A typical Queensland Home - this was an empty block of land when I moved to the area. In my morning walks I saw every stage of the house being built from the foundations to the final landscaping.

Burgandy Iceberg - I'm not much of a gardener - as you can see the leaves have a slight yellow look to them and the grass beneath doesn't look too healthy - but after the much needed rain came - it saved my beautiful rose

I Lurrrvvve Chocolate

Chocolate Makes Me Happy...it only comes out late at night when little critters are in bed so tight.

As I reflect on my day I take a piece that is filled with pineapple - yummo and let it melt in my mouth. Today I felt overwhelmed by my workload - I have had to step into my Managers role while she has been away and I've been able to stay reasonably calm and relaxed.

I take a piece that is filled with caramel and bite into it straight away - mmmm mmm mmm. The staff feel that this is time to air their complaints about her, their frustrations and disappointments. I kept thinking about "Shout For Joy" that I read this morning in my Bible.

This time I munch around the chocolate to find a strawberry centre - delic!!! and told the staff that it is not an easy job being a manager and imagine the pressure she must feel to reach targets, organise staff, deal with time frames and deadlines and communicate openly and constantly about business needs and have to attend mindless meeting after meeting....

This time I look at the pattern of the chocolate and look at the back of the paper to see what its filling is - that was lucky "its Turkish Delight" - this was put aside for hubby and I was able to find another caramel one.....

The staff were not going to get a reaction out of me and I was not going to be negative about her in front of them....sometimes it is wise to guard our tongues - especially as women....

On a positive note I went to the gym twice last week and have been twice this week - I'm still deliberating wether I should go tomorrow - being Friday....mmmm what to do????

I love plain chocolate as well - nothing better than putting it in your mouth and letting it melt till there is nothing left. Nothing beats Cadbury though and Lindt comes a close second.

Chocolate is best eaten when you don't have to share it with anyone - if you've ever seen the Cherry Ripe add on tv with the girl stealing her partner's cherry ripe - thats me. My girls are very protective when they have been given some - they guard it with their lives.

I was taught this bad habit while growing up by my dad who would watch us eating something yummy and say "look over there" I would look over "there" and before you know it my chocolate biscuit had been consumed by a Scottish Git. Somehow that trait has been passed onto me, but my girls are somewhat wiser than I was - they have been told by their dad to keep it in tight reign...

When I was in hospital before giving birth to JJ - (in and out like a yo yo with endless complications) my dad would sneak me in a crunchie bar and coke. We had to hide these from the doctors and nurses. After I had JJ I had an addiction for Crunchie's. It got so bad I had to hide it from Mal - I couldn't get by a day without having a Crunchie. Through Mal's prayers I was delivered from Crunchies and he allows me now and then to purchase one....

I lurrrrvve Chocolate....

SHOUT WITH JOY

After months of no rain - the last couple of days the Gold Coast has been been drenched.

This morning I woke up to the rain falling on our roof - I love that sound. As I do every morning when I get up I look out the window to see what the sky looks like. The rain was falling softly and specks of sunglight was shining through the clouds and hints of blue were being revealed.

What a morning to be alive - this morning in my daily devotions I read from Psalm 100: 1-5

"SHOUT WITH JOY before the Lord, O Earth!

Obey him gladly; come before him, singing with joy.

Try to realise what this means - the Lord is God! He made us - we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Go through his open gates with great thanksgiving; enter his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.

For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation."

Amen to that - I'm running late this morning - should be leaving for work in 15mins. Its another day and another dollar but this morning I SHOUT WITH JOY at the goodness of God and pray for another opportunity to share this with people in my community...

I heard a story yesterday of a Priest talking to children about Christ being the Shepherd and the Sheep being God's people. A child asked "well who are you" the Priest took it to the congregation as well as to the children to work out who he could be. In the corner a young girl aged 8 - said "you are the sheep dog" and the congregation laughed till the tears ran down their faces and the children glowed in the knowledge that their Priest was the Sheep Dog.....

Have a great day everyone and may the Lord be with you today.....

The AFTER photo - oh what a mess. The only thing that was missing was Miss Concept - we missed you fellow scrapper....

Having fun. The girls did pages with photos of themselves and each other, mum did pictures of the land their house was built on and mine was a feature of CB's Jazz Concert and Test. The girls have so much fun doing this...as did me and mum...

After our trip to the Park - we went to have lunch at Mum and Dads - where dad cooked a BBQ - yummy. After lunch the girls began their Scrapbooking session - this is a Before Photo...

