Here are some pics.
21.12.11
Conversations with a toddler, preschooler and a year 1
Brandon and G man wrestling. B punches G in the arm or stomach a bit too hard.
G: "Daddy just cute punches."
B: "Like this?" (lightly tapping him)
G: "Yes"
At family worship on the sofa. We are reading about Adam and Eve eating from the tree.
B: "Do you think you guys would have eaten the fruit?"
J & A: "No"
B: "You wouldn't?"
A: "No, because I can't reach. I'm little."
A: "I would need a ladder."
Talking about the wind with Jolene.
J: "The wind is see-through and feel-through."
M: "Yes, it would be hard to grab and put in your pocket."
J: "Mom! The wind is already in my pocket! See, there is air in there."
M: "Yes, that is true. Good point."
G: "Daddy just cute punches."
B: "Like this?" (lightly tapping him)
G: "Yes"
At family worship on the sofa. We are reading about Adam and Eve eating from the tree.
B: "Do you think you guys would have eaten the fruit?"
J & A: "No"
B: "You wouldn't?"
A: "No, because I can't reach. I'm little."
A: "I would need a ladder."
Talking about the wind with Jolene.
J: "The wind is see-through and feel-through."
M: "Yes, it would be hard to grab and put in your pocket."
J: "Mom! The wind is already in my pocket! See, there is air in there."
M: "Yes, that is true. Good point."
14.12.11
Childhood games
Did you and your siblings ever invent strange and wonderful games?
My siblings and I had a few. One was called "Is it broken?" The crux of the game was to determine if the piece of food being held in front of your face by sibling X is either broken in half or not. Yes, it was a game of full of strategy. The hardest items to fool people with were potato chips. If broken in half it was hard to line up the edges neatly enough to look whole. Also, if you applied too much pressure the chip would crumble due to the stress points already being weak. Ha, I sounded like an engineer there :-)
So that was one game we played at mealtimes.
The other one that I remember had something to do with pretending we were ice cubes. This game could only be played when there were small/med sized fluffy clouds over head and wind. Basically you had to run from one shady spot to another without "melting". When a fluffy cloud passed over the sun you would strategically run from one shadow to another. You had to time it right and make sure your run wasn't too long or you might get caught in the sun and melt. We also liked to run down the street in the cloud shadow and then dive behind a parked car when it outpaced us.
I remember playing something similar to the ice cube game in the car as well. It involved pillows and hiding. Always a good combo.
Our kids have taken on the tradition of making up new games. Today the girls were playing "guess what is on this side of the sandwich?" Is it the peanut butter side or the honey side? Ohhhhh the suspense!
Another game they made up is called "hide N' seek wrestle." Like the traditional hide N' seek you have a someone counting and others hiding. However instead of running to base when found, you have to run to the living room rug and wrestle with the counter. You do this with each person you find. After the last person is found everyone goes to the rug for an all out brawl. Once exhausted or hurt*, you start the game over again. Brandon particularly enjoys playing this one with the kids. You have to watch out for G man though. He has learned how to dish out the elbow and if you aren't on alert you receive one in the face or gut.
*it is always someone gets hurt, never tired
My siblings and I had a few. One was called "Is it broken?" The crux of the game was to determine if the piece of food being held in front of your face by sibling X is either broken in half or not. Yes, it was a game of full of strategy. The hardest items to fool people with were potato chips. If broken in half it was hard to line up the edges neatly enough to look whole. Also, if you applied too much pressure the chip would crumble due to the stress points already being weak. Ha, I sounded like an engineer there :-)
So that was one game we played at mealtimes.
The other one that I remember had something to do with pretending we were ice cubes. This game could only be played when there were small/med sized fluffy clouds over head and wind. Basically you had to run from one shady spot to another without "melting". When a fluffy cloud passed over the sun you would strategically run from one shadow to another. You had to time it right and make sure your run wasn't too long or you might get caught in the sun and melt. We also liked to run down the street in the cloud shadow and then dive behind a parked car when it outpaced us.
I remember playing something similar to the ice cube game in the car as well. It involved pillows and hiding. Always a good combo.
Our kids have taken on the tradition of making up new games. Today the girls were playing "guess what is on this side of the sandwich?" Is it the peanut butter side or the honey side? Ohhhhh the suspense!
