Bird Feed Experiment

Today when Rosa and Owen went down for a sleep Joshua and I dug out some wood pieces, a saw, chisel, some screws, hooks, some fence paint and brushes and set to work making a stand for our bird feeders. Ta-da!

Over the next few days it will be out with the binoculars, and sitting by the front window to observe our local birds (we positioned it so we could observe from front window) and conduct an experiment. We are on the lookout to see which bird feed is most popular with birds in our yard

This type of large sunflower seed-

Or this smaller mix of seeds-

So stay posted in a week or so (whether permitting) and we'll keep you informed!

When we finished our stand the younger two woke up and the three had a jolly romp around...

Nice to be outdoors again after a chilly morning!

Green Testament Girl

Rosa has really taken to this little green New Testament. She took it to bed for her nap the other day, layed it snuggly on her pillow as she does with her Lou Lou (doll), made herself comfortable and slipped into the land of nod.

Today she has been carrying it about again (even matches her jumper!)

Why don't you have a read?

Tinker Tailor ....

My big boy has been having a go on the sewing machine. We had a simple panel print of a friendly snoopy given to us by David's Aunt. Josh very slowly (only because Mum insisted on this:) sewed around the edge. Without too much unpicking he managed to do it by himself. He even stitched up the opening without too much blood!

One very proud tailor!

Good job Josh Tom!

Cranky

It has been one of those cranky days...hmmm... well actually the day wasn't cranky. I was. Groan. Somehow I just couldn't work out why Joshua wasn't understanding the way I explained division to him... or rather got annoyed that he just didn't listen while I explained... (wish I had remembered my own struggle with this...) Owen and Rosa were at eachother's throats. Owen would nudge her or sometimes just look at her and she would squalk...then I got involved in a small painting project (bad idea) and fel t cranky that one would need to go to the toilet or be playing in the sand pit emptying sand on the other. Oh... just wish I could have been a calm, collected, sweet Mum with nothing but gentle/calm words to help them back on track, with uplifting words of encouragement...but .... well, I was cranky. No excuses. Just shame.

Later in the day my Bible study on Matthew came to mind. The study from Matthew 14 that showed Jesus' compassion on the people. The same people that had been following him to watch one of those awesome miracles - just to be able to boast about it to their friends so they could come and gawk too. Those people that just wanted to be fed, to have their sicknesses healed. Those people who missed the whole point of his message and wanted to make him king by force. Jesus had been absolutely flat out. His cousin had just been murdered brutally. His disciples had just come back from mission trips to various places. They needed Him. He had withdrawn to a mountain to be alone. The people followed. A whole crowd of them (there were 5000+ later in the day so likely quite a large crowd). I have just been gob- smacked at how Jesus could feel any compassion on these people. He actually felt compassion towards them!

So glad to have a God like that!

(no photos in this post - a cranky Mum doesn't make a pretty picture:)

fuzzy things

Is it a bear? Is it a rugged up Russian Citizen in winter? No, just the Campbell boys finding inventive ways of using old car seat covers!

This is what my boys came up with to keep themselves entertained in a dull moment during holidays!

Oh, and the hats are the covers for the head rest - perfect for keeping the winter chills away, don't you think?

sword

This sword has been through the wars.

I made this sword with Joshua last holidays. Unfortunately it was drawn and destroyed by a young warrior. The sword once hanging in its place was discovered, seized and squelched... so this holidays it was in for repair again...

Got me thinking about swords. The Bible speaks a lot about them. The Lord commanded the use of it in the OT - to wipe out/utterly destroy peoples and nations of other Gods. In the NT. Jesus tells Peter to put it away - that those who live by the sword die by it. At the same time he also tells people that he came not to bring peace but a sword. In the NT we read about the tongue being like a sword... Lots of different contexts there all jumbled together in my thoughts...

The Word of God is like a sword...

Why do boys love swords, weapons and things of danger and destruction?? (thinking like a girl here) I pray they would want to lop off, to cut out, to rid themselves of, to destroy the temptations, sins, thoughts and evil in their life - to live whole heartedly for their Master.

The sword really does have a place, doesn't it? I guess a butter knife just wouldn't cut it now would it?

Bombard

Bombard. I have been thinking over that word the whole way home from my Bible study tonight. Why? I don't know ... guess I sometimes feel bombarded... Bombarded by the world.

bombard: address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage

What do you think of when you think of the word bombard? I think of billboards - the ones that put rubbish right at your face/right into your mind that I wish would just stay out... that I pray would not occupy any room in my thoughts. I think of stuff - worldly stuff hurling at me. I think of thoughts that fill my mind that just shouldn't .... everyday yicky, guey, muddy stuff, thoughts about self, anxious thoughts, wishes for earthly stuff, plans, more plans, goals more goals/desires, etc. etc.... just a continuous, persistent bombardment of ... well stuff.

In a fleshly body there are always earthly thoughts. How nice it is when rather than standing as a target for bombardment I willingly turn aside and saturate myself with Christ - to soak in His goodness, to be at peace. To be in Him.

I really prefer the word saturate (a willing soaking in the stuff of Christ!) to bombardment (unfortunate/unapreciative target of yucky stuff)

Just some thoughts..

Thanks,...got me thinking Jacki

skirt

Here's a little skirt I made for my Rosa... I've been tellin' my sister about it as they both have girls they like to sew for every now and then. The tutorial showing how to make it is online here.

Must say the skirt is still quite big on her but i must say she had fun prancing around in it ...

enjoy all you sewers (no, I mean the ones who sew... really I do!)

Cousins

We had a great little visit with my cousins who come from the cold land down south (Melbourne... bbrrr...)on Saturday. While they were up here helping at a conference and enjoying some vitamin D they decided to drop in! YAY!

Joshua asked Kylie to play a few pieces on the piano from a CD she and Jason made. Their CD, F.A.I.T.H simply trusting (CD with Kid's songs) has been a big hit in our house.

Not only did we enjoy our time together, munching some breakfast but we were able to catch up a little on what is happening in eachother's lives and were encouraged to see their love for the Lord.

Daddy is Home

Daddy was in Adelaide for a work trip most of this week. We sure missed having him around. Nice to have you back Daddy!