tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84538691074857365382024-02-19T15:22:32.778+11:00Pleasant PathsThis is me, Naomi, and my journey of being a wife, mother, home educator and child of the living God.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-22470630536507886742013-02-23T19:40:00.001+11:002013-02-23T19:43:07.130+11:00With love...I have struggled with my identity for a long time. I used to always think of my worth in terms of my career. Who I worked for, how much I was earning and what I did. Well, I've felt kind of lost for some years because I don't "work" anymore. My career is my children and looking after my husband. And quite honestly, I hope to never "work" another day in my life. But who am I now? I would think, "everyone can have children, so that ain't so special.... so really I have no value now that I'm not working." how ridiculous my mind works!!! and totally incongruous with other things I believe like HOW AWESOME MY CHILDREN ARE!! and what a super job I am doing mothering them and teaching them.<br />
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Now, I think I am finally believing the value I am adding to my children and my husband's life. Society might tell me that I'm not valuable. But you know what? God thinks I am. Jesus loves me so much that he gave his life up for mine. MINE! <em>(and yours!)</em> I am treasured by God <em>(and so are you!).</em> I am one of his children. ...and I am treasured by my husband. He needs me to achieve all that God has called him to be. And God has chosen me (ME!) to be honoured with mothering 4 awesomely-gorgeous-hunks-of-cuteness children and teach them in his ways. I am the only one that can do it and I want to do the best job I possibly can, but I don't have much time. Their childhood slips away so quickly. Which is where this blog comes into it. Simply put, at the moment, I am struggling to write and do a good job in my home. So many others seem to do it, but it kind of stresses me out. I have so many half-posts in my head on progress of our veggie patch, homeschool endeavours, paleo recipes I like and even a whole lot of stuff on financial management, but I just can't seem to get it in without ignoring my children in some way. Right now I am ignoring Harrison to write this, while the others are up past their bedtime, and I don't want to ignore them anymore. <br />
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So, I've decided to sign-off for now. I maybe back one day, but for now, I need to concentrate on my favourite things in life without thinking "I gotta write a post about this" and then feeling bad for not doing it.<br />
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Wishing you all the best, reader. Never forget, <em><strong>you are valued by the living God!</strong></em>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-50071324539708055132013-02-22T13:06:00.000+11:002013-02-22T13:06:00.414+11:00Still trying to learn peaceSeveral weeks ago we were on bushfire alert. My country has a lot of bushfires during the summer and it is not uncommon for them to rip through towns and burn houses and kill people. We live on the edge of suburbia and there was a grass fire headed in our direction and not under control. So I tried to get together some things for each of us, in case it did get to our home and we had to leave, fires move fast and we knew if it came we'd have to leave quickly. It is a funny thing to look around the house and say, "ok, what can not be replaced. What do we essentially need if we had to start all over?". I settled for birth certificates and spare clothes. Kind of pleased with myself for not being too attached to particular items. Happy to just have the memories attached to things rather than being destrought at the thought of losing it.<br />
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But I lost my peace. I was stressing, complaining to Westley about having to pack our things. Annoyed that I wasn't sitting on the lounge with my feet up sipping a glass of wine. Yes! I couldn't even have a glass of wine in case we had to leave and drive away. I was thinking about if our insurance really would cover replacing everything, and stressing about that. I was praying too, so not <i>all </i>bad. Sunshine was watching TV. I very delicately asked her to get each child's special toy to pack in case the fire came and we had to leave. She was like "sure, ok" totally not stressed. Totally at peace, calm, did what I asked her to and then went back to watching TV. The thought of a fire coming, didn't phase her. The thought of losing all of her toys except her special one, didn't seem to bother her at all.<br />
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Ever noticed how kids don't often get stressed? As long as their parent is around and looks calm in the situation, children are relaxed and at peace. That is how we are called to live, with our Heavenly Father in control and looking after things for us. I need to be more like Sunshine,<i> at peace</i>, totally trusting my Heavenly Father even in the midst of something like preparing for a fire. <br />
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Love this scripture which is kind of related: <br />
<div class="heading passage-class-0">
Jeremiah
29:11<i> (NIV)</i><i><span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-NIV-19647"><sup class="versenum"> 11 </sup>For I know the
plans I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future."</span></i></div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-67924896933092939582013-02-21T17:22:00.002+11:002013-02-21T17:23:46.402+11:00Art and craft - flowersToday we did an art and craft lesson using a flower book we borrowed from the library. I think I have mentioned before how I encourage the girls to get some "grown-up" books to look at the pictures and learn from them. They still love flowers so our most recent trip to the library included more flower and garden books.<br />
