Demographic Winter.

Yesterday in the post we got our copy of Demographic winter. I am so happy we bought it.

At first I found it a bit hard to follow because they switch from expert to expert but the show is stock full of statistics.

I highly recommend this movie. We are certainly glad to have a copy of it and will be sharing it with lots of people.

We have a new Bishop.

In June 2007, our Bishop was sent to The Diocese in Darwin. Last night after nearly two years without a Bishop Bishop Greg O'Kelly was announced as our new Bishop.

I am glad we finally have a new Bishop.

We started our bathroom.

We are converting our laundry into a new bathroom. The children's bathroom is between the room we will turn into a family room and the kitchen and I wanted to knock the bathroom out so that we had a big family room/home schooling room coming off the kitchen so we had to find a place to put a new bathroom.

We decided the laundry would be a great place for the new bathroom since it is already a wet area but then came the problem of where do we put the laundry? The laundry will probably end up being in our current carport but at the moment it is on our back verandah (attached to the garden hose lol)

When we have finished the bathroom and family room, Steve will put some hardy planks on the carport to enclose it and make it into a laundry.

Here are some photos of the now empty laundry.

this is just before Steve pulled out the wall between the laundry and toilet:





wall completely removed:

This is where we had our trough.

Wacky Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!

I saw this on Jill Stanek

I would love it so much if something like this happened when I was in a railway station.

Burnt Finger.

Last Friday we had no bread left by lunch time. I decided we would have pasta for lunch rather than go and buy some.

Christopher got up to help me when the pasta was just cooked and put his hand on the hotplate that I had just taken the pasta off.

I acted quickly and got his hand under cold water pretty fast. He was quite hysterical for about a half hour after but because we had been so quick getting his hand in the water he only had a small blister on his middle finger.

I was holding Christopher for the first 5 minutes or so that we had his hand under the water and then Steve lifted him onto the edge of the sink.

Since my hands were empty and I saw a blog post opportunity I went and got my camera and took some photos.

Here Christopher is when Steve lifted him out of my arms onto the edge of the sink.




He decided that just having his hand in the water wasn't good enough so got into the sink, clothes and all.

A simple Womens Daybook.

For today... 14th April 2009.

Outside my window... it is another beautiful autumn day.

I am thinking... about all the things I want to get done in the holidays.

From the learning rooms... I am preparing for next term.

I am thankful for... Easter. I am also thankful that Steve and I have been able to get to Mass today and yesterday.

From the kitchen... we are getting ready for our big cook this weekend.

I am wearing... 3/4 denim pants, a white tshirt and my favourite slip on sandals.

I am reading... The screwtape letters.

I am hoping... our renovations will be good.

I am creating... a sleeping bag for my niece.

I am praying... for a cure for diabetes.

Around the house... Steve is getting the laundry ready to change into the bathroom, I am organising the home school/family room, the children are sleeping in since it is the holidays.

One of my favorite things... ice chocolate from the Arid lands cafe.

A few plans for the rest of the week...finish Tom and Amelia's curriculum, clean out the storeroom, cook our main meals.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


Sam's room is finally tidy. We had to take a photo because a tidy room for Sam is rare.

5mart Martha Monday.

Here is my list from last week.

I had another good week.

Here is Tom's new shirt.

Holy week was great. We took all the children to all the masses and I spoke with Tom, Amelia and Christopher about Holy week in our religion lessons.

I cleaned out two shelves in the store room and made good progress.

I drank water everyday and ate pretty well too.

Yesterday we had fun hiding some éclairs and having an Easter hunt.

I didn't sit every morning in Silence but I did have a time each day that I did it. I am finding it very beneficial to my prayer time.
Steve and I were also able to stay after Holy Thursday Mass for Adoration. Daniel took everyone home and we stayed for one hour. It was great to sit in silence for that time and be with Jesus.


So my 5 for this week:

Sewing:

I have cut out a sleeping bag to make for my niece. She was born on New Years Eve so it is a bit late but the cold weather won't start for another couple of weeks. I want to sew it this week.

Home school and housework;

We are on holidays this week. I am doing our curriculum plan for next term though. Today I cleaned out the home school room and I started writing my plan for the next term.

