Girls Day Out.

I cannot beleive my holidays have come and gone. It has been a really great week. I have lots of photos to share. I didn't get anywhere near what I would have like to have got done around here, but I had fun. I actually feel like I have had a holiday.

On Friday I got to catch up with the girls I used to work with. I love it that even though we don't work together anymore we still make time to catch up with each other. Jannett picked us all up around 9am and we took off to the beach for the day on a shopping trip. A new shopping centre opened in Yeppoon a couple of months ago and none of us had checked it out. That was our first stop, and I was so proud of myself, because other than a few cards and some wrapping paper, I was very good and didn't spend anything. Next we stopped in the main street of Yeppoon and found two of the most devine shops, and I had my little splurge, but I was so happy with my purchases. (Check out mine below - all beautiful things for my home- I have been looking for a cup cake holder like this one all year, so when I say it I just had to get it - definately cupcakes on the menu for afternoon tea with the girls this week)

We found this amazing little shop called "Kaboozie's Lollie's & Gifts". They had all these homemade chocolates that honestly just melted in your mouth - we all tried different fudges and they were divine. After spending more than we should have, we then checked out the shoe shops for Robyn, she is our "Imelda Marcos" and is addicted to shoes. (I think she honestly has more pairs of shoes than the rest of us put together) She managed to buy a pair of course. We then went to the Keppel Bay Sailing Club for lunch and sat looking out over the water. It was so relaxing, and we had a lovely time laughing and chatting. After lunch we headed to Emu Park where we had afternoon tea at this little retro coffee shop before stopping off to check out Jannett's new beach house they are building at Zilzie. Once we got back into town, I stopped in at a scrapbooking shop to finish off the day.

Friday night we got to spend with these lovely friends of ours. Ann is one of the girls who helps run our monthly crop and we have spent a bit of time this week planning our weekend retreat which is coming up at the end of May, as well as finalizing our planning for a "High Tea" we are holding this Friday night to celebrate , Jean's 60th Birthday, along with a few of the other girls from church who are celebrating their birthdays this monthl. Look what I am going to be resurrecting out of my cupboard to use along with my new purchases from my girls day out. I have some lovely tea sets in my cupboard, maybe it is time I had some more tea parties so that I can put them to good use. Normally we use mugs at home here, so when I pulled these out for a practice run the other morning when the girls were over - my poor DH nearly had a fit - "How do you expect me to hold that and drink my tea" was his quote. Anyway we are all looking forward to playing ladies on Friday night and I am sure that I will have some gorgeous photos of it to share next weekend (Well I am hoping I do)

Scrapbooking wise, I have done very little this week, I made this little 6 x 6 Birthday album for my friend Jean. Rather than make a birthday Card, I decided to make her a little album instead, and have left places for everyone to sign their names and write a few words to her. I also intend to use some of the photos from the "High Tea" to put in the back of the album as a reminder of her special night. I am sure she will love it as she is such an encourager and absolutely loves writing letters to people. I am praying that the words from everyone here will let her know just how special she is and what a huge encouragement she has been to us all over the years.

I managed to get most people to write in it this morning, so now that they have written their little messages, I can finish decorating it this week (will take photos when it is done)

I also did another digital layout this week - I ventured a little further this time and added a frame around my photo.

The Credits for this layout are:

Paper: Shabby Princess Designs "Sweet Serenity"

Title: Elegant Word Art

Photo Frame, Flowers and Doodle were all created by Mymy at http://mymy.sdigiscrap.over-blog.com/

I have also spent a bit of time this week, downloading some more digital scrapbooking kits. I am amazed at the amount of freebies there are on the net for digital scrapbooking. I don't think I will ever be able to give away paper completely though. There is something very therapeutic about working with paper and scissors.

Some of the youth at church have organised a church Futsal team to play competition futsal in town on a Monday night. Both Steve and Chloe have been roped in - they had their first training session today after church. What a mixture - they range in age from 10-51 years of age (My DD being the oldest). The youth were all keen for him to play with them. I do wonder whether he has biten off more than he can chew though, (I guess time will tell - I am praying for no injuries) Other than Ricardo, the others are all mostly in their late teens and early 20's. They certainly had a heap of fun at practice today.

First game is tomorrow night - they are sure to have a few of the side lines to encourage them along. Thought I would include a few shots of their practice today.

Looking forward to tomorrow (no not because I have to go to work) but my big boy is coming home for the week. I have not seen him since Christmas, so I am looking forward to having him home for a few days so that I can spoil him. Both Steve and Chloe are still on holidays for another week. Not at all fair. Steve's folks are also coming up for a few days in the middle of the week, so no doubt we are in for a busy week again this week.

Just thought I would share this.

50 Lessons Life Taught Me
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don’t take yourself seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to dissagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s ok to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement, starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s ok to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it. (what’s more you don’t want to be)
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don’t worry, God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood, but the second one is up to you and nobody else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today IS special!
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so called disaster with these words: “In five years, what will this matter?”
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone of everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in Miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Whatever doesn’t kill you REALLY does make you stronger!
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children only get one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion and eventuality.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere!
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab our own back.
41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the best of it.
42. Get rid of everything that isn’t useful, joyful or beautiful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved and were loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all that you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, get dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn’t tied up with a bow, but it’s still a gift. Celebrate it.

and if you got through this long post - you are amazing. Just want to document all this for my future - this blog is a great record for my annual Christmas letter. I would also like to thank everyone who comes and visits my blog and leaves such lovely and encouraging comments. Your kindness is much appreciated. I love to see who has visited, so thanks again to everyone who says a big HI.

Have a GREAT week.