Blessings

 It is 3 months since I last posted a Daydrops.  It's been a time of grieving, a time of wilderness walking (spiritually), a time of joy in reunions with family and friends, a time of seeing God at work in the big things and the little details of life which always gives rise to thankfulness for his faithful blessings.

We had booked to fly to Sydney on 28th January and Cathy was booked to join us on 4th February and we were to pick Paul and Leah up from quarantine on 5th.  A few days before our scheduled departure, NZ had a new strain of COVID, so our flight to Australia was cancelled. You can imagine the disappointment! At times like this we are so thankful that we know that God has our times in His great hands.

We re-booked out flight for the 4th and waited in hope for Australia to open its border to us, quarantine-free, which it did just in time for us to slip into Australia before the border closed again a few days later. Blessing #1 - flying to Australia with Cath.  

Early next morning we made our way to central Sydney to pick up Paul and Leah.  A car slipped into the pickup area just ahead of us and it turned out to be 'Bakes', recently returned from the USA. (He had supported Paul with great care and compassion through Sandy's crisis in the USA.)  He was the second car needed to handle all the luggage we had between us. Without knowing quarantine rules outside the hotel, we all got out of our cars and hugged our thanks to this wonderful man, an act which ruffled the feathers of the military who came running, ordering us back into our cars...NOW. Whoops!! Blessing #2.

What a joy to see Paul and Leah, but....patience required.  No hugs till we stopped up the road for a break. Blessing #3.  We were kindly hosted by 2 families for our time in Newcastle. Blessing #4. On 6th February we were able to attend Paul's 50th birthday party which Leah had masterfully arranged from quarantine and one of Paul's bosses and his wife graciously hosted. Blessing #5.  It was a time of joy but also a time of tears as we remembered our dear Sandy.  There was a lovely canvas print of her in the party area.

About now I feel like the writer of Hebrews as he related all the heroes of faith but said it would just take too long to tell of them all.  It's the same with the blessings of the trip which included.....

• lovely catch ups with our other 2 grandchildren, Jess and Daniel and also with old friends
• strength, particularly for Col, to help Paul sort and move much stuff that had been in storage
• provision of a friend's covered trailer to move lots of stuff from Newcastle to Canberra and back again with more unwanted items to donate to a ministry.
• the joy of being able to help Paul & Leah unpack and settle into their apartment in Canberra
• the wonderful hospitality of friends for 2 weeks in Canberra 
• family dinners and lots of fun
• for Cath who is 'salesperson supreme'.  She sold stuff large and small for days on end, working with great energy, organisation and coordination.  The blessing was that I didn't have to do it! Not my gift.
• that Leah secured herself a part time housekeeping job in serviced apartments nearby which, coincidently, are straight across the road from where Daniel is flatting with friends.  He and Leah are both studying at different universities now.  Leah doing distance education.

We loved our time in Canberra.  The photo above is on one of our regular routes between the place we stayed and Paul's apartment, 15 minutes drive.  We got to know the road pretty well. The weather, which we had feared would be very hot as it usually is at this time of year, was very kind to us and we were very comfortable in the 20'sC.  The Australians were complaining that they were not having a REAL summer!

Another major blessing came in the form of a reassignment of flights (and quarantine) for us and for Cath. Our original bookings had been 2 days apart but now we were put on the same flight.  That has turned out to be such a blessing as we are in rooms across the hall from each other (it's now Day 5 of 14) and we are allowed to visit and walk together as we are a 'bubble'. We also tend to meet in our room for lunch and dinner.  Our every need is catered for.  How very blessed we are.  Added to that we were transported from Auckland to Christchurch for our quarantine and can now enjoy a nice drive home in a few days.

There are so many more blessings which bring to mind that little Sunday School song that is going through my head....."Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."  God has demonstrated his faithfulness to our family in so many ways through these challenging months.  I hope this will give you pause for thought, and cause you to take time to count your blessings and give him praise.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High.

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening..Psalm 92:1-2

Prayer: Faithful God we thank you for your kindness to us, your attention to details in our lives even when unasked.  You certainly direct our steps and for that we thank you and give you praise.  Help us to live in a way that brings joy to your heart and praise to your name.  Amen