Issabel's Window

Issabel and her mother had recently moved into a new home near some woods, which her mother said was "...a perfect writing environment!" Ellen Roberts wrote Christian novels and plays and music.

Issabel made a daily sojourn down a particularly leafy lane at the bottom of her street. Sure, she had her mother's gift, because everything she saw became a story-or many different ones. This lane was full of story potential.

There was only one house, snuggled in between all the greenery. It had an old rendered finish, with a few cracks in the plaster which, in no way, diminished its charm. The garden was full of blooms and hedges and trees and it seemed an idyllic space for a child to play. But she never saw a child in there.

In fact she had never seen anyone. Issabel had often pondered about who could live there and had come up with a variety of possibilities. Of one thing she was sure, they lived alone in all their natural beauty, but why?

One day, she took her sketch book and pencil and some watercolours and ventured down the lane. Finding a good vantage point across from an open facing window bursting with colour, she sat and began to draw, her mind musing over the interior details of what lay in shadow before her.

Some time passed and thru the stillness, across the sound of the trees, the breeze carried the sound of a phone ringing.
Aha! thought Issabel,  a clue! She put her pad aside and crept up as close as she could to the window. The phone was answered with a curt, inaudible response and hung up!

Hmm...they liked being left alone...or maybe they were being bothered by sales people! Issabel laughed to herself. The way  her mind worked fascinated her, and she thought God was exceptionally clever to create people with such abilities.

Suddenly, to her surprise, she saw a very small, aged hand holding a silver watering jug, come forth out of the shadows and pour liquid over the flower pots on the sill. The other hand appeared, gently caressing the plant and it sounded like the old lady was softly crooning to the blooms. Issabel really  wanted to see her!

She came up with a plan to finish her drawing and then present it to the woman.
Brilliant! she thought.
                                                      *****    ******    *****

A day or two passed by before Issabel ventured back down the lane to present her picture. She came bearing some banana bread too, in case she was invited in for tea.
But no one answered the door, even tho the window was open. Maybe she just didn't want to be bothered-especially by pesky strangers.

Issabel decided to try again the next day, convinced that everyone should have kindness shown them and not always be alone, but she was met with the same response. This time however, she noticed that the flowers on the window sill were starting to wilt.

"Oh dear", she thought, sensing trouble. The phone rang and just kept ringing. Issabel went up to the open window and listened. She thought she heard, wait...yes! Groaning!

"Hello, hello!" she called into the darkness. "Are you alright?" More groaning.  Issabel tried the front door-locked. Leaving her firendship offering on the step, she went around the house, looking for an open door or window, to see if she could get in anywhere. No open doors and all the windows were too high off the ground without a boost. "I'll be right back! I'll get help." she called into the window.

She ran up the lane to her home and straight into her mother's study. Flushed and worried, she took her mother by the hand and pulled her along, explaining the situation as she did. "Bring your phone!" she insisted.

Ellen quickly surveyed the scene, called an ambulance, and helped Issabel move the thirsty flower pots to give her a boost up. Once inside, Issabel saw the old woman fallen on the ground and groaning. She reassured her and went to let her mother in. Being only 14, she didn't really know what to do.

Just then, the phone rang. The little lady, now revealed as of Asian descent, gestured with her head for Issabel to answer it. Issabel picked up the old style receiver and putting it to her hear, said "Hello?"

The female voice on the other end sounded startled,  and with an accented English started apologising, as she must have the wrong number.

"No, no! This is the cottage of the lady in the lane but she has had an accident and me and my mother are helping her!"
"I come straight way!" the voice said, and hung up.

The ambulance arrived and Ellen directed them inside. Issabel had been soothing the old woman, who now seemed quite peaceful. They had to take her to hospital as she seemed to have fractured a bone, but before they left, a blue Mazda pulled up and another elderly lady got out. She was quite able bodied and went straight to the gurney, speaking in another language to the injured woman. She then had a few words to the paramedics, althought Issabel couldn't hear what she said.

