Working Four days

Yesterday was the test.

When I was approached about the possibility of working at our church, it was only going to be able to be a four day job. Tim and I ummed and arrd (is that how you spell it ;) about me perhaps doing a day of study, or working on the other day- but seeing as we could afford for me not to- it was decided that it would be better if I just worked four days.

And suddenly open to me was an amazing possibility that I could dedicate half a day a week to fiction writing. I know that doesn't sound that exciting- and many a weeks will find me spending that much time on my story anyway. But a whole half day- dedicated- where I do nothing else. A set time which is my writing time. It just seems so authorial and cool!

Yesterday was the test.

I've been working for three weeks. The first week I worked 5 days a week, so that during the second week I could work 3 days and have a night away with Tim for our anniversary. So yesterday was the first day to try it.

What was it like?

It was strange.

Firstly, I was a lot more critical of my own work. I kept writing things and thinking things like "This is just rubbish, why am i bothering to set aside time for this", and "This is going to take me at least 5 more years to get this done and right. Is it worth it?". Dedicating time to it seems to give it a certain respect that I don't always think it deserves. Luckily Tim has read some and loved it- so I can always go to him for encouragement to persevere.

Secondly, having devoted time to it meant that I did things that are necessary for the story writing process but that I put off during my "free time" writing because they are frustrating and a little bit boring. One of the struggles I've had in my story is getting my head around both the history of the fictional nation around which my story is based, and to get some consistency in the timing of the actually events with in the story- particularly in relation to ages of characters. Because the whole thing spans 12 years- and various characters come in and out of the story- I need to make sure that their ages are consistent with what I want them to be able to do. Doesn't sound very exciting does it? But it's necessary, and so I spent two hours today putting together a timeline to keep it all together.

Thirdly, having this time meant that the story was rolling around in my head all day, and even some of the day before as I prepared for it. And last night I ended up staying up too late, doing some "fun" writing just because I'd been thinking about things I wanted to put on screen. Since I've found writing is 3 parts thinking 1 part writing- the more thinking I do, the more I am likely to be able to put on paper writing that is actually good. And it seems, the more time I set aside to write- the more thinking I do at other times.

So overall, i am satisfied with this first stage of the experiment and look forward to next week.
Written so far:48 pages (not all yesterday!)- number to go...who knows ;)
love B

So Long and so short!

Thursday was Tim and my 4 year anniversary. We had a lovely night away in the Hunter Valley- and despite the excitement of a little "creative" navigating on behalf of google maps- we had a wonderful time when we finally got there ;)

We were talking about how weird it seems that we are at four years. It seems both too long to be right, or too short.

Too long because four years to us sounds like so much time. Two Thirds of high school, all of Uni. Surely that much time can't have passed since our wedding day?

But then it also seems really short- because there is such a comfortable, normal, familiarity to our relationship that makes me think: "Only four years. I feel like we've been together like this forever".

I am very thankful to God for getting us through these last four years- still doing what we promised four years ago. And of course thankful for such a wonderful husband to begin with!

As to the rest of my life- my new job has started, and while I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed with new information and systems and jobs to do- I am very, very thankful that I have had God to help me through. Can't do ministry without him for some reason! Please pray for me, that I will serve him well in my new role.
love B

Things I've learnt last year

A few people I've noticed have been listing the different things that they have learnt over the previous year. I thought I'd join in the fun!

1) That cockroaches are very, very fast. If you scream, call for your husband and panic- they will be gone long before he gets there to help. There isn't time to even decide what is the most prudent form of distruction. You just grab whatever is within reach and THWACK!

2) That, despite three years of expressing the contrary- having a tidy house is worth it. The lack of crazy 6am starts trying to madly get the place presentable for the guests that are coming over that night has been a rather pleasant change.

3) That of all Tim's wonderful characteristics- one of the most precious and least appreciated by me before last year is his ability to laugh me out of sadness.

4)That when you are struggling to trust God with your life- that's a great time (though there is no bad time!) to turn to the Gospels of Jesus and look at the character of God in the flesh.

