Ten weeks away is a long time for the garden.  Back then it was spring and the new blossoms were coming out, the perennials were looking promising, roses were in bud.  It was 'expectant'! And I was excited, but also realising again that I haven't seen my garden in November or December for several years!!  Again I missed those rhododendrons (btw - what colour are they?), I didn't get to see the hydrangeas bloom for the first time, some of the roses have come and gone.  

There is grief in that!  

Now it is summer. The garden is overgrown and now the hard work of restoration. Weeds, as well as planned flowering, have flourished.

Thank goodness for health and energy to restore.  Thank goodness for daylight saving.  Come on lovely summer weather, stop hiding your face.      

Jocelyn 

Well here we are  at home six days later.  The journey home was pretty uneventful, thankfully. We did sit across the aisle from a family whose little boy spent the long journey across the Pacific coughing!!  Not sure if our sore throats are a result of that!!  The only other hitch was to arrive back in Christchurch minus two bags!! On reading the baggage claim slips, we discovered that these two had been labeled to travel only as far as Sydney!  SO - we are waiting for them to arrive, hopefully today.  

Today we'll take it easy - rest some, unpack the bags we have!, and get ready to drive to Blenheim tomorrow to see our family there.  

As I reflect over the past ten weeks - I saw God coming in surprising and life changing ways,  times of distress and wonderings, as we ploughed through uncomfortable conversations but with outcomes that drew us closer together,  beauty of God's creativity, marvellous creativity in prayer, wonderment and laughter of grandchildren, uncertainty, dance and movement, disappointment, death of our sister in law...to name a few.  

The view outside the Florida address where I am staying is lazy, sunny and peaceful.  However, the temperature is actually -2*c, which is pretty chilly for a place renowned for warm, sunny days.  I've just come inside from the laundry - and it is c-o-l-d.

Life can be deceiving.  Am I being deceived by a delay in getting home?  The flights have been changed twice and still I sit and wait to get home. The weather around the country is making record breaking temperatures. 

Fortunately, God isn't deceived and knows where I am, what I need and what will eventuate.  This God is loving and merciful, enfolding me in grace and warmth.  What am I noticing?  Discouragement? Annoyance? Frustration?  Yes, I have noticed all of these.  

I can choose to notice where God is and breathe in the breath of God?  I wii choose to breathe God into my discouragement and into the annoyance and frustration.  

As it stands I will be home 6 days later than originally planned...or maybe the flights will be changed again. God knows - plans for good and not evil, plans to give a future and hope.  

Jocelyn.