Hola From New Zealand

  It is an interesting experience to talk with someone that you like, and to use your influence to encourage them in the things of God instead of pursuing and romantic relationship with them.
  I won't go deeper into the subject, but I would suggest that any single women out there that are wondering how they can relate to the opposite gender while remaining respectful, and keeping their standards and morals high, and enjoying a friendship I would recommend reading P.B. Wilson's book "Your Knight in Shining Armor." My friend Sarah and I did this book as a study together and we got a lot out of it.
  I got it from the Christian Bookshop, and I don't regret buying it.
  Have not had any donations in a while, but I think that the fundraising is still coming along good. But the more money that Orphans Aid gets, the more they can give to the orphanages they have set up and the more they can do in the countries where they work. The more homes they can set up or extend. The more orphans that can be cared for. The more staff that can be hired to look after the children and love them. So do not stop donating. Continue on supporting my fundraising goal and Orphans Aid in prayer and through donations.
Thank you,
  Ruby.

PS: I did my data entry work today and that went well. Only took 4 and a half hours to do it this week. Last week it took seven hours.

All For Love

This week at church we are playing the songs: All For Love, Arms Open Wide, Overcome, the Stand, and Our God is Greater. Great line-up for songs accept for All For Love. I really like this song, and I have never played it in church before. Now that would be all right, accept for the fact that on Thursday night (tonight) we are not having a practice for muso's like we normally do, because Esther Melody Band is doing a workshop for the music team. I want to do this song justice when I am drumming to it... so I guess I had better get drumming.
5 minutes later
Okay, so I just tried drumming to it with the headphones on once, and then with the headphones off once playing along to it on YouTube... and I did not do so great. I think I have the technique of how the song goes down, but not the speed, cause I keep getting out of time. Harsh, but true.
A number of hours later
It is now 10:28pm on Thursday the 8th of December. The workshop, which was for all the churches in Blenheim, not just for our churches music group, I later found out, went pretty well. I learned a lot of new stuff and heard some expressions I had never heard before, but now I am hoping I can remember it all.
I finished off my beanie, just to let you know, and now I have started on another one. Well, I have not actually finished it, it still has to be stitched together or whatever it is called to resemble a proper beanie, but all the knitting is done for it.
After the workshop when I was sitting outside waiting for Dad to come and pick me up I felt extremely sad and alot like I used to feel back in the day when I was going through my depression stage. And I thought to myself, Dude, what is going on? I think I know why I feel quite bad. Embarrassing as it is to admit, I think I was focusing more on the attractive drummer tonight than what was being said. Like I said, embarrassing. But, at least I can comfort myself with the fact that you cannot have two drummers in a band. You may not know why that would comfort me, because that is saying that nothing would romantically progress between myself and another drummer, but it does for some reason. I'm not really sure why.
At the end of the day, I want God to chose my husband. I don't want to love him because he is attractive, or because he is interesting, or because he is funny and fun to hang out with. Those things are cool and all, but I want to love my husband because He is God's choice for me. Because then I will know that we'll be a match made in heaven... literally. And, to be honest, my choosing in guys usually isn't that great. Not meaning to diss the drummer, or anything. But, to counteract that comment, I have noticed that my attention has been leaning towards the Godly guys since I got back on track with God a couple of years ago. And slowly I am setting higher and higher standards.
This blog is getting long. Peace out.

The Wedding

It is the week leading up to the wedding. I am excited. My only sister is getting married. It will be different not having her about the house anymore. But she will be in her own home, which will be cool. Then I can go up there and see her and my brother-in-law. And catch the goldfish in their goldfish pond. Shhh, don't tell them I said that.
In a blog a while ago I mentioned some things in my life that I was feeling God was wanting me to cut out, but I was not ready to give them up. Well, one of the things that changed since last Sunday night was that I gave up one of those things in particular. My life since that Sunday night has been great. It has still been hard because I seem to be able to feel really happy and then really sad all in the space of a couple of hours, but I am not the one who has to deal with my emotions alone, God helps me.
  How I relate to boys has changed since then, also. Before I was so sure that I wanted to get married young, and everything like that, and I would be devastated if my life ended without me being a wife and mother,  but now I feel more content that whatever God wants for my life will bring me the greatest pleasure. The greatest joy. I am not sure that I will marry or not, but I would still like to. I think that the want to get married has been put in its proper place: somewhere down the line, far under where God stands as my True Love. I am learning that I do not need to put my future happiness in having a husband, but that my happiness will be placed in God, who will never let me down.
Moving on... my hair is growing longer. I can tie it up in a ponytail now.
Before I close I want to clarify that the reason I have grown in my relationship is not because of a church service on Sunday night. That was where it started. But it continued with me reading my Bible each day, praying, and asking God what He wants me to do.
  Your friend in Christ,
Ruby.