i don't slowcook

I was really quite surprised yesterday. I enjoyed a dip in the outdoor spa with a friend where I'm housesitting and afterward we lay in the sun to dry off a bit. Aware that I didn't have any sunscreen on I made sure I didn't stay there too long. Ten mins all up I reckon. Ten mins!!
I burn so fast! *sigh* And don't think at least I'll get a bit browner. Nope. That doesn't happen with me. I'm a whitey. I burn, peel and go back to white. But nothing wrong with white. I embrace my paleness. :P At least this burn isn't too bad and I'll definitely make sure I'm slopping on lots of sunscreen this summer.

christmas day

Our family Christmas is still coming. New Years Eve (had to be this year) once we're all in town. So this is how I spent my Christmas Day. I picked up my friend, Danielle, in the morning. After church we went to my parents for a simple lunch.
While Mum was getting the veggies cooked we chatted and Danielle showed us on google earth where her parents live in China. We also showed her how the sun rises in the east and sets in the west just the same as in China. He he :P

Dinner was YUM! Roast veggies and chicken and ham. Here's my parents eating main course.

Mum also made a splendid pavlova for dessert. One of the few foods that are specifically Australian. Danielle hadn't tried it before. Oh, and that green robot top is my Christmas present to myself. ^^ It's like space invader robots. Fun.

After lunch, Danielle and I went to where I am housesitting. She found the trampoline, which apparently she hasn't used much. She made the funniest sounds while jumping. Signs she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

After a trippy movie (Inception) we hit the highlight of our day. A spa with wine and chocolates...and a camera :P We took some crazy photos. This photo saw me climbing in to the spa too fast, slipping and whacking my knee so hard it now has a bump and is still sore. We stayed in for about 2hrs having a splendid time.

Then it was tea--I made risotto--and another movie for a laugh (Kung Fu Panda) before I took Danielle home.

stage three complete

This week I posted off my visa application!

With help from Fastrack UK to make sure I had everything I needed and filled it all out correctly, I got together everything I needed. Last Friday I took the afternoon off work and trained to Melbourne and wandered up to the British Consulate for a 5min appointment of having my fingerprints scanned and a digital photo taken. It was necessary for my application and a nice afternoon too. On Monday checked and rechecked and a few more checks to make sure I had all the papers with me and headed off to the post office. Now to wait and pray that the British visa people will be so kind as to issue me my visa so that I can take this adventure.

christmas sale

It's 20 days till Christmas so I'm having a 20% off sale on everything in my shop!!

Why not swing by and take a look at all my handmade items?

20% off for 20 days

www.kelgellcreations.artfire.com

Catch a glimpse of some of my products in my shop window to the right of this post. =>

Sale ends Christmas Day!

a God story

In my post 'tell me a story' that I wrote just the other day, I talked about recalling our God stories. In a note at the end I said I'd share one of mine. Last night I was thinking about some of my God stories, times where I've experienced the reality and the involvement of God in my life. I thought about one in particular that sent me off on a tangent of memories and had me oozing gratitude.


In 2007 I took off on an adventure. I moved to the USA to live and work as an aupair (nanny). I met a lovely girl there who became a wonderful friend. She told me one day that before she left Germany to come to the USA she had prayed very eagerly for good friends. She said she specifically requested a friend who was Australian. I was fascinated. "Cool," I replied, "I didn't know you prayed for me." I honestly think that her prayers are the reason I ended up in that part of the USA. As I recalled this memory it made me think about how sometimes I am a part of other people's God stories. But then I realised that actually, this is my God story too. God was active in my life in getting me there not only as an answer to my friend's prayer but for my own adventure He was leading me on. Here's where the tangent began. My brain mulled over story after story of my experiences in the USA. My lovely friend, Suhra, is in almost everyone of them.

I had also prayed for friends and particularly for one really good friend. I got the best answer with Suhra. Not only was she such a joy to go adventuring around the USA with but she's the one that dragged me along to the church in San Francisco that I grew to love and now think of as my SF family. She filled my year with fun and silliness. She also encouraged and inspired me through our deeper conversations and the sharing of our God-journeys and the growth that took place. She was always there when I needed someone to pray for me too. And she also brought a level of thrilling excitement with the beginning and progression of a relationship with that guy she likes. ^^

So many awesome memories from that year. It would not have been near as good without my God-blessed friend, Suhra. And now, in a matter of months I begin another overseas adventure and will be attending the wedding of this wonderful friend. Joys longlasting!

unusual visit

I went and had breakfast and a chat with my friend, Vi, last week before work. We were still sitting at her kitchen table still after some pretty delicious pancakes with lemon and sugar when I looked out the front window to see an unusual sight. Wandering across the front lawn was a mamma duck and seven fluffy little followers. We watched fascinated as they crossed the front lawn and turned into the driveway. "They're coming to visit!" I exclaimed. They waddleded right down the drive and into the back yard.

Vi got a tub and filled it up with water to see if they'd like to stay awhile. I pulled out my phone for some photos and went to find the ducks. Of course, they're not very cooperative when it comes to giants following them wanting to take photos. Round the back shed and up the otherside the mamma duck tried to fit between two wire fence pieces and got a bit stuck. The ducklings scuttled ahead when I tried to help by going closer to scare her back out. Should have listened to that little voice that suggested I leave them be. The ducklings ran back to the driveway and the mamma duck got out and flew to them.

Bye duckies!

Not sure where they came from since there's not watery home that nearby. Oh well. Sorry for scaring you. Thanks for your delightful visit.

tell me a story

Remember that time when...

Reminiscing can be so delightful. Oh and I do love a good story. Some people are particularly gifted in storytelling. There is value in telling stories. The amount of movies made and books written easily backs up that statement. There is a lot of value, more than just the money kind, in hearing historical stories, events that really happened. The good are inspiring and the bad can help warn us and both can help us learn. The Bible is a book full of these kind of stories. It seems is was a part of their culture to tell stories. The Israelites were often encouraged to retell events and happenings from one generation to the next. At the beginning of the book of Joel it says, "Hear this, you leaders of the people. Listen all who live in the land. In all your history, has anything like this happened before? Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation." NLT

Doing this kept their history alive. It reminded them of where they had come from. But I think it was more than that too. Especially when it came to their God stories which so much of their history revolves around. The generations needed to know these God stories but I also think they were encouraged to retell them so they would remember themselves. I think we humans too easily forget.

What about OUR God stories? The Bible is not the only place to find stories about God. Anyone who has a relationship with God will have their own God stories. Yes, it is good to pass them on but it's also good to tell our God stories to remind ourselves.

At times I've found myself wondering if God really does exist or if He really does care for me or if He really is doing anything, anything at all, to help me through. In these moments I need to stop my emotional tangent and remind myself that there have been multiple times in my life when God has been very real to me. I need to retell my God stories, my experiences with God. Even just to myself. So I remember. I'd love to hear other people's God stories more too. To be encouraged and inspired and better understand God.

Tell me a story?

Or tell yourself one.
Or someone else.

Just don't lose them to the fading memories.


Note: Here's one of my God stories. I'll share another in my next post.