Empty Handed

Afternoon Program

2012-01-24T13:24:00.000+10:30

If it doesn't get done in the morning... it probably won't get done... because my afternoons are filled up.

Baby Belly - the half way mark

2012-01-18T15:26:00.001+10:30

That's glamour. Right there. Only the make up that is left at the end of a long day of not having worn much anyway. Leggings. Shirt bought 2 sizes too big so I can wear it until the bitter end. Or not. Hair the day before a hair cut. Glamour. And you can't even see that my leggings are rolled up at the bottom. Why did I think it was a good idea to take a photo on this day?!

Whatever. Just keeping it real around here. This is how I look most days in the middle of my pregnancy. Casual and oh so comfy.

It's all going really well, in case you were wondering. Sleeping a fair bit but not as much as the first trimester. Only feel slightly queasy if I'm super hungry. But that doesn't happen much since I just eat all day. Had a big growth spurt about 2-3 weeks ago that hurt. And my digestion sometimes gives me grief but not overly so. I haven't put on an unreasonable amount of weight. Possibly because we still walk for 50 minutes most days. And am loving all the wiggles I can feel. Anything else you wanted to know? No cankles. Yet! Just the slightly puffer face.... (every now and then I check out some photos of me from 2 years ago and think 'holly moly I was a fatty!' then do a quick fast forward to photos of me in the months before getting pregnant and think 'wow! hotness!' Not really (Well, a bit) but I am so proud of how much weight I lost and don't panic that it's all finding me again because if I can lose it once I can lose it again. And this time the gain is really that - gain!)

This trimester 2 things is pretty good.

I thought pretty hard about doing weekly photos/letters/updates or something but decided in the end that I am not nearly consistent enough to keep that up and then I'd feel bad when I didn't. Then I thought - if I did it for my first and we are blessed with more would I do it for them too? Probably not. So I'm going to stick with my usual plan of attack - when I feel like it. It will certainly be less contrived for me keeping a record of my pregnancy that way than feeling I had forced myself into something. Besides. I don't have enough cute things to wear. Here endeth the odd sidetrack/rant/get that off my ample chest. Sorry about that.

{Wow. Just read through this and my brain is quite addled...!}

The Jock's on you.

2012-01-15T16:34:00.000+10:30

To the Person who swapped a pair of bikini cut briefs for grandma panties in the 5 pack (of larger than normal, thanks for asking) I bought this week at Target,

You thought you'd be funny I suppose. Tricking me into buying knickers that come half way up my middle. Joke's on you funny girl (or guy, but I prefer not to think that might've been the case). These Bridget Jones style underpants are the comfiest thing my every growing belly has worn today. I might just get another pair. Or a whole 5 pack. And then let's see who's laughing? Won't be you and your knickers that cut in. It'll be me. I'll be laughing because I'll be relaxing in the biggest, most comfortable pair of hightop jocks of anyone this side of 80.

Yeah. And my body says thanks too.

From me and my comfy butt.

P.S. The bikini cut in the larger size are pretty comfy too. Just so you know - everything in that mystery pack was gold. There was no losing. Ha.

6 Years

2012-01-14T18:23:00.002+10:30

Today My Love and I round out 6 year of marriage. 6 years! That's longer than I was in high school for.

We did most of our celebrating yesterday because he has to work today. But I did save one thing for today.

A long, long while ago we made a pie in the sky plan that every 5 years of marriage we would celebrate our anniversary with a big trip. We started by celebrating our honeymoon (3 years late!) in Bali. And then last year we went to New Zealand. A week doesn't go by that we don't talk about how much we loved it. So to commemorate our 5th anniversary on our 6th anniversary I made Joel a poster of our trip, printed it up and framed it. We both love it. And I might make a smaller one from our Bali trip too so we really have the start of collection.

Joel's gift (the digital version of it since taking a photo of it framed is harder than doing the dishes today and I'm certainly not doing that):

Last night we went out for tapas at The Lounge for dinner and dessert. I think we ate more dessert than all the dinner together! During dinner I pulled out an envelope and some pens. I had prepared a little anniversary activity for us to work on during dinner. Each of us had a page titled 'Six Things: for our sixth anniversary' and under that were 4 (not 6!) sentences to be completed 6 times:

Six things I love about you...

Six of my favourite memories of our relationship so far...

Six things I hope and pray for us...

Six things you do that make me smile...

We secretly filled out our own pages over dinner then during dessert read them to each other, laughed at how many were similar or straight out the same and grinned a lot at how loved and blessed we both felt. When we were done with that and almost done with dessert Joel pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. I wasn't expecting anything from him because we'd been ring shopping early in the week for my gift (!! oh, and his other gift too!).

But out comes this piece of paper with my name on it. "What is this is??" I asked him. "Just a reflection on Song of Songs 4:10-5:1 that I wrote for you" he says.

The first tears came with the first line and continued all the way to the end. It is entirely beautiful, heartfelt, romantic and wonderful. A girl could not feel any more loved. I will treasure that poem for ever. I gave him my gift of art and he gave me his gift of words.

Joel, I know I've said it a thousand times and I promise to say it a million more but just for today I want the world to know too - I love you. The words are little but the emotion, the feeling and the promise are the biggest. The very, very biggest. I love you.

6 years. We can do everything through him who gives us strength. xxx

Baby Dream

2012-01-11T08:50:00.001+10:30

I dreamt I had my baby. And then after a day it turned into a little yellow duckling.

I still loved it.

Anyone else out there having weird dreams this week?

Baby, Baby

2012-01-06T17:07:00.002+10:30

Dearest Baby,

Oh yes! We saw you for the second time ever today. But it felt like the first since last time you were just a blobby blob with a heartbeat.

You are incredible. Perfect. We saw you practice your sucking, give a salute, wiggle, wiggle and wiggle. The Dr says you will have your daddy's chin and already have his super long legs. She also said that there wasn't a single thing out of place. Really she just agreed with us that you are a perfect little miracle.

Now you just need to do some more baking, get nice and strong and get ready to meet us in a few months time.

We love you darling.

Your Mama always.
xx

2012 and some stuff I plan to do

2012-01-04T10:06:00.002+10:30

I'm not so big on the goal making. And I'mreally not big on the public stating of the few goals I do make. Likewhen I made a deal with Joel that if I lost 10 kilograms I could buy any cameraI want... I didn't make it public knowledge because I was sure I'd fail anddidn't want to spread that over the internet. Turns out I lost 17kilograms in 10 months and now I'm waiting for Nikon to release the camera Iwant. Come on Nikon!

We also decided that 2011 would be the year of'Trying & Doing Things' in case 2012 was the year of The Baby. Wemight be prophets... So we enrolled in Tafe, I bought a motorbike helmutand went riding, we had canoe lessons, went to New Zealand, had our floorspolished, painted heaps of walls and other things that we wanted to do whileit's just the 2 of us. I din't tell you about that 'goal' either. But we did it and I'm proud of us.

So this isn't one of the thousands of New Yearsresolutions posts you can read all over the internet at the moment. It'sjust some things I've been thinking about and thought I'd share in case anyoneelse is thinking the same things and, like me, could do with a bit of spurringon and encouragement.

1. Gain weight happily. Yeah. I know. Didn't I spend last year working on losingweight? Am I mad? But the goal isn't so much to gain the weight, becausethat's happening all on it's own, but to allow it happen joyfully andgracefully. Pregnancy is something that hasn't come easily so I don't want towhine about it and feel resentful that after months of hard work getting to asize 10 and a flat belly I am all belly again and none of the new clothes Ibought for my skinny butt fit. I will get back there but for now the goalis to rejoice in the weight and shape because it means there's a baby beinggrown and a lot of prayers being answered.

2. Take more photos. Ilove it, I'm good at it and after the 2010 365project we completed I became somewhat resentful of my fabulouscamera and lenses and refused to take pictures. This year I will takemore, be more courageous about taking them and enjoy the gift of skills andtools.

3. Try morerecipes. Lentils - become my friends. Iwant to discover more recipes that I can add to my 'make without thinking' listthat don't include meat or dairy. I've made a start but think I'd like totry at least one new one a week. Ooohh.. that sounds like a goal! Mighteven share the recipes with you. Ok? Accountability??

4. Not be lazy. Imean... I have stuff I want/need to do before our baby arrives (and after!) andI want to enjoy any rest time I have but I can't really do that if things arehanging over my head and I'm just fluffing around on Facebook and Pinterest. So I need to be somewhat disciplined and work some part of each day. Especially so poor Joel doesn't come home from working and find the houseis still a disaster and all I have to say for myself is 'look what I pinnedtoday!'

5. Be prepared. Tryvery, very, very hard to limit last minute anything - birthday giftshopping/posting, meal preparation, baby stuff, projects I'm working on,cleaning... whatever. Rushing doesn't suit me so I'm going to try andnot. Good plan I think.

6. Have no fear. In2012 I am turning 30 and having a baby. Not really scary things but sortof big things none the less and I want to greet them, and other new things,with excitement, anticipation, joy and an overwhelming sense of being blessedinstead of fear, caution, anxiety and stress. Because that's not thespirit I've been given.

That was it. For now. What things haveyou been thinking about for 2012?

Mary: Mother of Jesus (Part 4)

2011-12-21T14:41:00.000+10:30

Welcome to Part Four of our Advent Bible Study on Mary. Check out Part One, Part Two and Part Three if you are just joining in today.

Remember: participation is up to whatever level you can manage. Just reading through and thinking about it as you do, writing your responses down in your personal journal, leaving a comment or question in the comments section or emailing thoughts to me. You could chat to a local friend about what comes up or if you get really excited you are welcome to use these questions for your family or small group study time. I'd love to know if you do so let me know!

So go and grab your Bible, a cup of tea and a some biscuits and whatever else you might need and let's get into studying the character of the wonderful woman Mary, the Mother of our Lord.

Consider

What is Christmas, the Birth of Christ, without Easter? We cannot truly celebrate the birth of Our Saviour without acknowledging what he came to do for us. His birth holds very little meaning without the knowledge of his death and, ultimately, of his resurrection. We can celebrate the entirety of Christ at Christmas but at his death Mary had yet to see the full realisation of her sons purpose in being born.

Last week we left Mary pondering the words her beloved son Jesus had spoken to her after leaving her for 3 days to be in the temple. This week we join her at the very end of Jesus' life as she believes he is about to leave her forever.

ReadJohn 19:25-27

Ofall the horrendous things in life that a person could witness there could be no words for the kind ofagony Mary experienced in seeing her own son crucified…. And for Jesus to see his mother’storment at his pain knowing his Father’s plan could have only added to his ownpain. Yet how could she leavehim? The son whom she had rejoicedover, given birth to, went into exile for, whom she searched and followed?

Q21. Whatdoes it tell you that she would chose to be there to witness his suffering?

Q22. Doyou think she understood the full purpose God had for her son? His Son?

Q23. Doyou think that as she watched him die she had doubts about Gabriel’smessage? About her son being the Saviour?

Q24. Whatdo you think her reaction would have been to discover her son had risen fromthe dead?

Readagain Luke 1:37

Q25. Whatpart of Mary’s character would you most like to emulate?

Thank you for joining me in this Advent Preparation study on Mary the Mother of Jesus. I pray that you have learnt a few things about her, yourself and Our Lord over the past few weeks as well as being challenged and inspired. May your hearts be ready this Christmas for the birth of Our King and may your heart forever know that with Christ all things are possible.

Carol of the Bells by Steven Sharp Nelson

2011-12-21T13:45:00.000+10:30

You know when you love something so much you just want to marry it? Or eat it? Or you think your heart will explode for loving it?

You know?

The Carol of the Bells has always been my very favourite Christmas carol but this? This arrangement of it? This performance? This, this, this, this.... I love.

Edited to add: I am just watching more of their YouTube channel - The Piano Guys and... this music captures my soul. So incredibly wonderful. Powerful, beautiful, fun - amazing.

2 free halves make a whole lot of happy

2011-12-18T09:05:00.001+10:30

This First Half:

As was walking away from the checkout the other day after buying my fruit and vegetables The check out chick calls after me while holding up half a watermelon in a plastic bag,

"Excuse me! Is this yours?"

Now, I know I've bought half a watermelon so I do a quick check in my backs and don't see it and think that she must've packed it in plastic (despite my large collection of green bags) because, as we all know, watermelons leak. So I lean back and say,

"Oh yes. I think it is is. Thank you!"

And feel very glad that I hadn't paid for half a watermelon and left it at the store.

Until I get home and discovered the half I actually paid for is in the bottom of one of my bags. Oops....

I figure that since it's a 15-20 minute drive to where I bought it from and it only cost a few dollars and the girl handed it to me (I mean really, she should be in charge of her own check out right?) that I'd just eat it and feel a bit sorry for the person who discovered the where down half a watermelon instead of plus one when they got home.

