Thursday, March 31, 2011

Day 13 and Day 14 A fictional book and a non-fictional book

Fictional - I remember reading a book years ago called Peep Show. If I remember correctly it was about a girl who worked for some sort of production company and her bosses came up with an idea to put hidden camera's around her house to secretly film the going on's of her flat mates. It was a great book. In the end they wanted to turn it into a book and they had to reveal what they had been doing to her roomies and they were understandably angry... Anywho, it was a good read...

Non-Fiction - A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. I love this book. I have read it twice and I really think its amazing. Lee used to be an atheist. One day his wife came home and declared that she was a Christian. After a couple of years he decides he needs to investigate it for himself. So he travels around the country interviewing these amazingly brilliant men and asking them difficult questions about Jesus' life. I found it very educational. He was asking questions that I haven't even thought of before. He is a journalist and a lawyer and he just has a really great way of writing and explaining things. He has also written other books which I also enjoy. I highly suggest looking him up...

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Day 12. Talk about anything you like...

Ok, well I am not feeling very inspired today. I am at work and it is a bit of a slow day. Let’s see. My earliest memory is when I was 3 years old. I woke up on my birthday and I thought, YAY I’m a big kid now! I don’t know why that memory has stuck with me. I loved the house I grew up in. In a little place called Towrang, just outside of Goulburn. It was set on a 50 acre block, it had a train line that ran over it and river that ran through it. The train line was set high on bricks handmade by convicts from years ago. There was a giant rock underneath the train pillar’s and if I bashed and scrapped it, it would produce some powder and if mixed with water from the river this would make paint! It was pretty cool. My brother, my two sister’s and I had lots of fun running around, building cubby houses in the tree’s, climbing the pillars, hiding in the small pine tree paddock that we had, swimming in the river using empty 4 litre orange bottle’s to keep us afloat. If there was too much rain the river would swell and flood. On a couple of occasion’s we would write a note, put it in a bottle and toss it into the river. One day we found a note that our next door neighbour had also put in a bottle. We didn’t have the heart to tell him that we had found it so close by. Let him think it ended up in some faraway magical land...
Later on, we got a canoe and would float down the river looking at it from a different angle than the one we knew so well. There was seaweed and eels and leeches. We had a big backyard with a trampoline, a massive shed that help two cars, a tractor and a whole bunch of other stuff, we had a bunk house out the back, which Dad used as his study. We had a big veggie garden behind that which held strawberries, apples, cherries, corn, lettuce, carrots, beans, pumpkin and all sorts of other wonderful things.
We had two main dogs while I was growing up. Zac was the first but he grew old and deaf and eventually wandered onto the tracks of the railway and must have been hit. I was only very young when this happened, but I still remember Dad coming in to tell us. The second was Jess. They were both beautiful black and white border collies. Such gorgeous dog’s. Jess passed away in Qld when after mum and dad had relocated up there. There were a few stray dogs that came by in between, but they didn’t seem to stay for very long.
We also had a horse on loan for a time I believe, but we weren’t allowed to ride him. We had a long dirt driveway and once when the railway was re-doing the rocks on the tracks they gave us the previous stones for free and bulldozed them on our driveway. Dad was extremely pleased as this would have cost thousands and thousands of dollars if we had of been paying someone!
My sister and my brother and I were all homeschooled till various ages. Ruth and Liz went to school in year 5 and 6, I went half way through year 2 (after Dad had a heart attack) and then Josh went in year 7. Mum was a teacher and put a lot into us kids.
Ok, that’s enough for one day 
Cheerio Old Chaps xo

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Day 11. A photo taken of you recently



This is probably the most recent one that I have immediate access to. At the begining of the year there was a 'pay it forward' thing going around on facebook. The idea was to put it on your status, the first three people to comment you have a year to make them something handmade. And in return they had to put it as their status and do the same for three other people. And so on and so forth.
As I am not very artistic, I decided to go to the Lyncraft shop the other day and it was a magical land of all sorts of different craft things. I thought I should start with something sort of simple. So I bought some knitting needles and some yarn (lol) and started knitting a scarf for my friend. It then turned into a blanket and then a circle! Epic Fail. So now I have started again and hopefully can make my friend a scarf by winter!

