Time Management and the Blog

It is eight months since I started blogging. I had begun a blog simply to be able to comment easily, with a profile, 6 months before and have been "Ruby" on the net for a couple of years.

I admit, I really enjoy my blog. I also have to admit though, that some of my old routines have changed since I started blogging and I am interested to know whether this is so for others. And if so, are they positives or negatives?

For example, I still get up before the rest of the house hold for my quiet time, but now I often take my bowl of cereal and cup of coffee to eat as I check emails afterwards. This used to be my morning tea time ritual, but with possible blog mail in the post, I guess I like to check on it earlier in the day.

A lot of my stuff is posted first thing in the morning but it is not written then. I very seldom publish any thing which I have not had drafted, sometimes for quite a long time, but at least the night before. This is one positive goal I set myself early on in the hope of not posting things which were foolish, ill advised or hurtful.

What about keeping up with blogs you are following? I feel I have quite a large number of blogs that I enjoy and I like to read the updates regularly. What do others do? Do you visit your favourites every time they have a new post? Do you rotate them or perhaps have a weekly order? I try to comment on my favourites regularly. I get involved with my friends and want them to be encouraged. I know how much I love comments on my own blog.

The biggest question I have to wrestle with is, Do I spend too much time on the blogging circuit/ forums? Am I slacking on other more important duties? Have I neglected family or real life friends?
At present I do not feel this is the case. However, I know that when my foot was injured and when I've had periods of illness I have tended to spend rather an excessive amount of time in front of the screen!

Several of the bloggers I really enjoy keeping up with have taken "posting breaks", suffering a sort of bloggers burn out. And one I know of who has closed her blog altogether. These things make me conscious of how very addictive, draining and time consuming this pass time can be.

Most of all I have been contemplating, Is this glorifying to God?

I would really appreciate some thoughts from you who read and comment here. How do you manage your internet time? Do you schedule a specific amount of time? Do you allow yourself the occasional luxury to blog surf and check out other commenters on your favourite blogs? (I do that every so often!) Having only the one computer in our house helps to limit both hubby and I. Do you have more than one? Do older kids/ mum/ dad have their own computers?

This technology has not been around for very long. It is not a time consumer ( waster) which our mothers had to battle. Nor did they have all the appliances we have. They worked and worked hard. Are we slacking off? But perhaps they felt much more isolated and lonely as well?

Again I have to ask myself, Does this glorify God?

♥ My Dad! ♥

They don't make 'em like my daddy any more!

This is me at 18 months of age ( June 1964) with my dad. This photo is cut from one of those gorgeous family photos taken at the gates of the Show. The Agricutural Show was a huge event. Mum is wearing a hat. Dad is wearing a tie, and like all Aussie bushman, always wore his hat out, and still does!

Today, this very special man in my life turns 85.

Go here to see my Dad in recent times.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

To Glorify God.

Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

Psalm 72

17: His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

18: Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

19: And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

I have posted this section of Psalm 72 before in the metrical version. Whichever way you read it, it is a beautiful doxology! Behold the glory and majesty of our eternal and all powerful God!

This week a number of blogs which I read and appreciate have had posts relating to glorifying God, and I posted a little thought provoker about our chief end in home education. Psalm 72 was also the topic of our mid week Bible study. So this theme has been in my thoughts this week. God is all glorious and he doesn't need us puny creatures and yet he has set his love upon a peculiar people, reached down to sinful man in grace. How much we should rejoice and wonder at so great salvation and give him ALL our praise and do All to his glory. Of course, on pondering the greatness of God, I am reminded how far I fall short. How weak I am, how often even the best of intentions fail. But God is the same always. A rock and a strong tower.

Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen!

Easy Peasy Sausage Pie

The boys made this very simple pie in their cooking session with JJ this week.

YUM!!!

