On the first anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires, we solemnly remember the devastation caused by the fires around our State of Victoria.
We remember those who died, families who lost everything, the injured, the firefighters, the volunteers & all those affected. When a disaster like this one rears it’s ugly being it does affect the whole nation. ….. it’s almost unbelievable that something like this could happen.
Ferocious, wild, incomprhensible were some of the the words used to describe this event which is marked down as one of the worst fire in Australia’s history. The State recorded over 400 individual fires; Temperatures reached 45C; 173 live were lost; 414 people injured; 2029 homes were destroyed; the total loss of animal life is unknown…. the list is long.
So many have been profoundly affected, yet in the midst of a disaster something happens to humanity – we become ‘human’. We open our hearts and reach out to those in need. Many will actually forget themselves so that they can give of their time & energy to help all those affected; People will gather together to pray; and many will open their own homes to the needy.
Articles of Interest
The Black Day That Won’t Go Away
How Kindness and Hope Rose from the Ashes of Disaster
Wear a Yellow Ribbon and remember.
Australia Red Cross Bushfire Appeal
Today, we remember & pray for so many – Thank you dear Lord that you will comfort, heal, help, encourage and bless them all.
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Happy Australia Day!
Wherever you are or whatever you’re doing, have a wonderful Australia Day.
Here are some great activities, puzzles & games for children & families to share. Click on the heading you want & print out the activity …. enjoy!
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Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year, filled with many blessings from the Lord.
Unfortunately I have been having both computer & blog problems. Both blogs have been hacked into, which had caused them to be blacklisted by Google. My apologies to all my visitors who may have received a warning message while trying to visit. I believe all has been cleared & Google has lifted the warning.
Now I need to tackle the computer – so as soon as these problems are fixed I’ll be back posting on Precious Treasures.
May God Bless you and keep you in His care. May His light shine upon you and may He give you peace.
I miss you all.
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I’ve been negleting this blog for a while – not intentionally though. I’ve been organising a giveaway on my EP Designs blog among other things and have run out of time each day. When homeschooling finished for us I thought I’d have extra time on my hands to do a whole list of things; but it’s just as busy, if not more, than when we were committed to homeschooling.
Now we’re heading towards Christmas at lightning speeds. I hope you all are doing well. I will try to visit you all before Christmas.
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The Will of God will never take you
Where the Grace of God cannot keep you
Where the Arms of God cannot support you
Where the Riches of God cannot support your needs
Where the Power of God cannot endow you.
The Will of God will never take you
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you
Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you
Where the Army of God cannot protect you
Where the Hands of God cannot mould you.
The Will of God will never take you
Where the Love of God cannot enfold you
Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you
Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears
Where the Authority of God cannot overrule you.
The Will of God will never take you
Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears
Where the Word of God cannot feed you
Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
~ Author unknown ~
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FOR TODAY… Monday 9th Nov.
Outside my window…… Bright blue sky, gorgeous sun shining down on us….. summer has started early for Melbourne.
I am thinking……. Although summer is my favourite season, will I survive the heat wave this week?
I am praying for…… lots of things – guidance for son as he searches to purchase his first car; homeschooling families; healing for my ailments.
I am thankful for…… My Lord – knowing that He is always near and He will answer my prayers in His time.
From the learning rooms…… Praise the Lord in all circumstances, even if you don’t feel like it. (this is a repeat from the last daybook I wrote but it’s ongoing and it works)
From the kitchen…… too hot to be cooking anything – there’s nothing happening at the moment but there will be salads & iced coffees coming out of there during the day.
I am wearing…… black & white skirt with a swirly pattern; black singlet top & pretty pink floral thongs.
I am creating…… invitations to my first clearance sale.
I am going…… to a doctor’s appointment.
I am hoping…… that all my aches will go away & that Noting new will pop up; that I can exercise self control & begin a healthy eating plan so as to lose weight … and do lots of walking – the easiest & no-cost form of exercising 
I am hearing…… the house creaking a little, lol. It’s funny because at this moment all is quiet – I can’t even hear traffic in the distance – maybe everyone is in hiding from the the heat?.
