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An inspiring video.

A friend posted this on the Catholic Type One Yahoo Group.



I have always believed that if you look for something good in your situation, you will find something good. If you look for something bad, you will find something bad. This video just confirms it for me.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

RIP Dad.

Two years ago today, my father passed away. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's for 13 years and while we were greatly saddened to loose him, we were glad that he was at peace.

I have written several blog posts about my dad and how he was a great example for me in living our Catholic faith. You can read them all here. 

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Smart Martha Monday.

On my list last week, I had do a heap of sewing. 
I have traced all the patterns I wanted to, pinned the boys shirts and made two leggings for myself. I did want to get everything cut out but didn't get around to it. 
This week, I am staying of all social networks. I am going to use my internet time to re organise the kitchen. This job is huge. All my cupboards are really disorganised. I am spending a lot of time looking for ingredients when I want to cook because they have become so disorganised. I am making a list tonight and working out where everything should be kept. 
I hope you all have a great week.
Therese. 

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Weekend Wrap up.

Yesterday was the last day in the liturgical year. We start a new one today with the start of Advent.

The children have been asking all weekend when we can put up the Christmas tree. I decided we should have a Jesse Tree for Advent though and I think we will decorate it with purple tinsel. I was able to print off all the Jesse Tree symbols from King of Peace website. 

I had a very productive day yesterday and felt really good about everything I was able to get done.

Steve and I took Tom, Amelia, Christopher and Joseph to Mass and Adoration in the morning. I then did food shopping, put the shopping away and cooked. I cooked the chicken for Chicken fried rice and made the Satay Chicken pie filling.

I spent the afternoon sewing and then we went to Mass in the evening.

Last night Steve and I watched Toy Soldiers. I really enjoyed it. It was very different though to what I expected. If you want to see a trailer for it, go here.

Today has been quieter than yesterday was. I did a bit more sewing, took the children to the pool and went to the church to pray for a while since I missed my usual prayer hour on Thursday this week.

I hope you all had a great weekend too.

Therese.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Smart Martha Monday.

After Joseph's fall last week and a few dramas the week before, I didn't end up doing my Smart Martha post.

I didn't do anything I had on my list. I wasn't feeling well for a lot of the time and was just too low on energy.

Tomorrow is another day so I am determined to turn it around again.

The most important thing on my list from two weeks ago was to get some summer clothes sewn for myself. I also need to get some done for the boys. I will hopefully get all the patterns traced and everything cut out this week.

I also want to get a Christmas cake baked and put it away.

I hope you all have a great week.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

DISC personality test

DISC personality test
My results:
You are tenacious and determined to follow a course of action - to achieve objectives.
You are a clear thinker. You have an inner need to be objective and analytical. You like to pursue a definite course of action. You respond to logic rather than emotion.
You are likely to be particularly good at handling challenging technical assignments.
Not sure if this is me or not. Would love to hear your results.
Therese.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Monday.

We had a pretty dramatic day here today but all has turned out all okay.

This morning while I was in the shower, Steve came in and said quick, get out, the baby has fallen over and passed out.

I jumped out and when I was dressed came out to see what was going on. Joseph had fallen of the table and then had a convulsion from the fall. We took him down to the hospital and they kept him there for observation.

It gave us a big fright but I was grateful that I could get on Facebook and dcf forums to ask people to pray for us and for Joseph's recovery. He looks fine now and we wouldn't even know that it happened.  Hopefully he won't climb as much now.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Joseph: Swimming in the pool.

The last couple of times we have gone to the pool, Joseph has been too scared to get in the water. He would just put his feet on the steps. Today he had the courage to get in.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Smart Martha Monday.

It is time to report again on how my week went and what I got done.

My list from last week is pretty well complete.

I started our walk in robe. It is a much bigger job than I anticipated so I haven't finished it yet. I think I will have to work on a few things at a time.

I couldn't take Joseph to be fitted for his AFO because the Physio rang and cancelled the appointment. We are going tomorrow morning instead.