Another game they made up is called "hide N' seek wrestle." Like the traditional hide N' seek you have a someone counting and others hiding. However instead of running to base when found, you have to run to the living room rug and wrestle with the counter. You do this with each person you find. After the last person is found everyone goes to the rug for an all out brawl. Once exhausted or hurt*, you start the game over again. Brandon particularly enjoys playing this one with the kids. You have to watch out for G man though. He has learned how to dish out the elbow and if you aren't on alert you receive one in the face or gut.
*it is always someone gets hurt, never tired
7.12.11
Fruit of Spirit Calendar
I think I will turn the fruit pictures into a calendar. I spent some time this afternoon putting the date page together.
This is what it will look like hopefully. I moved the verses to the bottom of the date page so that they can be cut out and stuck somewhere else if desired.
This is what it will look like hopefully. I moved the verses to the bottom of the date page so that they can be cut out and stuck somewhere else if desired.
6.12.11
Fruits of the Spirit - Part 1
Some more memory verses made pretty. I think I will turn this into a calendar when finished.
Here are the first two.
Here are the first two.
4.12.11
Won't you be my neighbor? Part 3
Just a few pics of the red snapper at dinner time. As I said before it was delicious!
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| Ingredients |
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| Fish prep |
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| Ready for roasting |
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| After 30 mins. A feast! |
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| Customer #1 - Not sure why B's drink is in her hand? (!) |
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| Customer #2 - Ready to eat! |
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| Customer #3 - Taking this very seriously |
2.12.11
Won't you be my neighbor? - Part 2
Sorry this is a few days late.
I thought I should at least do A's b-day post seeing as though it too was already late. So our recent neighbor experiences...
Last Sunday the kids were playing outside and the neighbor boys ended up coming over to hang out for awhile. While talking to the boys we learned that their parents had kicked them out of the house because they, the parents, were trying to tile the kitchen floor. I realized that with the kitchen in disrepair the neighbors might have troubles cooking up dinner that evening, so after going back and forth about it we asked them over for a BBQ that night. I don't know why I was hesitant (is anyone ever hesitant at inviting unknown people over to their personal space?), it was a great opportunity to serve them while they were working on their kitchen. We had been praying for an opportunity and here it was.
We all walked over to their house and invited them over. They took us up on the offer and came over for a BBQ letting their new kitchen tiles rest a bit. They ended up staying almost three hours. We really had a good time talking to them about the school and community around us. We also told them about why we moved to the area (church re-plant? and talked about church in general for a while. A good time and we are thankful for the opportunity God gave us.
Their boys go to the school around the corner from us. It was good to talk to the the mom and dad about the school as we are considering sending Jolene there in a year or two. The school is only to grade 6 and has about 400 students. Not very big. It is a block from our house so she could easily walk there or ride her scooter. We will see how next year goes.
So take the opportunities as they come. Playing outside in the front yard/street is great when wanting to meet the neighbors. This is especially true on Sat/Sun when people tend to be home more often. During the week we hardly see anyone outside.
We get over there to see that the entire driveway is covered with fish, large fish. Apparently red snapper to be exact. Theo told us that he had been away all week fishing and this was the catch. He also said they had caught about 40 snapper, although one of the eskies (cooler) fell off the back of the ute and had tossed its contents all over the highway. Theo, being the very generous neighbor he is, offered us a snapper. I told him we would take one off his hands but that I didn't really know what to do with it after that. "I'll send my mom over", Theo replied.
Come Monday mid-morning, Theo's mom knocked on the door. I grabbed the fish form the fridge and we went out back. Here is what happened next.
We roasted the snapper that evening. It was delicious. The kids had seconds and thirds. We ate the entire fish. I boiled the head and made soup out of the stock. It turned into one big gelatinous mass while sitting over night in the fridge. Kind of funny looking the next day when dumping it into the pot. The soup was supposedly better then the fillets, according to B that is. I don't know if I would agree. I would have to say that they were both very tasty.
While we were watching Carol clean our fish the story of Jesus going to recruit his disciples came to mind. They used to be fishermen but were then called to be "fishers of men". Spending time with people in whatever form it may take is certainly part of being fishers of men. Helping others out and then be willing to accept the help and generosity of others. You never know where the conversations will go. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from Carol and thankful that Theo was willing to share some of his catch.
