Turning 50 - A three Day Party

So much has happened since I last blogged lots good and some not so good. - I warn you now that this will be a long post, more for my sake as I document both the good and the bad. Last week was a horrendous week for me - there is stuff happening at work that has made me really sad and unhappy. So much so that I went and asked our principal for a transfer out. Not sure if this will happen, but I figure I need a change. Over the last few years, I have received some nasty injuries at work, and suddenly last week, it was like a dam burst and I just felt enough is enough. Being "White Ribbon" week did not help as this is all about stopping violence against woman. Unfortunately, all the incidents and injuries I have received in the last few years have happened at the hands of boys, and I think it is time we said enough is enough, and even if at times they don't understand, it is still not acceptable. I have spent $100 this past week on chiropractic visits due to stress. I just do not earn enough to keep this up, although this is not really about money. I have had my little whinge now but if you are a person who prays, I would value your prayers that an opportunity arises that I can change into the general school and library rather than remain in special ed. I also think I need the challenge of something new. Maybe it is the end of the year and I am just worn out.

Now after sharing all that, I was in for an amazing surprise on the weekend. I turned 50 last Sunday and I honestly thought that the weekend was going to be a non event, as Steve has been SO SO SO busy with the end of year exams and reports, and the poor guys has not been to bed much before 2am - 3am now for the last couple of weeks. (In fact I haven't seen much of him at all this past month). He just did not have time to organise anything and I could really understand that as I watched him work day and night for the past month. Also the kids were really busy and had already let me know that there is no way they could afford to come home for the weekend this close to Christmas.

After the most aweful and emotional week at work, I went to work Friday morning and arrived to find my room had been decorated by a couple of the beautiful girls I work with. Balloons streamers, Big happy Birthday sign in the window, (plus my age I might add) Every classroom I went into, the kids sang happy birthday, and so many of the lovely staff gave me gifts, one teacher who has not been at our school for the last two years, even came back and brought me a gift. I was overwhelmed by their love and generousity. Friday morning I am in the staff room at 10.30am on my break when my husband walked in with the hugest bunch of red roses with an "I love you" Balloon to have morning tea with me. He asked me to come outside, he had something in the car and as I walked outside, there was Sarah standing with a huge punch of pink roses, and a "You are Special" balloon. Well as you can imagine, I just completely lost the plot and am standing there sobbing my little heart out. They had bought in a special morning tea to share with me during my break. Friday afternoon, most of the staff in the unit threw me a special afternoon tea. We laughed (such good medicine), and Sarah arrived about 4pm to pick me up and take me out shopping for a couple of hours. I actually wanted to go home and take my flowers home and she said "No Mum" they will be fine, so off shopping we went until 5.45pm. When I got home the house was spotless, Steve and Sarah had spent the day, cleaning it from top to bottom, washing all the floors so it would look nice for the weekend. The yard was all mowed. it was just beautiful. I was overwhelmed again. Steve then told me not to get excited, that Pete definately could not make it, if I was thinking that he might surprise me too. He just didn't want me to get my hopes up and then feel disappointed cause he couldn't get there. Anyway, Sarah wanted to take me out to the back bedroom where she was to show me a dress she had made the weekend before with my girlfriend Barb. But I fobbed her off, wanting to put my beautiful flowers in water first, so I took my time fiddling around arranging them, and finally she takes me into her room, and who should be sitting on my bed, but my wonderful Mum and Dad who had also come up to surprise me for my birthday. Well I was emotional again. Friday night was just a lot of fun, Chloe's boyfriend came over, and we all played "Phase 1o" and had a late night. Saturday morning the celebrations started all over again. Chloe, Steve and Dad went off to do some shopping whilst, Mum, Sarah and I went to the other shopping centre where we went out to coffee with a friend of Sarah's, We did have strick instuctions to be home by 12 noon though.

