Faith as Strong as a Tree

 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his     fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:4    "Praise the Lord!!"

I liken people to trees.

If our roots of faith run deep we will remain strong through all adversity.

As a child I learnt to sing the song.

"Just like a tree planted by the water side, I shall not be moved."

That illustration is a good one.

Especially for those of us who do live near the water.

In case you don't, I am sharing the Pandanus Tree.

Note the roots of this Pandanus Tree. There are many!! and they dig down deep into the soil to hang on tightly. When the ocean roars and the strong cyclonic winds rip away the sands of the coast, that tree is secure. Nothing pulls it up or throws it away.

                                   

  

                          This one defies nature to try and uproot it.

                             It stands confident balanced and strong.

Maybe the reason we have so many of these trees along the Queensland coastline is because they refuse to be moved.

How about you and I? Can we also stand firm and strong through the winds and adversities of life? Or do we bend and sway? To be truthful I have had my times of  finding it difficult to hang tight. Yet with a God who loves me, and in whom I can find shelter, there is a refuge from the storms....

"On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand."

No other faith gives a certainty on Eternal Life.

No other than Jesus, died for us.........

  

                                                          

                                                  

Sunday Snippets: week of June 20, 2010

Sunday Snippets for the week of June 20 to 26, 2010

There are days I feel like a robot keeping this home clean. I have been doing some cleaning in the evenings when the boys are settled down and getting ready for bed, but it isn't enough . I think the rest of the family thinks we're on vacation from not only homeschooling but cleaning too. I started making a list of chores for the whole family

OPI Ogre the Top Blue

Continuing the theme of brights, I put on Ogre-the-Top Blue yesterday. This one is definitely an eye catcher. It's bold. It's a cute color but I'm not sure how much I'll really wear it. Too bad since the formula was amazing! OPI has really stepped up their game. This one is so pigmented that I nearly got away with one coat, but I ended up doing two to even out some slightly bald spots. It also applied perfectly, of course, since it's OPI. I'm a little disappointed with the lack of shiny-ness; Seche Vite can add a good amount of shine but I like a polish that can contribute to that factor. Though I may be a little biased since my last mani of Pretty Edgy was sooo shiny. As a side note, can't wait to wear that one again. I actually didn't want to take it off, which is rare for me since I love to change things up!

Old Trains, Old Times 'Newcastle Oz'

This is Newcastle, New South Wales pictured around 1895.

Can't you just picture the man standing with his camera balanced on his tripod to get just the right snap?

  

Newcastle is a coal mining town.
This snap depicts a ceremony of sorts?

The old steam train. This one looks new, shiny and clean.

If you have never travelled in one you could not imagine the soot smudging and messing your clothes.

These proud men standing beside a piece of history they would never imagine could become obsolete.

Engine 361.

I can still remember riding to work in one of these in the 1960's.

We still have a working steam train where I now live in Queensland. They are slow and if riding for hours, extremely uncomfortable, yet a grand old timer of the yesteryear period.. 

     Our Valley Rattler still roams the rolling hills proudly blowing it's whistle and displaying it's grand old-world charm.....

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.

  

Brain Differences and Changes

                                                          

                                                           

Males have a larger brain than female's yet female's can perform many tasks at once while males are limited to one.  



There really are big differences between the male and female brain.

Males tend to be better at analysing systems, while females seem to be better at reading the emotions of other people (better empathisers).


Males have 4% more brain cells than females, and about 100 grams more brain tissue. 
Yet with cellular connections, even though males seems to have more brain cells, it is reported that females have more dendritic connections between the brain cells.

Grandsons

The female brain has a larger corpus collusum, which means women can transfer data between the right and left hemisphere faster than men. Males tend to be more left brained, while women have greater access to both sides.

My son-in-law, grown children, niece and nephew.

                                       


Language is most often just in the dominant hemisphere (usually the left side), but a larger number of women seem to be able to use both sides for language. This gives them a distinct advantage. If a woman has a stroke in the left front side of the brain, she may still retain some language from the right front side. Men who have the same left sided damage are less likely to recover as fully.

Because females have a larger deep limbic brain they are more in touch with and able to express their feelings easier than males. They have an increased ability to bond and be connected to others, which is why women are usually the primary caretakers for children.
   

Young adults....ready to explore life's differences.

Antonio in the yellow shoes, sitting on a girls knee.

(now that's different)

                                                           

My grandson Antonio is preparing to sit for his final school exams and graduate from High School this year.
The Australian school year finishes in December with six weeks Summer holidays.
Antonio is striving for a high O.P. for entry into University.
He wants to study to be a physical education teacher.

And God made male and female in His image, and behold, it was very good.
Genesis 1.

Essie Pretty Edgy

After having naked (and sad) nails for a week, I needed something bright. Essie Pretty Edgy arrived yesterday in the mail and I seriously couldn't wait to put it on. And I have to say, this color really pisses me off, and the reason is because it is so awesome... and it's Essie. Honestly, if Essie came out with colors like this (and the Resort collection) and added a new brush, she would dominate. I wouldn't even mind shelling out full price on a regular basis. But as it stands, her hits, while amazing, are too few. But I guess I shouldn't complain, because I really love this color. I dare say it might be the most perfect kelly green in existence. It's bright, bold, and feels crisp and fresh. It was perfectly opaque in 2 coats, which is always a crowd pleaser, and this color is so me it's not even funny. I even have a pair of Wayfarer sunglasses that match it almost exactly! Sadly, with this revelation, Jade is the New Black has been shoved deep into my OPI drawer... I only have room for one green on display on my desk and Pretty Edgy is now the reigning champion of that title.

I could add to my Essie rant, talking about how funny her bottles are to hold when taking pictures... and how my fingers never quite settle on them in the right way... but I'm just gonna let it go because I seriously can't stop looking at my fingers!

Watering your young child's mind (Water play and learning)

Why is playing in water is great for a young child's mind? When it comes to play materials, children don't mind getting messy or wet. That's why water play is both enjoyable and educational. Indoor water play can go on all year long, and like outdoor play, helps children develop eye-hand coordination and math and science concepts. It may also enhance social skills and encourage cooperation. There