And...Exhale

Holiday!  Celebrate!

Usually I wait until the tuesday of the first week to celebrate my school holiday status but not this time!  It's friday evening and I've only just come in from reading magazines and chatting on my quilt outside.  The sun was warm, the grass is green and I don't have to go to school for 18 days.  

I'm celebrating with mashed potato and ketchup.  Exciting huh?!  But my teeth are still too sore to eat the steak I want to - so - mash it is.

I have a few plans for this, my last school holidays that I have to return to school at the end of, but I'm only going to tell you as they happen - or after the fact.  Because it's my break and if I don't want to do what I plan then I don't have to!  And I'm not too good with follow through on ideas either...!

Deep breath in.... and out.   Here we go!

P.S.  Don't forget to vote on the change of colour for my blog.  It might even be one of the things I finish this break!  Oh.  And if you vote - please leave a comment somewhere here so I know you've been - Matthias - that means you!

Changin' it up

I have decided that with Spring it's time to change some things around on my blog.  You'll notice my new wish list over on the side bar - oh so much fun!  And you'll also see a poll for a new colour scheme.  So let your mouse clicks count and tell me what colours you'd like to see this blog become.

Any other change suggestions can be made too - but don't expect me to listen to them!

Mumblings from a swollen mouth

Just letting you know that it's done.  I have no more wisdom teeth as of about 24 hours ago.  In their place I have stitches, bruises, swelling and blood.  But I'll be ok.  Except for the numbness I am coping.  The numbness really freaks me out.

I've eaten jelly, 2 types of yoghurt and ice cream straight out of the tub (don't tell Joel though!).  I've watched the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Juno.  I have two lovely nurses looking after me (thanks Joel and Fin!) and a number of dear friends who've dropped by the check on me and keep me company for a while. I slept half sitting up on the couch and now I can't be there anymore without going crazy.

So here I am - looking for a distraction which will probably be photo editing or watching weird things on youtube or making playlists for my ipod.  Who knows.

Thanks for all your prayers, thoughts, visits and gifts.  

2:30pm

Tomorrow my teeth come out.  All four wisdom teeth under a general anesthetic.  So nervous.  

I've made jelly and bought yogurt.  I'm going to the library in the morning to borrow more movies (I watched the ones I had out!).  I have a live in nurse (he doesn't know it yet!) and a friend coming to visit with a dvd on friday.

I think I'm set.  I'm still scared!

Will let you know how I go.

Think of me.  And think of Jenna Lou too - she's getting her teeth out the same day in the USA!

Greater than what I tell myself

Zaylia Bethany : September 2008 : Nikon D60

I had this idea for a painting.  It was amazing in my head.  So perfect for what I wanted it for.   I convinced myself it would be too hard though and came up with a simple design as alternative.  I started it tonight.  I did the background then some more building up...  Quite frankly - it was rubbish.

And so I have reminded that myself, as all artists need to do at times, that I am more talented than I allow myself to think I am.  I am more capable than I give myself credit for.  And I'm actually even more patient than I tell myself I am.

I'm going to do it.  The first idea I had is going onto canvas over the next week or so.  It will be my motivation to get better quickly after thursdays dental surgery.  It will be reason for rushing home after school and it will be my joy to see it develop has I had hoped.  Already, in a few short strokes of an outline, I feel so much better about.  Stay tuned for updates and a viewing of the final product!

What does Zaylia have to do with this?  Nothing.  I just couldn't resist sharing this photo I took last week. Isn't she adorable?!  I got to spend the morning with her again today - what a joy!  Thanks Mara for letting me practice my skills on your beautiful girl!

My Armour

When I was in year 8 my music teacher showed us the massive hole in her leg where a melanoma was cut out.  She had pale, freckley skin like mine.  I honestly can't remember her name but I remember the room we were in, the carpet we were sitting on and the way the sun came in the window.  And I remember the hole in her leg.  

Since then I have been burnt to a crisp a number of times.  I have been so burnt I've needed pain killers to lie down.  And every time  I get mad at myself for not remembering the hole in the leg of my music teacher.

Over the past few year as I have become more conscious I have been burnt far less and a sense of achievement and satisfaction that I can indeed take good care of my skin as caused me to be ever more vigilant.

But I hate the feeling of greasy, stinky, sticky sun-cream and every time I put it on I cringe at the unpleasant necessity of it.  So I went on a hunt for the best daily moisturiser with SPF 30+ and the best SPF 30+ sun cream I could find.

This is what I've hit on and am completely loving:

Olay Complete Defence Daily UV moisturising lotion

• non greasy - major points
• light
• soft smell of moisturiser - not sun cream!
• lockable bottle for travelling
• SPF 30+
• Reasonable price (approximately $15 AUS)
• fantastic and totally wearable everyday

Garnier Ambre Solaire

• non greasy
• non sticky
• creamy & easy to rub in completely
• soft, pleasant smell that fades
• contains
• moisturiser's and vitamin E
• SPF 30+
• Reasonable price (approximately $14 AUS)
• Tight lid!! (how many times have you got to your destination only to discover that everything in your bag ins 'sun safe'?!!
• Completely wearable in situations where you don't want to smell like the beach

I am not a creature of discipline.  A product has to be great for me to use it daily and for me to take the time to use it at all.  These are products I love and will be armour all spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Don't get burnt!

Tears for Marriage

On the way to school this morning (and when I say I mean work) I was listening to a particular radio station and this song came on. I didn't listen for long because it was something about a girl whose husband ran away and she was happy because now she could party - or something like that. It really upset that someone would portray marriage as something to be escaped to have fun so I changed the station.

I flicked over to our local Christian radio station and hear a completely different style of song. By the end of it, ok, the middle, I had tears running down my face. The song was Walking Her Home by Mark Schultz and is about a man who is completely in love with his wife, the first girl he dated.

You must listen to it. I have been moved by it that I keep telling the people I work with about my experience in the car and I cry with every retelling.

This is the love God has for us. This is the love that he wants us to give to our spouses. This is the love that marriages were designed for.

Marriage is sacred & holy & wonderful. Marriage is not a thing to mock in songs as something to escape. We must raise the opinion of marriage by raising our opinions of our spouses. How can I expect to here postive press on marriages if I put my husband down? How can I imagine single people would want to be married if I harp on about how hard it is instead of sharing with them the blessings & joy that marriage brings?

I encourage you to lift your marriage up to the place of worth that God has given it. If you need a reminded about why you married your spouse perhaps you could listen to the song that has inspired me today.

Unrelated numbers

This my 160th post on  my blog.

It's 93 whole days until Joel is a Pastor.

I have 36 whole days of work left

I have 2 weeks until my wisdom teeth come out.

And 3 weeks until school holidays.

There are 15 bobby pins holding my hair 'in place' (Joel says he loves the wild look.  I like it and the minimal amount of effort it requires and the way it gets better through the day as bit fall out).

In 12 hours I will be back at work and on my way to preaching about God & mountains to a whole primary school.

To the people on the bus:

They are called 'personal music devices' because they are supposed to be personal - meaning you listen to it by yourself.

I can hear the words.  I shouldn't be able to hear the words.  Especially not from three seats away.

You are going to wreck your eardrums.  

Bus time is for quiet.  Turn it down.

And pick some better music.  You're rotting your mind and soul with such trash.  And I would know - I can hear every song.

Please don't make me get angry.  I already get queazy and the two don't make a good combination.

Put your head phones in, turn it right, right down and let me ride the bus in peace.