6 sausages

boiling water
375g puff pastry
4 eggs
sprinkle of salt and pepper

1. Put sausages in a pan. Pour boiling water over. Leave until cool.

2. When cool, carefully peel the skin from the sausages.

3. Cut pastry in half. Roll half out and line a 25cm square tine with it.

4. Slice sausages and arrange in the tin.

5. Beat eggs, salt and pepper. Gently pour over sausages.

6. Roll out rest of pastry to make a lid. Place over sausages.

7. Seal the edges well. Prick the top with a fork.

8. Bake it at 190C for 45 minutes.



The boys used bought puff pastry sheets which eliminated a couple of steps.
They love to make tea (dinner) for the family and we had this with salad.
It is really just a lidded quiche, so next time they can add a lot more goodies to the mix.

Today they had a really great Science session with their visiting teacher.

As we are registered with Groves Christian College, we have at least two home visits per year.

I has been a good opportunity for me to discuss further our struggles in some departments.

We have a very supportive teacher.

My Golden Childhood XI

Summer of Terrible Thirst...

In the summer of 1972/73 I turned 10 years of age. I had always dreaded needles and had been told that I didn't have any vaccinations due until January '73 when I had turned 10. Whew! What a relief. During that Winter, though I don't recall it now, I apparently suffered a really bad dose of the flu and took a good while to get over it. Then I seemed to fade away loosing weight steadily all year. 1972 was a big year for us. My eldest sister married in the October. This was a huge event for me as a junior bridesmaid but I was teary and emotional all through it. By the long Christmas holidays I was getting thin and lethargic. I was constantly thirsty...dying of thirst... and constantly running to the toilet. To Dad and Mum the symptoms were familiar. They took me along to the doctor and sure enough I was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic (Juvenile onset it was called then). I spent a week in the local hospital getting stable and learning how to manage this new condition and headed home, with an injection to look forward to every day for the rest of my life!

Dad took on the giving of injections each morning and mum ably looked after my diet. Since we ate very well this was not too big of a deal. Mum also supervised the urine testing a couple of times a day. I had to collect the urine and then we put a few drops in a test tube with the testing tablet and the colour change indicated the amount of glucose present. One morning Dad was late in from the dairy and Mum suggested she administer my insulin. From that day forward I gave my own shots!

Urine testing for glucose, in a test tube.

In the May school holidays of '73 and '74 I attended the Diabetic children's camp at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast. This was both a scary and an exciting adventure for the little girl from the Central Queensland Bush. It was also a great learning experience for me.

Being diabetic did affect my school life, particularly before it was diagnosed and managed, when I was unwell. Once I got stabilized I pretty much carried on as normal and once again started to achieve good academic results and excel at sports.

I remember well my first hypo (hypoglycemia - low blood sugar). Traveling home on the school bus I began to feel woozie and put my head down. Every thing felt and looked furry and I was quite spaced out! Our dear bus driver, who knew us well and had been forewarned by Mum and Dad kindly drove us up to the house to spare me the kilometer walk. This was the talk of the school, not so much my hypo, but that Mr W. actually drove someone right to their house! Unheard of...

Thankfully, test strips became readily available for testing urine before I had to go to boarding school in 1975. These showed glucose, protein and ketones by the colour changes present.

Initially I used glass syringes and metal needles which required frequent boiling up to sterilize them . Over time these were replaced by disposable syringes and tips which were also much more convenient.

Boarding school was definitely the biggest hurdle for me especially with the need to keep my diabetes well controlled. No doubt it was a huge thing for Mum and Dad too, but you know as a kid, I only saw things from my point of view and it was only years later that I discovered just how difficult this had been for them. Added to that my sister had died in 1969, really only a few years before, primarily from complications of diabetes.

These days having diabetes is not the terrible thing it was then. We have glucometers which test blood glucose in a matter of seconds, meaning that our diet can be more flexible, improved insulin, and good medical services in all areas of care. I do have four injections a day now but while this is an inconvenience it also produces a much more stable control and long term better outcomes.

