My daughter loves baking, and considering she hadn’t tackled this recipe before, I think that she has done an excellent job. After she had finished the Chocolate Cakes, she also made Sago for dessert – another first for her. I love the freedom of homeschooling, and that my daughter loves baking. ♥

Ganeida recently posted about a Home Economics course that Ditz was undertaking, and Ditz’s culinary skills are excellent, judging by the latest round of cooking, so we have just emailed the company to find out the cost of posting the curriculum to Australia. My daughter is very keen to start this course, and it sounds as if it is just what we are looking for. What about your daughters – do they like testing out their culinary expertise, or do you do all of the cooking in your home?

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. Psalm 86: 12

for:~

• Answered prayer for my husband – his spots are healing, and his pain relief seems to be working this time. Praise You, heavenly Father that You have heard the prayers of Your people and that you have been swift to respond. Your Word says that You will never leave us nor forsake us, and God never lies.

• Our children, who have been a tower of strength through the difficult times – milking, feeding animals, doing dishes, cooking, ironing and generally helping whenever help is needed, but especially for the hugs and words of encouragement and affirmation that mean more than anyone could ever know.

• Friends – blogging friends , internet friends and real-life friends who are true prayer warriors, picking up the challenge and being prepared to pray for my husband – from the bottom of my ♥, I thank you all.

• A good hospital and doctors in our local area – this is so important at times like this.

• Our church – praise God that our church building will be going ahead – thank you Lord, once again, for answered prayer.

• Our home – warm, comfortable beds; food on the table, protection from the elements, fresh goat’s milk and a place where we can say that we truly feel close to God, as He brought us here.

• The ability to be able to homeschool - In Germany it is illegal to homeschool, and Sweden seeks to introduce a law stating that homeschooling will only be allowed under “exceptional circumstances”. Please pray that God will work with the authorities to block this law, and that Swedish homeschoolers will have the ability to be able to homeschool openly. I pray that God will open the eyes of the authorities to the benefits of homeschooling. Praise God that we, in Australia, have the freedom to be able to homeschool openly!

Today has been one of those days – firstly I went to see the physio and found out that I have a bulging disc in my spine, so at least I have a reason for the pain that I am suffering as a result of my fall down the cellar steps. Then we went shopping, during which time my husband retreated to the car, saying that he wasn’t feeling well. Afterwards we travelled home, and we had lunch when we arrived home, but my husband didn’t want any lunch – now, if you know my husband, you will also know that he doesn’t ever say no to food, especially lunch, no matter how sick he is. In fact, the sicker that he is, the more he eats – usually!

He just went to bed, saying that he was feeling cold – mind you, the temperature here has been in the mid-30′s, so that started ringing alarm bells. Then he said that he didn’t remember the journey home, so I phoned the doctor’s rooms and they told me to take him into the hospital. We saw the doctor, and she thinks that he is having withdrawal symptoms from the Fentanyl patches, which he had for the pain in his knee. He had to stop them, as he had a severe allergic response to them, coming out with HUGE spots all over his body, and they were increasing at an alarming rate. The hospital have kept him in for observation overnight, and hopefully he can come home tomorrow.

Please keep my husband in your prayers, as he is the earthly mainstay of our home. Our children have helped with most of the housework today, the ironing and milking of the goats, too, and I praise God that they have learned well, but I do so miss my husband – even if it is only for one night. He really needs to find some pain relief that works and that he is not allergic to, so any of you prayer warriors out there, please be praying for him – I know that I will be.

Oh, and please forgive me if I don’t get to visit your blogs for a short time – things here are pretty hectic at the moment, so hopefully, my friends, I shall see you all soon – God willing.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4: 8

• ...for you are mighty to save, you keep us sheltered beneath your everlasting arms, and you carry us when the going becomes too tough for us to go it alone. I praise you that your love for us is boundless.
  

• …that you have strengthened us during the past week – knowing that you are there for us makes life so much easier.

• …for my husband who has been a tower of strength, even with his worn-out knee. He has cut firewood and been teaching our son how to milk the goats.

• …for patient goats, who will stand still (with enough oats!) while my son perfects his technique in milking them.

• …for my daughter, who has done more than her fair share of cooking and helping out around our home.

• …for friends – blogging friends, internet friends and IRL friends who make life much more valuable simply by their presence in it. The comments that you leave on my blog make me feel loved. ♥

• …for support organisations, such as the HSLDA and ROHUS - May their work be blessed by our Almighty God, as they seek to return Dominic Johannson to the loving arms of his parents, and as they seek to stop the implementation of draconian homeschooling laws in Sweden.

• …for granted travelling mercies during the last week. Even when we had a flat tyre, it was able to be repaired, and we are having light truck tyres put onto the car this week in an attempt to prevent further punctures.

Thank you, Jennifer for hosting Praise each week. Care to participate in this Meme, please visit Jennifer, and don’t forget to leave a comment – she loves visitors.

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!

Tea Talk is a meme set up by Ruth to draw friends closer together and to Celebrate Friendship. If you would like to join in the fun and friendship, please visit Celebrate Friendship to add your own reflection of what Tea Time means to you.

I’m Having:~

A cup of Milo in a china cup, while my husband is having a Moccona Mystique in a white mug with a gold rim. My cup was bought for me by my friend, Janice, as she thought that it suited me, and I love it, as it is so flowery and delicate.

