Very excited!

On Sunday night I was very excited to hear that I have another niece!! I felt so much joy, and have been praising God ever since! The night I heard, whenever I woke up during the night I'd slowly remember my new niece and feel that joy creeping up again. I am unable to share her name online, as her parents have only given permission for pictures of their children.

Her family is pictured here. It is lovely for her parents to have a girl after two active tiny boys! They are not the sort to go around saying they are "trying for a girl" (thankfully!), but I think most people are happy to have a bit of variety! I think nearly every woman wants a daughter. Their oldest child turns three in about a week, so for a very short time they have three under three!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of purchasing my little niece a cute bear in a pink dress. Apparently Darian (my brother) hates pink, but I think he is going to have to get used to it :).

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Read Kimi's blog!

Kimi writes a lot of good posts. She seems to have an ability to turn out a lot of indepth posts. Here are a few I have enjoyed in the past few weeks:

Why Food

Prayer, Healing, and Trust

Weddings and Modesty parts one and two. I don't necessarily think that strapless dresses are immodest. I have seen some very nice ones. However, I would not be comfortable wearing one. While I am not getting married any time soon (unless I meet someone tomorrow and have an extremely rapid courtship!), it is good to know that there are many styles available with more coverage! I especially enjoyed seeing the styles at Beautifully Modest. A whole lot of wedding dresses with sleeves!

Finally, check out Is this what it means to be an adult?

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Prayer request update

Thanks to those who have been praying about the matters I mentioned in this post.

Thankfully, my furniture problems are resolved! While Mum, Dad, and I could not find a way to adjust my chair to make it right, there was a mechanism for doing so that was not visible. All it took was an explanation over the phone from the saleswoman at the shop where we ordered it. God willing, I'll have no more trouble with furniture for my back for many years ahead! Another positive is that Dad told me on the weekend that he'd help me pay for the chair.

My inner problems are, as usual, less easily adjusted! Prayers that I'll not be covetous or angry would continue to be helpful. I've been learning Hebrews 13:5. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For he himself said: "I will never leave you or forsake you."

I mostly had a good time at home. I had been away for so long that I'd forgotten where some things where, and couldn't find them! I think I need a book on organisation. Esther continued to be very excited to play with Aunty, and even enjoyed my singing! She stayed quiet while I sang the song I wrote of here. Maybe it just takes a child to recognise my true talent ;) . I also loved seeing my parents and friends, and attending church.

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Homeschool Conventions

Ever since I was a homeschooled child, I have wanted to attend a homeschool convention in the USA. There are more homeschoolers in the USA, and they seem to do more exciting things. Imagine going to a place where there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of you! The funny thing is that I still want to go! Mum does too, and since we are both teaching we have even more reason to be fascinated. All those materials. I am sure we'd be overwhelmed. We would also love to hear the speakers. I have even found a list of the times when conventions are on, just in case I "happen" to be over in the USA! It is a pity I did not do this before I visited in June 2003, as they are mostly around May/June (near the start of the school year in the USA).
I have enjoyed reading about others' experiences at conventions or conferences.

Susan's post had me laughing aloud at the Online Access Centre. I think I'd feel right at home in a place where nearly everyone views government schools as "The Schools of Pharoah", and I'd love to be at an event where a speaker who announces he has 15 children is greeted with applause instead of grimaces and explicit advice on birth control. According to Susan: "The conversations you overhear between middle school girls are not about boys, movies, or make-up, but about theology, constitutionalism, and dominionism". I can't say this was my home school experience. However, it would be a refreshing change. I loved to talk about boys, books, and super models. Unfortunately, my interest in theology seemed to extend solely to criticising the theology of my friends' parents.

Jen IG is having lots of fun over at her blog, creating stories about homeschool celebrities she met. The problem is, it is hard to know which parts to believe. Apparently, Doug Phillips: "kept getting this far-away dreamy look in his eyes and mumbling a countdown of when his wife was supposed to show up (apparently she was driving down to meet him and he was planning to take her on a date) He looked like a giddy teenager when he spoke about her."

Jessica's post was also fun to read. I so want one of those water bottles: caution - unsocialized homeschooler! I was pleased that Jessica pointed this out: "Don’t get me wrong, the majority of people there looked pretty much like the average American, but there was a percentage (of whom I was probably one) who “looked like homeschoolers”…and good for them! " While some homeschoolers are known for wearing long flowing skirts, they are just one group. When I was homeschooled I got teased for wearing skirts, since none of my homeschooled friends did except on special occasions.

Amy's post convention thoughts includes an attempt to exonerate herself from stereotypes: "Yes, I’m a homeschool mom, but it’s only because I happen to homeschool my kids. It’s not because I wear denim jumpers and bore people with mono-discussion about curriculums. (I drive a large white van, but we’ll keep that part a secret.)". For the unitiated Australians, it is important to note that a jumper to Americans is a type dress (it is not a warm top - that is a sweater). Some people think denim jumpers are homeschool Mum uniform.

Crystal met Amy in her dreams. This has encouraged me to confess that I too have met bloggers in dream land. Yes, it is true. I went to the Girotti's house in Virginia a few months ago. I have been dreaming about going to Virginia again for years, so it is no surprise that somehow I ended up at the Girotti's house. I don't remember what happened there, except that there were some of the usual confused dream land events. I think it involved stairs and high windows and gardens.

For those "real world" friends who are concerned about the socialization (or lack of it) I received through being homeschooled for so many years, I am considering buying a new T-shirt. Jessica passed onto me the link for the water bottles, and the same slogan is also available on t-shirts. I just have to check that they ship internationally. You can see it here: Caution: unsocialised homeschooler". What more is there to say?