And it was delicious.

The Second Half:

My belly has outgrown all but 2 skirts, my tights (and that's pushing it) and some pretty daggy shorts. I have a few dresses that will last me a while yet but I am in desperate need of a few more items. So this week I decided to make a few skirts with wide stretchy waist bands.

A lovely trip to the fabric store got me some cotton jersey for a maxi skirt, some stretch knit for holding skirts onto my belly and 2 lovely cotton prints for knee length skirts. I also bought some christmas fabric because I'm making christmas pyjama's for Joel and I. Truly.

The loveliest of the cotton fabric was also the most expensive. Being true to for I don't have or plan on getting patterns for these skirts so I was standing there holding the fabric up to myself guessing how much I'd need. I figured somewhere between 1 and 1.5 metres. So that's what I bought.

At home I dutifully washed the fabric and then, as I was hanging it out I noticed that the expensive fabric seemed a bit wider than the cheaper fabric... I measured it and, yes, she's cut me 2 metres instead of 1.5. With a little frown at having to pay more than I'd wanted I went to check my receipt. And low and behold she only charged me for 1.5 metres of the fabric even though she cut 2.

Again I thought... Do I take it back?? Maybe I should.... I didn't. I'm naughty. What would they do? Cut of half a metre? That seems kind of daft. I paid for what I asked for so I figure...

Another free half for me!

Happy girl this week.

{would you have take your halves back?}

Mary: Mother of Jesus (Part 3)

2011-12-14T16:55:00.003+10:30

Welcome to Part Three of our Advent Bible Study on Mary. Check out Part One and Part Two if you are just joining in today.

So go and grab your Bible, a cup of tea and a some biscuits and whatever else you might need and let's get into studying the character of the wonderful woman Mary, the Mother of our Lord.

ReadLuke 2:1-20

Q17. Consider& discuss some of the emotions Mary might have been experiencing.

Q18. Whatclues are we given here to the nature of the Mother of God? (v 7 & 19)

InLuke 2:21-39

Weread how Mary andJoseph haveJesus circumcised and named on the 8^th day according to Jewish law(God’s law).

They presented him in the temple inJerusalem for consecration and offered sacrifices. They did everything required by the law (v 39). This is significant because it shows usthat Mary and Joseph are obedient to God in all things.

Q19. Howdo you feel about following Mary’s example and being obedient to the Word ofGod?

Oneof the only stories recorded in the Bible of Jesus’ childhood is in Luke 2 v41-52. Jesus becomes ‘lost’ in the temple in Jerusalem while Mary and Josephspend 3 days searching for him. When they found him, Mary is the one who has words with him.

ReadLuke 2:48-50

tosee what is said between Mary and Jesus.

Q20. v50 says Mary doesn’t understand but v 51 tells us she does the same thing aswhen the shepherds and angels visited at Jesus’ birth – ‘treasured these thingsin her heart’. What does it meanto treasure something in your heart? What does this say about Mary?

Reflect

Are there particular things that you treasure in your heart? Perhaps specific words of God? How can you be intentional about you treasure in your heart?

Phil Wickham is the One.

2011-12-12T18:44:00.001+10:30

Songs for Christmas by Phil Wickam

The one I bought this year anyway. I am allowed to buy one christmas CD every year. It puts a reasonable limit on my love for all things Christmas including wanting to own most versions of most carols.

Today we discovered this gorgeous album. Heard and purchased within 15 minutes. Considering my limit and how much I agonise over which album I will buy each year I think that should tell you how fabulous this album is. I'm not a music reviewer so I won't try and give this beautiful music and lovely voice fancy words to describe it. Just go and listen.

Listen on iTunes.

Listen on his Blog.

Watch his YouTube channel.

Lunar Park

2011-12-12T11:53:00.001+10:30

{Instagram}

This time a fortnight ago we were here... walking past Melbourne's Lunar Park in St Kilda.

Walking past because we were on our way to the community gardens just next door - Veg Out. Well worth a look.

Mary: Mother of Jesus (Part 2)

2011-12-07T10:04:00.001+10:30

Welcome to Part Two of our Advent Bible Study on Mary. Check out Part One if you are just joining in today. Last weeks study was the longest of the 4 so if you felt a bit overwhelmed you can rest easier today.

So go and grab your Bible, a cup of tea and a some biscuits and whatever else you might need and let's get into studying the character of the wonderful woman Mary, the Mother of our Lord.

Mary's relationship with Elizabeth

ReadLuke 1:39-45

Q13. Whatpurpose do you see in Mary visiting Elizabeth?

Q14. Gabrieltold Mary about Elizabeth being pregnant even though she was old and barrenbefore saying 'nothing is impossible with God'. Mary and Elizabeth are in a unique situation of beingpregnant with special people because God intervened. When something significant (positive and negative) happens in your life do you find yourselfdrawing nearer to those who understand? What benefits does this give you?

Women are important for so many reasons but in this passage we see the value of sharing your life with another woman who understands, encourages and rejoices with us.

Q15. Elizabethoffered Mary great words of encouragement and joy – ‘You are blessed!’. Who inyour life could do with some encouragement right now? What could you say? What action will you take? You could write a letter, make a phone call or send text. I encourage you to something right after this study so you don't forget!

Q16. Doyou need an Elizabeth in your life to encourage you, share with and rejoicewith? Do you have someone likethis? When was the last time you thanked them for their role in your life?

Take Action

In this busy time of preparing for Christmas it is so easy to get caught up in the decorations, play rehearsals, gift buying, meal planning, family balancing, travel arrangements and the rest. I encourage you to take time this week, as you reflect on the nature of Mary's relationship with Elizabeth, to place significance on the relationships that are a blessing to you. Set time aside to have a conversation, make contact and build on those relationships through encouragement and gratitude. And don't forget those whom you might not be close to but that you feel could really do with some building up.

Don't save the kind words and thoughtful gifts for Christmas day!

Come back and share the things you have done this week to be an encourager like Elizabeth so that we can rejoice with you over the blessing of friendship.

Be blessed this week.

Banana & Almond Milk Smoothie

2011-12-06T09:36:00.001+10:30

I woke up around 5am this morning dreaming of a milkshake. 5 hours later, after more sleep, our morning walk, some fruit and general fluffing around I managed to pull together the ingredients in my imagination and make the most delicious, creamy milkshake I've had since giving up dairy.

I drank it too fast to take a picture so you'll have to trust me - it was good!

Banana & Almond Milk Smoothie

1 x Large Banana
1 cup Almond Milk
4 ice cubes (and an extra one for the puppy)
1/2 cup or so of pot set Greek yoghurt (the pit set stuff doesn't have any numbers)

Blend it all together in your blender, pour into a tall class and drink with straw.

Delicious. You could probably add some cinnamon for extra flavour but it really doesn't need any sweeteners because the almond mil is so sweet already.

I was aiming for a non-dairy milkshake but because my stomach seems need a bit of extra help with digestion the cultures etc in natural yoghurt are really helpful for me at the moment. You could certainly just cut that out and have it as a vegan drink.

Mary: Mother of Jesus (Part 1)

2011-11-29T10:08:00.001+10:30

Welcome to Part One of the our Bible Study on Mary. Thanks for joining in.

Remember: participation is up to whatever level you can manage. Just reading through and thinking about it as you do, writing your responses down in your personal journal, leaving a comment or question in the comments section or emailing thoughts to me. You could chat to a local friend about what comes up or if you get really excited you are welcome to use these questions for your family or small group study time. I'd love to know if you do so let me know!

So go and grab your Bible, a cup of tea and a some biscuits and whatever else you might need and let's get into studying the character of the wonderful woman Mary, the Mother of our Lord.

Brainstorm

What do you already know aboutMary?

What sort of picture of herdo you have in your mind?

ReadLuke 1:26-38

Q1. Whatguesses can we make about Mary when Gabriel tells her in v 28 that she is ‘mosthighly favoured’?

Q2. Whatattributes of a highly favoured woman do you have or would you like to work on?

Q3. v29 says that she is troubled by the greeting Gabriel gives her. Why might that be?

Q4. Theangel’s announcement is pretty amazing. How do you think you would respond?

Q5. Shadowsare usually a scary image so what does the angel mean in v 35 when he says that‘the Most High will overshadow you’? (see Psalm 17v8, 36v7 & 91v1-2 forhelp)

Q6. Inv 36 Gabriel tells Mary about her relative (exact relation unknown) Elizabethbeing 6 months pregnant even though she is ‘old and barren’. In v37 he then says ‘For nothing isimpossible with God.’ Why elsemight he mention Elizabeth?

Q7. Maryasks the angel only one question (v 34) before responding with ‘I am the Lord’sservant. May it be to me as youhave said.’ What might herresponse teach us about her character?

Q8. Doyou think she fully realizes at this stage what her future holds?

Q9. Whatdoes her response teach us about being God’s servants?

Q10. Whatdoes her response teach us about faith? (see also 1 v 45)

Q11. Ifnothing is truly impossible with God what area of your life do you need to turnover to him at the moment? What isholding you back?

Reflect

Itis interesting here to reflect briefly on Mary’s future as the mother of Jesusand the role she would have had as his teacher, especially in his earlyyears. While Jesus is of coursefully God we see here that being born of Mary he is also fully human. As with all children their first portof learning everything is in the home. It is where we learn to reach, grab, crawl walk, laugh, talk andcommunicate. It is also where welearn and are influenced by the attitudes and beliefs of our family.

Mary’sown beliefs and attitudes would have had as much of an impact on the childJesus as any parents on their children. When Mary shows her heart of service to the Lord in declaring in v 38‘May it be as you have said’ it is easy to see that if this is her response tosomething so major it must surely have filtered through her daily life and intoher family.

Indeedwhen we later come to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is praying inMatthew 26v39 & 42 Mary’s son echoes her servant heart and even her verywords when he says to his Father ‘yet not as I will but as you will’. Or asMary said ‘May it be to me as you have said.

Q12. Whatattitudes do you hope to impart to the people in your life?

It's the Night before Advent

2011-11-26T19:41:00.001+10:30

and I'm putting up my Christmas decorations!

Joel and Daniel (my brother in law) have hung lights around the outside of our house and in the tree by the front door.

Our tree is up and being decorated. The nativity scene has been arranged. Christmas music is playing. And we've finished decorating the church for our advent services beginning tomorrow. We are visually prepared or preparing.

But what about our hearts?
What preparation are we doing spiritually for the celebration of the birth of Our Saviour?

Last month for Girls of Grace I led the women (youngest being 11!) in a Bible study on Mary the Mother of Jesus. I learnt so much, was challenged so much and grew so much in writing this study and had such a wonderful time sharing the study with the women in our group that I thought some of you might like to join me in the lead up to Christmas in studying her too. We can join her in her preparation for the arrival of her Son.

The plan: Every Wednesday from this coming Wednesday until the one before Christmas day I will post a section of the Bible Study on Mary.

If you'd like to participate all you need to do is grab your Bible, read the texts, my comments and think about the questions. If you'd like to leave a note about your thoughts, answers, challenges or questions just leave a comment like usual. Or you can email me if you'd like a less public response. Or you can keep it to yourself too.

For now, if you'd like to just leave your name so I can see if there is any interest that would be super.

I hope you join me as I work towards preparing my heart as well as my home this Christmas.

And yes, you can listen to carols while we work through the study!

{P.S. big, big thank you for your love, congratulations and joy at our news! You're wonderful. And I'm excited about sharing my journey with you all. xx}

New Zealand - Things you can & can't bring back

2011-11-12T17:38:00.001+10:30

You can't bring back:

the delicious food
the clean air
the magnificent views
or any nice rocks you found

You can bring back:

your photos
organic hand cream
the peace you found
and the baby you made

Yep. It sure is a relaxing place!

We've announced out exciting news to just about everyone we can think of (minus a few people who don't answer their phones!!) so now I'm sharing it with the world. That flat belly is already gone. Sad but happy.

Very happy. Very blessed.

Onwards with the journey...

New Zealand - The Mountain and The Moon

2011-11-12T17:19:00.001+10:30

I'm still sorting through photos. There are so many! This one makes me smile to remember the clearness of the sky, the fresh snow on the mountains and the moon. I always love the moon.

100 YEARS

2011-11-04T14:59:00.000+10:30

Aside from that I absolutely love this I have no other reason for sharing it.

Watch it. You'll see.

Oh - and life has returned a to a form of normal here so maybe blogging will too...

Favourite era?

80's for the denim overalls

20's for the flapper dress and

40's for the drum

Yours?

