Treasured Moments {11}

Do you find yourself falling into a pattern of daily grind, skipping the 'fun' activities because you don't have time or lack energy?Do creative arts, nature walks, drama, read aloud or spontaneous acts seem only a distant dream in your life?
Yet these Treasured Moments shared with loved ones uplift us, nurture our soul, remind us of the beauty and joy in our lives.
We want Treasured Moments for ourselves, for our children, for our families but how can we make it happen?
... Commitment ... Encouragement ... Support ... Ideas ... Plans.

I invite you to join us every Saturday and share your plans and ideas, your targets and goals and your stories ... your 'Treasured Moments'. In this way we may inspire one another, encourage ourselves and start achieving our dreams. Hosted by Erin at Seven Little Australians and Counting

My Treasured Moments this week are:

1.
Celebrating my 20th Wedding Anniversary with Paul

2.
Discovering a great serries of books on character lessons at a second hand book store.  Look out for Tuesdays Treasure next week !

3.
Miss J being awarded her Cert III in retail.

4.
My annual trip to Koorong with two friends today.

5.
Attending a work dinner hosted by Paul's work and each of us winning a hamper!

6.
Making home made laundry soap.  

To join in you are welcome to add your post on Treasured Moments 34 at  Seven Little Australians and Counting using the Mr. Linky form (please link to the individual post) and include a link back to Erins post. If you haven't a blog we would still love to hear your voice, just leave your stories in the comments.

Blessings

The Home School Mother's Journal {1}

The Home school Mother’s Journal began as a single post on a Friday morning over at The Homeschool Chick, and turned into a link-up for home school mothers across the blog-O-sphere to share a piece of their journey with one another each week. The link party is open from Friday to Monday so join me in The Home school Journal and lets encourage one another on our home school journey.

In my life this week…

 
In our home school this week…
We made home made laundry soap together and had a look at a liquid powered clock. We are working at recognising larger numbers.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
Take an inventory of those who are in your support network and make sure that they are pulling you forward and not keeping you back.
Are these people like minded or just a hindrance ?
Are they an encouragement or a discouragement to you ?
Do you have some one in your sphere who inspires and encourages you ?
It's this support network that will make or break your journey.

I am inspired by…
The commitment of Mothers inspiring and encouraging others through their blogs and books.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
This week was my 20th wedding anniversary, Paul took me to Daylesford and Sir N stayed over at his Granny for the night.
My mom took him with her to an appointment and then together they caught a tram, train and bus to get home. It was a great exercise for Sir N to see how the public transport system works and how he can use it to get home.

My favorite thing this week was…
My 20th wedding anniversary and making home made laundry soap.

What’s working/not working for us…
 Loving the weekly co-op for art.  Sir N is experiencing variety in his art because of this.  I am really pleased to see his progress and willingness to try new things.

The structure of my day is not right.  I need to find a better routine so that I can accomplish my goals in home schooling.  I am finding that having teens and one just starting school is a difficult juggling act. .....

Questions/thoughts I have…
I am really concerned with attitude at the moment and just wondering how to tackle this particular issue in a constructive way to make active measurable achievements.

Things I’m working on…
Still trying to work my way through my new beginnings commitments.  This is by no fault of the books, it's mine and my lack of organized time.  Due to illness I had to put a hold on my progress but this week my aim is to clear all the clutter that has taken over every available spot in my home.
I also want to actively work on scripture memory with Sir N I have let this lapse.

I’m reading…
A book by Sally Clarkson titled: The Ministry of Motherhood. 

I’m cooking…
I am researching more gluten free recipes for us as I would like to try this approach to cooking as I think that I might be sensitive to gluten ...

I’m grateful for…
Paul who has shown me how much he loves me this week.  I am grateful that my children are healthy and strong.  I am grateful for the friends and family who have supported and encouraged me this week.


A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
I was very pleased when I went looking for Paul and Sir N this week and found them thus:

This photo is precious to me because now that I have teenagers I realise just how quickly this phase of life dissappears and this photo captured a moment in time with Sir N. I used to think this is the way it always will be and it's not so I am learning to rest in the now and enjoy the moments as they will be a thing of the past far too quickly.

I encourage you to enjoy the here and now of where your children are at because tomorrow those moments will be a distant faded memory.

