Time to reflect

...just been reminiscing. Looking through old photos. Reflecting on memories, cute little chubby cherub faces and times in the Czech Republic, loved ones, friends...

Here are my young un's when they were even younger:

Joshua

Owen

Rosa

Years of togetherness

Months of uncertainty

Weeks of sweet fellowship

Days of upheaval

Hours worth savoring

Minutes worth capturing

Seconds, so quickly pass...

but even these seconds, minutes, days ... in the passage of time... are but a drip... but a grain or sand... but a steady, slow, turning of a clock hand...

Lord, make our moments and our days count for you.

Amen

Freedom Wheels

A much anticipated call from Freedom Wheels recently meant that we were lined up to have Owen fitted for a bike. We tried back in May to find him a trike or bicycle (with training wheels) so that he could eventually learn to pedal a bike. Unfortunately nothing seemed to have the right set up for his short legs and lack of muscle tone - where pedals needed to be beneath him...

Aunty Jen put us onto Technical Aides for the Disabled where we were able to hear about Freedom Wheels. All sorts of Aides are made for disabled people at cost price because the company is made of volunteers - ex. engineers, handy people, etc. What a huge blessing they have been today for our Owen.

Today was the big fitting day! Though rather distracted on a room full of interesting bits and pieces - Owen managed to have a try on a bike, and even had a little go with the pedals. He will eventually get the idea of steering. My big five year old (well, actually, rather short five year old) will learn to ride!

There were a few more minor adjustments they are planning for the bike - some velcro foot holders to keep his feet on the pedals, some very stable and very wide training wheels, a bit of shortening of handles - and handle bars will be moved closer... In some cases (for physically disabled) they add abdominal support from aluminium bar behind... Fortunately the cost price isn't too bad for these few adjustments. You might just be surprised how much Special Needs equipment and furniture costs under normal circumstances...

absolutely exorbitant!

I guess we are going to have to frequent the local park when the bike arrives and make the most

of the nice, flat bicycle path for riding.

Oh, and he just loves the bell:)

walk like an indonesian

Here she is looking a little sweeter... (thought I'de spare you a photo for the last post;)


I made her a dress - using up some fabric I was given a while back. Fabric looks kind of unusual - a bit indonesian-ish. Nonetheless, thought I'de give it a go.

... and just because big brother is a bit of a poser too!


Took me about about 90 min from start to finish on an inspired Friday evening when kids were snoozin'

Sugar and spice ... who said that anyway?

Sugar and spice and all things nice... hmmm... who said that anyway?

Well if that is generally the case it sure doesn't fit my little cupcake. What do you do when you know something dreadful is going to happen, given time... only you don't really know what to do to prevent it?

Rosa has started using the potty. I tend to let the mornings be her running back and forth to the potty session but by the afternoon (when I am exhausted with her many trips and a few minor accidents) I put the nappy back on. Well after nap time she has started deciding that she really needs the potty... and decides to prepare herself by removing her nappy... that is the accident I knew was potential for danger...

Well today was the outworking of that disaster... after putting her down for a nap... and waiting for the silent indicator of dreams of sugar and spice and all things nice... I began to hear "ehh... yuck!" and then "Mummy... potty..." and then "o - oh!" etc. etc. I could only imagine... but was hoping to be wrong.

All I can say is my girl aint all sugar and spice and all things nice...

at least until after her bath (and bed sheets, clothes, etc. have all been emptied and scrubbed and washed!)

only then is it safe to plant a kiss upon her sugar coated nose!

Cucumber Raita

...finally the Cucumber Raita recipe I promised Cath a while back..

Cucumber Raita
6 Cucumbers (for a family meal)
1/2 cup yoghurt ( am guessing at the amounts here - tend to go by looks...so add if necessary)
1/2 cup of Paul Newmans dressing (this time I tried the Spring onion one and it worked well)
Seasoned salt
pepper
normal salt
fresh mint
1/2 onion, very finely chopped

Peel and finely chop cucumbers. Place into a bowl and add salt, pepper and seasoned salt ( I have even used a stock cube mixed with hot water to add flavour sometimes in place of seasoned salt..).

Add finely chopped mint, and onion. Mix well. Add yoghurt and dressing. Chill. Serve. Especially nice with curries and hot food to cool down de' tastebuds!

..oops - photo looks like it needs a lot more mint...

