Cycling...in Target.

Yup. That's right.

We were cycling in Target.

We know how to have fun.

I don't think they would have let us if we weren't buying one.

It was super fun.

Until people got in the way.

Don't worry, no one got hurt.

Except maybe when one guys heart stopped beating for a wee minute when my friend went flying past him.

(ha!) 

Annnnd...we had to try on some cute helmets, of course.

I'm telling you, if those little helmets actually fit my head I would be all over that.

Wouldn't you?

I think these two were my fave.

That pink bow is totally me.

And there I am, just chilling on my bike...in Target.

Whenever I am with these two we are laughing.

I am very thankful for their friendship.

They make being so far away from friends and family pretty easy.

Full of joy and fun.

And what's even better than that - they love the Lord and are contstantly challenging me to be a better person.

What more can a girl ask for.

They are such blessings.

Thankfulness.

Is is terrible that we sometimes have to be reminded to be thankful?

We have so much to be thankful for, the list goes on and on.

And yet, more often than not, I find myself be ungrateful.

I throw a little pity party for myself.

Yup, just me.

 No one else is invited.

Last week the Lord spoke loud and clear through my Pastors sermon.

Right to me.

God is pretty awesome when it comes to speaking directly to us and telling us exactly what we need to hear.

He spoke about the bigger picture and not losing focus on God's will.

He reminded me that I need to give thanks in the midst of any difficulties we are going through.

Seriously, you have know idea how much my heart needed to hear that on that VERY day.

God is so good.

So I go skipping out of Church ready to face anything and everything that comes my way being sure that I will smile on those things with my thankful heart.

And then it hits me.

Homesickness.

I was back at my pity party, by myself, thinking about my sister and brother, and my mum and dad.

My heart ached for them.

A bit dramatic, yes.

But this girl loves her family.

I was watching the show Brothers and Sisters.

Ok, there is so much in that show that I hate.

Yes, hate.

But..all the family stuff gets me everytime.

I don't think there is one episode that I have watched and not got teary eyed at some point.

I mean, it was such a great idea anyway.

Missing my family so I watch a show all about a family?

Yup, I'm an idiot.

Then I suddenly realised I really shouldn't be upset because I'm missing my family.

I should be thankful for the wonderful relationship that I have with then.

My sister and brother are two of my greatest friends.

I should be praising the Lord.

There are some days that I can't think of anything but sitting with my mum watching a movie, cooking with her, baking with her, making her laugh, crying on her shoulder, crawling into bed with her in the mornings.

Again, shouldn't I be praising the Lord for this sweet relationship?

So it's time for me to turn this frown upside down.

(Yes, I just said that.)

So I now smile when I think of my family. I think of all the great memories I have with them and I thank my Lord for them.

I will leave you with a verse that we all know very well but often need the reminder.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!    Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.    And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4-7

Always, people.

Not sometimes but always.

I am going to work hard to make sure I do this everyday, over and over.

There is so much to be thankful for.

And so that I put a picture in this post I will leave you with my new hairdo.

...and a silly face!



catch-up.

Definitely in need of a catch-up on here.

And boy is there a lot to fill you in on.

I am writing to you from sunny California.

Yup. It happened. wow.

It is very surreal. I am still adjusting to it.

I often find myself just in awe of God and all that He has done in my life.

We got the good news in March and I pretty much booked my ticket as soon as I could.

In hindsight, it was a little rushed.

But remember, I have been waiting for years for this all to happen. So when everything was finalised I was desperate to leave.

And it has really been a whirlwind ever since.

I have been here for 2 months and it already feels like 2 years in some ways!

I already love my job.

Seriously, the Lord made the perfect job for me.

I work with some of the greatest people ever.

No joke.

They are becoming very dear friends.

I feel part of the family already.

I am part of the most wonderful small group.

I look forward to it each week.

The Lord has just flooded my life with so many lovely people.

He has blessed me with some great, solid friendships already.

I am one thankful girl.

Having said all that, it feels a little different this time.

 I can't quite put my finger on what exactly is different, but it sure is.

I am missing my family.

Big time.

Especially my brother and sister.

I find myself daily longing to hang out with them.

I am fortunate that I get to speak with them pretty often.

I spoke to my sister this morning for a couple of hours.

Funny how hours can pass with sisters and you don't even realise it!

