Birthday Flowers

It has been a pretty busy week but a good week - yesterday I was spoilt, another birthday rolled around and these arrived at work for me yesterday morning. Totally spoilt by my wonderful Husband and what a lovely surprise. They arrived whilst I was on playground duty. Some of the year 7's came chasing after me and told me I was urgently needed in the library. Couldn't for the life of me work out why I was urgently needed back there.
They got a real buzz by beating me back to the library- the flowers were on my desk and they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me. They were really excited and keen to see my surprise when I saw my flowers.

Some of the girls I used to work with then took me out for afternoon tea after school and I got these. My house looks and smells beautiful. Love these girls. None of us work together anymore but we still keep in touch. We all scrapbook together as well. Had a lovely time and didn't get home till nearly 6pm.

Steve and Chloe took me to the movies and then out for a quick bite afterwards, so all in all it was a lovely day.










Just wanted to share a few of these other photos also. The night of Chloe's Valedictory dinner we had a look at the new building at school. Went to the top floor and had a magnificent view of the lights of the city, Pity I didn't have my tripod, as it was hard to take a photo that wasn't blurred but I did have fun taking these photos - especially waving the camera around and making these patterns.

On the weekend we went to friends place for lunch and had a lovely time. Took some awesome photos of my friends daughter racing her go carts but probably can't share them as I haven't asked her if she minds if I put her kids photos on the net. So happy witht them though,

Got a couple of photos of Chloe with her Dad and my girlfriend and her son.

Not a lot of other news to share - really just need an early night.

This quote arrived in an email today - thought it was just worth sharing with you all.

'Be kinder than necessary because Everyone you meet, is fighting some kind of battle'.

Be back again soon with more to share.

Valedictory Dinner

What a wonderful night - yet also a sad night. Chloe's very last school function and roll call. After 20 years, our schooling days are over where our kids are concerned.

Almost 500 students and parents attended The valedictory dinner. This celebrational dinner for all Senior Students and their parents is a night to reminisce and celebrate their 5 years of high school. For a few of the seniors, their jounery at Grammar started at year 1, and it was wonderful to see the powerpoint presentations of special events during their schooling years. The Art, Graphics and Worshop departments all had displays of the kids work - there are definately some very talented students and I am sure they will go a long way in their chosen fields.

Lots of photos of a great night and the end of an era in this household.

The dinner was held under the space frame at school - beautifully set up - flower arrangements, programs and gifts on each table.

Chloe's friends mum bought the four students at our table these little flying bird chocolates to celebration the occasion of these kids getting their wings as they are about the fly the nest.

It was a night of celebrating school friendships and also saying goodbye - lots of photos and logs of hugs and tears.

The group of friends Chloe hung out with -

Steffi and Chloe were the only senior girls doing Graphics this year. They have known each other and been friends since Primary school.

Then of course she had to have photos taken with her favourite Graphics teacher.

and as I am usually the photographer at occasions like this, I made sure this year that my photo taken with Chloe as well. Not a particularly good photo but one never the less.

And then the final roll call for the Seniors of 2008.

And although I know that this blog is about Chloe and her final day at school - it was also about Steve having to say farewell to a bunch of Senior kids that he has thoroughly enjoyed teaching and working with. He has spent heaps of hours up at the school allowing kids to work on assignments and for me, it was wonderful reading in the senior book that for some students, some of their most memorable moments at school were spent in R3 (the Graphics Room) - and finally I just wanted to document this card that Steve was given from one of his students last night.

Mr. Latham

You are the most imcredibly insightful and devoted teacher I've met in my schooling history.

I can't extend my appreciation to you enough for the countless hours you have spent to ensure we come out with such awesome skills. You generally exceed yourself.

Taking your class has been the most epic experience which I would repeat again any day.

Who ever though being as school on the weekend would be fun.

I'll really miss your classes as you always felt like such a friend.

He might need to read this occassionally when he feels frustrated with workloads and deadlines -

Have some more random photos to share but think I will leave them for the next post.

Layouts from the retreat

Just thought I would update with the layouts I did at the retreat. I am afraid I really didn't get much scrapbooking done but I did have fun in the classes and managed to do a couple of challenges.

The first layout is the one I did in Bev Warwick's class - Bev carted all the gear over from NZ with her and we had a ton of fun. This is not the sort of Layout I normally do - lots of glimmer mist, stamps, paint - messy messy messy (didn't help that it was windy and the mist was blowing everywhere) Lots of doodling as well - I just loved the way it turned out - got to use bling and Kindy glitz as well.

This second layout had to be done completely from materials received in our kit. This was really hard cause we could ONLY use stuff in our kit and nothing else - I was not 100% happy with this layout - it needs more depth of colour - still it was fun trying to see how I could use the bits and pieces.

