Outside my window… it’s an overcast day, hoping for more rain, the water tanks need filling I am thankful… to be living in freedom  to be able to tuck our children into a warm bed at night with full bellies to be able to worship my God  I am thinking… about the atrocities in Iraq and Israel/Palestine, my heart is heavy, so heavy, God is weeping First time slashing the paddocks:) Learning all the time… interest and ability in reading for Jelly Bean and Jack Jack is coming along at a great pace:) steady progress in all areas for the children. Totally astounded that despite all the stresses of our…

Outside my window… the morning sun is shining, it promises to be warm winter’s day, it is still cold inside though. I am thankful… to have our girl home from College for my talented husband who continues to astound me with his tiling progress that our three oldest boys are able to have this time together in the City, the bro’s just hanging out, they’re really happy:) I am thinking… about nutrition still, reading lots and lots about brain chemistry and how food impacts.  Researching flour and sugar alternatives, so many conflicting opinions. Learning all the time… holidays here, we’re in go slow mode.  I’m sure there must be value…

Outside my window… the rain is pouring down! Children are checking gutters and downpipes to ensure all the water runs into the tank I am thankful… for a very talented husband who is currently tiling our new bathrooms!:):)  He really astounds me with how he can turn his hand to anything.  I’ve yet to see him fail to undertake and master any skill I am thinking… about food, what’s nutritious and what’s empty of value.  To tell the truth I’ve always struggled to keep the various foods in the various columns in my mind, I think I need a chart Learning all the time… crafting essays with our highschoolers using The…

Outside my window… in the distance I can hear the busy street sounds of commuters heading to work, and a helicopter passing overhead, the garbage truck, suburban city noises. I (and Bella) are still in the City visiting our College children. I am thankful… for my awesome husband and 17 & 14 year old sons who are manning the homefires and doing an awesome job.  I really can’t express how impressed I am with them all.   thankful also of our 12 & 9 year olds who are ‘stepping up to the plate’ and pitching in and helping. thankful for PC’s mother who is travelling all day today to spend a week+ to…

Outside my window… silence, it is still dark out and I’m the only one yet awake.  I admit I do love early mornings all to myself. I am thankful… for the new child dental benefits schedule.  Free $1000 worth of dental work over two years! discovering what has been causing my wrist agony.  Book strain. Yep, excessive reading, holding those hardcovers has done them in. to live in this land of peace and plenty.  I’ve just read Kisses from Katie, set in Uganda, we have so much in this country we take for granted. our College kids, so proud of them, learning and growing. They’ll be home for Easter, counting…

Outside my window… all is quiet, it is early morning, the only sound I can hear is a chook(chicken) clucking I am thankful… for healthy, happy children for my darling husband for my health. My wrists have been very painful for the past three months, I’ve wondered if I’ve been developing osteoarthritis, anyhow the pain is lessening.  I am thinking… about how to develop skills in a way to capture keen interest about screen rules, what’s working and what needs tweaking about discipline and self-discipline, the need and the implementation  Learning all the time… reading is coming along at a galloping pace! By mid-year I’m certain both Jelly Bean and…

Outside my window… finally a cooler day to break the intense heat. I am thankful… for our darling Bella, her safe delivery, that she is in excellent health and most surprisingly of all a girl!  Yes still in shock to have all of our children, all 10, home for Christmas, oh joy:) that our College boy is home still and that our girl will be back soon, she’s currently away on a short trip. I am thinking… about the needs of our College children, needing their parents’ support no matter their age this is Einstein’s last year at home, contemplating what skills and knowledge we need to impart in the short…

Outside my window… it continues to be dry, so very dry.  Bushfire weather indeed. I am thankful…  we have not been threatened by bushfires here, whilst NSW continues to be in a State of Emergency elsewhere. I am praying… for the hundreds of families who lost their homes in Thursday’s fires, for the fireries fighting to contain the blazes, for a miracle that the expected fires this week aren’t as as devastating as predicted.  Praying for the intentions of my children, for my brother and his new fiancee, for a local friend’s intentions. I am thinking…  about parents changing roles as their children grow, and how very proud we are of our adult…

Outside my window… the grass is so brown, we are desperately needing rain.  Our rainwater tanks are nearly empty and we’ve informed the children, one minute showers, on the spray.  Oh how I dislike the shower head being turned to spray.  No rain forecasted any time foreseeable:( I am thankful…  to have my ‘boy’ home again. At 16 this was Einstein’s first time on a plane, his first time off to the Big Smoke to spend a week and a half with his College siblings.  He LOVED it, so much happening down there and he enjoyed spending time with his big sister and brother. He thoroughly enjoyed the Ball too,…