Noone Else

Mothers, teach your children the gospel in your own home, at your own fireside. This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the Lord's way of teaching. (Amy Morgan, March 2010 Ensign)

When the children are young, looking after their physical needs is very important. As they grow, being effective in teaching becomes more important. I was reading the above article while feeding my baby in the mothers room at church. Sometimes Motherhood is hard, and sometimes I am hit with how powerful it is. Its like walking a balancing rope. To go from depths of despair to the heights of - THIS IS the most IMPORTANT THING ever, and I am the ONE to provide it for my children.

There is much power in this knowledge. Now to build on it and not abuse it.

The greatest job that any mother will ever do will be in nurturing, teaching, lifting, encouraging and rearing her children in righteousness and truth. None other can adequately take her place (Gordon B Hinckley, March 2010 Ensign)

To sear this into my mind and memory is my desire. To never forget that noone else can take my place. That I must provide this to my children, and love and cherish the role, that only I was made for.

There is only one me, and I am the only one for them.

Sabbath

 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. ~ Psalms 119:59

I won't win mother of the year from my neighbours

Miss G is a climber. She has never fallen from any heights she climbs, maybe thats why she isnt afraid.

At school when we drop off her sisters she is often found scaling the drain pipe up the building, climbing the large round metal poles (like a coconut tree) that hold up the undercover area, and shimmying up the basketball hoop pole.

Lately her favourite place to hang at home is on our varandah handrails.

I'll call out her name when I can't find her in the house, and she is usually up here hidden in the hedge.

I know she is fine and I know she is safe.

But this is what it looks like on the 'other side' of the fence.

Dangerous! This side is higher than my head.

Three times this month I have heard different individuals out in the lane asking if she is ok.

Yesterday I was doing some house work (while she was playing in the bath)

I hear a scottish accent saying

Hello... Hello..... anyone there...

I go out saying Yes...(why does some scottish lady want me??) 
and then I see Miss G, Naked, standing on the fence again!

I say 'Oh she's Ok'   Concerned Lady says "I thought she was by herself ,stuck'

Thank you I say.

"Miss G hop down, you are naked and scaring everyone in the street."


Sigh

Bunny Biscuits

I got these cute bunny head cookie cutters at Spotlight for $3. The larger sizes are quite big - bunny brownies perhaps?

Today we made some sugar cookie bunnies.

I used this recipe and I substituted milk for cream as I didn't have any.

I also made some of the medium sized ones and the girls 'painted' them with food colouring. They enjoyed doing that as an after school activity.

Maybe I should make 50 of these instead for class gifts.

I'll have to make more, we ate these.

Digital Distractions

The Mr laughs at how I sit on the computer. I really do sit like that! And I often type with my arms around my legs

I am trying to limit my digital distractions (oh I have so many!)

The topic has been weighing on my mind as it came up at a Couples Conference I went to. Living a real life, not a fantasy one. How that can impact on relationships.

I read this article that was mentioned : Things as they really are by Elder Bednar

Sadly, some young men and women in the Church today ignore “things as they really are” and neglect eternal relationships for digital distractions, diversions, and detours that have no lasting value. Today I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls. The concerns I raise are not new; they apply equally to other types of media, such as television, movies, and music. But in a cyber world, these challenges are more pervasive and intense. I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies that are used to produce high fidelity and that promote degrading and evil purposes.


If the adversary cannot entice us to misuse our physical bodies, then one of his most potent tactics is to beguile you and me as embodied spirits to disconnect gradually and physically from things as they really are. In essence, he encourages us to think and act as if we were in our premortal, unembodied state. And, if we let him, he can cunningly employ some aspects of modern technology to accomplish his purposes. Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear buds, twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and the Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication. Beware of digital displays and data in many forms of computer-mediated interaction that can displace the full range of physical capacity and experience.

This week the Ensign arrived with this article Digital Detachment and Personal Revelation

An overreliance on technology can also create boredom with lower-tech activities, an attitude that may extend to how we worship God, our Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot simply point and click on or download a personal, revelatory relationship with our Heavenly Father. This kind of relationship is built on quiet principles of faith, repentance, and obedience. For this reason it is vitally important to recognize the risks of digital attachment. Being constantly “plugged in” can drown out the quiet whisperings and subtle impressions of the Holy Spirit, breaking our personal connection with God and making it difficult, if not impossible, to receive personal revelation. We must also recognize when electronic distractions keep us from quieter, more significant uses of our time. We must guard against becoming so attached to digital devices that we become detached from God.

.

On Oprah the other day they had Peter Walsh was making a family live without any electronic games/computers etc for a week. They were talking how people can communicate better than ever these days, yet it is not helping families or individuals, actually hindering.



All these things tipped me over the edge this week to admitting that I have a problem!

Not too major, but still there.

Alas I think I may have to restrict electronic time. Boooo.....

I know I have a problem when I am already sighing with sadness.