I also spoke with my mum last week.

That was wonderful.

I miss her a lot.

There are some things that only your mum can make better.

We were laughing and talking.

Nothing beats laughing with your mamma.

I can't wait for the day that we are in the same room and laughing.

So there are days when I feel pretty lonely.

In some ways I am thankful for this.

I am thankful that I can lean on the Lord knowing that He has my very best interests at heart.

I am confident that this is where the Lord wants me to be and I will strive to do my best for Him.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6

I am fully trusting in my ever faithful Lord.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

He wants me to flourish in all that I do.

My hope is in Him.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

I am still rejoicing!

Here are a few photos from the past few weeks.

Her smile is contagious.

These little girls never fail to make me smile.

Having fun with my sweet friend.



My small group ladies. They are such a blessing.

I love these two lovely ladies. They are such an encouragement to me. I am so thankful for their friendship.

So there is a little bit of a catch-up and some photos of my sweet blessings.  



News.

I was doing so well with my posts, until I wasn't!

Anyhoo, here I am nearly a month after my last post.

And I have some news.

A couple of weeks ago we received the great news that my visa application has been approved!

So there has been a lot of emotions going on around here.

First and foremost, I have been praising God.

I can see His hand in all this and trust that this is His perfect timing.

But...there has also been some freaking out.

There are a few more details still to be worked out, I have to go down to London to have an interview at the U.S. Embassy where they will stamp my passport.

I have been told that I have nothing to worry about there because our case is strong.

But I am a little worry wort so that is exactly what I have been doing.

I have been reading this verse, over and over.

Praying it, asking for this peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:6-7, NIV

There have been lots of tears.

Tears of joy, and tears of me just being dumb.

Thankfully, the Lord has blessed me with so many wonderful people who have been great this past week. Telling me I'm being stupid, encouraging me and praying with me, making me laugh.

Seriously, my friends bring me such joy.

So, right now, I am waiting for some documents to get to me.

After that I will be heading down to London to (hopefully) get that stamp in my passport.

I'm praying and praying, knowing that the Lord can work out all these little details.

I am a happy, thankful girl just now.

Truly grateful for all that the Lord is doing in my life.

Excited for what's to come.

 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. - Ephesians 3:20-21, The Message.



Delight.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking with my dear friend on Skype. 

(I know I say this all the time but, seriously, it is the best) 

Anywaay. 

We were having a conversation about the future and my hopes. 

I was telling her about a conversation that I had with another friend last week 

*I hope you can keep up with me, I do have a point* 

We were talking about our future and in particular marriage and families. 

She said something that got me thinking. 

"what if this isn't what the Lord has planned for us though? and we sit here talking about it dreaming about it. I want to be happy with whatever the Lord has in store for me."

I had never looked at it in this way before. 

I have always, since I can remember, looked forward to having a family and children one day. 

What if this isn't what the Lord has planned for me? 

SO back to the other conversation on Skype.

*I don't know if I can keep up with this story so there is no hope for you!*

As I said, I was telling her about this conversation.

And she said something that really got me thinking.

"I think it is too much of a desire of your heart for the Lord not to give it to you" 

This of course lead me to this scripture. 

Delight yourself in the Lord, 

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Pretty simply. We delight ourselves in the Lord and He gives us the desires of our heart.

Except, what does it mean to delight myself in the Lord.

I have been going over and over this for the past couple of weeks.

Delight.

Here are some definitions of this word. 

- a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment, joy, rapture

- something that gives great pleasure

- great pleasure, happiness or satisfaction

This challenged me.

In everything I do, do I take great pleasure in the Lord? 

Do I portray a high degree of joy in the Lord? 

Do I seek happiness in Him?

If I am being honest, no.

This makes me sad. 

Why shouldn't I express great joy in all that I do?

I am richly blessed.

Recently I have been occupying my thoughts on LOTS of other things.

They are not necessarily things that I shouldn't be thinking about but the definitely shouldn't be coming before the Lord. 

Because I am spending time dwelling on these things they are bringing me down and this affects my attitude. 

My heart was full of joy and love for the Lord, but I wasn't always expressing this in my attitude and actions.

So all these things that I was worrying about and that were consuming my thoughts I handed over to the Lord. 

By handing over my burdens I am freeing myself up for the delighting part!

By releasing ourselves from these things we are able to work on showing our joy in the Lord. 

