What a Day!

There must be something in the air. Have you noticed lots of people having bad days lately? I've had a corker of a week, and an extra story to top it off for you today. Actually, I probably wouldn't even have burdened you with my week except that this particular event is so randomly bad, its funny.

My daughter has had pneumonia for 3 weeks and is starting to recover now. Its been pretty busy around home then, with a 4 and a 6 year old to keep entertained. And we are moving in 10 days so I am trying to pack and clean at the same time. Lets just re-cap the last week before we move into today.

B is studying for an exam, H was in hospital, J stood on a bee, I was sick with a gastro bug, my grandma died and we are trying to make all the preparations to move. I read Genny's post today about her day and enjoyed her perspective about how we would go about our life (including our crazy weeks) if we had just one month to live.

Then, I went to the bank. Well, I was going to go to the bank, but I never got there. Just outside the shopping centre, I saw that two elderly ladies had just crashed their car into a parked car by the side of the road. I parked my car, got the kids out and went over to see if we could help. The ladies were pretty shaken as you could imagine, and the other ladies who returned from shopping to find their car needing to be towed were not very happy at all! I was able to help by getting details and talking to insurance companies (the ladies couldnt hear on their phone) and after about an hour I dropped one lady home.

But the most random happening ocurred while we were talking to the respective insurance agencies, towtruck drivers and police. Out of nowhere, a parrot flew into the windscreen of the parked car, laid there for a while, tumbled into the middle of the road and was run over by a passing car.

We all just stood there for a moment in surprise! I did feel sorry for the bird, but what a strange thing to happen! It just makes you shake your head and realise sometimes crazy things happen, you just have to laugh if you can and take each moment as it comes.

I could have gone to the bank and not stopped to help the ladies, but Im glad I did. 'Cause if I had one month to live, I'd stop more to help old ladies (and parrots).

Missing Something?

Well, wha'd'ya know ~ I'm over at Faith Lifts today!

"I ignored the feeling of nausea at first in the shopping centre car park. I carried on with my bargain hunting as my hands started to shake. I even kept shopping through slight waves of dizziness but when I had to sit down and couldn’t walk anymore I knew something was wrong..."

Take a wander over here for the rest of the story.

I'm going to be out of town for a funeral over the next few days, but y'all have a great weekend and I'll see you back here next week!

A Gift

I received a bunch of flowers today
I think God sent them here
They filled my house full of joy
And my heart full of cheer

His name was not upon the card
There was no trumpet sound
No angelic messenger
No crowd gathered around

Just a little note that read
Three words printed in blue
They spoke from heaven straight to my heart
saying “Thinking of You”

I know it was a human hand
That passed the message on
But arriving at such a perfect time
Heaven’s where that gift came from

I have received some other gifts
At crucial points in time
A hug when I was feeling down
A rainbow in the sky

Ten dollars and a note when I was poor
Saying God knows and cares
A friend when I had none around
That comforted, loved and cared

As I look back now I can see
Many parcels big and small
Wrapped differently each and every time
But the same writing on them all

Messages that said “You’re Special”
From friends both old and new
As words or deeds or gifts or time
All saying, “I love You”

Imagine that, the King of Kings
Seeking after me
Revealing glimpses of his great love
So gently and tenderly

Our God in Heaven, our Saviour, Lord
Jesus, Emmanuel
I was on His mind today
And you know what? You were as well!

Donna Savill 2005

Treasures

My son appreciates the finer things in life. He likes the feel of his Nanna’s special shirt, his sister’s pink tracksuit pants, ‘Ben’ the toy camel, and a couple of very worn pajama pants he likes to carry around. He always has something in his hand, and often I don’t notice. I don’t think anyone has made a list of the strangest things whispered in church but I definitely would have made the list last week when I had to say, “Please don’t eat the toothpaste” as my son had somehow brought a tube of toothpaste to church without me noticing.

He always has a little treasure or two which bring him comfort and in times of sadness or weariness he holds them close. Sausages are not usually included in that assortment but as you can see in the photo above after a late night snack, a cold sausage has a certain feel about it I am yet to appreciate.

As I write this, it is ten weeks until Christmas. Before I get caught up in the search for the perfect assortment of presents I want to read and keep in mind the real reason that we celebrate.

After Jesus was born, angels appeared to the shepherds telling them their savior had been born. They witnessed an amazing sight and rushed to Bethlehem to find the baby just as they had been told. Then they shared this awesome news with everyone they could. Luke records that “all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 17:18-19)

I can’t imagine the wonder and mystery of seeing the little baby that was also God and one day would be the saviour of the world. I don’t want to just marvel at the miracle, or be reminded on Christmas day what I had been missing all year, I want to treasure these things in my heart.

I am inviting you to join me. It takes just a few minutes a day to read to read a chapter and if we read one chapter each day until Christmas day, we can just about read through Matthew, Mark & Luke!

Anyone up for it? Lets begin with Matthew. The last chapter you read will be Luke 24 which includes the account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. It is my prayer that as you ponder the wonder and person of Jesus that your hearts will burn within you as you realise anew that the God of the universe walks beside you.

Rusted Out @ Inspired Bliss

I have a problem.

In the not too distant future there will be water in my house, that is, if I don’t do something about it now. The people who started renovating the house before we bought it used a different kind of metal for the extensions and where the two metals meet they have started to rust.

If you want to know what's going on head over to Inspired Bliss!

And have a most AWESOME week!

(Ill have something specially for you real soon! And by the way, that photo above is NOT my house! credit: ravesterdb on photobucket.com)

A Pleasure at Inspired Bliss

"She is a master at jigsaw puzzles and spends hours preparing the base, pouring over the pieces, choosing the right ones for the right places and fitting them together to make the final masterpiece. Each jigsaw puzzle created tells a story about the scene and ultimately points to the one who puts it all together."

Want the rest of the story? Check it out over at Inspired Bliss, I'll be back over there again on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Give Me Your Eyes

I saw this over at Inspired Bliss and just had to share it with you. Its a new music video by Brandon Heath called "Give Me Your Eyes". Im buying this one for my ipod.

If you click on the picture it will take you to YouTube where you can hear the whole song.

My One Month

There's something happening around the Blogosphere at the moment - let me tell you what I've seen.

3 different prominent Christian Bloggers have independently been working on ways to encourage Christians to live differently, to look out for the needs of others and to give of themselves. Kristen at We Are THAT Family introduced One Day to Give and Genny over at MyCup2Yours is hosting My One Month. I can see God doing something so I am most definitely joining Him!

My One Month

What would you do differently
If you had one month left on earth?
Would you focus on things like love and life
and things with eternal worth?

I would change my everyday perspective
If I had one month to live
I would look less for chances to get ahead
And more for opportunities to give

I would stop and sit by the poor man
Instead of ignoring him and walking on by
And I'd call in on an elderly lady
For morning tea or just to say 'Hi'

I'd sit and play with my toddler
I'd go and visit my Gran
I would teach my kids to look after others
And I would spend more time encouraging my man

I'd read my Bible every day
That would be my foremost guide
For things that I should take up
And things I should lay aside

Most of all what I will do
Is live each day for my King
for soon I know He's coming back
to take me to be with Him!