In Him

The Climate Change Diet 

~ Buy fresh, locally-produced food, which has less distance to travel and therefore uses less fuel.

~ Eat fewer processed and refrigerated foods, which take more energy to manufacture, transport and store.

~ Waste less food – about one-third of the food we prepare is thrown away uneaten. Don’t over-order in restaurants, and eat smaller portions.

~ Drink tap water, not bottled water, which uses large amounts of energy to produce.

~ Reduce the amount of meat and animal and diary products we eat. Meat is much more energy intensive and requires proportionally more land to graze animals than crops. Instead, eat foods lower down the food chain – grains, fruits and vegetables that are cheaper to grow, use less energy and less land space.

~ Buy foods in season – seasonal products generally use less energy to produce.

I think for Favourites Friday I’ll post my four favourite flowers.  Now flowers for me MUST be in a natural environment, NOT picked - they just look like they are dying to me when they’re picked.

4th - Gerbera (Bright orange)

3rd - Iris (Dutch, purple)

2nd - Rose (pale apricot or pink )

1st - Lavender (White or Purple)

I just worked out that dinner for our family tonight cost a grand total of $4.85!  I bought Black and Gold Spaghetti and Cheese for .59c each today.  Heinz Baked Beans is $1.73 each (salt reduced!) and a loaf of bread is $2.20 which contains 22 slices so that is .10c a slice - so

a half a can each for the girls                   0.59

and a can each of beans for Dave and I      3.46

plus 2 slices of toast each                        0.80

                                                         = $4.85

A cheap, easy (Friday night, not gonna cook) filling meal. 
And WAY cheaper than takeaway (that costs $20 at the very least).

I read this small article in the May edition of the Challenge newspaper.  Some good advice. 

Family Finances

So many of us get trapped into a discontented life by adopting needlessly excessive goals. These goals always boil down to more, bigger, best. And as soon as we accept these sky-high standards, indulgence, greed, and pride can rule our lives.

In our society it is not normal to “step down.” Instead, once a certain level of income (or spending) has been attained, it is considered a failure to step down. But, is the concept of conservation and moderation really a loser’s attitude? Not according to God’s Word, the Bible.

To find true contentment, some basic guidelines must be established.

1. Establish a reasonable standard of living.

Since there is no universal plan that is suitable for everyone, this must be a standard established among husband, wife, and God. Just having an abundance is not a sign of God’s blessings.

2. Establish a habit of giving.

Find out how your family can be directly involved in contributing to the needs of another family. There are many Christian charities and organizations that act as a funnel for such funds. If you can’t be personally involved, this is the best alternative.

3. Establish priorities.

Many people are discontented, not because they aren’t doing well, but because others are doing better. Too often we let the urgent things take priority over the important things.

4. Develop a thankful attitude.

Thankfulness is a state of mind, not an accumulation of assets. We will not have true contentment until we truly thank God for what we have, and willingly accept that as God’s provision for our lives.

5. Reject a fearful spirit.

We can get trapped into hoarding because we fear the “what- ifs?” of retirement, disability, unemployment, or economic collapse. Obviously, God wants us to consider these things and even plan for them, within reason, but when fear dictates us to the point that worry becomes the norm rather than the exception, then we need to rethink our priorities and seek God’s wisdom.

Finding contentment is the solution to reversing the growing debt levels in our society. Contentment does not mean complacency or living according to strict rules. Contentment instead requires a personal relationship with God and finding His plan for our lives.

Lloyd Woodrow - Crown Financial Ministries - crown@crown.com.au
Copied from Challenge Newspaper May 2008 edition
http://www.challengenews.org/showstory.php?i=2008/may&s=story_4&r=2008/may/&l=AU&f=NKNE

Yes I said CD player.  I’m one of the few who doesn’t own, nor intend to own a digital music player.  I like my tapes, records and CDs.

My faves at the moment are (in no particular order).

     Steven Curtis Chapman - All Things New

     Pillar - For the Love of the Game

     Casting Crowns - Lifesong

     Vivaldi - Four Seasons

As you can see I have a varied taste in music from classical to alternative heavy metal, so if you’re into music and like to be surprised, keep an eye on here.  (oh and I have no idea who would be in the top 10 over the past 10 years, so if it’s “popular” music you’re into, don’t bother!!! lol)

Notice the blanket I just finished in the background too.  I started it last year usuing up old scraps of wool from other projects, the finished result is old fashioned with new fashion colours!  I like it and it’s warm on my chair.

My first Thursday 13 is going to be things about me. 

1 - I like the colour orange (for clothes especially).

2 - I homeschool my girls.

3 - I have 9 pets.

4 - I don’t like to drive at night.

5 - I love windy days. 

6 - I’m a natural hoarder (it might come in useful one day!)

7 - I enjoy novels over non-fiction.

8 - I think I could live without a TV if I lived by myself.

9 - I don’t like deep water and boats do nothing for me.

10 - I like motorbikes but have never ridden one alone.

11 - I love music and always have a song playing in my head.

12 - Rockabilly is my alltime fav type of music, yet I don’t own any!

13 - I don’t think I would ever live anywhere but country.

I guess my life isn’t boring.  I just assume it is compared to others.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my life and am so content where we are as a family (physically and otherwise).  I think I need to remember to see the special in the daily things again.  Something in the past that has brought me closer to God.  When I thank Him for EVERYTHING, it all seems special - because it is.

