tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120644032024-03-07T17:46:54.302+11:00Breaking, Shaping, Moulding..."In the day I cried out, you answered me. And made me bold with strength in my soul."
Psalm 138:3Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-91629826771418343472009-05-21T11:12:00.003+10:002009-05-21T11:18:03.417+10:00Some truth in my diet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy_T_R0Q0i1ODntomXIwdh_rkD2huKmylSTcSknq6Qf5v1q4RNtA7ZvtNGRaenDZiN63nG84M_2psgGj_XNRgW0x3J6lkyT2z-Lfe2N0aQDxX0m9yh_f5QMpYd6ExqFYrcG3RyA/s1600-h/IMG_0372.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy_T_R0Q0i1ODntomXIwdh_rkD2huKmylSTcSknq6Qf5v1q4RNtA7ZvtNGRaenDZiN63nG84M_2psgGj_XNRgW0x3J6lkyT2z-Lfe2N0aQDxX0m9yh_f5QMpYd6ExqFYrcG3RyA/s400/IMG_0372.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338079776871696082" /></a><br /><br /><br />I found myself chasing my identity through what I did rather than who I was. <br />Who I was, now lets not get confused here, who I was on the surface was still pretty pitiful, but when I say that, rather than chasing the elusive rainbows of fulfilment through deed, I should have been finding self fulfilment in simply being me. By that I mean that when all selfishness, all grasping, all tainted, broken existence is put aside, what God created in those dark places, before my form was ever acknowledged or seen by this world – what God planned from the beginning of time, was good. Like all of Gods plans, creations and purposes - what he created me to be IS good.<br />Now regardless of what I may do, how I may fail, where I may find myself led astray, that does not eliminate the core of it all – That I am irrevocably and unconditionally loved. Full stop. No deeds necessary, no cool kids to impress, no “You must be this tall, or this old, or this spiritually wonderful’ signs in sight.<br />My biggest challenge in the quarter century that is my life, is understanding that simple, yet mind blowing, life altering, perspective changing fact.<br />Everything I do from there, everything I say, everything I think, everything I was -I am - needs to flow from that place, from that truth.<br />That God is God – and I am a product, a testimony of his great love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-1643872595048071112008-07-22T06:36:00.011+10:002008-12-13T14:37:39.010+11:00Freebies!I am perhaps the slackest blogger out there, rivalled only by my daggy, gorgeous sister Katie who created a blog and then only posted, like twice. ;)<br /><br />To continue the daggy streak I've only got time for a real quick post, but I just thought I'd update you on what I'm absolutely loving right now. It's freebies! and I mean, come one! Who doesn't?!<br /><br />I'm loving jumping online and tracking down free samples of differnt products and getting that excitement of my receiving my little packages in the mail - in fact it's gotten to the point where Timmy's utterly jealous of the fact that we both receive mail, but only mine aren't bills :P<br /><br />Best part is, we're talking good brands, and in some cases - Great brands, my favourite brands - clinique mascara or 3 step skin care program anyone?! Yes Please!<br /><br />Here they are;<br /><br />Free Techworks 700MB/80Minutes CD-RW<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHmiAfoso2_WVrLGeeRRMKPX9WikduBR2ADS5mfHWyc48peXecDuymQTl9s8tKTSBhj1rzv-KiNs7YLwy3yIXc1KacDmJhdCyLBlLS8DM3_VBUZsBkpbM7DI5KwQZoLfkfG8SdQ/s1600-h/220720082543.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHmiAfoso2_WVrLGeeRRMKPX9WikduBR2ADS5mfHWyc48peXecDuymQTl9s8tKTSBhj1rzv-KiNs7YLwy3yIXc1KacDmJhdCyLBlLS8DM3_VBUZsBkpbM7DI5KwQZoLfkfG8SdQ/s320/220720082543.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225574426070024786" /></a><br /><br />Free Elastoplast 40Pack Sterile Strips<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUZDidjVvnANfv7kTScXkwdlLBylqgJO8-90D5ytRxE_A0oacHurqDdXV_PorXHWcWlItaVbdwLCJhtmj8Jbv9OwxOF2tggmMibbK-LXSsf2zOpeLSpHr6xoxKxCg0vFulQJRlA/s1600-h/220720082545.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUZDidjVvnANfv7kTScXkwdlLBylqgJO8-90D5ytRxE_A0oacHurqDdXV_PorXHWcWlItaVbdwLCJhtmj8Jbv9OwxOF2tggmMibbK-LXSsf2zOpeLSpHr6xoxKxCg0vFulQJRlA/s320/220720082545.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225574948770913506" /></a><br /><br />Free Avery Label samples : <br />1 Pink Flowered folder<br />1 sheet of Laser name badge labels<br />1 sheet of Colour Laser Labels<br />2 sheet of Colour Laser Mailing Labels<br />1 Sheet of colour laser business cards<br />1 Sheet of colour laser print magnetic business cards<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgvC_duMOUMyoISLakLMzeBfu6uUpLTEperr0-CkqJiReouHGCGK2sI8pCuuXCEDvQB7BeuLqXGit2S0_GWbN9pG5YMkDUH-o7wtH9R6Ktc-YndxCkshB57yTjKI4tx5zKXR_ug/s1600-h/220720082540.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgvC_duMOUMyoISLakLMzeBfu6uUpLTEperr0-CkqJiReouHGCGK2sI8pCuuXCEDvQB7BeuLqXGit2S0_GWbN9pG5YMkDUH-o7wtH9R6Ktc-YndxCkshB57yTjKI4tx5zKXR_ug/s320/220720082540.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225577651084710290" /></a><br /><br />Free Clinique High Impact Mascara<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtKKBZ71j_P7RiSIqPC2_gwZ24YeQkEmWy6uxl7msczHZpS9Bs5e5VqAdodVuyG9jiccl6-gZsniuo0ElNO9QPHKrbcfx5fr6GO_dTjzDjBvkSsHq42MIBaVQuLs95DgVXCJicw/s1600-h/220720082536.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtKKBZ71j_P7RiSIqPC2_gwZ24YeQkEmWy6uxl7msczHZpS9Bs5e5VqAdodVuyG9jiccl6-gZsniuo0ElNO9QPHKrbcfx5fr6GO_dTjzDjBvkSsHq42MIBaVQuLs95DgVXCJicw/s320/220720082536.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225578914386386162" /></a> <br /><br />2 free Nescafe Cafe Menu Coffee Satchets in, Mocha and Cappuccino<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4NomojGjGM7dQwhkCxipqU5LGda0ecqUisiJklpDo97zc3R4l69gD0ntIGD4wNEqErw5TuNfrZ77NS0x8EO1YhQZo3f8p9u31E2crtud3_A5T1AT2JJ5E_CGwDPOCuqBdQZHJA/s1600-h/220720082531.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4NomojGjGM7dQwhkCxipqU5LGda0ecqUisiJklpDo97zc3R4l69gD0ntIGD4wNEqErw5TuNfrZ77NS0x8EO1YhQZo3f8p9u31E2crtud3_A5T1AT2JJ5E_CGwDPOCuqBdQZHJA/s320/220720082531.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225579080412001378" /></a><br /><br />Free Janesce Exfoliating Clearing Wash sample and information booklet<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAyKNiBDZK4YBPcvH58x_6pkWzGJegDBENOE4OonoNjOqkiFzzGgXVSF72jfnk0VVtYqTIM2RBi_YI1Txq6DuDCQkbD0YmfzLcvC5a_6r4M4lGx7b0kzzXT0tD00UFwdgCUajuQ/s1600-h/220720082539.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAyKNiBDZK4YBPcvH58x_6pkWzGJegDBENOE4OonoNjOqkiFzzGgXVSF72jfnk0VVtYqTIM2RBi_YI1Txq6DuDCQkbD0YmfzLcvC5a_6r4M4lGx7b0kzzXT0tD00UFwdgCUajuQ/s320/220720082539.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225579627666719778" /></a><br /><br />and my very very favourite freebie thus far;<br /><br />Free Clinique 3-step skin care program sample<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjaoRGk6IxuT9jDnjy4EBUqxaMGUM0dqswo-wp8CguuQPoy9sVT4JsD1eaG-fZmoKXt5dtWyQ202WA9aJXRgCkBD7bGlmIiU54qnE-2VeLfcKKDtI69jG9udJ2ybztmyfhkkGkg/s1600-h/220720082533.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjaoRGk6IxuT9jDnjy4EBUqxaMGUM0dqswo-wp8CguuQPoy9sVT4JsD1eaG-fZmoKXt5dtWyQ202WA9aJXRgCkBD7bGlmIiU54qnE-2VeLfcKKDtI69jG9udJ2ybztmyfhkkGkg/s320/220720082533.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225580070163664370" /></a><br /><br />yay for good old snail mail!! :D<br /><br />And just for good measure here's a happy snap of cuddle time in our house;<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUTJIzpOoiEeQminRlxcHXbgZit0eJbeSJGWoaEkxahqkvCvUahg_R0UN19qkkU84Z8dNsn2Rpu-jQutzuBu6aOc0O3PQnlS-BUBau-ID0AelnPUze8ygshpYUuQiCyxJO1PDfw/s1600-h/200720082525.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUTJIzpOoiEeQminRlxcHXbgZit0eJbeSJGWoaEkxahqkvCvUahg_R0UN19qkkU84Z8dNsn2Rpu-jQutzuBu6aOc0O3PQnlS-BUBau-ID0AelnPUze8ygshpYUuQiCyxJO1PDfw/s320/200720082525.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225580865170778658" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-23656299451899558812008-05-19T16:21:00.002+10:002008-05-22T12:59:29.414+10:00Man Bags?I've been wanting to write this post in such a long time, yet time and time again distraction has gotten in the way and blogging has hit the back burner. <br />So alas, here I am and ready to write.<br /><br />I don't consider myself to be a feminist. Infact with the good feminism has brought I also feel that it has wounded and dissillusioned woman tenfold. I respect and admire strong, independant woman more than I can ever express in words. But as the well known phrase states, "No man is an island" and nor is any woman.<br />When woman begin to believe that they would benefit from the exclusion of men from their lives. Well thats where I begin to feel that familiar irk. We were made for relationship with both men and woman. Friendship. And one gender without the other will inevitable find themselves lacking. We need things from each other which we struggle to find alone. We are incapable of 'doing it all'. We need the other so that we are better able to do whatever it is we were meant to be doing, to the best of our ability.<br />I have posted on similar things previously, and believe it or not this wasn't actually my reason for posting. <br /><br />Rather I wanted to talk about this constant in the media for woman to always be eye candy and rarely anything more. <br />A couple of happenings which caught my attention recently were the visits made by 2 first ladies to the UK. However, while UK Newspapers couldn't keep one of them off the front page, the other didn't even receive a mention. Not in the back pages, not even a little article. Nothing. It was as if she was never there at all.<br />I'm talking about former supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, otherwise known as the new wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, otherwise known as that french chick who posed in nude photos. The other woman of which I refer is our very own Therese rein, otherwise known as the wife of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.<br /><br />Both woman joined their husbands on a visit to the UK, no doubt to ensure alliances remained strong. The visit for both woman involved many photo ops aswell as charity events. One look at carla and Therese and it id clear they are completely different, yet they both fell prey to the same cruel media focus.<br />The way they looked. <br />newspaper after newspaper reported on the arrival of the french President and his wife, yet rather quickly it became clear what was believed to be the most important news of the hour, heres a roundup of newspaper reports about the Sarkozy-Bruni visit: <br /><strong><em>"Not since Anne Boleyn has a woman curtseyed so deeply, so demurely, or so calculatedly before a British monarch</em>,</strong> writes … <em>the Daily Mail </em>… <em><strong>as Fleet Street clears acres of space for the state visit of what the Independent calls France's ‘bling bling president’ and his wife.</em> </strong><em>The Times </em>- <strong><em>beside a black and white photograph of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy leaving the presidential plane in her grey Dior overcoat and matching pillbox hat </em></strong>- says she went for a look that was ‘part Jackie Onassis, part district nurse.’ ... But the Left-leaning Liberation highlights Mr Sarkozy's nervous ticks … <strong><em>and says he babbled like a child to the Queen at those moments when he had been advised to stay silent."</em></strong> <br /><em>Daily Press</em> in London stated, <em>"<strong>...French President Sarkozy yesterday delivered a major speech on relations between our two countries. Can anyone remember a word he said? And will anyone forget the sight of his enchanting wife?..."</em> </strong><br />Not to mention the images of Carla's naked exploits during her younger days of modelling which plagued the press for the entirety of her visit.<br /><br />While everyone is focussed on sideshows like Dior Coats and nervous ticks, France is actually in a bad way and in dire need of reform. <br /><br />In Comparison the visit from Our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Wife Therese, went unreported in the UK, however A Current affair hit the streets here in Oz to ask the big and important questions hich need to be answered...<br /><br /> ...find out what the public thought of Rein’s fashion choices during her recent world tour with husband Kevin Rudd... What?!!!<br /><br />Responses ranged from “just not stylish” to “very frumpy for a first lady” to, from Sydney hairdresser Joh Bailey,“[Her hair] definitely needs to be blowdried straight and smooth. It’s just not an appropriate look for the world stage.”