house and home

found a place! We looked last weekend and applied for one place and found out this weekend that we were successful. Hooray!

The place met most of our requirements and all 3 of us liked it. My only worry was that it would be too far from the train station for Myles but he said it was fine. There is no more swimming pool so will have to take my nieces and nephews to public pools and beaches more. But its big enough for my cousin to hold his outdoor wedding reception if he chooses.

And added bonuses - it has two of my favourite trees - hibiscus and frangipani. Saw it again today and the backyard had lots of fallen frangipani flowers so of course I pictured me and my children collecting them all and filling the house with its scent. Especially the bathrooms - yip have two which is great when there are lots of people.

The rooms are a great size and have built ins, floor boards throughout the house except for the kids room which has a carpet that looks like it could cope with messy little ones :) That was an added bonus because floorboard can be cold in winter for little ones.

There are two fire places, not useable but great looking features and I have a window seat in the master bedroom. Plus air con in the living areas which will be great for our hot summers. The backyard is a great space for the kids, not too big, and very private. Plus great outdoor spaces for hanging out.

And its close to our church. What more can I ask for? Oh yes, i can see it being a very cosy home to raise little ones and for family gatherings. Thanks, LORD.

update

it's been a while. We're back in Sydney. Lots of things to organise...baby preparations, doctors, and house hunting.

I'm super tired, and caleb is super active, makes for a great combination :)

Myles is back at work but he played one volleyball game and sprained his ankle and fractured a bone in his foot. So we would both be house bound if it wasn't for my brother driving us to view houses, and doctors appointments.

I'm eager to move before it gets to close to my due date - June 29. Still no name for my little girl and i think we've brainstormed every girls name there is...well it feels that way. worked my way through a baby book...plus all myles' siblings many suggestions during our time in NZ.

That's all my news. My son is growing so much he's almost getting too heavy to carry around. He's learning so much at the moment. Mimicking words and actions. He's such a boy - he thinks everything is a drum. My back, the floor, pots, the table, chairs, etc.

Diana

My mother-in-law went to be with our LORD, Frid 7 March. It was a shock because it happened so quickly. But the way she went was a blessing - in her sleep peacefully.

She was an awesome kind-hearted woman who lived a full life. I am thankful that she was saved and believed in the LORD.

I am thankful for these blessings:

• Diana was able to return to England, where she was born, and visit her old home and her parents graves
• She was able to visit her son in England whom she hasn't seen in a few years.
• Diana visited her sister in Canada whom she hadn't seen in more than 30 years so that was really awesome.
• She was able to go on a cruise and visit Australia a few times to see her grandson and sons.
• She did a lot of travelling to places she had never been to before.

All these things she was able to do in the last few years since she retired. So she was so pleased that she had fulfilled these important milestones and felt she had lived a very full life.

I'm grateful for these blessings. Especially that she met Caleb and knew that the little one to come is going to be a girl with Diana as her middle name.

She is a great loss and we will miss her so much, and I want caleb to always know how wonderful his Gran was and how much she loved him.

To Faith and Lill, thanks so much for your prayers and awesome words of encouragement and faith. Your words really filled my spirit. Thanks so much.

we fly out tomorrow - to see myles' mum in new zealand. I am praying for lots of discernment because Myles' family is different from mine. So I want to be mindful of her independence but at the same time I want her to know it's ok to be emotional about all of this. That she doesn't have to put on a brave face for us.

I am hoping Caleb brings her lots of joy and laughter. That seeing her grandson will help her to choose life...to make the most of whatever time the LORD has given her. I am praying that it will be years and not just months.

Of course, I'm worrying about Myles too. He's so use to being strong and in control that I don't want to be a burden on him in any way. I don't want him to have to look after me and everyone else. It's a time he can be selfish and take care of whoever and whatever he thinks best. I'm praying the LORD will shower him with love and guidance as he steps into unknown territory for him and his family.