After words, she turned to Issabel  and Ellen, saying,
"Thank you! Thank you!" as she subtly bowed "Thank you!", she continued,
"Lu-Kim is ma ohder sista, but since I move an re-marry, she has not spoken to me. It's been ten years and I pray for Jesus to touch her. I  ahways try, but she no talk to me." It became clear that Lu-Kim was angry and hurt at being left alone and unforgiving to her sister. "I am Mai-Lin, an' now I will take care of her." She smiled and bowing again, got in her car to go to the hospital.

In the weeks that followed, Lu-Kim recovered in her cottage. Ellen and Issabel visited. Issabel went daily and drew, read from the gospels and shared her artwork and how good it was that God had her there to help in that time. Mai-Lin came every day as well. Hearing the  the story of how Issabel happened to be at her sister's cottage, she marvelled at how God hears and answers prayers.
Lu-Kim found forgiveness through these kindnesses and the two sisters were restored to each other.  Issabel beamed exclaiming,

"It's an even better story than any I would have written!"

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not ith ink, but with the Spirit if the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Cor 3:3

South for the Winter.

Do you ever fall into the trap of never feeling like you have anything together enough top take action on it? That's been where I am. That's why, in spite of wanting to blog about so much, my 'pen' has hung limp. :(

So, today, I though I would just write something! 

Back in OZ
I came home to Australia last weekend, almost exactly a week ago.

Sadly, it was without my lovely Mr Noble. :(
In the five years we've been together, coming and going, we are yet to actually travel anywhere together.

 I am still hoping for that to change. This image to the left is my now very familiar Facebook friends, Burleigh beach... the southern end. And below, right.. the northern end. You can see the dredging boat ( "sand monster" to some) in the distance.

It is the last month of winter, yet, the weather is glorious! It was with great delight that I have ventured down for at least three of the six mornings I've been on the Coast...maybe four.

 The two sky shots are of the clear moon and the obsc-ured sun-taken moments apart.
Of course, I took a selfie to share with Larrie and US friends. Sometimes, I miss him soooo terribly.

 On one of the mornings, the dredging vessel had progressed further south along the coast  and was in much clearer view. Watching the billowing water and sand can be quite mesmerising, and seeing all the birds was a clear indicator that fish were being disturbed and exposed as well...or something edible.
I saw friends and family before I saw the beach, but we forgot to take any photos lol. too busy having fun and sharing time together.

 But yesterday, instead of going to the beach, I went out early, up to Southbank in Brisbane to attend my baby girl's first antenatal visit. She is now 22 weeks and even tho a scan wasn't scheduled, we were blessed with an unexpected view anyway! How cool was that!!
After that, we shared a very nice, but pricey, lunch at POPOLO on the river and then , an ice cream at the 'beach' before I headed back on the train. It was a sweet day!

I am currently staying with a good family friend and her daughter and have been given a sweet welcome. I am blessed to be so loved and blessed to have been able to travel home and be with everyone again. Due to my points, this trip only cost $29.80 USD!!!

Looking forward to when Larrie can come and join us.
Oh and I already have a gig tomorrow evening, solo piano and vocal at Spaghetti & Jazz -an exceptional Authentic Italian restaurant in Robina. Come and say hi!

That's it for now, from this noble wife, who is missing her noble husband, but still living her noble life!
Hallelujah!

On A Noble Quest

All Aboard!

So, here I am, on HA 47 heading to Oz, via Honolulu. This is my regular route and I am fortunate to have a 2 seats on the left side of the aircraft, so room to spread out and really enjoy the flight, which is an uncharacteristic 30 mins longer than usual (5 hrs and 50 mins).  Still, I have just received a complimentary breakfast , so feeling cruisy.
But it wasn’t always such smooth sailing!  

