The things we say sometimes backfire on us. This happened on two occasions with my daughter, Melissa, and her 4 year old daughter, Willow. Both brought a smile to my face. Melissa came into the room and stated to Willow and her three older sisters, “time to pack away your things and get ready for dinner.” Willow did not want to. It wasn’t that she did not want to stop doing what she was doing but she did not want to do the chore of packing away. So Melissa said, “Ok, if you don’t pack away you will lose ‘iPad time.’” This is the allocated time they are allowed to…

Staying positive in the midst of hardship. My husband Bruce has been sharing for a few weeks now on committing your plans to the Lord, especially as this is the start of a new year. Only problem is, in talking to many about the start of 2022 and what we have had to endure the last few years with the Covid virus, “What can you plan?” If we plan a holiday, it often gets cancelled due to a change in the flights available or travel permits cancelled. If we plan a party, an engagement or a wedding it often gets cancelled because we are in Lockdown or there are limited…

I knew I was a little stressed. There was no real reason for it. I was actually on holidays, a stay home holiday. I had a list of things I wanted to do, to achieve. I’m a list person if you don’t know by now. I get a sense of achievement, a sense of completion when my list gets smaller. I guess I was trying to do too much in a short space of time. I had also not slept very well for a week with an old back shoulder muscle pain which had raised its angry head again. I picked up the one bottle and went to grab the…

Entering into a new year can open up lots of possibilities. For students they can start from scratch. Fresh and ready for what studies the new course, the new subjects and the new classes bring. For workers even if in the same job with the same boss and the same fellow workers, if our minds are open, it can bring new possibilities. What will the new year bring? Are we open to all things new? Scripture tells us that even Our God has new mercies for us every morning. A new fresh start every day with Him. They never come to an end. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;    his mercies…

The sunset was a spectacular orange colour. Crowds of people were enjoying God’s wonderful display of His glory. The heat had drawn them out, all trying to find a cool breeze. I was captured by the hues and wonder of God’s creation. The ocean was clear as glass and cool to the touch. I breathed in the beauty. It made me wonder how many times have I just taken sights like this for granted. How many times I have not appreciated what God has given to us. Since Christmas Eve, after the church service we went to, I had been overcome with more appreciation of what God has done for…