Oh My Gosh.....I've just realised I need to pack my house up....its just hit me like a bus, that soon I will be homeless!! What a terrible thought...well not really homeless we'll be living at 303 Royal Parade...but even so I'm going to miss my house.

And how do I decide what to keep, throw out or sell on ebay.....I love ebay, just getting right off the track for a moment....

This is my home...its where friends and family have gathered for parties, suppers, bible studies and so many more events....its where we've celebrated NYE for the last 6 years....I think it was the pool which was the main attraction....

But soon all this will be a memory...as we move into our new lifestyle....

When I look around my home I see so many things that have shaped my life....my scrapbooking, our photos, cards from friends, my music and CD's....its where Paul and I decided to follow God's calling to Training College....

But in all of this....its just bricks and mortar...I will always have the memories and no one can take those from me.....and we will always have a home that will be filled with love and happiness...so when I think about it, this is just another chapter in our book of life....this chapter has been filled with happy times and sad times, but in all its a chapter where God has been present and evident in all that we do....

So...the day will come when the sign will go up out the front of our home and soon it will become someone elses home....to be filled with many memories, I can only pray that they will enjoy it as much as we have done....God has blessed us in so many ways...even in this lesson he is teaching me many things....

A house will always be a home if its filled with love....so I'm looking forward to our new home...wherever that may be.....

I'm back....again...It's like John Farnham's final tour....but I will try to be more consistent with my blogs...But so much has happened...I can't go back over everything it would take up too much time...so here are a few events that make up some of the Top 10 events in my life...

We have been accepted into next year's session "Ambassadors of Holiness"....I really love this name, it creates all sorts of images in my mind, but the main one is being the very best that I can be in representing God and bringing people into a Holy relationship with Him....what an amazing priviledge that God would trust me to do....WOW...that's huge!!

Its very exciting for both Paul and I as we embark on our new journey, but its not without its challenges...the main one is I'm finally realising that some of the beautiful aspects of my life are coming to an end....and I can't help but feel sad...

One of these things is being a member of the MSS.....we have just celebrated a fantastic weekend with the Sydney Staff Songsters and I have to say that it was one of the best times I've experienced with this group, and I've been in it 18 years....

God's presence was so evident...in all that we did, but we also had the best fellowship with our fellow "staffies" and this meant so much....I feel so close to God when I'm singing His praises...sigh...I don't want to leave them...

Anyway, another big thing happening is Paul is turning 40....I'll talk more about that after the event ;}

And we have to sell our house and our furniture....leave our jobs....and we are going O/S for 5 weeks, finish our pre-college studies and try and fit christmas in there also...no one could ever say my life is boring.

But God blesses me everyday...even when I crying out to him for help and support because this all just seems too much to deal with...He just gently reassures me that all will be OK...trust me...and walk with me in this journey, don't try to do it all on your own...

So...If you see me over the next few weeks....with a little less hair it means I've started pulling in out...or if the eyes look like they have cried continuously for 2 weeks....they probably have, but just smile and accept me...and know that in my heart of hearts I know God's plan for us is solid and real...He already knows this...

See ya

Robyn

Footprints.....

Well I've put it off long enough....I've been meaning to update my blog but I just haven't had the energy....spiritual or physical!

Let me recap the last two weeks....Vocal Conferences, Meetings with work, Future Service Seminars, leading the night meeting, planning the holiday to USA (another blog for another time) Songster rehearsals, weekends away with friends, cleaning the house, doing the washing and of course the assignments...they never go away!!

And also trying to catch up with sleep....Life is never boring!

But the "physical lack of energy" is fine....a good dose of berrocca will fix that...I can deal with that, but the "spiritual energy loss" is causing me some grief.

Why am I all of a sudden feeling like I'm making the wrong choices in life? Why am I starting to feel a sense of loss for the life that I currently am living and know that I have willingly offered to change? Why do I suddenly feel so alone in my life and friends are no longer around?

What's changed in my life to make me feel like this? Maybe its the weather?!?!?!?

I love the autumn time moving into winter...especially the frosty mornings that turn into the beautiful sunny days.

I'm always amazed when driving through the thickest of fog....you eventually get to a higher ground that is clear and bright.

But at the moment I'm feeling like the fog is heavy, but I know that I will rise above it...the fog will clear and I will be able to clearly see the road ahead of me.....But for now...it doesn't seem to want to go.....but I know God is walking with me and the devil is having a "field" day.

I knew when Paul and I made this decision to enter into officership that life would be challenging this year...and all the days cannot be "bright and sunny"....

I know this fog will lift....I can't begin to imagine how life would be if God wasn't with me...walking through that cold thick fog with no future path.....

I need God to walk with me at this time.....I feel so weak and insecure, when I'm not in constant contact with him...through prayer and his word.

I love the footprints poem....I feel like I'm having my own "footprints" experience now....Michelle Kay wrote a beautiful song called "Footprints in the Sand"...I'm going to leave them with you...already just reading through these words...Gods love for me is so evident....I hope they mean something to you also...have a great weekend....love Robyn

Footprints in the sand beside me

Is more than a dream, its my reality

Holding my hand, you guide me

Encompassed in your plan.

Loving Father thank you

Loving Father stay

Make your footprints in the sand beside me

Leading me Your way.

Footprints in the sand beside me

Companion and friend, Your mercy never ends

Lovingly bestow Your grace so free

Forgiveness overflows.

In you my needs supplied

On spirit wings I rise

Footprints in the sand behind me

I'm never alone through long and winding roads

And when times are bad You carry me

I'm held beneath my load

Loving Father thank you

Loving Father stay

Make your footprints in the sand beside me

Lead me in Your ways

AMEN!

A place to call Home....

I'm prompted to write todays blog after reading the TC's blog (http://tcspeak.blogspot.com) after the Melbourne Staff Band started rehearsing in their new rehearsal room at THQ. This room is shared with the Melbourne Staff Songsters...together we can call this room our home.

This is a first for the MSS, not so much the MSB, as we have never had a place that we have been able to call "home"....the group has rehearse in many different locations, being Inala, Mitcham Hall, and THQ at Park Street, Mont Albert and now at Blackburn.

Our many years of memories have been packed away in boxes and now finally...may see the light of day (if the property department lets us!!!). This is so exciting.....for me, as this year celebrates the 21st year of the MSS.

I can't believe that I have been in this group now for 18 years....that's longer than I've been married....this group has been part of my Christian walk for all those years.

So many memories....some good, some sad. We have always rejoiced when new members commence with the group and cried when those we love and have shared many precious time with, have left us....some have moved interstate, some have left to have a family, some entered Training College...to date I think we have had 5 members enter college. Sadly we lost Darryl Fanner and Ken Pitman to cancer, but we take comfort in knowing that they are now with their Father in Heaven.

We have travelled all over Australia and to many different parts of the world....we have sung to audiences of 2,000 plus and 3 (Cooper Pedy....what a great event)........but in all of this God has been the central part of all that we do....and I just praise and thank Him for allowing me the opportunity to be part of this ministry.

I don't want to leave it......

Our mission statement is "Communicating the love of God"....what a great mission for our group. And now we have a home....it just feels so nice....already we have felt the presence of God at our rehearsals and we know that He will continue to bless the ministry of the MSS and the MSB.

We love to have visitors...if you ever want to drop in on a Monday night please do....or if you have been thinking about wanting to join our group...please contact Brian Hogg or any member of the group...don't put it off any longer, it is the best experience...I'm so thankful I've done it, it has shaped so many of my life experiences...and you get to sing some beautiful music and have some great laughs....

Don't forget next week is our Vocal Conference called "Voice of the Church"....Friday through to Sunday with Guest Speaker Graeme Press from Sydney....if you are interested please contact me and I will send some info to you.....

Friends.....

Of late I've been asking myself...where would I be without my friends????

A few months ago I entered the world of Facebook and WOW....how addictive is it. I tried to limit my time on it but I just couldn't wait to see if I had anyone wanting to be my friend! And everytime in the early days I would open up my profile and wait to be surprised....and YES I had friends.

It was so exciting to catch up with friends from "days gone by"....my old work mates (Jen, I will reply...I promise), music camp buddies and family, lets not forget them!

I love to read about what is happening in the lives of my friends...even though I may not see them for months at a time...I can still catch up with what is happening with them. Good times and not so good!

I look at my list of friends, people who have played a part in my life....some a major part, others a brief acquaintances, but in some way they have meant something to me.

I feel so blessed! I thank God for giving me my friends. There are those that I have laughed with, cried with, those I've seen grow up from babies to becoming Senior Soldiers (Cassie...stay tuned for a future blog on you my dear), those I've sung with or dare I say even played the timbrel with...you've all helped make up the profile of my life.

So....Now it's time for the next chapter...whatever or where ever that's going to be.....God's got it under control...I'm glad I'm in his Facebook...he's my friend and I'm his....not much else to add to that!!

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best

things you can be. — Douglas Pagels

A weekend away....

We have just had a beautiful weekend away in Bendigo and it was just wonderful. It was just so nice to get away from everything and just relax and enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful scenery...but sadly it was too short no sooner was I feeling relaxed we were packing the car to come home....

One thing I was able to do was take some beautiful photos. I'm actually starting to enjoy photography and preserving wonderful memories of times spent with family and friends. This also allows me to indulge in my other passion which is scrapbooking....but that will be another blog!!

I must admit I'm not the best photographer...and often I look back at some of the pictures and wonder how I managed to cut that person's head off....or how I missed the image I was supposed to be taking and got the sky or the ground....in days gone by this wouldn't be realised until you had processed the photo and the opportunity to retake was long gone....but not nowdays with these wonderful digital cameras...if its no good....just delete and start again until its perfect!!

I sometimes wish my life could be like that....when I stuff up or disappoint or hurt friends and family how easy would it be to just delete the image and move on....

I have lately been reflecting on times in my past that I guess have not been the happiest (Mother's Day tends to do this to me)....and I wish there was the delete button so I could be rid of them.

But I also realise that these memories are what make up the picture album of my life....and life isn't always how we want it to be...but sometimes looking back on some of these times reminds me of how fortunate I am in other aspects of my life. So maybe deleting this memories is not a good thing...I don't know.

I'm so thankful that God doesn't just delete me when I get things wrong...he loves me and forgives me and wants me to produce the very best picture of life that I can.....

Have a lovely day everyone....

Robyn

Monopoly.....Handle with Care!!!

I must admit I love board games...and card games. In fact one of my "top" nights would be sitting around a table with good friends, food and playing cards.

I'm not sure if that makes me sad or not!!

Anyway, I love the game Monopoly, but we have a rule in our family that I am not allowed to play the board version...only the computer version....reason being...a computer screen is harder to throw across the room!!!

Yes I have to admit that one night in front of some very good friends, I cracked it and threw the Monopoly board across the room thus ending what was becoming a very frustrating game.

Well thankfully these friends were not too fussed about my handling of the game, but I wasn't that proud of myself. And lets face it....it was all Paul's fault! How did you know I was going to blame him!

See my logic was to buy and sell....his logic was not to sell (till he got what he thought was a fair price), which meant we just kept going round and round the board.

So as you can imagine the game just got worst from that point....hence my dramatic closing of the game....I look back now and laugh, but you do see the fear creeping into certain peoples faces when "my name" and monoploy are mentioned in the same sentence!!

I felt that I had no control over where this game was going....as it continued I felt like there was no ending that was going to provide fulfilment and a sense of achievement for anyone.

I'm so thankful that my life isn't like a game of monoploy that just keeps going round and round with no fulfilment....I know that life does have its ups and downs...and we do sometimes feel like throwing it away, but God loves us...he is the one who gives me the fulfilment to continue my life.

God shows me that life is not always what we want it to be but if we follow him and his word we will be blessed and fulfilled far more than we can imagine.

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

James 1: 12 (Message)

So....tonight we are going to meet with those same friends who we had the "monopoly" episode with.....maybe we should just watch a good movie instead

What's you favourite board game?

Have a great weekend....and to all those Mother's out there...enjoy your day!

Robyn

Where did the last 4 months go?????

Well....so much for me maintaining updates on my blog....I have failed.....my last blog was the 1st January...and its now May....go figure!!!

Life has been so hectic and busy that I just haven't found the time to sit and write down my thoughts.....and one thing I wanted to do this year was to keep a record of challenges and opportunities that have come our way as we prepare for college.

So maybe I start again....but I need help! A gentle reminder every now and then wouldn't go astray.

I have several blogs that I read every day and I admire how the writers maintain a consistency in their "blogging".....is it possible I can do the same.....lets see!!

One of the biggest challenges facing us at this time is filling in countless forms....trying to record ones life / spiritual history in 5 lines is becoming a challenge. What do I leave out....what do I leave in?? My journey over these years could fill a book....the lessons learnt are what make me who I am today....how can I summarise this in just a few words....

I guess the most important person who knows my history is God....he knows it all...and he knows what is ahead of us....which is the peace and comfort I need at this moment in our lives...when things are flying passed at a rapid pace.

So I will try and become consistant in blogging.....as our journey continues....so much has happened and who knows what is ahead of us....but life is good....enjoy yours and I'll keep enjoying mine...

See ya

2008......More Change

One thing I love to do at the end of the year is to look over my diary and see everything that we have managed to do over these last 12 months.....

When I look back I see so many that many things that had slipped my mind....dinners, concerts, meetings, appointments, coffee dates.....

I also see events that changed my life.....births, deaths, changes of jobs, how did I manage to do all of this in one year.....

Now I must admit, I love to be busy.....and the diary for 2008 is already looking scary....which is great....but our lives are going to be a little different this year, so my time is going to have to be managed well....how do I do this???

Well that is the question I have been thinking about over these last couple of days as 2007 comes to an end.....what do I need to cut from my busy schedule to make room for the new opportunities coming our way.....and a big part of me is saying...."nothing, don't cut out anything"...its all part of what makes up your life....its what makes life comfortable and safe.

But the reality is how can I accept new challenges into my life...when I have no room for them? I know I have to change but if you've read any of my other blogs you will know what I think about change...

So as we enter into 2008, I look forward to the challenges open to both Paul and myself....even if it does require change....God has a plan for our lives and I just have to leave it to him.....I know with his strength and guidance in our lives I will cope and accept the change for what it is......

Have you thought about changes for 2008.....check out last year's diary and see what you achieved.....it will amaze and encourage you. Now look at what you can achieve this year.....

I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 146:2