I'm only blogging about this to hold myself accountable. I was more than happy to continue in my denial. Now how do I go about it? Set a time for computer use?

Don't fill my inbox with screams of  "Don't Go ... We will miss you, my life just wont be the same without your blog!!".  It shouldn't impact the blog too much. Its one of my few creative outlets that I love.

You + Me = US

On harmony day you wear orange. This is our collection of the few orange things we own. A bit of peach, tangerine, pumpkin shades perhaps? We were styling it on our way to school today.

On Harmony Day the school has huge flags from every country fluttering around the school, several displays from around the world (Tae Kwon Do, Irish Dancing, Pacific Islander Dancing etc) and they share food together from each others countries. There are over 25 nationalities in my girls small school of only 240 kids. I love that it is so diverse.

The world needs diversity. And we need eachother.

Happy Harmony Day on March 21

Go here for Harmony Day Website


The Mr has a rather deep and delightful post at his blog today. I think it almost applies to this topic too. We could all do with fewer doors in our lives.

Can I make 50 of these?

Saw these and thought they would make a cute class gifts for the girls friends.

They are about 10 cms tall. Scroll down on the above link and print out the pattern. I used the small pattern.

To make it easier I would maybe print on card so it stands up better. I used mini marshmallows as they are much cheaper than jelly beans. I would need 20 packets otherwise, but jelly beans are heavier and would make the rabbit sit better.

The question is do I have the patience to make 50?

If not they will just be for neighbours and a few select friends at school.



*oh and you must all change over to global settings on your blogger! I have wondered how people do strikeout, large pics, etc! Go to your Customize, then to settings, scroll down to global settings. Mine was set to Old blogger. Click on UPDATED EDITOR!! so much better! Thanks to Chocolate on my Cranium for this tutorial! I'm sure you are all up with the times.. but just incase you arent :)

Sabbath

Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

~ Job 22:12

Easter Wreath

I was so excited when I saw this idea at This is My Life.

This took me under an hour and that was with little helpers and interuptions. Minus that and you could do this in 15 mins!

I only bought 2 packets of plastic eggs (around the 6cm sized ones) and it wasn't enough. I have plenty of old eggs from easter last year, so used a few of the smaller ones from there. So to be safe buy yourself 3 -4 sleeves of eggs - I suppose it depends how big you make the circle.

Basically glue gun on the plastic eggs to a cardboard wreath in a circular motion with pointy ends facing outwards.( I made my wreath out a cereal box - two layers to make it sturdy)

Repeat with a second layer with pointy ends facing inwards. Then Glue extra eggs on top to cover up the gaps.

Use shredded celophane (they only had shredded paper at spotlight, but celophane would be better) to stuff in the gaps. I placed a little glue in there to hold it.

Add a bow and string and attach to your door.

I had an inner squeal when I drove down my street and saw it from afar yesterday..

so happy looking!

Half way to feral

Queen of Half way to feral

Bloggy Friend Lucky Holly was telling us about the upcoming visit of Blue Lilly to Australia.


I said as much as I was jealous, I couldn't book a session. My kids probably wouldn't behave and we don't own swanky enough clothes to be photographed by her.



Sometimes I feel stuck in the middle.



I've got no class and my kids certainly don't.



Aspirations for a beautifully decorated - home, body, children, room, even just the bed, seem unreachable to me.



My house is plain, not decorated and filled old mismatching furniture. I don't think any of us wear clothes that cost more than $10. Most of it is second, third, fourth hand.



Sometimes I love to embrace what I am. To be positive with how I have chosen to live. Embrace the truth, that if I had any style I would have the above mentioned things. Since I don't - just man up and stop hoping for it to happen. Why wish or be sad for those things. I've been at this current house for 5 years and I still don't even have family photos on the wall, yet alone decorated.


I have ideals and ideas that would suit a tree hugging hippy, or a non consumer type but then I don't really live up to that either. I'm not wholly committed to that type of lifestyle. I do like stuff!



So I am stuck.



In the middle.



Not stylish, sophisticated, classy.



Not a complete frugal mother earth type either.



Stuck. Almost as a non identity. And that almost suits. Remember my post about not having favourite anythings? I think it might be all connected. How does one go about getting some class?



Which way shall I go?

Egg Holders

So I'm kinda embarrassed to publish this craft since its as easy as anything. But my girls enjoyed doing it (esp miss G who is continually hunting down more rolls to paint) and it will basically cost you nothing. And I love crafts that cost nothing!

I saw the idea here at Zakka Life and we got to it!

Basically cut a toilet roll to desired height. Paint. Decorate however you wish. I like ones that have a bit of fake green grass!

Place egg on top. Chocolate ones would be even better!



