The Marriage of Cameron and Jane

So, Cameron and Jane got married at their engagement party.  I was the celebrant.  Here are some photos.

Eliza, Jane the bride and Ruth at the engagema-wedding

The bride and groom

Me praying for Cameron and Jane

Winding Up

So, we had our first anniversary in the house all together and this will be my last post on the blog. (unless I post a few photos next week)
We set out to form an intentional community house where we could all learn to be more Christlike.  You can't live with other people and not have your feathers ruffled and your norms challenged.  I think that has been everyone's experience here!

Cameron and Jane are engaged and soon to be married.  Richard and I are still married.  Eliza (15) is not married, and that's a good thing :)

I learned that I can live with other people, I can share possessions and decision making and chores.  We've achieved our goals.

Whether Cameron and Jane remain with us once they are married is unknown at this stage.  But, perhaps this has just been a season in our lives and we need to let it end naturally, if not immediately.
 
I have learned lots of things from other people living in community, both in Melbourne and in UK.  We have not been missional - it wasn't our goal.  It's something I wouldn't mind trying in the future.  It might be the next step?  At this stage in our lives we need to take our kids' needs into account when making these decisions because the last few years at high school are important.  In talking with other people I've found out that we've had an easy run.  Apart from the disaster of moving into a rental house with no utilities, we haven't had really tough conflicts or huge challenges as a community.  Individually we have faced some life changing situations, but as a group we've done well.  I'm undecided if that's because we are not in our early 20s (an age when most people choose to live in community, it seems) or because we communicate well.  Family meetings have been vital.  I didn't feel that everyone understood why we were so strong on having to attend them, but they have been worth the extra work of cooking special food and planning games nights and persisting through the rolling eyes.  We have grown, though...all of us.  And that was our original intention.

So, thanks be to God who led us to this experience and sustained us through it.  At this stage, no-one is moving out, the lease has rolled over to a month by month and we'll stay open to what God leads us to next; including if it's continuing what we've begun for another year.

Thanks to the 3 people who read the blog. 
Fleur x

Back Home

We're home in time for the Queens Birthday long weekend!  Happy Birthday Your Majesty.

Will continue this post later!

Perspective

I'm a long way from home right now on an adventure with Bruce in uk. Being away from home and kids and church gives a space so that I can see things from a different perspective. More clearly. I've had time to reflect. New experiences have challenged what I always thought was normal. I think there will be some changes when we get home. We need to sharpen our focus and stick to our original values. Here's to a safe trip home and hugs with the girls.

Trust is earned

Entrusting your kids to someone else's care is a big deal.  Without realising it, one of the key criteria for a housemate at our place is "can I trust them with my kids?"  Our housemates babysat for us before we all moved in together.  It was a "secret" test to see how they got along together.

At first I thought Cameron was going to be the fun housemate.  But Jane has surprised me - she has me in fits of laughter regularly.  Kids like to be looked after by fun people.  Babysitters should never be boring.

Leaving our kids with the housemates while we go on holidays will be tough.  I'm not 100% easy with it just yet, eventhough the trust has been earned.  It feels a bit like the first time you leave the newborn with a babysitter - excited to be free for a few hours but nervous about whether the babysitter will do what you'd do.

Holidays

Our family has just been on holidays.  We went interstate for a family wedding.  We stayed at a B&B which is a farm.  Ruth had the best time with the newborn lambs.  She named them Jasmine and Geoffrey. Unfortunately, Jasmine was abandoned by her Mum and died.  Ruth took the news surprisingly well.

We got back yesterday and now it's back into the school routine.

Frustration

They say that we should be frustrated.  We should not be content with things as they are.  We should long for change.  Frustration is meant to be a sign of dissatisfaction which is meant to be good because it drives us to prayer. 
Thing is I don't like feeling frustrated.  It's FRUSTRATING!! 
What am I frustrated about. About renting.  It is incredibly limiting.  I would love to have more people living with us, but we can not without putting them on the lease.
There is more for us.  I long for the more.  I pray for the more. 

Some Promised Photos

Here is a photo of the first of what I hope will be many handbags.  I gave this one to my good friend Emmy for her birthday.  The foundation material is a Qantas inflight blanket which I got at an Op Shop for $3.  The lining is fabric my Mum brought me home from Singapore and the beads are handblown glass which I picked up in Florence and the Bicycle on Smith St, Collingwood for $1 each.  The applique material is all scraps that I have left over from a quilting phase which I went through about 20 years ago!

CERES

The girls have started dance classes in Brunswick.  While they are there I walk to Ceres, get an organic coffee, have a look at the market stalls and come away feeling super-inspired.  It doesn't translate into much action, but it's nice to feel like my soul has been fed. 

Creative Christmas

Yes, I know it is April - but anyone who knows me even vaguely will know that I am a plan-a-head-er-er.  My sister sent out the challenge to make 5 gifts for the first 5 people who responded to her FB post.  I decided to extend the challenge and make most of my Christmas gifts this year.  This means I am sewing/painting/crafting/cooking most days. 

So far I've done apple jelly, passata, wheat bags, owls, magnets, bunting, quilting and Christmas stockings.  I am about to embark on handbags.  The problem is I make one or two of each thing, get bored and want to move onto something else. The benefit is that I'm trying to use materials I already have and am keeping buying new things to a minimum.

Look out for some photos soon.

I'm Back At Last

Hi Everyone

I've been computer-less for a while which means I have not posted anything for months!!  But I'm back now.

Big news is that Cameron and Jane are now engaged and are having their engagement party in July.  It was not unexpected, but we are all very excited.

Measuring Growth

How can you tell if you've grown?  You measure yourself ofcourse!  Ruth just put on a dress that Claire wore when she was 12.  It fit her.  Ruth's grown.  Eliza just tried on a dress that was too tight a few months ago - it fits her now.  She's grown taller.
How can you tell if you've grown emotionally?  Ask the people who know you well I guess.  Try some new things.  Try some old things and see if you feel differently about it.
Or you could move in with other people and you'll be guaranteed to grow.

Ready for 2012?

We're back from holidays and gearing up to go back to work and school.  Eliza is changing schools this year so that she can study music and arts.  This is a huge step for her and she's very nervous.  She's changing from a small Christian school to a huge public school.  The opportunities will be great for her, but any change is challenging.  She has a good network of supportive people in her life to help her cope.  I'm proud of her for taking a risk.

Ruth can't wait to start Grade 5.  Only 2 years left at Primary School - where has the time gone? 

Cameron did a stirling job of house sitting while we were on holidays.  My Mum said not to let him get married and move out because he's such a great support to us! 

Jane has spent some time with her Mum and Dad while we were gone.  This Tuesday is family meeting and a board game night.  It's good to all be home together again.

So, are we ready for 2012?  Too bad if we aren't, because it's coming anyway!

Updated Photos by Ruth - December 2011

Jane's tomatoes

Jane's Raspberries

Fleur's flowers

plums in the backyard