And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,
he went out, and departed into a solitary place,
and there prayed. Mark 1:35

Jenna from Feminine Farmgirl has put up a challenge for April ~ that of  Self-Control ~ diligence in spending our quiet time with the Lord each morning. Sometimes it is so easy to forgo that quiet time with the King of Kings, especially if we are I am running late, and it is not something that I am proud of.

It is that time when the tone for the day is set, and I carry His message through the day with me. This last month there have been very few days when I have not spent quiet and productive time with our Heavenly Father, as I have needed to call on His strength, guidance and wisdom in all things pertaining to our home and family. Perhaps it is good that He puts us through the difficult and trying times, for it is in those times that we are drawn closer to Him.

This last week has been particularly trying for me, as I have had stitches in my foot, due to dropping a bowl of cat dry food and the bowl smashing. My foot required stitching, and then developed an infection in it, but my friend, Gwenda prayed, claiming God’s promises and His mighty healing power. Guess what ~ the infection is gone!

My husband has been a tower of strength, as he has supervised the children while I have spent my quiet time with God, and this time is just so special. It is truly quiet time with our children studying, and I gain so much more out of the time spent with God, when there are no interruptions. I praise God that I have a husband who helps me to keep my appointment with God each morning and helps to make it special, and I praise Jesus for restoring our fellowship with God, so that we can spend time with Him, hearing His voice, praising Him and spending time in prayer with Him.

Why do we spend time in prayer and meditation with God? Because Jesus set us an example, that’s why!

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

Our heavenly Father, I do thank you and give You the praise, for:~

• Providing us with Home Help to help with the mopping and vacuuming while we so desperately need it.
• My husband – he has spent much time recently cutting firewood so that we won’t go cold this winter. The temperature today means that winter is on its way, and it won’t be long before we have to light the combustion fire.
• Our children, who have been a tremendous help in and around the home and our farm, helping with chores that my husband would normally do, not expecting anything in return, just happy to help.
• Friends - blogging friends and IRL friends in particular, who have taken up the mantle of prayer for us recently, and we have been hearing the answers to those prayers. Firstly, my back was finally diagnosed with having four disc bulges (one anterior and three posterior), and the physio is now working on repairing them. Then, we have been struggling with completing the housework each week, but now we have received an answer to that prayer in the way of Home Help – praise God!
• Farm-fresh goats’ milk – our goats are continuing to supply us with goats’ milk, enough for our cooking and for drinking, too.
• Our church, whose building is going ahead. We saw the plans yesterday, and it is very functional and beautiful.
• Balmy autumn weather – I know that it has to come to an end, soon, but I am relishing the time while the days are warm, sunny and the leaves are beginning to fall.
• Sending Your Son to die in our place, a substitutionary sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Through Him our relationship with You is restored, we have access through Him to You and He lives in my heart.

Jennifer, from My Chocolate ♥ hosts Praise each week, and for this I am extremely thankful – care to join, pop on over.

Housework ~ did I say housework? Now, I truly did hear sighs and groans from some of you! Washing your mouth out with chocolate sounds like a wonderful excuse to indulge one’s chocolate addiction without feeling guilty, now doesn’t it?

These last few weeks have been incredibly difficult for us, but not just because of the pain aspect – it is more the frustration of knowing what needs to be done, but not being able to do it. Housework  (there’s that word again!), especially mopping and vacuuming make Thursdays a very long day, with my husband struggling through the vacuuming and my son mopping all of the floors and verandahs – then having to do his school work, as well. He is currently studying toward his year 12 certificate, so school work is not a walk in the park, either.

People from our church have asked whether they could help with the housework, but the sheer distance makes that unfeasible, as it is about 80 kilometres from church to our home! I really wouldn’t expect anybody to travel that sort of distance to do our mopping and vacuuming. However, we have taken them up on their offer to help with meals when my husband goes into hospital, for they will be very full days! In the meantime, we have been struggling along, and knowing that God would work things out.

When I visited the physio, he asked if we would benefit from home help, as I had spoken to him about the difficulties that we were facing on a week to week basis, and he said that he would approach the appropriate authorities in the local health service. We had our interview this morning, and they have said that we definitely qualify for a cleaner to come in to vacuum and mop the floors in the main living areas. With homeschooling, the main living areas include pretty much all of our home, except for my son’s sunroom and the guest bedroom. Praise God, for He truly does work all things out for our good!

While I am here, I would really like to thank everybody who have taken the time out of their busy lives to pray for us ~ your prayers are very much appreciated, and God will truly bless you for honouring Him.

…my friends!

The first photos that I have of her are when I was two weeks old, and I cherish these photos for they bring back such wonderful memories.

