I alway knew I'd have Asian children...

but I kinda assumed they would be girls.

Instead, I've got 2 sons.

Isaac (at work) calls me Mumma, and cries when I leave the room. He also spends half his time running up to me and the other half running away from me. That said, he is 18 months

But my other Asian son is from church. And he is a little older than 18 months.

Vincent is my oldest child, but definitely not the most mature. In fact, he spent most of my first ever care group lesson trying to distract me and cracking jokes. And calling me Mummy.

But he made up for it. The lesson was on how Proverbs 31 is relevant for the whole church. And one of the verses we talked about was, "Her children rise up and call her blessed."

At which he stood up, and then katowed to me, shouted out "Blessed!"

Now to expand my family... who knows? Maybe I'll even get a girl?

Sam Is An Artist

As most of you know, I'm planning on going back to Uganda at least once this year. I will be working with orphans and street children, which is something I am quite passionate about.

In order to raise funds for this trip, I've been busily making some beautiful paintings. Here are some that are available for sale.









I'll likely be posting more in the near future.
All paintings are $20, and go towards my plane fare and other expences. To put it in perspective, flights were a little less than $2000 last time, and staying cost another $650. Immunisations cost over $1000, but I don't need them again. I'm expecting my next trip to cost between $4000-$5000, as I will be going for longer and there will be other expenses.

As of writing this post (18.01.12) I have raised $280 in about 2 weeks! Praise God!

Reader Poll

So, what do you think I look like?







Fill in the poll (above and to the right) with your answer! And feel free to leave a comment!

Comment for Kids

For those of you who haven't noticed, I really like kids. I want to have not only my 'own' (read bio) kids, but plan to adopt internationally.

While children wait for a "forever family" they are usually housed in orphanages, which, depending on the area, can lack very basic and necessary things, such as toys, medical things, and in some areas even food can be in very short supply.

And for those of you who haven't heard, a adopting mother is having a comment-fest on her blog. For every comment made this week, she will donate $1 to An Orphan's Wish, which helps orphanages in China.

Another reader has pitched in and is matching the pledge.

Other readers have similar posts, and a few are giving lump sums.

Hop on over to this post on Ni Hao Y'all and comment away!

The Chickadees Get Religious

It's interesting working in childcare. There are so many different kids, and they are so honest about everything. And the awesome thing is that so many of them have such a great faith.

Sophie was sitting down with several other children and a staff member, reading a book. All of the sudden, she pumped her fist into the air. "Jesus lives!" she shouted.


Sasha's birthday is in May. She is having a birthday party (apparently she is going to invite me). She has asked for a Jesus cake. Apparently the baker can in fact make this for her. She told me it's because she really loves Jesus, so He gets to be part of her birthday party.


Ingrid was eating dinner (with her family, at home) when she said in an accusatory tone, "Mum, why didn't you take me to church today?"

"Because it's Tuesday..." said her Mum.

"You never take me to church!"

"I did! On Sunday."

"We should go more often. Can we go tomorrow?"


Ingrid also says grace before all meals, including now at work. She sings, ala nun style, "Thank-you-Lord-for-this-food, A-a-a-MEN!"


And from my memories, Ella (Sophie's big sister) used to preach to the other kids. She actually stood on her chair at lunchtime and told them all that Matthew 52:16 said that Jesus loved them, and that they needed to love Jesus, and ask Jesus to live in their hearts.


And if you want to re-read any old posts about similar awesome things my Chickadees have said, click on some of these links:
- That's Right Zoe
- Obviously I am Winning When It Comes To Desperation
- Bella Ella

Audio Giveaway

At the moment, several of the blogs I regularly read have been mentioning the NCFIC "Sufficiency of Scripture Conference". Being out of the US means I can't even really consider going to a whole lot of these conferences, but I can (and often do) buy the audio afterward!

For those who weren't able to attend, you can purchase the audios here:
http://ncfic.org/conferenceaudiopreorder

or visit their conference page...

And if you are interested in getting some audios for free then hop over to Life in A Shoe - which is hosting a giveaway for this event!

Saving Hailee

I've added a button. As many of you will know, I adore children, and adoption is an issue close to my heart. I recently learnt of this family who are aiming to adopt Hailee. Due to the changes in the policy of that country they need to get everything done as soon as they can, because at any point Hailee can be fostered out - in which case she is unlikely to survive.

Please consider donating, and please pray!

Maybe I Should Apologise

I lost my face mask a week and a half ago. Very annoying, because it keeps my skin looking less like one of my favourite foods. I had no idea where it had gone to.

I found it about 5 minutes ago. Outside. On the roof. Seriously.

