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Thursday 4 September 2014

Happy Birthday ACW! (and ACW Birthday Scavenger Hunt)

by Anne Hamilton

Birthdays, like New Year’s Day, celebrate and memorialise appointed times. They stand out in the roll of weeks and months, giving us a chance to reflect on the joys and sorrows of the past, but also on our hopes for the future.


ACW group at 2013 CALEB Conference, Left to Right: Catherine Hudson, Rose Dee, Kerry-Lee Harney, Narelle Atkins, Jo-Anne Berthelsen, Anne Hamilton, Jenny O’Hagan, Iola Goulton, Ray Hawkins, Mary Hawkins, Dorothy Adamek


They give us a chance to pause in our busy schedules and honour another. So, since it seems strange to honour an organisation, let’s honour those involved:
  • The founders: Narelle, Jenny and Dorothy (Dotti)
  • The writers who’ve blogged
  • The visitors who’ve commented
  • The authors who’ve been interviewed
  • The story-tellers whose books have been reviewed
  • The gift-givers who’ve offered prizes
  • The publishers who have taken so many risks on books in this difficult time of transition

Most of all, let’s honour God and give thanks to Him for the favour He’s shown to us in the past year. He’s been awesome!

The sheer delight of birthdays has never been captured better, at least in my view, than in Christina Rosetti’s A Birthday

My heart is like a singing bird
               Whose nest is in a water'd shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
               Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
               That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these
               Because my love is come to me.

Raise me a dais of silk and down;
               Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
               And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
               In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
               Is come, my love is come to me.

May Love Himself come abide with you this birthday!




Anne Hamilton is a big fan of Christina Rossetti. Several of her books, including Many-Coloured Realm and God’s Panoply have extensive quotes from Rossetti's poetry.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

ACW SCAVENGER HUNT CLUES FOR THURSDAY:

Clue 10 from Anne Hamilton: What is the essential meaning of submit in Hebrew? 
http://fire-of-roses.com/wp/ 

Clue 11 from Ray Hawkins: What book title am I holding in my hand on my Home page? http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au 

Clue 12: from Andrea Grigg: Which city and country was I born in? http://www.andreagrigg.com/   

We hope you're enjoying the hunt and locating the answers to the clues. The contest rules are listed in Monday's post. Please remember to comment on Monday's post, complete the online form and your Rafflecopter entry. Rafflecopter lists all the options for gaining extra entries in the drawing, including commenting on the posts this week. 

The Scavenger Hunt closes at 2pm on Sunday, September 7 (AEST). The winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 9. Good luck!

14 comments:

  1. No wonder you're a fan of Christina Rosetti, Annie. What a beautiful poem packed with delightful pictures.
    And yes, our birthday is one to really celebrate.

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  2. Happy Birthday! A wonderful accomplishment.

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  3. Yes! let’s honour those involved: Thanks to you all! God has truly blessed!
    I have enjoyed following the Hunt & reading each stop.. :)

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  4. Thanks Annie for the reminder of all those involved who make ACW work so well - and for the beautiful birthday poem.

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  5. I agree - it's a beautiful poem!

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  6. Wishing everyone associated with this lovely community, ACW, a very Happy Birthday. Thank you for your various contributions, all have played a vital role.

    We're very blessed to be able to share in such a community.

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  7. Lovely post, Annie :) Thanks for sharing the birthday poem with us.

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  8. Beautiful poem, Annie. Thanks for sharing it today and adding to the birthday cheer. :-)

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  9. It's hard to believe this blog has been going for a whole year already, and the celebrations are well deserved. Happy birthday, ACW blog.

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  10. What a lovely poem! You are truly gifted with words, Annie! And happy birthday to ACW blog!

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  11. What a beautiful poem! Happy birthday to you all! :)

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  12. Thanks for sharing that poem, Annie.

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  13. It looks like I missed the birthday party! Lovely to read about it today. When I saw the photo above I realized how I've been blessed by each person. As a new writer I am behind the scenes reading your posts or blogs; sometimes having the courage to comment, and I do have books on my kindle or near my bed in a queue to read. This support network has been so valuable to me, so I am really thankful for this network.

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