual darkness in high places. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Something else unearthed in my recent Blitz was a box containing old cards and memorabilia.

I gave this card to my hubby on his 4oth (some years ago!) and the inside caption read "Welcome to your Middle Ages"...

On looking at it again it immediately brought Ephesians 6 to mind!

My Golden Childhood V

Water ... and other luxuries!

My eldest sister and her husband travelled to the northern hemisphere in the early 90s. They had been on the land, raising cattle all their lives and had faced all the ups and downs of graziers in Central Queensland. On returning home they marvelled, "How can we ever compete with Europe and North America?" They had never seen so much water in their lives!!!!

Water - usually the lack of it, is the bane of the lives of farmers in hot, dry Australia. A lot of money was spent on drilling and I even remember one of Dad's old uncles coming to divine water using a forky stick when we were kids. We had a well on the creek a mile or so from the house but the water was hard and undrinkable and used only on the yard and toilet (when we got a flushing model). The paddocks were watered by dams and the couple of bores Dad had drilled successfully had windmills and troughs on them. Tanks catching the run off water from the house and shed roof were relied on for use in the house. Baths, cooking, washing. We never knew when it would rain and Dad was very strict on rationing it! Little ones and cleanest first in a thimble full and everyone going up to him last. Visitors were on strict rations too and we would listen out for running taps like spies!

Most of the photographs I have of the house cut the tanks out, but in this one you can see the bright red soil that we had on our hill and the sparsity of Mum's garden. She loved her garden and laboured very hard to keep it going, even watering by bucket from the laundry and house run off in drought. The red dirt stained our clothing and feet and took a lot of soaking to remove so that didn't help. Now my brother has heaps of tanks and has found better bores, so they actually have a very large and lush garden.

I remember a drought in the early 70s, must have been when the dairy stopped. Cattle were dying and many families had to cart water from the river about 10 kms away. Dad had cut the herd down a lot and maybe we couldn't plant any crops either. We had a lot of bottle trees in the early days, but these and the few remaining cacti were cut down for the cattle to eat and get some moisture from. We had to feed hay as grass was non existent and we would put out molasses licks for the starving cattle. These were not cheery times by any means, but we always ate, and ate well. We just never had any luxuries. Mum and Dad had both lived through war years and the Depression and knew how to survive on the barest of necessities. I'm sure the older kids knew more of the financial difficulties, but I was a naive and care free child and credit to them, I don't ever remember going without much.

We had our bikes and each other and I think we had a whole lot more than a lot of other people....

Flood of course was the other extreme. Most years "The Big Wet" came in January and our red hill would become too boggy to take a car down. If we needed to get to the gate we walked or took the tractor. Bread and mail were delivered twice a week to the big mail box on the main road, but the creek that ran across between us and the uncles would sometimes cut the road. Usually though, the road was cut just a little further on from us, to the annoyance of us kids. We could get to the school bus if it was running but not the kids who caught it further on.

Seasons have changed a little since then and my brothers have battled nearly ten dry seasons. Even when much of Queensland has flooded in the last two wet seasons our little part of CQ hasn't faired so well.

Drought and Flood Pics

I have mentioned previously the all invasive pest which was the prickly pear. This was virtually eradicated in the 1930s but until the 80s the odd bush remained. This was a big one on our road . They did hold a lot of moisture and cattle would eat them in desperation during drought. Plenty of grass in this photo though. The view down the road from the house in a dry but not drought season. Windmill on the left behind the creek and bottle trees in the right back ground.

Min and foal in centre.

When looking through photos I realized that we hadn't got too many of drought. I guess we were just trying to survive! Here is the new shed in progress. You can see the old shed wall in the background. Dad and Mum had lived in the original shed for the first year of their marriage and saved it when the new was built. Mum soon had a beautiful bougainvillea growing over the old wall. The small building at the back right is the engine room, behind the house.

The bare red soil in the foreground gives a bit of an idea of the country in dry times.

Mare and young foal. Jodie and Flicker.

The ground outside the yards is very dry and grass brown.

Nearby river in flood in 1983.

Flooding near my sisters place. Brother in law towing cars through the creek.

(Helped by the kids!)