Head shots for Bec

2011-10-15T14:07:00.000+10:30

Bec (Rebecca Simboras - for you agents looking!) is a friend from church who is currently studying with NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts). She asked if I could shoot some pictures for her profile, resumes, applications, auditions - everything that actors need head shots for I suppose. After one rainy day cancelled our plans we managed to coordinate ourselves with the weather for a fun hour of driving around and shooting. She certainly is a character!

Need an actor? I have her number!

Thanks for the privilege Bec. All the best for an amazing acting & producing career.

Congratulations on One Month Little Sister

2011-10-10T15:07:00.001+10:30

It's been one month today since Jes & Ko said their vows and made the commitment love, cherish, care for, protect, encourage and serve each other before their loved ones and God.

We couldn't be happier and she couldn't have been lovelier. I barely had 2 seconds to spare between doing everyones make up and the Brides hair (and getting ready myself) but I did manage to quickly snap this shot before we flew out the door.

So proud of you Je-Je. Thank you for having us be a part of your special day as we are blessed to be a part of your life. I'm wearing my necklace today in honour of you making it one month so far. My prayer is for many, many, many more years of love!

xx

New Zealand - It's been a while

2011-10-08T11:33:00.003+10:30

Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo NZ

We've been back in Australia for a month now. In the meantime we've also been up to Gladstone, QLD for a week. A 3 hour drive and 2 flights both ways. Not to sound ungrateful but, oh my am I thrilled to be on the ground and not going anywhere for a while. They've been great trips but... I don't travel so well. At all.

I'm still sorting through pictures from New Zealand, Jes & Ko's wedding and Gladstone. I'll get there. And I'll share them when and as I do.

P.S. October?! Really?!!!

New Zealand - My brain is still there

2011-09-20T09:29:00.000+09:30

Some round boulders on the East Coast of NZ. We stopped to check it out after seeing a sign but can't remember the names. There were heaps of these super round boulders of all sizes. A little odd but lovely.

It's amazing how much life takes over when you step through your front door after a holiday. I've, insanely, decided that in the 1 week we have before leaving again that I should paint my hallway. My very, very, long hallway. Why? Because my parents are coming? Because it's filthy? Because I'm crazy? Anyway, it took my 5 hours just to cut in everything. Stupid fiddly doorways. At least rolling won't take long. But then there's the second coat...

Also I have to work still, go to Tafe (where I need to present one assignment and make a sign language 'announcement' for assessment), buy some shorts and a few other warm weather things (last summer I was a fatty and now nothing fits me. How nice! But not too many in case I lose more...!), prepare Girls of Grace, keep my house in order, organise a few gifts for birthday peoples... I don't really want to think of the rest. I'll just do what I can as I can.

In the meantime, while it's raining here and the street lights are curiously still on at 10 am (does stuff like that weird anyone else out?? I mean, why are they on? They shouldn't be. Does someone know about it? Should I call someone and let them know??) I'm going to put my washing in the dryer and follow the wisdom that if it's too wet to hang washing outside it's too wet to paint walls.

And that leaves me plenty of time to do some of the rest... If only I can get my brain back from holidays as well as my body.

New Zealand - The Roads

2011-09-16T16:57:00.000+09:30

What is a Road Trip holiday without roads? A fairly boring trip I guess. Which is one of the reasons we wanted our road trip to be where there were lots of stunning roads. New Zealand certainly delivered.

As I've already mentioned Joel did all the driving. Partly because he absolutely loved it and I loved watching him get so excited about it and partly because I was a little bit chicken to drive the van. We're a good team like that.

We covered about 2,000km's over the 9 days of driving and only back tracked a few times to get where we needed to go.

Mostly I will just let these shots speak for themselves about the majesty of the open road. It's truly stunning.

{Credits go to Joel for some of the New Zealand pictures too}

New Zealand - The Critters

2011-09-15T17:14:00.001+09:30

Did you know that New Zealand has barely any native animals? A few native birds but all other animals have been introduced. Huh. Who knew?!

Of course there is the Kiwi Bird. Which we paid to see but didn't. They were sleeping apparently. I'm not convinced. We saw some horrid 100 year old giant eels at the same place and a lizard. Didn't love it there. We did see the native Kea though. (See the picture with the mans legs) They're cheeky and inquisitive bids that seem quite plainly coloured but have bright shades of red under their wings. We also spotted a few penguins in the wild but we were on a boat at the time so my photos of them are average if I'm being kind to myself.

We spotted lots of gorgeous fur seals on the same boat trip in Milford Sound but the one who features in this post bumped into us on a beach on the East Coast. He didn't seemed thrilled to be there so we tried to stay out of his way. But then who knows, maybe he was saying hello?

There were lots domesticated animals. Sheep. Sheep. Sheep. Oh, sheep! And lambs! Heavens above but the lambs are precious. There were even some darling black ones that I didn't get to photograph. I know nothing about sheep except that they make cute babies and warm clothes (previous to turning vegetarian I would've also said delicious dinner!).

Pigs. In Australia people farm pigs in big awful shed things. In New Zealand they just wander around in paddocks and sleep in little huts. Brilliant. If I was a pig I'd move there.

Chickens. This particular one was at a lovely roadside vegetable store. The second lamb and its mum were at the same place.

Cows. Deer. Heaps of deer actually. But we never seemed to take a photo of them. And some deer sort of thing that was bigger than a deer and smaller than a moose and we don't know what it is but they farm it and it was cool and we didn't get a photo. Anyone from New Zealand know what I'm talking about??

There were amazing how worms and tiny little bugs that only bit Joel. No spiders. No snakes. Just nice farm animals and some birds.

New Zealand is a happy place for animals.

(If you forget that most of them will get eaten...!)

New Zealand - The Van

2011-09-14T15:50:00.000+09:30

One thing we have always known about our trip to New Zealand is that it would be a touring trip in a camper van. Knowing that and choosing which one to hire were worlds apart on the 'easy to decide' scale. We didn't disagree with each other. There are just so many to chose from. What really helped was making the decision to be able to freedom camp - camping without a caravan/holiday park. To do that we needed a van that had it's own water supply, shower and toilet onboard.

After much searching, discussion, reading of reviews and changing of minds we finally settled on hiring a van from Wilderness. We went with the van they call The Base Jumper 2. We would hire that van, through Wilderness, again in a heartbeat. Their customer service from the time we sent them a query, to when they picked us up at the airport, showed us our van and sent us on our way to when they dropped us off at our hotel on our last night, was friendly, helpful, fun and down right unbeatable. The van itself totally exceeded our expectations. The bed was more comfortable than the bed in the hotel we stayed in, the donnas and blankets were super cosy, the heater kept us toasty, the shower was decent, the kitchen was kitted out perfectly with everything we needed and all stacked in such a neat, no rattle way that our organisational hearts were a mite overwhelmed! The van was immaculately clean, with enough head space for even the very tall, easy and very fun to drive according to Joel, who loved it so much I was happy to stick with navigating. He wants to buy one now too...!!

In short, we loved it. And next time we go back (yes, we're thinking we'll be back again!), we won't even look at other vans. We'll gladly call The Base Jumper 2 home for round 2.

Picture Notes:

Joel did all the driving. He also lovingly saved me from emptying the grey and black water tanks (you can imagine!) and filled our fresh water too.

There was a TV we never turned on, a fridge, gas stove top and grill, sink and a kitchen table that could be set up that I didn't take a photo of.

The kitchen table top became the missing piece of the bed at night time to make a comfortable sized bed.

Despite it not being warm enough most days, if there was a tiny bit of sun left when we'd reached our camping spot we'd fling the doors open to get a bit of air, especially if we were cooking.

The last shot was taken on the way into our last camping spot. It was a bit of a surprise - totally lovely!

New Zealand - Just in case you were wondering

2011-09-13T11:21:00.001+09:30

We've been away for a little over 2 weeks. Secondly we were in Brisbane for my dear sisters wedding. But firstly we were in New Zealand. We hired the most awesome camper van and drove all over the South Island. The beauty if this country is so overwhelming at times I just had to close my eyes.

I promise to tell you more and share more pictures but for now: we're home safely and eternally grateful for an amazing holiday.

Pictures taken on the first full day we were in New Zealand. I can't believe we didn't crash considering how blown away we were by the majesty of the views. Australia just doesn't have mountains like this. Oh, and that's our van down there!

Stitched Postcard Swap

2011-08-16T14:21:00.002+09:30

This little postcard is my interpretation of the swap theme Bloom. And it's winging it's way to someone special in another part of the world.

Keeping in a eye on my post box for mine!

Vegetables. And lots of them.

2011-08-11T16:42:00.003+09:30

For those few who have voiced concerns that I must be going hungry at having cut meat and dairy from my menu or that I'm on some silly "diet". This is part, only part, of what I ate for lunch today.

{The lemon is a standard sized lemon just there to show you the size of the bowl}

In the bowl:

1 medium carrot

1 medium zucchini

1 squash

5 medium mushrooms

half a head of broccoli

a handful of sugar snap peas

I added them to the red curry paste I had slightly sautéed and boiled with a can of coconut cream. I let them get just slightly soft then spooned the whole lot onto some fresh singapore noodles. Delicious Vegetable Laksa. Yes, I ate the lot.

And dinner tonight is a huge container of salad to take to TAFE.

I am not going hungry. I am not starving myself. I am not on a crazy diet. I am eating the food my body needs for health and wellbeing. And I'm shopping for swimwear with confidence for the first time in years.

Eat your veggies today!

Design Project: Lutherans for Life 2011 - Love Abounding

2011-08-10T11:05:00.003+09:30

1. A3 poster with information

2. A4 poster

3. Letterhead

4. Web ad (for the new LCA site currently under construction)

5. A3 poster for display purposes

6. Print ad for The Lutheran

There is also a postcard but it's pretty much the same as the A4 flyer.

It's always a joy to work with Chelsea and her LFL team and this time I also had the pleasure of working with the lovely Marney as my very patient model. If you're an Aussie Lutheran keep an eye out and let me know where you spot my work. I'd love to hear where you see it.

And keep your eyes & ears our for anyone else needed design work too!

Caught up in Grace

2011-07-30T14:47:00.003+09:30

Like an Avalanche

by Hillsong United with Brooke Fraser

Beautiful God
Laying Your majesty aside
You reached out in love to show me life
Lifted from darkness into light

King for a slave
Trading Your righteousness for shame
Despite all my pride and foolish ways
Caught in Your infinite embrace

And I find myself here on my knees again
Caught up in grace like an avalanche
Nothing compares to this love love love
Burning in my heart

Saviour and Friend
Breathing Your life into my heart
Your word is the lamp unto my path
Forever I'm humbled by Your love

Take my life
Take all that I am
With all that I am I will love You
Take my heart
Take all that I have
Jesus how I adore You

And I find myself here on my knees again
Caught up in grace like an avalanche
Nothing compare to this love love love

Sometimes someone else puts into words and music what your heart is saying. My heart is saying all sorts of things right now. Or maybe I am just more tuned to it than usual.

I feel change happening. You've seen that it has happened physically but it's also happening in other ways. I can't put my finger on it yet but there's a shift - in my thinking, in my emotional stability, in my energy, in my focus. Maybe it's that I'm 29 and I'm finally 'settling down'... but it feels more like being stirred up than settling down. I don't know. And I'm ok with that. Really ok with not knowing. Even excited by it - so much can happen!

What I know is that this song speaks my heart. Christ has reached out in love and shown me Life. Amazing life that is mine when I'm on my knees in prayer, ready and willing to be swept away. I'm on my knees, caught up in Grace like an avalanche. It is sweeping me away to somewhere. Somewhere that I can't see right now so I'm pondering, talking to people and exploring but not worrying because nothing compares to the Love that is sweeping me along.

Come along with me.

Stitch & Swap

2011-07-24T12:00:00.000+09:30

Dear Loz is so, so good at joining in on things. Me, not so much. But this one thing she's doing looks super fun and totally possible for me so I'm going in too:

The idea is to stitch a postcard of sometime under the theme 'Bloom' and send it of to someone who is assigned to you. Sounds fun. Sounds doable. Sounds like I'm in!

Maybe you should join in too?

{Click the image to take you to the information page and be sure to check out the rest of Beth's fabulous site}

Kylie & Ramen

2011-07-23T19:52:00.004+09:30

When you're reading novels and they start talking about food do you just want to dive into the book and eat what they're eating?

I do. All the time. Mind you, I've had a fixation with food my entire life so this isn't really a surprise to me. I'm just putting it out there to see if I'm the only one who desperately wants to eat the food in the books.

In this awesome trilogy the little girl is always asking for ramen. I was pretty sure I'd never had any before so I bought a few packets to eat while reading. Talk about transporting myself into the novel. Kind of like 2 minute noodles I suppose. I've been eating them with soy sauce. Yummy. But being wheat I think I might have to stop at the 2 packets I've already eaten and leave it at the for the experience.

