Wearing out but still on the winning side

 It is good to remember that our fear of death vanished at the cross.   Yet somehow it is easier to hold tight to that fear, to live in its shadow than to know the Son of God who faced death in our place...and rose again to share the glorious news.

Death has been swallowed up in victory yet the majority of humans on this earth do anything to avoid the fact of eternal judgement that awaits those who refuse God's love and the offer of both salvation and eternal life. 

A free gift that offends humanity's desire to keep working...to do it #my way# to push aside the truth that Jesus has done it all.

The human brain may accept degrees of  IQ but is cannot accept an infinite God whose powers are limitless...why then are there wars  illness and the limitations of humanity.  Are they really willing to be puppets on a string...to be but a robot, so we have a perfect world 

To be human is to live in a world that has limitations...a world that is not timeless, but works to the timetable of infinity...a world that longs for the return of Jesus...to the end of the limited reign of ruler of this world.   The one banished from the presence of God, because he believed in his own greatness, over the glory and might of his Creator.

As I have waited for Xray results ...there have been many scenarios to consider.

The good news is that my 20 yr old hip replacement still functions but an old back fracture appears to need attention. 

But among the considerations, the faithfulness and goodness of God has kept my mind at peace...and should this shorten my life....I rejoice rather than complain...it just means that this life ends but the glory of eternal life awaits.

In a couple of weeks I turn 82...how odd it seems to remember singing God save the King.  To remember when the late Queen heard the news of the death of her Father.

Yet how wonderful to look back, through hills and valleys, bright and dark days, to see that He has lead me all the way...and will continue His love and goodness through the days that are left.

I am loved and there is no fear in love

God is love.

Heat comes and thankfully it departs.

It is night!  The hot day has ended without suffering on my part.    Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike the heat?   LOL   mid 20 s is where my body is comfortable. 

Watched the women's singles final of the tennis in Melbourne...it was a great match,   two ladies who exemplify dedication and preparation.   Few are willing to give so much to win.

While I have spent most of the day on the bed or very the sofa, my ten minutes of standing without extreme back, or hip pain...yet to be fully diagnosed...yet I seem to be in less pain tonight....a truly wonderful blessing.

Tomorrow and the week ahead have a pleasing forecast so truly a week to enjoy. 

Some garden watering was done but I imagine work to be done tomorrow as it recovers from the heat.

Much to be grateful for!

Alone and its thoughts

They say that getting older is not for wimps.  Too true but the circumstances of our aging can vary enormously.    

When we are fit the opportunities are vast and varied.   

Cooking  gardening, holidays, day trips, volunteering are but some of the doors we may seek to open and step into...time is often not enough.  There are crafts hobbies  even housework...but add in limitations of health, mobility and movement and the view finder shows an area that shrinks so that the sameness becomes close to boredom.

Reading is a wonderful pursuit helping the solitary hours to pass.

Where once the phone was alive and vibrant, visitors seemed to arrive constantly...but now your limitations seem to define and strip you of purpose, meaning, usefulness and somehow your personality is less vibrant and attractive.

You are old, you are less mobile and somewhere, somehow  the real you becomes lost or has strayed in the silence that is now your companion.

Now you are home but you are alone.  Not all bad at all.

What is interesting is that you don't feel different.  It is odd, the seclusion to which you seem to be banished.

Not quite lonely...you are still you, and living on your own is not foreign, but you wonder...what has changed about the essential me.  How did my circumstances strip away so much and so many?

Yet the God who is your Heavenly Father has never left or abandoned you.  His promise is that you will never be left alone.  Just as there was the fourth person in the finery furnace so that the three prisoners were not burnt...we are never alone, no matter how deafening is the silence.

While it is unrealistic to expect the few friends who remain on our journey to understand...there is One whose understanding is infinite and whose presence never leaves.

We can focus on change and loss, or on fact, faith and instead live life with a sense of gratitude. 

We can count our losses, or choose to count our blessings.

While she is usually a blessing, one of her delights is to sit in front of the computer screen.

