The End

Well here we are... a whole year and 213 blogs later, and I can't really believe it to be honest.  I had these grand plans to have this beautiful reflective piece for my final blog on 22adventures, something that looked over everything and talked about how far I had come and what happens next.  But the truth is, I don't really know if I can write that at the moment, because I am sitting on the floor at a Big Band rehearsal, feeling very tired and sick.  My nose is running and my head is stuffy and I am just not sure what will come out as I continue to type.  However, the fact is, today is the 8th of April 2010, which means tomorrow I turn 23 and the adventures of me as a 22 year old come to an end.  So whether I feel like it or not, I need to write something to tie it all together.

I find it really hard to believe that exactly a year ago I had an interview in Castlemaine, and getting a job, moving out of home, moving to the country was just a little idea that I wasn't really considering because I didn't want to jinks the job.  Yet here I am writing this blog, a year later and everything, and nothing at all has changed (if that makes any sense).  

There are lots of things that are still the same.  I am still Emma, I still love Disney, blogging, eating and Dave, but now I live in Castlemaine and visit Melbourne.  Now I have a 'real' full time job, not a part time fun thing.  Now I can cook and clean and do general adult things, because I have to and no one else will do it for me (unless they are feeling particularly generous).  Now I have lots of new friends, people who I hadn't even met a year ago today.   

I feel like I have grown a lot since I moved to Castlemaine, and I am not really sure how much of this is just me getting older and how much of this has been because of the fact that I had too.  There have been some really low times, like homesickness, being lonely and getting used to being away from all my friends and family, but there has also been a lot of fun stuff to, and some really really great stuff... my new friends, the things I have seen and the places I have been...oh that rhymed, nice.  I have no idea how to actually sum up this last year other than the fact that I am different and I like it.  I know that I haven't done this by myself and that I my life really has been in God's hands through it all. But I guess when it comes down to it... I am really glad I went to the interview, I am really glad I was offered the job and I had enough courage (and support) to move and give it a crack.  I am also really glad that I have been able to share this with all of you (even if its just Mum, Dad and Dave at times).  Thanks a bunch for reading... my blog would be no fun if no one read it, so thanks for dropping by!  

So what happens next... well I am glad that you asked.  For now, I stay in Castlemaine, and because I can't give up I will continue to blog.  But as I am no longer 22 my blogs will have a new home: www.emjlewis.blogspot.com, so please keep dropping by and checking it out.  But after that I am not really sure and that's ok.  I still have plenty of adventures left in me and I am kind of excited about what is still to come... I guess I will just have to keep to posted, because I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Wordless Wednesday

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

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The Tale of Eggface

So this year I got one of the coolest eggs ever...it was a do it yourself egg face! And while it didn't quite go according to plan the tale went a little like this...

Once there was a girl named Emma, who was given a very special Easter egg...

The egg required her to decorate her it with its very own eggy face.  So she got all the pieces out... and began to make a plan!

She started with the legs to make some stability.  It appeared she used too much glue so her eggface had a little accident.  Next was the hair.  As she stopped to admire her work so far she thought to herself "so far, so good."

However, having not held onto it quite enough to let it set the hair began to slide...and came to rest in another, appropriate, but not quite what she had in mind place...

Having corrected the hair and becoming more and more aware that the glue was not all that sticky, she quickly attempted to do the lot and then take a picture before anymore unwanted shifts. 

Once the portrait was complete she let go, and eggface had an accident.

Eggface was beyond the point of no return, and unfortunately soon after his fall, he deteriorated and passed away. 

The End.

So there you have it, the tale of Eggface, the best Easter egg ever... now if you will excuse me I have an egg to eat.

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

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Easter

So I guess its that time again...Easter time that is... We made it through Friday and today we can celebrate because He is Risen.  And because I don't have any awesome words of wisdom to share with you about what Easter means, once again I am going to steal my words (lucky he did die, for my sins!) from songs again...here are two songs, that I love that I think sum up why I love easter...maybe even more than I love Christmas!

 

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again. 
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

Oh and I was also very thankful for my extra hour of sleep last night, thank you and so long daylight savings...