I would like to have him over again soon to talk more about work and life. He told us that he wants to study banking so that he can be a banker and make lots of money. I asked him what he was going to do with all his money? Gu said "buy things." I asked "like what?" Gu responded "I don't know, maybe anime." I couldn't help laughing at that answer. It would be nice to talk to him more about having purpose in life, how materialism will never satisfy and other heart matters. Maybe in the future.
Gu is certainly not someone who is easy to have over. I always feel like I am interrogating him and he hardly ever asks us questions. Hospitality isn't always easy or comfortable, this is one of those situations. We are learning that there can be silence for several minutes in our conversations with him and it is OK. I am also learning to interpret his answers a bit better. I think learning to listen carefully and keep trying are the key lessons we are learning with Gu.
I thought I should at least do A's b-day post seeing as though it too was already late. So our recent neighbor experiences...
#1 - Answers
We have been praying the last few weeks that some opportunities would arise to either have the neighbors over or at least spend some time with them.Last Sunday the kids were playing outside and the neighbor boys ended up coming over to hang out for awhile. While talking to the boys we learned that their parents had kicked them out of the house because they, the parents, were trying to tile the kitchen floor. I realized that with the kitchen in disrepair the neighbors might have troubles cooking up dinner that evening, so after going back and forth about it we asked them over for a BBQ that night. I don't know why I was hesitant (is anyone ever hesitant at inviting unknown people over to their personal space?), it was a great opportunity to serve them while they were working on their kitchen. We had been praying for an opportunity and here it was.
We all walked over to their house and invited them over. They took us up on the offer and came over for a BBQ letting their new kitchen tiles rest a bit. They ended up staying almost three hours. We really had a good time talking to them about the school and community around us. We also told them about why we moved to the area (church re-plant? and talked about church in general for a while. A good time and we are thankful for the opportunity God gave us.
Their boys go to the school around the corner from us. It was good to talk to the the mom and dad about the school as we are considering sending Jolene there in a year or two. The school is only to grade 6 and has about 400 students. Not very big. It is a block from our house so she could easily walk there or ride her scooter. We will see how next year goes.
So take the opportunities as they come. Playing outside in the front yard/street is great when wanting to meet the neighbors. This is especially true on Sat/Sun when people tend to be home more often. During the week we hardly see anyone outside.
#2 The Red Snapper
That same Sunday we were outside talking to some other friends who stopped by the house. We noticed something going on in the drive way of our next-door neighbors and decided to wander over.We get over there to see that the entire driveway is covered with fish, large fish. Apparently red snapper to be exact. Theo told us that he had been away all week fishing and this was the catch. He also said they had caught about 40 snapper, although one of the eskies (cooler) fell off the back of the ute and had tossed its contents all over the highway. Theo, being the very generous neighbor he is, offered us a snapper. I told him we would take one off his hands but that I didn't really know what to do with it after that. "I'll send my mom over", Theo replied.
Come Monday mid-morning, Theo's mom knocked on the door. I grabbed the fish form the fridge and we went out back. Here is what happened next.
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| Taking the scales off |
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| The girls watching intently |
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| Taking the guts out |
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| Removing the gills |
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| Wash |
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| Egg sacks. You are supposed to dip them in flour and then fry. I forgot. |
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| Gills |
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| Inside of eye |
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| Head for fish-head soup |
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| Yum! |
While we were watching Carol clean our fish the story of Jesus going to recruit his disciples came to mind. They used to be fishermen but were then called to be "fishers of men". Spending time with people in whatever form it may take is certainly part of being fishers of men. Helping others out and then be willing to accept the help and generosity of others. You never know where the conversations will go. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from Carol and thankful that Theo was willing to share some of his catch.
#3 Keep Trying
After trying for several weeks Gu finally came to lunch (he moved in with a fellow classmate several months ago). We tried to arrange something a few weeks ago, and then for Thanksgiving and then finally for last Sunday lunch. We enjoyed catching up with Gu. It has been several months since he moved out, making it difficult to keep in touch with him.I would like to have him over again soon to talk more about work and life. He told us that he wants to study banking so that he can be a banker and make lots of money. I asked him what he was going to do with all his money? Gu said "buy things." I asked "like what?" Gu responded "I don't know, maybe anime." I couldn't help laughing at that answer. It would be nice to talk to him more about having purpose in life, how materialism will never satisfy and other heart matters. Maybe in the future.
