Jen's Thoughts

Cherishing Every New Day

2011-06-23T20:21:00.000+10:00

Have you ever seen the movie Pollyanna? I know I'm showing my age but these wholesome movies are hard to come by these days and they held so much good, strong morals and ethics that are of huge importance. The main thing I always remember about Pollyanna's happy and carefree nature was how she would play the 'glad game'. Do you remember it? If ever there was a difficult situation, she would think of something in her life that she could be 'glad' about, grateful for. I reckon that's such a great 'game' for us all to adopt.
Here's a scene from the movie to trigger your memory.

I've been making a conscious effort to make the most of each and every new day. It began when my attention was drawn to this world we live in and things we need to stay alive. It's something that we can take for granted - the sun will rise every morning, oxygen will be readily available to us, rain will fall from the sky ... etc. These earthly essentials are each as important to our daily lives as the other. Without even one of these elements, our lives would be non existant.

I then turned my attention to the smaller, less important things, in terms of life-wise, that are still of vital importance. Things like having a roof over my head, fresh food in the cupboard and my beautiful husband and four delightful children.

So I'm focusing on first and foremost the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus for His generous love shown to us each and every day; giving us all drinking water, oxygen to fill our lungs and the sun to shine on each and every one of us to mention a few.
Secondly I'm focusing on my beautiful family God has blessed me with. My caring and compassionate husband Christian, who is my true soul mate and best friend. Every day I grow to love him more and more. I am so grateful that the Lord has sent me the best! And my four precious little gems; each filling my heart with joy in their individual ways. They bring a smile to my face each new day with their sweet words and beautiful natures.

I choose to see these wonderful blessings that are right before me, and I choose to see them every day, thanking God for loving me so much.

Our Father's Love Letter - To You!

2011-06-01T20:22:00.000+10:00

I found this fantastic audio and had to put some images with the words. Enjoy!

The Old Paths Poem

2010-11-28T09:01:00.000+11:00

I like the Old Paths when Mums were at home, Dads were at work, brothers went into the army and sisters got married before having children.

Crime did not pay; hard work did; and people knew the difference.

Mums could cook; Dads would work; children would behave.

Husbands were loving; wives were supportive and children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry and Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; men looked like gentlemen and children looked decent.

People loved the truth and hated a lie.

They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly; sermons sounded helpful; rejoicing sounded normal and crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked; drinking was evil and divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honoured; Australia was beautiful and God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public; prayed in school and preached from house to house.

To be called an Australian was worth dying for; to be called a Christian was worth living for; to be called a traitor was a shame!

Sex was a personal word, homosexual was an unheard of word and abortion was an illegal word.

Preachers preached because they had a message and Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!

Preachers preached from the Bible; singers sang from the heart and sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life; following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God; being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord; being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus, and being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible; homes read the Bible and churches taught the Bible.

Preachers were more interested in new converts than new clothes and new cars. God was worshiped; Christ was exalted and the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians on the Lord’s day, rather than in the garden, on the creek bank, on the golf course, or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the Old Paths the best !

When Shadow Disappeared

2010-08-26T20:46:00.000+10:00

Since the loss of my beloved pet dog Shadow a couple weeks ago, I've been reflecting on some great memories I have of her. One particular one that is amazing and shocking, stands out in my mind so I thought I'd share it with you.

First, a little background on Shadow ...

Shadow spent her life at my childhood home with my parents as that was where I brought her to when she was a pup. After I moved out, I tried taking her with me but she wasn't happy anywhere else as she saw my parents' house as her home and nothing I did would change that. She was a very stubborn maltese cross shitzu and knew what she wanted.

When Shadow was about nine-years-old, she had developed a terrible habit of running out the front door at any opportunity and going a few houses away sniffing and exploring a little for 5-10 minutes before returning when she'd had enough. Mum used to chase her but found that because she came back fairly quickly (as she did this so often) that Mum ended up just leaving her to her own devices until she'd had her fun.

One particular day, Shadow ran out like usual, but after the normal time, she hadn't come back. Mum went out looking for her but couldn't find any trace of her. She was missing. She wasn't wearing a collar because it hadn't been put back on since having her last groom, and she didn't have a microchip either because it was something we just hadn't bothered at the time.