Anyways, these Kylie Chan books start of with The White Tiger, then there's The Red Phoenix and finally this one. But I believe there are 2 more trilogies to follow this set. I'm very glad about that as these books are such incredible, action packed, interesting, funny, all consuming stories that I'm half way through the third one and I only started last week. So knowing there are more is exciting.

I love these books. I'm not the biggest fan of Asian history but the huge dose of action, lots of magic and the fabulous story turn something I was previously not interested in into something I can't get enough of. Plus, she's an Australian author and I love to support our locals.

They even made me eat ramen noodles.

Hair

2011-07-19T14:36:00.005+09:30

My fringe (bangs if you're not an Aussie) was driving me crazy. So I cut it off. Then I cut a bit more. And all of a sudden I realised I had a different fringe than the one that I set out to cut for myself. It's so different from how I normally wear it. Very Zooey Deschanel inspired. Check out my Pinterest board to see where more inspiration for this style came from.

Fringe cut by my (tidied by my hairdresser who was very impressed with how well I'd cut it. Yay!)

Jacket from Jeans West

Hair & make up by me

Photography by Joel

And those jeans? They're a size 10! (US size 6). That's a fair miracle. If you've been following along the size 10 jeans are possible because I've now lost 17.5 kg's (38.5 pounds). Really. And that'w why I'm not scared to put pictures of myself on the internet any more. (See the big puffy version of me here. And high fives to the person who know what movie I'm ripping off there.)

Finally - If you want to see what other cute outfits are being worn around the world this week check out The Pleated Poppy.

Harry

2011-07-17T13:58:00.003+09:30

{I can't find the original source for this image but I found it here}

In the past few months I have read all the books.

In the past 2 weeks I have watched all the movies.

All the movies.

Even the very last one on the very day it was released.

I don't even know what to say about how much I love these characters and their stories. I think that most people who have read them will know what I mean. They are... wonderful, alive, passionate, courageous and... truly magical.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and crew - you were not part of my childhood like you were for so many but you are part of my imagination forever. Thank you.

Thank you. I will miss you and I will visit with you again soon I 'm sure.

Johnny Farnham

2011-07-12T14:02:00.002+09:30

The Greatest Hits. Flashback to my childhood. Greatest way to cure an overcast, crampy day.

And for $9.95 for a double disc set at JB Hi-Fi it's smiles all around.

What cures your crummy days?

Morgan Update

2011-07-11T14:33:00.008+09:30

Remember how little he was?

2 and a bit years later he lies down next to this window sill and props his head up onto it to watch the world. No more stretching to see.

Now he's a little bigger (bigger than we thought he'd get!) but still thinks he's little enough to sit on our laps or squish into tiny places.

We let him.

He thinks he owns our 3 seater couch and sits all over it it all day.

Brown moustache!

Regal boy keeping an eye on the world from his throne.

Carries his toys everywhere with him. Just incase someone might be ready to play. He'll often have more than one between his paws like he's a penguin hatching eggs.

Things he knows the word and hand sign for:

Sit

Stay

Down (used for laying down and getting off something)

Off

Rollover

Crawl (an army crawl)

Wait (We use this a lot. He waits for his food, waits at the door, waits behind us...)

Bang Bang (drops down and plays dead when he gets 'shot'. Thanks Rach & Daniel for that idea! He almost does it every time!)

Here

Enough

Shake (hands)

High five

Where's your ball?

Where's your food? (He goes to the cupboard where we keep it)

Good boy

He can do/respond to each of these with the words or just the hand signs. My favourite is signing "good boy" to him and watching him lick his lips and run to his treat jar at my desk. Cute.

Things he knows that don't have hand signs:

The sounds of the treat jar!

Washing (When I tell him it's time to do the washing he runs to the laundry and the back door)

Water (If I'm holding the water jug he goes to the laundry and looks at the water filter. If I ask him if he needs water he goes to his bowl)

Rubbish (or just the sound of empty jars and tins or the sight of the rubbish bags sends him to the back door)

Outside (he goes to the front door)

Inside

If you bark again you'll go outside by yourself. (He stops barking and sits on the couch. Outside by yourself isn't fun)

The sound of the Star Gate credits. Because that means you can go outside now. (we don't have to turn it off for him to know it's over)

The sound of the TV turning off. Same reason.

Walk/ing. Even in a full sentence not directed at him.

Heel (mostly)

Stop

He knows where the blankets are kept and that if we carry one outside of the lounge room we might be going outside for a picnic.

That when we brush our teeth or put on our shoes he has to go out the back.

Bedtime/in your bed

And he knows you sit still when the camera comes out.

I'm sure there are other that I can't think of right now. He's a very smart character. And very quirky, dramatic little personality. You should see the dramatics that happen when you 'shoot' him! Definitely a member of our family.

He loves to snuggle with us. You only need to walk toward a seat and he'll be there ready to curl up on you. He will even sit behind me on my computer chair (regular dining chair) if he hasn't been getting enough cuddle time. He doesn't mind if you're not patting him - he just has to be touching you or as much on you as he can get. Luckily it's cold a lot here and he's very warm.

He likes to play hide and seek. We tell him to sit and stay then go and hide. We each call him once and listen to him run around sniffing until he finds us. When he finds us he sits of lays down and gets his treat. Then we get him stay and hide again.

He loves to eat vegetables and waits very patiently by my feet while I'm preparing food but will nearly always carry it onto the rug in the lounge room to eat it if I'm not watching.

He loves to play fetch as long has he can chew his toy for a bit every now and then.

He hates to be bathed but tolerates it without too much drama and loves having his hair blow dried and brushed.

And just lately he things it's very exciting when we pull out the wii fit board.

He loves to drive in the car...

But mostly he loves cushions. He sits on top of the cushions like a little raja because that's where it's the comfiest.

We call him Morgan, Gordon (courtesy of Ruby, our godsons sister), Nelson (courtesy of a lady from church), Mellon, Moo Moo, Pogo, Muppet, Stinky, Fluff ball, Mad dog Morgan, Morgie, Morgsie, Milly, Puppy and a whole host of other 'just popped into my head' kind of things.

I think we'll keep him for another 2 years!

One of those days

2011-07-11T11:11:00.002+09:30

You know those days? When everything goes just a little bit wrong? Not earth shatteringly terrible, just ... not right.

Today, praise God, is not one of those days for me. So I'm remembering to be grateful for things that go right.

Because 2 weeks ago it didn't go right at all. Just about everything I did for the day went a little bit pear shaped. And it all started with forgetting to put the lid back on the blender before re-whizzing it.

You've seen it in the movies and now you've seen it here. This is what happens for real:

What you can't see in this picture is that it is also dripping of my clothes, down the cupboards below and also hang in stalactites from the cupboards above. All I could do was laugh.

No. Actually. I laughed, called Joel to come and see, took photos on my camera and my phone, sent the picture to my mum and then cleaned up. Which involved a load a of washing and a shower.

So I guess that even when things don't go right they can be entertaining.

I hope things go right for you today and that if they don't you can see the funny side of it.

Melbourne

2011-06-22T15:34:00.002+09:30

2 nights in a Studio apartment at the Mantra on Russell. The Tutankhamun exhibition. vegetation burgers. Max Brenner's and San Churro's. Shopping. Time out with my rock star husband.

Just what we needed.

My heart is...

2011-06-15T10:25:00.003+09:30

...elsewhere right now...

It is taking photos for a project I love being involved in...

It is enjoying my husbands company...

It is out walking...

It is trying to beat regularly instead of too fast in panic...

It is getting exciting about visiting dear friends...

It is on Pinterest (!!) ...

It is recovering from the excitement of buying (Aus) size 10 jeans...

It is rediscovering the joy (and frustrations) of knitting...

It is staying up late talking to friends

It is planning...

rejoicing...

resting...

& soaking up life...

And it's not really here right now... but just for now...

Tutu

2011-05-31T14:07:00.004+09:30

There's a special little Miss turning 3 next week. I can't be there for her party which makes me sad. But I can sew for her and send her pretty things. Happy birthday for next week gorgeous goddaughter. This is will be arriving you in the post soon. I love you. xx

Happy Birthday Anna Dear

2011-05-31T10:08:00.004+09:30

Happy birthday for last week dear Anna! I'm so happy you had such a happy one. You are much loved. xx

{I am posting this a week late because I want to wait until your Family Print arrived in the mail. So glad you like it. Might have to make one for myself now, except there are a few less people in our family...!}

New Zealand!

2011-05-27T19:33:00.002+09:30

{image credit}

13 weeks and 3 days and we will be on the South Island of New Zealand. Just booked our tickets and can't wait!!!

House Tour

2011-05-26T14:56:00.007+09:30

Well, here it is. Our house. Never, ever 'finished. I couldn't bear that! But so many big projects completed: new floors, new kitchen, new curtains in every room. Some rooms painted (working on the rest!). And most things done on our request by our amazingly generous church community. Last Sunday we held an open house for members to come and have a sticky beak at what their kind donations have gone towards and how much we love the house they provide for us. I made them some delicious afternoon tea and gave tours to show off. But before they arrived I quickly snapped some pictures to share . So here they are:

The entry way. That door on the left is the front. The photo is taken from the lounge room.

Turning around 180 degrees and backing up a step you look into the lounge room where you can see my gorgeous husband reading and the puppy in his usual spot. My desk is behind him. The framed pictures are illustrations my grandma did when she was studying graphic design in 1944!

Do you like my footstool? $4 a metre for the fabric, $3 for the piping rope, about the same for the zipper and 2 hours of sewing.

The sliding doors on the left head into the dining area.

The view from the other sliding doors.

...and backing up a few more steps... just to give you perspective...

Turning around now... this is the kitchen! You can see old pictures here and here.

Look at all that tasty afternoon tea on the bench! And on the far bench right on the far left you can see a big stack of teacups, glasses, water bottle and a kettle - they don't actually live there.

View from the door into the hallway (which I didn't take a picture of!)

Walking down the long hallway, past the bathroom, laundry and toilet on the right (no pictures there either) the first room on the left in the library. You've seen this room before but never like this (in fact, hunting through old posts, there was an incarnation of this room I don't seem to have shared. oh well!) :

Guest bedroom number one is on the right side of the hall. You saw that first here.

Guest bedroom, the one for kidlets, is on the right (next to the library and opposite the first guest room). Drawers and frames painted by me. Chair restored by Joel. Train made by my grandfather.

Nest to the kids guest room is our room - the last room on that side of the from side of the house before the garage.

I'm still undecided as to what art to put in here so in the mean time we are going plain. (that shadow in the bottom of the window? That's the motorbike!

And lastly, on the side of the house that gets sun all year, is the room that get the most of that sun and gorgeous light - my art room.

Paint chips courtesy of a certain bored day recently. Joel put my table up on paint tins for me which makes it the most awesome height for working. So much better than hunching over or sitting/standing/sitting every time I need something from my shelves.

Supply shelves and lovely odds and ends on top. This is one of those things that since moving things back in after the floor was polished I haven't had a chance to organise properly. I can still find most things so it will do for now.

There you have it folks. Our house. Not the most brilliant photos but if you want the proper house experience you'll just have to come and visit!

Thanks for looking!

My Creative Space

2011-05-19T16:04:00.002+09:30

Vision : Joel, some awesome ladies at our church, and a bit of me

Organisation & Implementation: Me

Name : Robbie (thanks!)

Guest speakers : TBA (but she's going to be great!)

Art work : Me

Who can come? Any girls in the Riverina area between 12 & 112.

Get Ready! Get Excited! Get There!

A Bit of John Butler Trio on a Monday Night

2011-05-10T10:28:00.005+09:30

Sometimes you go to work and it's a drag. (You know it's true. Even if you love your job.) Sometimes you go to work and you are so busy that your feet hardly touch the ground.

And sometimes you go to work and come home with tickets to see one of your husbands favourites bands.

That was how it happened... standing in line for dinner in the dining room listening to a student getting pumped about going to a concert with one of the dorm parents... asking 'who are you seeing?" and then in the space of 4 heartbeats deciding - yes! we'll come too!

We met up for dinner at the Albion (delicious!) before heading over to the Albury Performing Arts Centre. Since there wouldn't be much of a chance to catch up during the show it was great to hang out for a bit first.

{I have never professed to a critic/reviewer or music person know it all so I make no apologies for just telling you the way I want to tell you. Even it involves making my point with bold letters rather than fancy words. It's my way.}

The support act was Melbourne band Husky. My review? I loved them! I could listen to a whole lot more of their music and feel calmer, more uplifted. Or I might just do a fancy jog around the lounge room. I liked them. I want to hear more. I even liked how super bendy the guy on keys was. I hope that playing with JBT gives their career a huge boost. Husky, you have yourselves a fan!

