Crafty update

I finished sewing a little Babushka doll for my god daughter's first birthday this coming Thursday. While I was making it, I thought it would be cute to make her a little matching t-shirt. I had a new white singlet and drew up a design and this is how it turned out. Hopefully she'll like it! It was fun to make, definitely one that I'd do again.

It is 'Australia Day' today - a national holiday for all us Aussies. My husband and I are going over to my best friend's house, along with some others for dinner and to play board games, go for a swim and hang out together - it should be great.

I go back to work tomorrow (I'm a teacher) after about five and a half weeks holiday. I'm not dreading it, but it is always a little difficult to go back after such a nice break. I work part-time, while we wait to hopefully start a family of our own very soon. I'm looking forward to meeting my new classes, and teaching some of the students I taught last year. Please pray that it is an easy transition!

A pedicure

This afternoon I had my first pedicure and it was great! A friend of mine gave me a gift voucher for a day spa and I decided to spend some of it on a pedicure. I didn't realise the attention and effort they put into one - it was fantastic and very luxurious. I highly recommend it!

Motivate Me Monday

I've been thinking a lot lately about the sovereignty of God. In the normal hustle and bustle of each day, it can be easy to lose sight of this sovereignty, or to sinfully live our lives as if we were sovereign and not God.

My husband and I have just enjoyed three weeks holiday in some beautiful locations. I really appreciate having this time to relax and refocus, particularly at the beginning of a new year. I'm not one for making resolutions, but I always start the year with my goal to know God more and to learn to trust Him in all things. It is quite easy to trust him in the "small" things that are relatively easy to let go of. This year I want to lay all of my concerns and plans at His feet and trust Him with the results. Sometimes I don't understand the path that He leads me on, sometimes the path isn't easy - but I want to trust Him, no matter what.

John Piper explains the concept of using means, but not trusting the means, but God in the following from this article:

This sounds so simple. In principle it is. But in practice we sinners are wired to trust in means, not God. Over and over I devise plans, and then find my initial enthusiasm rise or fall as the plan seems smart or not. This is trust in plans, not trust in God. There is no doubt God wants us to use means to get his work done. But just as clearly he wants us not to trust in these means. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31). Therefore, our confidence should not be in the horse, but in the Lord. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).

The surest way that I'm going to trust God is to read my Bible and to know him more and to consistently pray. The 5.16am girls have been a real blessing to me. It is so great to be involved with others who encourage me on this path. This year I want to graciously honor God in the circumstances that he leads me to. How about you? :)

To read more Motivate Me Mondays, go to Sarah Mae's blog.

Back to baking and thinking about creating...

After being away for three weeks, I've really been looking forward to getting back to my kitchen and cooking again. Tonight we are going to my sister in laws for dinner, so I thought I'd bake some cupcakes. Nothing fancy, just added chocolate butter icing and a chocolate freckle on top. Yummo!

The last few months I've been collecting pink and aqua fabric to make into a quilt for a daughter (if I have one, one day!). I love the range I've collected so far, and I'm quite surprised at how many different fabrics I've collected - now I just have to pick a pattern (and have a little girl, ha!).

The other thing I have to start this week is the doll that I am making my god daughter for her first birthday on the 29th January. Here is a picture of it, I have chosen some really sweet pink and green fabrics rather than the blue and red. Isn't it sweet?!

If you can, please pray for Kelly who has just had her first baby, Harper. Harper is having trouble breathing and has been diagnosed with serious pneumonia. Please pray for this lovely family, that they will know God's peace and comfort at this distressing time.

I'm back!

Well, after almost three weeks away, I'm finally back home and ready to post some of my photos that I took while being on holiday. My husband and I just arrived home today. We have been on a camping holiday with friends and it was truly great. I feel so relaxed and fortunate to have seen so many beautiful places.

It is summer here in Australia, and the beaches are magnificent. The last three weeks we have pretty much seen the beach everyday. We camped in several different spots, seeing some new parts of our state that we haven't seen before.

For the first ten days of our holiday, we were involved in what we call a 'beach mission' which is sort of like a Vacation Bible School, but it is run in a holiday park for the families visiting. Sort of like a really short missions trip. We run different activities for children - teaching them about Jesus and the Bible. We met lots of young people who were keen to attend each day and it was a great time of fellowship with other believers (who were on team) and sharing our faith with those people holidaying around us.

After beach mission was finished we had another two weeks where we travelled around and relaxed with our good friends Ben and Kylie and their gorgeous 7 month old little boy, Samson. My husband treated me to two nights at a beach side resort before we came home. It was very nice indeed - in fact, we spent part of our honeymoon at this resort four and a half years ago, so it was nice to go back. And after camping for such a long time, it was great to be pampered. Here are some of the photos.

Ben and little Samson (enjoying his first swim at the beach!)

One of the unbelievable beaches we stayed at - it was sooo beautiful in the water!

Kylie, checking the dinner cooking.

Shaun and Kristy enjoying their dinners.

Craig & Ben cooking dinner one night - a Jamie Oliver pasta, yum!

The boys hung the clean washing between the cars on the beach to dry - brilliant!
My husband and I at the beach near our resort yesterday

I love this one of Craig!

Another beach shot. Love it!

On the boardwalk from our room to the beach. The pool overlooking the ocean.

Isn't it beautiful?

The view from the restaurant where we had breakfast every morning.

I'm looking forward to catching up my reading of the blogs I visit, and although it was a great time away, there is something nice about being home.

*I've just heard that one of my close friends was on the plane that crashed into the Hudson River. She is visiting family in the US, praise God everyone was ok!