Day Three

Well, not much to report yesterday so I didn't get here. It's Easter and you know what that means... lots of chocolate and other lovely delicious treats like buns, chocolate, truffles etc... We aren't having any visitors or doing anything special. Mum and Dad are also away and the harvest is happening so we will be lucky to have a meal together as a family. I did buy some out of the ordinary things like prawns, bacon and eggs, some yummy meat for the slow cooker, some ingredients for oreo truffles... it's all about eating hey?
So I managed to get the scales to work long enough to weigh myself. I think the batteries are going and lets face it, over the past few years they have done some serious work. Anyway I'm trusting that what they said was right. Day Two I weighed in at 100.2. You have no idea how much courage it took to type that figure. Cracking the hundred is very recent and very shocking to me and enough to get me moving. Today the scales were at 99.6 and although I know you shouldn't weigh daily, it is something I can't help...
As far as exercise goes, I have managed a daily walk for the past three days. I'm not in love with it yet but today I realised the merits of leaving home at 5:30. I didn't get moving until 7:20 and then met every person I know on the road. Not cool. Earlier tomorrow.
One day at a time...

Time for a new me

Today I went to visit the GP. I've been getting lots of pains in one area of my stomach. Can't really pinpoint any particular food or activity causing this so the doc (who is a lady I know personally too) suggested a lifestyle change. The poor thing looked very uncomfortable as she tried to suggest that I may need to do some exercise and lose weight, and really the whole consultation turned into a session whereby I confessed to my unhealthiness, suggested my own cure and promised to come back and check in with her in a few weeks. (Iwas thinking 6 weeks, she suggested three!)
So, in an effort to keep myself accountable, I have decided to blog about the journey and try to be as open and honest as possible, considering no one actually reads this except me, I feel pretty safe.
DAY ONE
So today is day one. My waist measurement is 109 cm... and I am unsure of my weight... think the scales may be on the way out but will try for an accurate measurement in the morning.
This afternoon I have been for a 40 minute walk with Hannah, Isabel and Thomas and Ellen and I plan to go in the morning. She (Ellen) has pledged to become my personal trainer... kind of a daunting thought. I reel the need to involve as many people as possible in the process. I even plan to teach a health unit at school based on diet, exercise and my own experience.
One day at a time....

And so this is Christmas

I can't quite believe that Christmas is over for another year. This year was quite a monumental one. All the Andersons gathered at our place this year: Dave, Kay, Ben, Tyler, Sharlea and Ryan along with two Canadian friends, Phil, Claire and their three adult children: Genevieve, Sinead and Tyrone. Dave and Kay's family were blessed to stay at a friend's house (thank you Andrea and Will) where they all slept in comfort. We easily squeezed PnC and their kids in here and it was fun having everyone around.
Photos will come. Our newer computer crashed just before Christmas and this older one (on which I am now typing) is incredibly SLOW!!!!! So essential stuff only...
Highlights of Christmas....
Having everyone here on Christmas Eve for a BBQ and nibblies. Penny, Julian and their girls and Mum and Dad were also here. At one point during the evening I looked around and realised that nearly all the people I love were in our house. It was an awesome and humbling feeling and I had a little tear. The kids were treated to a little visit from Santa too... he walked up our driveway and stood near the deck and said a few ho's! Lots of squeals and excitement!

Being presented with my Christmas present, a lawn seat, organised by Hannah and purchased by mum with help from Bruce. The love that went into that gift was humbling!

Making Christmas lunch with Kay and Cyndi in the kitchen, the others on the deck and Bruce cooking the most delicious garlic prawns.

Playing cards with nieces and nephews and our kids. Winning at cheat!

The many discussions and conversations we don't often get to have time for... coffees and unhurried talk.

Watching Ryan throw Thomas and Isabel about 3 m into the air before landing in the swimming pool.

Good wine and cheese.

Church on Christmas morning.

Watching Tyler open his presents, ripping every last piece of wrapping paper off before earnestly holding the present up to look. His absolute joy at receiving every gift.

Feeling so incredibly grateful for the life I have, for the gifts God has given me: health, family, a home, a faith and for the gift of his son on Christmas.

My heart felt full! Praise God.

Addicted...again

I have been reading some really amazing blogs lately and I just love how some people have been able to turn their blogs into their work... being published these days is just so different, so immediate, so doable for everyone! I have found an amazing blog/website called "bakerella"... she is a cake decorator who has invented little cake balls on sticks, decorated with melted chocolate... haven't tried the cake pops yet but today I made oreo truffles following the same idea...just not on sticks. Will have to try to get some lollipop sticks while I am away over the holidays. The oreo truffles are GOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!

Hannah is having a card making workshop for some friends this afternoon and she has not pulled up that well after a friend's sleepover party last night. (a bit cranky.....:( ) I'm looking forward to the workshop, but won't be participating. I will be off in a corner trying to decide if I'm sharing my oreo truffles!!!! No, I will be trying to finish my final assignment which is due next weekend. Don't like the sound of it when you put it that way...next weekend.... aaaaaah!!!
Actually, I don't really have that much to do, will ace it!

