Hey Hey...

Hey.............
I am 17. I am very tired. I don't like blood tests. I wish I never had to go back to the doctor again. I am sick of shallow people. I am sick of people who call you their friend one year, then the next year will ignore you and talk about you behind your back. I hate gossip. I like people who will stick by you during anything. Who don't care what other people say and find out what you are like inside by themselves. Will love you for yourself. Thank you, Lord, for those people.

Forgive me for mixing my stories a bit.
I'll write more another day :)
Sarah

Hey.

Hi Everybody!
It's raining again! I hope it keeps up for a while, so the grass gets watered. On the 1st of August we are going to lock up all the paddocks we will need for silage. We are aiming for over 1000 bales this year, which is a big ask (I think) seeing as we only got 300 last year. But we will see.

It has been lovely lately, all sunny and warm. Just like spring. The trees are starting to bud and the grass is starting to grow faster. Springtime's comin'!

I haven't had a lot of time to write in the last month or so, work has been a bit hectic, with Paula, a lady who used to work in the pharmacy, starting again as manager and some 3rd year uni students coming for work experience to put all the theory they have learned to practice. They are really good, a bit of a change. And school started again last week, so I have been catching the bus in and out which is really great, but it takes another 1/2 an hour each way out of the day. It's probably good 'cos I can sit and think and study and pray, and to slow down and quit stressing! For the start of this term, there is a student tacher in the class I work in. It is a bit weird having someone else watching what you do and all the mistakes you make.

The day after tomorrow is Mum's birthday. She is turning 36. I remember her 24th birthday. Even a few memories from when she was 21. It's amazing to think that I can remember when I was 2. And that Mum was so young! This year, I will be the same age as she was when she married Dad. Wow!!!

I'd better go and start tidying up a bit. Grandma is coming up tomorrow!
Bye, God bless
Sarah

Rainy Days :)

I love the rain... When I was little, I used to hate it. I had to stay inside, and there was nothing to do but school work and looking at the rain. But then we bought a farm... and things changed. We had one good year then we were in drought. It hasn't really broken since. So I have learned to love it. It helps if you don't mind getting wet or love reading!

Last week, I had my first paid day at the school! It was so great! It made me want to be an aide, as in for a career. I love working in the school, taking care of kids. But if I was to do that, I would want to go through uni. I don't know. I don't know what I want to do for a career. I wanted to be a chef, a pastry cook. I really love that. But if I get married, the hours are really bad. I couldn't be with my family. I have to pray about it, but having patience waiting for doors to open is really hard. I can't see myself being a pharmacy assistant for ever. But I don't feel right about leaving yet. I think I have some lessons that God wants me to learn there. Like loving someone unconditionally even when they are shouting at you and "everything is your fault" when in fact it is the other way round. That is a tough one to learn. This probably isn't making any sense. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, I love the people. But it has it's moments.

Ok, it is bed time!
In Christ,
Sarah

.....

Today was very sad for me... Last week one of our friends had a terrible loss. Her husband, who was suffering from MS, died. So everyone around town has been a bit down since then, but today I found out that it wasn't from the MS that he died. He commited suicide. That nearly broke my heart. He had been saying for years that he wasn't going to just waste away. I think it was incredibly selfish of him. He doesn't know the pain it has caused his wife and the boys. All he was worried about was not being a vegetable. Although maybe he thought it would be easier on his family not to see him wasting away. I don't know and probably never will, but I feel terribly for his wife and sons.

But on a brighter note, I'm gong to get a little bit of paid time at the school! Tina, the other aide, won't be there for a day so she got the school to give me her hours. And as I'm only a relief aide... I get paid heaps more.

Ayala got sick with a cold/flu yesterday. We asked her if she had started "oink-ing" yet (!). But when she went to the doctor, they said that, no,it was only a cold. Phew!

My baby sister is goin to turn 15 on Thursday!!! I can't believe it! She is old enough to get a job... to be considered nearly grown up. Wow! I never even thought this would make me feel OLD. And what makes me feel older is that my baby brother is about to turn 13. And I'm old enough to move out of home (not that I'm going to!), to get a car, to be totally independant. Well, nearly totally independant. Sort of... lol.

Well, I have to go. It's tea time...
God bless,
SARAH PATRICE MCFARLAND

Are you a fool?

