Friday Again

 Just a few thoughts simple thoughts from today.

 ~ 1 ~

For a while today I thought my ISP was down, eventually I reloaded the disc for my wireless modem and success....  inernet acess again.

~ 2 ~

I've been enjoying the communication with online friends,  chat on Windows Live at 6am, and emails with new friends here from Blogspot.

~ 3 ~

We've been making a little progress with the garden, we visited Bunnings today for some garden supplies including  bamboo stakes, as Barry was keen to try a teepee for kumera or sweet potato.... he constructed it, but I didn't take a photo... here is one online where he got the idea.  I personally think it is a little late in the season, though the plant has been growing strongly along the ground for a few weeks.  My photo next time!

~ 4 ~

I stopped in at the library and picked up a couple of books by Margaret Dickinson, set in the war years in UK.   Click here for link.

~ 5 ~

Will be enjoying our last quiet weekend before all the normal weekly activities start on Monday.   We have dates on our calendar right through to next Christmas already. I haven't heard which Bible Study we will be doing yet.

~ 6 ~

We have been watching the Australian Open tennis this year for the first time, and it does go late sometimes, so just as well we don't have much on.  Sorry to see Federer defeated last night, and please Chinese Na Li in the Final tomorrow night. 

 ~ 7 ~

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Our Shepherd  BJ Hoff

The Shepherd doesn't call His sheep

to unfamiliar pasture -

He has promised that, where we are,

we will also find Him there.

He tends His flock like a shepherd.

Isaiah 40:11

Do visit Jenn at Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.

With love and blessing for a great weekend
Jan

7 Quick Takes Friday

Thanks to Jennifer for hosting 7 Quick Takes Friday.

#1. It has been quite a week with the devastating floods in Australia, QLD the most extraordinarily devastating and receiving the most publicity, but nevertheless I heard that every State is flooding somewhere. After QLD came Northern NSW, my area, though our town is flood-free, only some roads to adjacent areas are inundated, and the Pacific Highway will not be open for days yet.

(Pic Daily Examiner, Grafton)

 

#2. It has been quiet here, though we did a very satisfying concert on Wednesday. There was only one home that insisted we come in January, as almost every activity is on hold for January, the summer holiday month in Australia... no exercise, tennis, bible study, care & share, meetings etc.

#3. I have been spending time in the garden each day, and have seedlings still alive.  The days have swung between pleasant cloudy, occasional shower of rain to hot and sunny, so I rigged up a method to cover them when necessary.

#4. We had a lovely afternoon today. Friends were celebrating their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary with an Open House all day, and we went over about 3pm.  I thought that was a lovely idea, a no fuss way to entertain everyone, though her sons and her bridesmaid were unable to attend because of the floods.

#5. I've started a little lending library for our Bible Study group. Val, the leader, thinks it is a lovely idea, so I hope the ladies embrace and add to it.... Christian books and DVDs, and CD sets of messages from a couple of retreats that I attended. I think it will give us more topics to share about.

#6. Here is a song very popular in local churches.




#7. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

ANOTHER SUNRISE BJ Hoff
Our Loving Lord....
What strength it gives, what peace it lends,
to know that whatever this day may hold,
Your promises stand,
unchanging and unfailing...
and however this day may end,
Your love will greet another sunrise.

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and
loving toward all He has made.  Psalm 143:13

 (Sunrise when I was at a retreat)

Love and blessings,

Jan

PS: I was changing my background, and it didn't post, so I've left it for now.

7 Quick Takes Friday

For more 7 Quick Takes, visit Jenn

# 1. Gorgeous winter weather again this week, with daytime temperatures up to 23C.  We give thanks that we came to live here, in His timing.  Barry was just talking to his brother on Skype, and he was complaining how cold it has been where he lives.

# 2. I appreciated reading the book   90  Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper, this week.  I see that 4 million copies have been sold. 

 

# 3. Barry has been getting our bicycles ready for us so that we can ride them around our neighbourhood for exercise and fun.  It is flat, so that is a blessing.

# 4.  We had an evening out with friends this week.  Lynn is the leader of a group called The Messengers, and we were with them for a while.  We swap notes a bit, and music too. Lynn is coming over on Monday afternoon for some help on the computer and also for some music from Barry.  Here is the banner I made for her.  It looks better than the pic.

 

# 5. It is good to be back singing at the Nursing Homes, after our extended time off because of Barry's respiratory virus. It hung around for such a long time.   

# 6. I am always amused when even after nearly 10 years, our dog still regularly hops up into my chair, and pretends she is alseep, even though she always has to move.  She is such a willing loyal friend.

# 7. Just heard on the News....  Australians are not so concerned the new PM lives with a partner as they are that she does not believe in God.   Julia Gillard, who proclaims herself as an Athiest, ousted the elected PM about 6 weeks ago and called an election for 21st August, but this election campaign has not been all smooth sailing.

Today's Verse

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

— Psalm 119:160

 Have a Blessed week.

Friday - 7 Quick Takes

I'm joining in 7 Quick Takes Friday, with Jennifer, and you can post or read the blogs too,  just click here.


# 1. I just finished the knitted top.... and it is a great success.  It fits perfectly and the cap sleeves go well down my arms, perfect for my age group.