It had blown/been knocked out of the bathroom window, and had laid on the little roof there.

So why do I need to apologise? Aside from to all of the people who have had to see my bad complexion in all its natural lack of glory. I need to apologise to Zoe and Hannah.

You see, I only was outside because I was hanging out my handwashing. And I only had handwashing because my beanie needed washing. And the only reason why my beanie needed washing was because Zoe and Hannah stole my beanie from my head and dumped water, sand and tanbark on it. As you might imagine, I was really cross. And I let them know that.

But if they hadn't, I would be stuck with bad skin for a long time. So I probably should apologise.

Man, God works in mysterious ways.

Yay! I Sparked a Contraversy.

On Proverbs 18:22

snboy said...
In respond to Proverbs 18:22, I advise reading 1 Cor 7. Read at own risk, ye womyn who seek a husband.

Unless they can't control themselves, of course.

But Paul has every single boy in church in mind when he said v28.

And no attacking Paul. That's not counted.


I replied:
Um, I'd like to point out some basic things about the people whom Paul was writing to.

Verse 26 - "Because of the present crisis". In other words, if you're in danger of being a human torch to light up one of Nero's parties, then it probably isn't a good idea to get married. Because it'd probably suck if your wife and kids are up there, burning along side of you.


I don't know who snboy is. I'm going to assume that SN means from Singapore. And that boy means he's a boy. Which has narrowed it down to about half the boys in the church. Plus anyone else who just happened to stop by my blog.

The No-Cheaters Club

Kal and Alicia have started a very exclusive club. It is open to only people who have never cheated in school.

Kal is a member. Alicia is a member. And from their care-group, only Chris is also a member. That means their shepherd, Mavis, is NOT a member. She is a cheater.

Amy is a cheater too.

We then ask Reb if she was able to be a member, predicting that she would. She said, "I cheated in CDS once."

We all nearly DIED. She cheated in Christian Development School! In a missions class too. (Reb is going on a international mission trip in Sept.)

Kal wants me to point out that most of the leaders, and the spiritiually mature ones have cheated. Amy would like to highlight the grace of God in their lives

So, my question is, are you all members of the No-Cheaters Club?

Christians and non-Christians are BOTH invited to comment. It'd be interesting.

The Day Got Better

We found a house in Malvern/Caulfield area that is very good for all of us, especially me and Kal. We had applied, and then I didn't think much more about it.

On the (second) bus home I caught up with Kallie, who told me that we got the house!

Yay! I'm going to save an hour and a half in travel time EVERY DAY.

God is so good!

Testimony

Today is about the best day ever.

On Saturday my house was being sold at auction. I had heard that it was sold, but not how much it sold for. I learnt this morning. It went for $45000 more than the reserve price. I am very happy. God very much took care of this, we'd tried to sell it privately before and couldn't sell it at a price that would ensure we would make a profit. The price at auction was $75000 MORE than the highest price we had received privately.

Secondly, today is Monday. I love Mondays, they are the easiest day on my job. And at the moment there are 3 Monday kids overseas. And there are four kids sick. And out of those kids, several of them are the more difficult ones to work with. And we have a work experience girl in. This is the greatest day ever!

Mwah-Ha-Ha

So, it was another pick-up stick session. Except that Kal, Amy, Chiann and I were gluing penguins. But still.

And of course we were talking about my DVDs of doom. Also known as Sam's Lovely DVDs that make everyone want to get married and have babies. Because let's face it, I'm obsessive. So we were talking about the other stuff at Vision Forum. I pointed out that they do have a few things that aren't entirely focused on babies. I just haven't bought any.

"Like what?" asked Amy.

I pointed out the lovely song CDs and books. Kallie said, "Yeah, but they are designed to teach your FAMILY to sing in harmony!" (In four parts! Fun!)

"It's like the Von Trapp family," Amy said, joking.

And then I pointed out that the Von Trapp family are alive and well, and producing CDs for Vision Forum.

As if that isn't hilarious!

Kal says she feels sick just looking at it.

Comment Response

To my previous post:

"Although I do think that motherhood could be one of the best things a woman could do, and not want to work, however, the decision of not wanting to work is a bit difficult.

What i meant was that with the rising costs of living and expenses, unless the man did earn enough, and the family could survive on the man's single paycheck, that would be fantastic.

But I guess its hard to say till one is actually married with kids to actually put that notion to the test."


Actually, I don't agree. For a few reasons:

1. Most of the 'second income' goes on taxes (about a 1/3, more in some cases), a lot more goes on childcare, and then you have extra work expenses - clothes, buying food out, transport, ordering food in because you're too tired to cook... etc. Some poeple actually LOSE MONEY by having both adults working - and in some cases that's without child care expenses.

