My Cup Overflows With Blessings

We have been in our new home at Highfields for almost three months now, though at times it feels much longer. It's four months since Sam had his Fontan heart surgery and to look at him now, you would never guess that his heart was so altered.
Don has settled back into his work with the Blackhawk team like a duck in water (pun intended for those who know Don's association with ducks). A few short weeks after arriving in our new home, Boeing advised the Blackhawk team that the Blackhawks would be winding down at Oakey and that the team was advised to be re-allocated or find new employment by Christmas. Well, that tested our resolve somewhat. However, we believed that God brought us back here and so we prayed and waited. As it happens we found out last week that Don will begin training to work on the Kiowa Jet Ranger helicopters and therefore is well equipped to transition to them when Blackhawk winds down. (Insert giant sigh of relief and shout of adulation to God here).

My Avon business was slow to get going in the first campaign but with prayer and persistence I have seen a massive improvement over the last month and I am just so encouraged and thankful to have a job, where I can be with my boys and help out at school. The book 'How Prayer Impacts Lives' was also released this last month, to which I contributed so that was wonderful to see come to fruition.
In between all of this we have all had the flu in the last month, meant the children basically raised themselves for a week or so there.

Jack has settled in better now to his school and I have seen big improvements in his work. The fact that he wants to read now, just does my heart no end of good. He and Sam look forward to reuniting in the afternoons after school and continuing their superhero games.

Sam is recommencing Kindy on Monday for a day a week, for the first time since his surgery. He is very excited. He is also beginning swimming classes on Tuesday. To see that he has enough energy now to try and swim is just so wonderful. Sam has also begun to see a psychologist at the Toowoomba Hospital once a week. I knew he needed help to overcome his fear of needles, blood tests and ECGs but I was still in two minds about psychologists. There is too much stigma surrounding that profession. So tucking the stigma away in my handbag, we attended the sessions and will continue to do so over a long period of time. His doctor is excellent and it is a play based approach, which at this stage he seems to be enjoying. I am sure with age, God's help and medical help, he will learn to master the fear that so consumes him surrounding these procedures.

 

For now, I am so thankful to all be well and nearing the end of the Winter months. The change of season is in the air and the ferocious winds today seem to be driving away the remnants of the chilly Winter air. We have a real sense of peace in this place, unlike we have had for some time.

 

The psalm that follows is often recited at funerals as it seems to bring comfort to those in times of grieving and gives hope. For me, now in this time, God is whispering into my ear to remind me of his presence in our life, the one we are living now. They are more that words of promise for another time, these are words that speak of our life now. These words come to mind and resonate within my soul today. I see the words below reflected in every area of our life and that is what brings me peace.

The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
 He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
   He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honour to his name.
 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
 You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honour me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 23

 

 

Measuring Wealth

When we moved to Highfields we know God was bringing us home, for a time of replenishing. He spoke to us about moving back home and restoring what had been lost to us. We have been here a month now and we see his providence in so many ways. Yes, in tangible ways by paying for our relocation, providing Don with a great job, opening up a whole new world for Avon for me, placing Jack in a school with a dynamic and focused teacher, introducing us to a new church family, and seeing Sam settle and regain his confidence following his surgery only a few short months ago. Honestly, I could go on and on, but you get the picture. This scripture has been pivotal to me in the past two weeks. It is in complete retrospect to what the world teaches us.

The result of humility and the fear of the Lord is wealth, honour and life.(Prov. 22:4)

When I wake in the morning, the words resound through my mind and settle gently into my heart like a renewing gift, a gentle reminder each day that our life here is God's gift and it is good.

With what we have endured in recent years in regard to our travels with MAF, moving from home to home, town to town, state to state, Sam's surgery, and Don's work; this promise from God is like a refreshing drink of water to us. It is reviving our parched souls after a long journey.  Everything is beautiful to us right now; being closer to family, the weather, our new home, new friends, because we know we are in the place where God's blessing resides. And so just as our Pittsworth home was called 'God's Rest', this place is 'God's Blessing'.

We have not despised any part of our journey in fact we have relished in the people we have met and the places we have lived. It was not a fickle journey but one of obedience and love. 

We travel to Brisbane on Friday for Sam's heart review with his cardiologist. Please pray with us for a safe trip and an outstanding outcome for Sam. That his heart shall be strong and endure for the longest time.

Rugged up and happy for Jack's first athletics day. He missed last year's due to us moving around.

Jack came 2nd in his sprint, though they only give participation ribbons in the lower years.

Sam joins in hopscotch at Jack's school.

Jack running in his relay where he caught up where his team was lagging.

The new book I contributed to is now released and I received my author copies from the UK.

Sam is just growing up so much and the boys have only grown closer in our travels.

We are rediscovering gardening. Oh, how I have missed my garden.

A Walkthrough of Our Abode

Ok, so I'll be honest I wasn't game to take any photographs of the inside of our home up until now.  We had been living in that state of  semi-chaos that comes with moving home.  We have moved 10 times in 12 years, and with that comes a much more relaxed approach to the whole process including the unpacking.  We still have boxes to unpack three weeks after moving in and they will stay that way until I decide where I want everything.  If it is still in a box after 6 months we either don't have enough storage space, or we don't need what is in the box.

So I thought you might like to have a little walk through our place.  It's not much, but it's home and we make sure we live in it as such. I especially welcome our family and friends far away to join me on this little tour in the hope that one day soon, you may relax in one of it's chairs or hug me when you enter the door.

When you enter the front door of our home, you enter what Don and I have affectionately called the sitting room.  No they are not plastic garbage bags but leather look beanbags.  Don and I spend much of our time in the is room when the kids go to bed,  watching the fire and reading.  We have officially been without TV now for three months, and seriously don't miss it.  We watch DVD's and read stacks of books, as well as have awesome internet.  The boys have not asked for the TV once!

 From the sitting room you can see the kitchen...

As you walk down the hall, you will find Jack's room with a view to the East of the mountains (And yes, I know you are all jealous of my carpet ;)...

And our bedroom...

And Sam's Room...

The bathroom and WC...

Our walk through Laundry... do you want fries with that?

 The Lounge Room is through the laundry and has three doors.  The one in this picture we do not use.  There is also study and storage room off of this room.

This is one of the outside verandahs where we often sit and ponder the universe and all that is in it.

So one day, I hope you will join me for a cuppa here.  Though if you come in Winter though you are more likely to sup with me by the fire while we watch the mountains from the window.

Thank you for sharing my home with me.