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?



Distance.

The baby brother called tonight.

It was so so good to talk with him.

He is off at ship just now and only has half an hour each week to call.

So we don't hear from him often.

And the big sister came up and had dinner with us.
Perfect evening.

Here are a few snaps from the last weekend he was home, at the beginning of July.

 Precious - my brother, sister and I.

Love this photo because we just look so similar. Both squinty in the sun.

Look at that blue sky! We sure do love him.

Fin let me have a go on his motorbike. Yes, the front wheel is off the ground. If you look really closely at the photo you can see that Fin has a pretty shocked expression on his face. I was very proud of myself - and also feared for our lives.

On the train having a starring contest. So funny. Not sure when we started holding our eyes open. Please note big sister laughing hysterically. Really, we all were. We are a little bit silly.

It was so good to chat with him, but I sure miss times like these.

I am so thankful for my brother and sister.

I am thankful that we get along so well.

My prayer is that no matter where we are we will stay close.

We went out for dinner when Fin was home, just the three of us.

It was lovely and we were talking about the future and our families.

We were saying how crazy it is that we don't speak to all our cousins more often.

Then we got thinking about our kids.

We couldn't imagine them not being the best of friends.

I pray that we are able to keep stay this close to each other, wherever we are in the world.

I love them both so much.



Home.

I came across this passage yesterday and got excited.

"As for me and my household,

we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:15

I can't wait to build a home with the Lord as our foundation.

This might be quite a while away for me, but I know who I will be serving when that time comes.

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.