This is a bit late in being posted but for those who like to read the ins and outs of our days… here is last week’s notes.
Our Weekend
Peter and I went out for coffee on Saturday morning – we dropped the boys off for haircuts and the boys joined us when they were done.
Sunday was my birthday! We had our usual cooked breakfast out on the veranda – it was a lovely morning, very overcast, drizzly rain, and a cool breeze. The family gave me presents and then we went off to Church. Pete had to open and close the service, Josh was on sound, Jess on Greeting and Nomi did the kids talk. After church I watched a DVD with Pete and the girls over lunch, then I pottered here and there doing a bit of reading and a bit of scrapbooking. We sat up at the table for a simple meal together at dinner time and talked about the coming week. I had a lovely, relaxed, cheerful day!
[sorry – I had photos for here but trouble uploading!]
After Church Daniel went to a friends place – he enjoyed some play time with the girls and then “Uncle” P took him up to his workshop and they worked on a letter opener with a sandalwood handle on Uncle P’s lathe. We would like to find an older man who could do wood working with Daniel regularly – it is something we are praying for this year.
Our dog has gone nuts…. He seems to be digging for cutter-grubs (?)– but in the mean time he is digging up our lawn! Not appreciated.
Bits of our Week:
Nomi is cook’s helper: Monday she helped me prepare the veggies etc for fried rice. She will be able to give it a go by herself next time. Tuesday was much the same – she observed and asked questions, so next time she can prepare a roast meat by herself. We served the stuffed zucchini (as in from last week) and again, she could do them herself next time.
Monday – The girls had piano lessons at 8.30 so we tried to have our family devotions over by then. During our devotion time we talked about our personal devotions and the traps we fall into which distracts us from meeting with God early in the day.
After Mrs B. arrived for piano lessons I took Daniel off to town for our ‘date’. We went to a simple café, had a milkshake and a latte and played a game of Sequence. Danil won! We then dashed around town buying bits and pieces that I need for going away or that the family needs for while I am away.
The roads are blocked from the South which means our food trucks aren’t getting through. Coles is out of long life full cream milk so they are flying in milk. People are stockpiling so it is not being spread around very much. I feel it is a good time to teach our kids to go without, or improvise, or what is more likely – eat something else which may not be their preference. There is still so much food in town – we are not going to starve but we are so use to certain things – like fresh milk, sliced bread, and a variety of vegetables. I had already planned the menu for the family for the time I am away so I bought frozen substitutes for them instead of fresh today. (Chips instead of potatoes, and frozen veggies instead of fresh). Like I said, it is still hardly a difficulty!
Daniel and I talked a bit about heart issues on our way home. I talked to him about habits – that they are something we do without thinking, in that we are so used to doing them. We can have good habits or bad habits. I then addressed a particular habit he had fallen into – he could see it was a bad habit. We talked about ways that I was going to help him address that habit and reprogramme his responses until he formed a good habit. It was well received.
Meanwhile the girls were left at home and after their piano lessons they continued with their independent studies though at dinner time Nomi informed she spent all her time in her history as she was absorbed in reading a book on the Vikings! Can’t hurt! Later in the afternoon she photocopied a ‘viking’ game and taught herself, then her siblings.
Middle of the afternoon I had them brainstorm ideas for some posters I want to make for the Boyanup Christian Homeschool Conference. It was a good exercise to do together to come up with images that represent concepts. Now I have to put the posters together!
Tuesday
Josh went off to work today as it was forcasted clear and the business he works for had a ‘big boss’ coming tomorrow so they wanted everything spiffy.
The rest of us had a fairly normal day except I didn’t do any teaching. On top of Daniel’s math and drawing he had some extra jobs to keep himself occupied (including patching up the grass the dog is so intent on destroying!). He also had a ‘clean and tidy’ bug overtake him so he spent hours tidying and organising his lego cupboard.
I spent the day getting things together for the conference. The girls helped me tremendously by hemming two pairs of pants that were too long and then collating papers and other bits and pieces.
Nomi is doing excellent work in her studies of the Vikings. It is time for her to move on and be independent in this subject. She was very excited when I told her this. Over the last week or so she has created an amazing notebook page on the Vikings boats, read a few non fiction books and taken notes, today she sorted out the geographical beginnings and expansion of the Vikings (including representing that on a map), she has found a ‘Viking’ game, reproduced it, learnt the rules and taught her siblings (they are all enjoying playing this together), and today she carved out of DAS clay, a little figurines (which though it looks like a Norwegian god – I believe it was used much like a chess piece.)
Wednesday
We started just before 8.00 with our family devotions. We talked about ‘seeing God’s face’. We were left with the challenge that we should be reflecting Jesus so that those who see us see an aspect of Jesus. Each of the people who have ‘seen God’ in the Bible – Moses and Jacob especially were in God’s presence. We need to have time in God’s presence if we are to reflect the Character of God.
The rest of the morning was spent ironing and packing my clothes and briefcase. It doesn’t seem to matter how well organised you are there always seems to be last minute things.
God is so good – I met up with an acquaintance at the airport and she was keen to sit next to me to talk homeschooling as she had said to her mum just that morning that she needed to look into her options. Our flight to Perth was a good flight though a little delayed in Broome.
It was so good to see our old friends – stayed up too late chatting!
Thursday
We rushed out of the house to get the thermomix to a friend so she could get it to the workshop for repairs and then drop my friends kids off at school and train station as they were off on excursions. We then went to a Bible Study which is lead by Denise Glen. They were working through her study Keeping the Secrets of Jesus though it was taught by another lady. It was a great time of fellowship though I knew very few people there (I did know another 2). We had met Denise up here when she came up for a seminar – she was so encouraging, and insisted that ladies gather around to pray for the weekend.
I spent the afternoon at home by myself as my friend had other commitments. After dinner though my friend had gathered 14 mums together for me to share about heart training / character training. It was a good night with many questions as we discussed heart issues.
At this stage I have no idea what my family is up to. No one is telling!
Friday
My friend, Caroline, who is sponsoring/organising the conference picked me up and we talked for two hours as we headed for her home. Once we arrived everything was very much in order so we were excused from any responsibility and headed off for lunch – she took me to a Raw Restaurant which was delish… and very inspiring. We talked of course 1 hour to lunch, 1 hour over lunch, and 1 hour driving back home! The late afternoon was spent mainly getting the technology sorted. We went to bed knowing we had done all that we could.
My family is still not telling what they are getting up to!
To see a few photos check out this facebook link (you don’t have to have a facebook account)
