Fireproof

Jeff and I watched Fireproof together on Saturday, which my blogging buddy Amy recommended to me maybe over a year ago now. We finally borrowed a copy from a friend and sat down to watch it together.Fireproof is a realistic movie. It tells the story of Mr Holt Snr's dare to his son Caleb to spend 40 days loving his wife deliberately, in a determined effort to save his marriage from divorce. I appreciated the way that it doesn't shy away from the realities of what causes holes to form in marriage relationships. I also liked the clear demonstration that there is always shared responsibility on both sides, even if one person seems to be more "in the wrong". It was great to see how one person's choice to act lovingly can make a difference to a marriage that seems doomed for divorce, even if the other person wants "out".

One of the best things about the movie was the way Mr Holt Snr explained to his son Caleb that God's loving kindness for him had been rejected in just the same way that Caleb's wife was rejecting Caleb's love. What more could Caleb do? Well, what more did God do? God's Son Jesus died for Caleb (and for us). It was a very clear application of the fact that marriage is one way that God teaches us about the relationship between Christ and the Church, and between the Father and the Son.

May God make my marriage - and yours - a glorious example of these mysteries of God to others.

[Image from http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com/.]

"Diagram of a Baden" (aka Bayden)

By Joshua, in the half hour before lights out at bedtime:His spelling may be appalling and he may frequently get letters around the wrong way, but I'm impressed Joshua can write this much in half an hour after a long, hard, hot day at school. And I am impressed that he can spell "diagram" correctly, even if he can't spell "with".

Translation, for those who cannot decode Joshua's spelling:
"Diagram of a Baden.
A Bayden is a human eater.
Its favourite food is a monster.
The eye is a light and a thing
that is an thing that it can
see with. The bag has every
weapon in the whole wide world.
It is very strong.

Labels, clockwise around figure:
Eye which is a light
Weapon bag
Tail
Legs
Arms
Teeth

A Lego Poem

For my sons, Joshua and Samuel.

There was a little Rock Monster
Way down in a mine,
He went for a walk one day
Some crystals to find.

But instead of some crystals,
The Rock Monster found:
A Power Miner digging
Deep down in the ground.

The Power Miner gasped
“You gave me a scare!”
The Rock Monster told him
“I just hoped you’d share.”

The Power Miner thought
“I know I should be kind.
And I have extra crystals
So I really don’t mind.”

The Rock Monster said politely,
“Thank you very much.”
Then he took the crystals home
And ate them for lunch!

Mm-mm. Tasty!

by Sharon Jackson, 2010

The Blind Side

Jeff and I went to see The Blind Side yesterday. It is the first Sandra Bullock movie I have ever really enjoyed, and walked away from feeling happy, rather than frustrated.Based on true events, The Blind Side tells the story of Michael Oher, aka Big Mike, a homeless (black) teenager who is offered a couch to sleep on one night by the (Christian, white, and Rich with a capital R) Tuohy family, and gradually finds a place in their home and hearts - and they in his - before finding his place in the world of American football as well.

I like this movie because it shows how the Christian ethic of "loving your neighbour" on a person-to-person level does as much good for the "helper" as for those "helped". It is a very different situation to that of mass-market financial giving for a cause or a crisis, because while this giving is important and even vital in the lives of the recipients of the help, they have a minimal influence on the life of the person who offers the help. In The Blind Side, we see that helping someone directly can lead to a new understanding of love in the life of the loving helper, as well as in the life of the beloved who is helped.

My favourite quote, Mr Sean Tuohy to his wife, Leigh Anne:
"Who ever knew we'd have a black son before we'd know a Democrat?"

Who have you helped lately?

Our Read Alouds from 2009

Again, for posterity, I am listing some of the more notable stories we read aloud as a family in 2009. Since January is nearly over, it's probably time to re-start our "We've Just Finished Reading" list in the right hand side bar. Asterisks mark the stories we liked best.

For the 2008 list, click here.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (slightly abridged)

**Heidi (1880) by Johanna Spyri.
Anna wrote in her journal, "I like you being kind and I like your daughter. I know that your daughter is sick. I know that I had to go back to the mountain with grampr."
Two questions for Heidi afficionados: Who was Anna pretending to be when she wrote this letter? Who was she writing the letter to?

