L is a bit older than K was for her first Christmas but obviously not old enough to know anything that’s going on. That didn’t stop her having a nice day though. Here she is opening her first ever present;

We all had a great day as the weather was fabulous here in Perth for a change. Last Christmas it was apparently 40C here (104F) but we were in Geelong where it was pretty much the same if not hotter. Yesterday however it was a lovely 26F (roughly 79F) so that made for a really pleasant day. We hosted the Christmas lunch at our place and my parents and Michael’s parents came. K got a huge pile of gifts as did L. I was given some gorgeous gifts including a tiered cake stand, filigree bracelet and chanel #5.

We bought L a little chair that she can sit in by herself and Mum got her a teddy that is similar to K’s so they have their own. It was hard finding gifts for L as we didn’t want to double up on what we have from when K was a baby but at the same time wanted her to have her own. Mum got her a swing for outside which is great and Michael’s Mum got her some special toys including a doll that she loves already.

I think K’s favourite gifts included her sandpit and sandpit toys and this dog that flips. Just the look on her face tells it all:

It was also my mother-in-law’s birthday so we had a cake for her which was fun. A good day overall considering that K had been quite sick the night before but came good by the middle of Christmas day. Hope you had a great day too.

Recently I participated in a couple of swaps via Etsy. Firstly a Christmas ornament swap for the PCAGOE (Polymer Clay Artists Guild Of Etsy) of which I’ve received 1 out of three so far. This was by Pip from Pipsjewellery , these represent my two girls, thanks Pip, really cute;

I sent out three myself but can’t find the photo right now.

Secondly I participated in a pretty in pink themed swap for our Etsy DUST team.

The earrings I’ve sent to Michelle

The earrings sent by Julie.

Thank you Julie for your lovely creations!

Out of all the things we put up around the house at Christmas this has to be my favourite. This is the Christmas tree that was put up in my Nanna’s lounge room every year. Mum tells me that she made it herself quite a while ago from an old umbrella. I love it!! Usually it gets comments such as ‘that old thing’ and the like whenever I pull it out but I do it anyway each year.

The ornaments on it are quite old and some are broken. The bells on it are rusted. I still love it. Here it is, it’s actually not opened fully because we don’t have a space big enough without it being knocked over!

Broken bells

Lastly, this Santa looks like he’s hailing a bus, maybe the sleigh ran off without him!

Like many of the things that I have mentioned about my Nanna, I think this just brings back so many great memories. She never did have a big tree, this was it and the presents sat on the table and floor around it each year. At this time of year I can’t help but think of her, she died just over 10 years ago now and I still miss her. At least I can remember her through things like this.

Recently Michael and Kezi went off to City Farmer’s to buy some chicken feed for our two unproductive hens and came back with two more little chooks. The two we have are large and black (Australorps) and these are small and brown (can’t remember the type). I’ve called these two Honey and Mocha, this is either Honey or Mocha;

Keziah loves the chickens. She loves to chase them around the back yard and when they were living in our laundry (for a few weeks) in a box she could be found sitting on her little stool peering into the container smiling. She kept telling me how soft they were, cute!

As it stands our chickens own half of our backyard. It was this way when we moved in but Michael has been working and mulling over a new setup in which they will lose about three quarters of their free space. In order to do this a little hen house was on the list so when I saw ‘free, chook shed’ on freecycle the other day I showed him and he asked for more information. According to the lady the shed was about 1m x 1m square and should fit easily onto a normal trailer.

NEVER BELIEVE SOMEONE UNLESS THEY MEASURE THE SHED FIRST.

Michael and Dad went off to the northern suburbs mid this week to collect the shed and after getting stuck on the Narrows Bridge for ages due to an accident they finally came back about 2 hours later. This is the 1m x 1m shed:

You guessed it, its not 1m x 1m at all. Its more like 2m x 2.5m and it is now sitting in our front yard. There is no way that will fit down the side of our house so we are going to get to know our neighbour a bit better and request that we put it into the chooks living quarters via his property.

Don’t get me wrong, we are quite grateful for the free chook shed but ALWAYS ask for a proper measurement and NEVER collect it in peak hour traffic. Lesson learnt.

So, its time for another opportunity instalment, this time those starting with ‘D’. You will once again find a range of options for serving with SIM overseas in this list. Perhaps you are waiting for God’s direction as to where he wants you, read on and something may jump off the page!

Doctor and Leprosy Programme Manager

As a doctor managing the leprosy program at Danja’s Centre de Sant’ et de Leprologie and introducing Jesus to each person you treat, your influence in Niger is beyond your imagination! If you would like to see people come to faith in Jesus, this is a fabulous opportunity.