Ok I know that people think "Me? A fool? No way!!!" But stop and think about it for a minute... Have you put away childish things? Not totally. Do I get a but carried away at times? Hmmm... Well, I found this quiz on another blog and it really makes you think. "><">Are you a fool? Quiz.

I haven't been writing a lot lately because I haven't had anything worth writing about and what I have been up to is so gloomy you will all be depressed! Sorry. A few people I have come to know or I know their families have recently passed away and I have been a bit preoccupied.

Well, I am a bit more cheerful now, things are starting to happen around here. Like I just signed everything to start my traineeship!!! I have been waiting for it and praying about it for over 6 months now and my boss hasn't got around to it, but finally it has come to fruition and I'll be starting in about a month. :D

It has been really cold here... Today it was only 2 degrees Celsius at 1:30 in the afternoon. And the fog didn't leave all day, so it was very gloomy feeling. Most days I get on the school bus and at the next stop a girl gets on wearing a mini dress (then I start shivering!) and I think "Silly girl!"
Cold and I don't get along so well... Except when I'm skiing!

I have started getting back into crocheting. Kath found a thing called scrumbling. What you do is basically do what you want, you don't follow a pattern and you can make the most amazing things! You can go out one way, the go a different direction and then do something completely opposite... It's fun.

Anyways, I have been basically talking about nothing, and I have to go :)
Talk next time...
Sarah

I need a holiday!!!

Ahhh! I don't know what it is about work that gets to me... I love it, but at the moment my boss isn't being very smart. She won't turn the heater on, she will go for a bike ride in the middle of the day to who knows where (which is highy illegal because a pharmacist isn't allowed to leave the premises during working hours if there isn't another pharmacist on duty.) she gives us an impossible amount of work to do in a busy day the wonders why it isn't all done at the end of the day, and when it isn't busy she wants us to be doing something all the time. And the other thing that bothers me is customers getting cranky when you don't meet their expectations (or in other words: that you aren't perfect.) I think it is time for a holiday... Like to the top of Queensland for the rest of the winter! Where it is nice and warm. :D

Does anyone have any brilliant ideas for a short story topic? I might be entering a competition called "Haywire". You have to live in a rural Australian community and be between the ages of 16 and 20. At the moment I am about all topic-ed out!

I have to go, I'm just about falling asleep on my computer!

God Bless
Sarah

"Some throught the water,
Some through the flood,
Some through the fire
But all throught the blood.
Some through great sorrow,
But God gives a song
In the night season
And all the day long."

I hope this encourages you...

"In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortres therefore for thy name's sake lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." (Psm 31:1-5)
"O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully awardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." (Psm 31:23-24)

I read this last night, and at the moment it seems to suit my position at the minute, not just these few verses, but the whole Psalm. And I just wanted to share it with you today... It made me feel like jumping for joy! I don't know how many times I have read this one, but last night it realy touched me.

In the last couple of months, I have been having some problems with my health. I don't know what is in store for me, or how serious it could turn out, but I know I have to place a whole lot more trust in the Lord. Please pray for me.

I love you guys,
God bless,
Sarah

back again :)

Hey people,

I have been kind of steering clear of the computer for a while (like since the computer blew up and we only had one laptop with internet on it) and I haven't had a lot of spare time on my hands anyway.
At least I have someone else at work to share the load a bit. She is great. As well as being one of my mate's mums, she used to be the school dentist and I have known her for years. On Saturday, Ingrid and I (Ayala tagged along too) went to Albury to look for pharmacy uniforms. We went to the uniforms shop and it was like $250 for 4 shirts (2 for each of us) so we had a look in Rockmans and they had a really nice jacket/vest so we decided on that for our base colour and it ended up being about $350 for about 4 shirts, the vest and 2 pairs of pants each. Much better value :). Now Kate wants a uniform like it too. That is a really great compliment when your boss likes the uniform so much, that she decides to get the same thing.

"Come thou fount of ev'ry blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace.
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me ever to adore thee
May I still Thy goodness prove.
While the hope of endless glory
fills my hear with joy and love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I've come.
And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought my when a stanger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed his precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering soul to thee.
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart
O take and seal it
Seal it for thy courts above." -Robert Robinson

That has to be one of my favourite hymns. But the writer commited suicide 10 years later. That is really sad.