I don't want to delight myself in the Lord in order to get the desires of my heart. 

I want to do it because I love Him and I do find happiness in Him. 

I delight to do Your will, O God, 

and Your law is within my heart.

Psalm 40:8

We need to set our affections on Him, and desire Him more than anyone else. 

I think the key to delighting in the Lord is spending much more time in His word and in prayer.
 By doing this we learn more about Him and become more dependant on him.

So that is exactly what I am going to do. 

I am going to change my attitude and show great joy in all that I do.
I am going to seek happiness in Him, in His friendship and love. 

So this is what has been on my heart for the past few weeks. Something that I have been thinking about, praying about and working on.

Music.

I love Christmas music. 

I get quite upset when Christmas passes and I have to start listening to "normal" music again. 

(I do occasionally sneak in a cheeky, wee Christmas song!)

So I have been listening to Christmas music since November. 

And I don't mean after Thanksgiving, I mean like November 1st. 

I know the rule - no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.

I'm sorry, but not really. 

I am from Scotland and we don't celebrate Thanksgiving, therefore I can start whenever I like.

Glad we cleared that up! 

That is 2 months of solid Christmas music. 

(which is basically 2 months of solid joy!)

If I listen to anything else during this time I feel really bad and feel like I cheated on Christmas. 

I realise that this sounds like I have a problem, but this girl just really loves Christmas and celebrating the birth of her Saviour!

The other wonderful thing about it is that because I haven't listened to other music for a while it now feels like I am hearing it for the first time! 

I have been listening to a lot of Kari Jobe. 

If you don't know who I am talking about please go and look her up. 

She has some beautiful songs.

Her words really speak to my heart. 

Over the past few days I have been listening to one of her songs over and over. 

I find it really hard to listen to her music and do anything else because I get so lost in her words. 

You are for me. 

You can find a link to this song below. 

I don't know about you but sometimes I have to remind myself that God is for us.

You fill me. You see me.

You know my every move

and You love for me to sing to You.

God knows our every move, and knows what lies ahead. 

Lord, I know that You are for me. 

I take great comfort in that. 

p.s. I will share what else I have been listening to soon. Some of it hilarious, well not really but it is stuff that my brother listens to and we he had it on when we were driving all over the world last week! It is not at all what I would normally listen to but I got a kick out of it! 

My Friend.

I had such a busy, blessed week last week! 

I think I will have to do a couple of posts to cover everything.

On Tuesday I got to spend the day with my dear friend, Ciara. 

She is lovely and has such a big heart. 

Ciara is a few years younger than me, but she was always much older than her years. 

We went to the same School and Church Youth Group.

It has probably been a couple of years since we have had a chance to catch up properly.

We talked for hours, and hours. 

It was wonderful. 

I didn't realise how much I missed this girl until we spent time together. 

We talked about everything that is going on in our lives, which is why we were up until 3am!! 

But everyone stays up that late catching up with good friends, right? 

In between our talking we did have time to watch our movie, Love Actually. 

When this movie first came out we went to see it at the cinema with our mammas and it has now become "our" movie. 

We try to watch it together every Christmas. 

Last year I think we fell asleep during it! Actually, I know that we fell asleep. We must be getting old! 

But we managed to stay awake the whole way through it this year. 

I learn so much spending time with this girl. 

She challenges me to be a better person and to think differently. 

She is a wonderful, committed friend who gives you her full attention. 

She is a Godly woman who knows her Scripture. 

She is just such an encouragement to be around.

On Wednesday we went for a long walk. 

It was so nice to go on walks that I had gone on as a child. 

We both have a love for the area the we grew up in. 

It is pretty beautiful. (I didn't take many photos so I will have to take some another time and post them for you)

We walked around the estate at Taymouth Castle. 

It is pretty spectacular. 

We also did a bit of exploring around an old, beautiful house. 

I think I will have to go back on this walk and take some photos of all the beautiful places that I am talking about! You need to see what I am talking about. 

When we got back from our afternoon of walking we were a wee bit cold! 

So we spent the rest of the afternoon drinking tea and watching movies.

Perfect. 

Ciara is going to Holland in a week, actually it is probably sooner than that. 

She is going to study over there for 6 months. 

When I was with her before Christmas I had lots of questions for her. 

Her response went something like this.