*****************************************************

Oh - there they are! So tiny on the stage!! I took all these photos with my 50mm/1.4 because it's the fastest lens I own (currently.. hint hint!). Not great from the balcony for distance but pretty decent for such low light.

And then they came on stage!!! John Butler Trio. Music Goodness. You know how in the Bible it says "God created light and said 'It is Good'"? Well, not that I'm God but this is me saying: The John Butler Trio made music and it is Good. Yes. That good.

The drummer. Again. I'm no expert - but he was Good with a capital G too.

I loved they way the 3 guys interacted and had so much fun on stage. It made us feel like this wasn't just one of a bazillion performances they had done. Plus - they were very funny.

John and his slide guitar. Ah? Ah.mazing!!

He did two songs that absolutely floored me. The one he's doing in the picture below is one of them but I can't remember the name. The other was called Ocean. Do yourself a favour and youtube it.

Oh. There was this knuckle head and his buddy sitting in the row in front of us (we were one row back from the balcony edge). SInce I don't know his name and he doesn't know mine I'm going to say it - He was a drunk noodle brain with no consideration for anyone behind him or beside him. He and is almost as daft buddy were have 'play' fights so rough I could here the thumps, their partners looked mortified (well, at least they were staring straight ahead as if they barely knew them for a while there) and the usher had to ask them a few times to sit down or leave. I wish they'd left. Oh wait. They did. When they realised that JBT weren't on first they got up and left, after having come in late. Then when John Butler was actually on he spent most of the time calling out loudly, clapping (also loudly - assume it all was loud) and using foul langue to get us to all stand up and clap along. To every song. We didn't. I don't respond well to being sworn at. Finally he went out for a bit and came back reasonably subdued. Until he stood right in front of us! Clown. That kind of inappropriate behaviour from someone of his age (I'd say 30's?) astounds me. How do you get to be that age and still not understand how to act in social situations? Anyway, we didn't let him ruin our night. I just closed my eyes to listen and peered around him until the usher ushered him away. Bless her!

The view:

And then doofus was gone.

The encore. Pure entertaining talent. Here the bassist and John joined in with a fabulous drum off....

...Which ended with John jumping off the main drum kit, screaming, clapping and everyone out of their seats.

Verdict:

John Butler Trio - do yourself a favour and see them live. I promise that the only regret you'll have is if you wimp out. You know who I'm talking to!

They are phenomenal.

Special thanks to the fabulous student and his mum for organising tickets for us and for being such a great company.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T17:37:00.002+09:30

You are pretty awesome yourself. I love you! xx

Protected by the Terror

2011-05-05T14:59:00.004+09:30

For the past three nights we have been kept awake with barking.

Loud barking.

Barking coming from our own backyard.

At every one of the wee small hours.

Apparently we are under siege and need protecting.

Because we can't save ourselves.

We're not tough enough.

Or, more to the point, loud enough.

Although our hourly screams of "Enough Noise!!" would prove other wise.

The command of "Bed Time. In your bed." Has not swayed the dedication to our protection.

The movement from outside to the laundry produced only panicked "but you don't know what's out there!!!" noises and scratching.

It's true.

We didn't know what was out there.

And in my PJ's I didn't feel kitted out enough to find out.

Released to continue patrolling, and barking, didn't leave us feeling safer but it did save the laundry door.

After many drift off to sleep-jolt awake to barking-yell at protector-drift off to sleep cycles it was late enough to get up and assess the terrors of the night.

Pumpkins.

21 of them. On the roof of our shed after being harvested on Monday.

He's been protecting us from pumpkins since Monday.

How very brave of him.

Now let's ask the question again:

Who is the real Terror in the Night?

Answer: not the pumpkins.

What does the Terror do when he hasn't slept all night because he was protecting his family?

Hugs a pillow.

{Note the eye open just a fraction. Wouldn't want a pumpkin sneaking up on you now would we?!}

A few house things

2011-05-04T15:14:00.006+09:30

Our kitchen was gutted and replaced nearly 2 years ago (already) but a few weeks ago I decided to make some simple yellow curtain to go above the sink. I love the brightness they bring to the room. So fresh and cheery to get me through winter.

To remind you were we started off here's a shot with the boxes still in when moved in January 2009. Pretty huh?!

And here's where I joyously wash the dishes now (Not really, but I do joyously stand over the sink to eat juicy fruit...!):

Much nicer yes?

I used cafe clips for a different feel from the rest of the house. They really are ornamental curtains as we have a roll down block out blind for the raging heat we get coming through this window in summer. Oh - and you can see my little succulent on the window sill. He came from my sister in-laws wedding a year ago and was repotted into a clay pot that my grandma made and gave to me before she died. 2 lovely memories in one.

A little detail of the 2 lovely fabrics:

The other thing I thought I'd share with you today is the main guest room. When we first moved in it was the guest room (as you can see in the next picture) then for about 18 months it was my art room (which I don't think I photographed) and now it's the guest room again because I have moved my art room into a different room from the one it started out in - the one with the best light - of course!

We move stuff around lots. Always have done.

{Side story: When I was a teenager my mum made the rule that I wasn't allowed to rearrange my bedroom more than once a month because she kept banging into things. See? I've always like arranging furniture and prettying things up. Let's continue...}

So here's the guest room in it's first incarnation. Curtains! Amazing. Oh - and only a single bed too.

Now...

Better. Much better. New floors, curtains and bed frame (we bought ourselves a new latex mattress and donated our mattress to this bed before it was unusable). I'm in love with Delphine the doona cover. You can see that the chair made a reappearance with a friend after a spray paint in royal blue and the bolster cushion, which mum made for me as a teen, even made the cut (for now!). The blue lamp cost me $5 at a garage sale plus a $15 lampshade to replace the abysmal excuse for a shade it previous sported. Oh, and the mustard yellow base got a coat from a sample pot I already had. I think I'll change it agin but not sure what to.

{edited to add: just felt it worth a mention/brag that I also painted the guest room. 2 coats of paint in one day = blisters and much satisfaction at the removal of another pink room}

So there you have it. A few things about our house you wouldn't have known.

Design Project: Weekend Trip

2011-05-02T19:49:00.003+09:30

{In case you don't have super vision you can click it to make it bigger and read the tiny writing}

Just something that is taking up most of my life right now. The planning of the whole trip more so than the map. The map was completely unnecessary. I could have photocopied a page out the directory and scrawled notes on the back for each kid. But that would make no one happy. And who can let a fun design opportunity slide by?

Got anything I should add to my map? What is consuming you this week?

(P.S - Phone numbers are fake so don't bother calling them you crazy spamming people! Except for the Backpackers - that one is real - so go get yourself some free sunday morning pancakes when you stay saturday night for only $30!)

Friends with Benefits

2011-04-25T14:46:00.002+09:30

Morgan is quite happy to watch over Johan. As long as he gets a little bit of whatever Johan is eating. He sits very patiently next to him all through meals. Only leaving to visit Ruby and receive her offerings to 'My Puppy'.

Nothing quite as cute as a boy and his puppy. Even if they can only hang out for a week.

2011-04-24T07:00:00.003+09:30

Felties

2011-04-23T19:47:00.002+09:30

Just thought I'd share these 3 felt characters I made to go with this board book.

They took a bit longer to make than I had imagined but I'm very happy with the result. Something fun for quiet times in church.

Incoherent thoughts about stockings and chicken legs.

2011-04-17T14:48:00.009+09:30

Church shoes, awesome stockings from my dear sister and... the most ridiculous pair of chicken legs. Really. Could they look any sillier being that skinny? Probably not. And I've even cropped them considerably to stop them from looking so darn stick like. Oh well. At least the rest of my body is now following suit - down 14.4kg's!

Anyway - the stockings are fabulous. I actually dreamt about wearing them with these shoes last night so figured I should wear them to church this morning. Nothing magic happened. Except that it I thought it was a very cute combo. And considering I'm currently wearing black tights, red explorer socks and a pink and blue floral shirt,wearing a cute outfit this morning is pretty magic!

Anyone else get excited about good tight/stocking and shoe combo's? Yes? This is deep stuff people. I am really taking this space to new levels today.

Thanks for the stockings Jes! I love them! More than cheese. xx

{P.S. Hello shiny new floors! More pictures of that soon. Note: I did NOT wear these shoes on the new floor. Shoes are a definite no-no these days. (We might have to discuss that too...) I placed them there carefully and then stepped into them before the timer went off. Or half stepped onto the right one. Which may account for the weirdness of the ankle? Or not? I never really see my feet from this angle so I don't know. Anyway... back on my feet/legs again.. Sorry. I'm just a bit shocked by how they look from down this low!! Right. New floors = Awesome. The end.}

Dearest Husband,

2011-04-15T15:10:00.002+09:30

{Art work by the talented Avid}

It seems you were right. Again. We really can learn everything we need to know from the Transformers.

Love you today for working hard at being an Optimist Prime in this crazy week.

Love you for always, because.

xxx

Moving Day

2011-04-15T09:21:00.002+09:30

{Image credit}

Today we're moving BACK into our house! Very exciting. For the last 3 weeks we have been living across the road from our house in the church sunday school room. It's been quite the adventure and I think I'm a little sad to leave our cosy room. But I will leave. And I will do like these guys are doing and haul all the stuff we have here in the church across the road to our house. Hopefully without putting a single scratch in our gorgeous newly polished floors.

Thankfully Joel will be around at lunch time to help with the big things and I wont actually have to strap furniture to my back. But the rest will be me - a thousand trips backwards and forwards. I had better get cracking! I promise you photos of the house & floors when we're back in and set up again. In the meantime, think of me as I enter a few days of manual labour!

Waiting for Delphine

2011-04-09T09:07:00.002+09:30

I ordered this quilt cover on Tuesday from CottonBox and now am patiently waiting for it to arrive before our Easter guests do.

Her name is Delphine and she comes from the family of Sheridan. You can see her in the latest House & Garden magazine in their bed special.

I loved her before I saw her there though.

And she is joining our home for $60 less (shipping included) than what she is marked for in the magazine. Hop over to CottonBox and check out their sale section for more fabulous deals.

Baby Sisters Kitchen Tea

2011-04-08T09:09:00.006+09:30

3 months ago today my youngest sister tied the knot. A few days before that our middle sister, our mum and I threw her a Kitchen Tea party. Finally, I have organised myself to share some pictures with you. I didn't take as many as I wanted to but when you are catering, hosting and photographing you can only do some much of each thing. So here's a little taste of our fabulous party:

Mum & I bought 30+ 2nd hand teacups and saucers, glass platters, teapots, sugar bowls & milk jugs for $28. Really! I was quite sad that I couldn't bring more of it home on the plane with me.

One of the gorgeous spools my father in law made me for Christmas.

The sister loves birds. Even before they were trendy. I am wondering what critter will be trendy next...

Over Christmas my mother in law made all these cute flags for me in preparation. I stuck them in heaps of food but was too distracted to get photos of anything other than my delicious and pretty cup cakes.

My two lovely sisters. Jes is presenting Han with the tools of her new housewife trade: apron, feather duster and tiara. We even gave her a pink bird for her shoulder since her actual bird is far too antisocial to join the party and she wanted him there. Mum made the apron and had every sign it with a message. She then took it home and stitched over everyone's messages so they wont fade with washing.

Jes made this lovely book for all of us to write recipes, advice and love notes to the Bride.

What is a Kitchen Tea without dressing up people in toilet paper wedding gowns?!! The girl on the far left is one of Han's new sisters. We love our new family!

The Bride herself. Enjoying her new snuggy! We asked people to bring practical gifts to help set up their new home. (which reminds me that I don't have a picture of the invitations...) Everyone was so incredibly generous. I doubt Han & Adam to much at all in the way of storage, cleaning products, kitchen utensils & crockery. They were even given a bucket and an ironing board! thank you to everyone who came to make this a special day for my baby sister. Special thanks to mum, Jes, Rosemary, Maria, the dad's & Adam. You all played a part and we couldn't' have done it without you.

Congratulations to Han & Adam on 3 months of marriage already!! Love you both. xx

It seems the world knows I favour blue.

2011-04-07T13:58:00.000+09:30

Big metal letters for under $40?

A 4 Year Old, The Cosmetic Section & Me

2011-04-06T13:35:00.000+09:30

Nope, the title pretty much sums it up!

We tried some nail polish out but that wasn't anything new so I let her pick whatever colours she wanted while her mum shopped for foundation. I definitely told her this is how you wear makeup when you're four - as war paint!

The black eyeshadow stained her cheek for a day and the lip stain (yep, it looked like lipgloss and I only read it after!) was there for a day too. Her mummy laughed nervously as I promised it would wash off and her daddy rolled his eyes. It did all come off faster than the time I panted all her finger nails and toe nails different colours. Then succumbed to her wish to paint mine the same.