When I found out the dreaded news, Chris immediately sprung into action and gave me all sorts of suggestions as to what things we could do to try and find her. We began by ringing vets and the RSPCA to inquire about our missing pet, but to no avail.

We then made a 'missing' brochure, which my dad printed loads of copies of and we all went out to the streets in the area, doing letterbox drops in the hope that someone, somewhere has seen her.

After two full weeks of faithfully walking the streets and placing our brochures into letterboxes around the area, our hope began to fade and the chances of finding Shadow were diminishing. Although I knew it was becoming less of a chance to find her each day, I kept praying and trusting God that He would bring her back to us ... somehow. We had no idea where she'd vanished to - it seemed she'd totally disappeared. We placed our final flyers along one side of Herbert St in Boronia and went home.

A few nights later the phone rang and Chris answered it. It was a lady, saying that while she was visiting her friend in Herbert St, she saw her mail sitting on the table and noticed our flyer and particularly, the picture of Shadow on it. She told Chris that in a street where she was walking near her home (which is on the other side of Boronia), she has noticed a dog that has only been there for the last two weeks, as she walks this same path daily, and it's been laying against the gate in a backyard looking very sad and miserable. She wasn't sure if this was the same dog, but said it all seemed very strange and that we should check it out.

Chris arranged to meet her at the house she was referring to so he went almost straight away and met with the lady out the front of the alleged house. There was no dog in the backyard at the time but there was a brand new pine dog kennel in the yard which increased his suspicions. When Chris knocked on the front door, no one answered so he thanked the lady for all her help and came back home. We contacted my parents and arranged for them to come over and then for Chris and dad to go back to the house after tea in the hope that someone would be home.

After Chris finished tea, he felt the urge to go to the house immediately so he didn't wait for my dad and just went back to the house then and there. I waited at home in anticipation, hoping and praying that this was indeed our dog Shadow and that Chris would be able to get her.

As Chris arrived back at the house, he went to the front door and could see the dog inside, barking at Chris through the window. It looked like Shadow, but he couldn't be sure because these maltese cross shitzus can all look the same. Chris knocked on the door and a ten-year-old boy answered it. Chris asked him about the dog, saying he wanted to see it because he thinks it's his but the boy wouldn't open the door and said the dog is theirs and that they've had it for years. He was so convincing that he even went and got a photo to show Chris through the door of what was supposed to be the same dog. The photo showed a dog in the far distance, that looked white (Shadow was black). Chris realised the boy was home alone and that if in fact this was Shadow, then he was in a hairy situation where this boy's parents have accepted the boy to keep a dog that wasn't theirs, so he knew he had to get out of there before they arrived home, which could be any time. Chris didn't want to face these parents because it was apparent that they were sus people.

Chris then became more demanding and he insisted on seeing the dog. The boy saaid he wasn't allowed to open the door to strangers but that he would come around the back to show the photo to Chris, so he went back inside, then a minute or so later he came out from around the backyard. Chris went to thhe back gate and the boy opened it and came over to Chris to show him his photo. When he opened his back door again, the dog shot out, through the gate past Chris and up a hill across the street. It was quite dark at this stage and Chris couldn't see exactly where Shadow was, but he began calling her. The boy also called her, but he had named her 'Coco', so he was calling out that name in a high pitch as though motioning to an exotic bird. The dog ignored both calls. Chris had to think fast so he tricked the boy by asking to see more photos so the boy ran inside to get more photos to show him. While he was inside, Chris called out 'Shadow' with a mighty grunt that let this dog know he meant business. The dog immediately came to him so he picked it up, ran to his car and jumped in. This street was in a court so he had to drive past the house, do a u-turn and drive out. As he was driving down the street, he turned his headlights off in case the boy had come back out, so he couldn't get Chris' licence number. As he was driving home, the dog was simply staring out the window, being unresponsive to him and not giving any indication that this was our dog. Chris talked to her saying, 'I hope you're Shadow, otherwise I've just stolen a lttle boy's pet dog.'

As Chris arrived home, he came inside holding the dog and the first thing he said to me was, 'Is this Shadow Jen?'