I'm not really sure where I am staying yet, but I'm not at all worried about it. I really feel that the Lord wants me to be over there and know that He is going to work out all the details perfectly so I am not even going to think about it. 

I tell you, this girls faith would challenge you!

I can totally relate to that in that I feel exactly the same way about California. 

It is in the Lord's hands and He has a perfect plan.

Such a comfort knowing this. 

So through all my rambling I hope you know that I had a wonderful couple of days with my dear friend.

She is such a blessing to me.

Ciara, I will be praying for you as you set off on your little adventure. 

I know that you are going to do great things there and I am so excited for you. 

You are a beautiful, talented, faithful, thoughtful, Godly young lady.

Love you.

(this is the best photo that I got of sweet Ciara, and I think it's pretty cute!) 

Philippians 4:6

p.s. I will fill you in on the rest of my week later. 

Full heart.

I spent the day with the baby brother today.

I had such a great day.

We talked serious stuff, and laughed about some not-so-serious stuff.

We talked about our big sister, who is in Australia just now (we miss you Luce)

We had lunch.

We had a quick visit with Granny and Aunty (Granny's sister)

It was just a great day.

I did get a bit sad when I thought of him going back to Plymouth next week.

But I write this more thankful than sad.

At one point today he said to me

"I've spent more time with you since I've been back than anyone else, except Corrie"

(Corrie is the lovely girlfriend)

"No one else spends this much time with their siblings"

I said to him "You should be happy that we get along so well and that we are so close"

He told me he was.

Yup, my heart was pretty full today.

The Lord has absolutely blessed me with great relationships with my big sister and little brother.

We have so much fun together and I am truly thankful for that.

I love laughing with them.

I am missing my sister just now.

But we manage to speak often.

Skype is wonderful, when it works!

Even when it doesn't work it still makes us laugh.

I printed off a calander from Under the Sycamore

I wanted to look at each day differently this year.

It is easy to get caught up in "pity party" and feel sorry for youself.

There are so many ways that the Lord blesses us and I want to be thankful for those things everyday.

So I will not be sad that my brother leaves on Sunday but thankful that we have had 5 weeks together!

Today I am thankful for a great relationship with my brother, and getting to spend precious time with him before he goes back to sea.

2012 (resolutions).

Already?

Ok, so I feel like I need to say something about the last post.

I guess when you read the title you would think that there would be a list of all the best parts of my year.

And I really should have said that the singing and dancing with my brother was one of my favourite moments of the year.

The Lord blessed me greatly last year.

He blessed me with more friendships,

deeper friendships with old friends,

 time with my American family,

precious time with my sister and brother,

allowed my "spiritual batteries" to be recharged,

and many more blessings.

Glad I cleared that up. Phew.

Anyhoo, onto this year.

I am excited for this year.

I have no idea what it will hold but I do know who holds it!

Of course, just like last year, I have a page full of New Year Resolutions.

Why do we do this? I don't even know where my list is from last year let alone the goals that I wrote down - woops!

This year my list looks a little different (I think, from what I can remember of my list last year)

I wrote on New Year's Eve (you know if you don't write it before the 1st of Jan you have to wait until the next year do make resolutions. Yup, there are rules.)

Some of them would make you laugh, like my mother did when she glanced at it and read the first few.

Ok- I will share that with you.

Lose weight.

Eat healthier.

Exercise.

You're not laughing too much I hope.

I am sure that these appear on nearly every list of resolutions.

Thankfully there is more to my list than these 3.

Here are a few of them.

I have a list of books that I plan to read this year (2 of which I have already started reading - I get points for that right?)

I am excited to get into these books. They are all Christian books and my hope is that they will challenge me in new ways.

Watch less TV. - I don't really watch an awful lot now but it is so easy just to turn the TV on and watch whatever nonsense is on. (annnd..I won't have time to watch TV with all these resolutions I have set!)

Write letters. - I used to write letters all the time. I love receiving letters. Something about someone taking the time to write to you is so special.

Be a better friend, sister, daughter, cousin. - It is so easy to get caught up in everything and forget the people that are so important to you, and who you are important to. I want to be intentional with my relationships.

Work on my attitude towards others. - There are some specific "others" that I am talking about here. It is my prayer that the Lord would on my attitude towards these people, that I might be the person that He uses to speak to them.

