is a very hard thing to teach a child, it goes against their nature. We are trying to instill in our kids that when we call them or ask them to do something they should have a good attitude and do it right away. Now I would say that this actually happens about 65% of the time for Jolene, maybe 40% for Adele, Gideon about 5% (haha just kidding).
Sometimes I can tell that this idea is not so popular with others. I have seen the eyes roll when I ask my kids to do something and then have to discipline. I have heard people mention that it seems unrealistic. Or that it is just too hard.
I agree that it is hard and that sometimes it does seem like a goal that will never be obtained. I for one however am very thankful that we are trying to teach this, especially after this past week.
I took the kids out for a walk this past week. We just went down our path a bit. We live in a city that loves fences, the higher the better. Almost every house has a fence and usually they are high enough to obstruct any view of the driveway.
Jolene was running ahead of us when I heard the car start in the driveway she was running up to. I yelled at her to stop and come back to me. Thankfully she obeyed right away. She did not stop to ask questions but turned and came back. A few second later a car backed out at full speed and did not stop until it reached the street. The lady realized what could have happened and rolled down her window, "sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I'm glad you were."
Nice lady, real nice...I wanted to say. Inside I was just thanking God that Jolene had obeyed right away. It could have been a different story otherwise.
I am very thankful that through Christ we are given the grace to keep working on this because sometimes it seems impossible. I am also thankful that God has given the girls responsive hearts.
People may think we are being hard on them sometimes. Better than ending up in the hospital or worse. It is hard work but we are told to teach our children obedience. This past week shows me why the hard work is worth it.
25.4.09
20.4.09
Flying home
We just bought tickets to fly home!
I am flying back with the kids on November 14th. Thankfully not alone. I will fly back with Maria and two of her friends.
Brandon will fly to the States on Dec. 5th. He wasn't able to get the vacation time to fly with us.
We will all fly back together on Jan. 7th.
A cool side note is that we are flying back on Branson's newest business called V Australia. They are boasting the widest seats available in any international flying airplane. Check out the article and then take a look at the images for a look at what the cabin looks like. The entertainment system. A big help with little kids who get bored before the plane even takes off. Looks awesome. I hope the headphones I am seeing in the pics are standard.
It will be great to have some extra time with family. Thinking about flying without Brandon somewhat scares me. Yesterday did not help my confidence any. Last night Gideon cried/screamed until 3am and then a bit more at 5:30am. So I am exhausted today. If that happens on the plane, well it won't be pretty. Everyone around us will probably ignore us for the rest of the flight. I am also worried about Adele. She can melt down pretty quickly and over the smallest things. Her cry is loud and gets under the skin so quickly.
I will be praying a lot before we leave!
How great though is the providence in all of this? Late last year we were thinking about flying home in June. Brandon lost his job and then that idea had to be scratched due to a lack of holiday time. Eleni and Allen get engaged and scheduled their wedding in December. If we would have bought tickets in June we would have missed the wedding! Although we have to wait a bit longer to see people it is worth it. I would have been pretty sad to miss the wedding.
I am flying back with the kids on November 14th. Thankfully not alone. I will fly back with Maria and two of her friends.
Brandon will fly to the States on Dec. 5th. He wasn't able to get the vacation time to fly with us.
We will all fly back together on Jan. 7th.
A cool side note is that we are flying back on Branson's newest business called V Australia. They are boasting the widest seats available in any international flying airplane. Check out the article and then take a look at the images for a look at what the cabin looks like. The entertainment system. A big help with little kids who get bored before the plane even takes off. Looks awesome. I hope the headphones I am seeing in the pics are standard.
It will be great to have some extra time with family. Thinking about flying without Brandon somewhat scares me. Yesterday did not help my confidence any. Last night Gideon cried/screamed until 3am and then a bit more at 5:30am. So I am exhausted today. If that happens on the plane, well it won't be pretty. Everyone around us will probably ignore us for the rest of the flight. I am also worried about Adele. She can melt down pretty quickly and over the smallest things. Her cry is loud and gets under the skin so quickly.
I will be praying a lot before we leave!
How great though is the providence in all of this? Late last year we were thinking about flying home in June. Brandon lost his job and then that idea had to be scratched due to a lack of holiday time. Eleni and Allen get engaged and scheduled their wedding in December. If we would have bought tickets in June we would have missed the wedding! Although we have to wait a bit longer to see people it is worth it. I would have been pretty sad to miss the wedding.
16.4.09
Out of duty to our Lord
Now it is time to write and respond.
As usual there were several attempts to laugh and make fun of Christianity during the Easter holidays. When will they realize how intolerant that is? When will they begin to actually practice what they preach? Oh wait. I forgot, they can't because it wouldn't mesh with their agenda.
