The Glad Game

As from "Pollyanna"...

I am glad to be here in Wellington with B. after so many years apart...

I am glad that my children are healthy when so many I know are sick...

I am glad for the internet, one conduit of encouragement in my life...

I am glad that the kitchen is clean, and that my husband made dinner for tonight.

I am glad for the Glad Game, to refocus my thoughts!

A Lovely Day

Today's Wednesday, Today's Wednesday. Wednesday's Roasted Beef, Tuesday's Soup, Monday's A Washing Day, Is everybody happy? Is everybody happy? You bet'chur life we are!

Lots to update on.  Sewing machine...check.  Found a used Bernette at the pawn shop.  It works well, but not good for free motion quilting.  New place to live...almost check.  We move to a 3 bedroom house on Nov. 5th.

School is going well for the kids.  Miss A. is almost finished with the Saxon 54 math book, and I have promised her a crepe of her choice upon completion.  Mr. E has started the 54 book and moving right along.

The weather here has been very windy lately.  Warm temperatures get mixed with rain and cold, so there is no steady "Spring" so to speak as of yet, although everyone is looking forward to warmer days.

Still hunting for a church.  I think I've found one in the new neighborhood and we will visit it this Sunday. 

Missing family and friends (a whole lot - says Miss A.) and always on the lookout for a friendly face here in Wellington.  Thankful for the internet to keep us connected.

A New Day

Well, here we are. A new day, a new place. And great need for an update, so here goes...

The kids and I have joined B. in New Zealand. He took a new job in July and we arrived on 25 Aug. I'd say we are adjusting pretty well after the initial shock, although we occasionally hit a bump in the path every now and then.

So far we have enjoyed visiting The Lookout on Mt. Victoria, the seal colony at Red Rocks, Te Papa Museum, and many other things.

The city library is a place to behold. 3+ floors, artsy magazines to borrow, a great children's section, a music section that reminds me of a huge used cd store, and a mezzanine cafe.

We enjoy scootering down by the harbor, and like to search for the bagpiper named Chris. He plays a lively tune and it is neat to see the smiles on peoples' faces as they pass him.

I am on the hunt for a usable used sewing machine and was told that the best place to look for one is at the Cash Converter store which is like a pawn shop. I learned that "as is" means it is probably broken beyond repair.

Currently, we live in a small one bedroom apt, and are beginning the hunt for a larger place. I would prefer to be out of the midst of down town, but that seems to be where Bo is most comfortable. The only thing I like about it is the convenience to everything.

That is about it for now. Thank goodness for a new day!

Stuck

Well, it was an interesting afternoon. We have been having trouble with the bathroom door for some time, B. worked on it a bit during his last visit. Evidently, not enough, as Miss A. got herself stuck in the bathroom today. (That, or it is just time to replace the knob/door or both.)

Would have been funny to those of us in the hallway had she been stuck through supper, trying to slide the food under the door. Thankfully, the knob came off (it was broken on the inside) and Miss A. came out to eat at the table.

I've been babysitting on and off for the neighbor. Cute little guy, but fought gum and nail today against taking any sleep - the boy has no teeth yet. Gives me time to catch up on my reading so that is nice, but I miss my own. Don't know if I could ever handle another little one. Don't know if I'll ever get the chance to see if I could. Only God knows, as the clock seems to be winding down - my body is doing strange things lately.

Quilting is coming together. 2 projects finished today. Many more to go, and 2 more coming in on Monday. Looking forward to the kids going to camp in August. I plan to fall off the map for 5 days!

Lots of fun planned tomorrow...celebrating a cousin's birthday at the Safari Park. Praying for sunshine.

Waiting

Approx. 3-4 years ago, God clearly told me to wait for my husband, and that He would be my strength. With recent developments I was beginning to think that my time had come, and it has, but not like I expected.

The things that are learned while waiting need refinement in my life and I am being given more time for this process to happen.

I am thankful that He alone is Faithful and True. I do not trust in man, my trust and hope is in God. I serve and love a living God who is not made of stone or wood. It is not for me to know where or when our family will be reconciled together for His glory. It is only for me to continue to place my hope in Him as He fills me with all joy and peace as I trust in Him. (Romans 15:13)

What are you waiting for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb7TSGptd3Y

Bit by Bit

Another day to sort/pack/clean/quilt. Have been getting sidetracked a lot lately, sot today I am using the timer. It is helping a little.

Struggling with the "stuff" issue again. Why so much stuff?? Why keep it? Will I spend my life leaving "caches" of stuff here and there in past places I have lived? I think I might be turning into a squirrel! Let's hope when things are needed I can remember which tree they are in. Ha.

Timer is beeping, break time is over.

Piece Meal and Leftovers

Have you ever thought about the fact that God gives no leftovers? At our house leftovers are used on a regular basis if a big meal is prepared or we are fortunate enough to have visited a friend and taken some home.

He doesn't tell us that only a little bit of peace is available when we trust in Him. He doesn't dole things out piece meal and give us a cup full of trust today..."Oh, and I'll give you that hope you asked, but only a portion, and you'll have to wait until next Tuesday to get it."

Praise God! He is so faithful to answer by the bucket loads. I know, it does seem sometimes that we barely have enough hope/faith/trust/you fill it in______ to hang on, but God knows what we need. I am thankful He doesn't have to go to the fridge and stand there for 5 minutes thinking about what He will give us for nourishment. May we always have a "peace meal" knowing that God gives us exactly what we need.

When we are faithful to follow Him, He is faithful to sustain us. That's where I am today. Resting in His sustaining Grace. Thankful He will never give up on me.

"I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God. And we have this confidence in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked Him for is ours." 1 John 13:15

God Does Answer Prayer!

Wow. My first post in the new year! (Am I slow, or what?!)

After almost 6 years of praying that God would bring my dear husband home, HE DID! We had the awesome blessing of having Bo home for about 4 weeks, beginning Jan. 24th. Lots of adjustments, patience, interesting conversations, family meals, a game or two (Let it be said that I am absolutely no good at CLUE!), and about a million hours at the local DMV!

For those of you who don't know, Bo did accept 3 weeks of work back in Canada, and flew north on Feb. 17th. I'm not sure about his plans following that project, so we are waiting to see what God brings next. Things seem to have quickly gotten back to how they were before Bo was here. I'm not sure if that is good or not. We had a hard trip home from the airport after dropping him off, but all in all the kids are doing ok. Although his being here seems to have made us miss him so much more this time around. The empty place in my heart feels new again.

I am so thankful for what God is doing in our family. He is giving the kids and I another opportunity to practice our "patience as we wait". I told the kids we need to remember 3 things:

1. God sees us.
2. God loves us.
3. God will take care of us.

Thank you LORD, that You are Faithful!