For any of you who may have been aware, my husband and I have been in the process of establishing my change of status to that of permanent resident. Having filed all the necessary paperwork, we were awaiting the hoped for approval with a work permit and ‘advanced parole’, so that I could safely leave and re-enter the country. Since my departure, 7 mths ago, my younger daughter became engaged and set a date for marriage-March 10. We were hoping that the due process of our status change would happen swiftly and smoothly, so I could attend without concern.

Added  Consideration.

Over the ensuing weeks, things developed and my lovely girl asked if I would make some dresses for her bridesmaids-a challenging invitation, given the ocean between us until 13 days before the wedding. Still, I was wanting to be involved and this was a special way to do so. Plus, the dress designs Rachel wanted were actually quite simple, in terms of sewing prowess required. I still needed to find patterns and thence began our weeks of searching and sending photos, feedback and final decisions. Thank God for technology at such a precious time as this!  

After collecting girls’ measurements and calculating needs, I wrote up a final shopping list and Rachel, along with my trusted best friend, Carol, went off to do buy the necessary materials. I am sure it was fun for them too and a sweet way for Carol to also participate as a lifelong family friend. Of course, they messaged and Facebook called and sent photos the whole time  (my midnight and on, by the way), so I was very much an active presence in the process too.

 

 

The fabrics selected meant we needed to make an adjustment in amounts for the linings of each. This was an important modification and the direct result of being connected at the critical time of purchasing the materials. 

What To Do

Now, with the added ‘pleasure’ (and slight pressure lol) of making dresses, I really needed to be free to fly. Off course, I was constantly in prayer and had the agreement of sisters in the Lord for all to go ahead and so, generally, was at peace. 

However, as time moved on  and no notice forthcoming of the status of our petition, I sought the Lord for the best action, if any, to take. I also asked our faithful lawyer, and we made another appointment for an Info Pass with USCIS-immigration in the city, to get advice about what to do. Just because you have a confidence that all will be well, doesn’t mean the Lord doesn’t have a part for you to play.

As the end of January, approached, I followed advice and set an InfoPass appt for Feb 9. Going the security, I was stopped for the nail clippers found in my bag (which I denied having-coz I didn’t know I did! Lol He let me keep them because they had no spiky cleaning part).

This appointment turned out to be a very good move, as the Lord gave us great favour with the lady, J, who served us. After our interview, she watched us on You Tube immediately sent an email telling us of her pleasure in our music, and information about our gigs!  This established a personal connection that became increasingly helpful and reassuring-so, we had options.

 Our  immigration officer checked the status of our petition-it was interview ready- then, submitted a request for expedited parole and told us that if that wasn’t cleared  we could come back three days prior to leaving and get it on the spot, for a fee of $575. She also said we would hear back within 5 days.

We heard back after only 2, and it wasn’t the news we hoped for. The big concern for me was that there was no assurance that a wedding was acceptable criteria for leaving. J, who had shared details of the recent adventure of her own daughter’s wedding, had seemed quite confident that it was valid, so I felt encouraged, but when it was declined, I informed J, and she gave instructions for following thru on the last minute, over the counter alternative in time for the booked departure on morning of Friday,  Feb 24.

Last Minute…Or So We Thought  

So,Tuesday Feb 21, Larrie’s birthday, comes and we head into USCIS. I was stopped again! I had the key ring for the penthouse, which we discovered is something called a kitty punch and is quite a vicious weapon! I was oblivious and appalled! Larrie had to hide it across the road, as we couldn’t take it in and the guards cannot hold it. Having no appointment, meant the likelihood of longer waits-four hours to be precise, but then we were attended by J. Other officers actually wanted us to work with the officer that had been advising us, so it was good. I realise now, I could have emailed and J would have made one for us. We retrieved the kitty key ring too. 

But something unexpected happened.

J came to her booth and informed us that Homeland Securities had actually approved our application and that we would receive documents in the mail. She scheduled a direct appt with her for  7:30am Thurs, should it be needed.

That very day, two letters came, containing approval notices of both the work permit and travel parole! Then, we went back to the penthouse where we were house-/kittykat sitting and I gave my baby some birthday attention and experiences and odd, creative and personal gifts! 

