Goodbye 2009

Here we are at the last day of 2009.  What a year it has been, who would have thought that this year would have seen me not only get my first full time job, but also move out of home, get a dog and learn to be independent?  Certainly not me!  I can't believe how much I have grown this year, its been pretty massive really, and even as I sit here and write this I am still a little overwhelmed about everything that has happened in 2009.  But instead of doing a recap of the year, I am just going to tell you about my new years...because tonight I have reached a whole new level of cool, oh and the fact that you already have most of my year documented on this blog. 

The day started out very nicely with breakfast in Inverloch with Dad, Dave and Jake and then a morning swim at the beach, which was more like an ice bath that was super refreshing in the heat of the sun!  After that we packed up our stuff and headed back to Melbourne.  Tonight we (Dave and I) have been having a bbq pool party, well actually it was really just a pool party for me because I didn't swim as there was lightening and you aren't supposed to swim in a storm, but anyway, we saw the new year come in, no thanks to the tv count down, which seemed to have very little idea when 2010 was actually coming, and then once everyone left...well that' when the party started.  Once Kitty and I had the house, well the living room to ourselves, we played mario on the wii and boy did we go hard...we played mario until 5:30am because that's what all the cool kids do!  The only downside to this is really the fact that if I wanted to de-nerdify a little in 2010, this probably wasn't the best start, but it was fun so what can you do. 

Oh and Kitty made another one of her amazing cakes...this time appropriately new years themed.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Inverloch

So I got a new camera for Christmas and while I have been down at the beach I have been taking some happy snaps!  So even though I don't have anything super exciting to say today, I do have some pictures to share: 

I guess that's all part of the adventure!

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Christmas Run Down - No.5

Well we made it to the final Christmas run down, so without further ado:

On the Eleventh day of Christmas something I did do:

Carols by candlelight

A true Australian Christmas tradition, Christmas wouldn't be the same without it.  Sure sometimes its corny, but its just such a nice thing to do on Christmas eve, sitting around with your mates and watching the carols.  I was a little disappointed that this years carols didn't feature Dennis Walter singing the Holy City...it just doesn't quite feel like Christmas without it, but I guess I will just have to get over it, because it didn't happen.  What did redeem the carols in a big way though was Silvie Paladino singing Your Grace Still Amazes Me... incredible.  So while I just watched it from the comfort of Kitty's lounge, I did get to go to the rehearsal the night before...which was super fun... and also with kitty, oh and Annie too.  

On the Twelfth day of Christmas something I did do:

Celebrate Jesus' Birthday

Well i guess this is the whole point of Christmas, celebrating Jesus' birth, the celebrations started at 8am when Jake and I went to see what Santa brought and then we headed off to church were I meet Buzz Lightyear...its true.  After church we headed out to do the family thing, Lunch at Gran and Pa's and then Dinner with Meg and Wayne.  I really love Christmas Day, when else do you get to just spend the day hanging out with your family and eat?  Anyway, I am off to enjoy the rest of my night...

Merry Christmas everyone...I will leave you with the song...from the top.

On the Twelfth day of Christmas something I did do:

Celebrate Jesus' Birthday

Carols by Candlelight

Almost missed my solo
Nativity the Musical
Shopping Centre Carols
Eat lots of Food
Conversation Cards
More Christmas Lights
Come Celebrate
Sing with my Pa
Bendigo's Christmas Lights
and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Gingerbread

I have decided that I actually like to cook... I still don't do it very often but I enjoy it and this week while I was cooking some Christmas presents I learnt something very important...which leads me to cooking tip number 5...

Tip 5: Silicon baking trays are risky!

This is something that Dave and I learnt the hard way as we watched the cookies we had just break slide into the middle of the tray and crush each other.  So I guess the lesson is to stick with the normal trays...they are much sturdier.  Luckily we learnt from our mistakes and the gingerbread men turned out pretty good.

I guess that's all part of the adventure!

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iPhone

Normally I am not one to boast, but today I have some super exciting news....I am now the proud owner of an iPhone.  I have wanted one for a really long time but because I am a bit...well a huge commitmentphobe I didn't want to go on a contract, and I couldn't afford to buy one out right, and while neither of those two things have changed, I have given in and I am glad I did because I love it.  I never wanted to be one of those people that become so super addicted to their iPhones that they don't really function without it, but I can already tell, as much as I don't want to, soon I will be one...and there doesn't seem to be much I can do.

I guess that's all part of the adventure!

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Christmas Run Down - No. 4

On the Tenth day of Christmas something I did do:

Almost missed my solo...

