A Path of Reflection: walking

Showing posts with label walking. Show all posts

21 September 2016

Roma Street Parklands

When we first moved to Brisbane I worked just a few minutes outside of Brisbane city. On my work days I had to take two buses home: a loop bus from work into the city, and a second bus from the city out to my suburb.

A few times, though, instead of taking the loop bus, I walked from work into the city. On this walk, I get to go through the Roma Street Parklands. These parklands are beautiful! These were such relaxing walks. I'm a huge lover of fresh air and the great outdoors, so these walks were a perfect way to end a day in the office.

Throughout this time I took some pictures on my way through, and while my iPhone does not do the parklands justice, these pictures will give you a little glimpse of the beautiful Roma Street Parklands.

~Rachel

25 October 2012

Still Counting...up to One Thousand Gifts

Hello, everyone!

I've been busy reading a few blogs - some familiar ones, and some new ones to me - this week, and I have been inspired to open my own Blogger, and start writing again!

In my phone's memos, I have a "To-Do" list, #1 of which (for the last 2 months) has been "Blog". I've wanted to blog, but I haven't felt like it.

I've realized that, over the 6 months away from home, I was writing a lot of emails, blogging semi-regularly (how's 34 posts in 6 months?), and keeping up with things on Facebook as much as I could. Then, when I arrived back in Adelaide, I just lost all desire for anything Gmail, Blogger or Facebook [yes, I checked my emails and looked at Facebook...but the thought of emailing or posting or commenting had no appeal whatsoever].

So.

Now that inspiration's hit, I'm not sure exactly where to start!!

I still want to post about my time on outreach in PNG, with the YWAM ship and in Tauruba village. I want to share about the new season of life I'm in. I want to post a few photos of a few happenings around here...

But I feel like a good place to start is to share the things that I am thankful for, right now. I feel so blessed! Even though life gets on top of me, things frustrate me, and I'm not sure how to handle some things - I am learning that if I just stop and thank God for all the gifts He's given me, my outlook suddenly becomes a lot more sunshine-y!

I AM THANKFUL FOR...

214. My parents. They support everything I do; they're so proud of my accomplishments; they haven't mentioned board payments for the entire time I've been at home [with no job]... So many more I could list... But I just love them!!

215. Tax that has been completed and sent in! A full 7 days before it's due! Boo-yeah! =P

216. My adorable nephew, Daniel!! [for those who don't know, this is my bestie's first baby =D ]

217. Glasses. I'm pretty sure I've been thankful (here in One Thousand Gifts) for these before, but really... Suffering hayfever, working in an air-conditioned office, and wearing contact lenses really do NOT combine well. Seriously. If you've never experienced the pain and tears of these three, you may not understand. So, I am thankful that I can wear glasses :)

218. People, who, somehow, think glasses look good on me. Enough said.

219. 40-50 minutes on the train every morning. I'm loving reading a chapter of the Word; praying; journalling; reflecting. SO worth the earlier mornings!

Waiting for the train

220. My man. Really. How did I luck into meeting this guy, him falling for me, winning me, and then getting to be with him?!?!?! Best. Gift. EVER.

221. Sneakers. Because I can walk so much faster in them =D

222. A dinner and movie date with Andre. Something he's always wanted to do "when we live in the same town". The [slightly] tense, scary movie was totally worth it :-)

223. Modern Family. So trivial, yet... pretty funny =P Laughing at everyday things that suddenly become funny on the show; rolling my eyes at the silliness...

224. The way Andre quotes Modern Family, even if he doesn't "get" the comment ;-) [we have to watch those sections about 5 times before we actually understand the meaning]

225. Free. Coffee. Work has a coffee machine. Need I say more??!

226. Visits from friends and family during my lunch break. This week, Mum, Amy and Jarryd came in, on Amy's birthday!

One 14-year-old, two crazy eyes, and Subway

227. Dad and Ryan's Work & Witness trip to PNG. I can't BELIEVE that, right now, they are in the exact same place where I served, two years ago!!! Ryan is having the time of his life, and doesn't want to come home. Don't I know how that feels!!

228. The blessing of being able to get up at the first alarm. No pressing snooze for me!!

229. Tissues. Always a necessity with hayfever.

230. Sunny days and sushi in Rundle Mall.

231. My new job. This is a HUGE one!! I work for Kelly & Co. in the city of Adelaide. My colleagues and managers are amazingly awesome, approachable and affirming (okay, I added that last one just to create an alliteration. Creative, I know!), and the offices are pretty fancy!

232. Hebrews 11 and 12. I have read these two chapters more in the last three weeks than I have in my entire life!! So, SO good!!!!

