Here is my "bit of this, splash of that" recipe for some of the best muffins I have ever made... they were all eaten so quickly I didn't even get a photo!
Ingredients:
Extra virgin cold pressed olive oil: one third to half a cup
Caster sugar: half cup-ish
Eggs: two
Kefir (or any runny yoghurt or sour milk): about a cup
Real vanilla essence: a bit more than a teaspoon
Plain flour: approx. one and a half cups
Baking powder: two teaspoons
Mixed spice: one and a half teaspoons
Icing: one cup icing sugar, two tablespoons softened butter, one teaspoon real vanilla essence, a dash of fire-engine-red food colouring, mixed together until smooth.
Method:
1. Mix oils and sugar together until smooth.
2. Add eggs and mix well
3. Add kefir and vanilla and mix well
4. Sift dry ingredients in and mix until smooth (should be almost runny)
5. Spoon mixture into muffin tin prepared with olive oil to prevent sticking
6. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius until an inserted skewer comes out clean (20 to 25 minutes)
7. Allow to cool
8. Ice with pink vanilla butter icing
Try it and let me know what you think... do the measurement amounts need any adjustment?
YUMMY!!
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Something to inspire progress
Life can get hectic sometimes. Actually, it is as hectic as we make it. How many activities are actually optional? Pretty much most of them. De-clutter a too-busy life by cutting back on those activities that don't help improve life.
With so many items on the to-do list, so many bills to pay, I need a few more hours in the day! Maybe I should be grateful for the person who phoned and let it ring for just two seconds at 0430 this morning - there are my few extra hours of awake time. A perfect time to blog and fix up links in my proofreading web pages. Maybe join another group on LinkedIn and update my profile.
Last night at my Toastmasters club prizegiving we had a great time, a fabulous catch-up and amazing supper. As the current Vice President of Education for the club I am in the process of organising the upcoming Table Topics and Humorous speech contests. The main difficulty is finding judges from outside our club, as it means some people from our club need to go and help judge at other clubs. With everyone being so busy it is a challenge to find enough volunteers to do this. I have a feeling I and one (or hopefully two) others will be able to help at several other clubs in hopes of someone from those clubs coming to judge our contest night.
The homeschooling is picking up now, with a complete math revision of the entire primary math curriculum in progress and set to be completed by the end of this term. Spelling is another focus area, with some progress being made using much repetition and positive reinforcement. On top of the daily bookwork is drama classes, gymnastics and junior science classes. I think three extracurricular activities a week is enough at the moment.
This blog is turning into a bit of a diary, though I meant it to be an inspirational read with fun and motivating links... maybe next time!
With so many items on the to-do list, so many bills to pay, I need a few more hours in the day! Maybe I should be grateful for the person who phoned and let it ring for just two seconds at 0430 this morning - there are my few extra hours of awake time. A perfect time to blog and fix up links in my proofreading web pages. Maybe join another group on LinkedIn and update my profile.
Last night at my Toastmasters club prizegiving we had a great time, a fabulous catch-up and amazing supper. As the current Vice President of Education for the club I am in the process of organising the upcoming Table Topics and Humorous speech contests. The main difficulty is finding judges from outside our club, as it means some people from our club need to go and help judge at other clubs. With everyone being so busy it is a challenge to find enough volunteers to do this. I have a feeling I and one (or hopefully two) others will be able to help at several other clubs in hopes of someone from those clubs coming to judge our contest night.
The homeschooling is picking up now, with a complete math revision of the entire primary math curriculum in progress and set to be completed by the end of this term. Spelling is another focus area, with some progress being made using much repetition and positive reinforcement. On top of the daily bookwork is drama classes, gymnastics and junior science classes. I think three extracurricular activities a week is enough at the moment.
This blog is turning into a bit of a diary, though I meant it to be an inspirational read with fun and motivating links... maybe next time!
Sunday, 7 October 2012
A very interesting book
Hi there, have you ever read any of the books about the Bible Code?
I have just finished my second reading of the original book by Michael Drosnin, an atheistic journalist who learned Hebrew so that he could check out a phenomenon in Genesis, where equidistant letter sequances spelled out names of significant persons who lived thousands of years after the original five books (known as the Pentateuch, or Torah) were given to Moses. This is HUGE in relation to the significance and prophetic power of those books. The author, Michael Drosnin, still thinks aliens with a supercomputer coded those books to fit the facts - I don't think he wants to believe in God, really. The mystery of the codes has been known by Jewish Rabbis for thousands of years, but only with computers is it now possible to find some of the many relevant names, dates and happenings which are all interrelated hidden in the original Hebrew words of the Torah. Statistically the findings are highly significant, as measured against another very large book written in Hebrew.
If you are interested in looking further into this phenomenon, have a look at the more up to date book by Chuck Missler about Cosmic Codes (hidden messages from the edge of eternity). This deals with the subject more thoroughly, looking at some of the other mathematical and codified information which can be found in those ancient Hebrew writings.
Mind-boggling stuff!