Healthy, quick and seems to go down well with the young uns'.

Let me know if you try it

Stepping Heavenward

Here is a book I highly recommend to Christian women. It was, and is for me, a fairly emotive sort of book - a book that deals with the inner struggles and battles of a woman's life - openly and honestly.

I guess the reason it challenged me personally relates to the word self-sacrifice. The story begins when Katherine is sixteen - with all the normal emotional ups and downs and self-centredness of teenagerhood. The book shows, over time how she grows in her love for Christ, and how it impacts her decisions and her family. It shows less of self and more of Thee, as the hymn writer so aptly puts it...So jolly hard to give of yourself, to give fully - to give willingly to give because of an overflow of the love of Christ....

Last time I read it, it stirred up in me an uneasyness. I guess it was because I often felt that Katherine was not always dealt the nicest situations, even by loved ones... I felt, sometimes, that I wanted to teach a few people a lesson or two about how selfish they were... and then it hit home. The way of the Master is not about teaching a lesson or two - it is about changing us/changing me - about making me more Christ like. Hmmm.... still didn't rest easy but sure got me thinking.

... and do you know, some of the people who I admire most for their Spiritual life/the sweet smelling, Christ-like aroma are people who are not trying to right the wrongs (done to them)... they are people who let the work of the Holy Spirit change them into quiet, humble, prayerful and sweet sisters in Christ...

Oh it hurts, to even think about...

Spiritual pruning... yikes!

Puppy dog song -

Some family traditions follow one generation to the next. Well my little girl's favourite song is one that my mother taught me. When she is snuggling up for the night, she has her arm around Lou Lou and Teddy and asks for "puppy dog song." Well I think I only sang it to her once

before it became her favourite request.

The song is "how Much is that doggy in the window?" It actually has a little bit of a romantic element to it but I only ever knew the first verse, so we just sing it over and over... and over and over... and over and over and over! (and a few more overs!)

I did try to video tape her singing it but unfortunately the dancing and jiving turned into little squeals and shoves as both Owen and Rosa competed for the chair closest to the song online -

will spare you the squabbling...

I'm watching you Dad!

Was sent this by a friend. Quite cute (especially words work effick)
Quite challenging...
...applies to us Mums too!

enjoy

green faces

This morning I had a bit of a pamper session - what? rush-around-and-don't -bother-much about-appearance-me... Just trying to keep my clothes free from evidence of runny nose, smears of food (from my own sloppy eating) and, well... those odd little nappy remnants that just can creep out when you think you've got it all... Yes, I, even I, had a facial! The Mums of Special needs kids from Owen's Prep were each spoilt by a consultant lady who pampered us. Was nice to be spoilt and come home smelling like a powder puff...until the next nappy change :)

I learned a couple of funny things this morning:

• Body lotions, etc. can have a definite heirachy;) of course the top product/s are always the ones consultants sell. All else pales into insignificance...
• I was absolutely amazed at how much could be said for such small tubes of cream! Ok, they smelled nice...
• I must say I almost fell off my prep-sized chair when I found out that the cheapest item is $95!!! Of course this only purchases half of what you really need, so you spend the same on the other half.

But you know, I enjoyed being pampered and enjoyed a good inward chuckle from it all,

And all that for not a cent!

what's more...

Joshua, with a smug look on his face peeked his head in the door when we ladies were all covered in green face mask and asked if it was mud on our face!

this time I could let out my inward chuckle!

friends and food

I have just come home from a cooking lesson! My friend, Rebecca from church agreed to teach me some Sudanese cooking. We made a dish called Dak with Semolina. I think semolina is a staple ingredient in their cooking. The white dish - which looks like mashed potato is semolina. It looked like quite a work out the way she stirred and stirred it (somewhat like playdough) !

The dish 'Dak' is made from some sort of vegetable (I am yet to find out the english name for) which looks a bit like spinach ... with onion, tomato and stock... Tasted great, a little salty but very yummy. Here is some she sent home for David. She also served it with some yummy lamb in a tomatoey sauce.

I really enjoyed myself, tasted some friendship and am looking forward to getting to know her more. Our discussion also helped me just to appreciate a little more what it is to be free of fear, living here in Australia. Heard about some of the terrible trauma and corruption in Africa. Makes my recent decision making issues (which sometimes seem huge) seem so insignificant...

Overall, a sprinkle of sweetness to my day!