When I was eighteen months old, we moved from Broken Hill to Adelaide by car, and I was carsick all over my grandfather, so Nanna nursed me in the front of the car – I still get carsick even to this day in the back of the car, or if I try and read in the car. It makes for interesting conversations when I am asked to read a street directory, such as,“Tell me where we’re going.”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, you’re the one with the street directory.”
“Not anymore.” (throws street directory at husband) These days I drive and my husband reads the street directory – much easier!

My mum went out to work, as my dad joined the South Australian Police Force after working in the North Mine in Broken Hill. The first memories I have are of my nanna taking me shopping with her in Adelaide, eating out at a cafeteria and riding the rooftop rides. I remember climbing the wall on King Willliam Street where the bus stopped. Oh, such happy days they were!

I remember that once my brother and I spent the day clambering through storm drains, and I slipped and fell. We went home, scared to tell anyone what had happened, but Nanna was staying with us; when I lay down in the afternoon, she stroked my head, and I jumped. She knew that something was wrong, and it turned out that I had concussion. Nanna was the one who knew me inside out – probably better than I knew myself.

When I went to school, I spent much of my life in hospital due to asthma, but my nanna was always there, brightening up my days. Then in grade five I was admitted to hospital, but I didn’t go home when I was released from hospital. Instead I went to the Red Cross Home, where I spent much of grade five.

I remember visiting my nanna during the last part of grade five, and my mum being there – she took me on a long walk around the back of Blanchetown trying to drill my social studies into me, especially dates of important events in history and hitting me if I gave her wrong answers. I remember saying that I wanted to go back to Nanna’s, and that my mother was mean, but I wasn’t allowed to go back to Nanna’s until I answered every question correctly! However, I scored 95% in the final exams, so I guess that it was all worth it. It proved to me that I could do it, if I put my heart and mind to it.

I remember putting hydrogen peroxide through my hair, then going to the hairdressers to have a darker colour put into it, and finally being sent up to Blanchetown to stay with Nanna until my hair colour lightened. I remember Nanna washing it gently every day with Velvet soap, sometimes several times through the day, and gradually it lightened. Yet, not once did she admonish me! Her love for me was unboundless.

When I gained my driver’s licence it was wonderful to visit Nanna, and I have fond memories of driving her back to Blanchetown in my rattly old Datsun Bluebird. It was a very old car and it vibrated very much, but Nanna never complained – in fact, I don’t think I ever heard her complain about anything. Sadly, she had breast cancer, and during radiotherapy I remember her being afraid that she would smell of body odour if she didn’t use deodorant, – she was always thinking of others first. She died of a massive heart attack when she was 70.

Nanna was the mainstay in my life, and I have such happy memories of her – I miss her so much and…

…Nanna was like my Mum, and I love her with all my ♥!

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us. Romans 5: 3-5

Praise You, Almighty Father:~

• That my blog page is up and functioning once again. I don’t remember praying for patience recently, but it has been well and truly tested during the last few days. Praise God that Stephen was able to fix it, and a big thank you, also to PSD2CSS for migrating the files across properly. I also praise God that there are good friends, such as Susan, who are willing to offer their help in fixing the problems.

• For friends, who make this world a much better place to live in, friends who build us up and encourage us to look inward at ourselves, to see what God sees.

• For my husband’s relatively pain-free knee – he has been able to cut many loads of firewood recently, so that we don’t go cold this winter.

• For our children – in particular, my son, who rode three kilometres to bring my husband home with the car, and the nebuliser during a severe asthma attack. I praise Him also for my daughter’s help in cutting and collecting firewood, for she shifts all of the loose sticks so that my husband doesn’t trip over.

• For our home, which is safe, warm and comfortable and is a refuge in the times of trial.

Psalm 62:8 tells us that we need to trust in God at all times,

that we need to pour out our heart before Him,

and that God is a refuge for us.

• For warm, autumn weather, enabling us to prepare for the cold winter ahead of us.

• For farm-fresh goats’ milk, which enables each one of us to have a regular intake of calcium ( I wonder why it’s not called goatcium, when it’s goats’ milk???), and enables us to make delicious home-made goats’ milk ice-cream.

• That we have homeschooling freedoms within Australia that many countries don’t. For instance, did you know that homeschooling is illegal in Germany and Brazil, and that Sweden seeks to introduce a law stating that the only way that you can homeschool there is under “exceptional circumstances“? Please continue praying for Dominic Johannson and the swift reuniting with his parents, Annie and Christer.

The HSLDA are currently looking for families to host persecuted homeschoolers, and while we have the room, we don’t have a vehicle capable of transporting extra people, and living out here, they would need a reliable vehicle. Does anyone want to take on this important role in helping the persecuted homeschoolers? If you do, please contact the HSLDA here.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that
He is risen from the dead;
and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28

• That you sent your only Son to die in my place, a substitutionary sacrifice – the Passover Lamb, so that I could live. Crucifixion was one of the most barbaric and cruellest of deaths, and yet, Jesus endured it that we might live. On the third day, He was risen from the dead and Jesus lives right here – in my ♥! This was the fulfilment of the Old Covenant and the starting of the New Covenant. His death gives us eternal life!

