Butterfly Girl

Be Joyful :)

2012-02-13T16:09:00.000+11:00

My last post was a while ago. Much has happened since then; little has happened since then.
We live in an amazing world....and it's sad that so many souls have not yet experienced 'pure joy'. So many souls are yearning for what they do not know... others are yearning for what they have known, but somewhere in their path was lost. There is so much to be joyful about....and so many people who simply don't know how to be joyful.

Some people lost their joy because of something others did to them...
Some grew up afraid to experience joy in case they were punished...
Some people have so little, yet have so much joy.
Some know how to make millions and live a lavish life....but these people also don't know how to be happy...

EVERYBODY has the ability to feel joy. It is we who prevent ourselves from feeling.

I pray every person who reads this blog will experience a real sense of pure joy. A joy you have never known. A knowing that deep down, you have sooooooo much value. You are special. There are things in this life that you are good at - please don't be afraid to do what you enjoy - to open your heart and feel.

Be the person God created you to be!
Don't let past hurts or fears...or anything else steal your joy!
Your life is for living. Live it! Go out and think of all the things you have to be grateful about.....and enjoy this beautiful world God created for us. People are doing a good job at destroying our world and it's people, but that is no reason to not enjoy what He has blessed us with!

If you look for the bad in something, you will find it.
If you look for the good in something, you will find it!

Thank you Jesus for the wonderful gifts you give us - the simple things we often take for granted.

Intercessors Unite!

2011-11-12T15:05:00.001+11:00

Let me first begin by saying Generals International is a worthwhile link for those interested in the spiritual health of our world and what God is saying to us through people like Cindy and Mike Jacobs.

Is it just me, or is this a season where God is stirring up intercessors? It feels like there is so much going on in our world, and God is readying his army for the war that is to come... intercessors like me, who haven't been in the same level of the 'war zone' for a season, are feeling stirred up. Stirred up for ACTION. Stirred up by EXPERIENCE or LACK OF...stirred up because our spirits are open to the leading of our creator....who has let us have a rest, if you could call it that....and now he is saying, "Awaken your hearts and Get ready for battle!"

Intercessors never 'sleep' in their gift, but there are seasons where we don't feel used as much. It's like I said, God gives us a rest....but we never switch off. It just seems there are times when we are allowed to sit on the sidelines while other team players have their turn in the game (war zone), before we go back in.

Things are stirring in this world...God is moving, but he is going to move in even greater ways... people will be afraid of what is to come..but those who trust in the Lord will be saved.

Isaiah 25:9In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (www.biblegateway.com)

So intercessors who are on the sidelines....it's time to Rise Up and be counted!! We have a war to WIN!!!

Life Dreams

2011-09-25T19:45:00.002+10:00

Recently I was asked a question: "What is your dream?", and "If you had no limits, what would you do?"

Simple questions, right? Well, 10 years ago I had good answers! But now, I'm amazed to realise that my dreams from 10 years ago have all come to pass! Admittedly, my life didn't go the way I planned, but these delays in fulfilling dreams were all part of God's plan for my life! Now, as I said, I'm amazed...I had big dreams!

So, what were these dreams? I hear you ask...
1. I wanted to find the love of my life
2. I wanted to go to Europe....London, Italy & Ireland - to discover my roots.
3. I wanted to work in ministry serving children with disabilities
4. I wanted a 'real' job.

The first of these to be fulfilled was No.3. Through God's leading and placing the right people in my path, I was able to set up a successful ministry serving children with disabilities in my local church. This ministry ran for about 6 years. It was just me to begin with- volunteering in a Tamil speaking church with gorgeous children - 1 had autism and 2 had cerebral palsy. It was an afternoon service. I was also thrown in the deep end and ended up running the Sunday school class at the same time - until a new leader was found. After a few years, I moved the ministry into the main church for morning services. The boy with autism and I were together for the whole life of this ministry - other children came and went, but he was the only one who stayed. We have a special bond....I don't think I will ever be able to forget about him :) I had some wonderful leaders join my team, which was great, but there did come a time when God said he would remove his grace from the ministry, that it was time to move on.

The second dream to be fulfilled was my overseas trip. For 10 years I dreamed and yearned to go....in the end I just took the plunge and booked my tickets! I went alone and it was one of the best things I've ever done! I arrived in London and met some wonderful people who helped me settle in. I spent a week there before boarding a plane to Rome, where I joined a 2 week tour of Italy, then I returned to London before boarding a ferry to Ireland....after 9 nights in South-East Ireland I returned home....

This is where dream No. 1 was realised! The man of my dreams was staring me in the face! He had been in the picture for 3 years, but I just wasn't ready to see it....until I was on the other side of the world!

So, of course the last dream was finding a 'real' job. I had been working casual and agency for about 10 years, and I finally found myself in a good, permanent position.

So....now....I have everything I dreamed for.... so what's next???

I have so much more than what I dreamed for...but I guess the dreams I have now are simply to have a family and pay off our house. Isn't it funny how life changes.... I never thought I'd say goodbye to my ministry, but God opened the door and requested I walk through. There was no easy way to walk out, but I knew I needed to do it - I would have been working in my own strength to keep it going.

This also gave me the opportunity to listen to God's leading us out of that church. The One thing holding me back from moving on was that ministry. Once the ministry was gone, the strings were cut....it was time to walk through the new door. What a wonderful door that was! We found ourselves 'home' in a new church. Nobody told us to go there, we just felt led there. We have been there about a year now, and have not once looked back on our decision. We are where God wants us "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).

So, that's a bit on my dreams. I can't believe, even though it took much longer than I'd anticipated, that I've fulfilled all my major dreams! Of course there are some new ones, but the biggest ones seem to have been ticked off. I know I will have more as I get older. I look forward to seeing what the future holds:)

Spiritual perceptions..

2011-07-17T19:17:00.000+10:00

I have to say I'm quite intrigued that for years my blog was just a blog in cyberspace....and now I have followers....and they keep adding up....and I've noticed there is a trend in what I perceive to be their beliefs...

Interesting.... intriguing.... I am not stupid;) I understand the spiritual world and this intrigues me:)

The toilet bowl of morals...

2011-07-01T18:02:00.000+10:00

What is wrong with our country!
Now the minority group who would rather fight for legal abortions and save the trees has been given higher power in government!

The one party who takes pride in claiming their anti-moral views and policies... who want abortion legalised....
The one party who can be blamed in part for fuelling the Black Saturday fires.... because of them, it was illegal for people to clear the 'rubbish' of trees and leaves etc from their properties. They were not allowed to burn off on their own properties....then the fires came through and burned and burned and burned.....because there was so much 'rubbish' to keep it going!

Who in their right mind would allow such a party more power?!?!?!
Well, it seems Aussies who value morals are being gradually pushed aside...to allow everything we do not support to run our country. This is just disgusting and disgraceful....it is also, unfortunately, predicted.... Revelation tells us men will become lovers of themselves and basically that the world will become more 'lawless' and immoral....

I just cannot believe this party has been given so much power.....it almost makes my blood curdle....

Just Ramblin:)

2011-05-30T18:01:00.001+10:00

I purchased a pair of bowling shoes today....haven't paid yet, but they have been put aside for me:)
I figured since I have been going almost weekly with my 1:1 client, and how often their hire shoes cause me pain, it would be an investment to purchase my own. At least, even if they're as flat as the hire ones, I can put orthotics and thick socks in them! It's so frustrating when you can't wear flat shoes, and every time you try, you end up in pain! It's either my damaged tendon playing up, or my knees because they don't have the arch support. I always feel like a clown trying to walk in the hire shoes! lol!

So next week, I'll have my own!:) They were more than half price, so the selection wasn't great, but they are nice enough. I liked a white pair with pearly light blue stripes, but they didn't fit, so I got white with black stripes.

Ok, that's my ramble for today:) I think I better go and figure out dinner before I have to leave for my prayer meeting tonight:)

Maybe my new shoes will give me a better score! hehehehe!

Personal thoughts on Bin Laden.....

2011-05-06T17:23:00.002+10:00

This week has really brought home how sad our world has become... when one government decides to kill a man for "justice".... when all people want is the bad guy's head.....to kill him....wipe him off the planet. They just want to create "Game Over". It all just makes me feel sick...

No, that man was not innocent....no, the game will not be over...and no, I'm not happy he was killed in cold blood....but I am also feeling for all the families affected by his purely evil actions. I remember waking up to the news on 9/11 and my thoughts immediately went to my family who were in the US... who were originally supposed to be in one of the affected areas, but thank God, things didn't work out as planned, and they were nowhere near the tragedy. Unfortunately many more people were not able to share in my and my family's relief.

It's just shocking how one person can cause so much heartache and tragedy... It took just One person. Many people followed this one person, making him able to carry out his evil plan. Nobody wins.

What I find sickening is not that he is dead....it's the fact that "evil was repaid with evil". Seriously, what good is it to try to fight darkness with darkness? I think these words were first spoken by Martin Luther King or MLKing Jr (based on the bible). If this world continues to fight evil with watered-down versions of evil....what will we have left? Now he is gone....is that supposed to be the end of terrorism? I don't think so!! It seems like Obama has stirred up a beehive...and we are all affected by his actions. Again, he is just One person.

Personally, I don't believe anybody has the right to take another's life. Admittedly, some people may seem to deserve to have their life terminated...but they still have a soul....and while they are still alive, there is still time for them to find the real peace of a transformed life....but if their life is prematurely terminated, then they have been stripped of their freedom to find Jesus. Whether or not they do find him is not the important factor....it's more that they have been stripped of that time...

I know many people will disagree with me....but when you understand the value of eternal life and a simple soul....then what right does anybody have to terminate another's life! Even if they've already terminated many other's lives...where does the person stand who demanded his life be terminated?

As the bible says re the adulterous woman....Whoever is free of sin should cast the first stone... not one person felt they had the right to stone her to death....even though it was within the law to do so...

2011-04-27T14:04:00.004+10:00

Ok, I'm going to be blunt: Why are all you "Followers" following me?
If you genuinely care about me, Welcome. If you're just trying to spam me, then go away and do something better with your time!!

Friends: Ignore these Followers. I have NOT endorsed them!

Easter....and Life in general

2011-04-27T13:59:00.003+10:00

I haven't posted for what seems like years!

It's probably a good sign my life is pretty full and not much time to be bored....although....at the same time, the "time to be bored" also includes the time to reflect.... you don't realise how important that is until you realise you have stopped...

We've just ended a 5day long weekend thanks to Easter:) It was a busy weekend for me...and we were both looking forward to some quality time together on Mon& Tue... thanks to a stupid mouse, we were too tired to do much! Makes me think...is that what bad things in our lives do....you put out the bait and traps, but they manage to get into a place YOU can't access...so the bait and traps are useless....to a point.

We just have to find a new method of reaching that stupid, cheeky mouse! Of ALL the places in our house, it chose the roof above our bed. We have a long house, so I don't think it's a safe idea to try and crawl half the length for a mouse....

Easter was awesome.....we started with a 6.30am prayer meeting, literally äround the cross", then shared a hot cross bun breakfast....before a moving Good Friday service. I thinkour minister did an awesome job with Easter. Easter Sunday was good....our prayer group were asked to fast from 12noon to midnight.... after being rostered a day each during the week. I must be honest....I really struggled with my day, but on Sunday I had worked out a way to make it work. I believe our prayers have been answered, and we will see HUGE things in the near future!:):):) I know I am planted in the right church:) God led us there, and we know it was in His perfect timing.

My thougths are everywhere today! I'm excited to be on a working internet connection....but this keyboard is something to get used to! I've moved out of my parent's home....but a lot of my stuff is still here... I'm lucky they don't complain! But today I have come to use their internet AND clear out more of my stuff... 10+years of stuff....You probably wouldn't believe I've already gone through about half.....it still looks like heaps!

Oh well. At least I know that if I clear out their house, I won't want to keep it all at my house. I've lived without it for almost 3yrs....so I can do it....

Ok, now I better just get started on my To-Do list....then get stuck into the stuff`!

2011-02-26T17:13:00.000+11:00

FINALLY!!!!! I've been locked out of this blog so haven't been able to write anything new...or even delete spam messages!

Satan sucks! God rules! Life is Awesome and NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER!!! WOOHOOO!!!! Floor time...God-giggles...all awesome:)

Well, that's all I have to say!:)

Remembering people....

2011-01-18T10:26:00.000+11:00

Over the last few days, I have had some girls on my mind...girls I haven't seen in over 10years...but they are still close to my heart. They wouldn't be 'girls' any more! Every so often God places them on my heart.

Around 1998 or 1999 we were on a camp together at Lake Yellingbo. I was their cabin leader. Their names were Samantha, Melissa, Loren and I think Jade. You girls were amazing. I think we learned a lot together. You definitely made me work for my 'money'! (There was no money of course! We were all volunteers).

One of you locked yourself in a room...I remember that...as much grief as you gave me, I don't think I said it then, but I could understand why you did it. It wasn't the appropriate thing to do, but I could understand.

I remember you all requesting me to pray with you at bedtime. I never prayed aloud but you girls made me break that fear. We had good moments in that cabin.

The funniest part of camp...when we had to perform at the Talent Show. Do you remember the Cinderella skit you did that just went completely off track!? That was hilarious and painful at the same time. I'll never forget that! I know you girls had heaps of fun doing it!

