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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Talkin 'bout your Generation

So Saturday night is down and its just Sunday to go and so far Anniversary has been a success. Tonight we celebrated the diversity of our church by battling it out one generation against the next ‘Talking about Your Generation’ from channel 10 style.

The night was really fantastic and thanks to the team we had helping out everything ran super smoothly. Oh and I am pretty sure that people had fun too, which is always super nice. It was seriously a fantastic night….and I don’t even care that I am probably a little biased, I was just so happy it worked, the teams did great, Benny did great and the kids were amazing. It felt a little strange that it was all actually happening because while we had been preparing, it felt like it would never actually get here and now its gone. It all seemed to happen kinda quickly actually and it’s a shame that it only happened once. In fact I am actually a little sad its all done, but I am really happy with everything that happened tonight

The thing I liked the most though was actually seeing all the contestants get involved, from people like my pa all the way down to my Kids Church kids. It was nice to have everyone there together and enjoying themselves. It wasn’t just one generation, but the whole church and the whole church had fun together. It gave me hope that as a church we could unify and it showed me just how much all the generations had to offer. I think that so often I miss out simply because I don’t interact with the other gens and I am not just talking about those that are older than me, but also those younger. I don’t think that God wants us to be constantly segregated into age group boxes and stereotypes but rather all in together, as the family and body of Christ. Sure its not going to work all the time, but perhaps I need to try harder at least some of the time. I know that even though I am 22 I have a lot to both learn from and teach those younger and older than me, but I can’t do that if they aren’t in my life. It’s a real shame that tonight was just a once off, but its definitely encouraged me to be a little more proactive about the people I have in my life and not to be so exclusive, especially not because of age.

Thank you everyone that was involved and attended the night, it really meant a lot to me and I really appreciate your support.

Oh and in case you missed out...check out this very embarrassing, but also amusing ad from the night...

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

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1 more sleep

Well its almost here, there is just one more sleep to anniversary (just quickly for those of you that don’t know…the anniversary is a children’s celebrations weekend at church) and I am pretty much pooing my pants.

I am not sure what worries me the most… the fact that I might not get everything done, or that something will fall through, or that no one will come, or even that everyone will come and it will just be bad, I really don’t know. The weird thing is though, even though I am anxious about it all, I am also feeling quite at peace, I kind of feel that at this point in time, (given that its 3am and Kat and I have just finished making two thirds of Ben's question cards for tonight) that whatever happens will happen and there is not much I can actually do now anyway.

I must admit thought I am also a little excited, the anniversary this year has been a lot of work and soon it will be over and we will see if it is all worth it. Anniversary has been quite different for me this year, in years gone by I have just been required to attend and watch or be on the stage with the kids but not really coordinate anything, but this year Dave, Jude and I have been doing most of the coordinating which means being the perfectionist I am I kind feel that how it turns out is a reflection on me and what I can do, even if its completely untrue. I have kinda felt like this is my baby and I am really hoping that it will be just as good as it is when I picture it in my head.

Oh well I guess we will find out soon enough…

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

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Time Capsule

Sometimes I wonder if I have a little bit of OCD in me, I seem to stress about a lot of things and check things numerous times, for example:

I like to check my electric blanket 3 or 4 times before I leave the house in winter just to check that I actually turned it off the first time.

I now have a little routine I do before I leave my Castlemaine house that involves checking the oven to make sure its off, the hot plates, checking the fridge is shut and the freezer and then last but not least that the heater is off.

And if you have ever been anywhere with me where I have driven you will know I can get all the way to the shops before I have a little panic that I didn’t lock the car and walk all the way back just to check.

Another thing that comes with this though is that I am terrified of losing my photos and computer data, so naturally I like to back things up, and this was going great guns until my external hard drive filled. But its ok because I am now the proud owner of an apple ‘time capsule’…my time capsule backs up my computer every hour and all I have to do is be in wireless network…I don’t have to remember to plug it in, or turn it on, it just does it. But that’s not it…it comes with steak knives…well not really but it does come with 1TB of space which…for the time being…is huge. So for now all my stuff is safe. Well at least my computer stuff anyway, and as long as continue my checking routines hopefully the rest of my stuff will stay safe too.

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

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John Farnham

John Farnham is an Australian Legend and even though he is in his 60s he has still got it! Tonight I was lucky enough to go and see him in concert at the palisis with Mum, Dusty, Jake and Judy…now before you start whinging about ‘the last time’ two things…1. It was the name of the album he was touring and 2. It was the last time he did a massive right around Australian, including regional cities, tour…not the last time he was ever going to do a concert…and if you don’t like it…I don’t really care, just don’t whinge to me.

Anyway, to be honest, I was a little worried that he may have lost some of his stage presence, some of his pizzazz, or heaven forbid some of his voice…but no, he has still got it…seriously there is nothing like it, sitting there just soaking up the voice. It makes me a little said that this might actually be the last time I hear him live, I hope its not, but I just don’t know how much more he will do. The highlight of the night though was definitely when we belted out ‘You’re the voice’ and the crowd went wild…seriously wild. Its quite and interesting experience going to a John Farnham concert because the crowd is always such a mismatch of people, the old young, men and women, all shapes and sizes…it is clear to me that everyone loves Farnsey! Although it does get a little disturbing when the older ladies start throwing things onto the stage because you are just never sure what you are going to get!