We had a couple of gorgeous little visitors here for a sleepover last night: B (who is nearly 3) has been coming to visit us for a while and she is a funny little thing. Her little brother came too and they were both so good! Slept all night and didn't hear a peep from the little man from 6:30 pm until almost 6 this morning. B looked at Bruce when he came in last night and said "You're filthy!" and of course she was right. He was filthy and very tired. I seriously do not know how he works from 5 am until after 7 pm. Crazy.

Anyway, better go and count out some truffles on to a plate.... maybe half a one each????


This is what we've been up to this afternoon.... not much really!

A very kind friend suggested yesterday that I may have swapped my facebook addiction to a blog reading addiction???? He may have a point.....

Five down, eight to go!!!!

Music Fest is over for another year. This weekend always has a distinct deja vu feel about it... we were reminiscing (Robyn and I) about how, four years ago (the last time it was in Gundy) we were waiting for the call from Andrea and Will to say that Julia had arrived. Another mum and I met up at exactly the same corner four years ago as we did today, to go down to where the kids were marching from... we both said"Wow how strange..." I am beginning to love the sense of community we get from Instrumental Music and the way in which we meet up with people from all over who share a common bond. (Part of that bond is sometimes the drudgery of traipsing around after kids... but I had no sense of that this time.) Our kids are starting to feel that too, as they get to know musos from all over. I love being able to see all "my kids", from the schools where I visit as chappy, and to catch up with and chat to parents I don't often see. Loved it...

Have you ever seen a groovier bassoon player?

I want to express appreciation for our instrumental music teacher... a dedicated and hard working teacher who tries very hard to draw the best out of all of our kids with great results. The bands sounded excellent this year and they should all be proud. There are so many awesome stories of the great things that happen through the Instrumental Music program that I won't publish here... I can only say that for myself, I was able to learn a new instrument at the age of about 38, and can now play something that gives me great joy, is an avenue for worship and has helped me to help lots of kids.

Thank you Alex!

The cool clarinetist!
How's that freaky shadow??? Oh and that's Hannah on the flute!

Anyway, the weekend seems to have just started and is rapidly drawing to a close. Bruce is home a bit early, the sky is threatening big rain and it is the afternoon of St. Pat's fete... it always seems threatening for their fete... we know what that feels like!

Off to play my flute for worship practice!

It's been a while of course... and a lot has happened since my last entry.

Our family is once again on a break from tv, ds's, computer and internet and movies (except Bruce and I!! We can do whatever we want!) I have deactivated facebook again and it is liberating. I do have a lot more time on my hands and I'm going to need it!

Because.... I have resigned as Chaplain and am going back to teaching. I finish up at the end of this year and start back in the classroom next year. I am very excited to have finally made the decision, feel like it's the right one and ready to take on the next challenge. Most people are very understanding and even excited for me, however you get the occasional person (like a couple I spoke to today) who expressed real disappointment and ..."what a shame etc" That makes me feel momentarily bad, but I am not doing this to impress anyone, only following what I believe God is directing me to. I intend to continue my ministry, just in a slightly different way. EXCITING!

Tomorrow Hannah and I are heading to Goondi to see the dentist and it's probably a good thing that the ATM ate my card today so that I have no way of getting any money and spending more than we have to spend! It will be a quick trip with not much to spend! Hopefully Hannah will have some success.... her teeth are a mess!

We are also heading to Goondi on the weekend for Music Fest. Robyn and I will go with a tribe of kids. Fun times!

Better go... P&C tonight... weeks are flying away...

Ready to go

It's hard to believe, and in a few days I won't be feeling this, but I'm almost sick of the holidays!!! Not so much the holidays, but certainly having the kids around, arguing and annoying each other all day. Yes I know, two short posts ago, I was gloating about how well they were getting on....

Tomorrow we head off to Toowoomba for a day of shopping, followed by Kay's party in Oakey on Saturday. We'll stay there on Saturday night before travelling home on Sunday. Went to check out my renumerator card and thankfully we actually have some money on it so we can pay for our weekend. Things are very tight financially. Sometimes when I stop and think about it, I feel momentarily worried, but then I remember that God is looking after us (but testing our faith on a daily basis!). He continues to provide everything we need... I guess the trouble is that sometimes we want things that we really don't need and they aren't provided for. It is a constant temptation for me to give up chaplaincy and go back to teaching, but I know that God has blessed us because I am doing what he wants me to do and it is bery important to keep doing that.

As I type the kids are packing up and getting their gear ready to go. We want to leave early to get to hair appointments by 10 am. We are leaving the dog here, wonder what we'll come back to!!!

Our rose is flowering on the back archway....gorgeous blooms and amazing scent. The photos don't do it justice, it is a delight!