**Tom's Clockwork Dragon by Jonathan Emmett.

Blinky Bill the Mischievous Koala (the book of the Yoram Gross film of Dorothy Wall's Australian classic)

*Anne of Green Gables (1908) by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Babar's Little Girl by Laurent de Brunhoff

*Matilda by Roald Dahl.
Anna says, "This book is about a trouble-maker." Matilda is Dahl's heroine in this story, but despite being a "reader of books" who enjoys the humour of Dickens's Pickwick Papers and a "mathematical prodigy" who can multiply 19 by 14 instantly in her head, by chapter 8, she has not yet realised there are alternatives to responding to meanness with spite. With the help of her teacher Miss Honey, Matilda finds a better way of dealing with her enemies, thankfully.

*Horton Hears a Who! by Dr Seuss
*Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr Seuss

*Doctor Dolittle's Zoo (1925) by Hugh Lofting
**The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1922) by Hugh Lofting

**The Trumpet of the Swan (1970) by EB White
*Stuart Little (1945) by EB White

**Frog and Toad Together (1972) by Arnold Lobel

The Musical Life of Gustav Mole by Michael Twinn, illus Kathryn Meyrick, tape narrated by Patrick Macnee

Dumbo from Disney

*Ten Boys who Made a Difference and Ten Girls Who Made a Difference by Irene Howat, from the Light Keepers series

*Nothing by Mick Inkpen

**The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins (1938) by Dr Seuss

We have also listened to The Lost World (1912) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on audiobook CD.

Home Grown Pumpkin

I know I said I wasn't posting, but I have been taking a few photos and couldn't resist sharing. This is the giant pumpkin Jeff has been growing in our back yard. The kids cut a face in it - not that it is halloween or anything - and will be appreciating it's candle-lit magnificence tomorrow night.Notice all the boys' buzz cuts? That's another home-grown (or rather home-shorn) deal. Jeff found nits and lice in Sam and Joshua's hair yesterday, so the whole family has been either shaved or drenched in anti-lice oil (disgusting!) depending on gender and willingness to look a bit like an egg, or like someone who could more easily get work as a nightclub bouncer than a pastor!

Doorstep Frog #2

We came home from church on Sunday evening to find our second frog on the doorstep. No-one stepped on him coming through the door, so we were able to watch him for a few moments before herding the kids off to bed:I think he was a Western Banjo Frog:Certainly a very different frog to the first one we found on our doorstep.

Calvin Club

Cathy at The Best Book Co-Op is going to be hosting a collective reading of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, through the Calvin Club.

I found a copy of Calvin's Institutes sitting on the family bookshelf: it is Volume 20 of Britannica's Great Books of the Western World series. Unfortunately, even at the Cathy's promised gentle pace (getting through Book I in 2010), I am not sure I will be able to partake. I have just applied to work part time, 2 1/2 days a week, as the Children's Ministry Worker at my church(!!). Not to mention the other project I am working on, writing a book. However, I would heartily recommend this challenge to anyone who would like to get a better grip on what they believe and why.

Meredith at The Key to the Door has decided to give the Calvin Club a go already. Why not join Cathy and Meredith at the Calvin Club?

Swimming Lessons and Levels

For the last three weeks, Anna and Joshua have been attending swimming lessons at a nearby pool complex. We moved Joshua from one school to another after term 1 last year, and he missed swimming lessons at both schools. So Joshua and Anna have been in the same classes, which has been great for developing their camaraderie.

Meanwhile, I have been doing laps. I began with 1km and have swum 1.5km a few times, but in this second fortnight the lessons are shorter so I am working hard to get my 1km done in the limited time. The big improvement has been in my ability to do butterfly. I didn't even dare attempt it the first week, but after struggling through 25m in the short lap pool the second week, I am now confidently swimming 50m of butterfly at a time in the Olympic (50m) pool and 100m total, with hopes to increase that next week.