Oh Kiddo, you make me do some crazy stuff but boy are you good fun to hang out with. Miss you and your family. xx

Mara, I'm sorry for teaching her about makeup! Hopefully she still things it's just for play!! When she's ready (like 20??!!) I'll teach her how to wear it properly. No emo eyes or indian stripes. Promise! xx

All Signed Up

2011-04-05T12:28:00.004+09:30

A little while ago I mentioned that I'd got my groove on in front of a bunch of people I barely knew and danced like Mr Bean. As life would have it I have left you all hanging on the edges of your seat as to why I would do that. The short answer is: Auslan. Au(stralian) S(ign) Lan(guage).

For quite a few years we have both been in love with this beautiful language and the amazing subculture of the deaf community. Back in Adelaide we had discussed a number of times the thought of studying Auslan to enrich our own lives, communicate with the deaf people we come across and to eventually provide a service to the deaf church that exists in Adelaide. But the timing was never quite right.

Then our godson came into the world with about 10% hearing. He has a Cochlear Implant now and as he develops he will hear more and comprehend better but in teaching him his family and carers are using sign language as well as sounds and pictures. We will be ready to talk with him and sign with him - whatever he needs. When he's ready, we'll be ready too.

We have so many reasons to learn this language and we know that time is not found it is made so this year we signed ourselves up for the first module at Tafe. We have spent the last 8 Thursdays nights making fools of ourselves acting and miming the craziest things, learning so many new words/signs I can't sleep after class for the whirlwind my brain is in, laughing like mad people at learning 'the naughty signs', learning to freely express emotion with face and body, being moved by stories of what is like to be deaf in a hearing world, having 'no spoken english' classes and

loving, loving, loving it so much!

Yes, it's hard. And going to the Deaf Dinners with actual deaf people is completely nerve wracking but our teacher (who is deaf, with hearing aids so she can hear a tiny bit, and speaks because she spent years in speech therapy) is amazing. She is so patient, encouraging and good at teaching us. She has a wicked sense of humour too which helps keep class fun! And our classmates are fabulously entertaining

and great to learn with.

Even aside from learning the actual language the whole thing is a blast and I feel so privileged to be able to do this. The challenge and the push it is giving me is so rewarding. The skill I am learning far exceed the language and the language is so much more than I imagined it would be.

I love it!

And it's also pretty cool that Joel and I have an almost secret language to communicate with!

The very gorgeous Johan, our Godson, at a cafe in Adelaide in January 2011.

A Work in Progress

2011-04-04T11:35:00.005+09:30

Some of you have been wondering what I look like these days sans 13kilograms (that's just over 2 stone for the rest of you). Well, I'm still a little camera shy but the other day I was in one of my favourite stores (Provincial Home) wearing my skinny jeans that are getting baggy and having a nice hair day. I spotted a gorgeous floor length mirror and was a little chuffed to see the girl looking back at me wasn't even sucking in her belly. I snapped a few shots and felt I could share at least one with you all.

Below you can see a comparison between the July 2010 Rachel and the March 2011 Rachel. I realise you can't see my face in the first photo (aiming, focusing and then looking into the lens was hard!) so I asked Joel to take a picture of me just now so you can see where at least a bit of the weight disappeared from.

P.S. My sisters are as cute today as they were in July!

P.P.S. Wearing my necklace in the last photo!

Simple Gluten Free Chocolate & Apple Cake

2011-03-27T12:04:00.000+10:30

One day I post about green smoothies and then I post about cake. I'm like that. This cake is amazing. As someone who counts herself 'not a cake eater' since childhood, amazing is a big call on a cake. But having made this one twice with slightly different ingredients both times I feel at liberty say - winner!

It's so moist that it's almost not cake (maybe that's why I love it?!).

It's gluten free so doesn't give you the brain fog (and other nasties we try to avoid) that comes with gluten.

It only has 5 easily found ingredients which is not something I have discovered gluten free cakes are known for.

It doesn't require hours of time or complicated skills. Just basic cake making knowledge.

A big thank you to Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella for sharing this recipe with the world!

Recipe for Vanessa's Chocolate & Apple Gluten Free Cake:

4 eggs, separated

115g/4.06oz castor/superfine sugar (I actually used raw sugar the 2nd time and it was fine)

115g/4.06oz chocolate, melted (I used 70% dark because it's delicious & I find milk too sweet)

1 medium apple, grated (I used a Granny Smith the 1st time and a Jonathan the 2nd. Both were good. Lorraine says to peel before grating. I didn't read that and it was fine!)

125g/4.4oz almond meal

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F

2. Lightly grease and line a 20cm cake tin. (Definitely line it. The first time around I didn't and it gets a bit stuck to the bottom.)

3. Beat egg yolks with sugar until pale and creamy. Stir in melted chocolate,grated apple and almond meal.

4. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold into apple & chocolate mixture. (I was fairly careful to not over stir at this stage and wreak all my nice egg white bubbles. I don't know if it makes a difference or not but I didn't need stir hard or much to mix it through)

5. Pour into tin and bake for 45minutes. (Roughly. Just keep an eye on it. I am terrible at following exact instructions in cooking. I think instinct counts for a lot. As does experimentation!)

6. Dust with icing sugar and serve however you like your cake.

Surprise Mail

2011-03-26T11:34:00.002+10:30

Yesterday I received these gorgeous clips from my dear friend Anna. She ordered them from a lovely little etsy store and had them posted straight to me. How lovely to receive surprise birthday mail. Thank you Anna for taking time out of your busy life to think of me! You remind me to stop doing 'important' things and make time for people I love. x

Green Smoothies

2011-03-25T14:03:00.000+10:30

Mmm!! Delicious! I miss mangos. And banana's too now that Yasi made them too rare and expensive. But that was a good smoothie up there in the picture. A big, set up for the camera, not the actual amount of fruit/spinach/water I use, smoothie. Just so you know. But it's a good picture.

I've had a few people ask me about the green smoothies we have for breakfast. So this is the post about them.

We first heard about green smoothies at the evening seminar we went to in October last year. We learnt about Victoria Boutenko - the mother of Green Smoothies, and how she had discovered that to be truly healthy we need a fairly large amount of green leafy vegetables each day. She realised that she couldn't sit down and eat her way through the amount of lettuce/spinach/kale etc that she needed each day so she started putting it in her blender with some fruit and water to make it tastier. She tested her theory on a a whole lot of different people and discovered that in just 30 days of adding a green smoothie to your diet and not changing anything else more than 60% of people had a measurable difference in their health and nearly 100% of people 'felt better'. When combined with healthier eating habits overall the positive changes in health, emotion and general wellbeing are nothing short of drastic. (Links to great sites with more info at the bottom of this post)

Sounded pretty good to us! To start with Joel and I would both have the same thins in our smoothies but as we got used to them we learnt more about what we liked and what we didn't. Now we have quite different smoothies to each other every day.

Joel's Smoothie Today:

500ml (1/2 quart) filtered water in the blender.

Chunks of watermelon until it reaches the 1Litre (1 Quart) mark.

2 big hands of Endive.

Blend it & blend it good. Drink and smile knowing you are doing your body a world of good.

My Smoothie of the Week:

300-400ml filtered water in the blender (I can't drink as much as Joel).

1 Pear

1 yellow nectarine

a few giant handfuls of baby spinach to take the level just below 1 Litre.

Blend and enjoy.

There are so many ways you can do this. The point is to get your fresh, raw greens into you at a time of day when you need them.

I could say a whole lot more but I'll just say this and then leave you with some links to do your own reading (partly because they say things better than I do as the experts): it makes a difference! It really does. If you don't believe me just give it a try for 30 days. Replace your breakfast with a green smoothie every day for a month and tell me what you think at the end. I dare you!

Links:

The Green Smoothie Revolution

Victoria Boutenko

Green for Life - An amazing book to give you answers.

Green Smoothie Girl

T-Shirts for the Boarders

2011-03-22T14:13:00.002+10:30

Just working out some designs so they can move away from embroidered polo shirts and into something a bit more teen appropriate. And yes, there are options other than blue!

Another One White

2011-03-21T20:11:00.005+10:30

Today I painted a bedroom. 2 coats. That's one less room that's pink And only 2 bedrooms, the library and the hallway to go.... oh, and the wet rooms...

Let's just focus on the - One room done in a day - bit.

I well and truly earned my lemon sorbet and Glee on the couch.

What did you do today?

Love: This Pendant

2011-03-12T19:03:00.004+10:30

This gorgeously delicate pendant was on Etsy's front page just now and I can't stop looking at it! I'm really tempted to buy it before someone else and at only $42US I probably could but... I'm not even a little bit an impulse shopper...

It was designed and made by Lorena Martinez whose shop is called 'Gemagenta' and well worth a visit. Her blog shows her work process and is amazing to check to out. So inspiring. I'll definitely be back later in the week!

Update: I did! Now just waiting patiently...

29 Things I am Grateful for Today

2011-03-08T20:36:00.003+10:30

My Saviour & His Grace
Joel - Second only to number 1
Family. The half who grew me and the half who had me grafted in. They all know me and still love me!
Friends. The family I'm not related to.
Morgan. That critter... love him!
Green Smoothies.
Creativeness
Our House
My art room (even though right now it's all packed up)
The people in our church
Albury
The internet
Good health
Time
Godchildren
New challenges
Fresh food
Awesome hair (mine! & Joel's!)
Being mistaken for a 15 year old
Financial stability
Mad skillz
Soft sunlight
Books
Glee. Really. That show makes me laugh so hard!
Eyes to see the beauty in the world
Being fitter and thinner than I was this time last year
Knowing how to say 'yes' with enthusiasm and, and 'no' with understanding and conviction
Thoughtfulness
Another fabulous year of life.

Happy birthday me!

My Mr Bean

2011-03-05T08:34:00.003+10:30

On Thursday night, in front of a room full of people I have only ever spent 12 hours with over 4 weeks, I did the most amazing Mr Bean dance impersonation of my life. I also vomited (pretend!), crashed into an iceberg and drowned (also pretend).

The dancing was real.

Real Awesome!

For those not familiar with the Mr Bean dance... where have you BEAN?!! Too funny.

Check it out:

And thus continues my week of being so far out of my comfort zone I don't know if I can find my way back.

If you want to know why on earth I was doing this and what else I have been up to outside of my comfort zone... you'll just have to come back later to find out!

That's just not Cricket

2011-03-02T20:05:00.003+10:30

Actually, it was.

For the first time in nearly 29 years (6 sleeps away!) I can almost understand how playing cricket could be fun. I mean, I wouldn't say the serious stuff is fun, but the fun stuff - well, it was fun!

I was emotionally blackmailed into playing in the staff vs senior student match at school today. I gave fair warning that I have limited to zero sporting skill and will quite possibly get hurt. But he said he just needed the numbers or it would would be a forfeit. No way could I let the students get that glory!

Staff fielded first. I was put where the ball was least likely to go. That also happened to be facing the sun - hello sunburn. I collected a few that were pelting along the ground and even had to chase a few. Passable. It was my throwing that leaves a lot to be desired! I could get away with it just throwing back to the bowler. But then I had to take my turn as bowler!

You have never seen such a disastrous attempt!! I was allowed to step a few metres past the line and still struggled to get it all the way down the pitch. If I could actually keep it on the pitch. And not just roll it. Oh my! At one point I just said - 'I am an artist! Not a sportsperson!' Although I was quite comforted to see the sport teacher didn't quite have the knack for it either, even though she was leagues better than me. If you could've been there - you would've laughed along with me at the comedy! And enjoyed my particularly girly refrain of 'oops!'

The kids were so sweet about it. They were very encouraging and accommodating. It was one of the kids umpiring who coached me through most of my barely passable, legal bowls. Thanks you lovely young people! You are a credit to your generation.

I thought I'd get off of batting but I was put on first with the captain of our team, the guy who organised the competition. I figured I couldn't be a worse batsman than I was a bowler (I really was very, very bad!) and I'd survived that so I geared up and marched out. My batting partner had me running up and down quite a few times but guess what?! I got 4 runs all by myself!!!! FOUR! People. I am so darn proud of myself. And I don't care if you think I'm crazy, but I have never played cricket and these are my first 4 runs ever and quite possibly my last so let's just enjoy them!

FOUR.

4 Runs.

Just saying.

Non sporting me, afraid of every ball, rubbish at most sports, was denied my prayer of a washed out game, challenged to try something new and... got 4 runs! Ha!

There you go - try something new today and you might surprise yourself like I did.

Oh, and the staff won. By 15 runs.

Question:

2011-02-28T12:36:00.005+10:30

When you have just lost a stack of weight, you're feeling particularly cute in your new dress and a lady you just met says to you:

"And you're obviously pregnant then?"

