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Pics have been uploaded to Wilsonwalkabout of our adventures in Tasmania earlier this year (yeah slack I know!)

Reflections on disappointment with God

I have been interested recently to reflect on both my own feelings in certain situations and a few conversations with others about their experience of God - including reflections of disappointment that God isn't doing what I/ they want Him to!

The undertone seems that I have been trying really hard to be a 'good Christian' in this area, and God hasn't rewarded me/ done what I wanted Him to! and the sypathy in me says ... "C'mon God a little encouragement would be a good here..." but I realise that this attitude really is way off...

As Dave reminded me "who are we to think God owes us anything!" HE sent His son to DIE so that we , being unable to save ourselves, could live!

God is gracious and does give good gifts to his children, He does bless us and provide beautiful moments on union and intimacy in our walk with Him and He does so much for us - but really it's not to be taken for granted!

What it comes down to for me is the state of our heart - Are we really serving him or hoping that he will serve us if we do x y z? Are we really in surrender to His will? Are we willing to suffer? Are we willing to OBEY? To walk in faith ... or are we still living in a form of rebellion to Him?

Well it is really surprising if I'm not experiencing God, when I'm holding out on Him? Thinking I'm doing this really hard thing because I believe it is the right thing and God would like it and therefore ..., but not being willing to give everything to the One who gave EVERYTHING for me?

Also if I'm not willing to grow or learn what God is lovingly and patiently doing IN me, resenting that he hasn't sent a quick fix to my problem/ made everything easier/ fixed that person already, I'm really looking at the wrong thing and it's not surprising that I'm left feeling disappointed and it's not surprising that nothing is changing.

If Dave had written this post it would be full of scripture, and I am sad that this isn't, because without the word of God it is lifeless, just my own thoughts and ideas. Just shows that I need to get into the Word more so that it flows out of me!

A Week Flying Solo

Dave is away this week leading camp for high schoolers (yrs 9-12) aimed at working with churches to equip and train them in leadership skills. I really feel very excited that he is involved with this.

So while he is doing that I am at home with the girls. Last year it was awful as both girls were very sick, but so far this time it's going great!

Several things have contributed to this: One we prepared ourselves and the girls better. I have sought support (thanks Stefan and Ali!) and thus been able to give my support to Dave more whole heartedly. We have both covered this time in prayer - and also it is beautiful to hear Sara and Taliese praying for their daddy. :) David wrote them letters and they (well more Sara) have really responded to this.
I am relying on God for my strength and am generally in a better place with Him anyway! Dave has also really blessed me with thoughtful notes and encouragements before he left!

Sara has been fine, being older she seems to understand what is going on. Taliese however, does wake up distressed and searching everywhere for her Daddy and is more clingy than normal, but it's OK. We will be OK.

Also I am enjoying the different way I an relating to the girls, not sure if it's just because it's a change or what but we have been doing different things together (like catching caterpillars and hosting a clothes swap)

We also enjoyed a Veggie-face lunch!

However, I am regretting making this week so busy though - I think next time I will use the time to just be with the girls in a different way!

So my focus for the rest of this week will be prayer and trusting in the Lord - looking to learn more from him as well and a few chick flicks and some relaxing time out!

(UPDATE: Unfortunately I didn't spend more time with God, got sick and fell apart on the last day - but the first half was really good!)

Homeschooling thoughts

Several of Sara's peers are soon heading off to Kindy, and so I'm thinking I should delve deeper into what exactly it is that we are going to do now that we have made the decision to home school for the first few years.

Do I buy a curriculum, write my own or a do a bit of both. Do I buy one curriculum or a bit from a few vendors? How do I choose which one to go with? Where do I even start this research? How do I want to structure school time? How do I actively incorporate learning into homelife too?


Jenny kindly re-lent me the book I didn't read the first time - so I guess getting stuck into that will give me some direction to some of these questions... Would probably also help if I ever get along to a home school park gathering...

I want to focus more on the love of learning and understanding instead of marks and results as such. I think this will give the girls a great foundation to achieve whatever in the future, because they LOVE it rather than because they have to. Although I will have to try to follow the government guidelines more closely year by year, as we plan to send Sara to school at grade 3, but if I were planning to go the whole way we could take a more relaxed pace. (letting them go a ahead in some areas and take their time in others)

So far my key areas would be Maths, Phonics, Writing and Bible study. (I'm pretty sure science and art/ craft will happen pretty naturally too - science more than art)

Hmm... have much to think about! Not to mention I have still to sell home school to Sara (who really has no idea what school is but thinks it would be fun to have me walk her there)

Less is more

I have been challenged recently about how consumer driven our society is... how consumer driven I am...

It started with thinking about Taliese's birthdayand all the toys the kids have... why do people HAVE to buy them stuff and NEW stuff to make themselves feel like they are acting in loving way. Do the kids really value all the stuff they have... do they really need more to make them happy, smart, contented, etc...

(The problem is I understand because I love shopping and I love buying stuff and I love giving gifts too... just gotta change my thinking about how to do this well without buying into consumerism.)

Then I started reading this blog which moved the issue closer to home. These people are trying to not buy ANYTHING for a year. Admittedly she know how to wield a sowing machine ... but it's a big challenge to change my thinking on this. (No new clothes, furniture, DVDs, sheets, toothpaste, toilet paper etc... no consuming)

This article also had some ideas in how to help the environment and make lifestyle changes that reduce the amount of stuff we use and chuck etc. And this is always a good reminder of the long term impact of it all.

The bible says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 1 Timothy 6:6-7

I am challenged to make changes, live with less and to tear down some of the idols in my life that I simply cannot live without! (and I'm sure Dave will be happy with all the money we save). Baby steps to start with... I think the most important change will be how I think and feel about it all. Contentment.