I have never wanted to be identified as that girl/ woman with diabetes, preferring to be identified by other characteristics, but I have to admit it has been a huge factor in the course my life has taken. In my late teens and early 20s I had many "close calls" and hospitalizations due to ketoacidosis and consequently did to myself a lot of long term damage. I did not get my act together until the Lord graciously saved me, but those complications have been a big factor in my working life, bearing of children and health to this day.

Soli Deo Gloria

The resourceful site: Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the Glory) Resouces has this thought provoking question on their front page. Convicting?

Why do we educate our children?

"If we educate our children so that they will be intelligent and successful - we may be seeking THEIR glory.
If we educate our children so that they will impress our family, friends and neighbors - we may be seeking OUR OWN glory.
If we educate our children so that they can pour forth facts and figures accurately - we may be seeking the glory of KNOWLEDGE (and knowledge puffs up).
But if we educate our children so that they have a big view of God, are aware of their individual giftings and seek to use them for the advancement of God's Kingdom around the world and in eternity - then we are seeking GOD'S glory. "

Thanks to Mountain Mom, where I read this quote yesterday.

More thoughts on Prayer

Both of our sermons yesterday were around the theme of prayer. Providentially, these two passages of scripture fell on the one day, even though we are working through two completely different books of scripture. Don't you love that about the Word of God! The way everything fits perfectly and scripture interprets scripture!

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our father which is art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." Matthew 6:9

How privileged we are, who have been adopted as children, to call God our father. With trust and confidence we call upon this special and intimate name. And to call him our father, we acknowledge that this privilege is not just bestowed on us but on all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ, his own Son. When we call him our father in heaven, we also acknowledge his sovereignty and kingship over us. We look forward to that inheritance which is ours in heaven.

Our second sermon was from that quite complicated passage in 1 John 14-17. (Concerning praying for someone who has sinned a sin unto death.) As Pastor pointed out using references to 1 John 2: 18 & 19 and 1 John 3:14 and 1 John 4:3, Apostasy, turning away from the biblical christian faith and hatred for the people of God, is the sin referred to here.

Matthew Henry on Praying for Others.

"We ought to pray for others as well as for ourselves, for our brethren of mankind, that they may be enlightened, converted, and saved; for our brethren in the Christian profession, that they may be sincere, that their sins may be pardoned, and that they may be delivered from evils and the chastisement of God, and preserved in Christ Jesus."

I know that my own prayer life waxes and wanes. It is good to be encouraged and reminded of our need and our duty and the great privilege to pray to God as father. My friend Heidi commented on my post from Psalm 42 the other day that the Book of Psalms is becoming more and more a book of prayer for her. This is how I feel too. And especially when words fail or my heart is overwhelmed these words of repentance, forgiveness, dependence and praise become invaluable to me. May God, who is our father bless you this week!

Hope in God

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 42:11 (&5)

Listen to the Psalmist! How he longs and pants after God. Do you feel dry and parched in the spirit as he did? The yearning and longing in this psalm is almost heart breaking and sometimes when I feel low I can really empathize with this. The Book of Psalms is such an encouragement and comfort because, by the Holy Spirit, every emotion and every depth we plumb is also expressed here. And also, every joy and every exaltation beautifully expressed!
As we read and learn more, so we can praise Him more with these very words of God.

"Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him!"

Bringing up 200!

Jillian from Homeschooling4Christ has bestowed this loyalty award on me, and I thank her from the bottom of my ♥. "This award is to be passed on to those who faithfully follow my blog, giving encouragement and forming friendships that help us to build one another up in the Lord. Thank you to all my blogging friends who take the time to leave comments so that I don't feel as if I am just "talking" to myself. "

I do really appreciate the comments and feed back I have had from so many new friends in this blogging world!

Since I joined the Aussie Homeschool Bloggers I have enjoyed getting to "know" a number of special ladies. Just like my local home school community, we are a very diverse group so far as beliefs, families and educational styles but seem to have so much in common also.

I also have loved making friends in far away places, through various avenues especially ones I've met through dialogue on the Puritan Board.