How do you respond to that?!

{P.S. Just to clarify -I'm really not.}

A Weighty Story

2011-02-18T10:16:00.004+10:30

In just under 20 weeks I have lost 12.5 kilograms (27.5 pounds). I can hardly believe it. Until I go back and look at photos of myself from July and October (the only 2 months I let anyone take my picture!) and then I see it. Really see how much has gone.

I'm not done. I still want another 5kg's off at least bit this was the first major goal. Go Team Me!

{ End of the Short Post. Read of if you want to know more! }

Why 12.5 kilograms? Why not 12? or 13? Well. Joel made me an offer: If I got down to 70 kilos (yes, I just put my weight on the internet) I could buy any camera I wanted. That was a good round 10 kilos I had to lose. Then I put on 2 and a half. The deal stayed the same - I had to reach 70 kilograms before getting my camera. That's why today, the day I got on the scales and saw 70.0 is the day I am celebrating!

If the achievement of losing 12.5kilograms is not enough for you to cheer about with me (get off my blog! Seriously! What does a person have to do to impress you?! Kidding, you can stay, but this next bit better give you more of an appreciation for this major feat...!)

4 years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS - Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. It's different for every girl who has it. For me it has meant chaotic hormones and putting on weight easily which then messes up my hormone balance even more. I have done so much to try and lose weight over the past few years. I would lose a few kilos then put them back on when I was stressed, sad, working hard or in the same room as anything with sugar or fat. When losing weight is critical for your health but your body does it's best to hold on to every gram there's a real battle that happens - physically, emotionally... everything. I have cried many tears at having a body that seems to work against me as I want and need to lose weight.

I had to see more than a handful of doctors to get a diagnosis. When I finally did, through the hospital, I had to find a doctor that was prepared to work with me and not just medicate me. I was blessed with a fabulous doctor who actually has PCOS herself. She sent me to a nutritionist and a physiologist to get me eating and moving well for my needs. That work a bit, but not drastically. And then we moved. And it all went out the window and down the hill. Moving is stressful, sad, hard work, emotional and there always seems to be lots of sugar and hot chips involved. I sat on the couch, cried, ate and got fatter and sicker.

I joined the gym. That was good but not great. Well, what did I expect if I continued to eat the same and only go twice a week? Nearly every night I would say the same thing that thousands of people say before bed - tomorrow I will exercise more and eat better. It never really happened. I didn't have a terrible diet. But it wasn't really what I needed either.

In July last year 2 things happened: My little sister got engaged & my mum asked us to have family photos while were on holidays with them. Han getting engaged was so exciting. Except I had the honour of being maid of honour. And, as the family photos reminded me, I was the 'fat sister'. The photos that we had as a family hit me hard. I couldn't look at them without crying. I still can't. Honestly, compared to a lot of people in the world I wasn't massive. I didn't even get into the obese BMI range. But compared to my sister (not that we should compare, but we do) and compared to previous family photos I was far too big. I didn't want to walk down the aisle at my sisters wedding and be the 'fat sister'. I didn't want to be in photos that will be displayed for many decades as the one with the too fat belly and cake stuffed cheeks.

I had to do something so I could be comfortable in my own body as I stood with my sister on her wedding day. I had to be happy enough with how I looked to be able to fully focus on her and not worry about myself. It was going to be hard!

I took it to God. We prayed for an answer. This wedding was the deadline I needed to motivate myself to be healthier and fitter than ever. I needed a miracle. While God was holding up his end I got of my behind and started walking in the mornings with Joel instead of sleeping in. I kept up my gym efforts as much as possible and didn't allow myself to turn on my computer until I'd done something physical every day. Even Sunday. It wasn't enough. I needed to change my fuel too. So I scoured the shelves at the library and found a book called The Inside Out Diet by Cathy Wong. Inside Out - that sounds like me - back to front.

That book was the start of God's answer to our prayer for diet help. While going through the Liver Cleanse in that book I got to talking to a friend about it who directed us to a lady speaking about Raw Food and green smoothies the same week. By the end of her 2 hour seminar I knew this was another piece of the puzzle God was piecing together for me. Living foods. I had been eating 'healthy' foods that had been cooked to death and had very little left to offer my body. With not much life going into it my body, and particularly the PCOS, was going into famine mode - storage. I learnt that in not giving my body all the vitamins, minerals, nutrients, enzymes and life that it needs I had been telling it that we were in famine so it had better store up. Not good.

I can't begin to tell you everything I have learnt and I am only just scraping the tip of understanding with what I know but I can tell you this : I have stopped entertaining my taste buds and started feeding my body with the fuel it needs for health. And I am so much healthier, lighter, thinner, more balanced than I ever was before. My taste buds have changed and I totally love my green smoothies for breakfasts and actually feel queasy at the thought of red meat. Me! The steak and chips girl!

I don't know the name for my diet because I'm still working out how it all fits. I'm not 100% Raw. I'm closer to vegan than vegetarian. Pretty close to gluten free. And I do my best to not eat numbers. We have extended this out to not using poison for toothpaste or deodorant. We've never used toxins for cleaning. And we are investigating all other sorts of ways of living more kindly with our world.

Maybe I'm a hippy now?! Whatever. I am fit - proof: I have tan lines from my walking shorts and shoes, I can actually run for more than a few minutes at a time. I am healthy - proof: my hormones have balanced out to near normal, my finger nails are strong and body does what it's supposed to (and that's all you kids I work with need to hear about that!). I am happier - proof: I bought 2 dresses! And I am lighter in soul, mind and body - proof:

GONE!!!!

Harry Potter 5

2011-02-05T16:06:00.003+10:30

Image Credit

I decided this would be the year to read about Harry and his adventures. I've started so many series that haven't even been completely published (Isobelle Carmody - if you're out there, can you PLEASE finish the Obernewtyn series already?!!) so I've been in no hurry to read these books figuring they'd be around for a bit. As books often are.

It's so nice to know that you can start something that will have an ending ... Ms Carmody?!

So here I am, borrowing books off whoever has them - my brother in law, my sister and the latest one from a brilliant girl in year 5 who comes to our church.

I like. I like a lot! I've absolutely whipped through them, finishing this one just today.

It feels good to be catching up with the rest of the world.

What else have I been missing out on?

Morgan's Spot

2011-02-03T13:22:00.002+10:30

He walks as if he's going to go right past the curtain and into the wall then with a quick head flick and a double back tucks himself in between the curtain and the window. He snuggles up to the low wall and rests his head on the window sill to keep an eye on the world. Until we talk to him. Then he pokes his head underneath curtain to see what we want and if it's worth leaving his spot.

Usually if I move to get my camera he follows me, ruining my plan. Today I told him to 'Stay'. He stayed while I looked in two place for my camera, discovered it didn't have a card in it, disconnected the card from my computer, put it in the camera, changed the settings and took 3 photos. He stayed exactly how he was because I told him to (and because he usually gets treats when he does!).

Such a good little puppy. And so hilarious!

And the Hallway...

2011-02-02T12:25:00.002+10:30

My contribution was lots of salad rolls for lunch. They were delicious. The floor is looking awesome and it hasn't even been sanded and polished yet. Well, it was polished back in the day before it had carpet disrespectfully laid on top of it but it's need freshening up.

We're getting some where! (I can include myself in that 'we' as caterer and photographer...!?!)

Happening Now:

2011-02-02T09:01:00.003+10:30

Starting in the lounge room we have 3 older men calling my husband (would be at least half their age) 'Pastor' as they get rid of the carpet and reveal lovely floorboards!

Right now. This is happening!

Out with the old...

2011-01-30T18:30:00.004+10:30

Image Credit

...carpet!

We live in the churches house ('manse' for those familiar with such things) and that means while we're ok to do some small stuff to our house we need to get the ok from the maintenance people for the medium stuff and the thumbs up from the whole church on the big stuff. Because it's their money we're doing it with. Seems fair to me.

Replacing curtains needed no permission.

Painting the walls needed some from the church council.

Replacing the whole kitchen needed a majority "YES" vote from the church community. Because it was their money. Our new kitchen is still amazing by the way. (In finding that link I realised I haven't shown you pictures of it all painted! oops)

Ripping up all the carpet and getting the floorboards underneath fixed up and re-polished also needed a majority "YES" vote. And today we got it!!!

Hooray and praise the Lord. I'm so excited to be getting rid of the carpet and all the nasty little dust mites that call it home. Maybe now I wont sniff and sneeze all the time!

I'll try and remember to take before during and after shots so you can see.

We are incredibly blessed to be part of such a generous community.

Lost. And FOUND!

2011-01-29T08:33:00.005+10:30

Image Credit

Yep. Thats pretty much my system right now and I'm going crazy. So my main project for the day is to go through the whole house and pray that the keys are actually in the house and not somewhere else.

Why is it that when you lose something people ask you stupid things like "where did you last have the keys?"

If I knew that I'd probably have them in my hand right now. Instead I'm facing getting in BIG trouble for not knowing where they are.

Help, replacement keys and prayers appreciated. Inane questions - not so much.

Update: I don't know if anyone out there even had time to pray about this but I sure have been and... I just found them! I found my keys! Praise God. If they were lost forever all of the locks in the school where I work that use a master key would've had to be changed. Possibly at my expense. Thus the reason for my panic. But they are found!! I am saved.

And where were they? In the pocket of my raincoat. I must've put them there on the last rainy day we had last year, taken the coat off to drive and then just hung it up at home. Never thinking about the keys.

Oh. SO relieved. Praise God for small miracles.

5 Years

2011-01-14T19:56:00.003+10:30

And I love you even more today than I did when we said our vows.

Your best friends and wife always.

With so, so much love.

Rachel.

xx00

Little Sister Gets Hitched

2011-01-13T17:12:00.002+10:30

(posts over the next few days are going to be in whatever order I feel like posting so don't expect order - just a regular, chaotic brain dump)

Hannah is now officially a Mrs! It was my great honour as her big sister to be her Maid of Honour. (Anyone calling me the Matron just because of my marital status got the stern eye and a warning not to use that word on me again!) Unfortunately, in amongst all my big sister/MoH duties taking photos took a back seat. I managed a few in the days leading up to the Day and a few as she was getting ready. Then one or two at the reception. Not to worry, her photographer did an amazing job capturing the day. Will share what I can of those with you when we get some.

In the meantime - the wedding was amazing. So perfectly Hannah & Adam. It was classy, sweet, a little quirky, a lot fun and so full of love. The most heard comment was along the lines of "she is such a prefect princess with her prince!" As her proud big sister I couldn't agree more.

Highlights from the day included (the lists will continue until I regain full use of my brain)

-Being part of a wonderful family joining with another wonderful family

-Being blessed by the only day that Queensland had seen in weeks with no rain for hours at a time (and all at the perfect times)

-Having the privilege of giving a speech and telling everyone how special Han is to me.

-Dad's hilarious speech about all the things prospective husbands for his daughters need to do and watching Koh Reh (our other sisters partner) as he realised dad was also talking to him. Dad telling everyone how Adam nearly killed him (my dad = funniest man ever!)

-Praying with our family (2 new sisters included) before leaving for the ceremony.

-One of the best wedding dances. Ever. I will be begging Adam's sister in law to post it on youtube so we can all see it. I will share when she does. Promise! Was awesome.

-Delicious food

-Excellent photographer

-Beautiful bridesmaid dresses from Two Birds (Short, straight hem in Aubergine if you're curious)

-Being a part of such a defining moment in my sisters life

-Watching two people in love make a promise to work, live, grow and love together for life.

-Having our photo taken on a public bus

-Listening to my husband preach an amazing sermon

Yes. It was a wonderful day for a wonderful couple.

Han & Adam,

We love you both very much and pray God's blessings for you in everything.

Congratulations!

Love now and always,

Rach & Joel

Home

2011-01-12T20:21:00.002+10:30

The last 3 and a bit weeks of my life have been, in short, mental.