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I picked a page that had big pictures of gerberas' and we talked about it a little bit first. What they are called, how they are made up of different typed petals, the colour of the centre, etc. Then we tried to make them. I cut out a circle and then they choose the tissue paper colours each person wanted, and got to it. It was fun and even Harrison enjoyed making it. The only thing I learnt from it though was to use runny glue next time as glue sticks made it kind of hard (kept tearing at the paper already stuck).<br />
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<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-19089628677085542082013-02-10T17:22:00.000+11:002013-02-10T17:22:19.489+11:00This machine is changing me...Been a while since I posted about coffee ;) It just occured to me that <a href="http://aldi.com.au/au/html/product_range/2744_expressi-coffee-machine-black.htm?WT.SEM&Campaign=Light_House_Brand_-_Expressi&Adgroup=ALDI_Coffee_Machine&keyword=ALDI_coffee_machine&gclid=CMXbyoyEq7UCFcZfpQodgXsANw" target="_blank">this machine</a> is changing me.<br />
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So I have had a pretty-good-for-the-cheap-end coffee machine since Sweet-pea was born. It was the only way I could afford good coffee back then. But honestly it was a lot of work! I would go through peaks and troughs with it. With children running around my feet it would take a good 5-10 mins of standing there while it pumped the milk. The children and I had a little dance we did while I held the milk jug. I actually have an emotional attachment to that machine (which is why it is hidden in a cupboard right now and not in the bin!).<br />
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A few years of visiting my in-laws and enjoying the ease of their nespresso-fantastico machine and my eyes were opened to the beauty of good tasting coffee from an automatic machine. I found this year's return home from holidaying at their house particularly hard so I splashed out on the above machine from Aldi and I have not looked back. It is cheap, the capsules are cheap but it is good, well I think so anyway, and I am usually pretty particular about my coffee.<br />
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I wake up, turn the machine on and within minutes I have yummy, good, strong coffee. It's great. But that is not why I am writing this. Do you want to know how it is changing me? <br />
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...I am totally curving my store bought coffee addiction. It is amazing. I have a coffee or two before I go out and when I enter the shops, walking past Gloria Jeans is a breeze. A BREEZE! No cravings to step inside. So suddenly a trip to the supermarket is really quick. Yipee!! So now I have more time. Before, almost <em>every</em> weekend I would crave to head out on my own for a couple of hours and I would just sit and drink coffee. Seriously, it was very often. But now, no cravings. I now have more time, and I have it at home with our family. I don't feel like I need to be out of home to have time to myself as often as I used to. I am sure I still will get out on my own and from time-to-time have a coffee but I don't feel like I <em>need</em> to like I did before. ...and I like that!<br />
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-23803584491196693512013-01-25T21:40:00.000+11:002013-01-25T21:53:26.728+11:00Rice flour pancakesI tried a new pancake recipe tonight. We normally try to follow a paleo diet but I do like to eat some of our old favourite foods sometimes. Tonight was one such time. If I can, I still try to avoid wheat and cane sugar so finding this recipe was a real bonus because I have tried almond flour pancakes (yuck), and I have tried gluten-free flour pancakes and they were okay but I was not happy with the extra bits in the flour. Rice flour is not very nutritious I know, but at least it is not doing any harm, just empty calories. <a href="http://yummysupper.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/rice-flour-pancakes.html?m=1" target="_blank">Here is a link to the original recipe</a> over at the Yummy Supper blog. The only change I made was to remove the sugar and I used 2/3 cup of rice flour instead of 10 tablespoons. I served with lashings of top grade maple syrup (which happens to be priced quite well at Costco) and ice cream. It was really easy to make. They tasted delicious and were surprisingly filling!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-19701529387108466602013-01-24T09:17:00.001+11:002013-01-24T09:18:24.743+11:00Becoming an urban homesteaderAbout a year ago, I read the blog entry "<a href="http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2011/10/how-to-be-a-suburban-or-urban-homesteader.html" target="_blank">How to be a (Suburban or Urban) Homesteader</a>" over at The Prairie Homestead. It got me all excited because our dream is to have a small farm. One where we raise our own meat, and grow our own food. I have dreams of an orchid, a vege patch to feed a huge family, chickens for our own eggs, probably even some other animals for meat (I'm not really an animal person, but I would love meat and would love to know my food had a nice life) and lets not forget a two story house and green rolling fields in every direction. That is our dream. It is currently out of our reach, we don't even own a house, but we are confident our time will come when God blesses our dream and we live this life. That's when I get impatient... when will it be our time? Then I read the above post. It changed how I thought, suddenly I realised all the skills I could be acquiring now that could help in our long term goals. I don't want to finally get our farm and then have to start to learn how to grow veges! <em>Of course, I need to start learning and practising now! </em><br />