In the first fortnight of swimming classes, Joshua and Anna did Level 1, which covers very basic water awareness skills. Handily, they both passed (although, to be honest, it would have been hard for them to fail) and they moved on to Level 2 for the second fortnight together. I am not sure they will both pass this level, but they at least are getting their first introduction to swimming strokes. One of the skills they need to demonstrate to pass this level is to "Swim 5m freestyle" and it has been fascinating and hilarious to watch Anna demonstrate what she is learning to me afterward. Her thrashing arms and legs remind me of two windmills on steroids, but then, I imagine I look pretty hilarious as I practice my butterfly.

One of the things I have found interesting is how, even in Summer holidays, conversations between parents seem to find the easiest common ground in a comparison of the achievements of their children. I am not going to pretend that I don't do this as well, but it struck me on Friday just how much we parents seem to fall into this, almost as a habit.

"What level is your child in?"
"Level 1."
"Oh, they'll pass that one easily. Level 3 is the killer. My son is on his third go at it. I hope he passes this summer!"

"My daughter is up to Level 3 this summer already. What level are your lot in?"
"They haven't done swimming lessons before, so they're in Level 1."
"Gasp! Oh, well, my son is only in Level 2 this summer."

"I remember my son was in Level 3 six times. In the end, they let him go on to the next level even though he couldn't float."
"I find floating easy. I could float for half an hour if I wanted."
"But boys' bodies are different and that can make it harder for them to float."

Of course, many of these conversations are not about competing, just comparing. When parents discuss what our children have done or are able to do, it can help us to identify those things we have in common, so we can find other things to converse about, and eventually develop a friendship. But at times this sort of conversation can devolve into one-upmanship, which is pretty sad. Just sayin'.

So what is the alternative? Meredith has some questions to start conversations, or fill those awkward pauses, in this post on hospitality.

TwiFun 101

The funniest Twilight-related quote I've read in ages:

EDWARD: You know what vampires love? Baseball!
BELLA: Really?
EDWARD: Sure! Haven't you ever heard of vampire bats?

For more, check out Eric Snider's Snide Remarks.

Happy New Year, New Decade!

Jeff and I have a tradition to go on a date on NYE and talk about our past year and the things we're thankful to God for. As we've added more children to our family and moved away from handy grandparent babysitters, we've found this harder to keep up. This NYE is the first we've spent apart in our marriage, though. Jeff spent it in Albany with the two little ones visiting Granny and Gramps and I spent it here in Perth with the two big kiddies, taking them to swimming lessons and celebrating with bubbly apple cider (non-alcoholic!) with dinner. Jeff gets back today, so I spent most of yesterday evening (with the kids' help, and then on my own after they went to bed) cleaning & tidying the house. But New Year's always brings the itch for change in me, and I decided to move the furniture around in the lounge room late into the night. I wonder if Jeff'll notice the difference when he gets home?
This morning I finished the job, sorting all our CDs out in the CD drawer of our coffee table. I found a CD by eli, called "Things I prayed For", that I haven't listened to for ages, and slipped it in the player while the kids and I had lunch. The first two songs bought tears to my eyes (they always do, that's why I bought the CD in the first place). The second song in particular shall provide food for thought as you enter your New Year and New Decade, I hope:

The Lumber Song

Said a friend to a friend one day:

Was a man who passed away

St. Peter met him at the gate

Pete said: Walk with me if you will

I'll take you to the house you built

Man said: I can't wait

passed a mansion made of stone

But with each new house he's shown

They get smaller by degrees

Stopped in front of a two room shack

Peter said: Hope you're happy with that

Man said: How can this be? Pete say:

That's all the lumber - that's all the lumber

That's all the lumber you sent

Looks like the builder - man, He's got your number

That's all the lumber you sent

Man didn't know what to say

Poor guy was blown away

Said: you mean this is what I deserve?

Pete said: I'm afraid it's so

It's too late but now you know

Shoulda done better work

Said: you mean not lie and cheat

And helpin' old ladies across the street?

Pete says: Well, that's a start

Remember that man back in that great big house?

He found out early what it's all about

Built that house with his heart - as for you

That's all the lumber - that's all the lumber

That's all the lumber you sent

Looks like the builder - man, He's got your number

That's all the lumber you sent

What if that man was me

And all failed that miserably

You're showin' me things I don't wanna see

St. Peter if you can

Send me back to earth again

Is that somethin' you can do?