• For excellent medical practitioners, who seek to keep us fit and healthy. On Friday we all had a doctor’s appointment, so that we could have the ‘flu and Swine ‘flu vaccinations, but the doctor said that the rest of the family could have them, but not me, as I had a severe allergic reaction to the last Fluvax that I had, and was in hospital for three weeks. However, the doctor did say that my family could show their love by having the vaccination, which would prevent them from bringing home the ‘flu virus. Yay – I feel loved!

• For my husband and his ice-cream making ability – he made a batch of home-made Goats’ Milk Ice-Cream this afternoon, and it is absolutely delicious. For now, his pain management is under control, and I praise God for answered prayer, for helping my husband to be able to walk easily.

• For warm, autumn weather – enabling us to keep our store of wood for the colder winter months. For the moment, we are using a bar heater if it gets too cold in the evenings, and of course, there’s always the option of an early night if it’s colder than that.

• For friends, such as Janice, who is coming up to spend some time with us and helping us to cut firewood. Talk about friendship – I love this lady to pieces, and such love she has for us, that she is willing to take time out of her busy schedule to help us cut and load firewood. Of course I praise God for all our friends – internet, blogging and IRL friends, too.

• That we have helpful children, who without being asked will: -

1. Water the strawberries and parsley.
2. Milk and feed the goats.
3. Vacuum and mop our home, and that is such a BIG job.
4. Do dishes without arguing.
5. Keep their rooms tidy.
6. Do their schoolwork without having to be told.
7. Clean the shower and bath.
8. Clean their bedrooms and help with the rest of the housework.
9. Help with the cooking – making delicious cakes and stews.

• Physiotherapists, who work closely alongside doctors – I now have patches for my back pain, which sure makes everyday living a whole lot more bearable.

I pray that you have a wonderful and blessed Easter, as we commemorate the work completed on the Cross for us.

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!

One of our Old English x Modern Bantams has very recently hatched six adorable bantam chickens. Here, the mother bantam is teaching her young charges to scratch for food.  This last year has been an extraordinary year, with most of our chooks going broody in February, and they almost never go broody at this time of year. Not only the bantams went broody, but the Rhode Island Reds, too, so this has meant a dramatic shortage of farm-fresh eggs, but they are starting to lay again, now.

~~~oooOOOooo~~~

For those of you who have been praying for us – thank you from the bottom of my ♥, my husband’s pain is much better controlled for now. I think that the best thing that could have happened for him was to be admitted to hospital, as they have now given him Kapanol capsules, which the doctor had previously prescribed, but they have now doubled the dosage, so his pain is much better controlled. In hospital they also gave him STRONG antihistamines, and the HUGE spots that he had are starting to subside.

There have been wonderful lessons learned during these times, too. My son has learned how to milk effectively and to feed the animals, and my daughter has learned how to make a delicious goat stew and helps with the ironing and anything else that needs doing inside our home.

Around our home, it is the weekend, and things are so much more relaxed – God is so good as He gives us times of refreshing and showers of blessing as we wait on Him, knowing that He works all things out for our good!

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.

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Psalm 90

for…

• pain relief for my husband’s knee – may it continue until August when he has a total knee replacement.

• for the prayers for my husband’s knee and relief from the pain – please know that your prayers are very much appreciated!

• our children’s commitment to helping around the home, making life a whole lot easier for my husband. This is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with thee and that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

• that our church building application has been approved – YIPPEE!

• FRIENDS – who make our lives that little more special just by being a part of it – for new friends, old friends and old friends become new again!

• all of the things that You do for us – the things that go largely unnoticed, such as the wonderful change in the weather, keeping our bantam chickens safe, for the food that You provide us with, the money to pay the bills and the people that You place in our lives.

• our church – although we can’t be there today, there will be lots more todays in the future.

• that we get our new tyres fitted on Monday, and hopefully that will be the end of our punctures – the road that leads to our home is blue-metal, and is very sharp – we have had three punctures in the last couple of weeks, and it is becoming increasingly more difficult for my husband to change and mend the tyres. I only travel at 40km/h and we still manage to get punctures.

Did you know that the average person has only about 18,000 days in which he could apply his life to eternal values? It is therefore of vital importance that we be “Redeeming the time”. Ephesians 5:16 (The New Defender’s Study Bible) Time is ticking away rapidly!

• Jennifer, who hosts this Meme each week, so that I remember to give thanks to our Almighty God for all of the things that I forget to give thanks for at other times. Care to join this Meme, visit Jennifer at My Chocolate ♥ .