Finding joy in the everyday

Source Childhood friends are very important.  I am not referring to long distances friends (such as pen-pals) that one hardly ever meets, but real face to face friends that children can play with, dream up games with, share secrets, enjoy sleepovers with and support each other when feeling sad and share the joys of life.  We ALL need friends to confide in.   And to learn about friendship and why it is important, children need to have friends of their own from a early age (and I am not referring to siblings).  My dad and I were talking about the importances of friends and my dad made a comment that he never had any childhood friends and it still made him sad even at the age of 80. He wishes he had friends and says that the lack of friends as a child made making friends as an adult much more difficult. It also meant that he went through his growing up years and adulthood (including loosing his mother) without someone to share that journey wi...

At work  I have an office of my own. Across the corridor from me sits one of my colleagues in her office. Some afternoons she needs a little boost so I keep in my drawer some marshmallows that we both enjoy and share when she is running out of energy. It’s a small gesture that shows her that I care and there to help. It isn’t anything big but I believe that these little things are very important. We need to do likewise with our Christian sisters, whether they live next door, in another state or country or we only know them via a blog or snail mail. In this world of great sadness (and increased isolation and lonliness), we need to support and encourage each other as much as we can. This is especially important for women who are at home all day with young children and do not venture out very much. Whilst home can be a safe and secure haven from the world — it can also be very isolating and that is not a healthy environment in the long term.  It is so important to mi...

Yesterdays blog post covered a really tough topic but one we need to keep talking about. If you know someone who is suffering in their marriage, please reach out, that hug or shoulder to cry on could make all the differences in their day.  Many women are struggling in their marriages but too embarrassed to share with others - it makes them look like a failure. They aren't failing, they are doing the very best they can and we as their Christians sisters need to give them all the support and encouragement we can.  We need to be a true friend.  Just taking your friend for a coffee and cake or a walk through the park really does lift the spirits, it might not sound like much but it is.  xxx  *****

Source Great love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends John 15:13 Do you have someone to talk to?  Someone who you can vent to, share your feelings with, disappointments and joys with, ask for spiritual help and guidance with.  For Christian women it can be very isolating and lonely at times. For me it certainly has been. I have friends, but they aren't Christian friends, therefore they don't always understand my point of view or they aren't close enough to really share some issues with.  They don't understand the concept of being a helpmate, or the importances of home and certainly  have no understanding of what life is like when living as a Christian. They cannot offer advise on many facets of Christian life. And they are unable to let me know if I am straying and need a little help. These things are better shared with other Christian women. Christian friendship is so important and we mustn't cut ourse...

Painting by Gregory Frank Harris, 1953 "True friends are always together in spirit" Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery The chocolate brownies are cooling.  The muffins are waiting to be eaten (banana, honey and cinnamon) The kettle has boiled.  The best china is ready. The tablecloth is ironed.  Its time for afternoon tea with all my new friends that I have made through GROW YOUR BLOG  and to all my old dear friends that I have known for ages. You are all welcome.  I can't wait to meet you all and have a chat.  It is raining at the moment so sadly afternoon tea will need to be indoors, but thats ok, it will be lovely and cosy. "We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh? asked Piglet.  Even longer' Pooh answered. from Winnie-the-Pooh - A.A. Milne Many thanks for all those who have dropped by my blog and said hi.  It was so nice to meet you and I do hope we get to...

As we grow up, we realise it is less important  to have lots of friends, and more important to have real ones.  Friends - we all need a friend: To talk to To hug and keep us warm To explore with To play with To comfort To cook with To share a book To knit with To love To make a homecoming worthwhile We all need a special friend or two. If you have time, here are 15 unusual animal friendships that will melt your heart. http://www.boredpanda.com/unusual-animal-friendships-interspecies/ Waiting for a new friend ****

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. Its means you're decided to look beyond the imperfections. This beautiful orchid plant was given to me by two close girlfriends for my birthday. On Sunday they put on a lovely afternoon tea with a delicious birthday cake and we have a wonderful time chatting together (with lots of laughing for sure).  Both women are mothers and grandmothers and have raised great children into adulthood, now they are enjoying grand-motherhood and love their grandchildren to bits.  As I was leaving I was given a big bag of lemons, cauliflower and broccoli all grown organically from Mrs G's garden (its one of her passions).  I don't have a lot of friends, but these two are very special and I feel very privileged to know them.  I will be very happy to grow old with these two ladies. I can imagine many more afternoon teas together and outings to local markets (something we enjoying doing now)!! And once we ...

"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet. "Even longer", Pooh answered. A. A. Milnes

This is my 1000th blog post. I can hardly believe it. It has been a complete joy, even though at times I have struggled to think of things to write!!  I have enjoyed our many conversations, even if we haven't always agreed . . . I do enjoy a good debate!  I don't really fit the "typical" blogger demographic of my readers . . . I didn't homeschool my children, I work outside the home and I can't sew or knit or crocket (but I do grow my own vegetables and love to cook) but I do hope I have convinced you, that even though God has given me other plans that are different to your, I share the same Christian values as you do and truly love being the keeper of my home ( and I hope that enthusiasm has come through in my blogs ).   I have covered many topics in the last 1000 blog posts and I pray (God willing) that I can cover many other topics in the coming year. I have no plans to hang up my "pen" as I just loved having a chat with you a...