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Aria's Place has been my dream since I started as an educator in Early Childhood teaching. I believe you deserve to receive the highest quality of care for your children when hiring a babysitter or nanny. All of your babysitters will have an up-to-date Working With Children check, first aid certificate, early childhood qualification and current experience working with children. Our child-minding agency is currently servicing the northern, eastern and southern suburbs of Sydney. If you would like more information or to book an educator today, please call Lina on 0403 136 982. ** References are available for your personal babysitter upon request also. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JfZCBAtg2/?igshid=m4p201aba9uo

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Aria's Place has been my dream since I started as an educator in Early Childhood teaching. I believe you deserve to receive the highest quality of care for your children when hiring a babysitter or nanny. All of your babysitters will have an up-to-date Working With Children check, first aid certificate, early childhood qualification and current experience working with children. Our child-minding agency is currently servicing the northern, eastern and southern suburbs of Sydney. If you would like more information or to book an educator today, please call Lina on 0403 136 982. ** References are available for your personal babysitter upon request also https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JfCdjAxyU/?igshid=8711rpj6xaub

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Sunday just passed, I was privy to some of our #villagekids enjoying a new cubby at the Children's Festival this last Sunday. It was so lovely to hear the story about how community came together to help this little non-profit. Thank you to the @northsydneybearsofficial for helping with building this beauty. 📸 @capturedbyaria Photography . . . 🤸‍♀️🏡 #ariasplace #anearlychildhoodvillage #earlychildhood #babysitting #nanny #children #earlyyears #childminding #qualifiededucators #qualifiedbabysitters #childdevelopment #playexperiences #learningoutcomes #openended #playideasforkids #childcare #supportchildren #daycare #preschool #kids #education #earlylearning #childcareprovider #crowsnest #northsydney #family #mums https://www.instagram.com/p/B4FTrOagdtk/?igshid=cnaoo4o57lqb

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Miss Lane and the New Kid on the Block - Part 1

He seemed so very nonchalant as he gazed at her from across the room. She smiled half hazardly and only kind of because she felt expected to. She was tired, fatigued but not of the usual kind. Another male, another problem, she thought. But, that was not what she ended up saying of course. She will leave the hurts of the Opera Bar and Toxic Turmoil behind her. As best as she could, anyway.

“You good?” she intervened the gaze, smiling too enthusiastically. 

“Yeah, all good. But how about you? Are you OK?” He cooed, stroking her back gently. She tried not to cringe as the familiar hunger hunting games began. Or were they just all in her imagination? There was only one thing she knew, she was tired. Oh, wait. She mentioned that already, didn’t she?

“I am OK -- thanks for noticing. Very kind of you.” She looked down at his hand still lingering and shrugged him off. 

“You know, just life. It’ll be cool.” she added.

“Oh, yeah -- that’s good. Well, I’ll be off, maybe see you around?” He looked at her quizzically.

“Yeah we probably will, what with having mutual friends and what not.” She added, trying not to sound too sarcastic, bitter, avoidant, bit...

“Yeah, sure” He added, waving to her and finishing his sentence as he scampered off. She watched him almost run away, trying to process the short and strange interaction. A mixture of genuine care and the meeting of social expectations. 

Yes, please go. Please leave me. I know it’s not your fault but I am tired of always trying to guess whether there is an agenda or not with your folk. Should I be myself or super protective? Who has the energy anymore? She thought to herself. Friend was her only solitude in times such as these and she turned to him for help as she had done so many times before. She knew if she rested with him for some time, she would have the energy to endure a new friendship and watch for the flags should she get caught in another rip.

Some days past and she heard her phone ringing. Rushing out of the shower she answered it cheerfully. 

“Hello, Lane speaking!”

“Hi, Lane! It’s me, Kid.”

He had her number. Well, isn’t that just swell, she thought. How did he get her number?

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Learning to Wait for that Man

Okay, I thought I would write on my most recent lesson. You see, I thought that I had all my anxieties about this all patted out. Done. Dusted. I mean, I also haven’t men a man who I would really seriously consider dating... for a very long time. You know what it’s like, for a small moment you think that love will change him and all will be well if you could at least seal the deal and become official.