(We visited this centre in 2000 and it’s quite an amazing place!)

Danja operating table (2000)

Director of Library Services for JETS

In Nigeria SIM still has a significant role in outreach and in leadership training as well as many other ministries. We work closely with our partner church. Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS) trains men and women for spiritual leadership in Nigeria. The Director of Library Services is a key person to keep the seminary progressing toward a top quality theological institution in the country and the continent.

Dorm Parents for Murree Christian School – Pakistan

Come and be dorm parents for children whose families live and work in Pakistan. Murree Christian School has reopened, and we need dorm parents for the next school year. This is a vital role!

Database Programmer- MS Access (VBA/SQL)

Are you a tekky who would like to use your gifts to further the work of God in the world? SIM is fully committed to the use of relevant information technology to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of its ministries and administration. We use a mix of commercial software and custom-developed applications.

In this role, you will be the main developer in the International Systems project team and will need to identify, understand, and prioritise requirements for modification development, bug analysis, coding, implementation, training and documentation.

There are of course plenty of other opportunities starting with ‘D’ such as more
Doctor’s needed in Angola and Niger – Galmi and Maradi,
Dakar Academy Teachers (Senegal),
a Dentist in Liberia, Africa,
in the area of Discipleship and Training of Women in Ghana,
a Dialogue Language Progam Instructor in Bangaldesh
a Dorm Parent Assistant in Niger,
Dental Hygienist in Nigeria,
Discipleship and Mentoring in Sudan,
Development Director for Hillcrest School in Nigeria,
Director of Carachipampa Christian School in Bolivia and
a Director for a Community Development Project in Bangladesh.

All available opportunities can be seen here and SIM Australia’s website is here.

I love the 1950s kitchen style. Now that we have our own house I have discovered that I really want to have all the style of the 50s around us. I’ve mentioned this before on here I think but recently I’ve acquired a few things that make me very happy.

Firstly, with great thanks to my wonderful Mum in Law I now own my own set of Bessemer ware. This may be more 1970’s but I really love the pattern and the colours. I was very excited when she said she didn’t want it any more. : )

I recently purchased these original 50’s cookbooks off ebay for loose change and I love their simplicity;

Then I found this great potholder set from fussygussy

And my Mum found this clock at her local op shop for me;

I have my original table and now I need some chrome legged dining chairs. I’m so glad that most of these things are fairly cheap to pick up as not everyone likes them. There are two things that I really, really want to add to my kitchen. A set of anodised canisters just like the ones my Nanna had in her house. You know the ones, they are all different colours and sizes and have a letter in black on the front of each. Secondly, I am after a set of flying ducks for my wall.

While I have been slowly adding to my kitchen style I have been thinking about why I like that era so much and discovered something. I am trying to emulate my grandmother’s kitchen! Why would I do that? Its very simple, she was worth emulating. Her kitchen was a place for hospitality, warmth, love, good food and laughter. I have a hundred different memories of her kitchen and sitting around in it and I think I would love my girls to have that same feeling about ours. I know that ‘things’ don’t make those feelings so much but I do think its the real reason I’ve been aiming at that era. I don’t mind, I think that a simple, warm style like that is a good thing. This does not however mean that I will be personally taking on the persona of the 1950’s housewife. Nope, you won’t catch me dressing up to stay home, wearing my hair in curls at night or wearing heels a lot. Nor will you catch me producing fabulous and delightful dishes or making bread from scratch. Instead, I hope to spend a lot of time with my girls around my chrome legged table. We might make scones and they might be from a packet but we’ll have fun and make memories in the process.

Now that the markets are finished for the year I am busy photographing and listing items in my shop. There is a lot of new stock as I made over 200 pieces for the markets and sold about a quarter of it. I’m pleased that some of the things I have had in my shop for a while sold too, that’s always nice.

Here are some of the newer items:

Miniature Swiss Rolls

This Shiny Flora Brooch

These Multi-coloured Wood Grain Earrings

This Pearly Coral Hair Barrette

These Stained Glass Tea Light Candle Holders

These Little Lady Brooches

These Moth Magnets

There are a stack of earrings that I’ve started listing. I made about 80 pairs for the markets and sold a few so now I have quite a few new ones to list. There will be all sorts of things coming through soon including more necklaces and sets, bookmarks, rings, pendants and more.

I also have a few new items in the pipeline that will be quite different to what has been in my shop previously. These will hopefully start to appear in January.