Buy less - It is so easy to buy things now that we hardly give it a thought. You can go online and buy everything you want. You end up buying things that you don't need, material things. I want to change that this year.

Be intentional about prayer - I already pray for friends, family and others. But I want to make a point of asking these people I pray for, exactly what they need me to pray for.

And that's all. Yikes.

Not unachievable at all.

I can do this, and I want to do this.

I plan to e-mail this list to a few friends so that they can hold be accountable.

Even with all these resolutions there is one the comes above all of these.

That is that the Lord's will be done in my life.

Praying that your 2012 will be greatly blessed!



On purpose, with purpose.

I am really going to try and work on being more consistent with my posts.

I think one a month is a little bit pathetic!

 I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and took some time to reflect on the real reason for the occasion. I have to admit that Christmas became a whole lot more special when I really appreciated all that the birth of Jesus meant for me.

He is really the greatest gift we could ever ask for.

I am back in Scotland for a little bit.

Hopefully, I will be back in California soon.

(please pray for me)

I am enjoying spending time with my family and especially the little brother.

He is a such a blessing to me.

I do have some fun photos from Christmas day, but I need to get them from  brother first.

We had a some what eventful day.

My brother, Dad and I headed to Bridge of Earn for Christmas day to spend it with our Granny and Great-Aunt.

They were very excited to have us spend the day with them, as were we!

We arrived, and I put the pavlova safely in the kitchen.

(I don't know how you are supposed to travel with a pavlova but I was holding the plate, the pavlova was sliding all over the place so I had to hold it with both my hands. I had 2 fingers on one side of the pavlova and 2 on the other and still had to have hold of the plate. I don't know how it made it there in once piece because I dosing in and out of consciousness.)

Annnnnyhoo.

We said "Merry Christmas" to the girls (the old girls) and started unpacking all the presents from the car.

As I was coming back in Aunty was on the floor in the house.

She had tripped and must have hit her head off the cabinet.

She had a cut just above her eye.

She sure gave us all a freight.

Thankfully she was alright.

It was crazy because on the way there I had been thinking about how old they are getting (Aunty will turn the big 9-0 next year)

For the most part she is doing great. But she has had a few little bumps now.

I do worry about her.

But honestly, I think (ok I know) that I fall over more often than her.

I was putting up Christmas decorations last week and stepped back, lost my balance and took a heavy step back and smashed a glass bauble. Great.

No glass in my foot though! Phew.

I am enjoying relaxing these holidays.

It is horrible outside. Really it is.

I think I could quite easily go into hibernation right now.

I have no desire to go outside. The wind is crazy, and throw rain in there and it is just nasty.

There is no fear of me blowing away though, I have not stopped eating since Christmas Day.

Why does that happen around this time of year?

You just see food and think that you need to eat it or something terrible is going to happen.

I just want to eat all the food so it is gone.

I've not just been eating.

What I've been enjoying more than eating is reading.

I am finding it hard to put down a book just now.

I am readying a book called The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian.

It is very challenging, and encouraging.

I started reading it a while ago, I may have spoken about it here before.

But I haven't read it for a good few months.

It is actually a 3 in 1 book and it also have The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Parent.

I have been reading parts of all 3.

Now is hasn't been that long since I have posted.

I am neither married, or had a baby.

But I still find it relevant.

As I read through the different chapters and sections I find myself agreeing with what the writer is saying.

It is very real, very honest and I can relate to what she is talking about.

I find myself reading it and saying "YES" in my head.

Yesterday I read this.

" We have to put our expectations in the Lord and not in other things or people."

Emm, yes.

How often do we forget this? I know I do.

As I wait  and pray for my visa sometimes my prayers are not focused on the Lord and His plan but focused on the outcome I want.

That is not to say that I don't believe that the Lord wants me to be in California.

I do.

But my prayer should be, and is, that the Lord's will be done in my life.

His plan is far more perfect than any plan I have for my life.

"We want to live life on purpose and with purpose"

It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world.

I want to be part of something greater.

My prayer is that I will live my life on purpose and with purpose.

Ladies, I would definitely encourage you to get this book if you haven't already done so.

My dear friend, Juliet, gave me this book for my Birthday 3 years ago.

I have picked up it a few times in these 3 years but I am feel challenged to study it more closely.

I'll leave you with a photo of my in my new Christmas Pjs!