I happily let J know, messaged the lawyer and shared the good news with the ladies group on Wednesday morning…but…something niggled. 

I went back and re-read the letters. They pointed to another EAD card. It is photo ID with an I-512 issuance to travel and this  is what I needed. The lawyer said they would be sent out together or next day. We waited-nothing. I let J know of the updated urgency via email but our communication ended before a final response. I also called the info line to see if they had a tracking number. We really didn’t want to take another trip in , or pay the fee $575 we thought we’d avoided.

It was too late to get the answer from the call. I had to call back in the morning They said at 6 am coz the east coast was 9, but I could get no one before 8:15 PST. They were busy and set a call back for 4.5 hrs away!! About 1pm. This would be too late for our 7:30 appt, but still left time to get in to the city. If we had to. However, it would cost one of the two senior centre gigs we had-we just couldn’t do everything.

After senior gig #1, I had come to the place of feeling we ought to go into the city and follow that path, when I finally heard back from J, confirming the same directive. So, another money order, go collect the documents, catch BART (park the car! Grrrr), walk several blocks and get in line, keeping J up to date. Security stopped me again for the nail clippers, which I had searched for to remove earlier, and couldn’t find, so figured I must have already removed them. He gave up too, coz he couldn’t find them and he remembered me from before. We left the kitty key ring in the rental car at the BART station lol.

 Once in line, J called us up directly.

All the files had been filled out minus a signature and new docs included. J had me email the flight itinery and she had the wedding invite. 

But I didn’t have two photos! Unphased, J sent us across the road, passed security to pay about $15 to get them. USCIS called me back as we crossed the road, lol, I cancelled. Coming back in , once more off with the shoes, coats, belts , bangles, but didn’t bat an eyelid over the clippers! This is some crazy dance!

Down To The Wire

On J’s instruction we head straight to her counter and she assembles all elements and takes the bundle away upstairs to be approved-or not. She assured me they would say ‘yes’. We sit, we wait. It is about 1:45pm now. Shortly after, I hear my name being called acoustically -hee hee. J lets us know we are approved, and now we pay and wait 30 mins for the new photo ID doc, which is a 60day parole.

We conclude that since the card hadn’t arrived by mail, the approval notices were, in fact, the result of due process, and not a change of mind to expedite matters. That card will still come, some time whilst I’m gone, most likely, and is good for a year of travel  It is also for being able to legally work. Our interview will likely come up soon too.

The Precision of God

So, we leave the USCIS around 3:30 I think, new ID in hand. They close their doors at 3 and process remaining clients already inside. Thanks to the lovely J! And all the prayers. I knew if God wanted me back in the US, He would make the way, with 18 hours to spare! Lol
The test of faith was to stay in peace. I did pretty well, actually. From the original learning of Rachel’s wedding and the fear of missing it to those final hours has been quite a journey, just one angle on a very challenging and fortifying journey. I am not the me I was when I left Oz seven months ago. I am a much enriched and more deeply grounded daughter of the King.

The Next Step

Now, it is full swing into family and sewing and celebration and special friends. Rache has plans for my next two weeks, which I feel very pleased and privileged about. I don’t think either of my girls have ever gone so long without seeing me and both are very excited to have me home. Matt too, I know he needs a mum fix. I will also see Paulie ( son #2) and my most grown son, Parrish, for the first time since he left for Taiwan in July 2014-both he and his Taiwanese lady love 

I am so grateful for this splendid and very joyful occasion for bringing us all together. 
I’m not at all sure 5.5 weeks (38 days) will be anywhere near enough to ease my home sickness, but I have a blessed assurance of great things opening up from here and of God doing some wonderful things that only God can do. I feel a season of trials and testings are closing out. I know there  will always be more, as long as I live and breathe, but a distinct new chapter is opening, almost as if it coincides with Rachel’s rite of passage into marriage, bringing a fresh anointing and a new mantle of matriarchy. 