Nah, just wait. Watch, wait and pray. God knows what is best for us and He will provide a husband even if we don’t believe it. Some days, I really don’t believe it. But, I have noticed that the more I trust in Him and on Him, the more my activities about finding a husband subsides. Even when I stumble and become worried, anxious and act on those fears, I bounce back faster because of His testimony. God is good, always.

Meanwhile, new lesson added. I met someone, or rather -- as it seemed at first glance, he met me. I got introduced through a friend and we got to chatting. Now, I thought -- OK, this guy is interested. Ergo, I got his number from my friend and just said hi. What followed was what I thought was a lovely myriad of conversations, man leading. Questions, jokes, innocent mischief and most importantly, a good rapport. That was the first 3 days. Soon after, what I found was very disappointing. No messages, no contact. Now, the old me would have 100 percent taken that personally, where as I probably took it 30 percent to heart. Such a small amount still hurt. What I am quickly realising though, is that I have waited for so long for a good man and someone who will love me, that I am willing to wait that little longer and would rather have no one than act on desperation. That, and everything is an opportunity to learn something new for the next time around.

So, what did I learn?

Rapport does not mean there will be a relationship and is not the man’s way of committing to getting to know you. That needs to be said in words so that clarity and openness can be your measuring rod. I am not one of these; “All men are the same” kind of women, I think we are all sinners and all have the potential to act or not act in certain ways. So, without judging the male in question, what he has taught me is how to learn to have a respectful relationship with someone. 

That takes time, waiting and living your life. That takes allowing the man to lead and being honest with him. In turn-taking and mirroring the man, a woman will find opportunity to still act on her own conscience without compromise. If two people are compatible and attracted to one another, no one has to try harder than what they can nor be someone other than who they are. 

Things will happen as they will, regardless because the things we try and do to control situations and people is just an illusion. We are never in control and that is something we try to deceive ourselves with to try and overcome our fear. 

Fear God, trust Him.

He will cause us to overcome all those fears.

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PS: To that guy, Without you even knowing it, God has caused our minimal interactions to even work for good. Thank you, although you were not very Mr. Darcy like about the whole thing and my Lizzy is still going strong too. 

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Shake all that can be Shaken.

That was my prayer last week. My prayer after hearing a sermon about ensuring that you are walking in the light. Ensuring that you are truly a believer, one that hears the word of God and acts on them. I really mean’t it then, when I prayed it. I really do want to be found lacking nothing. 

One week later, I am not so sure. Why? Because I am tired of the struggle between flesh and spirit. “How long, Lord, how long?” is the cry from my soul. How I long for peace without conflict and how I fail to rest in the peace of the Lord among the conflict.

So, it was not long after my prayer that the trials started. Hitting from all angles. Home, work, friends, colleagues, church, uni. Physical, mental, financial, spiritual. I am being pressed and I feel, constantly at the edge of mental sanity. Yet, I am still not a broken woman. I still will not cry out completely.

So, I suppose what is the end of the matter? That God allow these trials so that my faith may be tested. That I may be tried and where I am found lacking, it may be brought to the surface. So that this soul may eventually reach that state of pure and tried gold - complete at His return.

Meanwhile, I am failing miserably. My flesh rages and my spirit keeps quite. I think it does us well to pray for the willingness of the spirit to cry louder than the flesh. Instead of allowing the flesh to reign; We must allow the spirit to praise the Lord, Who has ever right place to reign above all things.

Oh, Lord help us all.

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Memory Recall.

This is to remind you, oh forgetful one, of the most common cause of your stumbling. Those times you worry, feel sick and want to just go to bed and sleep. You are not depressed, but you are tired. You are not even fully tired but unable to think. You can find no fault in the foreground of your mind, but you know that deep down, way in the back, you have thoughts that are guiding your motivations, happiness and joy. It should not be this way.

So, by way of productivity, I am here to remind you as to why you are stressed for the days you quickly become this way. You are reacting to external circumstances. A smile, a laugh, a text, a frown and even the simplest form of attention retraction. These affect you and you let them get in deep enough to through you right of your daily axis. 

Keep to your routine but not to help you feel better. Do it because you know that it is right and true and will perhaps defer you from these things that distract your mind and thought life in general. Know and understand that you can not control, change nor should, manipulate anyone for your own good pleasure. 

