Hymn

We had a phenomenal Women's Conference! Vicki Simpson was The Business! She said it was prophesied that she is a jack hammer and BOY was she! No mucking around, she jumped straight it and busted things up! AWESOME!! I officially LOVE Italians.

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My Mama used to sing this all the time:

I didn't come here to ask You for anything
Oh I just came to say: Thank You Lord.
You answered my many prayers that I forgot to thank You for
So I just came to say: Thank You Lord.

Maybe tomorrow
There'll be sadness and sorrow
And a thousand tear drops may fall....
But until I face tomorrows task
I have no special things to ask
Oh I just came to say: Thank You Lord....

I think in the bigness of this World we live in - with celebrity lifestyle and reality tv and people wanting more, more, more and now, now, now - we can sometimes forget the simple things...

A hug
A wave
A smile
A laugh
A please
A thank you
A hand to lift
An ear to listen
A shoulder to cry on
even
The place you rest

...they matter to me... they should matter to 'we'....

I have moved into the spare room.
This is probably not a good idea and it may not last long but I am loving my space and the bed (a queen) to myself and the quiet. I get to have my 450 thread count sheets with my too soft pillows on a too soft mattress. Our bed (a super king) was made, perfectly, for my husband. It is rock hard and I really don't like it - so mini, pointless I might add, protest is on the cards and I am in the spare room. So far three nights, last night The Boss Man joined me. I like to think he wanted to be near me, however, it has also been really cold in these parts so seeing as I am a walking hottie (lol) I think there is other selfish reasoning.

Ok, what is on my heart at the moment:

My marriage: We are very busy. We hardly see each other AND he is really... irritable and irritating. Next weekend we are spending time together, not doing Church (though I think we will, we both love the house of God) but I'm praying God will breathe a fresh appreciation into my marriage - I don't want to be stale.

My future: I have not completely let go of my Waikato roots. I miss my whanau so much, miss the ease of their company, the laughter and hilarity that only comes when you know someone inside out. Anyway, I know I am called here but I would go home tomorrow if I could.

I need to load photos soon so much has happened that I am not adding... see you soon.

She's very crafty

Cracks me up the double meaning for the word 'crafty' and the care you must have when using it in 'mixed' company.

Anyway - I have a fabulous friend who is very crafty and seeing as I am a Craft-Amateur, I leap on every little thing she deems 'simple' but this one has step by step instructions with photos and even the photos are gorgeous. So here I share: The Purl Bee

We have a Women's Conference next weekend - probably should've posted this a long time ago - but should you find yourself at a loose I would love to meet you! Come on down!

Equippers Women

While I cannot guarantee you will meet Crafters, you'll definitely meet Gifted women, passionate, with a heart after God.

What else is happening at the moment...

TODAY - two of the sweetest people I know are getting married!! About time many would say, but God's timing is perfect - they were made for each other in the sincerest sense of the words... I love a good wedding and am determined not to cry (seeing as I have to sing shortly after the Bride arrives and knowing a runny nose will do me no aide!) 

And the sweetest engagement too: They had agreed to no presents for their anniversary and decided on a picnic dinner at the beach... then he surprises her with this box.... a photo of his hand, with the engagement ring sitting on top, two glasses filled with her favourite sweets, yummy grape juice - who knew romance was still so alive and well!

Hm, wedding anniversary next Weds - not sure if we'll do anything - nine years seems a little flat to celebrate - never know maybe I'll get a surprises too! Haha.

Ok, I better get going - usually I leave the Getting Ready too late and then I'm in a flap!!

Hugs to you!

Uh oh!

How do you keep up when you have subscribed to a lot of reads? (is this the time consuming part of blogging...? Geez I'm an amateur.) 

I went and checked out Widge and then I looked at what she reads and found bliss in a tea cup and there I found Small Town Stories which I couldn't figure out how to follow so I guess that slays that one for me anyway BUT THE LIST WAS NEVER ENDING and so I find myself here asking the question: Should I quit while I'm ahead?

Anyways, life seems to be getting back to 'settle' 

I've thrown a tanty lately, like a spoiled brat, though (again like I spoiled brat) I think it was well deserved of it's receiver... I think we have made progress.

Also I am trying to relax a bit. I love the  REALity of fellow bloggers and sometimes I actually am a little over cautious I think. Sometimes I completely clam up and say kaka, blah blah blah, nothings. Other times I have been like a tap with no off valve!

So expect me more relaxed (cos that is what I am praying for) 

I complained to a friend about the complaining of my friends and she said to me 

"Sweetie. I think it is about calling." 

to which I replied 

"What are you trying to say?! I need to suck it up?!" (can you hear my annoyance...)

she (with a deep sigh) replied 

"Yes. You do."