Yep thats right, I almost missed my solo with the songsters this morning.  You wouldn't have thought it was possible but it happened.  This morning I was out, taking advantage of the fact that I didn't need to be at church for the first time in a long time when I got a text from the songster leader..."Are you coming to church to sing?" I was a little taken back by the message as I knew I was doing a solo with the songsters but I thought that I was singing at the 6pm carols service, not the 11am...so I wrote back exactly that...only to get the response... "no the 11, not the 6".  So with that I jumped in the car and raced to church.  Walked in sang a congregational song, then got up and performed my solo with the songsters, no army uniform, no salvo t-shirt, in fact not even dressed that nice, just in some casual sunday clothes complete with my new favourite shoes.  But I sang the song and then I left, ready to return for the carols service tonight...which it turns out I don't have to sing in.  Oops.

Nativity the Musical
Shopping Centre Carols
Eat lots of Food
Conversation Cards
More Christmas Lights
Come Celebrate
Sing with my Pa

Bendigo's Christmas Lights

and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

I guess that's all part of the adventure!

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Christmas Run Down - No.3

Ok so you know the drill, no need for introductions, lets just sing...

On the Seventh day of Christmas something I did do:
Eat lots if food

It's not really surprising, I mean I love food at the best of times and at Christmas it's in your face all the time! However this Christmas has been full on food wise, especially over the last couple of days. In the space of two days I attended three end of year breakups all of which involved food. I had Indian with me cell ladies, breakfast with my dietitian friends and afternoon tea with work, it was full on and delicious. However, as if all the parties weren't enough, they also included bringing food. I know a little while ago I wrote a blog about the pressure I felt when taking food because when you are a dietitian people expect you to be able to cook, which isn't always true, in fact in my case, it couldn't be further from the truth. However I think this Christmas I have excelled. Seriously check this out... For our dietetics breakup our Christmas gift rule was, the gift had to be home made, and because I leave everything until the last minute, mine was edible, coz let's face it... It shouldn't take that long to cook something, but homemade good homemade craft…way too long. So I decided that I would make truffles and check them out... The look awesome even if I say so myself! Now because I don't do things in halves, one amazing success for the day wasn't enough, no I kept going. That afternoon, at my work CRC breakup, I introduced my CRC friends in Castlemaine to the heaven that is toblerone dip. I must admit though I was a little shocked that they had never heard of it before, maybe it's a salvo thing, but it, like the truffles, were a hit!

Conversation Cards
More Christmas Lights
Come Celebrate
Sing with my Pa
Bendigo's Christmas Lights
and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

On the Eighth day of Chirstmas something I did do:
Shopping centre Carols

Yep you read that right, on my one ADO before Christmas I caroled. It probably didn’t help that Dave was in charge of caroling this year so I didn’t get much choice, but it was just like old times! I was caroling with Pheebs at forest hill this morning, something that we haven’t done for a number of years, but after a few rough numbers we were in out element. Nothing feels more Chirstmasy then racing to say the number of the next carol, or smiling to the little old ladies that stand and watch you play, or even wish a little kid a merry Christmas with a bad rendition of jingle bells (no.100). I can’t say I would rush back and do day after day like Dave and Benny did but it was fun while it lasted. Oh and just between you and me, I think Dave was a little annoyed that us girls brought in so much money…what can I say Davo…they love us!

Eat lots of Food
Conversation Cards
More Christmas Lights
Come Celebrate
Sing with my Pa
Bendigo's Christmas Lights
and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

On the Ninth day of Christmas something I did do:
Nativity the musical:

Once again, this is something that I blogged about a little while ago, but that’s okay, because that blog was all about the fact that I was going to be in a musical, and now its done! Tonight was sooooooo much fun, an experience I will never forget. I was so nervous before hand, but once I was out there under the lights and in costume, everything else seemed to fade away and I just did it. It was so good.

Everyone did an amazing job, especially Benny, my joe, he is one very funny man! I really hope this isn’t the last musical I get to do, because, I know I have said this three times already in one paragraph, but it was just so much fun. Oh and just to make it even more special, two of my good mates from Bendigo, Jana and Sam came all the way down to Melbourne, just to see it. I was sp surprised to see them there, but it meant a lot to me that they came! So thanks to everyone that came, and a massive thanks to Renee for giving me this opportunity…it was the best.

Shopping Centre Carols
Eat lots of Food
Conversation Cards
More Christmas Lights
Come Celebrate

Sing with my Pa
Bendigo's Christmas Lights
and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

FHEEEEW…well we are almost there…Just 3 days to go!

To be continued…

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Christmas Run Down - No. 2

So it must be time for another Christmas run down... but first, just to clarify for Dave's sake...you will find the lyrics fit better to the tradition tune not because it is actually any different but rather because it is slower... So just in case you missed the first one we will sing it from the beginning...