<br /><br /><br />While Carla received nothing but praise, and Therese nothing but critisism, they do both find themselves in the same position. being valued on the bais of the way they look.<br />It is a sad reality that we find ourselves in. Forgive me for not knowing her name, but I saw woman on channel 7's Sunrise program appear as a guest panelist not long ago who had interviewed both Carla and Therese [at seperate times of course] and commented that both women were incredibly intelligent, warm and friendly people. Yet we are rarely told of any of this. Instead we find ourselves bombared with images and comments on their fashion choices rather than their thoughts and opinions and ability to communicate with people and do their husbands proud.<br />now I've heard of Man bags, but this is getting ridiculous. men should not carry handbags, because women have more to offer than that. <br />it's time we started to value women for more than face value. theres some incredible women out there, yet sadly we will never know so long as we continue to merely look and not engage.<br /><br />Because honestly if we're going to talk about Therese Rein then lets not forget that This woman has founded and run a multimillion dollar business while raising three kids and supporting her husband to the highest office in the land. <br /><br />But no, lets just keep talking about her clothes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-30415667417293215332008-03-14T11:17:00.006+11:002008-12-13T14:37:39.222+11:00The Journey has only just begun...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-60Ob873npEsElXlHE36QTo3EoINHzc7dC6xR0UZ7UDEb042C29cbMPbNTuB_ijjE2cxmq3mCmjPkx1uY-t0Fz5MX6ey81ZzpPRswvqqctApWNvNonn5Je1uw9MayI16I1yweQ/s1600-h/mt1112994638.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-60Ob873npEsElXlHE36QTo3EoINHzc7dC6xR0UZ7UDEb042C29cbMPbNTuB_ijjE2cxmq3mCmjPkx1uY-t0Fz5MX6ey81ZzpPRswvqqctApWNvNonn5Je1uw9MayI16I1yweQ/s320/mt1112994638.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177409373547201218" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Proverbs 31 woman...will she forever be the epitome of what every wife hopes to be? I read her story again about a week ago. I can't help but feel that if I keep her example close to the forefront of my thinking then it changes my attitude to nearly every aspect of my life.<br />I have one of the most patient husbands in existance, because I know that I've been a pain in the butt these last few months. It's funny the things you notice in retrospect, because at the time it was happening I don't think I ever wanted to ackowledge, let alone change it. My attitude sucked to be perfectly honest.<br />I wasn't getting work, and it made me feel like a housewife - cooking, cleaning and keeping up the house and I hated it! The feminist in me said that if I as a modern woman was doing that I was cheating myself. I felt unimportant and cranky because this wasn't the life I had envisioned when I married Tim. I think that it was almost an act of rebellion when I got slack around the house. It was almost as if I thought if I didn't actually do it then I wouldn't actually be a 'house wife'. <br />My wake-up call came when Timmy got home from work exhausted and then went over to the sink and started washing up. And he was still managing to do it cheerfully. <br />I looked at him with complete awe and it was in that moment that I saw myself, my attitude and my flaw...clearly.<br />Like everything I will ever face in this lifetime, it all fell back to my identity, the absolute core of who I am. I felt as though being a 'housewife' depleted my worth as a person, as though because I hadn't actually chosen it for myself it made me less.<br />What a horrible, hateful lie!!!<br />No I hadn't chosen this for myself yet, but for now this is where I'm at. Until I manage to get some more work this IS the life I have. Life doesn't stop, slow up and wait till it's everything we want it to be. It keeps plodding along, it keeps growing and changing and evolving and we have to work with what we've got while pushing it towards what we want it to be. There is a reason I am here right now, there are things God wants me to see, to learn and to change. My attitude is the big kicker. I need to take myself to a place where I can do the most mundane task cheerfully because of the song and the joy GOD has placed in my heart. If there is one thing I've learnt over the last few months, it's that on my own I'm not going to be able to get to a place where I can give myself that sort of joy.<br /><br />13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, <br /> but heartache crushes the spirit. <br /><br /> 14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, <br /> but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. <br /><br /> 15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, <br /> but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. <br />Proverbs 15.<br /><br />Throughout all of this, I was picking at Tim. My identity felt jeapordised by the way life was playing out and while I did not even notice my own attitude, I would notice the smallest things in Tim and I would point them out to him.<br />As I lay in bed one night, in the dark I felt the Holy Spirit whisper;<br /><strong><em>"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in his eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?</em></strong><br />I was flawed, and I wept. I saw what a massive fool I had been and I felt utterly idiotic. I hate waking Tim up, but I woke him that night and I shared with him everything which had been churning about and I shared the deepest and most sincere apology of my life. <br />He carries such an integrity and strength. Not only had be refused to allow my crappy attitude to affect his, but he had been praying for me for months, knowing that I would probably only get defensive if he tried to show me my error and instead asking God to show it to me when I was ready. Yet with all of Tims strength, when I shared with him my lesson and my apology I watched the soft tears which made their way down his cheeks.<br />I love this man.<br /><br />I'm working on my attitude, and I find myself being able to endure the housework and being the 'housewife' if only for my fella's; My God and my husband - my 2 favourite boys ;)<br /><br />That said, yesterday, during one of my cleaning frenzies I rediscovered one of my favourite books, 'Fight like a girl' By Lisa Bevere. I opened it up randomly and my eyes fell on page 99 - 'The Call of Tenderness' As I read I realised the folly of how I had been knitpicking Tim and I caught a better look at the kind of wife I wanted to be. I want to share with you a snippet from the source my enlightenment;<br /><br /><strong><em>"...I want you to imagine a beautiful maiden extending a sword in the gesture if knighting a young man who kneels before her. He goes down a man and arises a knight. What interchange has just taken place? Why does the man kneel before her?<br />The woman has transferred something intangible to the young man bowed before her. He kneels because she embodies the very reason and hope for his pledge. He vows to protect all she represents with the edge of his sword and the strength of his might. If war peril, or great need were to arise, he would count his life forfeit if it meant protecting hers...<br /><br />...I love this image. It conveys the power of feminine virtue and beauty to stir a man to a higher purpose. It is the gentle awakening the strong by bestowing glory.<br />He does not fear the sword when it is in her hand. In her possession, it is no longer a weapon but an instrument of transformation. It is not presented to threaten, wound, or strike the man; it is extended to set him apart. He is no longer the same. As a knight, his life has been expanded and his name enlarged to encompass a title and eventually a legacy. He has been dubbed and elevated. This means both weight and honour have been added to his name. With the sword, she transfers power and confers something only she can give: a higher purpose and reason to live.<br />He does not experience the edge of the sword when it is in her hands. <br />He feels the swords full weight as the flat of it is transferred from shoulder to shoulder. With this solemn act, she grants him the neccessary authority and entitlement. He now shoulders the responsibility and honour of the one who bears the sword..."</em> </strong>- extract taken from 'Fight like a girl' By Lisa Bevere <br /><br />I realised that Timmy had seen and felt the edge of the sword while it had been in my hands. I had wounded him rather than honoured him within our time together. I realised more than ever how desperately I wanted things to change and how much I needed things to change.<br /><br />I had taken my inadequacies and pushed them onto Tim with statements like;<br /><em><strong>"I would be a better wife if he would just be a better leader." <br />"I would be a better wife if he would be more romantic." <br />"I would be a better wife if he would just listen to me more often."</strong></em><br /><br />Now, I want to turn these statements and attitudes around and replace them with;<br /><br /><em><strong>"He would be a better husband if I would pray for him daily." <br />"He would be a better husband if I would speak highly of him to others." <br />"He would be a better husband if I would show more compassion to him." <br />"He would be a better husband if I would..."</strong></em><br /><br /> <br />I feel like I am at one of the most incredible turning points of my life. I can feel myself changing and I know that it's good. This has been one of the hardest posts I've ever had to write because I realise how it makes me look. But I don't care anymore, because it doesn't define me, I am a work in progress, I haven't done things perfectly from the beginning, I'm still learning how to be a wife and I will continue to learn how to do this right. I know I've got a lot more lessons to learn I'm just so glad that I'm learning this one. <br />I have an amazing man in Tim, He takes my breath away, his strength, his patience and his love absolutely floor me. <br />Thankyou God that he reached out and didn't give up on me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-7913660588953979472008-03-10T15:48:00.006+11:002008-12-13T14:37:41.754+11:00The Scavengers Return...It's council pick-up week here in Coburg. Which means, it's that glorious time of year when poor-newlyweds can raid their neighbours 'junk' without appearing too odd or desperate. Timmy and I set off in his red ute Sheila, working our way up and down the northern streets of Coburg. This is where we grow to absolutely love the neighbours who can afford to buy a brand new couch and toss out a perfectly good last season one. We were absolutely flawed with our finds. <br />By the end of the day we had managed to snaffle and walk away with; <br />** A pair of matching arm chairs - as yet we've been unable to locate any sort of flaw, they were easily the score of the day<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVanfmrtyihLY1jBU22naDyvuPE93R5dZe-UUZ-IFSCqu8Yc3te8cy40mQeqQho7OvLJDCpMpVFJJfwqo07oW_M3puwFJ0xZP6gSAgEOvvPKhucQH0eX14EglLBeBwWqkBEUnxA/s1600-h/10032008506.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVanfmrtyihLY1jBU22naDyvuPE93R5dZe-UUZ-IFSCqu8Yc3te8cy40mQeqQho7OvLJDCpMpVFJJfwqo07oW_M3puwFJ0xZP6gSAgEOvvPKhucQH0eX14EglLBeBwWqkBEUnxA/s320/10032008506.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175983964095971922" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHKmNKPciw7-r967JPYRy7xQ59VeM-U3q0o3MX2o9dOjH_jMJ_M_dP-HitP6P6oJy__RJFoT158Izl4zf9b8Yvvrtk7vuBq1PgwvQ1VEAxd5kjmh8JQbWLF_DH2F0vqHhSZl4Iw/s1600-h/10032008507.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHKmNKPciw7-r967JPYRy7xQ59VeM-U3q0o3MX2o9dOjH_jMJ_M_dP-HitP6P6oJy__RJFoT158Izl4zf9b8Yvvrtk7vuBq1PgwvQ1VEAxd5kjmh8JQbWLF_DH2F0vqHhSZl4Iw/s320/10032008507.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175984299103421026" /></a><br /><br />** A near new [still in it's original sealed plastic] double bed 'sleep eze' inner coil mattress. Which means that together with the entire bed frame we scored about a month ago we now have ourselves set up for a comfortable stay should anyone come stay at our little happy home.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCfWkUybpQvJ3t1LnYZZfivu5tCztIAGMnyklednxLuSy9ceV5DLw6LL37z4RuoLIh4Klj4iXqpv39DWMDJtEAEuHuYooHpE0OKTZrd4RZuy7TWIFr9rGwXBjgo6gJVH9LG7MdA/s1600-h/10032008503.