Motivation!!

Last year at some point my Dad, Tamara, and I started race walking together a couple times a week. For me I enjoyed it, but I always wanted to go faster because the faster you go the faster you finish. 

So then I took up running. I've heard that the more you run, eventually your body craves running, and you enjoy getting up early and going for a run. Some might even get excited about it. Well...I am far from that point. I'm currently at the point that I know that I should go running because it is good for me, but I don't relish it. So, I had to find a good way to motivate myself. 

So...I started listening to audio books when I exercise. I signed up for Christian Audio's free audio book of the month: http://christianaudio.com/free

So 2 mornings a week, I plug in my headphones, and go out for a run listening to my book. 3 mornings a week I go out with my sister and we do our Pull-up/Push-up/Sit-up workout, and one day we do a skipping workout, and the day left is the Lord's Day, our day of rest. 

It's been a pretty great motivator. I get excited to find out what is going to happen next in the book, or the story. 

Today, I actually got excited about my run. I rode my bike down to the beach, went for a 40 minute run, then swam out in the bay to the buoy and biked home in my wet clothes, which kept me cool. It was actually really lovely. 

"Auntie Auntie"

That one word is the most precious thing I've ever heard my niece say. Since moving to Australia we've tried to make the transition from Aunt (ant) to Aunt (ont) or Auntie. So when my precious little 18month old niece, Felicity was visiting us here in Australia, she learned all of our names. Nanna (my mum - she learned to say this first), Granda (my Dad), Auntie (no differentiation between me and my sister Tamara) and Uncle (my younger brother Benjamin). It was pretty special for us, and also very special when she went back home and called her other Aunts and Uncles "Auntie" & "Uncle" We skyped her a few days after she'd been home and my brother and sister-in-law said that she'd been asking for Auntie ever since she'd been home.

The love in my heart for this sweet little girl is simply overflowing. A very special thing happened on Wednesday November 4th, when the love in my heart for
my niece(s) double when my second niece Elanor Louise was born. What a beautiful and precious little child. And I long for the November day when I can hold her in my arms. It's a very special thing being an Auntie. A very special thing indeed!

"Children are a heritage from the Lord,offspring a reward from him.Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.They will not be put to shame" 

- Psalm 127:3-5

How the free sample lady made my day

I started a course at the Reformed Theological College this year, doing a bachelor of Christian Studies. I do one subject on campus, and two online through distance. Since the college is in Geelong, and my Wednesday class starts at 9am, it makes for an early morning. The alarm goes off at 4:30 and I'm out the door by 5 to make the 5:17 Frankston train.
The Frankston train provides a great time to eat my take with me brekky and to read my bible.
This one particular morning I made it to Southern cross and I was freeeeezing. Rather than buy a coffee (my sister Tamara &I are trying to do a year of just drinking water) I brought my travel mug and asked the nice man at cafe vellunto for some hot water. As I walked past woolies (southern cross has everything!) I thought I'd stop in and see if there were any good deals on hot muffins or something. I saw Uncle Tobys oats in a cup, just add hot water for $2.20. I pondered it, but decided my hot water would do. As I was going down the escalator toward my train I saw some ladies in red handing something out. I walked over and got not one but 2 free Uncle Tobys oat cups. Since I already had my hot water, I added some mixed it up, and hopped on the train to enjoy some nice hot oats while watching the sun rise over the city. I guess I already have next weeks brekky planned.

Fortnightly on Sabbath afternoon, the young people of our congregation get together for what we call METY - mutual encouragement time for Youth. The hope is not that we will fortnightly mutually encourage one another in the LORD, but that the more we do it 'formally' the more it will be a habit to talk to one another about the things that God is teaching us from His Word.

A couple of months ago Nathan Bingham encouraged us to send a text to each other from something we've read in our personal devotions to encourage or challenge one another.

So this morning in my personal devotions, I was very challenged, and I wanted to share it. It was too much to fit in a (or even 10) texts, so here is me sharing how I was challenged.

Although this is primarily to my peers. To young people that God loves, I hope it bring encouragement and challenge to all who read it.

I'm reading through II Chronicles, and this morning I read Chapter 10. It is about Rehoboam, Solomon's son. He had just become King in Israel, and the Israelites asked him to life the burden that Solomon had put on them. So Rehoboam sought advice which Andrew Stewart says "This was a good thing to do because no one is so wise that he or she does not need advice" (A House of Prayer, the message of II Chronicles simply explained). He asked the wise elders (called elders because of their years of accumulated experience) and they said :If you will be kind to these people and always please them and give them a favourable answer than they will happily serve you" and he asked the young men, his friends, who basically said "tell them 'you thought Dad was hard, I'll be even harder on you. Dad used whips, I'll use scorpions'"

Rehoboam took the young mens advice, and because of that, the Kingdom divided. Forever a civil war between Israel and Judah. They separated themselves from Jerusalem, and the temple, and the worship of Jehovah.

