The Worship Experience

I've been away at a conference for a few days. Saw some great stuff. But the most exciting thing was watching 130 kids spending 1.5-2 hrs twice a day worshipping, learning and praising God. Was really excited by what I saw. Adults leading kids in whole hearted worship that would transform their lives when they went back to actual reality.


As a kid's pastor, I love seeing the spiritual lives of children expand.  Not talking down required - just meeting their need and giving them every opportunity to respond.


Anyone with a heart that is young and alive and loves God would love this experience so much!

Vase Box

Today's vase box, is not my own. A dear friend sent me a photo of the ranunculus sitting on her dining room table at the moment.

I love the blush of lilac that is creeping into the ruffled white petals and the furry stems reaching upward.


Another simply beautiful reminder of God, to be preserved in The Creation Box.

P.S. Thank you so much Vicky

Real Women - Plus-size modelling

For any woman that is not under a size 12, there is a little twinge of 'what's the point' when it comes to fashion shows and clothes shopping. The larger your dress size the bigger the twinge.


It has been years since I've felt good about shopping for clothes. But worst of all is knowing that even when I go looking for something to wear, it will generally make me look even bigger and frumpy! Double negative experience!!!


As I opened up the internet this morning and took a look at the headlines on the smh website, the main article displayed was about Plus-size models and the Milan fashion show.


Now, these plus-size models are a modest 'size 14' - however - they look like real women. And they look healthy and great in the clothes that they are modelling.


Interestingly, the plus size fashion designer 'Elena Miro', who was the designer featured in the article had her show excluded from the official program of Milan Fashion Week! As I browsed the pics of these designer gowns - I enjoyed looking at these clothes and felt that they were clothes that 'real women' could wear. How could Milan want to exclude a designer for 'real women' from their show?!?!

Thank you Elena Miroglio for designing and creating beautiful clothes for real women!

If you want to have a look at the full article and collection of photos, look at this link:

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/standing-room-only-at-barred-plussize-show-20100923-15oh5.html?autostart=1

Cupcake Baking Party

The day finally came when I had time to bake! The result was several enjoyable hours of creaming, beating (thanks so much for lending me your awesome cake mixer Rach!), baking and decorating divine vanilla cupcakes. It was my first official venture into the craze for cupcake baking, and I must say it was a little addictive!

Look at how smooth the creamed butter and sugar looks!

How fluffy and light was the cake mixture?!?!

The glossy sheen on the cupcakes as they were ready to go in the oven was so divine (they were meringue-like)!

As lovely as this part was... it was only portion of the process. Each one was personally styled to create a 100's&1000's skirted buttercream icing that left you gazing longingly at the cupcake wondering should I just admire it or take a bite.

P.S. Once you ventured to take a bite, the light & sweet texture of these cakes filling your mouth was heavenly.

Special Guests

Today, I had the great pleasure of my Grandad and Uncle John coming to visit me at my flat. I love sharing my little home with people and it is an extra privilege when I can share it with people that have had an important part to play in my life. 


I showed them the flat, they admired my veggie patch, I made Grandad coffee and we went to lunch at my favourite little cafe in Wahroonga, Pastadelli. It was lovely to share some of my favourite things with them during my visit. 


Over lunch, Uncle John shared a very interesting opinion on human rights.... suggesting that rather than teaching ethics and 'human rights', people need to be taught responsibility. Once people learn how to live and accept responsibility, human rights are never violated and ethical standards are maintained. TOTALLY SPOT ON!!!!!


It is 'right' to spend time with those that have loved and cared for you. 


Enjoying the pleasure of each others company.


Sharing life.


Giving life.

Vegie Box

It's amazing how things grow. Carrot seeds are such tiny, insignificant things - yet with sunlight and water they grow into yummy and nutritious things to eat.
Tonight I had my first meal of baby carrots from my veggie patch. 

They were

tiny

weird shapes

iridescent orange

scrumdillyumptious!

p.s. the winter spinach is really good too!!!

"If"

If a picture paints a thousand words

Then why can't I paint you?

The words would never show

The you I've come to know

Then one

- by one -

The stars would all go out

And you 

- and I -

Would simply fly away

Lyrics from "If"

Vase Box

I see God in flowers so often, and it is rare that I don't have a vase of flowers in my home or on my table at work. So, a regular God-sighting is found in a vase - and today is no exception.
I walked into my favourite florist shop in Wahroonga this morning, looking for something beautiful and a little unusual to place on my table and cheer me up today. As Friday is market day, I hoped not to be disappointed. 
I wasn't.
I very nearly bought a bunch of tiny orchids - their colour was so intense and their faces so sweet... until I saw this.


Roses.


Ok, I know what you are going to say - roses are like the stock-standard flower anyone gets. So true... But these are special.
They make me think of a summer sunset.

Sunset Roses!

That Touch of Purple

Photo: Natalie Howe, found Sydney Morning Herald 'Weddings, parties, anything' photo gallery.

Photo: Adam Cavanagh, found Sydney Morning Herald 'Weddings, parties, anything' photo gallery.

TREAT!!!!! Post packet!

To try and break some bad habits and create some new good habits, I've started a little bit of a treat system for myself. I set a goal for anything I want to break and then if I achieve it...


TREAT TIME!!!!


Well, last week, I did it!!! I achieved the two goals I set for myself...
And so in the mail came a special packet just for me!
I was very good and waited until after work before opening it...

SOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITING!!!!!
I'll have to have a cupcake bake soon!!!!!!!!!!

Tied Together

Saturday gave me the pleasure of putting together flowers for Eloise and Neil's Engagement party. I was not completely happy with the result - but Eloise was more than pleased!

Tying jasmine tendrils together made me contemplate the gift El and Neil were giving to each other in promising to to entwine their lives together. 

I hope and pray that God has that for me too.

So I continued tying jasmine together

With perfect bows.

With anticipation.

With hope.

Pea-Soup Fog

As the sun rose over Sydney this morning, the radio announcers were reporting on the 'pea-soup' fog that was blanketing the city this morning. In fact they thought it was a most inappropriate term - as the fog wasn't the colour of pea soup. Cauliflower soup fog, consume fog each made their list. Imagine if it was a called a chowder fog. There would be bits in it!

The pleasant reason for my early morning rising was a trip to the flower markets. The hall was filled with flowers, people and noise, but the heavenly scent rising from the spring flowers was intoxicating. I came away with an armload of ranunculus, anemones, larkspur, snapdragons, dusty millar, hellebores and jasmine. Heavenly.  

Wait until tomorrow, and see how I'm inspired to arrange them.

Oh - and by the way - you have to check out www.rubyandjoy.com.au/ . It's inspiring.

In the beginning...

For a while now, I have wanted to have a place to contain all the loves I have in my life. I love the world - creation. I love to create. So here is a place where all the loves and joys in my life can be placed. 

In a box. 

Full of creation.

Crammed with little moments.

Resourced with creative outlets.

Pieces of Me.