Annie's Blog

Much rain lately has been causing chaos in Brisbane and surrounds ...again! Flooding in various coastal rivers expected.. Prayers that the rain influence will retreat out to sea soon !! Prayers for those people who have just finished cleaning up, or not even finished yet, after the previous rain influence...a few weeks ago. Those in the Lockyer valley, and Laidley, Gympie, and Bundaberg are expecting more flooding from the last days Heavy rain. Unwanted, and what we mere mortals thinks as unneeded rain, especially when there are people around who are badly needing rain in our own country here, the monsoon having seemed to have missed northern Australia, although of course there is still some time for it to make its presence felt. As in another cyclone is approaching Australia from the west! Here is hoping it doesn't float across the country towards this part of the world!!

 nice to be able to get out and appreciate the outdoors again  and celebrate Australia Day ..properly, only a month late! some great singing.. and ah, the ocean again.. don't forget the flags..  games to play, competitions...a game of golf... how lovely to be with family, and church family... and while we are on the subject of family, there is a wonderful post from Ann's blog, A Holy Experience... WOMEN SISTERS AND FAMILY I do hope you get the time to read it,  it is connected with the little snippet up on the sidebar about the ladies in Haiti. May God bless you this weekend, and during the next week also.

It's OK to cry... Worth reading from Ann Voskamp's blog A Holy Experience

One advantage of the weather lately has been admiring the various blooms .. these irises were looking quite delightful on Sunday... the birds like to come out of the rain I love listening to them as they warble happily away. this magpie was quite happy sitting there yesterday as I took several photos of him  quite a nice sunset last night didn't really indicate the rain that was to come today the butcher bird was happy to take refuge today and similarly warbled a song for me thanks for coming little fellow... sorry I had to use the flash to get a nice photo of you, promise I won't do it again! pop in again tomorrow, I think the rain will still be here, according to the forecast. hopefully the low might be passing by us faster than they were predicting.  Unfortunately we don't really need the rain after the last lot a few weeks ago of 16 inches.  Oh well, what's another couple of inches after that many? I just hope it doesn't fl...

Strelitzia ...arranged... my little purple Monet... and Grandma's lovely Nerene lily... and the Hibiscus in the rain today Hope you have enjoyed the quick walk around the garden today. Please visit Ann Voskamp's blog for a wonderful Valentine's tribute: When you need the very best Valentine I hope you have had a wonderful week. May God Bless you this weekend too.                      My 900th post! I can hardly believe it! I can't even remember how many years ago it was that I started this blog.  But I have thoroughly enjoyed recording every post!

I was interested to read a lenten observation this morning, where the writer was explaining how she had a strong sense of being "in between"....moments in her career. How she was wanting to look beyond the next door opening, but God was with her and wanting her to wait. Funny that I feel that way, and that when one does, God gives us a peace about it all. The flowers above are nerenes...a lily that my parents always had growing in their garden, and every year it pushes its way up out of the earth and surprises me. We used to call it Grandma's nerene, because it flowered near her birthday every year. I think it might be a bit early this year. The weather has suddenly become much cooler.  Prayers for those down south and in Western Australia as they struggle contending with bush fires still, and the loss of two fire fighters there yesterday. Very sad.

some images of Brisbane City, taken while I was a passenger going over the Story Bridge with my brother on the way to the airport. It was an early start this morning! There's always a crane or two around, still plenty of construction going on.. My brother might possibly think the same thoughts about my photography as my sister does.. ."she has rocks in her head". I just happen to see things differently ... I thought these rocks were very photogenic..hmmm...not sure that's the right word though,  for a rock!  ;-) Hope you enjoyed the drive anyway. I did! It was nice to be a passenger and able to take some photos!

There was a bit of a grey day on the weekend...the rain was still hanging around... but there were a couple of bright spots... the poinciana was looking particularly very pretty as the sun shone on it the Christmas bells and crepe myrtle on Sunday... and some wonderful white lilies...beautiful... not to mention a nice friend and family...fun to see the little ones again, after their first few days at school! The white lily reminds me of my mother,  and also reminds me of  Ann Voskamp's take on the God made a Farmer from the Superbowl ads. God made a Mother Her weekend Links post looks pretty good too:  Weekend links Ann Voskamp writes her blog A Holy Experience ,  on being a Christian wife and mother in her role as a farmer's wife in Canada.

A link for the week, or the weak: a promise from sister to sister Many thanks to Ann Voskamp, a farmer's wife in Canada for all the hard work she does on the farm,  home schooling her six children, and producing her blog A Holy Experience , amongst many other things such as writing her book 1000 gifts May God bless her, and men and women all around the world who work hard not only at their daily work,  but to pass on God's love and His word to their families. May God hear our prayers this week.

some last few images taken from the television  news of the devastation in Bundaberg north amazing what the force of flood waters can do... plenty of work to be done, and much cleaning up. Of course some houses have been condemned and will not be salvageable...the army has moved in to direct operations in the worst hit areas. Basic necessities like running water will be needed for the cleanup, and electricity to be connected back again, if indeed anyone is allowed to move back into their homes there yet. February 23rd has been declared Australia Day2 I just heard the radio announcer disparaging this announcement, he says he just wants to get on with the rest of the year....that in Brisbane on Australia Day, the bad weather hadn't quite moved in to spoil everything.  But life isn't always about him, is it, and I think for some communities, it might be important for them to have a day to get together and relax and have some fun, after a lot of  hard ...

As you may know it has been quite a week here in Queensland. This time last week we were supposed to be celebrating Australia Day. Instead ex cyclone Oswald decided to fly by, hovering slowly over various areas randomly, before suddenly making a break for it and disappearing down south to cause a little more havoc! Very wet would be slightly an understatement for the last week, Here is how Queenslanders coped with the rain It doesn't look too bad does it? What fun to get out between showers and storms to have a bit of fun and see what has been happening. But mostly stay inside and keep dry though. A lady in Brisbane is dangerously ill in hospital, and has lost a three year old son, after standing watching the floods on the edge of a creek, and a tree fell on them! Don't forget to check on the neighbor, and keep an eye on the television to see what's happening around the place and to see how the others are coping The above photo was taken...