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCfWkUybpQvJ3t1LnYZZfivu5tCztIAGMnyklednxLuSy9ceV5DLw6LL37z4RuoLIh4Klj4iXqpv39DWMDJtEAEuHuYooHpE0OKTZrd4RZuy7TWIFr9rGwXBjgo6gJVH9LG7MdA/s320/10032008503.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175983246836433458" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59u3ErSOGbw_15mSYNRJGhy4IjWKzLveIojFSQH46eJoNZevKf82FnrSW85gxxQnosHnSl7Sex7tvyCbeVgTjDsPEAnwd_EuoUHd2xPtWsFs_xGpyeIZ7iIrRTxcbnZE6noM4hA/s1600-h/10032008505.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59u3ErSOGbw_15mSYNRJGhy4IjWKzLveIojFSQH46eJoNZevKf82FnrSW85gxxQnosHnSl7Sex7tvyCbeVgTjDsPEAnwd_EuoUHd2xPtWsFs_xGpyeIZ7iIrRTxcbnZE6noM4hA/s320/10032008505.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175983594728784450" /></a><br /><br />** A 3 seater brown velvet lounge. I got a kick out of it reminding me of the couch in 'friends'<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS0y5TsSnNwvToVaa_w4fci4JC9lWez7QlhEri9N4fi82laXvxR4uCqQoe4-ue3N4mSSVEIp-nbSI9PO8C555xQJl8eJ97xtQfxQxpCdf6BseqYPD-v5BUjJqTnBrAVZI2pDqVw/s1600-h/10032008515.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS0y5TsSnNwvToVaa_w4fci4JC9lWez7QlhEri9N4fi82laXvxR4uCqQoe4-ue3N4mSSVEIp-nbSI9PO8C555xQJl8eJ97xtQfxQxpCdf6BseqYPD-v5BUjJqTnBrAVZI2pDqVw/s320/10032008515.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175984775844790898" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqg4ZcwytpRK-_ThRvTmdfT2Y269CuWFuRJ8eqdj0vB2yuSiJdUE1WVmA43HQLdBjUg5ys6YQ_BazZ351lnZwraqHnDnTcFnsz98hWvjpCOKXTFcOpslSxxtco2zDraK0lsYQ8g/s1600-h/10032008510.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqg4ZcwytpRK-_ThRvTmdfT2Y269CuWFuRJ8eqdj0vB2yuSiJdUE1WVmA43HQLdBjUg5ys6YQ_BazZ351lnZwraqHnDnTcFnsz98hWvjpCOKXTFcOpslSxxtco2zDraK0lsYQ8g/s320/10032008510.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175985226816356994" /></a><br /><br />** A black leather recliner, which has become timmys new pride and joy during his XBox time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3MB0A_jEscTzfYIn3aFqFXbLH9EueBHoR1D-gshxnzzVLdu3kYqTu4N2dAYPDjGNam5W526DDWK-8Bd9UebX9sfae7pDDfwXx7WhGUUb7hCqIY3vpawIbtFoIHM6ZJBZAhF4aQ/s1600-h/10032008501.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3MB0A_jEscTzfYIn3aFqFXbLH9EueBHoR1D-gshxnzzVLdu3kYqTu4N2dAYPDjGNam5W526DDWK-8Bd9UebX9sfae7pDDfwXx7WhGUUb7hCqIY3vpawIbtFoIHM6ZJBZAhF4aQ/s320/10032008501.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175981241086706194" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwWhekMJ2OfXsZf9NjoVoFL_SwPBwBbUAdtWgrSdnbC1-LJHYBaeWgi68MbwUUXiTj3NIVeWiXoe4bSeIYRPwuzXTDijLccORcUoWpOMBdV5ltLAHo_3ZqtgSi-P4m8_YmS8c6A/s1600-h/10032008502.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwWhekMJ2OfXsZf9NjoVoFL_SwPBwBbUAdtWgrSdnbC1-LJHYBaeWgi68MbwUUXiTj3NIVeWiXoe4bSeIYRPwuzXTDijLccORcUoWpOMBdV5ltLAHo_3ZqtgSi-P4m8_YmS8c6A/s320/10032008502.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175982503807091234" /></a><br /><br /><br />and last but not least,<br /><br />**A plastic clam shell pool for Jester. Apparantly melbourne is in a bit of a heat wave and a husky's favourite way for dealing with heat is to immerse their feet in water. We've set up the little pool under a tree in the backyard and Jesters been running in and out of it as he sees fit. His idea of heaven on earth is taking his bones into the pool and just laying there in the cool, wet chewing to his hearts content.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD9FDsLOUeDgBe7D_8dH8OFTP_I7FxxCyQgOOafxw0rVccJAFarSCtXbYjSIFBmiD851MrYNKf4h6Brj9y_CmE2nclIp9FEYAbFXBzpXLq9byDCEykQ_hldFKxp4T44vN3fBM3A/s1600-h/10032008536.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD9FDsLOUeDgBe7D_8dH8OFTP_I7FxxCyQgOOafxw0rVccJAFarSCtXbYjSIFBmiD851MrYNKf4h6Brj9y_CmE2nclIp9FEYAbFXBzpXLq9byDCEykQ_hldFKxp4T44vN3fBM3A/s320/10032008536.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175987090832163474" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So all in all, it's a happy house. We returned from the hunt, stinky and sweaty from moving couches all over town, but we couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces and keep the giggles from escaping...a combination of dehydration and ridiculous luck will do that to a person ;)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk1LufLpsdWh9LdZfD859SgdOnwAOkACngJA3aQZgdG6qnpz0k__Vcfk2qIfEOut3ldhgV03hLkNODnhG8awEX6QwZnD8_SQdHklyqt-2453UD73uKF4pGt7-MDFLUYYRlJQ3uQ/s1600-h/10032008520.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk1LufLpsdWh9LdZfD859SgdOnwAOkACngJA3aQZgdG6qnpz0k__Vcfk2qIfEOut3ldhgV03hLkNODnhG8awEX6QwZnD8_SQdHklyqt-2453UD73uKF4pGt7-MDFLUYYRlJQ3uQ/s320/10032008520.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175987571868500642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzISlUmdZcUlbpgCWaSDqCJ9JlWobdnaCWXqZ8q8A74nFerfX_39xucsGZYnMKpn0R3DZmp0VMcORsCd6BvA11sj4yO06T0s-H-aflcCjFpOrz42zxajhp_GpgpRX7uUKIPKYB0A/s1600-h/10032008541.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzISlUmdZcUlbpgCWaSDqCJ9JlWobdnaCWXqZ8q8A74nFerfX_39xucsGZYnMKpn0R3DZmp0VMcORsCd6BvA11sj4yO06T0s-H-aflcCjFpOrz42zxajhp_GpgpRX7uUKIPKYB0A/s320/10032008541.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175988542531109554" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Money's still tight, but yesterday we experienced a whole heap of fun on a shoestring, walked away with some cool stuff and all it cost us was the cost of the petrol to potter around for the afternoon.<br />Who said you can't have a saturdays worth of fun for less than 5 bucks these days?!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-20100719495994490812008-02-26T14:53:00.006+11:002008-12-13T14:37:41.883+11:00The New Site...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKUd-PhKFw-FS0V2jj4yfqHEh6TdpeWz5WDUyIiI8Pgv6Y68fEJ_8Uu3YeGUeLkl5SjTQi6zbE4slGhFvLUjmn2Snt1h1Ti9kQl70D8p8b24AgGmByrhw-QTSihi4IfF_KtFXVQ/s1600-h/banner.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKUd-PhKFw-FS0V2jj4yfqHEh6TdpeWz5WDUyIiI8Pgv6Y68fEJ_8Uu3YeGUeLkl5SjTQi6zbE4slGhFvLUjmn2Snt1h1Ti9kQl70D8p8b24AgGmByrhw-QTSihi4IfF_KtFXVQ/s320/banner.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171134609267043874" /></a><br /><br />Okay, so we did it for the wedding and now we've done it again for the aftermath. Entitled Tim & Jess: Life After The Wedding. This site is dedicated to keeping in touch with rellies and family who we're so far away from, with the intention of helping us to stay in touch and keep people more up to date on life. Feel free to drop over and have a squiz by clicking <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/timandjess">HERE</a>, leave us a message with whats going on in life. Timmy and I do actually read and respond, so it's sorta like an online community of sorts.<br />It's always nice to stay in touch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-64716816060752745962008-02-26T14:26:00.002+11:002008-02-26T14:49:59.547+11:00Taking me in...I love a song that draws me towards a place of true and sincere worship. From the very first 2 lines of "At the start, he was there...<br /> In the end, he'll be there..." it gets me so bad...<br /><br />David Crowder Band have such an amazing heart for worship and their song "The Glory of It All" has quickly become one of my very new favourites.<br /><br />At the startHe was there, He was there<br />In the end,He'll be there, He'll be there<br />And after all our hands have wrought<br />He forgives<br /><br />Oh the Glory of it all is:<br />He came here<br />For the rescue of us all<br />That we may live<br />For the glory of it all<br />For the glory of it all<br /><br />All is lost<br />Find Him there. Find Him there.<br />After night,<br />Dawn is there. Dawn is there.<br />After all falls apart<br />He repairs. He repairs.<br /><br />Oh the Glory of it all is:<br />He came here<br />For the rescue of us all<br />That we may live<br />For the glory of it all Oh He is here<br />For redemption from the fall<br />That we may live<br />For the glory of it all<br />Oh the glory of it all<br />The glory of it all<br />Oh the glory of it all<br /><br />After night<br />Comes the light<br />Dawn is here Dawn is here<br /><br />It's a new day<br />It's a new day<br />Everything will change<br />Things will never be the same<br />We will never be the same<br />We will never be the same<br />We will never be the same<br />We will never be the same<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zg-1yM6insA&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zg-1yM6insA&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-34121162961167438972008-02-11T00:29:00.000+11:002008-12-13T14:37:42.031+11:00The [marriage] Learning Curve<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHxmntdtGDqMBb2Fk6Rw822mGZ5MNQr5NyApVcIhNgeKkqtcae2c3W2H4GRwars83XjVmrHim4M7WqQG3ZG7rrYlvIaBx2gyFPBYL7T1qklHg0W6_BxxV5RmBi1aauyPQyAYAXA/s1600-h/tyjy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165355799489751570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHxmntdtGDqMBb2Fk6Rw822mGZ5MNQr5NyApVcIhNgeKkqtcae2c3W2H4GRwars83XjVmrHim4M7WqQG3ZG7rrYlvIaBx2gyFPBYL7T1qklHg0W6_BxxV5RmBi1aauyPQyAYAXA/s320/tyjy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Marriage really is such an interesting thing. It's so different from anything I have ever done before in my life. Call me naive, but I really didn't think it would be a whole heap different from my days of flatmates during uni, only a million times better because it was me sharing a place with the man I love.</div><br /><div>It's a whoooooole heap different, and I find myself not really being able to explain why. Would it be suffice to say, "It Just is..." ?!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Things have been tight around our place for the last few weeks. I'm still doing the casual teaching thing, as I never even received an interview for any of the jobs I applied for. It's a tricky business, believing that God has it all under control, that the job for me is out there I've just gotta keep applying and trusting. It's hard not to take it personally when I'm completely given the miss. I don't know how many times I've been told that there is a teacher shortage here in Melbourne. Every job I've applied for, when I've done the follow-up phonecall in an attempt to represent just how keen I am, I've been told that there are over a hundred applicants for each one of them. Now I'm no math buff, but to me that doesn't indicate any sort of shortage.</div><br /><div></div><div>Seeing as school has only just gone back, the casual thing really hasn't supplied any work. I'm staying confident that the teacher absenses will be begin to steadily rise from here on in. But until then, it means that we're surviving on Timmy's wage alone. And it's tough.</div><br /><div>It's been a pretty rough wake-up, a sort of baptism of fire. Life as a married, responsible couple in the city is a far cry from the country, Uni students with cheap accomodation and very little responsibility.</div><br /><div>I guess it all has taken it's toll, we're more stressed than I think we've ever seen each other. Someone once told me that the highest rating reason for couples getting a divorce was due to finances. While Tim and I are nowhere near contemplating divorce, we CAN understand why finances would be a trigger. It's stressful when you're counting the pennies, trying to stretch it as far as it will go. Its almost suffocating.</div><br /><div>I'm not typing this here to try and build sympathy, nor to make us out to be some sort of charity case. I guess the reason I'm sharing this is because it is an exhausting task to always respond to the question "So...hows married life?" with the overused "Great! Yeah, everythings fantastic!"</div><br /><div>Because the truth is, everything ISN'T always fantastic. Tim and I fight and argue over, often the most stupid and trivial things that it seems ridiculous. Does that mean that we love each other any less than the day we made it all official with the pretty dress and the big cake and party? No, if anything we love each other a little bit more with ever fight. Because we're invested in each others lives. We care so deeply about each other that the energy is still there to fight for one another. </div><div>We argue because we're still learning. Gosh, we're learning so much! Yeah I was naive to think it would ever be anything like living with a flatmate - Timmy is a million times more important to me than any flatmate I have ever flatted with. </div><div>Everyday that we spend together holds the potential for learning, for growing, for human error and for understanding. our feeble little human minds miscomprehend, misinterpret and just plain miss so much! But we're getting there!!