I was VERY challenged, how much more importance do I put on the advice of m friends than to the advice of those older and wiser than me, especially my parents. So often I think we as youth would rather listen to each other than out parents, so I challenge you as I hope you will challenge em to think, "I don't know everything" "I don't know what is best for my life" "My parents do love and care for me which is why they have rules and set boundaries"

In his commentary, a House of Prayer, Andrew Stewart answers the question, "how can we avoid make the same mistakes [as Rehoboam]

Firstly by taking heed to God's Word when we hear it. Read your bible every day, come to church each week with your bible, eager to follow the preachers sermon.

Secondly make our plans subject to God's overriding plans. Pray before we make plans.

Thirdly, seek out those who can give us godly advice. Do we want flattery or faithfulness from a friend Are we willing to listen to advice from older people even when they may say something we don't want to hear

Forthly, make it a priority to pursue what the LORD wants.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

So, let's give good advice to each other; let's pray with and for one another; let's talk to older and wiser people in the church when we have question about things in our lives; let's talk to our parents and take their advice, they love us, and care for us; and we owe it to them as the ones who have raised us, taught us about the bible, who live their lives sacrificing for us, let's listen to God as He speaks to us in and through His Word, our Minister, Bible school Teachers, those older wiser Godly people what have been young men and women, who have good life experience, and who live Godly lives.

Let's not fall into the same sin as Rehoboam, but rather, learn from his mistakes, and turn to God.

Not all Magpie fans are mean

This is a truth that mum and I discovered whilst taking a walk yesterday evening.

On our way home from the video store, we happened to see this poor little baby magpie just sitting in the middle of the road. A HUGE truck was coming down the street, and I thought 'That's the end for the poor magpie' but surprisingly, the driver actually saw the little bird and stopped for it and honked. When it still didn't move, the passenger rolled down his window and asked Mum and I "Where is it"

"It's right in the middle so you should be fine. Very cautiously the truck began to move forward, just when it did the magpie headed towards the other side of the road, right under the trucks tire. the truck passed and turned into the next street. I thought surely there would be smashed 'pie on the road, but there was the little guy slowly making it's way to the other side. Once traffic cleared I crossed the road, and rescued the little bird. Now I don't really like magpies (except for their beautiful call [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXBuxN1LwFs&feature=related] which always reminds me of my first morning in Australia.) they're huge, and annoying, and they swoop you, but as soon as I felt his soft fluffy baby feathers, and felt his feet grip me, I couldn't just let him stay and possible get run over, he couldn't even fly. So I scooped him in my arms and carried him with me. Less than half a block later, the truck driver came running after me.

"Do you still have him?" He asked

I told him I did

"Can you take a photo of me with him? See, I'm a 'pies (Magpie, Collingwood footy team ) fan."

I told him that even though I was a Cats (Geelong footy team) I would take it.

So I took the photo, of him holding the baby magpie, then he took a close up of it in my hand.

"He's a cute little guy isn't he?"

As we started to walk away, he asked if I was going to take care of him. I told him I would.

So I brought it home, showed it to the family. Dad told me I had to put it outside right that instant! So I put him in the grass, and gave him some worms, but he didn't eat them. Benjamin said I needed to chew them up first.

He's lasted a day now. I named him 'Lil Guy, and apparently magpies are very intelligent, and can learn to talk. I'm trying to get him to say 'Go cats' :) A mother magpie that lives in our yard, after 20 hours of just staring at him, finally adopted him, and has been feeding him, so hopefully he'll live, and learn to fly.

Happy Fathers Day!

10 things I'm glad my Father taught me (in no particular order) some of these are not exclusive to my Father - but hey, it's Fathers Day

So here they are: Dad, thanks for teaching me:

1. How to drive

2. To use a hammer properly

3. The names of tools

4. How to change a tyre

5. How to do personal devotion

6. The importance of words

7. About God, from His Word

8. how to plait

9. how to ride a bike

10. To answer the question, "What was the sermon about" on Sunday afternoons over lunch.

I love you Dad, happy Father's Day!