Yes, they are covered in robins and holly.

And yes, they are beautiful.

Praying that you have time reflect on the things/people that really matter this holiday season.

How Great is Our God

Listening to this right now. Wanting to share the encouragement.

Listen and enjoy praising God.

How GREAT is our God!!

p.s.

I realise that all my posts are kinda the same.

Sorry, but you are just gonna have to bear with me.

Because I am in California just now the visa is heavy on my mind, well I guess even if I was in Timbuktu it would be heavy on my mind. What I mean is the Lord is confirming that this is where He wants me to be and I am getting a real feel for what life would be like here.

I get frustrated because I don't have my visa, then I get frustrated with myself for being frustrated. AH.

The Lord is working in me to change my attitude!

And I am praying.

Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Ok...I'm going this time. Probably for another month...just kidding, maybe...;)

Glorious.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

This was the verse I was looking at in my devotionals yesterday.

I stopped and read this over and over.

That word 'glorious' really stood out to me.

It definitely put a smile on my face.

I was needing this reminder, as the Lord knows. He is always fully aware of what we are forgetting and ignoring and is quick to provde a friend or direct us to a scripture so that we get that encouragement or that kick that we need!

I have been thinking far too much about my visa and having to go home and what will I then...and the list goes on as I start to think about everything that I would need to do.

I need to stop. 

I find myself doing this a lot and there is no need for it.

All of my needs will be met, according to God's glorious riches!!

God is so rich in love for us all and is fully committed to us.

I know that he will meet all of my needs and I trust in His great plan.

At the end of my devotional was this prayer:

Lord, I sometimes take half-measures in my walk with you. But You never befriend me halfheartedly. Teach me to trust all you've promised in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

A perfect plan.

I have been in California for over a month now.

Yeah - that is crazy.

It seems like yesterday that I was feeling sick because I was stressing so much about what I needed to do before I left. Remember, I am a worry wort.

 Now I am here, and pretty much stress free.

It is so wonderful to be here.

Let me try and fill you in a bit more.

So, I don't have a visa yet. I am here on a visitor visa and just visiting with my friends.

I am getting a glimpse of what life would be like if I lived here.

So far, I like what I see.

I have been so encouraged since I got here. Everyday, in the little things.

The Lord sure has surrounded me with the some of the greatest people.

But at the back of my mind there is always this visa.

I can't hardly say "If I get this visa"

I have to say "when I get this visa"

I worry about it and think about it a lot.

I find myself thinking "what if" I don't get the visa, then what will I do?

My mind wanders onto plan making.

Over the past couple of weeks the Lord has really been working in me to change my attitude.

Do I trust that the Lord has a perfect plan for me? Yes.

Do I believe that if I don't get this visa that the Lord has something else in store? Yes.

Do I sometimes forget to leave it all in the Lord's hands and take a step back? Eh, yes.

I believe that whatever the government decides about my visa, the Lord is in control.

Being reminded of this really puts a smile on my face.

My prayer is that I don't forget this.

I take comfort in knowing that His will be done.

On Saturday our friends celebrated their 8th Wedding Annvirsary.

Every year when this date comes round I am so thankful for them.

I get excited when I think about it.

Maybe that will be my next post.

Such a beautiful story showing the Lord weaving away at His masterpiece.

They are a big part of the reason that I am sitting in California writing this.

But the Lord plays the lead role.

The Lord has a perfect, wonderful plan for all of us.

'For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

So thankful for this.

"I will yet praise Him, my great Redeemer
I will yet stand up and give Him glory with my life
He takes my darkness and He turns it into light
I will yet praise Him, my Lord my God"

I Have a Hope - Tommy Walker.

Praying that I will praise Him and give Him glory in everything I do, knowing that I have hope in Him.

October.

Yeah, it's October and that scares me. Where has this year gone? I know it has been soo long since I have written on here, lots going on and lots to fill you in on. But for now I am going to let you in on a song that has been encouraging me over the past few months. I hope it encourages you too.

Work.

So...I have been really struggling at work.

We have basically got a new management team and they have a very different style to our previous management.

Don't get me wrong, I get on really well with them and I really like them.

But it is just very different just now.

There is a very different atmosphere and the staff are pretty down.

Me included.

I came home from work the other day and had a pretty bad attitude.

I decided that I wasn't going to do anything to help anyone.