2. We're rich. Really we are. Very few of us have ever really worried about where we will get our next meal. We just don't. I lived on $100 a week for over 6 months, probably closer to a year. It wasn't exactly easy, but it was do-able. And I could have supported someone else with that kind of money, or a little more, because most expenses don't go up per person. In many cases, they go down. (It's a lot easier to cook for two or three as to one.)

3. If you really want something, you'll make sacrifices for it. In the Western world those 'sacrifices' are things like not having a flash car, or in my case, not being able to buy all the books I want. Boo hoo. Most people don't REALLY want to have someone stay home.

The truth is, money isn't the issue. It's the fact that we don't want it enough. We'd rather have our stuff. And if you want the stuff, or you'd rather work because you like the work, that's your business. But don't pretend that that isn't your reason.


(Obviously there are exceptions, but believe me, these are exceptions. You probably aren't it).

Links

Reprise. Scroll down to the article.
Priorities
Sex Selection

That's it for now!

Be warned, I am serious here...

So, Kal and I and a few others have been talking a lot. More or less what we normally do. In our discussions it has been mentioned by a few people (Kal, Joc, Jonathan, and I think one other person) that I am putting all my ideas of happiness into me being a wife and mother.

In some senses they have a point. But here's me trying to explain my point.

I don't actually expect to be HAPPY as a wife or mother. I'm not expecting to be miserable, but I don't want to be a wife/mum in order to be happy. Happiness is not the point. I am expecting that by and large I will be happier (I am one of those females who really is far happier with a guy and around children) but that isn't the POINT.

The point is meaning.

Being a wife and mother is for me the most MEANINGFUL thing I can do. There is nothing more significant than making someone you love smile. Than making a favourite dinner for no other reason than that you love them. Than reading the same awful story to your kid five times - a night. (I did that for over a year with my youngest brother.) There is nothing more fun than watching a little child grow, and the closer you are to that kid the more precious it is. There's nothing funnier than watching them make faces at each other when they are cross with each other, when you know that they are going to be best buddies in two minutes.

My job now, and all other jobs I've had, just don't have that level of meaning. And I love my job. If I was a career woman, I'd want to do my job forever. But I put in to 'my' kids, only to have them go home and have some of their parents undo all my work. When it comes to those whose parents actually support things like the kids being obedient, that usually gets undone within their first few years at school. People think that by putting into LOTS of children I'm compounding my influence. But I'm not, I'm spreading it around, I'm diluting it. And I'm building up relationships with people (mainly kids) who will disappear rather abruptly, with nothing to show for it. And then there are the regulations - not only no smacking, we even have no time-outs. (I still do them, I just call them calm down times - Mwa ha ha).

With my kids, whether I have my hoped for 20+ or merely 1 or 2, my influence, and that of my husband, will be real. What we put in will actually show fruit.

And THAT'S why I want more than anything to be a stay-at-home-wife and homeschooling-mother

Testimony

On Tuesday, I was running late getting out. I had wanted to put up the BTF poster at work, and I kept on getting distracted. So I got out, and it's foggy, and I ran and ran, and got near to the bus stop only to see my bus sailing away.

I practically CRIED. I was tired, the fog was getting worse, I'd been runnning, and it meant waiting in that horrible fog for half an hour before the next bus. So I complained to God. "I want to go HOME!" I didn't ask for anything, I just whinged (I'm good at that).

And then I saw the most glorious sight. Bus 624. The driver had seen me, had gone around the block, and HAD COME BACK FOR ME.

I got home at my normal time! Praise God!

On Non-Conformists

I've been thinking about non-conformists, on "thinking for yourself". (Does anyone think it's ironic that I'm thinking about "thinking for yourself"). The thing is, you get a non-conformist and another non-conformist, and they... tend to think an awful lot alike.

Take any "issue". I'll take something that won't have me lynched. Our recent election here in Australia. All the time up to the election we were hearing how Howard did x and Howard did y, and then would you believe he did z?! I'm not denying that he did x,y, or z. I don't know, I don't care, and that ISN'T MY POINT! The point is that everyone had the same arguments. Howard is a racist, he's a mysogynist, he's a homophobe, etc, etc. And it was time for a change.

These people who criticed Howard all claimed to be independent thinkers, but their thoughts were exactly alike. He won't say sorry. He won't give bigger maternity leave. He gives money to private schools.

Comparatively little was said about Rudd. But don't worry, wait a little and the non-conformists will all get their thoughts together (pun intended) and find the things that are wrong with him. (He's not doing enough for the environment...)

