How cool is this?
Tim and I won a prize yesterday (well Tim won it but one-flesh and all that means I get to share!)
We get to have a shopping spree at Sydney Airport.
Tim and I were talking about how it's such an unusual, fun prize.
Because if we just won the money, we might just put it in savings, or put it towards some kind of regular expense (like paying for my new dust mite allergy)
If we had a shopping spree at a normal shopping centre we would probably buy a few treats but mainly practical stuff.
But the Airport doesn't do practical stuff.
It does designer clothes
It does fancy jewlergy
It does expensive sunglasses
It does funky electronic gagets.
So even though it would probably be better if we could use it for practical stuff, in some stage way its a treat that we can just use it on stuff we would ordinary never buy for ourselves.
So, Tim and I are going to set aside a day- where we will eat at the foodcourt, make our way around the airport- and spend up some free money.
Pretty cool hey!
love B
PS On a serious note we are very thankful to God for this surprise. It's been funny, as I've said previously I've been thinking lots about suffering and how it works, and the importance of not jumping to conclusions about why God does what he does. But when things like this happen- it's a nice reminder that God does like to give good things to his children. Sometimes it's tough things that make us grow more like him. But once in a while...it's something fun like this!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Medical Answers
I have just found out the the hives that I have been experiencing are due to dust mites.
Such a relief!
Such a relief that I don't have to give up any foods that I love :)
I went on the following website to work out what I should do- as my appointment with the dermitologist to talk about my results won't be for a few weeks yet.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
It is actually an awesome website. It has facts sheets on lots of different medical issues, and unlike most stuff on the internet it's usually researched based stuff.
But as I read the sheet I had all these little "kerching" sounds in my head- imagining the sound that old fashion cash registers made when they open. Because there will be some expenses involved.
At first- small simple ones:
-A micro fibre duster so that it traps dust and dust mights rather than letting them into the air like a feather one would.
-Dust mite resistant bed covers
-Washing bedsheets once a week with eucalyptus oil infused cleaning products (not really a kerching- but definately time consuming!)
And long term:
-Buy leather lounges
-Synthetic pillows and doona
-Venetian blinds
-Get rid of carpet where-ever we end up living.
But the plus!
Tim now needs to do all the vaccuming- with me safely out of the house!
:)
love B
Such a relief!
Such a relief that I don't have to give up any foods that I love :)
I went on the following website to work out what I should do- as my appointment with the dermitologist to talk about my results won't be for a few weeks yet.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
It is actually an awesome website. It has facts sheets on lots of different medical issues, and unlike most stuff on the internet it's usually researched based stuff.
But as I read the sheet I had all these little "kerching" sounds in my head- imagining the sound that old fashion cash registers made when they open. Because there will be some expenses involved.
At first- small simple ones:
-A micro fibre duster so that it traps dust and dust mights rather than letting them into the air like a feather one would.
-Dust mite resistant bed covers
-Washing bedsheets once a week with eucalyptus oil infused cleaning products (not really a kerching- but definately time consuming!)
And long term:
-Buy leather lounges
-Synthetic pillows and doona
-Venetian blinds
-Get rid of carpet where-ever we end up living.
But the plus!
Tim now needs to do all the vaccuming- with me safely out of the house!
:)
love B
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Writing
Dear Friends,
It's been a crazy week of writing. In the space of this week I've written about 13 pages of my novel. That may not seem like a big deal to those who've never written one- but it was just an amazing slog for me- who had been re-writing so much that I had completed 2 pages in the previous 2 months!
Oh I love it, I love it, I love it.
I love writing a scene completely from scratch- where I just get to a section of the story with a gap and I just write. And then I look at it surprised and say "Wow, so that's what happened! So interesting and unexpected".
I love putting into words scenes and realities that have been sitting in my head for often over a year and seeing them finally make their way onto my computer screen.
And its scary because now I'm starting to think I can't just comfort myself that I'll probably get sick of it and move onto another story soon. If things keep going as is some day I will actually have the first draft of a novel. And then I will have to do something with it- like find an agent or approach a publisher. And that is very, very scary.
I always wanted to be an author. Even now- I'm constantly coming up with new ideas for stories, or even non-fiction works.
