it's pie time!

pie season is over for me for another year - busting last years number out of the park, with 13 pumpkin pies - then another 4 banoffee pies on top of that.

i loved making them and was sure to spread it over a few days to be sure it was going to stress me out - it was perfect, with 4 being the most i did in one day.

i also was super lucky, with friends who tipped me off that costco had the double sized cans of pumpkin cheap, so i have already stocked up for next year!

pies were yet again a success and i am so glad for the push i was given last year to actually bake to sell them, as it's been amazing for me! who would have though people would pay for my cooking?!

the banoffees were a hit too, even as a last minute addition, i only advertised pumpkin like i had last year, then had people message asking if they could buy banoffee, so i decided to do those as well. winning!

they are definitely my favourite! they look and taste incredible, just like something you'd get from a fancy bakery.

seriously! looks so nice...

and i'm more than just a little bit proud of my creations. thank you to everyone that bought my pies! doug will love you come christmas now that i can afford to buy him something wonderful. 

so much to be thankful for: thanksgiving 2020

amongst all the drama going on, it's wonderful to be able to have a night thinking of our blessings, and offering thanks for all we have. tonight we did just that and had a lovely thanksgiving dinner with the pinker family.

starting of course with sport - cause that's how doug rolls hahaha

dinner was perfect

with lots of laughs and cuddles and kindness

and lots of love.

then we took turns writing what we were grateful for on autumn leaves

that would be hung on our gratitude tree

then we ate pumpkin pie...

argues with toddlers hahahah

laughed some more

and played about

until it was time to go home to bed in time for school tomorrow.

we know there are so many things for us to be grateful for - and today is a good reminder to count those blessings we enjoy each day. ❤

 

primary advent calendar jars

reusing an idea from last year in young womens, because they were such a huge hit, i decided to make the primary children an advent calendar jar as their christmas gift this year. 24 slips of paper, festively coloured in red and green, to draw one each day - bringing them closer to christ before we celebrate his birth. 

step one - spray paint jars in the backyard and try not to breathe in too many of the fumes...

step two - print, cut and fold pieces into jars

step three: print and attach labels and festive pieces (you can find some amazing used pieces at your local opshops/ jumble sales in the lead up to christmas and even in the middle of the year haha) then drive all over the place to hand them out before december begins.

again, amazing feedback from all our primary families and worth all the effort!

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3 Ne. 12:6. Jesus Christ taught that we will be blessed for seeking righteousness. Spend ten minutes reading your scriptures or scripture stories.

3 Ne. 12:16. Jesus asked us to be examples to those around us. Set an example of service by helping with the dishes or cleaning or other chores at home.

Matt. 6:3–4. Jesus Christ taught that we should quietly help other people. Write a kind note for someone in your family and hide it for them to find.

3 Ne. 12:9. Jesus Christ promised to bless peacemakers. Sing a reverent primary song to help bring greater peace to your home.

3 Ne. 17:21–24. Jesus Christ blessed little children because He loved them. Show your love for a sibling or friend by sharing or helping them in some way.

3 Ne. 18:6–7. Jesus asked His followers to always remember Him, especially when partaking of the sacrament. Write in your journal or tell your parents how you feel about the Saviour.

3 Ne. 18:21. Jesus Christ taught us to pray with our families. Help your family remember to have family prayer today.

3 Ne. 23:1. Jesus Christ commanded the Nephites to study the words of Isaiah. Ask a parent to read Isaiah 53:3–5 with you and talk about the Atonement.

3 Ne. 27:7. Jesus told His disciples to call the Church in His name. Sing “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, page 77).

3 Ne. 27:29. Jesus Christ promised that Heavenly Father will answer our prayers. Write in your journal or tell your parents about a time when He answered one of your prayers.

D&C 89:10–11, 18–20. Jesus Christ revealed the Word of Wisdom to help us to be healthy. Today, choose only foods that will make your body strong and thank Heavenly Father for them.

Matt. 22:34–40. Jesus Christ taught us to love our neighbours. Work with your family to do something nice for your neighbours.

3 Ne. 25:5–6. Jesus said that the hearts of children should turn to their parents. Ask your parents or grandparents to tell you about Christmases when they were young.

Mark 10:13–14. Jesus showed that children are very important to Him. In your personal prayer, tell Heavenly Father about your day and the things that made you happy.

D&C 1:37. Jesus counselled Latter-day Saints to study His commandments. Think of one commandment you keep and one blessing that you enjoy.

D&C 19:38–39. Jesus Christ asks us to pray always. Carry a prayer in your heart today, thanking Heavenly Father for your blessings.

John 13:34–35. We show that we want to follow Jesus Christ when we love other people. Show your love to your parents by helping without being asked.

Luke 17:11–19. Jesus Christ praised the leper who returned to thank Him. Write a note or draw a picture to thank someone who has helped you.

D&C 33:11–12. Jesus taught the principles of His gospel. Memorize and recite the fourth Article of Faith.

D&C 21:1, 4–5. Our prophet tells us what Jesus Christ wants us to do. Talk with a parent about President Nelson’s counsel from the last general conference.