These girls seem pretty contented with their blueberry and grape necklaces ...

Home Birth Dreams probably won't become a realilty

If you have no idea about whats happening in Australia with new legislation affecting mid-wifes and their practices read here.

Basically what I understand is that as of next year, home births will be illegal because mid-wifes won't be allowed and doctors won't do them. The only way is to go it alone with no professional support, which I know Dave won't be comfortable with.

I think that it's terrible, no matter your opinions on it, everyone should have the choice to birth where they feel most comfortable, esp as the research shows that homebirth is safe! (Some statistics here). Also here is a cool article to read if you are interested in a doctors perspective.

So realistically, given the speed of my labours, next time I may be forced to be one of those demeaning car park birth stories - I can't think of anything worse...

Just doing my bit here to raise awareness of what is going on.

Australian Experiences Quiz

Bold is been there and done that.

1. Heard a kookaburra in person.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Seen a koala.
4. Visited Melbourne
5. Watched a summer thunderstorm
6. Worn a pair of thongs.
7. Been to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock). I climbed it when I was seven!
8. Visited Cape York.
9. Held a snake.
10. Sang along with Khe Sanh.
11. Drank VB.
12. Visited Sydney
13. Have seen a shark.
14. Have used Aussie slang naturally in a conversation
15. Had an actual conversation with an indigenous Australian (Aboriginal).
16. Eaten hot chips from the bag at the beach
17. Walked/climbed over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. (But I've seen it!)
18. Used an outside dunny, and checked under the seat before sitting down.
19. Seen Chloe in Young & Jackson’s. (????)
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus (We'll tried to anyway!)
21. Been to Sydney’s Mardi Gras (and not interested either)
22. Have gone bush-bashing.
23. Taken a sickie
24. Been to see a game of Aussie Rules football.
25. Have seen wild camels (again maybe - but I was very young so not sure)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Had a Tim Tam Slam
28. Ridden in a tram in Melbourne
29. Been at an ANZAC day Dawn Service.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Held a wombat.
32. Been on a roadtrip of 800km or more
33. Seen the Great Australian Bight in person
34. Had a really bad sunburn
35. Visited an Aboriginal community
36. Seen a redback spider.
37. Have watched Paul Hogan
38. Seen Blue Polls in person
39. Wandered barefoot in the bush/outback
40. Eaten Vegemite
41. Thrown a boomerang
42. Seen the Kimberleys
43. Given a hitch-hiker a lift. I’m not usually the one driving.
44. Been to Perth
45. Have tried Lemon, Lime and Bitters.
46. Tried playing a didgeridoo
47. Seen dinosaur footprints.
48. Eaten Tim Tams
49. Been to Darwin.
50. Touched a kangaroo.
51. Visited the Great Barrier Reef.
52. Listened to Kevin Bloody Wilson (who?)
53. Killed a Cane Toad. (but I've been a witness)
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Have read and own books by Australian authors.
56. Visited Adelaide (Yay!!!!)
57. Know the story behind “Eternity”
58. Been camping
59. Visited Brisbane
60. Been in an outback pub.
61. Know what the term “Waltzing Matilda” actually means
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Listened to Slim Dusty.
64. Own five or more Australian movies or TV series. (If I can count a Colin DVD, then we have three - Galipolli and Man from Snowy River)
65. Sang along to Down Under
66. Have stopped specifically to look at an historic marker by the side of the road.
67. Eaten a 4′n’20 pie
68. Surfed at Bondi.
69. Watched the cricket on Boxing Day. We'll if you count a church cricket match - I've even played!
70. Visited Hobart
71. Eaten kangaroo.
72. Seen a quokka
73. Visited Canberra
74. Visited rainforests
75 Used a Victa lawnmower.
76. Travelled on a tram in Adelaide
77. Watch canefields burning. Only smelt them.
78. Used a Hills hoist
79. Visited the Olgas
80. Used native Australian plants in cooking. But my Mum has and I might have helped her...
81. Visited the snow.
82. Chosen a side in Holden VS Ford. Holden - but really I don't care that much
83. Visited the desert.
84. Been water skiing. (Good old youth group camps!)
85. Read The Phantom. But not religeously or anything - all the other funnies are better!
86. Visited Parliament House.
87. Gone spotlighting or pig-shooting. Bunnies - youth group camp again!
88. Crossed the Nullarbor. (don't think so - I'd have to ask Dad)
89. Avoided swimming in areas because of crocodiles.
90. Listened to AC/DC. Probably if it was on the radio and at peoples places
91. Called someone a dag
92. Voted in a Federal Election
93. Have been swimming and stayed between the flags. but there aren't flags around as often as TV makes you think they would be!
94. Had a possum in your roof
95. Visited the outback
96. Travelled over corrugated roads.
97. Hit a kangaroo while driving.
98. Been well outside any mobile phone coverage.
99. Seen an emu.
100. Have woken to the smell of bushfires

{80/100 not too bad}

Out of the mouths of Babes

Recent prayers of Sara aged 3.

"Dear God, Thankyou that you are my Daddy. Thankyou that you can keep me and have me and not my parents" (an interesting thought from such a small girl)

"Dear God, Thankyou that I didn't want to go to sleep and now I do."

A tea time moment

I was feeding Taliese last night and was getting frustrated that she kept just licking the sauce of the pasta as opposed to taking it all into her mouth so I said, "Taliese will you just eat it?" Sara reached over and patted me on the arm gently saying "It's OK hunny, that's just what babies do!"

An All Nighter... in the name of... TAX!!!!

I cannot believe that Dave stayed up all night doing tax last night! What a waste!