Mothers' Day Revisited

Back in May, I had a lot of trouble finding a photograph of myself with Mum. So, the Blitz has yielded this nice little snap of my youthful mother and her sixth child and fifth daughter, me! I'm only a few weeks old but I'm not sure what the occasion was. In the full picture, I am surrounded by grandma and aunts. The photo is captioned on the back " 4 Mrs ..........." and was given to me by one of the aunts.

Pondering the 7th

After thinking upon David some during the week, stimulated by discussion at the blog Priceless Pearls, we sang from Psalm 51 verses 6 - 14 yesterday morning in response to our message from Matthew 5 : 27-30.

"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a women to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy memebers should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

Pastor dealt with the verses under the headings

1. Sexual purity in action 2. Sexual purity in desire 3. Sexual purity in choice.

My boys found it a little squirmy to talk over when we got home but it is good to have the Word preached thoroughly with out touchy passages glossed over, but still handled discreetly. It is also good to have good moral teaching at home backed up in the community of God's people.

Psalm 51 is one of my favourites, and deeply moving. I especially love the verse after repentence where it says, "Restore to me the joy of my salvation." (verse 12)

Psalm 51

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David,
when Nathan the prophet came unto him,
after he had gone into Bathsheba

1 After thy loving-kindness, Lord,
have mercy upon me:
For thy compassions great, blot out
all mine iniquity.

2 Me cleanse from sin, and thoroughly wash
from mine iniquity:
3 For my transgressions I confess;
my sin I ever see.

4 'Gainst thee, thee only, have I sinned,
in thy sight done this ill;
That when thou speak'st thou may'st be just,
and clear in judging still.

5 Behold, I in iniquity
was formed the womb within;
My mother also me conceived
in guiltiness and sin.

6 Behold, thou in the inward parts
with truth delighted art;
And wisdom thou shalt make me know
within the hidden part.

7 Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me,
I shall be cleansed so;
Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall
be whiter than the snow.

8 Of gladness and of joyfulness
make me to hear the voice;
That so these very bones which thou
hast broken may rejoice.

9 All mine iniquities blot out,
thy face hide from my sin.
10 Create a clean heart, Lord, renew
a right sp'rit me within.

11 Cast me not from thy sight, nor take
thy Holy Sp'rit away.
12 Restore me thy salvation's joy;
with thy free Sp'rit me stay.

13 Then will I teach thy ways unto
those that transgressors be;
And those that sinners are shall then
be turned unto thee.

14 O God, of my salvation God,
me from blood-guiltiness
Set free; then shall my tongue aloud
sing of thy righteousness.

15 My closèd lips, O Lord, by thee
let them be opened;
Then shall thy praises by my mouth
abroad be publishèd.

16 For thou desir'st not sacrifice,
else would I give it thee;
Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering
at all delighted be.

17 A broken spirit is to God
a pleasing sacrifice:
A broken and a contrite heart,
Lord, thou wilt not despise.

18 Show kindness, and do good, O Lord,
to Zion, thine own hill:
The walls of thy Jerusalem
build up of thy good will.

19 Then righteous off 'rings shall thee please,
and off 'rings burnt, which they
With whole burnt-off 'rings, and with calves,
shall on thine altar lay.

Scottish Metrical Version

Term 2- Terminated!

Another term of academic work is almost done. Every term, every year, seems to fly by. At the end of last term I summed up the progress and the problems and set myself a few goals for this term.

One of the things we have done, and I think has been successful with the lads, is returning to more subjects in workbooks. That probably seems strange to other mums who love to get the kids off book work and into activities. My boys however had a whole year of extension work which focused on their reading and memorization struggles, with lots of games and activiities, so they have benefited from feeling as though they are doing school like every one else! (All these years of home schooling and they still want to be like their peers!)

Positives for Term 2:

Their reading and comprehension skills are still well below their age levels but only if you are comparing it to something or someone.

Both have made progress in reading especially the younger, and the older has much better concentration span.

They have picked up their maths and are closer to age appropriate in it.

Both participated and had a great time at the Workshop run by Groves Christian College DE.

Both participated, and came first and second in their age groups, in the local Cross Country run. This is always a high light on the home schooling calendar. Lots of fun and held on a week end so a big family event.

