Feel Kinda 'Under'

No I don't mean 'down under' cos that's where I live - just kinda sad and disappointed in some ways that my 91yr old mum has to go through hysterectomy surgery in a couple weeks time.  I will be traveling to Auckland the day before her surgery to be with her and drive her to the hospital. I guess its just life isn't it but I have a feeling this might have consequences for her down the track a bit.  Will have to wait and see the results of the surgery and biopsy first though so I'd better not get too much ahead of myself.

As for life this past week - it's been busy. Saturday E18 grand-daughter hosted a 1 yr old party for her puppy. This is the first time I've heard of this kind of thing but then that's probably not unusual as we don't have a dog but it turned out really well and all the little doggie guests behaved really well. Then in the evening looked after the two littlest grandsons while their mum and dad went to a school fund-raiser Trivia night. It was a dress up affair - something beginning with 'B'.  They went as batman and batwoman. Looked great too!

About all for now - need something to pull me out of the doldrums - perhaps bible study in the morning will do it. I pray so!

Blessings!

Texas the birthday girl

Pepsi

Watching: Kim's Picks- Drawing Heaven

Saw this on facebook this morning - its incredible - have a  look (and thanks Kat for sharing it)

Blessings!


TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Drawing Heaven

Inspiration

In Christ alone my hope is found


He is my light, my strength, my song


This Cornerstone, this solid ground


Firm through the fiercest drought and storm


What heights of love, what depths of peace


When fears are stilled, when strivings cease


My Comforter, my All in All


Here in the love of Christ I stand




In Christ alone, who took on flesh


Fullness of God in helpless babe


This gift of love and righteousness


Scorned by the ones He came to save


‘Til on that cross as Jesus died


The wrath of God was satisfied


For every sin on Him was laid


Here in the death of Christ I live



There in the ground His body lay


Light of the world by darkness slain


Then bursting forth in glorious Day


Up from the grave He rose again


And as He stands in victory


Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me


For I am His and He is mine


Bought with the precious blood of Christ




No guilt in life, no fear in death


This is the power of Christ in me


From life’s first cry to final breath


Jesus commands my destiny


No power of hell, no scheme of man


Can ever pluck me from His hand


‘til He returns or calls me home


Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand


Stuart Townend


(to see and hear this clip go here )

Family

Have had disturbing news in the past couple of days.  My 91 year old Mum has been diagnosed with cancer of the uterus and is having a hysterectomy soon.  I will need to go to be with her so have booked my flight to NZ but no return flight at this time.  I feel sad that a lady of her age needs to go through this trauma but she feels slightly relieved that at least something will be done. She has been in a lot of pain recently and I guess for her, the surgery at least will be a release from that.

Because she lives in a 2 storey townhouse, she is not allowed to go straight home after her release from the hospital but will need to go to some kind of rehabilitation facility.  It will be good to be there with her while she goes through this.

We never know just what life will throw at us do we?  I find it difficult to understand how so many people can live without a strong faith in God - sometimes that's about all we can cling to.  His daily presence assures us that we are loved and cared for by him, and the Holy Spirit's guidance will take us through these tough times with a hope for the future. I pray He will keep me strong in the future and for wisdom and patience in the days that lie ahead.

Blessings!

Scrapbooking

Just a few pages from a scrapbook I've recently finished for DH's youngest brother and new wife.

AMY - Grand-daughter's baptism

Things to think about

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I am a Healer?


If you never had to pray, How would you know that I am a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, How could you call yourself an overcomer?


If you never felt sadness, How would you know that I am a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, How would you know that I am a forgiver?

If you knew all, How would you know that I will answer your questions?


If you never were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to your rescue

If you never were broken, Then how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem,How would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering, Then how would you know what I went through?

If you never went through the fire, Then how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you, How would you know that I love you?

If you had all power, Then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect, Then what would you need me for?

I love you,
Jesus

THE WEEK THAT WAS

A busy week - daughter's birthday, chimney swept, naval oranges ready to pick, rainbow on the road to Canberra, ducks visited on a rainy day, August 1 - Wattle Day, camellia's blooming, first Daphne flower burst open, beautiful sunrise this morning  ... God's blessings!

KEN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Its been a busy week capped off by an overnight trip to Canberra - our National Capital. A drive of around 3 hours from home, we left on Saturday morning getting there around 11am. A visit to the Australian War Memorial Museum was our first stop where we browsed for a couple of hours. It wasn't the first time we'd visited but as on previous occasions, I have personally found it all a little bit depressing.  Having said that though, the displays are beautifully put together, the diorama's, audio visual displays and whole setup are quite amazingly done.  One wing of the museum was under renovation so we were only able to visit the WW1 sections.  Some of the goods for sale in the shop though were rather quirky and some quite beautiful so picked up A13's birthday present to post off sea mail in the next week or so. Hope he likes it when it arrives.

After lunch at the museum cafe we found our way by map to the Best Western we had booked into.  Took advantage of their cable TV (or at least the sport channel is what interested DH until he fell asleep) and generally just 'veged out' until it was time to get ready and go to the function we had come for. 

It was a simply fantastic 'do' - beautiful meal interspersed with Ken Duncan's visuals of some of his wonderful photography, with his telling us of the stories behind the shots.  He is  certainly a very funny man and kept us both amused and enthralled. Leading up to the weekend, entries to a photographic competition had been received and the winners announced.  What a talented lot of photographers!  Even kids as young as 6 had entered their categories and some very nice work amongst them. 

Sunday morning we were back at the same venue for a church service where  Ken and a wonderful young soprano, Rachel Cunningham, were the guests.  Ken blew us away again with his stories behind his photos from both Australia and around the world.

He told us how he was woken from sleep one night by God - the message was  “If America removes the words In God We Trust from their currency, I will abandon them as a nation.” It seemed to Ken as though God was asking him to publish a book of photographs from every state in the United States of America, showing the wonders of God's creation there and and how much God had blessed that country.  He had little idea of how he could achieve this and knew from his savings he would probably have enough to travel to about 5 US states however it would cost thousands of dollars to pull off the whole thing, both travel and publication.  So strong was his calling from God for this project that he and his wife eventually mortgaged their home and were able to raise enough for him to undertake and achieve it.  Finally he was able to present the copy to the American president the day before the tragic 'September 11'.  (see full story at http://hubpages.com/hub/In-God-We-Trust-A-Panoramic-View-by-Ken-Duncan )

At the end of the service Ken made an altar call and a number of people took the walk of their lives and committed themselves to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

An hour's drive from Canberra and we were at the home of very dear friends in Goulburn where we had lunch and a couple of hours to catch up with each other's news.  Just before 3pm the dark clouds began to gather outside and we knew if we didn't make a move to the car, we'd get a drenching. So as the large drops began we made a dash for it and got on our way home.  It was good to be home again but after such a full and enjoyable weekend I'm still reflecting on all I saw and heard.  So many blessings!

Have a good week my friends!
Bless you!