Bits of me

MY GARDEN YIELDETH MUCH

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:12:28 GMT

I have not posted an entry for such a long time, it feels almost strange. I have so much catching up to do in Jland so I will keep this short and sweet.My garden has blossomed and we have found cherries, pears, blueberries,strawberries, bell peppers, passion fruit to name a few.Thought I would post a few pictures of them before the squirrel or birds get to them!

My husband has found work at last and I am supply teaching for now.It is not something I enjoy as one does not bond with the children and I find it very impersonal...but..it pays the rent.I am still searching for permanent employment, but God has been so kind to me (as usual!) He knows I'm finding it tough so He arranged for a long term (three weeks) position at a lovely school and they have asked me to return in September for maternity cover for a term so I am thrilled.

It is also almost time for our lease to expire so we are looking for accomodation closer to the boys school. Today after church, one of our new friends came and asked us if we had found jobs yet. He was delighted for us and mentioned that he lives in a house across the way from the boys school and that he is retiring to Italy next year.Would we be interested in renting from him? Can you imagine our delight!!! This is the answer to all our rental worries LOL God sure works in mysterious ways!

Throughout this stressful time, I always remind myself of the verse "Be still and know that I am God" It really soothes me knowing I cant really control ANYTHING BUT THAT GOD DOES!He provides even for the birds why wouldnt He provide for us!

Those that know me know I am no gardener so I really do appreciate the fruits of someone elses' labour...I feel undeserving of all this fruit when I did diddly squat LOL.Pretty much reminds me of how we get to reap the benefits of Christ dying for us!We are so undeserving YET HE LOVES US!

Its all good

Mon, 26 May 2008 15:37:32 GMT

We are settling in well.The biggest hurdle of the boys starting school is over.Both of them are very happy and have settled in well.The schools have been very supportive and the children have made both boys' feel very welcome.It is very daunting (especially for our 15 year old) to start all over again but he is happy and has made a few friends already.My youngest has a whole bunch of friends ! We are very happy! and relieved!!

This has been a very stressful time, but through all of it God has shown us favour and blessing.We are just so humbled by all the "doors" God has opened for us and the way He has smoothed our paths, given us a church and friends and helped us feel welcome in this new country.We feel very blessed.Despite hardships we "have joy in all circumstances" remembering that earthly troubles are temporary and will pass.

Of course an entry would not be complete without a few pictures.One of our house, our cute squirrel friend who lives in our oak and of the pretty flowers in my garden.

Its a brand new life(song)

Wed, 14 May 2008 23:36:09 GMT

Just a few photos of my new garden, which has a mighty oak in it,

my son in his new uniform

and of them at Legoland(yes we had to do the tourist thing LOL)

We are most happy with the schools and are so relieved for our sons who have made a few friends already!

We have not started work as yet, just settling into a routine, but we love it here and feel so welcome...though we miss family back home....my sister especially...really wish we could be closer SIGH.

THANK YOU JLAND FOR THE COMMENTS... ESPECIALLY FOR THE LOSS OF OUR MOM.SO WONDERFUL TO BE BACK..HAVE MISSED YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

Take care!

Shauneen

Relocation complete

Tue, 13 May 2008 21:14:30 GMT

We have arrived!! After a very long flight we finally landed at Heathrow to a surprisingly hot day! We have settled rather well in just 2 weeks (tomorrow)! We have organised the gas, water, phone, schools, jobs and have furnished a house.YES I AM TIRED LOL sooo very tired.

Sadly my husbands mom passed away this past Saturday and that has put a great strain on us as we are not able to go back so soon for the funeral. Please keep him in your prayers!!

The boys are excited to start school and our youngest starts on \monday. Our eldest has arrived at a bad time as his year group are doing GCSE's so he has a few weeks left! But the youngest is not envious, he just wants to go to school LOL

Thank you for all your well wishes when we left one continent for another.Your kind words were a soothing balm at a very stressful time!

