Two weeks ago we went on a holiday to the Gold Coast. While there we went to a TimeZone [a game arcade place] and there was one of those pain-in-the-butt claw machines full of Nintendo characters. Well, Luigi from Mario Bros is Jasons fav all time game character. Followed closely by Mario. Jason wanted one of those toys SOOOOOOO bad that he prayed earnestly to God that he would get one from the machine that day.
Well he didn't win one, John didn't win one for him, and i couldn't win one. But Rose, using her own money, won him not only a Luigi, but a Mario as well.
That was a great lesson for Jason, and i hope he remembers it!
If we ask God for something, he will answer. He knows the desires of our hearts and wants us to be happy. And he usualy doesn't answer in the way we think he will, and if his answer is in our favour, more abundantly than we expect.

I'm sure God was smiling on this face :o)

Hebrews 13:2

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

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This afternoon we were at the supermarket, where i let Jason take his $1 to get a little chocolate. I waited at the end of the till for him, as it was his first time doing the supermarket thing by himself.

But he was 20c short, and other than 5c, all i had in my wallet was our tithes. I've never used our tithes for anything else, but there was a line, and i felt rushed. As soon as i pulled it out and said, "I'll have to use this." The spotty teenager behind Jason said, "Here, i've got 20c. I'll get that."

I thanked him and told him he was an angel[flippant comment, perhaps a gentleman was more appropriate]. Jason thanked him too, and we left the store.

That was awesome, especially for a teenager!! I'm very impressed!

In regards to the post a few days down, about how i can see God's handy work in preperation for Alix's return, I forgot to mention this;
God has also enabled me to see that i'm not only not a bad parent, but that i'm actualy a pretty good mum.
When we meet or hear of a troubled kid who acts out a lot, we automaticaly assume that child has come from a troubled home. A home where they are being neglected of attention and affection. I'm guilty of assuming that myself when i meet other rotten kids.
And people have always assumed that of Alix. In fact, we've NEVER been able to get Alix the counciling and medical attention she desprately needs. Because EVERYONE just assumes that all Alix needs, is a few hugs, encouragement, and positive reinforcement.
I have 2 other children who are very happy, well adjusted and stable.
I've always tried to treat my kids the same.
And yet i just believed what the general attitude was. I felt like a bad mother, a failure, because all my efforts to raise Alix right were fruitless.
In the time that Alix has been away, i've had the time to really see my two other children.
I didn't realise untill now, just how much time i was spending on Alix, and in turn, neglecting my other two. The past eight months have been spent really getting to know them and enjoying them. They are great kids with a great sense of humour. Awesome talents and great schooling habits. I knew all this before, but it was more of a relief because i didn't have to worry about them at the same time as worrying about Alix.
I look at these two wonderful kids and i realise something i've never allowed myself to entertain in my mind - I'm a good mum. I really am a good mum. I might not be a sports mum who enrolls her kids into every sport. And i might not be active with the P&C school commitee.
But i respect my children, i listen to them, & i welcome their ideas and viewpoints.
I encourage them to be the best people they can be, both at home, and in the communitee.
We are affectionate with each other. Rose isn't a kissy huggy person, but she likes har back rubbed and her hair played with. Jason loves kisses & cuddles, and sitting close on the couch.
Jason likes collecting little rocks and Rose can't throw out any piece of paper.
We play together and i'd drop whatever i'm doing to read them a story book.
I'm doing my best to raise happy little soldiers for God, who will see God as a loving father, rather than a big judge with a big stick.
I am a good mum, and i know that when Alix comes home, how i deal with her will now be motivated more by fairness and love, rather than guilt.

I couldn't see any of this before, but with Alix gone, God has let me see.

Thanks God :o)
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(BTW "Parenthood" is one of my favourite all time movies :o)

I've always thought that "Spare the rod, Spoil the child" Proverbs 13-24, ment that we need to physicaly correct our children when they do wrong or they'll grow up to be horrible people.. I never put any thought into it, i just took that sentance as black & white.I took it for granted with my oldest [now teenage] child, Alix, who is a bit of a difficult child to live with. She always seemed to be looking for trouble and doing something that warranted a smack.
6 months ago she moved out of home, and i was left with my two children aged 10 & 7, who are very easy to care for & live with in comparison!
In relation to disiplining them, i've come to realise that "He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently." isn't talking about smacking our kids whenever they play up. But it's talking about disipline as a whole. The rod represents disipline. The rod demands respect.
We don't want our kids to be afraid of us. We want them to learn to behave constructively in order to conduct themselves properly when they become adults.

For those of us who were smacked as kids, we tend to say, "I was smacked as a kid, and i turned out alright." But did we really? I'm 36, and when i look at my Dad, there's still that scared 9yo that looks back at him from behind my eyes. Not respect..fear.
My own daughter, i believe, was/is damaged by the amount of smacking i gave her. In hind sight, i think she has some of the problems she does because i was quicker to smack her, than properly take the time to "correct" her. She behaved at home, because she knew she'd get a smack if she played up. But then as soon as she was out of the house, she ran a muck, knowing there were no immediate consiquences [?] I hadn't taught her better ways to behave. I just taught her to fear me.
I've come to realise that the rod is a much wider, complicated range of disipline. Disipline that comes from really knowing our children, and really loving them. It is a whole relationship in itself.
And where does the smack fit? Do we really need to smack our kids in order to effectively correct them? Did God really mean for us to hit our children?

I know it's too late to take that back now for Alix, but i can use the information to better our relationship [somehow].
And i can use this revelation with my other two children.

Thanks God, for opening my eyes & while i'm still in a position to use it. You're the best! :o)

Yesterday i let Jason have a sick day off school. Rose was in Sydney for an excursion, And seen as i do my grocery shopping on Wednesday, i thought i'd take Jason. We had ourselves a "date".
First we went out for breakfast, then he went to his Nanas' while i did the grocery shopping [He hates doing that], then we went clothes shopping together. He needed some jeans, and i bought a nice shirt. We had a lovely time together, And i'm looking forward to doing it again.
I've always taken my girls out for "dates", but never Jason. Jason and i are very close, but i never thought of doing the shopping thing with a male. Even if he is my son!
We looked at games, videos and toy cars. Then we looked clothes for me, and talked about the pros & cons of each item i looked at. Then after we were both satisfied with what i'd picked. We moved on to boys clothes. We looked at all sorts of stuff before settling on some blue faded jeans.
It was a lovely day.
Thanks God, for opening up a new dimension in mine and Jasons relationship :o)