While we are talking eggs - start now collecting your egg shells to make Cascerones . Use a knife to slice the top of the egg shell instead of cracking them open. Wash the eggs in warm water and leave to dry. Fill with confetti and seal shut with tissue paper.This was the girls favourite craft of last year! Well the smashing of them. They are excitedly looking forward to doing them again. I think this year I need to make more, as the fun is over very quickly with this when you have 3 girls doing it at once.

Best money Spent

Apparently she is a dinosaur being restrained

walking the dog

We spent $10 on a set of hammock ropes. Basically 2 nylon ropes, with a hook on one end and a loop on one end.They were used for their correct purposes for a couple of weeks. Since then they have been :


Dog Leashes
Puppet Strings
Used to tie toys up in the air
Safety Ropes
Tied around their waists and used to anchor them to a tree when swimming

Used to drag a cinderella toy carriage behind the bike
Dinosaur restraints
Used to pull behind on roller skates


You name it, they've probably used these ropes for it.


Best (unintended) toy in our house :D



The less a toy does. The more the child learns.

Sabbath

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light

~ Ephesians 5:8

Simple Pleasures

You know how often I blog about how weird or exhasperating my kids can be. Now I want to think about how sometimes this whole parenting caper pays off.

We have had two birthdays in the last few weeks. The girls are very content with simple. They didn't really have any excessive requirements for presents. Very modest desires. Easily Pleased. Yet Excited.

Sometimes I can see headway being made. I catch small glimpses of what I am trying to impart to these girls. Oh my desires that they learn to be happy. Learn to be content. Learn to have joy in the simple things. Learn to be kind and think of others.

All those times I say (anytime that gifts are recieved - Christmas, Birthday, Easter etc) that it isn't about the presents but the things you do. Time spent. Traditions followed. Loved Shared. That it might actually pay off occasionally?

Sometimes more effort can be required at first, but I am so happy when on their birthdays the presents aren't the first thing the girls go for or demand. In fact one of them almost forgot that there were presents there on the table! Perhaps its the addition of flames first thing.. but whatever it is...

it makes me happy!

Emotional Bank Account

I was watching a program about the Economy and Relationships. (ok so it was Oprah.. don't judge me!)

It was about how many marriages are failing because the economy is bad.

They asked the audience "If you lost everything tomorrow (everything!!) would your relationship survive?" I was shocked when many of the audience shook their heads in 'no' motions.

Maybe I am lucky that I don't have much to lose. There isn't anything here that would make me choose it over my family. Second hand bits and pieces have no meaning. There is a blessing in not having everything you desire materially.


Now, I understand how debt and money issues can cause friction. We have lived through 2 years of unemployment. We have lost money in a business investment. Our shares plummetted like everyone elses in the economic downturn. It can be very frustrating.


After watching that show I realised I was glad it happened to me. Glad I have already had a short precursor of how difficult things can be. Glad that I learnt to budget, live frugally, to draw closer together to overcome, glad that my extended family were able to help me. Glad that it is now long over, that we came back and are financially secure enough.


The world is only going to get worse in my opinion.


One day the only thing you might have left is your relationships.


I better start filling those emotional bank accounts in the ones I love.
For those type of bank accounts are the only ones that matter.
Best returns out there!

Get Wiggy with it

Wigging Out
'cause sometimes you just gotta let your hair down

*thanks be to Aunty Gilly for sharing her hair*

Not Allowed

Typical Sunday morning self portrait

You are NOT allowed to Create. This is NOT the time for Creating

those were my words to miss K who insisted on getting out scissors, card, skewers etc on Sunday morning at 8:15 as we were heading out the door to church.

why must it be so.... only a few weeks ago these were my words too..

Can you PLEASE not do that. Don't make a mess. Please stop playing with the toys.

Did that honestly come out of my mouth?


DONT. PLAY. WITH. TOYS.


What the heck type of mother am I.

One that is learning to live on other peoples timetables. That's what!

( In my defense otherwise known as IMD they were searching through the cupboard that has all the toys in it. They were looking for a particular something and then 'discovering' many long forgotten about toys. The Mr was away on a work trip. I was highly anticipating the end of the day.)

Our timetable sometimes doesn't leave much time for play. Come home from school. They eat, throw off their clothes, homework and watch one hour of tv. We bath, eat dinner, read a book and then off to bed.


I want to do some craft with my girls after school. They do not. They pretty much like to do it at the most inconvient times. Mornings, bedtime, when we are going somewhere.



I know this is no great reveal:

Kid's don't always do things according to their parents wishes.

Genius me, I know.




Is this to teach patience? Payback for what I did to my parents? Is this how God feels?


Waiting for us, waiting for us to be good, waiting for us to acknowledge his hand? Watching us make messes. Putting off what we should be doing. Trying to squeeze things in at the wrong times. Doing other things and not being present with those in front of us.



Am I forcing others to live on 'my' schedule?
Am I bothered by having to live on 'others' schedules?

well I say throw the schedule out the window.

which is totally hard for me to do. .....Breathe...... And enjoy the present.