Painting the Psalms: Block two

Last night I finished block two, so Psalms 26 - 50. It is taking a lot longer than I thought. I get sidetracked on other projects. Now that the soccer season is over I have a lot more time in the evening. I would really like to finish this by the end of the year. Here is what the two blocks look like together.

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A sketch I did today while the kids were resting. Thinking about sounds having colors.

Conversations with a toddler, preschooler and a year 1 cont.

Overhearing the kids playing outside...

G: "You be the school teacher (pointing at A), I be the cute boy and you be a griiill (girl) (pointing to J).

I think he is developing a complex.

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Talking to the kids about flying back to America.

Me: "Do you want to fly on an airplane?"
G: "Yestthh, a shoot airplane."
Me: (didn't understand what he said) "A what plane?"
G: "A shoot plane, with big guns. So we can shoot."

I am not sure if Qantas or V Australia use those sorts of planes.

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Getting ready to go to the pool. I told the girls to put their gumboots on.

Me: (looking at A's feet) "A your boots are on the wrong feet."
A: "Oh, I just knew that but my feet are on right."

I'm glad your feet are on right A. Sadly A vomited right after this and we had to cancel the pool trip.

The Briefing

is now free via their website, RSS, email update, iPad and phone You should check it out. Published by Matthias Media this is a very encouraging Christian magazine to spend your time reading. Plus due to it being published over here some of the articles specifically focus on the Australian church scene. For instance this month's issue has an article entitled Why aren't Sydney churches growing? Brandon and I have been getting the hard copy for the last two years and have already paid for another year. A year's subscription is only $24.95 AUD. You international people can buy a hard copy subscription for $28.99 USD. Worth every penny or five cent piece. I just checked their website and they haven't updated to the new format yet. Still there are plenty of back issues to keep you reading until the latest one is up.

Start reading.

Happy 3rd birthday Gids!

Deuteronomy 6: 4-6

The girls and I are memorizing this passage during morning devotions.

I wanted to print it out and post it next to the sink so that it was always in eyesight. Of course printing out black and white text it too boring so I had to decorate it a bit.

I ended up with only verse 5 but then added some other verses so that we could see how different sections were connected.  The three passages are Deuteronomy 6:5, 7-9, Matthew 22: 37, 39 and Ex. 20: 3-17.

The designs are from a font called ibarra real. A sweet font that is free for personal use. This font has some really nice glyphs, as you can see.

If you want to download the PDF just click on the image.

Oven

it hasn't worked for the last three weeks and it doesn't look like it will be fixed anytime soon.

So that leaves me with the stove and a slow cooker.

Are there any good no-bake/ slow cooker dessert recipes that you really like? Other thank no-bake cookies that is. We are a bit burnt out on those. Oh and no recipes including bananas right now. The last big hurricane wiped out the banana population (again!). Right now they are at $12/ kilo ($6/lb).

I am a bit tired of stir-fry and curries as well. Have any good slow cooker recipes?

Need some ideas. Help!

2.9

2.9 is the average number of people a Melbourne train driver hits during his driving stint.

I wonder how many people think about that when complaining that the trains are late or out of service. Next time the train is late think about why. It is very possible it's late due to the fact that someone decided to end their life and selfishly jump in front of a train.

This is the underbelly of train transport.

We really should be nicer to our train drivers. They deal with a lot. According to Brandon, looking for people on the tracks is number 6 on the list of important things a driver must do. There are five other things he has to think about each moment just to make sure the people on the train are safe.

I am disgusted with the kids that play dare games on the tracks. Imagine how it must feel for a driver when he comes around a bend and sees some kid trying to get as close to the track as possible. What must the driver be thinking at that point in time. There is virtually nothing they can do.

Because Brandon works in the rail industry we get to hear some of these stories. Brandon has talked to a few drivers. One guy hit two girls who were walking on the rails. There was nothing he could do and there was no where for the girls to go. It takes over 1.5k or 1 m until a train comes to a complete stop.

As we ride through tunnels I see graffiti and wonder about the risk the artists took. I feel sad for the drivers who have to endure life long scarring due to the foolishness and selfishness of some people.

Next time you get on a train think about the driver. Pray that this year might be a safe year for him/her. Pray that there would be good counseling available for those who have had a tragic year. If you ever get a chance, thank the drivers for doing their job well. And most of all don't be stupid around the rails. For your own sake and for the sake of the driver.

They don't want you to be one of their 2.9.