tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74030267062962378052024-03-14T09:39:27.966+11:00tuscanybrownRinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger566125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-63607022571502839232022-09-13T13:31:00.004+10:002022-10-11T11:23:32.749+11:00Goodbye Little House<p><br /> We moved house recently. Just a few streets away. I got a little sentimental. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2Hz0snlWWFyTi6zlOFEzxvv6Q5L3vwn2XusxkyKgq7YCvr4vokfw10DwuS9EF1MlQN93rIlWLgzpe8YJ7ESybUCHARAOz_6FjhjAgXcb4r3zgFj1zfXz3JqATLGaeFIGuofjp0Jl3Jd4zMTtIIAuGyoti_iUK6cy9Kn078qNA-32C574jSBzx6IY/s1605/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-13%20at%201.18.27%20pm.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1605" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2Hz0snlWWFyTi6zlOFEzxvv6Q5L3vwn2XusxkyKgq7YCvr4vokfw10DwuS9EF1MlQN93rIlWLgzpe8YJ7ESybUCHARAOz_6FjhjAgXcb4r3zgFj1zfXz3JqATLGaeFIGuofjp0Jl3Jd4zMTtIIAuGyoti_iUK6cy9Kn078qNA-32C574jSBzx6IY/w640-h448/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-13%20at%201.18.27%20pm.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Google Street View</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">You welcomed six weary souls </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">when the world went quiet.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Your walls </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">gave us sanctuary </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and inside them </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">we huddled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We regrouped.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Gaping wounds bandages </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and exhausted muscles </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">given rest. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The tiniest heart became whole again </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and all shared in the joy.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We did yoga in the backyard </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and swung and jumped and lazed </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">while watching trains go by </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">full of people wearing masks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Little house you were a school when school could not be </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">but also a school </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">where we </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">learned each other. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We learned what it means </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">to leave </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and to love </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and to laugh.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We read </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and sang </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and created. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We ached for friends </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and deepened the friendships </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">within.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Little house </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">you brought us to a community </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">where we found home. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Easter eggs in early days. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drive by cookies, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">meals </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and the Uber guys who know us well. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A walk to all the places </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">there are to go. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A ride into the city </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">to see dazzling lights.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But little house, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">your roof leaks </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and your kitchen is a </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">glorified cupboard. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You nursed us, </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">taught us </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and gave us a home. </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But now we move on </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">with hearts of gratitude </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and excitement </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">about what adventures await.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/bzkKthMmIuufs5__D6emmt3xMjL47syDJsmQzCc21xJzuwuIPV3KO_rmex3Wuv2IRT94zwrGW26DYLboplOestvNI6VDDNenb-52kzn9_0VaY-I73PoCMZpTOweZUo8A-REw-rbPnQbsNCwbDjlYImha3q99TumxwHgCp-JvVNA91uSbDtTqEi5h92-2CLbI7L8fkaIeAQfaORjmKPfv-7ZqTsX8sYCPZlNBJfQTwRY4L2u7URAT6JLwk208ay6zAjeLQiQ1FK-DsHvg2d2Tc6RbrIXzlJP-pCz1jIxj2ysw69UOIJ8i0GvSiuulqNoM6NvVZdFfPTDN7ylDlk57vPy90yJ-L7MZ5JYNLUzae9VBrS5FRyyr-khxILP5_NXz35uxTVvmd0oyxXNKQfEzPMMZf9BZREAHR_7SxizQZle1fsSPuCzioKJ2WPTy_Fk_t17nBnNbqMCQ9WF5G12Fc5Rhu-yYHdAbW04GrFP1k6lQWYjMlKntXpVsclsdLTMnd2JKwtchqQ8S5eL7cQE8DKz3L_uRhiByakFLLBDnqZ77vQAz4xv4zqmTKHQHpVIsor_PSH4Ry9J9UXDg2KEw5m5ENv7E8Wi88xinh0pPk2CWuxccbNvQ1Wtk_cC_qTIiirbjEEbuzEipgCQfkrCvV8lRXWFlKNIAY1aXc7EMQKboQmxWenefdh_7yBmA4Vasn8RSX0dJwPdlYlZaS0uY00Ee6CgIeb_uODJuqMyiAaP_mF-Kgp-vGrgQA1N8n4w=s1732-no?authuser=0" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/AhuxsIwzXhYjNGINgxIqiCRO0MEPLNl42pMnv_GooyI9WSq98QRZ_EwMAEBKM4y_6ynhm3oyldbzonpHpStpGsNYpGyGUbZ37aGomQpllbC1MBW_DjePRwhc0tBIixVwp-5Le7I6T9Zm62EE3sUytmghMU8duAexoiu6TBD0kmQHdo5L8Q5u0Lo5REfDOqJseHQl_rlYl878mtircke3jIlbGMSqs8yoyQwZzpzUyaOU6gU7lUwvQ0BWe1dGdCHH8r7dYoLGgj3UnBK-vMEBz8DJ0Y2xCGPFBjE2YRpm4B7poLYFHTw7EWhf5KMNyKSnROVanlQHwSdGmcY2E5sTi9Xl0_hBYYoSBRwwCjPJ5sW-AnlFcBXlAOpdsYFkIthkyTWAYHxjMt6bKU9qYj6gKCeKebwaoQegJbHbQCHb4vW6jjozhjqPBpAKsLDXLeIHPbwyRhJlSUBYd1EMgfJqYjGjY1UWB9k2U4E4pg8upCyq2d-WY7D7nY9tBoDEoNNVOnhHTmcECp0b1e8p11_zIRapzKOsK3dHuJ8YLzU9AkMPlmoZ1e0ko2SA41UZskW4owd6hxvrb0mqYjIhtuRjPhFc164v60vda4ZKBoktRAfqIU7aiPzm0Vaez2-WaM32TOivMtF0_xm0mPUWucPQ3R0EZE-Yb5Mzgmk8DCXsE1Mz_lSSw9TRjBPdR2Z0FoaCgzamlzJ_0HpQr9hEzWSLiagymTP2IqQ9FeKNVr1la8QeCYuCC3iLv1jR-J4RzBk=s357-no?authuser=0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="357" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/AhuxsIwzXhYjNGINgxIqiCRO0MEPLNl42pMnv_GooyI9WSq98QRZ_EwMAEBKM4y_6ynhm3oyldbzonpHpStpGsNYpGyGUbZ37aGomQpllbC1MBW_DjePRwhc0tBIixVwp-5Le7I6T9Zm62EE3sUytmghMU8duAexoiu6TBD0kmQHdo5L8Q5u0Lo5REfDOqJseHQl_rlYl878mtircke3jIlbGMSqs8yoyQwZzpzUyaOU6gU7lUwvQ0BWe1dGdCHH8r7dYoLGgj3UnBK-vMEBz8DJ0Y2xCGPFBjE2YRpm4B7poLYFHTw7EWhf5KMNyKSnROVanlQHwSdGmcY2E5sTi9Xl0_hBYYoSBRwwCjPJ5sW-AnlFcBXlAOpdsYFkIthkyTWAYHxjMt6bKU9qYj6gKCeKebwaoQegJbHbQCHb4vW6jjozhjqPBpAKsLDXLeIHPbwyRhJlSUBYd1EMgfJqYjGjY1UWB9k2U4E4pg8upCyq2d-WY7D7nY9tBoDEoNNVOnhHTmcECp0b1e8p11_zIRapzKOsK3dHuJ8YLzU9AkMPlmoZ1e0ko2SA41UZskW4owd6hxvrb0mqYjIhtuRjPhFc164v60vda4ZKBoktRAfqIU7aiPzm0Vaez2-WaM32TOivMtF0_xm0mPUWucPQ3R0EZE-Yb5Mzgmk8DCXsE1Mz_lSSw9TRjBPdR2Z0FoaCgzamlzJ_0HpQr9hEzWSLiagymTP2IqQ9FeKNVr1la8QeCYuCC3iLv1jR-J4RzBk=w640-h480?authuser=0" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-55341101185934340922022-08-16T07:00:00.001+10:002022-08-16T07:00:00.205+10:00Kids Discipleship Resources<p> In the past year or so I've created a few resources for discipling kids particularly during COVID lockdowns. I'm sharing these here for anyone who might like to use or tweak them.</p><p>Let me know if you use them. I'd love to hear feedback both encouraging and critical. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja3dHlWuPQ0sUh5hY4kyTbEXFJuJgqYZ8DWbcAgG0AtwlLkYovu1_x6ZZsevS_BbmJTruwiR6yEX6EescvByFhHjXdNn7NPbS1hyZyMZYqnUVB_9fyKTvQz-5KbK7diq_Me6Vk6MLdC-kB6Wa_okZdx1RZDBqxS77Ec3h36UEvwMlBcCRSBKQwaSA6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja3dHlWuPQ0sUh5hY4kyTbEXFJuJgqYZ8DWbcAgG0AtwlLkYovu1_x6ZZsevS_BbmJTruwiR6yEX6EescvByFhHjXdNn7NPbS1hyZyMZYqnUVB_9fyKTvQz-5KbK7diq_Me6Vk6MLdC-kB6Wa_okZdx1RZDBqxS77Ec3h36UEvwMlBcCRSBKQwaSA6=w453-h640" width="453" /></a></div><p><br /></p>The first one I'm posting was a two week end of lockdown series on feelings. Particularly feeling happy and sad. Our kids had gone through a very long period of isolation from their peers in a lockdown that was supposed to last 2 weeks!<p></p><p>The program was designed to give kids a space to be sad, be sad to God and to understand a bit how God thinks about being sad. Then the next week was the flipside of thinking on happiness which comes from knowing that God is in control. It looks at being thankful and looking around to see the things that God is doing in the world. </p><p>The link will<br /> take you to a google doc.</p><p>Please enjoy and use it but don't pass it off as your own work or make any money out of it's use. </p><p>I hope this and other resources I share bless you in discipling kids.</p><p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FncCgBRYqTLB9GGAq-QwQWl17H8qB8Cy2bbJHBpQ0WM/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">LINK TO THE PROGRAM</a></p>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-39193704644172251492022-08-13T00:18:00.001+10:002022-08-13T00:18:18.092+10:00Legend of the Peace Maker<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTeHcnUVyzZ6u8ki4enlnnRFSj3RjdgJ2TtaJQkQNXVYq6QqJQ1QbKAhuZmPh9sDdHmVOGxNBzUFtXPsi0vYmmAZdxnDpWoiTQ4PwQLwKsHgAo2Sri_-2qGeGotB_huDsX15acmbbA5jwqPDP1iy6UZqDtnxwAxe9GZmJaWoF2qHda0m1ZjNPS5UR/s2000/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTeHcnUVyzZ6u8ki4enlnnRFSj3RjdgJ2TtaJQkQNXVYq6QqJQ1QbKAhuZmPh9sDdHmVOGxNBzUFtXPsi0vYmmAZdxnDpWoiTQ4PwQLwKsHgAo2Sri_-2qGeGotB_huDsX15acmbbA5jwqPDP1iy6UZqDtnxwAxe9GZmJaWoF2qHda0m1ZjNPS5UR/s16000/1.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXRe86O9BBoLa759x47zuMO5F0kGCK5EQzZOEsvAiyM2mzVh5ukefs4ML0RnOJbYk-jxrBZqIzr0fclKjTSWn4rZP8J8f8BAtO-Orutkphx34AUs4nzAzEYMBhiH_XBUcn4uvKcUpb3tk0Vwrj0d6wcPBZq215ge9pmzxHrvW1az46fcC2eQ71gRs/s2000/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXRe86O9BBoLa759x47zuMO5F0kGCK5EQzZOEsvAiyM2mzVh5ukefs4ML0RnOJbYk-jxrBZqIzr0fclKjTSWn4rZP8J8f8BAtO-Orutkphx34AUs4nzAzEYMBhiH_XBUcn4uvKcUpb3tk0Vwrj0d6wcPBZq215ge9pmzxHrvW1az46fcC2eQ71gRs/s16000/2.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l9DxDH9jebEHIM8hTtZenjnT-ize5qIoT8Nqp-wd6VBSASdQl22Vh8Wzmh6ivUGAyfhdSrwwSODktbdv9ZojWLcS0O8BcAnFEjI5dxeII0Q2lXfJNUAhslv81AjBehwqCPzlNhPzB3Vk1SlKuzxx4e730rp_TsL9iJhGF1cQBkm6whg36pmyJiYk/s2000/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l9DxDH9jebEHIM8hTtZenjnT-ize5qIoT8Nqp-wd6VBSASdQl22Vh8Wzmh6ivUGAyfhdSrwwSODktbdv9ZojWLcS0O8BcAnFEjI5dxeII0Q2lXfJNUAhslv81AjBehwqCPzlNhPzB3Vk1SlKuzxx4e730rp_TsL9iJhGF1cQBkm6whg36pmyJiYk/s16000/3.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5__CpFORHltM8z_zuR2TX8EZgSPjuB8d7K40I9UupPv-PPxKs0gnIkidIO0UYkAt_nhtI8d8W8YcTSD82N0gLfaoj1MVoxsosx7OeIbDBZBobYoVSiABfFqy-AlwMT5lpuXdJYzO7CUdEORAj2yAA_LGllrvj4dAtZz0_NAxgyQC12-k_SlLrAWE/s2000/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5__CpFORHltM8z_zuR2TX8EZgSPjuB8d7K40I9UupPv-PPxKs0gnIkidIO0UYkAt_nhtI8d8W8YcTSD82N0gLfaoj1MVoxsosx7OeIbDBZBobYoVSiABfFqy-AlwMT5lpuXdJYzO7CUdEORAj2yAA_LGllrvj4dAtZz0_NAxgyQC12-k_SlLrAWE/s16000/4.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3SUisfA6-SkPbydazpiTBPL5KMPGKqtzOBjs_jyQJtJKoSp1etU84O1xXMURxDu5hb4Z_HbpiLTe_4r2ReuYgsvFmF2qc7tcpfrQjC9TuG7JoLCjRf5xIkbMiaBcYJJdJJFqBQytreeqGfzRMgnAEE5VM8UulZUwHOEgesOrwOm7nXzOQNVJhjSz/s2000/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3SUisfA6-SkPbydazpiTBPL5KMPGKqtzOBjs_jyQJtJKoSp1etU84O1xXMURxDu5hb4Z_HbpiLTe_4r2ReuYgsvFmF2qc7tcpfrQjC9TuG7JoLCjRf5xIkbMiaBcYJJdJJFqBQytreeqGfzRMgnAEE5VM8UulZUwHOEgesOrwOm7nXzOQNVJhjSz/s16000/5.png" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-16220616904030900872018-06-04T07:00:00.000+10:002018-06-04T07:00:02.497+10:00Lessons From a Kindred Spirit.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://img00.deviantart.net/6f43/i/2009/307/f/b/anne_of_green_gables_xd_by_suobi_chan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="800" height="291" src="https://img00.deviantart.net/6f43/i/2009/307/f/b/anne_of_green_gables_xd_by_suobi_chan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently I have been reading Anne of Green Gables to my 7 year old. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anne is a girl dear to my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a child of the 90's I grew up watching the classic <a href="https://archive.org/details/AnneOfGreenGables1985Part1" target="_blank">Anne movie</a>. But it wasn't until after the little one was born that I purchased a 90c Kindle edition and delved into the literary world of Avonlea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But boy oh boy! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know there are some die hard Megan Follows fans out there but the books leave the movie in the dust. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8tC44XUpMJq8UcjwW61KXuhP4-dNSjNqMKCg5lV-yZ0d553GJ3YCoKMRAfUH96I1IRi7smDXbSf8zSX_AGiFEomsPiW99oQF5EudBUfGcNljxG39D1_L8Z1Ml5HxXHWPEeZYNofkyN4/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8tC44XUpMJq8UcjwW61KXuhP4-dNSjNqMKCg5lV-yZ0d553GJ3YCoKMRAfUH96I1IRi7smDXbSf8zSX_AGiFEomsPiW99oQF5EudBUfGcNljxG39D1_L8Z1Ml5HxXHWPEeZYNofkyN4/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like many lovers of the series I feel Anne to be a kindred spirit and have often wondered if upon reading the books we try and be a little more like Anne and thus loving her all the more or if, (and I think this one is more likely) upon reading the books we find in them someone who thinks, feels and acts like us we all at once feel a little less alone in the world. And so, we read on crying laughing and hanging our heads in shame along with this adorable ranga. Our hearts fill with pride as she reaches adulthood and wisdom without loosing any of her romantic spunk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, It has been really nice to read these to my little one. She has taken a great liking to Anne and often wears her Anne-ish plaits decorated with flowers found on the walk to school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought it would be fun to look at some of the juiciest passages of the book and reflect on the deep and lasting messages that I think make up why the book has been one of my very favourites.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first is a passage we read tonight from almost the end. It comes after Anne has studied a year at Queens Academy and is awaiting the posting of exam results and most importantly the winner of the class medal and Avery Scholarship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She is waiting with her friend Jane. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Jane was smiling and happy; examinations were over and she was comfortably sure she had made a pass at least; further considerations troubled Jane not at all; she had no soaring ambitions and consequently was not affected with the unrest attendant thereon. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>For we pay a price for everything we get or take in this world; and although ambitions are well worth having they are not to be cheaply won, but exact their dues of work and self denial, anxiety and discouragement." Anne of Green Gables - Chapter 36 - LM Montgomery</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This passage hits me in the guts when I think about the way we compare ourselves to others. I think we often want what others happen but don't stop to consider the price they paid to get it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The person with the amazing career may have sacrificed any life but that career. They work hard networking and staying up late to make sure work is done and promotions are made available.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The person with a million children is probably going without sleep or private trips to the toilet. If they look like they have it together it is because they have worked hard to be organised, thought hard about being an intentional parent, prayed, agonised about decisions and given so much time away from themselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The person with the amazing intstagram feed and thousands of followers spends time working on getting those followers and curating their life. They too network by creating a community online and keeping up the comments and follows. They create lots of interesting content. It all takes time, skill and effort. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The person with the beautiful and flawless house spends hours of labour making it so. They've got a system and I do not know what magic they posess!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Their ambitions are well worth having but they are not cheaply won. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jane has no ambition in regards to her marks. She is a kind and sensible girl. One of Annes closest friends but in this situation is content with a pass mark. And so on the day the grades are coming out she wears a smile. She is confident, happy and ok. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anne, has aspirations for her marks. She wants to come out top and so she has put in much much more effort. And with her effort comes anxiety. She is pale and quiet and cannot bring herself to check the bulletin board where the marks are posted. She has nothing to fear (SPOILERS!) she has worked hard and it definitely pays off. But still, this is her area and so her she feels the trade off of ambition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Neither girl is lacking, each is where they want to be and both are content in this situation with their lot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's an important lesson to learn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ambitions are a wonderful thing. Anne had them, LM Montgommery heartily approves of them, and even more now than back in Annes day we have the whole world of ambition open to us, but I think sometimes we want the win without the work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is ok to be like Jane and let things slide for the sake of our sanity, happiness or sleep. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But remember that you gotta keep wearing that smile if you scrape in with a 51. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's also ok to be like Anne and work your socks off for a goal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But remember you can't have it all at once. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Such wisdom and feminism all rolled into a wonderful ball. Sage advice that I'm sure is timeless. </span><br />
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<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-16071045409151447642018-05-07T07:00:00.000+10:002018-05-07T13:44:00.462+10:00The club no one wants to join<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This is an edited version of an essay I wrote about two years ago just before we found about Tiny and six months after I had a miscarriage. </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I wanted to share it because in that year I went through some very dark times and asked some very big questions of God. These are questions he answered in his goodness and it's my hope that someone out there reading this will be helped just like I was.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>It's important to remember that just because I sit here a woman with 3 small kids, my road has not been perfect. It's important to know that as I have shared my journey I have heard similar stories from <b>almost every woman. </b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5y7f7BQO51r5z0wko1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" height="462" src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5y7f7BQO51r5z0wko1_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Käthe Kollwitz, <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #535353; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.6667px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: oblique; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Grieving Mother</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.6667px; text-align: left;">, 1903</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">From the time my husband and I were dating we knew that infertility would be an issue for us because of some underlying physical conditions. Because of this, we decided early on in our marriage to not actively prevent having children. We were still young, the doctor had said this was in our favour but it might never happen. And then the heat intensified. I started to long for a baby. It was like the knowledge that it may never happen unleashed a great desire in my heart. I was not content to sit with the lot that God had given me but began to desire a child. I cried out to God to make me content no matter what, and then it happened. A baby. And this blog began. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Two years later an almost embarrassingly similar situation happened. I was pregnant again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I wrote in a blog post,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“I forgot.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I forgot about the last time when He listened and listened.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I forgot about the last time when he heard and answered. When he stilled my aching heart and gave me hope.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I forgot that He knows good and He knows me better than I do.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">But.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Once again. He answered.”</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I praised God for these two precious children. Any chance I could get I would tell people of their unlikely existence, giving praise to God. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">And then two years passed. We started to hope and try for another baby. I cried out to God and waited for another year. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">And then I fell pregnant. (Joy of joys!) But the day after discovering the news, we lost the baby.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It has been six months since we lost our baby and the heat has not been turned off. It is a constant heat which blasts into a roaring fire at times but never cools below a slow burning smoulder.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Without going too much into the details, there are particularly difficult times each month when we are trying to fall pregnant. These times fill me with anxiety there are books to read, techniques to try, bodily functions to analyze all to “improve our chances.” </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>They drive me to distraction. </b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Simple actions such as going to the bathroom fill me with fear.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I am feeding myself the lie that if I take a series of actions I can control everything. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I cease to trust God as the controller of my life and all things</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I blame myself and my inability to make a baby. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">My heart is hijacked by a belief that a "good mum" is one who is able to create babies in a pre-determined timeline in a predetermined way. I spend time living life in an anxiety induced rage with bouts of sadness and crying based around my inability to have control of my reproductive system. I trowel the depths of the internet searching for ways to <b>be better</b> instead of digging into God’s word to find out who He is. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Things don’t get done around the house, my husband and I become distant and my kids get scared of angry mummy. I feel completely justified in my actions.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In January 2016 I went to see my doctor as I had just taken a positive pregnancy test the day before but thought I was losing my baby. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">She spoke some very wise words “At this point, whatever is going to happen will happen. All we can do is just wait and see.” </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It was as though I hit rock bottom like the author of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A81-88&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 119:81-88</a> </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">My eyes had not failed, nor had the arrogant cast a trap for me but my careful planning and worry had failed me. