An horticultural-type with a sense of humour.

Had to store this link somewhere safe so this is the place: Plants are the Strangest People

I was bumbling my way through google trying to work out how to propagate some more Zanzibar Gem for my patio when I found this. I was surprised to find an horticultural-type with a sense of humour and thought, this must be treasured. Since losing my beloved Peter Cundall, my garden has suffered. It has only been watered once every week or so,.... the last time I fertilized was maybe 3 or 4 weeks ago,... Grace pulled all my tiny green tomatoes off the bush. All this has merely added to my garden rejection.

Until now. Now that I have found this blog,.... my gardening joy has returned a little. I will propagate those tiny Zanzibar Gem plants. Oh yes,.... I will.

Grace Catherine Harris - Miracle Girl

"Every new born child is a miracle, but for a thousand reasons Grace Catherine Harris is more miraculous than most. Her journey from the ether to life has been longer and harder fought than most. While she lay frozen in a test tube, I lay frozen in a hospital bed. We were both in a stupor of sorts, mine was induced by the same hormones that brought her to life. I had Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS), a condition that affects roughly one in twelve women who have IVF.

In actual fact, OHSS affects every woman that has IVF. Every IVF patient experiences the symptoms to some degree, but for the most part they are only a passing discomfort. The process of superovulation, or producing as many ripe follicles as possible, is a fine balance between not producing enough and producing far too many. OHSS occurs when the patient is either far too sensitive, or the dose of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) far too high and as a result far too many follicles are produced. For me, it was probably a little of both. After three or four days of extreme nausea and bloating, I could no longer even drink water. All the fluids in my body were floating in between cells and circulatory systems. My stomach was stretched so much that the skin hurt, and my lungs were full and squishing with this mystery fluid.

That's one week of the eight year journey that my husband and I went on to conceive our little daughter, Grace. But that's history now. "

*Reposted from my old blog which no longer exists.

The post script to this entry is that after a very traumatic IVF experience, many embryos were frozen and stored for us in November 2004. Grace was one of the first two thawed. Now, in August 2008, we are trying again. In 15 - 18 days time, one of those embryos will be thawed out and carefully placed in my (artifically prepared) womb. Once again, we will be asking God for a miracle. It's far easier to believe for it, though, when you've seen God do an amazing miracle already.

Feeling disheartened,...

Lately I've been feeling crushed under the weight of obligations and expectations of the things God has spoken over my life. There are hopes and dreams that seem no closer today than they were ten or even twenty years ago when they first burned in my heart. I was feeling inadequate and useless,... feeling like I'd achieved nothing. It makes me sad how the devil robs us of our joy, even when we are in the place God wants us to be.

God was gentle with me once again. He reminded me that I was His child and He loves me. He showed me how silly it would be if Grace tried to reach for something too high for her. She'd be grunting, groaning, straining, frustrated and putting herself in danger of falling.

"No, darling." I'd tell her.

"Let Mummy get it for you," I'd say. Duly chastised. Duly relieved. My heart, once again, sinks into the peace only God can give.

On Sunday (last), our Pastor, Ian Hussey, explained the concept of riding on eagle's wings. When a baby eagle gets to a certain stage, their mother pushes them out of their nest. They either flap their wings and learn to fly or they fall. The mother eagle watches them carefully and, as they fall or tire, she flies below them, catches them on her back and safely returns them to the nest. (See Exodus 19:4 and Deuteronomy 32:11)

That, to me, sounds more secure and comforting than having a net like acrobats have,... because not only am I being carefully supervised, but when I even start to look like falling, I am scooped up for a big hug from mum. That gives me the courage to try and keep on trying.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong.

Yes! Jesus loves me!
Yes! Jesus loves me!
Yes! Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

"You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." Exodus 19:4

Non Scale Victory

Sometimes when people are trying to lose weight, it helps to measure weight loss by things other than the scales or tape measure. The scales can become a real source of torment and obsession when you're trying so hard to lose weight. So, I was encouraged this week in my weight loss journey when I discovered I had won a non scale victory.

To explain:
About a month ago, Scott and I bought a WiiFit. I've managed to do workouts roughly twice a week, if not more. A busy week or two has meant that I haven't had a chance to workout for eight days. I knew I had put on a bit of weight. I was stressed, busy and comfort eating. Motivation to work out was hard to find. [sigh]

On Monday, though, I pulled a toy hula hoop from the cupboard at Grace's playgroup. Grace and I had a little hula-hula and I surprised myself. I was able to hula properly for a good six or seven spins. It doesn't sound like a whole lot, but it's something I have never been able to do. Not even when I was a kid.