The Terminal

(somewhere between time and date zones)

So yeah, approximately 45 and a half hours ago, Benjamin, Tamara, and I left our front door in Frankston hoping to arrive at my grandparents door in Indianapolis 24 or so hours later...little did we know that instead we'd be
....
.......
..........
STUCK! In the Dallas Fort Worth Terminal

We had a lovely drive up to the airport. Nathan was kind enough to let me drive. Yummy bagel sandwiches, fruit, and Bingham coffee made for an excellent Brekky. We sang psalm 121, and Nathan prayed for our flight. We were dropped off at in Domestic Departures, and Benjamin said our goodbyes.
We then walked for 5 kilometers to where our check in actually was. It was nice to get in some physical activity before our LOOOOOOONG flight. So, once we were at our gate I did some skipping (or jump roping as Americans would say) until it was time to board. Going to America and they're gonna get ma-a-aried. The flight to Sydney was non eventful. We had second brekfasts (we stored our fruit, muffin, and juice away for later. Airplane coffe is not nearly as nice as Bingham coffee). I love going from a rainy ground to above the ground, to through the dark clouds to : The sun is shining, the tank is clean, and the skies are blue. I just want to go jump on the clouds! Once we made it to Sydney we had plenty of time to just mess around. So we went to the electronics store and played video games. Skipping in the Sydney International Airport. Having a D&M (literally a drink and a muffin), walking the hallway working on verses, bouncing my smiley ball. Benjamin even decided to do some skipping and running before our flight.
So we boarded, and thinking back now, it seems like that was weeks ago, so much has happened since then. But we were sitting in row 53 seats A and B. I was at the window, Benj in the middle, and a nice American guy on the isle. As we told Nathan on the way up "We don't go to the cinemas, we just fly on airplanes" And that's what I did. Between writing in my journal, reading my book, eating airplane food, sleeping, and gazing out the window, movies are a pretty good way to pass the time. One of my favourite things about the flight across the world is that you always get to see a sunset no matter what time you leave. And sunsets are always beautiful from the air! It's only 4:15 and already it's nearly dark because we're running away from the sun. Flying is too easy. We just jump on a plane and expect it to fly 13, 804 kilometers and poof - we're on the other side of the world in only 15 hours! WE'RE SITTING IN A CHAIR IN THE SKY!!!! So yeah, thank the LORD for technology, and for safety in traveling. That's one of the reasons I like to sit near a window so I can look out the window and see the sea below me, to remind myself that I am actually in the sky. I wonder what stars I can see when I look outside. It's beautiful. The stark contrast of the plane wing against the star filled sky, and the white clouds against the dark ocean. We were making good time because we had favourable winds, scheduled to arrive in Dallas an hour ahead of schedule. Until....it became evident that there were thunder storms and hail over Dallas. You can only have so much fuel on a plane, so we couldn't fly forever so we made a stop in Huston to fill up and wait for the storm to pass. At least I was able to sleep while we were on the ground. We could be flying through the air right now, but we're not, we're sitting in Huston Texas. IF I didn't look my window I wouldn't know the difference, it feels the same. At this rate it doesn't look like we'll make our flight, oh well, all in God's hands. So eventually the storms cleared, and up and away we went on to Huston. It's amazing how flat the buildings look from the air. And such blue swimming pools, tons of them! Oh look, there's Wal-Mart! So we landed, and everywhere you looked, there we're queues of dozens of planes just waiting to fly out. Hundreds of flights were delayed and even cancelled. As we sat on our plane, waiting to get to a gate I thought: Our flight is now flying through the air somewhere. Only one problem....we're not on it! After we made our way through customs though (Advantages of being dual citizens - you always get the short lines), and collected our luggage, and 'Look - our flight has been delayed for 3 hours, we might just make it!" So we checked our bags, and went to our gate. We waited right up until 7 O O, when our flight was scheduled to leave, and...it was cancelled. I got all freshened up and everything. So we had to go get in line at the gate
'No, you have to go to the service counter'
walk, walk walk
'Where is the service counter?"
'Just past that green exit sign'
Sign on revolving doors 'Once you exit, you may not re-enter without going through security. Security closes as 9:45'
'We'll be out way before that'
through the doors and up to the service counter
'You have to go to counter 20'
walk, walk walk
See the beginning of the queue 'Look at the queue!'
Walk a little further
'OH MY LANTA! Look at the END of the queue!!!'
wait, wait, wait. Wait some more. Talk to nice Asian family in front of us. Waiting, more waiting. Oh look, we've moved a foot (of course we have to talk in feet, inches, ounces, and quart) only 5,279 feet to go.
Waiting some more.
'We should ring Dad'
I wait in the queue, Benjamin goes to find a phone. Benjamin comes back
'I only have 10 cents'
'I only have dollars'
We wait some more.

‘I’ll sit with the bags, you stand in the queue’

Benjamin makes a friend

‘Can I borrow your phone?’