#2. While I was doing all that knitting, I wasn't online, and I missed you! 

#3.  I also had my birthday this week, very satisfying, phone calls, cards, gifts, lunch out.  Simple..... but we do simple joys here. And my Bible Study friends had a cake and card and sang Happy Birthday.

#4. A friend called in this afternoon with a fun gift I wasn't expecting...... she wasn't all that confident I would like it...... we absolutely love it..... what fun.  If you are wondering what it is, it is for plastic bags.

# 5. I have some new books from Word Christian bookstore, but I haven't touched them yet.

# 6. Also have a couple of new DVDs..... Celtic Woman and Andre Rieu.... I like them both, but if I had to pick one, it would be the Andre Rieu. Here is a clip from it that tickled my fancy with the sheep, though I love the beautiful instrumentals and scenery even more.  Sorry the people look a bit tall!!!!


# 7.  It has been a gorgeous week. Here it is the middle of winter and we've got the doors and windows open and sitting here in light summer gear.

Do have a Blessed week, and I am going to take a liberty and post this on my Simple Joys Blog too....

 Simple Joys Saturday.

Friday night Peace

Hello Friends, my 7 Quick Takes Friday is very low key this week.  To meet Jennifer at Conversion Diary and see the other posts, do click here.

1.We are at home on Friday night relaxing after our busiest week of singing commitments of our month. One of the groups we played for was the Tibouchina Club, which is named after the shrub that lines the streets of their town.
2. It has been a very satisfying week.
3. We had a cooked lunch and are just snacking this evening.
4. It has been raining this afternoon, lovely and cosy to be inside.
5. Some friends wanted us to go to a dance this evening, but we were both very happy to stay home.
6. We've got a small heater on for the first time this year.... for those that wonder about this, I'm in Australia going into Winter.

7. Thoughts about what I will post for Simple Joys Saturday are on my mind.

 (Tibouchina, pic from web)

So Gentle a Name     from One Minute Devotions BJ Hoff

Jesus....

A name to subdue

mighty oceans and nations,

A name to tame

hurricane winds and wild beasts,

A name to call forth praise

from all God's creation,

yet so gentle a name

that we call Him our peace.

He himself is our peace.  Ephesians 2:14

7 Quick Takes Friday

 This is the first time I've tried this..... will I come up with seven thoughts?

Come over and see Jennifer and all the 7 Quick Takes Friday at Conversion Diary.

~ 1 ~

Usually the weeks rush by, but it has been slow this week. We have cancelled a couple of things, including entertaining at the Aged Care Home today, as DH's throat is still playing up, though he is well otherwise.  Perhaps we expected too much, as we didn't say NO when asked, and on the third week of the month we do three, (two on Thursday) some months five concerts from Wednesday to Saturday, as well as the others over the month.  I can see God moving us on to new interests, though not volunteering, perhaps it is 'our' time.

 2 ~

The 7 Quick Take Friday week started with our trip to Texas QLD from Friday to Monday afternoon, and I have posted about that, with some photos.   We had an enormous dinner on Friday night at a pub at Wallangarra on the border of NSW/QLD, then went on to Stanthorpe and Texas. A number of  people who live in their RV have their base there, as they are welcome to stay by the river bank as long as they like, and there are hot showers and clean toilets in an almost new building just off the main street. We had two musical evenings with our friends there, and I had a nice rest too.

~ 3 ~

We took a nice walk down the street together yesterday morning.  We weren't purchasing anything, just a stroll to the post office. Even though we have home delivery, DH wanted us to get our mail at a PO Box No. as he felt better about the safety of the mail when we travel. We do have a nice neighbour who collects the items that still end up in the lettterbox and picks up the free papers. 

~ 4 ~

I love living in a community where we see people we know and stop to have a chat here and there, friends I've met at Bible study and church and other things around town. I made an appointment to get my hair trimmed this morning and by the time we met people in the supermarket, I had to leave hubby to pack the groceries and rush over to the hairdresser just in time. Comunity was fairly high on my list when we were choosing a place to retire to, along with a pleasant climate etc.

~ 5 ~

We've been moved to look into playing sports this week.  We are attending old time dance classes on Monday nights, at the tennis club rooms. A light bulb went on.... ah... tennis. We went down when older people play casually this morning, at least one woman over 80, and I already know about half the ladies.  Anyway they invited us to have  a few hits, and we are going to go ahead with it.  Barry is also going to archery on Sunday, but this time round, I'm giving it a miss.

~ 6 ~

I've been following the voyage of Jessica Watson, the 16 year old Australian sailor who is doing a solo unassisted circumnavigation.  She is on the home lap now, though has faced the fiercest seas last week or so. I must admit I was not in favour of it, but she has shown incredible guts and maturity, through knock-downs etc, and she will come home a celebrity and well deserved. 

 ~ 7 ~

I received two beautiful Mothers Day cards from my two. They will phone on Sunday, as they both live about 800kms away, and that is our tradition now, so I am happy.

Well I made it, and now I wish everyone celebrating Mothers Day, a really happy day with your family, and if you do happen to be by yourself, do give yourself a treat.  God Bless you.