You girls will always have a place in my heart....I would really love to see how your lives have turned out.
If any of you happen to stumble across my blog, please say hi! ;)

Happy New Year 2011!!

2011-01-04T16:46:00.000+11:00

My theme for January: Don't be afraid to walk through the door open before you!

2011 is a new year. An unopened book that has now been opened. It's time to start the journey and put the words on the paper! God knows what the pages hold, but we need to walk through them and experience them.

This will be another great year of blessings and joy- if that's what you expect!:)

As my minister quoted on Sunday, God "knows the plans he has for you. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future". (Jeremiah 29:11)

Already I know of people who have lost loved ones this year...and my family is approaching our 6th anniversary of nanna's death. It still feels like yesterday.... I don't understand why God would allow people to begin the year with such sorrow...but then again, maybe those who died weren't able to hold on any longer...that makes it more understandable. Still, it's sad. My nanna died tragically, and unexpectedly. Her time came and nobody could do anything to change that. I'm sure all the family at one time or more has wished they could've been with her to stop her accident...but we weren't there and we can't go back. I loved my nanna so much. She was a big part of my life.

I can't believe it has been 6 years... but the 80years prior to that were more important! I knew her for only 26 of those 80 years, but we both had an impact on each others' lives. I was her first grandchild. She lost her husband 2 years prior to my birth, and she said I gave her a new lease on life. When she met me...she said my baby eyes said to her that everything would be alright. She never stopped telling me that story....and now she's not here to tell me, my parents continue to tell me. That simple story brings joy and special memories.

I didn't expect this post to go this way! Enjoying the memories:)

Hope you are all enjoying the beginning of your new year!

Christmas

2010-12-30T20:31:00.000+11:00

Well, Christmas has come and gone...
I am happy to say that Melbourne's "Carols by Candlelight" was much better than Sydney's carols!:)
We had a wonderful Christmas eve with the empty nesters - all the kids came home for Christmas eve;) That's always my favourite part of Christmas...going home to mum and dad... having a Christ-centred celebration and just enjoying each other's company. Of course I love giving out gifts to my family too!!

Next Christmas I'll be a doting aunty! I'm so excited! This baby is going to be one good looking kid! & soooo loved! Already his/her grandmothers are doting and spoiling the child with Christmas gifts even though it's still not born. I've seen a different side of my dad...a softer side. It's beautiful to see how a baby shows people in a new light...I love it!

After a lovely church service, we had Christmas day with mum's extended family...and David and I played chocolate Trivial Pursuit at home afterwards...his aunty dropped it at the door early in the morning before knocking and disappearing before we could even hear a car. Very kind of her to think of us:)

Well, I got my Christmas spirit in the end. Had a great time in our new church. ...& David added to my butterfly collection! A new pendant with various coloured stones. Now I have a butterfly for almost every outfit! haha! (4 different styles & colours).

It was a nice Christmas overall:)

Christmas...where is The Spirit!

2010-12-19T14:55:00.000+11:00

After watching half of Sydney's "Carols in the Domain" on tv last night, I was disappointed that the Christmas spirit is only lingering for those who still believe in it... all these celebrities singing words they obviously don't feel... the songs that should bring joy and happiness...and awe - are just songs being sung in the spotlight to millions of people live and on tv. Except for the santa ones, of course...

I'm amused that Twisted Sister have been stuck in my head the last 2 days! Their version of "Oh Come all ye Faithful" - it's twisted, but it has FEELING! These men sing about "Christ the Lord" with no hesitation. I have no idea where they stand in terms on religion and God...but they can sing about Christmas in a much better manner than these "amazing celebrities".

THEN....I arrive at church this morning...Wow! The singers brought to life many of the songs that had no life on the tv last night. A feeling I haven't experienced in years when I hear these Christmas carols.

Our church is so awesome! The people are so real...they don't necessarily go out of their way to make things awesome - it is natural to them to bring out the feeling in all they do. This morning the music was just so special. It evoked the old Christmas feeling of when this was all normal to society. It was all about Jesus. It was pure and humble.

I hope Melbourne's version of "Carols By Candlelight" on tv evokes more Christmas spirit than Sydney's concert. I also really want Ray Martin back! He actually cared about the real Christmas spirit. One of the co-hosts that replaced him really disappoints me. There is something about her that makes me unable to look at her without feeling a darkness about her. My spirit wants to scream at her - "How dare you present Christmas when you heart isn't even right!" But I can't do that. I just hope her darkness doesn't spread.

Well, I guess I can say the Christmas bug has taken a bigger bite. It's finally beginning to feel like Christmas:)

The Christmas bug has begun to bite...

2010-12-15T20:19:00.000+11:00

Well, almost...a little...I've been Christmas (& Birthday) shopping every night after work this week... I've been to a few Christmas functions (family friends annual catch ups)...and work has the Christmas trees up...and the radio is playing nice songs... but I still feel I'm working and too busy to let the bug bite work properly.

Today was our first final day of 'official' programs. Thursday and Friday are the final Thur & Fri for the year...next Wednesday we hold our Christmas party for our clients, and then they go home for their holidays...then Thursday is MY final day before holidays! Friday is Christmas eve...

I need to make time to spend with my husband and enjoy this season...we've hardly had ANY time to spend TOGETHER in the Christmas lead up. I feel if we don't stop and make time, it will soon pass us by...

We put up our tree...but couldn't find the decorations!! I know where they should be...but moving house seemed to lose them amongst other packed things!

I think the next few days will be much more Christmassy... :)

Christmas is fast approaching!

2010-12-08T17:01:00.003+11:00

Every time I hear the song, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." I feel as if the music is jerking out of the world I'm living in and making me realise it's ALMOST Christmas! Yikes!

It feels most media have left it late to mention Christmas... the 2 radio stations I listen to most have only just begun to play Christmas music... I think maybe the Christmas bug has not bitten me yet because I haven't had time to stop and think about it! It's hard to get into the spirit when you are working and hardly have any shopping time...and then realise you are quickly running out of time! I don't finish work until 23rd Dec....I used to always finish the week before Christmas when I was casual. I loved the lead up week...now I feel I don't have enough time to enjoy it...

I'm also widely aware of the fact society is trying to rob us of our Christmas and turn it into something pagan... As far as I'm concerned, I am a Christian and I celebrate Christmas. I will NOT say "Happy Holidays" or "Greetings of the season" or anything that strips away the true meaning of this time.

At least we have that right! We have the freedom to choose what we believe and nobody can strip that from us:)

So, in conclusion:

Merry Christmas!!!

What an exciting time for us Christians!:)

N.B. The green and red colours are not deliberately scattered;) I tried to make each line alternate, but the final product was different to the draft!

Don't live in the past!

2010-11-27T15:37:00.002+11:00

One thing I want to say today.... Don't live in the past.
You need to move on. Let go. Forgive and forget.
If you stay stuck in the past, YOU are the only person who gets hurt. You will end up a sad, lonely, person who has pushed everybody away with your bitterness.

In particular I want one person to remember that you have a wife! She needs you!
Stop wasting your time trying to manipulate others and send abusive messages when you have a wife who needs your unconditional love and attention!

Every moment you spend in bitterness and resentment is another moment wasted which could be better spent in joy with your wife.

Put her first - love and respect her the way she needs and the way God desires!

Be the Godly man of the house. That is your mission. Take your role seriously and be the man God called you to be! Take that gorgeous girl and enjoy the moments! Live in the present!

Set up by God!

2010-11-25T21:01:00.003+11:00

Something unusual happened to me after work... I drove to the shops, parked in one of my usual spots...then decided to park on the other side because I didn't really need to go to the shops in the middle of the centre...just Safeway (supermarket).

So...after doing my shopping, then sneaking a peek at some windows (sales!), I headed back to my car... as I began to walk through the exit, this older lady stopped me and asked if I knew where she could catch a taxi... She seemed desperate for help and a bit distressed. So, I tried to figure out what to do to help...we started walking, and we decided that she would wait for me to walk all the way to the concierge desk to ask for the taxi rank. What I discovered was the taxi rank was a long walk from where she met me at the exit/entrance, and the taxis don't just come and wait. They need to be called. So the lovely staff at the concierge desk told me they could call her a taxi if she came to them... so I had a good workout walking back to her, then walking with her all the way back to the concierge....and as we arrived, the staff smiled and immediately helped the lady with the taxi, as if she'd been waiting for her. It was so nice to see them interacting. She was Greek and the staff was Italian. They sounded like friends, even though they'd just met!

It was also nice to see the lady lose her distress and regain her joy. The sad part was that she told us she had asked many others for help, but nobody helped except me. They said they didn't understand... It took a bit of my time, but I didn't have anywhere better to be.

As I was walking back to my car...I suddenly realised that if I had parked in my usual place, I never would have used that exit...I never use that exit. I also usually go to the other supermarket at the opposite end of the centre...I felt like God had set me up! He set it all up so this lady could get home with a smile on her face...

Crazy Melbourne weather

2010-11-23T17:05:00.002+11:00

"I'm melting! I'm meeeeltiing!!"
Ok, I'm not.but it's SO HOT in Melbourne right now it's crazy!
I just made a short black coffee and added some ice cream just to make it a bit more 'hot day' style... but it just melted! I thought an affogato was a little less insane than a long black in a 30degree (celsius) house!! I guess any hot coffee is insane in this weather....haha! I did put the coolers on in the lounge when I got home, so at least that room will be nice:)

I like spring....but I'm not happy about 30+ degree days most of the week! I wonder if I could live like an eskimo... but I'd hate snow...

Oh well...I'll get over it :) At least I can relax at home tonight:)

November...Already???

2010-11-08T16:18:00.005+11:00

Wow...in October I don't want to think about Christmas....now it's suddenly November!!!

Where did the time go??? I've already taken 2 lots of clients Christmas shopping...and I have no intention of buying any gifts YET...I'm been too busy keeping on top of my bills... I've been a debt-hater with a larger than usual credit card debt...talk about tough... I HATE debt!

Thankfully a tax cheque (which was supposed to cover the debt but didn't arrive for ages!) came through last week so I have one free credit card! Just the way I like it:) Now I have a small, manageable bit left on the other one, then I'll be much happier:)

New houses can cost a bit to start out....we needed a fridge/freezer (the old one was about 40yrs old and was dying. We were so glad it survived til we moved!), driveway and blinds... just a few necessities that added up.

Things are looking good now:)

I guess it's time to allow myself to get into the Christmas mood... we'll be celebrating Christmas in our brand new church building! It is almost complete:) This has been a good year of new beginnings!

New church....new house... new ministries...new friends...all good :)

'Evil' Reporters

2010-11-02T08:13:00.005+11:00

This might sound a bit ...well, not sure actually...

I just want to write about Aussie media and how evil reporters are....and they get away with ridiculing Christian groups and individuals....and act as if they're saving the world from evil... and if you didn't know any better, your emotional response to them would put you on their bandwagon to 'rid the world of evil'.... when in reality, they're picking out individual groups and people and Stamping "Evil" to their foreheads with Absolutely NO idea what they Really stand for!

I was watching a show on tv on Sunday night...they 'exposed' a 'cult'. My first emotional response was, "That's such and such?!? Ok, what are they going to accuse them of?"

Of course, they were accused of being an evil cult, manipulating and dictating their women...

Well, MY experience of this couple is completely different to that shown on tv.

I've been on women's retreats and have known about her ministry since I was a child.

All I can say, is no matter what the media tells you....You can't fake Gods' presence!

I don't care what the media says about this lady, I refuse to believe she is what they perceive her to be. I have experienced her love and motherly wisdom, and I never once felt dictated or oppressed for being a woman!

I refuse to accept anything this particular reporter says about any 'religious' group without knowing the facts. I believe he is a tool of the devil. Most likely unwittingly, but a tool nonetheless. He has a huge influence in the way society thinks. It's sad...

I'm no target!

2010-10-14T17:17:00.004+11:00

I was awoken to the realisation that I've had a "target" on my forehead this week... so I ripped it up and threw it away... so many things have been 'attacking' me...

...people on the roads think they're indestructible, so obviously I and my passengers are too.... a man literally stole my petrol pump on Monday! I parked the van at the pump- there was hardly anybody around so plenty of free pumps... I got out of the van and saw him filling up his jerry can with MY pump!! Then he had the cheek to say incredulously, 'You want this petrol IN THAT van?!" What a moron!! I didn't have the courage to fight back... I stood next to him with my arms crossed, wondering what to do...then he walked in to pay and I opened the door and told my client what was going on...he said, "Just drive off. Go to [usual place]". In the end I did. I later realised that the staff inside should have seen what was happening too, so they didn't deserve my client's money!

Lots of little things that make you wonder what's going on!

NOW I know what's going on and I am alert! (Even though right now I could easily fall asleep!)

Be on Guard! Put on the WHOLE armour of God and be reading to STAND!

October Update

2010-10-10T15:58:00.007+11:00

July.....was quite a few weeks ago.... I didn't realise how long it has been since I've posted! (again!)

Well, we moved into our 'hotel' and it's awesome! It felt like a hotel because everything was new, clean and modern. Everything WORKS and there is no age-damage like our old place we rented - which was almost 40yrs old.

