Esther

One reason I got this blog was that I want to post photos of my neice Esther. However, I realised I need to get the permission of her parents - which has not been granted yet!

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7:30 Report Brings Back Memories

Last night’s 7:30 Report feature on the abortion drug RU486 reminded me of the pro-life conference I went to in September. Melinda Tankard Reist, whom I met for the second time at the conference, was on the 7:30 Report last night. I met her for the first time when she spoke in Hobart during May 2004. I wanted to meet Melinda after I had read her book Giving Sorrow Words. Here we are at the conference:


Reist has done an amazing job of challenging people to focus on the need to be both pro-life and pro-woman. This year she helped set up Women’s Forum Australia. This independent think tank addresses a variety of women’s issues, including work and family, and is one of the most exciting things to happen on the pro-life horizon in years. In Brisbane this week hundreds of women attended a pro-life meeting Women’s Forum Australia organised, and this was pictured on the 7:30 Report.

At the Brisbane conference I also met Dr. David van Gend, another pro-life stalwart who was on the 7:30 Report. He had many people approaching him to talk or ask questions, but he was still kind enough to answer my questions about euthanasia.

The conference was held at the Parliamentary Annex of Brisbane’s Parliament House, a lovely location. We had a BBQ on the roof. Here is a picture of the view from there:



It really seemed like a gift of God that I got to go to the conference, because I only found out about it the day before! I just “happened” to be in Brisbane to visit family, and I went to visit QLD RTL and found out just in time to go! The aim of the conference was to focus on what we can do, rather than moan about how bad everything is and get depressed. It was encouraging to hear about a pro-life, pro-woman advertising initiative that has had great success in the USA. I had read about it, and it is good to know it may come here – if the pro-life movement can find millions of dollars.

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The excitement of snow!

This is old 'news' now, but it is a great memory for me! We almost never have snow at sea level here in Tassie, even though our winters are very cold. So it was extremely exciting in August when I got up one morning and discovered the snow! I had to work babysitting and tutoring that day, but my car was not equipped to drive on icy roads. So the father or the children I was to care for had to come and pick me up! When I got to work I had a great time with the kids making snow balls, taking pictures, and watching the kids in the snow. It was melted after we had done some school work, but there were still large flakes falling.

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God's grace in small things

So often when things are hard, it is the small things God has given us in his creation that comfort our hearts and lift them to Him. I thought of this tonight as I looked out at a flourishing vine covered with the fresh growth of spring. Abigail Adams discovered this too, after the trials she experienced while her husband John was serving as the second President of the USA. The blooms of spring helped her forget the pain of how they had been treated. She rejoiced in their beauty as "Envy rips not their buds, calmuny destroys not their fruits, nor does ingratitude tarnish their colours." It is kind to God to give us all, those who love him and those who do not, the healing pleasures of nature.

One of the kindnesses of God to me is my garden, pictured here.

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Small Things

I have started this blog to post about the small things that make up my life. As Laura Ingalls said: "It is the sweet, simple things of life that are the real ones after all." It is the small, simple things that end up having enourmous and eternal consequences. A tiny seed becomes a plant, whether a beautiful, fruitful one or a poisonous weed. As Maximus said: "What we do in life echoes in eternity." I pray that the small things that make up my life, and the lives of my family, will end in eternal joy.

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