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>I was completely out of control.</b> </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">From this place of rock bottom I was able to turn to God with unyielding trust. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I could do <b>nothing</b> in my own strength.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In my weakness it is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A10&version=NIV" target="_blank">God who is strong</a> God is timeless and has made all things. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+8&version=NIV" target="_blank">And yet he is mindful of me.</a> </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He knows my struggle because he has felt the loss of a child first hand. His precious Son.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> He is also our good father who waits for us to come back to him when our lack of control leaves us in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A11-32&version=NIV" target="_blank">pig pen</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I knew that whatever happened, God would still be God.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Although I would have been excused for crumpling in a heap and doing absolutely nothing, Jesus had rescripted the inner logic of my heart. There was no room for despair and I was filled instead with peace. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This is not to say I was not sad, or unwavering in my trust. I felt a lot of guilt about how to be sad. Surely, I told myself, If I trust God then I do not need to be upset. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>But a lost child demands to be mourned.</b> The pain was fresh and real the whole experience still screamed at me words of failure and disappointment. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">How could I possibly give my sadness room and yet still bring praise to God?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I needed to feel the sadness and take it in prayer to God. To come to him crying and falling apart and rest at the foot of the cross.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">For weeks I would listen to Christian music that would prompt emotion <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw" target="_blank">“Oceans,”</a> <a href="https://soundcloud.com/chelseamoonmusic/16-be-still-my-soul-hidden" target="_blank">“Be Still My Soul,”</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjOboFsaxzk" target="_blank">“All Is Well.”</a> </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I read passages of scripture to remind me of the truth. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=NIV" target="_blank">Job</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+3&version=NIV" target="_blank">Lamentations 3</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 1</a>21. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I would watch really sad movies about loss and grief and try to fit the truths I knew about God into the godless narrative of the film.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">By understanding who God is in that moment and trusting him I could be sad without letting that sadness overwhelm me.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I can also go through each month knowing that God is the one who provides and is in control. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I can unyieldingly trust in the Lord and not obsess over the details.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Of course it is one thing to be content in my own sadness but it is quite another to be joyful when others have what I do not. When others anounce their pregnancies I feel happy for them but also the pang of disappointment.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It is in this moment that I have a choice. I could burn with anger against them, I could curse them and God for rubbing it in my face. <b>I chose to be happy for them.</b> Genuinely happy. Because I am. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I don’t want anyone else to know the pain I feel. I want them to feel loved and to know that despite my suffering I can still be happy for others because of Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">But I know I don't always respond in this third way. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Often I believe I know better than God not only in my life but in the lives of others. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">For my life, I believe that right now, a baby is the best thing for me and the idea that God would allow my friend, or drug addict etc to have a baby is incredibly unjust. I feel jealous and bitter.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> This has two really terrible consequences. Firstly I am not trusting Gods plan and Gods sense of justice and secondly I am focusing on what I don’t have instead of what I do. If I continue in these thoughts I will fall into a pit of self centred anxiety. I will live my life longing for more and angry at God.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>God is just. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A1-8&version=NIV" target="_blank">Jesus tells a parable about God as the just judge.</a> God will see justice done for his chosen ones. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He promises justice, not a baby. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He promises to be with me, not a baby. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He promises to bless me, not a baby. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I cannot know his exact plan but I know that he has never promised me a baby. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He hears me cry out day and night and <b>it is enough just to know that I am being heard. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He hears and listens and sometimes acts and gives us what we desire at the right time according to his justice. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He also teaches us faith and you can only learn how to endure when you have to go through something hard. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He knows what I need. He knows what my friend needs. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">He even knows what the drug addict needs and it is not my job to guess. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>It is my job to trust him. </b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It is often easier to focus on what we don’t have. As I weep for the lack of a third child I have often neglected the two I have. I am teaching them to grumble rather than to find joy in God through their own suffering. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I can remember when they started growing inside me. I felt such thankfulness to God. They were truly a miracle. God had done what I thought was impossible. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Praying with my husband early in our marriage I had readied myself for a life without biological children and here I have two!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Even through our miscarriage I can be thankful for the mountain of people who rallied around us with food, flowers, love and prayers. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we had just moved to a new church/job/city it enabled people to quickly come into our lives with love which was such a comfort.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So what would it take for me to be content? I can focus on what I <i>can</i> do rather than what I’m missing. I could look into adoption or foster care, I could help lift the burden for friends with newborns. Making meals or caring for them and their baby.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">There are some positives about being out of the newborn stage. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">No nappies, more sleep, less baby fog. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I am freed up to do more ministry that was impossible a few years ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">When I get caught up thinking about babies I forget the other things God may have in store If I look at where he has put me now I can serve him with a content heart to His glory and not mine.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In conclusion, I will strive to look forward to the day when all my longings are fulfilled in Christ. I am a long way off. I keep thinking I know the best way my longings can be fulfilled. In reality, life in the new creation may look quite different. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I may not have children of my own, I may never feel the kicks of a babe in my womb that I long for so much. God knows the good that he desires to give and it will be <b>truly good</b>. The joys of this world, as Paul says in Philippians are a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-69214337055051349572018-04-11T14:22:00.000+10:002018-04-11T14:22:39.014+10:00Rowan's Lullaby<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />A few years ago when I had a brief spurt of blogging I also decided to turn Friday nights into creativity night. I did a few different creative things. Opened an Etsy shop, made clothes and recorded some audiobooks. There are also some super cute videos of Lu and I singing some tunes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7403026706296237805" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>So, I've reinstated Friday night creativity and recorded this little lullaby while I was trying to put a not so sleepy baby to sleep.<br />
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It's not fancy and I'm still trying to figure out garage band but if it puts a kid to sleep it's a winner in my book.<br />
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My rules for recording songs on a friday is that the song must be recorded and mixed in the one evening otherwise I will never ever finish. So it's there in all it's imperfect glory.<br />
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Hope you enjoy it. </div>
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If you like what you hear feel free to click the little cloud icon up the top for some more tunes.</div>
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/426540696&color=%23a5b8bf&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-78343570207477072652018-04-10T07:00:00.000+10:002018-04-13T07:26:59.304+10:00Not finished.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://artsinspiration.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/b_howard_tangye.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; user-select: none;" width="478" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://artsinspiration.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/howard-tangye/#jp-carousel-1656" target="_blank">Image Credit Howard Tangye</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yep, we all do it. But why? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course comparison is a part of life and sometimes can be a helpful nudge to pull your socks up but I'm talking about that niggly voice that sits in your head telling you that you're missing out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That comparison voice that really is the thief of joy*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And what is at the heart of this little voice? The idea that you are incomplete. You are not finished. There is still more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You renovate your bathroom only to visit a friend who has done the same. All of a sudden you want to get out your sledge hammer and start again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You bought a top last year that now is out of fashion and something you once paraded in front of the mirror in becomes an embarrasment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You run a few k's and start eating better leading to a slimmer looking bod only to find that your gal on instagram runs better times and did the whole 30 and is looking so much better than you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You're back from your two week trip backpacking around Europe but realised you missed out on all the amazing things your friend did on their 4 week trip. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Your kid wakes up a bazillion times in the night. Your friend looks incredibly well rested. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You want to be more, see more, do more have more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is not done and you know it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There's this guy Paul in the Bible. He's pretty amazing. Kinda nauseatingly so. He's always followed the law, had a high ranking important job, been in the right circles. He's the guy you'd hate if he wasn't so darn nice. If anyone could feel finished then it would be him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's pretty tempting to look at Pauls example and just think you need to try harder. Just be a little more faithful, hang a little more in the right circles, get the right job, follow the rules better and just BE AWESOME. Isn't that what it's all about?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's what Paul says **</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-3-7" id="en-NIV-29429" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29429A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29429A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> for the sake of Christ.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></i><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-8" id="en-NIV-29430" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29430B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29430B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Christ Jesus my Lord, </span></i></span><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">for whose sake I have lost all things. </span></i></span><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I consider them garbage, </span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-3-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">that I may gain Christ<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29430C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29430C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-9" id="en-NIV-29431" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">and be found in him, </span></span></i><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29431D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29431D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-3-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">but that which is through faith in</span><span class="text Phil-3-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"> </span>Christ</span></span></i><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">—the righteousness<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29431E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29431E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> that comes from God on the basis of faith. </span></i></span><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Philippians 3:7-10</span></i></span><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To paraphrase, he's saying;</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All that awesome stuff I'm known for? It is worth nothing compared to knowing Jesus. Anything that might have made me look good is just garbage. It's never enough and it never could be enough. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And when I see that, I see how good God is and how he doesn't want my shiny behaviour or my fancy job, my renovation or my great clothes, he wants me to trust him and let him do his job of being God. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I can see him as he is and see myself as I am THEN I will have gained something worth having.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What does Paul boast in? </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not himself but in Jesus who took all our comparison and our not finished squeamishness and as he was nailed to the cross said IT IS FINISHED!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ad as he did so all the things that we thought mattered fell into the dung heap like the garbage they are. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That sense of unfinished business we feel in out hearts and try to plug with things of the world is healed and made whole by Jesus. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our desire to put confidence in our ability to save ourselves holds nothing. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">AND PHEW! We take a sigh of relief! This comparison fame is exhausting isn't it? </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you feel it? </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't keep up.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then, Paul writes some gold. This is my favourite part. Here's where it gets real. </span></span><br />
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<span class="text Phil-3-12" id="en-NIV-29434" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29434W" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29434W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but I press on to take hold<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29434X" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29434X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.</span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-3-13" id="en-NIV-29435" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Brothers and sisters, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-3-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">But one thing I do: </span><span class="text Phil-3-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Forgetting what is behind<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29435Z" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29435Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and straining toward what is ahead,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></i><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I press on <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29436AA" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29436AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>toward the goal to win the prize<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29436AB" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29436AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> for which God has called<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29436AC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29436AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14</span></i></span><br />
<span class="text Phil-3-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not about perfection, but pressing on. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When times are tough and your walking along - press on</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you're feeling great and sprinting - press on</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you're alone, lean on Jesus - press on</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you're with others, grab them by the hand - press on</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When all you can do is lift your head off the ground - press on</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each season of our lives will look different all we can do is press on whatever the season. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The race is finished. The prize has been won.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We get to press on in joy and bring others along on the way. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We see those comparisons for what they are, loss for the sake of Christ. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">HE is God. We don't need to be.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So where does your confidence lie?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*This is a Theodore Roosevelt quote. I've read a few articles that oppose this idea and I totally agree with them. We need to be open to other peoples ideas but I'm taking this idea in a different direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">**</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3&version=NIV" style="font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">Here's a link to read the context</a></span>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-22213212749959972892018-04-09T07:00:00.000+10:002018-04-09T07:00:12.583+10:00SEVENMy big girl is seven years old.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG_boKOyQ266QHLkAYk36mLuvLbsM6HgZUORqYXB0iSqMhExTzZoKR_5SjEaD_aGNALxB5VtY4CnJDQsYh3VystDgw-XUHrfxCyEfh8Lig7M-Dm7rBWV-i29xQKxVZw5cEjMlNFhSvOU/s1600/lucy+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG_boKOyQ266QHLkAYk36mLuvLbsM6HgZUORqYXB0iSqMhExTzZoKR_5SjEaD_aGNALxB5VtY4CnJDQsYh3VystDgw-XUHrfxCyEfh8Lig7M-Dm7rBWV-i29xQKxVZw5cEjMlNFhSvOU/s1600/lucy+7.png" /></a><br />
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She's getting pretty grown up and I'm feeling like we're coming into a new stage of parenting.<br />
We've been requested to not use the word "cute" with our big girl anymore and you know what? I'm totally fine with that.<br />
Our big girl is kind, creative, witty, observant, helpful, fun and so great for a chat.<br />
She's moved beyond the world of cutie pie and into the awesome world of big girl proper.<br />
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She has such a keen and observant mind and cracks dry jokes that are pretty hilarious.<br />
She makes friends pretty well and plays imaginitive games with them. At school she plays koalas and her friends have invented a language to go with it.<br />
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A few months ago she really hit her stride with reading and has launched herself into reading chapter books. Roald Dahl, Billie B Brown, Thea Stilton and anything she can get her hands on. It is a joy to my heart.<br />
She is playing the violin so well. We go through rough patches every once in a while where she looses the joy a bit but she is pretty amazing. I have to remind myself of how impressive it is that her tiny fingers can play such complicated pieces. It is one of my favourite parts of the day practicing with her.<br />
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She is a creative soul and spends most of her afternoons making potions out of bits and pieces she has found in the garden. Mostly kafir lime leaves. I am always the smell tester of said potions and boy are they strong!!<br />
She loves to draw and invent and loves discovering all the bugs in the garden. We now have a pretty large knowledge of our particular local bugs and spiders. So. many. spiders everywhere. She has made me brave.<br />
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She's a friendly kid but takes a while to warm up. But when she does she can shout the house down and has a fiery temper like her Mama. She's a perfectionist and doesn't like to have a go till she knows she can do it. She knows her mind and doesn't do things with the crowd. There are good and bad things about this. She marches to her own beat and mostly inspires others to march along with her.<br />
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And yet, for all her independence and everything she still is my little girl who needs a snuggle with her mama. And for that I am grateful.<br />
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Here are her answers to The Questions.<br />
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A<span style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Favourite colour - green</span></span><br />