</div><br /><div>I have never doubted that what Tim and I have is the real deal. I have never doubted that we have what it takes to love each other forever. </div><br /><div></div><div>We're still learning what it is we need and we want of each other. Those desires and needs are a constantly evolving aspect of who we are. So it requires us to be constantly investing and listening and reaching out to one another. Perfection is a concept which is so foreign, but Love is something I'm reminded of everyday.</div><div>I love being Tims wife. I love him so much. I'm glad that I'm sharing this journey with him. We're in one of those tougher phases of life, but we know that Gods walking with us through it. We know that he's already gone up ahead and he's guiding us towards the good stuff. We're going to be better together, when we 'get' each other better, when we know the finer details better, when we're atuned and more parallel with not only each other, but with God also.</div><br /><div></div><div>We are a work in process! But perhaps the greatest thing is that We're learning to find the joys in the little things. Those reminders that we're not forgotten, we're being looked after and watched over. Today, Timmy and I realised that his overtime at work had meant that we really hadn't spent a whole lot of one-on-one time together. So as we were watching telly in bed we suddenly decided to get up, grap Jesters leash and go for a wander around the block. it was so glorious, so needed. It was on sunset and the glow of the streets just felt gorgeous, we wandered and talked, laughed at Jester being his goofy normal self. The walk was blessing in itself, but as we came to the end of a street, there were the pieces of an iron double bed, resting against a fence with a sign telling us that it was free to anyone who wanted it. We had been wanting to get a double bed for our spare room, but couldn't afford it, so put it on our wish list.</div><div>We spent the next couple of minutes discussing what we would do about the missing slats...could we make our own? When Tim noticed another sign on it saying that all we needed to do was enquire in the house to grab the slats.</div><br /><div>It was utterly amazing! Everything was there, all the pieces of the frame, the bolts and the slats - beautiful condition, all thats left is to get a double mattress.</div><br /><div></div><div>We were utterly in awe. The only thing we could say was a massive thankyou to the big dude, for leaving us speechless by his incredible level of love and care for the mundane things in our lives, and reminding us that he's watching out for us...finances will never phase us so long as we keep trusting and loving him. </div><div>Life will always work out. So long as we keep working life out with God!</div><br /><div></div><div>You know what?yeah we're Counting every penny right now, but it's not going to get us down...Life really is great!</div><br /><div>True Happiness is all about perspective! :) </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-63490411010058584742008-01-23T03:30:00.000+11:002008-12-13T14:37:42.566+11:00I'm in Love...<div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwH14m6vg0aBEBDac_qDjhyLDD6Z4mUyEafRdGOHs1bR3WfvK2iOAZO9fiwhakQL5eGYVAga0b0usum4XeM9zFv35JNJ7A3J8x2fNSAVxVZYU4yf4d_bGvOa0bpxuT3VGyElU0g/s1600-h/compressed.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158344225817610994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwH14m6vg0aBEBDac_qDjhyLDD6Z4mUyEafRdGOHs1bR3WfvK2iOAZO9fiwhakQL5eGYVAga0b0usum4XeM9zFv35JNJ7A3J8x2fNSAVxVZYU4yf4d_bGvOa0bpxuT3VGyElU0g/s320/compressed.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwmN7jGGyF8afKZEXuXdHJ58U72TQ6whfFcj6MdHwdcuJr6plIBVUpM2IEvwEO_95SNvqe0EspaUbIb0Et8RAks_iZlhebnu2ePKf1hgWXx40_Wcz3QrTei-8kYVD5WmxvTpYmw/s1600-h/compressed.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158344547940158210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwmN7jGGyF8afKZEXuXdHJ58U72TQ6whfFcj6MdHwdcuJr6plIBVUpM2IEvwEO_95SNvqe0EspaUbIb0Et8RAks_iZlhebnu2ePKf1hgWXx40_Wcz3QrTei-8kYVD5WmxvTpYmw/s320/compressed.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY0Hm-uYR9pkMAW5mCYKF5QgUARmCWa-yI_xc8ough0PBOChSyFO0Sb09RqooagjfxiVLKicHFcv7vxxJW75tjJNLQGDmX2Dg7kH43wCMcJR95AbrKTHkvt7AnSsQaEkzPvoI8A/s1600-h/compressed2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158345144940612370" style="WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 83px" height="92" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY0Hm-uYR9pkMAW5mCYKF5QgUARmCWa-yI_xc8ough0PBOChSyFO0Sb09RqooagjfxiVLKicHFcv7vxxJW75tjJNLQGDmX2Dg7kH43wCMcJR95AbrKTHkvt7AnSsQaEkzPvoI8A/s320/compressed2.JPG" width="136" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>...with my little family.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I adore my husband and find myself falling more and more in love with him everyday, and I couldn't imagine life without my furry little children anymore.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>All in all, life is wonderful. :)</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18TI4Y6mnKCmHMdGTodmnk4LbTv3pCxuqkAhVABpALaxME5DfQLNDdamfzFePBFTFclQ8cL2hHSLqInxMyLPeqJuX3DY1LJQeSReTx7vnS_EB5kLNPMzmkVq5WmMViSY-y9wCZw/s1600-h/100_0805.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNV9vVr6xpjiE5X-dgaU6rkGC0Bd0DL9Kcvi7teW689a0VKteXWX67XTq1Uz4hN0UVsKbdg4QiHgozUWl9E9X2RB7OY5osBwKaaZcHbtiXIud-Ia_3tvg-sEfqlqG7s4IBsxoc0Q/s1600-h/100_0814.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvsncYeL7tqlGGsiPmbyFFzWWuOIMhB8wKzK4oXmfcM1yJQHQyrJBOmzOreapfRiGWCFeJWga_iK8o45chdzEjX5jA2MMAvp78u6FzO0Ic1LcA_cb0I6cCLeYH0UkYC-Zp1ObCg/s1600-h/100_0519.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-24272691103647073602008-01-22T01:55:00.000+11:002008-12-13T14:37:42.825+11:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih88lnBEJySApFQgMbUjsy6o35WeGXIx7WJuUils361Gd_SJEGDj0uLzpGOtrz5L2WkLCpcuO6mfTuLZ5FgDF9Kpb8k3X_HK10q0LGRX_4RGCXLca4oPr2L6OCL_p4K72Dc9vpKg/s1600-h/makeup_artist.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157954457535498930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih88lnBEJySApFQgMbUjsy6o35WeGXIx7WJuUils361Gd_SJEGDj0uLzpGOtrz5L2WkLCpcuO6mfTuLZ5FgDF9Kpb8k3X_HK10q0LGRX_4RGCXLca4oPr2L6OCL_p4K72Dc9vpKg/s320/makeup_artist.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It seems that this poor blog here has been severly neglected. If there is actually anyone out there who reads this, then I sincerely apologise for my laziness in posting. However since I remain under the impression that it is only I who I am writing for, then I owe myself the apology. As I never seem able to work through the blessings of life as I can when I write, and so, short of calling it a new years resolution, I shall write more, again.<br /><br />6. Six.<br /><br />That is the number of weeks it has been since I have worked. The number of weeks since I have last seen a pay check and the number of weeks in which I have found myself more and more, pondering my future. Our future.<br /><br />School holidays have meant that there are no teachers whom I can 'relieve' and since I am still considered a casual, I don't fall under that wonderful blanket of 'holiday pay' - what a glorious phrase it is!<br />I have been looking and applying for permanent, and semi-permanent teaching work, and for a while there, getting rather disheartened by the fact that there simply had not been interest thrown in my direction. However I am one of those prayers, who asks that God would quite simply 'open the doors I should walk through and slam shut those which I am to leave'.<br />The silence from possible emplyment has left me feeling that none of the jobs I have considered have yet to be 'mine' the one which is God ordained. Nevertheless I have continued to apply, whilst allowing myself to dream.<br /><br />Tim and I have been chatting of late[well we shat all the time really ;) ] We have basically come to the conclusion that I do not feel compelled to teach full-time. I had always asked of Tim, that if I ever seemed to lack the passion for teaching then I need not persue it, as it is one of those careers which you simply cannot fake. You are responsible of massive things, this is the shaping of little lives we're talking about!<br /><br />So, together we have decided that I shall continue to teach casually. That is where my heart is at right now. While I persue other passions and desires. In the 2nd semester of this year I will begin a course in makeup design and application and I must say I'm massively excited about it.<br /><br />I have my teaching degree and I know that it was not for nothing. I plan to use it to step off from, to continue to teach casually, earning money which will allow me to persue this other direction.<br />I feel excited and energised. I was falling into a rut, settling into a complacancy of sorts. looking in the eye a career which lacked the artistic excitement I yearn for.<br /><br />Love Love Love goes out to my amazingly supportive and all-together wonderful husband, who encourages me to live my life with passion. Theres a chance I may try to back out, but it's nice to know that he knows what truly brings me happiness , and thus far has shown an earnest unwillingness to allow me to bore myself, simply out of safety and an easy buck. He's amazing!<br /><br />I have great ambitions. To delve into womens ministry.<br />I have this great passion for women, seeing them come to the full revelation of their own worth. Perhaps it sounds obsurd that I should attempt to make women see their inner beauty through external means, but I hope to unlock bigger issues than what shade of lipstick suits you.<br />I don't know exactly how or when or what, but I'm trusting that God is bigger than all my uncertainties. He knows my heart, I'm just going to try and follow his lead.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-3441005371190439882007-12-06T17:20:00.000+11:002008-12-13T14:37:45.319+11:00Can anyone hear pitter-pattering?There was a funny thing that happened after we got married. More and more, Timmy and I found ourselves yearning for the sound of tiny little feet running up the hallway, to nurture and love unconditionally that little somebody.<br /><br /><br />So, after much thought and prayer and consideration we made the big, lifelong commitment to add a new member to our family...<br /><br /><br />...<br /><br /><br /><br />...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Its a boy,<br /><br /><br /><br />...<br /><p> </p><p>...<br /><br /><br /><br /></p>And his name is...<br /><p><br /> </p><p>...</p><p> </p><p>...</p><p><br /><br /><br /> </p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">JESTER!! </span></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVTlaAEKtj1H73u_-sCIGI9oBcP6sRPLfc6OnAonIBeGlRevlIDJT2GzT9tSRx1GAF6KBF8ldZcdTMPR1UrneKAJ4c0kOXdNJUL811HOBVGLPHFkKxd2D-uns1PDIHIN9Um06pA/s1600-h/reduced.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141005679278327474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVTlaAEKtj1H73u_-sCIGI9oBcP6sRPLfc6OnAonIBeGlRevlIDJT2GzT9tSRx1GAF6KBF8ldZcdTMPR1UrneKAJ4c0kOXdNJUL811HOBVGLPHFkKxd2D-uns1PDIHIN9Um06pA/s320/reduced.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He's a goofey kid, with a whole heap of personality, while being really, really clever. So 'Jester' was the perfect fit.He's a Siberian Husky, and he's just hit 3 months, we've had him since he was 6 weeks old. So it's only been a short time, but we cannot imagine him not being a part of our family.<br />He's hyper, so you're lucky to see any good photo's, as he's incredibly difficult to photograph [he rarely stops moving!!]<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_FkfrGQ_d5pYNbXPU52XyrGGomCO32psoj2W_y2J4-QT3ER_rMSoT9-I1SIv-9-lja3tmQp9_Vqe0JuPLi296NrLemUr09toq658A7M1AWsrZ1GUI29DCyQg2i5T2JJLf7bgMg/s1600-h/reduced10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141005936976365250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_FkfrGQ_d5pYNbXPU52XyrGGomCO32psoj2W_y2J4-QT3ER_rMSoT9-I1SIv-9-lja3tmQp9_Vqe0JuPLi296NrLemUr09toq658A7M1AWsrZ1GUI29DCyQg2i5T2JJLf7bgMg/s320/reduced10.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAFQivc8qyuFog4Owc9WHFcOazZla5c1rtJb_cKbURTo6SzAFSk5TL4Zz0L7DdnY0Ns8CInNRLJywmkzdCpJcfEpJMCYWkDdSE3Aq3FK2TCnLex_3zuC1GGQBby_SxiizX4xDgA/s1600-h/reduced8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141006083005253330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAFQivc8qyuFog4Owc9WHFcOazZla5c1rtJb_cKbURTo6SzAFSk5TL4Zz0L7DdnY0Ns8CInNRLJywmkzdCpJcfEpJMCYWkDdSE3Aq3FK2TCnLex_3zuC1GGQBby_SxiizX4xDgA/s320/reduced8.