This week I've been thinking alot about suffering, which is a little ironic because it's been such a beautiful week! I think to be honest that is part of the reason I can think about it- I find it hard to be introspective and thoughtful about things when I'm going through them.
I've been thinking about how so much of my life I've been faced with suffering and my attitude has been "wait, God will make it all better soon". And yet the more I look around me- I see that this is not how it works. Some suffering lasts a life-time. Life is not always filled with moment of "Oh, so that's why God let that happen!" Sometimes it is. Often it isn't.
I would love to write a book about how to think about what we can expect from the Christian life. The good and the bad. And also what are things that we are often programed to expect (like easy answers as to what God is doing) and more helpful ways of thinking about them. I'd like to write a book that is positive and uplifting and realistic.
One more to add to the list.
love B
It's been a crazy week of writing. In the space of this week I've written about 13 pages of my novel. That may not seem like a big deal to those who've never written one- but it was just an amazing slog for me- who had been re-writing so much that I had completed 2 pages in the previous 2 months!
Oh I love it, I love it, I love it.
I love writing a scene completely from scratch- where I just get to a section of the story with a gap and I just write. And then I look at it surprised and say "Wow, so that's what happened! So interesting and unexpected".
I love putting into words scenes and realities that have been sitting in my head for often over a year and seeing them finally make their way onto my computer screen.
And its scary because now I'm starting to think I can't just comfort myself that I'll probably get sick of it and move onto another story soon. If things keep going as is some day I will actually have the first draft of a novel. And then I will have to do something with it- like find an agent or approach a publisher. And that is very, very scary.
I always wanted to be an author. Even now- I'm constantly coming up with new ideas for stories, or even non-fiction works.
This week I've been thinking alot about suffering, which is a little ironic because it's been such a beautiful week! I think to be honest that is part of the reason I can think about it- I find it hard to be introspective and thoughtful about things when I'm going through them.
I've been thinking about how so much of my life I've been faced with suffering and my attitude has been "wait, God will make it all better soon". And yet the more I look around me- I see that this is not how it works. Some suffering lasts a life-time. Life is not always filled with moment of "Oh, so that's why God let that happen!" Sometimes it is. Often it isn't.
I would love to write a book about how to think about what we can expect from the Christian life. The good and the bad. And also what are things that we are often programed to expect (like easy answers as to what God is doing) and more helpful ways of thinking about them. I'd like to write a book that is positive and uplifting and realistic.
One more to add to the list.
love B
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Answered prayer
We got offered a College unit and are very, very happy.
Today I was walking along, and for the first time in ages I noticed again the roses that line the walkway from the station to the church.
Why is it that when I'm happy, things that make me happy appear everywhere?
Why is it that when I"m not I don't even notice them?
Curious.
love B
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Dealing with uncertainty
I hate uncertainty.
I hate it with a passion.
Most of the time i deal with it, following my mothers advice and trying to see it as "an adventure".
Most of the time I tell myself that God is in control and that even if I don't know what is going to happen, God does and that should bring me comfort.
Most of the time I can cope with it.
Not yesterday.
Yesterday I spent the whole day stressing, assuming that it would be the day we would find out if College had a place for us to live next year. You see, they don't have enough for everyone, so you apply- write a letter about your circumstances and hope for the best.
I spent the whole day stressing, until I got the call from Tim saying that they couldn't tell us yet.
It's not just the housing thing. It's everything. So much uncertainty. In everything. My future plans always start with: "If this happens, then this". I hate it. And I couldn't cope.
I woke up this morning. Tim's sister and her husband were staying with us. It was fun. They really like the place that we live. I felt a bit better.
I was so stressed about where we would live when we first moved up. And this place has been a huge blessing.
(Sigh)
I hate uncertainty. Please God help me to keep trusting you through it. Amen
I hate it with a passion.
Most of the time i deal with it, following my mothers advice and trying to see it as "an adventure".
Most of the time I tell myself that God is in control and that even if I don't know what is going to happen, God does and that should bring me comfort.
Most of the time I can cope with it.
Not yesterday.