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

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April Fool

April Fools Days is something that I have long enjoyed but never really participated in.  The truth is, I am just not clever enough to pull off an April Fool, well a good April Fool.  Anyway, I am not sure if this even counts as an April Fool, but yesterday I enjoyed some silliness from my friends at Google.  I don't know if anyone else saw this or not, but Google Maps went a little ocker.  When putting some directions into the Google Maps app in my iPhone (after some encouragement from Davo) I was very shocked to find that Google Maps had started to talk like me.  I am a little disappointed that it was only for a limited time, because I definitely there is a strong market for a GPS with some spunk!  I would buy one anyway.  But enough chat... it will make more sense if I just show you, here is some pictures of the instructions from Castlemaine to Melbourne...

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

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Wordless Wednesday

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

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The end is nigh

I am starting to get a little panicked... I have almost been doing this blog for a year, which means its also my birthday again, which means that on top of all my regular birthday stress (yes, I have birthday stress) I have to work out what to do next with my blogging.

I have really enjoyed being back in the blogging chair, and I am almost 100% sure I want to keep going, but the beauty of this 22adventures blog is that it had a time limit. It was a year long adventure, but that was it. It was never going to die a slow and painfully boring death like my last blog. The thing is I don’t really want to just sign up for another year, coz I am sick of having so many blogs linked with my name and I want it to be new and exciting, but I don’t really want to change the old ones if that makes sense, and I want to be able to just have the one place!

The other thing is, a new blog poses a lot of questions… what will I call it? what will be the point of it? Will people follow it on? Will it be more or less popular? What will my catch phrase be? These are all very tricky questions, ones which I am fast running out of time to answer!

So I think over the next week and a bit I will have to start seriously thinking about these things…perhaps even brain storming a little. But I think the blogging will continue…someway, somehow!  

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

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The Cumberland

So here is a cool little fact for you, well I guess its probably more of a rumour, as I am yet to have it completely confirmed...but tonight I had dinner at my local Pub in Castlemaine, but not just any pub... a pub owned by Billy Brownless, which I think is pretty cool.  Rumour has it that he owns the Cumberland Hotel in Castlemaine...and who am I to argue with the word of the locals.  Plus I like footy and Billy so I think its pretty cool.  

Oh and if anyone can confirm or deny this rumour...I would appreciate it! 

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

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The Waiter

Tonight I made a discovery! A waiter can make or break a meal! Seriously its true… think about it. Tonight I had the pleasure of helping Brad celebrate his birthday by having dinner in the city. The meal was great, the company was great and the waiter was great. In fact the waiter was so good I think he made my night! But before I go much further, I think we need to go back to the basics…

There are 3 types of waiters/waitresses in the world:
1. Bad ones
2. Good ones and
3. Great ones

That’s it, there aren’t any in between ones or ones that fit into any other category, its just these 3. Everyone knows what a bad waiter is… they are the ones that forget what you order and don’t seem to care. The don’t go out of their way to assist, they leave you unattended at all the wrong times and they are just bad. Sometimes they are nice, sometimes they are not…but regardless, they are bad!

The good ones are generally the ones that go unnoticed. They are not fantastic, but they are not bad, they get the job done and at the end of the night you leave with out giving them too much more thought.

And then there is the great ones, the ones that are super helpful, without being in your face, they say all the right things, don’t forget anything and at the end of the night you want to leave them a tip. Sometimes its helps if they have a cool accent or are particularly good looking, but I think that one of the best things about the great ones is they take in the ‘vibe’ of the dinner and behave accordingly.

Tonight we had a great waiter! It did help that he was French and had a very sweet story about moving here to be with his girl friend, but even without that stuff, he was happy to have a laugh with us, to have a good time, but still do what he needed to do. I don’t really know how to describe it…he had a go at kitty for taking to long, which was very funny and super accurate, he made us sing happy birthday and found a biscuit he could put a candle in because we weren’t having dessert, he cracked some jokes, made us all smile and he even took a photo of out table all together!  He was just great and at the end of the night, all of us wanted to show him how much we appreciated him and his service. Anyway, I guess I just wanted to say kudos to that guy…thanks for making it a fun evening…

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

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This Road

Growing up is something that I never really wanted to do, but every now and then something happens, and the way I respond shows me that perhaps it already happened. It seems to have already occurred, without my consent or knowledge. I guess its almost like the lights been switched and now, I am more often an adult then I am a kid, if that makes any sense. I am still not very happy about it, but it appears that there is not much I can do… all of a sudden I am a real fair dinkum grown up… who would have thought.