.

.

.

So apparently I am a 'Carer' My attitude can be pretty average when I say to God "But I can't be bothered..." I know now, I need to get educated! People talk to me for a reason (and please hear me - I love to be here for my friends, for anyone but don't complain to me over and over and over and over and then tell me you didn't ask God or attempt any of the things I suggested - that is about the point when "I can't be bothered") but I need to be on my game if I am to be any help to anyone! And you know what else... I need to get back to loving me. Busyness leaves little me time - so now, my new word is NO. Honestly I am not good at NO. Knowing I am busy I try and squeeze people in everywhere I can, but it is not good for me (or my family - no one likes a cranky wife!) So.... maybe I'll be on here more, maybe I'll watch more movies MAYBE I'll read some books (haha - I am actually reading the Chronicles of Narnia, I am a book behind my boy and he is loving having someone to discuss the books with - it's nice for us)

Anyway - again - I appreciate the eye-opening the blogging has done for me. Thank you Ladies!

xx

I love worship.

Air I Breathe

(hm, I'm not sure how to post a video from youtube not sure if this has worked)

My solace. My comfort. My refuge.

<sup>Psalm 18


1</sup> I love you, O LORD, my strength.

 ² The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
       my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
       He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 ³ I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
       and I am saved from my enemies.

 ⁴ The cords of death entangled me;
       the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

 ⁵ The cords of the grave coiled around me;
       the snares of death confronted me.

 ⁶ In my distress I called to the LORD;
       I cried to my God for help.
       From his temple he heard my voice;
       my cry came before him, into his ears.

 ⁷ The earth trembled and quaked,
       and the foundations of the mountains shook;
       they trembled because he was angry.

 ⁸ Smoke rose from his nostrils;
       consuming fire came from his mouth,
       burning coals blazed out of it.

 ⁹ He parted the heavens and came down;
       dark clouds were under his feet.

 ¹⁰ He mounted the cherubim and flew;
       he soared on the wings of the wind.

 ¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
       the dark rain clouds of the sky.

 ¹² Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
       with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

 ¹³ The LORD thundered from heaven;
       the voice of the Most High resounded.

 ¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
       great bolts of lightning and routed them.

 ¹⁵ The valleys of the sea were exposed
       and the foundations of the earth laid bare
       at your rebuke, O LORD,
       at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

 ¹⁶ He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
       he drew me out of deep waters.

 ¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
       from my foes, who were too strong for me.

 ¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
       but the LORD was my support.

 ¹⁹ He brought me out into a spacious place;
       he rescued me because he delighted in me.

 ²⁰ The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
       according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

 ²¹ For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
       I have not done evil by turning from my God.

 ²² All his laws are before me;
       I have not turned away from his decrees.

 ²³ I have been blameless before him
       and have kept myself from sin.

 ²⁴ The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
       according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

 ²⁵ To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
       to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

 ²⁶ to the pure you show yourself pure,
       but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

 ²⁷ You save the humble
       but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

 ²⁸ You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
       my God turns my darkness into light.

 ²⁹ With your help I can advance against a troop;
       with my God I can scale a wall.

 ³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect;
       the word of the LORD is flawless.
       He is a shield
       for all who take refuge in him.

 ³¹ For who is God besides the LORD ?
       And who is the Rock except our God?

 ³² It is God who arms me with strength
       and makes my way perfect.

 ³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
       he enables me to stand on the heights.

 ³⁴ He trains my hands for battle;
       my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 ³⁵ You give me your shield of victory,
       and your right hand sustains me;
       you stoop down to make me great.

 ³⁶ You broaden the path beneath me,
       so that my ankles do not turn.

 ³⁷ I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
       I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

 ³⁸ I crushed them so that they could not rise;
       they fell beneath my feet.

 ³⁹ You armed me with strength for battle;
       you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

 ⁴⁰ You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
       and I destroyed my foes.

 ⁴¹ They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
       to the LORD, but he did not answer.

 ⁴² I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
       I poured them out like mud in the streets.

 ⁴³ You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
       you have made me the head of nations;
       people I did not know are subject to me.

 ⁴⁴ As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
       foreigners cringe before me.

 ⁴⁵ They all lose heart;
       they come trembling from their strongholds.

 ⁴⁶ The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
       Exalted be God my Savior!

 ⁴⁷ He is the God who avenges me,
       who subdues nations under me,

 ⁴⁸ who saves me from my enemies.
       You exalted me above my foes;
       from violent men you rescued me.

 ⁴⁹ Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
       I will sing praises to your name.

 ⁵⁰ He gives his king great victories;
       he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
       to David and his descendants forever.