I have just finished my second reading of the original book by Michael Drosnin, an atheistic journalist who learned Hebrew so that he could check out a phenomenon in Genesis, where equidistant letter sequances spelled out names of significant persons who lived thousands of years after the original five books (known as the Pentateuch, or Torah) were given to Moses. This is HUGE in relation to the significance and prophetic power of those books. The author, Michael Drosnin, still thinks aliens with a supercomputer coded those books to fit the facts - I don't think he wants to believe in God, really. The mystery of the codes has been known by Jewish Rabbis for thousands of years, but only with computers is it now possible to find some of the many relevant names, dates and happenings which are all interrelated hidden in the original Hebrew words of the Torah. Statistically the findings are highly significant, as measured against another very large book written in Hebrew.
If you are interested in looking further into this phenomenon, have a look at the more up to date book by Chuck Missler about Cosmic Codes (hidden messages from the edge of eternity). This deals with the subject more thoroughly, looking at some of the other mathematical and codified information which can be found in those ancient Hebrew writings.
Mind-boggling stuff!
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Teaching creativity
Creativity can be such a broad term - we can be creative in the kitchen, creative with the decor, use creative language, have creative ideas for clothing - the possibilities seem infinite. Is creativity something we can teach? Teaching itself requires creativity to make the subject or topic interesting and memorable. But can it be taught? I believe it can be caught - from being exposed to the creativity of others, and being encouraged to express our own ideas in whatever form we choose - whether it be as a song or a dance or on paper or in the many other ways of expression available to us.
Encouragement is the key - or at the very least, tolerance - for the off-key tunes of the toddler or the wobbly first few years using a pencil to depict those interesting ideas visually. There can be such joy in being creative, in expressing ourselves in new ways.
Tolerance - not the "Eeeek!" at seeing the son's wall covered with black permanent pen. (I will provide him with an interesting array of testpots from Resene and some little sponge rollers which he can use as he wishes on those walls. He thinks that is a wonderful idea.)
How do we lose that belief in our own creativity over the years? In my own experience, it is simply through lack of encouragement, perhaps from comparisons with similar work from others where our work is not quite as perfect as we wished. All it takes to recapture that spark of "I CAN be creative!" again is someone who will gently guide us into producing something we can be truly proud of, letting us do all the work but providing ideas which we can use if we choose to. I wonder if that is why cookbooks are so popular?
Anyhow, this article is about teaching creativity. What is your definition of creativity? One dictionary defines it as:
"— adj
1. having the ability to create
2. characterized by originality of thought; having or showing imagination: a creative mind
3. designed to or tending to stimulate the imagination: creative toys
4. characterized by sophisticated bending of the rules or conventions: creative accounting
— n
5. a creative person, esp one who devises advertising campaigns"
Most people think of making artwork when they are asked to make something creative. Colours and textures on paper. One problem - boys don't have such a strong ability to notice either colour or texture (their retinas have fewer of those receptors); what they can see very clearly is movement, speed and distance, and action - so their attempts at capturing what they see can be a little confusing for us mothers who have more affinity with colour and texture. Boys seem to prefer black on white, and their pictures are usually about what is happening - verbs - rather than things or nouns. Those boys who notice their pictures aren't really understood or appreciated tend to withdraw from the "pictures on paper" play which is so essential for learning to control a pencil enough to write. My solution is a special "scribble book" where my seven-year-old son can put whatever he wants however he wants into the pages. The first few pages look like tornadoes. This book helps as an outlet when the request to do some writing practice is too much for him. It is used as "pencil handling practice" instead of handwriting for that day.
Some children shine in their creativity with sound - making up songs and tunes all day long. Some enjoy being creative with food - making tasty dishes to try (pizza topping fun is a great example here). An appreciative audience helps to bring out even more ideas.
So how do we teach creativity? By noticing and applauding those creative moments in the day - a new tune heard, some new flavour tasted, a picture or sculpture or idea expressed. Being creative can bring such joy and satisfaction, when you see from other's reactions that your work is worth trying to put effort into. What we as teachers respond to is what we will see more of, what we praise is what will be repeated, but most of all, what we do is what will be copied.
Encouragement is the key - or at the very least, tolerance - for the off-key tunes of the toddler or the wobbly first few years using a pencil to depict those interesting ideas visually. There can be such joy in being creative, in expressing ourselves in new ways.
Tolerance - not the "Eeeek!" at seeing the son's wall covered with black permanent pen. (I will provide him with an interesting array of testpots from Resene and some little sponge rollers which he can use as he wishes on those walls. He thinks that is a wonderful idea.)
How do we lose that belief in our own creativity over the years? In my own experience, it is simply through lack of encouragement, perhaps from comparisons with similar work from others where our work is not quite as perfect as we wished. All it takes to recapture that spark of "I CAN be creative!" again is someone who will gently guide us into producing something we can be truly proud of, letting us do all the work but providing ideas which we can use if we choose to. I wonder if that is why cookbooks are so popular?
Anyhow, this article is about teaching creativity. What is your definition of creativity? One dictionary defines it as:
"— adj
1. having the ability to create
2. characterized by originality of thought; having or showing imagination: a creative mind
3. designed to or tending to stimulate the imagination: creative toys
4. characterized by sophisticated bending of the rules or conventions: creative accounting
— n
5. a creative person, esp one who devises advertising campaigns"
Most people think of making artwork when they are asked to make something creative. Colours and textures on paper. One problem - boys don't have such a strong ability to notice either colour or texture (their retinas have fewer of those receptors); what they can see very clearly is movement, speed and distance, and action - so their attempts at capturing what they see can be a little confusing for us mothers who have more affinity with colour and texture. Boys seem to prefer black on white, and their pictures are usually about what is happening - verbs - rather than things or nouns. Those boys who notice their pictures aren't really understood or appreciated tend to withdraw from the "pictures on paper" play which is so essential for learning to control a pencil enough to write. My solution is a special "scribble book" where my seven-year-old son can put whatever he wants however he wants into the pages. The first few pages look like tornadoes. This book helps as an outlet when the request to do some writing practice is too much for him. It is used as "pencil handling practice" instead of handwriting for that day.