<div style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Favourite toy - Toto</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Favourite fruit - Apples</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Favourite thing to watch on TV - Magic School Bus</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Favourite food to have for lunch - Sandwich vegemite</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Favourite thing to wear - Skirt from granny</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Favourite game - Hide and seek</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Favourite snack - Fruit</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Favourite animal - Baby monkey</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Favourite song - Annie - together at last</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11. Favourite book - Thea and Geronimo Stilton I don't need anything but you</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12. Your best friend - Rowie </span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">13. Favourite cereal - Rice bubbles</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">14. Favourite thing to do outside - Play imaginative games</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15. Favourite thing to drink - Water</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">16. Favourite holiday - Melbourne</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">17. What do you like to take to bed? Toto</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">18. Favourite food for breakfast - Vegemite on toast</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">19. What would you like to have for dinner on your birthday? - Pork buns and chicken skewers</span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">20. What would you like to be when you grow up? - Scientist biologist </span></span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">21. Favourite shop - Kmart</span></span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">22. What do you like to do when it's raining? - stay inside and play with rower and read stories</span></span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">23. When it's not raining? - play outside</span></span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">24. Favourite movie - Annie</span></span><br /><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">25. Favourite game with your sister - School game</span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-76531776603245651822018-03-27T07:00:00.000+11:002018-03-27T07:00:25.758+11:00FIVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My little girl is five years old.<br />
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She is a ball of opposites.</div>
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Fiercely bold and adventurous yet sensitive and tiny. She is amazingly agile but once refused to whack a piñata. "Too scary mama"</div>
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Loud and funny yet likes to do rabbit and mouse impersonations. Still.</div>
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Helpful and thoughtful yet often goes along with crazy schemes of her own making. Like the time she practiced writing letter A...all across our house...in permanent marker. I thought I had stumbled across an anarchist hideaway<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">She has a big heart that reaches out to others but often leaves her undies on the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">I love her. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">She has taken on Kindergarten like a champ and is starting to read and do all kinds of independent things. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">She has started playing the violin and gets a bit flustered but knows all the tunes (to sing) so well. Thank you big sister. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">She loves cooking with me and her special job is to set the table for dinner. She is a pro at cracking eggs and chopping mushrooms and loves making brightly coloured pancakes which grossly come out the other end brightly coloured too. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">She has a great imagination and is happy to be on her own creating worlds and adventures for her mind. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">She's pretty great.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt;">Here's some questions we ask the kids each Birthday. I'm not sure I've ever blogged Norah's answers but Lucy's are back in the blogging abyss somewhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Favourite colour - blue</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Favourite toy - Coconut monkey</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Favourite fruit - Strawberries</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Favourite thing to watch on TV - Magic School Bus</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Favourite food to have for lunch - Sushi</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Favourite thing to wear - Dress from Granny.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Favourite game - Uno</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Favourite snack - Donuts</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Favourite animal - Rabbits</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Favourite song - Trolls - Hair Up<i style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11. Favourite book - Thea and Geronimo Stilton</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12. Your best friend - Maddie</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">13. Favourite cereal - Cheerios</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">14. Favourite thing to do outside - Play on the swings.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15. Favourite thing to drink - Ice cream when it's melted. <i>(?)</i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">16. Favourite holiday - Granny and Waa Waa's house</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">17. What do you like to take to bed? Little grey mouse.<i> (Toy lol)</i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">18. Favourite food for breakfast - Cheerios...but actually pancakes.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">19. What would you like to have for dinner on your birthday? - Pizza!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">20. What would you like to be when you grow up? - Science teacher</span></span><br />
<span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">21. Favourite shop - Kmart <i>(not sure whether to be proud or ashamed)</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">22. What do you like to do when it's raining? - Stay inside and eat ice cream.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">23. When it's not raining? - Go outside and run.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">24. Favourite movie - Annie</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">25. Favourite game with your sister - Chess</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.tuscanybrown.com/2015/04/two-years-old.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gVE-Hw4H90GZbJj8IZrlOLxgEAkN-uXigpQePSYRDxPtBUDpYjScLLCOi3zUZVl4ssUND_WmwsHLhBuLyyJHDi6rCLsE6cdysbj0_10Kim8SOcAhTuNWVbhIeHdUztkqkiOz1aKvagQ/s1600/Norah+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-34806483167735256312018-03-26T07:00:00.000+11:002018-03-26T07:00:09.283+11:00When I'm 80<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my very favourite bloggers, Faith <a href="https://faithdwight.com/2018/03/21/the-woman-i-want-to-be/" target="_blank">wrote a post</a> the other day about the woman she wants to be. Her writing often speaks really deeply to my heart. She writes honestly and beautifully about everyday things and the way they can be quite beautiful and her post had me tearing up quite a few times. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">She challenged me to write something similar so hear it is. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">You should definitely check out hers though. And her beautiful photography. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I am 80 and I look in the mirror the woman staring back at me will have lived more life than I can possibly imagine today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her face and body will bear the marks of a life lived.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She may have never bought an owned a house but I hope she has been a home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to have always had an open door and a well stocked fridge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An open ear and a well stocked pool of wisdom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope the messiness of my house doesn't just end when my kids get older and better at tidying up after themselves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope I'm never too fancy to have people over when there's a washing basket on the dining room table and dishes in the sink. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope that she's finally mastered how to make soft pretzels and that she is never short of a kitchen hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope that her walls still are covered with photos and precious pieces of art made by tiny hands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I hope there's still a husband to chat theology with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We will have passed the baton on to the younger generation and I hope that our years will have taught us how to encourage and nurture them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to be the old lady at church who chats to the young ones and sighs at their babies remembering both how hard and how delicious those days were.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She may not have traveled the world but I hope she has walked many roads beside her friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather than postcards on the wall I want to have memories in my heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hard roads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joyous roads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Belly laughs and ugly cries. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to see a sparkle in those eyes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to have never been too busy or important for my children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to have taken them on the adventure with us and find contentment as they grow and change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She may have not become famous but I hope she has the praise of one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to have just done the thing in front of me and been faithful in that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever place I find myself at 80 I hope that I find myself there after small faithful steps, dreaming big dreams but knowing where the glory truly lies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She may not have had everything she wanted but I hope her heart is brimming with Peace Joy and Love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to look back on the hard days or the days I went without and see the good that was made through it all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to see all the things I was worried about through the lens of time and realise what is truly important. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to be able to pinpoint on the map of my life the times when God was faithful through it all and in my heart rejoice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>And here's where I shamelessly steal a line because it was so awesome</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to have spent my life and not saved it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want it to have been good and to sit in my old age with the contentment of a life well lived. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not an easy or necessarily a fun life. Not a fairytale or a trendy hipster </span>existence<span style="font-family: inherit;"> but,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">a good life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-66137875909681486482018-03-20T07:00:00.000+11:002018-03-20T07:00:35.620+11:00Sourdough<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2cJbkeCR3Cp6s7XNO-yFwZs_lFnfLv-62yRof7PNSdNC9QruLTlUWDrm64AtNpo5TJ3LBgQdSFBiXqefRjeFcfbUfYkcIAhltcwEjZBoDt7s_KBxuMNIx5c48VTwew0pMgyGoqD0wO4/s1600/sourdough.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2cJbkeCR3Cp6s7XNO-yFwZs_lFnfLv-62yRof7PNSdNC9QruLTlUWDrm64AtNpo5TJ3LBgQdSFBiXqefRjeFcfbUfYkcIAhltcwEjZBoDt7s_KBxuMNIx5c48VTwew0pMgyGoqD0wO4/s1600/sourdough.png" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A lovely friend gave me some of her sourdough starter a little while ago and since then I've been really enjoying crafting my own loaves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The long drawn out process of sourdough really appeals to my current lifestyle. My dough needs little bits of attention throughout a 36hr period and that works so well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's what I do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Night Before</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a container with a lid place</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- 75g water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-75g flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- 1 tbs of starter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got my starter from a lovely friend but you can make your own. I haven't tried it and it looks pretty difficult but is surely not impossible!?!?