Anyway we got home at lunch time on Saturday, and Steve is packing the esky, and told me we were going to the beach for a picnic lunch. (I love going on picnics to the beach) but to also put in a change of clothes cause we could go out and have dinner whilst we were there. We took off to the beach about 1.30pm and when we got to Yeppoon, he stopped the car and blind folded me - now I was a bit suss. After driving around the roundabout 3-4 times, to disorinate me, we drove for another 15 minutes with me blind folded. He and the girls had me walking up stairs blindfolded (not a nice experience, and a real lesson in trust), and the next minute they took the blindfold off, and here I was standing in a Unit looking out to sea. He had booked us into Roslyn Bay Resort for the weekend, as well as my parents. Well if that was not enough, the next minute, my sister, and Brother in law, and their children and grandchildren all walked in. They were booked in for the weekend and were celebrating my birthday with me. I was a mess again. I just could not beleive we were all having a weekend down at the resort together. We had a ton of fun, with the kids all enjoying a swim in the pool in the afternoon. By now I am feeling a little disappointed that Pete was not going to make it, more for his sake now as all the cousins were going to be together and he would be missing out on all the fun. Steve then told me that we were having dinner at the Beach's Restaurant at the resort, and (then I understood why Sarah had me shopping that morning for a new outfit) Anyway by this stage there were now 18 of us in my birthday party. At 7pm, we went down to the restaurant for dinner, and they had this huge table set up out on the balcony overlooking the pool, it was beautiful, but it was set up for over thirty people. Steve was off somewhere on the phone, and the lady from the restaurant came out and asked was this OK, and I said to her that there were far too many settings, that there were only 18 of us in the party, she looked at me strangely saying "Really" (and apparently my Dad was in the background trying to say there that not it was all right) The next minute, all of these beauiful friends of mine started arriving, Dan and Jenni, Eleonore, Marg, Jannett, and even Chloe's boyfriend James, I was totally overwhelmed again. I just could not beleive my beautiful husband would have gone to so much trouble when he had been so busy. we were pretty much all seated with a spare chair next to me, when the next minute I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around and there was my wonderful son Pete standing there. Well I completely lost it and was a blubbering sobbing mess. After the week I had you have no idead how totally and completely overwhelmed I felt by all the love from my amazing family and friends. We had the best night.

It was so nice to wake up on my birthday with my beautiful family all with me. Steve and Dad, cooked a wonderful breakfast and we all had it in the garden setting and spent a leisurely morning together.

It was the best birthday I have ever had - the only real thing I wanted for my birthday was to spend time with my family. The best present any of them could have given me was spending the time with me. I just loved every minute of it. I truely do have the most wonderful fantasic husband and amazing family and I have felt so special and loved all weekend. It actually turned into a three day birthday celebration. I have a few photos to share from the weekend. I honestly did not take enough - I was too busy having a good time.

As far as scrapbooking goes. I have been pretty slack lately - well probably more busy than anything. I have managed to do a couple of classes with Ali Russell from Embellished. Always enjoy what we do, and am pretty happy with these layouts too.

Hope to start the layouts in my "Joy Journal" this week, already have quite a few things that I could scrap about that have brought me great joy just in this past week. I must admit that after the past weekend, the stress from work is insignificant in comparsion to the blessings I have received from those I love and who love me. How truely grateful and thankful I feel that I have such an amazing husband who never fails to show his love not only to me but also to our kids, and my family. I have the best kids, who I am so incredibly proud of, and wonderful parents who have loved me unconditionally all my life - great sisters, and great neices and nephews. Some people go through life without having a real friend, I am definately been blessed by having amazing friends who have always loved me, stood by me, and been their for me, and I just want to thank each and everyone of you amazing people who have helped me to be the person I am today. I am truely blessed.

Scrap of Faith Charity Crop Weekend

Wow what a great weekend. it was so good to catch up with all the Scrap of Faith girls. It was great seeing Sal, Nat, Roz, Katrina again and just fantasic meeting Gennie, Chrissy, Katie, Ange, Amy and Donna for the first time. What a wonderful bunch of girls. I also got to scrapbook with Sarah and her friend Amanda as well as my best friend Barb who also joined us. Even my Mum and Dad made the effort to come for a drive and catch up and have a cuppa with me. So good to see them too. Sal did a super fantasic job organising the Charity Crop Day to support Mercy Ministries, and it was so good that the girls from Mercy could come and have lunch with us and tell us a little more about their work. It is an awesome program doing a fantasic job supporting girls with all sorts of problems. Quite a few of the NSWs girls who couldn't make it to Queensland for the Crop organised their own and between us and them, we managed to raise something like $850 to support this worthwhile charity. Sal had also organised some wonderful prizes for the day as well as preparing lunch and dinner for us all. Sal, I can't thank you enough for all your dedication to Scrap of Faith and us girls in particular. I know with a young family, a business at home, and your schooling, this would not have been an easy task, and I truely want to thank you for such a memorable day (even though we got little scrapbooking done). Have quite a few photos to share.

