What a night

Both Steve and Iwent to bed feeling a little quessy last night. By 1am this morning it had all started. We had obviously picked up a vomiting bug from somewhere. First we thought it might have been food poisoning, but neither of us had eaten the same thing, and Chloe who had was not sick. Secondly, we both had fevers and felt like we had been hit by a steam train. We were sick all night and have slept all day. It would be over 20 years since we have had this sort of bug and I hope it is another 20 years before it hits us again. We are both still feeling so incredibly weak. Appartently it is going around town.

SCRAPPING AT LAST
Finally I have managed to scrapbook a couple of layouts. On Saturday we had our monthly crop afternoon and I wasn't prepared at all and honestly had no idea what I was going to do. I had heaps of photos though. I am stuggling to find papers though to match Chloe's formal dress. I have so many gorgeous photos of her and her formal that I want to scrapbook.

Anyway these are the two layouts I managed, and hopefully this will be the start of some inspiration and some more.
On Sunday we had a farewell luncheon for our good friends, Ricardo and Janelle, and then afterwards, they came over for that one last game of X-Box. (It's a boy thing) Janelle and I sat and did our Photoshop homework together. She is not able to finish the course, as they are moving to Darwin (feels like the end of the earth to us). Ricardo has a lecturing position at the University up there and starts at the beginning of April. We are going to miss them so much. It just might mean that we have to take a holiday in Darwin. Our loss is definately going to be Darwin's gain. Lusi has issued another challenge for "getting real" this week. KINDNESS.
I am real happy to share some of the amaing kindnesses that have been shown to us over the years.

REALLY, one of the most amazing examples of kindness has been my grandmother. We loved going to visit and stay with her when we were young because she always had time to sit and listen to us and do things with us. She lost her husband when she was only 40 and had to raise a young family of 4 on her own. She spent her whole life serving others, looking after sick family members in her older years and was alwasys there for us. She was a wonderful example of Christ's love for us.

REALLY, my dentist's wife showed amazing kindness when I misscarried with my second child. I had the miscarriage on Pete's first birthday and was devastated that I missed his birthday as I was in threatre. This all happened in Bundaberg whilst we were on holidays. When I arrived back in Rocky, she arrived on my doorstep with a cake and a hug. She was a wonderful Christian woman with 6 children herself, and although she really didn't know me, she had been through it herself, having had a miscarriage on one of her daughters second birthday.

REALLY, I am thankful for the amazing kindness of the nurses in hospital when I almost lost Sarah, they organised a beautiful bouquet of pink flowers for me - and were just lovely and supportive especially through a difficult time.

REALLY, I am thankful for the amazing kindness of Friends, my friend Barb who has shown me kindnesses in too many ways to list - she has been an aunty our kids, spoiling them with gifts and treating them like her own children, having them at a drop of a hat, she hugged, cried and supported me through all my miscarriages, was there for the birth of Chloe, we sewed together, shopped together and even after 26 years we are still the best of friends, she is an amazing woman and special beyond words.

REALLY, I am thankful for the wonderful friends of our friends Ian and Kathy, who over the years have been wonderful mentors to us in living the Christian faith, especailly raising our kids. They have been a huge source of encouragement to us. When Sarah and Colin were first married and moved to Brissie, they blessed them by giving them somewhere to live until they found a place of their own. We treasure their friendship.

REALLY, I am thankful for our church family who have been a huge support over the years again in more ways than I can list - they have been family to our family helping to guide and mentor our kids, being examples of Godly love, celebrating the milestones in their lives, bringing us meals, and cleaning my house at times, when I've been sick or overwelmed.

REALLY, I am thankful for Bevan, one of the guys at church who sees his ministry as helping others, often when Steve is really busy, or we have been away on holidays we come home to find our yard all mowed and gardens all looking good - he has such a kind heart and such a servant heart. Each month when we have our monthly scrapbooking group, Bevan comes in before we ever get there and has all the room set up for us with all the tables out so that all we have to do is walk in. His love and concern for ministering to the needs of others is treasured by us.

REALLY, I am thankful for Jannett, Robyn and Caroline, whose friendship and support when I was going through a hard time at work will never been forgotten. I am blessed to have them as friends.

REALLY, I am thankful for Jenni, Eleonore, Ann, for just being my friends, being a listening ear when I need someone to talk with, for praying for us, for having our kids, and for just being themselves, wonderful caring giving woman.

REALLY, I am thankful for my friend Karen, who is like a second mum to Chloe, she treats her like one of her own girls, and often has her to stay. She has blessed us in so many ways, with her cooking, and friendship, and I treasure her gift of friendship.

REALLY, I am so thankful for the kindness of family, I am so thankful that I am part of a very generous and kind family - a family who has taught generousity in good seasons and bad, who give freely of their time, finances, and resources, who have arrived on our doorstep to help when I have had threatened miscarriages, who have flown me home to Bundy, so that I can be waited on and I can rest, whilst they chase after an active one year old, who still constantly want the best for us, and just love seeing us and spending time with us.

REALY, I am so very thankful for the kindness of my wonderful husband, who even today when he was feeling everybit as sick as I was, got up to get something for us to try and eat, even though it has been as struggle for him. He has always shown love and kindness to our kids, and has such a generous heart. He has the gift of service, and I thank God daily for the many kind and helpful things he does to help around the place.

There are probably heaps more I could think off, but I really think these asprins are working off and I need to go lay down again.

P.S. One more last REALLY,

REALLY, I am thankful to Lusi who has challenged us with being real and given us the opportunity to think about and acknowledges some of the many kindnesses that we have experienced, and to be thankful for them.