We need to take action!

This is not something that will happen automatically...it requires us to decide what our mind will choose as its focus.

Set your mind on things above.   It is there that you find hope and life.   It is here that the trial becomes a triumph. 

Choose you This Day!

 The last day of 2022.  A few years of Covid and lots of staying home.

Lots of increased osteoarthritis and less mobility.

Starting to wear the alarm around my neck when I go out to change hoses.  And strong note to myself to use walking stick as added security.  Picking roses and the loss of balance can become more real, so since I love home and garden, I guess the added measures are worthwhile.

All is still green and luscious but the summer has arrived in Melbourne at last and we have had one hot day and one more to come tomorrow.  Not my favorite way to see in the new year but we shall survive and be grateful if power stays on and air conditioning keeps things bearable. 

This was the year of the great emptying of the fabric collection.

It has gone to a group called Quilts for Orphans and three huge loads have gone so far.

The ladies have been wonderful in coming across from Mt Evelyn area.

I have cleared most of this area, including most of this corner unit, and the door is full of bags yet to be dealt with.  Hopefully this is going to make less work if I have to go into care, I so hope not, or I am happily heaven bound.

    Madam still likes to show her tummy and have a tickle.  She is 12 this year.

I have just picked some hydrangea for one vase and some roses for my bedroom.

I have done very little card making over the past year as my back complains if I sit too long 

I have done a lot of reading and some cooking...good at giving this away.

Mogs has done lots of sleeping!

So vale 2022

Flood in January 2022

 RACV are still arguing that this damage was occurred because the house is not new.

Nothing to do with the hail and this only shows the remnants of the actual hail.

The best way to walk through life

 

When we were young....or younger at least

 

Mummy and Mogs Four.

It is a treasure....for good or not I claimed it 11 years ago.

 

The tummy on display ...we have not modesty.  I love the way it meets in the middle like a baby garment.

For once she is on the correct side of the bed...the unoccupied side these days.

Usually, she likes to be right where I lie down.

The preferred position.  Mummy's spot.

Back garden back in around Oct and Nov 21

 

The Prunus has moved from blossom to coloured leaves.

The glory vine in late Spring...lovely new growth after the cruel cutting back

the bulbs in this area have died down.

first roses of the season.

apple blossom

Nasturtiums are so cheerful

 

Birds love the fruit.  And Possums.  

frilly tulip

I adore this crab apple when in blossom.  the buds remind me of Japanese boxes.

Wandering in the sun with a camera. A little tip toe through the tulips

 

One of the joys of my home is the window view from each room.  These are just outside a sliding door

Single and frilly

These were some of the first out.

a rash of red

My frilly pink up close

This one has its leaves opening first then the flowers open like little boxes with the petals covering the flower.  Very early still for this one.

A well established purple leaf crab apple.

herbs and blueberries together with hydrangea cuttings.

Found some old old seeds so decided to plant them.
..throw in the ground before throwing out.

We are still in Lock-down. God is still good and the sun was shining this week. Spring is very much in the air...so there was welcome rain as well.

still to be planted but now in the ground  
Spinach and tomatoes,.

Moved some already in pot herbs into larger blue pots.

why oh why cannot I turn this around.
I have lost all my blogging skills.
A punnet of mixed lettuce where I can easily grab them

Started coriander in here but eventually moved them

\

Vietnamese mint..labelled coriander.!

Chives and thyme

The lawns need cutting weekly now but for once nasturtiums are growing freely.

One of my early tulips

 

A glorious sunny spring day in Lockdown Melbourne.

I need to convince my lawn mower man that I need weekly cuts while the grass is growing so well in our Spring rain and sunshine.

 I managed to get a little gardening done today with a few herb seedlings planted.  My collection in pots is growing and since they are nice and handy they should be able to be picked and used,.

Collected all the blue pots that I have not used for bulbs this year.  They should be just right for herbs.

Nice collection of different lettuce.

still to be planted in the veggie patch,

Another out of focus lime shot and the pink tulip is still opening.