A great weekend was had by all.

It was great to get away with the girls. It is always a bit of a hassle to be packed and ready to go on a Friday afternoon by 5pm especially when you don't get home from work until 3.45pm. Although we were a little late getting away, we did manage to get there just intime for dinner. We had 19 campers booked in for the weekend, unfortunately one of the girls had a bad dose of the flu and couldn't come. We also had a couple of girls come down for the day on Saturday to scrap with us.
I had no idea what I was going to do before I left, no motivation, and really didn't expect to get anything done, but I did manage to do 5 layouts and start on a sixth. Will try and photograph them in the next day or so, so that I can share.

At least this year it wasn't raining, but on the way down, Jan ran over this

and this is what happened.
These two amazing ladies gave up their weekend to come and make sure we were well nourished, and they spoilt us totally with their wonderful meals. The tables were always beautfully set with fresh flowers on them, and they blessed us afterwards by doing all the dishes and allowing us to have the whole weekend just to scrapbook.
Lots of scrapbooking took place, lots of chatting, lots of laughter, lots of paper, lots of mess. You always know its a good weekend, when no one wants to go home. We all figured an extra day or two would not go astray. It seems you just get on a roll and it's time to go home.
Lunch time on Saturday.After Lunch on Saturday we always have a photo shoot whilst everyone is there. Had some fun in the playground and around the pool this year.Had to get a group photo with me in it too.

Saturday night we had a Black and White theme night. We had a special dinner and the cooks went to considerable trouble to make everylook look and taste sensational for us.


Everyone had to come dressed in black and white. It was really good to see everyone participate and the girls looked really good so we had to have another photo shoot.
We got a couple of mother daughter shots as well as some group and individual shots.
Just loved these shots of Sylvester - how cute does Lesley look.
Had to get a photo of all the cats together too - well anything that had tails.
Finally a photo of Carolyn and Dianne - they have been friends for many years.
I'll be back in a couple of days to share some of my layouts.
Finally before going, I thought I would just share a couple of quotes that I read here this afternoon. I really liked them, so thought I would share them with you (mainly so that I would have a copy for future reference)

Life isn't like a book.
It isn't logical or sensible or orderly.
Life is a mess most of the time.
And theology must be lived
in the midst of that mess.
--Charles Colson

When suffering shatters the carefully kept vase that is our lives, God stoops to pick up the pieces. But he doesn't put them back together as a restoration project patterned after our former selves. Instead, he sifts through the rubble and selects some of the shards as raw material for another project--a mosaic that tells the story of redemption. --Ken Gire

2 more Sleeps

Only two more sleeps until we go away for our scrapbooking retreat I am not at all organised this year. This was me last year

I had packets of layouts all ready to take away - ideas flowing, packed and organised a week a head of time.

This year, my scrapbooking table still looks like this.
I have no idea what I am doing - photos aren't organised. I am not predicting a very productive weekend. Still it will be nice to get away and have a weekend with some great woman.

I am still being spoilt by my lovely daughter. She turned up at work with these yesterday.
She just wanted me to know she was thinking of me. A decision should have been made about my future work wise this week. I am just patiently waiting to hear. I am so thankful and blessed to have amazing kids who constantly let me know that I am in their thoughts and prayers. They have been a huge support and encouragement to me these past couple of months and they will never know how much I treasure them for their thoughtfulness and caring.

It has been a busy week and I still quite a bit to do before I go. This needs attending too before I go
but we will get there. Hope to have a few layouts to share with you next week. I have been in such a scrapbooking drought this year, so I am hoping that a whole weekend away surrounded by scrapbookers might help to break that drought I have been experiencing this year.

I have been playing with my camera again this week though and snapped these couple of shots. Hoping to get back into the photo a day again real soon.
These next two photos are of a gorgeous vase that Chloe got for her birthday - it is absolutely gorgeous and lights up beautiful when fairy lights are put inside it. We all have fallen in love with it.
And finally I thought I would leave you with an email I received this week from one of my work collegues, I am sure she has no idea what a huge encouragement it was for me to read this. I also wanted to post here so that I have a record for the future.

Once
there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing
their hopes and dreams when the first tree said,

'Someday I
hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and
precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and
everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said,
'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens
across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone
will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'


Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the
tallest and
straightest tree in the forest. People will see me
on top of the Hill and look up to my branches, and think of the
heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the
greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'


After a few years of praying that their dreams would come
true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the
first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should
be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it
down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would
make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the
woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to
sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew
he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the
woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because
he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.
One of the Woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my
tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the
first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box
for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This
was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was
cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty
ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree
was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The
years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then
one day, a man and woman came
to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in
the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that
he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have
to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew
that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years
later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second
tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out
on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was
strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man,
and He stood and said 'Peace' and the Storm stopped. At this time,
the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.


Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried
through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying
it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and
raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the
tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top
of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus
had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that
when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place
your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of
the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had
imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us.
We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always
best.

Have a great week everyone.

It's been another tough week

I am so thankful for the great weekend I had last weekend with my kids home - I just have to focus on how blessed I am to have some great people in my life - try not and dwell on my work issues. It is still on going and it has been a tough week. These last couple of days, I have just had this incredible feeling of sadness - kind of like greiving - seven weeks on and nothing resolved. It has been a hard year - first with the farewell of my USQ job, although in comparison to what I am going through now, at least we were made to feel valued and respected for a job well done. I am definately not feeling that at the moment. It is very hard to wake up each day and go to work when you don't feel supported or valued at all. It is also hard going when you have no idea what your future holds. I am sure that in time, I will be thankful for the lessons learned through this hard time - but at the moment I am just feeling a little emotionally stretched and worn out, kind of like on an emotional rollercoaster. I am thankful though, that I did not have to attend the meeting this past week, and that I have been a little at armslength from it all.

I did have a good Mother's Day - all my kids were home, the best present I could have received. We had a pretty low key day, as I had hurt my back the day before, we took in a movie in the afternoon, us girls going to see the "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" and the boys went and saw "Star Trek".

Sunday night Pete cooked Dinner for us all and we had a family dinner before he had to board the plane back to Brissie. It was nice and he definately surprised me with his culinary skills.

I did manage to get a couple of photos of Chloe riding the bull,

And a photo of her brother and sister helping her


and this young lady hid
Just wanted to also share a couple of photos of this gorgeous orchid which flowered in our garden this week.
Also took these couple of photos this week - I really need to get back to my photo a day blog and start uploading again also.


It is going to be very quiet here this week - Amanda's prac teaching finished last Friday, so Chloe accompanied her on the drive back to Brissie and is spending this week down there with her brother and sister, so it is very quiet at home with just the two of us. Still haven't managed to get any scrapbooking done - just don't have the energy or the mojo to do it. I am knitting though but I am going to try and get back to the gym this week - I am sure I would feel so much better if I was a little more physically active.

Came accross this quote this week and thought it applied very much to my current situation.

Crises test our beliefs, and I believe that they occur when they do as a way of showing us what we're made of; they make us walk our talk and demonstrate how far we've come since the last time our foundation was shaken. We'd much rather do without them, of course, but handled correctly, they can lift us to the next level of our growth… Sometimes the message is that we should be doing things differently. Maybe we need to appreciate certain things more. Or certain people. Maybe we're being told that our timing isn't right. Maybe we have to learn the value of patience, or honesty, or kindness, or self-love. Maybe we just have to weather adversity with dignity and faith."

The Birthday Party

It was a very full on day, but I am sure that Chloe would say it was one of her best birthdays ever. We all got to sleep in a little as Chloe did not want to open any presents until Pete and Barb arrived at 10am. Whilst Chloe and I picked them up from the airport, Sarah and Amanda cooked a great breakfast for us and also set up a birthday trail for Chloe to find her presents.

Poor Chloe, they left little notes for her directing her from room to room, and even down to the chooks before she was able to get her main present. All good fun I might add.



We had a family breakfast (well actually more like Brunch) as it was 11am. Amanda, and Sarah hit the shops or a while. Steve, Chloe and Pete went to pick up the birthday cake and some more food for the party, whilst Barb and I got to have a girlie catch up (so good to see her) whilst we prepared some of the food for the party that night.

This arrived and the kids had some fun on it whilst we were setting up for the party that night.
Chloe with some of her guests, and my friend Barb. Barb flew in specially to spend the night with Chloe, and then left early this morning so she could get home and spend the day with her kids for Mother's Day. Barb was actually present for Chloe's birth, so there was no way she was missing her 18th.
More Party guests.
Ready to Eat.
This was a hit and everyone had a ball on it - some great shots of my crew having some fun.
The also played beach volleyball and table tennis.
Cutting of the Cake Family Shot
More party shots.
Birthday Flowers.

We got home a little after 11pm, and then the older kids took Chloe out on the town - somehow they managed to climb the big bull on the approach to Rocky (there are photos to prove it) just haven't got hold of them yet, and then when they were heading back into town, both cars got pulled over by the police and Sarah and Amanda (the drivers) had to blow into the bag. Good thing my kids are non drinkers They got in at some unearthly hour this morning, but Chloe really did have a great day and really that was what it was all about,

We are having a very quiet Mother's Day. We hope to all take in a Movie this afternoon,
So to all you Mums out there, have a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY and will catch up again soon.