Had a lovely time sitting accross from Gennie and Chrissy - lots of chatting and also had a bit of fun with our cameras taking each photos or each other. I was so peeved though, I recharged my batteries the night before so that I could take heaps and heaps of photos, and wouldn't you know it, the rechargeable batteries that I charged must have been duds because they would not hold the charge, and I only managed to get a few photos before the batteries dies. I was so disappointed. Want to say a big thank you though to the girls who did manage to get photos and emailed them to me.

I also had a really great weekend catching up with my older two children. Sarah picked me up from the airport Friday night but then had to rush off to a 21st. I got to go out to dinner with my son and I had the best time. I love it when we can spend time together just chatting and catching up with each other. It is such a special time for me and time that I really do treasure.

On Sunday, Sarah and I got to do a bit of shopping in the morning (picked up some real bargain acrylic stamps from Spotlight for $4.99 - they had alphabets, borders, greetings. Fantasic value. Sarah also stocked up on Bazzill cardstock. I mean who wouldn't at 74c a sheet. We then went to meet Pete and all ended up at the movies where we saw "A Night with the King". Had a really great time together. Just love spending time with you guys. So so blessed.

Much to my kids disgust, I did have to do a bit of a photo shoot with them. Sarah has had her hair cut quite short - no one at home as soon it this short since she was about 8 years old, so had to have photos to show everyone. it actually looks pretty good. It is quite a bit shorter at the back, sweeping down longer in the front around her face.

In a couple of weeks time I turn half a century - Man I cannot beleive that I am nearly 50. In fact I really don't feel much more than 30 (although my body disagrees at times). Anyway, I have decided to set myself a challenge for my 50th year and record each week, something in my life or around me that brings me joy, or that I am grateful for. I have made a little 6 x 6 album from scratch and each week I am going to take up the challenge of one of my favourite chapters in the Bible, but in particular the verses in Phillippians 4: 8 & 9 which says

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is nobile, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything

is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have

learned or received or heard from me or seen in me - put into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you.

I don't plan for it to be full of fancy pages - just perhaps a photo and a little bit of journalling. I figure that if I just plan to do it weekly it will be a more manageable task. I am quite excited about it actually and I am looking forward to being able to go back and revisit the things in my life that I have been blessed with, that I am grateful for and that give me such joy. Anyone else want to take up the challenge with me.

As far as scrapbooking goes, I really haven't managed to do much in the last couple of weeks. I did go to a class with Ali at Embellished last Thursday night. Absolutely love the layout I did (even though I have not finished the journalling yet) Fancy uploading a layout that I have not finished. I do aim to finish it on Saturday. Last weekend I did the intro pages to my "Joy Journal" and I also started making my "Pay if Forward" gifts, that I hope to finish in the next week or so and have them posted before Christmas. Speaking of Pay it Forward gifts, I received the most beautiful gift from Beverley in the mail last week. I was sent a little book called "Be Happy" and Bev made a special felt cover for it which she has appliqued and it is just divine. My daughter has driven me nuts wanting it - but she has been told to keep her cotton pickin fingers off it. I just love it Bev and think I might just have to have a go and doing something like this myself.

I have had a really busy week this week getting ready for our final crop for 2007. Each month a group of us girls meet together to scrapbook from2pm to 9pm, this weekend we are holding a 12 hour crop from 9am to 9pm to end the year, so have been really busy orgainising schedules for next years crops, flyers about our retreat, Christmas gifts etc so have been burning the midnight oil a little. Can't believe that this year has nearly ended. Where has it gone. Should have some photos of our final crop to share with you next week.