I guess this is like stepping into the dark for the first time holding the LORD's hand. He has no idea what's out there or what to expect. I pray he holds on tightly to the LORD and doesn't feel like he has to cope on his own.

I'm also wondering how caleb will cope with staying somewhere that's not his home, how will he sleep, will he be himself or too scared to relax...lots of unknowns.

ok, overwhelmed now...need to pray.

LORD
I'm so leaning on you right now. Your word is flooding me....we can do all things through you who strengthen us, if we draw near to you then you will draw near to us...cast all our cares on to you for you care for us...We need you LORD. We are not strong and we can't do this without you. Thoughts of losing my Dad are flooding me, and now I face another parent who is going through the same circumstances.

I know that you are with us. That greater are you who live in us then he who lives in this world. That you are our refuge. That no one can snatch us from your hands.

Fill us with your discernment LORD. The way you saw into the heart of whoever you talked to, so you knew what they needed. Help us to do this with myles' family. Fill us with your Spirit LORD, so our words are your words, so we can comfort those that need comfort and laugh with those who need laughter.

Help us to be their refuge in this storm. Help us to be a blessing to them.

And please help Myles and I to communicate with each other. Help me to help him LORD. To be his right hand in this time of need, to be Jesus to him - no pressure just lots of love.

Thank you LORD. You already know my heart's desire LORD. And I magnify your name which is above all names, Lord Jesus. You said we overcome by our testimony and your blood sarificed on that cross for us. My testimony is this - you are the Son of God, my Lord and Saviour and that all things are possible with you, that you are the same today as yesterday. That you heal the sick, bind up the broken-hearted, and set captives free. That you intercede on our behalf and turn our prayers into something beautiful. Thank you Lord. I ask all this in your mighty name. amene.

magnify the LORD

When I think of the worse things that have happened to me...and there are a few that have devastated me in different ways...worse fear, affected me for life, broken my heart, lost loved ones, emotional and physical pain, screwed with my mind...yet what do all these mean compared to the best thing that has ever happened to me....SAVED AND FORGIVEN, CREATED NEW.

If I was to weigh them on a scale would all the pain and hurt outweigh the joy of my salvation???

Even if I feel pain for the rest of my life here it will never outweigh being SAVED FOR ALL ETERNITY. I realised this today.

I am reminded of some of the words of amazing grace and Isaiah...I was lost but now I'm found, blind but now I see, given beauty for ashes, a captive set free, a prisoner released from darkness, a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. These all describe me, describe what it means to be saved.

I will magnify the LORD who is worthy to be praised. I am saved. I am saved. I am forgiven. I am forgiven.

My husband is saved. This is no small miracle. My husband was an atheist. He knew God existed for me, but not for him. Even if Jesus walked on water in front of him he would still disbelieve. It just didn't make sense to him. And now he believes. The impossible made possible.

He is saved. He is forgiven. Created new. He was blind but now he sees. Amazing grace.

The LORD loves us. The Maker of Heaven and Earth knows our names. He moved heaven and earth to save us. What is impossible for man is more than possible for our LORD.

I can't say: I am saved BUT it cost me everything. If I truly understand what it took to save me, transform me, then the cost is nothing in comparison. I am saved AND YES it cost me everything. It was worth it and more.

I can't live without the LORD. My sins are too overwhelming and my pride too great. My days of independence are long gone. Obedience is my choice. Why? Because I cost the LORD his life. It took everything to wipe away my sins.

It's easy to take it for granted because the LORD made it seem so easy to change me. But I didn't overcome my weaknesses, my sins. The LORD did. He removed them as far as the east is from the west. Why? Because he knew I couldn't do it. I would have drowned. This doesn't make me strong. The LORD is my strength. I can never take this for granted.

He restored my innocence and gave me a choice I thought I had already made...to choose life. Joshua's words I make my own:
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, (whether the idols in your life, the lust of this world, whatever you devote your time and energy to above the LORD) But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.