We have found this coun try to be better than we could have imagined.Although we have been here twice before, holidaying and living in a country are two different things! My boys are not used to being able to have electricity ALL the time LOL. NO MORE LOAD SHEDDING! And one boys noticed there are NO burglar bars on any windows!!(I have explained to them that crime is everywhere but clearly it has not reached the proportions of South Africa)

The people are so very friendly and helpful.We are soo happy and the fact that my boys are so relaxed...I feel they are so safe here!

Well, thats all for now...will put in photos tomorrow!

Take care Jland!!

Cry My beloved Country

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:42:54 GMT

Well, the waiting is over.Our flight tickets have been confirmed....we fly on the 30th April....THAT's next WEDNESDAY!!!!! I'm still packing...I've still got to see my friends a few more times....I've got to cram in extra hours with my sister....I'M NOT READY!!

Sigh...BUT, I am....I'm sad for this beautiful land of mine....things are not going well.
I look to the future...I can't look back to what I'm leaving behind.I know the grass is not green on the "other" side...I'm not so naive...but the grass is greenER. And for that simple reason I must do what's best for my children.A future where there is no constant fear for safety, a future that includes a better education, that provides the basic commodity...electricity!I wish I could be positive....I try...I pray...and yet...I flee...

I will make my next entry from our new country, the UK. I am so grateful that we may become part of a new country...a new life.Returning to our Irish roots LOL.Please keep us, espescially my two boys (15 and 10) in your prayers as we make this big change.My greatest concern is that they are happy and accepted at their school!

Thank you Jland for always encouraging! How amazing it is to share my sadness (and joy!) with complete strangers across this planet.How vast it seems at times, yet when we connect its a small world after all ...a small, small world

LOL ...bet you're singing it right now......UNTIL WE "MEET" AGAIN FRIENDS!

How green is my valley

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:47:22 GMT

Waiting...something I'm not good at....admiring Gods' creation and being thankful for a time out.I am always in awe of how much trouble God went to when He created the world we live in....intricate butterfly wings, delicate flowers...how green is your valley?

Groendal (Green Valley)

HAPPY EASTER JLANDERS.....GOD LOOOOVES YOU XXXXX

Good-bye Mrs Chips

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:41:26 GMT

I have completed my time at College Hill Prep School where I have been for EIGHTEEN YEARS! It's a lifetime and the future is just a little daunting right now! I played around at GlassGiant.com and made the tag above as for eighteen years that has been my identity.

I live in a small town and because so many children know me and have passed through my hands, wherever I go in town I am greeted by smiling faces and waving hands or little bodies tugging their mommy's skirts and pointing...."It's Mrs Ternahan"

I know it sounds self gratifying, and it is, but what an awesome priviledge I've had to be loved by SO many. At my farewell I was given a scrapbook made for me by all my colleagues and church friends.In it were messages and photographs.I can't tell you what it means to me....to be loved and treasured soo much! It makes the leaving sooo difficult! BUT...I look back at all the memories I CAN take with me and look forward to the future.

I've been thinking a lot about how my being a teacher has become part of who I am.I almost feel as if I'm going through an identity crises LOL.I have for the past 18 years lived as a wife, mother AND teacher and these roles are very much WHO I am, BUT I am so much more and leaving my comfort zone of familiar grounds has made me look more closely at who ME is.

I've discovered I'm brave...those who know me know thats a profound statement to make LOL..I've never thought of myself as such. I've discovered that "TEACHER" is not all I am to little ones whom I teach...I am more. I've discovered that my colleagues are more than that...they are friends and loved ones. I've discovered that I CANNOT make this move without the strength I'm getting from Our Lord! It is He who makes me look to the future with HOPE and filled with LOVE.....

LOVE from those and FOR those I'll be leaving behind. Life IS a journey and I've sat on the path a long time and now I am moving on...I've discovered I' ve grown enough to take those new steps...big steps...toward a new future...but..I'll always look back and smile as I remember...

I'll treasure those little faces, those loving smiles, those eagerly waving hands...yes I will, my dear, dear little ones..I love you...all...everyone!