Watch and wonder at what God is about to do!

Post Script

As soon as I landed, I saw a photo from Larrie in a private message, of my EAD Card, which had arrived, whilst I was in the air!

I concluded that God had His reasons for why He wanted us to do things the other way. He always has souls at the heart of His agenda, He is never haphazard, and He is soverign over all things. In the bigger picture, I'm sure, there was a reason for the apparent misconnection. :)

Rachel's Gift

A Most Beautiful Institution

My gorgeous younger daughter ( I have two) , and fourth child ( I have five), is soon to be married.
Late last year, I was inspired to write her something special as a 26th birthday and pre-wedding gift.
This wasn't to encourage and instruct her alone, but it was also for my own benefit: to put myself into remembrance of the things I need to be mindful of in my own life and walk before the Lord.

"If you want to learn something, teach it to someone else." 

This quote that I have heard echoes the principle in Philemon 1:6, which reads,
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

In several place, we read that as we are active in sharing what we have, we grow accordingly. In the same way, what we do not use, we lose hold of, coming to a place of knowing the theory but unable to walk in the experience of it.

So, I wrote for myself, as much as for my daughter, and it is this idea of passing along godly truth, from one generation to the next to be as beautiful an institution as marriage. Although I turned my back on these truths, divorced and wandered terribly, shipwrecking my faith, God restored me and it is by His authority and the expereince of having known both Light and dark that I share the Truth.

In so doing, I hope also, to deter others from making the mistakes I have.

A Change in Genre 

As November's Nanowrimo approached (National Novel Writing Month), I determined to write her a 31 day devotional based upon Proverbs 31:10-31, teaching on how to be a true woman and wife of noble and godly character. I intended to write an entry every day and complete around 30 000 words by the month's end.

However, before I began, the idea of writing a novel, rather than a traditional devotional, and to intertwine the devotional aspect into the stories and mulitple characters and their experiences. With that change, it became apparent I would need to aim for the typical 50 000words expected through Nanowrimo. 

November came and went, and I had about 18 000 words done. I was committed and determined as Rachel's Birthday was Jan 5. I stayed with it, quickly designed a cover and struggled to get it on Createspace. ( Not a problem because of Createspace-just issues between devices, software and devices'countries of origin! lol)

I printed out and bound two copies myself, so she and I could have a copy, and sent it off, not too late for her birthday. I set a goal with my writing group, Shiloh Scribes, to have the formatting fixed and the book uploaded for sale by the beginning of Feb. I had two proof copies sent and it was SOOOO exciting to have those in my hand.

I did fairly well, but distractions and moving around and corrections and so many other things...lol, but it can be bought NOW -yay! 

https://www.createspace.com/6837045?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026

 Being Engaged

My heart longed to be involved in the prepration of the wedding, but being more than 7000 miles ( 11400kms) away, I ached and feared missing out. Writing this work gave me a great sense of spiritual connection with my daughter's life and a beautiful way to become even more engaged in the process emerged.

It turns out, that I will arrive home to Oz ( Australia) on the eve of Feb 25 and will make the bridesmaids dresses  (and a little something for me) for our March 10 wedding day. We conferred over weeks, concerning patterns and measurements and final decisions, compiling a shopping list and coordinating a shopping day with a dear friend, in my stead and now, having acquired all the materials and things needed ( after midnight phone calls as they shopped in real time) Everything is ready, even two sewing machines :) , to undertake this endeavour once I arrive!

An Ongoing Notion.

So, as it turns out, the book finished, but I had only got as far as Proverbs 31:22. Biblical womanhood has been under attack since the beginning, in the Garden, but never more than now. It's important we understand how critical we are to the will and design of God. My own expereince bears testimony to the truth of this.

I was lying in bed this morning, pondering whether there might be a sequel and how it might go.

Pr 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish ones tears hers down.

I have been both women.
I am grateful to be on the side of the wise once more. I believe this book can help others like me and like my daughter, Rachel.

