My Grandma’s 9 lives

Posted on May 1, 2009 by katierae

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I swear I have the most resilient Grandmother who ever lived.

She is well into her 80’s and quite unwell these days.

When she was 55 she had triple by-pass surgery. About 10 years after that it became evident that her memory loss was more than old age. Alzheimer’s. Now is lives in the dementia ward at a nursing home in Penrith. She is a wanderer and this is a safe place for her to be. Her last nursing home was not as safe. I remember getting a phone call from Mum one day when I was at work saying that Grandma was missing. She had wandered right out the front door and to who knows where. It was hours before she found, bruised and looking very worse for wear, 8kms away from the nursing home.

In the last 10 years, as well as Alzheimer’s she has had falls, illness, been missing, lost her husband of 50 years, and each and every time we think its all going to over she bounces back with incredible strength. And the last week has been no exception.

She has been in hospital with pneumonia and a staph infection. And yet a mere 4 days after going into hospital, she is back out and home at the nursing home. She isn’t walking particularly well, but after 4 days in bed its possible that her brain has forgotten how. On the other hand, based on past experience she’ll be fine again in a few days.

If I was to be completely honest with you I would tell you that I often wonder if the resilience of her body is a good thing or not. Her mind is failing her. She has only 4 grandchildren – me and my 3 sisters. We used to spend every school holidays with her and my grandfather. They were a massive part of our lives. And now she doesn’t know who we are. She floats in and out of recognising my mum (her daughter) and spends most days surrounded by nurses and other patients she doesn’t remember from day to day.

My grandparents served God their whole lives. I don’t know if she is aware of who Jesus is anymore – but I trust that he still keeps her and that when she dies she will go home – to be with her saviour with a mind that won’t fail her anymore.

And so I wonder if its a good thing….. and if its ok for me to wonder…

An Evangelical for Gay Adoption

Posted on May 1, 2009 by katierae

An interesting conversation on this topic happening over here.

Also check out this guy’s story – incredible!!

Single but not called to celibacy???

Posted on April 27, 2009 by katierae

I just read this at the resurgence blog.

I was finding it quite interesting since I am on the music team at church, and wondering who would fall under the title of worship leader…… but then my attention was stolen but a comment at the end of the post.

If he is single and not called to celibacy, he must be working toward marriage by growing personally, spiritually, and emotionally.

How do you know if you are single and not called to celibacy????

It also seems to me that growing personally, spiritually and emotionally are things that everyone should be doing – so in what sense can they be defined as ‘working towards marriage’???

Any thoughts?

Piper on Abortion

Posted on April 21, 2009 by katierae

John Piper has interesting thoughts on why abortion should be associated with racism.

“So here’s one connection for starters:

Racism might—and often did—result in the killing of innocent humans. In our history, it often did. But there is no “might” about abortion. It always results in the killing of innocent humans.

Between 1882 and 1968, 3,446 Black people were lynched in America. Today more Black babies are killed by white abortionists every three days than all who were lynched in those years.”

Read the whole thing here.

You: an introduction

Posted on April 20, 2009 by katierae

During my college break I have managed to read 2 books (almost) that are not part of my college set readings! YAY!

The second book I’m still working my way through. Part of the delay is that I’m not enjoying it (for a few reasons) – but more info on that later.

Good news is the first book was a winner.

You: an introduction is by Michael Jensen and is all about you…. but not really. you

Michael looks at the complicated issue of what it means to be human and answers the question – who are you. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. While the topic is less than simple, it is not hard to read, in fact its very easy and enjoyable. Michael’s style of writing is very conversational, and at times quite funny.

The book explores different aspects of being human – you are alive, free, a child, either a boy or a girl, you speak, you dream – and how they contribute to what it means to be you. Ultimately it discovers that answer to the question who are we is wrapped up in the question of who Jesus is.

This is definitely a book you want to have on your shelf (after you’ve read it of course). Want to buy a copy? Go here. Buy 2 – so you can lend one to your friends.

Want to read a review of the book?? Find one here, here, here, here, or here.

Or click to here Michael’s ABC interview.

Or watch this.

Disquiet about Driscoll

Posted on April 20, 2009 by katierae

This is interesting.

Holidays on the South Coast

Posted on April 19, 2009 by katierae

101_1989 Last week I went to the south coast for 5 days with som friends from college.

It was kind if a random holiday since I went with 5 people who I didn’t know very well. I was worried it would be quite awkward but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Praise God for new friendships, the beautiful south coast and holidays!

Here are a few pics from Mollymook.

Making dumplings

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Fun times... :)

Tho's amazing raspberry muffins

Steamboat nite

the beach at mollymook

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Barefoot bowls..... can you believe we tied?!?

Disappointed???

Posted on April 19, 2009 by katierae

I have a few posts in the pipe line at the moment…. about my holiday to Mollymook, reflections on Corinthians, and some thoughts on books I’ve been reading on my break from college… but for now –

Something happened tonight that has made me wonder….. why are other people’s sins such a disappointment to us?? And why are they more of a disappointment to us than our own sins??

Who wants you???

Posted on April 10, 2009 by katierae

Sometimes I feel like that rose – not just because of a sexual past but for all the other sin in my life that withers me.

What a great comfort that Jesus wants me! And today I remember that he died for me!

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44 – 46

Lecture free weeks….. and family

Posted on April 8, 2009 by katierae

I’m 3 days in ‘lecture free weeks’. I’m recovering well from mission (kinda wishing I was still there) and have spent the last 3 days relaxing and catching up with people I haven’t seen in a while.

Some of these people are my family. It feels like forever since I have spent any quality time with them, especially my nephews. Its always when I’m on holidays from college and back at home that I realise how much I miss them when I am at college.

Ricky

Mathew

They are a lot of fun! Mathew told me yesterday I’m his best mate – how adorable is that!!!

I’m going to continue to spend a lot of time with them over the next few weeks which will be awesome – but it does make it hard to want to go back to college.

a girl who speaks

Category Archives: life