Whenever we take the girls out we go and collect Rocky - mum and dads Toy Poodle for an outing. He had an absolute ball. We went for a walk around the lake and just before we finished he lay down on the grass and refused to move...

On our day off on Monday - we went to the Park - it has finally opened and the girls were extremely excited.

ANZAC Day

On 25 April every year Australians commemorate Anzac Day. It is Australia's sacred day. The day has the same significance in New Zealand, Australia's counterpart in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (the ANZACs) at Gallipoli.

What is it Australians commemorate on Anzac Day?

Australia and New Zealand at war

On 25 April 1915 Australia and New Zealand were at war. Along with the Allies (the major Allied Powers were the British Empire [Britain and her colonies and dominions], France and the Russian Empire), the ANZACs were fighting against the Central Powers (Germany, Turkey [then known as the Ottoman Empire], and Austria-Hungary).

In response to a request for help from Russia, which was being battered by the Turks in the Caucasus, the Allies decided to begin a campaign which they hoped would distract Turkey from their attack on Russia.

The plan was for the Allies to attack and take the Gallipoli Peninsula, on Turkey's Aegean coast, from which point the Allies believed they could take control of the Dardanelles - a 67 kilometre (42 mile) strait which connects the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara - and lay siege to Turkey's main city, Istanbul (then Constantinople)....continue reading

Lest We Forget

For the Fallen

They shall grow not old

As we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them

Nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them

by Laurence Binyon

LEST WE FORGET

An Army Bugler plays the Last Post

THREES A CROWD - JJ's school friend is constantly in our home. With this dynamic it has caused a tension between the two sisters. After sorting through some issues, and many chats later the girls are able to hang out together and have fun with not too much friction.

We've Lost A True Champion

Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen: 1911 - 2005




ONE of the most tumultuous chapters in Queensland history closed last night with the death of former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.....continue reading

Gospel Powered Christians

I came across this great post at Scotwise and as usual he continues to inspire, encourage and challenge:

"Alas! What stirs ordinary men's blood and turns them into heroes, makes most Christians run like a flock of frightened sheep." -- C. T. Studd

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. -- Rom 1:16 (ESV)

I never want to be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, why should I? It was the Gospel that got me saved and turned my life around from a hopeless alcoholic with no purpose in life.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ changed me, saved and restored my family, gave me a purpose in life, a life that is lived to the full in service to His people!.....continue reading

My beloved black velvet skirt - now "ripped" sob sob sob

An extremely embarrassing moment........

Why me - why oh why me I ask myself???

In my lunch break this afternoon I went up the street with two of the girls from work. I thought that I would buy some lollies for everyone in our department - seeing as the "sugar rush" hits around 2.30pm every afternoon and there is never anything sweet to eat and it was Friday (definitely worth celebrating).

We went to the Paradise Centre and casually browsed through the shoe stores and handbags and had a look at some jewellery then we headed down the escalators to Woolies.

As I was getting off the escalator I put my leg forward but it felt like I was stuck - what the?????? people were starting to pile on top of me but I couldn't get out of the way because I was stuck - people just kept falling onto me.

I looked down to see what the problem was and my beautiful black velvet skirt was stuck in the esclator - I could feel it starting to pull my skirt down - meanwhile more people are banging into me - I look for my friends and yell "my skirt is stuck, my skirt is stuck" they look away as if they don't know me.

So I try to pull the skirt away but as you know my wrist is sprained - I'm trying to pull at it but my wrist starts hurting like........this stage I can now start to feel my skirt getting lower and lower - HELP HELP I yell - I mean there are 600 people falling all over me, my skirt is starting to disappear into the world of "escalator nomansland" and my friends are hiding behind the potplant laughing.

The next thing I'm pushed out of the way by a gi-normous (what is it with me and giants at the moment) man who can hardly speak english and he starts to rip my skirt off the escalator. This time I'm yelling "don't rip my skirt - don't rip my skirt" .

The next thing I hear is one of my friend saying "press the stop button - press the stop button" HELLO - where have you been???? there are 600 people on the esclator - how can you press the stop button but the gi-normous man finally freed my skirt from the escalator. My skirt was ripped - my beautiful, elegant, favourite black velvet skirt is ripped.

My friends couldn't believe how upset I was about the skirt being ripped - they said at least you are not walking back to work with just your workshirt on (after that picture thought - I had to agree). What a traumatic moment.