I realised, after several repeat performances on the hula hoop, that my stomach muscles are getting stronger now. This is a skill I have learned through all my virtual hula hooping on the Wii balance board. This is one of the first good things I have done for my body in years. This is something I can be proud of, a real achievement based on my workouts.

I feel motivated to keep trying. I even walked past a piece of cheesecake without eating it today. This is a real non-scale victory.

Cafepress Update (Including sympathy poem)

I recently created an online store using Cafepress. It's called "AnnaHarris.com Online Store". At the moment it only contains a couple of designs. They will be added as I get the opportunity. I only have one design per product item. If you like a design (eg. on a greeting card) but want to buy it on a different item (eg. mini poster or framed print) then feel free to drop me a line: anna at annaharris dot com and I'll do my darnedest to make it happen for you.

Designs currently on the site are:

A Birthday Card 10 pack of "Happy Hip Hop Birthday" cards. This is a pretty funky graffiti-style design. The inside says "It's your day. Bust a move."

There's a cute little teddy bear wearing a t-shirt with another one of my poems on it. The poem is called "God is like a teddy bear". It's been valuable in helping people understand something about who God is and how he loves. Perhaps you might like to share a bear with a friend and help them find out about God's love.

"God is like a teddy bear with a conscience
He listens to everything you say
He tells you the right thing to do
And still loves you after you do the opposite."


And finally (for now) there is a very powerful sympathy card, complete with a lovely image of a white hydrangea. I adore that image. I adore the poem. It's about losing your one true love and dealing with laying them to rest. Here is the poem:

The grass is yet to grow back
in the place where they buried you.
There is only dirt
and wilted flowers.
The remnants of my last visit.

I don't wan't grass anyway.
That would be a lie,
As if everything was normal.
As if you were laid to rest.
As if you and I were at peace.

They buried my heart with you,
My Darling, My love.
They left pieces exposed
like rocks in the dirt.

No grass can grow there,
Until leaves fall
and tears fall,
to nourish the earth.

Tears.
Tears. Tears.
I have been hurt.
The realisation that I will never
hold you,
never touch you,
never hear you laugh.
How can I ever let go?
Tears rain down now,
upon your grave.
Preparing the soil for my new life,
without you.

The grass must grow back again.
The sun must shine again.
Rest in Glory.
Rest in Peace.
Rest in Love.


I have great plans for this CafePress store. I have so many ideas for greeting cards, posters, gifts and t-shirts. In fact, I have so many ideas that it makes my head ache. I'm stressed about my somewhat limited artistic skills. I'm a writer, not a fighter. Oh, I mean an artist.

Over time I'll be building up my collection of available designs. My goal is to upgrade to a Premium store and make this little baby into an earner! Stay tuned for more updates.

[sigh] Wish me well, folks. And go there and buy my stuff. Please.

Ultra Simple and cute ballet tutu pattern

I stumbled across this cute little number. I must make one for Grace some time soon. She loves to pretend she's a ballerina. She asks me for ballet slippers every chance she gets. This ballet tutu might distract her attention until I can find a pair of Jiffies in her size. It's such a simple concept. I thought I might make Barbie one too.

Cool.

And so here it was, it was the day that Jesus rose from the dead,...

Scripture this passage relates to: Luke 24 : 13 - 33 The Road to Emmaus

"And so here it was, it was the day that Jesus rose from the dead and they had given up. They were on their way home. They were shattered beyond description. I mean, what would you do if you had put all of your hopes in this one man? He was the anointed of God. He was going to redeem Israel. He was going to take back the land for the people and so on, and they killed Him. They killed Him. So they just gave up. It was a washout. It was through. They were going home.

"And yet who should they meet on the road but Jesus Himself? And it says that they didn’t recognise Him and we seem to attribute it that God didn’t allow them to recognize Him. But I don’t buy that one bit, because the original text doesn’t say that. It just says that they didn’t recognize Him. Do you know why they didn’t recognize Him? Because He was the last man they expected to see on that road. Granted, I don’t think He looked the same. But they never expected to meet Jesus. It was their own lack of faith that blinded them from seeing Him.
"So Jesus comes up to them and “What’s happenin’ fellas? What are you talkin’ about?” and he [Cleopas] says “Are you the only one that doesn’t know about these things?”
Jesus says “What? What are you talking about?”
“Jesus, the Nazarene, mighty prophet, mighty man of God in word and deed. In fact, we all thought he was the Messiah and they killed him. And that was three days ago. His body is gone. We found His body is gone but they haven’t found Him.[Cleopas said]” And the Bible says that they stood there looking sad.

