Music | 1000 Fields of Roses

Snippets

I’ve been reading again!
Over the holidays I binged on cozy mysteries, so now it’s time for more educational and inspiring books (not that I’ll give up on my mysteries!). I have lots of books in my bookcases that I haven’t read, and I’m working my way through those.
Our library also has new books coming all the time – I can usually go in each week and find something I haven’t seen before.
I’ve just finished a book called “Bare”, by Susan Hyatt. It’s got a lot about weight loss, but coming from the perspective of loving yourself where you’re at, and finding out what you’re actually feeding when you binge eat (or over work, over exercise… add your particular excess here…) One section is about what to do with the hectoring voices in your head. There are a few different options; this is one of my favourites.

Another that I quite liked has to do with reacting to the rogue thought as a bouncer would –
(Scenario)
Thought – “You’re useless/ugly/horrible” etc…
Mental “bouncer” – “What!! You again! Trying to sneak past me – get out of here!”

What else have I been reading?
My devotional reading this morning lead me to John Donne’s Holy Sonnet XIV –

“Batter my heart, three person’d God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend,
That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow mee,’and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new
I, like an usurpt towne, to’another due,
Labour to’admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv’d, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely’I love you,’and would be loved faine,
But am bethroth’d unto your enemie:
Divorce mee,’untie or breake that knot againe,
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you’enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.”

I haven’t read much of Donne. There are nineteen Holy Sonnets in all – take a look!

Here’s two songs to finish the day.
😀

Published in:

on March 4, 2020 at 7:45 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: John Donne, rend collective, Susan Hyatt, Zach Williams

Be The Hand

Thinking again about yesterday’s post…

Do you need a hand to hold on to?

Published in:

on February 22, 2020 at 9:15 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Sara Bareilles

Love

It’s Valentine’s Day!
Hearts, flowers, chocolate…

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I enjoy all that – I know some people think it’s an over-priced excuse to indulge, and that it undervalues everyday, long-lasting, persevering love. There is that element, of course. I think we have to make that choice to mark the day, while remembering the sentiment for the rest of the year.
But do we celebrate only a narrow definition of love?
Romantic love is pretty well covered. What about families – parent/child, siblings? Love between friends – that uplifted feeling you get when a beloved friend drops by unexpectedly, or you’re sitting down over a cuppa just nattering away. Love for the furry members of the family, who tend to adore unconditionally, and help to calm and lower blood pressure…
And above that, love for God, and His for you.

Today can commemorate sad memories and loneliness for many people. I don’t want to minimise the pain of that, but I do wonder if we, as a society, elevate romance too much at the expense of the rich diversity and fulfillment of other relationships…

Happy Valentine’s Day!
❤
May you be able to look around you and see (and be) the love!

Here’s a snippet of a training manual 🙂

^“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Passion Translation)

…and of course – there’s always Twoo Wuv!

Published in:

on February 14, 2020 at 3:51 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: 1 Corinthians 13, Princess Bride, valentines day

On The Move

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…”

…and sing from the shackles!

I’ll just leave you with an upbeat song 😉

Published in:

on February 13, 2020 at 2:06 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: rend collective

The Scent Of Rain

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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!

Published in:

on February 8, 2020 at 3:01 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Bethel, Fall Afresh

Waiting For The Day

…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.

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Also hearts…and dragonflies!

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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! 🙂

Published in:

on February 3, 2020 at 11:56 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Hillsong, rafter and rose

Cycle Of Life

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!

Exercise bike January 2020

😀

And – here’s the inspiration for my title today…

Published in:

Health
Music

on January 30, 2020 at 5:53 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Circle Of Life

Here You Come Again…

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.

And, of course, my favourites!

😀

We’re off to a good start!

Here’s the title song… just because.

Published in:

on January 29, 2020 at 8:28 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: frente

Come On – Join The Band!

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…

Ring the bell and let the people know!

Published in:

on January 26, 2020 at 10:07 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Butterfly Ball, Change The Date, Spicks and Specks

Pondering The Circle

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 😀