Compassion

Deb is doing a series of posts about her experiences sponsoring children with Compassion International. 

http://thisfleetingmoment.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Compassion

Really good stuff so far. Have a read. 

Obedience

I've been repeatedly challenged by this article from Desiring God since reading it a few weeks ago.

But tonight I was encouraged by it. As I squinted in the half-darkness to sponge vomit out of SP's carpet, there was joy and satisfaction in knowing that right then, in that moment, I was doing exactly what God has called me to do. 

Masterchef Finale

1 hour to go. I've had it muted while I work on church4kids stuff. I wanted to get another module in my first aid course done tonight too. But the sound is now on and less and less work is getting done...

Do you have email apnea?

I've just corrected my posture and taken some deep breaths.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-stone/email-apnea-screen-apnea-_b_1476554.html?ref=technology 

via GTD Times

Children are precious

Since F was about 6 weeks old, I've been donating some extra breast milk to some multiples. 

One of them died last week. 

I've never met the babies, or their parents, although I chatted to the mum on the phone a few months ago. 

Sigh. 

Fire Safety

We had the fire truck visit playgroup this morning. Big success.

SP brought home a Fire Safety Activity Book, and one of the activities is to draw a home escape plan. He's quite keen on this idea. 

I'm thinking that if we're going to draw an escape plan, we might as well add on a fire drill. We'll all pretend to be asleep in our beds and set the smoke alarm off. 

Not certain what to teach SP to do next though. There are two doors to his room, and the most frequently-used one leads straight to the kitchen, where I guess I fire would often start, but also leads to the back door. 

So we're thinking of telling him to get down onto the floor and listen for instructions. Then Daddy will come and get him and they'll 'Get down low and go, go, go!"

Have you ever done a fire drill with your kids? What did you teach them?

Don't be a whingey Israelite

We're studying Deuteronomy at church this term. Bible study on chapters 1-3 this morning. 'Do not fear but trust in God'. 

At the end of the study, we were challenged to think of something to say to ourselves to drive out our fear during the week. I'm focusing in on this verse: 

They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’” Deuteronomy 1:28

This is Moses quoting the Israelites in their reluctance to trust God & enter the promised land. Can't you hear the whinge? 

But how often do I sound like a whingey Israelite, if only in my head? 

No need to fear. God has secured my safety in eternity, and he's in control of everything that happens between now and then. 

I think F is playing peek-a-boo with herself

She's on her tummy in front of the full-length mirror. She keeps dropping her head down to one side then lifting herself up and laughing at her reflection. 

Very cute :)

So that's what the inside of an ambulance feels like...

Before you get too concerned, we're all fine. Here's what happened:

F's highchair tipped over sideways as we were getting ready for lunch. With her in it. SP was the source of movement, but it wasn't intentional. 

So thankful for our little wooden house with its lino-covered wooden floor. Tiles on concrete would have been so much worse.

As it was, she was crying immediately, then going a bit floppy a minute later, so I called the ambulance. SP was so good, trying to be helpful, watching for the ambulance. So was our postie, who happened to be passing. A few scary minutes waiting for the sirens, but once she saw the unfamiliar people she brightened up and cried nicely :)

A few hours wait in emergency and short stay units for observations, and we were home for a slightly late bath time. Both kids now in bed asleep. SP will have lots of questions in the next few days I suspect. But he'll also know how to dial 000. And it's no worse than happened to his dad and aunty thirty years ago...

Kids really do take notice

Recently I've been trying to work more efficiently around the house. And I think it's been working. Things feel more under control. 

After SP finished assembling his sandwich today, he took off his jacket and I reminded him to take it to his room. He said, "While I'm putting my jacket away, I'll just take my plate to my place."

I didn't even realise I'd been saying it out loud...

Recommitment

I've been fructose free for over a year. And loved it. I feel healthy, my eczema has cleared up, and I find it much easier to say 'no' to all sugar than 'yes' to only one portion. 

But the last month or so I've slipped. Bits and pieces here and there that 'won't matter that much'. Then I started eating the sweet stuff at church morning teas, rather than skipping to the fruit & savouries. And discovered that I'm still hopeless at stopping at one piece. 

So here's my recommitment. Back to it. 

Working Together

We have family friends around this week, on holidays from down south. They and Mum spent the day with us today.

We had a fun morning together at the park, then once SP was in rest time and F asleep, I benefited from some extra household help. There we were, three women working away on simple household things, together and separately. There was a peacefulness, a camaraderie that struck me. 

I wonder if that's what life was like in the multi-generational households of yesteryear?

Care & Feeding

"I will look after F. She needs a big brother to look after her. She doesn't need a Mummy or a Daddy or a Grandma. I'm her big brother."

Sounds like I can take a break :)