D&C 25:12. With your family or friends, sing Christmas songs about Jesus. (See Hymns, numbers 201–214; Children’s Songbook, pages 34-55.)

D&C 35:26. Jesus Christ wants us to be happy. Make a list of blessings that make you happy and hang the list in your bedroom.

D&C 108:7. Jesus asks us to help each other be strong in the gospel. Share your testimony with someone you love.

D&C 76:22–24. Even though Jesus was born two thousand years ago, He has appeared to prophets of this dispensation. As a family, read and discuss today’s assigned scripture.

kalamunda history village excursion

joseph's class has been studying "the olden days" in their humanity and social sciences class and as part of it, they get to go on an excursion to the kalamunda history village. today was the day - and guess who was asked to come along?! me, of course.

if you're interested you can read up some more about the museum here (it covers an entire block!) but i can honestly say there was some pretty cool stuff to see, everywhere you looked. i don't know if it is because i'm almost 40, or because i'm from the country maybe? but i recognised all the old items, the old games, knew what everything was used for... i still remember clearly a day we had when i was in primary school, a pioneer day, when we dressed in pioneer clothes, learned to wash clothes with a wash board, make bubbles from actual soap, ate kangaroo stew (random haha) and it was so fun! i love that my kids are getting to do the same things.

this full size train was definitely the highlight, it's smack bang in the middle of the block next to it's own mini station and all the kids loved it. totally reminded me of the hogwarts express.

joseph and our little group on board!

we had to do our own little self guided tour which was kind of lame, so it's lucky i knew about slates and ink wells and all of that kind of thing from my parents. one of dad's favourite stories is about how they used to dip the girls braids in the ink wells when they would sit in front of them.

in front of the old kalamunda state school

on board the old truck in the main garage

and in front of the vintage fire truck

blowing bubbles on a break

and the token original gas pump photo for my dad. he loves this kind of thing. any old mechanical stuff? he's keen.

our little gang again

joseph and his bestie cruz posing with the vintage clothes board

this was a sneak peek inside a general store. all old bottles, products, scales and cash register set up, makes a startling change from the stores we see today!

then rubbings, where you use a textured item below paper and rub across the top with pencil or crayon. they had pieces of pressed pin, old pennies, lots of cool stuff.

we ate lunch at the train station, explored each of the building thoroughly and then headed back to school on the bus. as ice cube once said: today was a good day.

alex's nautical room

alex's room has been set up with some adorable things over time, and mum has added to them, with these adorable boat prints, which are actually quilted and stuck into the frames. they match the baby quilt she made for him and i loooove them! she is honestly so clever.

i mean seriously. i would never have thought to make something like that and she just blows me away time and time again.

he has all kinds of nautical things in his room and so they match perfectly with his pirates and little boat shelf and this adorable ocean style map sheet and pillowcase that i picked up at the opshop this week. 

perfection! ❤

 

blessings in the sadness

there are so many blessings that can be found if you only know where to look. in amongst all the sadness and things that are currently out of our control with what's happening with doug's mum... there is still so much to be grateful for. let me tell you about a few things that i am grateful for. number one. although oli needs to have radiation that comes at a huge cost, we have the money. we were so blessed that all of stephen's affairs settled quickly and without fuss, with no issues, no delays and no claims being rejected. we can pay for it and do not have to go into any form of debt to make it happen. she is receiving the best care available and we are grateful every day.

i saw this print for sale just the other day and i love it. so very much. i have always loved the blue boat house on crawley bay and we even had some of our wedding photos taken out the front on the jetty. so imagine my delight to see that kmart had released it as a print and then my annoyance when not a single store any where near me had any stock of it. i posted online asking if everyone could keep an eye out for it as i really wanted one, only to have a friend drive all the way to cockburn central, wait in the stupid long line at their store opening, buy it for me and bring it to our house. oh my goodness. she even wrote in the card, "you are forever doing lovely things for me and i have never had the chance to return the favour. here is my chance." i was so touched.

another absolutely amazing thing that's happened... i saw this tv unit on marketplace and saved it because it was 100% exactly what i wanted, then didn't get around to messaging the seller because oli went into hospital and we were more concerned about her than anything else.

a few weeks later, the exact same unit, not a similar one, same unit, same seller, gets posted on our local free page, right as i happened to be online - and after asking on the post, i was given it! for freeeee! i still can't believe it. plus, our lovely neighbour went with doug to pick it up. excited doesn't even cover it.

i listed my pies for sale for thanksgiving and sold out within 2 days. this is incredible for me too, as the money goes straight into buying dougs christmas gifts. i know the money we have is "ours" not his, but because he is out there working to earn it, i like to be able to buy him gifts with money i've earned myself. it just makes me feel good to do it that way.

and last but certainly not least, there is never a shortage of people willing to drive our kids places or help out when on the odd occasion we can't get them somewhere or need to work around oli's appointments.

in short: the windows of heaven are pouring more blessings upon us than we can hold.