Both participated in all the events for their age group in the Athletics carnival. This is a great day of track and field events hosted by one of the local christian schools with several other christian schools attending as well as the home schooling contingent.

Both have continued playing in a local basketball fixture.

We have many opportunities to serve the elderly, both grandparents and friends and to spend time with the babies in the family.

As you can see, my learning impaired pair are very sporty and active. The time they spend in service jobs is benefiting them a lot and teaching a lot of important life lessons.

Goals for Term 3:

I think if I can re-introduce more of the phonics based activities as well as the book work we will round things out well.

Seeking to concentrate on character traits that need work (in me as well as them)

With a big Family Reunion happening next weekend which we are much involved in the organization of, my plan is to finish with all the terms work by Wednesday, Lord willing. We will enjoy just over two weeks break.

~ ~ 0~ ~

As we had "done school" on the morning of the public holiday for the local Show, we decided to take a drive to the coast.
It was a very cool, windy day and a murky surf, but fun none the less in the play ground.

















We found some shelter from the wind for bub.

These guys in front aren't with us...they just happened through the line of vision.

Sometimes, life can seem so full with everything we have to do, it is really nice to do something spontaneous. I find it helps me to have fun with the children as well, instead of being the serious mum all the time. :o)

Blitz Report Week 2

I have completed my aims for week 2 of this major project!

See Organizing Mommy's blog Organized Everyday for more information on the Blitz.

I had scheduled all of week 2 for sorting photos, but when I came to it it wasn't such a big job. About 8 years ago when I started scrap booking I had sorted all my photographs into years up to then. Since then I have done a number of scrap books and have also made new folders for the children's photos which I have made into their own albums. So I really just had the last 8 years, minus what had already been scrapped, to sort.

Two of the boxes of photographs in total disorganized state.



This is my final sorted box. You can't see too clearly but each envelope

holds a year/ project/ child or event and is labeled accordingly.


I'm quite happy with the week, but I realize that sorting through the family history material and the paraphernalia for scrapping is going to be a bigger week then I had first thought.

I plan to add Saturday time to this as next week is a busy one.

Did I mention that we have a Family Reunion (mother's side)
next weekend, 26to 28?

As I have been very involved in the planning, next week will be big. We are all really looking forward to the long awaited event. Sad to say, my Mum is not very well at present.I trust she will be able to enjoy the Reunion.

On This Day

On this day in 1892, my paternal grandmother was born.
This much treasured photograph was given to me on my 18th birthday, with a special message on the back. It was taken in 1917 when she was 24 years old.

This grandmother was 29 when she married in 1921 and went on to bear 10 children (one still born). She endured the heartbreak of sending sons to WW2, thankfully both returned, only to loose two sons in their 20s.

She was a woman of pioneering spirit who used her talents and intelligence to help make a meagre living on the farm. Dad says he doesn't know how, but even during the Depression, they always had enough to eat . To me she was a hard working, knowledgeable, and loving grandma with whom I spent a great deal of time in my childhood as we were blessed to live only about 1.5 kms from them.

Grandma died in 1983, almost 91 years old, from a very painful skin disease which grieved her for the last couple of years of her life. She had converted to Roman Catholicism when she married, and was very faithful and devout to the Church of Rome. I remember visiting her not long before her death and she was reading from the scriptures. Two years later when I came to know the Lord I recalled this and have sometimes wondered whether in her old age she may have turned to the Saviour of whom she was taught as a child brought up a christian home. I also remember that my mum used my love for Grandma as a plea to come back to Rome myself when I announced I had become a christian.

I loved these grandparents dearly. They had a great influence on my early childhood. I was very blessed to spend so much time with them and to hear first hand their wonderful life experiences. My dad was recently given letters written by his mother (Grandma) around the time of the deaths of her sons and this opened my eyes to a new aspect of the depths of sorrow she had endured in her long and interesting, but often difficult life.

I wrote this poem about 4 months before Grandma's death when she was quite sick in hospital. She was ninety and I was twenty years old.

Little Bits of Trivia...

The memory of her rose gold ring

will long stay in my mind.

The thin grey hair, the wrinkled face

the imprints left by time.

