why hello there winter

Winter in Australia.  It doesn’t really exude ideas of snow capped mountains and rugging up in all the winter warmer fashion – especially for here in Queensland.

But it is my favourite time of the year in Queensland.  Mainly because its the only time it feels like its not Summer.  I swear I’m living in the wrong state though – Summer is my least favourite weather!

But Winter 2017 means that 5 months of the year is already gone.  Summer and Autumn gone!  And its been a wonderfully happy filled, busy, roller coaster of a time – that feels like its literally happened in only 2 months, not 5!

It’s been a time where I’ve learnt to really listen to my inner self and stop if I feel things are getting too much or too busy.  Things don’t have to be hectic and exhausting all the time – life is too short to not enjoy it.  This came in the form of taking a break from full time study.
I’ve recognised more than ever the importance of a God first life.  Where putting Him first makes everything else flow and so much easier.  The constant reminder of you are not your own strength, you have His strength, is an instant comfort.
I’ve been reminded about the importance of quality time with my husband and how easy it is to get into routine without making set, non distracted time with each other.  Our time has been in the way of board game time  (the game Splendor is a really fun game for two) or in walks to local coffee shops.
Finally, I’ve realised a lot of hard work goes into cooking a whole lamb. Even though I wasn’t the one cooking it, just being a part of my husband doing it was exhausting enough!

So bring on Winter.  Where the days are short, the skies so much more blue and the cuddles and sleep ins that much better!

Growth game strong

“if you knew me based on who I was a year ago, you don’t know me at all.  My growth game is strong.  Allow me to reintroduce myself”.  (author unknown).

It’s a pretty apt quote to start the year as well as restarting writing on my little blog space, which I really have missed.  But what better time than the new year (and with a cute new blog layout too)!

And what a year it will be.  Where I am not setting any resolutions but goals.  Where reading more, eating well and trusting God are top of the list!

Then comes goals to go camping once every few months, (and purchase a tent!) more beach trips (to appease my beach-starved husband) and to have our vege garden fruitful and multiply so we can eat our own home grown food!

And that’s it.  The rest just falls under trying to make the most of life and cut down on the usual first world “issues” that we all face.  Less TV, less social media, spending less, refusing bad food, exercising more.  Very lucky we are to have these things as our “issues” thats for sure!

It will be a year of growth and remaining strong in His word and His promises in His love, without compromise or fears of what others may think.

It will be a GREAT year full of growth and staying strong in my faith through ALL things!

 

looking forward by looking back

We live in a world consumed by the need to change.

Every day something changes.  It’s inevitable.  Your clothes, your hairstyle, the weather or the newest model phone it seems. And as fun as change is, and I am by no means against it, I also feel sometimes it’s not necessary.  That its done just because we assume we have to, because ‘modern life’.

Take for example history.   I am no history expert that’s for sure and it’s not something I’ve yet got an innate desire to delve into, but we are living in a modern age where we have technology increasing at a rapid rate.   We assume we know everything because its new.  As if we have to change the world from what it was, just because we can now do it bigger and better.

But what does history show us?!  It shows hundreds of years of tradition.  It shows thousands of years of human civilisation.  It shows for example, a monarchy that reigned far before our time, that still reigns and remains a current link to our past that we for some reason are set on destroying here in Australia.  Can you tell I’m anti-republic;) ?

It’s frustrating to me that instead of the constant desire to change history, we don’t instead look back and more strongly use what has been learnt.  What worked, how these huge civilisations made long standing buildings that last the ages or why the traditions that were set years ago are actually still embedded (often unknowingly) into our society.

The online world doesn’t help.  Its where we are constantly looking for something new and the next funny meme or hilarious video – and that is fine, I love a funny cat video don’t get me wrong.  But on a large scale, on a global scale, what will be our legacy.  What will be the one thing in this techno-age that will last?  In a world that is now set on the newest trends and fast dwindling fads and 15 minutes of fame, what lasts?  What is unique?

It’s a reflective time of year let me say.   I have been thinking about what will happen next year and the change that is going to happen in our little slice of the world.  It has got me excited don’t get me wrong, but that’s my immediate space and my change. On a global scale, on a ‘leave a legacy’ scale – how will what we are doing now really matter if we keep changing to look forward without learning from looking backwards? 

So here we go – sitting at the cusp of change.  Where another year ends and a new year begins.  It’s a fun time to reflect.  But it’s got me reflecting differently, more broad than I usually do and I’m okay with that.  In this coming year, I am going to use this to look back on my own history, on my countries history and further, to see how I can change from what’s been taught already.

Where I can learn and move forward, by looking back.