My Day

Attempting to teach my self - my instrumentation for the day

Victory!

Dinner

Ending the day with Rumikub

We were so amazed that Tamara could fit 11 pieces in her mouth. Mum didn't believe it was possible, but found she

could fit 10

The wrong side of Right

Whilst I was in America, I had the privilege of driving on the right (or the wrong depending on how you look at it) side of the road.

Aside from a very few times in 2008, my entire driving experience has been Down Under.

Along with the whole other-side-of-the-road thing there is also the other side of the car, and gear shift being in between the seats instead of on the steering wheel, and to turn on the windshield wipers you push the whole stick down rather then twisting it. Not to mention the different terms [boot (trunk) bonnet (hood) rear vision mirror (rear view mirror) blinkers (turn signal) etc] And the few different road rules.

So in America, I had fun doing things like 'turning right on red, yielding (instead of giving way), talking on the phone and driving (illegal for a red P plater* non P-platers have to use hands free), driving a car with a V8 engine (also illegal for a red P plater), and driving as fast as 120 kph. It took a bit of getting used to, remember the turn signal is on the left side of the steering wheel, and I had to keep reminding myself to look left and stay right, even so, I still went on the wrong side of the road a few times, those of you who drove with me very much probably experienced that.

Since being back in Australia I've had to get used to being back on the correct side of the road. Surprisingly I haven't ever accidentally gone to the right (wrong) side of the road, although I have turned on my windshield wipers instead of my blinkers. The first time I drove I couldn't even remember how to turn on the wind shield wipers when I first got into the car, but as soon as I made my first right turn, I remembered.

I must admit that driving on the left side of the road is a lot more natural to me, and takes a lot less thinking time, but I was glad to have the opportunity to drive on the wrong side of right.

*first year license - probationary driver usually 18 year olds)

Of airplanes and Odysseys

So it's happening again. The third time this year, but this is different, sooo different.

1. It's longer

2. I'm getting left behind

3. It's winter

4. Keaton and Hollie are coming

5. I'm going for a wedding

Remember Odysseys?

- Charity and I both starting our at the same time on the plane so that we can listen together

- Listening to the Novacam series on the train ride from L.A.

- Listening to them whilst packing Dad and Benji

- Staying up late with T last night whilst listening to one last night

- Listening to some on the plane ride home last year because my TV didn't work.

- And many more times when Odysseys were involved with Airplanes.

Unto the hills I lift my longing eyes whence comes my aid

My help is from the Lord the one who heav'n and earth has made

Your foot from stumbling he will never keep

He who preserves your life will never sleep

He who keeps Israel slumbers not nor sleeps by night or day

The Lord keeps you a shade on your right hand the Lord will stay

Throughout the day the sun shall never smite

Nor moon shall harm you in the hours of night

The Lord himself will your protector be from every ill

from every evil He will keep your soul securly still

Your daily going out and in your door

The Lord will keep both now and ever more

Psalm 121

Safe travels my family, see you in a month

My latest Australian job

It just happens to be the same as my first Australian job - babysitting the Glover kidos.

Differences:

- this time there are 4 kids (and it's Charley sleeping, not Josh)

- There were no fire plans shown to me (maybe Bethany doesn't know them in her renovated house :) )

- their bed times are later

- The parentals stayed out later (I think they are a bit more used to me now)

- There were hardly any instructions (it's nice to be familiar enough with them for the parents to feel comfortable enough to leave the children without much instruction)

Similarities:

- They went to bed without a fuss

- We played games then watched some of a movie

There have been plenty of times in between, but it's been awhile since the last time I babysat them. It was nice to do it once again. Those Glover kids are pretty grand. So...I'm looking forward to next week. :)

I love technology...

...always and forever

I'll never cease to be amazed:

I can send a message with the click of a button to the other side of the word, and they'll receive it in a matter of minutes.

I can talk on the phone to my family and friends that live in america

I can listen to a sermon in Australia on Monday, that was preached in Scotland on Sunday

...not as much as you you see, but I still love technology

always and forever!

