I came across the song, Something Just Like This a little while ago and I liked it instantly. "I've been reading books of old the legends and the myths", that is just so me. Heroes from those old legends and myths, and any stories in general, can fill my mind sometimes. Superheroes are rather cool too. The song really struck me with how much I agreed with it though. It made me think. Before I continue, here is the song and lyrics.

I've been reading books of old

The legends and the myths

Achilles and his gold

Hercules and his gifts

Spiderman's control

And Batman with his fists

And clearly I don't see myself upon that list

But she said, where'd you wanna go?

How much you wanna risk?

I'm not looking for somebody

With some superhuman gifts

Some superhero

Some fairytale bliss

Just something I can turn to

Somebody I can kiss

I want something just like this

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Oh, I want something just like this

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Oh, I want something just like this

I want something just like this

I've been reading books of old

The legends and the myths

The testaments they told

The moon and its eclipse

And Superman unrolls

A suit before he lifts

But I'm not the kind of person that it fits

She said, where'd you wanna go?

How much you wanna risk?

I'm not looking for somebody

With some superhuman gifts

Some superhero

Some fairytale bliss

Just something I can turn to

Somebody I can miss

I want something just like this

I want something just like this

Oh, I want something just like this

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Oh, I want something just like this

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Where'd you wanna go?

How much you wanna risk?

I'm not looking for somebody

With some superhuman gifts

Some superhero

Some fairytale bliss

Just something I can turn to

Somebody I can kiss

I want something just like this

Oh, I want something just like this

Oh, I want something just like this

Oh, I want something just like this

No I'm not looking for somebody, with some superhuman gifts, some superhero, some fairytale bliss; just something I can turn to, somebody I can miss.

Fairytales can help us see our world, but if looked at the wrong way they can do the opposite. 

It is so true, and yet I forget it so easily. Fairytales have quite a power to draw people away from the real world, and those legends full of heroes, written men, characters. The heroes there are simply characters, they are not real—they are of course a reflection of reality—but there real men are in this world, they are not exactly like those men from stories but they are real. 

Young ladies, we need to be careful not to let those fictional characters steal our hearts away in the pages of their books, their stories, their movies or wherever they are. I have no problem with high expectations, but men are human, people are human, story characters are characters. Humans are not perfect. We are fallible. 

And really do you want a superhero? Jesus is the only superhero earth has ever had, and ever will have, but we can all turn to him, and should place him first.We should not expect men to act as superheroes. Jesus is our superhero. Men should be men. For those of us who are still single, we already have our superhero in Christ, he is "something I can turn to".

Young men, please be men. Strive to follow our hero Jesus, and be men. That is what I suspect most women want deep down, men who can be men. I want something just like this. 

It is finally the time to share the cover of A Time to Rise! For any who do not know A Time to Rise is the third and last book in the Out of Time Series by Nadine Brandes. It is set to be released on the 14th of October 2016 in America which makes it the 15th here in Australia.

But to the point, you want to see the cover. Actually you probably scrolled down and saw it before coming back to read anything.

That is what I do. 

So with no more delay I present to you 

*insert sound of dramatic music*

*insert imaginary drum roll*

*insert a great gust of wind*

the cover 

of 

A Time to Rise!

Doesn't it look so good! 

You can find it here at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27230665-a-time-to-rise

Now follows the synopsis which contains spoilers for the previous books so consider yourself warned.

What more can you sacrifice than your life?

Parvin Blackwater is dead.

At least…that’s what the Council—and the world—thinks. But her sacrifice tore down part of the Wall long enough to stir up hope and rebellion in the people. Now she will rise again. Strong, free, and fearless.

Parvin and Solomon must uncover the mysterious clues that Jude left behind in order to destroy the projected Wall once and for all. Meanwhile, the Council schemes to new levels of technology in its attempts to keep the people contained. Can a one-handed Radical and a scarred ex-Enforcer really bring shalom to the world?

So if you have not read the previous books you should forget that you just read that synopsis, and read the other two books now, so you are ready for A Time to Rise when it comes out. The three of them look so good together, I can't wait for them to all sit in a row on my shelf. 

Now I bombard you with links 

You can find A Time to Die all these places:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Book Depository

Christian Book Distributors

Goodreads 

As for A Time to Speak, look here for it:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Book Depository

Goodreads 

And because if you don't know what an amazing person Nadine is you are really missing out. She here are some links to the places she usually resides on the internet:

Website: http://nadinebrandes.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/NadineBrandesAuthor

Instagram: http://instagram.com/NadineBrandes

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NadineBrandes 

And there is also a giveaway of cuteness. A whole set of the tiny bookmark characters! So enter into that before you go. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
>

Have you read any of Nadine's books?

Do you like dystopian fiction?

Anticipation 

When I grow up I mean to be

A Lion large and fierce to see.