Around the house…… floor needs sweeping & mopping; bathroom needs a good clean.
One of my favourite things…… sipping a cool drink on a hot day while my feet dangle in cool water while sitting a shady tree
A few plans for the rest of the week:…. Catch up on cleaning around the house – it’s a slow process at the moment but with the Lord’s help I’ll get there; begin setting up for my clearance sale which begins in 2 weeks; swine flu vaccination.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing…
… my little boy is now 18.
If you would like to join in, please visit Peggy, who hosts The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and also check out other Daybook entries.
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There are 100,000+ babies aborted in Australia each year … that’s 100,000+ babies who are killed, torn limb by limb from their mother’s womb, suffering excruciating pain before they die. Then there are those who are born alive after a failed abortion and are left to die in a dish or the garbage bin.
Take a look at the MCG – 100,000 people will fill this sporting ground to capacity - that’s how many Austrlians will never be born to live their life, to love & be loved, to learn, to contribute to our society…….. teachers, doctors, scientists, great sportsmen/women, inventors, social workers, performers, artists, charity workers …… we will never know them …… Australia will never be better off for having killed them..
Where are we heading?
Eliminating legal protection for some, weakens legal protection for everyone.
Peter Kavanagh MLC for Western Victoria.
If life is not respected from conception, how can life be respected at any stage ….. street bashings & violence is only the beginning….. but we can change this.
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Saturday the 10th October was the first anniversary of the Victorian Parliament passing the Abortion Law Reform Act – one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world. It’s a day we probably wouldn’t want to remember but we do because of the lives involved. In remembrance of this day a march was organised by March For The Babies - their goal is to overturn this terrible law and provide full legal protection to our most vulnerable Victorians.
March for the Babies was established with the assistance of representatives from leading pro-life groups throughout Victoria. Our goal is to promote an annual day of remembrance and peaceful witness to affirm the right to life of every unborn child, assist women in crisis pregnancies and allow freedom of conscience for healthcare workers opposed to abortion
The march progressed peacefully from the Ftizroy Gardens along Flinders, Exhibition & Bourke streets towards Parliament House. Did you hear about it in the media? No? The media are not interested in giving air time to this matter nor are the newspapers. A march of this size is ignored …… However, the Pro-Life movement will not go away & pro-life activites will not stop. Eventually the public will learn the truth & the media will not be able to ignore this seriously imprtant issue.
More than 20,000 babies are killed in Victoria each year via abortion. This extreme Abortion Law Reform Act although passed in the State of Victoria does not isolate the remaining States & Territories from being next in line. Politicians are watching closely to see what happens here and how the people of Victoria react to this horrendous law.
Pro-Life movements have sprung up in huge numbers in victoria – I don’t know if having too many groups is a good or effective thing but one thing is for sure – we’re not going to sit quietly and forget about it …. and we won’t let the pro-abortion politicians forget about it either.
Following the Victorian Abortion Law Reform Act, Life Vote was formed to campaign against the defeat pro-abortion MPs at the 2010 State election. Hence the catch-cry Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote.
The numbers will increase as this cause will spread via word-of-mouth and the internet. Please visit the above web sites and offer your support in anyway possible.
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A day of Proverbs -
12:1 Anyone who loves knowledge wants to be told when he is wrong. It is stupid to hate being corrected.
14:1 Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.
15:24: Wise people walk the road that leads upward to life, not the road that leads downward to death.
22:6 Teach a child how he should live, and he will remember it all his life.
4:7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight.
Inspired thought: When we seek the face of Christ, we seek His wisdom.
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What is Tuesday Treasures? Find out Here.
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FOR TODAY… Monday 28th Sept.
Outside my window…… I’m writing this at the end of the day so it’s night & the blinds are down.
I am thinking……. How I miss my son who is on holidays – they grow up so fast.
I am praying for…… my family; guidance & discernment for my son for his vocation.
I am thankful for…… my family.
From the learning rooms…… Praise the Lord in all circumstances, even if you don’t feel like it.