Debi

I once met a girl named Elli,

From Germany did she come

she stayed and played, we ran all over town

and sure had a lot of fun

but then one day this Elli

To Germany did she go back

and I have missed her dearly

oh friend I hope you come back

-----------

Then one day a few years later

another girl did come

her name, this girl, is Debi

and Germany she is from

The second time I saw her

she with a hug did greet

it was so warm and friendly

an unexpected treat

So why I ask can't we

be more friendly like that

why do we have to take so long

until we can hug back

we have a mutual friend

This girl Debi and I

A family called the Wetzels

that I babysit from time time

7 months she will be here

and I hope to spend a lot of time

getting to know dear Debi

(and now I've finished the rhyme)

5 things that made my day

1. Reading 'The little mouse, the red ripe strawaberry, and the big hungry bear' at school

2. Playing leapfrog with the Wetzel boys

3. Naomi calling me cute for playing leapfrog with the Wetzels

4. Youth Bible Study

5. Chats with the Eckert boys on the car ride home

What has God been teaching me...?

What a wonderful question, one that should be asked much more among our Christians friends and family. How encouraging to hear how God is working in someones life, what new things God has been teaching them from His word, His preaching, His praise...

Anyways, maybe someone out there is wondering what God has been teaching me, or maybe it is just something I should write down, something I really should write down more often, to really think about, to be able to look back on, to thank. 

Joy: such a wonderful bless, a gift really, from God. Just knowing that it is well with my soul is enough to cause such great joy to me. Just being in the wonderful church that I am here in Frankston South is enough to cause such great joy. Just having the opportunity to spend time with fellow Christians several times a week is enough to cause great joy. 

And something that has been and needs to continue to be pounded into me is the great joy of heaven. In out Tuesday night meeting we have been listening to Ted Donnelly's sermon series on Heaven  (which I would GREATLY encourage you to listen to) for the second time. And it has been such a blessing to reread my notes, my applications, write new applications, and get things reinforced into my little brain. One point that really stood out to me (from the second sermon) is the fact that Heaven is being with Jesus, and we have the opportunity here on earth to spend time with Jesus, to spend time in a little bit of Heaven. If we don't spend time in heaven now, how can we after death? I was really challenged that I need to be spending time in heaven each and every day. It should be my #1 priority, first on the list. My day should not be complete without it, and I realise that, and I realise the great blessings I do receive when I do spend time in prayer and in God's word, in my little bit of heaven. Such a simple task, spend time with Jesus each day, such a great, GREAT blessing, such an amazing thing that God has granted for us to be able to spend time in heaven even when we are still here on earth. 

But learning isn't enough, it's one of those things that I need kept accountable to. So feel free to ask me: have you spent time in heaven today? It should be something that I have to almost be dragged away from because I can't imagine anything more to make my joy complete than to spend time each day with God.

Great joy - spend time in heaven

So what has God been teaching you?

Randomness

Inspired by the '25 random things about yourself' going around facebook, I decided to write my own list. I was never tagged, and I don't know if I would do it if I was tagged, plus I most likely have more than 25 random facts. 

I like randomeness. I love learning random facts about people and remembering the ones that count. I also like asking people random facts. I love having a conversation with a good friend and learning all those random things that either I should know about them and don't ( ie their favourite colour) or just learing the random stuff ( ie their ideal place to life)

So, random facts about Maria JoAnn Blackwood

1. I love middle names and wish they were used more often
2. I love reading, and buying books that I like, and giving books to people that I think they would like...I like books ( I read 100 last year and am hoping to beat that record by 1 this year) 
3. I enjoy blogging (writing on my own and reading others) and wish it was done more often
4.  I love strong coffee and while I prefer the real stuff over the instant when I am drinking it hot, I would rather use the instant than real for iced coffee.
5. I love snow and would prefer cold weather over hot most any day 
6. I've been teaching Sunday school for the past three years, and and glad to me learning so much about the bible - sometimes more than the kids I think
7. I recently started listening to several sermons a week via downloads on my zune from sermon audio 
8. I do a paper round - and I really enjoy it
9. I don't like sleep - it takes too much time (give me 6 hours and I'm good) 
10. I love star gazing, I LOVE STAR GAZING, I LOVE STAR GAZING!!! Especially out in the country where many shooting stars can be seen....and with a friend...and on a trampoline makes it all the better
11. I find life much easier with a routine/ schedule - if I can stick to it
12. I love horseback ridding, but rarely get to do it these days - how I miss living close to my grandparents and riding horses there. 
13. I have never broken a bone 
    