On the Third day of Christmas something I did do:

Sing with my Pa

Bendigo's Christmas Lights

A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

On the Forth day of Christmas something I did see:

Come Celebrate:

This has become a Christmas tradition...although this year it came with a very very very nasty surprise.  For 5 and a half years now...well actually maybe not quite that long...i guess depending on...well actually just keep reading.... for the last few years at very least I had what I thought was a fantastic memory of Blackburn carols...come celebrate.  It was a memory of one of the first few times I had met Davo.  He was playing in the Box Hill Big Band and they were playing at the carols.  After the evening, I plucked up lots and lots of courage and went to see Dave.  He was wearing his Salvo T-shirt, Jeans and those crazy blue shoes.  Anyway, after a brief chat with Beas and Mim tonight, it turns out this memory is....WRONG.  It never happened.  The Big Band has never done come celebrate so how could Dave have played in it? Well this little moment of truth has rocked my world.  How could I have a wrong memory??? Seriously how does that even happen? Well let me tell you...it appears that I have confused two memories...Dave playing in a different band at carols without the blue shoes or jeans and another event at Blackburn sound shell where Dave was playing in the big band...it does kind of make sense but it does make me wonder how much more I have made up! 

Sing with my Pa

Bendigo's Christmas Lights

and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

On the Fifth day of Christmas something I did see:

More Christmas Lights:

These weren't just any lights though, they are crazy christmas lights...like intense crazy.  They are in Narracan Street in my old hood of vermont south and well the are just full on...I can't really explain it so just have a look at the photo...

Come Celebrate
Sing with my Pa

Bendigo's Christmas Lights

and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

On the Sixth day of Christmas something I did use:

Conversation Cards:

 

To be honest, conversation cards are not things that I have had much time for in the past.  My opinion was why can't you just think of your own stuff to talk about, I don't think having the questions prescripted was actually going to make things less awkward, in fact I was convinced it would probably make things more awkward.  Anyway, that was until two days ago when Sally from work showed me some that she had got as a Kris Kringle present.  After actually looking at them I changed my mind, I decided they were great and actually went and got some to give as a Kris Kringle present of my own, and do you know what??? They were a hit.  We used them tonight at my Bendigo Cell group break up and it was a lot of fun...There is a freedom with conversation cards, because you aren't answering a nosy question from a friend, but just a card, you can say it like it is and its good!  Never again will I poo poo conversation cards.

More Christmas Lights
Come Celebrate

Sing with my Pa

Bendigo's Christmas Lights

and A Pageant with the Kids from Kids Church

Well there you go, 6 days down, 6 to go....Hope you are enjoying the sing-a-long as much as me!

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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More New Friends

Today has been a massive day, and I have been flat out for most of it. But two things in particular make today super special...Today I made two new friends... let me tell you about them:

1. Samuel Jude Kean - well I guess he didn't really get a choice, I just decided that because he was matt and Fee's baby, he had to be my friend, today was just the first time we met and I tell you what he is sooooo beautiful!  There isn't really much more I can say other than Congrats Matt and Fee you have such a beautiful baby boy! 

2. Was a little more random.  After an amazing evening with my good friend Claire enjoying the sweet sounds and very very attractive good looks of Keith Urban at his Concert at Rod Laver Arena we caught the train back to my car at Box Hill.  However at the station while buying our tickets (which in hindsight I don't actually think we needed to do) Claire and I were asked for assistance by a french lady, we, being the lovely girls that we are, of course said yes and helped her also purchase the unnecessary ticket.  She then told us that she needed to go to Canterbury station but wasn't sure how to as she had lost the group that she was traveling with and they had just told her to catch the train and that she would be fine.  So as Canterbury is on the same line as Box Hill we told her to come with us.  Being super late at night we had half an hour before the train, so we got to know our new friend a little better.  It turns out that she is French, but she has been living in Wagga Wagga for the past 3 years.  She got married in France this year, but her husband is still there, but he is coming over to see her for the first time since the wedding (which was 6months ago) to see her for Christmas.  All of a sudden the 2hours between Dave and I didn't seem that far!  Anyway, it was pretty random, and I guess she is pretty lucky that she bumped into Claire and I at 11:30pm at Richmond station and not someone else.

Oh and here is my favourite photo of Keith from the concert...coz I know that you want to see it...

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Rawards

One of the other good things about December, other than summer and Christmas is Rawards.  What is Rawards you might ask?  Well its an interesting, when you look at it at the most basic level it is the Box Hill Salvos Youth Break-up Party, but it is so much more than that!  Its a dance party, its a great feed, its a chance for you to win something, its a fun time to hang out with your mates and most of all its a great chance to dress up. 

Now my friends and I pride ourselves on our Raward costumes and seeing as though it appears I have deprived you of these for my entire blogging history, here is a recap of the costumes thus far....

