When I returned home to Rzhyshchiv, the cat which was hanging around last year was still here and pregnant. Mark and Jacqui, friends from NZ have befriended it and now I have three kittens as well, Kiwi, Smokey, and Chunkey. They are beginning to become used to being fed and loved. I still haven't relented and let them inside yet. But I must admit they look rather adorable - but then they grow up don't they?!?

"The time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time." Bertrand Russell

A large portion of this year for me has been "time out". It has been thoroughly necessary, worthwhile and rewarding. And also very enjoyable. But I have had to seriously deal with thoughts about time wasting, usefulness etc. I've grown to realise that so much of our thinking, and our yard sticks for success, revolve around what we accomplish: "How much can I accomplish? - and remember that time is money".

I have also been challenged about joy. God means for us to live lives full of joy. I believe joy is 5% what happens and 95% attitude  - or should I say 5% external and 95% internal.

So rather than asking, What can I accomplish?, I want to ask, Who does God want me to be? and How then should I live so He is glorified through me?

True joy finds it's source in Christ. Therefore, "the time I enjoy wasting, is not wasted time".

Variety is the spice of life. However, too much spice spoils the food. It is the subtle differences that bring about a pleasant change. It is the slight change of perspective that teaches us something new. Trying an old trick a new way uncovers a skill. Approaching the same situation from another angle helps get us out of the rut.

I thought about this today as I was getting dressed. I don't know why, but I put my left leg into my trousers first. It felt weird! I then realised that I don't think I have ever done that before.

Also I bought a new camera. Fiddling around with all the settings and functions, I notice that the subtle changes in setting help bring out a variety of finished products.

I wrote this psalm on December 7 while at

Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Zambia.

I had recently been white-water rafting on the Zambezi. 

God You are Sovereign.

You created the amazing waterfalls that thunder.

The people that live here and all the animals.

The rich and the poor You made.

God, I don’t understand You or Your justice.

But I know You are just – the judge of all the earth will do right.

So God, I see my problem before me.

It looms up big like a dark cloud –

Like an overwhelming obstacle that will swallow me and consume me.

Yesterday I spent the day on the roof of the house, pulling up the old tin and putting down new tin. The old tin had lasted 95 years! Throughout the day I enjoyed cloud gazing. The cloud formations were just amazing. Marbled patterns, whispy strands, fluffy cotton wool, luminous grey threatening to rain etc. I just enjoyed the feeling that I was close to my Creator. Afterwards I commented that our God is so amazing. How did He think all this up? Before there was anything, there was God. And He decided to create. How did He possibly imagine what to create?

With NSW on school holidays I spent the last two weeks up in Queensland. I stayed with my "Aussie family" the Gollans. Highlights include but were not limited to:

• climbing Mt Beerwah
• organising a garage sale
• working with Josh
• ANZAC Day service
• riding with Tim
• Jemimah's surprise 18th (which I didn't give away)
• basketball training
• general socialising
• seeing Serge and Tanya from Ukraine
• walking in the bush etc.

Tim and Judith are both much better bloggers than I (and I currently don't have a camera), so you can see pictures of the climb and pictures from the garage sale on their sites. Judith also drew a really good image of an Australian diggers hat. Click on the picture for a larger version on Jude's site.

Firstly let me say that I will raise more questions than provide answers. But I have been thinking about money, stewardship, expectations, generosity, spending, saving, giving, earning etc. I want to know what God wants from me and what my response should be towards the money I have, and my opinions of others and their money. I’d love your comments on this topic.

But let me tell you a story. I have spent the last four days in Ireland. We spent a lot of money, eating out each night, travelling around etc. In our travels we talked about money and I mentioned that I was thinking of writing something about the subject. The next morning I read from 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “Serving God makes us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.”

Hurry and order your own unique set of hand painted original wooden Ukrainian Nestling Dolls.

Wilbur, Babe, or a small boy's birthday!!

It was Meesha Benjamin's 2nd birthday. So his Dad Yuri killed the fatted piglet. Meesha was nowhere to be seen, but Gaven and I, Micah, Danny and Magdala were all there to witness it.

Yuri drove a screwdriver into the pig's heart and then proceeded to tell us that during the forced famine of the 1930's families would suffocate a pig so no one would hear and the government come and take the meat from the needy families.

After the pig was dead, the hair was burned with an oxy torch and then scraped with a knife, then cut and gutted, with some of the choice pieces sent home to be cooked for the party.

The ear is cut off and sliced into pieces and we dip it in salt and eat it raw. I think the cat got most of Gaven's piece (and a bit of mine too).
That afternoon we all sit around the table and enjoy good fellowship and beautiful freshly killed, freshly cooked pig. Potatoes and bread - Ukrainian staple food - and some preserved vegetables make the extras, with some cakes for dessert.

Suddenly - I look at my watch - nearly 6pm
How fast one day can go!

Went to the football (soccer) last night.
It was Ukraine vs. Scotland and a qualifier for Euro 2008. I bought 15 tickets a couple weeks back and had a whole bunch of friends from here and Kyiv going. I also had a Scottish mate living in Ukraine come and stay before the game and help get me pumped up and enthusiastic for the game. He gave me a Scottish flag, hat and make do imitation kilt. Seeing as I have Scottish blood (I think my great Grandfather – is that right Mum?) I decided that supporting the Scots would be the way to go.

Simeon (Scottish mate) and I had a great time around the city before the game. We must have had our photo taken with well over 100 people. He left me at the gates to go the Scottish section where he had a ticket. I went to my section and found my Rzh friends there, but the police decided that as I was dressed in Scottish outfit it would be dangerous for me to sit there. They first came and told my friends around me to make sure they didn’t touch me (quite funny) then they decided in fact to move me.