Finding joy in the everyday

Dear friends,  I am SO excited! As a girl I loved to colour in, spent hours doing it.  Then I grew up and that was the end of colouring.  However I have discovered that you can now buy colouring books designed particularly for adults and once again I can colour-in, in fact encouraged to colour in!! JOY . And here is my first attempt after all these years. No bad! There are lots available with both Amazon and the Book Depository selling a large range and to my pleasure, so does my local independent bookstore. The Secret Garden by Johanna Bamford is one worth looking at (and the one I bought). If you visit Pinterest and type in her name and book you will see lots of examples of her drawings, such as the picture below.  Many are bought by embroider who convert these beautiful ink drawings into masterpieces.  According to a recent article by The Guardian, those who colour in, find it calming, soothing and it has therapeutic qualities. In France, t

Guest Writer: Bets **** The disastrous incident at Martin Place on the 15th December 2014, was for me a shock. Naively I had felt that hostage situations with Islamic overtures occurred in other countries. The truth was shocking – such events can happen anywhere. As the hours of the incident ticked by, I started to think about the “what ifs” – “what if I was in that café, or a situation similar?” It is sobering enough for anyone, but it sure made me think. In the Bible Christians are instructed: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12 v 1). So our lives are a sacrifice? What does that mean? Can it mean that I give up control of my life and live under the Lord’s direction? Can it mean that I am to be as a light shining in a dark place – even one as dark as a hostage situation? I’m sure the answer to these questions i

Art Friday: Trisha Romance I was in two minds about doing a post today as it is currently Christmas Day in the Northern Hemisphere and Boxing Day in Australia and visitor numbers might be very small. But if I bring a smile and joy to just one visitor today with artwork by Trisha Romance, then I have done my job.  I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas Day (in Australia any way) and your celebrations brought joy and happiness to all who shared it with you.  Who ate too much on Christmas Day? I certainly did!! And who has leftovers in their fridge - I do, lots of ham and turkey that will be enjoyed in sandwiches in the coming week :) Trisha Romance paintings are sweet and touching. Her colours are gentle and her topics are serene and peaceful. I think you will particularly enjoy her mother and children scenes as they are beautiful.  I love these two paintings - Santa after completing all his hard work delivering gifts and good cheer around the world. I know Santa isn

No matter how you spend Christmas Day, may it be with family and friends and be filled with joy, laughter, love and kindness. Thinking of you all at this time of the year. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.  (Matthew 1:21) Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and

' Rolling Hills', Barossa Valley, South Australia. Hirsty Photography Today is Christmas Eve in Australia and its usually the time people are rushing about doing those last minute activities for Christmas Day with very little or any focus on God. Lets stop and turn our hearts and minds on what is truly important in our lives - our Heavenly Father and understand that our times are in Thy hands -- our lives -- our souls -- our all -- we need to leave entirely in Thy care. ***** Our times are in Thy hand;   O God, we wish them there; Our lives, our souls, our all, we leave   Entirely to Thy care. Our times are in Thy hand:   Whatever they may be; Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,   As best may seem to Thee. Our times are in Thy hand;   Why should we doubt or fear? A father’s hand will never cause   His child a needless tear. Our times are in Thy hand;   Jesus, the Crucified, Whose hand our many si

Many people are swept along by the flood of frenzied gift-buying at this time of year.  They are more than willing to go into debt to buy all the presents they think they need to buy for everyone. Once-upon-a-time people either made their own gifts or bought something simple (and often very practical) and children only received one or two gifts from their parents. These days we are spending much more at Christmas, buying the latest technology and toys and we buy lots and lots. Our children have never been so spoilt and by the time they reach their teens, they have everything they want. In fact our children have a ever growing expectation of receiving gifts but are not being taught the importances of giving. When the giving is over, we find that the gifts haven't brought us any further joy or "sought-after satisfaction". Many are put away and forgotten about, others become broken, batteries run flat and for many (surprisingly) are sold on eBay and turned into cash

The breakdown" by Yelena Bryksenkova Art Friday: Paintings that tell a story Have you ever looked at a painting and just wanted to create story around the imagine? The one above is perfect for this sort of story telling. Why is she so upset, has she just received bad news? From whom? Or is she just lonely and living in a new city with no friends around? Maybe she is just tired after a day at work and dreams of something better. This is Anne Powers, 30 years old, single and works at the Franklin Community Library. She loves her job, she loves the people she meets and reading to the children on Thursday afternoons, but she is exhausted with her life. Not only is she working full-time, she goes to the gym 2 evenings a week, completing a short course in creative writing, volunteers at church on Monday nights, cares for her elderly parents and just broken up with her boyfriend. Life sucks and Anne is feeling very fragile as if she is about to break into pieces. To make

Give someone a hug today. Hugs offer so much encouragement and love. Hugs are medicine to the soul. Hugs are special.  Hugs say far more than words and leave a lasting memory. So why is hugging so important?  Hugs make us feel good Hugs can lower blood pressure Hugs alleviate fears and anxieties Hugs are good for our hearts Hugs helps in maintain good health and wellbeing Hugs are a natural stress reliever Hugs reduce stress in babies Hugs can have a calming affect Hugs are a way of showing love and affection Hugs makes sickness feel a little better Hugs creates security and safeness Hugs can make a bad day good. A hug says "I love you" So . . . who are you going to hug today? Don't forget, even your pets love a hug.  *****

There is something very special about watching the sun setting over the ocean. I don't get to see this magnificent view very often as I live inland, so when I do, I am in heaven so to speak!! Here are some photos I took a few weeks ago of a beautiful setting sun. I do hope you enjoy them. I find sunsets very peaceful. Did you know there is something like 22 to verses in the bible about the setting sun and around 99 verse about the sun. Its beauty isn't random, God created this amazing view and so often we rush by without even seeing it. From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised. (Psalm 113:3) Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. (Genesis 1:16) The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. (Ecclesiastes 1:5) As a child, after Sunday morning meeting we would come down here