I’ll mew so loud that Cook in fright

Will give me all the cream in sight.

And anyone who dares to say

“Poor Puss” to me will rue the day.

Then having swallowed him I’ll creep

Into the Guest Room Bed to sleep. 

by Oliver Herford

I learnt that poem many yeas ago and still remember it, I am not a cat but I am anticipating a few things. And that is what this post is about. I am also sure there are a few things I have forgotten but obviously I am not anticipating them much if I have forgotten them.

The closest thing I am anticipating is the release of Songkeeper..... the second book in "The Songkeeper Chronicles" which will also be a trilogy. Check out the cover! I enjoyed book one but I have an ARC of Songkeeper and am halfway though it and it is even better, when I am finished I will post a review, and in a few days some more fan art because there are so many scenes I could draw. 

Secondly, Brotherband 6: The Ghostfaces by John Flanagan. When I first heard the title of this one I thought it was rather weird and not so nice sounding, but after reading the synopsis it makes sense. So here is that synopsis: When the brotherband crew are caught in a massive storm at sea, they're blown far off course, surviving only because they wash up on the shores of a land that isn't on any of Hal's maps. 

They're being watched, but they don't know if the locals are friend or foe – until the brotherband spring into action to rescue two children from a marauding bear, earning the Herons the gratitude of the Mawagansett people. The peace is short-lived. The ruthless, warmongering Ghostface tribe are heading their way, and the Herons must help their new friends repel an invasion. 

Among the nail-biting battles and heart-stopping action, one Heron must make an agonising decision that could change the brotherband forever. 

John Flanagan writes his action packed books so well and they are filled with such Australian humour, our family just enjoys these stories so much.

A Time To Rise is probably the thing I wish would hurry up and be released sooner than all the rest, I need to read this book.... I really... really...do. I can't wait.. but alas I must.

JASON BOURNE 5; this one is quite different from the other things I am anticipating the release of, one, it is a movie, and two, I really don't know what to expect of it. I hope it is as epic as the previous movies ...... I am anticipating it but I don't necessarily  recommend it or the others movies before it to most of my readers.... they are really well done but really violent... But I do hope this movie is a good as the first few!

Another thing I am anticipating is my birthday! Yes I know it is just over a month away but still it is my birthday! YAY!..... oh golly I am going to be so old......

And the last thing I can thing of is Austockphoto. It is a new stock photography gallery. Where you will be able to buy heaps of all Australian images from. I am a photographer for it! They are hoping to launch in the middle of the year sometime.

What are you anticipating? Books being released, movies, something else?

I got Out of Darkness Rising by Gillian Bronte Adams for Christmas. I had been wanting to read it for ages, and I was not disappointed by it, except maybe that is was so thin. I wanted it to last longer.

Darkness reigns unchallenged.

For the villagers on the accursed Island, life has only one meaning - death. Bound to the Island by the curse, the villagers suffer beneath the iron claw of the Serpent, daily breathing the poison of his breath and dying to appease his insatiable appetite.

When Marya’s parents are slain by the serpent for their belief in a legendary king, she becomes an outcast. Struggling to survive and avoid the vengeance of the Tribunal, Marya is torn between legend and the harsh reality of the Island. Yet when a forgotten promise springs to life, she cannot help wondering if the old stories might in fact be true. And if they are, will the promise prove stronger than the curse? 

The back cover actually gives away a bit more of the story than I would like, but hopefully you will have forgotten it by the time you read this book. If you don't you will still be able to enjoy it immensely. The first sentence is rather good too. As are the cool dragon/serpent pictures inside. (which I did not take photos of...)

This story is an allegory of redemption. Out of Darkness Rising is a short read, sad, and hopeful and beautiful, the writing resounds with one of the world greatest truths. But it does not forget the story or plot. The characters are fairly relatable, although because of the shortness you only get to know them so much. The story, a retelling of the greatest rescue, is epic. But I must again say it felt over too soon, I wish it was longer. Another point to it would be that some of the writing actually reminded me a little of C.S. Lewis' writing. 

And the cover is seriously cool too, especially since it is a scene in the story, and because it just is. I do like it when it actually happens in the book though. And as it suggests, there are swords and a dragon in the book.

Have you read any of Gillian Bronte Adams' books?

She has only published two, but there are more coming!

I saw this poem the other day and thought that I must never forget how to be a little girl, or at least not for a long time yet. I don't know who to credit this lovely poem to, because where I found it the name under it was Margaret Fishback Powers, but in another place Henry Alfred Dixon. Maybe it was another who really wrote it, I don't know. Most sources say Anonymous. But whoever it was that wrote it I am glad they did.

This poem made me think. We are so often in a rush, from one thing to another. We don't stop, we are not often still. God has given us so many things, small moments to enjoy. It is easy to grow to old and not stop to look at the world through the eyes of a little girl. But here is the poem, so you can read it before I continue.