Some children shine in their creativity with sound - making up songs and tunes all day long. Some enjoy being creative with food - making tasty dishes to try (pizza topping fun is a great example here). An appreciative audience helps to bring out even more ideas.
So how do we teach creativity? By noticing and applauding those creative moments in the day - a new tune heard, some new flavour tasted, a picture or sculpture or idea expressed. Being creative can bring such joy and satisfaction, when you see from other's reactions that your work is worth trying to put effort into. What we as teachers respond to is what we will see more of, what we praise is what will be repeated, but most of all, what we do is what will be copied.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Recipe for rehydration
Here’s something I wanted to make available for anyone who needs it (I have been asked to share it with extended family, and thought it would be good to have it kept somewhere for others to see as well). A cheap and easy recipe for treating a tummy upset:
Recipe for rehydration after vomiting and diarrhoea (kind of like a sports drink or one of those fancy pharmacy sachets but it is a lot easier for kids to stomach)…
1 part juice
2 parts water
2 pinches salt per 200 ml
2 pinches baking soda per 200 ml
a dash of lemonade for fun (optional)
Sip small amounts often.
Avoid any protein foods (dairy, meats, fatty foods) for about three days.
That final little piece of advice – to avoid proteins – will save you a long and painful recovery time.
All the best!
Recipe for rehydration after vomiting and diarrhoea (kind of like a sports drink or one of those fancy pharmacy sachets but it is a lot easier for kids to stomach)…
1 part juice
2 parts water
2 pinches salt per 200 ml
2 pinches baking soda per 200 ml
a dash of lemonade for fun (optional)
Sip small amounts often.
Avoid any protein foods (dairy, meats, fatty foods) for about three days.
That final little piece of advice – to avoid proteins – will save you a long and painful recovery time.
All the best!
Monday, 20 December 2010
Emotions, hurts and forgiveness, Love...
We have to be so careful what we rehearse in our minds, what beliefs and feelings we allow ourselves to take hold of. There is such damage done by not giving people the benefit of the doubt, or by reading into other's words or actions what we think their motives are.
St. Paul pleads with the churches "do not allow a root of bitterness to spring up among you, to defile many" - bitterness spreads defilement, gossip, slander, malice, mistrust etc. If you have people that need your forgiveness - it is a matter of life and death for you to forgive them - "if you do not forgive your Heavenly Father will not forgive you". Whether or not they will accept it or even see the need for it, it is really necessary to forgive anyway for your own good!
Reconciliation can sometimes seem impossible, the hurts and history/memories/rehearsed wrongs can be too raw and painful to even go back into the same room with the person involved for a while.
My love language is words, I desperately need good words to feel loved, and any words which are spoken in a negative or hurtful way to me tend to leave deep scars like a sharp stick would leave a scar if used to inflict pain.
We all need to feel loved, everybody needs compassion, and "all have fallen short". That is where the power of forgiveness can shine - God's grace covers over a multitude of sin. Love covers, it does not expose.
Love is patient and kind, longsuffering, it never gives up, it always believes the best and rejoices with the truth. Speaking the truth in love does not mean speaking it from hurt, it means being gentle and kind, believing the best.
Fault finding or laying blame never solves problems, and accepting our own part in relational upsets can help bring healing where it is needed. Trust may be damaged, and patterns of interaction may be changed. Only a change of heart can bring full reconciliation - and only God is able to bring that about.
I have learned afresh the need to continue letting go of self and allow God to live in and work on me. These times of deep pain can have a cleansing effect. I have been repeatedly reminded that all things do work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes. So this is a promise I take hold of yet again, and I claim the good.
Love is stronger, higher, more pure and powerful than any evil or selfishness this world can throw at us. I will keep pressing into that Love, hiding in the cleft of the Rock, trusting Him to carry me through it all. Love never gives up.
St. Paul pleads with the churches "do not allow a root of bitterness to spring up among you, to defile many" - bitterness spreads defilement, gossip, slander, malice, mistrust etc. If you have people that need your forgiveness - it is a matter of life and death for you to forgive them - "if you do not forgive your Heavenly Father will not forgive you". Whether or not they will accept it or even see the need for it, it is really necessary to forgive anyway for your own good!
Reconciliation can sometimes seem impossible, the hurts and history/memories/rehearsed wrongs can be too raw and painful to even go back into the same room with the person involved for a while.
My love language is words, I desperately need good words to feel loved, and any words which are spoken in a negative or hurtful way to me tend to leave deep scars like a sharp stick would leave a scar if used to inflict pain.
We all need to feel loved, everybody needs compassion, and "all have fallen short". That is where the power of forgiveness can shine - God's grace covers over a multitude of sin. Love covers, it does not expose.
Love is patient and kind, longsuffering, it never gives up, it always believes the best and rejoices with the truth. Speaking the truth in love does not mean speaking it from hurt, it means being gentle and kind, believing the best.