2005 - TV Logies - Unfortunately I don't have a picture of this one on my computer, but I can tell you it was good.  The team went as the cast of Chris lily's 'We can be Heroes'.  It was our first united front complete with:

Kat as Pat 'I am going to roll around Australia' Mullens
Brad as Phil 'I saved those kids from the jumping castle' Olivetti

Miriam as Ricky 'Supernerd and musical extraordinaire' Wong

Myself as Ja'mie 'I've got hundreds of sponsor kids' King

and Dave, who gets a special mention as he spent the night as both Daniel 'I donated my ear' and Nathan 'I'm a bit deaf' Sims.

2006 - TV Show theme - hence the 5 of us came as Grey's Anatomy, special mention goes out to Brad who was painted black to be just like Burke. (I feel in light of recent events I must also mention that this was not done with any racial intentions...we just needed a burke to go with our more natural Christina)

2007 - Disney - Is there a better Disney team than the Increadibles? Complete with Mr Incredible himself.  This time there is a dishonorable mention to Brad who was conveniently overseas for Rawards this year.  

2008 - Op Shop Formal - and while it was not a team effort there were some very special outfits.

and finally 2009 - Heroes and Villians themed - and I think one of our best efforts yet - the Ninja Turtles.  Complete with green and weapons. Oh and another dishonorable mention to Brad who once again managed to be overseas for Rawards...perhaps he is avoid us and our awesome costumes.

who knows what we will be in 2010!

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Christmas Run Down - No. 1

Not surprisingly I am already behind on my blogs for December, so in an attempt to keep the world informed, but not bored, I have decided to do some Christmas run downs. This means that when I forget to blog at the time, instead of giving you the primary school holiday diary in back dated blog after back dated blog, I am going to sum it all up in one blog for a few…just to keep things moving. And I just decided right then, that I am only going to talk about 12 Christmas things…kind of like my very own 12 days of Christmas…maybe I will even try and make it fit the song???

Here goes …. (just sing it, it works trust me)

On the first day of Christmas something I did see…
Was a pageant with kids from kids church:

So this Sunday just gone was the kids church pageant, my last official duty as Kids Church leader. I managed to get through the whole morning without tears…well almost, I did cry a little when I said goodbye to Dusty, Jess and Brad, but they were flying out to the US the next day and I wasn’t going to see them for 6 weeks. The morning went almost smoothly, but it was a lot of fun. Nicely done kids.

On the Second day of Christmas something I did see…
(you have to sing real fast…) Bendigo’s Christmas Lights:

After a lovely dinner at Clogs, Dave, Jana, Sam and I went driving all around Bendigo to see the Christmas lights…and I must say I tip my hat to you Bendigo, job well done! As the trip wasn’t supper planned, we were driving blind…perhaps next year we will have to get the lights map from home hardware which tells you were to go, but it didn’t matter because it seemed that Jana had a 6th sense for Christmas lights, so we weren’t disappointed. Although, being little miss Christmas spirit I like to do lights with blaring Christmas tunes, but I was restricted, by Sam, to playing my favourite one and nothing else…I think Dave was a bit happy Sam put his foot down, my Christmas music can be overwhelming.

And a pageant with kids from kids church.

On the Third day of Christmas something I did do:
Sing with my Pa:

This is something that is becoming a Christmas tradition…well at least I hope it is anyway, its only its second year, but that’s better than one right? Anyway, tonight I was in Melbourne, doing a Christmas carol service for the good people at Hayville, with Pa, Heather (Pa’s singing /gigging friend) and Dave. The night is just a simple night with carols, but what I like the most about it is the fact that I get to sing with Pa. Pa has always sung, and I have always sung, but it was only a couple of years ago that I think we performed together, and I love it. There is just something about it, I guess you would say it’s special. Anyway, the point is I love singing with him…and I hope that there are many more years of singing together to come.

Bendigo’s Christmas lights
And a pageant with kids from kids church.

To be continued…

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Brave to the max

Just in case you were wondering…I can be super brave when I want to be! Take today for example, today I attended a Dietitian’s Professional Development day and I went armed with some hard questions for the speakers. Now normally I would have all these questions but then chicken out at the last minute because I didn’t want to make a scene. Sometimes I even get lucky and someone else asks for me, but not today. Today I stood up for myself and other rural practitioners and asked my hard questions. I wasn’t rude, or demanding, I just asked what need to be asked, and while I didn’t really get any answers, I feel like the seed has been planted. Oh and just in case you were wondering, yes I am a bit proud of myself…hence the blog.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Fire Ready

Sometimes I get a little paranoid about things, and one thing that I am particularly frightened of is bush fire. This isn’t a new fear, but it has certainly been exacerbated by black Saturday. I still remember as a little girl having nightmares that the fires in the Dandenong’s would travel down burwood highway and get me in Vermont South. I used to be able to talk my self out of it, but now I just tend to take stuff with me everywhere, just in case of fire. For example for most of last summer I drove around with all my photo albums in the boot of my car, just to be safe.