Always pray without ceasing and the God of Peace will grant you peace in every circumstance. Especially this one. This one that you hate so much, the one that you find the hardest. Pray at His feet, at His throne, at His footstool until He gives you victory according to His will. Meanwhile, enjoy the fellowship with your God and Savior  not seeing it as a means to an end... but a continual, pleasant and blessed place to be.

He knows this is what you really want. He knows that you so desire it. Let it not turn to sin but trust Him. What does that mean here?

It means, that you have to believe that no matter what happens, you can't make it what you want it to be. More so, if you call Him Lord, He needs to be the master over all you do. Which means, ask Him and wait on Him to lead you through how to behave and act and what to do. 

When you are choking, fretting, worrying, crying, laughing hysterically -- whatever the circumstances, he is always Lord. Know that He knows and cares for you... but you need to stop trying to take control.

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T: Who knows what this really long body part is called? (shows a picture) 5 year old: Oh! *laughs hysterically* Wait, wait... I know. That' s the poo pipe!

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Teacher: who knows the meaning of greed? What exactly is... greed? 3 year old: Oh! Oh! I know! Teacher: Really? Well, tell us what you think? 3 year old: well, greedy is when... (she smiles and stretches both arms out and opens them) you have many beautiful things... but you want more. Teacher: Um. Yeah. Wow. Good answer.

My experiences at pre-school.

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These are the days we’re living in; sin is given an emblem and flown at full mast for all to see.

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Teacher: Who knows what human rights means? 4 year old: Well, it’s actually something not everyone has. In the world. I think.

My experiences at pre-school

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Tonight, amongst the mayhem I accepted a very important realisation about my work. I have a very real opportunity to challenge the children in my charge to ask the tough questions and seek the truth in their learning... praying that they will find Jesus Christ there, waiting for them.

#blessedopportunity #Godfirst

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The Upward Prize in Jesus.

Just a little encouragement from Paul, someone with whom if ever anyone had the right to boast in the flesh, he did. The way that Paul sees the coming Resurrection and our being gathered together to Him, it has not happened. That is obvious. So why does Paul make it such a profound statement;

" Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained." {Philippians 3:12-16}

It is both beautiful and wonderful and also a warning. We are not yet perfect, but we are perfect. Perfect because we have been justified. Perfect because we are being sanctified but not perfect because we are not yet glorified because we have not yet been raised as believers and seen our Lord. Paul warns us, that because we have not yet received our perfection, we must continue to press forward to that calling. How does this look?

A person who is pressing forward is forgetting what happened behind them {their former ways of life} and they continue to live for the Lord {looking ahead to His coming} someone who is looking ahead to His coming is naturally keeping in mind that they shall be held accountable to their way of living. I love how Paul ends this warning, "live by that same standard to which we have attained." When you were born-again and you became a NEW creation, that is the same standard by which we shall continue living.

Praise be to God, who gives us the power, the might and the Spirit by which we can come to Him and cry; "ABBA, Father, help us accomplish this!"

Be blessed, always, 

Your sister in Christ.

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While Today is still Today.

I need God.

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One foot at home one foot on enemy ground A part of me longing for that all too familiar sound, With animal instinct, a prideful cry As the world marches on I the darkest of night Still your spoken whisper is always calling me home So I put on the armour skillfully crafted for me some I called friends revealed as yiur enemies How I long for peace ao I begin to implore Then I remeber the spirit of your sword. And I can find the strength to stand in this place But the battle.is two fold and one of them closer to home Continue to break.this heart still so set in stone. To die to the old man, to live to the new The one that was skilfully crafted.in you To be the small tree bearing fruit in a foriegn land. Both feet at home for how long I do not know' But deserting you for the world has humbled me so For its not by my strength its not in my mighy And its not in the count of my victory fights Its by the blood of christ I have new life

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Kids crave reason and meaning, give it to them. Don’t create young skeptics…. they still possess something many an adult have lost; honesty.

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I think good relationships are important… and the challenge one has is to keep consistant in their goodly behaviour toward another; whether the other knows what is good for them or not.

#Protect thy brother