So. without naming names, I would like to bestow the award on all and any of my readers who pop by. This post is notable in that it is my 200th since I began blogging! A milestone...but perhaps one I should not be proud of? too much blogging makes Ruby a dull girl!

Thanks for dropping by.

Art in the Park

My children, sadly, get their artistic and creative talents from me! The boys found the craft day rather torturous, I'm afraid. Although the lunch and opportunity to play with their friends afterwards make up for the actual lesson. This was a day organized by our home schooling group which a couple of the talented mothers ably ran.

On a regular Friday afternoon we have started doing "Lamb's Book of Art " with a small group which my guys find much more manageable. Thanks to Beyond Bluestockings for the encouragement to tackle that and maybe as we get to some interesting stuff I'll post the progress there. Above and below: The high school aged kids did some very excellent paintings!

These are not done by my kids folks!

The younger children did collages .

Most were fairly basic, like my boys efforts but some were quite outstanding.

Bush hut

by a young friend

Egg carton truck.

The company name says it all!

By one of my sons.

Outback scene

By my other son

Boys Eye View!

A little humour in our Australian History today!
Captain Cook claims the land for England's King George III and names it New South Wales.
We started discussing 150 years of statehood for Queensland and S2 asks why we are called Queensland. Mum launches into a lengthy historic run down but S1 grins cheekily. "It was so we can play State of Origin of course!"

My Golden Childhood X

School days, school days,

Dear old golden rule days.

Reading and writing and 'rithmatic,

Taught to the tune of the hickory stick.....

Well, I don't think the cane was hickory, but our head teachers knew how to swing it pretty well! Actually, girls didn't get the cane. It was the method of punishment for boys and alas, become something of a status symbol among the rebels of the day. To get six of the best was considered the pinnacle of rebellion.

The one teacher school close to our place, where my older siblings had begun school, had closed a few years before I ventured off in 1968, so I started in town. A three teacher school with about 80-90 pupils at that time. I was very familiar with the lay out and had even had a practice run on the school bus. Plus my sister was there in year 6 to escort me. Mum however was unavailable, being in hospital with my brother born a few days before. I had Baby P for news on my first day of School!

I realize my posts about my childhood may seem shiny and unrealistic. I think I was a child, growing up in a healthy environment, both physically and emotionally. I think whatever hardships we had, and they were many, and I do remember them, were tempered by this cushion of love, family and rural community.

I was blessed to be reasonably well endowed with smarts, academic and common sense! I was also athletic... who would believe that now? This meant that I breezed through most of my schooling, took on leadership roles in the higher grades, excelled in sports etc. etc. People sometimes ask me when they find out that we homeschool, whether I hated school and didn't want my kids to endure what I had, but this is far from the truth. I had a very positive school experience. In a small community, the teachers were highly esteemed. If you were punished at school and your parents learned of it, then you would be in for it at home as well.

Ours was a three teacher school in those days. The head master would take years 5,6,7. Year 1 & 2 shared a teacher and then Years 3 and 4 with some variations depending on numbers. We travelled to school by bus and one ran in both directions out of town with town kids walking and those living close enough riding to school on push bikes.

Each morning on parade we sang God Save the Queen and the older girls would play it on recorder. I remember we changed to Advance Australia Fair some time late in my primary school days. Must have been the early 70s. We would march upstairs from the bitumen parade ground. The school day always began with News. "Good morning Miss Davies, girls and boys. My mother had a baby boy yesterday......"

Actually, there were some very interesting bits of news like the first man on the moon in 1969. But on the whole we were fairly naive to world affairs. We were caught up in an exciting little world of own. Our sporting fixtures, play days and sleep overs with friends. Indeed, life was both fun and carefree!

The school held a Fancy Dress Ball every year which was a huge event. We'd have themes and a costume. We learned folk dancing, square dancing and ball room dancing for the big event. Mind you in those days everyone, kids included attended the local dances so most people could dance anyway.

Once a week we had "Pie Day" when we could go across the sports field to one of the two shops in town and buy a pie for lunch. Also the ladies ran a tuck shop every second Friday from which we could buy either a Mince Roll or a Salad Roll for lunch and whatever yummy home make goodies the mothers had made.