The thing is with Castlemaine, Inverloch and Warrandyte (the suburb next to Donvale) all on the list of high fire risk places this year I am on alert, so when I saw an add at the post office for a community fire meeting, I figured that’s where I wanted to be. While the meeting was mostly about how defendable properties are and what you need to do to get ready, I feel like I have taken the first steps to being prepared. I have a fire plan and sometime before January I am going to make a fire ready pack for the boot of my car, just in case I get caught out. I know this might sound a little obsessive to you, but I am really worried. Since moving up to Castlemaine I have a new appreciation for dry land, and a desire for rain like never before. The thing is I can’t really stop a fire if it comes, but I guess I can be prepared and pray that my family, friends and I will be safe. So fire season, I think I am ready.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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let the count down begin

So today is the 1st of December...so all thats left to say is let the count down begin...bring on the lights, the carols, the decorations, the food...all of it!  Seriously is there a better time of year than Christmas...except for maybe my birthday, I can't think of any...actually you know what?  Christmas is better than my birthday! 


I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Another Goodbye

It feels like only a few days ago that I was saying that I didn't like change, well today I made way for another change, today was the kids church breakup party.  I knew that this was coming for a long time, but just like my room, it didn't make it any easier. 

I know that giving up kids church was the right thing to do for next year, because if I couldn't give it my all then I didn't want to give it anything, because it wouldn't seem enough, although now that I am faced with the reality of my decision it seems a lot harder.  I know that I will still see the kids, but I also know it won't be the same.  Working with the kids, and being part of their lives has been such a privileged one I certainly haven't taken for granted.

Anyway, its been a lot of fun this year, sure its been tough at times, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world, and today was a fantastic way to celebrate it all.  Oh and just to top it off I manages to get Dave to dress up like Santa...who would have thought.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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I could do this

Sometimes I wonder what God is doing when it comes to the weather, this week it has been all over the shop, seriously…one day its hot, the next day its cold…what is going on? The thing is though, I think I could get used to it being like this. I really like summer, but sometimes when it is just so hot all the time, I don’t cope very well. I also really like summer rain (and yes every time I say or write, or even think the words ‘summer rain’ I too thing of the song…).

So perhaps this higgledy piggleldy weather isn’t so bad after all, maybe I could get used to it…in fact I think I could. I think I would be quite happy to have a summer of hot-cold-hot-cold weather, no that I think about it a little bit more, I think that would be quite nice. It would also help me with my bush fire panic a bit too, coz if its always raining…that’s gotta help.

I take it all back…I love this weather, bring on unpredictability….

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Three's a crowd

So even though I live in a tiny house I still love to have people come and visit, but tonight I realized that my house isn’t made to have 3 people sleep there. Today Dusty and Jess drove up to Castlemaine for a visit. This was the first time Jess had seen my place and the second time for dusty, so I made sure everything was clean, I left a key out and made sure there was lots of coffee for Dust until I got home.

After a lovely dinner in Bendigo complete with a walk through the gardens with cold rock for dessert, we headed back to my place and watched a Christmas classic, Muppets Christmas Carol, Then we set up the beds, so I had my little spot up in the loft, Jess was on the couch and then Dusty was on a stretcher bed on the floor, but I tell you what there wasn’t much room left after that at all, it was very cozy. However, despite being on top of one another, it was a heaps fun night, complete with childhood reminiscing…it turns out Dusty and I have always been a little odd, well according to Jess anyway… I mean who else used to sing the decore shampoo add in the spa, using the bubbles as shampoo?

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Change

I always thought that I was ok with change, perhaps not great, but ok. I have learned this weekend though that perhaps I am not so good at it. I like things to be familiar, I like knowing what to expect and I like what’s mine to stay mine.

This weekend I closed another chapter in my life. I guess until this moment I have half moved out of home, which even though I am slowly getting used to it, is still a big deal for me. So even though I spend at least 4 nights a week in Castlemaine, I still had my room in Melbourne there whenever I needed it. However, because I still had my large room, it meant that Jake still had his little tiny room upstairs, and because he is going into year 12 year, mum and dad decided it was only far for us to swap rooms.

So after about 2 months of denial, and 5months of refusal, the deed is done, the rooms are swapped and I don’t like it at all. I think the thing that I don’t like is not the fact that I have to sleep somewhere else, but rather the fact that my old room looks different…it looks like boy.

I think that maybe the other thing is the fact that my room was probably the only thing that has been constant since I moved. When I look back at this year, I feel like everything has changed and my life is almost unrecognizable. I know this is what's supposed to happen, and that it is making me grow as a person, but sometimes I wish I could just go back, I don’t know how far I would go…maybe not that far, but just far enough for things to feel familiar and safe. I now see why Peter Pan never wanted to grow up, being out there as your own person sucks. Its much better to be a little kid and not have to worry, but I know it doesn’t work that way. Sometimes things have to change, even if its not for my own benefit. I suppose that’s where my faith should kick in, trusting that God’s got it all under control and that I don’t need to panic, but its hard and sometimes even though its all sorted, it still hurts.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Twihard

Sometimes I get sucked into things, I know you find that hard to believe but its true. The Twilight saga is one of these things, and thankfully I am not the only one.