At the moment my life is a little complicated, and without going into to too much detail, because its not really my story to share, things haven’t quite turned out they way I always imagined they would, in fact its very different to what I would have wanted or expected. But the crazy thing about it is, surprisingly I find my self ok. Perhaps the reality of it hasn’t quite hit me yet, or I am not really sure how to react, but how I feel is also very different to what I would have expected. Sure I am sad, confused, angry, frustrated all the emotions associated with when the poopie hits the fan, but still I am ok. At times I think maybe that means I am not ok, maybe that’s a sign that I have used up all my tears and appropriate emotional responses when I wasted them on over reactions, or things that weren’t really worth crying about. Or perhaps it just means I have grown up and I have that peace of God that goes beyond all understanding.

I love music, this much you probably already know, but what you may not know is that when I am struggling with stuff, I am often reminded that God still loves me and cares for me more than I will ever know through different songs. Because it turns out he is a clever guy and knows that this is what gets me and my attention. The songs aren’t always by Christian artists, but often they are, which makes sense really, but I guess it doesn’t really matter. Anyway, I guess its kinda like a soundtrack for my life, sure there are some happy ones, some adventure ones, perhaps even some theme songs, but dotted through out my life, are lots of times when a song has got me through so to speak, that inspirational song that gets the hero (in this case me) going and on the right path. For example, when I got the job up here, the song ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus was playing…appropriate much! Then when it dawned on me what the job actually meant and what I was going to have to do, I needed a new song and that was ‘My Life is in Your Hands’ by Brooklyn Tab. And that song lasted a while really, every time I got homesick or I was feeling a little down I would play it and it would remind me that my life was in His hands and it would be ok. Anyway, recently I have been listening to a song by one of my favourite artists, Ginny Owens, and it’s a song that I have actually had on the soundtrack before, when my Dad moved to China. But its back, and I need these words now, more than ever. The lyrics say:

“A million miles away from anything familiar, a thousand places that I'd rather be.So I choke back the tears and try to find the bright side,
though I find it hard to see though all my suffering.

In my heart I know your plan is so much bigger,
but this small part is all that I can see.
And I believe you haven't left me here to wander,
still I can't help but ponder where you're leading me.

And I ask why this road? Why this way and this load?
Tell me how far must I go, ‘til I see, ‘til I know why this road.

A million miles away from anything familiar,
what was it like to be so far from home?
Though you came in love, the world misunderstood you.
There must have been some days when you felt so alone.

But you endured, because there was joy before you, joy that came because you sacrificed.
Since you gave yourself just to spend forever with me,
surely I can trust you'll lead me through my darkest times,

When I ask why this road? Why this way and this load?
Tell me how far must I go ‘til I see, ‘til I know why this road.

From here I can't see why you'd choose this path for me,
but I don't have to understand to believe
That you know why this road, why this way and this load.
You know how far I must go ‘til I see, ‘til I know why this road”

Perhaps it’s the truth in these words that lets me feel this peace, this okness with what’s going on, because I may not know why or understand, but I have a God that does and his word promises “that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). So even though its crap now, God will make it work…someway, some how… I just have to trust.

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

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Wordless Wednesday

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

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Traffic

Most of you will already know this, but I am a whinger. So much so that one of the reasons I stopped blogging last time, was because my mum always told me that if I didn’t have anything nice to say I shouldn’t say anything at all. So this time I have tried very, sometimes very very hard not to make this blog a platform for my whinging. But today I can not hold back any longer, this weekend I have been in driving hell. On Sunday morning I got stuck behind someone on a one lane highway, who insisted going 90km/hr in a 100 zone all the way to Healesville. I was willing to forgive this as it was a Sunday and its not called Sunday driving for no reason. But then this morning as I drove back to Castlemaine I got stuck behind two people traveling side by side on the Calder going 90km/hr, only this time the actual speed limit was 110km/hr. This morning though it wasn’t just me, it was me and about 10other cars, all just waiting for one of them to move and they never caught on. Apparently when you drive that slow, you also don’t use your review mirrors. Anyway, I have had enough and something needs to be said so listen up:

If you are driving on a multi-lane road and you do not wish to travel at the speed limit, that is ok, but do it in the left lanes! Oh and if there are lines and lines of cars behind you and you slow friends sitting side by side across the lines, be a good chap and either slow down and move over or speed up and move over, just get out of the way so that they rest of us can get on with it.