Armed with MY favourite lollies we are waiting in the queue and the "gi-normous" man comes up and says - your skirt might be ripped but at least you are still wearing it and walks on - my face was as red as the tomatoes I was NOT holding - HOW EMBARRASSING!!!!!!!!

My other baby cuddling an Alpaca

My baby running in a race with a lollipop in her mouth

Power of Prayer

Early this week at work my manager called me into her office - she was pretty cranky.

She proceeded to tell me she was going to sack a staff member for their incompetance, inability to perform and for being so slow that other staff members are having to carry her load. My manager continued to rant and rave and tell me how angry she is and how sick she is of talking to this staff member who won't listen, who won't get done what she needs and she's had enough and she's going to have it out with her.

The staff member in question is a person that likes to please everyone. She takes on extra work because she can't say no. She is slow with her work, but is extremely thorough and makes no mistakes. She does the tasks that nobody else will do. This staff member has also expressed that nothing she ever does seems good enough and has been extemely stressed to the point that she is thinking of resigning.

So who is right and who is wrong???

I asked my manager what strategies she has put in place for the staff member? What support has been given to her to improve her skills and allow her to work faster?? My manager said that she's talked to her and told her what needs to be done and why. I said what about giving her some training in time management, teaching her how to say "no" to the non-important. What about praising her for the good things she has done.

I understand my managers frustration - there is a job to get done and its not being carried out. Do you run the staff member into the ground with short answers, being ignored and talked about behind her back to the point where she feels she is worthless and wants to resign??

Sometimes I feel that my manager has no idea about people skills. I shared with my manager that in order for a person to be a high achiever you have to teach them, nurture them, challenge them and praise them. I also said that her tone of voice is extremely condescending and makes people feel belittled. I asked her to think about these things before speaking to the staff member.

That night I went home and prayed....God please...help my manager to communicate effectively and with encouragement and please help...the staff member to be open to recieve instruction and to feel that she is doing a great job...I also prayed that both of these people would have a revelation of who Jesus was and that I would have an opportunity to share his love with them.

The next day I was called into my managers office and said that she has organised for the staff member to have training on time management and has set up a spreadsheet to give her the ability to record her work tasks - that way she can monitor what extra workload that is being taken on. She called the staff member into her office and the door was slightly open I could hear laughter and soft words spoken - I breathed a prayer of thanks.

The rest of the week the staff member has been extremely happy and has been able to finish her tasks. This staff member then opened up to me while I was scanning some documents today and told me that she has been on antidepressants - I've made a lunch date with her next week.

Afternoon Survival Kit - after much sniffing, blowing, coughing and feeling extremely exhausted I get back to my desk after a meeting. On it I find a box of aloe vera tissues, oj and butter menthols. They were from one of my work colleagues who wanted to make me feel better (and was sick of listening to me moan and groan..) I felt loved.

Need I Say More???

Stunt Woman Takes Dive in Netball Fiasco

Tuesday Night 7.20pm - Netball starts - everyone in positions - the whistle blows.....

Prior to walking on the courts we were faced with giants - I'm not exaggerating (however you spell that???) our team consists of 7 medium height girls but tonight we were faced with 6 out of the 7 opposition team being almost 7 foot tall.

They were that tall, when I was shooting for goal (or trying) the GK (goal keeper) would stand behind me to tap the ball out of my hands - when she'd miss, her hand would come down and slap me in the forehead - what the??? I don't know how many times my forehead, arms and head were slapped from these giants.

Their arms were that long it would only take 2 throws to get it down the other end of the court (built like inspector gadgets they were). Due to the fact that we couldn't get the ball out of centre pass, never mind into the goal circle we were getting a bit frustrated.

Half time brought on a new strategy and positions were changed. I took on WA (wing attack) and our tallest defender was brought in as GA (goal attack). I thought this was great because the opposition WA was my height - no chance of getting slapped (on the forehead anyway) - wrong!!! the GK had followed me to be WD but she couldn't stop me, as I was a woman possessed getting the centre pass and feeding it to the goal circle - we began to redeem ourselves from getting thrashed, to adding a few more digits to the scoreboard.

5 mins to go we are about 10 goals behind and had caught up quite fast, the ball comes to me from centre pass but all I could see was this long lanky leg pulled out in front of me (you know like those stretchy dolls where you can stretch their arms and legs) and trips me over - all of a sudden I was doing s l o w m o t i o n - I was like a stunt women falling to the ground, rolling over and landing on my feet (looked more like an hippo, rolling in the mud).