As soon as I saw her I knew it was our little dog ... she'd been found! Once Chris saw her in the light, he knew without a doubt that this was Shadow. We were all so relieved and excited! Shadow also became excited by this stage and was doing her little tricks I'd taught her. It was obvious she was pleased to be back with her family again.

We put her collar back on her, then took her to the vet that night and had her microchipped.

A week or so later while visiting my parents, Chris saw the same boy that had taken Shadow and it all became clear as to what had happened. The boy was in my parents' street doing a paper round. He had with him a shopping jeep where he kept his papers. We figured out that he must've seen Shadow wandering the streets that day, and decided to keep her so he picked her up and put her in his little jeep, then took her home. His parents must've encouraged him to keep her because they didn't make any attempt to find her owners, instead buying a kennel and simply keeping an animal that wasn't theirs. What an awful example they were to their son, teaching him it's ok to steal.

We were so thankful to God that He kept Shadow safe, and even though she was taken right over to the other side of the suburb from where she lived, God led us right to the theives' doorstep. Those parents must've been scratching their heads when they came home that night, wondering how on earth we found them. Hehe

God is good and faithful!

Christmas Carols - love them

2009-12-19T16:30:00.001+11:00

I love listening to Christmas Carols - it really gets you into the mood for Christmas time doesn't it!

Here are a few of my favourite Christmas Carols - do you know them?

CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR!

2009-12-01T16:41:00.002+11:00

This is my favourite time of year!

I love Christmas!

Families get together, people are happy and giving to one another and most importantly, we celebrate Jesus' birth on this earth. For us humans, who have a tendency to forget things, I believe Christmas time is the ideal way for us all to truly remember and be thankful for all Jesus has done, and still is doing for us.

I love the aroma of the fresh pine needles from a Christmas tree (or in our case this year, a fibre-optic, fake one) and the shiny baubles, reflecting off the glittering star at the top of the tree, which draws your attention to the colourful array of lights blinking around you.

There's nothing like this wonderful time of year. And as a mother, it's even better to enjoy watching your children's little faces light up on Christmas morning when they open their presents and their hearts bubble with joy! It's one of the most precious moments for a parent to experience.

We've created a little family tradition with our children that on Christmas Eve, they each are allowed to open one present. Daddy Santa arrives in his costume and delivers the single gift to each child. They find this idea wonderful of course - having the opportunity to obtain a sneak-peek into their presents is a delight. We all sit around as a family on Christmas Eve, holding our battery operated candles and singing Christmas Carols along with the Carols By Candlelight on TV.

When I hear the amazing lyrics on most of the Christmas Carols, see the star/angel on top of the tree, the joy of God's love surrouding people as their genorosity overflows, it brings such a warmth to my spirit. All of which have their own purpose in relating back to Jesus.

Christmas is almost here!!!

Book Reviews on Harvesting Hope

2009-10-30T09:15:00.001+11:00

As requested by one of my blog followers, I have attached two book reviews that were written by people in the industry, which gives the appropriate information on what 'Harvesting Hope' entails. I hope you enjoy reading these reviews and gain more of an insight as to what this book's purpose is.

First let's begin with a few quotes from what others have said about the book:

Quotes from readers:

'Reading 'Harvesting Hope' helped me see the person that exists under the veil. A real eye opener!'

'Make sure you have a few hours spare before you begin this book, once you start reading it, you won’t want to put it down until you’ve read it all!'

'I didn't want the book to end.'

'This book is very diverse, covering topics such as, friendship, marriage, racism, families, death, love, and of course hope.'

'It will take you on a journey where you feel the main character’s pain, happiness and romance.'

Book Review 1
Title: Harvesting Hope
Author: Christian Ayling
Publisher: Ginninderra Press
Review by: Kathleen Stewart of Authors’ Ally - http://www.authorsally.com/index.html

Yasemin Sandulli’s life is turned upside down when her brother is accused of murder. Until then, her life had plodded along at an enjoyable, if somewhat frustrating, pace but there was nothing particularly untoward in the life of this typical modern young woman. Conflict with parents and culture set the pace.

Yasemin is Muslim in a predominantly Christian country, trying her best to fit in despite cultural differences. Not only does she have to contend with the normal conflict between younger and older generations, but also with the tension between Christian and Muslim.