Fault finding or laying blame never solves problems, and accepting our own part in relational upsets can help bring healing where it is needed. Trust may be damaged, and patterns of interaction may be changed. Only a change of heart can bring full reconciliation - and only God is able to bring that about.
I have learned afresh the need to continue letting go of self and allow God to live in and work on me. These times of deep pain can have a cleansing effect. I have been repeatedly reminded that all things do work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes. So this is a promise I take hold of yet again, and I claim the good.
Love is stronger, higher, more pure and powerful than any evil or selfishness this world can throw at us. I will keep pressing into that Love, hiding in the cleft of the Rock, trusting Him to carry me through it all. Love never gives up.
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Sleep deprived musings
I often wake in the wee small hours (anytime between 0230 and 0430), sometimes because of noises from outside on the cul-de-sac which is usually silent. Then of course there is the need to visit the "little girls room", followed by a thirst which will not be ignored. So here I am, wide awake with a warm chocolate drink at my side, wondering if it will take the usual two hours to get back to sleep. Wanting to redeem the time.
Elijah has grown without me really being aware of it - we went for a bushwalk and discovered more of Eskdale reserve together on Easter Sunday (yesterday), and had a good talk. I tried to practice my speech which is due to be delivered Wednesday evening, but only got as far as a short introduction.
I know I want to talk about the brain, and have so much to share, but really ought to make a proper outline so I have a plan of where to go with it. There are several points I remember from Terry Small's sessions at the "Mind Your Brain" conference which I can remember thanks to his making us all repeat them aloud many times in the day. 1) The number one job of your brain is to KEEP YOU ALIVE. 2) The brain thinks in PICTURES. 3) The brain learns by MAKING CONNECTIONS. Also there are many other interesting facts such as you have over 100 billion brain cells (neurons), each of which is capable of making up to 40,000 connections. Therefore, YOU ARE A GENIUS. That doesn't even take into account the trillions of glial cells (white matter), which are also continually interacting on a cellular level with the neurons.
The brain has two hemispheres, each of which takes turns (about 20 min at a time for adults) being more awake than the other. We concentrate best in blocks of time about 20 min long, then for best productivity we need a short break, including movement across the midline, to wake up the whole brain again. I will demonstrate some interesting brain gym exercises, and also encourage the listeners to try some of them. Holding each ear with the opposite hand and squatting, slapping across to the opposite shoulders, crossing feet and twisting hands together and up under the chin. Some of these exercises have been used to great benefit to counteract panic attacks, to help children with severe learning difficulties improve dramatically, to improve memory (where DID those keys go?), and of course for older students who have essays to write!
Now, I need to flesh it out with some little personal stories and then practice fitting it all into 5 to 7 minutes. Might be a challenge, and I have until Wednesday to make it polished. Plus of course, including the loud and soft voice dynamics on which I will be evaluated for this particular speech... FUN!
Wish me luck - or please pray if you don't believe in luck.
Until next time I wake in the night...
Sleep tight! And have a wonderful time reminding everyone around you they are all geniuses.
Monday, 7 December 2009
What fun! You might have already seen this, but it made me laugh so I had to share it with you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4 (click to watch) - the free hugs campaign.
Smile!
Chrissy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4 (click to watch) - the free hugs campaign.
Smile!
Chrissy
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Proud of Elijah's creativity
Hi all, I just had to share some work Elijah has been doing in his spare time... making incredibot creations which do some fun stuff! http://incredibots2.com/?robotID=worms24b039663a60d37.28815916 Try it and see...
Blessings,
Chrissy
Blessings,
Chrissy
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Quick catchup
Hi all,
Here is a post I wrote ages ago but forgot to publish:
Have been quietly going about the work of being a fulltime mum, keeping the boys and myself on track with developing good habits, keeping house as best I can, keeping up with the extracurricular afternoon activities (we have even added in swimming lessons now, so only have one day a week whan we don't have to be going out to something). But, I find I have been neglecting to keep up with friends and family - so consequently am feeling rather alone at times. If you are recieveing this blogpost as a friend or family member, would you mind making a reply or comment on it?
Last night I made a short speech at Toast Masters, an inspiration for the evening, with the focus on a very wide topic, WORDS. This was not one of the speeches which is evaluated, so I did not have any official feedback from it as to what I could do better, what I did well etc. But the anticipation and preparation, the buildup to it was almost enough to make my brain turn to mush! Am hoping my next speech goes a lot better, with a lot more preparation and fine tuning and in-depth understanding of the topic, so I can speak well with good interaction with the audience rather than stopping and starting while I check my notes.
Books I have been enjoying recently: The Bible Code by Michael Drosnin. This is the second time I have read this one - and my oldest son is quite excited to grasp the basic concepts in it - that there really truly is encoded facts, names, dates, and happenings related to our modern world hidden in the original hebrew in the Old Testament, which really can be found now using simple enough computer searches to find the equidistant letter spacing for each word or date searched for. The writer of the book is an atheist, who set out to find if the code truly exists - he and many others (who were also skeptics) have come to the conclusion that it is really there, undeniably not a product of chance (to the mathematical probability of one-to-trillions range). So, there is now a dawning realization by some that the books in the Bible were given to the human race by a benevolent intelligence far above any comprehendable intelligence which we can imagine. Yet, those who still continue to deny that God could exist wish to believe that this intelligence which knows the future, all possible future happenings, who has encoded it all for us to find if we look for it, might be an alien intelligence of some kind!?! I think maybe they have been lured into thinking that evolutionary theories hold water, or have been so saturated with all the "millions of years" ideas in every so-called scientific book that they cannot use their own reasoning to work out whether those ideas are based on actual facts or simply assumtions about the form of the world as we see it today.
