Another rainy day, which I love.
It also has the element of gloom, though – perhaps things seem closer and darker.
There’s injustice and pain going on in the world, as well as just bouts of petty sniping, and sometimes it can feel a bit hopeless… I tell my boys to keep on moving forward, and do what you can do.
There are times to just stop, take care of yourself, and breathe. There are times to take a stand and put yourself out there.
And there are times to put your head back and SING!
“Fill our hearts with a holy danger
Lead us beyond our fear of failure…”
As I write, the rain is starting again.
The fresh scent of growth and newness rises from the already drenched soil.
It’s hard to believe that, not so long ago, we were burning – beautiful rainfall like this can make it hard to remember the heat and drought of just a few weeks ago.
This is the sort of weather I associate with February, even though I know it can also be among the hottest months of the year. I remember streets running with water, trying to navigate to work in near floods, and that musty wet smell that never seemed to quite dissipate.
I love rain! I love the grey skies, and the thundering of a downpour on the roof, followed by a cacophony of birds shouting their glee, and often the littlies across the road chattering excitedly as they splash about! 😀 The pot plants still alive are breathing a sigh of relief as well…
This was the sky yesterday.
Looks like it’s gearing up for that again – seems to be the forecast for a while.
I can catch the scent of fresh rain – time to come awake!
…or – “The Flower Lady Strikes Again!” 😀
There’s a lady at church who hands out flowers every week – birthdays, anniversaries or when someone just needs cheering up. Some are planned (she must have a list of special days somewhere) and some are given to people she feels God is leading her to. It’s an amazing and important ministry!
Tomorrow is my birthday (yay!) so it was my turn this week. Sweet tiny roses, in beautiful pinks and oranges – just what I wanted ❤
Aren’t they lovely?
My Babe is out all day tomorrow, so he took me out for breakfast this morning at our favourite place.
Looking around the place this morning, it felt almost like I imagine a run down, but formerly genteel, stately house in a jungle would look like…
…with added fairy lights.
Also hearts…and dragonflies!
It’s nearly midnight now.
I’ll finish with a song we sang last night – went with a friend to a church service, where we were replenished and inspired.
I think I may take this as my birthday song! 🙂
I’m getting older.
It’s beginning to show.
While I’m not too worried about what I look like, I am interested in keeping healthy enough to keep doing what I want and need to do. Indulging over Christmas hasn’t helped that… but what else is January for ? 😉
One of the things I’ve been trying to do regularly is going down to the pool. Sometimes that’s not possible, so the next best thing (ideally) is walking. I LOVE walking! It’s time out to breathe, listen to music, or just enjoy the changing seasons. Unfortunately, it also takes time, and you have to be away from home… at the moment that’s a bit tricky.
The alternative I came up with was a stationary bike, but all the ones for sale seemed to be quite expensive.
Yay for recycling! (See what I did there?)
Just down the road from us was an old exercise bike on the footpath – it’s basic but serviceable. I can even balance a book on the handlebars while I cycle! I can also do bits of exercise throughout the day, whenever there’s a gap, and I’m still available when I’m needed!
The new school year, that is!
It’s two days in, and things are going well – looks like Sweet Bean will be able to keep on top of the increased workload, and he seems optimistic about it.
I still haven’t figured out everyone’s schedules yet… there are things I want to do this year, but I have to work out where the gaps are to fit it all in.
I’ve been feeling better this week, and have been managing to get to the pool for some exercise in the mornings. There are fresh flowers blooming each day, like this cactus flower next door (it was a bit more exciting earlier in the morning – obviously doesn’t do well with the later day, or possibly the heat)
Lovely fragrant frangipanis – I collect the fallen flowers for the house.
I don’t know what these are. Somehow, they remind me of pincushions.
We were watching yesterday’s Spicks and Specks at lunch today, and one of the answers was a song I haven’t heard in years! It was under the heading “Concept Albums” and, as Myf said, it used to be on children’s television All The Time… if I’m remembering correctly, there was Sesame Street, Play School, then “Butterfly Ball”. I saw it so many times as a child – I remember enjoying it, and I’m pretty sure I wandered around the house singing it 🙂
I had to look it up after (and share with Sweet Bean). I felt like the years just fell away… not sure I quite realised back then just how weird it was, though 😉
I wasn’t planning to post today. We don’t really celebrate Australia Day in our house, partly because the years spent living overseas made it seem less important to me, and partly because of the “Change The Date” views. For the record, I have no issue with changing the date. If the day is just about celebrating the whole of the nation, and all the good things in it, then there can be no reason not to change it, and the hope of healing and reconciliation if we do.
Nevertheless, I thought that something along the lines of “Love is all” would be OK to post today.
Just to finish – here’s a thought on changing the date…
Here’s a song that’s been going round Facebook (and presumably other social media?), and for good reason…
It’s a beautiful song, with a heartbreaking backstory, and touches the spirit as well as the tear ducts. I am old enough to be looking from both sides of the generational circle, and pondering the cycles of life… I could try to wax eloquent here, but I don’t think the song needs my commentary. We’ll all hear with our own histories.
For some reason that song reminds me of this song – even though it’s completely different, and joyful as well! If you need cheering up, have a listen, and enjoy the cheeky cameo 😀
Live life forwards,
mindfully,
cheekily 😉
and with joy and camaraderie!
❤
It’s a new day, new year, and the dawn of the new ’20s.
Will we be dancing the “new” Charleston whilst quaffing champagne? I don’t think I’ll go with the champagne, but dancing seems the thing to do…
We saw in the new year by drinking Grapetise with the boys, and pulling Christmas crackers that I’d bought cheap from the post Christmas sales. We toasted to new experiences, then went to bed. Such excitement!
I don’t do New Year Resolutions, but it’s still a good time to think about what this year can bring. To say goodbye to the dying year, and look ahead to the dawning light.
My Aunt sent me a card, which references Tennyson’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells” – here’s the full text.
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Seems like a call to wipe out the old year entirely… I’m sure some of us feel like doing that!
Yesterday I binged on some ofmy favouriteepisodes of Doctor Who. Looking back, it seems like they all talked about feeling lost in this world, unnoticed and unappreciated by others, and feeling like you have nothing to give. Happily, each ended with the respective characters finding their worth in one way or another. This is one of my favourite scenes!
If there is anything I want for this year, it’s that we all find where we’re meant to be – our place in the world, our worth, and the people who love and need us.
Let us arise and soar into the wild sky!
A quote from Vincent – “Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost enchanted after all.”
a bit of creativity, a bit of eco consciousness, a bit of inspiration.... hopefully not a lot of pompousness and blathering :D
i'm not entirely sure what's going on here... let's travel along and see...
1000 Fields of Roses 