Whatever the Dream

Whatever the dream, 

no matter how daring or grand, 

somebody will eventually achieve it. 

It might as well be you. 

Author - Bryce Courtenay.
xx

Saturday Snapshots

This was a bit of fun....we all got in on the action today and took some photos for the 'Saturday Snapshots' project. (I know its Sunday in Australia so technically I'm ahead although my post will come in some time late Saturday night in the U.S.A....I think :)  So anyway, it proved to be a great project and kept us busy for most of the afternoon.  I decided to share a snapshot of some special mementos and significant words, My daughter took the sky shot and the photo of our Himalayan Persian....the poor cat is not very impressed with the sudden onslaught of attention.  My boy took the photos of his sister.....not bad for a twelve year old! This was a great idea from an ordinary mom living an extraordinary life.

Friday Favourite (Favorite) Things

I found this lovely idea on a great blog. Rachel is celebrating the every-day, ordinary, mundane and the spectacular moments that come her way. Each Friday she posts photos of the favourite moments in her week and I have decided to give it a go too.  Rachel is a mum to seven beautiful children and blogs her journey at Finding Joy - a beautiful connected life..... truly delightful reading.

Because I'm new at this...(and realising that it is already Saturday in Australia and its actually Friday in America) I am posting just a few of my favourite moments this week.

so here we go.....

FLYING to Sydney for the weekend with my daughter

Colour conference and a SISTERHOOD of amazing girls

a ferry ride across SYDNEY harbour......even in the rain it was exhilarating

the wind in my face....the wildness of the ocean

wild and raucous laughing with my DAUGHTER as the ferry rocked violently

Heart and Soul FRIENDS

my children LAUGHING

my daughter teaching my SON how to tackle....even though he is the one who does karate

CHOCOLATE shops.....and warm chocolate brownies....with vanilla ice cream :)

Arriving home to my own BED

DREAMING

and taking the time to dream

Planning an EASTER trip

the SUN that filtered through the trees in the backyard yesterday

a breathtaking SUNSET

xxxxx

Colourful Memories

Reflections of Colour Conference 2011

a few thoughts from conference....

* Jeannie Mayo
- "It's not what you do that makes your work sacred, it's why you do it!" - A Tozer.
- While living in a world of half-heartedness dare to live with passion....."The difference between passion and hype is that passion is energy of the soul and hype is energy without sincerity."
- Find something worth dying for.......Isaiah 55:12 "I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing." (a thought from Martin Luther King - "If a man is not willing to die for a cause then he is not fit to live.")
- Endurance....."A diamond is just a hunk of coal that stuck to its goal and made good under pressure."

Love this thought about diamonds ... I have contemplated this very thought before and some time back thought about the fact that it is not until a diamond is cut in a myriad of ways that its true brilliance is revealed for all to see. Wow, the cuts and abrasions of life can reveal so much more about what is hidden beneath the vulnerability of the soul. It is actually possible that the messy details of my life ... the parts I don't like, the parts I wish to erase, the story I didn't want and the story I continue to leaf through can actually serve to reveal the shining magnificence of a merciful and loving God.

'Be Her Freedom' wall

* Craig Groeshell

- We are God's masterpiece......created for the masters purpose.

- You have everything already inside of you to accomplish your specific assignment.

- God uses everything in your life to bring about his purposes. Romans 8:28 - 'All things work together for good to those who love him and have been called according to his purposes.'

- Step through your greatest fear. "What you fear reveals what you value most and what you fear most reveals where you trust God the least."

An aha moment ... This one took me by surprise. Fear is the absence of faith! Could it really be true that what I passionately value most of all could also be where I trust God the least? ... the world stood still just for a moment. As a Mother I have always felt the full responsibility of the beautiful lives entrusted to me. My heart has always been to lead and guide my children along the path of life into the loving and open arms of a gracious and loving heavenly Father. As I watch my children grow and become the amazing individuals that they are ... I wonder and hope that they will passionately follow God as I do. I hope that they will walk into His embrace and not away. 

I hope that our single familyness does not scar too deeply. 

I hope that teenage pressures do not become overwhelming. 

I dare not contemplate the 'What ifs!' ... and there it is!

 I suddenly realized that I was not fully trusting my gracious and loving heavenly Father to do the leading and guiding. 

Did I really think it was my responsibility alone? 

Had I forgotten that he had their best interests at heart all along. 

He who formed and created them so intricately inside the womb. 

Why did it rest so heavily upon my soul? 

Was it possible that in the absence of complete and absolute trust 

a fear was now revealed?

My daughter.....time is passing way too quickly.

*Lisa Bevere
- The world is begging for you to be a hero - its in our DNA.

- A feminine heart brings solution and answers to the earth. It compliments and brings unity.

- Well behaved women rarely make history.....i.e Rahab, Esther, Ruth, Deborah and Jael....women who were not confined or defined by custom, religion, the law or man's expectations.

Jael strikes me as particularly shocking and fearless. So what makes a tent dwelling Kenite women strike a blow for the freedom of the Israelites from Canaanite oppression? (a story of intrigue, murder and betrayal ...the story of one women triumphing over an invincible and oppressive terror..... really worth a read. Judges 4:1-22)

* Christine Caine

- We are not a product of time, we are a product of eternity.

- The spiritual tectonic plates have shifted.... time to step up!

- Doubt will die unborn if it is never spoken.


I love that we are a product of eternity. We are not destined for this earth but are just passing through. We are here on assignment with a purpose, mission and mandate from a heavenly realm. So good!

Colour smiles

Colour Conference 2011

I can't wait for this years Colour Conference. Only 2 weeks away now. I have the privilege of taking my fifteen year old daughter with me and am looking forward to connecting with her away from the busyness of life. I am glad for the chance to get away for just one weekend where the things that usually demand my attention (like the washing, cleaning and gardening) can go unattended.  Time for just her, me and Sisterhood. I am excited about the opportunity to place value upon her womanhood as I continue to outwork what parenting a teenager looks like. Such a big job!! I'm learning to listen more and talk less. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly they grow. (so cliche I know) Just yesterday she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug. I was feeling the wait of the world and it was pressing in and squeezing hard. She is now much taller than I and it was her arms that enveloped me. I was overwhelmed. I who am meant to comfort was being comforted. Wow!....the power of an embrace. So determined to embrace more....... More Love * More Heart * More Sisterhood.

One Love * One Heart * One Sisterhood

"The Colour Sisterhood represents a company of down to earth, everyday women who desire to make a difference and make the world a better place - in essence it is a foundation seeking to place value upon humanity; a story of unity and alliance." - Colour Sisterhood.

 (Sisterhood Declaration)

I was so stirred at last years conference to the rise up moment for my life......the words 'be the change' went from a gentle whisper to a resounding shout. I could not ignore the restlessness within any longer....I knew this was my moment to do something. 

                                                            The story thus far

Never before had I been so sure of my next step.....I just knew that the orphans of Uganda was an initiative I wanted to align with. It was exactly where I needed to go to play my part. I love the thought that we have an irreplaceable role to play in the pages of a divine history.  I had been waiting for this opportunity for a life time. Watoto was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Each of us has a  part to play in bringing solution to the earth. We can all so something! 

                                               Current Initiatives

I am now expectant for the next moment for my life. I don't want to stop....this momentum, this heart change, this adventure. I want so much more but am wondering what that looks like?.....what lies ahead of me?.... I find the not knowing hard. Where to now? .....I'm not content to go back to my suburban life!.... I'm still trying to work out how a single mother can continue to change her world.