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I sometimes say to Westley, "What a great homemaker I would be by now if I had have quit work when we got married and started being a full-time housewife then. That is, before we had children rather than trying to figure it all out now after we have the children. My systems and processes would have been all figured out and then adding children to the equation would have been easier". Well, I can't turn back the time on that issue but I can use it to my advantage now with homesteading. We can learn loads now before our lives depend on what we produce ;) <br />
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So that was a year ago, I feel like we've made some pretty good progress, especially considering we have had an extra baby in that time. Westley has done a lot of the hard labour. I hope to share details of our progress in posts to come.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-9164498618973111212012-11-15T22:02:00.001+11:002012-11-15T22:02:11.214+11:00A maths leson out-and-aboutI was caught out recently. We needed to go out to the shops which of course then led to a trip to the coffee shop. I usually take a book but we left it in the car by accident. So I was wondering what I could do or talk about to take advantage of the opportunity to be sitting down together with Sunshine's full attention. Then Sunshine and Sweet-pea on their own started counting the tables in the shop, which led me to asking them a string of real-life maths problems for them to solve. Ahah! maths, what a good topic. Across the counter was a row of 21 thermos cups, perfect for adding and subtracting. Here is a list of what I remember asking them.<br />
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<ul>
<li>How many tables are free?</li>
<li>If some customers came in and sat down at one of the tables, how many would be left?</li>
<li>How many thermos cups are lined up on the counter?</li>
<li>How many of each colour?</li>
<li>If a customer came in and bought 5, how many are left?</li>
<li>If another customer came in after that and bought 4, how many are left?</li>
<li>Can you count backwards from 20?</li>
<li>Can you count just with even numbers?</li>
<li>How about counting in 10s, can you count in 10s?</li>
</ul>
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I just love it when I figure out ways of teaching that aren't planned and instead just flow naturally out of our daily life.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-74011069589570965972012-11-01T21:51:00.000+11:002012-11-01T21:51:08.729+11:00Merry Christmas!!I can't help it, I love Christmas. Following my last post on playing to your strengths, I thought it would be a huge bonus if I could find ways for us to learn around doing things that I love. It's fun!<br />
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So, this week, (a bit too excited as it was still October) with Christmas tunes playing, I did mostly a whole days learning from the first Christmas story.<br />
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To start we read a the story of the first Christmas (subject: english/reading). Then as a family, we drew the nativity scene, a bit of free drawing, a bit of copying from the book, but most importantly it was a family effort with crayons and textas--2 year old scribble included (subject: art). Then we learnt the first verse of Silent Night and sang it together (subjects: english/memory work and music). <br />
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Our family nativity artwork.</div>
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It was a bit of fun, we now have our family nativity scene up on the window for all to see who visit us, and it made me so happy when Sunshine and Sweet-pea requested we sing it again yesterday, and then today I heard Sweet-pea talking and say "the first Christmas". Of course she knew the story already, but I'd never heard her refer to it as "the first Christmas" before so that made me smile. They are learning and we are having fun at the same time.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-41667269890410052702012-11-01T21:17:00.000+11:002012-11-01T21:17:00.165+11:00Playing to our strengthsI could make this a really long post. But I don't want to. I just want to say, that I have leant how easy things can be if you have courage to break the mould, and play to your strengths. This was made acute to me recently when my hubby and I were asked to go on the roster for children's church. I have been involved in children's church on and off over the past 12 or so years, but since I had children of my own, I've not really wanted to. The responsibility has been too much to add to our already hectic lives, and being me (one who plays by the rules and does things because that is what is always done) being involved in children's church has almost always felt like a burden to me. But this time is different. This time my hubby is the main one responsible, and I am his trusty assistant. And would you know, being who he is, he thought why do I have to do it the way everyone else does? I don't want to. I'll do it my way.<br />