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />kay okay, so I know Belinda is going to be dissapointed that all this hype was about a puppy and not a baby, but Jester really is our little bub, and the only bub we're going to be having for a good few years yet. And anyway, we said we yearned for the pitter-patter of tiny feet...well, we get more feet this way ;)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8q4-xFDGS9hYl9HTTsT-31irJBA8U3LAkmHKmiArYRXztj39vhsXYUQQJhyphenhyphenDBSxWgJP4qfaI8gaTcqMoCd4cDJ6z9p7en1eRUY-OJoY6sSqPD6zvrvSjnJ6k4OAq0aBsxKjO6w/s1600-h/reduced11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141006615581198050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8q4-xFDGS9hYl9HTTsT-31irJBA8U3LAkmHKmiArYRXztj39vhsXYUQQJhyphenhyphenDBSxWgJP4qfaI8gaTcqMoCd4cDJ6z9p7en1eRUY-OJoY6sSqPD6zvrvSjnJ6k4OAq0aBsxKjO6w/s320/reduced11.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qkCOv2aPKWME7t5JVZK1UHsKmkTC-pi2sjVYkYsmuokhLWo8zfil8zEvHP-CfJROZFTy1AHiJFvcsl6PR31JXFlTfG4jvkzyV0CQ3w-bjbEiKlNFuP3kFeVeOMlccrxzsgj-sg/s1600-h/reduced7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141006770200020722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qkCOv2aPKWME7t5JVZK1UHsKmkTC-pi2sjVYkYsmuokhLWo8zfil8zEvHP-CfJROZFTy1AHiJFvcsl6PR31JXFlTfG4jvkzyV0CQ3w-bjbEiKlNFuP3kFeVeOMlccrxzsgj-sg/s320/reduced7.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheArr6Zo_tKduVh3QJs_axPi0-OkduLN5A8K1IORcRa2-QrXb0HPRgPNdKqMym31kUcT3C0ai5KubAMShtxGmwM6wIRGF-q1E9_6rJzoh1YS_CB0gIGWC7lBLk5sfGErIjVt6RoQ/s1600-h/reduced6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141006860394333954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheArr6Zo_tKduVh3QJs_axPi0-OkduLN5A8K1IORcRa2-QrXb0HPRgPNdKqMym31kUcT3C0ai5KubAMShtxGmwM6wIRGF-q1E9_6rJzoh1YS_CB0gIGWC7lBLk5sfGErIjVt6RoQ/s320/reduced6.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6ycdbf1Ukx_WvtQPVSTR0Gx8BBuM39YFI68fhElmqGLMrbV0hH2lHMKTDqbjE9PpkpiAyqX71Clev-JKfUdE4ocu4oupLQLfWMGNEiLOzWdyZkgVjbT35V0VQMEgMWGpd_Zs0g/s1600-h/reduced4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141006976358450962" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6ycdbf1Ukx_WvtQPVSTR0Gx8BBuM39YFI68fhElmqGLMrbV0hH2lHMKTDqbjE9PpkpiAyqX71Clev-JKfUdE4ocu4oupLQLfWMGNEiLOzWdyZkgVjbT35V0VQMEgMWGpd_Zs0g/s320/reduced4.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRJRWcFXXJF80xb6J34U_AjH2ptcYXe3D-8kgxkxqE1voh3jUgRD5kKsmcTYFqagrbMQfgdN3Z16Stk0tgS-v-oQ-nRhEnnRa7U6vlq-G4pEfDPM3xv6aRKy4KyJGnHMVJQCxBQ/s1600-h/reduced3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141007062257796898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRJRWcFXXJF80xb6J34U_AjH2ptcYXe3D-8kgxkxqE1voh3jUgRD5kKsmcTYFqagrbMQfgdN3Z16Stk0tgS-v-oQ-nRhEnnRa7U6vlq-G4pEfDPM3xv6aRKy4KyJGnHMVJQCxBQ/s320/reduced3.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDPqsPWSUlFKdX0HchB-qmD3gclWKFrWH_AR2GyAHdJ-mwX4DXkRMes2Yj5-Ai3hI_5DvWDD6arnD0o4HT7p4MUzQ6_523GahBSIL1uJbZeQQPUA-BunZRGwBwmXn-Yn5GVGnAg/s1600-h/reduced2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141008462417135410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDPqsPWSUlFKdX0HchB-qmD3gclWKFrWH_AR2GyAHdJ-mwX4DXkRMes2Yj5-Ai3hI_5DvWDD6arnD0o4HT7p4MUzQ6_523GahBSIL1uJbZeQQPUA-BunZRGwBwmXn-Yn5GVGnAg/s320/reduced2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9mUZYHrHP-0MIXNRSAqW_xUBMEuWmEJNyuxCavCuIhU7eHsja9vhT3A8opTv254B5laDdJr5DGN063gSLh78ZydeKMZkHZY4gN0kWZRH_7DecV8XAu5AZN5BYwLCXXDkIxxbOA/s1600-h/reduced9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141009991425492818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9mUZYHrHP-0MIXNRSAqW_xUBMEuWmEJNyuxCavCuIhU7eHsja9vhT3A8opTv254B5laDdJr5DGN063gSLh78ZydeKMZkHZY4gN0kWZRH_7DecV8XAu5AZN5BYwLCXXDkIxxbOA/s320/reduced9.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy5rbG8ufLshEZIfbfQrSu1Jh-yukLtyQQFqSN54CuP4WI3jhLc7Bvdmq4CFUPx3bfm1sELg5YjSr62tNBf_Bq5eDWYSNXvFNan7JZbVj4yeRtw6hPX0FF1dUZhL1IiftGdjmmA/s1600-h/reduced5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141009879756343106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy5rbG8ufLshEZIfbfQrSu1Jh-yukLtyQQFqSN54CuP4WI3jhLc7Bvdmq4CFUPx3bfm1sELg5YjSr62tNBf_Bq5eDWYSNXvFNan7JZbVj4yeRtw6hPX0FF1dUZhL1IiftGdjmmA/s320/reduced5.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-74548089060253539112007-11-30T10:36:00.001+11:002008-12-13T14:37:49.937+11:00The Wedding, with PicturesOkay, I've been promising for the longest time, a more thorough run-through of the wedding day. And so, at last, here I am with the goods.<br />The Day began with all us girls waking at my mum and dads place. We stirred at around 7:30am and probably rolled out of bed a good 15 minutes later. Jess W and I had shared my double, while Kate and Rea had shared the other, which left an opening for lines like "Well...we did sleep together last night..." for the rest of the day.<br />Meanwhile, the boys were over at the Forster Motor Inn, a hotel run by a soccer-buddy of my dads, who had given us the awesome rate of $75 per room[could fit 4 people] per night for anyone who mentioned that they were guests of the Gordon-Braybrook wedding. Therefore basically the entire hotel was overrun with our family and friends. It's probably important to mention here, that this was right in the middle of school holidays, so the rate was absolutely amazing and incredibly generous and Timmy and I probably owe the owners our first born, or something along those lines ;)<br /><br />Ahem...so where was I? Oh yes, the boys were over at the hotel still in bed, they would only rise, come 10am in order to go for a swim before leaisurely eating lunch, having a shower, getting dressed and heading over to the Ceremony. The atmosphere was utterly festive at the Motel. Having been overrun with family and friends of ours, Timmy's mum had organised big platters of sandwiches, fruit, cheese and cold meats around the pool to make sure all the guests were happy campers.<br />Over in the other camp, it was a bit more busy. Katie[my gorgeous twin] and I started on the girls hair and makeup. Music of choice?...we eased ourselves into it with some Brooke Fraser, before deciding that we needed a bit of girlrock and opted for some Superchick to get us bouncing around with excitement.<br /><br />Probably spent about 40 minutes on each of the girl, doing their hair and any makeup they didn't feel confident with doing themselves. The girls were awesome, helping out big-time by applying more of their makeup themselves. <br /><br />Eventually I made a dash to mum and dads ensuite, for Kate to glam up. She then did my hair, while I did my own makeup, rea[bridesmaid] wandered in to deliver some finger sandwiches and orange juice, of which i barely ate...I could feel the nervous excitement starting to build.<br /><br />Pretty much before we knew it, it was time for me to slip into my dress - when I say 'slip' I actually mean; Kate gathering the millions of layers of skirt, me holding my arms up over my head and navigating my way through the maze of material, before standing for about 10-15 minutes while Katie wove the ties through their loops in order to fasten the back. If I knew one thing, that dress was so impressively secured, there was no way it was ever going to fall right off during the festivities.<br /><br />At about 11:45am our photographer for the day, [another soccer buddy of my Dads] Dave rocked up with his wife Leonie. They basically come as a package, Dave doing the photographer stuff while Leonie runs about making sure my dress is sitting right, my hairs all good, as well as racing about with her own camera taking pictures of all the little details on the dresses, the flowers and whatever else inspired her.<br /><br />So we pottered about in the house and garden, Dave clicking away the whole time.<br /><br />At about 12:55pm Katie came wandering out with glasses of bubbly for us all, we were due to leave so it meant we either drank fast or left it behind. I had Rea standing on my left and Jess standing on my right - they had me in fits of laughter as Jess tried to convince me to skull the lot, while Rea was telling me that no I shouldn't. I got the picture in my head of the little angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other...the girls loved the image and in the end we all sipped away, took a little extra time, until the glasses were finished. <br /><br />We were on our way. The girls all crammed into the other 2 cars while I had the white all to myself. My dad was driving my car for the day, which was fantastic. It meant that i got a good 15 minutes with just dad and I before we reached the ceremony. I love my dad, and it was perfect to share those last few moments as a 'Miss' with him.<br /><br />At around 1:15pm we arrived at the Green cathedral. This gorgeous outdoor church which i had imagined getting married in, ever since I was about 12 years old. All the guest had arrived Timmy and his boys were waiting patiently down the front, preparing for our arrival. The girls gave me one last primp before we descended the aisle. Bit of hair flicking, some lip gloss and finally popping the veil over my face.<br /><br />I'll admit my heart was in my throat, this was it, the moment had begun. <br /><br />We walked the aisle to an accoustic version of "Forever" by Overflow, performed by an incredibly talented friend Rob Heague. He did an absolutely beautiful job which nearly had me in tears before I'd even reached the end of the aisle<br /><br />The aisle walk was one of the most amazing moments, and I know that I will remember it forever. It was the first time I had seen so many people, who I absolutely adore, in so long. I can still remember passing Ozza and actually saying "Heeeey" , seeing Chris W [Mr C] and he gave me a little wave, WaeJae, with his big grin and Camera in hand [so little changes]before realising that I'd have time to chat to everyone AFTER the ceremony :P And then I spotted Timmy, and he looked beautiful and I couldn't wait to get down to the end of the aisle and see him properly. <br /><br />Daryll was making it all official, I'd known him for years as he was the assistant pastor and recently made Pastor of my childhood church. He did such a fantastic job, he kept it relaxed and playful while capturing the heart and seriousness of the marriage covenant.<br /><br />When it came time for the 'giving away' of the Bride I had asked mum and dad to do it together, and so they both stood side-by-side and said "We Do", I nearly lost it when mum was forced to hesitate while she choked back the tears - I have the most amazing parents and they have both been such incredible influences in my life, they both deserve to be honoured and to stand together with equal acknowledgment for the work they have done in my life to raise and nurture me.<br /><br />Rob returned with his guitar, and everyone popped back onto their feet to sing with him Chris Tomlin's "You Do All Things Well" We had included the words in the program for anyone who wasn't familiar with the song. I was so glad that we had decided to do that. There was something incredibly wonderful about standing there, in the beauty of these gorgeous surrounds singing a song of worship to my God. <br /><br />I ended up just closing my eyes and allowed myself a moment to breathe God in while pausing to consider the full magnitude of this very day. By the time the song ended and I opened my eyes, I was ready. The nerves had calmed, I felt at peace and as I looked into Timmy's eyes I knew there was nothing I wanted more than to become his wife.<br /><br />A dear friend of mine and known in my family as "The Third Twin" Steve kindly did the bible reading for us. We had deliberately strayed from the usual suspect of 1 Corinthians 13...it truely is a beautiful verse, but we both decided that it was probably the most overused bible passage in wedding history. We however decided that since the bible really is such a fantastic book then surely there were other verses which could capture love. And so Steve read for us Song of Songs 8 and Ecclesiastes 4.<br /><br />Timmy and I had made the decision to write our own vows. A decision which we had not always chosen. Originally I think that we had opted to go with the traditional as we felt it was one less thing for us to stress about, you know how the saying goes "If it aint broke, don't fix it" and we had enough on our plates with the rest of the wedding anyway.