Inter House and Interschool Sports Days were the high light of the year for most of us. As I said before, I was a fairly good athlete in those days and in Year 7 was captain of the school. Breaking up Day was another one the big high lights where we would have all sorts of novelty races and enjoy special food (plums, peaches and watermelon !!!) as well as some prize giving.

The dark shadow which hung over my final days in Primary School was the knowledge that the following year, like my older brother and sisters I would be leaving home and going to boarding school. Ihope to write a little of that one day, but I would have to say that the end of 1974 and Primary School was really the end of my Golden Childhood.

(I have had this post in draft form for a while and to my dismay, can not find the packet of photographs I have from my school days. I have put the cover from the 75 year anniversary book at the top of this post, and one day, Lord willing I will post the others. )

A Few of my Favourite Things

Favourite colour: Midnight blue

Favourite thing to touch: Baby skin

Favourite smell: Spicy food/ onions cooking

Favourite sound: Natural running water

Favourite taste: uummm...most anything I'm not allowed to actually eat!

Favourite animal: horse

Favourite book as a child: Enid Blyton , Mary Grant Bruce Billabong series

Favourite book as an adult: Trusting God - Even when Life Hurts. Jerry Bridges

Favourite place: My childhood home (pictured above)

Favourite country: Australia. Fortunately as I have never been to any other. I'm sure they are great!

Favourite flower: Carnations

Favourite Material Possession: My Engagement ring

Favourite number: 8

Favourite hobby: Family History Album Projects

Favourite verse of Scripture: Many/ All! I do love Ephesians 1 - 10 also and Psalm 143: 7-12

Thanks for the encouragement to do this post Jeanne. I left out the topics which I didn't have favourites.

Link to Jeanne's Favourite Things here and to links of other participants here.

Eternal Life

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Charles Spurgeon on Perseverance of the Saints: "Beloved, I entreat you to keep a hard and firm grip of this blessed doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. How earnestly do I long "that ye may know that ye have eternal life!" Away with your doctrine of being alive in Christ today and dead tomorrow. Poor, miserable doctrine that! Hold fast to eternal salvation through the eternal covenant carried out by eternal love unto eternal life, for the Spirit of God has written these things unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life."

ooOoo

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8 : 38, 39

A busy day ahead and not much time to write about my notes!

To have the assurance of Eternal Life is some thing that sets believers apart from all the false religions of this world which do not offer any peace and certainty. The Word of God is our sure guide. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Have a good and blessed week one and all!

Think on these things...

The Blackdown Tablelands, Central Queensland

8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Philippians 4:8

This is one of the verses which is above my sink. It is a good piece of scripture to remember in all of life and conversation. It is a good guide line to follow in the written world of blogging as well.

An Interesting Autobiography

Mao's Last Dancer

The autobiography of Li Cunxin

I picked up this book at my sister's place but she had lined me up to read it for some time.

It is the very interesting story of a Chinese peasant boy who became an international ballet dancing sensation.

What adds to the interest for us is that Li Cunxin eventually married a former Rockhampton girl who also became an international ballet dancer. Mary McKendry is not known personally to me but I knew her sister well as we were in the same class in high school! and I visited their home on occasion.

Cunxin's life is extremely interesting because he was born, the sixth of seven sons, to poor peasant farmers during the regime of Chairman Mao and he describes in depth the life they endured as well as many fascinating facts, from his point of view, of Chinese life at that time. Also, since he was born in 1961, his whole life and the events he describes mirror closely the dates in my own life which really brought it to life in a sense of what was happening in the world . I am fairly naive as to the historical events of the Revolution in China and this was a good eye witness account to open my eyes a little.

Cunxin himself, like most of the billion Chinese people, was completely brain washed by the propaganda of Mao's philosophy and rule and joined, as a young boy, their red scarf youth. His amazing release from a certain life of poverty came about by being chosen to train in Madame Mao's Dancing Academy. This was also an institution of political brain washing but eventually Cunxin is given the opportunity to dance in America. He marries, defects, is banished from China, divorces, re unites with his parents and eventually remarries the above mentioned Mary.