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April Wedding

I am finally posting pictures of the wedding back in April. My sister-in-law's brother James was was married to Lauren, one of my friends at school. I prayed for a long time for Lauren to follow the Lord, and I know that many prayed for James as well, so it was special to see them loving the Lord and getting married! Lauren and I came to our school at the same time: Grade 10. Lauren moved from a different school, but it was my first year at school ever! Neither of us were following Christ then. I was converted first, and then prayed for Lauren for many years. We worked together as waitresses at one stage.

The ceremony was held in a garden with all the beautiful autumn leaves.



My nephew stood very still the whole time. I'm not sure why! Perhaps he was scared and didn't know what else to do. It was wonderful that he didn't cry or muck up! He just held securely to Aunty Shellyanne's hand the whole time.


Here is Phil, who used to have a blog, with his lovely . . . . sister. Phil is my sister-in-law's brother or, if you prefer this term, my brother's brother-in-law. There should be shorter and easier term for this relationship, don't you think? Phil and I go to the same church. I like to tell people at church that Phil and I share nephews, and then watch them try to work out how that works. They usually can't work it out (or can't be bothered!), so I tell them that my brother is married to Phil's sister.


Back safe with Daddy.


The family.

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Which one? I want your vote!

In April my brother, sister-in-law, and nephews visited from Queensland for a wedding. I had some photos taken with my eldest nephew. Recently I had the idea of getting a picture of myself with each neice and nephew blown up and framed. I have my own opinion of which of the following pictures would be best, but I'd also like yours! Nephew is all dressed up to be page boy in the wedding.

Here are the options:


1. Nephew looks distracted, but cute. My earrings look big (as they do in all the other pictures, so don't make that the deciding factor!)





















2. My favourite. Nephew looks like the strong, serious type - or tired and stunned, depending upon your perspective! I like the way we are positioned in this photo.















3. Nephew is smiling a bit in this picture - which is a big positive! However, I don't think the our positions in the picture are as good as in number 2.
















4. None of the above. Those earrings are just too big. Do another photo shoot next time you see him. (My reply: "What! He'll never be dressed in such a cute way again!")

5. None of the above. It is phenomenally egotistical of you to want a framed picture of yourself with each of the little ones. (My reply: "maybe, but I want to do it anyway".)

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Back home and in need of prayers

I am back home for the first time in five weeks! I came down in a car with a friend from work, and we had a great time talking. Three hours went quickly! I have been staying in Launceston so much that I've started to call the house where I board there "home", but it is nothing like my real home! Up there I have a bed with someone else's floral bed cover's on it, walls with someone else's pictures, and a bookshelf with only about 15 residents. Here I have shelves covered with my familiar friends, walls with my BA certificate, cross stitch, and a print of a homey cottage and garden, and a bed with my own butterfly cushion and bright bed spread. I also have that much desired connection with the "world": my computer. It is nice to sit and surf without someone coming up behind you and saying "you have five minutes remaining", or without the bell at school ringing to signify that my break is finished that I need to be back in class!

On the way back home, Mum and I stopped to visit my sister and brother-in-law and their daughter Esther (2 1/2). They live five minutes from our house. I have been longing to see Esther, and woke up excited about it this morning. It was nice to see that the feeling was reciprocated on her part. She heard yesterday that I was coming, and pestered her parents all afternoon about when I would arrive. Every five minutes the question was "Sherrin coming?" Her Dad got so frustrated that he called my Dad to ask where we were! We had a good time playing the usual games: chasings and dolls.

Now, on to the "in need of prayer" part. Ever since I began my job in Launceston I've had struggles with furniture. Due to my chronic back problem, I need specific chairs and mattresses. At first I was not sure whether or not to purchase a new chair and mattress for Launceston, but it became obvious that it was necessary. My new mattress is great, even though parting with $700 was painful. I also took my old chair, which is great, up to Launceston with me and ordered a new one for my parent's house. It was supposed to be exactly the same as my old one. Mum picked it up and paid for it a couple of weeks ago. When I arrived home tonight, I discovered it seems to be different in ways that mean it is not nearly so comfortable. This is a small thing in the big scheme of things, but it is a great disappointment to me. I thought my furniture struggles were all solved, and now it seems more problems are ahead! It cost $470, a big amount in my small salary, so please pray that I'll be able to get an exchange or refund.

I also need prayer in regard to my attitudes. I have been struggling with feeling covetous, probably because I am away from a lot of my things and I am always driving past shops on the way to work (which was not the case when I lived with my parents). I have also been struggling with frustration and anger. This is particularly in relation to my boarding situation. The lady I live with is a wonderful servant hearted person, but she also tries to help in ways that irritate me. I have struggled with feeling angry or ungrateful when she helps in ways I have not asked for, or she has not asked if I would like (for example, coming into my room to get my washing and do it when I am out). I also struggled with frustration, anger, and stress at school at times. This is often due to needing more patience with the children. This week I had a more unusual difficulty, when it seemed one mother was considering removing her daughter and placing her in a public school. I think this has been resolved, and the little girl will stay, but I need continued wisdom. I would be upset to see her move especially since, as the little girl said, "you are not allowed to pray there".

Here ends my confessions! I don't intend to begin using my blog as a personal "journal" (whatever some of my non-blog reading friends might think) and I am certainly not disclosing everything online. I have a journal. Trust me - this is not it! I prefer to post about ideas/events that have some relationship to others experience or may help them. However, the things I have mentioned here are ongoing struggles and I would appreciate your prayers.

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