Our backyard was sludge for a while, so we didn't venture out til about a week ago... it has been raining so much this year!!!! People have been praying for the drought to break for about 10years, and we have finally begun to receive our rain! It's also now spring, the our backyard mud has had some TLC from the sun, and the mud had turned into dried up cracks...so it's easy to walk outside now... but we still need to figure out what to do with the yard.

I was disappointed after we finally had our driveway done...and it was so steep my car didn't want to reverse up....I'm a reverse parker so I was annoyed at the prospect of always reversing out....UNTIL I got a new clutch for my car....now I'm back to reversing, but still perfecting my angle. I drive in forwards when I'm tired or it's raining. There's no point reversing up when you're not thinking clearly!

I baked a cake...and burnt it slightly! YAY for a PERFECT oven! The door stays closed...it's clean...it heats up much quicker...it's awesome! I am slowly breaking myself out of the habit of cooking things for about 20mins longer than usually required! It's a good change!

We got a great deal on blinds...now we need to think about air conditioning and extra fencing... all requiring money!!!! It's nice to know there is no rush....we just do things as we can afford to.

Next projects might be an herb and veggie garden....and some kind of decking or path....

Well, that's all I can think to say about the house for the moment.

Church is going great! We love our new church (and still love the old one, but its no longer our home). I went to a 5.30am prayer meeting yesterday...it was AWESOME!!! I didn't mind getting up at 4.30am on a Saturday... things are really happening in our church!!

It's so good to be in a church where the sense of freedom is so real. Freedom and passion:)

Ok, that's all for now:)

The pot of gold is within reach!!

2010-07-24T15:39:00.003+10:00

After a horrid bit of drama from the bank....we are FINALLY moving into our new house!!!

It's been almost a year since they began building, and we've been paying off the mortgage for some time, but when the house was finally completed...the bank turned around and said they would not do what they previously said they would do....which left us paying off a house we could not 'have'.

So of course, this is God's house, so He made a way for us to receive our property:)
We kept it quiet until we had given notice to our landlady. David did that yesterday. We didn't know when we would move, we just knew it would be soon.

It's a bit weird...it has felt like our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow has been out of reach for so long, then suddenly it is almost in reach! The enemy tried to steal from us, but he never wins!
Our pot of gold will be handed over on Tuesday:)

We went to IKEA today... for inspiration....and came out without any...
Actually, any time I go there, I get a sick feeling inside when we walk around certain areas. But it's not the whole shop...I always forget until the next time I go, when I get the same feeling... (I've only been about 3 times in a few years!)
Interesting stuff... it's not easy walking around people whose negative spirits you pick up on...we need to always be on guard...and remember to love...especially when it's not your first instinct!
There are a lot of sad people in this world...but they don't need to be...

The sweetness of innocence

2010-07-15T20:48:00.002+10:00

After a negative post about work, I have a positive one!
Today I was with my nice group of 4 clients with mild intellectual disabilities...they are just gorgeous... 3 ladies and 1 man. He took one lady aside (his girlfriend) and asked us to wait while they went back into a shop, and said "It's a secret" and left the rest of us waiting while they completed their 'secret mission'.

At lunch time, they called me into the room they were in and presented me with an early birthday card and a box of Roses chocolates. I opened the envelope to see the word "Grandpa" on the cover- then a verse they obviously wouldn't have read... it was so sweet! They chose a card together and wrote in it for me. The grandpa bit just made it all the more sweeter! They chose the card and gift with no assistance. It was so kind of them :)

The man is the one who has taken the death of our other client hard, but he is coping much better now. I'm pleased to say that he is returning to his old self...a little at a time :)

Work Rubbish

2010-07-13T17:06:00.003+10:00

I got really angry today... and a few weeks ago... and a few weeks before that... all about one particular client... I'm so fed up with being disrespected for doing my job to the best of my ability... like being told in a client's diary that (they didn't know it was me) the staff obviously doesn't care about the client because they didn't bother cleaning her up after having diarrhoea.... talk about a load of rubbish!!! I was alone with 2 clients in the bus... one had diarrhoea...I had to find a public toilet block where I could clean her up and not leave the other client for too long... and I spent a good 20 or more minutes cleaning her up! AND to make it worse, she didn't have any spare clothes in her bag...just one piece of clothing which had to make do...then they have the nerve to say I don't care! If I didn't care, I wouldn't have bothered stopping at a toilet block...which didn't even have rubbish bins!!!

But having said that...all I can say is that I know I did the best under the circumstances, and I explained it all to the staff when I dropped her home (late), and they obviously didn't communicate the explanation very well to the other staff... who wrote the offensive note.

At least my conscience is clear.
I'm wondering if this is some kind of spiritual attack... the people seem to be targeting me without knowing it's me... it's always something I've done that gets a note in the diary... and it's never as bad as they make out... sometimes I wonder if some people only know how to stir up trouble... so I refuse to add fuel to the fire. If they want a fight, they will not get one under these circumstances.

Ok, that's out. Time to enjoy the rest of the night :)

He's gone...

2010-05-20T17:03:00.004+10:00

My client passed away over a week ago... I'm glad I saw him when I did.
I wanted to visit him again a week later, but my spirit said "No". Something didn't feel right...the next day he was gone. I believe God prevented me from a difficult experience if I did visit. Nobody expected it so soon.

We're still all waiting to hear funeral details...we've gone from expecting a quick funeral (within 2-3days), to hearing it may be 2 weeks after his death. So many variables I didn't realise existed... eg, family needs to release the body, notices cannot be printed in the paper until a family has placed one first... and other things I don't really understand... 'red tape' in some ways, 'just life' in other ways.

It's harder on our clients than our staff...it must be harder to understand and accept when you have an intellectual disability. Some of our guys don't even seem to care that he's gone, but I know they do. They just don't understand as much. That's not a bad thing. They deal with it differently.

I had to explain to one client that he shouldn't get upset when others don't get upset like he does - because they don't understand the way he does. He seemed ok with that. It was a good small chat. He has taken it hard. The deceased man and he had known each other 15years. Then suddenly he's gone. We can understand, and we know it seems unfair that people get sick and die suddenly... but these guys don't seem to be able to accept the unfairness of life as easily. It has definitely been an interesting, and at times, stressful time.

In the end, I know God has His plans, and we don't need to know the details...but yes, it does seem unfair that people with intellectual disabilities have to go through the same sicknesses as others... even if it's not fair that anybody gets sick, these people don't have the intellectual capacity to understand what's going on....so it must be far more scary for them.... It just seems cruel...but when you put them in the same box as the rest of humanity... no labels, no differences... then it makes sense... they too have family medical histories and are more susceptible to various conditions... so in the end, they're not being singled out or protected. "Nature" shows no favourites... that's just life.

This man did have the capacity to understand the sickness etc, but he didn't necessarily understand why the doctors and nurses did/didn't do things... one reason is some apparently didn't even try to explain the procedures...they just treated him as they would any patient...which is also not a bad thing in general, but it's horrible when you know a person doesn't understand like the average patient.

I just hope his last days were less stressful and he died peacefully...

A sad visit

2010-05-03T19:27:00.003+10:00

I went to visit one if my clients today... he is dying of heart failure and has been in hospital for over a week... we were expecting him to be able to stay home and receive palliative care... now we don't know if he'll be able to go home or spend his last days in the hospital. It's so sad... he looks awful compared to the man I knew a few months ago. He's on constant oxygen... and he's so tired... He has a mild intellectual disability, but you wouldn't know just seeing him in his hospital bed...

It's just so sad to see somebody who was so fiercely independent suffer like this...
But that's life...it doesn't seem fair... but that's the way it is... It's times like these you realise how much prayer makes a difference...especially when you have no idea what else to do...

There was a lady in a bed opposite him who watched us...I just smiled at her... that seemed to make her happy :) Hopefully the small things make their lives better...

White tail spider bite!

2010-04-02T13:10:00.005+11:00

Something else that has happened in the last 2 weeks was that I was bitten by a spider (right arm).
I have no idea when or where, I just know the bite marks didn't heal for over a week, so I saw the doctor who suspected it was a white tail spider...yuck! They like to hide in warm material like curtains or sheets. There are many places I could have met him...no way to determine...

I was led to believe that white tails are so full of bacteria, they cause huge, dark swelling of the affected limb, sometimes leading to amputation. If I had seen a white tail, I wouldn't have gone near it! (without insect spray). If I knew it was that, I would've gone to the doctor straight away!

The doctor used words like, "aggressive" and "angry" to describe the bite site. It was nasty, like a big scab, surrounded by swollen skin and bumps like hives.

Well, I'm happy to say that after a week of antibiotics, the skin is mostly healed. Now it's just a bit of dermatitis...reaction to the bite maybe.

What shocks me the most is how many people don't know what a white tail looks like! Maybe I just presumed everybody knows because of growing up in the country....where white tails were so common, we just killed them when we saw them. Every kid knew not to go near them. But as I said, I grew up in the country, so maybe in the city less people are exposed to them as often.

I have no pictures...the antibiotics moved into action quickly :)

Easter ponderings

2010-04-02T12:52:00.002+11:00

Happy Easter!

I managed not to blog for the whole of March...

Something interesting happened this week...a girl from another country asked why Aussies celebrate Easter and Christmas...like she was surprised at how little 'spiritual' holidays we get, but didn't know the reason for the holidays anyway.

When you grow up in a supposedly "Christian country", it's presumed everybody knows what Easter and Christmas are about...even if they don't believe it. At least, that's how it felt in the 80's and 90's... So at worst the atheists get a day off thanks to the Christians...

These days, it isn't so... people from all over the world are immigrating here, bringing with them their cultures and beliefs... and now we're seeing the reasons for the holidays are no longer obvious and an 'everybody knows' topic. Many kids don't even know what the cross on a hot cross bus is... when I was a kid, you were considered dumb if you didn't know that!

When I mentioned a story about a little kid telling my friend while she was teaching RE (Religious Education), that the cross is to tell you where to cut it...another person said she didn't even know that! She was brought up in Australia and is older than me...

Those are the things that make you ponder.... it's one thing to grow up in a Christian country, and another thing to actually live as a Christian in that country that no longer embraces that foundation. Life has definitely changed in the last 30years!

Surprise interview and new permanent day! :)

2010-02-20T16:28:00.003+11:00

Talk about fast! I was in the staffroom yesterday morning, about to make a cup of tea after my early morning bus run (as a staff escort), when my manager asked what I was supposed to be doing in the next few minutes....then asked me to go into her office for my interview!

She told me to make my tea and bring it in. So I did :) I was starving and just needed something to get me by... then I had my short interview.

At the end of the day I was told I have my 4th permanent day I applied for! :) So now I have 4 permanent days, and am trialing my half-day Mondays. If it all goes well I'll be working 4.5days a week :)

So...this week I was sprung... 3 times! One was my offer for Mondays, 2, the surprise interview, and 3, ending the week with a new permanent day :)

It's been a good week :)

New Year, New Journey

2010-02-18T21:17:00.003+11:00

I think this year is "The Year of Change" for me.
Moving on, moving up, moving away... MOVING!

My job is already creating change...I've applied to keep my one contract day, so I'll have 4 permanent days....and I've been given a Monday position in an alternate setting... same job, different method/location....it's actually like a completely different role. 1:1 with a man in an electric wheelchair for 4 hours, just generally socialising and getting him out of his environment to have a bit of fun. I start my trial period this coming Monday. I met him yesterday and I think we'll get along fine :) He seems fun, so hopefully it will all work out and we'll have a good time together.

I've stepped down from my ministry roles...and it feels like the door is closed, and I have a new-found freedom that is "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). I loved my ministry, but there comes a time when you know God is telling you it's time to move on. Now I've begun moving on, I know I can't go back. I don't have the grace to go back. It's time to move on to new pastures...
a new journey with my husband... we hardly ever spent time together in church while I was leading the ministry. Now we can be in church together.

It's a new day! Lots of new things this year....more than I will write about now, but in the right time I'll write about our other exciting changes! But for now, just know that all things are working together for these 2 children of God! :)

Life is great....it has it's challenges and joys, but I wouldn't want anything different right now :)

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-05T16:05:00.002+11:00

Hello! Happy New Year!
I obviously haven't been here for a long time...seems to be the trend lately.
Life tends to give us more important things to do than to blog...we all go through phases and changes.

2009 went so fast!
So much happened... I wouldn't know where to begin with a summary. I might try another day.
I always have so much on my mind, but when I eventually sit down and start typing, I forget most of the thoughts....it's like speaking to somebody on the phone...you both have a dozen things to talk about, but once you ARE talking, you both forget what you had to say - but you have so many things to say anyway...

There are a few things I'd like to do in the last 2 weeks of my holidays, but the first thing I need to do is get my car serviced. That was already a plan, but the car has decided it wants a service too! It's just idling a bit rough. Money, money, money... I can't do some things until I know my car will take me there safely.

Christmas has come and gone....New Year's eve also... do you ever feel as though these significant events come and go before you have even caught up with it all? We didn't even decorate our house this year. We put up a tree, but couldn't find the usual decorations....but it did look alright. I sent some Christmas cards on Boxing Day! Just all in the timing this year....I worked up to the 23rd, which wasn't bad. It just feels like I had minimal time to prepare for Christmas. Hopefully next Christmas will be easier to grab onto! ;)

This year is going to be a good one! Lots of good changes:)
I have the impression God is telling many of us to put on our seatbelts, because 2010 is going to be a great ride!