Needless to say we lost by about 10 goals, sprained my wrist in the fall (awww) and mysterious red lumps were appearing on my forehead. What a game - hopefully next week we get to play against some dwarfs.......

More than Conquerors

SCOTWISE posted this quote when he was talking about "More Than Conquerors" in his daily encouragement (Tuesday).

In the third century, Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage, wrote to his friend Donatus:

"It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life.

They have found a joy and wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls.

They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians... and I am one of them." -- Source unknown

This has spoken to me in so many ways.

We are living in a world that is corrupt and evil and it says in John 15:19 "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you".

We can find the joy and the wisdom to lead a life that is full, abundant and overflowing. We can find peace in Jesus Christ and we can share it with others in the world around us.

"These people, my friends, are Christians.....and I am one of them" -- Jeannie

Working mums cook healthier meals

I got sent this great article from my dad and wanted to share it with you.

Sometimes as a working mother I feel guilty about not being there for my girls 24/7.

I was a stay at home mum until my youngest CB entered pre-school and JJ was in year 2 at primary school - so I was at home full time during their formative years.

So why do I find myself again, justifying my reasons for working fulltime???

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

WORKING mothers are more likely to rustle up healthy meals for their offspring than woman who stay at home and look after the children full-time, a new report concludes.

The remarkable finding undermines the widespread assumption that middle-class housewives spend part of their time preparing delicious , nutricious fare for their children.

Instead, it suggests that many career women are getting home from work and heading straight for the kitchen - not to stick on fish fingers, oven chips and beans but to steam vegetables, boil pasta and prepare a fruit salad.....continue reading

Funny Story

Haven't told a funny story for a while - and seeing as I can't sleep I thought I would amuse myself (again) by writing the following:

At work the other day one of my friends was standing talking to me near my desk. She started going "ooh ooh ooh" and jumping around - I thought "what the" and she pulls out of her jumper this skin coloured looking cricket and flicks it on to my desk....

I start screaming (for those of you who don't know - I HATE bugs) the cricket is jumping all over my desk, I try to stand up but my flamin chair was in the way - it fell over and banged someone standing next to me.

I yell "what the heck are you doing - get rid of that thing before I have a heart attack" so my friend picks it up in her hand - thankful for some respite from a jumping bug I try to get as far away from my friend as possible but it bites her on her hand and she flicks it on to my skirt - this time I'm really screaming - who cares that there are people on the phones or the managers in meetings "GET THIS THING OFF ME"...

Other people from other departments are coming around to have a look at what all the commotion is about and this ugly looking thing is jumping all over me - someone grabs it and trys looking for a window to throw it out of - hello - we are on the 13th floor and work in windowless, airless offices.......

The trauma was way too much - one of the older ladies got me to sit down and have a cuppa tea to help me get over the shock.

I asked my friend when I managed to speak again - why on earth was a cricket inside her jumper - she said she had just pulled her jumper off the line and they are always attached to her clothes. She lives in the mountains which is an hour up the road so it must have been in her jumper while she was driving to work - ewwwww....the thought just makes me want to faint...

The "cricket" was escorted in the lifts down to the ground floor and left to roam in the freedom of the fresh air and manicured lawns....

I was the butt of several jokes for the day - but thank goodness there was other more important things to talk about than Jeannie jumping up and down screaming like a lunatic....

Can't Sleep

Been up since the crack of dawn and can't sleep. What is wrong with me??

Can't feel me toes

Nose won't stop dripping... (just thought I would share that)

I went to the gym today - so I'm pleased with myself

Mal lost his voice today - doesn't stop him getting cranky with me though

Todays Proverb (well yesterday's now) "Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows" Prov 13:11 - Amen to that!!!

Can't breathe...

A Long Week Ahead

Armed with loads of washing, getting tea ready, organising the girls to get ready for school tomorrow - lunches, uniforms I feel exhausted already just thinking about what lays ahead.

I've probably only walked 3 times in the last 5 weeks and been to the gym once in 5 weeks. What happened??? I overdid it - walking everymorning and going the gym in every lunch break.

You know how you keep excercising everyday but you don't feel it is doing anything - all this hardwork and you see no changes - W R O N G!!!