Nice man with phone lets us ring Dad.
Benjamin makes another friend

“Where are you headed?”

‘Indianapolis’

‘Us too!’

We wait some more. We trade places. I stand in the queue, he sits with the bags

2,140 feet later. Dad rings back.

‘I think this if for you’

I answer, no response. He rings again

‘I heard you and Benjamin’ that wasn’t Benjamin, it was the nice phone man.

‘I couldn’t hear you’

‘You should just try to get a hotel and fly out tomorrow morning’

Nice man with the phone finally gets a hold of the service desk, books a flight. He’s outa there

3 hours and 25 minutes later, we’re 2 people from the front. Nice Asian man gives us Japanese dried seaweed and sponge cake. Finally our turn

We wait some more

‘I can only get you a flight through Atlanta tomorrow afternoon’

Nice Asian man feels sorry that we have to stay in the airport an extra day and gives us more food. We stand with our Indy traveling companion and ask what flight he’s getting. Nothing. We tell ticket lady to try our flight. He gets on. She tells us if we get go through security we can get cots (My Australian brain thinks – why would they have cots to sleep in. Oh, she means stretchers J ) to sleep on and blankets.

We were worried that we wouldn’t be able to go through security until the morning. But thankfully they are still opened, even though it’s after 12 and they were supposed to close before 10. We introduce ourselves to our New Friend. His name is Cameron. Once we went through, we decide we might as well go to our gate, thinking gate C wouldn’t be the only gate with cots, surely E would have them too. We got on the skylink, and rode to gate E. It was very empty, and no cots, so we went back on the skylink to gate C, and there were two men driving a car full of cots! We chased him down, but when he stopped he said he had to go to C21 where he would be dropping off the cots We followed him down to C21 and got 3 cots. We found a place with power and set up camp. It was pretty nice if I do say so myself. We made another friend, Courtney, she paid for us to get internet since our Australian cards wouldn’t work. Then a nice lady came by with blankets. Talk about comfort. We brushed our teeth, got ready for bed, and suddenly I wasn’t very tired. So I went for a LONG walk through the terminal came back and decided to try to sleep. Benjamin was glad that I actually took my eye mask, and his (he wanted to leave it behind) from the plane. I put an odyssey on to drown out the noise of the loud speaker telling us about our liquids ‘Remember the 3, 1, 1 rule’ and ‘DFW is a non smoking facility’ I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to at the end of the Odyssey, and thought for a second I was in my bed in Frankston, until I realized something was over my eyes, then it all came back to me. I actually slept pretty well. From 2AM to 9:30AM, and I really only woke up 3 times. I got a bit cold and was glad for my blanket, but it was better than sleeping on a plane, at least we got to stretch out.

So now, we just wait. Our flight still says ‘On time’ to leave, so Lord Willing, we’ll be in Indianapolis tonight.

Note: The random italic phrases are things I wrote in my journal while in the air.

Sorry this is so long. With not a whole lot to do at the airport, you can only do some much reading and skipping, I rambled a bit.

Fullness of Joy

I’m out on the water, attempting to catch a wave. I look towards the shore and see my Father and Uncle coming down the stairs. Excitedly I wait until they are close and they can look out to see me try to catch a wave. Here one comes, I try. I ride it in for a while, but soon I fall off my board. That would have been a good one, but I missed it. I look again for another wave; I want them to see how much I’ve improved from that morning. I see them getting closer to my Mother and Aunt and I wait for another wave. The next time I look towards the shore I see the greeting of my parents and Uncle and Aunt. Each time I look they’re still hugging. Then....I realise, I paddle harder, no longer caring about the waves, just wanting to get to shore, and yet, not wanting to hear the news that I think will be waiting for me. I swim harder, and then run through the water, and finally, I’m there. I stand back, not wanting to hear it, not wanting to hear the news we’d been dreading. Tears sting my eyes but I blink them back furiously, thinking that somehow if I don’t cry, maybe I can stop this thing from happening. As I walk closer, my father looks towards me, his eyes red from crying. He says nothing, so I timidly ask “Grandpa died?” he just nods and tears fill his eyes. I can’t stop the tears now. All the adults step back and look at me. They tell me the details; he died about midnight, some family was with him, He is in no more pain. They also tell me not to tell the other children, they’ll tell them first. So I pick up my surfboard, and all else I can carry and walk back towards the car park. I have to look presentable because I’m not the one to tell my cousins and siblings, but I know that if they see me cry they’ll know. So I don’t talk to them much because all I want to do is cry with them. So I wait. The parents come and tell them and it’s like we don’t know what to do now. I hug my cousin and we cry a little. Within just a couple of hours it’s on facebook. My dad reads out the lovely things my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings have written. On the way home the memories are shared. My mum and her brother and sister-in-law especially remember the good times. How could such a wonderfully fun day end in such a hard sad way? I don’t know who first mentioned it, maybe my uncle ‘Let’s pray together’ so that even we all sit around the lounge room and we go around and pray for one another and the rest of the Coles, and we weep together. There wasn’t a dry eye left in the room, and what a wonderful time it was. We sing psalm 16 together ‘my glory rejoices my heart is made glad. And also my flesh will live safely at ease. For You’ll not abandon my soul to the grave, Your Godly on you will preserve from decay. Life’s path You will show me full joy is with You, Your right hand holds pleasures for me evermore’. On just the day before I prayed and asked God that he might keep Grandpa alive just a few days longer, just until my mum and Uncle get back to America, but he knew better. I am so thankful that my mum and my Uncle and his family were able to be with us. I’m glad we could share memories together, I’m glad we could weep together. And now, as my Grandfather is in the presence of His Lord, he truly has fullness of joy.