Gu is certainly not someone who is easy to have over. I always feel like I am interrogating him and he hardly ever asks us questions. Hospitality isn't always easy or comfortable, this is one of those situations. We are learning that there can be silence for several minutes in our conversations with him and it is OK. I am also learning to interpret his answers a bit better. I think learning to listen carefully and keep trying are the key lessons we are learning with Gu.
30.11.11
29.11.11
KickStarter - Nolna
Have you heard of KickStarter?
Kickstarter is non-profit, web-based community that allows people (currently only those within the US) to advertise a project that they are hoping to start up. These projects range from games, art, small business ventures, film, photography, etc.
To get started you need a project, a profile, video, budget and rewards. People are able browse through current projects and then donate money to those they like. Money is not taken from your account until the project have been funded 100%. So minimal risk. So if you are needing $1000 for a project and only $900 is donated then it is a no go. So minimal risk. You can donate a little or a lot depending on how your personal budget is looking and your enthusiasm for the project.
Pretty cool.
KickStarter allows people from all of the world (you can donate from any country) to help people with a project that would otherwise struggle to find funding. When you donate you are usually rewarded with a small or large something. Sometimes it is a print of the artwork, a sample of music, food, and much more. Everyone ends up with something if the project is backed 100%. Some projects even go beyond their goal. I was reading about one project that made over 3,000% of their budget. Awesome.
So now I will shamelessly plug my sister, Shannon, and her husband's (Josh) small business venture on KickStarter. It is called Nolna.
Below is the video they made for their KickStarter project. And here is where you can go to see their profile, budget, and rewards.
Note - To find the play button for the video, scroll down within the small box below.
Kickstarter is non-profit, web-based community that allows people (currently only those within the US) to advertise a project that they are hoping to start up. These projects range from games, art, small business ventures, film, photography, etc.
To get started you need a project, a profile, video, budget and rewards. People are able browse through current projects and then donate money to those they like. Money is not taken from your account until the project have been funded 100%. So minimal risk. So if you are needing $1000 for a project and only $900 is donated then it is a no go. So minimal risk. You can donate a little or a lot depending on how your personal budget is looking and your enthusiasm for the project.
Pretty cool.
KickStarter allows people from all of the world (you can donate from any country) to help people with a project that would otherwise struggle to find funding. When you donate you are usually rewarded with a small or large something. Sometimes it is a print of the artwork, a sample of music, food, and much more. Everyone ends up with something if the project is backed 100%. Some projects even go beyond their goal. I was reading about one project that made over 3,000% of their budget. Awesome.
So now I will shamelessly plug my sister, Shannon, and her husband's (Josh) small business venture on KickStarter. It is called Nolna.
Below is the video they made for their KickStarter project. And here is where you can go to see their profile, budget, and rewards.
Note - To find the play button for the video, scroll down within the small box below.
27.11.11
Won't you be my neighbor?
We have been talking about being missional neighbors quite a bit recently. Maybe due in part to the fact that we are helping with a church re-plant.
Either through our pastor or others, we have come across some helpful material focusing on hospitality and becoming missional neighbors. Instead of restating what others have said, in a more grammatically correct form at that, I will point you to the sources.
1. A few ideas on how to interact with your neighbors from the Missional Church Network.
2. A blog post by a husband and wife covering the topic of hospitality.
3. The book "A Meal with Jesus - Discovering Grace, Community, & Mission around the Table" by Tim Chester. See here for a better and complete review of the book.
I haven't finished the above book but I would highly recommend it for reading. I would also recommend including it in every wedding gift you give. Young married couples should start building a hospitality vision from the get-go. This book will certainly help point the way.
This book challenges Christians to not think "if" but "when" concerning hospitality. It is something we should all be doing.
I like what Chester says at the end of the introduction.
And to finish some good old stats from Chester's (quoting someone else) book.
- There has been a 33% decrease in families eating together over the last three decades. And more than half of those families are watching television as they eat together.
