Last Day

Sigh. Today is the last day of Summer. Every year I look forward to the 3 blissful months of heat - December, January and February. Now, I can feel the edge of Autumn creeping up, ready to bite me.I was born in Summer - maybe that's why I have a fixation with beautiful warm days. Maybe I just have cold blood?

But summer also has a down-side: AIR CONDITIONERS. When I heard the dreadful news I was devastated. The news of the AIR CONDITIONER. It was at the end of 2005 (if I recall correctly)when my mother broke the news that we would be getting an air conditioner in our living room. It wouldn't have been a problem if it was set at a constant temperature of 35 degrees but it never was. 24 degrees, sometimes 22 if it was particularly pleasant outside. There are times that I need to sit in the sun to thaw out.

The train rides are the same. If the temperature outside is warm the train drivers would over-compensate and create a mini Antartica for the un-suspecting passengers. Most people would sigh with relief as they entered the frost-bitten carriages but not I. For me the sigh would only be uttered after both my feet were on the platform and my feet began to take on their natural colour again.

So today I say good-bye. Good-bye to my much loved summer and hopefully good-bye to the frozen indoors. Until next year. I hope our air conditioner breaks down in the mean-time.

Grace v Works...and Bunnies

My brother in law (see Joels page) recently posted an interesting discussion about grace and and works and how the concepts are often regarded by the Lutheran church. I thought I would add my 2 cents worth.

Grace is what we are saved by. Not a lot of christian people actually disagree that it is by grace that we are saved through faith. It is somewhat of a motto for the Lutheran church! We know that grace SAVES us. We know that it was Jesus who was subsituted for us on the cross. Works or doing good things are an entirely different (yet intrinsically connected) issue.

If someone gives us an amazing gift for no reason we are not required to give them a gift in return but we often feel we ought to. Why do we feel we ought to? To prove we are as good as they are? To prove we deserved the gift they first gave to us?Probably not. We usually give gifts to those we love. The gift of grace given by God was/is a gift that requires nothing in return and yet we desire to give a gift of gratitude. The gift of doing good does not repay the debt to Jesus nor does it replace the original gift of salvation - it is simply a thank offering.

The greatest thing we, as christians have to offer is our lives. This sounds rather drastic (I am not referring to a mass suicide) but it really is the only suitable gift for someone who gave us everything he had. In the book of James it is written that faith without works is dead. James wrote that we shouldn't just listen to the word but DO IT - otherwise we decieve ourselves. Our lives are to be a fragrant offering to God. This is not to obtain salvation - but to acknowlede the gift that we received through grace.

If Bill Gates gave you $2 billion would you be quiet about it or tell everyone how generous he is? How much more so should we tell the world of Jesus sacrifice and love for us?!

For fear of waffling on I better put on the brakes. I have realised that I can't concentrate enough atwork to write a decent blog about these matters.

ON THE TOPIC: I found this rather interesting:

http://www.mbrem.com/shorttakes/fthworks.htm

OFF THE TOPIC:
I was perusing some random blogs today and found a page all about rabbits. It's intriguing what people write about. I stole this picture because I thought that it was oh, so cute (a ball of fluff or an animal???) We used to have pet rabbits when we lived in Victoria. When we moved to QLD we gave them away "to be eaten" mum told us. Why would she tell us that??? I cried. I love bunnies.

23!

Yesterday it happened.

Some of my friends (ex-students and current students) from the school where I work came to visit me and brought gifts, flowers and chocolates - a nice surprise. The staff celebrated with cake and singing. At home we had a relatively quiet, balloon filled, night. We ate Thai food, dad's lemon chicken and icecream; I received some great gifts and we even had lolly bags - fully equiped with parachute men and yo-yo's!
Here is some photo evidence (special attention to the candles)of the lovely evening I had with my family. I love Richter parties!(Rach and Joel - I wish you were here!)

Who was Valentine?

Well...do you know who he was? I don't.

He must have been a nice chap - one would think he'd have to be to start a day dedicated to love...

Or maybe he was just lonely and thought that if he named a day after himself, the women would flock and swoon? Maybe his real name was "Valentino" - a Spanish Casanova who dedicated his life to seducing women and breaking their hearts? Maybe he started the day to remind all the lonely people that they were just that - lonely and alone? Maybe "Valentine" was really "Valery" who wanted to invent one day every year that she would receive an ampel supply of roses and chocolates? Maybe there was no such person as Valentine?

Regardless, I don't really care who he/she was. It is a rather nice idea - to have a day. A special day dedicated to love. Not for chocolate and flowers, not for candle-lit dinners and sweet nothings - but just to remind us to say those words.

I love you. I always will.

Chaman and I at "Harem" a Turkish restaurant (with BELLY DANCERS!) on the 14th February.

Georgia

On Saturday, our family celebrated with friends for their daughter's first birthday. Georgia is a beautiful little girl and is adored by her older sisters and brother. We love her very much... Happy birthday little Georgia!

Beauty

What is Beautiful?

"People look at the outward appearance but God looks at our hearts"

"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting: but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised"

Beauty is invisible to the naked eye but visible to the heart.

I fear the Lord. I am beautiful. Are you beautiful? I think you are. You must be.

Look at this short clip and examine the lack of substance to outward beauty.

Lovely Lyn

Lyn is one of my favourite people in the WHOLE WORLD! She has been a part of my life since the day of my birth and she continues to bless me through her love, generosity and wisdom. Lyn is my god-mother, mentor and friend and I love her a lot.

The whole god-mother/god-father thing has become quite a joke in some Christian circles. The role can be taken on by anyone the family desires and is often given to someone who has no spiritual input into the childs life at all. Sometimes the god-parent can even be a negative influence rather than a positive one - a travesty.

For me, a god-parent should be someone who is a spiritual parent to a child - and later - to the adult. A god-parent should be a model of faith and love; a consistent example of the truth and a patient listener.

My Lyn is all of these things and I thank and praise God that he loved me enough to give me her!

May God continue to bless and keep you in his care Lyn.

(thanks for the photo!)

Hugs

Dave Matthews Band - Everyday

This is the sweetest film clip. It has been around for quite a while but it still brings a smile to my face and makes me want to hug someone.
There's something that a hug can do that nothing else can. Not words. Not smiles. Not gifts. Just a hug. A hug gives us tangible evidence that we are not an island; that we are not travelling alone in despair; that we are part of something; that we are loved. They are selfless; simple and self-explanatory.

So Pleased

It is 4:52pm Friday afternoon. No time for a lunch break today. I already missed the express train. Grrrr. WHAT A WEEK! I'm tired and grumpy...not a good way to be at all.

BUT - I am pleased it's the week end.

OH - I love week ends.

I always knew deep down

Your results:
You are Supergirl

Supergirl 90% Superman 85% The Flash 85% Wonder Woman 75% Green Lantern 70% Robin 65% Hulk 60% Catwoman 50% Iron Man 50% Spider-Man 45% Batman 40%

Lean, muscular and feminine. Honest and a defender of the innocent.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test


Well, I'm lucky. 5% more and I would have been a man. I'm sure this quiz is infallible. How couldn't it be? I am Supergirl! Surely it's true?!