In my five weeks of practically no excercise and 3 games of netball I have noticed several things:

1. My energy level has decreased

2. My physical body is starting to see bumps and lumps again

3. An overwhelming feeling of exhaustion

4. I've had a build up of fluid retention

5. I've been sick for the last 2 weeks and have been finding it hard to shake it off

Sooo.... my goal this week is not only tackling the 16 files on my desk, training a new staff member, getting started on my first module in Financial Services and take on my Managers role for the next week and a half while she goes on holidays and attend endless meetings....

and ensure that my girls have completed their homework, checked their reading books, and ensured they have had 20 mins of violin practice every day are showered and have fresh clothes, make breakfast, lunches and dinner on a daily basis.....

and spend time with my husband who lovingly helps me with all the household chores and hopefully catch up with mum and dad for a cuppa.....

I will attend the gym at least 3 days this week and walk at least 3 times.

H E L P ! ! !

Saints Thrash the Demons

My beloved Saints have won again.

I was not able to watch the game today as the girls insisted on watching Shark Tale & Spongebob Squarepants before the DVD's had to go back to Blockbuster.

I was able to view the scores live on the Internet and it was goal for goal at the beginning of the 3rd quarter but midway through the quarter the saints rocketed ahead.

We are now sitting 8th on the ladder and will continue to move from strength in the coming rounds.

On the link there is a picture of my hero "the G-Train"

On a sadder note I only got 3 from 8 for my footy tips - oh well next week will be a better week

Armed with lots of Stellar Cash we headed down to the lake for the BBQ and auction. The items to be auctioned were a 68cm Flat Screen TV, mobile phones, dvd players, an electric wok, and many more...we came home with nothing... on the bright side I explained to the girls "at least we have each other"

Hearing with a Spiritual Ear

Had an awesome time of worship this morning at church - even though my voice was a bit scratchy and my ears were blocking and unblocking all the time..the best part was standing with my girls - arm in arm singing about Jesus.

Then the congregation was saturated with the Word of God and this is what I took away with me...starting in Romans 8:1-9 talking about ...the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace...

We can get caught up on the carnality of life such as watching TV shows like current affair programs and take everything that is said for gospel truth, we listen to people on the radio and even the newspapers spread their propoganda. We let these talkshows rule our life which leads us to give people unsolicited advice.

We then went on to read 1 Cor 2: 9-10 ...no eye has seen no ear has heard..... When dealing with situations in life we listen with the natural ear and act on the natural ear rather than asking God for his wisdom and listen with a spiritual ear.

We went to Revelation where it was revealed that God spoke to the Seven Churches in chapter 2 and onwards ...He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...God repeated himself to each of the Seven Churches. Why did God have to keep repeating himself to the churches - because we don't listen with the spiritual ear??? Is that why the churches don't grow and blossom as God intends them to be???

To finish off we went to 1 Cor 12: 1-11 which talks about the Spiritual Gifts - the main theme from this scripture was the lack of discerning between good and evil spirits (distinguishing between spirits). We allow religious groups who claim to be christians come to our doors and we invite them in, however they have been decieved and they are speaking on behalf of Satan.

An example was given of a woman ringing her pastor saying that she is having problems with her husband and she is going to leave him. The pastor rings the husband and asks that he and his wife come to a meeting to discuss their marriage. She told the pastor about all her husbands failings and that he doesn't love her anymore. While the woman was talking the pastor heard the voice of the Holy Spirit and shared it with her. The pastor said that if her husband didn't love her he wouldn't be sitting there with tears in his eyes listening to everything she said. The pastor was able to minister to the wife and the husband, lead him to Jesus and send them off to live a happy and fulfilled marriage.
___________________________________________________

I needed to hear that this morning. I don't get swayed so much as by what the TV, Radio or Newspapers say but I do battle with my own thinking and trying to live out my life in the natural rather than allowing the Spirit to lead my life.

Lord I pray, that I will meditate on your word this week and that my Spiritual Ear will be tuned in to the people that need your love.

Morning Devotions

The air is cool, the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing...its Sunday morning. Usually I am at church by now practicing with the band....as I've had tonsilitis I've had two weeks off in a row - I will be back next week.

Mal has already left for church and the girls are running in and out wearing clothes that are mismatched, not so clean and I keep sending them back until they look presentable (sorry girls)...

In my daily devotions this morning I'm reading from Psalm 85 v 8 - 13 (Living Bible Version)

" I am listening carefully to all the Lord is saying - for he speaks peace to his people, his saints, if they will only stop their sinning.

Surely his salvation is near to those who revernce him; our land will be filled with his glory.

