Blogg-ed Issue

No New Year’s resolutions for me.

But I am going to attempt a photo a day for 2012.

That doesn’t necessarily mean a post a day, though you can live in hope (or dread!)

From the morning of Cayley’s birthday

Mummy: Cayley is getting a kitten for her birthday!!!!!

Jos: Oh, oh… Oh! I want a crocodile!

And later in the day when Cayley was going to put Timba in his lap: No, no. I scared. I want a crocodile.

Yesterday was Cayley’s birthday. Her fifth.

Cayley is getting to be such a big girl, and she is still crazy for all creatures great and small. Brett and I decided that her fifth birthday was a wonderful opportunity to give her her very own pet.

The birthday tradition in our home is to wait as long as is possible and then all pile into bed with daddy and the presents, and have a gift opening fest.

Wanting Cayley to be able to choose her own kitten meant I had to come up with something for her to unwrap.

While Brett and I were away together for a couple of days in Lesmurdie we picked up a couple of second-hand books about kittens.

In the back of the kitten story I put a little note that told her what her gift was.  I found a lovely $2.00 cat necklace too. She opened the presents from Uncle Peter and the siblings first and then our package of books and jewellery. But she didn’t want to read the story – she was looking for more presents.

I just read the story anyway. And then found the note at the end of the book. Brett read that to her so that I could get a photo of the moment.

She could not believe it.

“A real kitten?”

“For me?”

“To keep?”

I had mentioned to her that it was Uncle Gerry’s birthday that day too. She was so unable to believe that she would be getting her very one kitten that she thought we must be either getting a kitten for Uncle Gerry, or getting a kitten for her like his battery operated cat.

Once she figured it out though, there was much excitement, and we couldn’t get out of the house quick enough. Three hours when you are five (just) and very, very excited is a long, long time.

But eventually the time arrived and we’d we we’re off.

Over the last year or so I have taken the children to the Animal Protection Society so that Cayley can share her overflowing affection for our poor old cat Ookie with some cats less fortunate than her, and that is where we went.

Cayley wanted to bring every kitten home, but eventually a choice was made.

He was named Spot.

And ten minutes later he was Patch.

But thirdly and finally (it seems) he is Timba.

He is so loved.

And so is Cayley.

Cayley we are so thankful that God has made you part of our family.

You are so gentle hearted and loving. You hate to see anyone feeling upset, and do everything that you can to change that.

This year you have completed kindy, and have really done so well. You are a gorgeous school girl, wonderful student, and good friend.

You moved out of your shared room with Elisha and got you very own pink bedroom.

You have a very strong will, and you know what you want. At times it is a challenge as your mummy, but i am so excited to see what God has planned for you.

May you grow in Him more than in anything else in this coming year my precious girl, there is no one else like Him.

Rain
Yes! In Perth! In December.

And just because this sort of thing interests me, and it might interest you… some rain stats for Perth.

This morning the ladies; Bible study group that I belong to had morning tea out for our end of year ‘break up’.

It was moved from an outdoor park to good old McDonald’s… because of the rain.

On my way home, I noticed that St John of God Murdoch have cancelled their Carols by Candlelight last night … because of the rain.

I wonder if it will be raining for Christmas.

I also popped over to school for Elisha’s class party. My main reason for going was to deliver the food I’d prepared, but I ended up hanging around for a little while.

I’ve got some photos from today, but it’s late, and I want to go to bed… and I’m not sure how other parents would feel about their children being on this here blog. So here’s one of Cayley and that’s it.

Jos went to bed with a pyjama jumper on last night.

Who’d have thunk he’d be doing that in the middle of December.

And we had 12.4mm of rain in Jandakot.

One of my children broke my heart yesterday.

The conversation (after quite a rough afternoon) went like this:

“I wish I wasn’t a person…. I wish I wasn’t <insert name here>”

Oh how my heart hurt for this child.  To be even thinking things like this at such a tender age.  That I could but protect you from all of life’s hardships.

I did not have words to speak, and so held my tongue.

Later, but not much later, we were talking again… following on…

“I wish that I wasn’t naughty.”

Oh Father, thank you for taking my heart, hurting for my child, and sending it soaring.

That my child can see their brokeness, and I can show them your way for mending.

Thank you, thank you Father.

During the last school holidays, we took a couple of days trip to ‘The Farm’.

As often happens we didn’t leave as early as we thought we might, and by the time we were driving down the last couple of roads it was dusk.

Elisha said he saw a shield.

I was doubtful.

But he was adamant.

So the next day the kids rode their bikes (and trucks)

… all the way down the road to the corner, Elisha trying without his training wheels…

… then we walked the rest of the way to discover…

I should know better than to doubt Elisha’s ability to see (and with pretty much only one eye too!).

In case you’re wondering, it’s a wheel from a sulky used in harness racing.

We wheeled it back to the corner and leant it against a post; it was gone the next morning.

PS Don’t you just love the fact that Jos, driving his truck, had to wear a helmet too… just like Elisha and Cayley.