school holiday “fun”

the kids and i took off to mums for a couple of days... well, joseph and madeline had a sleep over by themselves one night, the i followed the next day. we were having a great old time until friday morning when this little muppet crawled into bed with me proclaiming that he "needed a bucket!" oh hell. we raced into the bathroom just in time for him to empty his stomach... rank. obviously i thought our plans for the day were going out the window, but he proceeded to fall asleep and stay that way until well after lunch under the watchful eye of grandad, while mum, madeline and i had a quick trip to york to check out the bargains at the salvation army jumble sale. thank goodness for grandparents!

(clackline in the winter, the prettiest place there is!)

eventually he perked up enough to start asking for dad and home, so we loaded him into the car with a bucket and a blanket to drive home, which happened without any further drama. phew! 

plus, our opshop buy of the week pictured here... madeline in her beautiful ballerina dress that we picked up for just $5! she has been dancing around the house in it and is completely obsessed... she already has it earmarked for next years disney on ice. what a crack up - oh well, 11 months to go!

apia waterfront project

a few months back i received an email from a lady who works for a government development department in apia, samoa, where my husband was born. she was writing to ask my permission to use a photograph she had found on my blog (here) for a sign on the waterfront in downtown apia. oh my goodness was i thrilled to pieces! we had such an amazing time there and i took so so many photos and blogged about every single thing we did, so i was beyond happy to share it. i responded with a gleeful yes and a request that perhaps she might be able to show me the completed sign sometime in the future... 

so imagine my delight when last week i had a reply, complete with a detailed picture of the sign (my picture is of the catholic cathedral top left) and a picture of the sign in real life on the waterfront. i'm so proud... one of my pictures on display in downtown apia. yay!

let us oft speak kind words: a relief society first sunday council

LET US OFT SPEAK KIND WORDS

The adult human body is 60% water, the brain is 73% water. So keep that in mind while you watch this video... (what is rice cooked in? water!) harsh or kind words will have an effect on our bodies over time!

Have we thought of the effects our words have on others? 

Words have been found to affect water crystals. Japanese researcher and healer, Dr. Masaru Emoto, conducted experiments on water molecules. These experiments showed human thoughts and intentions can physically alter the molecular structure of water. Specifically, the water crystals were altered simply through conscious intention.

Water from bottles labeled with positive messages had intricate structures and diamond-like reflectiveness when frozen and magnified. Water labeled with negative words had collapsed structures with yellow edges when frozen.

Dr. Emoto demonstrated that words have a vibration and will actually alter the structure of water crystals. He found that uplifting, positive, and encouraging words created beautiful, balanced and symmetric crystals. Destructive, hateful and evil words had the opposite affect on the water crystals. The visual evidence is breathtaking.

We use the transformational power of words every day. You control this incredible force because your thoughts become your words. You are the master of your ship, guiding it to safe lands of prosperity, abundance, happiness, and freedom. Choose your words wisely and be the agent of positive change in a world that desperately needs you.

Using words is a major key to the effect we have on others. It is implemented into everything, boldly and subtly, in our daily lives. We must believe in the power of words. As we consistently hear hopeful and uplifting words, their influence brings hope and joy to our thoughts. By changing the words we think, speak, act, write, listen, read, and wear, we can improve ourselves and others. (Source: https://www.samson.life/blog/effect-words-water)

How do you feel when someone is unkind to you?

How does it feel to be constantly belittled by someone over a long period of time?

How do you feel when you’ve been unkind to someone?

Johnny Lingo - Mahana became a beauty when she was told she was beautiful. For those who aren't familiar with the story, you can watch it here.

mahana whilst she believed she was ugly and useless 

Our words and actions must uplift – not tear down

One thing we often tend to overlook is the power in our words and and actions and how they might affect the people around us or even our feelings about ourselves. Mahana’s Father conveys this powerfully as he speaks about her in preparation for the negotiations. He says: “She’s as foolish as she is ugly… I’m ready to give him a cow just to have him take her off my hands”

Imagine being the butt of all the jokes as everyone gathers to witness the negotiations regarding your worth. Your already tender feelings are only exacerbated as you overhear the villagers make fun of you and the impending proposal. Your father thinks you are foolish and ugly and even goes too far so as to say that you have no worth. You would need to be sold – or so he thinks, for you to be married. The travesty in this is not that everyone else thinks this of you, including your own father – but that you are probably starting to think that about yourself too!