There it is, its said, so please don’t do it again.

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

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Mum

March and April and for that matter the beginning of May are a busy birthday time for me, so normally I try to avoid do special birthday blogs, but today is a special birthday. Today is my Mum’s birthday. So I just wanted to post a quick little special blog to say…

Happy Birthday Mum, I think that you are amazing! Thanks for putting up with me, helping me, comforting me, feeding me, looking after me, laughing with me and crying with me, and the rest! I don’t know what I would do with out you. I will love you forever and always.

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

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Explaining Yesterday

You may have noticed that yesterday’s blog had no words… except for my little tagline that is, and I am thinking that I probably owe you a little explanation, because it is kind of rude to just do something like that without warning.

So here it is: yesterday was Wordless Wednesday, something new that I am trying. Its not something I have come up with, in fact its an idea that I stole from a other peoples blogs, but I don’t think they will mind, and I think that its kind of cool. In fact my cousin Bec, does something similar too, except she uses some words and calls it Snapshot Sunday, but basically the idea is that the blog on Wordless Wednesday tells you a story about my day or just something random without using words, after all, the do say that a picture is worth a thousand words. So take yesterday for example, my pictures are of Kat’s 24th Birthday Dinner where Miriam was missing in action for a significant proportion. There is her empty chair, everyone looking sad, (except Ben, and I am not sure why) and then everyone happy when we easily replaced her with a picture drawn on the Abercrombie bag.

So there you go… Wordless Wednesday... Oh and today is Kitty's actual birthday...so HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAT!  Hope you have had a ripper day. 

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

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Wordless Wednesday

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

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Half marathon

So the training has started, luckily the half marathon is still a good 6 months away because after this mornings gym session I think I am going to need all the time that I can get!

This morning I met Jana at the gym, yes that gym that I signed up for with all the best intentions and then never really returned! Anyway we began the journey, the only thing is Jana is quiet a bit fitter than me, which isn't really that hard to imagine, given the fact that all I have done since the last half marathon is a SYG and and few random basketball games and not much else. This means that this morning as we trained together I felt like needed to prove myself just a little, you know, back my tale of my last half marathon up so that it didn't seem as unrealistic as it sounded. So needless to say I went pretty hard, and despite the fact that I only walked/ran for 3.5km... I already have blisters and very sore quads and I am a little worried that this is a bad sign! Sure perhaps I went a bit hard for my first time back in the saddle, but if I am this injured after 1/7th of the race than chances are I might struggle. But I have 6 months and I am not giving up yet! I have another hot date with Jana and the gym on Friday morning... So I better find better socks so I don't get anymore blisters!

Oh and just in case you needed proof... here are the mighty half marathoner's after our last race... don't we look spiffy! 

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People That Blog

So I have spent some time clicking the 'next blog' button at the top of the screen, hoping to find some more interesting blogs to read and add to my list of interesting blogs I already read... but here is what I have discovered.  Bloggers seem to have their own sterotype.  Seriously!  Now I know stereotypes are dangerous, but I am telling the truth, most of the blogs I have looked at are either (in order of freqency):

1.  From Indonesia, Tailand or Malaysia - so I can't read them.
2.  Being pregnenat, or the journey of having a new kid in the family.  I like these ones, but I think they are much better if you actually know the kid... Otherwise its pretty easy to lose interest.  

3.  Christian Moms... yes I spelt that right, lots of American ladies blog about their families, which is kinda nice, but not what I am after.  It also turns out that many of these women are in fact pastors wives... just as an observation.
or 4. Arts and crafts blogs - now I not talking the cute kind or arty blogs, I am talking sharing knitting pattern type blogs... also not quite what I am after.

