Annie's Blog

Journeys.. I went on one to a celebration today. By train. Through the city transit center. and past some quaint houses in an older part of town this one had an unusual weather vane atop the garage roof! these funny chimneys I really like, they pop up everywhere on the older buildings The shade of a lovely old poinsiana tree in the front yard of this house. some of these old houses have very cute fronts a lovely frangipani an agapanthus flowers in front of a front gate and some very pretty roses... Our sermon today was about Journeys. Fitting to ponder our own journeys , spiritual or however we like to think of them,  at this time of the year. Tying in with the story I mentioned yesterday, (Luke 2:41-52) of Jesus staying behind to listen to the teachers in the temple:   Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.     And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. ...

 Newly borrowed library books...not to mention the oldest book of all,  the Bible, that conveys God's word to us...  new books, new editions of older books  many children's books, with or without cd's to sing or listen along.. old books, very old books, don't you just love the old bindings... Methinks I will always have a slightly messy house...too many books..too precious to throw away... Too many books, too little time! I am very thankful for a mum who took me to the library every school holidays even though it was a long way away. I still remember the thrill of borrowing those books. I still love belonging to and going to a library still today. Especially when joining a new community. It seems almost the heart of the community to me, especially with the wonderful displays and art works hanging around. Many thanks to librarians the world over who stretch our learning! I am also thankful for a mother who took me to Church and Sunday school, and f...

a wonderful simple hibiscus flowering at the train station I guess it is the fruit (mangoes) and the flora, as well as the beach or pool,  that help to get me through the hot summer months. I am not a fan of heat or humidity particularly! A cassia flowering beautifully ... My next quest...to find the Pride of India trees , or crepe myrtles. Always a picture, and I have seen some great ones lately. A quote on prayer ...again from the New York Times  (A Prayer for Christmas).

It was an overcast day for Boxing Day holiday in South East Queensland. But we were some of the lucky ones who made it to the beach Loved the coloring of the water...and the boats in the marina... there was understandably, for a public holiday and the week after Christmas, a fair amount of movement of craft through the water pretty sure this little one wasn't yawning here so early in the morning... it wouldn't be a bad place for a holiday by the sea ... the kids seemed very happy to be at the beach again...what fun! this place looked interesting...looks like they had to build a little higher to see over the trees there! Overall a lovely little trip to the beach. Many thanks to the kids for taking me. It is always so wonderful to be near the ocean!

Lots of Australians love to spend Christmas holidays at the beach. I wonder if the wise men lived here whether they would have traveled by boat? A native hibiscus high in a tree on the edge of the shore...I love the way they seem to end up a different color when they fall off the tree eventually. I just love the paperbark trees too and the Poinsiana trees are flowering away gaily now...I love the way when you look at the flowers individually, there's one petal different to the others....very special... walking through the mangroves is a unique experience..I even saw a little blue grey crab, with orange eyes, in the mud below! Couldn't seem to take a proper photo of it though! Anyway, I ought to wrap this up here...one last photo for you I can't remember whether I showed you the photo of the three wise men ...here they are now... Hope you have had a wonderful Christmas wherever you might be. Here is a link to a story from the New Yor...

the church was all decorated and beautiful with many lights last night even the Kangaroo and Emu came to see there was even a tiny baby in the manger the wise man and the angel stood in awe at the foot of the manger,  looking at the baby Jesus.  I am sure I saw him move! There will be more photos from this very special night, and nativity play and special effort that this church puts on for families at Christmas. And some more words from my Bible reading notes, With Love to the World tonight: As his wife succumbed to cancer, C.S.Lewis is reported to have answered the question "why do you pray?" in this way: "I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time-waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God-it changes me." Thank you CS Lewis. For being so honest, and open, and writing all your books, and sharing your life and experiences and wisdom with us. Thank you Go...

After many weeks of catching buses, the signs stopped working at the bus station...and so we all were "waiting" but not any longer... But not any longer...we are back on track...and we can tell where the bus is and how long it will be...no longer sitting there wondering how long before the bus comes...or have we missed it ....what a wonderful Christmas present to those who travel by bus, perhaps they decided that the poor technician needed help..or maybe he just came back from his holidays! ;-) It reminds me of Advent, where we are waiting to celebrate Christ's birth! What a present that was to the world! May you enjoy this Advent season of "waiting" Only three sleeps to go If you live in Australia.

twas the week before Christmas and all through the church, the stars were all folded with care the shepherds were out in the fields boiling their billy for a cuppa..