Friday 29th February 2008 Feet up!

That is Cathy, 3 days before she turned 1 year old falling into one of our children's many toy boxes. I had been sitting surfing and taking happy snaps of our family, at play, after our evening meal. Cathy had just taken her first few steps that we were aware of. She staggered over to the box and then proceeded to fall in head first. That was the second time. The first time she managed to get herself out. This time it was Dad to the rescue!

Cathy is the serious one. She thinks about everything before she does it. Not so Michele. She is impetuous. She acts first and thinks after. It has made training Michele a nightmare and training Cathy a breeze. But together they will some day make an excellent team. We are working on working on training Michele in her God given impetuousness and Cathy in her thoughtfulness. If I were running a company I would want both working for me. Together they make an excellent team and, best of all, they get along very well together.

Life is getting better in our household has we make adjustments in how we parent. We went through the stage of just managing Michele to reacting to Michele and now we are actively training Michele and Cathy. We expect them to know nothing and to have to be taught everything. We started our training journey being reactive, whereas now we are proactive. We did pay a lot of attention to Michele and must have done something right along the way as people would come up to us and tell us how much they enjoyed seeing us out and about as a family and how happy we always looked. They didn't see the inner turmoil we often went through. That was before we read some of the Pearl's training material and changed doing what we did. The along came Cathy. She really turned things around. She has been breastfed all way along. Michele wasn't. Michele was in a pram a fair bit when we went out. Cathy has rarely been in a pram and has been what is known as an in arms baby. One other big change. When Cathy came along we were concerned that Michele would feel left out. We really didn't want that and so paid Michele a lot more attention that we might have otherwise done. It made all the difference to us as a family.

This last week we purchased the Rod and Staff preschool and kindergarten work books for Michele. No ,we are not intending to homeschooling. Rod and Staff really is an unfortunate name for education material. However they appear to be excellent books and Michele has already worked her way through the first of 4 work books. I might add that the four kindergarten books are supposed to be her entire school work for this year. Right! You have got to be kidding! We spoke with one or two folks and they said to let her work at her on pace. They also said they don't start at the level we have. No matter the age of the child, they go straight to first grade material. We wont. We will follow the curriculum and see what happens.

Should I outline my views on home schooling and all that stuff? No, not now. That is one for another post at another time.

Sunday 17th February 2008 Sorry

Sorry there is not photo today. You see I don't have any photo's on this gadget so I can't post any. Besides I haven't taken any. I can live with that.
Our 2 darlings are in bed. It is quiet around here. Too quiet. Maybe I will have to turn the stereo, wait, Home theatre system on and set up some doofer music. You haven't heard of doofer music. It is that unique sound that a system makes when it has lots of base and the whole house shakes. Usually when a car load of local yobs with more money that brains and a desire to destroy their hearing as soon as possible and as young as they can.
Yesterday I made some harsh remarks about folks who plead the system to suit their own needs under the guise of having some injustice done to them when they were too young to prevent it all from happening. I said they should get off their collective backsides and get a life, or words like that. I make no apology for my harsh and rude words. If you don't like it, tough, go get a life or more importantly, get over it.
OK, now I have got your attention, presuming you are still reading. I said that because I believe any one can achieve anything in this life that they so desire. The question is how strong do they desire it. We can do anything. If we know Jesus as Lord, we can do more. But that's another story.
When I was 12 years old, I have a teacher tell me, Mr Rob was his name, and Roelands Primary School was the place, that I would never achieve anything, that I would never get to year 10 let alone year 12. Well, he was wrong. I got to year 11. And now I have been driving trains for 20 years. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Yes, Christ has helped me, I will grant that. But Christ gave me the drive to do and accomplish what I have. And He can do the same for you, and anyone worth their salt can do better than me. One just has to desire it enough. Obstacles? Yes, and plenty of them. Heartache? Yes, and plenty off it. But it can be done. There is no need to stay in the gutter. If you are in a rut or the gutter, it is either because your too lazy to get your fat bum out of there or your happy being there. Hence I have no sympathy for people who claim they can't do it. Doubt my words? Go do some research on people with Downs Syndrome and see what they have accomplished. And all your problem is that you may have had some injustice done to you when your were young I said it before, i will say it again. Get over yourself and get a life. And watch God bless you in the process!

Saturday 16th February 2008 OK Shoot me!