<br />And then in the lead-up to our wedding, together we worked through the book "Lies at the Alter" By Dr Robyn Smith and it absolutely changed our stance. We realised that we really wanted to go into marriage being honest and aware of the promises we were making to each other. The traditional vows are wonderful and I know that many, many couples are more than happy with them. But as Tim and I worked our way through the traditional vows we realised that we desperately wanted to make promises to each other which were straight forward, clear and without misinterpretation, more than anything we wanted to go into marriage knowing that we had taken the time to meditate on the promises we were making to one another, to take the traditional vows apart, break them down and speak out our truths to one another.<br />here are the vows we made to each other. And Yes there were some tears. ;)<br /><br />Tims Vows:<br />"Jess, I found it very hard to sit and write these vows because, as you know I'm not that great at expressing my feelings. So I decided to lay everything out and work through it all with the logical mind that you always say I have. Doing this led me to examine what is important to us, our relationship and what we have learnt over the last two years. By doing so, has led me to what I believe is the most important things that I need to give to you.<br />Jess, I promise that I will always respect you and your opinions, even when we disagree. That I will always listen to your opinion and advise and communicate mine to you.<br />I promise to seek Gods way before my own, and strive to lead our family in the strength of his ways and purpose.<br />I promise you that we will both have an equal share in the emotional and spiritual deposits and withdraws of our relationship.<br />I will always count you as my equal, in every facet of my life.<br />You will be my guide, my partner and my follower, as I will be all these things to you.<br />In all the good times and the bad, when we may feel at odds with each other, I promise to love you and that I will always be there as your husband to support you, but most importantly, I will always be there as your friend.<br />Jess, I love you." <br /><br />My Vows:<br />"In preparing these vows today, it gave me a chance to take a look backwards in order to prepare for the next chapter of life as we, together look to our future.<br />A great friend once told me, that the best part of a relationship is right at the beginning, while you’re still learning all about this new person in your life. I disagree. I love here and now. I love knowing you, being able to predict your reactions, knowing that you are a man of dignity and respect. Knowing that you have not simply received my trust and adoration, but that you have worked hard to earn it in the way that you treat me and love me, in thought and in action by just living your life.<br />Today, in front of God and the people we love most in the world, I want to promise you my truths.<br />I promise to live my life with you, not as an imposter, but to be real in who I am. And to desire that you live your life as your true self. To continue to nurture our relationship as a place of love. Where both of us can feel safe in sharing our shortcomings, our vulnerability our imperfections. While knowing that, that place reserved for simply you and me, can be a space for comfort, support and encouragement because honesty and truth always reign.<br /><br />I promise to be humble enough to know that neither of us are perfect, and that we will never always get things exactly right, but in love be willing to drop my pride and apologise when I am wrong. We may not always agree, in fact I know we won’t always agree, but I promise to respect you. To accept your opinion, to really listen when you speak not simply be waiting for you to finish speaking so that I can speak again.<br /><br />I promise to love God with everything, to persue his purposes in my life – to share with you my passions, my desires, my hopes and dreams and to love you enough to desire that you live your life in persuit of Gods best for you.<br /><br />I promise to care about your life. To be interested in you, in your days. To be a witness to great things you will do, while being so grateful to be able to share in the mundane, and hum-drum everyday pace of life as well.<br /><br />I promise to value your family and friends, because they’re important to you. To understand that this life is far bigger than simply you and me. That great friendships and family are what brings vibrancy and true joy to both of us. To know that a healthy part of our relationship, includes time away from each other. That the greatest thing we can do for ‘us’ is to stay in touch with life beyond ourselves and continue to reach out to those around us for support and friendship in order to live a life together which is rich and blessed.<br /><br />We have come a long way. We have learnt and grown so much… individually and together. But perhaps the greatest part, is that you have become, not simply my Spunky-musk- rat, but you’re my friend. I love that we can love each other, not simply as a couple, but also as two kindred spirits who love to laugh and be sarcastic and goofey.I promise you, that I will be there with you as your wife, and your friend, as we learn the lessons which life will teach us together and seperately.<br /><br />The love I promise you today, is more far reaching than simply uncontrollable emotion. The love I promise you is a choice. I choose to love you when times are difficult, I choose to love you when we don’t agree, I choose to love you when life is really kicking us in the guts. I choose to wake up, every day and love you… for the rest of my life.I stand here today, and I make these promises, because I choose you Tim.<br />You are the Great love of my life, and I will love you forever"<br /><br />I think the tears started flowing from me around the part where I said "I choose you, Tim" which was ammusing, as the whole leadup to the wedding I had been sure that I wouldn't cry. Afterwards people were asking me whether I had been laughing or crying, truth is I had been crying then started laughing softly to myself because I was crying...I surprised myself with the depth of my love and how completely I felt Gods blessing as I spoke those vows to Tim.<br />We had the exchange of rings and pretty soon it was time for some pashing :P no no, we were tasteful. kate described the kiss as "...the best wedding kiss I have ever seen, coz it was more than a peck, but not enough that I felt like I needed to look away<br /><br />We signed the register, To the sound of Rob singing “All I Need” By Stu Larsen. <br />Then mingled with everyone for a good 15-20 minutes, before we all had to skidaddle so the next wedding could head in. Figures that such a beautiful spot would be so heavily booked, truth is it had been a miracle that we had gotten the spot we had as it was completely booked up, and that was even when booking a year in advance! <br /><br />The bridal party jumped in the cars and headed over to One Mile Beach for photo's. <br />This basically involved wandering up and down the beach, chatting and laughing and enjoying the warm sun. Highlight of the day was leaving the ceremony and realising that we were all ridiculously thirsty, so we pulled up into the drive-in bottle O and picked up some bottles of coke. We had people in the shop shouting congratulations and lauging that we were in there...we were highly ammused.<br />As we had arrived at the beach for photo's, us girls had started to complain of hunger, having eaten very little that morning. Can I just say that I have married a man who knows me all too well. The boys had stocked their car up on Starburst and Natural Confectionary company lollies before the ceremony, knowing that there was a good chance us girls would get a bit snappy should hunger kick in :P so we scarfed into the lollies and bounced around happily on our sugar high.<br /><br /><br /><br />At 3:30pm we headed to the Wharf opposite the Wharf Bar and tandoori [where the reception was] in order to get piccies with everyone before heading inside. We ended up pottering around and carrying on for a good half an hour before heading upstairs to the restaurant.<br /><br />Once in however, we were greeted by masses of finger-food on the verandah overlooking the lake. There was so much fingerfood, that i think people assumed it was all the food they were going to get and chowed into it...man! It was freakin' beautiful food!!<br />More mingling and catching-up with friends, with the company of great food and good wine. John proved to be an incredible companion for my evening. I had only met John 2 weeks before the wedding as he was a good friend of Katies but he looked after me all night and made sure I always had a drink nearby and as much food as I desired...he even popped over to the bar and shouted me a smirnoff double-black which wasn't included on the bar tab. He's a ripper friend and I've only known him for such a short time.<br /><br />At around 5:30pm, Timmy and I slipped out of the restaurant and back onto the wharf with Dave[the photographer] for some pictures in front of the sunset.<br /><br />Upon returning to the restaurant, everyone was inside and seated, chatting as they waited, before Dad [also our M.C.] could be heard over the microphone announcing our arrival for the first time as Mr & Mr's Timothy and Jessica Gordon" Applause, hoots and wolf whistles and that little warm fuzzy in my gut at hearing my new name, attaching me to Timmy :D<br />We weaved our way through the tables and blonked ourselves down at the Bridal Table.<br /><br />Dad did the intro and explained the reason behind the Thomas the Tank Engine seating cards. We had opted for not allocating specific seats, instead we had a canvas on a tripod, in the entry, showing which tables people were at, then once people found their tables they simply chose a seat. Tables were named after a different Thomas the Tank Engine character, due to Timmy's childhood love [or should I say obsession] with the little blue metalled friend. I had deliberately tried to create a bit of balance, as weddings to easily become a chicks paradise and hell on earth for men, especially when pink is involved [I don't care what anyone says, real men don't really like pink!] thus we had deliberately strayed from typically 'girly' colours, avoided an overload of flowers and ended up with gorgeous Peacock feathers for me, and Thomas the Tank engine featuring for Timmy. I loved it! The room looked absolutely beautiful, and the peacock feathers in the large vases on top of the table, created this stunning sort of drama! *sigh* It looked better than I ever imagined it could!<br /><br />Timmy and I are much more comfortable with the casual than the formal, so we opted for a Buffet dinner. Once again Prete and the team at The Wharf Bar and Tandoori impressed. there was more than enough food and every time you thought it was starting to get a bit low, they would bring out another tray. The menu was a mixture of Roasted vegetables, Hot meats, Baked potatoes and hot and cold salads.<br />Being the bridal party, we were given first crack at it. My eyes were slightly too big for my tummy. As hungry as I felt, by the time I sat down to eat my hunger was gone again [Trev, my bridesmaid Becs husband, had told me that I would have no appetite in the morning, it would come back after the ceremony and then by the time dinner rocked up it'd be gone again...he was exactly right!]<br /><br />Dinner rolled on, and dad began the nights events. I feel now would be the time to say what an absolutely fantastic job my dad did as M.C. As if being Father-of-the-bride wasn't enough responsibility for one man to handle, but having seen how dad did it, no one else would have measured up. He Was Amazing!<br />Timmy and I had known that quite a few friends had gone to big effort to be there on the day, so we had given dad a list and asked that he made special mention of them at some point during the night. But dad, had gone one step further. Unbeknownst to us, he had organised to have medals made up which were engraved with the words "Tim & Jess Gordon, 6-10-2007" and used them as 'gongs' to say thankyou to those friends who went above and beyond.<br />The special mentions were made to;<br /><strong>Grant -</strong> Who missed his graduation ceremony to be there.<br /><strong>Sam & Alex -</strong> Who travelled all the way from Darwin to be there.<br /><strong>Owen -</strong> Who gave up a pro riding tour in Tasmania to be there.<br /><strong>Rob & Amy -</strong> Who not only made a mad dash back from Conference in Brisbane to be there, but Rob brought his musical magic to our ceremony.