A HOT End

Janice and I woke just before 4am on Wednesday morning.  She wanted to head north back to Newman early as its around 12 hours drive.  She had been up late the previous night packing her car in preparation for her departure. After seeing her off I had time for a jog, swim, do my washing and have breakfast just before Natalie whom I’d met at TAFE arrived.  I had invited her to join Elaine, Jan and myself on a ‘Dig with Coffee’.

This is a monthly get together to hear a King’s Park horticulturist talk about native WA plants and answer any questions we might have in regards to challenges in our own gardens.  It was a very informative morning with around a dozen people plus some of the King’s Park volunteers. We were given some helpful brochures plus where to find a map of the soil types for our particular region around Perth which would help us choose plants suitable for our gardens. After a stroll around the café’s garden looking at some of the plants there we headed home dropping Nat and Elaine at a train line, dropping Jan at her home, before a quick shop stop.

Friday was the last ShareIn for the year and I was able to put the finishing touches onto the drawing of myself taken from a photo some 15 years ago. I’m quite pleased with the end result.  This was the first of my Christmas break-up celebrations with a Christmas message, carols and chocolates.

December is always a busy time of the year with special gatherings and celebrations.  The second activity on my calendar was our street party.  Last year was the first time some of the residents from our units were invited.  The cut off in the past was at Odo St. The party is put on by next door neighbours on the east end of Sorrento St in a large back area of a house block that runs from North Beach Rd through to Sorrento St.  The Sorrento St end is a large area which is used to storing machinery, a truck, stone blocks and paving. It also has an old tennis court which is cleared and set up with a homemade spit large enough to take a whole lamb. There must be over 30 people that come including some of their dogs.  Many of them know me as ‘the early morning jogger’. We all wear name tags which include our house number so we know where we are from.  There is always lots of food.  An offering is collected to cover the cost of the spit, surplus funds go towards the local environmental care.  Such a great way to connect to the neighbours and meet old and new ones too.

My third party was our Bible study break-up party.  Again lots of lovely food, carols and chats to end a great year of learning, prayer and fellowship.

Then there was our units’ Christmas party which went very well considering the tension between the unit manager and myself.  I must admit the language is not always savoury which is off-putting for me.

Talking about Christmas, I read a very interesting article about the Magi who came to worship Jesus.  In the book of Matthew, he speaks of the seekers traveling on a long journey.  I don’t know about you, but I was once on a long journey as a seeker searching for the meaning of life. God gave me direction on how to find Jesus, just as He did the wise men.

“We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him”. — Matthew 2:2 NKJV

First God uses the natural world to get our attention. “The heavens declare the glory of God”. — Psalm 19:1 NKJV.

God lead the wise men to Jerusalem by a sign but it was from the study of God’s Word in the Scriptures that led them to Jesus. The religious scholars knew the prophecies of the coming Messiah and were able to direct the seekers from God’s Word to the town where Jesus was to be born.  – Matthew 2:3-6. The wise men knew the significance of the sign (the star), however, many of us who see and experience many wonderful signs around us and in our lives miss the true meaning of these signs and seek no further. We miss the most important message these signs point to.

It is interesting that the star reappeared after the wise men learned it was Bethlehem where the Christ child was born. The star “came and stood shining right over the place where the Child was.” Matthew 2:9. God’s sign in nature and the Word of God working together to bring the wise men, and us, to Jesus.

The ultimate aim of all God’s messages, both miraculous and written, is to open our eyes to see who Jesus really is.

It’s also interesting to note that those who knew the scriptures and were supposedly looking for the coming Messiah did not even bother to see if this really was a fulfillment of prophecy. In comparison the Wise men’s hearts were open to God’s gift and after worshiping the Christ child, “they departed for their own country another way” (Matthew 2:12 NKJV).

God uses every possible means to communicate with us: from His wonders in nature which are calling to us, He speaks through the promises and prophecies of Scripture, and God Himself reaches out to us. He wants to help us find our way home. I know I was called by a sign, instructed by Scripture and now I have been directed home by God.  Every day I am in awe of His splendour, Grace and Love reaching out to us all.  I’m sure the wise men were greatly changed by their encounter with Jesus, as I was when I first met Him and still am.

If you too are a seeker, when God sends signs, be faithful. Let them lead you to Scripture. As Scripture directs, be humble. Let it lead you to worship. And as you worship the Son, be grateful. He will lead you home. [Taken from a Christmas Bible studies book by Max Lucado ‘Because of Bethlehem!’]

One morning during a sudden downpour, we had power failure. It’s amazing how much power we use during the day without even thinking about it. The thing I missed the most was my 10am coffee! The rest of the time I could repot my garden plants and work on the computer till the battery ran out.  Praise the Lord my new neighbour came over to ask if the power was off and offered me a coffee made on his camping gas burner. I couldn’t refuse his kind offer and was delighted to accept. Just as I was savouring it, the power came back on.  Hallelujah!

