In Him

Chooks attacked by cat!

June 26, 2008 Life, Family Journal, veggies or chookies No Comments

I was just out the front of our house as hubby checked the letterbox and heard one of our chooks “going off”. I thought she was simply laying an egg, but it went on for too long. Dave went to look and a black cat had her backed into a corner screaming. The second the cat saw Dave it was off. We had the girls out free-ranging today, but it looks like their freedom has been cut short because of another’s greed. We’ve been looking at putting some netting above the chook enclosure for a while now. This will speed it up I’m sure. Gorgeous (the attacked chook) is unhurt, apart from a couple of missing tail feathers.

Aussies Living Simply

June 24, 2008 Life No Comments

My addiction at the moment.

Aussies Living Simply.

A forum based site for Aussies wanting to make a difference by living a simple life.

http://www.aussieslivingsimply.com.au/news.php

God is wherever there is Love

June 23, 2008 Life, God, Train up a child, Photos No Comments

I received this email today. I’ve seen it before and am glad I got it again so I could post it up here.

This is one of the kindest things I’ve ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at t he post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

Summer Fun

June 19, 2008 Life, Homeschool, Christian Resources, Train up a child No Comments

As the temperatures are dropping here in Merredin, the opposite side of the world is enjoying the warmth of summer. I was just reading some emails and one of them from ‘The Old Schoolhouse’ was titled “Summer Fun”. It struck me as weird as I’m freezing my hands off here, so I thought I’d read it. One contributor’s article I found valuable, no matter what time of the year or season it is. Enjoy the read.

It’s Just Common Sense
Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist

I’m not going to add to the summer fun ideas that is the topic for this week. Instead, I’m going to suggest that you turn off your schooling mindset sometimes this summer. Do things for yourself and let the children do for themselves.Homeschool kids aren’t usually the ones who say “I’m bored. What can I do?” But if one ever does, he needs to learn how to get unbored without somebody planning all his time for him.

Children need “downtime.” They can wander from thought to thought or from activity to activity. Free play in the back yard or wherever develops thinking skills. And thinking on their own develops creativity. That’s not to say that you’ll see something creative come out of a free summer afternoon, but what transpires in the brain develops creativity anyway. This works with solitary play as well as playing with companions.

So take a recess from “teaching.” Don’t try to sneak in some learning through summer fun activities. Enough activities will come along. Let the downtime come along too.

Just one teaching activity: If you can manage it, get to the Creation Museum. www.AnswersinGenesis.org.

–Ruth