Peter said: It ain't up to me

If it was I'd like to see

How you plan to improve

Said: I'd love God and fellow man

Take a wife and make a stand

Be the givin'est guy I can be

And when I get back to this neighbourhood

There'd be a gigantic pile of wood

And I'd say: What's this I see? - and you tell me

That's all the lumber - that's all your lumber

That's all the lumber you sent

Big Boss'll help you - hammer it all together

That's all the lumber you sent

What lumber are you sending on ahead of you?

1 Corinthians 3:5-15 says this:
"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on his foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through flames."

We don't buy our salvation - no one can build a foundation other than the one already laid, the foundational work of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross in our place, so that we might live rightly with God. But we shall all be rewarded for the work we do for Him now, on this earth, before that Day of Judgement.

Matthew 6:19-21 records Jesus' words:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Are you storing up treasure in heaven?

Merry Christmas! 2009

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to JESUS!

Happy birthday to you.

Merry Christmas

to all our friends and family,

love from Joshua, Anna, Abigail and Samuel

And for our northern friends,
we hope you enjoy your snow!

(And Merry Christmas from me too.)

This Blogger is TEMPORARILY not Blogging

Hi to all of you wonderful regular readers of my blog!

Due to a sudden and unexpected - and delightful - turn of events, I have a pressing need to direct my writing energies elsewhere for a while, and maybe even the next few months. (If you want a hint, check out my tags for this post.) For that reason, I won't be posting on Equip Academy at least for the next fortnight, and probably (God willing!) until around mid-February 2010.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm giving up TV as well. Even though The Office is showing two nights a week at a manageable time starting this week!

Please keep me in your prayers. I look forward to writing for you again in 2010.

Grace, peace and love in Christ,
Sharon

PS If you are hanging out for something else to read online, you might like to check out these blogs, which I will also be reading (some more frequently than others):

Amy Edward's blog Veritas at Home - an American homeschooling mum of four + one in-utero, who loves BSF like me and is a faithful Christian. (Did I mention Amy's blog shares a "birthday" with mine, and we have become great blogging buddies since we met online?)

Meredith's blog The Key to the Door - a fellow Perthite whose husband is a graduate of the same Theological College as mine, Meredith shares insights from her Bible reading and on Christian living.

John Granger's blog Forks High School Professor - for those who share with me a fascination in the deeper meanings buried in by Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga.

Kellie's blog Blue House Academy - another Christian homeschooler, whose American family is "touched by Austism".

For other recommendations, please check out the "Blogs I enjoy" and "Friends who blog" links in my left hand sidebar.

Philippians 2 Song: Do Everything Without Complaining

Paul and Timothy wrote to the church in Philippi
(Links to: Philippians 1 kids' stuff, Philippians 2 kids' stuff, Philippians 3 kids' stuff and Philippians 4 kids's stuff.)

Do Everything Without Complaining: Philippians 2:14-16
Words and Tune copyright 2008 Sharon Jackson
Arrangement Andrea Lim

Do everything without complaining,
Do everything without arguing,
So you might shine like stars in the universe
As you hold out the word of life.

Philippians 4 kids' story & colouring picture

Paul and Timothy wrote to the church in Philippi
(Links to: Philippians 1 kids' stuff, Philippians 2 kids' stuff, Philippians 3 kids' stuff.)
Paul was thankful for the Philippians' kind gifts to him - Philippians 4
[This illustration is an original drawing by my dear friend "Chrissie D", one of the ladies from our church fellowship. Isn't she talented? I have only uploaded a 200x313pixel image, because although I think her drawing is wonderful, she owns the copyright, not me. If you love it and would like to use it with your own children or in a church kids ministry, please leave a comment. I'll ask "Chrissie D" if she wants to allow a full image to be available for download to interested parties, and get back to you.]

Do you remember the letter that Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi?

In the letter, Paul told the Christians about how they should live. Paul also thanked them for all that they had been doing, especially the help that the Philippians had given to him.

Do you remember how Paul was in chains in jail?

People who are in jail are stuck in one place. Paul couldn’t get out of jail to go to the shops for a loaf of bread, some meat, fruit, or vegetables if he was hungry. Paul couldn’t leave the jail to buy new clothes when his clothes were worn out, or to buy blankets to keep him warm, either. And with all the letters Paul wrote while he was in jail, he needed paper and writing tools as well!