2009-10-29T17:08:00.002+11:00

How much of life's expectations, requests, obligations...etc... is worth it???
I'm fed up with expectations of others... it's like I'm expected to be Superwoman, but other people can take off their capes... while I would love to take off my cape, others have no idea how much it takes to keep it on in the first place.

So I'm about to make some changes. I'm getting ready to take off my cape. I can't afford to worry about how people will react, because I know it is the right thing to do. It may not have been right 6-12 months ago, but it is right now.

I'm trading the Superwoman cape for something better. When (and if) the time is right to pick up that cape, I will know. For now, my turn as Superwoman (in the wrong areas) is done.

"Look at the time!" :p

2009-09-20T15:50:00.003+10:00

4 weeks???? 4 WEEKS????
Ok, it's 4 weeks... that means I have some 'admin' to do! 4 weeks to change my passport... or forfeit the current one... with about 6 years left of use... Time has gone so fast!

This time last year I was finalising our wedding.... taking time off work to make sure I had the energy for a wedding... getting my dress altered, picking up decorations....stressing over the invitations... wearing in my shoes... it was a LOT of work....but the memories are warm :)
Let's do it all again! hahahaha!!!!!

I wish we had the money to be able to use my passport again...but even if we did, it's probably invalid anyway...the name is wrong... I will just go overseas in my dreams and memories.... come to think of it, I WAS overseas this time 3 years ago...THREE years??? Did I already say, time has flown???! hahaha!

Ok, I will stop rambling now... as usual, so much is happening in the life of Robyn... September is a good month:)

Job!!!

2009-08-09T14:45:00.002+10:00

WooHoo!!! I finally have a permanent job!!!
3 days a week, with a 4th day contracted til March. I can work 5 days if there is casual work available :)

Things are looking good :)
Actually, I've had a lot of good and bad things happen, which suggests I'm doing something right ;)

You know you're loved when...

2009-06-28T17:28:00.003+10:00

...you leave home at 6.30am on Saturday for a day visit to a camp with the girls and arrive home 12 hours later....to a nice cooked dinner and a new DVD I wanted to see, but didn't want to buy... (Twilight)

...your husband not only buys you the girly DVD but watches it with you!

...you drop your earring down the sink and he gets out of bed to find it for you... when he'd rather be sleeping...

...he makes enough coffee for you without asking if you want any....because you usually do :p

...he pushes you to use the phone when you'd rather not...just to make you more confident

...he helps you write a top cover letter for a job application, then sits in bed editing it when again, he'd rather be sleeping

...he's proud when you get an interview, and after you are told you are what they want, except for one character aspect...which they want to help build on....

...he handles PMS well...

He loves you for who you are, and encourages you to be who you can be :)

Love You David!!!!!!!!

Guys and Cars...

2009-06-22T17:20:00.003+10:00

This morning on the radio they discussed the topic of guys trying to impress girls with their cars...the conclusion was that a guy should save the money he'd spend on a fancy car and spend it on the girl instead...because she doesn't want the car; she wants the family man.

It got me thinking... when my husband and I first met, we had the same car!
The only difference was his was about 2yrs newer and the sporty model. Mine was the Luxury model...and even though both were hatches, neither of our "hatch latches" worked so we were required to use the key to open the hatch.

Then we both got rid of our cars before they died... I bought a newer model of the same car (with a working latch and many other cool things), and he bought the "chick magnet" - but he already had me! Hehehe!

Gotta go. Just some thoughts for the day...

New shoes

2009-06-21T16:57:00.003+10:00

I just thought I'd let the world know I have some cute new purple heels! I was in Doncaster looking for some shoes and ended up with these...not what I planned to get! David came and said they looked good and encouraged me to buy them...so I did! haha!
I had no shoes to wear with skirts so I was feeling desperate...still looking for a comfy stylish pair...but it's taken me all this season so far to find nothing that fits BOTH my feet!

No photos... my laptop is lacking memory :(

Story of the Two Frogs

2009-06-05T21:56:00.002+10:00

Two young frogs fell into a bucket of milk. Both tried to jump to freedom, but the sides of the bucket were steep and no foundation was to be had on the surface of the liquid.

Seeing little chance of escape, the first frog soon despaired and stopped jumping. After a short while he sunk to the bottom of the bucket and drowned.

The second frog also saw no likelihood of success, but he never stopped trying. Even though each jump seemed to reach the same inadequate height, he kept on struggling. Eventually, his persistent efforts churned some milk into butter. From the now hardened surface of the milk, he managed to leap out of the bucket.

The moral of this little inspiring story:

–Those who don’t give up and persevere may be in for a pleasant surprise! –
– Energy is often rewarded with success from unexpected sources. –

From a teaching story by Paramahansa Yogananda

Written by HelenMarie
Copied from: http://outrageousenergyliving.com/2008/01/07/two-frogs-a-lesson-in-energy/

Jumping out

2009-06-05T21:33:00.003+10:00

Wow...3 months have passed...this has definitely been a year of change!
So much to write, so little time to to WRITE it... life is busy, but that's not such a bad thing...unless you realise your priorities need to change and you're running yourself down again...

I have had a good year, health-wise, but every so often, like this week, I wear myself out ...to the point I haven't been to the gym in a week... I've learned there's no point in working out when you're already worn out...

Life is good, but I do need to cut out a few commitments...
I'm at a point where I feel like the frog in that story about being stuck in a bucket. The frog can't jump out because the bucket is too high, but it's uncomfortable being stuck in the milk in the bucket....so instead of feeling sorry for itself and dying in the milk, it starts swimming...and eventually churns up the milk to make cream....and jumps out of the bucket.

I'm at the "churning" point. I'm not happy being in the bucket, but whether or not I jump out now, or later, I AM going to jump out!
I've been in this bucket for a long time, and tried to jump out many times, but God has kept me there, and I've learned a lot, gained skills...but it's not the bucket of my life. It's the bucket for the season.

Ok, it's the end of a week, and the beginning of a long weekend! I am going to catch up on sleep I've missed out on this week...being stressed by a deadline and having to write an application in a short amount of time...but I've done it! That is the first point of jumping out of the bucket. It could be the key to the jump, or a stepping stone forward, but it's still MOVING.

That's what my theme is at the moment.... "Moving" - big or little, as long as it's something, I'm moving forward:)

I will try to blog more often...

March already!?! Earth Tremour

2009-03-07T15:16:00.003+11:00

Wow...obviously I have a life and have been too busy to blog...or at least I hope that's what you think! :p Haha! I have been busy...so busy I've had to cut back on some commitments...

Well, this is just a "yes, I'm still alive" post.
One piece of news...last night our house shook from an earth tremour!
I've never experienced that before.
David said his computer desk and monitor shook, and I was watching tv and the couch shook... and the outside blinds on the windows rattled crazily like the wind was attacking them... Initially we both thought I'd stuffed up the washing machine, but no :) It was just a tremour. It only lasted about 10-30seconds, but it was unexpected and strange.

The news has reported people being scared... I wasn't scared. I was just a bit confused until I realised what it was. It started in Korrumburra - a few hours away!
So, that's a bit of excitement for March :p

Anniversary of the rollercoaster of Glandular fever

2009-01-01T10:53:00.004+11:00

This week is my one year anniversary of the nightmare of glandular fever! This time last year I was being misdiagnosed and wrongly medicated... feeling afraid of suffocating while I slept... living on yoghurt & jelly... lying around feeling awful... treating an awful sore throat... returning to an imcompetent doctor... taking awful antibiotics...in liquid form because I nearly choked on the tablets...and finally being treated like a person from my usual doctor who initailly was unavailable.

THEN my body reacted to wrong medication from the first doctor... but I felt better knowing I was being treated by competent doctors who don't rush you out the door, but spend time carrying out precautionary tests... and then it took nearly a year to get over it...

2008 was a rollercoaster year, testing my limits, restricting my social life due to fatigue...but full of good things and learning experiences. One thing I learned was to slow down...that was a hard lesson ;)
2009 is already a better year!!! :) :) :)

Family Christmas

2008-12-28T20:21:00.004+11:00

This year was such a great, yet different year for our family.
We maintained our traditional Christmas Eve get together. Having our usual meal and watching Carols by Candlelight on tv. Opening gifts. Having fun just being a family.

This year there was one HUGE difference (and a few others).
All 3 kids came to visit, and all 3 left to go off to their own homes afterwards...leaving the parents in their newly acquired empty nest!

I loved visiting my parents with my new husband...having fun with my brother and sister, sister-in-law and sister's friend. It was just so nice knowing we were all adults, and we have all moved out of the nest (my sister only moved abt 3 weeks before me!), and we can all still return to the nest for "good times" without staying.

Our family has made a good, healthy transition.
I love visiting my old home, knowing it is part of me, but it's not who I am NOW. I still have an agenda to spend some productive days cleaning out my old room... it's still part of me, but I want to eventually have "Robyn" gone from the room. It's no longer "Robyn's room" - but it is still full of my 'stuff' - there are many hours to be spent, and bags to be filled, and rubbish bins to be filled...but I am getting there slowly.

I love chatting with my mum... we bumped into each other in the supermarket not long ago....and we couldn't stop talking! When I lived in the nest, we talked a lot...now whenever we get a chance, we can't stop!

Somebody asked if I miss my mum...I say it's a healthy transition. I do miss her, but I am happy where I am at. We have a good relationship. Now the relationship has simply taken a new path.
A good path:)

Ok, I'm all excited because we got broadband today!! David is on his computer using dial-up, and I'm on the floor next to him with my laptop on broadband...funny and fun! I love wireless! We can plug it in to either computer:)

Christmas update

2008-12-28T15:36:00.005+11:00

Wow...time just flies!

I haven't been here for ages because I've been too busy, and dial up internet makes you realise just how much you take broadband for granted!! Needless to say (?), I'm at my parent's place again! The place of "business" ;)

For those of you wondering why I didn't send a Christmas letter this year, I just didn't have the time to sit down and write one! It has been a busy year though.

Last Christmas I was diagnosed with glandular fever...but despite all the setbacks, I managed to help fund a wedding - even being unable to work as many days due to the fatigue and lowered immunity the sickness left me with.

This Christmas I'm happy to say I no longer feel the fatigue and I'm not catching as many colds :) I returned to work in November...and caught a cold! But I managed to get better in almost half the time of the previous colds! THAT was exciting! :) Before the wedding, I felt like I was catching everything that was going around! I didn't know when one cold was ending and another was beginning...it was awful...which made David suggest I finish work a few weeks earlier than planned before the wedding. He's a wise man :) I felt the best I'd felt all year soon after I finished work:) That also probably helped with the stress of the wedding. My body wasn't working over-time:)

I love my new home. I've finally stopped having to remind myself to turn onto a different road to come home...I've been travelling the same roads for 8 years (although I'm closer to my previous home prior to that), so I needed to break the habits! I only really live in the next suburb, so I know most of the roads. I just need to remember which direction I live! haha!

This morning I woke up to chickens making soooo much noise! Yesterday morning we woke up hearing them in our front lawn...and the sound of them being caught by their owner! It sounds bad, but it's not really. Their owners keep them well under control, but they're chickens! We'd be stupid to think they'd never try to escape to the green grass on the neighbour's lawn! haha!
At first it annoyed me to hear the chickens in the morning, but now I don't mind it at all. It reminds me of my old country life. I'm at the point now where I think I'd miss them if they disappeared...

I have so much to say, but I can't remember what! Plus I don't want to type a really long post people won't want to read.

Ok, I better go.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and the new year is full of great things!
It's time for the princesses to step into their royal shoes and take their place...2009 is no playground. We are called for a purpose :) Let's get ready to step into 2009 with courage and godly pride :)

Back again!

2008-11-12T15:21:00.002+11:00

Wow... all this lead up to the wedding, then it's all over...and life gets back to 'normal'...
My dress fit perfectly on the day :)
It was a great day, and we had a great honeymoon in Tasmania. Now we're back settling into a new home together, which is nice.
I don't yet internet access on my personal computer, so haven't bothered coming to my blog when online. I came to my parents' place to connect - my comp accesses the net from here, so I've updated my virus protection, filled my outlook inbox - another thing I really miss...but only temporarily :) and paid some bills...

Life is great:)
Better go. Sorry, no photos yet of wedding.

6 Days??

2008-10-12T20:52:00.001+11:00

Yikes! It's a bit scary when the Daisy Counter is onto DAYS! hahaha!

Wedding - Things That Have Gone Wrong!!!

2008-10-10T17:42:00.004+11:00

What a crazy time...
I had my dress altered and was able to pick it up today.
We discovered the dress maker pulled it in abt ONE INCH too much!! So now they have to fix it AGAIN and I have to to go back into the city on Monday to pick it up AGAIN!

The back did up, but there's no way I could wear it for more than half an hour! It was like in The Pirates of the Caribbean... where Elizabeth has the corset that sucks the life out of her... pretty sad. Espcially since I've had the dress all year and it only required a little alteration. It didn't even need a corset or any special underwear. Oh well. Will be praying it is perfect on Monday!

