Follow Up To Centrelink Issues

I'm now studying full time and applying for Austudy which means I'm doing Cert II and Cert III in Textile Arts now and I'm still able to do some part time work and voluntary work for Teen Challenge!!!!

I'm happy with the balance of study and work. I don't think it's too much of a load and I'm continuing to be careful how much, and what I take on. No matter how great it sounds or what can be achieved from it!

The AIF Project

I'm learning a lot as I'm researching my family. John Boyd was killed in WW! at Villers-Bretonneux France. It's only been a place name before. It didn't mean that much to me personally except a place where many people died and were buried but it's more personal now.

John Boyd

The AIF project is a good, although often sad, place to find family information because there's often more than just military related information there. In this case I found out John's place of birth.

Rust Dyeing Fabric

Rust Dyeing Fabric - Hobby Farms

Shared via AddThis

I'm trying out this rust dyeing because I'd heard about it at college. We've just finished a whole dyeing unit and now we're doing printing and stamping!!! Lots of fun!!!

Follow Up From "How Does A Homeschooling Mum Move On?"

Now that I'm no longer 'schooling' my own children I'm out in the big, wide workplace again. It's a scary place to be when you haven't worked for a long time. I've kept my skills up doing some paid and voluntary work but it's still scary to be facing the workforce again at nearly 40.

As far as moving on from homeschooling is concerned though, I'm actually getting some work tutoring primary school children. I'm using the skills I've developed so far in life and homeschooling my children to earn some income.

I've got two students at the moment one is 5 and the others is 8. I get to design lesson plans and individual lessons again! Yay!! I'm dividing the lessons up into 10 minute segments to keep the interest and attention up. It's lots of fun working with these young ones again, I enjoy the one to one work and seeing them making progress!!

House Sold, New Goals, Centrelink Issues

My house has sold!!!! Jesus has been directing me (even though I may not always realise it at the time) and I've set some goals which I'm really happy with.

1. keep my relationship with Jesus top priority
2. family
3. study
4. teaching
5. volunteering for Teen Challenge (of course)
6. helping others achieve their goals
7. being creative
I don't always get these in the right order.... but I keep trying.

I've seen a great financial planner who helped me solidify these goals in my mind without him really realising it. The money from my house is invested and I've bought a new car and will be getting a couple of other things too.

I've got two more terms of my Visual Arts and Contemporary craft course. The things I'm learning I want to be able to teach either in my own training centre or for another organisation or RTO. I can still teach computing too.

Three tutoring jobs have fallen in my lap. I applied for one which my brother told me about and when people heard that I was doing tutoring they asked me to help their kids. It's great because I was missing the homeschooling so now I still get to prepare and teach lessons and be involved with helping young people achieve their goals!!!!

Enter Centrelink
Because I'm receiving a Centrelink payment I have to do the things they tell me to do. Having been told earlier in the year that my course was fine with Centrelink I've now been informed that it's not an approved course because it's in The Arts. If Centrelink or my job network provider send me for a job I have to take it and possibly leave my course. I only have to look for 15 hours of work a week at the moment. I understand the need for these rules but I don't agree that a course which is going to provide me with income in the future can't be approved.

My first instinct is to rush out and 'fix' the situation myself but I know that's not the right way for me. So instead I'm researching my options and looking for Jesus' leading.

How Does A Homeschooling Mum Move On From Homeschooling?

How does a homeschooling Mum move on from homeschooling? I wonder does one at all? I'm in the position where both my children are in the workforce and only one lives at home now. I grieve the loss of this close relationship with my children but also celebrate their moving on into a new realm of their lives. They are both still learning and I can still have a part in that albeit a very small one for Doug who isn't living at home any more. Jess is navigating the full time work environment and all the challenges that brings and doesn't mind some input from Mum from time to time.

However back to me. Don't get me wrong I'm not sitting at home moping (although I've done that). I'm moving on with my life now - studying and preparing to do some teaching in the future as well as doing some voluntary work but I just read Beverley Paine's homeschooling newsletter and that got me thinking about what I miss from homeschooling and wondering how does one move on?

So I'm posing the question and would really like your feedback!!

Singing

Over Easter I went to a bbq with friends and afterwards we had a singalong. A guitar was passed around, several people played and we all sang along. I sang like I've never sung before!! I was sooo confident I amazed myself. I turned my hearing aid up and sang away to my hearts content! I could hear myself and judge when I was in our out of tune and adjust. I even sang on my own. It was so much fun, we laughed, sang and mucked around for a couple of hours. I sang all the way home and went to bed very happy.

River Torrens

More water is flowing through here than I've seen before. Not much further along though it's become dark and murky looking. I wonder if there's algae growing.

My College Major Assignment

This is the hand embroidery I've done so far. It's turning out really well, I'm pleased with it. I've got more hand embroidery to do on the straps and on the ribbon around the bodice. If I've got time I'll do my black shirt/jacket too. I want to do bright couching in reds and oranges on the cuffs and down the front. It should look terrific.

Earth Hour - Lights Out

Earth Hour has just taken place here in South Australia! Because there are times when I use a lot of electricity I want to participate in these "turn off" nights to help remind me to conserve electricity.

I was using my xo during earth hour being a laptop with a great battery it uses the least amount of electricity! I've just updated it and now it connects to my wireless network at home! Yay! I took this photo with the xo and uploaded it to facebook too.

Girl About Town

I went to the footy last night Norwood v Port. For those overseas this is Aussie Rules football in the South Australian League. During quarter and half time kids and adults flock onto the oval to kick a footy around (in picture). It was a good game, close at times so exciting and enjoyable. Norwood (my team) won!! It was a good, very cheap night out. $3 ticket to get in and $4 for some hot chips (fries). I think it's funny that it cost more for some hot food than it cost to get in the gate :-)

Today I'm meeting up with a group of OLPC enthusiasts who're working on the XO. I'm not a hacker but I can teach and write so I want to make my contribution that way.

Living in Adelaide is great because there's so much more I can do!! Not just entertainment but being part of these groups.

This afternoon or tomorrow I'm going to an Easter Art and Craft Fair with traditional Russian food, crafts and displays!! There's more info about it here: What's On in Adelaide has a big list of what's on. There are sooooo many things on it's hard to choose. There's an international kite festival at Semaphore but I won't be able to get to it but it would be great to go to. I love kites.

Teen Challenge Chapel on Sunday arvo!! I'm really looking forward to it. It's great each week, inspired worship and word. Good, solid, practical teaching! Since I've been going there's been something helpful and relevant to me and my situation each time.

There's Earth Hour 8:30pm tonight. It's about turning your lights off for one hour to 'vote earth' by raising awareness. I've got plenty of candles because I collect different candles and candlesticks and candle holders and I make candles too. I'll probably take photos and may blog or facebook too. If I'd been more prepared I could've had a party oh well maybe next year.

There are many more things on but I think I'll keep it to this for now :-)