Her home made cakes and biccies,

her proud and knowing head.

A dear little house and roses

and her lovely old iron bed.

I will remember her

with soft and gentle ways,

Though hard and tough she must have been

through pioneering days.

For ninety years she's lived

and she has much to show.

She's lived through tears and heartache

that we will never know.

To her we were the nippers

when all of us were kids.

She nursed us, loved us, scolded us,

for the naughty things we did.

She righted every illness

with a dose of Scots Emulsion.

Her faith was great in the mighty powers

of this horrid tasting potion!

I see her sitting knitting

or tending to her plants,

Darning someone's holey socks

or patching someone's pants.

Grandma with the spatula

beating up the butter,

A yellow plastic water bottle

and budgies all called Peter.

Old photographs and furniture

and little china dogs,

Numerous stories told us

the memories never lost.

The little bits of trivia

that come into my mind,

From Grandma and from Grandad,

will stay with me a lifetime.....

For I cannot think of one, without thinking of the other.

Thinking of You...

Special prayers and thoughts for JJ today!

Of Forgiveness..

Forgiveness is the heart of the Gospel...

I've mentioned before that this one piece of wisdom has helped me through a very difficult trial in my life and many lesser ones since. God has forgiven us so much, and so we should forgive others. "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."

I was thinking upon this very truth in relation to the sad family issue which has also been previously mentioned. Then, our morning message yesterday was taken from Matthew 5 :23,24

"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

Restoration...before worship.

As believers in the Lord Jesus in Christ, and ones who seek to follow His Word, we have such a privilege to learn of God's ways which are perfect. To our sorrow, we often observe loved ones who do not trust in Him, struggling to find an answer to the turmoil and confusion which sin brings to our lives.

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."

These thoughts are not from my sermon notes but from my jumbled head!

Blue skies... and a touch of melancholy.

It's been one of those magnificent days that we experience here in Winter. A chilly start, around 6 degrees C but bright blue sky and absolutely fabulous all day! Cool, crisp and invigorating!

We got a lot done. Me with the general Saturday cleaning. Dad and the boys with some long overdue outdoor chores. We even did our stint on church cleaning. (That's the building we worship in I mean :o) Got to see my older daughter and her very clever, now 9 month old son and little step daughter. And my other daughter and her family will be home tomorrow after a weeks holiday. Oh, happy day!

I am just a touch fragile though. I spent some time with my Dad and Mum. It hits me at times that they are old and failing in health. Mum had a fall earlier in the week and is very stiff and sore. They are so dear and precious to me, it is hard to watch them age. Also, though I am not sick, I have some ongoing health concerns and did not go well in a echo cardiogram/ stress test yesterday. I have been feeling below par for some months.

Our times are in the Lord's hands!

Over many years of health dramas one of my funny desires has been to outlive my parents... I have lost a child, and so have they. It is a painful, grievous thing which seems unnatural and unbearable.

But God's timing is perfect.

"Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers." Proverbs 17:6

So Far, So Good...

I have pretty much stuck to the plan. I managed 2 bags of clothes to a charity shop and one of hand-me-downs to friends, plus a large box of rubbish went out. I am amazed how much stuff had accumulated that has never been used or will never be used. Also, one of the cupboards had some stuff belonging to my girls so I was able to disperse that as well. (3 years after they moved out of home:0)

Mostly ironing and mending related stuff.

Please note as a bonus I have almost emptied the ironing basket!

This before pic doesn't do justice to the rubbish that had accumulated here! and the after has some scrapbooks which we were looking at.

Now a confession... I am probably a bit behind on some of my other regular jobs! Saturday is my usual day for this so hopefully I will catch up.

A Blitz at Mumma's Place

On her wonderfully motivating and informative blog, Organized Everyday, Organizing Mommy has a great Friday Blitz segment. I haven't joined this blitz as I don't find Fridays a good day for major housework ( okay, confession no.1...no day is actually good for house work!) but I like her idea of using hour blitzes.

My own pattern has been major jobs take a major day, or when time is stretched, or I am, I use the half hour method. ( I originally read about that in a Terry Maxwell time management book some years ago.) It makes sense for me to work in short bursts and do a job over a couple of days. This week it's been my linen cupboard (2 sessions) and the computer area (1 session).

