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iSonto #15

Elnathan was thrilled with his new stack-a-peg, but he had to deal with some serious competition.

Natey's memory verse was still Psalm 23.

Mercy was adorable while eating spinach or silverbeet (swiss chard). We have lots of both. She likes it steamed warm or cold, chopped for her to pick up and shovel into her mouth!


From garden to tummies
. . .

Our last two mini-cauliflowers were delicious with white sauce. The children love cauliflower, and so do we.


A book we enjoyed together was Streaky to the Rescue: A Tasmanian Story by Joanna Stronach. This library book was read and re-read this week! It is the story of a fairy penguin who, with the aid of a dog, alerts a man to rescue two boys who are holding onto their capsized boat for dear life.

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from Teaching Our Girls to Cry . . . about the right things, the things that grieve God as well. It is a comfort to know that it is OK, even right, to cry over things like oppression, injustice, apathy and death.

We are thankful for. . .

* fewer disturbed nights as some teeth have emerged
* savings in the bank and no debts as we face employment uncertainty
* the promises of God, which we need to learn to hold onto better
* a new favourite song, "Shoot Him up an Arrow Prayer"
* the fact that our children are continually excited about each other!
* I am thankful for a new daily plan that schedules in time to research education. Even 15 minutes a day can be inspiring and allows me to plan little "lessons". 

Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.
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Abandoned baby found in Willow Avenue

Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:13

On Monday Dave arrived home from work and said that the police had cordoned off a local area of bush. He wondered if they had found a body. I said it was unlikely. The next day we heard that a dead newborn baby had been found there. Nothing was known of the mother or her situation. I had two immediate thoughts.

1) I want to be involved in my local community, and to know people in need! I aim for this through involvement at the community center and greeting people as I walk. This area is a real mix of economic and social backgrounds. I need to keep praying and investing! Who knows if I may be able to make a small difference in the lives of a woman in need of support. The least I can do is meet people, learn their names, and pray for them.

2) We do need to look into fostering babies so that we could welcome a needy baby from a troubled situation into our home. I just wish I could have welcomed this tiny girl and given her the love she needed. Our real heart is to adopt but maybe we should do the only thing we can do in our present time and place?

The verse "Mercy triumphs over judgment" comes to mind because our reaction to human need can be one of these two. Will we judge the mother as worse than ourselves, or will we ask how we can respond with mercy? Sadly, the reaction is often "how could she do that". Mercy looks for ways to alleviate human misery and desperation, rather than condemning others.

On Wednesday, a policeman came to our door asking if we had any information about the abandonment. I was reminded of another recent contact with the police force. A group I am involved with was asked not to hand out fliers next to the abortion clinic. We were told that we had to be on the other side of the road or we were a "nuisance" to the clinic, even though we were not obstructing anyone's entry.

On one hand, the police are scouring our neighbourhood in search of details about the fate of one woman and her baby. On the other hand, we are inhibited from displaying concern about women and their babies who are being led toward abortion, with all of its tragic consequences. There is a widespread devaluing of unborn children in our society, as compared to newborns, and this is reflected in the law and policing. The SLED test helpfully explains why unborn children are just as valuable as those who have been born.

As we think about our society, it is helpful to remember Titus 3.
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We are not better than the woman who left her baby abandoned in a plastic bag in a park, or the women who will walk into the abortion clinic this Friday. The difference is simply that we know the undeserved, transforming mercy of God. His mercy should make us merciful.

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iSonto #14

Elnathan was cute in his summer bananas in pajamas! Nate has moved bedrooms this week. He is pictured in his old room, which is now Mercy's room. We kept thinking they were going to go in together, but we will have to wait on that as Mercy keeps crying a lot at night. Right now she will be better off in the darker, quieter room especially for naps.


Mercy was happy to play with the hose and get very wet as well as dirty.


Mercy also loved to try to stand.


From garden to tummies . . .

It was fun to try out lemon puddings from Heidi's blog. We halved the recipe and used one of our lovely fresh lemons.

A book we enjoyed together was "Eating" by Gwenyth Swain. This book is full of pictures of people from across the world eating and preparing food. We have also loved "Celebrating" in the same series.



Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from Proverbs 31: 8 "Open your mouth for the speechless,  In the cause of all who are appointed to die."

We are thankful for the lovely sunny weather that allowed us to start Nate on some outdoor nappy free time, helping him learn about the potty.


We have also been loving water fun in the clam.





Dave surprised me by creating a fun slide for the children out of some plastic we had, and the water from the hose. What a fun daddy they have!



Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.
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Thirtieth Birthday Party


Dave organised a thirtieth birthday party for me at my parents' house on the weekend.



It was meant to be a picnic brunch, and we were glad the weather cleared intermittently at least so we could be outside most of the time. Dave did a great job of hosting.



