All the small things...

My sister-in-law and I spent this morning bagging up clothes for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.  The children helped me sort clothes into sizes and organise them into bags etc.  I tried to think, if I was that mother who had just lost her home and everything in it, what would I need for my children (knowing it would matter most, to have them clothed and comforted).  It felt good to help out in a small way...

I did some baking, one of the first cakes I have ever made!  Having only just acquired an oven.  I made this delicious banana loaf.  Recipe, (and convection microwave oven for that matter!) courtesy of a much beloved sister-in-law.

Perhaps I didn't need to take several photos of the thing, but I was rather proud of it's perfection!  

Funny how taking delight in all the small things,  and doing lots of small good deeds, can somehow make you feel a little more certain that all will be well.  "A merry heart, does good like a medicine" says the bible.  So eschew all worries, and work on the light in your heart.  Keep it on through fear, and doubt and pain.  

And let us pray for Victoria; and for each other, through whatever struggles that may be facing us.

Shell xx

The very thought that one day here,

The next day gone,

Is just too much, and all too real to hear.

And here, I sit in this charming room,

While theirs is burnt to the ground.

It's just too much, to hear!

But who cares of me!

Matters not a wit what I can or cannot bear!

I can offer nothing but a prayer;

Bigger than you or I, is He.

Greater than fire, and wind and sea...

Having heard my prayer, explains to me-

That He is outside of our days,

Inside of our hearts,

He has built us a new home...

And never again should I think,

That ever were we really here,

And never will our souls be gone.

Shell xx

Delights, (and sorrowful drawbacks) of the Australian Summer!

Delighting in Summer can be easy on one hand, and sorrowfully difficult on another.  My heart and prayers go out (in spiritual express post) to the families and communities who have lost loved ones, and homes in the Victorian bushfires.  Every Australian fears this at one time or another during our long relentless summers, I am so sorry for those who have experienced this recent tragedy.  All I can make of this is that we live in a fallen world where God allows things to go horribly wrong sometimes...

I feel reluctant now to relish the delights of Summer, but here goes...

I have delighted in receiving handmade cardboard fans given to me by my children;

By making the best of scorching afternoons when all you can do is sit down and delight your mind with episodes of BBC classics;

Summer produce, like large, home grown curly lebanese cucumbers, lemons, cherry tomatoes, and very ripe bananas - which are just begging to be made into banana cake! 

I take delight in long, lazy dinners outside with chilled juice, fresh salad, brown rice, and spicy baked chicken cutlets.

I hope to not trivialise the tragedy sweeping through our sunburnt country at the moment.  When I began writing this post I was only thinking about the delightful side of Summer, but upon hearing the latest death toll and devastation report today I/we are forced to also reflect on the sorrowful drawbacks of Summer.

God bless all who have been involved.  Victoms, their families, the fire fighters, the servants and the heros.

Shell xx