Also...I went to have my ring cleaned. Again I had to go into the city (I killed 2 birds with one stone). They cleaned it...gave it back. It looked ok, but not brilliant. I walked out...and after taking it off and having a closer look, saw LOTS of scum still under the diamonds! I was NOT impressed. I walked back in and asked them to do it again! It still doesn't look fantastic...but it's better than I could do... but the first time I was sure I could do better! Stupid people. If they offer a service they should provide it properly! I could give them a bad name if I wanted to ;) There was only 1 couple in the store so it wasn't like they were too busy. I've always been there when there have been at least 5 couples!

So... that was the joy of my Friday... haha! Not happy abt the dress, but what can I do.
Not happy about the ring, but I'm not going back just for a clean.
Just silly things to tell the kids later!
Times of testing... I'm sure it will all work out, even if things are disappointing me.

October Update

2008-10-06T18:50:00.003+11:00

Oh wow...it has been a while since my last post, hasn't it!!!

It's funny when your last post says you need to look for a new wedding cake...and you've already well and truly covered that...and more! haha!

Yes, I've been very busy. Too busy to blog.
The wedding 'crisis' was a blessing in disguise!

We revisited Eiffel Tower for our cake, and got a great deal! Over $100 off the original quote of January! We were even able to choose 3 tiers at a reasonable price, instead of just accepting the 2 tiers to save money :) AND it is cheaper than the cake that fell through, AND includes delivery! :)

Across the road was a hire factory, so we found some hire items for the ceremony :)
The only problem is we will have to pick them up and return them. At least it's not too far away. Abt 20mins...by car...

I had my dress alterations organised today! I can pick up my dress on Friday :) (even though it's been hanging in my house since the end of January!)

We've done so much! I am actually beginning to feel like I have a huge essay due in less than 2 weeks, and even though I've done a lot of work, I still need to do MORE! But as with an essay, the due date will come, and that will be that. You reach the point where there is no more you can do, except enjoy that fact you have submitted the essay. So we can do all we can in the next week, then just enjoy the fruits of our planning, knowing we did our best within the timeframe:)

David suggested I finish work a week earlier than planned because I was getting sick too often at work. It was like clients and staff were playing 'catch' with colds and gastro etc. After taking nearly 2 months to get over a cold (or what felt like one cold that would try to end, and another would begin and not let it end! THEN ANOTHER would enter...etc. Not fun!) it just didn't feel worth continuing work just for the money when my health needed attention. Glandular fever seems to make colds linger in your system longer than you're used to...but colds do eventually leave. Just not in the time you would like!

So for my health's sake, I finished work, and I have to admit, I've felt the best I have in a while :)
I thought I was finally over the glandular fever, but I think I got over-excited and it hit me again! Not the fever, but my immune system wasn't nice to me, and I was feeling fatigued again.

Oh well. Not long now... I am trying hard not to over-do it while running around with last minute wedding things!

Wedding Craziness!

2008-09-13T10:29:00.002+10:00

Talk about a crazy week!!!
I've spent the last 2 weeks getting over a cold...going to bed way too late trying to organise wedding invitations...addressing envelopes, cutting and collating etc, tying ribbons, sticking stamps on envelopes...

My mum has been wonderful!

On top of that I've been working...so I've been pretty exhausted all week...

and then....just as we think nothing can go wrong... I came home from work on Thursday to an answering machine message saying that our wedding cake order has been cancelled....because the shop was CLOSING TODAY! They only called abt 3pm and had to empty the shop by that night...a bit strange... sounded sudden. They were only advertising for staff abt a week ago. ..

Oh well. Our specially designed cake is now not happening. We went through a lot trying to organise flowers and colour etc. Then we FINALLY decided on sugared flowers and ordered them....and saw them recently, but they were left at the shop to be put on the cake.

So now we have to start again....but that's ok because we had back up plans before we found this place :) It's just so unexpected when these things happen!

Life is definitely not boring at the moment!!!!!

Thursday Thoughts...Aussie vocabulary

2008-08-28T20:55:00.004+10:00

When did the term "telly" disappear from our Aussie vocabulary...?
When I was a teen everybody watched the telly! Now we're all 'Americanised' and just watch the tv...in the good old days we watched less telly, now we watch more tv...

Why are people afraid to say "bum" when there are far worse accepted alternatives...?

Just some silly thoughts that have crossed my mind today...
You begin to realise you're not so young when these topics cross your mind!:p

Wednesday Thoughts...

2008-08-27T13:00:00.005+10:00

My mind is so full of information that I can't always make sense anything... but I'm just having to learn to prioritise for ME and nobody else at the moment! I have so many expectations, but in the end, I need to remember my ministry (yes, that involves others but more in a VIP way) and my wedding. Everything else will need to take a back seat...and I need to be courageous enough to not give in to others nudging me in other directions...

Anyhow... I have had some silly experiences lately...

Yesterday I went to Cinderella Bella to buy some bridal thongs... glorified shoes to wear when I can't wear my heels any more (which I must admit I CAN walk in...and even run in! haha! A year ago I may have broken my ankles! hehe!)

They gave me a pink bag with the cute "Cinderella Bella" ad on the side (one of those new, non-plastic bags all the fashion shops have taken on). I was walking down Sydney Road with mum, CB bag on my shoulder...and started thinking how people must see the bag and think I've just spent a few hundred dollars on some fancy shoes... but I actually had the CHEAPEST pair of shoes in the whole shop in my bag! haha!

I also had a very angry day yesterday...mum laughed at me when I got road rage... I am soooooo fed up with people treating me like I'm a girl driving a girl's car! I hate those green P plates! Lately they've been trying to run me off the road... as have buses... I've reached the point where I drive like a truck driver more than a girl! :p I don't take their rubbish and I won't be pushed around!

My "Girly car" is a 1.8L MANUAL and I can even accessorise it with a truck licence...but they don't know that! :p hehe! I know my truck laws and I know when they're breaking them... and I've had enough!

Ok, enough silly, let-it-out talk. I do have a truck licence by the way ;)

Well, when I think about the wedding coming closer...I can say that every small thing I do makes it all feel a lot better...until I keep adding things to my To-Do List...but that's just me!:p

Today I have to pick up our cake bags which were ordered a few weeks ago :)

I have spoken to a hire company for the ceremony...called a beautician I met at a bridal expo...lots of things... we are also required to fill out a few forms now... still feels like so much to do, but at the same time, it's only the smaller stuff now.

Everything is coming along :)

I just feel like an air-head half the time...

Good Wedding Resources

2008-08-22T19:25:00.002+10:00

I just thought I'd list some great wedding services in Melbourne/Australia ;)

Chevy Red Hire
http://www.chevyredhire.com.au

Flash Photography
http://www.touchofflash.com.au

Groovy Glass (gifts/novelties)
www.groovyglass.com.au

Bliss Deign (jewellery)
www.blissdesign.com.au

Gowns:
Chantilly Bridal
Suite 916, 37 Swanston st, Melbourne

August Update

2008-08-22T18:56:00.004+10:00

Wow...this has been one busy month!!!

Apart from finally being able to work 4 days a week again, I've been so busy!

We had our Tasting Night on Tuesday. That was great. Our reception venue held this for all the people getting married in the next few months. We were able to see examples of table centrepieces and decorations, and taste a sample of the menu....canapes, entree, main and dessert. That was quite good. We had a table of 6: David and I, my parents and David's "proxy parentes", Graham and Kaye. It was great having them there :) We also saw how the room could be set up and what would work. The funny part was when the coordinator asked us which centrepiece we liked...and said, "Trust you to pick the most expensive one in the room!" It was AU$55 per table!!! So we ended up deciding on one included in the price. They had examples of 3 standard and optional extra centrepieces. It was good to see how some make it difficult for guests to see each other across from the table. We swapped centrepieces about 4 times during the night!

What else... we had our make up trial on Sunday. That was interesting. I will need to remember to make sure my maids have right make up remover on the day! I take my Mary Kay one for granted! It is oil-free and removes EVERYTHING! ;)

I found shoes!!! In the ONE place I have been avoiding...because I avoid 'cheap shoe shops.... but I found some and David talked me into buying them. They are $230 cheaper than the other ones I like, but didn't feel good in. I won't tell you the price because I've already told enough people :p hehe!

Basically, we're well on the way... we just need to finalise the details...

Right now I'm looking forward to an early night and to catch up on sleep :)

I keep getting excited that I have most of my energy back, that I forget I still need to be careful!! Even the gym is beginning to seem too easy... I complete 2 circuits, and feel I could easily do another circuit! Previously 2 was a challenge :) 6 months is a long time to regain energy... but I'm doing well :) :) :)

(P.S. I googled the above image. It's not a real example of our nite;))

Butterfly...

2008-08-06T21:00:00.002+10:00

Car Tales

2008-08-06T20:34:00.003+10:00

I am exhausted... last night I went to leave David's house, and my car wouldn't start. After trying unsuccessfully to get it started, but successfully disconnecting the alarm which was constantly chirping (would've driven the neighbours MAD if we didn't!) we pushed it from the drive onto the grass...and left it.

Mum drove me to work this morning, then I discovered it only takes about 12-15mins to walk home from work... then Steve my brother drove me back to David's (after work) and I called RACV... and David arrived home shortly after I made the call..

Eventually the guy came and said I had a "Dinosaur" battery and I needed a new one. The battery dude was hollered, then nearly an hour later he arrived and changed the battery... talk about a looooooong day... I didn't even know if my alarm was connected because the remote refused to work... but thankfully, it was simply a flat battery (which happened to die alongside the car battery...Murphy's Law...??) So I still have my alarm and immobiliser! YAY! I feel vulnerable if my immobiliser is disconnected...

So tonight my car is back home where it belongs :)
I'm so glad it was only the battery... it's just annoying we had such a late night because David had to drive me home last night. He didn't get as much sleep as he had planned... neither did I.

Well, considering we're taking my car on our honeymoon...this is not bad timing :) Annoying, but at least it wasn't too costly, and it happened before we got too stressed ;)

Wedding update

2008-08-03T21:37:00.004+10:00

We ordered our wedding cake today!!!!

The bridesmaids have their dresses! AND have organised their own alterations... I LOVE the colour of their dresses!!! If I wasn't the bride, I'd want one of their dresses too!:p Hehe!

We've booked our make up trial...

We have started looking into the Hens night...

I'm getting my money's worth at the gym for a change (slowly working up to it! Actually, the staff were surprised I could lift particular weights...I could easily change the level up. It's nothing compared to what I was lifting before I got sick! But I'm not pushing myself too much)

We've booked our honeymoon transport (to and from our destination. Now to fill in the gaps)

That's about all for now... my brain is overloaded lately, so I'm glad to be able to tick things off the "To Do List"! :)

Work...

2008-07-30T18:17:00.003+10:00

Well, I offically go back on-call next week... and I might be going full time in the not too distant future :) I'm trying to add an extra day to my work week every fortnight, and hopefully every week soon. I just have to make sure I get enough sleep! Otherwise I feel like a zombie :p

Yes, I am getting better :) :) :) This has been a challenging year, but I'm marching through it! :)

Slowly Overcoming Fatigue!

2008-07-25T22:36:00.003+10:00

I just wanted to share that I worked my FIRST 4 day week since I was sick! :) AND I SURVIVED!!! Without Berocca...I either lost the last pack I had, or used it up and forgot... haha!

I've been working only 3 day weeks since glandular fever (6-7 months)...until this week! YAY!!!!
I only have one week left of my contract...then back to on-call...yuck... oh well. At least I still have a job :)

Thanks

2008-07-20T21:06:00.001+10:00

Hi all. Just wanted to say thanks to everybody who sent birthday messages! I have had such a busy weekend I haven't managed to reply to them all... so know I really appreciate all the nice thoughts :)

Veil Prices are so over-rated!

2008-07-11T22:17:00.004+10:00

I'm going to bed, but before my brain switches off completely....
I'm NOT PAYING AU$300 FOR A VEIL!!!!!!!!!!! ;p
I went to check out the Mariana Hardwick warehouse sale today... and asked if they have veils...
yes....but I'm not paying $300 for something I can pay $60-$65 FULL PRICE elsewhere!
Even their "cheap" dresses were over $2000 each!!!

Just makes me excited about how much I DIDN'T pay for my off-the-rack dress! It doesn't have as much sparkle, but it has enough :) I can't justify paying thousands of dollars for sparkles ;)

It also gave me an excuse to return my bracelet I picked up last week...after I came home I noticed a scratch in one diamonte...I was prepared to live with it because most people wouldn't notice...but I was in the area today and brought it in...and they replaced the diamonte on the spot! Free of charge! They do have a warranty...and it was scratched when I bought it, so I know I didn't scratch it. We had to order our jewellery because each piece is made to order, and apart from this small scratch, I'm extremely happy with it!

Oh, I have been offered many veils to borrow...but each one is either ivory or off-white. I need WHITE. But that's ok. It's nice to receive the offers :)

Ok, GOOODNITE:)

Life...

2008-07-08T16:19:00.004+10:00

Some days, when I look back on life, Anne of Green Gables gets into my head, and I hear her solemnly say, "Why do people have to grow up?"

