My Golden Childhood IX

Lovingly and Thankfully Remembered...

It would be unrealistic to write my memoirs and not include at least some of the sorrows and troubles that came our way.


The children born above me were twins and one of them (above) was severely handicapped both mentally and physically. She could not walk, talk, feed or toilet herself. She had only partial sight and hearing. She was both diabletic and epileptic. She was a beautiful princess in an unco-operative and un-communicative body. She was deeply loved and died at 11 and a half years of age from keto acidosis (complications of diabetes) and secondarily, her handicaps .
The title above are the words my parents had engraved on her little head stone.

"Lovingly and thankfully remembered."

It lies in the local cemetery amidst other family graves, on the little, child size grave they cemented themselves.

I was too young to know her, too young to even really remember much of her, but I named one of my daughters after her. Sweet gift from God, sweet sister of mine. Always a child and very precious to us.

...

Life of the Party.

Our next door neighbours have an adorable daughter, who turned 3 recently. Being an only child she loves to play with my boys even though they are 10 and 11.

She even invited them to her party again this year! They spent several happy hours eating delicious food and helping to entertain little folk.

Miss 3 was very upset when her big boys had to come home! They get a lot of experience in caring and patience with little ones for guys without younger siblings. And they love it!

Lamp Filled?

I was in an eschatological conversation last week. Always thought provoking! Sorry readers, I am unwilling to commit myself to a millennial view on this blog ☺ What I have found is that if you have 3 or 4 Christians discussing end time things, you will have 3 or 4 views being sprouted!

So, although this was not the subject of either of yesterday's sermons, these are some of the verses I have been thinking on. Looking forward with hope and expectation to the glorious return of Christ.

Matthew 25

1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Watch and keep your lamp filled with oil and the wick trimmed and lit!

There are a number of passages which outline what we can expect leading up to and at the return of Christ, but scripture makes it clear - no man knoweth the hour when the Son of Man will return.

Here is a passage from the Psalms which I love.

Psalm 130: 5 - 8

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Ephesians 2

1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(King James Version)

We ♥ Salmon Casserole!

It has been a busy but very good week for me☺ I have learned many life changing things - one being how to do ♥s and ☺s and ¼,½ & ¾!! Enlightenment! Thanks Jillian.

I have never posted recipes. I do enjoy seeing what other people make and what their families like. So, here's one my hubby loves and a good way to get a little fish into the diet. We had it with salad and garlic bread last night but it is easy to throw in some frozen vegies and have an all in one meal.

Salmon Casserole

2 cups drained flaked salmon

2 cups cooked rice

½cup grated tasty cheese,

½cup Carnation (evaporated) milk

1 x 16oz can asparagus soup (or mushroom)

1 medium finely diced onion

__________________________________

Topping

3/4 cup slightly crushed breakfast cereal

2 oz melted butter for topping

___________________________________

Combine: Salmon, rice, cheese, soup, carnation milk and onion in a bowl.

Place: in a casserole dish (greased)

Mix: Breakfast cereal and melted butter

Sprinkle: over casserole

Bake: uncovered in moderate oven for about 30 mins or until heated through and top is golden brown.

(Carol's recipe. Serves 4 and my dish is doubled.)

I am not a great cook but I like cooking and I've had the greatest appreciation shown by my family. When we have fellowship meals they are very disappointed if they don't manage to get any of Mum's dish onto their plate! Considering the skills of some of our friends, that is a great compliment!

"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." Proverbs 15:17

My Golden Childhood VIII

A Wonderful and Large Extended Family

One of the things I loved about my childhood and now treasure so greatly is growing up with a close family and my extended family near by. Mum and Dad had eight kids, though we were well spread and never all lived at home at one time. Dad's parents lived about 1.5 klms from us and his two brothers, wives and total of 9 children, too. "Over the Road" we called it because you had to cross the main road to get their places. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. Grandad was a great story teller. He smoked a pipe and had been to the First World War and for an old country gentleman was well read and had seen a lot of the world. Grandma was a very industrious woman and still made butter, cooked, sewed and knitted well into her eighties.

