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Eggs, eggs, eggs…

fresh eggs

If you asked me what cravings I have with this pregnancy I would say to you Eggs on Toast.

Bright Yellow

Sunny side up

Eggy goodness.

There is something about a little more effort in the morning with my family that is making my heart smile lately.

My mum has a chicken coup and so we get fresh eggs whenever we want. Max pulls on his brand new chicken boots and we go all farmer like for a while.

This Easter, rather than paying someone to make you breakfast, what about whipping up your own. Buy great eggs and even better loaf of freshly made bread and enjoy the little things.

I watched this Jamie Oliver tutorial all the way through, to learn any more tricks on cooking eggs.

That shows I must be a little pregnant crazy.

Eggs and Easter go together like mustard and ham.

Happy days my friends.

Enjoy the ones you’re with, I certainly am down south in Dunsborough this morning.

Amanda

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yet not as I will

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One of greatest lines in the whole of our human history, one which changed the course of our world for ever was this.

‘Not my will be done, but yours…’

It is not often that we hear someone say these simple words.

We are encouraged to discover ourselves.

To stand up for ourselves.

To find ourselves.

Our worlds focus can be summed up in one word.

Self.

We are obsessed with taking selfies…

We are overwhelmed with self esteem, self satisfaction, self fulfilment.

The one message of Easter, that is encapsulated with the story of the cross, is that Jesus was not wanting to do what he did.

He was fully human and fully divine, right to the end.

Human: Please take this from me.

Divine: Not my will but yours be done.

What a juxtaposition of the battle we face daily.

In marriage:

Human: This is what I want/ need.

Divine: Not my will but yours be done.

In parenthood:

Human: You are frustrating me, just listen…

Divine: Not my will but yours be done.

In friendships:

Human: When are you going to call me? When did I do that for you last?

Divine: Not my will but yours be done.

The way of the cross is not about self sabotage it is all about self sacrifice.

When we lay down our way, our lives and serve another, we walk the way of the cross.

Listen and watch the power in this video today Good Friday and meditate upon where you have taken up your human side and been trying to have your way and maybe this Easter you can find a new place to discover life.

In the way of the cross.

 

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Strength on the inside

us

How do we cope when times of struggle and strain come into our lives?

I am often shocked when bad things happen to wonderful people, but I am learning this is just life.

I don’t believe God makes bad things happen to test us.

I don’t believe people gain trials and tests to make them stronger.

I believe wholeheartedly that we live in a fallen world, that is trying desperately to recalibrate itself and as a part of that process human, desperate, tragic and terrible things occur.

We will all be exposed to tragedy, trial, discomfort, betrayal, sickness, defaming and more in our lives.

What I am discovering however, is that some people respond to these challenges in their lives in different ways.

The ones that acknowledge the pain, who fall apart to begin with but then rebuild their lives, are people who have built resilience into their everyday.

Resilience;

the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

How do I rebuild after being made redundant?

How do I redefine my life after losing a loved one?

How do I find strength again after debilitating illness?

I am finding in my world, resilience.

Being resilient doesn’t mean going through life without experiencing stress and pain. People feel grief, sadness, and a range of other emotions after adversity and loss. The road to resilience lies in working through the emotions and effects of stress and painful events.

A great definition I found here is this…

Resilience is also not something that you’re either born with or not. Resilience develops as people grow up and gain better thinking and self-management skills and more knowledge. Resilience also comes from supportive relationships with parents, peers and others, as well as cultural beliefs and traditions that help people cope with the inevitable bumps in life.  Resilience is found in a variety of behaviors, thoughts, and actions that can be learned and developed across the life span.

strength

In our bathroom, I have this little ship in a bottle.

Every morning when I brush my teeth and each night as I wind down ready to sleep, it stares at me from our bathroom ledge.

There is something about this ship, that speaks volumes.

I wonder who made it.

I wonder how far it travelled before it came to my bathroom shelf.

Mostly, it reminds me to build strength on the inside for when the storms come.

Strength on the inside, is not something that is easily built.

Piece by piece, strand by strand this ship has been built within the bottle, to create a masterpiece of resilience.

That is how we build resilience.

By addressing issues when they arise.

By having hard conversations when they niggle.

By cutting off things that drain and are toxic.

By pushing through and seeking wisdom in times of struggle.

Great friends, forgiveness, seeking peace, letting go of that which constrains, exercise, shutting down, rest, play…

These are just some of the ways I am learning to build resilience in my internal world.

What builds resilience in your life?

I’d love you to comment below.

Speak tomorrow

Amanda

 

 

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logging off

IMG_8668Over the weekend and this last week I have been quite sick with the flu. I spent time away with some of my dearest friends just one night and it was medicine like no other.

We went to the most stunning house in South West of Australia, spent time eating lovely food and enjoying one another’s company.

Saturday morning was my favourite. Sea, salt, best friends and non stop conversation.

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Even though I had the flu, I just relaxed and turned my phone and internet off on purpose.

Therefore no posts from me.

Sometimes we just need to log off and enjoy the ones we are with.

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When was the last time you logged off?

This Easter, I want to set a challenge, when we are a little bored, when we have more time than usual, when we sit in church services, when we hang out with friends and family, leave your phone behind.

Log off.

When we take time to create space, dreams and beauty arise.

I promise.

Speak tomorrow

Amanda

 

 

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the velveteen rabbit

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velveteen

My son Maximus has a little ruggie, that he loves to pieces. I never really understood the power of a ruggie, until I had a child.

Yesterday was a sad day for many of my friends, a father of two young children lost his life tragically and it is at times like this, that I linger a little longer in the morning with my son as he drags his ruggie from his room into ours.

Life is way to short for shallow conversations.

Life is way to fleeting to live inauthentic lives, trying to please people you never will.

The people who will love you no matter what are the ones who see you with your ruggie and they don’t mind.

A day of reflection here for my family, I ate my eggs on toast a little slower this morning, I intentionally left my phone at home and walked the beach with my husband and son. I sat back in my rocking chair and I watched them playing cars and planes together.

I let the washing slide, I left the toast on the bench and allowed it to go cold, I visited my mum for no reason but to walk in the house I grew up in.

I savoured those who I can be real with.

I love this story from the velveteen rabbit, it describes everything I am feeling with much more eloquence.

the velveteen rabbitBe real.

Leave anything fake behind.

Shed that which is not bringing beauty to your world.

Honest, real, hair has been loved off genuine relationship.

Life is way to short for anything else.

Amanda