For a non christian book, and one in which the author was raised in a mixture of ancient Chinese superstition and communist anti religion, it contains very little and mild bad language. Also, some immorality . This sadly when Cunxin escapes the rigid, controlling rule of the Chinese and goes to liberal America. Cunxin eventually ended his dancing career in Australia and now lives and works here with his family.

I found the book well worth the read and if you pick it up, don't be put off by the thickness of it. It has large print and thick pages. Not a laborious read at all.

The Best Laid Plans!

We ended up not doing much in the way of planned activities on our three days at the coast. My older son had a sore throat when we left, which developed into a miserable 'flu with a high temp.

We spent most of the time just lazing around. S1 was so sick he actually got into bed and slept a good bit of each day. It did give me an opportunity to read 1-on-1 with S2 and also I read a book myself which doesn't seem to happen often these days. We spent a short time each afternoon around Yeppoon beach and had a couple of take-aways which makes it a holiday for the boys!

Then this morning we drove across to Emu Park before heading home.

Dad and the dog have survived - so all is well.

Looking across Keppel Bay to Keppel Island

The Singing Ship

Plaque at the Singing Ship, Emu Park

This was laid in 1970 to commemorate 200 years since Captain James Cook sailed this way and named Keppel Bay.

The Ship has pipes down the sails which "wuther" in the wind.

Since we live so close and visit regularly it was not a big disappointment.

I mainly wanted to "do school" each day to keep a bit of repetition going and because of my own sickness last week, we had a slow week.

Lord willing, we are all back on deck for a great week, school wise, next week!!

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16 : 9

Hi from the Capricorn Coast!

The boys and I are spending a few days this week house sitting at my sister's place. Some one has to do the tough jobs!! She and her hubby are driving in the Northern Territory/ Kimberley region for 6 weeks. They honestly don't need house sitters as they have family here but it's a lovely opportunity for us to kick back!

Above is the development along the main beach at Yeppoon, which also has a good kids' park.

Below is the view south along the main beach at Yeppoon. It is about 40 minutes from home.

We've brought school work which we plan to do mornings. The afternoons are for rambling and visiting. We will be home again Thursday but plan to go again in the six week time slot. (I've scheduled this to post...)

On Prayer

"5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." Matthew 6: 5-8

When you pray, not if you pray!

Prayer is a necessary given for the believer. While public and family prayer has a part in our christian life and practice it is our humble attitude as we come before the Lord, and especially in secret prayer, where we express our faith, trust and gratitude to him.

It is challenging to ponder that we should pray without ceasing. Always in an attitude of dependence and supplication. So often our lives are busy and cluttered with the busy-ness of day to day living, but as we work we can take all our praise, thanksgiving and our needs and longings to Him. For he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.

John Calvin on Prayer: "Believers do not pray, with the view of informing God about things unknown to Him, or of exciting Him to do His duty, or of urging Him as though He were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray, in order that they may arouse themselves to seek Him, that they may exercise their faith in meditating on His promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into His bosom, in a word, that they may declare that from Him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves and the others, all good things"

O come...

Psalm 95
A Song of Praise and Worship

1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.

4In his hand are the deep places of the earth:
the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it:
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down:
let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he is our God;
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today if ye will hear his voice,

8 harden not your heart, as in the provocation,
and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9when your fathers tempted me,
proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation,
and said, It is a people that do err in their heart,
and they have not known my ways:
11 unto whom I sware in my wrath
that they should not enter into my rest.

The Law of Kindness

Another little gem I read about at Tony Reinke's site Miscellanies

The Law of Kindness by Mary Beeke

Here is a short summary of Mrs Beeke's book from Miscellanies but click on the title and read more about it.