"Now,...that’s a lot like us, people. You see, [for] those guys, this should have been the greatest day in their lives. The Messiah had just risen. He had come to do THIS! Heaven had just opened. It was the beginning of the Kingdom of God that would be displayed through men, not just Jesus. And their work was today really beginning and they thought it was over. They were going this way and Jesus said “Why aren’t you going that way? You ought to be going IN to Jerusalem!” They didn’t get it. And so they rebuked God. “Don’t you know Jesus died?” They rebuked God. But He was patient. He didn’t smite them with fire. He was gentle with them. And He said “Oh foolish men, slow to hear all the prophets had said. Didn’t you know these things were going to happen? Weren’t you told so many times?” Yeah, they were.

"But see, those two guys are like us. As you sit here tonight many of you have trouble. You’ve got problems. You brought them in this room with you tonight. And sometimes we would think if only, only Jesus would come to my house. If once I could sit down and counsel with Jesus. If I could just see Him once. If I could just hear His voice once, I’d be transformed. No you wouldn’t. You’d be just like these two men on the road to Emmaus. You wouldn’t get it. The presence of Jesus would not change your life.

"Believe me? It’s true.

"You see, because Jesus, His presence, is here right now. His presence is inside your bodies right now. It hasn’t changed you. Oh, you’re going to Heaven, but it hasn’t changed you. We came into this room tonight with problems. Jesus is right here. Jesus might have said to you tonight “How’re you doing?” “Are you the only one in Adelaide who doesn’t know the trouble I’ve got? I haven’t paid all my bills! The kids are sick! My husband’s been angry with me for the last two weeks! Don’t you know!?! I’m upset! And He says Oh foolish foolish people. Didn’t you know this stuff was going to happen? Didn’t I tell you? Jesus Christ is right here next to you tonight. He’s right here with you. The King of the Universe and He knows you by name. He knows everything about you. He has rescued you. He has written your name in His book. He is counting the days until He gets to take you home face to face. He loves you so much. Do you realise how precious you are to Him? You don’t realise that or you wouldn’t be so upset about the problems in your life.

"You don’t know what a glory you are to Him. You might think “Well, I don’t do anything. I’m not very useful to the Lord. I’m not very powerful. I’m not, you know, a real disciple.” Do you know how much He loves you? You see, what you were created for has already happened. It’s already done. You see, when you became a Christian you fulfilled the Lord’s will for your life. He didn’t die so that you might be discipled. He died so that you might go to heaven. Right? He opened the way for Heaven. When you said Jesus come into your life, that day, whenever it was, IT WAS FINISHED. And the only reason you’re here now isn’t to grow closer to the Lord, or to be more obedient to the Lord, or to become more of a disciple. No! The reason you’re here right now, today, is that the joy and the love and the fullness of God would spill out of you and flow all over others, because you are now the Jesuses in this world. You have the good news of God beating in your breast. He just wants to show you off!

"You’re not supposed to work your way. It’s already done. You’re going to heaven. You don’t see it like all of creation sees it. That shekinah glory of God that blinded Paul on the Damascus road and knocked him flat on his back, knocked Daniel down a couple of times and Ezekiel and John and so on. That same shekinah glory of God dwells in your breast. And every spiritual being throughout eternity can see it. All of the host of Heaven, the saints and the angels, and all of the demonic realm, even Satan himself, they all can see that and it scares the demons no end. They know you from a non-Christian. You blind them with the glory of God. It’s not just a little angel that hangs around you to try to protect you. It’s the spirit of the living God who makes your body His home. Every time your heart beats you’re giving glory to God, you know why? Because God’s saying “That one is mine”. Every time you hear that heart beat “That one is mine. They have said ‘yes’ to me. They’re going to be in Heaven with me”. "

Quoted Section from message by Pastor Brent Rue titled "Letting God Love You", preached somewhere in Adelaide in the mid/late 90's???? Write me a comment if you would like to read the entire sermon and I'll e-mail you the 16 page Word document. An mp3 version of a similar message is available from www.brentrue.com, but appears to be preached several years later than my transcript (so it has a slightly different perspective).

Pastor Rue shares a life-changing concept that God used with me,... but it's 12:45am here so I won't elaborate. I just really felt that God wanted me to post something of this, the "most important teaching" Ps Rue's ever done, here, on Resurrection Sunday.