Mercy and truth have met together. Grim justice and peace have kissed!

Truth rises from the earth and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

Yes the Lord pours down his blessings on the land and it yields its bountiful crops.

Justice goes before him to make a pathway for his steps."

I love this piece of scripture - it encourages me to listen to God and walk in his ways - this morning as I am getting ready for church I feel the arms of Jesus lovingly wrapped around me and the Holy Spirit whispering truth and love to my soul.

Lord Jesus, may this new week be filled with your love, opportunities to share your word with my work colleagues and people that come across my path and may your blessings flow upon me and my family.... I pray that all who are reading this, that God will be with you too!!!

Misery Loves Company?

I came across this great post today at Broken Shivers and it so totally relates to a person who I am ministering to at work at the moment.....
_______________________________________________________

Its true, some people are addicted to misery. One of my patients joined Weight Watchers and lost 98 lbs. She looks fantastic, and this was quite an accomplishment. She should be very proud of herself. Instead, she complains that her body parts are not right now, 'ruined' she says.

I suggest if she is unhappy still to get a tummy tuck or whatever it takes. 'Too expensive' she says and says 'nothing will restore me to what I used to be' (a teenager?). She figures she might as well eat what she wants for she can't have the perfection she wants. This woman is sabotaging herself.

She can't accept happiness and apparently wants to return to her former miserable state when she literally was hating herself to death....continue reading

The Things You Think About In The Middle of The Night

Ummm... not much

Ummm... whats there to eat....

No seriously, I have been thinking a lot about the Sermon dad preached at church last Sunday.

The title was something like "Jesus last Instructions" and referred to when my Auntie died several years ago and left exact instructions of how she wanted to be cremated and how she wanted mum and dad to be happy in their new home and for us not to be sad and how she wanted her funeral...

And as a family we followed these instructions out of respect, and helped live out her final wishes here on earth.

He then went to talk about Jesus and prior to ascending to heaven, he left us exact instructions in the bible in Matthew 28:16 -20 "therefore go and make disciples of all nations".

How is it that as christians we will live out the instructions of those close to us and even sometimes complete strangers, but when Jesus (who is supposed to be the centre of our life and being) has asked us to do something, we shy away from it or pretend those words don't exist.

I pray that I will help carry out these instructions and be a living example of Jesus to my friends, family and people in my community.

Insomnia

Seeing as I have slept solidly for the last 4 days I now find myself feeling a whole lot better.

This morning I woke up at 3am wide awake, I got up and read a book for an hour on the couch and found myself dozing so at 4am I pick myself up and go to bed. I'm in bed now and all of a sudden I'm wide awake again.

How can you walk 15metres like a drugged out zombie to being fully alert in 5 seconds - whats the go.

Did I get up and get going for the day? NO I lay there for another 2 hours tossing and turning and trying to get some sleep before I start work.

6am jumped out of bed and went for a walk - I think I overdid it because half way round the block I could hardly breathe, swallow and became quite feverish. How is that one minute you can be so sick and the next you can have a surge of energy - well that was short lived I can tell you.

I heaved my body back home puffing and panting and in need of a pillow and mattress - but I fought off the evil thoughts of having a "Bert Newton" (falling asleep while watching his show) and got ready for a busy day at work.

I've worked a full day, endless requests from clients, staff and well more clients come home to find my burnt offering - send hubby on a quick dash to the supermarket. Organise the children for school the next day by writing notes and getting violins in order, answer a few phone calls, sit down and watch some TV.

I trot off to bed around 9.00pm feeling quite sluggish only to get into bed and it happens again - eyeballs wide open...what the....so I stay in bed till 10.47pm and I have to get up and check my emails and tell the whole world about my disastrous burnt offering.

Morale of this story is....don't sleep for 4 days in a row....

Burnt Offering

I wouldn't pay anyone to eat this crapola - I got home from work and this is what my new Slow Cooker had to offer...

Obviously it cooked it so slowly that it BURNT it to smithereens....flamin appliances....

Mum did tell me though that it doesn't take 9 hrs to cook some measly chicken pieces....

I will master the Slow Cooker.....

My New S l o w ... Cooker

This was bought so that I could put our food in this in the morning before I leave for work and then the food is ready when I get home. Just pop it on AUTO and wa...laaa...dinner is ready.

Chucking a Sickie

Today I'm not well (awwwww) and neither is my beautiful 10 year old (awwwww).