I really do love him…and I hope he is around for a lot longer.

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

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On Stage

Once again I have been back to the theater tonight, this time to see Jersey Boys again, and it was just as awesome the second time…in fact probably better, oh, except for the fact that I had to sit by myself.  However, before the show I got to do something really really exciting...

Before the show Dave asked me to help him carry his stuff down to the pit. So we had to go through the stage door and down to the pit. I really like doing things like that, and because I am a bit of a loser I even wore Dave’s tenor across my back like a real saxophone player just so I would feel the part as well.  But this wasn’t the exciting bit because I had done this before last time Davo played. The exciting bit was after Dave had finished setting up he told me he just want to check out one more thing before we left and that I just needed to follow him. Little did I know we were headed towards the stage and up on to bridge that Dave played on.  So before I knew it, I was standing on the stage of the Princess theater with the lights shining down on me…it was really really really cool.  It rekindled the little flame I have burning that desperately wants to do some kind of theater…it was really cool.  At the time I was so super nervous because I didn't think I was supposed to be there…but once we were outside I was sooo excited, it seriously was one of the coolest things I have done in a long time…thanks Dave.

Oh and what topped the evening off was that after the show I was waiting outside the stage door for Dave to come out (a little further back from the psycho middle-aged women who were throwing themselves at the performers as the came out the door, not amongst them like last time) when Dave called and said he needed help with the instruments again and could I come down...so of course I responded with a 'how?' and he told me just smile go through the stage door sign in and come down...so that’s what I did, I walked around the security fence thing, smiled at the security guard and walked straight in...that felt pretty cool, I tell you what. It didn't make the 'women' very happy though.

Oh and one more thing....I also got to go on a double date tonight…I must admit I acted a bit of a fool, but I don’t care, I don’t know why I was so excited I hang out with other couples all the time, but this was different…

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

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Mexican

I love Mexican food...I have done for a really long time, but for most of the relationship we have shared our love in secret, in the comfort of my own (or Dave's) home.  Mexican food for me has always been out of a box, and I was very very satisfied with it, but things have changed.

There is a Mexican restaurant in Castlemaine which since moving I have visited a few times and tonight I went with Flic! But taking my love for Mexican out into the public like that has not been an easy move. It turns out I am a bit of a resturant snob, I am not very good at trying new restaurants, or going to restaurants that have been stereotyped into having poor food hygiene standards you know like Indian restaurants or Turkish restaurants...they always seem to have some public health scandal associated, even when most of them are perfectly fine.  I know there are lots of really lovely Indian and Turkish restaurants, but it appears that they have all been tainted..in fact I think there is a saying something like one bad apple spoils the whole barrel, and I think is what it is like for these poor restaurants, and unfortunatly Mexican too has been lumped into this category. The only exception to this rule is Chinese restaurants, I am not really sure why, perhaps its because I have been to China and its just the way it is...I am not sure.

Anyway, since moving up I decided to give the Mexican restaurant a go and it turned out to be the best decision ever...because I love Mexican and now I don't always have to cook it, and it means that when I want to take someone out for tea...I can have Mexican! I am not sure why I waited so long...

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

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Oops

So I am in the bad books today…with anniversary just around the corner (which is a very scary thought) today we have an all day rehearsal…but what I didn’t realise when I organized it all, was that today is also Bathurst…I am not really sure how I missed it, but I did and I am pretty sure Dave is not impressed. But unfortunately its done, so instead of a day on the couch, Dave and I will be spending the day with 30 kids…

Oops.

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

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Remembered

This month I have been super cultured…tonight I am went to the theatre again…my 3rd show in 2 weeks and I have one more to go after this.  Tonight I went and saw Chicago and it was amazing. But that’s not really what I wanted to talk about tonight something else super exciting happened…

Tonight one of Dave’s muso friends remembered who I was…big deal you might think, or even say, but it really was. This particular guy I have met numerous times over the 5 years Dave and I have been together, in fact I have even sold this man things on numerous occasions in my days a Billy Hyde, so you would think that even if he didn’t know my name, or know exactly what context I fitted into he would remember my face…but no. He never remembers, in fact last weekend he introduced himself to me twice in the space of two hours, which Ness and I thought was both sad and very amusing all at the same time. I was beginning to think that I was so uninteresting that he just didn’t even register me as a person.  But tonight all that changed, when we went out after Chicago, there were a few other musos there, some who I knew (and who knew me) and some newbies and this particular man that will remain nameless (but not because I don't know what it is)…to my surprise, got up and introduced us all to one of his mates and remembered my name and that I was Dave’s girlfriend…it was incredible.

The test will be when I see him next…will he still remember?

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

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Maryborough Corps

Tonight I had the privellage of being involved in the worship team at the Maryborough Corps in central vic, a corps that I had heard a lot about but not experienced first hand… it is a corps that is growing rapidly and doing some incredible things in the town. In fact if you want to read a bit more about what’s happening down in Maryborough check our this blog from Captain Collo.