I decided that I didn't even care if things went wrong, I was just going to look out for myself.

Yeah, it wasn't pretty at all.

So me and my bad attitude got home and I was adament that I was going to be horrible.

Later that night I was doing my bible study and I don't think it was any accident that I was directed to this passage.

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ² Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ" Colossians 3:23-24

Yeah, message heard. Loud and clear, Lord.

So my attitude has changed. I am not working for the people that are making me miserable and putting me down everyday.

I was working for my Father who brings me joy, protects me and loves me.

Makes it so much easier to get through the day.

Living each day for the Lord, and working each day for Him too.

Needed this reminder, do you?



Jeremiah 1:5

Great reminder. Found here on Pinterest.

Timing.

It happened again.

A whole month passed again.

Oh my goodness, I don't know where it went...but it certainly has gone!

I feel like I am super duper busy right now.

(I hate using that as an excuse)

Don't you feel like time sometimes goes by so fast, but yet it feels like it is dragging?

Yes, I know that doesn't make sense but that you all know what I mean!

I have been quite disheartened these past couple of months.

As you know, I am trying to get to America to work and live.

This has been a long process, like really long.

Over a year and a half has passed since we started working on it.

So I am ready to be there now.

It consumes all my thoughts, day and night.

I long for the day that I am worshipping in the Church where my heart is.

But I know that the Lord is working in me at this time.

He is teaching me so much.

Today a certain story in the Bible was brought to my attention.

Remember Lazarus? Jesus was called to heal him when he was sick. He didn't come then.

He didn't even make it back in time for the dead body to be prepared. He came in after Lazarus died.

Timing. The Lord has is it down.

He knows the perfect time for everything.

I know this, so why do I doubt?

Why do I question it all?

Thinking about Lazarus reminds me that He is in control and will come in HIS time.

I believe that the Lord has called me to go and work in California, and if this is His will then He will get me there. I take great comfort in this.

There is no one else I would rather put my trust in.

He provides for us in every way. 

His timing is so much better than mine.

I don't always remember this though.

So please pray for me.



Random.

It has happened again. I has been nearly a month since my last post. Sorry. I wish it was something more exciting than work.

I have been working ridiculous hours at work. Leaving the house at 6am and not getting home til 10pm.

Not good.

This does not suit me well. I don't really know who this would suit.

But not this girl.

This girl loves her sleep.

I have been told that I have a gift. I can sleep anywhere. Yup, anywhere. If I am sitting down for more than 30minutes, I am sleeping.

On our way to Australia once we have 13 hours to wait at an airport. Most of my family were dreading this. This didn't phase me at all.

It was quiet. I found myself a seat, took my shoes off and put them in my bag (for some reason I thought that someone would take them off my feet when I was sleeping...) rested my head on my bag and slept. Sorted.

I have had so many things on my mind and I have been having a tough time sleeping.

Yup. Totally contradciting what I have just said.

But I guess this emphasises how out of sorts I am just now.

I am not going to go into detail about what exactly is on my mind, but I am struggling just now.

I have been listening to a lot of praise music lately, more so than usual.

On my way to and from work I like to listen and reflect on it.

I was listening to this song the other day and smiled and thought

"how I SO easily forgot."

My troubled soul,

Why so weighed down?

You were not made to bear this heavy load

Cast all your burdens, upon the Lord

Jesus cares, He cares for you

We know this, right?

I constantly need reminding that there is someone who will help me through whatever I am going through and take that pain away.

My anxious heart

Why so upset?

When trials come, how you so easily forget

To cast your burdens, upon the Lord

Jesus cares, He cares for you.

This has been me these past couple of weeks.

Anxious heart and so upset.

And I always forget that the Lord wants me to cast my burdens on Him.

He wants me to find comfort in Him.

I will praise the Mighty name of Jesus.

I am remembering to praise to the Lord whatever I am going through. 

So there is my randome post.

Hopefully I won't leave it so long before my next post...but we have heard this before!

Safe.

A few days ago I received some very sad news from my Church family in California. 

A young guy was killed in a car accident.

I am lifting them up in prayer.

Please pray for them with me.

My heart is hurting for his family.

It is comforting to know that he is safely home and with the Lord now.

This song has been on my mind.

One day we will all be safe in His arms.

Thankful that right now, Connor is wrapped in His loving arms.