A Poem

Shimelle's prompt today was to post a poem that has inspired us. I don't know many poems or read poems, so this post is quite a difficult one for me. When I sat thinking about it the one that sprang to my mind first was this one.

Footprints in the Sand


One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."

Mary Stevenson

This poem is moving and comforting. We all need someone to lean on in times of trouble and stress - be it The Lord or our friends. We have had prayers answered in difficult times and are so grateful. I also have family and good friends who are there for me when I need to talk and I hope they know that I am always there for them too.

As for a photo for today, I took this one last night when Emily had her first turn at cutting her Dad's hair. Jon wanted a haircut and because I was busy at the time, told Emily she could cut it for him. She did a good job and I just added the finishing touches.

xx

What's in my Suitcase

Day 3's prompt for blogging was "What's in your Suitcase". I suppose it depends on where I'm travelling to but I think I have got better over the years and I don't pack as much as I used to. I got tired of bringing home half a suitcase of clothes that I hadn't worn so I cut down on what I take. However, there still always seems to be plenty to remember.

Clothes (enough for about 4 or 5 days - when we're staying with family I wash and reuse)

Shoes - maximum 3 pairs; sandals, comfy and smart

Swimming costume if there's a chance we'll be swimming

A towel

Toiletries

Contact Lens stuff

My glasses - normal and sunglasses

Suncreams

My camera - a must have

A book

Notebook and Pen

A spare bag for my scrapbooking stash/magazines/etc. that I buy while we're there.

I don't have any photos of suitcases or things to go inside suitcases so I thought I'd post a few photos from my trip to New York in 2005. Louise, my SIL, and I went for a long weekend - I was totally exhausted by the end of it but I'm so glad I've been. We did the downtown open top bus ride but didn't get to do the uptown one so I still need to go back again so I can see Central Park etc. I guess I'll have to add it to my list ;o)

Yellow cabs

Statue of Liberty from the ferry to Staten Island (and Michaels Store)

Times Square

xx

Travel

Our blogging prompt today was "If you could travel in time for just one day, where would you go and what would you do?"

I found this quite a difficult one. I could think of lots of places I'd like to be and people I'd like to spend time with but I think the one thing I'd go back and do is pay more attention to the details in my childhood. I was born in Scotland and moved to South Africa when I was 3. South Africa was a beautiful place to grow up. I've never been good at journaling and, unfortunately, lost a lot of my photos when we moved back to the UK in 1991 so I'd like to be able to go back and capture those memories again.

Rocky Bay, South Coast of Natal

I have also taken some photos for the TRAVEL topic. My car is the main way I travel (or my feet!)

My comfy Crocs

My car

Ready to go!

However, when I think of Travel, I also think of the holidays we've had with family in Chicago, great times and so relaxing. I would jump on the plane as soon as summer holidays start, if I could, and go back for more of the same! So a few photos from our last trip in 2006

Emily and I with Simon, Liz & family

Henry and Emily (cousins and great friends)

Part of the Chicago skyline
The Bean in Millenium Park Making Smores on our last night

Finally, and totally unrelated, we got our Wii Fit today. Claire, Emily and I have all set up our profiles and started our workouts. I did half an hour this afternoon and I'm hoping it's going to help me with my weight loss. I don't enjoy exercise at the best of times but, I have to admit, that I felt quite pleased with myself when I'd finished the 30 minutes. Now I've just got to start the diet to go with it ;o)

Till tomorrow xx

Time and Baking

Today was the start of the first online class that I'm doing with Shimelle called My Freedom - the link is http://www.shimelle.com/classes/353/a-new-class-for-summer. One of the prompts was to think about time and taking photos. While looking around the house I took 6 photos of clocks - I didn't even realise we had that many (and that was without Jon, Hugh, Claire and Emily's alarm clocks!). I'm really hoping that I have the TIME to keep up with this class, I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Tomorrow Mum and I are going to take a drive to The Craft Barn (more photos for the 2nd prompt - TRAVEL) so I can have a look for some patterned paper for the album.

As I mentioned in my last couple of posts, today Emily had an inset day. We had a bit of a lie in and then went to Nero's for breakfast (coffee & muffin) with Mum before going to do the weekly shop at Sainsburys. Didn't get home until lunch time then, after a late lunch, Emily decided to make some Ginger Snaps. She bought a new book on Saturday called Ginger Snaps by Cathy Cassidy and at the back of the book they gave the recipe for Ginger Snaps. I left her to get on with it, while I walked around making a start on my photos, and she did really well. The snaps are really tasty and Emily is so chuffed that she made them on her own. A few photos had to be taken as well ;o)

Getting started

Ready for the oven (note the Froggy one on the right!)

Fresh from the oven

Adding some icing to a few of them

xx