Emmanuel-God is with us

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:11:19 GMT

At this time of year I am so aware that for many it is not a happy time.I would like to encourage you to read the following piece that blessed me.I pray that it will remind us all that we are NOT alone! Blessings and Jesus love xxxx

EMMANUEL - GOD IS WITH US

INTRODUCTION
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
When the Good News of the birth of Jesus Christ was announced to Joseph something wonderful was about to happen. In addition it was going to be the fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). But something about Jesus was revealed in the process. It was something about His name. His name would be Emmanuel. Names tell us about a person. In the old days names meant something and told you something about the person. In our home we named our one child Caitlin Joy. Caitlin means PURE and Joy of course means JOY. We anticipated that our daughter would be PURE JOY (And she has been). Now the angel comes and tells Joseph that Jesus will also be called Emmanuel – which means GOD WITH US! Something about Jesus was going to different – now God himself would be with us. But what does it mean for God to be with us? Have you ever thought about it? I see three critical aspects in the statement GOD IS WITH US!

1. GOD IS WITH US
God is with us simply means that God is with us. We are not alone. God is not some far off heavenly being but He is with us. We can know a connection to God.
A. You are not alone
The fact that God is with us means that you and I are never alone. You may feel alone and isolated, but God is with you.
B. He will never leave you - no matter what
When you pass through the waters, He will be with you. When you pass through rivers of difficulty you will not drown. When you pass through the fire the flames will not burn you. For He is the Lord your God. He is not a fair weather friend, here when things are going well and gone when things are rough or difficult.
Matthew 28:20 God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.”
Never is a very long time and extends beyond human life. No matter what you are going through, this truth remains. He will never, never leave you.
C. God is with us - there is no ultimate defeat
If God is with us we have a recipe for success and overcoming. If Jesus says ’I am with you’ it makes ultimate defeat impossible.
Isaiah 8:10 Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
If God is with us who stands to be against us? We can know ultimate victory. On the basis of this great fact, we can go to God without hesitation. It is for this same reason that we should not turn to other things. No matter what, don’t stop going to God.
D. God will not leave you (us)
Hebrews 13:5 For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.”
We cannot be separated from His love.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for us.
God will not leave us and we cannot be separated from His love. Therefore, you can have eternal optimism. God loves you and He has NO plans of deserting you.

2. GOD IS FOR US
Not only is God with us but He is also for us. Some people think that God is against them and angry and cross with them. Some people see God as a God who is waiting for them to put a foot wrong. Some people when they think of God they think of judgment. But the truth is that God came to be with us because He was for us and not against us. God sent Jesus to the world because He loved the people of the world! No matter what you have been led to believe, I am here to tell you that God is for you! God is not against you; God is not anti you. God is not waiting for you to fall or fail. God is for you.
A. If God is for us who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’
If God is for us then we are destined to win. Destined to win on every front. Destined to overcome sin. Destined to overcome guilt and fear. Destined to conquer those things that would endeavor to destroy us. Destined to win. Who can be against God? Are your problems greater than or beyond God? NEVER. If God is for us, who can be against us!
B. If God is for us we have nothing to fear
Numbers 14:9b ‘The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’
If God is with us we do not need to fear. God wanted to take the nation of Israel into the land flowing with milk and honey. He had good things in store for them. But they had heard bad reports and become afraid. As a result they almost missed out on what God had for them. Fear can rob us of just about everything. I am here to remind you that God is for us. He is with us. We do not need to be afraid.
C. God is for us and He will come through for us
Psalm 56:9 ‘When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me.’
David understood this. He had confidence in God. He knew that when he cried out, God would answer him, because God was for him. What a way to live! I believe that God wants us to enjoy the same degree of favour. I also believe that God wants us to enjoy the same degree of confidence.
D. Because God is for you, you can be confident
The fact that God is with us should cause us to have great confidence.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
God is for you! God has plans for your good. God does not have plans for your evil. God has plans to give you peace and hope. God has plans to answer our prayers. God has plans to see us through. God's plans ensure that our FINAL OUTCOME will be a good one! God is for you.