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His way was playing to his strengths. Music. He played the guitar and sang, and started teaching the children some good old Christian songs. He was himself, natural and genuine and I was impressed. Impressed at how naturally he taught, how genuine the experience was, and how joyful it was to just flow with it and not be burdened with trying to replicate what everyone else does just because I was locked into thinking that is what we had to do. It was refreshing and he did a superb job leading and I think I did a pretty good job for someone who can't sing very well!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-38571931851745711792012-10-29T09:00:00.000+11:002012-10-29T09:00:02.973+11:00Ignoring the foldingLast week I bribed myself with a bottle of bubbly (a treat for me!) to fold the washing that had piled up. This week I thought I'd do the same thing, but when I sat down at almost 10pm Friday night to do it, I gave up after 3 or so items. The pile is now sitting next to me and I think I will ignore it again another night.<br />
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Sidenote--I have taught my girls how to fold with me, it is a part of their home education to help me with some of the household chores. But lately I have been ignoring it. Things feel so busy even though I've spent practically the whole week at home.<br />
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Anyway, I just think that it's ok to have some washing piled up. I mean, we have clean clothes to wear, my children are looked after, the house is mostly clean and in order, and we are getting through each day. I have time to spend with my darlings and that is what matters. I may look back on this period and think yes, I had a lot of washing waiting to be folded, but I will also look back and think of all the fun times we spent watching movies together, playing games, reading books, cooking, breastfeeding, changing nappies, trying to get Flopsy to smile etc., and at the moment that feels like time much better spent than folding the washing :)Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-2494685071340210172012-10-27T20:24:00.000+11:002012-10-27T20:24:04.637+11:00Life through my children's eyesSometimes I like to think through the events of the day through the eyes of my children. I will pick one of them and then replay some of the conversations and things that we did, imagining I was the little innocent he/she is, and wonder what it was like for them. What did he or she experience? What must he or she been thinking or feeling? I imagine being small, behaving as he or she did, responding to me or what we were doing or seeing. Was I respecting and valuing them and what he or she had to say or was I in a rush, not listening to them?<br />
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It is an interesting thing to do. Often it is fun, and more often than not it softens me more towards them. It reminds me to view them as real individuals with feelings and ideas and personalities that are young and innocent and vulnerable. Little grown-ups in the making, worthy of respect and time and love from their mum.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-91358855914785942152012-10-15T22:29:00.000+11:002012-10-15T22:29:00.779+11:00Friday funA new favourite ritual for us on Fridays is to head to Gloria Jeans coffee shop with my 4 darlings and read a Beatrix Potter classic to them. I did it mostly for me to begin with, to feel like we were being productive whilst doing something I loved (drinking coffee). I didn't think my darlings liked the story time all that much until one week recently they said something like, "where is the book mum? I want a story", that I discovered they actually enjoyed hearing a story. It is hard sometimes. Sometimes I have to talk loud and quickly and sometimes Sunshine has to hold the book up for Sweet-pea and Harrison to look at while I'm feeding Flopsy and reading it out. But it is fun, and it is something I now look forward to each week we are free... Coffee with my darlings (and a Beatrix Potter classic). <br />
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And upon leaving we usually end up with some lovely comments about what a good job I'm doing and really, we can all do with hearing more of that when we are working so hard as mums!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-1843984003165999392012-10-12T22:35:00.001+11:002012-10-12T22:37:00.990+11:00Do you want to know what I'm excited about?Handwriting! ...and teaching cursive handwriting to my children. ...and maybe even to me?!<br />
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I initially downloaded the Victorian cursive font from our state government education department's website and was making worksheets for my children to copy and learn. I liked the new way they were teaching letters such as b which was more like the old loopy version they taught like 50 years ago than the ugly 'modern' cursive I was taught. I have nice handwriting, but I spent time making it neat and pretty, but I would love to have <em>gorgeous</em> handwriting. So we have been working off my personally made worksheets but I wasn't happy with the progress and I realised, "<em>hey, I'm homeschooling, I don't have to do things like everyone else who is at school in my state</em>". <br />
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Enter <a href="http://www.hwtears.com/hwt" target="_blank">Handwriting Without Tears</a> curriculum. It is not expensive (yay!) and will ultimately teach a gorgeous cursive style that in time, my daughters will love to scrawl notes to their husbands in and my son will love to write loving notes to his wife in. And maybe, my husband will one day love to receive notes from me in ;) ... So I ordered two books to get cracking in. I'm excited that I will have something that my children can pick up each day and work in without me having to do any prework. It is sorted, tested and should work. So, hopefully the children love it too. Will be kind of annoying if they don't ;)<br />
