Billy, the Early Years...

This is a movie I would love to see.  Billy, the Early Years.

It was released in America last month just before Billy Graham's 90th birthday.

I hope it comes out to Australia...

Verse for the day...

10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (The Message)

Encouragement

When I start to think these negative things, I say these scriptures and it really helps me.

I have printed them out and they are on my toilet wall, because often that is where I get to sit and think. (Too much information)  :) Please feel free to print these out and put them in a place where you will see them daily...

"You say God says Bible Verses"

You say: "It's impossible" 

God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired" 

God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me" 

God says: I love you (John 3:16 & john 3:34)

You say: "I can't go on" 

God says: My grace is sufficient ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out" 

God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it" 

God says: You can do all things (Phillipians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able" 

God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it" 

God says: It will be worth it (Romans 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself" 

God says: I forgive you (1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage" 

God says: I will supply all your needs (Phillipians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid" 

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 2:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" 

God says: Cast all you cares on ME (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough" 

God says: I give you wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone" 

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

If you find yourself going through a difficult time at the moment, please hang in there. God wants you to hold on to him and stay close. The enemy wants you to fall apart and quit and that makes me mad. Stomp on his head, cause the enemy is defeated, the battle is the Lords, the righteous are forgiven, the victory is yours....

Illustration Friday...

This week's illustration is also from a guest illustrator.

I love this painting by Jessie Wilcox Smith.

And here are a few more...

Learning scripture through song...

I ordered a new CD for Jack from Amazon. The CD is scripture set to song for kids to sing and learn. We play it in the car alot and Jack knows alot of the words. I love to hear him singing it. How great it is for him to be learning scripture at his age and it be in his mind through the day.

Gratitude Monday...

I am so thankful to have a family that can cook amazing food.

Last week Laura attempted to make 'Yorkshire Puddings' to go with the roast chicken dinner that she cooked. They were so yummy and turned out perfect. She now has the job to make them for our Christmas eve roast dinner. She is also going to make homemade christmas pudding again this year. Yum....

And over the weekend Biggsie cooked tempura battered vegies in the wok on the bbq. They were also very yummy.

Fabric Pom Poms...

Love these fabric pom poms from Molly Chicken Blog.

I'm going to make some for Laura's room in pale pink and lemon. I've got scraps left over from her bunting and quilt I've made. (Okay, I haven't finished her quilt yet but I will soon.)  :)

Creative gift wrapping idea..

I'm on a bit of a pom pom theme here but I also found these ones made out of plastic bags. You don't need to waste money on expensive bows. These are free...

I found this great idea for a gift decoration at "Creature Comforts" blog.

Illustration Friday...

This week we have a guest illustrator. (Cause I haven't taken any photos yet of Jack or Laura's artwork.)

Illustrator: Kathy Jurek

I found this painting on the internet and I really like it because it looks like Jack and one of his friends.

Christmas food ideas...

How cute are these christmas goodies. And they are so easy to make too.

Ingredients:

Chocolate biscuits

Pretzels

Cherries

Sultanas

Ingredients:

Jaffas

Spearmint leaves

White chocolate

Chocolate biscuits

Storm season...

This has become a familiar site this week on the BOM website.

Love the storms and the rain has been welcomed but not nice for those who were in the Sunday night storms and lost there homes in the wild wind. Or the flash flooding last night that swept through peoples homes.

On a brighter note, it's great to see the grass green again and the Dams filling up with water.

And I love the smell of rain and the sound of it on our back verandah roof.

Nature journalling...

Front yard find...

Playing with the Christmas beetles...

Gratitude Monday...

I am thankful to have sweet, yummy, roma tomatoes picked fresh from our vegie garden.

I am thankful for having a helping hand in the morning to make our fresh juice. The carrots seem to get nibbled before they make it into the juicer... Jack loves to help push the vegies and fruit through the juicer...

My helper also enjoys catching it as it comes out the other end of the machine...

I love to stop and enjoy spending time with my beautiful children. 

Fabric...

Found this great fabric on ebay... Not sure what to make with it. Maybe a library bag for Jack.
It's now sitting in the 'to make' pile. Better post the blog and get the sewing machine out...

New Pantone Gift Range...

You may have to be married to a Graphic Designer or be artistic to appreciate this post but I found that Pantone now also make cups and bags...

This is the Pantone Colour Chart...

And here is the cups that they make... I like this colour.Here are more of their range...

 They even have bags...

And crockery...

Laura without curls...

Laura wanted me to straighten her hair for something different. It looked so beautiful but it made her look older so we won't be straightening it for a while... :) 

These photos were taken of Laura on her way out to youth group. I know what you're thinking.... 'I'm too young to have a daughter old enough to go to youth'. I was thinking the same thing... :)

It made her hair longer...

"Bye Mum, I'm off to youth now..."

"Mum, I'm in the car now. You can stop taking photo's...."

"Mum...."

(I love this look I'm getting from my beautiful daughter. It's priceless.)

Illustration Friday...

Title:    Christmas reindeers

Illustrator:     Jack (3 yrs old)

Books beside my lounge chair...

I have borrowed these books from my library and I am really enjoying reading them in my rest time... I have a paper and pen handy and jot down ideas as my creativity bursts in my head with ideas for christmas and decorations...

Christmas...

I'm not going to get caught up in traffic jams at the shopping centres and writing 'to do' lists (of things that aren't important) that are way too long...

We are looking for creative ways to buy or make presents and stay within our budget. It's really exciting to come up with different ways and know that you aren't using the credit card.

And TIME spent together is so important...

Stopping to play a board game as a family...

Driving around looking at the christmas lights together with munchies in the car...

Making decorations or cards together.... (I can still remember as a child, our Grandma would give us a big shoebox of christmas cards from the year before and we would cut them up with zig zig scissors and make our own cards. They would be A4 size glued on old dividers or cardboard.)  

Going to the beach together and spending the afternoon bobbing in the waves and collecting shells...

Let's not get caught up this season being too busy. Stop and enjoy the season and remember it's about celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Countdown to Christmas...

I can't believe how fast Christmas is coming up...

Our tree is going up in the lounge room any day now and the presents are being secretly bought and hidden in the house... 

I love the feeling after spending the day at the beach...

I love the taste of mangoes and summer fruits...

I love the sounds of the crickets in the evening...

I love the Jacaranda trees in bloom...

I love this time of the year...

Fun at the State Library and Museum...

Jack has such a great time at "The Corner" at the State Library. He loves using the computers and had a great time playing all the percussion instruments.

Some of Jack's friends from playgroup...

The grass outside the Library...

Jackasauras and Laurasauras...

Love these pics...