Ironing

I really dislike ironing.

Mum, this is not your fault. You did not make me iron endlessly when I was a child. I don't even remember ironing as a child, although I'm sure I did.

We stored our possesions when we travelled Australia for a year, and when we returned, my ironing board had been eaten by mice. Nothing else was attacked (I don't think), so I saw this as a sign to give up ironing forever.

Not really.

But, instead of buying a new cover for it, we were feeling ruthless, and that we had too many possesions to move 1000kms away to Bourke, and so the ironing board went to the op shop.

I had a "little" one that I used for quilting, (we're talking small here) and since we didn't rally iron all that much, felt I could survive with it.

It was awful! Really hard to iron "big" things. And, it was embarrassing when my dear mother came to visit because she DOES iron, with a real ironing board at her place.

Oh, and then there was the time that we had overseas visitors (you know who you are) :-) and the sweet girl wanted to iron a shirt for her father, and I had to pull out my scabby board and mumble some apology for the condition of it and size.

So embarrassing.

Well, my shame is no more. Last week at the op shop, I found a perfectly good full sized ironing board for $4. With a lovely thick, tight cover. A bargain. I had contemplated buying a new one, but the price put me off. If I was spending that kind of money then I don't want something
boring.

So, Mum, time for a visit I think. I'll find you some ironing to do if you like. (Although I have been slowing converting her over the years to iron less).

And my overseas visitor......come anytime you like.

No shame here!

Home again, home again jiggerty jig!

How much washing does one weekend away create?

Five loads people, five!

What is it, that going away from your home for two nights creates huge amounts of washing?
The washing is done and sitting in the folder's room now waiting for the job to be done. That narrows it down doesn't it? Isn't Tom, can't be Kylie......

Well it was very nice to get away for the weekend. No phone, no computers, no TV (not that we watch much), just swinging in the hammock, sitting by the campfire, drinking cups of tea, listening to the birds and being outside.

I always feel well when we go camping. Things that bug me (pain) when I'm at home, miraculously fade into the distance when I'm away camping.

What is that?

Anyway, home again and back into the week. Tom is here for Tafe for three days, Kaity is back from her Nursing Prac and there's only one spare seat at the table. You all know who that belongs to. We'll have to wait for June for the seat to be filled for a little while.

We are looking forward to our good friends who we lived close to in Bourke and Condobolin visiting us this next weekend. They will stay here Friday and Sunday nights, and we are going camping together Saturday night, two hours away at a mutual friends 40th birthday party. A bushdance! We always enjoy spending time together and our kids love them aswell, which is nice.

And then the weekend after that, we have a flying (driving actually) visit to make to QLD for Ken's nephew's wedding. Drive up one day, wedding next, drive back the next. 1000kms each way!!!!! But I also get to see my Mum and Dad and hopefully my brothers and nieces.

Busy time around here for the next little while.......

CAMPING

Well, we're off camping for the weekend. We're not going far, about an hour away to a dam.

I made lists, yes I like lists. It's the only way to go for me.

I cooked in advance so that I get to relax for the weekend.

Everything's packed, and we're ready to go early!

Can't wait to get out into God's creation and breathe.

Maybe I'll get to see a sunset :-) and feel the wind on my face.

Have a great weekend, my friends.

Wish you were coming too Kylie!

Bye Bye

Pain

One of my friends is in pain. Not physical pain, but pain nevertheless.

When someone we love is hurting, we hurt too . We want to comfort them, say the right words to make them feel better and do something to make the circumstances better.

Sometimes we are far away from them and we can't even give them a hug.

We wake in the night and pray for them.

Still, we feel useless in actually fixing things for them.

In my KYB book this week I read,

"The Psalms remind us that peace is not found in avoiding the harsh realities of life but in facing them with the One who is our constant companion. The Lord is our help in times of trouble."

Friend, I know that you know this already, and today I'm praying that you will have that peace, that only comes through remembering that God is your constant companion and trusting Him.