I have only read three books from this series -Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl- but they are all really good and I want to read the rest of the books too. Heartless is the first book in the series, Starflower is the fourth and Draven's Light is number seven and a half. They are fantasy books, in which lurk dragons and other evil powers, which are trying destroy the world or capture peoples hearts, but also there are brave men and women of courage. It made me think of this quote by C. S. Lewis;

“Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.”

I experienced one of those rare magic moments today. I felt as though a portal to some fantasy place had opened for a minute. The experience just seemed too wonderful to belong in this worlds realm. It was kind of like a glimpse of heaven.

The juices in my mouth stopped squishing in sweet flavoursome bursts at every chew and no longer slipped smoothly down my throat to fill my stomach in a satisfactory way. The soft pulpy fruit turned hard after a few mouthfuls and the liquid that ran from it, down my arm, began to feel sticky and dirty. 
I chewed harder; my teeth grating together, with a gulp, another mouthful of the fruit scratched its way to fill the pit of my stomach, sharp edges catching at my throat. Yet I cannot stop. My jaws keep working and again I swallow... I swallow what feels like rocks picked up from beside a path, gravel. 

Our church had a ladies dessert night last night. Bel Thompson gave her testimony and sang some of her beautiful songs. She reminded everyone of how special each of us are and how much God loves us. Which of course is true and I enjoyed it very much. 

I did think this though;

It is not just about love.

Love is only one of the first baby steps.

Our journey with God is so much more

our life, in EVERY way should be dedicated

devoted to God

ALL we do, say, think, should be for

the GLORY of God

I scribbled this onto a serviette while I was listening to one of her songs. 
Feel free to use the wallpaper if you wish, but for personal use only.

Most mornings and many afternoons this month and the end of last, a flock of screeching birds fly over our house and land in one of the tall gum trees next to it. I counted over twenty birds most days. Bright colours flashing they settle into the branches of a gum and almost disappear, except that they screech to one another continually and when they move there is a flash of vibrant colour before they meld back in to the green leaves and blue sky. Then there is the click, click, click of their beaks as they snip at the pink or pale yellow gum blossoms. 

Here is a small fact to think on:

~ You are going to live forEVER ~

Or to put it another way

~ Your soul is IMMORTAL ~

After you leave your body

you will continue to live....

but where?

there are only two options

and this is not an either or fallacy

it is fact

now is the time to chose where you will spend eternity

One candle stood in a corner. It looked silently out over the room; it could not see to the rooms extent, the candle did not even know if there were other edges. Hundreds of thousands of candles stood in the shadowy room.  A few of the candles had faint lights on them, some sputtered, but most were dark. In one place nearby, a group of lighted candles stood together right next to each other. Each little flame melded together to create one roaring tower of light that could be seen by many more candles. The group of candles dispersed, each leaving with more fire atop it than it arrived with. They went out and mingled with the unlit candles. 

From the corner the candle watched, many of the dark candles leaned towards a flaming candle as he passed them. The flaming candle stopped in amongst a huddle of dark ones, as he left the wick atop one he had just spoke with sputtered into life, a faint glow, but still a glow. 

Sadly some of the lighted candles walked about with their arms shielding their light as if they were afraid it would be blown out if someone else saw it. Others hid their light, ashamed of the shadows it seemed to cause, though really all it did was show the truth. Still others selfishly kept their light hidden so only they could use it to guide their path. Candles around these ones never had any idea they were near lighted ones. 

The candle in the corner stopped watching the others as she heard a strange sound. Following it she came to a small group of candles. Their wicks were faintly lighted or sputtering. With a smile she walked into the midst of them. They gathered round and gazed at her light. As the little group came together their wicks touched and a great tower of light shot up. They soon parted, but each candle now held their heads high, showing their light to anyone watching. 

The candle from the corner kept on moving through the darkness. At times she saw one of the candles beside her start to sputter, other times she had long passed on before her light lit theirs. Most of the time she only warmed their wax, but that prepared them for when another lighted one passed their way then they too burst into flame. 

One candle had time only to light one other before he melted away, but that other burned bright. The one candle that the candle of short time lit went on to light many others, and warm or bring to sparks many more. When others lights flared up, they too lit still more.

In one place, too many candles away for our corner candle to see, a bright burning candle refused to go out. Other candles entrenched in their darkness noticed his flame and for fear of it catching, took him away. Still his light shone. So they bent him, they battered his light. They failed their mission. The battering of his light only caused sparks to fly; the distances some of them went were incredible. Finally the dark ones smashed him to pieces until he was no more, but his light had already given many others light of their own.

One lighted candle can make a difference, yet each does in different ways. Let your light shine. Give the Light time to catch, light up the darkness.