Yesterday I spent the whole day stressing, assuming that it would be the day we would find out if College had a place for us to live next year. You see, they don't have enough for everyone, so you apply- write a letter about your circumstances and hope for the best.
I spent the whole day stressing, until I got the call from Tim saying that they couldn't tell us yet.
It's not just the housing thing. It's everything. So much uncertainty. In everything. My future plans always start with: "If this happens, then this". I hate it. And I couldn't cope.
I woke up this morning. Tim's sister and her husband were staying with us. It was fun. They really like the place that we live. I felt a bit better.
I was so stressed about where we would live when we first moved up. And this place has been a huge blessing.
(Sigh)
I hate uncertainty. Please God help me to keep trusting you through it. Amen
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Update
Well, well, well- this blog has been pretty low on my priorities these last few weeks!
In fact, I keep toying with the idea of canning it- as the reality of things like blogs is- if you don't write regularly people stop reading, and when people stop reading...then motivation to write gets a little low. But I think I'll keep it up, for those of you who still read it, and in the hope that one day I might actually get into the habit of writing more, I'll get more people reading it, and so on.
What's been happening?
MELBOURNE!!! Times Two in fact.
Our trip down to Melbourne was lovely. Absolutely lovely. To give you a sense of how good it was, Tim had been talking it down for weeks, because he knew that often when I look forward to something I get such high expectations that when it happens I'm bound to be disappointed. But not this time. Melbourne was so much better than I expected.
It wasn't hectic, or at least, I didn't find it hectic! By other people's standards it might have been seen to been a tad people heavy! But it was perfect for me. We had some great catch ups with friends, we had some lovely family time, and we had some lovely Tim and Belinda time- including a trip down to our old favourite haunt: The Snooty Fox.
A personal highlight for me was a small but significant one. Some of our dear friends in Melbourne are a couple that got married two weeks before us, and who went to church with us for many years, and who we used to spend a great deal of time with. They have two kids, a 3 year old and a one year old- and I was a little worried that after 8 months their three year old daughter Luella wouldn't quite remember us, (just one of the prices that you pay for moving interstate and not visiting as often as you like). But while Luella was a little shy when she saw me at church, when we came to their house, she was in the bath and wanted to see me so she began to yell out across the house "BBBBEEEEELLLLIIIIINNNNDDDDDAAAA, BBBBEEEEELLLLLLIIIIIINNNNNDDDDDDAAAAAA!" So cute and very nice to know even our littler friends haven't forgotten us!
The week back was hard for various reasons, one of them being I was home sick. Tim was also stressed about his essay he had due the following Tuesday.
But bless is cleverly-hidden-until-now-academic-side, Tim has an amazing capacity to write essays very fast. He began actually writing late on Sunday and still had 2500 words to go on Monday morning. He got home at 2 and started work. One minute he was planning on missing class on Tuesday to hopefully finish it off, the next minute he was suggesting I proof read he work. He got it done so early we could spend the evening watching Stargate Atlantis. My clever, clever boy!
And then, then it was off to Melbourne to see my Sainters take on Geelong- thanks to my incredibly generous parents. It was a lovely family time- as Dad had been away two weeks before, and our time with Mum had been limited to breakfast at the airport before she joined him! It was a fantastic game- with a not so fantastic result. As Tim reminded me though, as I dejectedly dissected the game, in a world (or city at least) where sport is the main idol, it is great to have a relationship with the real God that puts everything in perspective.
And, funnily enough, after an Afternoon in the rain and cold, I find myself sick at home with the first proper cold I've had all year.
So that has been the last m0nth.
Prayer points: Please pray I get better, pray I have a productive forward thinking time as I work through the school holidays (no formal programs so good time to prepare for the term/year ahead). And pray that I trust God with my health, my future and my job.
And Thank him for a fantastic time in Melbourne
love B
In fact, I keep toying with the idea of canning it- as the reality of things like blogs is- if you don't write regularly people stop reading, and when people stop reading...then motivation to write gets a little low. But I think I'll keep it up, for those of you who still read it, and in the hope that one day I might actually get into the habit of writing more, I'll get more people reading it, and so on.
What's been happening?
MELBOURNE!!! Times Two in fact.