So because Paul couldn’t go to the shops, Paul’s friends, like Timothy, had to buy these things for him. Paul’s friends brought the things he needed to Paul while he was in jail.

But because Paul was in jail, he couldn’t work to earn any money! So once again, Paul’s friends helped him, by giving him gifts that probably included money to buy what he needed.

It wasn’t just Paul’s friends who were nearby who helped him, either. The Philippian church had helped Paul in the past, when he had travelled to a place called Thessalonica, to tell people there about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And now the Philippians had helped Paul again! Even though Paul was in jail a long way away from Philippi, the church had known that Paul would need help. They had made a collection of gifts, and given them to a man named Epaphroditus to take to Paul. Epaphroditus had travelled a long way to get to Paul, and he had become very sick on the way. But in the end, Epaphroditus had reached Paul at the jail, and given Paul all the gifts from the Philippians.

Paul was very grateful for the gifts Epaphroditus had brought. He wrote in his letter to the Philippians how thankful he was that God had supplied everything he needed, through their generous gifts. Paul wrote his letter to say thank you to the Philippians for all they had done for him, and to tell them that God would surely give them all they needed as well.

:: God uses Christians to help other Christians, supplying all we need.

> We can help other Christians.
> We can pray for Christians in trouble.
> We can send gifts to help Christians in need.

Yes, Anna has asthma as well

That's six out of six.

Philippians 3 kids' story & colouring picture

Paul and Timothy wrote to the church in Philippi
(Links to: Philippians 1 kids' stuff, Philippians 2 kids' stuff.)
Paul forgot what was behind and pressed on heavenward in Christ Jesus - Philippians 3
[This illustration is an original drawing by my dear friend "Chrissie D", one of the ladies from our church fellowship. Isn't she talented? I have only uploaded a 200x283pixel image, because although I think her drawing is wonderful, she owns the copyright, not me. If you love it and would like to use it with your own children or in a church kids ministry, please leave a comment. I'll ask "Chrissie D" if she wants to allow a full image to be available for download to interested parties, and get back to you.]

Do you remember the letter that Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi?

In the letter, Paul told the Philippians how they should live. He also told them all about how he was living. Paul told the Philippians what he thought about his past, and how much he was looking forward to his future with Jesus.

Paul told the Philippians that before he became a Christian, he had put his trust in all sorts of things. Paul was an Israelite (that is, a Jew), and he had been well known for his passion for keeping the Jewish Law. Back then, Paul had thought the important thing was to be the son of a son of a son of a long line of sons descended from the first fathers of Israel, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Paul thought that was the only way to be one of God’s chosen people.

But now that Paul knew about Jesus Christ, Paul didn’t think those things were important any more. He knew there is only one way to belong to God’s chosen people. It isn’t anything to do with things we might think make a person important. Having lots of money or even treasure doesn’t make you important to God. Being very clever, or very beautiful, or being able to tell the best stories or run the fastest in a race doesn’t make God love you.

God loves Christians, who believe and trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

Paul knew that being a Jew wasn’t important any longer, even though it had been in the past. What the Jews had been looking forward to, all the years they had lived in and out of the Promised Land, had now come true! God had sent His Son Jesus to be our Saviour. Being a follower of Jesus Christ will always be important in God’s opinion.

So Paul told the Philippians he wasn’t paying attention to all those things he had thought were important before. Paul said he forgot what was behind him.

Paul wrote to the Philippians that the only thing that was important to him now, was how fantastic it was to know that Jesus was his Lord and King. Paul wrote that he pressed onward to take hold of Jesus’ promises. He wrote that he stretched forward towards heaven, where he knew Jesus was waiting for him. Paul knew that Jesus would keep His promise to return one day and make all Christians perfect and glorious.

Paul told the Philippians to follow his example. And we should, as well.

:: God wants Christians to focus on Jesus and the promised glories of heaven.

> We can forget about the things other people think are important.
> We can look forward to being with Jesus and pleasing Him.

