Life isn't about getting to the destination

--it's about the journey. So don't think that you have to rush to get to the destination. The destination isn't important; the journey is the important part, what you take time for, what you learn and experience along the way. The journey is also where you find Me and where you learn about Me. That's what life is about, and if you don't take the time to get to know Me, then you will miss the meaning of the whole trip.

1.11.09

:)

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/bored_with_the_internet.jpg

5.10.09

Happy Birthday...


to a good friend. Hope you have a great one!

5.9.09

Thoughts from a life time church goer

This fellow has some good points. Good on him for speaking out.
Church could be the equivalent of united devotions, or fulfilling your 90 mins of daily word time.

29.8.09

Bloggers Bible

Here's something I came across and thought it was great.

22.8.09

To dye or not to dye?

As a teenager I loved to colour my hair. I have had almost every colour (at some point) apart from green & blue. I haven't coloured my hair for years now,
a) because its unusual to see people with hair my colour in this country
b) because I'm lazy
c) I hate the roots showing through. Ugh!

I read this blog post tonight and though it was worth reading and knowing about. My mum tells me this kind of stuff all the time, but then again while growing up she would say that chewing gum caused cancer and many other things that she felt were unhealthy and I should stay away from.
However, she might have a point about hair dye. Read it for yourself and decide.

21.7.09

Nuturing vs sheltering

I wrote this while pregnant with Miss #2 -and over 4 years later my opinion hasn't changed:

When my children are of age, they too will have to make the choice as to what kind of life they want to lead, and whatever their choice I will be there to support them and love them for it. They will have to make their own decisions, but I will know that I will have given them the best opportunities and experience to help them make an educated decision.


I'm happy to see that TFI's official stance is being spelt out clearly on the topic of children's education and child rearing. It's about time. :)

9.7.09

Pregnant and bicycling

Cycling is commonplace here in Japan. Everyone does it; kids, grannies, grandpas, buisnessmen in expensive suits, woman, fashionable young people, housewives, teenagers... it's a part of everyday life, cheap and practical.

It came as a surprise to me that several of my Japanese acquaintances have expressed alarm at the discovery that I bicycle while pregnant.
I didn't think anything was out of the ordinary, although I have yet to notice a Japanese woman on a bicycle while pregnant, I'm no extreme cyclist. I cycle to the local shops & parks on a footpath or side of the road a few times a week tops and with my 2 yr old in the child seat on the back of the bike 3/4 of the time. I'm pretty clumsy and have bad balance at the best of times, but I reckon I'm doing pretty good -no accidents or scrapes yet- and it's actually easier to cycle with Miss #3 behind me; smoother ride, better balance. :) I can't ride up hill at all and happily get off and walk my bike uphill whenever I encounter one. Yesterday I noticed our 80-something-year-old neighbour doing the same. Ha ha!

After a few hours of listening to Miss #1's classmates mothers express alarm and concern about cycling while pregnant I decided to look it up and see what all the fuss is about.

Here's what I found:

Bicycle Victoria info

Notice board with good suggestions


So if you're worried about bicycling while pregnant, you don't have to! Just follow these common sense tips and you should be fine:
Stay within your comfort zone
Carry a bottle of water
Don't ride uphill (unless you're a hardcore cyclist)
Drive safely
Running shoes are best (no high heels)
Don't ride on the road
Sit up straight & relax.

4.7.09

All in a days work...

Parenting... ahh, I love it. How else can you find humor in or experience these things?:


Watch the pleasure and surprise unfold simultaneously on your young childs face when a perfect stranger hands them a small gift.


Catch a 7-inch stool with your bare hand in the nick of time. Calmly wrap it in a tissue whilst guiding your stunned little one to the approprate place to excrete such things and directing the older ones to pick their jaws off the floor and continue with their chores . The carpet is SAFE! It could be worse.


Name the pigeon who built a nest in the tree at our gate. We get to watch her raise her babies. :)


Celebrate the newfound fearlessness of a 6 yr old who discovers that grasshoppers and dragonflies are harmless and easy to catch. (We're still waiting for her sisters to catch on)


Read the same story several days in a row, no less than 3 times a day until your 4 yr old has it memorised and "reads" (quotes it) to daddy upon his return. Realise that it has sparked an interest in drawing other things besides "puffy-dressed-princesses".


Enjoy the summer rain and notice that whoever passes by breaks into a grin as they watch your children play in the puddles as only children can.


Turn to see your child who was beside you a second ago stumble and fall on a downwards escalator then try to CRAWL back up it fingers just millimeters away from the comb; frantically hoist your other child onto your hip and struggle to climb back up the escalator to help your fallen child. Just when you realise you're not going to make it an angel (in the form of a large man with a shaved head, arrayed in t-shirt & shorts) suddenly appears from above, picks her up and carry's her down to you. You exhale and know that God answers prayers in an instant, even if all you had time to beam up was "Give me the strength".