In our Melbourne newspaper The Age, this graced it's content. Online you could find it on the home page.
The article
Ms. Deveny writes a lot, sadly most of it is fluff. I have often wondered what happened to her to bring about such anger and hate that her writings drip with.
Due to the above article, and other articles of hers, I wrote a letter to The Age. You can read it below.
Like I said we have a duty to protect the Lord's name, this falls under the Third Commandment. When reading the Ten Commandments there is always something required (don't do it and you are disobeying) and something forbidden (do this and your are disobeying) for each command. With the Third Commandment the forbidden would be, for example, taking the Lord's name in vain.
The required would be (reading from Fisher's Catechism)
Q2. What is the duty directly opposite to the sin of taking God's name in vain?
A. It is the sanctifying of his name, Isa. 8:13- "Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear and your dread."
I am used to thinking "we shouldn't swear." I am not so used to thinking and acting on what is required for this commandment. I need to sharpen my conscience so that I see these opportunities more quickly.
As usual there were several attempts to laugh and make fun of Christianity during the Easter holidays. When will they realize how intolerant that is? When will they begin to actually practice what they preach? Oh wait. I forgot, they can't because it wouldn't mesh with their agenda.
In our Melbourne newspaper The Age, this graced it's content. Online you could find it on the home page.
The article
Ms. Deveny writes a lot, sadly most of it is fluff. I have often wondered what happened to her to bring about such anger and hate that her writings drip with.
Due to the above article, and other articles of hers, I wrote a letter to The Age. You can read it below.
To those running The Age,
I will no longer be buying your newspaper due to the offensive nature found in one of your writer's material.
Catherine Deveny is stepping over the line when it comes to her comments on Christianity. This past weekend was just one example of the trivial, juvenile attack on God.“Good Friday was spent sitting round with lapsed Catholics drinking wine, eating meat and using the Lord’s name in vain, punctuated by the odd person saying, ‘Don’t tell my parents.’ What a thrill to stare eternal damnation in the face with a chop in one hand, a glass of cask wine in the other and a mouth full of blasphemy while still being scared of your mum and dad. All the while not believing in God. We don’t believe in heaven any more, but as sure as hell something’s making this snag taste so good. It’s probably the confidence of our contradictions.”and more“My mate and I debriefed about the deep-rooted brainwashing of children by religion. No child is born religious, homophobic, racist or sexist. They are programmed. Children’s brains are malleable to promote the survival of the species.”We, as Christians, have a duty to protect our Lord's name. Which is why I have written to say she has gone too far. I wish I could say that she targets religion in general. Sadly, it seems she targets Christianity alone. How very intolerant. Are we not living in the age of tolerance? Seems only when it fits to your agenda.
Sincerely,
Megan Fisher
Like I said we have a duty to protect the Lord's name, this falls under the Third Commandment. When reading the Ten Commandments there is always something required (don't do it and you are disobeying) and something forbidden (do this and your are disobeying) for each command. With the Third Commandment the forbidden would be, for example, taking the Lord's name in vain.
The required would be (reading from Fisher's Catechism)
Q2. What is the duty directly opposite to the sin of taking God's name in vain?
A. It is the sanctifying of his name, Isa. 8:13- "Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear and your dread."
I am used to thinking "we shouldn't swear." I am not so used to thinking and acting on what is required for this commandment. I need to sharpen my conscience so that I see these opportunities more quickly.
15.4.09
14.4.09
Conversations with toddlers cont....
Jolene talking to Brandon's parents over Skype: "When I come to your house at Christmas you can open my present for you."
"I can't give it to you now because there is no window." (Meaning no window in the computer that she can pass the gift through.)
Jolene: "I have a breakfast number for my bike. So they can find it."
Context: A few weeks ago Brandon was telling her about how her bike has a serial number on it. He told her the serial number helps the police identify her bike if it is stolen and then found.
Get it, breakfast number:serial (cereal to Jolene) number.
-Jolene and her daddy watching footy and eating-
"I can't give it to you now because there is no window." (Meaning no window in the computer that she can pass the gift through.)
Jolene: "I have a breakfast number for my bike. So they can find it."
Context: A few weeks ago Brandon was telling her about how her bike has a serial number on it. He told her the serial number helps the police identify her bike if it is stolen and then found.
Get it, breakfast number:serial (cereal to Jolene) number.
-Jolene and her daddy watching footy and eating-
12.4.09
Holiday Break
We have a nice 4 day weekend due to the Easter holidays. Usually we are up at our church family camp. Because of the fires this has been canceled. All the bush surrounding the camp was burnt and deemed unsafe for now.
