Danielle

Happy 17th Birthday, Danielle!

#MusicMonday

"This is my temporary home,

It's not where I belong

Windows and rooms

That I'm passing through

This is just a stop on the way to where I'm going

I'm not afraid because I know

This is my temporary home."

I think we've all experienced at some point or another that life isn't always easy. At times it's messy, it's dirty, and it hurts. People let us down and aren't who they say they are. We don't get the job we were hoping for. Relationships don't work out. Disaster strikes. Accidents happen. Loved ones move away and pass on. All these things remind us that this is our temporary home.

Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood

Highlights of 2019

Yes, I realise it is mid-February already and I promise this is the last post wrapping up 2019! Then we can make a start on this year's photos ;) 

2019 turned out to be a big year. As I was planning out my goals and plans for the year, there's no way I could've foreseen the events and growth that would take place as the year unfolded. 

In February, at the end of a pro-life training day, a small group of attendees shared contact details and arranged to meet again soon after. March for Life Auckland was formed, and within the first few months we successfully held our first counter-protest, which we've seen footage of in mainstream media on several occasions. We are really excited for first March for Life, happening just two weeks from today. Wohoo!

I spent my July birthday in Facebook jail while attending ACTIV8. I wasn't really sure if I would go or not until a few weeks before, but I'm SO glad I did! It was the most amazing week -- great teaching on a variety of useful topics, deep discussions, incredible people, and the food was pretty good too. While I'm not overly comfortable with 40ish people all looking my way and singing happy birthday, I had an amazing day (and week!) and I can't think of a better way to have spent my 23rd birthday. It may be one of my best yet.

A couple of weeks later I attended the Fearless Faith Conference run by Thinking Matters. Josh and Sean McDowell shared both personal testimony and research findings and shared more interesting material than my pen could keep up with/ Although auditory isn't my favourite learning channel, I made sure to purchase the recordings from this conference!

In September I finally got baptised. Three and a half years earlier I had left a church with plenty of hurt and no personal faith, but since then I had settled into a new church where God had gotten hold of me, and it was time to declare that publicly. Several people joined me for the occasion and it was special being able to celebrate together. Now I have a new anniversary to look forward to each year!

Mum turned 50 in November and we had a wonder celebration with friends and family from all over the country, and overseas as well. Some of the cousins met for the first time and we organised a number of catch-ups, extending the celebrations for over a week. The party itself also included the most formal concert my siblings and I have organised and performed together; it was quite the adventure but great experience.

In December we packed up and took a road trip down to Wellington for the National March for Life. As expected we had an amazing day. Music, 2.5K people, balloons, bubbles, face paint, great speakers, and an important message. Such a good day and some great memories to take home.

While 2019 certainly turned out differently than I expected, I think it's safe to say the year was better than I expected. It wasn't without its hardships, but I was blessed in many ways as well. All in all, it was a good year.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." ~Isaiah 55:8-9

#MusicMonday

After several months of pondering (and a little planning for good measure), I have decided it is time to launch a new series here on the blog. Music has always been an important part of my life. I was the child who watched musicals or Disney movies and waited for the bits of spoken story line to end so we could just get back to the music already! :P While my tastes have changed, my love of music has remained. The series #MusicMonday will be a peak into my musical library. Despite being classically-trained myself, my repertoire of listening material is varied so expect a wide array of genres to feature here. 

The thoughts I share along with each track are my own and not necessarily indicative of the artist's own. I also won't be receiving anything financially should you listen to or purchase the tracks, because, well, I just haven't organised that.

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"I don't wanna miss it
I don't wanna look back someday and find
Everything that really mattered
Was right in front of me this whole time"

As we go into this (not so) new year, I want to consider this. Am I taking notice of the beautiful things, the important things, the things that really matter? Or am I flying through life from one item on my to do list to the next, never stopping long enough to take in my surroundings? The truth is that all of life is busy. All of life includes things that have to be done. All of life is messy in some way. I want to remember to open my eyes and take in what's around me. I want to appreciate the beautiful, the important, the special -- before they're gone. Before they're just the beautiful things I miss.

The Beautiful Things We Miss by Matthew West

10 on 10

So I really need roads to be built with places to stop every so often in useful spots to grab a quick photo before moving on I think. I oftentimes find myself sitting in one spot working or driving between places . . . along main roads with all yellow lines.

I twisted the rules slightly this month and took the photos a day early so I could still have my relaxing Sunday. My schedule is still busy enough that I really needed that break before diving into a new work week.

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10 on 10 is a collection of 10 images posted on the 10th of the month, captured the day before. No "special" session, just taking my camera with me as I go about my day and capturing art in everyday life, training my creative eye.

#1

#2

#3

: : Verse 17. Are we in the word enough to be sanctified by it? : :

#4

#5

: : Dog walkers in training : :

#6

: : I wanted to walk but I think he wanted to swim : :

 #7

#8

#9

#10

: : #Planning : :

2019: Favourite Books

Reading has long been a favourite pastime of mine and it is something I still strive to make time for in my busy schedule because I find it to be a great source of both relaxation and learning. Throughout last year I completed a dozen titles -- significantly fewer than a decade ago, but more carefully chosen and many of them thoroughly enjoyed. I'll share some of my favourites here.