Finding the time

Since Monday morning I have had to step into the roll of

Mother, Teacher, Sister, Student all at the same time.

I am so glad that my mother is able, for three weeks, to visit her Father in America who isn't doing especially well, health wise.

This also means she is able to see my siblings who live on the other side of the world.

But it's not an easy act to follow. I am also so thankful for Dad, Tamara, and Benjamin who are maybe a bit more willing to help out with the Mother over the ocean blue.

So I continue to be a student - I started a course online through Australia Open Universities, doing a Bachelor of Education (Primary) course through Curtin University

I continue to be a sister/daughter and do my responsibilities of being a part of this family

I step into the roll of teacher as I, along with Tania (a homeschooling mum in our church) attempt to teach mums music class at homeschool group.

I also take up the responsibilites that Mother left behind, cleaning, cooking, washing, and keeping the home moving along.

So for the next 16 days I will do my role cheerfully as unto the Lord and not to men.

but Mother, come back soon.

Ladies Coffee

I just enjoyed a lovely LOVELY evening at Ladies Coffee with Julie, Tania, Norma, Louise, Mum, and Tamara. The joys of fellowshipping with fell Christian women until 11pm. :)

I love what we can learn from the older Christian ladies, never in any other setting would you find a place where young ladies could associate with the older ladies in such a personal way.

I love coming away from ladies coffee and ladies bible study feeling so encouraged and uplifted, and like I've learnt so much. I wish I would take more opportunites to talk to the older people from church. I love hearing about their lives, and their younger days, and the wisdom they can give me.

I thank God for such a lovely group of women in our church, who are willing to spend time with me, and talk to me, and interacts with me, and mentor me, and show such love to me. The fact that the older women consider it a blessing when I talk to them is such an encouragement to me! Isn't God good, to place us just where were are surrounded by just the people he wants us to be, whom He's placed in just the place they are for such a specific reason.

I could go on and on about what a lovely time I had because it was such a lovely time, I had to post about it somewhere. But now I'll end, and send this post into the void, hoping some young girl somewhere will read it, and take opportunity to interact with the older women that God has placed in her life, and to remind myself to take advantage of those opportunites whenever possible.

Twice Freed

Onesimus - what an amazing Story of Gods Work in One's life

Twice Freed is a Historical Novel by Patricia St. John about Onesimus, a runaway slave, who, through the teaching of the Apostle Paul, came to know Christ as His Savior and Lord, freeing him from sin. He later returned to his master Philemon (whom Paul wrote a letter to - the book of Philemon in the Bible) along with a letter from Paul saying that all the wrongs Onesimus had committed were to be put on Paul's Accont, and asking Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ, freed from his phsical slavery.

We've so much to learn from the people in the bible. My brother recently said he "Thinks it's pretty amazing how the bible is over 5000 (?) years old, and yet still applies to our lives today." Indeed it is. Onesimus knew the true reality of being a slave to sin and to a master, and he was freed from both, experiencing true freedom in Christ.

And so I am thinkful:
- that I am freed from sin, by the blood of Christ Jesus my Savior
- for parents who've taught me the truths of the bible all my life
- that no matter how many times I read the bible, I still find new truths
- for good friends who lend and reccomend books for me to read
- for Fellowship in the Gospel

Page CXVI

Page CXVI is a music group that are trying to make hymns more accessible and well known.

Their name comes from: Their copy of C.S. Lewis' book The magicians Nephew has on page 116 Aslan, singing the world into existence.

Check out their website where you can preview their first album Hymns. (April 27th to May 4th)

I really enjoy their music and would especially recommend their song Joy from their first album.

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?