Ready to go...

I know, I know... post overload!

Just wanted to post the pic Jenny Other Mum took before we headed out for drinks. Yes Heidi's arm is in a sling - only my friend could possibly fracture a collarbone by falling from a chair whilst seated - totally sober!

What's ahead?

Wow another month is nearly half over... it is funny how time works... the last 12 months have been some of the hardest I have had to deal with and whilst some days seemed to drag and putting one foot in front of the other seemed like walking through quicksand the last twelve months have also flown by... I know, I know the two should not work together but somehow they do.

What does life have ahead of us? Well we have so much to look forward to - especially our overseas trip (yes I know you are sick of hearing about it and I try not to say too much but we are very excited about it).

Both of the kids are back at school and Tasha in particular is loving the return of her social life! She has returned to dancing and is looking forward to a full on and challenging year of dance this year

Kyle has been accepted into a special program called Media Makers - He applied last year and we found out he was accepted when he got back to school. It is a special program offered by the University of Wollongong computer studies and media schools where a limited number of places are offered to students from year 10 and 11. This is what it is about:

Shoalhaven Media Makers is a series of workshops for Years 10 and/or 11 students designed to help develop the skills and strategies young people need to ensure their voice is heard on community issues and events important to them and their peers.

These hands-on workshops will cover topics that include video, editing, digital storytelling, graphic design, promotion and publicity. Experts in the fields of communication, community engagement and graphic design will run the workshops.

He is looking forward to it!

As for Tony and I - well the next few months will be interesting to say the least. Tony is booked in for shoulder surgery in just over a week and after the surgery he will have his arm in a sling and have 6 weeks off work! Wow - how many times over the past years have I wanted to have Tony home as a normal part of our family. For six weeks we will have Tony here as part of our everyday family life (even if he is housebound).

I do have to admit that even though this is what I have wanted I also face this time with some trepidation and uncertainty. This will be the longest Tony and I have spent together in 10 years.... Even on holidays the longest we have had together is 3 - 4 weeks and that was with things to distract us. Having Tony around to fit in with our normal everyday life for six weeks will be a test - I guess it will either break us or hopefully it will give him the push to make it a permanent move and get a day job so he can come back to us permanently.

Cleaning up

What a busy weekend we have had! To start with I had Friday off so it was a much needed long weekend.

But there was no sleep in... I got up early and met Leanne for a coffee/breakfast catchup before she started work. I was wonderful to sit and chat as it has been weeks since we caught up.

Friday was not all fun - as mentioned in a previous post I attended a funeral Friday morning - it was a lovely service and Kipper's sons talked so well when they delivered the eulogy.

Then Friday afternoon/evening Tony, Kyle, Tasha and one of Tasha's friends Holly's went up to the Nowra Show while I went to the Laylands for dinner. Jenny has been my "other mum" for years - back from those tough teenage years! Anyway - Heidi and Scott were in town for the funeral so after having a fun dinner with my other family Heid, Scott and I headed out to bottlerocket for drinks.

Saturday I caught up with Miss Jane for a late afternoon cuppa and de-brief/chat and Tasha headed off to an overnight birthday party.

Busy social weekend! And in the middle of this I spent some time in my craft room, tidying up and sorting out. I finally got around to putting some of my layouts away in albums.... they have been piling up in a drawer in my craft room so it was good to put them away. I am sure most of these I have shared before but I thought I would include some of them here.




And now its Sunday - today has been my retro day - I have spent more time in my craft room listening to my old favourites play list and going through some of my "put - aside" layouts. You know... those photos you have wanted to scrap for ages or those you have started and put aside to finish later. Well I got three of those pages finished - one of which I started about 4 years ago - so I am feeling very proud of myself right now.

Hope your weekend has been a good one too.

The Dash

I went to a funeral this morning for a very special man. His wife has been known to me for many years and was a friend of my Mum and Dad for a long time. The following poem was read at the end of his service and I wanted to share it with you....

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone
From the beginning..to the end.
He noted that first came his date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears, 1944-2012
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth..
And now only those who loved him
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars..the house..the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you”d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what”s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we”ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile..
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy”s being read
With your life”s actions to rehash..
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

A little lovin'

Thought I better add a little lovin to my poor sad neglected blog!

Hmmm so much has happened.....

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the kids are now back to school after being terribly neglected over the school holidays. Its times like this I hate being a working parent. But we made it through.

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- The preparation for the big move for work has been MANIC.

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- We celebrated Tony's birthday.

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- Tony and I reached 18 years of marriage! I have to be honest... I didn't think it would happen, but we made it!

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I am going to try and find some time over the weekend to update all my posts and fill in the blanks. I have tomorrow off work and have already planned a breakfast coffee with Leanne and a girls drinks night with Heidi. May need some quiet time Saturday to sit and update blog after a night out!