Here are some of us boarding the local school bus. What a motley crew!! It was only about 10 klm for us into town to go to school but our fathers had ridden to school on horseback, milking cows before they left. (So they would remind us!)

The cousins and one "ring in "playing some board game.
Between the three houses there were usually plenty of extra kids over school holidays.
The city cousins, assorted friends and sometimes needy kids would love to come to the farm for some carefree entertainment, with fresh air, good food and great company!


The kids from over the road on a hay ride past our front house gate.

As the years passed, Dad and the brothers who remained on the land bought and built up their own properties. Now that generation has retired/ died and two of my brothers and one cousin own those properties and keep expanding them. They have a total of six children, quite spread in ages, so who knows whether the land will stay in the family into the next generation and beyond. I mentioned in the very first Golden Childhood post that we are holding a family reunion to celebrate 100years of our family farming this land. It is becoming rare in Australia for family farms to exist .

It is hard to imagine some other family, other children growing up here. No other family has farmed here. I still have a close tie to my childhood home while the boys continue to live there but thankfully, I am not yearning for an earthly home. And while my memories are precious and golden, they cannot compare to the wonderful home awaiting me in Heaven.

Top photo: A family hike in the lovely hills behind our home stead. 1983

Second top: That's me on my 18th birthday with Grandad (91) and Grandma (89). He died about a month later. Click on their names to see photos of them as young people. 1980

And yes, that's me, the oldest girl in the first two group photographs! All 1974

Priorities in Service

A couple of my commenters reminded me that service to God and our neighbour starts at home.

May I clarify, this has always been my priority! In my previous post I was addressing my thoughts on the verses from Matthew 5 which asks who is our neighbour and how I might reach out to those beyond my ordinary sphere of comfort.

,

"...to love their husbands, to love their children,"

Titus 2:4

These are definitely the high and first calling upon a wife and mother in her service to God.

As I read through the verses of Proverbs 31: 10 - 31 I notice the order of priority given .

Verses 11 and 12; her husband, 13 - 19 : her household, verse 20 the poor and needy.

I think this puts it nicely into perspective.

Further Thoughts on Service

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

What real sacrifice or effort is involved when I do for my loved ones what I take pleasure in doing? While this service as a wife and mother or perhaps in an occupation is necessary it is when we reach out to the unlovely and the outcast, that we test the claim that we love our neighbour. Who is my neighbour? All of humanity. That is a very wide scope to show the love of Christ to.

As a stay at home mum, with a large family circle and many friends, this command is a challenge to me. It goes outside the comfort zone. Do I go the extra mile? Do I demonstrate to my children a true heart for humble service? Do I love those that it would be easier to just avoid, by extending a tender hand to them.

Most of all...am I not ashamed of the gospel of Christ?

A challenging thought to take into the week.

Delight thyself in the Lord...

Isaiah 58:13-14

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

(King James Version)

Back to the Books!

After just over two wonderful weeks of holidays, we are back into the routine of school life again.

Holidays are great, but there is something to be said for the more disciplined routine of the working week. We get up and moving earlier, we don't sloth so at TV , computer and games, we eat better. We shop, train and do chores at regular times. Sounds kind of dull? I find things go much more smoothly though. We have had a number of "interruptions" this week but they have been good ones. Out of town visitors and unexpected meal guests. It's good to keep the spontaneity alive as well.

The boys pin point various landmarks and buildings on a local map.

I've been eagerly reading posts of other home schoolers to motivate me with this terms work.

Young men, struggling to grasp the basics of reading, really thrive on hands on activity and I am needing to keep the enthusiasm level going.

To finish off the week we spent some time looking at clips of the Apollo 11 launch and landing which meandered on to Apollo 13 and Challenger.....

Pulling down the tent after a back yard camp out.

Holidays are over!

My Golden Childhood VII

Some Museum Pieces!

A few of the things mentioned in previous posts which may be of interest...especially if you are.. er.. younger!