When I moved up to Castlemaine I had to leave my Melbourne cell group behind, but because I didn’t want to miss out completely I found another one in Bendigo and it has been such a wonderful group to belong to. For most of the year it has just been Susanne, Dee and I, and towards the end of the year I finally met Jo as well.

Anyway, when we aren’t doing the study, there is a fairly high chance that Dee, Susanne and I are talking about twilight…we love it…and just for the record, I am team Edward, Dee is team Jacob…and Susanne…well she tends to change her mind, although I think Jake is currently winning. And so…it only seemed natural that we would attend the premier of New Moon together. So on Wednesday night, Susanne and I met at the cinemas nice and early, went and had some dinner and cold rock then headed back to the cinema to line up to that we would have awesome seats for the movie. Because we weren’t just seeing New Moon…no no no, we were seeing Twilight and New Moon, and unlike in Melbourne when you go and see something like this, there is no allocated seats. So Susanne and I lined up (Dee was at work) with all the 13-18year girls, a few older ones like us and I think 2 boys and waited to see the movie. And just in case you were wondering, it was soooooo worth it. I love doing things like that, I don’t really care how dorky you think I am, I still love it!

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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It's Ladies Night

I have recently discovered that I actually really like traditions, I think I like them because they are regular and they normally have some meaning attached to them.  Anyway, tonight I had an Agnew family tradition, one which was started before I was born, but continues on just as good as ever.

Tonight was the Agnew annual Christmas ladies night out, where all the women on my Mum's side of the family go out to dinner to catch up.  The tradition was actually started by my Granddad, as back in the day he used to take out Nana and his 3 daughters, but now, even though both Granddad and Nana are gone, his tradition still lives on.  

I really like the ladies night out because often it's the only time I catch up with my aunties and cousins, something I wish I did more, but just don't.  I also like the fact that even though almost everyone in the group is going completely different directions with their lives, and sometimes its hard to see what any of us have in common, the fact that we are family and that we love and care for each other is enough and the night is always great and normally a good laugh.

This year I am dragging Jess with me... after all it's about time she came, she had been a girl associated with the Agnew family for over 4 years now and she can't avoid it forever.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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The Role of My Dreams

I love the fact the my blog is so far behind that by the time you read this it will probably be too late, but because I refuse to give in to the pressure and just type things as they happen rather than in retrospect as I seem to do there isn’t much I can do.

I think that I have mentioned before how much I love musicals, and how much I wanted to be in one…well the good news is…its all happening! That’s right, I have been offered a spot in a musical…and not just any spot…the spot. On the 18th of December 2009 I will be playing the role of Mairah (aka Mary) in a the nativity story like you have never seen it before. I am seriously so super excited and very nervous all at the same time! I suppose now I will need to start learning lines and songs and everything else…oh and perhaps I should have a little chat with mum about what it feels like to have waters break and give birth and stuff... coz I am a little inexperienced in that department.

So anyway, if you are free on the 18th, you should definitely come on down to Box Hill salvos and check it out! Its going to be seriously awesome.

Oh and today is two of my amazing friend’s birthdays! So Phoebe and Susanne….HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Inspiration

So tonight I went and saw the movie Julie and Julia, with Merryl Streep and Amy Adams, which is just a great movie, and I have come away feeling a little inspired.

The movie is about two women living in separate times who both use food to find themselves...but thats not what really inspired me, what inspired me was Julie's blog...here julie and julia project that was so good it captured the imagination of heaps and heaps and heaps of people.  I loved that here blog actually connected with people, rather than just told them the useless information of her day.

I guess the thing is I don't really write my blog so that people with think I am super cool, or even so that people would read it, but a little bit inside me really hopes that they do, and that they go away from my blog feeling like it was worthwhile...I am not really sure how to do that...but I think at the moment the blog is a bit boring, because I am sure no one really cares about the dinners I have or the places I go...I have been thinking about this a lot recently and I was reminded of the saying:

'No one cares how much you know, until the know how much you care'

Now I know its just a blog, but sometimes I wonder if I give it enough, you know if I am real enough...I mean I don't really want to come on here and poor my heart out all the time, but I would like to feel like I connect with people.  Perhaps I do need to be a little more honest and real, and share a little more...other wise it will just be like reading a grade 5 travel journal...and no one wants that.  Perhaps what I need is a little challenge of my own...I guess the julie and julia thing has already been done, but perhaps I need something else.... a goal, a reason, something to reach for?  The problem is at the moment I am fresh out of ideas...so if you have any...