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One downside was the cost. Shipping from the US is expensive! Frustrating that things cost so much to post to us here in little Oz...Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-25785006446509461832012-10-12T22:02:00.000+11:002012-10-12T22:35:06.917+11:00One thing is for certainI can not manage 2 blogs. It remains to be seen if I can manage 1, but 2, certainly not. So I have decided to post my homeschool posts here with anything else I decide to blog about and just manage this one blog. Maybe then it won't seem like such a big task and I will be able to handle it. We will see... so anyway, that's what I'm doing :) Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-49528425367966188492012-09-25T15:44:00.000+10:002012-09-25T15:44:47.575+10:00I have a baby! She is cute and squishy and over 3 months old. I will call her Flopsy on this blog after Peter Rabbit's sister bunny. It seems fitting, as she is so relaxed. We also affectionately call her Paleo baby, because she is our first official paleo baby and by golly she is an awesome baby. Firstly she was born quickly - in only 3 hours (thankyou Lord!) and in her 3 months she has been the most relaxed baby, almost never crying. The other night she cried. I almost didn't know what to do, a long shower calmed her down (I think that is her happy place ;) She has been amazing and of course big siblings help. They help rock her to sleep when I'm busy with dinner or chores and entertain her by dancing around and being another face in her sweet eyes.<br />
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I get lots of "wow, are they all yours?" comments in the shops and I love it. Really love it. I swan around with them like the proud mother duck with them following after me. Yep, I think they are pretty cute, which explains why I have a million of them. But honestly, this time around has probably been the easiest of all. I just don't have much spare time ;) yeah... kind of don't have much spare time at all.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-52119849101717262112012-03-07T11:03:00.001+11:002012-09-25T15:25:53.349+10:00Put it out thereOr as I really think of it... ask God for it. He knows us and He wants to give us good gifts. I believe that all good things are from God. I believe that God is my father, in heaven yes, and all powerful. I am His child and just like Westley wants to give our children good gifts, God also wants to give me good gifts.<br />
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We have experienced many times in our lives where God has blessed us with material things we need or just plain want, but I have a fresh example in my mind which is why I am writing this specifically now... Here is my story...<br />
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When I was pregnant with Sunshine, we totally splashed out on an expensive stroller. I loved it, I still love it - three children on it is still going strong. One of the wisest things we purchased. At the time, the stroller came with a basinette/carry cot attachment but at a sweet $200 on top of the $600+ we were already forking out, seemed too much for us so I went without it. I wanted one, but we just could not justify the expense. Then with each additional child I would think about it, and think, "maybe we could get one now?" but no, we just couldn't do it. Never-the-less I enjoyed what I had and loved my beautiful stroller. I didn't think of myself as lacking or anything, I just tried to make the most of what I had and I knew I was blessed with what I had.<br />
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Earlier in this pregnancy I decided to check out ebay - maybe I could pick one up cheap?? I also started to think about a basinette for the first time too... so I would roam through ebay for both items. Dreaming... nothing really stood out to me, and I'm not really a person for second hand items when I don't know the person it's coming from either (one of my quirks). But God knew what I wanted. He knew the desire of my heart.<br />
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A month or two later and I get a random text message from a great friend who I don't see often...<br />
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<i>"are you still a mountain buggyer? I got the basinette attachment this time around for [her third child] and found it fab ... Would you like mine if you don't have? X". </i></div>
It turns out that this attachment, is also certified by the makers for use as a basinette as well as a carrycot for the stroller (so covers both my wants). Amazing! It is in excellent, brilliant, superb, wonderful condition and I am over the moon to finally have my 'nice to have', after all these years. This was no coincidence. This was God giving me good gifts that He knew I wanted. I'm almost bawling now... :( tears of joy ;) ...<br />
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So I wanted to encourage you all out there, if there is something you need, something you want, no matter how 'material' it may seem. Why not take it to God, put it out there :)Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-79351069661083955052012-02-29T09:47:00.000+11:002012-02-29T09:47:20.569+11:00Family businessDid you know that 99% of small businesses fail? Did you know that a large contributing factor to this statistic is a failure to adequately plan. This was one of the first facts I learnt in my high school business studies class.<br />
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A love for business was born in me back then which I have not been able to shake since. 14 years later, I have graduated from a degree in business, only my role now is in our home, not out running a business.<br />