We thought of going camping but can't really afford to camp for 4 nights. All the caravan park require you book for the entire 4 day weekend due to it being during school holidays and high demand. Blah.
So we tried to think of some cheap alternatives instead.
Thursday I took the kids to the carousel down by the bay. There was a book reading (about a horse from the carousel), morning tea, and then a ride on the carousel. The carousel was built in New York State and brought over here many, many years ago. At one point it fell into disrepair and was abandoned in a shed. Thankfully someone (don't remember who) restored it and set it up on the waterfront where we find it today. We met our friends the Harts and Blismases there as well. After the carousel we all walked to the park for lunch. Good fun. Oh, except for the part when Jolene disappeared for a while. She decided to take a little side trip and visit a fountain out of eye and ear sight. I was not happy, especially due to the fact that when I found her she was trying to climb into the fountain!
Friday we drove to the Anakie Gorge and went for a hike. A nice play for a bush walk. I had Gideon in the Baby Bijorn and Brandon had Adele in the backpack. Jolene walked for most of the way out. Coming back her legs "were too tired" and she had to sit on Brandon's shoulders. The weather was great and we all had a good time outside.
Friday evening Jolene and Brandon finished Jolene's new bike. I found the bike on Freecycle. It is a Giant (a decent brand) but was needed some TLC. Brandon and Jolene painted the rims, greased the chain, unbent the rim, greased and painted the crank, put new tires and tubes on the rims, and put new hand grips on. The bike looks really good! It was nice for Jolene to spend some time with her Daddy working on a project.
Saturday we took everyone to a public pool in Ocean Grove. It is awesome. Indoors, with three little pools. One shallow enough for Gideon to sit in by himself. Another has a playground with a water slide, fountains, spray guns, ropes, etc. in it. Jolene was a bit scared of the slide at first but after three attempts down the slide she finally conquered and went down. Adele went down on Jolene's lap and screamed at the end. She didn't go back down.
Today (Sunday) we drove up to McKinnon to worship with the church there. We go up there once a month to encourage the small congregation. We and four other families take turn driving up there to help with the worship service (Brandon leads the Psalms) and act as mutual encouragement for one another.
Tomorrow (Monday) will be a day spent doing some chores that wouldn't usually get done, a visit to the mall by me...alone I might add(very rare), and then dinner with friends.
Album 1
Album 2
We thought of going camping but can't really afford to camp for 4 nights. All the caravan park require you book for the entire 4 day weekend due to it being during school holidays and high demand. Blah.
So we tried to think of some cheap alternatives instead.
Thursday I took the kids to the carousel down by the bay. There was a book reading (about a horse from the carousel), morning tea, and then a ride on the carousel. The carousel was built in New York State and brought over here many, many years ago. At one point it fell into disrepair and was abandoned in a shed. Thankfully someone (don't remember who) restored it and set it up on the waterfront where we find it today. We met our friends the Harts and Blismases there as well. After the carousel we all walked to the park for lunch. Good fun. Oh, except for the part when Jolene disappeared for a while. She decided to take a little side trip and visit a fountain out of eye and ear sight. I was not happy, especially due to the fact that when I found her she was trying to climb into the fountain!
Friday we drove to the Anakie Gorge and went for a hike. A nice play for a bush walk. I had Gideon in the Baby Bijorn and Brandon had Adele in the backpack. Jolene walked for most of the way out. Coming back her legs "were too tired" and she had to sit on Brandon's shoulders. The weather was great and we all had a good time outside.
Friday evening Jolene and Brandon finished Jolene's new bike. I found the bike on Freecycle. It is a Giant (a decent brand) but was needed some TLC. Brandon and Jolene painted the rims, greased the chain, unbent the rim, greased and painted the crank, put new tires and tubes on the rims, and put new hand grips on. The bike looks really good! It was nice for Jolene to spend some time with her Daddy working on a project.
Saturday we took everyone to a public pool in Ocean Grove. It is awesome. Indoors, with three little pools. One shallow enough for Gideon to sit in by himself. Another has a playground with a water slide, fountains, spray guns, ropes, etc. in it. Jolene was a bit scared of the slide at first but after three attempts down the slide she finally conquered and went down. Adele went down on Jolene's lap and screamed at the end. She didn't go back down.
Today (Sunday) we drove up to McKinnon to worship with the church there. We go up there once a month to encourage the small congregation. We and four other families take turn driving up there to help with the worship service (Brandon leads the Psalms) and act as mutual encouragement for one another.
Tomorrow (Monday) will be a day spent doing some chores that wouldn't usually get done, a visit to the mall by me...alone I might add(very rare), and then dinner with friends.
Album 1
Album 2
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