Here is a post I wrote ages ago but forgot to publish:
Have been quietly going about the work of being a fulltime mum, keeping the boys and myself on track with developing good habits, keeping house as best I can, keeping up with the extracurricular afternoon activities (we have even added in swimming lessons now, so only have one day a week whan we don't have to be going out to something). But, I find I have been neglecting to keep up with friends and family - so consequently am feeling rather alone at times. If you are recieveing this blogpost as a friend or family member, would you mind making a reply or comment on it?
Last night I made a short speech at Toast Masters, an inspiration for the evening, with the focus on a very wide topic, WORDS. This was not one of the speeches which is evaluated, so I did not have any official feedback from it as to what I could do better, what I did well etc. But the anticipation and preparation, the buildup to it was almost enough to make my brain turn to mush! Am hoping my next speech goes a lot better, with a lot more preparation and fine tuning and in-depth understanding of the topic, so I can speak well with good interaction with the audience rather than stopping and starting while I check my notes.
Books I have been enjoying recently: The Bible Code by Michael Drosnin. This is the second time I have read this one - and my oldest son is quite excited to grasp the basic concepts in it - that there really truly is encoded facts, names, dates, and happenings related to our modern world hidden in the original hebrew in the Old Testament, which really can be found now using simple enough computer searches to find the equidistant letter spacing for each word or date searched for. The writer of the book is an atheist, who set out to find if the code truly exists - he and many others (who were also skeptics) have come to the conclusion that it is really there, undeniably not a product of chance (to the mathematical probability of one-to-trillions range). So, there is now a dawning realization by some that the books in the Bible were given to the human race by a benevolent intelligence far above any comprehendable intelligence which we can imagine. Yet, those who still continue to deny that God could exist wish to believe that this intelligence which knows the future, all possible future happenings, who has encoded it all for us to find if we look for it, might be an alien intelligence of some kind!?! I think maybe they have been lured into thinking that evolutionary theories hold water, or have been so saturated with all the "millions of years" ideas in every so-called scientific book that they cannot use their own reasoning to work out whether those ideas are based on actual facts or simply assumtions about the form of the world as we see it today.
Well, now that I read it, maybe it didn't get posted because I was worried about some of the possible comments which might be directed my way from diehard atheists... we shall find out what happens.
Until next time,
Happy Christmas!
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Link to a speech about creativity in education
Hi everyone,
Here is a link to a vid about how education ignores creativity as valuable.... very entertaining!
Until next time...
C.
Friday, 22 May 2009
NZHomeMum sent you a video: "Passchendaele Anzac Tribute"
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| NZHomeMum has shared a video with you on YouTube: Hi everyone, Here is a song. Check out the names of the people who helped put it together... recognize any? Until next time... Chrissy P.S. Please don't be shy to make a comment... please? | |
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Friday, 27 March 2009
Big Weeds
Hi all,
We have a massive weed in our garden, just hidden from sight behind a pretty countoured bush so we can't see it from the house. It is nasty - huge thorny prickles on each broad leaf, taller than my five-year-old, almost as tall as an adult. We have tried ignoring it, it just keeps getting bigger. We sprayed and removed a smaller one a few feet closer to the house. There are several more near the fence, but none so tall and nasty as that one. It has to be dealt with!
There are several lesson here: if we try to ignore the things that make us prickly towards others, they just get worse. They need to be pulled out by the roots. Also, it can be painful to get anywhere near the issue.
Our own self-talk will determine how we talk to and about others - remember "love your neighbour as you love yourself"? It happens! If we call ourselves names, this will spill over into calling others those same names. If we believe we are worthless unless we get things perfect, we will project that belief onto everyone we have to work alongside. There is such truth in the verse which says "As you judge, so you will be judged". So, the issue is: how do we get to the root? How do we deal with the underlying issues? Especially with all that pricklyness (read hypersensitivity) around.
Well, I have seen that the systemic spray can take out such a weed. It needs to be applied thoroughly, left to do it's work for a little while (two weeks for Roundup), and then once the leaves look brown and dead, it will be much easier to remove. What will work with the weeds in our own lives? Our nasty self-talk just gets worse if we don't recognise and pull it out before it gets big. This brings to mind another verse - "Do not let a root of bitterness grow up among you". Do not let it! What if that root has snuck into a corner where you couldn't see it and has flourished before you dealt with it? If it has already grown up? And is spreading?
We could try triple-gloving, putting on a flak jacket and somehow get close enough for a grip around the base (without poking out an eye or gouging an arm), but then what? Our own strength is nothing compared to the hugeness of that root. It would snap and stay in the ground rather than be yanked out by us. No, our own strength is useless. We need that systemic spray. The one which works on the whole plant as one, getting into the circulation and spreading to every part so the whole thing is dealt with. This problem is bigger than we can deal with on our own. We need help. We need God. We need advice from others who have dealt with this problem before.
Maybe that weed is there for this very reason - to give me a physical picture of the spiritual reality so I can think through how to face the prospect of dealing with some prickly issues in my life.