Finally a big thankyou to Katie who has tagged me with the "You Make Me Smile Award"

So I've decided to tag Nat, Chrissy, Lali, and Anthea and everyone else who takes the time to read my blog! You all make me smile! :)

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to stop by and leaves a comment. I really do love hearing from you.

Thought I would leave you with a quote for the day. I really like this one and it is so true.

Remember there’s not such a thing
As a small act of kindness...
Every act creates a ripple
With no logical end...
- Scott Adams

Have a great week.

Nice quiet day at home

Life is quiet here today - just me at home. Time to myself, time to scrapbook. Time to wind down after a pretty horrendous week at work. The end of the year is fast approaching, teachers are tired and stressed, and the kids have had enough. It is such a busy time of year for teachers. Steve and Chloe are both up at school today. Steve has opened the computer room so that students can get their assignments finished. Chloe is up there with him, finishing off her assignment. These are the graphic students, and unfortunately, as the CAD softward program costs the earth, most of the kids need to come back to school out of hours to complete their assignments. Exams start on Wednesday, so no doubt the next few weeks are going to be very hectic in this household. I know that Chloe can't wait for it all to be over so that she can have a life again. The countdown is on 13 more days and she will be finished for the year - well exams that is, as of Wednesday this week, she is on Study break, only having to go to school for the actual exams. My baby only has one more year of schooling and she is finished. Kinda sad, she has kinda grown up too quickly. Mind you only one more year of school fees too YAH,

I have had a pretty busy week. School has been hard this week, we all need a break- the end of the year is always difficult for some of our autisic children. I have also had a few projects going on as well. I am off to Brissie this next weekend for the Charity Crop organised by Scrap of Faith. I am so looking forward to catching up with the girls from there, and also meeting some of the girls I chat to regularly but have yet to meet in real life. I was determined to finish off a CJ I have had sitting here for a couple of months, as well as the November layout for Scrap of Faith. We also have our monthly end of the year crop the weekend after next, so have had a bit of work to do in regards to that, and I wanted it completed before I go away this week. Anyway most of it is done now, so I allowed myself the luxury of scrapbooking the last couple of nights and managed to complete three layouts. I am amazing myself at the length of time I can now complete a layout. Once it would take me all day to do one layout, now I can do one in an hour or two.

This first layout is a layout I did for the final CJ in a round of CJ's I did with the girls from ScrapNeeds. It was about the "ABC of Me". Really kind of like these colours at the moment. Quite a fun layout too doo - not too hard so why did it take me so long?????

I have really been going through a messy stage with my scrapbooking at the moment, wanting to get out my paints and sewing machine and bits and pieces of felt and pipecleaners etc. Now normally I don't do messy well at all, although I really quite like this layout. I had a lot of fun doing it. Must admit I had come across the basis of the journalling I used on this layout on another layout some time ago. I could so identify with it, that I took a copy and then just rewrote parts to apply to me. This next layout kinda got wrecked. It looked a little bare so decided I would try the bubblewrap paint technique of Julie Heard's, well it worked brilliantly on the scrap of paper I tried it on, but not so good on my layout. Definately think it is the sort of thing you need to do on your paper first before attaching anything else, Well I did it all back to front.

Last layout was was pretty simple. I my real love language is physical touch, and I so love the feel of my DH's warm hands holding mine or his warm hugs. There is just always been something about the warmth of this touch that is really speical to me. I love the cuddles and the snuggles, even after 28 years of marriage almost. It is more than just that though, Steve has such a warmth towards others, he has such a servant heart, and I really wanted to document that. He is a very special man and I am truely blessed.

Finally just want to share a thought that I came accross today whilst I was doing a bit of blogg surfing. I found this on Sue's blogg (on of the girls from Scrap of Faith) and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it. It is definately something to think about and do.

On this Day

Keep a promise.

Search out a forgotten friend.

Encourage someone.

Mend a quarrel.

Forget an old grudge.

Fight for a principle.

Express your gratitude.

Overcome an old fear.

Take two minutes to appreciate

the beauty of nature.

Tell someone you love them.

Tell them again...

And again..

I hope you guys all have a terrific week - I am so looking forward to next weekend when I get to catch up with my kids in Brissie, as well as crop with the girls from Scrap of Faith.