Back Home again.

Wow so much has happened since I last posted. I went in for surgery - all good news, Praise God, and then headed off to Brissie where I caught up with my kids over night. Got in plenty of shopping - too much really, and even got to all go to the movies together before I had to head off to Toowoomba for my week on campus for work. I have even managed to do a couple of layouts since I last posted which I will share.

Although most of the layout is mine, I have to admit I saw the felt sun and title on a layout some time ago and though wow I really like that so have scraplifted the suns and title. Really am happy with this layout.

This second layout was a layout about why I liked to scrapbook.

Perhaps the highlight of my trip away was meeting up with the Scrap of Faith girls in Brissie on Saturday for a picnic lunch and finally getting to meet Lusi Austin and Kerryn in real life. They are such beautiful woman. I also got to meet Lusi's friends Jill and Lu and their families. It was also really lovely to catch up with Nat and Sal as well. It was a great picnic (and lots of photo taking). Even the kids were taking photos.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for me when I went to hospital. The results were good, and the whole experience was no where near as bad as I remembered it from the last time I had this procedure. (which I might add was over 20 years ago) It is true - medical science has come a long way in the last twenty years.

I spent last week on Campus at USQ in Toowoomba for our annual weeks seminar. We get to meet with all the faculties and learn about any changes to courses for 2008. Also had some hands on sessions in the computer labs and also in the library. One of the highlights of the week was being able to attend the "International Woman's Conference" which just happened to be on the same week we were on campus at USQ. We were able to attend a few of the Keynote speakers addresses. This was really interesting and I particularly enjoyed the addresses by Proffessor Linda Duxbury from Canada on "Work Life Balance" and also the address by Cr. Di Thorley the Mayor of Toowoomba. Whilst the week is pretty full on, we do have some great social times as well. On Tuesday night a few of us went to the club and joined in with the Engineers in their trivia night. There were 8 of us and we were no match for them- we didn't do so well (came second last I think) but we had a great night and didn't have to buy a drink all night. Think we also managed to trade our spare drink vouchers in for a bottle of red and white wine which we then took to our PJ party the next night.

On the Wednesday night a special dinner is held in our honor and this year we had a PJ Party. What a hoot. It felt a little weird going out to dinner in our PJ's and Nighties. Not used to going outdoors in mine at all. We had a great night with some light hearted entertainment and lots and lots of good old belly laughs. The RLO's are spread from Melbourne to Cairns, and this week is the only time in the year that we all get together. Although it is really a very full on week and we all come home exhausted, we all kind of look forward to it too as in a way it is a bit like a family reunion. There are 16 of us with most of us working for USQ in excess of 10 years. I think we worked out that collectively we have over 187 years of experience.

My friend Karen (the RLO from Emerald) then spent the weekend in Brissie with me and we got to catch up with my older kids. We were also able to catch up with the Scrap of Faith Girls on Saturday for a picnic lunch at Mt. Cootha. It was so good that my visit in Brissie also coincided with the weekend Lusi was flying to Brissie was the same weekend to catch up with Nat. We have emailed and kept in touch with each other through Scrap of Faith and our blogs but have never had the chance to meet IRL. It was so exciting to finally get to do this and also to meet Kerryn who is also just a very delightful lady. It was also really great to catch up with Sal and Nat again and get to have a cuddle of the absolutely gorgeous Miss Lani. Just love catching up with you girls. You are so inspiring and encouraging and I really do treasure and value your friendships. Needless to say we had a great time catching up and we took heaps and heaps of photos. (Love for you to email me yours too girls)

Saturday night got to go see my Son-in-laws band perform at West End. Sarah, Karen and I went out for dinner first and then went to check out the boys. They have been playing in a "Battle of the Bands" competion and the semi finals were on Saturday night. They made it through to the finals which will be on this Saturday night. First prize is $10,000 worth of sponsorship, so I hope they do well again this weekend.

Thought I would finish off by sharing a photo of my my gorgeous daughter and a mother daughter shot. I had a great time with you Colin, and Pete darl - I do love catching up with you all and I feel so blessed to have such terrific kids.

I know that this post is long but I am so thankful and grateful for so many things so want to finish off with just a few of the things I am grateful for today.

1. For a God who loves me and has an awesome plan for my life.

2. For the blessing of family whose love and respect I will always treasure.

3. For wonderful friends, both new and old. How blessed I feel.

4. For having work that allows you to encourage and support others.

5. For Spring, the cool breezes, the sunny skies, the perfume of flowers - just the beauty that surrounds us each and every day.

6. For LIFE itself - for love, and laughter and tears and frustrations, just every aspect of being able to live life.