3. GOD IS IN US
Not only is God with us, He is also for us. In addition to the fact that God is for us, He also wants to come and live in us. God does not want to be on the outside of our lives, He wants to come and make His home within our hearts.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.
God is knocking at the door of our hearts and lives and He wants us to open the door and let Him in. In this way God can really be with us as individuals. Then we can enjoy the reality of the fact that GOD IS WITH US, GOD IS FOR US and GOD IS IN US! Don’t you want this for yourself? There are three things we need to do:
1. Confess our sins: 1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. We need to repent: This means we must turn around and walk in a different direction.
3. Invite God into your heart and life! God will never force His way into our lives. He waits for us to open the door to Him and give Him place in our lives.
Would you consider doing that today? God wants to make His home in your heart!

By: Andrew W Roebert
Email: andrew@alivetogod.com
Website: http://www:alivetogod.com
POSTAL ADDRESS: Box 32190 Glenstantia, Pretoria, South Africa, 0010
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Almost done!

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:49:01 GMT

I've been gone so long there's a new version of Jland! NICE!! Been so busy but ,as the title says....I'm almost done.....DONE REPORTS, DONE PRIZEGIVING, DONE PACKING, BOYS DONE with school etc SOOO many things I've done for the last time.Quite emotional actually.

This Friday I'll be finishing up at the school where I've taught for EIGHTEEN YEARS!!! It's a very surreal feeling.I think the fact that we will soon be leaving is only starting to become real .I'm trying to cram in extra hours visiting with friends and ESPECIALLY MY SISTER....my heart feels like breaking when I think of leaving her behind! But I know that we must make this move and I have to look at it in a positive light. Look forward to what the future holds and not look back (not too much anyways) to what I'm leaving behind.

Changing the subject now...........before I start crying AGAIN....

I've found 2 cool sites Caption.iT and Glitterfy so check them out and PLAY...look what I made! Enjoy!

Was good to touch base again Jlanders...will post more often as soon as schools over!

Take care XXXXXXX

My beautiful boys

Relocation update

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:04:57 GMT

Our plans to relocate to the UK are going along rapidly now. I have had a paper trail from h#ll to sort out but I'M DONE. I have our passports,police clearance certificates, vault copies of marriage and birth certificates, qualification certificates and only still await our visas. I have been for an interview with an employment agency and they have reassured me of finding work in the town we are moving to.

My husband will be working in Amersham, but we will be living in or around High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire county, South East England).The organising of this move has been a lot easier than I had imagined, BUT I had not bargained on the emotional side of things.I have four weeks left at the school where I have been teaching for 18 years! I feel rather emotional about leaving and I suppose a little insecure about starting my career all over again in a new country.Sometimes I wonder if I have the strength for this challenge, but I know it's something I have to do. While I love my country soo much and it really hurts to leave it, things are not going well in this country.The schools and hospitals are being mismanaged terribly and I don't think the rest of the world realises that the Madiba magic has done nothing for the plight of the poor in this country. So ALL races can attend school or go to any beach they want and vote too- that's the way it should be, BUT most of their lives have not changed AT ALL. They still live in squalor and with the rising cost of living and terrible crime rate, none of us see much in the way of transformation.In Cape Town the latest stats are that 50 people die PER DAY due to gang wars.Jo'burg is worse.....

sigh...sorry for ranting a bit...but it's so very frustrating to see a "new" Zimbabwe happening in my own country.I guess I am feeling emotional about this move!

The only thing that is a bit of a problem is that we have not sold our house yet.My niece has agreed to rent our house from us with the option to buy at a later stage, but we actually need that money to relocate as I don't really want to use my pension payout for that purpose, so... as you can see timing is the only problem at the moment.We don't have any friends or family near to where we will be moving to so the idea of arriving in a new country and not knowing where will put our heads down that night is just a tad daunting LOL I suppose it will be a B+B for a few days until we find a place to rent :-)

Thanks for all your positive vibes....have been "feeling" them in cyberspace :-) Keep 'em coming as I need them :-))

My husband laughs at me as each day when he gets home from work I tell him "I've given so and so this and that"....I feel like Santa HEHE.It's quite emotional doing "last things" sniff....last class,last prize-giving, last braai, last hug :-::::::::: GOSH !!!THINK I"M MENOPAUSAL LOLOL

Love ya JLand xxxxxxxxx