Please don't let that terrible photo and the others you will see as you scroll down kill you. I promise they won't, though it almost kills me looking at them. But I am killing myself for a good reason. Comparison can be an evil thing for photographers (and writers too). In our day and age we can access so many wonderful photos of anything (almost). We can also be tempted to compare ourselves to other photographers. We look at their photos and see how much better they are than ours and sigh... "what is the point... surely I can never be that good, so what is the use trying."

“Comparison is an act of violence against the self.”~Iyanla Vanzant

Comparison can lead us to give up and stop trying, don't. Look to those photographers as inspiration, and go and practice. Enjoy taking the photos you take. I enjoyed taking these photos back in 2005. Yes they are terrible photography-wise but they were a start. Everyone has to start somewhere.

“Comparison is the death of joy.” ~ Mark Twain

As to why you get to see these embarrassingly terrible photos.... Well they prove how bad my photos were and of how much I have improved. They are also part of another point I want to make. Comparison can be good, (yeah I know I just said it was bad) but only if you are comparing to yourself. I am very glad of how much better my photography has gotten. Very...

2006

Because we are human though, we compare. So, if you must, then compare to me... see where I was, and where I am now. It is possible. With practice, it is possible to get magnificent results. I just revel in that feeling, when I capture a moment so perfectly and I know I have just taken a photo that I have always aspired to take. So scroll on down and see how my photography has changed, through the years.....If I can possibly call this stuff at the beginning photography.....  

2006, yes this is actually a selfie....

2007

2008 (I bought my first digital camera)

2009

2009

 I did occasionally even take photos back then that I still like now. Like that one at the beach, which is rather nice. I decided to only use photos of people, because then I only had to go through a certain amount of photos. Back then I only very rarely took photos of people. I preferred flowers... generally blurry ones. As you can see though, I did sometimes take photos of people.

2009

2010

2011

2012 (I bought my second digital camera)

2012.... yes I used a tripod

2012

2013

2013 again a tripod.... because that is me

2013 (borrowed a friends Nikon DSLR)

2014 (bought my own Cannon 600D)

2014

2014

2014 

As you can see the camera does help, to a certain extent. But really I bought a better camera each time, because I wanted one that could do more, because my photography had improved. The thing that counts most is practice and training yourself to see the photos.

2015

Don't compare to other photographers. Look back at how far you have come. Look at others for inspiration and go out and take photos. Yes some of them will be dreadful (but if you don't put them on social media no one will ever know how dreadful some photos you still take are). Dream on, Lord willing you will get there, you will be able to capture that picture, just as you always dreamed of doing.

Comparison to others takes the joy out of things, whether it is photography, writing or even life. So please don't do it. Just have a go, take your camera for a walk and get clicking.

I had no hope. Why should I? What with a child on the way and two already that walked the streets hungry, and a husband who had left. Not that I blame him, and none may be better than an abusive one. My little ones had to beg for sustenance. I threw up whatever anyone had the kindness to give me. At least I could lie in the meagre privacy of our little curtained place, situated in the corner of the room we shared with three other families. Death would come to me warmly anyway.

Then the angel walked in. Without knocking, we had no door anyway. The spirits skin glowed in the dim light of the room. She bent over me. I had always thought dying would be more painful, and then nothingness, or torment, until I had paid for my life. A man angel rounded the curtain and together they lifted my feather weight and bore me away. I caught one last glimpse of my boy, tears dribbling out of his brown eyes, watching as I left, unable to do anything about it. I should have stayed for him, or for the little girl with bouncing black curls that I knew would be standing in the dirt somewhere, watching. I reached out to my boy and a moan escaped my lips then they were all gone. 

Light reflected off light blue walls. A sheet of crinkling white lay over and under me. The angels came and went. They fed me, and talked to me. They were not spirits but people like me; they just had different coloured skin. Now, I remember sometimes seeing other spirit coloured people before, but not often, they usually avoided us, especially women and others as poor and worthless as me.

These people who are not spirits are strange, they have strange ideas. They think I am worth something and they say that someone great loves me. But I know they are wrong. They say he sent them, but I have seen many to whom he has not sent them. I tell them there is no point in what they are doing, even if I get better, there is no hope. I have lost this child and I know not what has become of my others. Truly all I did have, that little, is gone.

Still they will not give up on either my health or my soul. I should not be frightened, someone they call God is watching me, but I have heard of God. He requires the life of people, of children, he is not good. Nevertheless they tell me stories, of a great creator who loves, everyone, even me. A Jesus who says; “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

They have made my body better, my spirit, not yet.  I can leave; I have to, so they can help others, show the love of their Jesus to more. That is why they help. I will go, but I am coming back. Ha that is also something their Jesus said. They say I am to come to the little house next to these rooms. There they will tell me and others more stories; stories that are true, or so they say. I will listen, because if they are true, I have hope.