An Oprah Ah Ha Moment...

Just wanted to log in and tell you about an interesting moment I just had. A good friend of Peter & I drove past me while I was on a walk and then stopped, reversed down the road (Mt Dandy Tourist Road!!!) and picked me up. We started chatting about normal stuff and then he stayed in my driveway for about 1/2 an hour just for company. This friend lost his brother in a motorbike accident a few years ago and is still reeling from the loss.

I was able to listen as he shared his anger, sadness and remembrance of funny things his brother did. Then he said that 'he had it coming'. What a difficult thing to hear. A 20 something year old guy with a great life - taking too many risks and riding his motorbike into a tree - dying on impact. This brother carried the coffin on his ute to the burial and cried more than I have seen a man cry before. He really is a sensitive person.

What a privilege to be God's ears at times.

I don't know if you have ever lost a sibling, friend or someone close to you. I havn't really. I just want you to know that I will never say 'I understand' or 'it must be so hard' - because I really don't know what you are going through. I didn't know what this guy was going through. But God does and he listened through me when my friend's hurt heart was speaking.

I gave my friend a hug and he said 'that's the best hug I have had in ages'. Little did he know that it was God's arms wrapped around him and understanding where I didn't and couldn't.

I have been reminded today that people everywhere have hidden pain. They close themselves off from the world and don't allow others in. It is our job to be God's ears, arms and hands when they need to speak, a hug or help. This was my Ah Ha moment.

Thanks for listening,

M.

ABC's and Bugs in Wood.

Love this photo of the bugs on our wood pile outside. Makes me think of how creative God is! I really am amazed at the beauty of this world. And I have a wonderful home. From inside when I look out any window in my house I can see trees, flowers and not many buildings. We have scary days when the big gum trees bend and sway in the wind - it was very bad a few nights ago! Thought one would come crashing through the window! At other times it is majestic watching the mist and cloud lift and reveal the most beautiful colours in the trunks of the trees. WE are so blessed!

This got me thinking about how imperfect humans are by comparison. We get pimples and bad hair days, want to get rid of hair or grow more of it (Andrew!). We doubt ourselves and forget how precious we are. Look at these little beetles...how amazing and yet fragile. God put so much effort into these little creatures and yet hardly anyone would get to see them or appreciate their beauty. Then look at humanity. Really we are amazing. The ability to love, be loved in return - way more intricate a design than these beetles...Just something I have been thinking about.

So I looked back at my blogs and thought about what I have written that really matters. I suppose that this is an opportunity to talk about serious, funny and strange things. The thing that stood out the most was...BAD SPELLING!

Have you ever published a blog that you haven't proof read? Well I just did and the spelling is terrible! Sorry to all my readers who have to put up with my tired brain and typing fingers from writing lots of essays about music history, middle years literacy and social education units of work for children with special needs...

I suppose there is more to life than to worry about splleing!!! (on purpose for you who doubt! LOL!)

Thanks for forgiving me,

M.

For Megs & Bruce...

I've been tagged by the beautiful Megan and I really owe it to myself and Megs and Bruce to begin blogging again - after a long siesta (is that how you spell it?)! So here goes...thought I would follow the same format as you Megs!

1. How old are you? 28 (29 on the 19th October - think I might have an "I'm not 30 yet party")
2. How many kids do you have if any? None at the moment.
3. Are you married, single, divorced, widow? Married, to Peter for 4 years in November.
4. What is your occupation? I am currently a student at Deakin, studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) with hopes to do a Masters in Special Education later on. I am working at Vermont South Primary School now - as an SSO.
5. What are your passions? God, Peter, my family, friends, reading and encouraging people to be all they can be.
6. Are you a dreamer or a dream seeker? I am definitely a dreamer. Oftern people say that I should jsut get out there and DO things, but I find myself dreaming of endless posibilities. You can become stuck being a dreamer.
7. Are you happy with the way you life has turned out? I am completely blessed in life. I am so proud that I went back to uni as a mature age student - even when it's hard to balance everything. I have amazing friends who love me and Peter is my best ever friend.
8. Are you a scrapper and if so how many hours a week do you scrap? A scrapper? It would be cheating to call the 5 pages I have ever done in my life 'scrapbooking' because they don't make up a whole book! he he.
9. What do you want to do before you die? Have children, see my family saved and worshipping, visit my sister in England, properly learn the piano and sell a painting.
10. What is your favorite food? Bircher muesli with Jalna yoghurt and chopped up pears, banana and dried apricots - my breakfast every morning (well, on the days I spash out and buy banabas!)
11. What is the food you hate the most? Hot pineapple - don't you realise that it is a tropical fruit People (?) and shouldn't go anywhere near pizza or tuna dishes??
12. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you? Running away from boys inthe street because I was wearing toggs (swimmers, bathers etc..) and tripping over a rock and smashing my face against the concrete step at home...no pretty photos from that one!
13. What is the happiest day of your life thus far? Peter proposing to me...we both looked terrible and he was about to go and fight bush fires in NSW but I can't remember ever feeling so loved and blessed by God.
14. Are you a neat freak? Or a dirty house cleaner? This will tell you a lot about me. I am untidy - not dirty, but go on cleaning frenzies at times to 'order my world'. I feel better when things 'look' good at home and get house proud occasionally... I think it is mainly about procrastinating though!

Thanks for this opportunity!

5 things that I am grateful for today:
1. A poppy just about to open up in the garden at my front door.
2. Wonderful news about my sister in England - another baby in the family.
3. School holidays.
4. Great friends who challenge me to be a better person.
5. Finishing essays.

Thanks for listening,

M.