cling.

my burden is heavy

but i'm not carrying it alone.

ps. i know my pictures dont go at all well together. dont judge.

there is something jesus said to me about a month ago. he has been preparing me for this. i still have the whole year to prepare for it. but the longer the wait the harder it will get.

psychos, principals, councillors and roses.

i have a rose sitting on top of my cupboard.

its beautiful.

but the reason i have it is even more beautiful in an extremely unusual way.

some would say the exact opposite of beautiful, but i have to disagree.

i had the worst day of my life yesterday. i turned up to school and my form teacher decided to through a psych at me. and i mean psych as in yelling/swearing/screaming at the top of her lungs directly at me.

she slammed her laptop on the desk, threw her jacket at the wall and stormed out of class.

all because the lights weren't on when she walked into class.

earthquakes certainly have their way with people.

i was still shaking at three o'clock.

this morning i had to go tell my divisional principal everything that had happened.

it was good. really good.

i am so thankful that i get to deal with such lovely people.

she told me i should go talk to the councillor.

i did.

likewise, he was brilliant.

i have a lot of respect for councillors.

i cant wait to be one.

during last period the second principal came and took me out of maths.

(when you go to a school of 2700 students and 300 staff, you know that if the second principal is involved, it is very important.)

she gave me the rose and a beautiful note to say sorry for everything that had happened.

we talked for a while.

she explained to me that this was not the first time this particular teacher had nutted out.

and she told me that she wouldn't be taking our form class for several weeks while they send her to a managing stress course or something.

to be honest, i could never be more happy that this happened to me. one, because i know i can handle it and for someone else, hearing abuse like that good be incredibly damaging.

and two, that i get to be a part of changing someones life.

my teacher has lost quite a lot in the earthquake and the last thing the school wanted to do was fire her. instead they are working with her to be able to control her stress better.

its a learning curve for all.

and everything happens for a reason. i believe that this is why god put me in her class.

rather than leaving us both at a loose end, this was an opportunity to change her life significantly.

i feel privileged.

to fly.

there is something captivating about birds.

the way the soar through the air as if they havent got a care in the world.

ive always wanted to fly.

it would be an incredible sensation.

i think my ears would get cold though...

look at the birds of the air : they do not sow or reap or store away in barns yet your heavenly father still feeds them.

janet always tosses old bread on our back lawn to attract the birds.

i like that.

they are my new favourite animal.

mainly swans and sparrows though.

extreme makeover

blog edition?

beauty from ashes.

The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me.

He sent me to preach good news to the poor,

heal the heartbroken,

Announce freedom to all captives,

pardon all prisoners.

God sent me to announce the year of his grace—

a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—

and to comfort all who mourn,

To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,

give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,

Messages of joy instead of news of doom,

a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.

Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"

planted by God to display his glory.

They'll rebuild the old ruins,

raise a new city out of the wreckage.

They'll start over on the ruined cities,

take the rubble left behind and make it new.

You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks

and foreigners to work your fields,

But you'll have the title "Priests of God,"

honored as ministers of our God.

You'll feast on the bounty of nations,

you'll bask in their glory.

Because you got a double dose of trouble

and more than your share of contempt,

Your inheritance in the land will be doubled

and your joy go on forever.

isaiah 61.

p.s. i flippin love our national anthem.

unison.

i love my country.

and everyone in it.

out of the worst comes the best.