Long Service Leave

Tim has been causing a sensation.

In social situations he will announce to everyone "Belinda and I are going on holidays to Europe".

Everyone looks very shocked and surprised, no doubt wondering if being a four day a week children's/women's church worker and a Bible College student pays better than they had expected!

"When?" Is always the next question.

"In Twelve Years" is Tim's cheeky reply, "Long Service Leave".

Tim has wanted to go to Europe for as long as I've known him (don't get him started on the fact that his parents took his little brother without him!). And the wish has been growing more and more.

Lots of our friends have gone. In fact, along with buying a house, it seems to be "the thing" that every couple does. And for me it is just one more thing that we are missing out on doing together. And I don't like my attitude! As Tim keeps reminding me- I wouldn't trade a European holiday or a house for the awesome relationships and ministry that God has so graciously thrown my way!

But it is still so hard.

Hence the plan.

Tim will (God willing)- start working in 16 months. Starting in January we will put aside $100 each month into savings. That way, by the time we hit long service leave, we will have at least $12,000 saved up for our holiday.

And just having made that plan, we feel better. Yes, we have made sacrifices, and we would make them again.

But its so lovely to have a goal, something special and exciting to look forward to, to celebrate potentially ten years of ministry work. (James 4:13-15 of course in mind and acknowledged).

And strange though it seems, Tim and I are already excited thinking about it.

Of course there are other options. Tim's sister cheekily suggested we go to Europe this summer, go into debt- and spend the next twelve years paying off the debt rather than saving up for it. Or someone else suggested Tim could always become a multi-millionaire Televangelist and have his own private jet to go to Europe whenever he wants.

But I think we'll stick to the savings plan ;)
love B
PS To be fair, I have been to Europe before with my family. But I don't really care about going except that it would make Tim so happy. And I like a happy Tim!

10 things that make me happy

My friend Jean tagged me for a meme. Ten things that make me happy.

1. Sunsets

2. Cherry Blossoms

3. Dates with Tim

4. Sharing Jesus with people who don't know him

5. The kids at church, and particularly being called "Aunty Belinda" (or Blinda, or Binda, or Bananna or whatever version they say!)

6. Praying and reading God's word and seeing it change people's lives :)

7. Nights of chatting with friends that slip into the early hours of the morning, because you are having so much fun.

8. Playing silly games with my Grant family

9. Telling old stories with my Clarke family

10. Walking on the beach

Tough stopping at ten. Praise God for so much joy potential in my life!
love B

Holidays

Holidays in Melbourne are...

-Eating lots of food I shouldn't and not getting any exercise except a little bit of Wii fit. Though I did managed for the first time ever to get a Wii fit age which was actually within 10 years of my actual age so I assume I can't be going so bad!

-Being late to everything because every moment you spend with people you want to drag on and on. Or being late to everything because you just aren't in the habit of calculating the time it takes to get from A to B anymore.

-(speaking of cars) That Melbourne roads are beautifully wide and uncomplicated and that small cars like my sisters and my Mum's can't fit much stuff but they are so zippy and fun!

-lots of tears, as you realise once again that life is hard and that a burden shared may not be a burden halved, but that it does make a difference to be able to share the tough stuff over the last little while that you've all been through.

-Seeing people you don't see or talk to for 5 months and it is as if you just spoke yesterday

-Mad, crazy, not enough sleep.

-Wonderful.
love B

Bible study 5 months on

Today I was talking with my boss (Senior pastor boss I mean, not God!) and we were reflecting on my Mum's Bible study- and reflecting on the change since it started.

Five Months ago- there were weeks when nobody came.

This week there were seven Mum!

This isn't an exercise in numbers. But its just funny to think of the March Belinda- sitting in a room by herself trying not to cry thinking that it was because of her that nobody came.

It's Encouraging to see perseverence paying off.

And particularly encouraging to see Mum's excited to read God's word, even when with small kids, it can be a bit of a sacrifice.
love Belinda