5)That writing Fantasy is a great deal more complicated that I ever envisaged! I spent so much more time thinking about my story than actually writing- and I needed too! But its also heaps more fun than I thought it would be too.

6) That with God's help I can be self-controlled about eating.

7) That God really does provide. Not always in the way that I expected- but when I look back over the year that has been, I can see his loving care towards me and Tim.

Thankyou Father for 08. Amen
B

Another year in Sydney

I'm sitting in the study listening to the dulcet tones of machine guns and alien groans.

Tim is playing on his Xbox!

It's nice to be home. I hate to say that, because Sydney isn't really home, and if there is one things my last month in Melbourne has taught me its that Sydney isn't home. But Sydney is a nice place- it's where we have our stuff, it's where many of our friends live- and most importantly- it's where Tim and I live together. Its amazing how "at home" I feel sleeping in my own bed, using my own stuff, and knowing that I have my husband all to myself!

We'll, at least I only have to share him with the Xbox!

And there are so many fun things about living where we live. Last night we went out for our first cheap Thai meal of the year. Today we'll head down King St and grab some coffee while Tim reads and I prepare my kids talk for Sunday. And (I'm really embarrassed to admit this) I've already done my walk down Parramatta road to check out what's new in all the Wedding dress shop displays!

I've got a new job this year working at our church, coordinating the kid's and women's minsitry. This year there are so many things to be excited about, so many new challenges, and lots of things that petrify me.

My New Years resolution is to rejoice with those who rejoice and to morn with those who morn. Might sound a little strange- but as someone who gets wraped up in her own joys and sorrows and forgets the situation of others- it's going to be a massive challenge.

Here ends my first random ramble of the year.
love B

Health Kick Update

Hi Folks,
I've been meaning for ages to give a health kick update.

The bad news is that I've found out officially what I've been suspecting for a while- that I'm Pre-diabetic. It sounds in some ways more serious than it is. Basically my body doesn't process glucous very well, so I have to be really careful with weight, do lots of exercise and particularly eating low GI food. If I'm not careful, I will eventually develop diabetes. But if I am careful, I won't. So rather than treating it like a negative thing, I'm thankful to God that now I know and that I can do something about it. And its an incredibly helpful motivator for living a life-style that is actually what we probably should all be doing anyway, at least in part.

The good news is that I'm getting really good at eating healthy- I've lost alot of weight and I'm .8kg away from being in the healthy weight range for my age.

And....

I fit back into my wedding dress!
love B

The best layed plans

A while ago I was writing about how excited I was about coming down to Melbourne, particularly because it would be a chance to rest.

The best layed plans...

It's so wonderful being back. I'm so thankful for the great time we are spending with our family. It's nice being able to drive around without pulling out a map. It's been wonderful starting to see friends.

But it's not a rest!

Because I'm working next year, my Austudy cut out a few weeks ago, so while I'm down in Melbourne I needed to do some work to get a little extra money in, to cover our rent back in Sydney and to pay for the inevitable Christmas expenses. I've got some work through family connections and I'm so happy about it. It's work that I enjoy, it's flexible, it's more money than I've earned for a long while, and it's a real gift for God. I'm working 4 days a week while we are down in Melbourne.

It's not a rest!

But, saying all that, one of the most restful things about coming to Melbourne is that its not my house. I don't have undone chores hanging over my head. I don't have jobs that can wait but that I'm always aware of to do. And there is a certain peace within relationships with family and old friends. I was quite happy to have a nap on our friends couch last night while Tim talked with our friends late into a night. You can do that with old friends.

I love Melbourne. But I must appologise. I don't think I will have time to blog every second day like I previously promised. I need to rest.
love B

Post muck-up

BTW- there is a post about 4 posts down called exam in two hours which is actually my most recent post. I don't know why it ended up down there and not up here.

But incidentally- the exam went really well, praise God, and I definitely knew alot more than I thought I did (which is a great thing to realise during an exam).
Now onto tomorrows exam!
3 to go- and this time next week I'll be free!
love B