Our trip down to Melbourne was lovely. Absolutely lovely. To give you a sense of how good it was, Tim had been talking it down for weeks, because he knew that often when I look forward to something I get such high expectations that when it happens I'm bound to be disappointed. But not this time. Melbourne was so much better than I expected.
It wasn't hectic, or at least, I didn't find it hectic! By other people's standards it might have been seen to been a tad people heavy! But it was perfect for me. We had some great catch ups with friends, we had some lovely family time, and we had some lovely Tim and Belinda time- including a trip down to our old favourite haunt: The Snooty Fox.
A personal highlight for me was a small but significant one. Some of our dear friends in Melbourne are a couple that got married two weeks before us, and who went to church with us for many years, and who we used to spend a great deal of time with. They have two kids, a 3 year old and a one year old- and I was a little worried that after 8 months their three year old daughter Luella wouldn't quite remember us, (just one of the prices that you pay for moving interstate and not visiting as often as you like). But while Luella was a little shy when she saw me at church, when we came to their house, she was in the bath and wanted to see me so she began to yell out across the house "BBBBEEEEELLLLIIIIINNNNDDDDDAAAA, BBBBEEEEELLLLLLIIIIIINNNNNDDDDDDAAAAAA!" So cute and very nice to know even our littler friends haven't forgotten us!
The week back was hard for various reasons, one of them being I was home sick. Tim was also stressed about his essay he had due the following Tuesday.
But bless is cleverly-hidden-until-now-academic-side, Tim has an amazing capacity to write essays very fast. He began actually writing late on Sunday and still had 2500 words to go on Monday morning. He got home at 2 and started work. One minute he was planning on missing class on Tuesday to hopefully finish it off, the next minute he was suggesting I proof read he work. He got it done so early we could spend the evening watching Stargate Atlantis. My clever, clever boy!
And then, then it was off to Melbourne to see my Sainters take on Geelong- thanks to my incredibly generous parents. It was a lovely family time- as Dad had been away two weeks before, and our time with Mum had been limited to breakfast at the airport before she joined him! It was a fantastic game- with a not so fantastic result. As Tim reminded me though, as I dejectedly dissected the game, in a world (or city at least) where sport is the main idol, it is great to have a relationship with the real God that puts everything in perspective.
And, funnily enough, after an Afternoon in the rain and cold, I find myself sick at home with the first proper cold I've had all year.
So that has been the last m0nth.
Prayer points: Please pray I get better, pray I have a productive forward thinking time as I work through the school holidays (no formal programs so good time to prepare for the term/year ahead). And pray that I trust God with my health, my future and my job.
And Thank him for a fantastic time in Melbourne
love B
Friday, September 4, 2009
48 hours
Before I go to Melbourne:
-I need to cook dinner for 11 tweens/teens/us
-I need to shave my legs
-I need to take 9 teens/tweens to the movies
-I need to drop one teen off home
-I need to clean the house
-I need to clear out the fridge of perishables
-I need to dress for a wedding
-I need to buy a birthday present for my sister-in-law and her husband
-I need to empty the bin
-I need to go to a wedding, help set up flowers, and go to the reception.
-I need to send 3 work emails
-I need to do a load of washing
-I need to pack
-I need to sleep at least twice!
-I need to get up at around 5:30 to be ready to catch a plane at 7am
I need to do all these things. But before I do, I'm going to spend half an hour reading a book. I don't know if I have time.
But I don't care.
I really need to.
love B
-I need to cook dinner for 11 tweens/teens/us
-I need to shave my legs
-I need to take 9 teens/tweens to the movies
-I need to drop one teen off home
-I need to clean the house
-I need to clear out the fridge of perishables
-I need to dress for a wedding
-I need to buy a birthday present for my sister-in-law and her husband
-I need to empty the bin
-I need to go to a wedding, help set up flowers, and go to the reception.
-I need to send 3 work emails
-I need to do a load of washing
-I need to pack
-I need to sleep at least twice!
-I need to get up at around 5:30 to be ready to catch a plane at 7am
I need to do all these things. But before I do, I'm going to spend half an hour reading a book. I don't know if I have time.
But I don't care.
I really need to.
love B
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