Finding joy in the everyday

The internet is a fabulous resource but beware, it is also full of MYTHS and LIES.  There is a myth floating around that I have now read in a number of blogs (spreading the fear) that Muslims in the USA will outnumber Christians by 2050 because they have larger families.  This is created to demonise Muslims and to create fear.  It simply isn't true and when you think about it, it doesn't add up. Don't take these sorts of "facts" at face-value, it doesn't take very much to look at the data and see that it can't be true.  The average family size in the USA (total population) is 2.58. In Australia it is 2.6. The international average size of a Muslim family is 2.9 (in 2010) compared to 4.3 in 1995. The current figure is probably even lower. Muslims living in France and Germany are now having only 2.2 children per family, barely above the national average of those countries. In Turkey the average family size in 2.15 and in Lebanon...

We live in a throw away society.  When we don’t want something we toss it away, we discard on a whim and think nothing of it.  We do the same with babies. If a woman becomes pregnant and decides she doesn't want the baby, she does something about it. She throws it away, convincing herself that the life inside of her is not really life at all. We argue over what constitutes a life to justify why it is ok to throw away a human life. We use the word "foetus" so we are not reminded that it is really a babe, a human life created by God in the imagine of God. Sadly this is not new. Women have been doing something about unwanted babies for many centuries. The only differences is, today it can now be done faster and more efficient than in the past and women survive an abortion these days, were as in the past many died in the process.  What does the bible say about abortion. Abortion is not mentioned, however the importances of life is. God knew us...

Forty-nine years ago on Christmas Eve my mother gave birth to a baby girl, her first daughter.  Her name was Elizabeth.   She died three months later.  Cot death.  I spoke to my mum on Christmas Eve and she said something very sad. Someone had said to her at the nursing home " just forget about the past, its gone, get over it " in reference to her baby daughter. How can a mother ever " forget the past " after loosing a baby, even if it was 49 years ago. Whilst time does heal the pain, it doesn't mean they ever forget their child. My mother asked another woman at the nursing home who lost a baby many many years ago and her rely was " I think of my baby every single day of the year ".  How heartless to say such a thing to a mother, to anyone who has lost someone dear.  Whilst my mother is now elderly, she is still a mother no matter how old she is.  And those precious children that are in heaven will never be forg...

Imagine source Australian Channel 10 TV breakfast show presenter, David Koch made the comment that breast feeding women should be more " discreet and modest " when feeding their babies in public.   What an outburst this has caused, outraged mothers saying he was completely wrong and that mothers "have the right" to feed their babies (uncovered) wherever and whenever they want in public.  Koch replied that breastfeeding women need to think about the environment they are in and be "courteous and respectful" of those around them. Koch was called a "dinosaur" for his outdated views on breast feeding and was told he was making women feel "ashamed" about breastfeeding for wanting them to cover up their breasts.  Those angered by his comments said that breast feeding should be seen as normal and if a woman wants to breast feed her child in public, it should be 100% acceptable to expose her breast for all to see as it isn't done as ...

My children are grown up.  Looking after them is easy.  I fill up the pantry and they eat their way through it.  If they need new clothes I send them shopping.  If they want to go to sleep, I kiss them goodnight and off they go - if they don't go to sleep I am not very concerned.  I have free time to relax, not only for a few minutes, it could be hours.  I can go out and leave them behind, alone.  We can have long and meaningful conversations - on the phone - texting.    Of course having older children has other issues, but they are not (generally) issues that last 24/7. Last week I spent a few days with a young new mum and I realised how simple, relaxing and peaceful my life is compared to a new mum with a bub (or two).  I had forgot the complete dependency a baby has on their mum, the fact that every job you do (while they are awake) you need to consider the baby, you can't sit and enjoy your dinner as you are very busy looking after ...