Guests brought donations for iThemba Lethu transition home for abandoned babies in South Africa, to go with our family birthday gift to that wonderful place!



Several babies came to the party, and they were very cute together! These three tiny ones are only weeks apart in age.



Mercy loved the baloons. She also got incredibly dirty!


Two munchkins were cute singing twinkle twinkle together.




Often after a party you feel a bit deflated, but not with this one! Dave had organised a surprise box for me where guests put their favourite Scriptures plus something about what they appreciate in their friendship with me. This was a treasure trove to explore in the afternoon following the party, and I look forward to reading it again soon.
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iSonto #13

Elnathan had fun with the box in the backyard.



In this picture the "house" is about to topple over.

Natey's memory verse was Psalm 23, along with other children at church.

Mercy was posed for a picture on her great Grandad's grave in Sydney on the weekend, when she and I went up for a wedding. He would have loved her!


Here she is at the wedding.




From garden to tummies . . .

Heaps of silverbeet in a "Chickpeas and chard" slowcooker dish, and pies.Mercy loves silverbeet, so I just fish it out of whatever we are eating and chop it up for her.
 
A book we enjoyed together was Grow It Eat It, which an aunt gave us while we were away. It was fun to read it with Natey when we got back. It is always exciting to receive lovely books to read together!



Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from Ps. 23. At a difficult moment I was reminded that yes, I am in the right place because I am with the good Shepherd who gently leads those who are with young. That is the most important thing!

We are thankful for . . .

Dave's great time with Elnathan while I was away on the weekend.

Nate's quiet reading time coming in very handy when I needed to be in public and he needed to be quiet.

Nate packing up all his toys by himself - the fruit of lots of hard work beginning to be seen :)! That is one job I don't have to do at the moment!

Beetroot seedlings are popping up despite a toddler trampling on them!

Our beautiful new coat hook that Dave made, which is now up on the wall and in use.




  Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.

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Mercy was crawling fast and exploring the house, much to her brother's delight as he loves it when she crawls to his room or down the hall looking for him. "Please Mercy come" is a common call around here!




Elnathan has been learning how to respond when his sister comes crawling toward the books and toys he is playing with.


From garden to tummies . . .

Lots of silverbeet for a chicken casserole in the stove top to oven roasting pan Dave gave me for my birthday.


A book we enjoyed together was Little House in the Big Woods which Dave and I have nearly finished.

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from J. Hudson Taylor: A Man in Christ by Roger Steer. I am finding my Book List to be one of the best things I have done this year. Reading is the perfect hobby for busy Mummies because you only have to get out the book! I have traveled the world and explored ideas along the way, and have been richly blessed.

We are thankful for

~ the great opportunity to pray outside a nearby abortion clinic and the positive responses

~ a wonderful 30th birthday for me which included enthusiastic singing, a hand crafted coat hook by Dave, a pretty apron from Mum, heaps of messages from friends, a shopping trip with Dave and new dresses, a visit to the museum's "reading room" exhibit, babysitting from a generous neighbour, and dinner out at the "revolving restaurant" with views of Hobart. Sorry, no pictures!

~ sweet turnip seedlings popping up in the garden

~ finally sending off our family newsletter. It is so hard to summarise a year, but we trust it gives a glimpse of what God has done for us. Let us know if you'd like one!

 Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.

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iSonto #11

We are thankful for the signs of Spring all around us . . .

Blossoms, irises, new lily and rose foliage . . .

Fuchsia in bloom .  .


. . . and the lemon tree looking like we originally imagine it would, with lots of yummy yellow lemons.


Elnathan completed one of his harder puzzles all by himself and proclaimed "I know my zoo". As a mother I was thrilled to see this as it is another sign of Nate moving toward being able to do little projects independently. Previously we had only done it together, and often he didn't display much interest.




Natey's memory verse was "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good" Ps. 118:1.



Mercy was a crawler and happy about it!


Her crawling creates great excitement in her brother, and some extra training challenges in their relationship. It so sweet when she began crawling, we were all so thrilled and Elnathan started saying "Yay, look, Mercy is crawling". 


 Mercy is now  ten months and has been upset with teething, although there are no new teeth.

 From garden to tummies . . .



It was fun to walk out in the garden with Elnathan and fetch a lemon to put into our pumpkin pie. This was a new recipe and turned out beautifully for an in-house date night with Dave. The extra dough was used to make each family member's initial. This was a rare foray into unnecessary baking when the sink was still full of dishes to wash!

A book we enjoyed together was Baby Sitter, which has been read many time since we borrowed it from the library. Nate now knows off by heart and tells it to himself.



Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from  Tending Your Garden.





Reading little sections of this book, a compilation of Denise's articles, has been a much needed reminder of my calling as a Christian wife.

Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.
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