Swords

Before the fateful day when Jesse started to read The Ranger's Apprentice and Max could still think about other things he had a medieval fad - inspired of course by the big boys ball.

Many hours were spent sanding a bit of pine he found in the wood pile to make the perfect - and actually quite sharp - sword.

He just squeezed in a bit of sword fighting before the dream was over.

Now he is looking for the sword to give to Samuel and plans for a 'really good bow' are in the wings.

Two balls

Alec and Tom have been to two balls - the YSA ball at church and the Abbey Festival Medieval Masqued Ball.

The church ball was easy - suits with patterned shirts.

The Medieval ball needed costumes - Alec had arranged go before Tom got home - he was going with friends - Samantha, Anastasia and David - Samantha and Anastasia made the costumes - bless them.

I made Tom's costume - clearly Samantha and Anastasia cared more - but Tom looked good anyway.

Apparently they had a great time - even without the complimentary mulled wine offered with the ticket.

There's a YSA dance coming up in September - Alec and Anastasia are ward YSA reps and on the dance committee - the theme is Medieval. Which sounds good because the boys have costumes - but Jesse will be YSA by then and we'll need to get out the sewing machine again.

FHE

Family home evening this week was a puzzle and some scripture reading - and Rocky Road for dessert. (We did the puzzle on the not-flat lounge table for an extra degree of diffculty.)

The deal was that everyone could have one piece of rocky road before the puzzle and one piece when it was finished. It was harder than anticipated and didn't get finished till the next day - and one piece was missing. I was accused of hiding it on purpose so no-one could have more Rocky Road until Louisa found it the next day - under the mat.

Tom has been home for a month and a half now and we still haven't had a regular FHE with him - he was in Toowoomba working with Lee this week.

But we are glad to have him home - Louisa said that she has noticed that since Tom has been home Alec has not been a 'grumpy goose' when he gets home from work - just a 'slightly grumpy goose.'

The Ranger's Apprentice

While the big boys watched and cheered* through the State of Origin, Jesse, Louisa and Max lay on my bed while Jesse read a couple of chapters from The Ranger's Apprentice.

After Jesse and Louisa had gone to bed and Max had watched a bit of football, Max came back into my bed with a long face and sad eyes. "Mum, can I talk to you?"

"Yep, climb up here with me."

"I have a really big problem." (Max was almost teary at this point)

"Mmmm"

"Ever since Jesse read me that first chapter of Ranger's Apprentice, I can't think of anything else. I try to do writing in school but all I can think about is Ranger's Apprentice, I try to do maths but I just can't stop thinking about Ranger's Apprentice."

"Oh."

"It's like my mind is full of Ranger's Apprentice and I can't do anything else." (There was genuine worry in his voice for this alarming state of affairs.)

So we did a bit of writing in his journal about Ranger's Apprentice and he felt a little better - but there are eight books in the series with number nine due in November - this could go on for a while.

*Oops - Roger just told me that was not cheering I heard - that was complaining at the ref - NSW won.

It's not over

Max was carrying on about something - can't remember what - and Alec said 'Max don't you know it's not over till the fat lady sings.'

Max opened his mouth - said 'well' - stopped -looked panicked - recovered - finished by saying 'Louisa, you haven't sung yet' - and looked relieved that he had dodged that bullet.

Clearly he was about to say Mum or Jesse but realised in the nick of time that only trouble could come from that and saved the day.

I'd be offended if his face wasn't so funny.

The Giver

Jesse, Roger and I have recently read The Giver by Lois Lowry. We'll be buying and reading the rest of the trilogy. In the meantime we are urging Peet to hurry up and read it so we can pass it on to the rest of the family. It's an insightful and thought provoking - and short - book. We spend our days now thinking about choices and freedoms and safety and balance. And colour. We look at green grass (which is everywhere here at the moment) or make a mistake or listen to someone really feeling sad or happy and breathe a sigh of relief and gratitude that God has made each of us sovereign over our thoughts and choices.

What Max really really wants

Max just asked 'do you know what I really really want to find? A friend.'

A tender little heart resides in that sassy boy.

Since Anastassia left Max has struggled to find his place. He is well established as the fight fixer. When he was sick the girls in his group told Mathilda that they needed Max to solve their fights. But Max is short of a bosom buddy.

Oscar (who is five) told his Mum that Max is his best friend. And the girls in the middle group love Max to death and want to play with him all the time.

But there is still no one to be a special friend. Mathilda talked to me this very afternoon about the problem. She is enduringly insightful and endlessly caring. Maris suggested Melou and Mya as possible friends - we'll invite them to play next term.

Max may be short of a soul mate - but he is not short of people who love him - at home or at school.

Jesse is taking him to bed to read some more.