I will also continue cleaning out the storeroom.

Health:

I will be doing the oamc this weekend and getting everything frozen.

Family:

Since we are on holidays, I am hoping we will have a family day and go out together. We will see what we can do.

Spiritual:

Sitting in silence and I want to start using my prayer journal more. I have neglected it for a while but I know it is helpful for me to have and look back.

If you have a list of challenges, feel free to put them on your blog or in the comment section.

An email I received.

Can you answer this riddle?

Here is a pretty neat little thing from Paul Harvey, a radio personality. See if you can guess the riddle at the end.

Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.
I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.


It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in..

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what Ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbour's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

Send this to all of your friends. We secure our friends, not by accepting favours, but by doing them!!

Paul Harvey RIDDLE:

When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.

What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?

Tagged. 8 things meme.

Coleen tagged me for this fun meme.

8 Things I am Looking Forward To:


1) the holidays which started with Easter.
2) meeting Mary and seeing Ali again next Tuesday.
3) doing our new bathroom
4) renovating our family room.
5) seeing our friends Larry and Maria when they come up for Tom's first Eucharist.
6) Tom receiving his first Eucharist.
7) spring. We haven't even started winter yet but I hate it so much that before it even starts I look forward to spring starting.
8) seeing my friends in Adelaide next week.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1) went to the Easter Vigil.
2) stayed after mass for supper with other parishioner's
3) sewed Tom's shirt.
4) cleaned the kitchen.
5) read blogs I read regularly.
6) went food shopping.
7) picked Sam up from work.
8) Took Sam to the shops for his Easter shopping.

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1) travel the world and meet all my dcf friends and blogging friends.
2) learn to crochet.
3) learn to play piano.
4) Meet the Pope.
5) have a weekend away with just Steve.
6) be more organised.
7) loose weight and eat well.
8) live more simply.

8 Shows I Watch:


I don't watch 8 shows.
I watch the biggest loser and that is it.

8 People I Tag:

Suzy from sailing by starlight

Chez from Chez Ouiz

Shelly from The Keeper of the Keys

Corrine from Struggling Towards Heaven

Jennifer from Conversion Diary

Homeschooling mum from Homeschooling4Christ

And finally Therese from The Musings of a Mom

Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!

A lady opened her refrigerator and saw a rabbit sitting on one of the shelves.

"What are you doing in there?"

She asked.



The rabbit replied:

"This is a Westinghouse, isn't it?",
To which the lady replied

"Yes."

"Well," the rabbit said,

"I'm westing."

Easter Vigil.

He is Risen. Alleluia

Good Friday

Hot Cross Buns.

I love Hot Cross Buns.

I have been buying them all lent but really would like to try making my own.

Last year I tried a couple of different recipes. One was okay, the other was a disaster. I thought I would ask here and see if any of you have a favourite recipe for them.

Therese

Holy Thursday

Nearly Wordless Wednesday.

I got my new usb connection so I am going to be uploading lots of photos over the next few weeks.

I was a bit disappointed that some of the photos I had on my camera have been deleted by some unknown person.

Anyway, here are a couple of shots of Tom, Amelia and Christopher.

Yesterday was Christophers last day in occasional care. He was presented with a certificate and I took a photo of him with his coordinator.



On Sunday we had soccer presentation. Here is Tom and Amelia with their trophy's and their coach.




I don't know why the pictures are so blurry. I cleaned the lens before taking them. I may need to take a closer look at it.

Therese

5mart Martha Monday.

click here to read my list from last Monday

I did pretty well last week.

I cut out Tom's shirt, took the children to the Chrism Mass, counted all calories for the day, drank 8 glasses of water each day and I sat in silence for 10 minutes every morning when I first woke up. My mind did wander a lot onto my day and what I needed to do but I did always bring myself back to being in God's presence. It is a hard thing to do but something I want to persist with so I will be doing it again this week.

We didn't get to the pool for a picnic and swim unfortunately.

So this week my goals are:

sewing: Finish sewing Tom's shirt.

Housework and home school: Learning all about Holy week and the days in Jesus time leading up to his crucifixion. I am also cleaning out our store room.

Health: continue eating well and drinking water.