Stare in wonder at the beauty and peace of a sleeping child and in that moment remember why you do this.

I stumbled upon this post today. It's amazing how reading about others difficulties and struggles can help you put your life in perspective. One can't help but admire their outlook.

23.6.09

What have I done today?

As I type this my recovering-from-sickness-daughters are coming to me with their dolls, begging me to play a game with them, help them change the dolls clothes, etc. and although I have "better" things to do, I will leave those things for later and play with them.

"Come on mummy, come and plllaaaaay with us!"

We shall do so much in the years to come,
But what have we done today?
We shall give our gold in a princely sum,
But what did we give today?
We shall lift the heart and shall dry the tear,
We shall plant a hope in the place of fear,
We shall speak the words of love and cheer;
But what did we speak today?

We shall be so kind in the afterwhile,
But what have we done today?
We shall bring to each lonely life a smile,
But what have we brought today?
We shall give the truth a far grander birth,
And to steadfast faith a much deeper worth,
We shall feed the hung’ring souls of earth;
But whom have we fed today?

We shall reap such joys in the by and by,
But what have we sown today?
We shall build us mansions up in the sky,
But what have we built today?
Oh, how sweet it is in fond dreams to bask,
But right here and now we must do our task,
Yes, this is the thing our souls must ask,
“Just what have we done today?”

21.6.09

“I don’t believe in colleges and universities,” Ray Bradbury, 88, said. “I believe in libraries.”

Read more here.

10.6.09

A birthday surprise

My DH made this for me & played it on my birthday. The original version includes interviews with various people I lived and worked with as well as good friends; however it was too long to upload onto Youtube so I had to edit them out.

(As it turns out, there was a method to the madness)

I love you!



5.3.09

have been working on

Mia's school portfolio. And now that its complete you can view it here.

22.2.09

Meet my new best friends:

Mineral water


Tuna Onigiri


...and chicken sandwitches.

We get along fabulously.

This one has my has my name on it and I'm going to make it, oh so soon. -At least that's what I keep telling myself. ;) This one has my has my name on it and I'm going to make it, oh so soon. -At least that's what I keep telling myself. ;)
Recipe here.

12.2.09

I love this photo

My silly, silly girls

7.2.09

Fear came knocking at the door and faith answered it


In 1856, David Livingstone faced a grave peril in Africa. He was passing through the wild country of the native chief Mburuma. The chief was hostile & had been seeking to rouse the countryside against the man's expedition. Reports had been that he was seen creeping toward the camp!
Alone in his tent, Livingstone opened his Bible & read the Promise on which he had staked his life so often. Then he wrote in his diary,
"January 14, 1856. Evening. Felt much turmoil of spirit in prospect of having all my plans for welfare of this great region knocked on the head by savages tomorrow. But Jesus said, 'All power is given unto Me in Heaven & in Earth. Go ye therefore & teach all nations ... & lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'
"This is the word of a Gentleman of the most strict & sacred honour, so that's the end of fear. I will not cross furtively tonight as I intended. Nay, verily, I shall take observations for latitude & longitude tonight, though they may be the last, I feel quiet & calm now, thank God!"

****





When Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of cannibal islands the ship was becalmed, & it was slowly drifting shoreward unable to go about & the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast.
The captain came to Mr. Taylor & besought him to pray for the help of God. "I will," said Taylor, "provided you set your sails to catch the breeze." The captain declined to make himself a laughing stock by unfurling in a dead calm. Taylor said, "I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails." And it was done.
While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. "Who is there?"
The captain's voice responded, "Are you still praying for wind?"
"Yes."
"Well," said the captain, "you'd better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can manage."






****

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.

****



He does not lead me year by year
Nor even day by day,
But step by step my path unfolds;
My Lord directs my way.

Tomorrow's plans I do not know,
I only know this minute;
But He will say, "This is the way,
By faith now walk in it."

And I am glad that it is so,
Today's enough to bear;
And when tomorrow comes, His grace
Shall far exceed its care.

What need to worry then, or fret?
The God Who gave His Son
Holds all my moments in His hand
And gives them, one by one.
--Barbara C. Ryberg

For more of her poems

5.2.09


Find more HERE!
Quick access to older issues here

3.2.09

This blog is empty because:

Too much to write about.
So much on my mind.
Not enough prioritizing.

1.2.09

One liners to get you thinking

The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.

It's what you do when you have nothing to do that reveals what you are.

Where reason cannot wade, there faith may swim.

You can help someone change by asking Me how I see them, and then treating them that way. My love works miracles! -Jesus

21.1.09

It's Business Time

These guys rock! Txs Al'!)




 
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