Aint she wonderful? I did take another close up, but all one could see was the expanse of bridge with two eyes just showing. You see, Michele is a mad subject for a photo. As soon as she sees the camera she is in your face, or in this case, the camera lense. Literally. But she is adorable. My eldest and my favourite little girl. No, Cathy is not a girl...... yet! She is working on it. At this time she is my favourite baby. Actually she is my mate. And we get into big trouble these days. You see the raspberry blowing competitions have got real serious. Now we can raspbery blowing out, sucking air in though our lips, on our arms, on daddy's leg. Yes, we are good... very good. Talking of raspberry blowing. I put Michele to bed. She is now 4 years old. So, every night there is four hugs and four kisses. Each that it. Well, tonight I put her to bed. And as I was about to tuck her in I spotted that her belly was exposed. And she hadn't noticed. That was just too big a temptation. So, one big fat loud raspberry got planted, followed by much squealing and laughing on her part.

OK now to the subject line. You are probably wondering why the subject line. I didn't say sorry. You see, I wasn't around when this all happened. There is no doubt that some horrendous things were done to them. And some were probably removed without their parents concent. But I didn't do it and I wasn't there and some of them, who have a very high profile, weren't stolen. They were either given up by their parents or were found abandond. And even if they were, so what. I was bashed as a kid. Does that mean I should be compensated because my parents acted in what they thought was the correct manner even if it was wrong and abusive? Maybe I should start living in a gutter and crying poor me. Grow up and get a life is what I say. Get over it and stop using it as an excuse to keep doing what their are doing. Now starts the enevitable round of stolen generation compensation claims, which of course will be successful. And what will they do with the money they get in compensation? Why I am glad you asked. It will be used to buy alcohol. And in 6 months, I am being generous here, they will be back, hand held out for more. Love him or hate him, Mr Howard had the courage of his convictions to stay away. And Mr Nelson had the courage to stand up and tell it like it was.

However, we have been there and done that. Now time to move on. If you don't agree with me, that's fine. I can live with it.

Monday 4th February 2008

That's us in the photo at Glenelg in South Australia on our Christmas break. Yep, we are a pretty good looking bunch. I am the tall one taking the photo.
Today's Bible reading from Saint Luke's is from 2 Kings 2.
Is there some one we aspire to be like? Elisha did. And Elijah was the man. We should aspire to be like Jesus.
John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father.
Like Elisha was with Elijah (2 Kings2:10), so should I be to the Lord Jesus. I need to keep my eyes fixed on Him.
Something to think about.
That one is an encouraging reading.
This is a big week in our house. Stephanie starts the new year with Know Your Bible. This will be her second year. And tomorrow, Tuesday is the second week. Tomorrow Michele and I will have some serious "dad and daughter" time, mowing our very small lawn. Michele will "help" which means play on her swing set and in our unofficial sand pit. That's the patch of dirt I tell her to keep out of and that she keeps going into.
Wednesday is the first day for Michele in 4 Year Old Preschool. She did 3 year old preschool last year and it was so excellent that we have, after prayer, decided to keep it up this year.
For Michele, last year was a big turning point for her in her developement. She learnt to share and get along with other children. She also learnt to participate in group activities. All of a sudden she learnt that the world doesn't revolve around her. That she has to get along and have consideration for others.
Did she pick up any bad habits? Not that I can see.
There is this theory, not one that I subscribe to, that children learn behaviour, especially bad behaviour, from other children. I don't believe Michele did. She was/is quite capable of coming up with her own brand of mischief.
For those who think different. Lets take a peak at Genesis (sorry Stephanie) and chapter 4. Yes, that's the bit where Cain bumps off Abel. All because of a fit of jealousy. Oh, and a tad of paddy, because God would not accept his offering. Did some one teach Cain to do this? No. There is no record of that at all.
Back to Michele. Now don't get me wrong or put words into my mouth that aren't there to start with. Michele is the greatest 4 year old I know of. She is lovely, innocent, sweet, adorable, mischievious and that's for starters. She is unbelievable teachable. Especially when it is something she wants to learn or know. She is not a wimp. When she huirts herself, there is no clinging for attention. She picks herself up, dusts herself off and has another go. She just loves being around Stephanie and myself and loves being involved in what we are doing. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body. Her only fault with her younger sister, Cathy, is that she tries to help Cathy too much. The two girls get along so well, I believe we are so blessed. That's my girl. But, she can be, and occassionally is naughty. That's it. She can be. She isn't always.
Enough of my ranting.
Oh, and if you ever want to help us, just remember us before the Lord. That'll do us just fine.