Identify the problem:

Like Organizing Mommy, I have a very untidy and unorganized photo and scrapbook supplies area. My aim is to organize photos into years and/ or categories ready for scrapping, organize scrapping supplies and store in usable spaces. De junk and tidy the other things in that area which are stored clothing, ironing and surplus books and board games. (We have very limited storage so a lot of stuff in the one area.)

Plan for week 1:

1. The ironing area

2. The stored clothes (x2)

3. The cupboard (x2)

4. Take give aways to charity and throw outs to bin

5. The work station (x2)

Plan for week 2:

1. Sort photos (who knows how many sessions this will take!)

Plan for week 3:

1. Organize scrapping supplies (x4)

2. Organize Family History information (x4)

Start date: Monday 8 June, 2009 Finish date: Friday 26 June 2009

Using half hour time slots but hopefully more than one per day. Our holiday break begins on 27 June so, Lord willing, I can be at finished the tidy up by then.

We have a sisters scrap planned for Thursday 9 July to make an album for my mother's 80th birthday which is coming in September, so that's a good incentive. And my usual group of friends will probably also plan a day some time over the break.

I have taken a couple of before pics but I think putting them on will be a lot of pressure/ humiliation. I'll maybe post them if the after photos are noticeably better!

My Golden Childhood IV

Happy Days Down on the Farm

Until I was about 11 years old my father ran a dairy as well as beef cattle and crops.

My earliest memories are of Dad getting up in the dark every day. We would hear him shaking down the coals in the wood stove and smell his "tea and toast" before he moved off to milk. I well remember his sing song call to the cows, "Hup, hey! Hup, hey!" and the rhythmic pounding of the old engine at the dairy.

(Above) Silver, our kids pony, and the view from the dairy.

We kids would run the cows in for evening milking, darting nimbly in bare feet, avoiding wait-a-whiles, (prickly low growing bushes) in the front paddock. We often had poddy calves to feed, with eager heads butting the teats and buckets of frothy milk spilling as they went. We would also prod the cows into the bales, wipe udders, and generally help in the dairy.

We also had a few privileged pigs, who benefited from the milk which was separated and the cream taken to the nearest butter factory. But the butter factory eventually closed and alas, it was an uphill battle with dairy cows in dry seasons. It was a real change in family life when the dairy stopped because it is very hard for a dairy farmer to ever get away for a day, let alone any sort of break or unexpected emergency. My dad was a true man of land though, and never ventured very far or very long from home. He milked a house cow for many years after the dairy stopped functioning and the relics of a few bales and the concrete floor still remain today.

One of my jobs for many years was to feed the chooks, and collect the eggs. Mum would let them out in the afternoon while we were at school and I'd lock them in at night fall. This job usually fell to the youngest of chores age.

My older brother chopped the wood for the stove and my job would be to collect chips. We had a battered old green tin which needed to be filled with the small chips of wood used to start the fire each morning. It was a wood burning stove, which was started early each morning and usually ran all day. In Winter, Mum would have our clothes hanging on the front of the stove to dive into! but in summer the house was like a sauna in the mid day heat. How Mum cooked there is a marvel! In the absence of electricity the hot water was heated through pipes behind the wood stove, which meant cold baths if we had been out and not lit the fire. This led to the home coming refrain of "Home sweet home and the fire's out."

Ah....now baths were another thing! But the water woes will have to wait for another day........

Harbouring Murder in our Hearts

"Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell."

Matthew 5 : 21, 22

This is such a challenge to us. It is no use justifying ourselves that we have never broken the 6th commandment because we see how our Lord taught that it is not just our actions but our thoughts and words which transgress this commandment. And we do in continually.

I think we excuse ourselves, but murder in the heart is what we commit each time we rail unjustly at our husband, child, parent, brethren. Even the most placid of us is guilty of harbouring thoughts which are of murderous intent.

We looked at these verses under the headings of actions, thoughts and words. For most of us who have not actually killed someone it is our thoughts and words that are the hardest things to bring captive. Our tongue - That little fire once again! Pastor mentioned the tendency these day to pull one another down in our speech and this a subject we talk often to the children about. Using terms such as idiot, loser, parasite and much worse, can be so hurtful to another soul. This is so common place in the world we live in that I don't think the repercussions are taken seriously, on the receiver and on the eternal destination of the abuser.