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Since graduating, I've spent quite a lot of time feeling stupid for holding our family up financially, by investing in an <i>[expensive] </i>education that we can't use to better our financial position. What a waste of time and money I've thought. But do you know what I'm now learning? This degree has taught me plenty for running a successful household and managing money. See, I'm starting to see that families are not all that dissimilar to a small business.<br />
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You have the CEO (the husband), the leader of the whole company. The Managing Director (me - the wife) who oversees the day-to-day running of the household. The CFO (someone who controls the finances, in charge of the budget and paying the bills). Money comes in (income or profits) and money goes out (expenses). A place (home) is required for the base operations to take place in. The company (family) has a vision, where they want to be, and a core service offering: providing a nurturing place to support, strengthen and encourage people (children), a platform from which to propel them into the world to achieve all that God has planned for them. Running a successful family requires intense management of resources, money, time and energy; and significant collaboration between the senior management team (husband and wife).<br />
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Back to my introductory statement, many small businesses fail for lack of planning. I wonder if this can be true for families also. Many families, while still together, may not achieve all they could or want to for lack of planning. Planning keeps you focused, on track and working together. Planning creates a peace around achieving goals. It increases success and the beauty is that it comes in all shapes and sizes. I like plans and I think they are important. Can you tell? ;)<br />
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Anyway, I wanted to encourage all the wives (and mums) out there. If you are a wife or a mum, your role is incredibly valuable, you are also a Managing Director with the potential to have a very successful business!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-7949375812394839422012-02-22T09:57:00.000+11:002012-02-22T09:57:48.785+11:00Encouraging words for Christian mothersWestley read this to me on 28 March 2006 and I wrote it down. It has been a huge source of encouragement to me over the past six years and I thought it may encourage some other mums out there. They are direct quotes from Rick Joyner in the "The Great Liberation" in the Morning Star Journal Vol. 15. No.4.<br />
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<ul><li>"Our children have a greater calling than Solomon: they are called to reign with Christ. Therefore, every mother of a christian child is a true "queen mother"."</li>
<li>"What women are called to do in the home, in intercession, and teaching children, is far more important than going out and making money."</li>
<li>"It is said that our basic character traits are set by the time we are four years old. Therefore, this is when teaching and instruction are most critical. The mothers teaching has its greatest impact on the child during these most formative years, and this can have the greatest impact on the course of a person's life."</li>
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I hope they bring encouragment to you too!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-26875637096762434932012-02-17T11:53:00.000+11:002012-02-17T11:53:56.482+11:00The simple woman's daybookThis is my first daybook entry... I spotted these first on another blog and enjoyed reading them, so I thought you might enjoy reading mine... <br />
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<b>Outside my window...</b><br />
it is gloomy and cool. This has been a weird summer, but nice.<br />
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<b>I am thinking...</b><br />
that I should really read more Beatrix Potter to the girls.<br />
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<b>I am thankful...</b><br />
it is Friday. A restful day and we have no pressure on us for today except dancing for the girls this afternoon.<br />
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In the kitchen...</b><br />
it is a mess :( oh my goodness, I haven't thought much about food for today. Probably gluten-free sausages as they are a hit with Mr Harrison. I got our groceries delivered this week and it was brilliant! While slightly more expensive, I enjoyed just ordering the seasonal box of vegetables and fruit so I didn't have to make decisions. Last night we had steak and stir-fried red and green capsicum and onions with a splash of tamari. It was so good, minimal fuss and I so would not have picked those veges up on my own, so it is nice to have the decision made for me :) <b><br />
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I am wearing...</b> <b></b><br />
my pyjamas... I said it was a restful day today ;)<br />
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I am creating...</b> <b></b><br />
my first daybook entry ;) but I here is where I tell you that I've got grand plans for a patchwork quilt for mine & Westley's bed. I bought the beautiful fabric at a store that was closing down so it was half price. I've not made a quilt before, but I just want a basic square design. I'm hoping I can figure it out. I borrowed a book at the library which has been helpful so far. I have washed and ironed the fabric and bought the thread. Maybe I will progress more on the weekend as I really want it done before my new babe arrives. <br />
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I am going...</b> <b></b><br />