Having heard all these good things, when I got there tonight I was still surprised by a few:

1. Maryborough is massive, in my mind I had imagined Maryborough to be about the same size as Castlemaine…but I was wrong, which meant it wasn’t as easy to find the town hall as I had hoped. In fact, Maryborough is so big it even has a KFC and a Woolies!

2. Another thing that took me surprise was the type of youth group, now I know that that already sounds terrible, but Maryborough is a town with a lot of disadvantage and as a result there are some pretty rough kids, so being brought up in a very middle class salvos I was a little taken back by the fact that kids didn’t sit and listen, but instead talked through lots of the night. Now, I know that this sounds like a bad thing, but its not really, because through this, the youth group is still growing. And even though it didn’t look like what I thought it should, God is moving through the officers there and the kids. It was incredible because it really challenged what I was comfortable with at Box Hill and made me wonder if I would be as tolerant and committed as Captains Andrew and Kelly.

3. And finally, what took me by surprise was the passion and the love that was so clearly evident in Captains Andrew and Kelly. You could see their passion for their corps and community, the really really really loved their kids and they were making a difference in each of their lives. I couldn’t help but wonder if we were all as passionate, as committed and as hardworking as they are, what the salvation army would look like. It would be pretty incredible...I know that is has certainly challeneged me.

So thank your Captains Andrew and Kelly for what you are doing in Maryborough by God's help, and for the challenge and inspiration you have been to me.

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

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Fitting in

I have been in my new job now for about 5ish months and this afternoon as I went out with some of my mates from work to say farewell to our speech pathologist, lucie, it dawned on me just how comfortable I had become with these new people in my life. Now don’t get me wrong, its not as if I have been sitting at work thinking about not having friends, because I have felt welcome here from the very start but it just dawned on me as we sat out the back at Saffs that these people felt like friends, they weren’t just the people that I work with anymore.


For someone like me, who has spent their life floating between friendship groups, especially through those outside my church buddies, and never really feeling like you fitted in 100%, it was a really nice moment. I felt comfortable and accepted and for once all I had done was be myself.


Back when I first got the job in Castlemaine an amazing man of God by the name of Major Parker gave me a scripture verse to take with me on my journey and verse said…


Mark 6:10-11 “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."


I guess at the time I took it to mean that if the town and work place is inviting and welcoming I should stay, but if it wasn’t, I shouldn’t fret or panic, just pick up my stuff and leave…which now that I have just typed it, I still think it means that, so I am not really sure why I wrote ‘at the time’…anyway…I think what I am trying to say is that I feel like today was just another confirmation that I have made the right decision, that I am doing the right thing, because as tough as it has been at times, I know I am in the right place and I am at peace. I have made the right choice, I have been welcomed with open arms, not just by my friends at work, but also by those in the community and it’s good. I think I have grown a whole heap since being up here, sure some bits still suck, but I know its just a season and that the goods out weigh the bads.


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

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Daylight Savings

Just in case you did already know daylights savings is the best time of the year!  Even though it happens a little bit before summer actually starts it makes me feel like summer is here.  The days get longer, its still light when you get home from work which makes you feel like you can get heaps more done.  It appears to bring the warmer air with it too. Its just so lovely.   Daylight savings brings that summer air change to life... like a breath of new life to shake of winter....wow that was a little corny sorry!

However, there are some strange people in the world that don't like daylight savings.  I really don't understand why though...I mean what is not to like.  Everything about it is good...seriously everything...silly people

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

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Jersey Boys

I need to tell you all that I am so very very very proud of Dave. Today he made his debut as a ‘show musician’.  

At the moment Dave is one of the deps for Jersey Boys and today he got to do his first show…and I was so proud, he did such an amazing job.

I think what made me even more excited though was the fact that it wasn’t like the other shows where the musos are just in the pit and you can’t see them. No, this time Dave had to dance and play a solo on stage as part of the show, and he did such a good job.

I must admit I was very very nervous and a little concerned that he would stuff it up, but he didn’t (Not that I know of anyway).  I was sitting pretty close to the front with Dave’s sister Ness and both of us were a little bit crazy, but when Davo came out or we heard him play we nudged each other and got a little excited…I also need to admit that I did have another one of those 13year old girl moments where I just freeze up and overflow with emotion almost to the point of tears. I was just so proud and excited all once.

I am hoping that next time I go I can actually enjoy the show a little more because while I loved it, I was very distracted about when Davo would come out and whether or not he was doing ok.

Oh and I also loved the fact that it was all about New Jersey (which I did know from the title don’t panic), because it meant that I heard names of places that I recognised so that was kinda cool.

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

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Sad Day

Today’s post is another short one…but I needed to let you know that today is a sad day. Today is the day after 3’s free facebook on your mobile finished…which means that coz I live out in the country I have to pay each time I use facebook…

The thing that makes it worse though is that they gave it to me for free for two months and I got hooked. I know I fell for their trick, but I love facebook and I don’t want to pay to use it, I like just checking it quickly from my phone every now and then, but now those days are over. I will now only be checking my facebook at home, when I can be bothered going on the computer. What a sad sad day.

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

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