Today, two things stood out to me. Firstly, as I drove into my driveway, two butterflies circling each other flew before my car. My mind was thrown back in time to when the world changed in 2020 with our first lockdown. It was a time of uncertainty for all, and we didn’t really understand what... » read more
Times have certainly changed rapidly in the past couple of years. I don’t think anyone has been untouched by this new way of life. It’s almost as if the turn of 2020 also turned on a switch that changed normal into unnormal. Such times have required much from us: to stretch, grow, test, and think... » read more
During the years of my children being at school, there have been a few days or more when they have lacked the desire to go to school. Comments like, “Do we have to go to school today?” and “I think I might be sick and need to stay home” (when obviously they weren’t) — the whole dragging the feet... » read more
Lately I’ve been signing a lot of permission forms. With school comes excursions, school photos, subject changes, extra-curricular activities, camps…all of which need the authority of a parent’s permission. I’m glad that, though my youngest children are in high school, they’re still young enough that I get to sign things for them, yet this time... » read more
A friend sent me a video recently by Christa Elisha where she talks about a vision she had of Jesus walking in front of her, but the distance between them grew and he was leaving her behind. This upset me, it really did—not because of anything offensive, but for the urgency for others to know Jesus, which... » read more
“A thing of beauty” is how the Christian Today Chief Editor has described the new release Anthology from the writers of Christian Today Australia, God In Life. God In Life: Anthology was released for sale at the beginning of May 2020. It is a collection of inspirational, thought-provoking articles stemming from reflections of everyday experiences and some not-so-everyday... » read more
Having lived for almost a century, my husband’s 96-year-old grandmother, Dorothy Moore, has seen an awful lot, has experienced an awful lot and is still surprised at new challenges facing the world daily. But never before has she witnessed anything like the Covid-19 virus that is sweeping the world as we speak. The global effect... » read more
‘Let’s celebrate’ sounds like a pretty weird title for this season of isolation we are living in, but why not kick up our heels a little? Just because we’ve all been restricted for so long doesn’t mean we have forgotten how to celebrate. Over social media of late, I have seen many lonely celebrations, but... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 26/3/20 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/the-grass-is-greener-said-the-goat.html I often find myself writing about our pet goat. It’s not that I’m particularly fond of him—the Lord knows how many times I’ve had to chase that goat away from my roses and the neighbour’s garden when he escapes! He can be very infuriating, and threats of... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 18/2/20 http://christiantoday.com.au/news/break-in-through-the-roofthe-great-jewel-heist.html Have you ever known something so valuable it would be worth breaking through a roof for? Some of you may be imagining a scene from a movie of a great jewel heist that has led to the pinnacle of the story line (after much planning, danger and... » read more
Walking through the final days of last year, I felt somewhat grateful. I did not revel in the gladness of seeing a bad year come to an end (though there have been years like that). For me, it had been a satisfying year in accomplishing what I’d set out to complete from the previous year’s... » read more
There seems to be a belief today that the idea of there being a person created to be your other half doesn’t exist: “There are many people out there suited to you and you just have to choose one that you like”. While this may be true and work for many people, I certainly don’t... » read more
https://christiantoday.com.au/news/up-the-creek-without-a-paddle.html Many years ago, we visited my parents while holidaying at a small seaside town in Queensland. While there, we spent the afternoon by the bay. We all enjoyed a leisurely spring afternoon swim, and towards sunset, my mum decided to go for a relaxing row in the dinghy by herself. With the outgoing tide,... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 2nd July, 2019 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/worth-waiting-for.html A good coffee is worth waiting for. Back in the day (and I won’t tell you when because it will give away my age), instant coffee was a big seller. It was quick and versatile; you could keep it in the cupboard for a few... » read more
https://christiantoday.com.au/news/empty-washing-baskets.html Every now and then I get a glimpse of the bottom of my washing basket. It’s an exciting moment and one that doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, I get a tiny taste of what it might be like to have that job finished. Unfortunately, clothes washing never really gets finished and... » read more
Abortion—a word that has been thrown around lately like a batter in a hot pan. In the state where I live, abortion to full term has recently been passed in Parliament. People have cried about it and others were dancing in the street over it. Some call it a great day for women’s rights (choices),... » read more
Have you ever heard the phrase, “I could’ve kicked myself!”? It’s a funny phrase, especially to visual people who can imagine what that would look like. It’s usually used when one regrets something they’ve done e.g. “I could’ve kicked myself for not getting that when it was on special!” or “I could’ve kicked myself for... » read more
It was a busy school morning. I managed to get the kids out the door but with only minutes to spare. As all four children bundled into the car, I turned the engine on only to have the petrol light appear on my dashboard! The petrol was low—it was very low. With only minutes to... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 3/8/2018. https://christiantoday.com.au/news/life-is-good.html I can count on my hand the number of times when I thought I was going to die—and I’m not talking about when I let my husband drive! (Though he’s never had an accident in Australia he says). One near-death experience was when as a teenager, I was... » read more