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, in a bowl place</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- 400g flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- 260g water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This makes a pretty wet dough which can sometimes go flat so you've got to play around with the water level. Maybe less maybe more. This is called the autolyse and it is a fancy name which means I Have No Idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I leave those two bits overnight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next Day</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the morning/when i remember after getting home from school drop off I mix the two bits together and give it a good kneed for about 10 mins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I use a slap and stretch method which is really fun to do and lets ALL the angry vibes out. Basically you grab the ball of dough, slap it on the bench and then pull it off the bench so that it stretches out. Other than sounding like something you might do to induce labour it is the thing to do if you want lovely sourdough holes in your loaf. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I give the dough about an hour while I put the baby to sleep and do some laundry. I have left the slap and stretch till after said baby was alseep but only do that if you want your baby to wake up while you are 3 minutes in with tons of dough on your hands. It will happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After about an hour (which really means when I remember I'm making sourdough today) I add 10g of water with a tbs of salt. They say sourdough really needs the salt and it's true. It really brings out the flavour of the dough. Do not leave it out or you will feel like you're eating polystyrene. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I plop the salty water in and then kinda squeeze the dough with my fingers. Don't worry about it too much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then comes the bulk ferment which goes for 2-4 hrs. or 6 or 8 or whenever. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every half hour or so I do a manoeuvre called the stretch and fold which also brings on bubbles and not babies. You pick up one side of the dough and then stretch it over the top. Do this 4 times from each side and you're good to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After that's done I shape the dough ball into a nice smooth dough ball and pop it in a little tea towel blanket in a bowl in the fridge and say goodnight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next Day</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the morning (again usually after school dropoff) I heat up the oven as hot as it goes and then put the dough ball in my dutch oven. Once the oven is hot I pop the dutch oven in for about 20 mins with the lid on then 20-30 with the lid off. I know it's done when the outside is lovely and dark brown. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then you have to wait and not dig into that juicy hot loaf till it's cool. But once it is...slice it up and slather it with butter. oh yeah.</span><br />
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A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rinny_e/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Rin</a> (@rinny_e) on <time datetime="2018-02-14T12:31:57+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 14, 2018 at 4:31am PST</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-81441464382620303822018-03-14T07:00:00.000+11:002018-03-14T07:00:19.438+11:00my baby - 10 months old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfAfvoVrsBabahQVSGGdO0lDgJahXwdq_p2pQ3ZDWIxf7xdy_fW1jsFRC-tKOGwFMpPZSqHsxOeH6zfCymDwnLBhJXccVtO_N9OoKAy1NopyQ3YkQYZ6kQNyFEhd210sINkzypEeTzK8/s1600/Rowie+the+joey.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="943" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfAfvoVrsBabahQVSGGdO0lDgJahXwdq_p2pQ3ZDWIxf7xdy_fW1jsFRC-tKOGwFMpPZSqHsxOeH6zfCymDwnLBhJXccVtO_N9OoKAy1NopyQ3YkQYZ6kQNyFEhd210sINkzypEeTzK8/s640/Rowie+the+joey.png" width="637" /></a></div>
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In May last year our precious little baby boy was born.<br />
He's now 10 months old and while his life has been pretty well documented on Instagram, I wanted to write about him here to capture some memories of his baby days.<br />
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He is a super smiley baby.<br />
He's got a cheeky grin and a great giggle.<br />
He really likes things that make noise. Any item is given a shake to determine whether it makes sound. Soundless items are often dumped without ceremony. He loves when I move my hand on his mouth while he sings. Endless entertainment. He loves <strike>playing</strike> hitting the piano and he tolerates my almost constant singing at him. A song for every occasion.<br />
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He crawls around the house like crazy, usually looking for me. (Thankyou 10 month separation anxiety) His knees and toes are always covered in dust and all the Lego is repeatedly put up out of mouths way. I'm not sure if he'll match his sisters and walk before the end of the month. Watch this space.<br />
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He loves reading books with feely bits and we read the "Thats not my ____" books A LOT. He quite likes being outside and I often spend time just sitting and watching with him on our front steps. He forces me to slow down. He is pretty fascinated by the vacuum cleaner and the washing machine but has a low tolerance for not Mamas attention. And so when he is awake we sit and play and read and sing and count his little piggy toes.<br />
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He is very loved by all the ladies at bible study and is generous with his wide smiles. When all the stars align and he is neither tired nor hungry he'll even crawl off and find a new lap to sit in.<br />
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He has a bit of a love hate relationship with food. Of course, being put in the high chair means going out of Mamas arms and that really is sometimes a bit too much to bear. But he does love a good bit of avocado, banana, yoghurt, meat and veg. But not together. Much of the food ends up on the floor.<br />
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He loves faces. Particularly pinching or hitting them to see what happens. He is learning the words "gentle" and "no". At the moment a stern reproof gets a giggle but he's learning. His big sisters howling in his face after a good hair yank is having a bit of an impact on him.<br />
Oh, his sisters. He adores them and they him. Except when he pulls their hair.<br />
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We are all so glad our boy is part of the family.<br />
It is exhausting having 3 kids. Life rushes past and I feel as though I barely come up for air.<br />
I'd love an uninterrupted sleep and I'm loosing hair and a bit of sanity but to see this little fella and the way his eyes light up when he sees me, or the way he cackles when I push him in the swing fills my heart right up.<br />
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We hoped and prayed for him for so long and some days I barely believe that he is here with us.<br />
He's such a treasure.<br />
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<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-83540819391415310892018-03-12T07:00:00.000+11:002018-03-12T07:00:15.917+11:00He always forgave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think I've said it before in this space but I'll say it again, </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I LOVE reading the Old Testament. </span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something about reading the cultural context and history that Jesus was born into adds so many dimensions to the gospel story we read in the New Testament. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few months ago I was reading a Psalm which spoke about loving God's laws and I thought to myself, "Heck, I don't even know half of God's laws let alone love them!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I decided to read the more gnarly books of the OT and find out what the deal is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm hoping to post lots of reflections as I dig in but here's one that really stood out and it's about forgiveness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">See I think we often think of God as depicted in the OT as a wrathful angry God, keeping score of the actions of his people and destroying them if they step a toe out of line. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yep, there's some pretty intense scenes of judgement in there but deep within all of the crazy comes this little episode in Numbers Chapter 14</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God's people have just made up their minds to head on back to Egypt and when some of the leaders try to reason with them they start picking up rocks to hurl the leaders way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These are dark days for God's people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Relations are fractured and if I were Moses I'd be pretty ready to step down and go holiday on a Greek island somewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Moses, the leader of God's people has led them out of slavery in Egypt. God pulled him out of his comfortable hidey hole in the outskirts of civilization and sent him deep into Pharoahs court to do His bidding. He sees a faithful and thankful multitude go out through the parting of the sea to safety and the promise of a new land beyond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> And, Moses has seen God's people loose hope. Time and time again. When things get a little hard they have been quick to move on to other options. They grumble and whine and wish for slavery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Their actions have consequence but as we see in this story their actions do not put them out of reach of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's what Moses says;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/14-17.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>17</b></a></span>“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/14-18.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>18</b></a></span>‘The <span class="name" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/14-19.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>19</b></a></span>In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/14-20.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;">20</a></b></span>The <span class="name" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> replied, <b>“I have forgiven them, as you asked.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Moses pleads with God for the forgiveness of this messed-up bunch of grizzly complainers. He sticks by the people he has been given to lead. And God, in stead of sending them to bed without any dinner answers Moses plea with a yes. An of course. He will forgive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet their hearts are still wandering. They still wish they were back in Egypt or worse some wish they were dead rather than stranded in the desert. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But God forgives. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">His forgiveness is not reliant on their actions or their asking.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was and still is there for the taking. There is no secret key to unlock its power, no special handshake, no liturgy or routine. There can be no action to undo it nor amplify its potency. It is freely given and strong enough for all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BUT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just because God forgives again and again he still gives people what they want</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and many of God's people wanted nothing to do with him. So, he allows it. </span><br />