I did a holy hour on Thursday.

I kept up with washing.

I didn't clean out a kitchen draw.

On my list this week:

1) Read blogs that are updated each day in my reader. I have been neglecting reading and catching up with many of the blogs that I have in my reader. If I look at it each night, I can usually read them all within a hour. If there is more than one hours reading, I tend to pick and choose a bit more about what I will read.

2) Clean out a kitchen cupboard.

3) Do a couple of posts on diabetes. November is Diabetes awareness month. It is so important that those of us that live with this everyday educate people on what it is like to live with.

4) Go through  my clothes and throw out anything that I haven't worn for a long time.

5) sew some summer clothes for me.

I hope you all have a great week.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Weekend Wrap up.

The warm weather is here in Port Augusta so we went to the pool both yesterday and today.

Steve worked hard and started putting an extension onto our carport. We want to have a carport for two cars for when we get the new one.


 I was going to sew yesterday but decided instead to have a clean out of my sewing area. I still need to go through my fabrics and work out what I am going to use this summer and if we need to give any away.

One end of my sewing table is used by everyone in this house as a dumping spot. This is what fly lady would call a fire spot. It gets out of control pretty quickly and ends up spilling along the entire table. I really hope this sign at least makes them stop and think before they put something there.

Oh and if you cannot read what I have written on this it says:

This space is NOT a dumping spot for your things.

Please put clothes or music away in the cupboards they belong in.

If there is something you want to put here because you don't know where it goes please ask Mum/Therese where it does go.

I hope you all had a good weekend too.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

7 Quick Takes.

Thanks so much to Jen from Conversion Diary for hosting 7 quick takes each week. You can go and read other people's quick takes here. 
-1-
This week has been Sam's first week of exams. He had Physics and Maths studies. Next week he has Chemistry and Specialist Maths. Next Friday will be his last one and then he has finished school for the year. Next year, he is going back and doing 4 more year 12 subjects. He has decided he wants to get into sound engineering and needs to have studied music for this. He was originally going to try and get into Mechanical engineering and so did all maths subjects to get into this. 
-2-
Joseph is starting to talk and imitate us a lot now. He says his name and just about anything we say. I really like it when he calls Sam. He can say this quite plainly. 
-3-
This weekend I am hoping to do a lot of summer sewing. I desperately need some summer clothes for myself. I am hoping to get a couple of new tops and some leggings sewn. 
-4-
Joseph didn't end up getting measured for his AFO's this week. The appointment was cancelled. I hope it isn't too long till we get another one. 
He also needs to go to Adelaide sometime for a MRI. I was hoping to avoid this but his Paediatrician has asked me to take him down to have it so I will. 
-5-
The book, A Special Mother is Born has been published. I have written one of the chapters in this book about being the mother of two children with type one diabetes. 
The book can be purchased from Westbrow Press. 
I am going to get my own copy but I am thinking about buying a couple of extra ones to pass around for people to read.

It has all kinds of mothers stories in it and I am really confident it will be a huge success and help save many babies that may be aborted because of their disability. 
-6-
Today Sam bought a present for the family. We now have Mario Kart Wii. It is a great game. I haven't had a go yet but I will tomorrow. 
-7-
For my last quick take I want to ask you all to keep an online friend of mine in your prayers. 
Kalona from Knocking Everywhere has cancer. She can be treated but it is going to be a long road for her to travel. You can read about the treatment plan here. Please keep her in your prayers. 
I hope everyone has a great weekend. 

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Wordless Wednesday.

Joseph and Christopher at the foreshore today.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Smart Martha Monday.

My list from last week is all complete. (Well, nearly).

1) We need a new improved diet. I always notice when we are eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and less processed food that the boys sugars are much much easier to manage. I want to do a new menu plan that has more vegetable based main meals. Just about everyone likes eggplant parmigiana. I want to get a few more meals like this that we can eat regularly. If you have any suggestions please post them in the comments. 