From the kitchen…… mushroom risotto & lamb chops.
I am wearing…… navy track pants, red top, and slippers.
I am creating…… a new blog template for my EP Designs blog.
I am going…… to bed soon – I hope.
I am hoping…… I can start my creative work again soon.
I am hearing…… Father Corapi on EWTN.
Around the house…… lots of tidying up to do – not much has been done because I’ve been not well for almost 3 weeks. I’m better now, but all that cleaning awaits me..
One of my favourite things…… strolling along the beach on a lazy afternoon.
A few plans for the rest of the week:…. Catch up on cleaning around the house, planning ideas for my son’s 18th birthday.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing…
I love vintage pictures. They’re full of character, lovely, warm, happy & colourful.
If you would like to join in, please visit Peggy, who hosts The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and also check out other Daybook entries.
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My EP Designs blog has been nominated for it’s first ever blog award. The Australia’s Favourite Blog By A Business Mum Awards is being conducted by the Business Mums Network. It was an unexpected but pleasant surprise when I received notification of the nomination from Melissa.
Blogs with the most nominations in each category will be selected as finalists. So before voting begins I need to be selected as a finalist. I’d love for you to visit EP Designs and see what you think about it. If you like it please click on the ‘Nominate My Blog’ button in the sidebar (top) and fill in the details. The category for my blog is Women/Lifestyle.
Prizes will be awarded to those who nominate a blog, vote for a blog, as well as the winners in each category.
Nominations will close on Friday 25th September.
Voting opens on Monday 5th October.
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Let me know what you think!
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We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. Stacia Tauscher
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Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. John W. Whitehead The Stealing of America, 1983
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Children are one third of our population and all of our future. ~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981
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You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again. ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762
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In the United States today, there is a pervasive tendency to treat children as adults, and adults as children. The options of children are thus steadily expanded, while those of adults are progressively constricted. The result is unruly children and childish adults. ~Thomas Szasz
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Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said. ~Author Unknown
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What is a home without children? Quiet. ~Henny Youngman
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Children find everything in nothing; men find nothing in everything. ~Giacomo Leopardi, Zibaldone Scelto
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Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. ~Phyllis Diller
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It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. ~Frederick Douglass
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There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff
Source – The Quote Garden
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Maybe when the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us.
Maybe it is true that we don’t know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.
Maybe God wanted us to meet a few of the wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
Maybe the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.
Maybe giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but if it does not, be content it grew in yours.
Source: Positive Thoughts
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I discovered Salt and Light Television through a friend of mine who has been working and studying with them for the past 3 months. This Catholic TV network is based in Canada and was one of the fruits of World Youth Day Toronto 2002.
The theme for WYD Toronto was -
“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Mt 5,13-14)
… hence the name for this network.
It’s currently only available for Canadians but can be viewed online … and I believe they are working towards worldwide distribution. Salt and Light also produce film documentaries on the lives of saints – one of which I have seen on EWTN is of St Gianna -The Life of St. Gianna Beretta Molla.
Another documentary which speaks to the hearts of Australians is of Blessed Mary Mackillop. The film can be viewed online and is also available for purchase on DVD - it’s titled Mary Mackillop: Australia’s First Saint.
It’s wonderful to have these Catholic television networks overseas. Canada has Salt and Light; the USA has EWTN; Italy has Telepace ……. wouldn’t it be wonderful if one could be set up in Australia? Would it work here?
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If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
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We thought, because we had power, we had wisdom.
Stephen Vincent Benet (1898 – 1943),
Litany for Dictatorships, 1935
M.K. Gandhi
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Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. Love wisdom and she will make you great. Embrace her and she will bring you honour. She will be your crowning glory.
Proverbs 4: 7-9
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The way to become wise is to have reverence for the Lord; He gives sound judgement to all who obey His commands. He is to be praised forever.
Psalm 111: 10
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Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.
I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.
I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.
If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
Jesus said love one another. He didn’t say love the whole world.
The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.
There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things that we could use.
We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.
We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.
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May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever! Amen
Hebrews 13:21
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