I have been struggling all last week with a sore throat and really bad headaches and going to work only to sit down when I get home, after dinner, exhausted and fall into a deep druggie sleep (whatever that is).

When I work I am overwhelmed with guilt at the thought of "chucking a sickie" and just thinking about calling in to work to say that I'm not coming in gave me several bouts of trips to the toilet.

But when my daughter comes in with rosy cheeks, can hardly breathe and swollen red lips its like "thats it" I ring my employer and advise I won't be coming in for the day.

What is it that if we are sick - we feel guilty about not going to work but when our kids are sick - it justifies having a day off???

__________________________________________________________

JJ & I went to the docs today and we both have tonsilitis - doc gave me a medical certificate for 4 days off. There is nothing worse than going to the docs and they tell you that it is viral and there is nothing I can do - you will just have to let it run its course. Today - antibiotics and 4 days yipeeeee (oh my throat my throat)...

___________________________________________________________

When the sickie is the parent's only option.

Your child is ill but there's no one to stay home. What do you do?No one likes covering for a colleague who pulls a sickie, especially if you know they're not really crook.

But it's almost always been an almost unspoken gripe, muttered under the breath.

These tensions have been simmering for years but they boiled over this week, thanks to a provocative article by The Daily Telegraph's Anita Quigley on Thursday.

She wrote: "Nowadays...being married or having children seems to automatically mean you get to have their sick days as well as your own......continue reading

The Books Have Arrived

What have I gotten myself into???? On Friday afternoon the books finally arrived so I can start studying my Cert 3 in Financial Services.

I have opened the books and there are tasks and assignments already set out for me - it means my brain has to think.

What was I thinking hurrying the books along - they have finally arrived and now I'm scared.

I haven't studied in 15 years aaahhhh.....

Nick Del Santo - a quiet achiever for the Saints

Footy Tips Out the Window

This last weekend of football I only get 4 from 8. Not too good. But I will not give up - its early in the season and I think that the next couple of games will give me a better idea of who is in form and who is not.

On Saturday I was running around with the girls going to Netball, doing groceries, dropping their friends off, having an afternoon siesta and heading off to my netball training with the girls from work.

I did not get my "summary of the game" phone call from my dad. When he doesn't call I know there is bad news.

St Kilda played Kangaroos and it was an extremely close game - I'm so glad that I did not watch this match. There is nothing worse than a tight game - goal for goal and your team loses by 1 goal. I have to admit "I AM A SORE LOSER".

Next week is going to be a tough week as we are playing Melbourne and they have been undefeated this season so far - the battle of Saints V Demons - Go the Sainters!!!

Another Day Another Dollar

This week at work has been extremely frustrating in more ways than one and I always look forward to Fridays so that I don't have to think about work for 2 whole days.

The week started off with me not feeling very well, first time in a long time (must be because I haven't been to the gym for a while - awwww) but I've managed to soldier on and tomorrow is Friday so I'm really excited.

On Tuesday morning I had an 8am appointment with my trainer who was going to be providing all my books and study materials for my course in Financial Services.

8am - no show

8.12am - still no show

8.43am - no show

9.01am - extremely exasperated - definitely NO SHOW

9.04am - ring the training company "Oh I was just about to call you" yeh right !!!

She said the books hadn't arrived and they will be in on Wednesday and she will get one of their staff to personally drop it off to me.

Tomorrow will be Friday - and there is NO SHOW with the books.

I applied for this course in early Jan and was told I should start the course beginning of March - it is now April and ohhhhh how the world is so not going to fall apart.

Are we having fun yet???

How many events can you cram in One Day??

After what was a hectic morning last Sunday at church - we headed home for some well earned lunch.

During lunch we watch St Kilda play Freemantle - it was a great game and extremely stressful especially with Saints managing to win by 1 point.

As per usual dad & I call each other, summarise the highs and lows of the game, boast about our awesome goal kickers and then hang up to watch the team sing "O When The Saints Go Marching In" all linked together in a huddle.

Seeing as it was such a perfect day in Pacific Pines with 27 degrees and not a cloud in sight we headed down to the park - hoping that the new section would be opened. It is only a 5 min walk so we thought we would excercise our legs and got into the car and drove down.

The new section is not open yet but when it does we will be taking our bikes down and will enjoy the new path as it will be the flattest section of Pacific Pines - with no hills...the girls were busting to get in but as you can see they will just have to be a little more patient.