A kerosene Fridge similar to ours.
You lit the wick from the kero container in the bottom and fumes went up the flu at the back. It was a delicate procedure though and a smoking fridge not only left black soot all over the kitchen...house... but was a danger of fire.



A treadle Singer sewing machine, such as one Mum used and we girls learned to sew on. Mum kept this up until their recent move to a retirement village and my sister who is our best seamstress claimed ownership.




This is a Mrs Potts iron. It sits on the wood stove to get hot and you attach the handle then away you go.


Heavy work on large, old style clothes.


I just realized we were living in a museum!

One time I was taking the kids to a place called the "Heritage Village" and my younger son commented, "Mum, didn't you used to live at the Heritage village?"
Well it seemed to him we had all the same stuff!

A Bush Wedding

We met with many other family and friends to celebrate the marriage of two young people last Friday. The bride had been a local home schooler and long time friend of my two daughters, her parents also dear friends of ours. It was a gorgeous Winter afternoon. And the setting was a rustic rural one with a lot of local history. Because both bride and groom were born in South Africa they said their vows in Afrikaans and then in English. After the service we enjoyed a pleasant afternoon tea of all types of baked goodies and good company.

Above is the rural scene looking out from the little bush chapel.

Below is the inside of the chapel looking up to the groom and attendants awaiting the arrival of his bride.

This chapel was built by American serviceman stationed here in World War II. It has a rock wall concreted to hip height around the sides and is otherwise open air. The inside roof is just thick, sturdy beams and around the outside are recorded various sporting records and achievements of men stationed here during the war. It is certainly a place of local interest and many memorial services and civil celebrations are performed here as well as less formal weddings.

It was a cool, crisp Winter day and other than the fact that the local abattoir is a little close all was beautiful. Thankfully, the breeze was blowing the right way!

Opportunities to Serve

God's Word is perfect...

It is a wonderful joy and blessing to go to the house of the Lord, to worship with his people, to sing from his Word, to hear it read and preached!
It is also unceasingly amazing to me the way the Word pierces the heart and though we all hear the same words they may not sound quite the same or affect us in just the same way as another, as the Holy Spirit works within us.

Matthew 5: 38 -42

38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Pastor dealt with these headings:

1. The Concern for Civil Justice.

2. The Exercise of Private Forbearance

3. The Opportunity for Christian Service.

Ah.. a good message. The third point really spoke volumes to me and encouraged me. That we are to see our daily opportunities in a higher light ie. as service to our God and not as personal burdens. Going the extra mile, giving when asked. It is our opportunity to shine our lights before men and to glorify our father which is in Heaven.

This high ideal is only met by Grace.

I purpose to see these opportunities of service as if Christ had come to my door.

Take up the challenge?

Have a wonderful week!

Psalm 112

A good man doth his favour shew,

and doth to others lend:

He with discretion his affairs

will guide unto the end.

Surely there is not any thing

that ever shall him move:

The righteous man's memorial

shall everlasting prove.

When he shall evil tidings hear,

he shall not be afraid:

His heart is fix'd, his confidence

upon the Lord is stay'd.

His heart is firmly stablished,

afraid he shall not be,

Until upon his enemies

he his desire shall see.

He hath dispers'd, giv'n to the poor;

his righteousness shall be

To ages all; with honour shall

his horn be raised high.

The wicked shall it see, and fret,

his teeth gnash, melt away:

What wicked men do most desire

shall utterly decay.

verses 5 - 10

Scottish Metrical Version

Solutions and Resolutions...

My boys heard the expression "3 hat restaurant" on a cooking show last night. My eleven year old, who loves food, and knows which side his bread is buttered on, said to me.

"Mum, you're a 5 hat chef."

Ah..there's appreciation for you.

ooOoo

My post on Wednesday was petty and ungracious...but it was realistic. We all go through low periods in our walk, we struggle with the old man (woman), we take our eyes off the Lord. Forgive me , Lord that I have done this...again.

My heart went out to blogging friends who expressed that similar thoughts afflict them. It is so comforting as believers to know that we do not walk alone, nor do we experience anything not already been through by the saints. Our Lord in his earthly sojourn also faced many trials and knows our weaknesses, though unlike us he never reacted in a sinful way.

