Sisters are Special and Scrapbooking at last

I have had my sister and brother in law in visiting this past week - we have had such a lovely time together. Since they have moved to Emerald we are seeing a lot more of them. They came in with their eldest daugher and her young family for Natalie to have her MRI. ( A follow through from when she was flown in here by the RFD with severe migrane headaches. Natalie and the children went home on Thursday but John and Jude stayed until Saturday, so on Friday we took time out to go down to the Capricorn Coast for a drive and afternoon tea. It was just like old times - our lives have gone full circle. We used to often have holidays togetherbefore kids, when it was just the four of us. Now with our kids almost off our hands we had a little taste of what is in store for us again in the future. Sisters are special and I just want to say Jude that although we might be as different as chalk and cheese in some respects, I love catching up with you and spending this time with you. You have a heart of gold and I really do appreciate you more than you realize. Loved spending time with you these past few days.

Before I forget you have to go visit Lusi's Austin's blog.

She has an awesome RAK up for grabs on her blog. Some of her stamps - including my most favourite " You Rock my World" stamps - as well as a huge bunch of other stuff too.

You can see her stuff at Buzz and Bloom. Not only is Lusi is an amazing scrapbooker, but she is a warm, generous, compassionate person as well, and has has inspired me in not only my scrapbooking but also my Christian faith. You Rock Girl.

Oh for long weekends, I have finally got around to getting some scrapbooking done this weekend. I managed a double layout of our High Tea, as well as a few more pages for my JOY Journal. I have just about caught up again, although I am going to have to try and source some bigger rings for it as my album is almost full and I am only half way through the year. I am hoping to get in and do a few more layouts again this week. At least I have plenty of photos to scrapbook, all poatiently waiting on my scrapbooking desk for me to do something with them.

Chloe has been away all weekend on your Youth Group camp. If the photos are anything to go by, it looks like they have had a pretty awesome time. Although it was well after midnight on Thursday night before they got to bed, they all had to be up by 4am to attend the Dawn Service Anzac Morning - whilst some of the leaders headed back to bed for a bit of a sleep catch up. Quite a few of the kids decided they wated to sit on the beach and watch the sun rise. Check out these awesome photos of the sun rising over the horizon . They are breathtaking and I can only imagine what it myst have been like to actually experience it. For my own record, I have included the collage of the kids at camp as well as a Collage of some of the photos I like that the other kids took of Chloe. Can't you tell I am a biased Mum - just love that daughter of mine.

My friend Karen is due in for a visit again tomorrow. Her mum is being admitted for a Hip Replacement on Tuesday so I know that she would value some prayers for her Mum - that the surgery will be successful and she will be up and about in no time at all.

Also thinking of my son Pete who I know would really appreciate prayers on Wednesday this week. He has been shortlisted for a Graduate Program position as soon as he finishes his degree. His interview is on Wednesday and he has been loaded down with assignments. ( He had one due last Thursday, one due today and then another due tomorrow) This doesn't leave him a lot of time to prepare. Good luck Pete - I know that you would be a huge assest to anyone who would employ you and take the time to get to know you.

I found this great quote on Mel Harris's blog this week, and I am sure she won't mind if I share it with you. It is so true.

People are like stained-glass windows.They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,but when the darkness sets in,their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

And finally I thought this was definately worth sharing with you all as well.

I dreamed I had an interview with God. “So you would like to interview me?” God asked“If you have the time” I said.God smiled…“My time is eternity”“What questions do you have in mind for me?”“What surprises you most about humankind?”God answered...

“That they get bored with childhood. They rush to grow up and then long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.

”That they live as if they will never die, and die as if they had never lived.”God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while and then I asked...

“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?

”God replied with a smile…“To learn they cannot make anyone love them.What they can do is let themselves be loved.”“To learn, that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and it takes many years to heal them.” “To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.”“To learn that there are persons who love them dearly but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings.”“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”“To learn that it is not always enough that they are forgiven by others,
but that they must forgive themselves.”

“And to learn that I am here always.”