"Today I have the honor of pointing you to Mary Beeke’s new book, The Law of Kindness: Serving with Heart and Hands (Reformation Heritage: 2007).
My wife and I have enjoyed brief but precious time with the Beeke family and have benefited from Mary’s display of kindness. As the mother of three kids and the wife of a busy seminary president, author, and pastor — Mary’s many duties are fulfilled in a display of selflessness and kindness. She is, in the words of Sinclair Ferguson, “Mrs. Kindness personified.”
Her new book was written to help the reader cultivate kindness. The book covers topics such as understanding kindness and its root (chs. 1-3), learning kindness as a wife, parent, or teacher (Mary was a teacher), and helping children and teens learn kindness (chs. 4-9). Finally, she concludes with chapters on the display of kindness: kind thoughts, kind words, and kindness displayed toward the needy (chs. 10-13).
It’s a book intended for a broad audience, not limited to wives and mothers."

Mary Beeke is the wife of Pastor and well known Reformed Christian writer Joel Beeke. I'm look ing forward to reading Mrs Beeke's book on this most important of all subjects, for the christian woman.

APD and our Day

Auditory Processing Delay/ disorder (APD) is a learning disability which apparently affects quite a large number of children in our schools. Being home schoolers, this was not something I was familiar with. In my own childhood, there were kids who caught on more slowly, but everyone seemed to get there in the end. (I attended a 3 teacher primary school in CQ) .

When my older daughter hit 4 or 5 she was ready and rearing to go and after 3 months (using Sam Blumenfeld's Alpha Phonics) was reading everything in sight. She was the perfect first child. She read easily and loved it, comprehended well. loved to write her own stories, memorized amazingly long passages of scripture and poetry and handled the school work. She made me feel as though I could do this home schooling thing, and do it well!

Of course, every child is different and the three subsequent ones in my family have found it much more difficult. The second, a daughter, had the classic symptoms of floating letters, flashes across the page, headaches...She was eventually tested for dyslexia and Irlins Syndrome but never really fitted into any mould. She, very painstakingly learned to read, and worked about a year below age level through to high school.

The two boys I have at home now are 10 and 11 years old and read at about 6/7 age level (If you were comparing to school, fortunately we are not) Because they have Auditory Processing Delays they cannot discern between certain sounds or retain quite a lot of information. Where other children rely on memory in conjuction with Phonic sounds, they find memorizing the Phonics and whole words very difficult. They have gotten to an age where even at home they are very well aware that their friends are way ahead of them. We are dealing with a lot both academically and emotionally. Also, I find it stressful and often am concerned for how these young boys will mature and become men in the workforce.

Our Day

7.00 Breakfast , chores

7.45 Play

8.30 Bible, catechisms, prayer

9.00 Maths

9.30 Boys read to me/ I read to them

10.00 Phonics drills or games

10.30 Morning Tea

11.00 English or supplimental eg blends,

11.30 Social Studies/ Science

12.00 Phonics drills and games. reading

12.30 Lunch

1.30 Guitar/ art/ sport

A very simple schedule which is always flexible and can be very laborious. For example, not only are we working well below age level but after holiday breaks, it can be almost like going back to square one with phonic sounds.

When I began home schooling, 17 years ago, I was very much into delight directed learning and school days were a great educational and family building experience. I still love it, I am still whole heartedly committed to it, but for those of us who find each day a grind, much of the delight has gone out of it.

I am totally to committed to giving my sons the best start in life possible. Since I have a number of chronic health problems it hangs over us a little that should the day come that I can not continue with school that the boys would not slot easily or at all, into a school situation.

God's Providence

This is on my mind at present, more than normal, as I've had a couple of days stricken with sickness, mostly lying in bed, with little school work accomplished.(or housework for that matter)It is times like these, and we've had a few, where I have to really trust that the Lord does all things well, that this is the best for our family and that all things work together for good to them that love Him.

The boys spent the afternoon with one of their sisters and her son while I got some rest. They have come home delighted to have tea out and hey, they get plenty of child care experience.

What about you?