But that's life... people change... people make choices... people disappear... people return... but in the end, we all have to grow up and get out of the box of the "good old days" - because none of us would fit anymore! But it can be sad when you think about some of the choices people have made... but that's their life. We all make choices. We all "have to grow up" :)

It's ALREADY July!?!?!?!

2008-07-04T18:17:00.003+10:00

Hahaha! I can't believe it...it's already July! Thanks Mike (Finishing Well) for imprinting the thought in my mind when I mentioned our wedding will be in October... "It will be here before you know it!" hahaha! You're right! It's not here yet, but it's COMING!!!!

But that's ok ;) We have most things worked out.
My dress is too big! Yay! I put on weight after being too sick to exercise but not too sick to eat, so when I bought my dress is was a snug-perfect fit, and I told them I would lose weight...and I have! Yay!

We're picking up our jewellery tomorrow. My maids and I had a nice afternoon together choosing sets about 2-3 weeks ago. They chose the same sets, and I have a different set. It's all butterfly themed! :p

We're having a little trouble with the cake...that's something else we need to do tomorrow... get back to the people who were supposed to call when they had the brochure to choose the decorations from... if it continues to be an issue, we might just order the cake and organise our own decorations!

The only thing that's really bothering me right now...is shoes! I've tried $260 pairs and $35 pairs, and am extremely disappointed that the cheap, nasty, synthetic shoes feel much better than the expenesive leather ones... so that will save me money. I just need to keep looking for the right pair! I normally avoid synthetic shoes...but in this case I might just give in... there's still time! David's mum suggested waiting until after the mid-year sales, and I think that is wise advice...

Ok, I must be going.
The wedding is going well, but I'm fed up with being sick! Glandular fever is really not a friend to love... it seems at work, I caught a cold from a client, started to get better, then another client came in sick... so my immune system was struggling to keep up! When was the end of one cold and the beginning of the other, or did it even end, or they just merged.... so I have a week off now!:) Time to give my body a rest! Literally everybody at work was getting sick, so it's not the environment to be in right now...but everybody has a week off, so I decided to take it too. The other option was to go back on-call...but I've been pushing myself just to keep going these last 2 weeks...now I deserve a break :) I couldn't get out of bed for church last Sunday, and was later miserable company for David, who treats me so well.... some days I don't know how he can stay so nice when I have nothing to give but misery... he's the BEST!

In a sense this year has been a challenge...getting so sick, and planning a wedding...now I need to ensure I make it to the altar in good health!

Talk about Feeling the Spirit!!!

2008-06-20T13:39:00.002+10:00

Somebody sent me this on facebook....wooooaah!!! :) :) :)
Oprah's Gospel Brunch with the Legends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHZKffz6FFI

Still Alive...

2008-06-19T21:01:00.002+10:00

Hello.... this is just a quick note for those people wondering where I have been... I have received some verbal complaints that I haven't updated lately... I've just been too busy and and tired...

My 3 month contract will eventually expire after 5 months!:) That has been awesome!
The only complaint I have right now...I'm feeling like I did before I got glandular fever... run down and too busy.... pushing myself to get through each day... trying to get over a stupid cold... and forcing myself out of bed and then forcing myself to get through a day of work... I am off tomorrow!!! :) :) :)

Ok, now that you know I'm still around...I'm going to bed! Been looking forward to this part of the day since since 7am... :p I hope the sleep makes me feel better tomorrow... and I get my FULL voice back!

Gooooodnight... :D

June...

2008-06-03T13:07:00.001+10:00

Why do I always seem to come here and my tummy starts grumbling....!;p Ok, I get the hint! I'm too busy to think about lunch, and usually I come to this blog as a reward for working hard....but I'm too hungry to think any more!:p
!Have a great day!

Joys of May

2008-05-27T13:12:00.003+10:00

Just as I'm realising I forgot to have lunch....I can see I've written a few crazy posts lately... and this week is turning out to be a good one... so I'm going to turn over the page and wriote the Joys of May, instead of the frustrations! (Then have lunch!!)

What's happening... well... now my tummy is grumbling...ok, type in a hurry! :p
I picked up my engagement ring on Saturday!!! I'd been getting bored with my cheap proxy ring...and actually, when I saw my ring again it nearly blinded me! I forgot how clean it could be!Haha! My job requires constant hand washing, so the ring cops a lot of dirt most people wouldn't deal with...

We've paid off our wedding rings!
Just as we decided our cake options, we stumble across a NEW cake option! Where, currently, we could get an even better cake for only $25 more! Bargain!!!! Our previous option wasn't elegant ;) I won't tell you why :p

My 3 month contract expires on Thursday... yesterday they asked me to stay another month! (and possibly longer) Yay! I have a solid income for another month! No being on-call and no fluctuating income:)

I've been really blessed financially! After being forced to take time off work with glandular fever, and not having any sick pay, I've managed to get a good paying contract, earning more money for less days, and my Mary Kay business is beginning to go somewhere :) I really need to get more bookings in my diary... but I've STARTED and that's important:) I had my 2nd class on Saturday. It was fun! And a LOT better than my first class! :)

Ok, I have a long to-do list in my diary, so I'll stop here. Oh, and yes I need LUNCH! Oops... haha!
Ciao!:)

Rhetorical Questions of May....

2008-05-21T20:38:00.002+10:00

I am trying to make myself relax.... so I'll write all the things that are on my mind....well, how abt a small percentage....my find is constantly FULL lately...

Ok...
WHY do my nails keep snapping in the most annoying places....
WHEN is my engagement ring going to be ready to pick up... (they needed it to match a wedding band)...
WHY can't I shoot some of my clients with sedatives....
WHY can I even consider POSTING that comment!?! (Ok, I had a stressful day)
WHY did I lose 2 cubic zirconias from a new (cheap!) ring....
WHERE did my multivitamins end up....
WHY is my diary always so full....even after crossing things off....

WHY am I even writing this....
Ok, I think you already figure I'm a bit stressed and crazy right now...
I better stop before you think any further...:p

More in May

2008-05-16T20:48:00.002+10:00

Hello! I just realised how long it's been since I last posted... life just seems to get busier and busier...and that's not even considering the wedding!

I've been up and down with fatigue. Some weeks I'm fine, others I don't know how I survived the week, but I do! I never realised how long the effects of glandular fever could be... but I'm doing a lot better this week! I managed to get to the gym twice this week. My aim is to go twice a week, not the usual 3, simply because I can't push myself too far ;) If I can make it 3 times I will try, but 2 is sufficient for now. I am even feeling results for a change!:)

Ok, I'm tired, rambling, got a lot on my mind, and tomorrow is SATURDAY!!!! YAY!!!!
But for those interested, the wedding plans are going well. No complaints in that department (apart from costs!!:p)
Gooodnight :)

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

2008-05-02T16:40:00.001+10:00

I want to SMASH EVERY tv in my presence that is ON! ! !
This was supposed to be a quiet day... My head is a mess from too much unecessary noise...

Mary Kay

2008-04-29T11:05:00.004+10:00

Is anybody interested in hosting a Mary Kay Skincare Class?

I am looking for people to help me with my training, and you will receive a Hostess Reward for simply holding a class with 3-5 friends (+you).

Obviously you must live in Melbourne ;)

For more information visit: www.marykay.com.au

The products are beautiful...if you're after a little pampering, this is for you ;)

You don't need to wear make up, there are also skincare and body treatments available.
I begin with the Miracles Happen skincare class.

It's a great way to get the girls together and have some fun trying skincare and a bit of make up.

April Update

2008-04-29T10:52:00.003+10:00

I can't believe how busy my life is at the moment! Even with only 3 days of work I am still so busy! Mary Kay has added to that, but I have to admit I am enjoying this new venture....although I haven't actually run my first class yet... that's next week!

I went to the gym with mum last night. Was fun...who ever would have thought I'd go to the gym with her! We're both loving it!! She's the older one, but she has far more energy than me at the moment...she'll keep me motivated! They call her a star - she just gets on with it and has fun! I'm taking it slowly but surely :) It's just so good to know I CAN exercice again and I WILL fit back into my wedding dress ;) I just missed the "fit feeling". Exercise makes you feel so much better...and when you're used to that feeling then are prevented from maintaining it, it's hard...so now I'm slowly regaining that feeling! YAYAYAYAY!!!!!!

What else... I have a to-do list to get on with, but I wanted to update you with my life...

Oh! We went to a wedding on Saturday. It was a 9.45am ceremony and the reception was a luncheon and was over by 3pm. It was a nice wedding, but it did feel a little strange having the rest of the afternoon free. David and I were inspired ;) We went back to our wedding folder and started discussing more ideas and things to book/organise. It's good to be able to get some insights from friends' weddings.

Oh and I was involved in fire training at work yesterday... we were outside being instructed on how to use fire hydrants... do you think I was a wonderful fire fighter? Not really...the hydrant I was given didn't seem to have anything left by the time it was my turn....my buddy had to back me up! How sad.... but it was good learning. We were the last 2 to have a go, so I'm guessing the hydrant was nearly empty by the time I got it. And just as we were nearing the end of the demonstarion...it started pouring with rain! I'd completed fire training with my agency, but have never actually had practical training like this. We just watched DVDs about fires in the homes and answered questions in a book. This was heaps better (and not through the agency).

Ok, I've written enough today! Hope you're great!:)

I can go to the gym!!!

2008-04-25T10:57:00.002+10:00

Woohoo!!! I only have 2 minutes to tell you I've been to the gym!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only 4 months after glandular fever... I joined a NEW gym and the people there WANTED me to join so they could help me...I know it sounds like a good marketing tool, but they really are great people.

So yeah, even though it's a slow process, I'm NOT at the beginner level (yay!!) but I still need to take it easy ;)

I joined Contours...sooooooo much better than Fitness First, which I officially cease my membership in 4wks...grrr.... at least I know it's happening:)

Ciao belli!

Changes here, Changes there, Changes Everywhere!!!

2008-04-16T18:08:00.002+10:00

This has definitely been a week of CHANGE and unexpected opportunities...and it was all because I attended a bridal expo!

On Friday I'm having a 2nd free trial at Contours gym in Epping. Mum already joined, and I've been wanting to quit my current gym for quite a while...the only reason I didn't cancel my membership yesterday was because I'd just come from Contours and LOOKED like I'd been to a gym - which wouldn't help me with cancelling! Legally they must let you quit, but that doesn't mean they make it easy... another reason to quit. All they care abt it money, not members...only numbers and figures...

So yes, I had my first work out for the year! FINALLY!!!! I've been really missing exercise but have been good to myself by avoiding over-doing things. I've succeeded :) I felt awesome within the first 5mins of the not quite perfect workout (they were showing me the ropes and explaining everyting). They know my case and want me to join so they can help me regain my fitness gradually...and after yesterday I realised although I have lost some strength, I haven't really lost that much!

So that's one change.
The second change is I gave in and joined Mary Kay! I'm still a bit freaked out by the idea, but would like to try the challenge. I have a training session on Friday. In the end, even if I decide not to to continue, I've lost nothing, and the cost of starting is still a bargain in the sense I will have a kit worth a lot more than what I paid for it...

So....if anybody is interested in Mary Kay...let me know ;)

I have to go out soon so I'll leave it here.
Life is definitely not what I expected for this season!

Wedding...Ramble...Life...

2008-04-15T13:41:00.002+10:00

Yay!!! We have ordered our bridesmaid dresses!!! Finally! :) :) :)
Now we can move up the "To Do List" ;) It's so good knowing both girls are happy, and I'm happy too:) Now we can properly choose our jewellery, based on our dresses! Oh, and shoes of course.

What else... we start marriage counselling on Thursday nite.
I went to a Mary Kay training night last night...Monday... it was quite enjoyable.
I was one of 4 guests who were used as examples of a party... the trainer did a mock session for the consultants to learn from. We did a basic facial, then a makeover. It was good seeing the other 3 ladies transform their looks ;) The only bad part was it was night time, so we couldn't get the most of our make overs because we had to take it off to go to bed! Oh well...it was a good experience.

I wasn't used to being in a room full of "girly-girls". Instead of feeling over-dressed, I felt under-dressed! But it was a good night. The lady who invited me is a director, and wants me to join them as a consultant... I initially said no....but having been to a training night and seeing that a once-a-week consultation could equal nearly a whole week's pay... it's quite tempting...and knowing Mary Kay Ash was a Christian who based her business on Christian foundations...

Which got me thinking... I've been wanting to change career...get a job where I can dress up instead of down... and did once consider being a make up consultant for ColesMyer, but realised I'd hate that environment... and although this job wouldn't use my qualifications, it would pay far better anyway... and I would no longer being cleaning so many dirty butts and having people accidentally spit food on my face... and I wouldn't need a shower after work...

So...IF I decided to go ahead, I will keep my current job, and see how I go... work a few days a week for the agency (and maintain all the above cons), and one or two days with MK...

Not sure what I will do yet. But the extra money is very tempting... (I think that's what the director wants me to go for... extra money for the wedding, and commission for her. A win-win deal).

Ok. that's enough for today!
I have a shoe excursion with mum on Friday, then on Saturday the bridesmaids and I are going on a jewellery and shoes excursion! Busy, busy, busy....but it's all fun! :)

Happy!