The Walls Are Talking: Former Abortion Clinic Workers Tell Their Stories 

By Abby Johnson with Kristen Detrow 

I've mentioned Abby on my blog before. For a number of years during and after college she worked for Planned Parenthood, working her way up the ranks from volunteer to clinic director. In 2009 she left abruptly, and several years later she set to task of compiling some of her own stories as a Planned Parenthood employee, as well as stories other former PP employees shared of their own experiences. The book is all written in first-person for an easier flow, and reads well. The accounts are raw, real, and horrific. Don't ever defend abortion without reading The Walls Are Talking.

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir 

By Melissa Ohden

Melissa lived a happy childhood with a loving adoptive family. You Carried Me follows her journey of discovering she was an abortion survivor, the trauma of realising that the very people to give her life had also tried to kill her, and the search for answers and peace. We read of her efforts to locate her birth parents--what a rollercoaster ride! Later we follow Melissa's own journey into parenthood, along with the unique challenges and perspectives such a history brings. This biography puts a face to choice and is both encouraging and thought-provoking.

Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design 

By Stephen C. Meyer

This book is thick and intellectual. If you're wondering how Darwinism stacks up next to modern scientific findings, this is for you. I had read briefly on many of these topics before and enjoyed going deeper.

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place 

By Andy Crouch

I keep a list of books I want to read at some stage, and this one managed to make it onto that list twice! I expected it to be good but wasn't sure how relevant it would be to me. As it turns out, The Tech-Wise Family was both better and more relevant than I expected. Every chapter is short, and is further divided into brief sections, making this book very easy to read in short snatches of time here and there. If you think technology is a great tool but a terrible master, read this for tips to keep it in its place. If you ever feel like technology is more trouble than its worth, read this. If you sometimes reminisce that life was easier before technology became more pervasive, read this. If technology is a regular part of your life, then please read this. I can't recommend it enough.

The Unforgotten Babies: The inspiration behind the Buttons Project

By Marina and Peter Young

This is really a booklet more than a book, but I am going to go ahead and include it anyway. I've met New Zealanders Marina and Peter in person and they're both so lovely. Here, they share their own story and what brought them to begin The Buttons Project. Through their own grief they've searched for answers and hope, and now they're on a quest to help others find hope as well. 

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

By Gregory Koukl

Ever wondered what it takes to be good at conversation? Or how to deal with that person who never answers the question and jumps all over the place when you're trying to discuss something? How to manage a conversation when you don't know everything about a topic? Grab yourself a copy of Tactics and familiarise yourself with the content. So glad I purchased this book. 

Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setback and Difficult People

By Bob Goff

I may or may not have read most of this in one evening. This book is easy to read but also incredibly challenging and inspiring. How should we love those around us? Surely we can pass by that person, right?! Bob challenges us by his own example to love Everybody, Always.

What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings--And Life

By Laura Vanderkam

I don't know about you, but I am always trying to pack more into my life than seems to fit. Although my priorites are different than many of the people surveyed for and discussed in this short book, I was really fascinated by the unique ways they managed to fit everything into their lives--like a mosaic. I had already implemented some of the strategies Laura mentions, but others were new to me. I love her way of organising a balanced life into weekly rather than daily routines; think 168 hours instead of 24. 

Well, how's that? 2/3 of my yearly reading material made it to my favourite list! I enjoyed reading these titles and while some were heavier than others, I look back at the time I spent in them and am content that it was time well spent. 2019 was a good literary year for me, and I am looking forward to exploring more great reading material during 2020.

How about you? Have you read any great books recently? Have you read any of the ones I've listed here?

2019: Favourite Movies

I am going to begin this post with the disclaimer that the list it includes is going to be rather short. Throughout the entire course of 2019 I think I sat down to properly watch only two or three movies. And yes, you read that right. I had a busy year and watching movies just wasn't high on my priority list. That being said, I think I chose my selection fairly well because they made it to my list of all-time favourite movies, and two of them I purchased on DVD after viewing them.

Tortured for Christ 

(image from vom.com.au)

No, this isn't your feel-good, watch during dinner type movie. It makes you think. It's hard. It's graphic. It's inspiring. And it's real. Tortured for Christ is based on the true story of Richard Wurmbrand who was imprisoned and tortured for his faith. Parts of the movie were filmed in Richard's former prison cell in Romania. So much faith and courage amidst such incredible suffering is amazing to see. 

This movie makes it to my must-see list. It is definitely not for younger viewers though.

Unplanned 

(image from unplannedfilm.com)

Having already read the book, I was super excited to hear that a movie was also being made, and waited with anticipation for its release. I wasn't disappointed either. Unplanned follows the journey of Abby Johnson, a real life clinic director at Planned Parenthood who was one day asked to help with an ultrasound-guided abortion and what she saw changed everything. And incredible story and a great movie. Somehow I hadn't realised during all the pre-release info that Lila Rose from Live Action made a brief appearance as herself, so that was an exciting surprise.

Overcomer

(image from wikipedia.org)

Actually, this is one I heard and saw bits and pieces of while the family was watching it and I was still trying to work on other things. I thought the story line was powerful and well-presented. This is defintely the most light-hearted and family-friendly of all the movies I'm recommending here :P Go check it out.