Happy 18th Birthday Gorgeous Girl

Happy 18th Birthday Chloe

I hope that you have the best time at your party tonight. It is hard to beleive our baby is now an adult. We are looking forward to celebrating with you tonight and it is so good that both Sarah and Pete made it home to celebrate it with you also. We just want to let you know that we love you very much, and we are so proud of you. You have grown into an amazing, generous, kindheart young woman, and we feel both priviledged and honoured to be your parents.
I'm glad that you and Sarah got to spent the day together yesterday, shopping and having fun, and I trust that today will always hold very special memories for you.


Both Chloe and I got spoilt today. Chloe came home from work with these tonight. A couple of her bosses presented her with these flowers and some chocolates. She was quite touched.
I got spoilt also, as these arrived for me at work today from my gorgeous girls. An early Mother's Day present. I have been so spoilt these last few weeks, with flowers, and it truely has made me feel special.
I'll be back again in the next couple of days with photos of the big party.

Long Weekend - A nice break

Some days are tougher than others and Friday was one of those days. Still no resolution, still uncertain about my future, my heart was heavy but at the same time I KNOW that God is in control and that his love and mercies never change. I have been encouraged by this verse of scripture this weekend.

I was pushed back and about to fall but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord's right hand has done mighty things".

Psalm 118:13-15

The weekend was good - good to get away from work. Friday night I went out for dinner with these girlsThey are all ex work collegues. They are really great girls and I am so thankful that we still keep in touch. We went to a mexican restaurant called "The Crookered Catcus. The meals were huge, and most of us were happy with what we got.

Lots of Photos to share. When we asked staff to take a group photo for us at the end of the night, they went and got somberoes for us to wear .
Bit disappointed on Saturday that I couldn't spend the day with my big girl who celebrated her 24th Birthday, still got to speak to her on the phone, and I spent most of the rest of the day finalizing arrangements for Chloe's 18th Birthday Party (for this Saturday) Think it is all done now, just the last minute running around at the end of this week. It should be a great night, we have ordered some entertainment in and have about 60 coming. Will share photos of it next week.

Saturday night I managed to scrapbook a layout. Sort of figured that since it was National Scrapbooking week, I had better do some scrapbooking. Slightly different to this time last year when I scrapbooked for the whole weekend. This is the outcome. Sorry bout the quality of the photo. It is not the best.

Sunday, we got a photo call from the guys at church to say that we had been broken into over night. Makes you so cranky. We have really good security, but that didn't stop them from cutting open padlocked security bars, and once on the verandah, they pushed in a door, completely wrecking it and putting a hole in the wall on the other side from the force of pushing it in. They stole out Data Projector which was mounted in the ceiling, stole an electric guitar and ampliflier, cleaned out the fridge and stole all the food for the fellowship lunch we were to have after church, and then broke into the back room, broke the padlock off the other fridge, and stole all the youth groups chocolates, cans of soft drink and petty cash. They also wrecked some of the new ceiling tiles in our main auditorum. I am so thankful that Steve forgot the drop off the drinks and nibbles that I had left in the car. I wanted them to take them in and leave them there for Chloe's party, so that the drinks were at least cold and the crackers, pavlova's etc would already be there. He forgot. So thankful because, if he had remembered and left them there, they probably would have been stolen also.

Anyway our Fellowship lunch was cancelled, but a few of us got together for Pizza still and ended up back and Dave and Katies for lunch (they are the young couple whose wedding we went to back in January. We had a great time with them and they ended up back at our place for dinner.
Today was a quiet day at home. We spent the morning doing this.
Sweeping, Washing up, washing, folding washing
preparing floors to mop
cleaning out the bathroom
It was so good at the end of the day to have the house feeling clean. It has been a crazy couple of months, with stuff on every weekend so it was good to have a day or so to catch up. Thanks Steve and Chloe for all your help.

Mid morning, these girls arrived over
they are all "Smallville" addicts, so spent most of the day watching episodes of "Smallville", listening to music and doing girlie stuff (painting finger and toe nails etc)

At lunch time they cooked this
Sarah's very special "Apricot Chicken Pizza" So easy to make and so deliciously tasty.
That pretty much sums up our weekend. Pretty low key, but heck I feel like I have achieved so much. I know that it is going to be an incredibly busy week this week. Sarah arrives home on Friday for Chloe's Birthday and Mother's Day, Pete flies in on Saturday morning, as does my really good friend Barb. So looking forward to spending time with these guys. In the midst of all my work turmoil, these very special people really do put it all in perspective.

Have a great week and I will be back to share Photos of Chloe's 18th next week.

Happy Birthday Sarah

to this gorgeous daughter of mine.

Happy 24th Birthday Sarah, I hope that you have a great time out at dinner tonight. I've been thinking of you all day and wishing that we were there to celebrate your day with you. Missing you heaps and really looking forward to catching up with you on Friday.

Hope you and Amanda got to do some serious shopping this morning and that you had plenty of girlie fun.

Just want to let you know we love you heaps and heaps and are so blessed to be your parents, We are so very proud of you. Sending lots of hugs your way.