:-)
I hope you are having a happy monday everyone!

xx

Becoming someone we want to be...

We are all on a journey. There are ups and Downs in every one's life. Happiness is sometimes a choice... I find I am learning things every day. I am becoming more and more the person that I will be tomorrow. You choose how you are going to be.

To become the person we want to be takes a lot of work. And we can't do it on our own. We need someone to guide us. We have to make decisions to stay on the path that we need to be on every day. It's a constant struggle, but the rewards are worth it. There will always be people along the way, trying to tempt us and if we give in, we run the risk of falling behind on our journey and losing our way.
There are many people, that whether we know it or not, have helped us along the way. We might have looked at them and saw something we liked, or didn't like in them, or had a conversation that got us thinking about something fundamental, or something minor, that shifting our way of thinking, or helped us form an opinion about something. Everyone you meet in life has the potential to change your life. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but maybe one day... This being the case, we need to keep in mind that the opposite applies. We have the capability of impacting someones life. For good OR bad. I don't about you, but I want to be impacting people's lives in a positive way and hopefully get them thinking about God. You need to be true to yourself and true to what you believe.
I definitely have things I need to work on in my life. I need self control. In many aspects of my life.I need to know when to say something and when to bite my tongue. I need to find the balance between my nature (which is fight) and the other, which is flight.
My Dad has the gift of discernment. I could definitely use some help in this area. I am a trusting person and sometimes that means that I manage to let people take advantage of me. It's something that I have been faced with many times. But I don't want to let this dampen my spirits and prevent me from trusting in the future.
I also really could use some more patience. It's a hard thing to pray for sometimes because I know that God will probably be more than happy to teach me a lesson in this area. Ha ha!
Sometimes I think I am a good communicator and sometimes I think I could use some help in the area. I think there is room for improvement.
I strive to be a good partner, a good daughter, sister and friend. I think it is really important to love people and this is something that is usually easy for me. Although I would be lying if I said I didn't struggle with it sometimes... I know there is good in everybody and that Jesus loves everyone and what's good enough for my saviour is good enough for me. Although I am no where near perfect I think Jesus is a pretty good role model. The best one, in fact :-)
I need help in the motivation part as well. I usually get really fired up for something and then burn out too quickly. Maybe it's stamina I need. Not in the physical sense.
I wonder if anybody even reads this....
It's a good way for me to get some of the many many many thoughts inside my head out. So thanks for listening cyber space!

Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago






Ok here are three photos of my when I was a toddler. I had a big cheekie smile and I still do. :-) The second is me and my Daddy and the third is me and my Poppy.
Photo's are a great way of capturing memories and I wish I had more from when I was little...

I had a nice weekend in Melbourne. The food down there that I ate was amazing. I tried Hungarian and Nepalease for the first time. Both very nice.
I went to the movies and watched Red Riding Hood and I quite enjoyed it :)

Back to work tomorrow.
Buckle up for a great week people.
xxx

Friday, March 25, 2011

Day 9: A photo you took





Ok, now I don't claim to be a good photography in anyway. I will leave that to my sister Elizabeth.
These two photo's I took in The Blue Mountains. One was taken on the Skyway. You are just hanging so high up in one of the most amazing landscapes that I have ever seen. The Blue Mountains always takes my breath amazing. It's beautiful is truly mesmerizing! If you haven't been, I highly reccomend it!
The other photo was taken at my favourite place in The BM. The Carrington. It is where I am getting married. I love ivy and I just found this really pretty.
I am sure that I will ramble on more about The Blue Mountains at another time :-)

Cherio Old Chaps xo

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Day 8 - A photo that makes you angry or sad




