Australian Government Royal Commission on Child Abuse

The past few days in the Australian media has been flooded about the announcement of the Royal Commission in Child Abuse. Most parents like myself ears pricked up and listened. To put it simply it has to do with the protection of children. This certainly dominated all discussions after our Chantelle went to bed and was sound asleep. About a week ago Andrew gave me a USB stick with resources from his involvement in Children's Ministry. This morning as I was about to walk out the door, drop Chantelle of at preschool and off to work I thought I’ll try and take some time in my lunch hour to have a look at this information. I found out that our General Conference announced a campaign on the 6 August 2012 regarding this very issue. So this small blog of mine today is to make you aware of, “the seven campaign”. This campaign seeks to increase personal awareness, responsibility, and involvement to effectively help end abuse against children in every family and community. See how you and your community can get involved. I know I certainly will! www.thesevencampaign.com

To Public Preschool or not to Public Preschool? That is the Question

2012 for Andrew and I the most talked about subject is where we sending Chantelle to Preschool. Out of all the discussions, I’ve learnt that I’m still a teacher to Chantelle and especially in life skills. As I type this I remember the excitement that Chantelle had when she came into the bathroom this morning and said "Mum! Look I got my arm out of my top!" with the biggest smile of achievement on her face. Yes we celebrated with a high five and a kiss on the cheek. Slowly but surely I’ve been encouraging her that she can take her top off without my help and get it past her shoulders and over her head! Some months ago the day came when Andrew and I had to sign forms to put Chantelle into a local public preschool. We couldn’t bring ourselves to sign the form. Gosh it’s only a signature I thought! No, we were signing for someone else to guide our little miracle, and the main reason that we couldn’t sign was the spiritual focus she wouldn’t be getting. So it was then I said to Andrew ok I’m up for the challenge to homeschool her for her preschool year. I felt at the time so inadequate and scared to take up the challenge that I just set up for myself, not thinking that she has been homeschooled for the past three years by us being her parents her teachers of life skills. So the journey for me began! Those who know me well, I’m the queen of the internet, social media and all things driven by information that is available at my fast little fingers. After reading a few pages I felt empowered that I could be very successful in this challenge of taking things to the next level of educating my little miss 3 year old to primary school readiness! My list of things to do, and prepare for this journey keeps growing! I’ll be blogging about this journey so keep an eye out! Bring on 1 February 2013!

Hayfever

Look at that 2 years since my first post! (ah choo) I’m sorry that this one is a whinge session post. (ah choo) I'm a spring baby but when it comes to spring I want to enjoy it, but for me it can also be the bane of my existence! The hayfever can just ruin so much for me. (ah choo) I must say that I've perceived with it for 5 years without taking any drugs, pat on the back for me I say. I do a green tea regime first thing in the morning it does help alot to bear with it. (Ah choo) I was having a laugh with Andrew yesterday as one of my colleagues at work suffers from it as well and he said, Canberra must be the hayfever capital of the world, we've planted all these trees from around the world and so of course we'd suffer more from the hayfever as the years go on. I don't know all the specific trees that effect me, but I guarantee you that not a day of spring has gone by that I haven't dreamt of going around and chopping them down! (ah choo) Chantelle has obviously noticed my predicament, I asked her the other day what’s wrong with your nose darling, it’s running like yours mommy so I need a cup of hot green tea! (ah choo) Anyway I have had my say I better work on my next post, I can’t guarantee it won’t be a whinge session but i will most definitely try to make sure it isn’t. (ah choo)

Chantelle's Dedication - 12 June 2010

Hi everyone - this is my first official post of purpose! At the dedication Pastor Pablo asked us to write something about the before and after Chantelle was born, basically what she means to us I suppose, he only read out a snippet of what we wrote so I thought it would be perfect to share on this with you all.

"The Story of Marie-Chantelle Miracle McCrostie"

We were a happy couple before and we felt blessed, but something was missing. A child, that’s what was missing. We had faithfully decided to finish Andrew’s study before starting a family. God had blessed us in our faithfulness with friends, family support, money to pay for college, food on the table, what more could a couple need or want. The answer for us was simple, we wanted to have a child. With half a year left to go at college we made and intentional conscious effort to start a family.

Only to find out a year later that it was not likely that we would have children naturally, so we sort medical assistance through IVF. One of the doctors explained, after further research that Jossee’s tubes were blocked, and that the medical conclusion that IVF was indeed the only option for us to have children.

Having spent time doing IVF in Melbourne and then Brisbane, time had passed, in fact five years had passed and the likelihood of having children seemed very remote. A call to Canberra came to work with the young people of SNSW and the difficult and painful decision was made to postpone IVF until we had settled in Canberra. Questions were in our mind, “does God really want us to move now?” “How long will it take until we continue with IVF?”, “How long it would take to recover financially from the last IVF attempt?”.

Amidst all the change time seemed to be against us, finances seemed to be against us. There was some level of doubt that we would become parents. At this time, Jossee was given a moment of joy and encouragement, to be the first to hold her newborn nephew Olivier, but at the same time feeling that this may be the closest she would ever get to holding someone of her own bloodline.

After settling in Canberra , we felt it was time to start IVF again, on 10 November we met with a lovely IVF doctor who’s words to us before we walked out the door meant so much. Dr Armelin said “I want you to go home pretend your not on IVF, do your cycle, you never know your tubes might spasm and open at the right time and you might conceive naturally!”, we walked to our car feeling ironically a renewed sense of hope.

We say ironically, because on the 9^th of January 2009, just a few months later we were to find out that Jossee was 30 weeks pregnant. I remember receiving the phone call from Jossee, who had been told to get a blood test and then an ultra sound for a gallstone, that the blood test showed that she was pregnant and the next day we got an ultra sound that confirmed the great news! That day many prayers were answered, from friends and family around the world. God had heard our prayers and we can say confidentantly, as we recall the moments of despair, but also the demands of work, of moving and of life, that God’s will and timing is perfect!

Nine weeks later Marie-Chantelle Miracle McCrostie was born, joy was brought to our family and friends, grace was visible, our answer to many prayers was in our arms. Since that time to now we have seen God’s protection and care, more answers to prayer and much joy brought to our new little family as Chantelle has grown to be such an active, social, loving child. All we could ask of God, have answered our prayers powerfully and with much wisdom, is that she grow to be like Jesus. That we all would be graced with a miracle of discipling her to be all that she can be in Christ is our new prayer, it would seem consistent with the miracle blessing of her life, that she may grow to be a pure young lady, a voice for truth and mercy, a contributing member of her community and a person who brings God’s love into the world.

Thank you God for our child, she is yours, we will need your help more daily.

Love Andrew and Jossee

This is just the start of something that someone has been encouraging me to do for such a long time....