Oh and before I go...I do need to say a very happy Birthday to Kirsten and Judy!  

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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immeasurably more

This week I have had a bit of a challenge, the thing is I have been a blogger for quite a while now...but I have been a Christian for even longer, and while I have been quite good at up dating my blog regularly...often I am not so good with my 'devotions' or quite time with God...So I thought if i can write a blog with useless information, perhaps I can use a blog to keep me accountable to.

So today I set up, well actually re-opened an old blog to use for my devotions, and the idea is I need to do my devotions before I can up date this blog with the random stories of my day, no matter how entertaining I think they will be.  My new blog is called immeasurably more so if you want to check it out...

Oh and I don't really care if no one reads my new blog because immeasurably more is just a way to keep myself accountable to God and learning more about him...so that I can tap into some of the 'immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine' than his word promises in Ephesians 3:20.

It's certainly not meant to be some kind of awesome bible study...but rather just some of my thoughts as I learn, but its there if you wanna have a squiz.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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It's Friggin Hot

Just so you know its friggin hot at the moment...  I don't know how much longer I will be able to hold up, my little house is like a sauna and I can't even open the door or windows coz it turns out I live in a mini swamp full of all kinds of annoying flying insects....so for now I will sit here on the couch in front of the fan in my PJs and think of cold thoughts....like ice packs and snow and cold winter rain....

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Christmas is Coming

Well its officially Christmas time at my place because the tree is now up.

It was a little strange putting the tree up this year, because this is the first year I have had a tree of my own, in my own house.  In some ways its kinda exciting, this will be Dex and I's first Christmas out of home. It is weird not coming home to mum's special tree all colour coordinated, or the pretty fibre optic tree by the door, or even the 'old tree' with all the decorations from my childhood.  I supposed though, this is just another step in the journey that is growing up.  I am super glad though that I can now start playing my christmas music again and I can start present shopping and that I can start doing my bit to spread Christmas cheer...

So all you grinches out there....watch your back  

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Silly Girl

Sometimes I am a silly silly girl...

Today I lost a pair of earring that I brought yesterday, thats write they didn't even make it the full 24 hours!  The most annoying thing about it is I know exactly where they are but its too late.  I know I dropped them at the Caltex in Campbell's Creek, but I didn't realise until I was 45minutes closer to Melbourne in Woodend and when you drop things like earring on the road at the servo the chances of getting them back in one piece is pretty slim, so they are gone...never to be seen again...silly silly girl.

I think I will try my luck and see if by same crazy turn of events they are still there, but I am not keeping my hopes up. 

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Brass Bands

There is something very peaceful about brass bands, perhaps its their classical music, or even the fact that it makes me think of my childhood and going to Dad’s band concerts, either way I don’t really mind, coz I still like it. This weekend the Box Hill Salvation Army Citadel Band was up in Bendigo, so being a Box Hill Girl, and living almost in Bendigo, I went and checked it out. This was my fist Band Wag experience and I did enjoy it. It brought back lots of memories from when I was a kid, because that was probably the last time I went to Brass band concert.

I think what made the night even better though was that the concert was full of all my favourite things about the box hill band:

• Some great marches
• A classic chorus
• A solo, on alto sax, from Davo
• A trombone solo from Benny
• A skit
• Some lovely male voices
• And just to top it off, Craig singing ‘Love changes anything’

Seriously, I don’t think that band concerts get much better than that!


I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Shocking

Being a good salvo girl, the Melbourne Cup Holiday is not really anything more than a nice day off, and even though I don't gamble, I am certainly very grateful that the race stops the nation, because I do like the day off.  Usually at our place Cup Day is when the Christmas Tree goes up, but because I am away and Jake is in the middle of his exams its not happening today. 

However, even though I don't gamble I do like to pick which horse I think will win, normally my choice is based on colour, either the horse colour or the colours the jockey is wearing.  Another thing that might get a horse chosen is its name, I do love a good horse name.  Often these choices give me dud horses that do so terribly its not even worth mentioning. But today, oh today was different.  Today I picked the winner!  Seriously I did, I even have the newspaper with my initials next to it from the quick sweep before the race.  I don't think that I have ever backed the winner before, but I tell you what it feels pretty good, and if it feels this good when I don't actually win anything, I can see why gambling is addictive, perhaps its a good thing I don't gamble.


I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Beach Cricket

This weekend I have been lucky enough to have another fabulous weekend away, this time I have been down at Inverloch, and yes I went with the same crew, and yes there was another AMAZING cake(thanks Kitty), and yes, once again we participated in a great Australian pastime, however unlike the watching the Grand, this particular pastime, was for me a first time.