to get out of my pyjamas and let Sunshine have the computer.<br />
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</b><b>I am reading...</b> <br />
<ul><li>Rachel's Garden by Marta Perry. It is an Amish fiction story, I read the first one, Leah's Choice and really enjoyed the 'clean' romance and learning about Amish life.</li>
<li>Hypnobirthing The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan thanks to a kind friend who gave it to me. I have read it before, most of it twice, but need a refresher so I can be a confident, calm birther by June ;)</li>
<li>I'm also following the 100 days Essential Jesus bible reading plan in the YouVersion app in my iPhone. I've found it great for giving me snippets of gold to think about (and therefore retain!) as some days are just a few verses. </li>
</ul><b> I am hoping...</b> <b></b><br />
For more energy so I can achieve all I want to achieve around the home. <br />
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I am looking forward to...</b><br />
my first yoga class at the gym tomorrow and dinner with two girlfriends friends who I have not seen in a long time! Oh, and it's Friday so Escape to the Country is on - I love watching and dreaming about living in a snug cottage in the English countryside. <b> </b> <b><br />
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I am learning... </b><b></b><br />
to teach Sunshine to read. This is the first time I've gone through this as Sunshine is our first to enter our home education program ;), it has been a journey but this week we hit a milestone and Sunshine read her first book. I'm stoked! <br />
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Around the house...</b> <b></b><br />
I have been working on the laundry! Sorting it out, making it tidy, getting the huge pile of dirty things down. My huge win this week was figuring out how to re-jig the small room to permanently accommodate our clothes horse so hubby can have his office looking clean and inspiring again. <br />
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I am pondering...</b> <b></b><br />
the time... good grief! what happened to my morning?<br />
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One of my favorite things...</b> <b></b><br />
pretty much all things Peter Rabbit (by Beatrix Potter). Sweet stories, and I love that Harrison has been asking for the Peter Rabbit dvd to go on regularly, and the Peter Rabbit book because I am hopeing he will love the sweet stories and drawings too!<br />
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A few plans for the rest of the week...</b> <br />
back to the gym baby! ...and normal, normal life. Ballet this afternoon, and a few errands tomorrow and girls night out dinner tomorrow. Should make church on Sunday. Next week I will see another close friend I have not seen in about a year. Oh and the new homeschool playgroup I have started attending. I'm looking forward to that! It is so nice to be around other people in person who have made the same educational choices as me.<br />
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You can find out more about participating in The simple woman's daybook, by clicking <a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-45655935412255949392012-02-16T16:42:00.003+11:002012-02-16T16:42:00.062+11:00I joined a gym!Guess what friends? I joined a gym for the first time in my life. It had always been a luxury out of my reach but I was finally able to justify it, so yay! I can get fit. I've been feeling like my body is falling apart and I know that I am in my prime. 30 years old, I should be looking my best, feeling my best and it ain't no excuse for me to think that I'm into my fourth pregnancy in six years. Pregnancy or no pregnancy, I'm 30 and I want to feel like it. So I bit the bullet (while the joining fee was zero) and signed myself up for 12 months. I found a good women's gym five minutes down the road that had a good atmosphere (I have to <i>want </i>to go there!).<br />
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I have a bit of experience with exercising while pregnant so I'm not going to do anything crazily intense, my intentions are to just walk on the treadmill a few times a week, maybe some light weights on my arms and a weekly yoga class (or two). I'm excited! Excited to feel good and hopefully I will be in my best state to give birth in June... and get back in shape again after my post-birth rest is over. I'm also hoping this will provide me with peaceful time each day just to myself, sowing into my health, which I am also hoping, will make me a better wife and Mum.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-16606679395326446982012-02-15T16:26:00.000+11:002012-02-15T16:26:21.208+11:00Hopscotching the lesson awaySunshine and Sweet-pea were asking me about hopscotch and showing me how they try to play it on the tiles inside the house. That got me thinking, why not give them some chalk to draw on the concrete, we could have our own hopscotch going on and they could get some exercise and turn it into a bit of a lesson. So that is what we did!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWN-kwaL3C46uRk5MA880wHpxfbC4RXL7UPyyrdWBF_g2hSPFpo6bwEVgf1lcShXD8seKg6hGMWZVmzZeJxfo28TPrWFnyI8tUxJwuhAZoFZrdIeTVTfxuP_PrezE9pVog_KqXLB4UJYO0/s1600/hopscotch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWN-kwaL3C46uRk5MA880wHpxfbC4RXL7UPyyrdWBF_g2hSPFpo6bwEVgf1lcShXD8seKg6hGMWZVmzZeJxfo28TPrWFnyI8tUxJwuhAZoFZrdIeTVTfxuP_PrezE9pVog_KqXLB4UJYO0/s320/hopscotch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I didn't really have any learning objectives set, I know that Sunshine could always do with reinforcing her number writing so I knew she was going to write her own numbers. They both tried to draw the squares but it didn't work out so well so I did that bit and wrote the numbers for Sweet-pea (but she had to tell me which ones to write). As I they were doing it, I realised they were refining they're coordination (we introduced the pebble throw to skip blocks).<br />