when upon lifes billows you are tempest tossed,

when you are discouraged thinking all is lost

count your many blessings, name them one by one

and it will surprise you what the lord has done

count your blessings, name them one by one

count your many blessings see what god hath done.

lds hymns #241

extended hospital stay

it's been a hard few weeks with everything going on with doug's mum. she is sick and not getting better. she was admitted to hospital because it got to the point where she just couldn't eat... which it turns out was from a tumour that is effectively blocking any food from reaching her stomach. any thing she eats pushes at it, which has in turn cause some internal bleeding a she is not receiving any sustenance. they have fitted her with a tube and are feeding her directly to her stomach by that is obviously not going to work long term. she has had to give up work and that's what upsets her the most. she loves to be busy and loves her job, so that was one of the hardest things for her, but she is simply not strong enough anymore.

 her specialist met with douglas and i and gave us the options and there is not a lot. he has decided (with her permission) to do radiation in an attempt to shrink the tumor and enable her to start eating again. this will be for a few days kin a row and then a break, for a few weeks in a row. i don't know what the answer is, but i do know that her doctor has been incredible. he is so compassionate and takes as much time with us as we need, regardless of where he needs to be and who might be waiting for him. he is truly a wonderful man. this is all so overwhelming and i have to admit, it got to the point where i asked him point blank how long we will have with her. obviously that's an impossible thing to work out, but he said we might have 6 months, we might have more... we just need to make the most of every minute with her and look after her as best as we can.

and enjoy our visits to the hospital like this dude... in the sun lounges outside from oli's room...

and these guys who decided to have a nap on grandma's bed while we visited. it's obviously comfortable enough haha.

oh how i wish there was more we could do. but we just have to go with the options we have. we love her and don't want to let her go... but we need to also be realistic and brace ourselves for whenever that day may come.

siope's baptism

i love seeing our primary kids being baptised! even more so when i've been asked to take some snaps of the day. our friends son siope was baptised on the weekend and it was such a special day for him.

i mean seriously, look at their faces. he and his dad are so stoked.

and the proudest mum in the world.

it was such a lovely service and i loved being able to be a part of it.

yay for siope!

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i was also asked to help to put together a talk for siope's nanna to give at the service. she was a little nervous about what to say - so i helped out. i'm leaving it here in case i ever need one at the last minute.

Faith & Repentance

In the scriptures we learn about Faith. Many miracles happened through faith and the actions of those that believed in Jesus.

The Fourth Article of Faith tells us about it. It begins by saying: We believe the first principles and ordinances of the Gospels are first, FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is something we know is true even though we can’t see it.

Now Siope does Nanny love you?

How do you know Nanny loves you?

Can you see love? Can you touch it? No, you can’t you just know it’s there by the actions of people who do love you and you have Faith that Nanny and Mummy and Daddy and Setita will always love you.

What about something else like the wind, can you see the wind, can you hold the wind. No, we can just see if as it blows thing like leaves along or makes the branches of the trees move. Something else like electricity is also something we can’t see but we believe or have faith that when we turn on a light it will work because there is electricity running through the wires to your house.

Faith is like these things you can’t feel it or hold it. It’s Just like love that you can only tell it’s there when you get hugs or someone does something nice for you. Or like the wind you feel on your face or the electricity that will turn on a light to brighten a dark room or recharge the iPad.

Faith is something that starts off small and grows as we study and learn more. It’s like your muscles that are only small now but as you get bigger and do exercises and move and stretch them over and over like daddy does when he goes to the gym your muscles will grow so you are stronger and can carry more weight and lift heavier things. Faith is the same. When we know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there and we believe in them, our faith will grow and become stronger. We will have faith that they are always watching over us and will always answer our prayers and help us.

In the Fourth Article of Faith after number 1 FAITH, the second thing we believe in is REPENTANCE.

In the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 9:23 it says

“And he commandeth all men that they must repent and be baptised in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.

In the Book of Mormon, we learn about King Noah and his priests who did not keep the commandments. The Lord sent Abinadi to warn them that they needed to repent. Abinadi taught them about Jesus Christ but King Noah was not happy and told the priest to take Abinadi and put him to death. One of King Noahs priests named Alma, believed in everything that Abinadi taught.

In Mosiah 18:1 We read that Alma “repented of his sins and iniquities (bad habits), and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi”

We also have the opportunity or chance to repent when we do something wrong, and to try again and again, as many times as it takes us to get it right! Heavenly Father doesn’t keep count as long as we keep trying to improve. The most important thing about repentance is to admit we did something wrong and then do our best to make it better.

It’s easy for us to remember with the ABC’s of repentance

A – Admit that we were wrong – for some people this is the hardest bit.

B – Be sorry

C – CORRECT the wrong – that means if you can fix something you broke then you do, or if you have taken something that isn’t yours that you give it back. You just have to do whatever it takes to make things better.

Then last but not least is,

D – DON’T do it again, because if you do then that means you weren’t sorry and you haven’t repented.

So, if we are willing to have Faith and repent when we do wrong, we (or you) are ready to be baptised!