Well summer and its heat came with gusto from the first week of December, 40 degrees Fahrenheit!  Not so good for my poor garden. I’d just been given another magnolia Teddy Bear; the first had died, the second didn’t look any better due to the hot days and now I was given a third!  This time I cut it back, took most of the leaves off it and made a makeshift sunshade for it.  The second magnolia I moved in under the grapevine.  Both the grapevine and the wisteria have really taken off, covering most of the pergola. No room for the shade cloth this year.

The bobtails have been out and about too. My first sighting was of both parents, one of whom was very skinny, I presumed it was the Mum, all skin and bones!  She responded well to the mouth sized apple I cut up for her.  A couple of weeks later my neighbour mentioned she had nearly run over a baby bobtail which she rescued and put in my garden.  A few days later I saw it in my back garden, so cute! I was thrilled to have another baby after the last two drowned in my pond. I cut up some more apple into tiny squares so it didn’t choke on them.  Yep, seems to be a favourite amongst the skink family.  Then mid-December mumma was back. I told her to wait while I cut up some more apple. At first I couldn’t see her on my return with the snack, but then she must have smelt the apple and came racing, yes I mean racing out of my garden straight for me. I was a bit concerned for my unprotected toes! She was very eager to have her treats. I even gave her some of my pawpaw from my own tree which she also enjoyed. On another occasion I found her some slugs which she also loves.  After a big feed she scurried across my garden heading for the upper realms were she will be less disturbed. It’s such a joy to see them in my garden enjoying their habitat.  She often comes to find me now when I’m in the garden. Once while taking some washing in, I nearly trod on her as she snuck up behind me looking for a treat. I have to be very careful when working in the garden as she is so friendly that she doesn’t move when I approach her.

The Rosie Barbs fish have had babies too.  Although I don’t often see the second female, I have noticed there is at least one tiny baby swimming in the lily pond. The other pond I’m sure has more fish, so I’m hoping this is a sign they are all very happy with their environment. From both ponds I’ve had to pull out a stack of weed.

The pawpaw tree is very tall now so I need a ladder to pick the fruit before it falls. Unfortunately the strong winds have knocked many off while they are green or before they are properly ripe.  The green ones I now use in cooking, which is nice and the nearly ripe ones sometimes ripen up on the window sill. I’ve noticed the birds are also pecking holes in those that are ripening on the tree. I’m hoping next winter to lop the top off the tree, which I’ve read helps keep the fruit low. There’s lots of little branches along the trunk now with new fruit so it should work.

I have netted all the grapes, the sultanas in individual bags and the raison grapes with a large net over most of the vine.  The fig is growing within its new cage with a nylon bird net over the top. Even my strawberries have been netted to keep the bobtails from stealing them. My friendly bobtail seems to be coming to find me every three days now.

The church’s Christmas Carol night went off very well with many members involved, rallying around to give a lending hand; there are so many different things to be involved in. From 5:30 – 7pm there are loads of kids activities including pony and train rides, and heaps of food all going for two dollars a plate which is usually piled high. Then from 7:30-9pm are the carols. Lots of preparation goes into both events with lots of positive comments after the event.

The following week, Christmas Eve, I received a Christmas SMS message from Tricia to say she received my sketch of Mum and Dad. It was lovely to hear from her.  I’d sent Christmas cards to her family, Jen and Kat but hadn’t done much else for Christmas.  I feel Christmas is over-commercialised and would prefer just to reflect on God’s amazing gift to us and be grateful for all His bountiful blessings throughout my life.  Christmas Day and Sunday church were both at 9:30am. These special events within the midst of a heatwave kept me inside most of the time. I had been invited to join Glenda and her sister’s family for lunch Christmas Day which was lovely.  So much nicer than spending it alone at home.

Perth reached over 40 degrees centigrade four days in a row! Boxing Day was 44 degrees! My poor plants have really suffered. Some of the roses have instantly been made into potpourri! Veggies have shrivelled, leaves burnt and earth scorched! I was watering every morning to try to keep things cool.  I even strung some large sheets over the back area to protect the citrus from the heat of the pavers.  Praise the Lord for air conditioning, even though I only had it on for a few hours to cool the place down!

What a way to finish off the year!

Photos:  1. One of Mum’s Bromeliad    2. Sorrento Street Party    3. Potpourri roses    4. Visiting bobtail    5. Mum & Dad

Prayer & Praise Points:

Praise the Lord for the beautiful swimming weather. For cool mornings before the heat of the day.

Praise be to God for the greatest gift to mankind, His Son whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.  What a joy it is to come together to sing Christmas Carols and give thanks for His amazing love.

Praise the Lord for friends and family with whom we can celebrate this special time of the year with.

Please continue to pray for those around the world still effected by Covid.

Please continue to pray for my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat to come to know Christ’s love for them.