I am definitely not a fan of spraying toxins into our ground, and know that Roundup can cause some nasty reactions in some people. But hey, it is better to apply it wisely and get rid of the nasty weed (which won't be removed any other way), than to have that weed take over our little patch of paradice.
Comments, please?
Chrissy
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Under our old fridge
Hi there,
Last weekend we installed our new refridgerator/freezer. (Our old one was a second-hand gift for our wedding 14 years ago!) Well, after over a decade of not being moved, can you guess what we found underneath?
There was almost an alphabet of magnetic letters, some numbers, a collection of marbles, much muck and fluff, as well as catfood, other little plastic toys, cars etc... It took a while and almost a whole roll of handy towels to get the floor clean again!
So, here is a friendly reminder to check under your fridge at least once a decade or so!
Much love,
Chrissy
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Monday, 10 November 2008
New poems for fun!
Hi everyone,
This morning after getting up very early (for me) and going for a lovely walk around our rather large block, in the glorious bright summer sunshine; has helped me become quite poetic. Here is the result, and it gives you some idea of what my days might consist of (meant to be read out loud so you can hear the rhyme)...
Why is the floor so very sticky?
I hope that it is nothing icky
My five-year-old has left behind
Hoping that I might not mind!
And here is a little limerick, made with the help of Elijah:
There once was a young lad named Joel,
Who dug in the ground like a mole,
His mother said "golly!",
Which made him quite jolly,
And he quickly came up with a goal!
Well that's our installment for today.
Lots of love,
Chrissy
This morning after getting up very early (for me) and going for a lovely walk around our rather large block, in the glorious bright summer sunshine; has helped me become quite poetic. Here is the result, and it gives you some idea of what my days might consist of (meant to be read out loud so you can hear the rhyme)...
Why is the floor so very sticky?
I hope that it is nothing icky
My five-year-old has left behind
Hoping that I might not mind!
And here is a little limerick, made with the help of Elijah:
There once was a young lad named Joel,
Who dug in the ground like a mole,
His mother said "golly!",
Which made him quite jolly,
And he quickly came up with a goal!
Well that's our installment for today.
Lots of love,
Chrissy
Friday, 25 April 2008
Finding the balance
Finding the balance
With the holidays here, it is so much easier (it seems) to enjoy our family time, outings are more fun, no “you have to read a chapter” or “Get out the maths book” to take up our mornings. There are more movies, cartoons, computer games, running and jumping just for the fun of it. Two weeks off from the (expensive) gym lessons, swimming, art lessons, music lessons etc…
Why do we fill up our term time with so many things to do? Didn’t we start out homeschooling so we could enjoy our families? Of course, we want the best academically for our little geniuses, of course we want them to have as many and varied experiences as possible.
Does it have to cost us so much – travel time, fuel, fees, not to mention the stress if we are running slightly late? We all know this scenario is not the ideal. Yet, we do need contact with other homeschooling families, and it can be a relief to know we are part of a strong group of likeminded people, not in it on our own at all. Our children do need others to play with, interact with, and make friends with. All of this can be achieved without too much expense, by arranging to meet friends at the local playground or beach, even inviting them over for morning or afternoon tea.
Reflecting on the busyness of our lives in Auckland, the long travel times, the many activities available which all seem so great that we can’t possible miss out; perhaps we keep ourselves so busy just so that the holidays are a welcome relief, and maybe this is an unconscious pattern we are carrying on from our own childhoods, keeping the holidays much less stressful than term time.
Whatever the reason, there must be a balance found between work and play. Too much free time leads to mischief, too little to burnout. We must be doing things that are seen as useful, worthwhile, educational, productive in some way, as well as enjoying the lazy entertainment. Our leisure time can be a reward for a job well done, a much needed relief from the grind. Self discipline is far more rewarding in every area of our lives than just “going with the flow” and letting life happen around us. But we still need to have that balance, the serendipity to accept the unexpected, the flexibility to let go of the routines so we can cope well with the emergencies that crop up.
Finding the balance is what is needed: filling our lives with enough routine and enough excitement, planning but not overplanning, being disciplined yet flexible, going with the flow when needed yet also having definite activities organized when needed. Getting this balance in our lives, adjusting when there’s too much going on to keep up, and having planned down time (such as regular holidays!) is all helpful in keeping us sane.
Christina Shadbolt homeschools Elijah (9) and Joel her youngest attends the local kindergarten. She loves to proofread assignments, essays, books, web pages etc and can be contacted at christina.shadbolt@gmail.com
With the holidays here, it is so much easier (it seems) to enjoy our family time, outings are more fun, no “you have to read a chapter” or “Get out the maths book” to take up our mornings. There are more movies, cartoons, computer games, running and jumping just for the fun of it. Two weeks off from the (expensive) gym lessons, swimming, art lessons, music lessons etc…
Why do we fill up our term time with so many things to do? Didn’t we start out homeschooling so we could enjoy our families? Of course, we want the best academically for our little geniuses, of course we want them to have as many and varied experiences as possible.
Does it have to cost us so much – travel time, fuel, fees, not to mention the stress if we are running slightly late? We all know this scenario is not the ideal. Yet, we do need contact with other homeschooling families, and it can be a relief to know we are part of a strong group of likeminded people, not in it on our own at all. Our children do need others to play with, interact with, and make friends with. All of this can be achieved without too much expense, by arranging to meet friends at the local playground or beach, even inviting them over for morning or afternoon tea.