Done. I have made up a couple of new menu plans that incorporate a lot more vegetables into our diet. I am noticing the difference especially with Christopher's bsl. 


2) Declutter something. Since starting the boys room over the weekend, I have the buy. I think I need to declutter our bedroom. Especially our walk in robe. 

I didn't do our bedroom or walk in robe but I did get all the paper work up to date and that is a kind of de cluttering. This week I will hopefully do our walk in robe.

3) Take Christopher and Joseph to mass each day. 

Done.

4) 1 Holy hour. 


Done.

5) Paper work. I really need to go through all our paper work and get it up to date. There are some things that I need to fill in and post off that have been sitting there for a long time. 


Done.


My list this week:
1) De clutter our walk in robe. 
2) 1 holy hour. 
3) Take Joseph for his fitting for some splints. He needs to have a splint to help relax his muscles. One of the problems caused by the stroke is Joseph constantly keeps his leg muscles tense. He needs to be fitted with a AFO to help his muscle relax. Tomorrow morning I will take him and have him fitted. Not sure when we will have the splints. 
4) Keep up with washing. 
5) clean out one kitchen cupboard/draw. 
Therese from Musings of a Mom also joins in Smart Martha Monday. Pop over to her blog and see what she is up to this week. 

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Weekend Wrap-up

We had a great weekend here.
We did all the usual things on Saturday, mass and adoration in the morning, food shopping in the afternoon and the vigil mass in the evening.
Today I made Joseph's tricycle. He seems a bit stressed when he is on it on his own but likes it when someone pushes him on it and helps him to peddle.
We went and got a new swing set from some friends this afternoon and Steve set it up as soon as we got home. I tried a new lentil chilli for tea and we all really liked it.
I hope you all had a great weekend too.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Nearly Wordless Wednesday: Joseph's first tattoo.

We got some freddo Frogs with some tattoos in the pack. Tom put one on Joseph. Here is a photo of it.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Tasty Tuesday: Our favourite noodle recipe.

This is a dish we have started to have quite regularly here. It is really yummy.

I have adapted this recipe to make it a bit more to our families taste. 
Ingredients: (to serve 8).
350 pack fantastic egg noodles.50 grams mushrooms. 250 grams diced lamb or pork. 4 tbspns soy sauce4 tbspns rice wine vinegar4 tbspns curry powder2 tbspns brown sugar.1 tin coconut milk1.5 cups chicken stock200 grams bacon. 2 tbspns oil.minced garlic to taste2 tbspns minced gingerchillies 1 brown onion. 350 grams mixed corn and peasfresh coriander leaves. 
Method:
Boil water in kettle and pour over noodles till completely covered. Leave to soak while preparing the rest of the meal. Cut up mushrooms and cover with boiled water. Leave aside. 
Mix soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, curry powder, brown sugar, coconut milk and stock. Leave aside.
cook diced lamb in oil till brown. Remove from pan and put in onion, ginger, garlic, chillies. 
Add bacon to onion mixture, once onions are soft and fragrant. Continue cooking till bacon is done. Drain noodles and mushrooms and add to onion/bacon mixture. Add meat, peas and corn and pour sauce over. Bring to the boil and simmer till the sauce has been absorbed.  Serve.

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Smart Martha Monday.

Today I took Christopher and Joseph over to the church for some prayer time in front of the blessed sacrament and Christopher found a novena prayer to St. Martha.

I was struck by the fact that I have been doing these posts for a long long time and haven't once thought about asking St. Martha to intercede for me. I am going to make an effort to remember to ask her for her prayers each time I post a new Smart Martha Monday post.

So from last week:

1) Go to pray at the church for one hour on my own.


I did this on Thursday. I am going to make Thursdays between 4-5 my time for prayer at the church every week. It fits in well with all the other after school activities. 


2) cut out my new dress.


Not done. I decided it was more important to go through the boys room so put my sewing aside. 