It's like a bit in a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie I saw once. (I know, I know, but I was ironing and there was nothing else on.) They've gone to Australia for some reason, and they meet a group, I think they were even CALLED the non-conformists. And they all had straight dark brown hair in the same hairstyle, with the same glasses. They were introduced, "This is Sheila, and this is Sheila, and this is Sheila, and this is Hannah..." "But my friends call me Sheila."

I suppose what I'm getting at is that really, none of us are really independent thinkers. Sorry, but you aren't. Don't worry, I'm not either. The thing is, who's thoughts are we thinking? Is our every thought submitted to Jesus, or do our thoughts go straight to the thoughts of the "non-conformist" world? Is our thinking centred on the Bible, or on what sounds good?

Provision

Most of you will be familiar with Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women. Okay, boys, you probably aren't. But girls should be. And girls, if you haven't read it, you've missed an essential part of childhood and you need to go and read it.

Anyway, LMA was brought up by her parents, and her father was a little weird. A bit of a hippie, a bit of a communist, but he was also a preacher and a firm believer in God and Jesus. That's a little odd. (Actually, Bronson was famous at the time for a variety of reasons, including his work going to wards the ending of slavery). Anyway, LMA and her sisters had a strange upbringing, with them living on a commune where they refused to kill fruitflies (and as a result of this all nearly starved).

Anyway, LMA's father used to drive LMA and her Marmee crazy. They were the practical types who liked to provide for their families.

One time, when May (Amy in Little Women) was a baby, Beth was young and delicate, and Nan and Louisa were young, it was snowing. Anyway, a neighbour came by that day and gave them a whole lot of firewood. You know what happened. Bronson (LMA's father) then promptly turned around and gave the wood to another neighbour, who had a baby and children who were ill/delicate with Scarlet Fever (which Beth eventually died from, both the real Beth and the Little Women Beth). This didn't please Marmee, who had her own baby and delicate children. Bronson's answer was the God would provide. Marmee was not happy.

Shortly after, another neighbour came by and gave the Alcott's ANOTHER lot of firewood.

If I'd been Bronson I'd've turned round and said, "See! I'm right! Ha!" (I'm not exactly the most mature of people.) I'm sure that Bronson Alcott was more mature than me.

But it really struck me how God does provide, especially when we are generous with what he has given to us.

Incidentally, this incident does not appear in Little Women (which is from later) but appears in a biography called Invincible Louisa.

Testimony of Sorts

So, as pretty much all of you know, I had pneumonia in November last year, and had probably had it for about a month ahead of my stay in hospital. And as most of you would know, I haven't been getting better in terms of energy levels. Oh, I'm not coughing up my lungs any more, but my energy is still not there. I can't get up early, or stay up late (let alone both at once) and generally I get a lot less done when I am awake. I'm simply not functioning the way I did before I had pneumonia. I was vaguely concerned, because the doctor said that I should get back to my old energy levels within three weeks. But I chalked it up to doctors being lying liars who lie (I've had way too many bad experiences with doctors), and as there wasn't really all that much I could do about it, I decided that it wasn't worth worrying about.

This has actually been very good for me. You see, I'm a Backster. Backsters are from my motehr's side of the family, and we are characterised by a few different things. First, we can make something out of nothing. We can feed pretty much any amount of people on any budget you want. Oh, the food won't necessarily taste any good, but it'll be nutritious enough. Second, we tend to draw the men and then have lots of children. I'd prefer to just draw one who wants to marry me, but the kids'd be great. Finally, we're strong, independant women. Five generations of feminists, usually a generation ahead of the movement. (Good news for all you non-feminists out there - I want to be a SAHW/SAHM, so that's where we'll probably be in 30 years.) I can carry washing machines up steps BY MYSELF. I can do anything.

Except at the moment. At the moment, I can't do all that much. In fact, when I was helping Rebecca in with the books for the bookstore, Joab took the box of books off of me because I looked tired. (I thought I'd covered all that up with make-up.) And as it was, the box was the only one Rebecca would let me carry - it was little and light. And everyone keeps on trying to feed me (which I like) and generally take care of me. I have to accept help from others, and more to the point, I have to continuously through my burdens on God. If I don't I simply can't make it.

Well, I've found out why I haven't been getting better. I have lung damage, probably from having pneumonia for so long without treatment. The damage may be permament. I'll have to go back for tests to see the extent of the damage (it effects my breathing out) but the tests will be just that, tests. My doctor stated that they were "just to see the extent of the damage".

I guess I get to throw my burdens on God for a little longer.