14. but I have many many scars on my knees and elbows 
15. I have been wanting to learn Japanese for sooo long and am finally getting the opportunity to 
16. In 6th grade I did a school report on Australia - not know at the time I would one day be living here
17. In December I am going to be in my first ever wedding - also the first of my siblings married!
18. I love singing psalms - so very much and often it brings me to tears of joy and/or sadness
19. I can play 3 musical instruments (the piano, guitar, and harmonica) and none of them very well. I wish I could play any and all of them better 
20. I love taking bike rides - especially early in the morning or late in the evening
21. I and 1/3 owner of a maroon '89Toyota Camry 
22. I love driving - cars, bikes, lawn mowers... etc
23. my favourite household chores are vacuuming, sweeping outdoors, and moping 
24. I love swimming in the oceans - especially when there are waves ( something that sometimes gets me in trouble) and no matter the season (winter never stopped a Blackwood from swiming) 
25. Dixons Creek is one of my most favourite places to go 
26. I love climbing trees/cliffs and jumping from high places ( especially when there is water below) and doing adventurous stuff - yet I am utterly terrified of roller coasters 
27. I love listening to music - especially in the car with all the windows down and loudly singing along with my siblings 
28. I love hearing people's testimonies
29. I cry when I am angry - a fact that is a great annoyance to me
30. I am very sentimental  
31. I would rather sleep on a couch, chair, or the floor than a bed. 
32. When I was in jr high I went to the cinemas twice wearing pajamas - right down to the fuzzy slippers and a teddy bear (only one of the two times) 
33.  I love cooking with children
34. I love long road trips
35. My least favourite food in the whole wide world is Velveeta cheese - it doesn't even deserve to be called cheese. I am very picky about my cheese 
36. I really don't like chocolate - unless it is 70% or darker and if it has coffee in it 
37. my favourite desert is trampoline chai tie latte ice cream. My favourite food is bagels any kind. And I had to go 2 years of my life without eating them because I had braces, and they are kind of hard to come by in Australia, so I hardly get them anymore, but every chance I have leaves me VERY excited! 
38. I love exploring with my siblings (especially Allen)
39. I once ate a chocolate covered cricket 
40. I love snakes and spiders fascinate me 
41. Most of my childhood nights were spent sleeping in my parents closet (only to be sent to my room half way through the night. Many sleepwalking incidents occurred at that time - including picking up barrettes and thinking the bathroom was my bedroom. My parents and older brothers liked to laugh at my sleeping/walking/talking habits. )
42. When I was younger most of my life was lived outside
43. I have probably had close to 50 pet cats in my lifetime (and could tell you the names of most every one of them)
44. I love stuffed animals and always have. Most of my childhood stuffed animals were named because of a word or part of a word found on their tags. I still have some of them. 
45. Tamara and I once tried to climb down a cliff only to get majorly stuck and finally get helped down by randoms 
46. To my great pleasure I once saw at least one member of the Jonathan Blakston family for more than 50 days in a row (and mostly without even trying)
47. My favourite job on a summer missions trip to Florida was taking the seeds out of rotten mangos. It was hot, and they were smelly, and there were tons of maggots in the barrels, and they were MAJORLY rotten. I did it with Addie and Oee, and what started out as disgusting turned into a supper fun (and still rather disgusting) rotten mango fight. 
48. Benjamin and I once spent nearly an hour collecting and lining up trolleys in a Wall-Mart car park
49. I eat the entire apple and all of the watermelon 
50. I am very glad to have moved to Australia

so there you have it 50 pieces of randomness about me. I could go on, but I better stop there , mostly likely it won't even get read all the way through as long as it is, but that's alright, I had fun writing it anways. :) 

The past several weeks, our family has had a wonderful thing - togetherness! Charity, Zachary, and Eleni came over here from America for about a month. Today is there last day, but the past several have been anything but boring. I've put links for a few photos, enjoy a look. 

They arrive 

Here are just a few things I've noticed that have been different since they have been here:

 We spend more time after meals just talking. 

There are always lots of people cleaning up the kitchen together

Our house is louder

Our room is messier 

We watch less movies and play more games

We go to the beach more often 

The beauty of a sunset 

Point Leo 

We travel a lot!