I try to be an encourager in this department but I know I am guilty of thoughts which are not building up my neighbour. I have a dear friend who struggles with having a very critical attitude in the past. She tries to bless everyone with soft words and uses a lot of endearments to address people to try to overcome her natural tendency to be sharp and critical. It is good to have a husband or friend who loves you enough to point out this serious fault. We have prayed together in repentance of and for the Lord's help in curbing this in our lives.

Pastor made the excellent point that a generation's view of life, the value placed on human life, is a reflection of the societies condition before God. Well, we see that there is little value of human life in the society we live in. Babies are counted a burden rather a blessing, rejected, even by Christians, as the fruit of marriage and at worst aborted. Children are moved quickly from underfoot to be cared for outside of their own family. Elderly folk are shunted off to nursing homes, almost forgotten once deemed past their use by date and euthanasia is considered a legitimate alternative by some.

Woe to our generation which puts such a low value on human life! We are not only in danger of the judgement but of hell fire.

"Thou shalt not kill." Exodus 20 : 13

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: ...." Psalm 139 : 14a

"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6 : 16 - 19

....Psalm 124 (II)....

Now Israel may say, and that truly,

If that the Lord had not our cause maintain'd;

If that the Lord had not our right sustain'd,

When cruel men against us furiously

Rose up in wrath, to make of us their prey;

Then certainly they had devour'd us all,

And swallow'd quick, for ought that we could deem;

Such was their rage, as we might well esteem.

And as fierce floods before them all things drown,

So had they brought our soul to death quite down.

The raging streams, with their proud swelling waves,

Had then our soul o'erwhelmed in the deep.

But bless'd be God, who doth us safely keep,

And hath not giv'n us for a living prey

Unto their teeth, and bloody cruelty.

Ev'n as a bird out of the fowler's snare

Escapes away, so is our soul set free:

Broke are their nets, and thus escaped we.

Therefore our help is in the Lord's great name,

Who heav'n and earth by his great pow'r did frame.

Scottish Metrical Version

Verses 1 - 8

A victorious war psalm of the Prince of Peace!

Queensland Day!

On 6 June we celebrate Queensland Day.

Today it is 150 years since Queensland became a separate state from NSW. We don't actually have much in the way of celebrations like Australia Day but I thought I would put up some pictures of our beautiful state! And despite the dismal economic announcements of the week Queensland had one great reason to celebrate.... We won the State of Origin!!!!!

(That's Rugby League football for any reading outside Australia) Queensland (Maroons) V New South Wales (Blues) The first in the best of three series. I'm no mad football fan and nor is my husband but we are definitely the minority. Rugby League is BIG up here!!

Above: Coral on The Great Barrier Reef, The Brisbane skyline (capital of Qld), camp drafting, a state map, The Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, CQ

Colour co-ordination

My apologies for all the mucking around with the blog colours! It all hinges on the photo at the top I'm afraid. I like this template but you have to use the title colour in the sidebar and it makes it hard to get a colour readable on the photo which can also be read on the dark side bar, hence the trials. Now, some of the writing on the blog will have to changed. Please bear with me.

Ahoy, Captain Bligh!

Good news, folks! The Federal Treasurer assured us earlier in the week that we are not in Recession! (Whodda thunk it!) 0.4 0/0 I think the growth rate was, which I guess is better than the negative figures coming from some other countries.

The Governor of the Reserve Bank says the economy will remain slow for some time. (Duh..)

Then,our Anna, the Premier of Queensland Mrs Anna Bligh, announced the sell off of a few of the states major assets, including possibly the freight section of Qld Rail and Ports, to raise capital to to reduce our huge debt. These places employ large numbers of Queenslanders and even Labor supporters are up in arms. And last but not least.... her government has decided to remove our fuel rebate levy! There may yet be mutiny on the Bounty, Captain Bligh!