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Once they were tired and ready to go inside, Sunshine insisted on drawing a picture of it on paper and writing about it. So we rolled in some copywork to the activity also (I wrote a sentence about it for Sweet-pea which she copied over and Sunshine composed a very long sentence which I wrote out for her to copy). Turned into quite a big lesson which all enjoyed!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-82512961323386885152012-02-08T11:47:00.000+11:002012-02-08T11:47:05.516+11:00I have news!So, it's been a long time... but I have been busy. Busy growing a baby! We have a baby girl due in June. My first winter baby. It is a bit weird, I didn't really think of myself as having four children and being at home to raise and educate them (a nice sized university bill will testify to my plans of a lucrative career climbing the corporate ladder!). So I am still figuring out what this life of mine has for me when I spent so many years working towards a life that contradicts what I actually want to do now that I'm here. I know for sure I want to be here with my children but what does that mean? What does that mean for me in 15 or 20 years? I don't know... Something for another post. But what I do know now is that I love babies. I love my children and I am excited to have a million of them and raise them and educate them with Westley. Okay, well, maybe not a million, but four or five would be ace ;)Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-62235582976376720132012-02-08T11:42:00.000+11:002012-02-08T11:42:16.535+11:00Long time no speak...I guess here is where I tell you that I'm not really a writer. It doesn't come naturally to me. Westley is a born-writer, but me, no, no, no. So it is kind of weird that I have a blog. I know. Doesn't make sense, but I guess that is me, I am full of inconsistencies. Hmm... I guess that is all I'll say on that ;)<br />
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Anyway, I just know that I am learning all the time. My family is growing and I am changing all the time and sometimes it is nice to document these things and I kind of think that maybe if I share something I learn then the road for someone else might be easier. I know that my road has been easier because of other people who have shared their learnings with me. So I hope that you will feel better off for reading my posts. However infrequent my posts become at times :)Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-30500178998096882392011-10-14T15:03:00.000+11:002011-10-14T15:03:22.954+11:00Education plan for week commencing 17 October 2011After a pretty flat week, with minimal learning effort I feel the need to plan ahead for the coming week in order to actually achieve something of substance that I can feel good about. I should note though, that this is just a plan. I will not be a slave to home-education. It needs to adapt to us and fit in around our life and plans. With that in mind, I am not assigning work to specific days, but just general goals to achieve so I am free to do be spontaneous and if good weather is calling we can hit the beach if we want! So I guess this is more of an ideas prompting sheet to get me started...<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Maths</span></strong><br />
<ol><li>Comparing different random items around the house to see which is taller or shorter, heavier or lighter, hotter or colder, or any other attributes that seem significant at the time.</li>
<li>Basic addition sums (single figured sums).</li>
<li>Build upon odd and even numbers and practice counting in twos.</li>
<li>Object counting. E.g., have 4 counters on one side, and 1 counter on another and ask Sunshine to add or remove counters so it equals the other side. </li>
</ol><strong><span style="font-size: large;">English</span></strong><br />
<ol><li>Read two books almost each day. Pick one to read multiple times in the week and then randomly choose a different 2nd book each time.</li>
<li>Talk more about letters, what makes up a word, what makes up a sentence, what makes up a story. How you can write stories with words or also with pictures. </li>
<li>Continue her handwriting workbook.</li>
</ol>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453869107485736538.post-49372434074192978962011-10-14T14:41:00.000+11:002011-10-14T14:41:09.380+11:00Home sweet homeWe are home and back to reality... hmph. It is good to be home, but honestly, a bit sad! It was a wonderful trip and most of my hopes were achieved. We spent loads of time with family, saw some great old friends and had a ball just plain hanging out with family some more. I loved it!!<br />
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My plans for learning weren't quite as achieved - we didn't get to the planned journal writing, or the reading, but natural learning was there never-the-less. Socialisation a-plenty, and lots of fun times. It was lots of fun. Did I mention it was fun? I thought it would be hard, with the 3 darlings (without Westley's help), but really it wasn't at all. Family was very supportive and it was a joy.<br />
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So yeah, we are home. I had a good catch-up with friends this morning and I have now had a couple of days of no tears about being back to reality where I need to do lots of stuff, think ahead, plan meals, cook meals etc... so things are looking up :)Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858518326540230559noreply@blogger.com0