3 Weddings
4 States
2 trips to Adelaide
One trip to Queensland interrupted by one of the trips to Adelaide
Christmas
5 flights for me
2 for Joel
40 plus hours of driving for me
Way more than that for Joel
Maid of Honour for my baby sister & Best Man (Joel!) for Fin (4 days apart and in different states)
Narrowly escaping floods
Waiting in the air for storms to clear
Driving through much water to get home (nearly 30cm at one point)
Precious time with our two godsons
Precious little time with dear friends and family
Missing Morgan
Missing my own bed and pillow
Missing my green smoothies
Christmas at our house
Fleas at our house
Finishing my first quilt
Finishing all the other Christmas gifts
Hosting a Kitchen Tea
Making millions of pretty things for the Kitchen Tea
No internet (I know!)
Tasty plane food
Rubbish plane food
Free alcohol on domestic flights
Rain
So much rain
But none for any of the weddings. Praise God.
5 clear umbrellas bought for my sisters wedding just in case
2 umbrellas made it to Horsham and then got left there
Naughty presents for our nearly wed loved ones!
A stunning bridesmaid dress
Pretty but murderous bridesmaid shoes
A sexy suit for my Best Man
Lots of compliments on my noticeable lack of chins
The first 4 Harry Potter books read for the first time
And 1 and a half other books too (A girl needs an escape!)
Belly aches from eating food I'm not used to
Laughs
Laughs until I snorted in public. At least twice. And then laughed even harder
Tears. I got almost half way through my sisters speech before they hit.
Dancing
Talking
Bonding
Love
Exhaustion
Relief

So glad to be home safe. Tired but happy, safe and sure I would do it all again.

And so glad that all my loved ones are safe so far too. Even if they are a bit stranded, wet and not able to get tasty vegetables.

Welcome back to me!

Sister Time

2010-12-26T13:39:00.002+10:30

Seeing my two sisters soon!! Always such fun times. Especially since this time one will be getting married!

See you tomorrow Hanny Poo! (Please don't forget to pick me up!!) And not long after that Je Je!

Can't wait. Love you much. xx Will bring presents.

2 days work

2010-12-24T10:37:00.002+10:30

You know I love my computer. And I love the internet. But lately I've just had too much other creative stuff going on to do anything other than a brief glance at emails. Sorry! I've missed you all too. And I wont really be back with any seriousness for a while.

In the meantime there is at least one project I can share with you (lots of secret present making going on!)... This is the 8x3metre backdrop for our Christmas eve play tonight. I sewed the hoops in and the two 1.5x8 metre widths together, designed and painted the whole thing with the exception of getting some help from Joel with the sky. Actually, he even painted over the bit of sky I had done I think so he gets full credit for the blue sky.

I can't wait to see all the kids in their costumes in front of it.

Happy Christmas Eve to you all! xx

Ten

2010-12-13T14:41:00.002+10:30

... how many kilograms I have lost in the last 9 weeks.

Somewhat pleased with myself.

Allergies

2010-11-29T16:37:00.002+10:30

It would seem I have some.

Warning - Sorry for the gross arm picture. It felt far worse than it looked though.

Three weeks ago we went down to Melbourne (the Big Smoke) for our long awaited appointment with the allergy specialist. Allergist? I was in a mild panic before hand. Well - mild for me anyway. I didn't really know what was going to happen and not knowing causes tears and the rest. We made it there on time though and the doctor was super nice. He explained everything very carefully and didn't seem to phased by my deep breathing techniques.

He drew all the tiny marks then made little scratches next to each with an needle. After that he dropped different things on the scratches and told me to wait while he did the same to Joel. And I wasn't allowed to itch. I thought that would be easy - for the first minute. Then the itching started and I had to hop around the room to stop myself. I think we waited about 15-20 minutes before he was ready to do the analysis.

Joel - no allergies. We had discovered through an elimination diet that he is intolerant, possibly allergic, to dairy but the things we were tested for at the doctors all came up negative for him. Half his luck.

Me - Pretty much allergic to everything. Moulds (phew - no more cleaning for me!), pollens (and highly irritated by strong perfumes as is Joel), grasses and grass dust (hello - we live in a farming area which is apparently the worst for allergies in Australia), animals (minimal expect for cats which was the strongest reaction) and dust mites (again - yay for no cleaning! Kidding. Mostly). Isn't my arm pretty with all those red dots? I said to Joel "Take a picture for my mum!" and the doctor says "Take it with me holding the ruler up. Seriously. It will show the reactions better." That was after he'd finished measuring. Told you he was great! But you could tell that because he had an ipad and nikon.

So, in the words of Martin Luther, what does this mean for us? Well, aside from continuing to fear and love God despite him allowing me to be allergic to the world he created it means a few things:

- I am getting desensitised to grasses and their dust. When the word 'desensitised' was mentioned I immediately pictured a giant needle but the doctor proved his greatness yet again when he told us that the newest technology being used in Europe is drops under your tongue instead of needles. And the angles sung praises in heaven. No needles. I just have to put drops under my tongue every week day for 9 months then get retested to check they are working. After that I keep going for 2 and a bit years making 3 years in treatment. It costs a bit but it's effective for up to 15 years. I'd pay than the treatment in Telfast & fenugreek teas over that time. So - drops for the grasses.

- For the pollens. It's not so bad at this stage that I can't manage it. But if it gets worse we can do the desensitisation thing for that too.

- Same for animals. And just try and stay away from cats. Sorry friends with cats. At least I can still visit you if I bring Telfast. Luckily for Morgan we got him because we knew he is a breed I have no problems with.

- Mould - don't know. Guess I just have to be very careful and not lick the grout in my shower.

- Dust Mites. Well, there are only 3 things you can do: wash all linen in hot water, put special dust mite protective covers on bed things and get rid of all carpet. We're working on the first 2 and our fabulous church council are investigating option for ripping up our carpet. Bless them. Even if it takes a while or the solution they come up with is not the exact one I'd chose I'm thankful they are considering it seriously for me. They're very good to us.

And that's it. I feel like the lame sick kid in movies where the lame sick kid has everything wrong with him. But I'm a grown up with the power to fix things so I'm getting on it.

And Joel never asks me to mow the lawn or vacuum.

love=friendship

2010-11-27T11:51:00.002+10:30

These ladies are possibly the cutest friends ever. Don't you just love them? They kept asking me to take their picture at one of our church events. Sadly Villi (the lady on the left, pronounced with a 'W' in her beautiful accent) has recently moved to Queensland due to all her family living there. I think Mavis will miss her greatly.

New Talent

2010-11-20T09:57:00.002+10:30

{Photo taken by Jess}

You absolutely must go and check out this new blog : 365 - So Little Time.

It belongs to one of my young friends at the girls dorm. Jess is in year 9 and has been learning some photography and editing with me in the afternoons. I think she is going to be a talent to watch out for because she has a such a great eye for capturing moments and memories.

Jess - you're a star already! Keep it up!!

Everyone else - do yourself a favour and start following her blog!

Girls Night Out

2010-11-18T21:05:00.001+10:30

(The new year 12 girls from the girls dorm)

Thanks for super fun night out girls! You looked gorgeous and behaved beautifully. I was proud to be seen with you! xx

Wordless Wednesday (Beach Peace)

2010-11-17T14:02:00.003+10:30

Just add umbrella, towel and a book.

Where would you rather be today?

(photo taken in Apollo Bay, Victoria - Feb 2010. I"m enjoying going through my files and finding hidden gems!)

Oldies

2010-11-16T09:33:00.005+10:30

Mum & her Siblings on Christmas morning. Mum's the girl in the back with the cute swooping fringe & Barbie. Isn't her little sister such a doll?! And I'm thinking Uncle Paul might not have been too happy with his gift...

My Nana and her brother - ah.... gorgeous! I think she is about 2 in this photo. Maybe three. And she has a perm. Really. They lived behind a hairdressers and perms were the cool (maybe new?!) thing so her mum got my nana's hair permed!! I can't remember if they got a special deal or something - maybe the hairdresser used her for practice.... It's pretty cute anyway.

And this is my Poppa - mum's dad. I have a few photos of him like this - gun in hand and other hand on hip. The variation is when it's a rabbit or a goose that he has shot instead of the gun he shot it with it. This one is definitely my favourite though. The man was hard core wild man.

(Please excuse my use of a not very nice word here - I am only using it in context of the story)

When my grandparents met Nana also met all of Poppa's brothers and friends. They told her about all the wild and crazy things this boy they called Ni**er (because of his very dark, sun tanned skin) would get up to. My Nana says "I kept hearing the stories and thinking - 'I hope I never meet this boy. He sounds like terrible trouble!'." Well she had met him. Then she married him. (That's a good story for another day!) And he got up to mischief his whole life.

I'm quite sad that he died when I was only 11. I think he would've been quite fun. Just like my Nana still is.

Point Victoria

2010-11-16T09:19:00.002+10:30

A little camping trip the year we were married to Point Victoria, South Australia.

Beautiful views, lovely company.

Gale force winds and hundreds baby spiders INSIDE out tent.

Oh - and fish and chips. So it must've been ok in the end.

Chicken Walk

2010-11-16T08:54:00.003+10:30

I am going through my photo folders today looking for pictures. I found this one that I took on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland a few years a go.

A gorgeous little girls with cute braids in her hair. Just doing what you do when you go to the beach... You know, take your chickens for a walk.

They loved it! And she just put one under each arm when she had to cross the deep bits. So cute. And quite entertaining to watch.

Tell me - have you ever seen someone take any thing other than a dog for a walk?

Quiet Day

2010-11-01T17:29:00.001+10:30

Just chilling out on my computer today. Can't get my brain to work properly. Ordering prints, fluffing around. Not doing a single productive thing (other than ordering that is). I haven't taken my photo for today yet. But I have been having fun editing for fun.

Photo taken at the same place as the other one.

Studying Up

2010-11-01T15:06:00.002+10:30

Next week we'll be in Melbourne for a short trip. I have to get my allergies sorted out before they kill me. On the list of things to do is a trip to Ikea. Naturally. So I thought I should do a bit of studying to get me ready (and get Joel prepared!) I'm starting withthis room: Love!

The lamps are divine and possibly on our list. We both really want more glass based lamps after the one I bought for my desk was such a success. I also think I am ready to use my collection of white frames to make a family collage. Although it might have to go in the kitchen again my blue wall like this one!
I am in love with the chaise and wish our room was big enough for it. Sadly I will have to wait for my dream home to have a bigger bedroom. The floors here are gorgeous too as are the curtains. I can't convince Joel that patterned curtains are nice but maybe these ones will (second picture)...
back to the online catalogue for more inspiration!
IKEA Catalogue 2011 IKEA Catalogue 2011

Wordless Wednesday (mostly)

2010-10-27T10:38:00.003+10:30

Last reminder to those of you eligible for a free print from my etsy shop - get your orders in by Sunday afternoon. I'll be placing a big order for prints on Monday morning. I wont be placing another order for this competition until the 6th of December.

You are eligible if: you entered my competition and you are purchasing an 8 x 12 inch print.

Happy shopping!

And go check some other Wordless Wednesdays out.

365 Project

2010-10-21T21:52:00.002+10:30

Well, I haven't found the photos I lost. I don't think I will either sadly. So I'm biting the bullet and getting to editing the ones I haven't lost. Will post some on Our Daily Click soon but for now here's a little bit of Salvation Jane.

Happily Inspired

2010-10-19T20:47:00.004+10:30

When I go away for a few weeks (days. sometimes only hours...!) I get these ideas. Good arty crafty ideas that are just itching to get out into the world via my hands.

And then I get on the net to do something critically important like check my facebook page or the Aussie dollar (it's going back down! Buy up now!!! oH yeah - I already made a major purchase - more on that when it arrives!) and I'm get completely distracted by some of the amazing blogs and ideas that exist. That's a good thing. Except now it means I have to double the length of my list of things I want to do because how can those exciting craft project not be attempted?

Answer? They can't be ignored. They must be tried.

Today I'm especially loving and completely absorbed by so many things from OliveManna that to list them would take an age. Just check her site out and drool with me. Her shop has so much to lust after and inspire but what you really don't want to miss is her blog - craft, personal and faith - she's inspirational!

One thing form her blog that I really had to share here is this - What Happy Is by the super talented Jost family. I love it! It's totally sweet. And totally true for me. I pray you find happy today.

Makin' Movies

2010-10-15T21:03:00.004+10:30

I have been busting to share this with you all since we got back from camp but just haven't got myself organised to get it off of Joel's computer and onto mine. Now I have.

On the first youth camp we were on this holidays one of our activities was to make a movie in our small groups using the theme (Marks - the marks God leaves on us, the marks others leave on us and those we leave on them), a bible verse and at least 2 out of a list of props.

Not being one who likes acting myself I had the idea that we could do a silent film. Then the genre our group got allocated was 'Country' which completely lent itself to a silent film. The only problem that I could see was that the video cameras we were supposed to be using were film which meant NO EDITING. What?!! So I checked with the guys who were organising this activity and asked them if when the task sheet says 'make a 5 minute media presentation' that means we can only use the film cameras provided. Nope!

I let the girls know that since we could get our hand on a digital movie camera and Joel's computer (iMovie - you rock!) we could make a seriously awesome movie. Which they did!

The girls were amazing. The wrote the whole story, put heaps of work into their props and their preparation then preformed with Emmy worthy acting skills. I tweaked a few things like speed and colour tone and added some music but the rest really is all them. Well done Stilettos! Even though it wasn't a competition - you won!