Funky Firefox Addon

I do like Firefox, and today's computer usage just gave me one more reason to recommend it:


It's an add-on called "Fast Dial" for your home page that automatically loads multiple sites in the one window! I've got the option for 6 sites displayed above, but you can do as little as one (which really there's no point to) or as many as 9.

Big Fan.

Yes - I know I said I wouldn't be blogging this week but I was so stoked about this application I couldn't resist.

Oh, and while I'm on the techie side of life - I'm continuing to learn Joomla! the CMS that our website is built on, and was very stoked to find today that I can learn all about it through online tutorials instead of courses. In fact, the tutes cover more than the courses I was planning to go to do, and I can more easily fit them around my work schedule. So, anyone want a website built?? (hypothetical question!)

Quick Update

Just a HUGE thanks to all who have been praying for Dad's surgery, our family and our travels etc. Dad's surgery was a big success. The trip there and back was really great too and it was good to enjoy city driving once more.

Back in town but will be staying at the Farm until Mom and Dad are back - if I'm slack on emails/blogs for a week this is why, but if you know me personally and want to catch up phone on my mobile or at work.

Thanks again!

My Father’s House

In church this morning I overheard a conversation in which a lady said she wanted to look nice and dress up a little bit when she came into her Father’s house.

What a concept = entering into our Father’s house to meet with him and publicly state that he is Lord. It’s a view of going to Church that I really like.

With that in mind and the acknowledgment that our God reigns, I pictured myself in my Father’s house whilst in church this morning, sitting and talking to him with the comfort that I have with my own Dad – sharing issues of the heart and mind. Being comforted and strengthened by the thought of my Father, the God of all heaven and earth.

Dad’s surgery is tomorrow morning – I’d appreciate prayers for that, for Mom, and for our whole family. Personally, aside from the unknowns relating to the surgery and the recovery period, I’m a bit anxious about the travel back and forward by myself, especially the early morning trip back to work on Tuesday with a 6am start… how quickly I’ve become a country driver again – the big city scares me :)

Oh – and for my sister-in-law’s knowledge, I’ve downloaded the sermon and shall listen to it this evening!

God IS Good

I know... I seem to go from bad to good to bad to worse to great in my blogging, even though in retrospect I feel like I'm reasonably even without these MASSIVE waves that I seem to reflect.. perhaps little waves but not the skyscrapers and deep caverns that come across :) then again, I'm just me and me is pretty happy with me (even in the low points I know how good my life is).

The purpose of this blog though is not to elaborate on my mood swings (hmmm... perhaps I should note the times of month they are... (sorry to the guys but it's a valid point!)), but instead to exclaim to the heavens and everyone else that God IS Good.

The reason for this particular exclamation is this:
Mom rang me at work today to say that she couldn't find a hotel to stay in next week that was in budget for while Dad's in hospital. Looking at the prices myself, with each night being over $140 I shared her concern and made some calls. People were willing to discount a little, but on the whole, prices were fixed even with the multiple nights she is in Brisbane.

So I made one final Google search and came across another hotel - still expensive but reasonable and in walking distance to the hospital. I made the call and thank the Lord, the prices were even less then quoted - under a hundred dollars for 2 people (her and me for the nights I travel down) and they are so caring... people I know my mom will receive help from if she needs it - not just people out to make a buck.

Praise God for all his mercies, big and small, he really cares about all our problems, big and small.

Identifying the Ailment

With an empty house this past week I haven't been feeling as chipper as I would have liked - sort of on edge and narky [as a sideline - is narky just an australian word??]. While work's been great, towards the end of the week I have to admit I was a bit of a wreck.

I went out on Thursday night for dinner by myself and enjoyed a martini as a starter - with a heinously long day on Friday at work (Principal's meeting at our school) I came home to meet my parents just back from a prayer summit with friends that knew me when I was a wee one in the Philippines. While it was great to see them, I just needed to get out so off to the farm where Lynda and Janelle had organised an impromptu girls night...