233. Spring, which means dandelions covering our entire front yard.

234. Sunsets. Amen.

235. A sleep-over and catch-up with a friend that I hadn't connected with since at least the start of this year.

236. The opportunity I had to nanny two precious children for a friend in need.

Caleb's icecream was filled with all kinds of un-name-able toppings. If all baby-sitters were like me, kids would LOVE them!! ;-)

237. Visiting my best friend and having dinner with her little family. A short amount of time, but time that I treasure.

238. Rain-water. Nothing beats it!!

239. The new young adults group at my church!!! This is a huge one! We've never had this many "young adults" in our congregation, and I am LOVING the opportunities to connect with these lovely friends. Our first group catch-up was at Cafe Nova, for dinner, drinks, and Jenga. Such fun!!!

240. Reading. I am re-discovering my old love!!!!!!!! YAYYY for books!!!!

241. For.give.ness. Thank You, Jesus.

242. A [successful] shopping date with my brother =D

I now know what Retail Therapy means. WOO!

243. Birthdays =D

244. People at church who ask me how my new job is going; what is happening in my life. I feel SO cared for and loved by my church family!

245. My Mum's homemade lasagne. The best!!

246. Leftovers from a morning tea that was held at work. (yes, us admins get the leftovers =P )

Nom, nom, nom.
By the way, That little pie in the top left corner? Best. Pie. EVER. No joke. I need to find out where they came from! Real meat, real taste. De-LISH.

247. Weekly devotional times with Andre. Learning together, sharing together, growing together.

248. My African friends coming to church these last few weeks - so fun having them there!

249. Cleaning jobs while I didn't have work, which provided just the right amount of $$ for those weeks.

250. The chance to walk a lot during the weeks without work. This is one scene I passed :-)

251. The good, healthy, productive feeling of making my own lunch to take to work :-)

252. Being able to afford to buy lunch every day for almost 3 weeks... and sometimes dinners... Definitely not a necessity, but a pleasure to enjoy as I settle into work (now the above Gift is to be the norm).

253. Time with Andre just sitting together, chatting, studying, reading, and drinking coffee / smoothies. I love the simple joy of these precious moments!

[although, the banana smoothie wouldn't be my first pick next time...]

There is ALWAYS something to be thankful about! I wanted to make this list as long as I could, so it took me a while. But as I thought and reflected, more and more things came to mind.

God is good, through the good and bad. He remains faithful. He remains just and loving and true. He alone is the biggest gift of all!!!

What are you thankful for today?

~Rachel

7 May 2012

24-hour Sydney Visit

This weekend I had the privilege to spend just over 24 hours in Sydney!

Arriving in Newtown. Kind of feels like a "home" of sorts to me, now :-)

Sunset...

I'm loving the Australian flag these days :-)

Emma, Tamara and I drove up on Saturday to attend the memorial service for Belinda, a friend, missionary and Nazarene who passed away 80 days ago.

This woman is such an inspiration to me - from what I have seen, heard and experienced of her, her heart for mission was so passionate, and I feel that my heart is similar to hers, so I feel connected to her in some special way, even though I really haven't spent much time with her.

Us girls went to Andre's place after the service and chatted, watched TV and drank ginger and lemon tea (thanks, Marcus!).

Marcus also made me practise Portuguese, and I really appreciated the time spent having a [simple] conversation with Andre and him in Portuguese. I love the language! It's hard for me to speak it, because I'm nervous that I'll say it wrong. But as I keep saying to people who are learning English - the more you speak it, the easier and better it will become! I need to take my own advice!!

On Sunday after the morning church service at Enmore Nazarene, Andre and I went into the city and spent the rest of the afternoon there. We had a simple lunch of fish and chips at the Harbour, and then went to the Museum of Contemporary Art [in Darling Harbour].

One piece of art...

I don't think Andre and I are particularly huge contemporary art fans... We found some of the stuff kinda weird... But we enjoyed wandering around the different displays on a few floors there at the gallery!

[And don't take it personally if you're someone who enjoys contemporary art! Each to their own!]

Us :-) How I love this guy!!! I'm so blessed.

A friend's Mum visited from Brasil recently, and my boyfriend kindly kept some goodies for me =D mmm!!

"Sonho do Valsa"

Aaaand... He gave me a very, VERY beautiful necklace :-) SUCH a surprise!!!! I love it!! Thank you, my love!

Guess what [flag] this is?? Some of you SHOULD know!

I hope you had a good weekend! - I certainly did!! =D Nothing better than spending [quality] time with my man, walking around the city, chatting, eating, and silently enjoying each other's company :-)

What did you do this weekend?

~Rachel

14 April 2012

One Day to Celebrate One Year

At the end of March, André came down to Canberra for a weekend visit. Not only so that we could see each other, but specifically to have a little celebration of being together for one year :-)

We went for a really long hike up Mount Majura, which is just behind the YWAM base. It was SO lovely to be in the outdoors for over 6 hours that day! The weather was perfect - the sun was shining, yet it wasn't too hot; not windy... Praise the Lord for the glorious day! And for this man to spend it with ;-)