A Modern Day Essene

I have had a couple of weeks to stew things over. Our schooling seemed to go downhill during term four. I 'think' that a huge part of that was because I brought a very very good, but "my time" consuming curriculum. I just couldn't keep up with the workload, I became despondent, Ben refused to do his work, the atmosphere in the home was horrible, I wanted to throw in the towel. Why do we always feel the need to fix things that are not broken? Things were going well with our little "Unschooling school at home" I think that seeing my two little ones do so well with the pre school component of the same curriculum made me think that I needed to do it with all my children. I loved the work, loved the books but I hated the schedule where my time (precious precious time) was taken up. In a few years when my little ones are older it will probably work beautifully but for now........well I think unschooling is the ONLY way I can go.
I am selling all the books on Aussie Homeschool right now. We need the money to fix the air conditioner and keeping books that I won't use 'just for the sake of it' seems ridiculous to me. So, if you want to grab a bargain and you need a curriculum for the new year go take a peek!

Well, another christmas has come and gone. We had a christmas party on Christmas Eve where we invited the whole of our church and only two of the members showed up! Thankfully our married children came and also another couple, friends for years. We were slightly disapointed but realize that 'open' invitations are probably not the way to go when it comes to Christians. The intentions are good but often not followed though!
Christmas morning our air conditioning decided to break down. It is very hot today (Boxing day) and my poor husband is not a happy man. He spent all morning in the roof trying to figure out what was going wrong. Alas! all he caused was a water leak which has added to the problem.
But that is life....

Only a week away till Christmas! Still got a lot of shopping today and my purse is feeling the pressure "eek". I hate to focus on the financial side but with nine children and neices, nephews, parents etc it sure does hit hard sometimes.
I had a brainwave yesterday that Steve and I should plan a trip away next year, just the two of us! It is something that I know is important to my husband so I have had it on my mind for a while. My lovely married daughters have offered to babysit (do you here me Jess?!!) so I don't really have any excuses not to do something. Well, the money! there is always the money!! I would love to see Singapore, it is somewhere I have always wanted to go. Then again there is Hong Kong and Steve wants to see Thailand and Bali. Bali doesn't appeal to me, not since the Bali Bombing, I just wouldn't feel safe. Thailand...........um, not sure! But Singapore or Hong Kong, now that would be great becausethey are the home to all my beloved Ball Jointed Dolls (heee heee hee........don't tell Steve 'that' is the reason!)
Oh, it would be nice. I wonder if for once in my life I can stick to a plan and see it through.......

Something wonderful is happening right now in my life. Ever since my home school moderator visited last week I have felt something exciting in the atmosphere! She told me about a pastor that she listens to, Leonard Ravenill, and how he has impacted her.
Only today I decided to download some of his sermons. I can't tell you how blessed I feel to hear the word of God spoken in such a passionate way. He is a genuine, old time Pentecostal preacher! He was a mentor to the late Keith Green and is, in fact, buried in the same cemetery as Keith Green in the U.S.
I don't know what is happening within me but it feels like a pregnancy! the conception of something new and the excitement that comes with that is amazing.
Oh, I know this probably sounds weird to many of you but I know that something exciting is happening within myself in a spiritual manner and that feel soooooooooooo good.

Yesterday our wonderful Education Department moderator came for her yearly visit. We are so blessed to have this delightful woman oversee our education. She is a beautiful Christian lady and has become a friend to our family.
She was here for four hours and for three hours and thirty minutes we spoke about the Lord! She had an amazing testimony to share, it was obvious when she walked through the door that she was half the woman she used to be! she has lost 16kg in one year!!! God gave her a revelation about her overeating and totally healed her and amazingly took away her desire to over eat. She is a new woman!
Now if only God would do that for me? ...............'dreams'..................
And yes, the homeschooling got the tick of approval too!

Introducing two of my dolls to you!
Blythe http://www.thisisblythe.com/blythe_history.php, well she needs no introduction! Originally brought out in 1972 and dying the same year she made a bold re entrance into the world a few years ago and hasn't looked back since! I think it has something to do with those adorable eyes and 'that' face!
Then there is little Ella, my Bobobie Elfkin girl. So tiny at only 15cm but wonderfully made and fully poseable. She loved it in the garden, her and Blythe took a nice evening walk together
Forgive me my dear non doll loving friends..........I am off with the fairies today!

I woke up this morning and felt yuk. "Time for a health kick" I told myself! so I went straight to Google (where else?) and entered DR MECOLA. That was one of my favourite health sites for years but I haven't visited in about two years (maybe that is why I am so unhealthy?) . Big bold announcements alert me to the dangers of microwaves, mobile phones (not my beloved iphone surely?) Computers (what?) t.vs and every other potential transmitter of  harmful rays. I then see a banner announcing the latest on "SWINE FLU" but very sensibly I decide to not click on that. Y'see, once upon a time I was so obsessed with all these lovely health sites that I took everything literally. Quite literally I ended up frightening myself to death..........well not death but a nervous breakdown. I couldn't eliminated the 'warning' information from my brain, instead it stayed there and brew into a deep worrying, fearful concoction. Most people probably don't feel that way but "I" do! and I have come to the conclusion that filling my brain with things that I can do little about is not healthy (for me) so nowadays I choose carefully what I read and dwell upon. You can understand then why I came off the Dr Mecola site very very quickly today!
Ignorance is bliss..............well, some of the time! I'll go make myself a barley green smoothie and get over it.............

Gosh, it is 'that' time of year again! the 1st of December and the start of the Christmas season is upon us once again.
This year I bought some really cute Advent calanders from Ebay. They don't have chocolate in them, which is quite nice considering that chocolate is a temptation that my little ones don't understand as being a 'once a day treat'. Last year they finished an advent calender in one day (without my knowledge!)
This year I found a Littlest Pet shop and Ponyville calender that contain cute little toys that go with the theme of each one. Today Ethan opened his Littlest Pet shop and found the most adorable pet bird! Leah was thrilled with her little Pinkie Pie pony. I am almost as excited as the children and can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!
My education officer arrives next Tuesday. I always like her visit because she is a christian and we always talk each others heads off! but at the same time I am apprehensive because our schooling has completely collapsed this term and I don't know how I am going to cover that subject!
I'm tired............tired of schoolwork, tired of clutter in the house related to schoolwork, tired of noise related to schoolwork, tired of stress and arguments concerning school work and one defiant child. I am ready for a holiday! ready for some 'me' time.
My diet................don't even ask!