Start Your Year Nobly

The New Year-2017

Already this year has been jam packed full of various and diverse intense emotions and situations.
One of the highlights has been partnering in a 'Daniel Fast' with my church, Shiloh.

A Powerfilled Start.
Every year, Shiloh church undertakes a 21 day fast from the 10-30 (inclusive) of January. A  'Daniel Fast' is typically characterised by plain fruits and vegs and no 'pleasant' food, such as wine (alcohol), meat, bread, pasta, rice, sugar, caffeine, maybe dairy ( at least , this was mine).  I didn't entirely exclude dairy, but had very little, and I also included some seasonings and sauces. 

The idea is, at a time of fasting, you spend more time committed to the Word and prayer and seeking God. It is a powerful discipline to participate in, on whatever level you choose to do so. Some people fast from social media, TV, sports Tv, electronic games or devices, particular activities, or places. It all depends and it is between you and God.

So tomorrow is the last day, and it has been a ride!
The first week week a nice sliding into more time in prayer and reading and some prophetic insights. The second week brought a surge of a sense of power and authority in the Spirit. This third week has brought drama and circumstances and opportunities to lean on what was provided through weeks 1 & 2.

Second Month and Moving right along!

And now, with the fast concluding, I am preparing for changes that require such a depth of drawing on all that I perhaps hadn't even fully processed, plus all that I consciously picked up along the way. I guess you could say that I was given some theory and now I have to walk it out. Or swim it out, coz I feel thrown in the deep end!  And this is how the Bible teaches us to gain a fuller understanding of what we hear.
Philemon 1:6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. ESV
This, and many other similar verses, let us know that as we actively share and communicate our faith, we actually grow in to a deeper knowledge of what we have through our faith In Christ Jesus.

Only God knows how our hearts work and what it takes to really prove us in His Word. His love for us, if we allow Him, will lead us through various training, so that we are able to stand in times to come. The Spirit inside us is an expert at guiding us into the Truth He wants us to know, and provides us with the perfect places to implement it. No wasted or unnecessary learning here! No years of study before gaining experience. Oh no! It is line upon line, precept upon precept. Learn, do. Hear and heed. Put it into practice. 

Ready or not! 


Nobody Does it Better.
It's important to appreciate tho, this is strict training and it is for a purpose. To make you strong, firm and steadfast. Your labour in the Lord is not in vain. Life is not going to wait for you to get ready. God preapres us for what He knows is headed our way.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I Cor 15:58

We do ourselves, and potentially others, a great disservice to resist the lessons  and opportunities God provides because they will enable God to work through us in the lives and circumstances in which we are soon to find ourselves.

Sigh! And yet, even knowing all this, it is still hard to simply surrender.

Much as my heart wants to please God and trust Him in everything, this smelly flesh wants to rise up, taunted by distractive and devilish devices that draw me from the real purpose and heavenly perspective to focus on emotional reactions and natural reasonings.

O, how I hate falling for that stuff and giving the devil such satisfaction!

But here's the thing:

                                                                                  We Are Not Alone

You, we, cannot do this on our own. We cannot do it at all, actually. Mastering the art of surrender unto Him is the only way we can "do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Phil 4:13

Being FULL of His word, and Spirit so that we can say:
"It is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me" Gal 2:20

And you can't just pull that out of your hat in an emergency! This is something that has to be practiced day in and day out. It is a learned response, a training and maturing in the righteousness that you've become in Jesus.

It is the little foxes that spoil the vines  (SS 2:15). He that is faithful in little will be faithful in much (Lk 16:10). Every thought, word and deed is a seed for life or death, blessing or cursing.

It isn't merely by an act of your will. All such human effort will eventually fail. It is an act of your willingNESS and the result of the obedience that comes from your faith (Rom 1:5). Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God ( Rom 10:17). If we aren't in the Word constantly and consistently, we will have the infuriating frustration of knowing the theory but lacking the experience of it. We will have the talk, but not the walk to back it up. EMPTY. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. I Cor 4:20 (But our power comes through God's Word.) Without which we become disillusioned and disenchanted because we thought God's word and the Name of Jesus should work like a magic charm and God failed us. 