This is heartbreaking – especially when it comes from the people who you love the most. It makes sense that we let their words have so much power over us. They are people that we love and the ones we assume love us too, so what they think and say and feel about us matters!

Be careful with your words and especially with your actions. Be one who builds up and uplifts. Use your words to help make someone feel good about themselves. Be generous with your compliments and sparing with your criticisms. And remember – Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth!

Many things can happen to make a woman beautiful. The thing that matters most is what she thinks of herself. 

(Source: https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/nextlevelmormon.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/3-lessons-from-johnny-lingo/amp/?source=images)

mahana once she believed she was beautiful and loved ♥

moral of the story: let us oft speak kind words to each other!

school pyjama day!

half the fun of having kids in primary school is the fun days that come along with it... yesterday was "wear your pjs to school day" and they looked adorable! complete with their bathrobes... i just wanted to snuggle them all day!

we even had a spontaneous dance party with their little friends after school in the car. what cute kids! pjs and friends, with a dash of music? what could possibly be more fun?! ♥

joseph's semester 1 kindy open day

little joseph had his semester one kindy open day yesterday, to give us as parents a chance to look at their portfolios, have a chat to their teachers and have a bit of fun!

my cute boy and i ♥

joseph is loving school and we are so proud of him, he is always so happy to spell (we have two sets of letter cutters and he is constantly spelling words all over the house with them), count (he can count well into the 300s!!!) and write. what a clever cookie. mind you, all the credit goes to his big sister maddie who is so obsessed with school (and playing school) herself that she barely leaves him alone!

i am so proud of his writing especially... he could barely do his name at the beginning of the year, now look at him go!

we love our little man! ♥

questionnaires with the kids

i have done this with the kids before and was left in stitches with the answers... it came up in my facebook memories recently, so i thought i'd try again...

Without any prompting, ask your child these questions.

• What is your name? Joseph

• How old are you? 4

• When is your birthday? 20th

• How old is Dad? 27

• How old is Mum? Thirtttttty I don't know

• What is your favourite colour? Red

• What is your favourite food? Broccoli

• Who is your best friend? Dom

• What is your favourite song? From Cars 3

• What is your favourite animal? A donkey. They are really funny.

• What are you scared of? The movie Black Panther

• What makes you happy? I'm thinking what it is

• Where's your favourite place to go? Big W

• What do you want to be when you grow up? Be like dad

• What's Mum's favourite thing to do? Wash and clean the house

• What's Dad's favourite thing to do? Look at cards

******************************************

• What is your name? Madeline

• How old are you? 6

• When is your birthday? 11th July

• How old is Dad? 37

• How old is Mum? 34

• What is your favourite colour? Mint

• What is your favourite food? Fairy floss

• Who is your best friend? Alice and Ella

• What is your favourite song? Someday from Zombies

• What is your favourite animal? I don't like a donkey, sloths and fluffy little bunnies

• What are you scared of? Halloween

• What makes you happy? Cuddles and kisses and my toys

• Where's your favourite place to go? Livvi's place

• What do you want to be when you grow up? A ballerina on stage and a Disney on ice skater twirling and I want to be a pancake

• What's Mum's favourite thing to do? Growl

• What's Dad's favourite thing to do? Play Nintendo and look at his cards

let's check back in another few years! ♥

curried lentil soup

a few weeks ago (when we were rehearsing a musical item for our ward conference) my friend kate made this delicious soup and served it up to us on a rainy day. it is so yum, that i had to get the recipe and have already made it again since... you should totally try it!

curried red lentil soup

1 tablespoon oil (i used coconut)

1 diced brown onion

1 teaspoon minced ginger

3 teaspoons minced garlic

squeeze of lemon juice

1 tablespoon mild curry powder

1 1/2 cups dried red lentils

1 can diced tomatoes

4 cups liquid chicken stock (i used the vegan brand)

1 can coconut milk

chopped coriander leaves

1. heat oil in large saucepan. cook onion, garlic and ginger for 3-5 minutes until onion is soft. add curry powder and cook until fragrant.

2. add lentils, tomatoes, squeeze of lemon, stock and coconut milk. bring to the boil. reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until soup has thickened and lentils are cooked.

3. spoon into bowls with a little sour cream, top with chopped coriander and serve with crusty bread. 

original recipe pre kate's modifications can be found here