- Over the same period there's been a 45% decline in entertaining friends.
- In the typical American household, the average number of dinners eaten together is three per week, with the average length of dinner being 20 minutes.
"Sharing a meal is not the only way to build relationships, but it is number one on the list."
Tomorrow I'll mention our recent attempts to share meals with neighbors, a Red Snapper dinner and thoughts for future meals.
Either through our pastor or others, we have come across some helpful material focusing on hospitality and becoming missional neighbors. Instead of restating what others have said, in a more grammatically correct form at that, I will point you to the sources.
1. A few ideas on how to interact with your neighbors from the Missional Church Network.
2. A blog post by a husband and wife covering the topic of hospitality.
3. The book "A Meal with Jesus - Discovering Grace, Community, & Mission around the Table" by Tim Chester. See here for a better and complete review of the book.
I haven't finished the above book but I would highly recommend it for reading. I would also recommend including it in every wedding gift you give. Young married couples should start building a hospitality vision from the get-go. This book will certainly help point the way.
This book challenges Christians to not think "if" but "when" concerning hospitality. It is something we should all be doing.
I like what Chester says at the end of the introduction.
"True, it's not always easy - it involves people invading your space or going to places where you don't fee comfortable. But it's not complicated. If you share a meal three or four times a week and you have a passion for Jesus, then you will be building up the Christian community and reaching out in mission."Here are two quotes that I found helpful, especially when we are with the Prison Fellowship families.
"Involvement with people, especially the marginalized, begins with a profound grasp of God's grace. Often our instincts are to keep our distance. But the Son of God ate with them. He's not embarrassed by them. He lets them kiss his feet. He's the friend of riffraff, traitors, the unrespectable drunks, druggies, prostitutes, the mentally ill, the broken, and the needy (homosexuals should be here as well) - people whose lives are a mess."And in case we are sitting on that lovely pedestal...
"Involvement with people, especially the marginalized, must begin with a sense of God's grace. But not just God's grace to them, but his grace to me. I need to be melted and broken by grace."We (I) need to remember that we have been rescued out of the very same mess all the above are still in.
And to finish some good old stats from Chester's (quoting someone else) book.
- There has been a 33% decrease in families eating together over the last three decades. And more than half of those families are watching television as they eat together.
- Over the same period there's been a 45% decline in entertaining friends.
- In the typical American household, the average number of dinners eaten together is three per week, with the average length of dinner being 20 minutes.
"Sharing a meal is not the only way to build relationships, but it is number one on the list."
Tomorrow I'll mention our recent attempts to share meals with neighbors, a Red Snapper dinner and thoughts for future meals.
25.11.11
Update on Horsee, Bike riding, and CATC (a maybe)
UPDATE
Horsee has been found! Actually he was found the next day. Gids climbed into bed with us around 4am and whimpered for Horsee until 7am. I kicked the girls outside and told them to search very hard for the lost friend. Thankfully J had her eagle eyes on and spotted Horsee's head poking out from underneath the plastic pool. J was the favorite child for the day :-)
BIKE RIDING
Brandon rides almost 40 Ks to and from work most days. So he is involved in the cycling scene a bit. We are trying to teach Jolene to ride a two-wheeler but she doesn't have a great desire. So until she musters the courage we came up with another solution so that the entire family can go bike riding. See below. Tonight we biked to the mall to pick up a smaller helmet and a three-wheeled scooter for G. He will probably ride a two-wheeler before Jolene does. He loves all things with wheels.
CATC
Brandon and I went to the grand opening of CATC, a new design college in Melbourne. The college is about a block from the big train station (Southern Cross) in Melbourne which is awesome. I wanted to go because I am interested in their part time study option. They have a two year study program that meets just two nights a week for 6 hours total. This coming Wednesday I am taking in a portfolio of work so that they can have a look and see if I might fit in with their graphic design course. I am wrestling with whether it is a good time to do something like this. I have always wanted to go back to school but I am not sure 2013 will be the best option. There is a lot to think about. So for now we will be praying and slowly investigating.
At the opening we meet an elderly man who runs the Melbourne Museum of Printing. It was great talking to him. He started working with type when he was 9 and has never looked back. I can only imagine the vast amount of wealth that is stored in his brain. I am looking into taking some printing classes from there as option B. They offer classes in letterpress which would be right down my alley. The only problem is the cost. It can add up pretty quickly. We will see.