I would love to hear of the hurdles others have had to climb with learning at home and how the child involved has coped. I have wonderful support from the local home school group, in which I have been very active, but honestly, few seem to have had too many dramas with learning to read and other basics.

Carpet Snake

We've been enjoying a little unit of early Australian history.

Last week we looked at the beautiful Dorethea Mckellar poem, My Country (I know I've posted it before but I do love it!) and some paintings by aboriginal artist, Albert Namatjira. Take the time to scroll down and look at his paintings on the site. (especially overseas readers.) Namatjira does not paint in the traditional aboriginal style, but I do like his very realistic landscapes. I have fond memories of a few of his paintings hanging in the classroom in my primary school.

Today we enjoyed some humour from Kath Walker who is a well known aboriginal poet.

Here is a link to the poem Ballad of the Totems by Kath Walker. My boys liked the way Mrs Walker spoke of her family and people (tribe) but used humour as well.

Seeking God

Psalm 63

A psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah

O God, thou art my God;
early will I seek thee:
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land,
where no water is;
2 to see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3Because thy loving-kindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6when I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help,
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it,
shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
every one that sweareth by him shall glory:
but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

ooOoo

The seeking soul longs and thirsts after God. David sort him early. He longed to see his power and glory as he had in former days.He praised God, whose loving kindness is better than life itself!He feasts upon the best of which the Lord has to give and is satisfied.

He thinks, no meditates, upon the Lord, even on his bed. His rising and going to sleep are filled with thoughts of God. He rejoices in the Lord's protection remembering all the goodness of the Lord to him. And he follows hard, he strives, to walk in the ways of the Lord trusting that his enemies will be put to shame by the Lord.

ooOoo

We heard three very deeply moving messages based on this passage over the weekend. My quick outline does not in the least begin to cover the thoughts presented.

Like the psalmists, to rise up and go to sleep with thoughts of God. To long and thirst for him without whom we are dead men walking, without life or hope. To know that he fills us abundantly with good things and satisfies the hungry soul.

ooOoo

How blessed we are if we know the goodness and loving kindness of the Lord!

If you do not, then seek him while he may be found.

Of Mary, Martha and Motherhood

The end of another very busy week! As I've read other blogs this week I've read of school schedules and themes, art projects, recipes, ironing habits, housekeeping tips, facial products, some deeper theological musings and some humourous happenings. I have to say, all of these have happened to some degree in my home this week too. Okay, except ironing!

Remember that song - Some days are diamonds, some days are stone? la la la la......

Most weeks are like that to some extent. Not stone so much, but mostly routine, with wonderful diamond moments! Highlights this week: spontaneous learning moments with the boys, reading "My Country", one of my favourites Aussie poems and looking at the work of Albert Namatjira.

Spending time with my daughters, who after a few years out of home, I still miss terribly.

Seeing my two little grandsons who have a new trick every time I see them now. They are fast approaching their first birthdays! A cuppa with dear Dad and Mum this morning..... ain't life grand.

Some times I want so much to put aside the busyness of life and mull more on the deep issues. I long to be a Mary and sit at Lord's feet and learn of him. And yet at times I feel I have chosen the other part, the Martha one, with all the worry and care and franticness. It is unavoidable in our busy family lives. I was pondering this thought this morning as I looked upon my house with a weeks worth of unfinished chores and felt a little overwhelmed.

As I filled the sink to wash up -yes, a late night and washing up not done :0( , I started to read my little verses stuck above the sink. "But Godliness with contentment is great gain..." Ah..how I whinge and whine. Instead of being thankful for the home and family I have! Thank God for dirty dishes, we have an abundance of food and good company.

Once again I think of the importance of finding that balance. To love and serve the Lord with a contented heart. To sit quietly and learn of Him, even in the busy and stressful times of life. To be thankful in all our circumstances. To have the heart of Mary even when the demands of Martha are upon us....

My little work station (below) the site of many of my contemplative moments! A butterfly (top)photographed by my S1.

Thank you Heidi for some food for thought today!