I need at least one more February post so here are some kid stories...

Sparky has been showing some theological thinking recently.

When we explained that he would get to see the people he loved in heaven forever, he excitedly exclaimed he would see K____ (a girl from preschool last year) again.

He was putting on some check shorts yesterday, and said they must be church shorts. He is under the impression checks are for church, because the collared shirts he wears for church tend to have checks (the lack of imagination of boys' fashion manufacturers). He then nodded and said "yes, of course it's for the cross". I put a striped tee on him as well, and he said "ah! half a cross !" I didn't have the heart to discourage this interest in symbolism.

Scout has been saying I love you a lot, which is gorgeous. He also enjoys saying "that's mine" - or, if he doesn't want the item, it's "that's Sparky's!". Ah the human paradox -loving and selfish all in the same person!

veggie tales

I am using my blog to announce that post breastfeeding (2 years!), I have reverted to vegetarianism again.

I find though, that I have a more relaxed attitude towards this than previously. I guess this is partly because I have spent 4 years out of the last 5 eating meat. I have a policy of eating meat when I am pregnant or breastfeeding, as I prefer to give my children the bext nutrition possible, and not take any chances. Although I think it is better to avoid meat, for humanitarian and environmental reasons, still I do value human life over animal life, and so there are times when I think it is justifiable to eat meat. Last time I went back to vegetarianism after my eldest stopped feeding, I was much more back and white about it, but this time, I have not been as rigid. I eased myself back on, rather than say, have to go do a new grocery shop immediately, and I have been OK with friends feeding me meat, as they wouldn't know I was back to being veggie, though if they asked I did say I was veggie again. And I have allowed myself to have the occasional bit of fish. I think I am seeing my actions in the big picture - that if for some reason some meat passes my lips on the odd occasion, it won't detract from the good I am trying to do with my vegetarianism.

What I don't consider a reason, though, is my convenience - so it is back to cooking some double meals - with meat for others and none for myself.

piccie from freefoto.com

Name game - a meme for my sadly neglected blog.

Sorry blog readers it's been a week.

Ok, to get back into it, a meme Kris (see sidebar) tagged me with - somewhat modified for privacy.

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:(mother and fathers middle name) Joy William

NASCAR NAME:(first name of your mother's dad, father's dad) Edward William
Girl version: Julia Joyce

.DETECTIVE NAME:(favorite color, favorite animal) I have several favourite colours - um Blue Cat?

SOAP OPERA NAME:(middle name, town where you were born) Joy Sydney

SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)The Green Tea ( a particularly soothing lower caff hero LOL)

YOUR GANGSTA NAME:(first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)Megizzle

I am very taken with my superheo name I have to say :). Consider yourself tagged if you have a funny name come up when you do it....

the clown of God

most of my old children's books have been stored at my in-laws for years and today I sorted through them, looking for some that Sparky might be ready for in the next year or so to take home.

One that I took home and read to Sparky tonight is the Clown of God by Tomie dePaola. I almost couldn't finish reading it, as my voice got choked up with tears (of joy) towards the end. It was a book that was very dear to me as a child. The story follows a juggling clown who in the end just before death, juggles for a statue of the Christ child, and in this finds meaning. The clown dies in the story, but the sadness of the death is transformed into joy in the story. Sparky said in wonder that it was sad and then good. It sparked off a discussion on death that got quite involved (Next time I won't read this story JUST before going to bed). I think at 4 Sparky was just old enough for this story - it might be even better for 5-6 year olds, and can be appreciated by 35 year olds too. The illustrations re very beautiful too.

Now I am looking forward to rereading the rest of the books I brought home. I am trying not to get too disappointed if his favourites are different from mine!

Not that this is some kind of women's magazine, but...

I was in 2 minds about writing this post, not wanting to be promoting consumerism, but I thought it might be helpful, so here goes.

I just received in the mail my latest order from Peter's of Kensington online. This is the second time I have ordered from them and it has been quick and easy both times.

But the main thing is, it has enabled me to buy loved ones presents I couldn't otherwise afford. The shipping costs are very reasonable if you buy more than one item. I just bought 3 items - presents for my mother and mother in law to put away til their birthdays.

To give you an example of the discounts you can get, the best discount I got this time was an item that was 13 down from 109, and it was perfect for Mum. Obviously just in case she reads this, I can't name the item.

Since I'm a previous customer they send me a newsletter every week with select items and this alerts me to any very good bargains.

And, so much easier than driving to Kensington!

13 year anniversary

Bhaer and I have been married 13 years (married 10.2.96).

If you have ever wondered why I call him that, it goes back to one of the first movies we saw together - Little Women (1994). Gabriel Byrne plays Friedrich Bhaer. A great big gentle quiet bear of a man who is older than his beloved Jo. Bhaer is 5 years older than me which seemed a great deal at the time though not so much now.

Lots of love to you, Bhaer xoxoxoox.

Below is a clip from the movie - the marriage proposal.

only the cross left standing

When all is subjected to utter devastation, only the cross is left standing. See this picture of a church in Victoria. Only the suffering of God answers the suffering of humanity.

With prayers for those whose lives have been touched by this tragedy, and hope in a God who makes new.

Cranford

I am very much looking forward to watching this BBC series fromn this Sunday. I have reread my copy of the novel, Cranford, and have been moved anew by the sweet humility of Miss Matty (played by Judi Dench in this series). The series also interwines the stories from other Gaskell works, namely Lady Ludlow (novella), Mr Harrison's Confessions (short story) and the Last Generation of England (a non fiction essay). I did not own these, and have found them difficult to obtain hard copies of immediately, but fortunately they are long past copyright and so copies can be found online at either the Project Gutenberg or at the Nagoya University site (this is too difficult to link to because of japanese language pages, the books themselves are in English and can be found by a simple google).

Picture of DVD cover taken from Amazon, from which it is available to purchase