The 'School Holidays Syndrome'!

Can someone please tell me the cure of my 'School Holiday Syndrome'? It's only been one week! Every half hour they are whining that they are bored. It's hard to always say no. At these times I hate how I can't drive. I find it really tough to take people up on their offer of chauffer's. I have plans to take the girls to the local pool and the movies (local cinema). I guess it's made harder knowing that in exactly six sleeps till Jo and I go to the raging metropolis of Wellington.

I've been helping decorate the OCC shoe-boxes (Operation Christmas Child). It's so cool to know that the joy that the child will have when He/She recieves the box. Possibly the first and last gift they've got. Although it's hard to watch Neal & Rach go through the stress of getting it all together. But in the long run it's so worth it and they never seem to lose their passion for it. Very inspirational. Keep it up guys.

I am still trying to lose the weight. It sure is slow at moving. Although I do know that I could definately do more exercise (who couldn't!). It's especially hard during holidays. The girls just want to snack on everything!

Well better go, nearly time to get the savs on. At least the blog is short this time!

A Mother's Prayer

This one really tugged on my heart. I think most of it can be for Father's too. After all there are two parents to every child no matter what the situation.
Again this is from Word For Today.

"I prayed for this child ... now I give him to the Lord." 1 Samuel 1:27 - 28 NIV
Mum, here's a prayer for you to pray: "Lord, help me to give my children the best - not of things, but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine. Teach me to accept them for who they are, not just for what they do; to listen to what they say, if only so they'll listen to me; to encourage their goals, not mine. Let me give them a home where respect and integrity are the cornerstones, and there's enough happiness to raise the roof. May I give them the courage to be true to themselves; the independence to take care of themselves, and the faith to believe in You. May I discipline them without demeaning them, demand good manners without forgetting my own, and let them know they have limitless love no matter what they do. Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately, and have enough to give them small allowances - not for the work they do, but the pleasure they bring. Let me be moderate in all these things, so that the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving. See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome, that my expectations are high but not overwhelming, and that my praise is thoughtful and given when it's due. Help me to teach them that excellence is work's real reward. And when it comes - let me revel in each honour, however small, without once pretending that it's mine - my children are glories enough. Above all, let me ground them so well in Your truth that I can let them go. In Jesus name, Amen!"

Pretty powerful eh!

You are somebody's hero!

This is from the Word For Today distributed by Radio Rhema.

"Who is it he is trying to teach?...children." Isaiah 28:9 NIV
A father writes: "Dear Coach, I just read your letter to my son telling us of your expectations for your athletes. Johnny's mother and I couldn't agree more. We've long recognised the value derived from High School sports. Judging from your records you must teach the game very well. But there's another phase of coaching that's even more important. Let me explain. We are giving you our most prized possession. Throughout the next four years out son will make you one of our prime household conversations. He'll tell us about how you could have made the team for the Green Bay Packers if only you hadn't hurt your knee back in '65. He'll tell us about your emotional half-time talk when you came from behind and beat Rivaltown. We'll hear about how you can still pass or kick the ball. When we're hearing all this talk our son's eyes will shine. You see, Coach, he'll idolize you. We don't have heroes anymore. Many professionals would sell their souls for a buck. Some college athletes made the news this year in a very negative manner. We know all athletes don't shoplift and do drugs, but that's what we hear about. So, you are our son's hero. We're relying on you. His muscles are nearly developed, but his mind is still fragile, and so impressionable. Your responsibilities are great. Impress him, Coach. Pour it on!"
Isaiah writes, "Who is it He is trying to teach?...children." You are somebody's hero. The world is full of gangs, drugs and violence because a child picked the wrong hero. But you can change that, if only for one or two children.

Back again!