Today was another productive day, I got up around 9am again.  I’ve been getting to bed pretty late compared to my usual and so have been sleeping in.  I have stopped worrying about being up “late” because we live such a casual lifestyle that it doesn’t matter when we get up.  No one will be late for anything!   The girls seem less stressed, Dave seems less stressed and I am definately less stressed.  We are so laid back we’re almost horizontal!  The important thing is that we get everything done that we want to - meals, school, housework, feeding animals, hobbies, exercise, quiet times, family times, getting out and about, errands, and socialising. 

The “schoolwork” (I wish there was another word for it) was again at about 11ish but there were some different things we got done.  A science experiment involving a candle water and a coin.  Some bible study involving Zacharias, Elizabeth and John (see Luke 1:5-25).  Lots of free play for the girls when they’d finished. 

Dave suggested we get out of the house this afternoon, so we went to the dam to see how high it was after the recent spattering of rain.  We took Billy as well for a walk.  It was lovely there and Dave took the camera.

The dam 

——-

Us

——- 

Merredin Peak

It was a pleasant change to our normal routine.

The rest of the evening was nice and easy, we grabbed takeaway on the way home (first time in quite a while).  Watched Ugly Betty, Spicks ‘n’ Specks and then The Gruen Transfer.  Now I’m going to attempt to get to sleep BEFORE midnight.

It’s a sad state of affairs when I’m “without book”.  For those crafters who read my blog it’s akin to being “without project” (although if you’re anything like me you usually have several on the go at once!!!)  I don’t read several books at once, it’s just not relaxing that way. 

I finished “How to really love your child” by Dr Ross Campbell the night before last.  I really enjoyed it and thought his experienced (he has 2 girls and 2 boys) approach  was very good.  I’m already seeing fruit.

A couple of days before I read “Boundaries” by Dr Cloud and Dr Townsend.  I read Boundaries for Children several years before and always wanted to read the original.  I must say it was a bit of a let down and it was exactly the same except pointed at you instead of your kids.  Still a very helpful series though, I’m not discrediting it at all.

And just before that (the day before I think)  I finished the 12 book Left Behind series by Lahaye and Jenkins.  I read this a couple of years ago and was pretty emotional through it, this time, not so much.  It’s a good fictionalisation of what end times may look like (depending on ones theology).  I was amazed that it only took me a couple of months to read them this time - although I have to admit I did read 2 or 3 of them in a day (each, not all!)  They’re pretty addictive!

And now I am without book -

I thought I’d write about me.  I don’t often and it’s not easy for me, so I had to really sit and think about what I’ve done today.  Here it is.

Woke up around 9ish.  Got up around 9.15.  Coffee (only one, not enough milk for my second).   Crumpets (glad I grabbed those yesterday).  Tea (instead of second coffee because I’m drinking it with soy at the moment).  Sit around digesting and watching children play playstation2 games.  Generally trying to start brain.

10.15 - get dressed.  Strip bed of sheets and take out to laundry.

10.30 - alert children to possibility of school soon (don’t want them to startle and scatter!)

10.31 - put some washing on as its supposed to rain later in week.  Notice a neighbour somewhere burning off, hope it’s done by the time the washing needs hanging out.

10.45 - call girls to school (we do this at our kitchen table).  It was a relatively easy day.  They started with journal/copywork and I think they both did copywork, which is unusual.  Then on to Maths bookwork (They use New Signpost Maths.  Then Natasha had bookwork for English (Text Types) and Olivia had creative writing.  I set her a page long story.  Olivia had a science experiment to write the conclusion up on, Tash had done it the day before.  Our “extra” this week is Art & Craft they are learning to crochet and are making a scarf and a doll blanket.  Tash had finished all her work except for the A&C so I left Liv in Dave’s capable hands (he’s a SAHD/student) and went down the street for some milk and bread.  Tash came to help compare prices of milk as we had a $10 budget.  We ended up getting 2x 2L milks for $2.99 each (on special) and 1 loaf of bakery wholemeal bread for $2.20, so a little change.

When we got back Liv was still writing her story, a pleasant surprise (she ended up doing 3 pages!)

I hung out the washing sometime during school. 

I had my second coffee with lunch (YAY!) and sat on the front porch on the swing with Dave.  We were soaking in the sun and warmth as it got down to 0.6c last night. 

I noticed the weeds popping up in the gardens so I thought I’d get off my bum and do something about it.  Spent about an hour weeding and raking up dead leaves.  The girls helped and Dave cut some of the liquid ambers back in the driveway to dry and use for firewood.

It was starting to get damp in the air so I brought the washing in and made the bed.  Then it was time to start the quiche for dinner.  It was a pseudo spinach quiche (silverbeet) but it worked nicely.

Now it’s after dinner and I’m having my last coffee for the night (at 6.30pm) and waiting for the final of Australia’s Got Talent (7.30pm).  After that the girls will go to bed (Liv will probably read her current Christy book for another hour before lights out but Tash will fall asleep instantly!).  Then I’ll sit and watch brainless TV with hubby while I crochet a green stripey beanie for Tash and get to bed between 11 and 12 and start all over again! 

That’s my life - usual boring stuff, so that’s why I don’t write about it much.