<br /><strong>Daryll & Kerry -</strong> Who also rushed back from conference so Daryll could make it all official!<br /><br />Father-of-the-bride speech came next, and dad was in fine form. He has a reputation for his long rambling stories and his love of a captive audience. He had a microphone so this was no exception. I love my dad, he is easily one of my most favourite people in the whole world, when I hear him speak he reminds me of just how much I love him, and how hopelessly proud of him I am.<br /><br />Mother-of-the-groom speech came next and Gere began it by giving out one more special mention 'gong' which was to the more than deserving Alex - who had not only sold Bathurst 1000 tickets in order to be at the wedding, but had taken on the role of Best Man and had been the most helpful and uncomplaining person in the history of a wedding. Without a word he would take on duties and do them fantastically, I know how much burden he took of Tim, kept his spirits soaring. Timmy was so grateful to have him there, they're the sort of friends that will always be.<br />Gere shared some stories about Timmy, and made me smile. I love my new mum. It has always been important to me to have a mother-in-law who I adore. I think it's carbage to think that you're suppose to dislike them, Gere is quickly capturing a big chunk of my heart.<br />Dad was back on the microphone, with yet another surprise. He had 4 'gongs' left, and announced that there were in-fact 'Best Dressed Awards' to be handed over. Apparantly he had collaborated with the Groomsmen in order to decide the female winners, who were; Tims Aunty Lo and my good friend Rheannwynne. To choose the male best dressed winners, Dad had consulted with the Bridesmaids in order to decide on; That ripper friend I have already spoken of, John and Dads good friend Geoff.<br /><br />I loved all dads little touches to the reception. He kept the atmosphere fun and interesting, when it could have become all to easy to bore during the speeches. Once again I say, Dad was the best M.C...well...ever!<br />Dad went on to introduce Alex, for the Best Man Speech. This speech was the greatest speech in the history of best man speeches.<br /><br />Alex was absolutely fantastic! he had us laughing as he entertained us with the history of his friendship with Tim, the story of Tim and I - from the perspective of the best mate and then he had us near tears as he shared of his honour at Tims friendship, how proud he was of Timmy and his best wishes for Tim and I in the future. I cried a lot more on my wedding day than I ever thought I would. It will be a beautiful memory for the rest of my life.<br />But alas, the night is nowhere near over yet. Timmy and I wandered over to cut our cake, it was humble and modest, but exactly what we wanted.<br /><br />We had both been absolutely chuffed with getting a little Timmy and Jess on the top...we loved it. Once we made the photo-sake cut, the cake was whisked off to the kitchen so the chef could cut it up, put it in bowls with some cream and serve it up to the guests.<br /><br />meanwhile Timmy and I were whisked off to the dancefloor for our first dance. We chose the song "Rest of my Life" By Unwritten Law as it makes up part of the soundtrack of our courtship. Everytime we hear the song we remember BBQ's up at Timmy's boys place, hanging out together for the first time, those nervous, giddy butterflies as we got to know each other. Without a doubt, that song makes us smile as we remember the innocence and purity of true love...not to mention it has a kicking beat. It's one of Timmy and my favourite songs forever, and it will always remind us of our uni days together. some of the most carefree and brilliant days of our lives!<br /><br />Around halfway through the song, our bridal party joined us on the dancefloor. We'd asked them to save us, as Timmy and I were only capable of a giddy shuffling back and forth, while chucking in a couple of spins here and there<br /><br />Our bridal party was capable of only the same, but once they hit the floor the attention was spread, and we were all giggling and enjoying ourselves so much that we forgot the room full of people watching [probably heckling too :P].<br />Dessert of the cake with cream was served and two of Timmy's groomsmen, Alex and Timmi, with another good mate of Tims, Dan pulled up a couple of the stools, grabbed their guitars and serenaded us all with some acoustic guitar accompanied with bass. <br /><br />We were so impressed, they were absolutely amazing. Quite a few people took the opportunity to hit the dancefloor with a partner to take them for a twirl. I decided to grab my dad.<br />Funny thing is, Dad was sitting at the table with all his soccer boys [he doesn't have any family, so these boys play the role splpendidly. They love him like a brother and he loves and appreciates them more than I could ever do justice with my words] apparantly seconds before I walked over to ask my Dad to dance, he has been saying to his boys that there was no way he'd dance. They had asked "What if your daughter asks you?" to which he had responded "She's outta luck, coz I'm not dancing".<br /><br />I love that he pretends to be tough, because really, he's such a softy, an absolute sucker for his kids. Needless to say pretty soon Dad and I were chuckling on the dancefloor. Dad makes me laugh like no one else, he continued to do so as he decided to be brave and attempt to spin me. Upon completion of the spin he responds "Ha! That was fun! Wanna try another one?"<br />Soon it was time for the throwing of the bouquet. The girls all shuffled together and there were quite a few, keen looking lasses at the front, with the 'not so keen' lingering to the side and back. katie was hiding at the back. I had joked that I was going to throw it right to her, but one look at my [nearly] 6 foot cousins blocking the front and I knew there was no hope. I actually thought I'd be lucky to even get it over them. Alas I did! It went straight into the middle of the group, a perfect throw.<br /><br />Unbeknownst to katie, the other bridesmaids had conspired against her, to do all in their power to get the bouquet in her hands. It was battered around for a moment or two, with Jess W [bridesmaid] managing to hook it into katies direction. There was a moment once the bouquet had been caught, when the catcher seemed invisible. She stood, surrounded by a mass of excitable females, blocking the view of all onlookers. When suddenly the crowd of girls parted and there stood a bewildered and highly ammused Katie.<br /><br />The Girls cleared the floor, a chair was pulled up for me and Timmy retrieved the garter. The boys, looking nowhere near as excited by the prospect of being next to marry, stood, backs against the wall, beer in hand, ready as they'd ever be.<br /><br />Timmy, thinking that the garter was highly elasticised, attempted to flick it through the air, only to have it drop from his hand, about 2 feet in front of him. The boys stood, unmoved staring at the garter resting on the ground, backs still against the wall, beer in hand, goofey smiles on their faces, shaking their heads at Timmy and laughing as they screached "What the Hell was that?!!"<br /><br />Timmy made a second attempt, only slightly better than the first, landing on matty 2's foot...it was decided that he was winner my default. To mum and dads horror, Matty 2 is Katies Boyfriend, they quickly declared that there was no rush and they needed at least 2 years to save some money again.<br />With all the formalities over, we spent the rest of the night mingling, drinking, dancing and enjoying the company of friends and family<br /><br />I know that I didn't spend anywhere near as much time with anyone, as I wanted. But I guess it's the nature of having so many people together in one place. We had so much fun though. It was so wonderful to see all the people we love in the one room, it was something I've never felt before. This sort of overwhelmed sense of honour...I know some absoluetly amazing people. I consider myself incredibly loved and looked after.<br />As the night wore on, Fatigue started to kick in for Timmy and I, it had been a long day. The guests formed the farewell line and Timmy and I wandered up the line saying thankyou and goodbye to each and every person there. It was nice to be able to be sure we said a "see ya later alligator" to everyone. I was told later that it's suppose to be a quick thing, which Timmy demonstrated, but in true Braybrook style I wandered my way up the line leisurely, chatting with everyone and enjoying the opportunity. As Timmy tells it, he was waiting a good 15-20 minutes for me to finish the line...Whaaaa? :P I was enjoying myself, I love my people! :D<br /><br />We skipped off into the night, up to our gorgeous hotel room, overlooking Wallis Lake. Timmy's mum, ruth and Jacinta had snuck out during the dancing to sprinkle the place with rose petals, and fill the room with candles. So by the time we got there, it was beautiful...I had tears in my eyes again!<br /><br />The next day Timmy and I opted to jump out of bed early and head to church. Now that we're living in Melbourne, we don't have the opportunity to go to Lakeside COC anymore, and I miss it so much, it's a truely great church and we didn't want to miss our chance. We decided that there was no better way to spend our first day as husband and wife than sending some praise up to the big dude.<br />After Church we headed across to John Wright Park where we had organised to meet up with everyone, at a wedding recovery picnic<br /><br />It was nice to be able to see everyone one last time before they headed back home. Lunch was had, laughs were plenty. After lunch we took everyone back to our hotel room, where we had a present opening. The loot was absolutely brilliant!! Our entire house it utterly catered for! Many Many Many thankyou's were said.<br />Most people left, so the final goodbyes for a while were said, as people jumped in their cars and began their long trips home.<br />We discovered that we had Austar, so Katie, matt2 and John hung around for an afternoon of lazy entertainment, before Timmy and I had to Skidaddle for Dinner with his folks.<br />On Tuesday we caught a plane back to Melbourne, spent Wednesday travelling and by Thursday began our Honeymoon in Apollo Bay. Beach was beautiful,<br />weather was horrible, company was brilliant. Plenty of 'no mercy monopoly' was played and relaxation and fun was the theme.<br />And so now, we're back to hum drum...but we're so happy!<br />I love being Tims wife and I’m determined to make him proud and be the best damn wife I can be. I know that marrying Tim was one of the greatest moments and best decisions of my life.<br />In my next post I’m looking forward to sharing some news with you all. :D And it involves the pitter-patter of tiny feet.<br />xoxo <br /><br />untill then, enjoy some of our happy snaps from the day...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafXIlKl7xbHBz8OrhES6mtYvA11heki9zhuFeHT_AfYVrzVfa37AnBFYkZxGWcCffaWqEa1WPEPheko4e8v0oNzKS4zBnfn-ePT7QzJ4ZdAHV2Uw7FD1DR7-MyQMEUz0Vw6W3rQ/s1600-h/bloggybig8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafXIlKl7xbHBz8OrhES6mtYvA11heki9zhuFeHT_AfYVrzVfa37AnBFYkZxGWcCffaWqEa1WPEPheko4e8v0oNzKS4zBnfn-ePT7QzJ4ZdAHV2Uw7FD1DR7-MyQMEUz0Vw6W3rQ/s320/bloggybig8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225119098116619186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvAj-cjzT9-Zb_sFYv9JMhKdksinv2hewJEofvXlK-kid9YBe_qujvx9t5dIVYj6JBtyZzNmNF_FCxQhroT9a1c3uwFKQ2b0fsW9IGXl7hF8-gb2rtoXvnWgNCL0oqziDSoKR2w/s1600-h/bloggybig10.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKT-PtAkhz0GvGBI55vlzQStXT5Px56dtpvfCoYbVonPdnhPC6FD9JcX2id1wHAZNcWzyXY3ivHZdFC7M1EUOTReFRBLC_CYhSwFsn76Ez5OuApWcZ1JWoX4QfmRStH348cnrbA/s320/l_90ecab1dfa241da1ce14196b64f0070a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118941546001653586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUIHOoIcY1S90aR-C0GbBj9S_MXLQzDJ6LOnaWbm9DWvckBzb-w6go5Jz5aqsWdtYCzwjelfZvTw_-Q42rACE4BaMXrPB4G0L92gJCx9ErEuOBnU5giYf1qdpWZPQ_6k8IcG6Bw/s1600-h/l_65a1bad52f9893af9d8ad279ed3b878f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUIHOoIcY1S90aR-C0GbBj9S_MXLQzDJ6LOnaWbm9DWvckBzb-w6go5Jz5aqsWdtYCzwjelfZvTw_-Q42rACE4BaMXrPB4G0L92gJCx9ErEuOBnU5giYf1qdpWZPQ_6k8IcG6Bw/s320/l_65a1bad52f9893af9d8ad279ed3b878f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118939540251926322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dad walking me down...Marty helped to carry the train until I reached the carpet.