Horsee has been found! Actually he was found the next day. Gids climbed into bed with us around 4am and whimpered for Horsee until 7am. I kicked the girls outside and told them to search very hard for the lost friend. Thankfully J had her eagle eyes on and spotted Horsee's head poking out from underneath the plastic pool. J was the favorite child for the day :-)
BIKE RIDING
Brandon rides almost 40 Ks to and from work most days. So he is involved in the cycling scene a bit. We are trying to teach Jolene to ride a two-wheeler but she doesn't have a great desire. So until she musters the courage we came up with another solution so that the entire family can go bike riding. See below. Tonight we biked to the mall to pick up a smaller helmet and a three-wheeled scooter for G. He will probably ride a two-wheeler before Jolene does. He loves all things with wheels.
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| The crew. |
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| Helmets. G sporting the one we just bought at the mall. |
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| B's work bike plus trailer. A & G ride in the trailer. |
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| B's mountain bike that I ride with J on the back. |
Brandon and I went to the grand opening of CATC, a new design college in Melbourne. The college is about a block from the big train station (Southern Cross) in Melbourne which is awesome. I wanted to go because I am interested in their part time study option. They have a two year study program that meets just two nights a week for 6 hours total. This coming Wednesday I am taking in a portfolio of work so that they can have a look and see if I might fit in with their graphic design course. I am wrestling with whether it is a good time to do something like this. I have always wanted to go back to school but I am not sure 2013 will be the best option. There is a lot to think about. So for now we will be praying and slowly investigating.
At the opening we meet an elderly man who runs the Melbourne Museum of Printing. It was great talking to him. He started working with type when he was 9 and has never looked back. I can only imagine the vast amount of wealth that is stored in his brain. I am looking into taking some printing classes from there as option B. They offer classes in letterpress which would be right down my alley. The only problem is the cost. It can add up pretty quickly. We will see.
21.11.11
Sad
Today Gids lost his "horsee". The little plush horse has followed him everywhere and enjoyed many cuddles.
Gids accidentally left it out in the backyard and I do believe a visiting neighborhood dog snatched Horsee and carried him off.
Funny how inanimate objects can begin to feel like they are people or beings after time. I kept thinking how sad Horsee must be not snuggling in bed with Gids tonight. Then I would think "well, that's a completely ridiculous thought."
I do believe I am more sad than Gids. Possibly because Gids didn't really cry, maybe tomorrow he will but not tonight. Instead he grabbed a stuffed monster I made, a squid to be precise, named the squid "Bubbly" and merrily hopped off to bed. I was sad. I wanted to say "how can you accept another animal so quickly! You haven't had any time to grieve!" I think I was also sad because Gids isn't a little baby anymore. Tonight is just another indicator that he is growing up. He can get over loosing his snugly toy. I don't want him to grow up just yet.
*sigh*
I need to find another Horsee so that Gid's growing up slows down just a little bit...for the time being anyway.
Gids accidentally left it out in the backyard and I do believe a visiting neighborhood dog snatched Horsee and carried him off.
Funny how inanimate objects can begin to feel like they are people or beings after time. I kept thinking how sad Horsee must be not snuggling in bed with Gids tonight. Then I would think "well, that's a completely ridiculous thought."
I do believe I am more sad than Gids. Possibly because Gids didn't really cry, maybe tomorrow he will but not tonight. Instead he grabbed a stuffed monster I made, a squid to be precise, named the squid "Bubbly" and merrily hopped off to bed. I was sad. I wanted to say "how can you accept another animal so quickly! You haven't had any time to grieve!" I think I was also sad because Gids isn't a little baby anymore. Tonight is just another indicator that he is growing up. He can get over loosing his snugly toy. I don't want him to grow up just yet.
I need to find another Horsee so that Gid's growing up slows down just a little bit...for the time being anyway.
15.11.11
Unusual Suspects
Drawings by Jolene and Adele that I turned into plush toys. They came up with most of the designs. I came up with the squid. They are all made out of old clothes that were in too poor shape for the op shop but too useful to be thrown away. More to be made in the near future, hopefully.
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