Finding joy in the everyday

Welcome to the new year — its 2016 in case you didn't know!!! New years resolutions — should we or should we not make them? T he Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year (March and not January like we do today) that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.  The Babylonians had a great motivation to stick to their promises because for the ancient people of Mesopotamia, keeping their promise would mean that their gods would bestow their grace on them throughout the course of the following twelve months, and breaking them would put them out of favour. ( source ) The practice of promises carried over to Roman times who began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.  When the Roman Empire took Christianity as its offical state religion in the 4th century, these promises to Janus were replaced by prayers and  fasting to God.  A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from ...

Welcome to the New Year.  What are your plans for 2014?  Have you made any New Years resolutions?  I have no plans out of the ordinary this year, for once, no New Years resolutions (I never stick to them anyway). Instead I plan to place my year in God's hands and trust in Him, as His plans are always so much better than mine could ever be (and He does stick to His plans).  I have just been reading Luke 6 (27-31) and if only we all took heed of the verses below, what a better and different world we would all live in.   But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.  To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who asks of you.  And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you w...

I thought I would end the year with these peaceful photos of Nara Peace Park in Canberra. Canberra and the city of Nara in Japan are sister cities and the kind residents of Nara raised money to create this park to remember our links. The city constructed and shipped the stone lantern (in the distances of the top photo) to Australia to be a feature of the park.  It really did have a very peaceful feel to this park as I wandered about taking photos.  The doves looked so peaceful on top of the gazebo watching out over the park.  The year has reached its end . . . and quickly reflecting back, it has been a year full of joy. My husband and I had the joy of watching our son marry the love of his life and start of new chapter together. We finally saw our youngest grow up (just a little) and get himself a job and some independences. I had the wonderful pleasure of spending time with my brother and his wife from the USA when they visited in September.  A...

Three weeks to the end of the year, where has the year gone? 2013 is fast approaching. Who goes into a new year with grand plans? I don't . . . not anymore, I think I am just getting too old!! Perhaps because the children are all grown up, I no longer have anyone to organise or plan for. Anyway . . .  may you all have a good week ahead of you. For those in Australia, I pray that you don't melt with the summer heat, or for those who need rain, that you get some soon. And I will leave you with this quote from my Amish proverbs book: The real secret of happiness is not what you give or what you receive it's what you share.

As I write this, 2011 is drawing to a close. By midnight tonight the new year would have arrived. This is the time of year when people dream up New Years resolutions - the most popular resolutions being: spending more time with family and friends getting fit/loose weight quite smoking/drinking enjoy life more get out of debt learn something new get organised However, most people either forget or cannot maintain their New Year resolutions so with a short span of time they are long forgotten. Last year I thought I would "learn something new" and crocheting was going to be my thing. It never happened.  I did try but it was just "too hard".  However I did do a few other things that were not on my list, such as learn how to make jam and chutneys, make bread, improve my sewing, start embroidering and produce vegetables for my family.  These I have done all year and will continue into the new year.  I have also lost weight . . and will continue into 2012 (just need ...

This is the time of the year when people write up their New Years Resolutions.  Usually these lists contain things that people would like to achieve or change this year eg loose weight, give up smoking, save money, exercise more etc.. Are you one of these people?   Well this year I have no list . . . nothing I want to achieve or change.  Is this a bad thing?  I think I will continue on just as I did 2 days ago when it was December 2010.  I lay in bed at 1am on the 1/1/11 ( after being rudely woken by illegal fireworks that gave me a headache ) and I tried to think of what I could put on my New Years Resolution list .  .  .  and nothing came to mind, nothing at all. A bit sad really - not really as New Years Resolutions are a bit silly. The problem with New Years Resolution lists is that no one keeps them, so according to my logic, it is better not to have one in the first place. After extensive research into the topic of New ...

Welcome to 2011 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Psalm 105:4 ~oOo~ I will bless the LORD at all times:   his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1   ~oOo~ Oh that men would praise   the LORD for his goodness,  and for his wonderful works   to the children of men!   Psalm 107:31 ~oOo~ I do not know what the new year will bring, but I do know for certain, God "will never leave thee nor forsake thee" and he will protect me as " The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me " and everyday He will  be "my strength and my shield ".  Through Him I will find comfort and courage. . . . I pray that you do to.  Blessings. Hebrew 13:5-6 and Psalm 28:7

A very late night last night - no we weren't celebrating New Years Eve - (we had quiet celebrations and watch a DVD) we were sitting with the dogs who were completely unimpressed with the fireworks going off in our street (illegal fireworks) and wouldn't go to sleep.  Gaia just wanted to bark at all the noise (which we couldn't let him do as responsible dog owners!) and Brenin banged endlessly on the back screen door.  Who can sleep through all that noise. It went on until 1:00am this morning - then the sun rose at 5 something and woke me up.  Very unimpressed on my first day of 2010.  However I did enjoy an afternoon sleep - but being hot I woke up with a woolly head :)!! And now it is 11:00pm and I can't stop yawning so I better go to bed.  So good night all... But before I go.. here are a couple of photos I have been playing around with tonight....    

Flowers taken in the gardens of Old Parliament House, Canberra God holds the future in His hands, With grace sufficient day by day; Through good or ill He gently leads, If we but let Him have His way. ( Robrs ) Wishing all my readers a wonderful and safe new year and I very much look forward to hearing from you in 2010.