As published in the Salvos Warcry Magazine 14th July, 2018. http://www.warcry.org.au/single-post/2018/07/14/“Squark”-is-not-the-sound-a-car-should-make The sound of my grinding ignition was too loud to be muffled. Each time I started up, my little blue bomb of a car would give a good screeching and a squeal, and I would pray to God that no-one was nearby (though that was... » read more
The picture tag looked nothing like the seedling that I had planted. The seedling was gangly, small and looked like it might fall over at any moment. But the promise of the tag told me that this weak little plant would one day stand strong with firm green leaves, growing a beautiful tall blue flower... » read more
Published in the Salvation Army WarCry 26 May, 2018 http://www.warcry.org.au/single-post/2018/05/26/Yes-my-darling-you-will-fly Ever been so excited you could jump out of your skin? Many years ago, my three-year-old raced into the house after playing in the garden, beaming from ear to ear and grabbing our arms to pull us her way. “Mummy! Daddy! Watch what I can... » read more
My husband is a very intelligent and capable man—but when it comes to spiders, it becomes another thing altogether and intelligence swiftly succumbs to emotion! Many years ago when we were dating, we were driving to the wedding of some good friends of ours. I was working towards sitting for my driver’s licence, so I... » read more
Sometimes, I have a little giggle on the inside when somebody says something like: “Oh, your kids are so well behaved”. At that moment, my mind wanders to many things, one of which is a special moment many years ago when my eldest two children were around the ages of two and three. My husband... » read more
Some days, the cars on the road all seem to be in the way, phone calls are an interruption, the voices around us seem to be complaining about one thing or another, and we have a mountain of work in front of us that we just can’t seem to get to. Feeling heavy? Most of... » read more
It was not until I was sitting on the ski lift that I realised I would have to get off. It was my first time skiing and we were on our honeymoon in New Zealand. I had my gear on and managed to plonk myself onto the lift, skis and all. It carried me up... » read more
Things are seldom as easy as they seem. For instance, standing in line six or so years ago to board our very first cruise, my husband and I were filled with excitement. This holiday couldn’t have come at a better time. We were exhausted and fatigued and with one week before we moved house, this... » read more
I was a soccer mum for only a little while before we realised it probably wasn’t our four year old’s “thing”. I distinctly remember finding the games to be endlessly amusing while watching these little tots in their big shin pads and oversized uniforms pad their way up and down the field trying to... » read more
Anyone who knows me, knows by the number of photos on my social media account that I like roses. I have two rose plants that emit delicious fragrances, surpassing the fragrance of any Turkish Delight sweet I have come across. The only problem with my rose plants, is that they tend to flower around the... » read more
Last night I had a dream. I dreamt I was back in a time when my children were babies. I was back in the house we used to live in and reliving a day in my life 15 years ago. Everything looked and smelt the same, the colour of the walls, my kitchen where I... » read more
It was drawing towards the end of the six week Christmas holidays. My children were aged three, four, ten and eleven at the time, and the house had echoed with childish noises for many days. That’s fine and well for the most part of it, but on this particular day my ears were tired and... » read more
“What?” she exclaimed. “Only two more sleeps until Christmas?” said every mother who hadn’t started her Christmas shopping until the last minute. That was almost me, but I managed to get my act together in the final few days and, with lots of prayer and minor miracles, no one knew any different (maybe just... » read more
New Year, new you, new dreams, goals and resolutions. This season is the time of year that we come together to celebrate Christmas, the hope of new life, and look forward to the year that is to come. For some, the year that has passed has been a great one and we can only... » read more
Have you ever had days, weeks or months when you have felt like you are a bowling pin at the end of a tenpin bowling lane. The bowling ball is aimed and released and you pray to God that that ball is going to roll down the gutter. Sometimes the ball rolls and misses,... » read more
The night was clear and calm after a week of weather with bouts of wind and rain. The guests began to arrive, dressed in vintage glamour costumes. It was going to be a fun night and I had been given instructions to stay outside and enjoy the party. As the Jazz band played, laughter and... » read more
For busy mums, it seems there are plenty of things that keep us on the go. Besides housework, extra-curricular activities, never empty washing baskets, appointments, meals, shopping, and careers, there is also the catching up of friends, family and celebrations. It’s what I like to call ‘life in all its beauty’ – it is busy,... » read more
Don’t laugh now, but the thought of snorkelling has always made me a little nervous. Breathing through a pipe while having your nose blocked made the word ‘claustrophobic’ come to mind, so I never felt the need to go out of my way to try it. That was, of course, until we recently visited the... » read more
My family enjoys nice tasting food. Despite a few stand out failures, I can usually deliver on this, but recently we ran out of one small ingredient – salt. I had almost bought a new packet of salt at the supermarket but was sure I had a refill at home, so I left it. That... » read more
Climbing Mt Coolum earlier in the year was a great idea – until we got half way up the slope to the steep incline, which is when our post-Christmas bodies decided maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Nevertheless, we pushed forward. Now to those of you who are pretty fit, you may... » read more