All of these blogs are great, well I am sure they are I didn't really stop and read very many, but I guess they are just not what I am interested in right now.  I am sure if I has kids of my own, or even a hobby I would actually enjoy what they wrote, but they just didn't catch my eye today, because thats not where I am at.  I did however come across some one where people acutally share real stuff about their own lives (as apposed to the lives of others around them).  These ones really caught my eye and I really enjoyed them.  I read a few stories about the struggles of a family as their 2 year old died from cancer, I read about a family that had up and left everything to try something new and I read some stories about just stuff people do day to day.  Maybe I am just super nosey and I liked these ones coz they were raw and real, I am not sure. 

I know that in the past I have blogged before about wanting my blog to be something more than a primary school journal and I hope that it is.  I hope that when other people push the 'next blog' button, if it ever lands on mine that they will stop and have a read and that they would enjoy it.
 
I guess that's just all part of the adventure!

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Being a girl

I am not a very good girl… no not like that, I am not naughty or anything a little off, what I should say is I am not very good at being a girl. Sure I do some girly things, like watch way too many chick flicks, or wait hopelessly to be swept off my feet. But when it comes down to the maintenance required to be a girl, I am just not very good at it, I never have been. How do I know this…well here are a few reasons that I came up with:

I find is difficult to justify the cost of haircuts, especially if the are required more than twice a year.

I do not have a regular beautician.
I hate clothes shopping, and have no interest in keeping up with the latest and greatest fashions.
I am terrible at makeup, just terrible (although I can apply it without a mirror…which is probably not so much a reflection of skill, as the basic nature of my makeup).
and I am capable of 3 hair styles…ponytail, half up-half down and down…that is all

However every now and then, I participate in these girlie things, take last weekend for example:

Friday night I had a visit from the lovely Renee, and while we were shopping in Bendigo, I brought a nice new girlie top. I also had a small tea party when we returned to my house in Castlemaine. Then Saturday morning, I drove straight from Castlemaine to my hairdresser in Melbourne where I got a fresh cut and colour, and even had my eyebrows waxed into a more girlie shape (as apposed to the John Howard eyebrows I normally wear). Saturday afternoon I went and brought some new makeup, so I didn’t have to continue to use the dregs from the bottom of the containers like I had been doing pretty much all year.

Anyway, a week in and I love my ‘new look’ its really not that new, or different from before, but I feel like a girl and I kinda like it. And even though it goes against everything I do, I actually booked myself in for another appointment as I was leaving the hairdresser, so that it wouldn’t get out of control again. I think its whats called taking pride in my appearance… I guess we will see how long it lasts.

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

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Up to Date

Well I never ever thought I would actually be able to write this blog, seriously never.  I am finally up to date, no more back dating and posting old news, just current things from here on.  Its super exciting, because I don't think my blog has been up to date since I started, in fact I am pretty sure that I have always been a whole month behind.  But I have finally caught up...which is just as well because there is really only a month left of 22 adventures, and then I have to decide what I want to do next.  Do I want to keep blogging? Do I need another rest?  Do I go back to my old site, do it up and start again?  Do people want me to keep blogging?  What will I blog about?  These are some very serious questions, some that I will need to think long and hard about.  But for now, let us just rejoice in the fact that this blog...after 11months, is finally up to date.   

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

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Summer is over and the cold is here

Can you believe that it is already March?  Isn't that just absurd? Seriously, how did this happen? Where has summer gone? Yesterday was the last day of summer and today it is crazy cold...and think that its a little rude the way the wind has just barged in like this.  Did it forget about the casual warm down, or the fact that we still have daylight savings so it doesn't feel like summer is over yet?  I feel like I have made the most of summer, I haven't even really been to the beach that much, it can't be over yet?  I haven't had enough BBQs or sat outside enough, I am not ready for the seasons to change, I need some more sunshine....

I think perhaps God needs to have a stern talking to the weather and put it in the naughty corner for a week or two and give us some nice warm autumn days.  They don't have to be hot, but I am not quite ready for the cold yet.  Coz I just think its a bit rough to have such a cold day the first day out.   


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

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