My beautiful Nephew Beau. This photo makes me more happy/sad. I could say it makes me angry because he was taken too soon from us, but anger is a useless emotion. Beau was the most perfect little man. He only lived to 10 months old, but in that time he had a profound impact of not only my life, but people all over the world. He had a genetic disease called SMA Spinal Muscular Astrophy. I won't go into the details of the disease, but it is the number one genetic killer of children under two and if you don't know much about it then I strongly suggest you go to our friend's website http://www.smaaustralia.org.au/ and have a look.
Beau was really special to me and he always will be. He had great personality and when he smiled he seriously did just light up the whole world. I miss him a lot. And think about him often. He would have been 3 this year and it kills me that he isn't here...
This was the last photo of him and I together on my last trip up to see him before he went to live with Jesus. I had a very special time with him. I was spinning my finger around and making noises and then when I got close to him, he would reach out and touch my finger. Which wasn't easy for him to do. It will always be a memory that I hold very very close, for the rest of my life.
Love you little man...
xxx

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Day 7: a Photo that makes you happy.




My Mum and Dad are my hero's. They make me happy! My Dad grew up in Bega on a dairy farm, he joined the police force at a very young age, he was sworn in on his 19th birthday. He did a bit of travelling oversea's with the police. To Canada, Papua New Guinea, The Solomon Island's etc. He had a heart attack in 1992, whilst being Chief Inspector in the Goulburn station. He then moved into teaching at The Police Academy, where he remained for just under 10 years, before having a stroke and obviously feeling the urgency to retire for his health.
Mum grew up in Lane Cove in Sydney. Her father was a mechanic and she had 5 brothers and sisters. She has always had an amazing heart and she is one of the most beautiful people in this world. She went to Teachers College in Goulburn (and hated Goulburn and never wanted to go back there!) She met Dad in a shared house in Sydney. He was her Youth Group leader :-) Dad proposed to her by saying 'Let's pray about getting married' and about a year later they were married and had the reception in her parents back yard in Lane Cove. They lived in Bowral and then moved back to Sydney to Baulkham Hills, where I was born. Mum likes to tell me that the hospital was having a 'special' on having babies. It makes me feel very special lol.
When I was either weeks old, we moved to Goulburn. Mum was a teacher and Dad was a policeman. They stayed in Goulburn for 17 years before packing up and moving to Queensland, where they have been ever since. I love my mum and dad and could not have asked for better parents :-)

Day 5 and 6. I missed two days. I am naughty!

My favourite quote. This one is dead easy. 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one gets to heaven except through him'
It's quite self explanatory really...

Ramble on about something you want...

I don't try to hide who I am. I am pretty what you see, is what you get. I am brutally honest, I am compassionate, I am loving, I am assertive and sometimes aggressive. I try to love everyone for who they are. I try really hard not to be judgemental as this is one of my pet hates.
I will talk to anyone and everyone about God, because in my opinion this is the single most important conversation that you can ever have. SO I like to know what I am talking about. I read the Bible, and I also study Creationism and Intelligent design, and as much history of Christianity as I can. After all it is HIStory ;-)
I also really enjoy researching other religions. I also find this very important and I feel it's important to understand the things the other's believe and why they believe them. It's very important to not make others feel judged when having a conversation with them about what they believe.
I was having a discussion about this with one of my close friends tonight. Her and some of her work mates were talking about religion and one of them was speaking about the Muslim religion and was being very abrupt with her and making her feel uncomfortable by putting her down in any way she could about her views on Christianity.
This isn't a good start to a conversation about what people fundamentally believe, in my opinion.
Each person is unique and individual and has some qualities that make them lovable. You just have to be receptive to them and give them some time.

It's time to wake your heart....
It's time for me to rest my head for the night xoxxoo

Sunday, March 20, 2011

30 Day Challenge Day 04 — Your favorite book Day

Ok, well I love to read and of course the best book you could possibly ever read is the Bible. This is the guide to life. A book that could keep you enthraled until the day you die.
However, the book that has effected me the most that I have recently read. It is called 'Through Gates of Splendor'
Its a book about 5 young missionary men who dedicate their lives to taking the message of God to a group of isolated South American Indian's. They are known for their savage way of life. Murdering all who come on to their territory.
These five men sacrificed their live for this task and they did not die in vain. Later on, after their deaths, one of their sisters and the son of another and some others continued with their mission and managed to get through to these Auca's. TO this day now, they are mainly a Christian people. The book is filled with letters and journal entries from the five men. It is filled with their unconditional love for these people that they have never met. I has touched me completely. If there was more people in this world like those men and their wives, it would be a much more amazing place...