My Cup:~

I’m Feeling:~

• happy that my husband is having his knee x-rayed tomorrow and that he sees the orthopaedic surgeon next week. Praise God that he has medication that keeps the pain more or less under control.
• elated that our housework is finished, and I praise God that my son has taken on the vacuuming and mopping, as my husband isn’t able to do these chores.

On My Mind:~

• our new church building – praying that building will begin soon.
• Dominic Johannson – praying that he will be swiftly reunited with his parents.
• the homeschooling laws currently under review in Sweden.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7

This essay was written by my 13 year old daughter for Christian Growth PACE 138, and was very well written, so I thought that I would share it with you.

Love and affection are two of the most important things in the world. People will go the extra mile for others if they love them, and that is what the meaning of love is. It is cheerfully doing things for other people who are unable to do it themselves. Some chores are made much easier if a person lovingly thanks someone for working on something or helping them with problems. People who are starved of love and affection often become jealous, suspicious or even begin to feel discriminated against.

Some people who feel that they are not loved find a love substitute. Pets are fine, but when someone begins to use them as a substitute for love, they run into problems. Other substitutes are drugs and alcohol. However, there is no true substitute for love, whether you are giving it or receiving it. Another way that they express their feelings is through aggressive behaviour. Most bullies come from a family where they have been starved of love and affection. Not everyone lashes out at society if they are love starved. Some people withdraw from society and hide themselves in their little shell. Sometimes people may not show love to other people, and this is normally because they have not been loved themselves. People may feel hurt that other people appear not to love them, but they are only imitating the people that they live around. Love is not something that you are born with, it is acquired.

Some parents refuse to punish their children because they are afraid that they will lose their children’s love. However, they would be more loving if they did punish their children, because it would be better for them in the long run. As long as children understand that the punishment is given because their parents love them, and not because their parents are trying to make their life miserable, they should accept the punishment. Although the children may think that their parents are being downright mean, discipline is better than allowing the child to continue in his bad behaviour. Parents should know that their children will love them more if they prevent the heartache that could come to their child through one bad act. Although the giving of gifts is a way to show love, the only way to show people that we truly love them is through the giving of our time to them. Our actions speak louder than our words, and our time is the most precious gift that anyone could give to another. That gift means that we value them highly enough to take time out of our day to spend with them.

People who have not been loved by others should remember that there is One who will always love them and will never let them go, no matter what others do to them. It is Jesus Christ who has always loved us and will always love us. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

There are moves afoot in Sweden to make homeschooling a whole lot tougher, and the amendments are currently going through finishing touches before they are presented to Parliament. Under the new laws home education would only be allowed under “extraordinary circumstances”.

In only one year, homeschooling in Sweden has gone from being totally acceptable to authorities being much more aggressive this year. In 2008, Jonas Himmelstrand, president of the Swedish homeschoolers association (ROHUS) received permission from the local school to homeschool, but this year families are being fined, and the new law would allow the imposition of criminal sanctions.

Lisa Angerstig said that the authorities had acted very aggressively toward her family, and they have been fined $1,400, and the Swedish authorities are seeking to enforce the fine. Some of Lisa’s children attend the local Christian school, but Lisa’s second son was bored at school, and asked to be homeschooled. Lisa agreed, as she had homeschooled their other children.

It is important that the HSLDA fight for the right to homeschool so that parents can provide the best education for their children. Homeschooling works well, and is a valid form of education for many parents. How long before America has its first wave of homeschooling asylum seekers from Sweden?

Please pray that the HSLDA and ROHUS can work together to achieve harmony in Sweden’s homeschooling sector once again. ROHUS also have a petition for people living outside of Sweden, to preserve the right to home education in Sweden. Please sign this petition to keep homeschooling legal in Sweden.

Could you also please continue to pray for the reuniting of Dominic Johannson with his parents, Annie and Christer? This little boy has been separated from the love of his parents for far too long – imagine the anguish that both he and they are going through. Dominic and his parents are only allowed a one hour visit every five weeks. This is an atrocious infringement of basic human rights, and what right do the authorities have to separate a loving family and their seven year old son? What was the parents’ crime? They chose not to vaccinate their son and delayed minor dental treatments. Watch out – who’s next?

Has anyone noticed a very definite chill in the air? ‘Tis only autumn here,  but already I have a long sleeved blouse, pink woollen jacket, a heavy corded jacket, long skirt and socks – I know, not a good look, but socks are delightfully warm.

The skies are a bleak, dismal, grey, but praise God, for with the grey clouds come the rain, and we have had about 13 millimetres (over half an inch) – wahoo! The temperature here has dropped dramatically during the last couple of days, and I fear that we’re in for a long, cold winter.

In South Australia, the whole state stops just for the Adelaide Cup, which is a horse racing meeting. Fancy that – fancy stopping just for a horse race! Preposterous! Utterly absurd! Think what effect that this holiday is having on our state’s economy.

Do we stop homeschooling for the day? Nope, we’re not stopping our lives for a horse race. Our homeschooling day is happening just as usual – maths, English, Bible, social studies, science and computer. What about you – do you take the holidays as they come, or perhaps only some of them? Are you strongly opinionated about some of the holidays, or don’t you care either way?