Reflecting on the busyness of our lives in Auckland, the long travel times, the many activities available which all seem so great that we can’t possible miss out; perhaps we keep ourselves so busy just so that the holidays are a welcome relief, and maybe this is an unconscious pattern we are carrying on from our own childhoods, keeping the holidays much less stressful than term time.
Whatever the reason, there must be a balance found between work and play. Too much free time leads to mischief, too little to burnout. We must be doing things that are seen as useful, worthwhile, educational, productive in some way, as well as enjoying the lazy entertainment. Our leisure time can be a reward for a job well done, a much needed relief from the grind. Self discipline is far more rewarding in every area of our lives than just “going with the flow” and letting life happen around us. But we still need to have that balance, the serendipity to accept the unexpected, the flexibility to let go of the routines so we can cope well with the emergencies that crop up.
Finding the balance is what is needed: filling our lives with enough routine and enough excitement, planning but not overplanning, being disciplined yet flexible, going with the flow when needed yet also having definite activities organized when needed. Getting this balance in our lives, adjusting when there’s too much going on to keep up, and having planned down time (such as regular holidays!) is all helpful in keeping us sane.
Christina Shadbolt homeschools Elijah (9) and Joel her youngest attends the local kindergarten. She loves to proofread assignments, essays, books, web pages etc and can be contacted at christina.shadbolt@gmail.com
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Such a busy life...
Hi all, my life seems to be so very busy with all the many things a homeschooling mum, housewife, kindergarten mum, online entrepreneur etc finds to do that I haven't been able to get around to posting on this blog for well over a month. Have watched many videos online about how to get more traffic, now just need to make the time to do it!
My life seems to spin out of control regularly, the clutter piles up, paperwork waits for three months before being filed or thrown out, new ideas catch my interest and take up more time, not to mention all the meetings and fundraisers involved with being a committee member at the 4-yr-old's kindergarten. Finding one thing to focus on seems such an elusive goal, now that I have effectively decided to leave nursing behind, not paying the annual union fees and practicing certificate fees.
I am so interested in nutrition, perhaps a website with all the greatest products for healthy body and mind might be the place to start..... will keep you posted.
By the way, if you haven't seen anything about glyconutrients yet, try youtube and be absolutely blown away like I was - this is totally amazing, fully scientific and so life-changing if you can take it on board. A few companies that make supplements have made some with all eight essential simple sugars in - and the results are staggering. Here's to good health for all!
My life seems to spin out of control regularly, the clutter piles up, paperwork waits for three months before being filed or thrown out, new ideas catch my interest and take up more time, not to mention all the meetings and fundraisers involved with being a committee member at the 4-yr-old's kindergarten. Finding one thing to focus on seems such an elusive goal, now that I have effectively decided to leave nursing behind, not paying the annual union fees and practicing certificate fees.
I am so interested in nutrition, perhaps a website with all the greatest products for healthy body and mind might be the place to start..... will keep you posted.
By the way, if you haven't seen anything about glyconutrients yet, try youtube and be absolutely blown away like I was - this is totally amazing, fully scientific and so life-changing if you can take it on board. A few companies that make supplements have made some with all eight essential simple sugars in - and the results are staggering. Here's to good health for all!
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Christmas Craziness!
This time of the year, there seems to be just soooo much to get done and not enough time to do it all. I really don't know how others who work fulltime and have little children manage it all without having a breakdown. Well, my sister who has two little boys and is about to have her third, broke her shoulder falling down the stairs the other week. AND she is in the process of adopting three orphans from Nigeria, to be expected to arrive mid-January - what a stressful-sounding life! Yet she is quite happy to be off work for a few weeks (yes, she was working fulltime with it all), and has managed to catch up with a whole heap of things. Only problem is not really being allowed to drive, so that does make it difficult sometimes - in Auckland, you really do need to be able to drive because the public transport is not as frequent or as convenient as it is in many other cities due to the very large area and relatively small population. Anyhow, I was hoping to start a website soon to help with the financial burden of adopting internationally - it is going to cost her around $10,000 per child to bring them over here. And I really want to help.
Now I have to get cracking and start a few useful websites for bringing in the funds!
And, here's something that you might feel very blessed to hear about: for the chance to win free Heart Of Wisdom (HOW) books, and to see the lot at half price, have a look at this:
Heart of Wisdom Blog Contest: A Free Book Random Drawing will be held every Monday through the months of December and January at the Heart of Wisdom Blog. Each week one Heart of Wisdom subscriber will be randomly selected o receive one FREE Homeschool Book or Heart of Wisdom Ebook from Homeschool-Books.com. A new title will be given away each week. Click here to enter.
Now I have to get cracking and start a few useful websites for bringing in the funds!
And, here's something that you might feel very blessed to hear about: for the chance to win free Heart Of Wisdom (HOW) books, and to see the lot at half price, have a look at this:
Heart of Wisdom Blog Contest: A Free Book Random Drawing will be held every Monday through the months of December and January at the Heart of Wisdom Blog. Each week one Heart of Wisdom subscriber will be randomly selected o receive one FREE Homeschool Book or Heart of Wisdom Ebook from Homeschool-Books.com. A new title will be given away each week. Click here to enter.
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Eight great marriage building ideas!