The land he had ready for them would not be theirs.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As CS Lewis writes <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/94244-alas-said-aslan-shaking-his-head-it-will-things-always" target="_blank">"All get what they want; they do not always like it."</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The door to God's kingdom was standing wide open and they walked in the opposite direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I often hear people wonder why God couldn't just forgive people without the need for Jesus to die. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading these verses really made the answer to that question clear in my mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He did forgive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He has forgiven. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He always forgave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But we would not walk through the door. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We would not walk through so Jesus came and obediently walked through the door himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All the times we picked up stones to throw at God, all the times we made plans to Go back to Egypt?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus took those stones into his body and took on that rejection himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So that we could not only be forgiven but that we could be HIS. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We can go knock on the door and see as it is opened wide. </span><br />
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<script async="" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-87973177569468434072018-03-04T23:32:00.003+11:002018-03-05T00:32:15.868+11:00I'm back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3D6L_ENbgdPjB6NYhObayk_GKGnYvZaySYqFxbEj2r2x77HyAXvsN5t27fpdcPjWqR0Ht1YQYHizfDGhRYKy6QG2o1mvrg93kFxmeoeKbVgpmvE8EjRsMJTXZy9CECQBz7oOWabvbOY/s1600/I%2527m+back.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3D6L_ENbgdPjB6NYhObayk_GKGnYvZaySYqFxbEj2r2x77HyAXvsN5t27fpdcPjWqR0Ht1YQYHizfDGhRYKy6QG2o1mvrg93kFxmeoeKbVgpmvE8EjRsMJTXZy9CECQBz7oOWabvbOY/s1600/I%2527m+back.png" /></a></div>
<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-75719220222399969412017-03-13T12:37:00.001+11:002017-03-13T12:37:47.419+11:003 - thirty oneSo there's this thing that happens when you have a baby for the third time. It's called not taking any bump shots till you are pretty embarrassingly far along. I actually have some shots from about 21 weeks but the other thing about having a baby for the third time is that Sunday night blogging sessions have been replaced with Sunday night naps in front of Netflix. Ah, progress.<br />
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So anyway, here are some shots from my 31st week of pregnancy with Tiny. Hopefully this will kickstart a flurry of blogging activity but to be frank, it probably wont.<br />
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Thirty one weeks has gone so quickly. It's been a really big journey that I would love to write about another time. So many emotions. So many afternoon naps.<br />
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But for now I sit writing this feeling all kinds of arms and legs moving inside my tummy and I feel thankful for the tears and sorrow, the joy and laughter, the kicks, the heartburn, the crazy sore hips and the little kisses Tiny's sisters are always planting on my tummy. I'm thankful to God who has brought me safe thus far and taught me so much about joy as tears poured down my face.<br />
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So here's some photos that I'm glad I took as a reminder of the goodness of God. Not just in giving me this Tiny gift that I had prayed for but being good even when he didn't.<br />
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And also just to remember that bump!<br />
Photos (and kisses) by Lu - who did not realise she had cut off my head in the last one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkT6IobABtSzwMSV_GM8O3l-ADUdZfgXi95I_uwUewsjOE-8eVTs0avBt2Th85LdzBYbciEqnYSN2RzPknBEEt-IjB4UtVxEan3JUObzVR7ewVEcpMvjS_oYUdw5DeYdX6Erbik55cy8/s1600/IMG_4992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK2C_4QppI_DwhD973SACfN7Zh3_84UWXQ2JSMdaw52TXwnXD6B7GkLj3XKURGVjQrh4LL5Z9TgVPmmnYmADAkUbQyw6bRyYrZW_TWh8J_CI504loABP2Qaxt4LCHmzCoFuE7fxmpJXA/s1600/IMG_4995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rqc8HclFapSTHqef2Q5i_hxIy9mUo9jQKUSBzcWKnMwXZuaSIuoIevlxxb60O-nery2Wojj3od7LxKiGz_pT8cEIHBM4TC8dwWRK3tjUqqTIQKDx3H8CXYT5oFvaIvmHRrgAjTpad5I/s1600/IMG_4993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgMsRlKzjwO6mOq-wnQDNHm6C7VUwnT0kdCJeT24GgnzN7NQecAENILaPqnoT6CBmhN-jrh3-PUvt9OPp0bWcvyTqitZEx5fBnQiANzjOXEVDdjf93rM3_XiljY9UNt20Evh8-izGsPM/s1600/IMG_4996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rqc8HclFapSTHqef2Q5i_hxIy9mUo9jQKUSBzcWKnMwXZuaSIuoIevlxxb60O-nery2Wojj3od7LxKiGz_pT8cEIHBM4TC8dwWRK3tjUqqTIQKDx3H8CXYT5oFvaIvmHRrgAjTpad5I/s1600/IMG_4993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rqc8HclFapSTHqef2Q5i_hxIy9mUo9jQKUSBzcWKnMwXZuaSIuoIevlxxb60O-nery2Wojj3od7LxKiGz_pT8cEIHBM4TC8dwWRK3tjUqqTIQKDx3H8CXYT5oFvaIvmHRrgAjTpad5I/s1600/IMG_4993.JPG" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgMsRlKzjwO6mOq-wnQDNHm6C7VUwnT0kdCJeT24GgnzN7NQecAENILaPqnoT6CBmhN-jrh3-PUvt9OPp0bWcvyTqitZEx5fBnQiANzjOXEVDdjf93rM3_XiljY9UNt20Evh8-izGsPM/s1600/IMG_4996.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK2C_4QppI_DwhD973SACfN7Zh3_84UWXQ2JSMdaw52TXwnXD6B7GkLj3XKURGVjQrh4LL5Z9TgVPmmnYmADAkUbQyw6bRyYrZW_TWh8J_CI504loABP2Qaxt4LCHmzCoFuE7fxmpJXA/s1600/IMG_4995.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkT6IobABtSzwMSV_GM8O3l-ADUdZfgXi95I_uwUewsjOE-8eVTs0avBt2Th85LdzBYbciEqnYSN2RzPknBEEt-IjB4UtVxEan3JUObzVR7ewVEcpMvjS_oYUdw5DeYdX6Erbik55cy8/s1600/IMG_4992.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkT6IobABtSzwMSV_GM8O3l-ADUdZfgXi95I_uwUewsjOE-8eVTs0avBt2Th85LdzBYbciEqnYSN2RzPknBEEt-IjB4UtVxEan3JUObzVR7ewVEcpMvjS_oYUdw5DeYdX6Erbik55cy8/s1600/IMG_4992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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If you'd like to see some much older baby bump photos, <a href="http://tuscanybrown.blogspot.com.au/search/label/weekly%20photo">click here.</a>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-57259068658828220232016-10-28T14:42:00.000+11:002018-03-05T00:32:48.274+11:00a little bit of family news..<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mcw1qfb3qCA" width="560"></iframe>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-47621468566912217322016-03-09T07:00:00.000+11:002016-03-09T07:00:20.770+11:00a sigh of relief<i>Lately I've been reflecting on life and babies and how uncertain those two things mixed together can be. The ideas that I've tried to write about below have been milling around in my brain and I really wanted to write them out into something. This might trigger some tough stuff for you so if you would like to talk, send me an email, I'd love to hear from you. It's very easy to feel very alone. </i><br />
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two pink lines and a heart filled with hope<br />
months of trying, you breathe, a sigh of relief.<br />
But hope can be short lived, a day or two it's over<br />
tears fall in secret, those lines forever written on your heart.<br />
<br />
But at last we've made it to a round swelling belly<br />
we're telling our friends, we're so excited we say<br />
at last we can breathe that sigh of relief, we've made it this far<br />
We're safe and in the clear just smooth sailing ahead<br />
but I can't feel the kicking, the dread sets in<br />
I'm holding that breath in and praying for our life.<br />
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A sigh of relief a small baby in my arms<br />
ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes<br />
But breathings not an option when that baby struggles to do so<br />
I can't let my guard down when this tiny one is mine.<br />
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The years trickle by and there's more to hold my breath for<br />
Walking, running, jumping theres so much danger all around<br />
I can't breathe, I can't breathe for all the things I fear<br />
There's no sigh of relief when I hear the stories<br />
How will I screw my child up? What should they know?<br />
What should they do?<br />
<br />
I breath a sigh of relief, I've made it, to see their first day at school.<br />
Pigtailed and beaming they run through the class door.<br />
But the breath gets short when I see my baby bullied<br />
my baby feeling shame for the beauty that they are.<br />
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They grow and they adapt but the breathing's never easy<br />
I feel my breath grow short thinking of what lies ahead.<br />
But one day I assure myself I'll breath that sigh of relief<br />
when they're safely out of home, married, wealthy, happy and safe.<br />
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But inside my heart I know that I'll always be watching<br />
I know that day of relief will never really come.<br />
I stare at those two lines filled with fear at what lies before me<br />
or what doesn't and that fills me with fear all the same.<br />
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But then a voice comes to greet me<br />
soft and gentle, firm and loud<br />
I am the Breath of Life he says<br />
come to me and breathe.<br />
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You can trust me with your baby<br />
You can trust me with your life<br />
You can trust me with your every breath whatever comes your way.<br />
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For I thought you up<br />
I made you<br />
I love you and<br />
I saved you.<br />
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I gave you breath that you might breathe.<br />
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When sorrow comes your way<br />
know this my child that I will never breathe a sigh of relief till you are safe at home.<br />
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<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-12317490788463725062016-03-08T07:00:00.000+11:002016-03-08T07:00:17.429+11:00call me mama rabbit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
This kid.<br />
<br />
She's got a killer sense of humour, a goofy laugh and a wild imagination.<br />
Some days she is a human little girl but most of the time she is a rabbit.<br />
Or a puppy, or a cat.<br />
<br />
But mostly a rabbit.<br />
<br />
With paws held in front of her she hops about the place sniffing at things and requesting carrots.<br />
She leaps about with lifelike accuracy despite her non-bunny size.<br />
<br />
Sometimes she will come jump on mummy bunny and give me a little bunny lick (yay).<br />
<br />
Sometimes the bunny will not get dressed because, "bunnies don't wear clothes."<br />
It is very hard to argue with this one.<br />
<br />
The bunny also likes to hop around at the shops. The bunny gets dirt on her knees and hands. Then the bunny wipes her face and looks like a poor gutter child. The bunny's mother looks like a neglectful parent.<br />
The bunny takes a very long time to hop anywhere and often goes for a fun ride in the bunny car at the grocery shops. (See above)<br />
The bunny likes the bunny car and shrieks about it to everyone she sees in the shops.<br />
This is pretty adorable.<br />
<br />
The bunny also talks about herself in the third person. Like Elmo.<br />
Sometimes<br />
"The bunny is tired" or<br />
"The bunny wants a carrot" or<br />
"The bunny loves his (always his) mummy bunny." M<br />
<br />
Melt<br />
<br />
But the best thing the bunny does is eat bunny food.<br />
<br />
It was a magical parenting moment when I offered the bunny a large piece of lettuce naming it Bunny Food. The eyes of that little rabbit lit up and she gobbled up the whole thing.<br />
Whoopeee!<br />
The bunny can stay.<br />
<br />
<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-89976687753463962362016-03-07T07:00:00.000+11:002016-03-07T07:00:05.681+11:00Gettin' SwizzyBefore Christmas I recorded a little cover of Taylor Swifts "Blank Space."<br />
It was a fun little challenge turning a poppy power song into a 6/8 folk ballad.<br />
<br />