Saturday, March 19, 2011

30 Day Challenge Day 03 — Your favorite television program

Well this one is easy. There are a lot of shows that I watch over and over, but the one that would have to take the cake is Gilmore Girls. I just love it. THe whole concept, of the small town where they are such a community and are so involved with each other. There is a little bit of drama but not too much, like some other shows.
The only thing I don't like about it is how it ended. They could have done it so much better!

Anyway, so today was a good day. I got up and went for a walk down to the Botanical Gardens and then went and did the grocery shopping, came home, went to Pancakes at the Rocks and had amazing ribs and some pancakes! YUM YUM.
I started knitting yesterday. I was aiming to make a scarf for my friend, and then it just seemed to be getting bigger and bigger so I thought I would make a blanket for my friends baby, but then it just sort of ended up like a circle. Lol.
So now I don't know what I am going to do with it. But I will start again tomorrow I think and see how I go...

Anywho, I'll see you tomorrow xo

Friday, March 18, 2011

30 Day challenge day number 2 - Your favourite movie

Hmmm, my favourite movie. I don't have a favourite movie. I like light hearted movies. I don't do well with horror or sad movies any more. All I have to do is watch the news if I want to be depressed, or if I want to burst into tears.
A movie I always used to love was Point Break. Im not sure why.
I love Fame, as I love music and watching talented musicians and dancers etc.
Movies 'based on true stories' always make me skeptical. Most of them are VERY loosly based. And other's are usually very sad. Like Million Dollar Baby. That was a sad movie. And true stories usually don't have happy endings. Thats a depressing thought isn't it. But I suppose they aren't all like that.
Ok, there is only so much I can say about movies... So until tomorrow...

xx

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

30 Day Challenge Number 1. Favourite Song

Oh my goodness, this is a toughie. There are SO many songs that have had a massive impact on me, and that I have listened to over and over and over and never get sick of.
I am thinking of writing and list, but I really don't think I have the time and will most definately leave things out.
I think music can have a good deal of control over your mood. It can be uplifting, relaxing, depressing etc. I quite often get a feeling of nostalgia when I listen to music. It takes me back to where I was in life when that song was prevelant.
One song that keeps coming up in my dreams is 'Jesus, Lover of My Soul'
So I guess, that feels like a very important song to me. I have quite dark dreams a lot of the time. I always have. My friend says that because I am creative I have a dark spot, and writers often do. This is an interesting observation. It's not a bad thing either.
In my dreams sometimes something will happen, and I am about to die. Usually with other people around me and I will start singing 'Jesus Lover of My Soul'
I quite like this. It could be quite symbolic. I feel like I have an URGENT need for the people around me to understand the love of God and this song just describes it for me. Infact, I would be very happy if my last thoughts whilst on this Earth are Jesus loves my soul!


Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Jesus, I will never let you go
You’ve taken me from the miry clay
You've set my feet upon the Rock, and now i know

I love you, I need you,
Though my world may fall, I’ll never let you go
My Saviour, my closest friend,
I will worship you until the very end



SO maybe this is the most sybolic song to me...

Day one down. See ya'll tomorrow.

xx

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The 30 day blog challenge.

Ok, I'm going to give this a bash. Starting tomorrow :-)

Day 01 — Your favorite song
Day 02 — Your favorite movie
Day 03 — Your favorite television program
Day 04 — Your favorite book
Day 05 — Your favorite quote
Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 — A photo you took
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fictional book
Day 15 — A fanfic
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 — A talent of yours
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — A recipe
Day 22 — A website
Day 23 — A YouTube video
Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Day 27 — This month, in great detail
Day 28 — This year, in great detail
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

New Beginings

I am in a great place at the moment. Recently engaged and planning for the future with my love.
I have such amazing friendships that keep me together and grounded. In my first week of the engagement I got a bit bridezillerish as there were a few things that were being really difficult and making life really stressful. But it's all good now. We are getting married in my absolute dream location. I feel very lucky!
So I think this year is going to be packed with trying to save money madly to pay off this wedding and to save for us to move to Brissy next year! Yay! :-)