Lynda, knowing how I've been coping, asked me tonight before I left (a few trips down to the farm and back this weekend as I needed to hostess a morning tea with pastors from the Philippines, Japan and New Zealand) asked me how I was, in particular regarding a specific circumstance... I thought for a while and after waffling a bit realised the heart of the issue - I've been really lonely. Not any new reason, and nothing against my best mate at all, just with the house empty and Dad's impending surgery, I've just been feeling a bit more vulnerable than usual.

That having been said - I've noted that identifying the emotion has gone long way in relieving the angst of it...

Personal Assistants and Afternoon Tea

I went to The Angel Cafe this afternoon to meet a lady for coffee/tea. What was different is that I'd never met her prior to this - but it was a networking time as she is the Personal Assistant to one of the other principals in town. It's something I'm starting to do, meet up and have coffee with PA's from other schools and this way build relationships that will help us all.

It was a different dynamic to what I expected.

I've discovered thus far in my working life that as a PA you become loyal to the person you're assisting and to the organisation you represent, perhaps more so then another job, because you see how things really are. If you don't have respect for the organisation, the management of the organisation or your boss, you can't continue to work there, and indeed should not. A good PA is proud of the person, the organisation and happy to promote it... someone who is not, in my opinion and experience should move on.

What was interesting though was how this lady let her guard down to me, a PA of a rival school, and shared all the things that was hard, about her job and more specifically her boss, the Principal of the school. A very different dynamic, but one that from other stories I've heard is common when secretaries get together.

I was so very thankful (and astounded!) that I had nothing but positive praise for my boss and even when the tone of the conversation was negative I wasn't tempted to speak in kind. It's not that my boss is perfect, he's not (and neither am I), but I have a great deal of respect for him and the way he manages some very difficult situations - he also puts up with my many quirks and gives me the freedom to speak my mind.

I'm challenged to keep the tone higher in other networking meetings - not to encourage the bitch - but encourage the person to keep on doing what they do best... supporting some people that have some very tricky jobs!

Debt Free

Thank God Almighty - I'm debt free!

This morning I paid of my final debt since coming home and whilst I don't feel as excited as I was at the thought of being able to do so, I am very glad to be able to have done this.

Sarah's Faith - an encouragement to us doubters

Adam preached a very impacting word yesterday for mother's day. One that had me going forward for prayer which is an unusual event.

He shared how Sarah scoffed at God's word that she would bear a child. Her laughter which is mentioned was an insult - a disbelief with scorn - was well justified by facts, but over time she came to have faith in this word proven by her bearing Isaac and also her being mentioned in Hebrews 11 as a woman of great faith.

He spoke of the pain that Sarah must have felt, the trepidation that this was a cruel joke, and this promise that was given to her that she came to believe. Faith founded in the knowledge that God is not cruel, and a loving God would not hurt us by a rotten deception:

9 The men said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?"

He said, "In the tent."

10 One of them said, "I'm coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man.

11-12 Abraham and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age for having babies. Sarah laughed within herself, "An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?"

13-14 God said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh saying, 'Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?' Is anything too hard for God? I'll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby."

15 Sarah lied. She said, "I didn't laugh," because she was afraid.

But he said, "Yes you did; you laughed."

I was very challenged by a few situations in my life where I, like Sarah, don't believe that God will bring about the good which he has promised. I sing the song Amazing Grace but doubt the words "The Lord has promised good to me; his word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures."

I want to believe them, but I, like Sarah, don't see how it is possible. I was so encouraged though that God understands my doubt, born out of fear, pain and past hurts, and will walk the journey with me to complete the good work that he has already begun.

Hallelujah - the Lord has promised good - and this I shall believe... and when I doubt, thank God he understands and comforts me through it!