No. The Bible is clear...JOsh 1:8

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

If we want to participate in the divine nature through His great and precious promises, and escape the corruption that is in the world caused by evils desires, we need to be constantly adding to our faith  (II Pet 1:4-9) Use it or lose it!

We have had a lifetime of being assaulted by the media and misguided people who know nothing of God's wisdom! (And consider it foolishness when they do hear it!) It takes diligence to overcome that with the Word. 

The Word does the work if we just seek to know God and what pleases Him by reading and studying, pondering...and DOING it.

Be blessed in your being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only , and so deceiving yourselves!

Now, that's NOBLE living!

Precious Gifts

T'is The Season!

Between December 8, when my eldest , Sarah Faye was born,  and Jan 18, when my second eldest, Parrish John, was born...is peak season for birthdays, festivities and special occasions. It is also the time, when typically, my rather large, and ever-increasing family comes together, reunion style. Although, it is not so common these days for ALL to be present, there is usually a good representation of most families. It is a wonderful tradition. New babies grow up knowing their cousins, second cousins and cousins once removed ( whatever they all are! lol), and us great aunties, aunties and grandmas get to all grow together with each passing year.

My heart aches heavily that I have missed three consecutive Boxing Day Reunions, but I can sincerely say that absence, in this case, is certainly making my heart grow fonder! Being compelled to want to somehow be with family for Christmas and not finding too many prioritizing it the same way, I felt dreadfully homesick/ And actually was a bit ill for about a week over the holiday peak.  So, the few plans I did have fell through anyway, which didn't help my soggy emotions, already fragile with being 'under the weather'.
Oh... and MUCH rain lol... so those little puns are quite appropriate too!

However, I went to the Candlelight service at Shiloh.. cried through most of it lol.
Then, I called home, and spoke to Sarah and Paulie in Queensland, Matt and Ben had Christmas with them too. And I called Mum's and there was a decent crowd there too. I had Parrish and Rachel send me photos, and i said a few hellos. I shared some words with Carol too and written exchanges with Deb in Tanzania... in short, I got some kinda family fix
CArol sent me this :)


And Rache sent me the family shot from this year, but for privacy purposes of those who may not want to be online, I wont post it.

Unless God wants otherwise... I do not want to miss a fourth Christmas at home. God willing, I will be there to see my family, all of them and enjoy all of them for that special day.

However, I was in a lovely spot and as I began to feel better, I savoured the physical, spiritual and creative space to find ways to enjoy my season.

 I had  been determined to have  some kind of Christmas this year, so bought a little, somewhat bedraggled tree and decorated it with lights and baubles...and the lights of course! My favourite decorations came via a friend, who found them in a garage sale...unique and individual, along with the stuffed toys...
This was part of my Christmas.
 Since I don't yet have my own home, I was so grateful for this place, as it was such a precious gift to be able to be in it at that time. ( We left there today)

 Apart from decor, I did a lot of cooking, which also made my heart very happy. It felt good to be being the wife in the home and as my energy returned, I busied myself more and more.

The image below shows my vegetarian lasagne, made with a lot of veggies, vegetable "mince", almond milk in the white sauce, with some regular cheese and some plain flour. BIG tray, like when I cooked for my large household. I really liked it...and you wouldn't know it wasn't mince. I could trick people with it, if I so desired lol.

In addition to cooking, I was finally able to get started on a gift for my eldest daughter, Sarah, a very belated 34th birthday...but sickness and logistics made it hard to get going with that. However, I DID complete it!!!! Yay!!! And sent it, but I won't post images here yet, coz she is yet to receive it and I want to keep it a surprise!

