In some ways, moving to Australia is like going back in time...to the eighties.

Trying to load a video on my blogspot tonight.
It's a 15 second video.
30 minutes later...it's still "processing" the video.
I'm off to bed and I'm guessing in the morning it will say "unable to process."
I realize life will go on and this really isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things.
But I'm just trying to send a smile to my loved ones on the other side of the world.
Who wouldn't want to see their grandson/nephew/cousin saying he will be "TWO!" tomorrow?

okay, okay, yes I know that's not 80s internet....it's more like the internet of 2000, but 5-10 years is a long time to get used to having fast internet access.
Regardless, I am so happy that we have the opportunity to live here.
good night.

This is too beautiful not to share. A lovely woman I know whose husband was carried in the arms of angels to Paradise last year described her bedtime routine. "I do my daily Bible reading" and the last thing I do is "look at family pictures on my laptop, the last picture being of me and [my husband] made many years ago at the building where we were married--he is kissing me. I consider that my good- night kiss and I get ready to sleep. It works for me. Happy Valentine's Day!!"
True love, first to God and then to her husband. What a great example!

****************************************************************************

Lately, Timothy asks J and I, "What do you like?" out of the blue. This morning, he asked me, and I answered, thinking of this quote, "I like women who love God and love their husbands and are a good example to me."
His response: "Oatmeal? Do you like oatmeal?"
"Yes, Timothy, I like oatmeal."
:)

***11am thursday. finally, both here, both safe, both very tired. :)

***another update*** the most important thing is that J and Dad are safe. Unfortunately, we will not be seeing either of them tonight. Wearher, Flights late and cancelled (not to mention money hungry airlines) have stopped them from arriving here. Praying we will see them tomorrow....although Mom and I are both suspicious that J has rented a car and is driving here right now.....before I could post this, the phone rang, and it was J, who after 10 minutes of explaining, revealed to me that he is driving. (you have to know J to understand this...or maybe you know someone like him...if there's not a blizzard, he's not going to sit around waiting for a flight to get him here.) So, again I ask for your prayers. Dad had to spend the night in Memphis and we are hoping he will be able to fly here tmw night.

***update. Jamie is safely in the states and Dad is on his way. Thank you for your prayers.***

Please pray for Jamie, as he is en route from Sydney to LA. We hope to see him tmw evening. Please also pray for my dad as he is SUPPOSED to be en route from the Philippines but has been sitting on a plane for 4 hours while they make repairs. We were hoping to see him tmw afternoon, but now we are just hoping he makes it by Friday night!

In other news, I ate a banana right before going to bed. Better idea than cookies, chocolate, or ice cream that I have had right before bed almost every night for the past week (as well as several times during the day).

"Mommy, sing Angry Birds."
Somehow, I realized what he probably meant and started singing the hymn, "Angry Words" (but I humored him and subbed "birds" for "words") and asked "Is that the song you mean?"
"Yes! I like that song!" 

Thank you SO much to all who contributed to memories of
Grandma. about a week ago, my aunt only had about 40 people answer, so I wasn't sure she would get 90, but she did!!! Thank you! I know each and every one gave Grandma the smiles she deserves today.

In my Bible reading the other day, I came across this verse:
Balak to Balaam:
"Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor."(Numbers 24:11 ASV)

I was stunned as I read this and did a double take, thinking, "Did he really just say that?" 
What bold disrespect for Jehovah!!  Let us never forget, no matter what others say or imply to us, that we are doing something right if we are "kept back from [worldly] honor" because we are obeying God.    Respecting God may prevent us from getting that promotion or even that job interview or  connecting with a certain group of people we think we want to be a part of or the popular young people, but think of how worth it it will be in the end. Think of the honor we are giving God when others see our respect for Him. 

Let's be very careful not to confuse worldly honor with godly honor.