[Enjoyed spring for only three and a half weeks. Still worth blogging about! ;-)]
Ten Things I Love/Appreciate
1. TWICE miraculously healed!!!???!
First was technically in winter (end of August), and I can't prove it without an MRI of the ruptured ligament, but the pains on my ankle has disappeared! I met a born-again Christian husband and wife from interstate whom also attended the same conference I did, and they prayed for me. The test will be my outreaches and keeping my balance during high seas on the boat.... Second time was in church last Sunday before I flew off. I was delirious with fever Friday night; heavy, sweating and weak Saturday. I was crawling and could not talk by Satuday night. I was dizzy, hurting throat and weak when I asked for healing onstage as people prayed me farewell. The church did, and someone also specifically prayed for healing for me after one of the morning service. By third service at night, I related that I felt so much better I could skip around on stage!! I continued to stay perfectly well to do many things I hoped to do, like attend my classes/appointments and prepare sushi for my bible study group. Praise God. Praise God!
2. The warmth of spring (not too hot).
3. Flowers, though I did not receive any ;-).
4. Gourmet ice cream (finally found those equivalent to gelato I had in Roma, Italy).
5. Hugs from friends and family.
6. Farewell dinner and fundraising efforts organised by friends and volunteers!!! :-)))
7. My nephews (almost 3 and almost 5 years old) - so loving, so cute, so many changes!
8. My mentor, her husband and my friend dropping me off at the airport.
9. New experiences (dancing freely) and lessons (church courses).
10. Triune God - everything is in place under His guidance and care. I didn't need to know 'why', being told 'where' was enough.
I could go on.... so much to be very thankful for and to love and to be very joyful about!!
Ten Things I Miss/Dislike
1. Missing my nephews mentioned in #7 already. My first tears and homesickness felt the night I bade them goodbye and knew I won't see them again for a while.
2. Dislike that I found the gourmet ice cream, mentioned above in #4, a week before I left :-(. I still managed to squeeze in savouring seven (7) flavours :-).
3. Dislike not catching up in person with bestie, and his beautiful family (they were too unwell all month, and we couldn't organise to meet).
4. Dislike not catching up in person with other close friends.
5. Disliked the medical treatments (had to be said, but glad I took care of them, self-care is very important).
6. Missed exercise, but I could not make time to do them, instead of sleep and/or rest.
7. Dislike that I am still too forgetful....
8. Where and when can I get a full body pampering!!??!! ;-)
9. Old clothes and old stuff. I may be overdoing the "minimalist" lifestyle but I really wanted to be as "unwasteful" as I could be, for the next twelve (12) months anyway.
10. Two backpacks and jacket pockets filled with heavier items later, I still didn't get to pack everything I think I need (which I know I could buy overseas, but I'm trying to be "unwasteful" and not buy more stuff I already have, remember?... ugh!)
Ten Wishes/Prayers
1. For God's armour to always/daily cover me and family and friends, hedge of protection with the blood of Jesus (not literal for those who don't understand!).
2. For my family to each have a personal relationship with Christ.
3. To always be obedient and dependent to God as His little child. :-)
4. For the next six (6) months training to be fully immersed in serving God and His people (you).
5. My trainers to be equipped, strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit.
6. Still would like to learn to play a musical instrument well (preferably guitar/ukelele, or my voice).
7. To be a better swimmer... or singer.... or both. ;-)
8. For healthy meals and good fitness activities.
6. Still would like to learn to play a musical instrument well (preferably guitar/ukelele, or my voice).
7. To be a better swimmer... or singer.... or both. ;-)
8. For healthy meals and good fitness activities.
9. For the people I am meant to meet to respond to God, and our relationships to be fostered under divine direction.
10. For my (ad)ventures to be successful. That opportunities keeps coming and presenting itself; and that I respond rightly/appropriately, by taking them on, or saying no.
11. My languages!! But brain oh brain is resting.... :-/
12. HELP with changing this blog's domain name. I don't want to call this allaboutrachelle.com (I bought it in humour)!! I already own for a decade artoflivingandloving.com and artoflovingandliving.com - it is what I wanted to use but dealing with technical problems, ugh. Anyone, please?? ;-)
Ten Material/Resources Wish List ;-)
** All in preparation and possibility of an itinerant life, responding to God.1. Osprey Backpack - up to 75 litres
2. Big Agnes (or similar) lightweight 2-people tent (approx 1 kg or less)
3. Compression sacks
4. Nalgene water bottle (with filter)
5. Headtorch
6. New mobile/cell phone
7. A lot of lightweight gear like sleeping bag and weather/rainproof clothing, but hard to gauge 'season comfort rating' and if needed, at the moment.
8. Dual-sim phone and tablet combination.
9. Mary Poppins' bag
10. A lightweight ESV study bible with protective bag!!! They weigh over 2kgs!!!