Blessings

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20 years ago today

Mr and Mrs

I married my best friend.  What adventures we have had together over the last twenty years. Wow two decades and counting.  We were married on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at The Gereformeerde Kerk in Hoedspruit South Africa.

The date 16 November 1991 and since then our journey has taken turns I could never have dreamed of.

Here are some highlights:

1991

Engaged in Hoedspruit

Married at Gereformeerde Kerk Hoedspruit

Worked at Thornybush Game Lodge

Moved to Trackers

1992

Started working for African Realty Trust

Moved onto Richmond Game Farm

Positive pregnancy test November

Went to Zimbabwe for a wedding 

(This couple caught the garter and brides bouquet at our wedding the year before)

1993

Welcomed our first born son Mr T on my 21st birthday.

21st birthday for me.
Mr T had his first eye operation 

1994

Went to Zimbabwe for a holiday.
Mr T had his second eye operation.

Built an outward bound school center on the farm

Paul ran school camps and I did the catering for up to 65 people 3 meals a day for 5 days.
My parents and youngest two siblings immigrated to New Zealand

Second positive pregnancy test on 27 December

1995

Welcomed our second born a daughter Miss J into our home

1996

Went to New Zealand for a holiday to my parents

1997

Mr T had his third eye surgery.
Moved to Christchurch New Zealand

March Applied for permanent residency.

July received permanent residency in New Zealand.

Paul worked in three different part time jobs

December Paul employed full time as Park Manager at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

1998

Moved into our first rental property

Purchased my first Sonlight Core

Started Home Schooling Mr T and Miss J

1999

Moved to our second rental property

Paul's parents came over for a visit.

Moved into our third rental.

Second Core from Sonlight

2000

Celebrated the New Millennium with Paul's parents visiting.

Toured the whole of the south island of New Zealand on a shoe string with a van and a tent.
Discovered The Well Trained Mind
Started reading and using The Story of the World

2001

12 September became New Zealand citizens.

2002

Were blessed with 4 tickets for a trip to South Africa for a surprise trip to Paul's parents 40th wedding anniversary.

2003

Moved to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Paul fell onto roof and hurt his back which resulted in spinal surgery and rehab

Achieved my Cert III in computer studies.

2004

Joined Advanced Training Institute and did Wisdom Books for Home School
Third positive pregnancy test

2005

Went on holiday to Anglesea in Victoria Australia with family

June welcomed our second son Sir N into our home

2006

Migrated to Australia

Back to Sonlight Core Eastern Hemisphere Explorer
Paul started work at Melbourne Zoo

Purchased our first home

2007

Paul went as a wildlife guide to South Africa with a tour group with his uncle.

Children and I visited New Zealand

Paul's parents visit from South Africa

Paul started working at Werribee Open Range Zoo

2008

Went to Tasmania for a holiday

Fourth positive pregnancy test

Paul on fishing trip to Tasmania

Lost this baby to miscarriage

2009

Mr T went to Tasmania and did two weeks work experience

Mr T went on a 4x4 adventure in the Simpson Desert

Went to New Zealand for our 18th wedding Anniversary

2010

Paul's parents visited from South Africa for three months.  (can't wait for the next visit)

Mr T started his first job

Mr T fell and hurt his back

Mr T had back surgery

2011

Mr T recovers from back surgery
Started Every Bed of Roses
Start Home Schooling Sir N

Mr T starts his second job

Miss J starts her first job
Miss J being awarded her Cert III in retail.

Miss J completed her Cert III in Childrens Services

Celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary

God Willing

2012 and beyond

Family reunion in South Africa in April / May / June

Trip to Queensland to see the solar eclipse in November

Apply for permanent residency in Australia (Please pray for us)

More of His blessings .....

It has been an eventful 20 years and I look forward to our next 20 and hope that it is a time of blessing and fantastic adventures.

What have I learned ?
I have learned so many things but the first one that comes to mind is from a song by Don Francisco : "Love is not a feeling it's an act of your will"  When I read 1 Corinthians 13 it does not speak about feelings it speaks about actions but more importantly it's about choosing to do the right thing regardless of how I feel.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

    5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

    6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

    7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

    8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]

Look what my friend blessed me with in honour of our first 20 years together:

A solitaire diamond ring

May your day be as blessed as mine is today

Blessings

I would like to thank Jo Princess Warrior for the idea of a timeline of what we 've been up to as I saw this on her post 10 years of Marriage and thought wow what a neat idea I would like to do that..

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