Prayer Request - Smoking

Hi Everyone

I am doing really, really badly on the stopping smoking front. I have, so far, managed not to buy a packet but I go up to people on the street for one every few hours. This, I know, is not good enough. I feel terrible.

My stress levels are also through the roof. I had to leave class an hour early today because I was stressed and couldn't concentrate. Luckily I am well ahead with my work so the main damage is to my pride.

I really, really want to give up but it is much tougher than I imagined. I need your help!

Pray please. Give suggestions. Pray again.

Thanks guys

Amber

Yay - Amber and Jessie are moving out!

Hi Everyone

Yes it's true - I got the flat and I can have my beautiful cat Jessie with me. I am so excited and nervous. As it is permanent housing (no lease - you can only be kicked out for bad behaviour etc) this is a tremendous relief for me and a real answer to prayer.

I move in 1-2 weeks which I know will be hectic and stressful. Please pray that I get through it well.

I am also now going to try and give up smoking as I promised God I would try if I got the place. This will also be good for me in terms of my physical health. I will start off on nicotine replacement therapy so I don't get too grumpy and then gradually wean off it.

Anyway thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. They worked!

God Bless

Amber

A Housing Possibility

Hi Everyone

Thanks so much for your support and prayers over what has been a very tough week for me.

Anyway yesterday I went to see my case manager and she said that Mental Health Services had put my name down for a designated Mental Health Unit. I am the only one who they put forward to get it so it seems to be a real possibility.

The next step is to see whether Housing Management will approve me going in. My Case Manager is fairly positive that they will but, just in case, please, please pray that they do.

Also please pray that I can take my beautiful cat Jessie with me.

I went yesterday to see the unit and it is lovely. They are painting it. It is larger than my current unit and closer to amenities.

I will know next week so stay tuned.

God Bless

Amber

Out of credit

Hi Everyone

Just a quick note to say that I am out of internet credit so won't be able to post or comment much for the next few days.

Keep up the prayer please - still experiencing symptoms but they are getting better.

Will be back on board on Saturday.

May God Bless you all

Amber

Twilight - the Book

Hi Everyone

My apologies for being absent from the blogging world for a little while. Upon returning to Hobart I was seized with incredible tiredness and it was all I could do to get to my classes.

Now for the subject at hand - Twilight. Let me tell you that before Twilight I hated vampire tales, was sick to death of teenage love stories (after being a teacher for five years they get to you) and had no idea that the two together would be so compelling.

The book is wonderfully written and the romantic/sexual tension is really wonderfully done.

I also related to the heroine - Bella Swan. Bella is clumsy (like me), smart (hopefully like me), has low self-esteem (like me) and has no idea how she comes across to other people (like me).

I imagined I was Bella and I found myself falling in love with a vampire. Believe me I've never done that before!

Edward's character is done really well. I could really see his struggle with his growing love for Bella and his knowledge that being a vampire would, well, sort of complicate things a little.

The book also has a lot of twists and turns - Bella's life is at risk three, yes three, times. Usually I would just think that that was totally unrealistic and stop reading. But it's hard, very hard, to stop reading Twilight.

I did read somewhere that some Christian groups dislike Twilight. I am unsure why. If you're one of them please tell me why.

As a Christian reader I really related to it. Edward's struggle with his 'inner monster' is very like my own struggle with sin. It was done very, very well. Also his totally unconditional love for Bella is very like God's love for us.

Bella, likewise, is willing to risk her life to save both her own and Edward's families.

Apparently some people hate Twilight - I really thought I'd be one of them but I have already made arrangements to purchase the other books from a girl in my course who has them and hates their presence.

On a different note (ie end of book review note) please pray for me regarding my cat's health and my impending eviction.

God Bless

Amber

Tasmanian Polytechnic - Here I Come

Hi Everyone

Today has been a long (and hot) day but I am finally enrolled in Certificate 3 in Business Administration. Yay!

This semester I will do the non-computing units - which are - Work Effectively in a Business Environment, Participate in OHS processes, Process accounts payable and receivable, Organise Schedules, Write Simple Documents, Deliver and Monitor a service to customers, Maintain daily financial/business records, Organise workplace information and Organise personal work priorities and development.

Course loading is approximately 50% (15 and a half contact hours) so most of you will probably be seeing less of me. I will, however, be needing lots of prayer and encouragement.

It may seem like an easy-ish course but I am not used to having to manage my time or associate with people who are outside my comfort zone (old friends, Christians and the mentally ill). Please pray for me for those two things particularly. I am excited but nervous.

I start on Tuesday 10th February so for those who want to catch up with me before I become very busy (for me anyway) that would be the deadline.

Also I intend doing an Adult Education course in writing on Tuesday mornings and working in the church office either Wednesday afternoons or Thursday mornings.

Thankfully I have been able to get set in good habits of cleanliness and exercise. Please pray that I keep up these habits.

This is a new and exciting step for me and I hope it will prove to be the right step.

God Bless you all

Amber