Can of Worms

I don't usually get political.

But at the moment I'm worried.

August 21st is election day. The election in Australia is pretty much a two horse race. And at the moment we get to choose from the bad and the very very bad.

In the blue corner we have our current PM (by default after she deposed the current PM a few weeks back) Julia Gillard. She is well spoken. Educated. Measured. And an atheist.

In the white corner we have Tony Abbott. Also educated. Not so well spoken. Bit of a loose cannon. Flys off the handle and says things he shouldn't. Wears those ridiculous swimming trunks in public. And is a committed Christian who openly opposes gay marriage, abortion and sex before marriage.

To me the choice is obvious. But I'm not so sure how the rest of the country will see it. If Julia Gillard is successful we will not only have our first ever woman Prime Minister, but we will also have our first non married, living in a de facto relationship, atheist Prime Minister.

The trouble is that Julia presents herself very well. She is well spoken, compassionate, and just comes across as a polished professional. Tony on the other hand looks as though he is constantly trying to hold himself back from saying something that will alienate half the country.

So pray for us here in Australia on August 21st. I'm not sure that Tony Abbott will lead the country well, but at least I can be sure that he will get help from above.

School Trouble

I am the secretary of the governing body of our school.

Sometimes this is a little awkward for me, as it calls for me to have a different working relationship with the principal than the relationship I have with him as a parent. Our parent/teacher relationship has been a little rocky, as I have often butted heads with him over the welfare of my children. Neither of my children really fit "the system" so I have found myself advocating for them more often than I would like.

Just this week Scott has been suspended, for something that I found pretty trivial, and strongly believe the school is reacting to the result rather than the cause of the problem. This bothers me a lot. So I have gone in to bat for him (again) and said my piece (again). I've always remained calm and polite during these encounters, I've never resorted to attacking the teachers or principal personally (although there have been times when I would have liked to) and I think this is the only way I've been able to balance my two roles as governing council secretay and parent.

I have to admit though, that this recent incident has me seething. And I'm all but ready to throw in the towel. Scott has spent the past few days at home, working from home and achieving much much more than he would have in a classroom. He is pretty bright, and he showed me today that he wants to succeed. He was actually enjoying trigonometry, he just needed to see that he can do it, and he needed someone to take the time to help him with it.

Our school seems to have a real problem with discipline at the moment. They are letting incidents slide and then completely over reacting over something minor.

I have little choice but to send him to this school. Which annoys me. The combination of a few teachers who just don't seem to care, a few (very) disruptive boys in Scott's class, and apathetic management isn't conducive to success. But there is no other school that doesn't require boarding, and that's just something we can not afford at the moment.

Scott confided to me today that he wants to be an airforce pilot when he grows up. But he doesn't dare dream it's a possibility because he's "too dumb". That's just heartbreaking.

Lord, please help Scott follow his dreams. Give him faith in his own ability and a willingless to learn despite the obstacles he sometimes faces. Help me to continue to encourage and help him and help him to become the man you made him to be.

Uncertainty

Hello there!

Life is showing no signs of slowing down for me at the moment which means that blogging will probably remain spasmodic...but I'm still here!

Last week we ventured off to Adelaide for Steph's interview at Endeavour College of Natural Health, where she hopes to study next year. We started with an open day on Sunday where we were able to look around, see classes in action and learn about all the different courses on offer. Then Steph spent some time with the senior lecturer for acupuncture, which she really enjoyed. Her interview on Monday morning was uneventful and non traumatic, with her being offered a place in her chosen course (Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture)). She was thrilled.

Then we went shopping in search of THE perfect graduation dress. This experience was much less traumatic and expensive than expected and we were patting ourselves on the back when by lunch time Steph had a place at uni, and a gorgeous dress (without us having to take a second mortgage!!).

We wandered out to West Lakes shopping centre for lunch, as it's nearby where Steph is hoping to live next year. We then had an appointment at 2pm to meet the owner of the student housing accommodation and to inspect the units there. It went really well, Andrea (the owner) was lovely, supportive and helpful. The units were small and basic but comfortable and clean, with everything she will need...and the best bit - she can walk to the beach! She can also walk to the train station and the street she will live on has all the shops she needs within walking distance. Also lots of part time job opportunities with cafes, restaurants and shops. So we put a security deposit on 2 units (as Steph's cousin is hoping to study in Adelaide next year also).

On the drive home Steph got a text from Renee (her cousin) telling her that she had been accepted into her course at Adelaide City Tafe...which is right next door to Endeavour College!!

It wasn't until we were on our way home that I spent some time thinking about all that we had achieved in a single day. Up until our trip to Adelaide I had been quite uncertain about Steph's study choices. She excells in the arts, is a great musician and all awards she has won have been for design. And she wants to study a science degree? It just didn't feel quite right with me, didn't seem as though she was looking to her strengths.

BUT. After everything just falling into place the way it did. I think God is telling me to step away and let HIM run the show! I mean how amazing that in the space of 4 hours we had secured a place at uni, a graduation dress, a place to live AND someone to live next door from home!

WOW.

How great is our God.

Lord, thankyou. I'm speechless. Just thankyou. Please continue to remind me that you are in control and that I don't need to worry. Help us with the transition when it happens next year. I'm pretty sure I'm really going to need your help when it comes time to say goodbye. Please watch over Steph and Renee now and forever. Amen.