Goals

Like most people, I'm pretty much well on my way to keeping none of my new years resolutions. Normally this would make me feel sad, but I know that God will keep working on my character.

In the mean time, this is my new way of working on achieving what I want to get done. I have one project a month, and I have until the end of that month to FINISH THE PROJECT.

I'm really, really close to finishing January's. It was sewing all the badges on my brother's scout blanket, something that has been hanging over my head for about six or more months now. There were about 500 badges to sew on. I had done about 80 before January, and now I have 12 left to go!

My goal for February is to record a CD of traditional celtic music. The proceeds will go to help Bushikori in Uganda.

My goal for March is to finish volume 1 of Balancing the Sword. I'm currently in Proverbs, and while I am still going through it even now, March is the month when I'm going to focus on this.

I haven't decided for the rest of the year... I'll leave that for closer to the months themselves. But at the moment, this is working really well. I mean, I've sewn about 400 badges on in 30 days!

So that's my new method of goal setting and reaching. Hopefully this is going to help me focus my energies and achieve a whole lot this year!

Homeschooling Blues

This is based entirely on my opinions of a news article I heard on the radio yesterday. I don't actually have any more facts than what I heard. I have no internet at home, so what I heard is what you've got.

Recently a family was banned from homeschooling in Australia. The reason given was that THEY WERE LEARNING BEYOND THEIR GRADE LEVEL.

Seriously. Don't let those kids be too smart. We can't have that.

The pyschologist / pycharitrist / whatever who was involved in the case (and was on the radio) said that these parents were Asian, and that many Asian parents had unrealistic expectations for their children academicly and that was the issue. "It's just not the way we do things in this country."

Um, hello?

Firstly, it's not like we're teaching our kids all that much in public schools. They aren't hard to beat. They're just not.

Secondly, teaching your children to achieve, whether academically or not is not a crime. And if it is, I plan to break the law.

Thirdly, what's with the racial sterotyping?

Fourth, does that mean I can make my kids super smart if the're white? What if their half Asian? Can they only be half a grade level above their age peers? What if they're black? Dodgy.

And finally, IT IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW. AND UNTIL IT IS, THEY REALLY CAN'T DO THIS!

Australia's government is ridiculous.

(Note, I did a super-quick google search and found nothing. But I'm angry, so I blogged about it.)

Giving Thanks

If you know me in "real life", you will no doubt know that I am not a happy chappy. I am one of those grumbling, complaining, snarky, not exactly sweet-tempered people.

I've always been more than slightly jealous of those lucky people, who, through a combination of training and personality are sweet, calm and lovely people. I've known quite a few of them, and they're just plain lovely to be around.

A short while ago I was complaining to God about this. I have to work really hard to not complain, not to use less than lovely language, and to not get cross about pretty much anything that doesn't go according to my plans. It's tough, and I'm far from good at it.

And God said to be thankful for it.

I was like, you have GOT to be kidding me. Be thankful that I am a grumpy, bad-tempered person?

Yep, was the reply. Because it's a struggle.

I have to work at it. I have to work really, REALLY hard to be sweet. And in some
ways that means I get to be sweeter tempered in God's eyes than those who are just naturally that way.

So... I'm working on it...