3) Get onto skype and talk with some friends


I had a chat with Cathy on Wednesday night. It was great. Hoping to get on more this week. 


4) Go to bed each night by 10.30.


Didn't do. I had a couple of later nights since I needed to check boys sugar levels and Joseph needed eye drops 4 times a day for conjunctivitis. I usually gave him his eye drops at midnight. 


5) Go out with Steve for coffee date.


Didn't go out but had some take away with just Joseph on Friday so I did spend some time alone with him. 


This week I want to do the following:


1) We need a new improved diet. I always notice when we are eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and less processed food that the boys sugars are much much easier to manage. I want to do a new menu plan that has more vegetable based main meals. Just about everyone likes eggplant parmigiana. I want to get a few more meals like this that we can eat regularly. If you have any suggestions please post them in the comments. 


2) Declutter something. Since starting the boys room over the weekend, I have the buy. I think I need to declutter our bedroom. Especially our walk in robe. 


3) Take Christopher and Joseph to mass each day. 


4) 1 Holy hour. 


5) Paper work. I really need to go through all our paper work and get it up to date. There are some things that I need to fill in and post off that have been sitting there for a long time. 


Pop over the Therese from Musings of a Mom who also joins in Smart Martha Monday. 

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Weekend Wrap up.

We had a great weekend here. 
On Friday night Steve and I went to mass and then got take away for tea since there was only Joseph and us at home. 
It was nice to come back and enjoy the peace and quiet in the house. That night, we watched Surrogates.
Saturday morning we were up early for mass and adoration. Every other weekend, Steve goes and empty's the St. Vinnie's Bins and takes the clothes back to the shop. While he went and did this, I started cleaning out the boys room. 
I have decided we need to have another de clutter in the house and started at the beginning. The boys room, is the very fist room from the left of the house and also the smallest bedroom. Having three boys in there has been a challenge. I decided it was time to go through everything and get back to basics. After spending quite a few hours in the boys room this weekend, we have 3 bags of clothes for St. Vinnie's and 1 extra bag of rubbish. 
I am going to keep on going through the rest of the house whenever I have a few spare minutes. 
Last night I spent a fair bit of time catching up with some blogs that I haven't read for a long time. I also started playing a new game on facebook called collapse. A fun game and maybe just a bit too addictive. I will have to watch how much time I play it. 
I hope you all had a great weekend. 

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

Stylish blogger award.

Thanks so much to Vicky from Creating with Wisdom and Esther from A Catholic mom in Hawaii for passing on the Stylish blogger Award to me. I love both your blogs and feel very privileged to have this award passed on from you.

Editing to add, Lisa from Are We There Yet, also gave me this award. Thanks so  much Lisa. Your blog is another must read that I hate to miss. 
For this award, I need to tell you seven things about myself. 
I have been blogging for so long, it will be hard to come up with 7 things I haven't already said about myself. 
-1-
I believe God gave Steve and I 8 children because it was the only way I would learn the virtue of patience. 
-2-
I like to play sudoku. I try to do at least one a day to keep my mind active. 
-3-
I am not a very good housekeeper. 
-4-
Just about every morning I have eggs on toast for breakfast. 
-5-
I like to listen to The Priests when I am doing house work. 
-6-
Next January, Steve and I have been married 21 years. I love being married. 
-7-
I decided yesterday that we are not going to buy soft drink on a regular basis any more. I really love drinking soft drink but it is so bad for me and the children. They drink a lot because I do too. We are going to have it for special events only from now on. 
I want to pass this award onto the following bloggers.
Nikki from The Roman Road. Ebeth from A Catholic mom climbing the pillars.Jamie from Lord, Make Me a Saint.  Jeanne from A Peaceful Day.Christie from Garden of Holiness.  

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education

A little Fun.

This is doing the rounds of facebook with my friends and I thought I would show it here.

I got Lazy, happy, patient and elegant.

What did you get?

Categories: Australian Home Education, Planet Home Education