Today I played my first game of Beach Cricket and it was much better than I thought it would be. I made lots of runs, I caught someone out and I even bowled someone out. Now some of you may be reading this thinking that’s great em, everyone can do that its just beach cricket…but it is so much more than that! This is someone who: 1. Hates cricket… 2. Has poor hand eye co-ordination…. and 3. Doesn’t normally do things she won’t be good at. So for me, this was an incredible and super impressive day!

Anyway, here are some photos from the rest of the weekend.

Oh and just for the record I think I will try beach cricket again!

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Renee

Tonight my beautiful friend Renee got enrolled as a senior soldier, and even though I almost missed it, I was really glad that I was there. I don’t know why but I just get a bit of a kick out of seeing things like this, another soldier in the ranks, fighting the good fight! It brings out the Salvation Army Patriot in me, but it also makes me think about where I am at with my own soldiers covenant, am I still at least trying to do all the things I said I would do? Have I dropped the ball a bit? Am I going great guns?

I think honestly at the moment, a bit of both. Its easy to become complacent and just talk the talk, but I am glad that I have had a little refresher and challenge tonight.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Roger the Ram

Last night Dexter and I had dinner at Barb’s place in Ballarat and during the evening Barb and I discovered that Dex is afraid of lots of things including a large inflatable ram. 

Now I know that frightening animals on purpose isn’t the nicest thing to do, but it is super amusing… I kinda wish we had caught in on camera, but every time we even moved the ram the slightest bit Dex ran for his little life…The funniest thing was when we attempted to move the ram into another room so that Dex could chill out a little, however, in an attempt to get away from the ram dex had run into the en-suite of the bedroom we were putting the ram in…Just as I came around the corner, Dex also poked his head around the corner to see if it was safe and he was confronted with the ram again and of course he ran straight back into the bathroom. But now that I have typed all that I realise its probably one of those you had to be there moments…sorry for the boring blog. 

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Swine Flu?

I have a dilemma...I don't know whether or not to get the swine flu vax.... I have been thinking about it for a while and just this week they have set the dates for when the free vax will be available at work...and because I have no idea what to do I thought I would ask for your help...oh and I have made a list of pros and cons....so read the list and vote in the poll...please

Pros:

I won't get swine flu - yep thats pretty much it, but its a pretty big one!

Cons:

The vax has come out super fast so is it safe?

Am I really that at risk of swine flu?

How do I know that there won't be any nasty repercussions in a few years time from the dodgy vax?   

Seriously I know my list is not that extensive...but its a start...let me know what you think

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Silly People

Some people are really dumb, while I was getting my daily news update from ninemsn i came across two very interesting, but very dumb stories.

The first was about two men attempted to break into an apartment in the states that disguised themselves by using permanent markers... They were unsuccessful and the police were called, while the almost got away the police pulled their car over a few blocks down and identified them because of the pen all over their faces...it turns out permanent maker isn't so easy to remove.  

The second story was only released today but actually happened 30years ago.  This story was about a lady that sadly had an obsessive condition which cause her to eat cutlery instead of food when she sat down for meals.  This resulted in her consuming a massive 78pieces of silverware...crazy I know...check out the pictures!

Some times people really make we worry...coz they do some very very silly things!






I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Done

So anniversary is over...its all done and now I am not sure what happens next, other than sleep because I am so so so so so tired.  I know I have said this before but its really strange that its all over, it went really quickly and now every thing that I have worked towards for the last couple of months is done with. 

It will be nice to have a little break but I am actually kind of sad that its done with, who would have thought that I would miss the video editing, or the emails, or even arguing with Davo about the things he had and hadn't done?  It will be strange to have free time again, I suppose it will be nice... maybe I will get a chance to do all those things I didn't do because of anniversary?

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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YP Sunday

There is something really special about Anniversary weekend and after the fantastic night last night today really topped it off. There is nothing better than watching kids get involved in worship, not because they are being forced to, but because they want to. The whole day today has been just amazing, in fact its was so incredible that there is just too much to say in one blog, so I thought instead I would just give a highlight from each of the services:

9:30 How often do you get to eat ice cream in church? Never right? Wrong…you get ice cream when Son is on the kids story…Who knew that Neapolitan ice cream actually shows you that God wants us to have all the good bits in our lives not just one good bit?



11:00 Primary kids are awesome, they are so small but so talented and so easily distracted! I seriously love that they are so unpredictable and that despite their courageous leader (Kat you seriously did a ripper job), they still manage to do what ever they feel like if given an inch!

6:00 I think that they highlight of the 6 was just getting to hang out with my kids church kids, I really love them stacks and they are such a blessing, I was so super proud of them and they did such an amazing job all weekend. I think that just they fact that I get to be a part of their lives is a highlight enough.

So there you go…if you missed it, well you really did miss out, so do yourself a favour and get there next year, you won’t regret it.

I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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