As you can see from the pictures the girls enjoyed all aspects of the park and while they were on the swings and play equipment Mal & I were practicing my netball passes, lobs and bounces (get a life Jeannie)

It was a beautiful afternoon but even better to be spending it with my gorgeous family.

Scootering - a family affair. Is that your scooter brake marks on the concrete CB??

A much needed structure of the Park for the Keynes family - ooopps gotta goooo...

Let Us In!!!

The Pacific Pines Park Upgrade

Cuuute little ducky

A Peaceful Sunday afternoon at Pacific Pines Park

Me as a normal human being then there is Me who is the mad St Kilda Supporter - last Sunday was the unveiling of the St Kilda paraphernalia being the beanie, the finger, the flag, the scarf, the hat and the mascot. My beloved team won by 1 point - close match - GO SAINTERS

A Challenging Sunday Morning Service

Last night prior to walking out the door with hubby and girls to have a family night out at the movies we get a phone call.

The phone call consisted of our keyboardist and bass player not being able to play at church due to sickness (can't reveal what it is - but let me say it has something to do with the "bottom" part of the body)

This left me the worship leader for tomorrows service, another vocalist and the drummer. We did have a guitarist until several months ago when he inconvenienced us all by getting married and moving to Brisbane (but we still love him).

What to do - allow this news to spoil our family night out or just deal with it in the best possible attitude. Leaving it to the back of my mind we went and saw Robots at Harbour Town - fabulous movie - the best part was watching and listening to the girls larfing and enjoying themselves.

Okay - about church this morning...I got a compilation of songs together on a cd and I only picked four songs - keep it short and sweet of course. It ended up just me and cd - thats okay - sound was good....then the unforseeable during the service...

You know when a cd is stuck and it keeps sticking - people are looking at me while the line is stuck on "love to praise love to praise love to praise love to praise" and it goes to the next line - I keep smiling looking like I know what I'm doing.....get to the next line "you name is your name is your name is" and jumps to the 3rd verse...oh dear not good. The song finally finishes - Praise the Lord - lets sing and worship regardless of the circumstances.

2nd song - goes from bad to worse - the skipping and the scratching - terrible - it wasn't like this in practice I promise. The tears start pushing from behind my eyeballs - while I'm singing "ill be living with you in the morning i'll be living with you in the night (funky song) the brain is going "hold it together hold it - don't lose it" then I hear the words again of the song we are singing " you pick me when I am down" and these words were able to allow my mind to focus on Jesus rather than the miserable failings around me and myself. Thankfully the second song finished and I was halfway there.

The last 2 songs went without too much havic - and managed to save face.

What did I learn from this experience - to have a sweet spirit, have a positive attitude when things look bad and to be able to step up to the base when needed.

Pop Cap Game

.


Try out this game INSANIQUARIUM it will do your head in.... have fun

SEVEN INTERESTING FACTS

1. Like Fingerprints, everyone's tongue prints are different.


2. The honeybee kills more people worldwide than all the poisonous snakes combined.


3. Each year insects eat one third of the world's food crop.


4. During a 24hr period, the average human will breathe 23,040 times, exercise 7 million brain
cells and speak 4,800 words.


5. The hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards.


6. Only female ducks can quack.


7. During a kiss as many as 278 bacteria colonies are exchanged.

Typical Breakfast of an Australian

Footy Tips - Round 2

Last week - I tipped against my beloved team St Kilda as they played against Brisbane at the Gabba.

The score was:

Brisbane Lions 18. 8. (116) def. St Kilda 13. 15. (93)

They could have won however tradgedy struck our captain Nicky Riewoldt - devastating to say the least. He is now out for 6 weeks with a broken collar bone.

My tips for Round 1 were 5/8 and my tips for this week are:

Carlton vs Essendon
CARLTON

Kangaroos vs Sydney
SYDNEY

Bulldogs vs Melbourne
MELBOURNE

West Coast vs Geelong
WEST COAST

Port Adelaide vs Brisbane
PORT ADELAIDE

St Kilda vs Fremantle (Launceston)
ST KILDA

Collingwood vs Adelaide
COLLINGWOOD

Hawthorn vs Richmond
RICHMOND


GO THE S A I N T E R S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Somewhere beneath a bluer sky where purest waters gently flow. Our Lord has made a place for us free from all trials here below. And there someday we'll meet again the ones we love and long to see; And in God's presence we shall live together for Eternity.

Terri Schiavo - Dec 1963 - Mar 2005.