BUSY BUSY BUSY

Has been such a busy time - not so much for me but for the rest of the family. Excitement is mounting as Tuesday 30th June draws near and we are all SO looking forward to Barbara and Harry's wedding. I would just love to be running around doing my bit to help - I just feel so USELESS to everyone. Start of last week was so miserable for me I decided to conserve my energy as much as possible and hopefully be on top form for the big day..... I even gave up a meal out with the girls on Wednesday night and a bbq tonight. Friday was a real busy day at work for me and I really feel I am paying the price - I only hope this is not a flare-up like last week. After shopping today and lunch with Debbie, Barbara and Aunt Barbara I was shattered - almost falling asleep at the table! Have not had a lot of energy tonight and feel too uncomfortable to rest much - just praying for rest and peace in my body and spirit.

I am so very happy for Barbara and Harry - I love them dearly and want them to be happy and fulfilled. When I think what they have both come through in previous years I can only say they deserve happiness and I for one am so pleased they found it in each other - they have been good for one another....and for all of us!

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK

FOR TODAY.... Saturday 13th June 2009

Outside my window... this sunny day has turned rainy - thunder and lightning too.

I am thinking... after so much dry weather the past couple of weeks, everything will be so much greener again.... just hope it doesn't rain ALL summer!

I am thankful for.... a husband who truly is all I ever hope for.

I am wearing....blue jeans, black vest top and black and white cardigan, and the obligatory black and white necklace.
I am creating....just been to my first card-making class and have made my first 5 cards - truly inspired to make more.
I am going...to bed soon
I am reading.... 2 Chronicles as part of Living Whole reading plan and 'What's So Amazing About Grace' by Philip Yancey
I am hoping....that I will sleep restfully tonight. Amazed just how exhausted I am after today's class and do hope it won't be a case of 'too tired to sleep'.
I am hearing....the window is open and I hear the traffic outside, wet tyres on the road - I love the sound of traffic when I'm indoors.
Around the house... I want to get some 'corners' tidied and de-cluttered. Estate agent comes on Tuesday for valuation and I want everything ship-shape and impressive...even though I know it won't affect the price!
One of my favourite things....hot, smooth, creamy Cappuccino-hope to have one soon!

A few plans for the week....preparations for Alpha in the Workplace follow-up, some overdue notes to write and post, haircut Wednesday

A picture thought I am sharing....

My darling 'girls' looked like this until Thursday. I took them to a new 'hairdresser' for clipping and bathing - she SHAVED them! O the indignity of it... Jojo has fared better - she is resilient but poor Jessie has been left traumatised. I am so horrified I will not do the 'after' pictures....maybe in 6 months time!

CARD MAKING

Spent today at my first card-making class. I've never been inspired to make my own cards until I recently saw some based on water-colour principles. Today I attended a class solely for this and all 6 of us in the class came away with 5 cards each - work we were all proud of. I was of course the novice - the only one who had never made ANY type of card before! I don't think I will be making my Christmas cards but would like to make a few from time to time.

AS THE DEER

'As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You o God'....Psalms 42 v 1Last Friday was the start of a week of personal mourning - grieving after the 'old me'...the energetic me who did her weeks grocery shopping before heading to start work at 8.30am. The old me who did errands on the way home from work, walked and groomed the dogs, cleaned the house, cooked a meal, did laundry, tended the garden, visited the sick....all in one day! The old me who was 'in control' and on top of, if not ahead of everything. I cannot accept she has gone. I don't know what I am supposed to think. I do keep looking for answers, therapies, cures, solutions. I have NEVER doubted God has plans and purposes and that He IS in control but I am impatient. I want to know and learn the lessons NOW Lord. Last Friday and all weekend was a spell of glorious weather....I did not even have enough energy to sit in the sun.....This Friday I feel alive and rejuvenated - I feel I belong to the world again.We had restaurant reservations for dinner - we cancelled them and had a Friday picnic. I was too weak and disinterested last week to even think about going anywhere and tonight I had energy - I wanted to be out in God's beautiful creation - enjoying the sunshine (though it was cool), the sea, rocks, trees, rabbits and deer.Various places we've travelled all over the years we've seen signs warning of deer crossing - we've looked out for them but NEVER seen them - tonight we saw SEVEN young deer, grazing, running, chasing and just enjoying life...freedom.Lord, I want to be like the deer....my soul panting after YOU...desiring only YOU....depending only on YOU.Is that what makes the difference? Has the Lord brought me so low this week to let me see my need for HIM. If I don't have Him I have nothing. I want to enjoy freedom in You Lord.Ha....I have just checked the meaning of seven - it just struck me there may be a significance in God showing me seven deer tonight.....'seven' from the Hebrew 'shevah' meaning 'to be full or satisfied, have enough of'.... my goal should be to be filled, my life filled with God alone.....Lord, I do not know what has made the difference in the PHYSICAL from one Friday to another.....but I do want to experience the difference in the SPIRITUAL when my life is filled with YOU alone. Father help me take my mind off the physical and focus on the spiritual - that which is eternal. YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE LORD.....make a difference in me. Amen.

FRIDAY PICNIC....

Tonight I felt more energetic and life seems a little more 'normal'. We had booked a restaurant for dinner at 6.30 pm but the evening was beautiful - glorious sunshine and much too nice to spend indoors. I cancelled our table at 5.45 pm .....we hastily put a picnic together and headed out to Murlough Bay....idyllic and tranquil. We even saw some young deer grazing, wild rabbits scuttling around, and just enjoyed the peace and quiet in the fresh outdoors....wonderful and so good to be alive. Life is good... God is good!

ARCHIVES....

Whooppee........I now have archives! Seems sad I know that this would excite me but I really thought blogging would be a one-day wonder for me. It's now a whole month since I started my blog and I must say I have enjoyed the therapy of just committing thought and pictures to print.
I still have only one follower but she is special !... thank you Kimberly....I love you :)
It's been an incredible couple of weeks too since I linked up with Living Whole - you ladies are an inspiration and I look forward to getting to know more of you.

I have a friend who once described the internet and all the evil therein as 'www...world wide wickedness' - thankyou Lord for steering me to the little corner whose vision is 'world wide wholeness'.