She manages admirably until her younger brother Issy is accused of a brutal attack on a young gay who subsequently dies. Yasemin is caught up in the unreasoning clash of ideologies that results. Harvesting Hope presents the human face of what it is like to be a Muslim in a Christian country.

Issy’s arrest and subsequent trial have a huge impact on the family, with Yasemin falling in love with the young and dynamic lawyer representing her brother, and her father succumbing to the stress of Issy’s arrest by having a heart attack after being set upon by a stone-throwing mob.

Yasemin’s mother, while always subservient, shows another side to her character when the chips are down. She proves to be resilient and determined, fighting to preserve her family. But will it be enough to save her son?

Yasemin is deserted by work colleagues and friends, notably by her best friend and ally, Danni, and has to come to terms with the fickle and often transient nature of affections.

Yasemin’s story comes to a climax when Issy’s verdict is read and she has to decide whether to re-establish contact with Danni or write her off as yet another bad friend. Her dilemma leads to a surprising and moving conclusion to a very human story.

The twists and turns in this thought-provoking young-adult fiction will keep the reader enthralled to the end.

Book Review 2
Title: Harvesting Hope
Author: Christian Ayling
Publisher: Gininderra Press
Reviewed by: Kathryn Duncan - http://www.celapenepress.com.au/review_harvesting_hope.html

Happy with her life, young Muslim woman Yasemin Sandulli and her family are thrust into the media spotlight after her brother Ismet is wrongfully accused of murder. Until then, Yasemin had not been subjected to the racial torment sometimes faced by Muslim's in today's society and her experience can only be described as eye opening and frightening.

Novella Harvesting Hope is a compelling story of the Sandulli family as it faces a difficult experience of how the community reacts to a crime where the media manipulates information and people make judgments based on that information and treat it as fact.

Yasemin begins to lose faith in her community and religion, her father accuses her of turning against the family and her religion, she feels abandoned by her friends and is soon faced with the reality that she has made judgments of others in the same way she has been judged.

Racial tension is all too common in today's society and Harvesting Hope provides an insight into it from the victim's point of view. What is interesting is how author Christian Ayling has portrayed the way that the community takes the media reports, gossip and rumour as fact when often what we see and hear in the media is manipulated to portray what they want us to believe to be the truth.

Underlying the racial theme in the book is also friendship. The friendship between Yasemin and her best friend, Danni, is put under stress, but in a way that Yasemin had not seen. What needs to be taken from this is that we should not make assumptions about why other people act the way that they do - there maybe underlying issues we know nothing about.

Whilst Ismet's alleged crime is the catalyst for the events in the story, it is not the main focus or theme and Ayling distinguishes this, preferring to examine the human relationships and interaction that come about as a result of the alleged crime.

Christian Ayling is a relatively new writer having previously published several picture books. Harvesting Hope is his first book for the young adult/adult market and Ayling shows a lot of potential as a writer.

If you have read this book and believe you could write a review on it, all feedback is welcome so please contact me.

To purchase this book, please click this link: http://www.christianayling.com/

Food, glorious food!

2009-08-06T16:08:00.009+10:00

This week has been full of various recipes.

I decided to step out of my comfort zone into the unknown territory and try a couple new 'treat' recipes I've had stashed away in my kitchen drawer for such occasion as this!

Now I didn't take pics of everything I created (sorry) because I didn't really consider blogging about this, but my cousin insisted - thanks Sarah...LOL

Below are the two new recipes I tried out this week:

- Chocolate Mousse

- White Chocolate Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping
The following are some of my old favourite recipes I also made this week:

- Chocolate Balls
- Scones
- Chocolate Bites (same as Ferrero Rochers)
- Banana Cake (well, this one I haven't made yet, but will do tomorrow - hehe)

I had never attempted to make a cheesecake before and had no previous warnings or tips so I simply got out my faithful recipe book, and methodically followed it. After alot of mucking around, and hours of waiting, to mine and the children's delight, the cheesecake turned out quite well and we all enjoyed digging in & taste-testing!

The only qualm I have is now I know why the recipe stated that I needed to 'finely' grate the lemon rind - to cop a mouthful of that is potent! LOL
The children helped with most of the mixing and stirring until they became bored and ran off to play. All in all it was lots of fun.