It has been a wonderful 4 weeks, and I praise God that he allowed us to be together for Christmas and several weeks as well. It's lovely!

But I know today will end, and tomorrow will come, and they will be gone. I do not look forward to the end of today. I love you dear siblings and almost sibling! And I will miss you incredible. I can't wait to see how God continues to use you all at Purdue. Keep in touch. See you later DV.

____________________________________________________________________

In other news: I got into the Early Childhood Education course at Tafe. I am doing it with a friend from church Hollie Cloherty. I am quite nervous about it, but it will be great to have a good Christian friend doing it with me. 

 

I've done it...

...I've updated!

and hopefully will continue to

Australia:

It's too hot to be Christmas, but with the tree out, and the stockings hanging above the fire, maybe we can fake the cold. I miss snow! 

Church:

Tomorrow is our (sort of annual) Thanksgiving service with Frankston and McKinnon. It's the first time it's been in Frankston, and our first joint service! Twill be exciting. They seem to enjoy it because we were asked to continue the tradition, even eating pumpkin as a sweet rather than a savory. 

Me:

I am still in the process of applying for the Diploma of Children's Services at TAFE. I have taken a test and done an interview as part of the application process. On Wednesday I am doing an observation day in a childcare centre. I am doing lots of babysitting every week, as well as my paper round. I am enjoying this short break from school to spend more time helping out families in the church, as well as neighbours. 

Future Events: 

I am looking forward to the arrival of Eleni, Zachary, and Charity in 3 weeks from today. Twill be grand to have our family together for Christmas. 

I am not looking forward to Thomas leaving in...I don't want to count the days, just enjoy him while he's still here. and he will be coming back. right?

Looking forward to camping with the Blakstons in January!!!!!!!!!!!! - so exciting, the stick and stones once again. 

Going to Tazzie in January! - what a lovely place

Well, this is a start. I will try to keep my updates often - although it could just be a phase ;)

the sad sound of silence

I spent the better part of the morning annoyed with my siblings for being so loud. I only wanted silence I tried to find a quiet place in our house to do school, I settled for the bathroom where I sat on the floor reading.

I spent the later part of the afternoon realizes that silence is a sad sound. Apart from dad I was the only one home, and I wish my siblings were here making noise after all.

I am glad I have siblings

Two years ago on this day (the 26th of January) Six members of the Blackwood family packed up belongings and moved half way around the world.

The BIG Adventure. That's what everyone said it would be. An adventure? Maybe, but the longer I am here, the less it seems like an Adventure, and more and more...it's just...my life.

Here are a few of my journal excerpts from our first few weeks here.

2006
January 28,
We landed and we all got off the aeroplane (as the Australians call it) We waited in line forever to go through security, then we went to the baggage claim. We each got a cart full and halled all 6 of them with out luggage. We manoeuvred to the airport doors. As we made out ways toward the doors, I realized that our long journey was over, and we had made it. All 6 of us and our 30 suitcases.
---------
When we walked out the doors, we found a group of people from the Australian RP churches standing together holding signs that said Blackwoods and Fishers. We received a very warm welcome. Everyone was sooooo nice to us! It was really great to see Mr. and Mrs. McEwen and Josh, Sarah, and Eleni.

Janurary 29
The birds that I heard were so unusual, but made some really neat sounds. It was nice to hear, but it reminded me that I am not in Indiana anymore.
----
after lunch Mr. McEwen drove us four kids to the beach, and we got to see a beautiful view of it from a far off, and then we walked down to the beach and felt the sand between our toes.

Janurary 31
Then we four kids walked down to the park. It was a nice walk, but the park was kinda boring, we mostly just sat around the pond, and scared all of the ducks into the pond. After about 15 minuteswe headed home... The walk was sorta scary, because most Australians don't use turn signals, so there were several times when we had to stop suddenly so as not to walk in of speeding cars [that was probably only because we didn't know how roundabouts worked.]

February 4,
we three younger kids and mom got ready to go to the beach for the first time. ...I was the first Blackwood from our family to set foot in Australian water.

February 5
Dad did a childrens sermon. He talked about shoes. He was naming differnet kinds of shoes, but they have different names for all the ones that he named such as: flip-flops (thongs) mud boots (gum boots), dress shoes (formal wear), water shoes (sand shoes), and tennis shoes (sport shoes or something like that [runners])

February 6
We moved Charity to our room and Benjamin to Charitys room

February 11
I think that we are finally starting to feel like this is our home. It isn't a vacation anymore. This is real, this is our life.

