What a Day!

The Start of our Day

This sunrise was the start of our day, and my daughter took the photo just before breakfast this morning. In our home, we arise at 6:45 a.m., and then we have our morning devotions.

Today has been a really busy day, as we had to travel to Port Pirie so that my husband could have x-rays taken of his knee, and I had a CT scan taken of my back. We then went op-shopping ane we had some really good finds – my daughter found a skirt, two blouses and ten books, my son found a brand new polo shirt and a T-shirt, and my husband found three skirts, one blouse and a dressy summer top for me. All of the women’s summer clothing was on sale for $1.00 per item, so for all of my daughter’s clothing and mine, it cost $6.00, and that included my daughter’s books, too.

Next stop was to buy a new chainsaw, as ours died the other day – I really can’t complain, as we bought it fifteen years ago, and it was a Stihl 009 – the baby of chainsaws. The new chainsaw is a larger model, a Farm Boss MS290, but still a Stihl, as they are so reliable. My husband is so happy with it – he couldn’t wait to try it out tonight – you know, boys never grow up, they just play with more expensive toys! It was either buy a new chainsaw or an air conditioner, and the amount that this chainsaw cost wouldn’t even cover our first year’s power bill for an air conditioner.

On the way home, we dropped in to see friends and they invited us to stay for lunch. We usually see these friends every Friday when we go shopping and have afternoon tea with them, and they sometimes come out for dinner with us.

This old Run-Down Farmhouse is on the way Home

After leaving our friends, we did our grocery shopping, and on the way home, we took the photo above. I often wonder what sort of lives these people lived when they lived here – did they know of God, perhaps spend time with Him in prayer, have a personal relationship with Him? There are many old run-down farmhouses in this area, and it makes you wonder why they were abandoned, doesn’t it?

Next we decided to check the mail, as our mailbox is a three kilometre drive from our home. After leaving the mailbox, the mudflaps dragged on the ground, and my husband said, “I think we have a flat tyre.” Sure enough, the tyre was dead flat, and I’m sure that the last thing that the poor guy felt like doing was changing the car tyre on the dirt road. Nevertheless, he did, and we have now decided that we are going to put light truck tyres onto the back of the car. This is two punctures in two weeks, and the light truck tyres are puncture resistant, so next week they’ll be put on. Imagine the problems if my husband wasn’t with me, and I had to change the tyre??? I can’t even lift the spare tyre, let alone jack the car up!

In the middle of all this, our children did most of their school work in the car, although my son did some of his last night. I praise God that tomorrow is Saturday, and I can sleep in. What a Day!

Our Homeschooling Day

This is a sample of our homeschooling day, although sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan. I used to really stress out when things didn’t exactly follow our plans, but I have learned that I need to leave time for God to work in and through our lives, and this isn’t possible if we I am too inflexible.

The formatting for this timetable I must attribute to Linda, although we have worked it out to suit our curriculum plan and our lives, so any similarities have long since disappeared.  My point is that we can learn so much from fellow homeschoolers, if we only take the time to “stop and smell the roses” along the way. I find it useful to have a timetable, as we tend to work better when we have planning and structure in our school life, and everybody knows what is expected of them.

In the Jewish home, the teaching of the law of the Lord was primarily the task of the parents, and the atmosphere of the home was supposed to be wholesome, the conversation – about God and His laws; and the teaching, diligent.

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house,
and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand,
and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house,
and on thy gates. Deuteronomy 6: 7-9

In the February edition of the newsletter from Australian Christian College there is a new graphic design course, so my son is very eager to find out more about this course and the credits that it attracts for his year 12 certificate. We might just find ourselves changing what he is studying, but I think that this would be a change for the better. He loves graphic design, and to be able to study something that he is passionate about and gain recognition for it would be a real God-send.

One of those days

Today has been one of those days! It started out with my husband sleeping in, as he had a headache, so I arose and woke the children, in order to start the housework. Then, I was too wide awake to go back to bed, so I stayed up, too.

I had a shower and washed my hair, and then went to dry it – aargh! My hairdresser, who I have been going to for over 20 years, cut my hair differently, and it wouldn’t do anything that I wanted it to. I tried cutting it, but it was too hard, so I gave the scissors to my husband – a very brave move on my part, I know, but I was desperate. Well, to cut a long story short, or rather long hair shorter, I could finally get it to sit down, but now I am looking for a new hairdresser. I absolutely loathe going to a new hairdresser because not many will cut your hair the way that you want it. My hair is long, wavy (bordering on curly) and no amount of coaxing will get it to sit down when it’s thinned out, and that’s what nearly all hairdressers want to do with it, as it’s so thick. It’s better when I just leave the thickness there and work with it, instead of working against it.

We have also started a new curriculum this year, and it’s proving pretty slow going. I don’t know why – perhaps it’s just the heat.

It has been so hot here, and to top it all off, we had a power blackout for about two hours. We had no fans, air conditioner – nothing, and it was so hot that we nearly melted. I’m so glad that the power is finally back on, and when it cools down a little, I’m going to bed, and hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.