WG Bible Study Philippians 4

Questions for Home Study

Friday: Paul gives advice on living in the peace of God

1. Read Philippians 4:2-7.

a) Context (4:3) What had Euodia, Syntyche and Clement done in the past?

b) Context (4:2) What were Euodia and Syntyche doing at the moment?

c) (4:2-3) What did Paul want Syzygus (“loyal yokefellow” to do about the women’s problem?

d) (4:4-5a) What two pieces of advice did Paul give Euodia, Syntyche and Syzygus?

e) (4:5b-7) How does knowing that Jesus is near, and praying to God, help our hearts and minds to be guarded against disagreements and division by God’s peace?

f) Connect What relationship do you need to pray about? So pray!

Saturday: Paul writes of good thoughts, his good example, and God’s presence

2. Read Philippians 4:8-9.

a) (4:8) Think about all you have learned about the gospel this year. What is true and right?

b) (4:8) Think about all you have learnt about holiness this year. What is pure, noble or admirable?

c) (4:8) Think about all you have learnt about godliness this year. What is lovely or excellent?

d) (4:8-9) Think about the example of Paul and the other apostles, such as Peter, that we have learnt about this year. What is praiseworthy?

e) Connect How can you “put into practice” any of this in your own life, knowing the God of peace will be with you?

Sunday: Church!

3. How did the teaching or preaching you listened to today complement what you are learning from Philippians this week?

Monday: Paul is content in all situations

4. Read Philippians 4:10-13.

a) Context (4:10) Also read Philippians 4:18. What is Paul rejoicing and thankful for?

b) (4:11-12) What does Paul say about his own contentment?

c) Connect What areas of your life do you need to be more content?

d) (4:13) What is “the secret” of Paul’s contentment?

e) Connect How can Paul’s “secret” and his advice in Philippians 4:6 help you to be content?

Tuesday: Paul thanks the Philippians for their gifts sent through Epaphroditus

5. Read Philippians 4:14-23.

a) Context (4:14-16) What have the Philippians done in the past (and again now) to help Paul?

b) (4:17-18) What is Paul looking forward to on the Philippian’s behalf?

c) (4:19,20-23) How does Paul reassure the Philippians?

d) Connect How does Paul’s reassurance inspire your confidence in God for your situation?

e) (4:20) What is the ultimate aim of Paul’s letter to the Philippians?

Wednesday: Review

6. Re-read Philippians 3.

a) What was the main thing you learnt from Philippians 4 this week about how you, as a Christian, should live?

b) What was the main thing you learnt from Philippians 4 this week about the God of peace?

Thursday: Women’s Gathering!

7. In your Prayer Triplet: Pray that our lives will reflect the peace God has given us. Pray also that we will be content in our circumstances and ready to help others in their circumstances.

Tony Abbott the new Leader of the Opposition

For the first time in my memory, Australia has a parliamentary leader - albeit in opposition -who is a loud and proud Christian. Abbott is unlike previous and current leaders who are nominal Christians, publicly acknowledging their faith, but seeming to choose to limit the way this affects their political decisions (as with PM Kevin Rudd and ex-PM John Howard). Abbott is a professing Christian (he is a practicing Catholic) who is very open about the impact his faith has on his life and political direction.

Thank You God for this unexpected news! Please use Tony Abbott as a voice for Your will and purpose in the Australian parliament. And is it too much to ask that the next Prime Minister of Australia might be this man, that he may uphold the glory of your Name among the nations? Amem.

Just bragging... and a health update

As of this morning, I have lost over 20kg in just over a year, since I began my quest to return to the weight I was before I gave birth to four children in four years. That's 44 pounds, for my friends in the US. My weight has been hovering up and down for the last few months, but I have finally broken the barrier of my previous weight loss low. *Doing a happy dance*

Although, while I am on the topic of health, yesterday Jeff was diagnosed with mild asthma (he had juvenile asthma as a child) and Abigail was diagnosed with "yes, that's definitely an asthma wheeze". (And I was prescribed a course of prednisolone to help my preventer medication to work better.) So the current status is 5 out of 6 of our family members have been diagnosed with asthma in the last three months. 4 out of 6 have non-mild (but still readily manageable) asthma. Now we just have to get Anna to the doctor, as I suspect she has it as well.