A Young Maiden's Daybook 18

Today…
31.01.12

Outside my window…
Somewhat overcast. Looks as if it might rain.

I am thinking…
About the teaching I have to start in an hour, and about my Rheumatologist appointment in 2 days.

I am thankful for…
Good doctors, great friends, and an Awesome God!

I am wearing…
Skirt and a tank

I am reading…
Amos

I am creating…
Lesson ideas/plans

One of my favorite things…
Having a tidy room. (which, coincidentally, I don't have right now... but it would be very nice if I did. :P)

For education this week…
Teaching and reading through my textbooks for my first uni unit.

A spiritual lesson I’m learning…
To look for satisfaction and rest in God. (Not in movies, books, or anything else.)

A godly character trait I plan to work on...
Joyfulness

Scripture I am memorizing…
Psa 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

I am praying for…
Israel
Patience and creativity with teaching
A clear mind for studying

For the rest of the week…
I'll be teaching, studying, and cooking.. and not much more.

A picture I’d like to share…
From Grandma's garden:



What are you all up to this week? :)

His Way is Perfect

Today has been nice... we went to Grandma & Grandpa's for lunch, and Grandma's garden has plenty of photography opportunities. :D





I made my first 'water-mark' for my photos.. not real sure why, but who knows, maybe it'll be handy. :)

I went shopping yesterday with one of my best friends, and we used the two movie tickets I received for Christmas. 'twas a nice (albeit long) day.
My lupus is still flared up, so I'm having to take things more slowly. (well, I'm supposed to, anyway. I usually forget, and then pay for it later.) I'm seeing the specialist in eleven days, and I'll see what she says.
I've been feeling a bit down about things at times. Yesterday however, I found a song which reminded me that I can trust God, and that He is in control.
As it happens, we sang this song as a choir or ensemble song one year for convention. That year, mum was in hospital for some operation, and this song really spoke to me then. Since then, every time I come upon it, it encourages me. I found a youtube video with the words on it, which I'll embed. I hope it blesses you. :)



It's so true; His Way *is* perfect. And although I may at times be fatigued or in pain, I pray that I can learn to be content, so long as I am in 'His Way'.

How about you? Do any of you have a particular song that encourages you?

God bless,

20 Things....

I haven't been to well today, and it's easy to start complaining... So, instead, I'm going to post 20 things I am thankful for. : )

Today, I am thankful for:

1. Beautiful weather

2. A father who provides and cares for me

3. A brother who loves me

4. Freedom of religion

5. Cousins

6. Fruit

7. Rest

8. Freedom

9. Books

10. Creativity

11. Music

12. Good friends

13. Clean water

14. Salvation

15. Hope

16. Refuge

17. Butterflies

18. Color

19. Education

20. My home


So there you have it. And I feel more cheerful already. =]

Apricots and Pumpkin...

Today has been a very.... 'orange' day.
Most of today revolved around making apricot jam. Dad bought home several boxes of apricots the other day, and this is (half) of the result. (That is, I've only used half. The other half will be processed tomorrow.)



And then for dinner I made pumpkin soup. (No, that is not soup in my glass. It's juice. =P)



And for dessert, we had apricot (of course) sponge. =)


So that was my orange day. :)

Little Thought, 10.01.2012

I haven't been feeling exactly 'on top of the world' this last week and a bit. Fairly dizzy and energy zapped... Today, I was preparing dinner, trying to find various pots and pans others have moved in my absence over the weekend -and admittedly complaining to myself about said pots and other general things.
Suddenly, I had this thought. Not that having thoughts is that unusual for me;
but this thought seemed to halt me in my tracks, give me a good shake, and set me down again in a better state of mind:

I would rather be going through trials with God, than to be trial-less without Him.

Somehow, I'd never thought of that in that way before. But it's true. Even if I were given the opportunity to change my circumstances to something wonderful, but had to leave God behind, or more realistically, had to disobey Him or go outside of His will, I wouldn't do it. Sure, I think about how I'd like things to change. But I wouldn't change things if I know this is where God wants me.
And I know I can trust Him anyway.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Anyway, that's my little thought for the day. : )

God Bless,





Picture thanks to Google Images.

The Bend in the Road...

"When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes -- what there is of green glory and soft, checkered lights and shadows -- what new landscapes --what new beauties -- what curves and hills and valleys farther on."
Anne of Green Gables

How times change so fast will always be a mystery to me I think. Maybe I am too reflective. But with every event now days comes a vision of how things once were. And frankly, some changes (whether in my life or others) scare me a little. For example:

I never thought I would actually start uni. But, in seven weeks, I shall be doing just that. It's rather a 'bend in the road', so to speak. And it's scary (to me at least); I haven't really studied since I got sick, so it'll be different, and frankly I am not sure how I am going to do at all. And of course, having absolutely no idea whatsoever what to expect does nothing to bolster my confidence.
But, Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
So I continue.

Also, as the old song goes, "All my friends are getting married". It's rather un-nerving when someone one used to play with as a child get married and has children of their own!

And everyone else it seems are either starting uni too, or finishing it and going into the work force. Sometimes I feel a bit behind...

"It gave her a queer desolate feeling that she herself somehow belonged
only in those past years and had no business in the present at all." -Anne of the Island

But, as I've discovered, life goes on despite my musings. So, to the present news; it is fairly quiet around here today. Everyone's laying low and trying to avoid the heat I think, although almost recovered from Christmas I believe. I made seven batches of biscuits in the week leading up to Christmas, and we had a tolerably busy Christmas Day at my Aunt's, followed by lunch at Grandma's the next day. I made the mistake of going boxing day shopping in the largest (I think) shopping center in Victoria (if not Australia). I *don't* think I'll be trying that again. ;o =]
Dad's on holidays until the 9th, I think. And I start teaching Jonathan again on the 30th. And, of course, I'm preparing for uni.. So, we're starting to think about getting back into everything. But we're got a bit of time. We're going up to a friend's place up past Echuca tomorrow (up to the country, yay! :D I'm more than a little sick of the city right now...), and there are a few things happening for me on the weekend, so it promises to be a very nice few days.

Oh, and I have a laptop again. :) My last one, poor old Bluey, sort of died a fair while ago now. So, now I have my new one, Diana. (named, by no coincidence, after Anne's best friend. :) )

Anyway, I must get off here and pack my bags, and see to dinner.
Hope you all have a blessed new year! :D

In Christ,

7.12.11

'twould seem I've neglected my poor blog/readers yet again... the last couple of months have been pretty strenuous, but now that school's finished for the year (at least where we're concerned) I've a little more time. (for a while, anyway... Christmas waits for no man!)

It hasn't been all that eventful here. Mostly just the everyday teaching/chores and going to youth group occasionally.
One notable happening (at least for me) is that I've applied for OUA's Bachelor of Education (Primary). To be accepted, I have to finish the first two units successfully. I'll be starting that in February, and assuming all goes well, I should finish the course in about 4 and a bit years.. so sometime in 2016.

The only other main thing of interest is that we've had two new additions to the 'family'... Two chicks, Poppy and Dandelion! XD I'll finish with a couple of photos of them. :)