It's a few days later that I am writing this. I just get so so busy!! The confusing thing is that I have no idea what keeps me busy! I guess it's juggling so many things at once; girls, study, husband (this is not in any order!), garden (been raining for a few days now so don't have to deal with that), housework, hmmm what else, oh catching up with friends (how could I have forgotten that one!), and church. Gosh what a list! No wonder I'm busy!
Any way to finish what I started in the previous entry...
I'll start with the duathlon. The school had a fundraiser duathlon. The kids can either buddy up with one doing the run and the other doing the bike ride. Aimee got buddied up with a girl called Emily - who Aimee calls "Little Emily" so she doesn't get confused with sister Emily - They both did so well. It was rather chaotic with all the year ones. They were also dressed the same and it was rather hard to tell who was who!
The next of my girls was Sarah-Jane who ended up having me as a buddy. I felt so sad for her because all her friends had buddied up with each other. So I offered to do it with her. I laid down the law though - I don't run!! So I did the bike ride. Leading up to the day I was so anxious! I was worried I'd be the only adult riding. And I have a road bike, so I did a practise run a day before so I could know whether I could do it as the course was partly on grass, partly on a road and partly on gravel track. Hence I was rather nervous. After all I was intent on not embarrassing myself! Anyway on the day Sarah-Jane did the first lap of the run and then I took off. I was very pleased to see that I was not the only adult 'buddy'. However I was the only one with a road bike. I did quite well considering I had to stop before crashing into some kids that were bunched up. I have to admit that I felt a bit frustrated with me being rather competitive. I made it back and went to get off the bike but my legs refused to hold me up and had betrayed my unfit body by turning to rubber. I waddled my way to tag SJ using my bike to hold me up. She ran the second lap and I had to meet her at a certain point and then run together to the finish line. I had not recovered! So you can imagine me using SJ to hold me up and look like a drunk running to the finish line. To my complete amazement we came 12th in her particular class!! I will admit that it took me a couple of hours to recover and was able to encourage Emily on her run. I was so proud of all of them! And myself as well. :-)
Well onto the boyfriends! Honestly I now understand why Dad wanted to lock us up until we were adults! We'll start with Emily, she has moved on from liking Ben (He left for Hanmer) and now likes Jayden. I think he likes her as well as she comes home with tales of how Jayden shows off in front of her (Boys!!). Sarah-Jane has a more serious boyfriend. His name is Liam and he can't take his eyes off her!! He even hangs around at playtime even though she is with her girl friends! I've seen (okay, spied) them playing together and he put his arm around her twice!! She's only 7yrs! Hence I have had a "chat" with her highlighting the order to not kiss boys until she's 50yrs old! Somehow I don't think that will be the case! Seriously though I am concerned as Sarah-Jane has something about her that attracts people to her. She is a real beauty. As is the other two but there is just something different with her. Anyway I shall continue to pray and try and let God guide her as He needs to.
Aimee also has a "boyfriend" but in a different way. The boys name is Jackson and they have cottoned onto each other in a seriously cute way. Jackson went to Aussie for a holiday and insisted to His mother that he had to bring back a present for Aimee! Only Aimee - no one else! They also make sure they are next to each other on the mat or lined up. For the duathlon Jackson was upset because He wasn't Aimee's buddy, that was until His mum explained that with the run they could run together, if they were buddies they wouldn't be next to each other. Very cute!
Now the other thing I was going to waffle on about was the girls weekend that Jo and I are having. We leave early (very early due to my misunderstanding of when I had to be at the airport) on Friday 5th Oct and return on Sunday 7th Oct. Jo had to come back to ChCh by 5pm Sunday but we didn't realise that until after I had booked and paid for my tickets. So She leaves Wellington about 4pm and my flight home is not until 9:45pm. Five hours in a strange city all on my own! Can't wait!! I think I'll go to a movie. I'll have to taxi to the airport (I hardly ever get to ride in a taxi!!). We have free accommadation thanks to Jo's Aunty living there. We are going to start off with breakfast at a cafe called La Farre (or something like that) and then we'll maybe do a bit of shopping, Jo's going to show me some cool wee shops that are with character and not the boring Warehouse etc. I'd like to check out what Te Papa's exhibition is. We're going to suss out a movie to do with the film festival and also relax and sleep in! We both are so excited.
I'm still enjoying my correspondence course. I'm just about finished my 6th assignment. The content is getting harder and more intense which of course makes sense. I'm a wee bit behind with having been sick etc but I am going to make up for that as soon as the school holidays are over.
Everyone is well now. Terry and I think I had a seizure while asleep the other night, I woke up with a full on migraine and a very sore tongue. Terry has also come up with bruises that weren't there before. I always get a really intense migraine after a seizure and the times that I've bitten my tongue it was in the same places on both sides. Takes awhile for the tongue to heal, at least I don't eat all the time due to the soreness! It's hard to know though. The doctor tested my medicinal levels and it's smack bang in the middle of the normal range. They want to add another drug, I've had it before and don't like the side effects of increased appetite and bloating. So I've refused to take it. I think I'm getting more use to not driving. I don't feel as angry about it this time. Still frustration but no anger.
Well I'd better go get these girls into bed. It's only Sarah-Jane and Aimee tonight, Em is at Nana's for two nights. Aimee had her turn the other day and SJ has hers next week.
Oh I'm going to scrap the other blog. I don't have the time to do both so don't bother reading the lydieblog. I'm not sure how to delete it so will possibly leave it there.

Long time between blogs!

Hi everyone! I have the excuse of being unwell for the last few weeks re the time between entries. Aimee has had a really bad dose of the flu. We took her to after-hours because we were scared she had meningitis from the symptoms. I got no sleep for about 2 nights as she was in bed with me. Terry slept on the couch (sports was on anyway. Big sacrifice my foot!!). Unfortunately for me Aimee sneezed on me a few times - once on my face (there's some things only a parent will accept from a child!!), so hence two to three days later I came down with it. I ended up with it worse than Aimee due to lowered immune system. From the flu came bronchitis and another seizure. But that is all behind us now. I am back to being able to study, Aimee is back at school and everyone is healthy. My internet connection is playing up rather badly so I will have to come back and continue on with the latest update which includes duathlons (me involved), boyfriends (girls) and a girls weekend away in two weeks (me & Jo)!
Will carry on this evening I hope, dependent on internet service.