Hi all, here's an article I wrote this morning - am thinking of submitting it to some article distribution websites. What think you?
Eight great marriage-building ideas
There seems to be such a lot of unhappy wedded couples in the world today, so here are a few ideas from someone who has been married more than a decade, to help improve those marriages that appear to be headed for trouble, and to make a great marriage even better!
1) Know yourself; for example when you get tired or grumpy, what circumstances tend to set you off? Try to shape your routine/surroundings to avoid the triggers.
2) Own your feelings – if you use this little trick when there’s something heavy on your heart that you find difficult to discuss, start by saying: “I feel (angry, upset, worried etc) when...”, rather than the accusatory “You make me feel...” Accusing your spouse will have the effect of making them defensive, rather than opening up communication.
3) Try doing a special or helpful something for your beloved – for example, if they normally have to iron or cook, let them have a day off from that chore every now and then. For someone whose primary love language is acts of service, this can fill up their love tank and make for much more pleasant interactions!
4) Speak kindly, encouraging them in their endeavours / dreams / hopes. When someone has a primary love language of words of encouragement, the slightest negative tone in your voice can really crush them. Be aware of the effect your words can have on your spouse. You can encourage using a positive “mmm” if your words have all been used up for the day.
5) Loving touch such as a shoulder massage while they sit at the table after a hard day can make all the difference between a tired, grumpy spouse and a tired, relaxed spouse. Some people might be the prickly type who simply don’t enjoy casual touch like that, you can usually tell when they shudder as soon as you touch them – then you will know that a massage is probably not going to help them to relax much. I do recommend fitting a few hugs into your routine – like when saying goodbye before work and hello when you see each other again.
6) The importance of adequate sleep cannot be underestimated! When your sleep is interrupted night after night, week after week (for example by a crying new baby or wakeful toddler), nasty things go on in the brain chemistry leading to all sorts of mental health issues, depression being the most common. Find someone to help, a friend or family member or even a paid babysitter so the primary caregiver can catch some very much needed sleep.
7) A small thoughtful gift, wrapped nicely with a note for your spouse may have the effect of brightening up their day wonderfully if their primary love language is gifts, leading to closer feelings between you.
8) Time together may be just what you need to help get things back on track – plan a dinner date or a weekend getaway without distractions (leave computers at home), or go for a day walk and see a new view together. For the spouse whose primary love language is time, the more time you have together the better!
The best way to help your marriage is to not be expecting things from your spouse which they may be totally unaware that you are looking for, and to not hold bitterness in your heart for any reason – bitterness is the enemy. Forgiveness is freedom. Then you can focus on helping your spouse feel loved in the best way they can understand it, whether it is by words, time, gifts, acts of service, or touch. Have a happy spouse, and a happy marriage!
Eight great marriage-building ideas
There seems to be such a lot of unhappy wedded couples in the world today, so here are a few ideas from someone who has been married more than a decade, to help improve those marriages that appear to be headed for trouble, and to make a great marriage even better!
1) Know yourself; for example when you get tired or grumpy, what circumstances tend to set you off? Try to shape your routine/surroundings to avoid the triggers.
2) Own your feelings – if you use this little trick when there’s something heavy on your heart that you find difficult to discuss, start by saying: “I feel (angry, upset, worried etc) when...”, rather than the accusatory “You make me feel...” Accusing your spouse will have the effect of making them defensive, rather than opening up communication.
3) Try doing a special or helpful something for your beloved – for example, if they normally have to iron or cook, let them have a day off from that chore every now and then. For someone whose primary love language is acts of service, this can fill up their love tank and make for much more pleasant interactions!
4) Speak kindly, encouraging them in their endeavours / dreams / hopes. When someone has a primary love language of words of encouragement, the slightest negative tone in your voice can really crush them. Be aware of the effect your words can have on your spouse. You can encourage using a positive “mmm” if your words have all been used up for the day.
5) Loving touch such as a shoulder massage while they sit at the table after a hard day can make all the difference between a tired, grumpy spouse and a tired, relaxed spouse. Some people might be the prickly type who simply don’t enjoy casual touch like that, you can usually tell when they shudder as soon as you touch them – then you will know that a massage is probably not going to help them to relax much. I do recommend fitting a few hugs into your routine – like when saying goodbye before work and hello when you see each other again.
6) The importance of adequate sleep cannot be underestimated! When your sleep is interrupted night after night, week after week (for example by a crying new baby or wakeful toddler), nasty things go on in the brain chemistry leading to all sorts of mental health issues, depression being the most common. Find someone to help, a friend or family member or even a paid babysitter so the primary caregiver can catch some very much needed sleep.
7) A small thoughtful gift, wrapped nicely with a note for your spouse may have the effect of brightening up their day wonderfully if their primary love language is gifts, leading to closer feelings between you.
8) Time together may be just what you need to help get things back on track – plan a dinner date or a weekend getaway without distractions (leave computers at home), or go for a day walk and see a new view together. For the spouse whose primary love language is time, the more time you have together the better!
The best way to help your marriage is to not be expecting things from your spouse which they may be totally unaware that you are looking for, and to not hold bitterness in your heart for any reason – bitterness is the enemy. Forgiveness is freedom. Then you can focus on helping your spouse feel loved in the best way they can understand it, whether it is by words, time, gifts, acts of service, or touch. Have a happy spouse, and a happy marriage!
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