Most of my profits go to SIM (100% most months)

This is the third instalment for the ABC’s of SIM opportunities. Perhaps something starting with ‘C’ will catch your eye. There are some very interesting opportunities in this group;

Café Operations Manager

Do you enjoy getting to know people? Do you like introducing them to the Saviour? We are seeking an enthusiastic and energetic young person to serve in a café near a large university campus in one of Asia’s largest urban cities. The café serves as a ministry base for evangelism and discipleship and is part of a very dynamic ministry focused on reaching out to urban, middle-class, English speaking young people. This is a wonderful opportunity!

Christian Media Designer/Implementer – Ghana

Maybe people wonder if their language is important enough to have God’s message. Maybe they wonder if the translator is really being accurate. That’s why hearing words in their own heart language via radio could help them receive God’s message of love. Maybe they wouldn’t need to wonder if the translator is really being accurate. That’s why hearing words in their own heart language via radio could help them receive God’s message of love. Maybe they wouldn’t need to wonder if you could come and fill this position. Will you come?

Cricket Coach and Discipler – Asia

Could there ever be a finer way to interact with people! We require cricket coaches in Asia to coach and supervise cricket games in English medium high schools.

Conversational English Teacher

You have a wonderful opportunity to be part of an amazing ministry if you love working with university students . The Centre has been reaching out to students in Chiang Mai since 1994, and now the demand for conversational English classes far exceeds the staff capacity. More teachers are needed to meet this demand. But The Centre is not only about teaching; this is only the means to bring the students in. The main focus is friendship evangelism. So many students are at our doorstep waiting to hear about Christ and the hope we have through Him. Come and be part of this amazing student outreach!

Children’s Worker

You can be a reflection of Christ as you bring laughter and learning to children who have known very little apart from war and loss.

South Sudan is a nation shattered by years of war, where children have been deprived of opportunities of education of every kind. They are critical to the future life and development of the nation, and your work can contribute to their spiritual and personal growth, as well as provide opportunities for sports, fun, and social interaction.

These are just some of the opportunities starting with ‘C’ but there are others that use words such as Civil Engineer, Computer Training, Community Health Nurse and Cultural Anthropologist. Just go here if you would like to see a full list of SIM opportunities from the entire alphabet.

It was my birthday this week and I got the one thing I have wanted for a while…….a new camera! I am amazed at the improvement from my old one and am planning on retaking shots of everything in my shop!

This shot was taken with the old camera;

This with the new;

I had a great day. Michael took me out for lunch and arranged for the girls to stay with my parents. We then went and saw ‘Australia’ followed by a family tea. Mum made a roast and for the first time in years I had a birthday cake!

Michael bought me yellow roses (my fav) and my parents in-law bought me Hydrangeas which I love too!

The sunflowers Michael had bought me the week before : )

Thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes, it was really nice. From now on my photos should improve greatly!

Continuing on from the other day here are some current opportunities to serve with SIM which start with ‘B’.

Basketball Coach and Discipler

Could there ever be a finer way to interact with people! We require basketball coaches in Asia to coach basketball in middleclass English medium schools and colleges. Basketball helps to make friends, but we also hope for a dedicated life of discipleship so that Bible Clubs may be set up in the high schools and colleges.

Boarding Home Parents in Bolivia

This is a wonderful opportunity for an energetic couple! Do you enjoy relating to teenagers? Nuturing and guiding young people?

While these MKs’ parents are following their ministry calling in another location, you can have tremendous influence in the lives of these growing young adults. And you can reap in eternity the results of ministry their parents have been freed to be involved in as you meet the needs of their teens.

Bible Teacher for Sherkole Refugee Camp

Sherkole refugee camp in western Ethiopia is home to approximately 18,000 Sudanese refugees from many tribes. SIM desires to teach, train, and prepare Sudanese for their return home by focusing on literacy, Bible training, and discipleship. Young men in the camp have started a TEE program (Theological Education by Extension) and are studying English course material produced by an SIM missionary. They are working towards a diploma in Biblical Studies. You would have the opportunity to meet with students for discussion, teaching, discipleship, prayer, and to build relationships. What a great privilege to play a role in the lives of the Sudanese before they return to their various homelands!

Builder for a Radio Studio

Are you an experienced builder just waiting for an opportunity to build something for God? Now is your chance!

We need you to oversee the construction of a new building for radio Frequence Vie in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. This will include some supervision of personnel, and it will require a good working knowledge of general construction, electrical work, plumbing, tiling, etc., as well as specific issues that relate to achieving maximum sound control for a recording studio. Also, a basic level of French is required.

There are of course many more opportunities starting with ‘B’ starting with words such as Business, Bible School, Bookkeeper, Bio-technician, Builder/Engineer and Builder/Handyman.

Once again, if you feel that you may be interested in any of these opportunities feel free to contact SIM. You can contact Michael and I here in Western Australia for more information by emailing sim.wa[at]sim.org.au.