By the way - have I mentioned lately that I love my job? In case I haven't ... I do :)

Parts

Part One

I attended an Open Doors meeting last night and was struck by two thoughts as the event began. Firstly, I am a privileged person. The heritage of my parents gives me access to some amazing people with whom they have great relationships. I was humbled by a discussion with Australia’s Open Doors Director and his wife that they have had my photo on their fridge and that I am in their prayers. I look back on lunches that I’ve had with people, and phone conversations as I pass the call on to Mom or Dad, that I have been blessed by my parents Godly friends and continue to be. I hope that I can pass this same heritage on to my children.

Secondly, as I looked around my Church hall that was the location for the event, with some people who had travelled for a few hours to be there, I couldn’t help but notice that it was mostly occupied by the grey haired generation. While there were more younger people than I expected (which is GREAT) I was impacted by how lucky we are to have these people with us – but who will take up the baton of prayer after they go? Will we? Do we realise what gold they are, and do we honour them as we should?

The meeting was exceptional, and well worth getting out for on a dark and cold evening. I was challenged by the thought of forgiveness and really feel that God is on my case about this. Some know that I returned from HK quite hurt, but regardless of that I need to forgive and I ask God to help me do so.

It was good to feel again that desire to serve God, no matter what the cost and hunger to know him more. To say again to my God, “here I am use me”. I want to connect with people on the front line and continue to be inspired by them.

Part Two

For anyone that’s read this far, well done. You get to hear Part Two…. Which is a recognition that I am where I am supposed to be. Last year I expected to be getting ready to move to the USA about this time of year and now, with family health issues, I’m so glad I’m here to support my Mom and Dad. It is a challenge though and I would appreciate your prayers.

Aside from a surgery occurring later this month within the family that will have significant recuperation time (and with that its own challenges), my mom mentioned to me this morning how she is aware of her own mortality and the desire to do all that she can in the time that’s remaining. With two siblings dying at 63 years of age, Mom, now 61, is keen to live her life to the full. I certainly don’t want to contemplate life without either of my parents, but I commend both of them in all that they are each doing with the time that is given.

Competition Results

I'll leave it to a friend to describe (she explains much better than I) as she writes a letter to her Dad overseas:

Well Dad, our 3 girls did us proud! Really well behaved and looked good. We did have competition in the filly under 1 class :-( as there was a classy little filly finer than ours but at least 3/4 QH rest unknown ie NO known Australian breeding! Not as well behaved as ours though - lots of white eye and played up in the ring.

Unfortunately she got first.

The judge had problems separating ours but Tobruk (who is out of the insane black Thornthwaite mare) as expected got 2nd then to our surprise Miss Kokoda (out of Miss Muffet half sister to Anzac and full sister to Larrikin) got 3rd. Mind you she was "insulted" by 3rd (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) and would not let the steward put the white ribbon on her - reared up high and pulled the lead out of Liz's hands and took off...twice ...didn't go far and easily caught both times though (by strangers!).

The judge was very impressed with the quality of our horses. Tobruk was given reserve champion foal (the filly who beat her got first) as there was no colts to compete for it. We then put Kokoda and Tobruk in progeny pair and they beat an older pair (one white one dark brown who didn't behave) and got first!

Other comments from the judge if I remember right were "I've got horses this age and I don't know if I'll bother showing them with this competition" and "are you going in the futurities with these - you should" He was impressed with the quality and behaviour of our horses (even though Kokoda reared) - by the way she accepted the blue ribbon when Liz put it on carefully - steward didn't try! so see it was cos she was offended at the colour.

Thank God for safety (literally) she's only little but her hooves at head hight are very scary! She's a good little girl though and it was a huge surprise to get two ribbons.

Tea or Sex?

I'm up this morning before the sun has risen, getting ready to drive off to our first competition. I've decided in these early, dark, freezing hours that if I had the choice for the rest of my life of never having tea again or never having sex, I would indeed choose tea - a thousand times over!

Yes... perhaps a bit of an off colour blog but it's EARLY!