I'll write more another day.
God bless,
Sar

Hmmm...

Hey Everybody,
I'm really sorry that I haven't written in so long. I can't believe how busy I have been! One of my mates mums started a job at the chemist. She is really great, I hope she will be able to put up with Kate...
I can't believe that in a couple of weeks, Ayala will be 18! It seems like yesterday she was 5 and I was 4, being the bossy older sister. I know everyone says that, but it is so true. Life flies.

I've been reading "The British Josiah" which is about Edward VI. From such a young age, he was the most mature christian I have ever heard of. I haven't read all of it, but it gives a really good account of his life, and I would recommend reading it. :)
I have to go,
Sarah

Just saying "HI"

G'day Guys,
Just saying "Hi, how's it going?" 'cos I don't have a lot to write today... Except that Dan and I went with Dad to Mama's and Pop's on Saturday. Mama took Dan and I shopping. Dan didn't think it was too fun following his sister and grandmother through all the clothing shops in the plaza! But we bought him a pair of jeans and a nice shirt, so he did well out of it.
OK, gotta go and make Mum and Dad their cuppas!
God Bless, have a great week!
Sarah

hi :)

hey Everybody...
Wow, busy week! Today is Friday, and tomorrow, hopefully, I will be sleeping in. It has been hard this week with Lyndal leaving and working by myself for a few days. I don't want that to happen again! Especially when it is one of the busiest times of year. Anyway, Carl came back today, so he was able to train the new girl who is going to work after school and on Saturdays. I love having someone else do the traing side of things, because I'm not very good at it! :) It's easy as to do the things yourself, but teaching someone else to do it is a totally different story... But I know Kia and she is really good. There is supposed to be another lady starting sometime in the next week too. She is the school dentist, and she will be great to be the expert in the dental area. I've known her for years, but I don't know what working with her will be like. She and Kate won't get on very well I don't think. Time will tell...

We get the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets where we live. They were great back at Cudgewa, but here, it is just really beautiful :)

"My God will always be enough for the longings of my soul, He alone can fill my cup 'til my spirit overflows, from a well of living water, He renews me with his love. My god will always be enough." - Karen Peck and New River

Have to go,
xoxox
God Bless
Sarah

Hey hey!

Hey every body!
Isn't it great that Easter is over with and we are free to get on with the rest of the year?! I don't know why, but between New Year's and Easter, I feel like I'm holding my breath. It feels like Easter is when the year really begins, as normal. Weird!!!

So, since my last post, a few interesting things happened... like one of our friends, Rachel, who is about to turn 12 came out for a 'girlie' day. We conned her dad into letting her stay for the night and the next day. It was really good, and it gave her a break from a houseful of boys! I taught her to ride the 4-wheeler (motorbike) and we sewed most of a skirt for her. But most of all we just had fun... and of course, the kittens got extremely spoiled :)

And on Thursday night, Mum and Dad had to go to a meeting with the other 6 farmers in our group to decide if we are going to stay with this milk company, or move to another one.
That day, I was working and it didn't seem to have much point for Mum to come pick me up at 3 pm and then go back in at 6:30. So I worked the full day, then went to my workmate's house and had a great talk with her and her husband, listening to their stories about living at Ayers rock and Alice Springs. Then Mum and Dad picked me up and we went to the meeting.
From what everyone was saying, it sounds like the milk company we are with at the moment don't want to keep us on as suppliers... and the group don't particularly want to go back to Murray Golbourn (one of the main companies). It is a pain being with a company with only 7 suppliers in this area, and being so far away from anywhere, 'cos the freight charge is getting ridiculous: we are getting 28 cents a litre for milk and they are taking out 9 1/2 cents for freight. It is not really worth milking anymore... Mum and Dad are getting less than $500 a week between them. :P The only answer is to keep praying.

It's the last week of the holidays! I can't wait 'til it's over :)then I'll be able to see the kids again, and we won't be spending so much money on fuel...

Tomorrow is my work mate's last day, and she will be replaced by my boss's boyfriend... He's not bad, but he's not the same as Lyndal.

It's really great, now. After the rain in the last week, everything is getting green and growing again :) green grass has to be one of my favourite things. And soon we will have feed for the cows... wonderful.

Gotta go,
God bless,
Sarah M.