Third Layout was just using up some crown paper I had and since the theme of the weekend was "His Princess" thought I would do it on Chloe.
I have never been much of a BTP scrapbooker but I have to say that I really enjoyed doing the Covered Tin in Gail Comber's class - I can see endless possibilities for a covered tin like this. Thinking I might have to visit some of the coffee shops in town to see if I can source some of these tines - I think they would make awesome Christmas pressies for friends and neighbours - filled with some Christmas home baking. Unfortunately I haven't really had a chance to get any scrapbooking done since I have got home. At the moment I am madly cleaning out my cupboards ready for my big spring clean before Christmas. I am trying to be ruthless whilst Steve is at work (he is a bit of a hoarder so I need to get it in bins and gone before he can find it and salvage it again.

Thought I would also share a few photos of Chloe's last week at school. Chloe is so fortunate that her dad used to be a Maths teacher - her friends are on a good wicket also when they need help. Chloe often calls on him to explain some concepts to her and her friends - so here they are all working together (late into the night) Hopefully it will have paid off - she should get her results this week.
Then last Friday night she went to her last ever School Dance. She and several of her mates cut up one of their school uniforms and went off to the school dance looking like this. Am waiting on some photos of the group of them.

This is a big week for Chloe - she is doing some work experience at an Engineering and Drawing company for a couple of days this week. Today was her first day and she ABSOLUTELY LOVED it - she would just love to get a job as a Draughts person working with AutoCAD. She was stoked today cause she was able to show them some short cuts and they have asked her to come back for a few extra days. She actually got to go out on a job today to check out a new road they are building and then the boss ordered in Cheesecake for morning tea. Everyone was really lovely to her they were all so friendly. This is the sort of place she would love to get a full time job at. Praying that something like this comes up for her.

Also this Friday night we have her Valedictory Dinner - this is the final dinner that the school puts on for the senior students and their families. I am actually feeling a little sad that our kids have all completed their schooling now. We are able to end a new era of our lives.

Pete has finally accepted a position with the Federal Govt working in IT for Centrelink and starts at the end of January - he has to fly to Canberra for training and that in itself is a bit of an adventure.

Edited to Add
Forgot to mention last night that Chloe got her boat licence last week also - this has been a really busy time for her - she has had so much on her plate but it is good to see that some of her hard work is paying off.

Well might call it a night - will be back later in the week with lots more photos to share of the big night on Friday night. Hope you all have a great week.
In closing a quote I came accross this week

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy
they are the charming gardeners who
make our souls blossom.

Marcel Proust

Photo Overload from the Retreat

Well I am still recovering from my weekend away meeting all these wonderful girls at the first Scrap of Faith retreat. Most of these girls have been my online buddies for the past couple of years. The weekend was awesome - we had the best time together, we laughed, we cried, we hugged, we dined, we laughed some more, we worshipped, we played and laughed some more again, and, somewhere in all of that we managed to fit in a bit of scrapbooking as well. We arrived at the retreat Friday afternoon laughing and I think we were still laughing when we left Sunday afternoon. I did three classes during the weekend. a digi scrapbooking class with the wonderful Rowena Fields, a Layout class with the very lovely Beverly Warwick from New Zealand, and the BTP class with the gorgeous Gail Combers. I will save the photos from these classes until next time.

Lesley trying to pack her case for the retreat and Ange and Lou

Nat Amanda and Sarah and Amanda, Katie and Sarah

Gayle, Amanda, Karen, Lesley and Sarah and Jodie and Lou

Tracey and Sal and Leanne, Ingeborg and Suse

Karen, Gayle and Ali and the Scrap of Faith DT.













Willro and Co Designs DT and Suse and Lou

Gail and Haylee and Sam

Gennie and Ali, Gennie and Nat

Natalie M from SA and the Room 3 Buddies and Megan

The lovely Kat and Our offering

Mothers and Daughters and Bev and Karen

Room 1 Girls and Room 3 Girls

Gail's Class and Bev's Class

I arrived home from an awesome weekend to be greeted with some sad news. I received the news that my position as an RLO at the University of Southern Queensland would no longer exist after the 27th of March in 2009. And between the sad feelings from within, and beleiving that this is a good change, it has also made me aware that nothing is guaranteed or certain in this life. I am full of gratitude though for I truely have been blessed to have worked with some wonderful girls over the past 15 years. We couldn't have asked for a better boss - Suzanne has been just the best. I know that this job was more than unique - it was one in a million and I know that I will never have a job like this again surrounded by such positive, vibrant and funny woman. The yearly week on campus in Toowoomba was like a family reunion and has always been my laughter medicine for the year.

Some things are worth remembering through all of this and that is

1. My relationship with God is the only sure thing in this life.

2. I am truely blessed, . I have health, I have found the love of my life, I have shelter, provision for my body and beautiful encouraging friends whom all believe in me. And I'm thankful. I am so grateful.

3. Life a life that is content and not defined by material things.

4. Be rich in kindness and love, generous with an open heart.

5. Learn to be full of grace and wisdom

6. Know that God will always provide and meet your needs.

7. Face your circumstances with grace and dignity and always look up.

8. Do not dwell on past hurts, learn to forgive and learn to appreciate dissappointments as valuable life lessons.

9. Embrace encouragement and encourage those around you.

Until next time - God bless and have a great week.