Enjoy, and as always, forgive the dodgy quality of everything. I set myself the challenge of getting the whole thing done in one evening after getting two squealy girls to bed.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/250461905&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-31476445652866021002016-02-24T07:00:00.001+11:002016-02-24T07:00:12.378+11:00Crimmis 2015Yeh, it was ages ago but here are some pictures.<br />
<br />
We ended up having a bit of a quiet one on Christmas day for lots of different reasons.<br />
After the crazy of moving house it was kinda nice to just kick back the four of us.<br />
I know it gets said a lot but Christmas becomes so much more fun when you have kids.<br />
I can remember as an older teen and young adult thinking Christmas had become really boring but you should have seen me on Christmas eve wrapping presents and getting giddy over how excited the girls would be in the morning. I had decorated the house with a suitable amount of kitsch, dressed up the tree with its bright flashy lights and eaten the leftover lollies from the advent calendar.<br />
I see you tasty starburst.<br />
<br />
In the morning everyone slept in.<br />
Praise the Lord we have not reached crazy early Christmas wake up time yet.<br />
And praise the Lord for Christmas Eve services that run late and keep the kiddos up so that they take the aforementioned sleep in.<br />
PTL.<br />
<br />
So, we barely managed to open presents before rushing off to church clad in our brand spankin' Christmas dresses. Aaaaaaaaand we may have eaten lollies and chocolate for breakfast. #itschristmas<br />
<br />
After church we built Lego. I know right, such a chore. I don't think the girls were actually allowed to touch the lego for a good hour or so. Myl took the Cinderella castle and I took the Elven bakery. Took me right back to the Christmas of long ago.<br />
I'm sure my parents built my Lego stuff too.<br />
<br />
And then we ate.<br />
<br />
I think I made enough food for about 15 people. #itschristmas<br />
<br />
It was all pretty delicious and after it we decended into a food coma on the lounge.<br />
<br />
The girls and I made a sponge cake (my first) to celebrate Jesus' birthday.<br />
We blew out the candles and Smalls wondered when Jesus was showing up.<br />
She kept looking around and was a bit confused that we were blowing out his candles and singing him happy birthday when he clearly was not there. She thought it was hilarious.<br />
<br />
Cheers JC. Thanks for being born!<br />
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Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-23456071711242492102016-02-23T06:00:00.000+11:002016-02-23T06:00:07.689+11:002015<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dN8eMXGJwe0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Here's a little video I made of all the fun we had last year.<br />
<br />
The song is by Winterbourne who we saw many times busking in the Pitt St Mall. It brings so many happy 2015 memories.<br />
We've already raced into 2016 but I've been reflecting on the year that was.<br />
It was a pretty difficult year for our family.<br />
So much was up in the air for so much of the year.<br />
It felt like we were living in constant limbo unable to dig in but unable to get excited about the next adventure.<br />
<br />
It would be easy to look back at the year and say it was all bad.<br />
Our minds often work that way.<br />
It's easier to think on the negative but this video reminds me of the fun.<br />
We went on holidays and adventures.<br />
We lazed about and pulled crazy faces.<br />
<br />
It was a hard year but a year where we grew so much.Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-72915435093982212922016-02-22T07:00:00.000+11:002016-02-22T07:00:35.897+11:00BOOM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<br />
The girls invented a little game to be played in the car this week.<br />
<br />
It's a slight variation on the game Spotto in which you look out the car window for yellow coloured cars. When you spot a yellow car, you yell out "Spotto!" and then you win.<br />
Sounds fun? You ain't see nothing yet.<br />
<br />
This new game, let's call it Boom.<br />
Well, it starts out quite similarly. You look out your car window searching for yellow coloured cars but when you spot them you tell every member in the car and then together you shout "BOOM!"<br />
It is very important that <i>every </i>person driving in the car say BOOM. Otherwise the game is pointless and people start forming very strongly worded opinions.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the fun doesn't stop there. Once every person in the car has said BOOM the car explodes.<br />
Not the car you're driving in, the yellow car. It explodes.<br />
<br />
Not literally, gosh guys do you have no imagination?<br />
<br />
But it does, it explodes.<br />
<br />
It was at this point that I felt I needed to ask the inventor of the game a carefully worded question.<br />
<br />
"Do you think that perhaps this game might not be so fun for the people riding in the yellow cars?" I ask, not quite sure whether the answer may reveal my almost five-year-old to be an emerging psychopath.<br />
<br />
She of course has an answer for everything.<br />
<br />
"Oh mum, (said in an incredibly condescending tone) they get donkeys. Donkeys appear for them to ride on."<br />
<br />
Obviously.<br />
<br />
So all over town, previous occupants of yellow cars can now be seen riding donkeys like our dear Lord Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem.<br />
<br />
Things really got interesting when we pulled up next to a bright yellow hoon-mobile at the lights. It's occupants were busy drinking Tooheys New and making slightly rude hand gestures at their mate who was standing on the side of the road. He was replying with (ahem) a humorous display of his (ahem) manhood.<br />
<br />
Anyway, of course the girls could not miss this display of citrine conveyance and we all together shouted out "BOOM!"<br />
<br />
And for the next few minutes entertained ourselves with a giggle fest imagining these big tattoed delinquents riding on the backs of braying donkeys down the street.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-GJbfk51htzzt9FkqT4J1XN_tvKhwqfPcm5ZstdBLrT9IxkYRTrHOTKKAgaMkCInRhhI3bRJiwY6xMiFKcsOS9TpVAmQL8ggly28Gy6RWPgvdS5ITNgYKDpO_vW3vrv6Cd0GkQiKsx4/s1600/uLxCM.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-GJbfk51htzzt9FkqT4J1XN_tvKhwqfPcm5ZstdBLrT9IxkYRTrHOTKKAgaMkCInRhhI3bRJiwY6xMiFKcsOS9TpVAmQL8ggly28Gy6RWPgvdS5ITNgYKDpO_vW3vrv6Cd0GkQiKsx4/s1600/uLxCM.jpeg" /></a>Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-1711871087517730652015-09-10T07:00:00.000+10:002015-09-10T07:00:04.009+10:00Mama date - MatildaWaaaaay back in May, Myl bought Lu and I Matilda tickets for mothers day.<br />
It seemed like forever away but August came up before we knew it and off we went for a very special mama date.<br />
<br />
We spent most of the day as a family in Leichhardt, our old hood. We showed the girls our old house and they cared about as much as I care about the cricket score so that was ok.<br />
We walked around and sighed at how much things had changed and how things had stayed the same but we hadn't etc.<br />
<br />
Then we drove down into the city and parked near darling harbour.<br />
After a very seriously close shave with darling harbour, in which two small girls (we won't say who they belong to) were chasing seagulls and almost went for a swim, we parted ways. Smalls and Myl off for dumplings in Chinatown and a train (YES) trip home and Lu and I off for an adventure like no other.<br />
<br />
We had plenty of time to spare so we had dinner at Pancakes on the Rocks on Darling Harbour. (Lus' choice) A music film clip from The Hobbit came up on the TV screen and Lu asked me why there were so many Santas on the hill.<br />
<br />
With dinner done we headed for the theatre. We were pretty early and so spent a while walking uuuuup and dooooown and uuuuup and doooown the swirly staircases looking at the magic Elsa snow. Lu wanted to buy all the souvenirs but we settled for a photo instead.<br />
<br />
At last it was time to go in and Lu started shrieking with excitement.<br />
We both loved the show. I was a bit nervous to see how Lu would go with The Trunchbull but she seemed to like it. That or she's mentally blocked it.<br />
She liked the funny bits and loved that most of the people on stage were kids. We may have a career change from ballerina to musical star in the works.<br />
<br />
Lu was buzzing after it finished. She was singing the songs and skipped and ran all the way to the car.<br />
But little girls are little girls and she fell fast asleep in the car on the way home as I cursed at Siri driving through the city.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And now, I can't get the songs out of my head. The girls are treated daily to mama renditions of all the songs. At least they're an appreciative audience.<br />
<br />
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<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-44743027231549737282015-09-08T07:00:00.000+10:002015-09-08T07:00:03.545+10:00The Mermaid SongEver wondered what happens when you meet a mermaid on the beach?<br />
Lu and I did, and so we wrote this song.<br />
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Watch for some sweet tunes and four year old stage banter.<br />
My favourite bit is Lu's chorus solo.<br />
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Fun times.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y5sq_vM0fJ8" width="420"></iframe><br />
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More singing hilarity <a href="http://tuscanybrown.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/tiptoe-fairies.html" target="_blank">over here</a>.Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7403026706296237805.post-2717458618812680932015-09-06T21:46:00.003+10:002015-09-06T21:46:58.974+10:00Dad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have so many memories of my dad growing up.<br />
He's not the kind of Dad you'd forget. He was around. He was interested.<br />
He is interested still.<br />
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He was the kind of Dad who was there when you needed him and there when you didn't want him.<br />
There when you need help and there to stop you doing the things you shouldn't.<br />
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I've got lots of memories but tonight as I reflect on my Dad one memory sticks out.<br />
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It was a Friday. I was seventeen.<br />
I'd had a long week at school and finished it off with a game of basket ball.<br />
My long weeks were looong. School all day and music practice well into the evening.<br />
I can't really remember the specifics but I was tired and upset.<br />
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We were in the car, my dad and I.<br />
I think I had that look on my face.<br />
You know the look of a seventeen year old girl who's had a long and tiring week.<br />
But it was more, I can't remember what it was exactly but I was having friend dramas and it was the end. of. the. world.<br />
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He asked me what was wrong and in a rare share of emotions I told him.<br />
I think it must have sounded more like the noise of water coming out of the blow hole of a whale coupled with the whale making those whale noises they like to make.<br />
But it was something.<br />
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I remember he just listened, and then he just held me.<br />
(We weren't driving by the way, just sitting.)<br />
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My big, independent, headstrong, seventeen year old self in the arms of my ever loving dada.<br />
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It wasn't the first time he did such a thing, and there have been a few times since but I'm remembering this particular time tonight with a thankful heart that I have a dad who loves me.<br />
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A dad who has always loved me.<br />
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I have a lifetime of memories and though they may not be perfect, there has always been love.<br />
And that has made all the difference.<br />
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<i>Apologies to my brother for the shiny white face...</i><br />
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<br />Rinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222658668876996867noreply@blogger.com0