2008-04-10T17:48:00.001+10:00

Haha. Just happy I received my Mary Kay stuff!
Gotta run!
Ciao :p

Wedding Update

2008-04-08T14:02:00.004+10:00

Ok, I said I'll write more, so now I am!
It has been an interesting time trying to get my sister to look at dresses, and find a dress both maids like... we found THE DRESS, then my sister was finally able to try it....and ended up liking a different one better.... and I have to admit I liked it better after seeing it on her... so my other maid went and tried it on...and we have a NEW THE DRESS!!! We will have to order soon.

We saw our florist and seem to have gotten a good deal.
We are starting marriage counselling next week with a couple from church...
David's mum is coming down from NSW this week because his grandparents are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary! That will be good, because we have only been able to keep her updated via phone. It will be good to SHOW her what we've done/booked etc.

I had a consultation with a Mary Kay rep this morning. We met at a bridal expo. She was really nice and professional. I previously thought Mary Kay wouldn't do bridal make up as well, but now I think more positively abt that... she also said they don't allow consultants to do bridal work unless they have significant experience, which is encouraging.
So I haven't actually decided if we will use her, but she is definitely on my list of possibilties!

What else... We've done more research for photos... looked into makeup... found the rings!! I forgot about that! We went to the Australian Diamond Company where David got my ring, and found the perfect band to match... but didn't buy anything on the day ;) He also found his style which was great ;)

I've been researching jewellery....and anybody who knows me well won't be surprised I keep going back to the more expensive tastes! But it's one day and we want to look and feel gorgeous, and wear the jewellery again....so why not get something glamorous ;) Plus I'm the one paying, so it doesn't matter ;) hehe!

Ok, I think that's enough for now... Until the next chapter ;)

Wedding Plans...

2008-04-07T12:01:00.002+10:00

Somebody asked abt the wedding plans...everything is going well:) Will write more later!

News report on yesterday's stabbing

2008-04-04T10:27:00.001+11:00

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=65733

Two charged after man stabbed by bank
Friday Apr 4 07:21 AEDT
Two men have been charged with attempted murder after a man was stabbed following a fight outside a bank in Melbourne's north-west.
The 30-year-old victim suffered two stab wounds to the upper and lower body after being attacked while sitting in his car outside the National Australia Bank branch on Main Road East, St Albans, around 2.40pm (AEDT) on Thursday.
He was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with the life threatening injuries and remains in a stable condition.
Staff and customers were locked inside the bank while police attended the incident.
Two men aged 50 and 24 have been remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court later on Friday.
©AAP 2008

I finished work at 3 only down the road...

More Ramble

2008-04-03T17:57:00.003+11:00

I wanted to fall asleep at work today... at the end of the day the coordinator asked if I wanted her to sign my time sheet...I'd completely forgotten to fill it out!! I was having a blonde day...

I'm taking my sister out to dinner and bridesmaid dress hunting... if she likes this dress I have in mind, then we have our dress! My other bridesmaid and I have gone all over town looking for the right dress...it's been fun! But now it's crunch time ;) Hopefully my sister will love the dress, then we can order them in the colour I want! I have even tried on this dress...David liked it- he encouraged me to try some on one day while we were shopping. I tried on 3 and loved this one. So did my other bridesmaid when she went on her own.

Ok, Previously sleepy blonde signing off!

Traffic...stabbing...bleh...

2008-04-03T17:38:00.005+11:00

It's a bit sad when you have to take a detour on the way home from work and have NO IDEA why.... no news on the car radio... nothing on tv when you arrive home...and then your parents walk in the door within an hour of each other and know EXACTLY why...and they were nowhere near it!

Well, about hour after leaving work and being caught in a traffic jam and crazy drivers trying to take unexpected detours (there were no detours in place, so people were turning down any road that wasn't blocked!)... because a police car was sitting in the middle of the road, blocking something, I discovered I was working only blocks away from a stabbing outside a bank!

I guess it's better not to know you're so close to a horrible crime... at least the detour wasn't too long. It's just hard when it is so close to a notably dangerous railway crossing. Cars were only noticing the road block as they were reaching the crossing...so some people were forced to stop in dangerous positions (ie, on the railway track while the traffic lights were green), while cars tried to figure out where to go! Craaaazy!!!! That intersection is horrible at the best of times!

Normally I avoid it, but because it's still school holidays I went that way because it's shorter and there is supposedly less traffic during the holidays... Normally I take the long way because there is no congestion around the railway crossing. Oh well.

Lunch, flowers....moving house...

2008-03-28T16:00:00.003+11:00

I had lunch with my gorgeous sister in law today! It was so nice :)
We talked abt weddings and family.... it was just a nice time to catch up 1:1. She's just gorgeous! The best sister in law a girl could get :)

On Wednesday night we had an appointment with our florist - an old school friend who offered to do our flowers from home, thus at a cheaper price. It was also great! It's amazing what you can learn about something as simple as flowers :) We decided on colours, flowers, styles, ribbons, etc... and it's all going to cost a reasonable price:)

David also moved house on Tuesday. It was a bit sad moving his stuff from the gorgeous townhouse into what felt like an uncared for, older house...that's the fun of renting... and there are more people looking for houses than there are available houses. The only reason he moved was because the landlord wanted to move in. It's ok - it'll feel like home soon:) It was a real intercessor experience walking in the door and feeling the need to pray NOW. Which was great....the next time we walked into the house, it felt much better :) We spent Tuesday loading both our cars (mine is a hatch so we could pack heaps into it!) and driving back and forth, transferring stuff to the new house. It feels heaps better now that he has the lounge set up :)

More on Glandular Fever and the Wedding

2008-03-24T21:10:00.002+11:00

I've just noticed people have been googling "glandular fever" and coming across my blog...so I had a look at some other relevant sites... and now I'm thinking.... thinking... agreeing... disagreeing...and thinking more and more about my wedding that's fast approaching!!!

Well, as I read the horror stories of glandular fever, I realise just how blessed I have been! I was never so exhausted I couldn't get out of bed... but I was more tired than usual. I was never hospitalised, and I never had hepatitis (maybe coz I had the vaccines years ago for my job).

Although I didn't have it as bad as many, I am still sharing the frustrations of what I read somebody describe as, "being stripped of vitality and being unable to participate in life fully".
When I think about my wedding dress, I am constantly reminded of the fact I can eat, but I can't work out at the gym. When most brides are beginning their health frenzy, I've had to cease mine. I can't work more than 3 days a week (but thank God he offered me a great opportunity for a contract that even pays more than if I did 4 days eleswhere!)

One thing I read which I am REALLY noticing this week... some people have weeks of energy and then no energy. I'd just spent 2 weeks feeling abt 90% normal...it was wonderful.... I was even working long hours and coming home feeling ok. Then just this weekend I've been feeling run down again... which makes me even more sad I can't return to the gym... I am in a good habit of walking to reception and signing away another form to freeze/suspend my membership... I actually got slighty excited last time and froze a fortnight instead of a month... but I think I will have to go back and not go past reception for the rest of the month... sigh... I really miss exercise... but all I can do now is low impact, and most of the time I either don't have the energy, or I've done a lot of physical acitivity at work and don't want to overdo it again.

I guess, if nothing else, this has helped me learn to relax more... which sucks in some ways too... because I like to do more with my days. But I know the signs now and when I need to cancel a social activity, it's good my friends understand. That's the hard part... there are so many social events in my life at the moment, I have to choose to attend some but not all... that has been hard. It's also hard when you do attend an event, and feel like you just wanna lie down on the couch...but thankfully that hasn't happened much lately! :)

I bumped into a doctor friend at church on Sunday who told me I am definitely not contageous :)
Hadn't seen her in ages. I just feel like I've been soldiering on and trying not to overdo it...and for a change, I'm succeeding!

I'm just hoping I will have enough energy a few months before the wedding to maybe hire a personal trainer and get my fitness back to normal...or at least lose whatever weight I've put on by not having the energy to work it off! I called my old trainer, but she's out of the industry now... sigh... I just need some advice of low impact ways to help me regain my fitness...

ok, it's late and I better go to bed!
I can tell you that we have most things organised for the wedding:)

Lessons Learned from a Bride to Be!

2008-03-11T11:38:00.003+11:00

Bridesmaids Dresses:
Only take one bridesmaid to try on dresses. That way, nobody can try to push you to BUY anything!
We've gone into many boutiques, and it is obvious that they are all disappointed that only one of them is present. They always say, "You'll have to bring in both of them". We then walk out having done our research, not feeling pressured to buy something we don't want! Hehe ;)

Bridal Gowns:
Off The Rack gowns are much cheaper- they just don't have the "name" and are not custom-made for you. But who will notice anyway??? Sometimes they're even cheaper than 2nd hand "Name" ones! I bought my dress in a 'hidden' butique, in a building I've walked past a zillion times in the city (Swanston St) but was completely oblivious to it. It's on the 9th floor and you wouldn't find it unless you were looking for it! (Chantilly Bridal).

Oh, and I had a man serve me. He was amazing! Good, old fashioned service. No rubbish. Npo pushing to buy. He was so full of information, and actually told me NOT to buy anything until I'd looked at a few other shops. I think he knew I'd be back ;) Haha!

I've been into a few bridal shops looking for bridesmaids dresses...and the rubbish coming out of the sales assistants mouths is dreadful!
A few weeks ago a girl was trying on a dress, and I just felt like grabbing her hand and telling her to RUN!!! She was young and gorgeous, and obviously hadn't seen anything cheaper than what she had on...and was trying to justify spending all that money... I hope she did leave without buying... the assistants were all over her, there was no way anybody would get near her to tell her to run ;)

I hated most dress designs in the magazines...but when I began to visit boutiques I discovered there are more IN the boutiques that I liked, than in the magazines!

Cakes:
We have been quoted between AU$250-$700 for a cake! One day we 'accidentally' asked about a particular display cake...and it was $300 for a wedding, and ONLY $125 As Is! So we can just pay $125 and pick it up ourselves! ...and to have enough for everybody...shhh.... we can order a simple cake to have cut up! shhh...All cheaper than a "Wedding Cake".
Until then , we'd only been looking at "Wedding Cakes". It's criminal!

Ok, that's enough for today ;) It's been a busy time...and all you people who said, "It will come quickly" - it is really feeling that way now! Just a few days ago I thought it was January!!:p
At least we have most of the major things covered:)

Catch up...girly day...wedding...

2008-03-08T10:15:00.004+11:00

Helllooooooo gorgeous people!!!!
This year has been so busy, I just haven't found the time to blog lately!
This week, I finally began to feel like my body is returning to normal after being so fatigued for most of Jan and Feb.

Yesterday I went bridesmaid dress shopping (attempt #3) with one of my 2 bridesmaids. Usually after an awesome day with her, I find I need a "nothing day" to recover from being so busy. But today I feel awesome! :)

We had such an awesome day!!! I love this chick! We went to Chadstone ("The fashion capital" of Melbourne) for a day out....it was a real GIRLY DAY! We loved it! We walked, and talked, and walked and talked....had an hour long coffee & chat....walked and talked....got lost....kept walking and talkig...tried on dresses...walked & talked.... got lost....kept walking and talking...avoided those "Dead Sea Cosmetics" people who tried to trap us! I'm sure we used up our weekly word quota in one day! Haha!

One thing I've learning from this wedding... all 3 of us...my 2 bridesmaids and I have hourglass figures...so basically EVERYTHING we try on looks good... which is actually not a bad thing, because even though lots of things look good, we still know what we want :) So yesterday was really another "eliminating" day.

I also began a 3month contract last week. They offered me 5days, but allowed me to take 3 and even choose the days I wanted to work! They hired another agency casual to take the other 2 days. I only have to travel 1.6kms to work:) Longer hours, but basically no travel time:)

Ok, that's a bit of March for now ;)

David and Robyn

2008-02-21T12:41:00.002+11:00

Somebody asked what David looks like... This is not the best picture, but I can't find the better ones at the moment! This was taken at our engagement party(family only) - we were really tired by then...

Intercessor Ramblings

2008-02-20T17:29:00.002+11:00

Ever wondered why intercessors are so good at perceiving and seeing things for others....they know all the answers and the exact prayers to pray...but then when it is they who need help, they forget to fight the battle....but it is no problem to fight other peoples' battles...

Its like a psychologist who knows the answers to everybody else's problems...but can't see, or refuse to believe the answers can work for them too...

Life...

Feb is looking brighter!

2008-02-08T17:57:00.000+11:00

I picked up my wedding dress yesterday!!!!

It was the very first one I tried on... I actually went in planning on buying a different one, but it had sold th previous day...which was a wonderful thing! It was ivory. When I tried a similar one on it felt like God thumped me on the head and said, VERY clearly, "NO IVORY!!"

So I bought the nice white one! :)

Every time I even looked at an ivory dress after the conviction, I couldn't stand it! Haha! It's an "Off the rack sample" - meaning I saved $1,000!!! :) :) :) A middle-aged man served me and he was so good. Old fashioned service. He told me NOT to buy anything the first day I went because that was the first shop I went to. After seeing the prices of other shops, I just HAD to get this one! If I didn't I'd end up wishing I could have a $3,000 dress but not being prepared to PAY for it! So I was glad this one was still on the rack a week after I tried it on! It was in my price range:) I love a bargain!!!