My husband put his finger on one of my problem areas . Perhaps this happens to you?

I am blessed with an abundance of family and friends. I work hard at my relationships. Relationships take time, energy, effort. Relationships can be wonderfully rewarding or they can be devastatingly draining. Only Jesus Christ is a friend who will never disappoint or let us down.Sometimes I look too much to the affirmation of those around me instead of looking to the Lord. I need to never become bitter and twisted, nor loose the desire to be a quiet witness for my Lord. But I need to toughen up, be inwardly strong, while maintaining that tenderness.

For:

"We are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Romans 8:37

An Inner Struggle

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1

When my children were small , waking during the night, teething or just needing comfort it did not seem too much effort to meet their needs. They were small and unable to care for themselves. They NEEDED me and I got so many wonderful responses in return that it was all worth while. Sometimes the tiredness and commitment was almost overwhelming but I always managed by God's grace. Homeschooling can be a little like that too. But looking back I would not wish to change a moment of it (though a few more hours of sleep may have made me saner!)

Again, serving my elderly parents and loved ones who also are needy, sometimes frightened, frail, is a privilege. One not only joys to help with their burdens but remembers that they have selflessly served you and others all their lives. They so look forward to our visits and respond profusely to the smallest act of kindness shown to them.

Serving others, less incapable, less responsive and less appreciative is a much more challenging thing.

Do any of you sisters struggle with a meek and gentle spirit when it comes to serving those who are selfish and unappreciative? Those who take very much for granted your willingness to be of help?

Recently, when I have not been feeling my usual self, and unable to participate in my usual ways in some things, I was distressed to experience a feeling of resentment rising up in me, which is unfamiliar. I LOVE people and I suppose I am naturally a people pleaser. It is only when one feels unable to serve or participate as usual that you realize how little some really notice or even care, what you might be doing. A simple thank you or we miss you goes such a long way.

Now, having written that down, I can see how selfish and lacking in gracious patience I am being myself. I know one should do all things for the glory of God and not look for recognition.

Teach me O Lord, to be selfless in sevice. Teach me to be content and pleased to serve, regardless of the response I receive. Enable me to accept whatever limitations you place on me. Help me to keep before me the ultimate sacrifice that you made for your people...for me.

I need to take up anew my own own challenge in the side bar:

"What does the Lord require of thee, but to live justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

My Golden Childhood VI

Scattered Recollections of a Farm Life




Our kids pony, Silver and her first foal, Jodi. This was a great excitement for us. Jodi was also a great little pony and my brother rode her for pony club and mustering, but she was a little too saucy for learners ! Unlike her dear mother on whom we all learned to ride and who patiently took visiting kids on endless laps around the yards. Many years on Dad brought a quiet old pony for the grandchildren to ride on when they came visiting, to my girls delight..



Here is the dear old house, taken in the 70's. Dad and Mum lived in the old shed for the first year of their marriage, while Dad with one man's help built the basic home. Over the years with the addition of children, the veranda was closed in for a sleep-out on the other side. The room on this side and the patio were added around the time I was born (6th child).

Before me, we had a "thunder box" about 50 meters from the house. By my time there was an outside septic toilet. My brother and his family now live here but the house is almost unrecognizable! Many beautiful renovations including an inside toilet!



We were not too original with pet names. Dairy cows had quaint names like Sarah, Sally and Betsy (Dad's choices). This little pup I grandly called "Ponto" as I thought he was sort of painted like an Indian horse and it sounded a bit (American) Indian to me! One well loved neighbour was a good source of animals and we had several named after him...Black Jack (horse), Ginger Jack (cat) Jack (dog). We had beloved horses named Cobber, Casper, Kimber and Narda...


For all that he loved cattle and horses, Dad was not a dog and cat man. If a new dog got into the chook pen that was the end for him. Mum was a bit softer and would let us take feed to the hay shed for a stray mother cat (on the quiet :0) When I was a single adult and could no longer keep my cat where I was living Mum and Dad took him and low and behold (a much older and softer) Dad got quite attached to him as he was very affectionate and a good mouser. When he got a bad skin problem Dad even took him to the vet - to the surprise of the whole family - unheard of!