Also, the devotional that I started for my younger daughter Rachel, whose 26th birthday was January 5, needed to be completed too. I wrote the last two chapters and once we got close to her birthday, I couldn't keep it secret any more! lol See she can get hers in digital version as well as hard copy, coz I want to bind the book for her myself. And I was beyond holding secrets by this point...altho, I am still holding out on Possum's!

I began Rachel's gift during Nanawrimo and was committed to completing it as soon as I could. I worked steadily throughout November, reaching about 30 000words but continued through December too, ending finally with roughly 44 050 words.  Then I added some 'personal reflection' pages... as it is devotional style, but in a story form. It is both a birthday gift and a pre-wedding gift. My second baby girl is getting married on Mar 10.

Then, I created a drawn cover, which I enhanced in Photoshop. When I thought about putting the book together,  I realised I needed a back cover too! lol
Writing the manuscript was the easy part!!!!

I had some many challenges to overcome , between four devices ( two US and two Ozzie), with and without various software...ugh!  that I ended up going to the printer at Office Max to just get a couple of copies for myself. Thinking I could come back and take my time (coz I was stressing over taking too long) to get it published via Createspace on line.

Even this presented several challenges for myself and the server at Office Max.. Janelle.

We eventually got two different version printed out that I decided to go with ... for Rachel's and my own copy. I had to take the pages home and cut them myself, which was ok, but I found myself TWO Chapters short in the version I wanted to bind for Rachel! Double UGH!!!!

With all the rain and a couple of full days, and still being in Oakland up until today, I have yet to return for the rest. Hopefully, tomorrow. :)

I am persevering!

What's missing from this back cover is my Noble Worx stamp.

I had that made up at Office Max as well. :) It gets put on all the things I'm making with the Word...cards, short stories...



Moving Day

As I said, we left the penthouse today.
We are temporarily in a hotel in Alameda-a space I don't mind.

Through my time at the penthouse, I did a lot of listening to some great preaching.. current favourites being David Wilkerson, of The Cross and the Switchblade and the man to whom his mantel as Times Square Church ( NYC) senior pastor, was given, Carter Conlon. And David Platt...LOVE the teaching God brings through that relatively young man from Birmingham, Alabama.

I have been in the Word more. Writing about it, praying more, and feeling the need to do so even more. This eve, I am starting the Daniel Fast, along with my church, Shiloh. It's a 21 day fast based on fruit and vegetables. That means an even greater focus on prayer and seeing God have His way, starting with me! :)

My intention is continue to cultivate my pleasure in pleasing God. I love the idea that when He thinks of me, His heart smiles because I choose to believe Him and trust in His Word. This is my focus, to desire above all things to please Him, through the obedience that comes from faith. Rom 1:5

I don't know how long we will be here, nor where we will go from here. It is nice to be back in Alameda and within reach of the shoreline-if the rain lets up-lol! According to my phone, it won't until Friday! Seriously, the place is quite water logged!)

Current Lingering Joys of the Season 

What I am enjoying at the moment is the pleasure of creating personal, Word filled gifts for the people I love. Dad's birthday just passed ( 8/1)and the first anniversary of his going Home to the Lord too, on Rachel's birthday, Jan 5. There is a bunch of birthdays before and after New Year, but two I want ot create gifts for, are Parrish ( Jan 18, he turns 33) and Larrie...our first wedding anniversary is on Jan 19.

For the other birthdays, I would like to send some of my handmade cards, and I do have some ready and almost ready :)
Ha! So much for selling them lol... I just wanna give them away!

And that is the lingering joy for me. God gave us an amazing, priceless, unimaginable gift- impossible for us to even comprehend fully- Jesus! Salvation in and through Christ.
And all I want for Christmas is for the heart that gave such a gift, to find full and unrestricted flow in and through me. Free to give and free to forgive because I freely received and have been freely forgiven.

This is the ultimate "Christmas Gift". Spread the Word. Share His love.

That's living the Noble life :)

Our Fireside Romance PR mix

Here's a taste of some of our music from a couple of years back. We have definitely improved and have more material to add for a new and updated version.