Family: Easter will be at home this year so we will attend all the different Easter services at our church. We will probably go to the Easter Vigil. This is my favourite mass for the whole year. On Sunday morning we will have pancakes for breakfast and follow up with an Easter Egg hunt. Last year we hid so many that we couldn't remember where we had put them all. Our dog ended up finding a lot and eating them.

Spiritual: I am going to continue my sitting in silence and being in God's presence. I am going to try for 15 minutes this week.

Do you have a list of things you want to do this week?

Leave your 5 in the comment box or on your blog and let me know. I will add a link to your blog.

Therese

A change in plans.

My break didn't last long did it?

I have prayed and spoken with Steve about some of the comments left in my last thread and decided that I will post a couple of times over this week.

First, I want to thank Alexandra for this comment:


Don't forget the blessings of friendship that your time bestows. If you make your blogging a ministry of service to others, then I think you are serving God. There is so much negative in this world, it's nice to see God's love working through others.

This comment was the main reason I decided I should still post on here this week.

I will still keep my computer time limited so may not make it to read your blog.

At the beginning of easter we have a two week holiday break from school so I will have plenty of time to catch up I hope.

Since Thursday night I have been keeping myself busy with prayer and family. On Friday I took our younger 4 to Whyalla again for clothes for the boys. In Whyalla there is a bigger target and shopping centre than we have here.

I have a few outfits to sew but the children are pretty well all set for winter. We have had a couple of cold nights and mornings. The children are getting up with their blankets wrapped around them.

Yesterday the older boys and Steve went to Port Pirie for Paint Ball Skirmish. We didn't do much at home. I organised Tom, Amelia and Christopher's room and did some cooking. The boys got home in time for evening mass so we went and then had pizza and watched Narnia with the children. It is such a great movie.

Last night we wound our clocks back one hour for the end of daylight savings. I really love the first week after the end. It is so easy to get up early and get the day organised.

Yesterday afternoon, I went and caught up with a few blogs. One of the comments left in my post about Tom was a link to Dr. Oz talking with Michael J Fox and Oprah about escr.

Go and watch the video here

Taking a break.

I watched this video last night:



It was a bit of a wake up to me.

It started me thinking, what am I prepared to do for the gospel? I realized that I am not really prepared to do very much at all. I feel quite comfortable in my life. I am happy but I also have a lot.

I started thinking about what I have and what would happen if I was forced to give it up? I think my faith is strong enough that if God took everything I held dear away, I would still believe in him. I may feel hurt and like he owes me something and wonder what the heck I had done wrong to deserve this.

Remember when I hurt my finger, I said to Steve, I am so bad at offering sacrifices. that I only offer them when I have too like a sore finger. I don't think God asks us to go around hurting ourselves but I know he wants us to offer things freely, not because circumstances dictate it.

There are many little sacrifices that I can offer. I can spend less time on computer. I can get up earlier and pray each morning. At the beginning of lent, I decided I wanted to cut my computer time back. I was going to spend a maximum of 1 hour a day reading blogs. It wasn't long and that 1 hour turned into 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour at night. Not long after that I started catching up with other blogs at lunch time and not getting off till it was time to get the school children. I just cannot do small. I have to have all or nothing. So I have decided to have nothing. I am going to give up the computer except for checking email in the evenings once the children are in bed.

I hope everyone has a blessed Holy Week and that everyone knows the joy that the Resurrection brings.

Therese

Thankful Thursday.

Today I give thanks for Tom. I am thankful that in spite of diabetes he still leads a relatively healthy and happy life.

I am thankful that he can have insulin and that we have ways of knowing his blood sugar levels. I am thankful for his pump and that we can provide him with all his needs for a healthy life.

I give thanks especially for his health care providers. They have been a great support to us over the last 8 years.

I nearly forgot.

Yesterday was 8 years since Tom was diagnosed with diabetes.

I think I will just link back to the post I did last year, rather than report all that happened at that time here.

Click here to read all about Tom's diagnosis and what life is like living with diabetes.

We are praying everyday for a cure for diabetes. Dr Faustman has done a lot of research looking for a cure. Since she doesn't research with embryonic stem cells, we support her research.