The building in the background here is the car shed. Behind the house was the laundry and engine room. Mum had washed nappies and heavy work clothes using a copper for many years but by the time of my recollection she had a wringer washing machine which was powered by a 32 volt engine. This also powered our lights so again, by my day the lanterns and candles were almost forgotten. This engine did not run fridges and freezers though and we had the dreaded Kerosene fridges for many years. They smoked, often... and usually when we were out for some reason! Only a few years before electricity was connected did we finally get a kero freezer as well which was a Godsend for our meat and best of all, if we could get it home, ice cream!!!

Dad only cranked up the engine before he left for the paddock when Mum had to wash and she was excellent at doing her bit of ironing while it was running. We did have a 32 volt iron but Mum would use the Mrs Potts warmed on the stove if necessary when the engine wasn't on. Dad stopped the engine after tea and that meant bed. When we got older, late 60s, we got a TV with a converter, so last up turned the engine off, usually dear Mum mending.

Far Above Ruby er...rubies...

I found this little gem at Tony Reinke's blog Miscellanies.

A-Trust-Worthy Wife

Proverbs 31:11 says of the godly wife, “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.”

The passage is remarkable, writes Bruce Waltke.

“The statement, his heart trusts in her, which entails that his well-being stands or falls on her reliability, is remarkable. Outside of this text and Judg. 20:36, Scripture condemns trust in anyone or anything apart from God/the LORD (cf. 2 K. 18:21; Ps. 118:8-9; Isa. 36:5; Jer. 5:17; 12:52; 18:10; 48:7; Ezek. 33:13; Mic. 7:5). As E. Gerstenberger observed, ‘One can successfully place confidence only in Yahweh,… no other entity can be an ultimate object of trust.’ The present exception elevates the valiant wife, who herself fears the LORD, to the highest level of spiritual and physical competence. … Verse B presents the cause of his trust: he does not lack anything necessary. The surprising object, spoil, a military metaphor, implies that the woman has to win essentials like food and clothing through strategy, timely strength, and risk in this fallen world.”

—Bruce K. Waltke, The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31 (Eerdmans 2005), pp. 521-522.
Quite a remarkable passage indeed.

Husbands, do you trust your wife so much that you can say, with the writer of Proverbs, that you trust your wife with your heart? Yes? Let her know. Today. Right now.

Wives, are you tired from all the coupons and waiting for the right sale because money is tight? Press on with your God-glorifying strategy, strength, and risk.



A Photo Game

La Donna at Just Our Thoughts has tagged me with this photo game. It looks quick and easy...so here goes. This game originated at The Year of Living Obsessively

The Rules:

1) Go to your photo files…Select the 6th photo folder

2) Select the 6th photo in that folder

3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.

4) Then challenge 5 blog friends to do the same!

My 6th photo file is titled "home" and contains pictures I have been scanning for the posts I am writing in My Golden Childhood series. I have a draft using this photo which will be published in the next few weeks so you are getting a preview. These are a number of my cousins riding on the back of truck. Uncle had loaded hay from Dad's shed and they were snapped riding past our house. This photo was taken in 1974.

I will challenge each of my readers to do the same photo game, rather than single anyone out.

Mid year break

Australian scenery on a dry Winter's afternoon...

Leaving my nephew's place yesterday.

A cheeky magpie on our front door step!

It is amazing that July is here already.

I keep making mention of the beautiful weather here but truly, at the moment it is just gorgeous! Give me an Aussie Winter any day. Well, perhaps a Central Queensland Winter! As we are on the mid year break from school we are enjoying both getting some organization around the house and yard - some - and getting out to visit a few people, including two nephews and their families with new babies. A special treat!

Nana arrives tonight, so more excitement as she has not been for two years and has only seen her great grandies in photos.

Too much excitement...

no deeper thoughts at the moment!