New Year resolutions

Okay, enough with 3 line posts.

As this time of year rolls around, we all seem to make some sort of New Year's resolutions.

Matthew Glover showed me The 70 resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Here are a few that I really liked. If only we could all resolve to do these.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.

To read the entire list go here

I found them very helpful, if only I could, by God's grace resolve to do all those and more.

Any New Years resolutions from anyone else?

Happy New Year

Happy New year everyone!

From Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And may God bless you all in the year to come

I almost jumped out of my eyes when I saw that he was 6'5"
Tamara

What's the baby for?

Mummy mummy look over there
I see a barn so crowded why?
There are heaps of animals everywhere
Look in the middle there's a baby I spy

Animals because it's where they belong
But people mummy? They shouldn't be there
The mummy and daddy and baby seem wrong
Why are they there, doesn't anyone care?

Mummy mummy, what's the baby for?
Why is he sleeping in a box not a bed
And the box is just sitting on the floor
not even a pillow for his head

Mummy mummy, please tell me why he's there
Mummy don't you know?
Mummy don't you care?
Oh Mummy if you do please tell me so

-------------------------------------------

Many years later when I am not at home
My mother now lives far away
I call up my mother on the phone
I've something to tell her, something I must say

Mother mother, the baby is God's son
God loves us so much He sent Him to die
To take away the sins of everyone
No mother, now do you see why?

I have found out why the baby is there
I care mother, and I want you to care

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

my how things change

Those of you who read my blog way back in the day would realize how much my posting has changed. Something happened, I posted, sometimes I documented it with photos

Nowadays, something happens, Charity posts

I sit, not knowing what to post. I could ramble on about how two days ago there was the biggest thunderstorm I have every seen in Frankston (also the only one) and how we silly American kids ran down the streets in our bathers dancing, singing, playing in the rain. I could even show documents of it

I could go on about how mums results came back from her MRI and they were clear. No trace of anything. So we as a family went and celebrated at Yoyogies

Or even about how Charity and I just had this conversation
Charity *cutting up tomatoes* :Uggg, don't you hate it when all the guts fall out
Me: I know, the guts are the best part

or even comment about a very funny thing I remembered today. It only took me a week and 25 reasons to convince the Glovers that I wanted to give James my gameboy. After all its a game boy not a game girl :)

Instead I sit here, not knowing what to post, not knowing what to say, wondering why on earth my posts change so much since I first had my blog.

2 years

I know you've heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You've heard about a place called home
but they're doesn't seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
and drift off to a distant dream
When love takes you in
and everything changes
a miracle starts with the beat of a heart
when love takes you home
and says you belong here
the loneliness ends and a new life begins
when love takes you in
and somewhere while you're sleeping
someone else is dreaming too
and counting down the days until
they hold you close and say 'I love you'
and like the rain that falls into the sea
in a moment what has been will be lost in what will be
when love takes you in
Everything changes
a miracle starts
with the beat of a heart
and this love will never let you go
there is nothing that could ever cause this lose it's hold.
when love takes you in
everything changes
a miracle starts with the beat of a heart
when love takes you home
and says you belong here
the loneliness ends
and a new life begins
when love takes you in
it takes you in for good
when love takes you in

They loved us before they met us
They welcomed us in instantly - no questions asked

Everyone said two years will go by fast enough
Everyone said see you in two years
Everyone said when the time comes you leave you won't want to
Two years
No one really believed it. No one that is, except 3 innocent girls...
2 years, then you can go home
that's what we clung to
then...
We were:
wanted
needed
loved
...and '2 years' faded away to 'until God calls us elsewhere'
2 years have gone so quickly
I won't see you...yet
The time never came, I don't want it to
Who knows what will happen in the next 2 years....

I am...
appriciated
loved
wanted
needed

Romans 1:11-12
For I long to see you... that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:7
For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.


Galatians 5:13b
but through love serve one another.

Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.

Using a brand new sponge is like...

- opening a new tube of lip gloss
- writing in a brand new journal
- putting in a brand new contact
- opening a brand new sponge?
- Getting a new contact

I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE