Tonight on the farm, while packing my things into the back of the car, I was alone in the dark and after finishing what I was doing, I suddenly felt compelled to gaze at the sky. It was awesome! It seemed so clear and beautiful and at that moment a single line of How Great Thou Art echoed in my mind: I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
While I stood there, in awesome wonder I uttered to a prayer, a simple question "Heavenly Father... where are you?". Immediately, perfectly queued, and in my direct vision a bright shooting star dashed across the sky. It still gives me a chill remembering it.
These are the simple, profound moments where God offers a response to remind me of His presence in my life. They don't come every day, I've learnt to not ask for them every day. But they come often enough to keep me certain I serve a living God.
Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
Amen!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Me Protea Plantation
Well, today I took the boys out to the farm and Juanita, Andrew, Dad and I planted the proteas.
There are 54 proteas... 9 varieties, 6 of each. We planted em in 9 rows with dripper irrigation, and it took maybe 2 or 3 hours. By the end of it I was nice and sunburnt, cos it was a fairly warm day!
The proteas look really healthy and I reckon they'll thrive in their new location. Over the next year or two, we'll know from these trial varieties which will be most productive in our region, and from there we can decide if it's worth throwing in a couple of hundred of em.
There are 54 proteas... 9 varieties, 6 of each. We planted em in 9 rows with dripper irrigation, and it took maybe 2 or 3 hours. By the end of it I was nice and sunburnt, cos it was a fairly warm day!
The proteas look really healthy and I reckon they'll thrive in their new location. Over the next year or two, we'll know from these trial varieties which will be most productive in our region, and from there we can decide if it's worth throwing in a couple of hundred of em.
Friday, October 21, 2005
I'm in a BAND!
Wednesday night... raining and cold. I have had swollen glands and sore tonsils since Saturday, but a few panadol and I was right. I had to bite the bullet and finally do it!
So it was the moment I'd been planning for the past couple of months, and it's one more item on my list of resolutions that I have finally achieved.... I joined the Dubbo & District Brass Band.
Well I got to the band hall in south Dubbo and met Ben Newby outside. We went inside and he introduced me to a lot of the members, but I only remember a few names... I think it was Nigel on Flugel, Jenny and Chappo (Anthony Chapman - local policeman) on trombones. I was quickly overwhelmed by all the names so that's why I've forgotten most of em.
So we started warm ups with easy hymns and that was really fun cos I had no troubles with those. It got a lot harder though and out of all the pieces we practiced that night, I only played about half of them. The piece we ended on was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and I didn't even bother trying to play that one... it was way to fast and tricky. Even the experienced bandmembers were greatly challenged by it!
Well I payed my $2 membership, so I think next week I probably get a cornet, and later when I'm good enough to play at events, I'll get a uniform.
Meanwhile, throwing myself in the deepend like this is just what I need to give my playing skills a kick-along. I definitely need to practice my sight-reading EVERY day in order to get up to speed fast. The skills I learn at band, I'll be keen to apply back at church.
So it was the moment I'd been planning for the past couple of months, and it's one more item on my list of resolutions that I have finally achieved.... I joined the Dubbo & District Brass Band.
Well I got to the band hall in south Dubbo and met Ben Newby outside. We went inside and he introduced me to a lot of the members, but I only remember a few names... I think it was Nigel on Flugel, Jenny and Chappo (Anthony Chapman - local policeman) on trombones. I was quickly overwhelmed by all the names so that's why I've forgotten most of em.
So we started warm ups with easy hymns and that was really fun cos I had no troubles with those. It got a lot harder though and out of all the pieces we practiced that night, I only played about half of them. The piece we ended on was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and I didn't even bother trying to play that one... it was way to fast and tricky. Even the experienced bandmembers were greatly challenged by it!
Well I payed my $2 membership, so I think next week I probably get a cornet, and later when I'm good enough to play at events, I'll get a uniform.
Meanwhile, throwing myself in the deepend like this is just what I need to give my playing skills a kick-along. I definitely need to practice my sight-reading EVERY day in order to get up to speed fast. The skills I learn at band, I'll be keen to apply back at church.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Goodbye G'ma
My dear grandmother exited the dim Hallway of Time last night, and I hope I'm right in thinking I'll meet her again on that Celestial Shore.
Grandma had been suffering for a while in her palliative care unit, knowing full well that where she lay was indeed her death bed. It was a terrible drawn out ordeal for her and for the family too, but she drew her last breath on the night of Thursday, 6th October 2005. She had relatives at hand to bid her farewell, which was important to her - she was very scared of what was happening.
Rest In Peace Grandma. Although I didn't spend a lot of time with you over the past few years I do love you. I know enough too, just by the photographs that decorate your shelves, that you really loved me, my brother and sister, and my cousins and our children (your great grandkids).
Grandma had been suffering for a while in her palliative care unit, knowing full well that where she lay was indeed her death bed. It was a terrible drawn out ordeal for her and for the family too, but she drew her last breath on the night of Thursday, 6th October 2005. She had relatives at hand to bid her farewell, which was important to her - she was very scared of what was happening.
Rest In Peace Grandma. Although I didn't spend a lot of time with you over the past few years I do love you. I know enough too, just by the photographs that decorate your shelves, that you really loved me, my brother and sister, and my cousins and our children (your great grandkids).
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