The farmers of Queensland are already battling the moratorium on land clearing which could in a very short period of time, put a lot of currently productive farmers out of business. This means a scarcity of locally grown produce and higher costs to consumers. Add to this the rise in fuel cost from 1 July and you have farm production costs rising enormously, truck drivers battling to make ends meet and both having to raise their prices to keep their business afloat.The end result.. we are going to be paying a great deal more for our groceries here in Queensland... And there will be a great deal more unemployment.

Listen, Mrs Bligh, a lot of Queenslanders are already struggling. Give us a break. We need some good leadership here before the ship goes down.

My Golden Childhood III

CHILDHOOD AT HOME....

My mind often wanders to the days of my childhood,

To the hours I spent rambling with friends and alone.

Through the creeks and the gullies, up hills and in bushes,

Across every inch of the acres at home.

There were cubbies made roughly with doorways and walls,

Made with sticks and with branches and circles of stone.

With numerous boxes and nick-nacks and brooms,

All brought from the house, all carted from home.

There were swings in the branches outside the house,

And names carved in trees on the tracks that we roamed.

Slides down the creek banks in steep little gullies,

Pants that were torn when at last we got home.

There were games that I thought out, I talked to myself,

When no one was there I played them alone.

And dress up clothes splendid for every occasion,

All found like small treasures in the black box at home.

I cooked in the kitchen, biccies, cakes and fudge pudding,

Like the housewife I'd be when at last I was grown,

Seems funny now when I see how things are,

But dreaming was fun by the wood stove at home.

I held pegs for mum as she hung out the washing,

And washed up the dishes though I whinged and I moaned.

Went fencing with Dad or helped in the yards,

Work shared together with loved ones at home.

My mind often wanders to the days of my childhood,

Whatever I'm doing or how far I roam.

For youth is so precious and memories linger,

How often my thoughts fly to childhood at home....

Written April 1983

The photograph above is part of the spectacular view from the home I grew up in .

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Pondering the Essentials

Legalism

The opposite end of extremes to libertine-ism.

"For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 5 : 20

Last week we looked at the tendency to use our liberty in Christ to "go soft" on the clear commands of the scriptures. We looked at the essentials which are of the utmost importance in our faith - loving God and loving our neighbour. But also that we are not to ignore other clear commands of scripture which, though less integral, are none the less necessary.

Yesterday we looked at the "righteousness" of the scribes and pharisees, whose righteousness we must exceed.

In Ezra chapter 7, Ezra of the priestly line, "was a ready scribe of the law of Moses" v6. "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statues and judgements." These scribes sort, after the exile, to transcribe the Law of Moses and to teach it to the people so they may serve the Lord.

Likewise, the Pharisees, the separated ones, began as men who refused to turn aside to heathen traditions in the time between the testaments, and adhered to the laws and commandments of God. To serve him from a pure heart.

And herein lies the downfall of these Scribes and Pharisees whom Christ so strongly rebuked. They no longer kept the Law of Moses with a true heart submitted to God, longing to serve him but were selfish and self centred. Touching the law, blameless, yet in the sight of God hypocrites.

This gives great pause for thought.

Libertine or Legalist? Where do I fall? Do I use excuses to not do what is required and call this liberty. Or conversely, do I bind heavy burdens on others while my heart is centred on self and far from God?

The challenge for me today is to renew my first love. To endevour to serve the Lord from a pure heart which seeks his glory. To put aside selfish desires and the seeking of the admiration of others and strive only to please my Lord by following that which he has clearly required of me.
Am I trusting in Christ's perfect righteousness and seeking to obey his commandments from a desire to serve and exalt him? All these thoughts challenge any facade we may be using and get to the depths of our heart and how we stand before the Lord.

I am not of an airy, fairy, fluffy, love is all you need gospel. I believe that God is also wise, powerful, holy, just, good and true. Yet I am thinking this evening about our message from 1 John 4 last night. We heard teaching from the first six verses under the title Discerning Christianity. However the reading of the rest of chapter 4 struck me as another love passage. (Thinking of 1 Corinthians 13) The thought of verse 20 could well apply to the Scribes and Pharisees. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? " 1 John 4 : 20

The fearful warning to the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 5, and to all who are self righteous and not trusting in Christ's perfect righteous is "ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" ...............

Back to essentials.