Went back to work this week...for the 2nd time! The first time I worked 3 days and ended up back at the doctor...my body decided to re-react to the wrongly prescribed medication! So another week in pain (swollen legs), and itching like crazy...after a week I FINALLY STOPPED waking at the "Itching hour" between 2-3am... I was addicted to calamine lotion for a week! The night I returned home from the doctor my whole body swelled up! I think I have a small understanding of what Botox would feel like! Haha! My lips felt really yuck! All I could do was relax and just WAIT for the rash/reaction to run it's course (AGAIN!) and disappear on it's own.

The doctor actually said, "Who was the idiot who made you take that and waste your money?!?!" So in effect, I spent more time off work dealing with the REACTIONS to the wrong medication than I did actually being sick! NEVER returning to that clinic!!!

Glandular Fever

2008-01-09T12:18:00.000+11:00

Ok...I went back to the doctor... he said if I'm not better the next morning (Fri), use the new prescription and see him Saturday... which meant I would be taking TWO types of antibiotics.

Next morning I wasn't much better... and mum made me see my usual doctor for a 2nd opinion (clinic wasn't open when I initially needed to see somebody). He said not to fill the 2nd prescription, and ordered a blood test to rule out glandular fever. I didn't have many symptoms, but he wanted to be sure... especially since I didn't have a rash - the medication I was on should've caused a rash if I had glandular fever. Because it is useless for treatment.

The blood test was Friday. I had to wait til Monday for results. I didn't bother returning to the other doctor. No news Monday... they don't call if results are clear. But I found a rash on my torso when I got out of the shower...so ANOTHER appointment made...

And guess what... the doctor hadn't received the results yet, and after seeing my rash, called the lab immediately, and confirmed on the spot, I have glandular fever... the rash was a delayed response.

So now I'm OFF Medication, waiting for the rash to disappear, and just resting...and feeling better every day :)

He said, by the way I've been presenting myself, I should be ok to return to work next week. I only had a minor case, and didn't experience many symptoms :)

What a way to beging the year!

P.S. The first 2 doctors were middle eastern/muslim and my usual doctor was 'english'... I found them extremely different in their approach... I really have more more respect for my usual doctor after this experience! But the other clinic was like a McDonalds Drive Thru - where they wanted to get thru as many patients as possible. My usual clinic has more time for the patients.

Tonsillitis...

2008-01-03T16:01:00.000+11:00

I saw the doctor on Sunday because I was STILL feeling dizzy...and discovered I had a tonsil infection that spread to the middle ear. She prescribed me antibiotics and an "anti dizzy" tablet.

I took them. I felt a little better. After 2 days I stopped taking the 'dizzy pills'. (I only had 1/3 of the maximum dose :) They were "take only as needed")

But yesterday I couldn't swallow anything hard. I was living on yoghurt and jelly and bananas... and my throat decided to be sore.. At around 5.30pm my throat started swelling up like it was being attacked by marshmallows. Mum and I were both concerned, so she took me straight back to the doctor. I was pushed to the front of the line. We thought I was reacting to the antibiotics. Turns out they weren't working!

So... he precribed me a stronger dose. When I asked if they were as big as the previous ones, he didn't answer. He just ripped up the prescription and wrote a new one for liquid form :) I was struggling to swallow those monster size pills, even when broken in HALF! I got one half stuck in my throat yesterday so mum crushed the other half.

So last night I managed to sleep without suffocating ;)
But I am seeing the doctor again tonight to see if the new presciptions are working.

Welcome to 2008 - Garden

2008-01-01T10:49:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year!

Hope you’re looking forward to what’s beyond the door you’ve just walked through – 2008.

I could say we have a clean slate, or a white canvas on which to create the picture of this year…but I like the concept of a garden.

Your garden… 2008.

This year, in your garden…

Roses will bloom, weeds will be pulled out… daisies will pop up unexpectedly. Some roses may die, but they will make room for new beauty. Daffodils may pop up where you thought daisies should have been... Seeds that lay dormant in 2007, or even longer, will sprout.

Some of these seeds you planted yourself. Some you didn’t even know were there.

Some plants you can easily water yourself. Some will require help from others. There may be dry times and optimum times. But the garden will stand.

Seeds from the past that have lay dormant may suddenly take root – and you may not even know they were in the soil. Reap the rewards :)

Weeds may come and try to destroy your plants… you have the power in your hands to rip out the weeds! Or even spray them with weed killer. It’s YOUR garden. You must protect it with whatever means you can.

As with any garden, your garden will require nurturing, and you must wait for the right season for certain plants to flower or sprout. But rest assured, like the farmer knows, if he has planted his seeds in the right soil at the right time, the harvest WILL come :)

So look forward to what your garden brings in 2008 – the good, the sad, the tough, surprising, and the awwwwwing. Take care of your garden, and look back at the end of 2008 in admiration of the seasons and what they brought :)

And don’t forget… plant some bulbs for the years to come ;) Even plant them in other gardens ;) No good seed will be lost :)

P.S. The picture here is one I took when I was in Ireland - Killarney, when I was tired, but still feeling adventurous...I felt the rose represented how I felt at the time :)

Saw a Doctor

2008-01-01T10:43:00.000+11:00

This is for the people who saw me miserable over Christmas...

I finally gave in and saw a doctor... had infected tonsils which spread to the middle ear...which is why I was so dizzy! and after being put on antibiotics, I'm feeling heaps better...and wishing I'd listened to you people who told me to see a doctor when I was too stubborn and dizzy to! :p

P.S. I HATE swallowing antibiotics...even when I snap them in half I struggle to swallow them... I feel like choking.... bleh! At least I'm feeling better ;)

Epping Plaza

2007-12-23T21:17:00.000+11:00

P.S. It didn't take long for me to start disliking the new Epping Plaza... it's sad that the 'tarnished-ness' has spread from the old side to the new side... I'm going back to Greensy!! REAL people!

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-23T21:05:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone!

It seems ages since I last posted... blame facebook :p I'm deliberately cutting down my viewing of that site!

Hope you're all enjoying the final countdown to Christmas! It feels like Jesus is giving Melbourne/Victoria a birthday present of RAIN! RAIN! RAIN! WOOHOOO!!!!! We're supposedly in a draught. Sooo... that means we are most likely not going to get our traditional Aussie summer Christmas. I don't mind... except for one thing...

I'm sitting here in my American-style woollen bomber jacket and have just gotten over a fever:( I pushed myself to work up to Thursday (aimed for Friday but just couldn't get out of bed...

The crazy thing is I got the jacket when I was in an Eltham High school band in 1997... they toured to wintery Chicago, but I was a new student, so wasn't allowed to go. I can STILL fit TWO of me in it! So I'm feeling a bit like Santa! Except I've traded the red for navy. I'd never wear it out in public, but it sure works wonders when you're freezing!!! Especially on a cold night on ourt bush block in the run down caravan.

Hmmm...I could probably even steal a few babies and get away with putting them under this coat! hahaha! :p

I better go to bed...

So hope your Christmas countdown is a lot better than mine :)
Luv Rob

Where is Baby Jesus???

2007-12-07T15:42:00.000+11:00

There’s a shopping centre near me, Epping Plaza, which has just undergone redevelopment… hence I actually go there now, because there are better shops.

In the middle of their walkway is a glass cabinet. It’s about a one metre circle in width, and about 2m high. Inside are: 3 Wise Men, Mary and Joseph. They are all looking amazed and towards something…but there is NOTHING there!

Baby Jesus didn’t fit in the cabinet, so he has been removed from the nativity scene!

If you walk a bit further there is a gigantic sand sculpture of Santa’s sleigh… about 5-10metres long.

Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas, but he was excluded from his own party…

High School Reunions

2007-11-30T21:09:00.000+11:00

It’s interesting how changing schools can affect the way you value people.

Recently I was invited to my Year 12 1o Year Reunion... but after being told partners were NOT welcome, and I was expected to travel a fair distance alone, I decided not go. I changed schools at the beginning of year 12 to study music.
After a year at that school, I never really felt I lost the “new girl” tag, and I only met about a third of the year 12 students. The only ones I’m really interested in I already maintain contact with (even if only once a year).

So after skipping that reunion, I hear my previous school is having their reunion… and I’m looking forward to going! I spent Years 9-11 with this group and I felt part of that group, even though I didn’t finish school with them. And they are more welcoming of partners…and even kids!

It’s interesting how I seem to value these people a lot more…even though I haven’t kept in touch with many. It’s like they are more ‘real’, and I lost the “new girl” tag well before leaving that school.

For those who don’t know…I attended 6 different schools, where the average person only attends 2 – Primary and Secondary (High). I went to 3 of each, both in the country and city. I had an interesting childhood :)

But with this group, even though I wasn’t invited to parties because I didn’t fit the mould – people knew I wouldn’t want to go and get drunk etc, so told me about it on Monday instead of inviting me… I am interested in these people. It’s funny how years after school, you can see old classmates who you weren’t really friends with, and have a good chat in shopping centre carparks etc… these people are more real :)

The previous reunion was organised by the “Clicky Group” I never got along with…and they created RULES – even 10yrs later… nothing has changed…I find that sad… It’s a bit like the movie “Clueless”, with all the ‘groups’. I would be the girl in the library who the popular girls would have avoided! Haha! I had no time or interest to try and fit in with the wrong groups. I found my own group, and we had good fun.

Actually, the ones who organised the reunion were the first people I met… you know how when a new kid comes to class, the teacher always selects a “buddy” to show them around and include in their group…I always ended up leaving the buddies.
It was like a pattern for every teacher to choose somebody who I didn’t really connect with. They did their job, and I was included to some extent, but we mutually separated and I found where I belonged.

Now years later, I realise that in this particular instance, it was a spiritual clash. Our spirits just couldn’t connect…now it is so clear to me.

So I’m looking forward to my 2nd opportunity :) I always felt I belonged with this group, and was actually hoping to be included in their reunion :)

2007-11-25T22:53:00.001+11:00

I wonder what is behind the door about to be opened by the new Chamelion Prime Minister...
I'm sad I will have to see his face for the next 4yrs, but that's life. Maybe he will be better than I expect...

Asics Testimony

2007-11-12T13:03:00.000+11:00

I often hear other people talking about how God told them to walk into a particular shop or do something different…and when they followed the prompt, they were rewarded with a surprise.

Well, I recently had my turn. About a month ago mum and I took a train into the city for a day of shopping. We checked out DFO Spencer (Factory Outlets), which wasn’t that good…in fact we had some bad lunch service which caused a bit of trouble, but that’s not the point of this story!

I found a sports shop that boasts “cheap Asics” runners. Since snapping my achilles tendon (it hung on by a middle thread!) about 3yrs ago I’ve been very fussy about my footwear, and was encouraged to try Asics…meaning now I refuse to wear any other sports shoe (unless Brooks tempts me. They are the Top 2 Best sports shoes).

So this shop had the latest style, and I tried them on. They were $20 off (which is a lot for this brand). It was an offer too good to be true… but something prompted me not to purchase them. In the end, I was umming and ahhing over the colour. They were green. I like green, but prefer more ‘feminine’ colours in my runners. I’d looked at enough shop windows to know that green was the ONLY available colour in the style I like.

So I carried the box around with me for about 20mins… eventually deciding to buy them…I could live with the colour because they felt soooooooooo good!
But again I felt prompted NOT to buy them! So I put them back on the shelf and walked out.

Later on I decided I still wanted them, so mum decided to meet me somewhere after I went back to buy them… I’d only walked about 2metres when I felt the prompt again.
So I walked back to mum.
I couldn’t understand why I felt I was not allowed to buy them. I REALLY wanted them…and couldn’t stop thinking about them since that time, wondering if I’d find them that cheap again…and not understanding why I couldn’t buy them then.

Well… just last Friday, out of the blue, mum called me and told me Rebel Sport was having a 20% off sale for RACV Card holders, and she saw the shoes I wanted. So I went in…and there was ONE pair left in my size…and this time I felt it was ok to buy them…because….they were $40 off!!!!! YAY! I was so glad I waited :) I got double the discount and I felt free to buy them this time :)

NOW I UNDERSTAND why God told me not to buy them. It just shows how much God loves us – that he will go to the lengths to look after the “small” things in our lives to prove he cares…

I still prefer my previous pink Asics, but they’ve earned their retirement ;)
In the end, you have to go by comfort and fit, not colour ;)

(P.S. The pink ones still look 'new' but they're over a year old! I'm good at keeping my shoes clean)

Van Morrison

2007-11-12T12:59:00.000+11:00

It’s funny how you can go years loving certain songs, but one day you suddenly realise
they are by the same artist…a name you always KNEW, but never associated with
the songs you like.

That’s how fell in love with Van Morrison! :p haha!
For years I’ve loved the songs, “Moondance” and “Brown Eyed Girl”… and just this
week I realised they are Morrison songs… and David spoiled me and bought me a
2disk CD pack…and after listening to one disk, I realised I knew a lot more of his
songs!

So I’m now a Van Morrison fan…although I always was, I just never knew it! Hehe!
AND…He’s IRISH!!!! Even better!!!!! :p

whinge

2007-11-05T17:34:00.000+11:00

Is it the beginning of the busy, tiring part of the year....
or...
am I just tired...

That's all today :p