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2lr8ltgnF8rCnpTg94EYJIAHlGGbahAaJtJw-XF4Q4gSBPEi0dQNIS-ZXFS8QdlXHAIjQxtIApTdZi5LZ_kcO9qPWJALfca3Fg2tkTZVBSXSxRtzOsEC9Hq3NChspbQnjCXgAQ/s1600-h/l_6fdeb2dba3df03c17bdc36a44bac01ec.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2lr8ltgnF8rCnpTg94EYJIAHlGGbahAaJtJw-XF4Q4gSBPEi0dQNIS-ZXFS8QdlXHAIjQxtIApTdZi5LZ_kcO9qPWJALfca3Fg2tkTZVBSXSxRtzOsEC9Hq3NChspbQnjCXgAQ/s320/l_6fdeb2dba3df03c17bdc36a44bac01ec.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118943345592950658" border="0" /></a>I absolutely love my girls, but I have been left to believe that my bridesmaids were not adequately informed of their duties :P ...more times than I can really count I was left attempting to juggle both bouquet and train while trying to clamber in and out of cars, while my maids stood having an old nanna chat about 10 metres away primping themselves, the hem of my dress slowly being covered in dirt. Thank goodness that I got hitched, as after that Timmy was a gem and wandered about holding my train, with his boys [the groomsmen] making better bridesmaids to me than my own, grabbing bottles of water, offering impromptu massages and helping to pick up my train. And what, I hear you ask, were my girls doing...well...standing in a little huddle having a nanna chat while primping themselves. :P<br />Eventually the train got dusted and pinned into the back of my dress leaving the girls free to nanna chat to their hearts content for the rest of the night :P no doubt at all that they did. It really was a great atmosphere for mingling. It was fun and tough work for Timmy and I, being the main event, as everyone wants a piece of you, and you desperately want to be able to get around and chat to everyone, while being aware of that feeling of a slow and steady descent of fatigue creeping up on you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4DEQroaBCfwk-rtmGAFcUmVudbLKhZpaN7XmIQGl7oqCXJvHTdwMzLc9t45ckT5ghC7OtBOegZ6uXIdR4K1cpg_dALSC6OpBdBF6av7YTOvamy9nmeX3-Ci4DGJVjBgd3QadGQ/s1600-h/l_e173fd5b4cf5938124943df3231b756d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4DEQroaBCfwk-rtmGAFcUmVudbLKhZpaN7XmIQGl7oqCXJvHTdwMzLc9t45ckT5ghC7OtBOegZ6uXIdR4K1cpg_dALSC6OpBdBF6av7YTOvamy9nmeX3-Ci4DGJVjBgd3QadGQ/s320/l_e173fd5b4cf5938124943df3231b756d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118941120799891266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3BTbVJI81NjgnB_hyphenhyphenxCPXGBd-qRV6p0r9oAAAefAsqX04gm1HCuC_uMg72DLZJlUcCBcT1YgXXDIBEfgr_z6Hw0zraSaO-UQYYqCuwVunehtulL6F-N3rv3hz3sJFqxwB5CqTA/s1600-h/l_1ad326a99b12a27f6fc0320d30010d88.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3BTbVJI81NjgnB_hyphenhyphenxCPXGBd-qRV6p0r9oAAAefAsqX04gm1HCuC_uMg72DLZJlUcCBcT1YgXXDIBEfgr_z6Hw0zraSaO-UQYYqCuwVunehtulL6F-N3rv3hz3sJFqxwB5CqTA/s320/l_1ad326a99b12a27f6fc0320d30010d88.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118942847376744306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQraT7iJy6x9IGNzj-sf738A6k2XPp9cTiWct5ll7znOli9Ql07rqAYX8tjvuP9qlV5pktPPMozA1FiYOIhxEakGwCBO_EtKKjnroU9pGe3wVO2LTHqct5F0pfpHMacBjdHu2E9Q/s1600-h/l_44a460ff08aa0c96dde936c35e618a6d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQraT7iJy6x9IGNzj-sf738A6k2XPp9cTiWct5ll7znOli9Ql07rqAYX8tjvuP9qlV5pktPPMozA1FiYOIhxEakGwCBO_EtKKjnroU9pGe3wVO2LTHqct5F0pfpHMacBjdHu2E9Q/s320/l_44a460ff08aa0c96dde936c35e618a6d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118943637650726802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The day in total was a fun, fun day. It was just beautiful to be able to share it with our family and friends. I've included a couple of piccies which were taken by a dear friend of mine, Cathy. They're not the proffesional ones, infact I'm lead to believe that it will still be around a month till we see those. But for now, for those of you who are curious, I shall wet your appetite with these, while promising that I shall post more of the reception and so on as well as a much more thorough description of the day and it's events.<br />As for now?...well I'm off to snuggle up next to my husband and go to sleep ;) [I love being able to call him that :D].<br />xoxoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-57161572877130747562007-10-03T11:58:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:38:17.988+11:00Hens NightOkay okay, so it's taken me ages to actually post these here. But about 3 weeks ago, kate and Rea flew down from Newcastle, into Melbourne where they met up with Cathy and myself for a bit of pirate themed madness.<br />Yes we all dressed as pirates and hit the town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAk8yzu2nY6Pb4nP-cQhoTQvKDSh9eRUsTV08oPgxa2sK6HvHPV9A5MBMxjptUUaPOnnBi9EwSI3r-p5yopoNjCa0HoLDqEhe3_bGWEEID2PKUkC-aomgY-z_4ZfsKmLWPV8xsQ/s1600-h/l_9a942a62f02c2f7c4741af6df8d346a9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAk8yzu2nY6Pb4nP-cQhoTQvKDSh9eRUsTV08oPgxa2sK6HvHPV9A5MBMxjptUUaPOnnBi9EwSI3r-p5yopoNjCa0HoLDqEhe3_bGWEEID2PKUkC-aomgY-z_4ZfsKmLWPV8xsQ/s320/l_9a942a62f02c2f7c4741af6df8d346a9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116927184864992994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzSS1Qs_qV8c64F3asqDt8bF-rYM8369pd5PJNqgQW4omqO1pU8C0pdsbejJ7sVN4xn_BTzTsxI7K8qhyDY8PWSfSlQKs7oWVI0pKel9fdsZL7VS_FxC9hCeFJhgkXHv2kuBqFg/s1600-h/l_f07fb28242b740a4c3f5f4eaa4e3df56.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzSS1Qs_qV8c64F3asqDt8bF-rYM8369pd5PJNqgQW4omqO1pU8C0pdsbejJ7sVN4xn_BTzTsxI7K8qhyDY8PWSfSlQKs7oWVI0pKel9fdsZL7VS_FxC9hCeFJhgkXHv2kuBqFg/s320/l_f07fb28242b740a4c3f5f4eaa4e3df56.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116927395318390514" border="0" /></a>I think at one point while we were wandering down Sydney road, we all forgot that we were in costume, and as we were standing at the crossing, waiting for that allusive little green man to appear, we were suddenly made aware of everyone in their cars staring at us. So quickly getting back into character we proceeded to charge across the crossing, waving swords while creating great yells of "AARG Me Harties!!" much to the amusement of those watching, who showed their appreciation with cheers and a honking of horns.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8s6_H02vSLNPiPW1iHNw6TFFkdcslesivAjQSYZeEvkCN8nzGMgIU-vfbCFZSzrM9q4AA5PGOtXFakQcapktZOyAspdu8MYmTzzJTXQosswjhAOFUBnBvlecLvqdr-vUvPU9DQ/s1600-h/l_2600305976605b1ec9c627b756e27487.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8s6_H02vSLNPiPW1iHNw6TFFkdcslesivAjQSYZeEvkCN8nzGMgIU-vfbCFZSzrM9q4AA5PGOtXFakQcapktZOyAspdu8MYmTzzJTXQosswjhAOFUBnBvlecLvqdr-vUvPU9DQ/s320/l_2600305976605b1ec9c627b756e27487.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116928073923223314" border="0" /></a>To be perfectly honest we felt like utter celebrities for the night. We actually had a number of people come up and ask if they could get photo's with us, as if we were at dreamworld, dressed like Tweety Bird.<br />All in all it was an awesome night. Lots of Belly laughs and stories created.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA967lDloUWuxOC985P6zMeERU3q04MgmDBBqAyc-Ug64dw1FxzhgNfj099bE5L1AXkx9EF6mt2LaCov4Nya1gBLsrpw804gfrO9H83Td2cHRPmhMkBLd5KzV_-xAcX7Yr202yg/s1600-h/l_65e99897aeb47cca34bae0f139329d2b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA967lDloUWuxOC985P6zMeERU3q04MgmDBBqAyc-Ug64dw1FxzhgNfj099bE5L1AXkx9EF6mt2LaCov4Nya1gBLsrpw804gfrO9H83Td2cHRPmhMkBLd5KzV_-xAcX7Yr202yg/s320/l_65e99897aeb47cca34bae0f139329d2b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116928262901784354" border="0" /></a>Best part of the whole weekend though, [apart from the boys cooking for us the whole time] was sitting out in the backyard, on our picnic blankets having deep and meaningfuls and just utterly loving my girls!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />....<br /><br />3 days till the wedding!! WOOT!<br />Now I really am getting excited. I sat down and typed up my vows today, and I'm ready now. ready to do this. Marry my Tim and start our life.<br />Hmmm....<br />Can't wait till saturday :DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-58503199711329208362007-09-27T01:21:00.001+10:002008-12-13T14:38:18.182+11:0025 Smiles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSzdD3GFxEY8E5VTlO_YT9L4A5JhVKWv3mc5mMtQxw5WrCAmh5IRPZOQivrf0VsbX_F-JXpT1FZJlWimfM3Q1Gxt9pWykBKQNlf3l5CTVuhb88OtmrdZCMyfq7Ep5rDU3p8nLuA/s1600-h/25smiles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSzdD3GFxEY8E5VTlO_YT9L4A5JhVKWv3mc5mMtQxw5WrCAmh5IRPZOQivrf0VsbX_F-JXpT1FZJlWimfM3Q1Gxt9pWykBKQNlf3l5CTVuhb88OtmrdZCMyfq7Ep5rDU3p8nLuA/s320/25smiles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114537276082937538" border="0" /></a><br />I wonder how people will start conversations with me once the wedding is all said and done.<br /><br />As close as the wedding is, life goes beyond, and above, and around. I know how I enjoy the wedding planning, but I also enjoy forgetting it for a while and enjoying being Jess - pure and simple. It's almost sad that I feel as though I need to remind people of that sometimes.<br /><br />I spent Tuesday night at Rob and Amy's with Kate, Matt and Kim. And it was utter bliss. Watching Doctor Who, enjoying it and actually catching myself with that gaping mouth that you get when you're really getting into something. But best of all, the senseless, often ridiculous, always thoroughly entertaining banter which carried on till well into the wee hours of the morning. Amy's stories of private school amused me no end and I must admit that I enjoy her company so thoroughly that it's devastating that I did not discover my fondness for her until <span style="font-style: italic;">After </span>I move to Melbourne. But alas, I shall enjoy it for the time I am here in Forster, In fact I shall be enjoying the company of many an entertaining character at Kates weekly bible study at Rob and Amy's house tomorrow night. I have heard many a great word spoken about it, and so anticipate laughs and an enjoyable evening to be had. :)<br />As boring as life can sometimes be, its amazing the way people make life so much richer.<br />It is sweet at this moment, and I intend on enjoying the nectar as it flows.<br />I do hope that you are too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-34213856171158079992007-09-27T00:40:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:38:18.398+11:0010 Days Till Blast-Off!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXePvl-Vf79LsoflAjW87GC_WgIZKfLzN6rtxACBPSU6jpx1XAXhFZGOH28yjqWjoHaag6XrCKPl2R2lvYKOLUF1UvfsWD0VOkdC88KS9qrE_FQ0ThpU_ooNVJSqHktkLgiOZLhQ/s1600-h/wedding_photography.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXePvl-Vf79LsoflAjW87GC_WgIZKfLzN6rtxACBPSU6jpx1XAXhFZGOH28yjqWjoHaag6XrCKPl2R2lvYKOLUF1UvfsWD0VOkdC88KS9qrE_FQ0ThpU_ooNVJSqHktkLgiOZLhQ/s320/wedding_photography.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114528939551415986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I cannot believe that we are so close.<br />At this exact moment we are sitting, 10 days...yes I said DAYS away from Tim and my wedding and thank the Lord for that!!<br />Stress levels have been overall, good. Well managed. Well actually I had a momentary stress-fest for all of 10 minutes today while talking to Tim on the phone.<br />To be completely honest I'm not finding the load particularly difficult. I have returned to Forster, N.S.W., been here since Sunday with the intention of spending one week racing around like a mad thing finalising everything, and then spending the 2nd week, the lead-up to the wedding just relaxing and trying not to stress at all.<br />So far, so good. I <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">have</span> been racing around like a mad thing. Mum, Dad and Kate are at work, so I've found myself with very little, to no possibility of distraction and to be honest, enjoying the ability to potter off to see the florist, the photographer, the cake lady, and the reception manager Pete in the pre-organised times which suit me perfectly.<br />So why then the stress related blow-out today, I hear you ask. To risk sounding like a complete sap, it was because I was stuck talking to Tim on my mobile while knowing that he was sitting in his ute, stuck in Melbourne traffic over 1000 kms away and that there was no chance I would get to see him until thursday next week. Basically I miss him and to be perfectly honest, the reason I can be bothered with all the hoo-haa and fuss is because the prize is finally in sight...getting to start married life with my beautiful Tim.<br />10 days, can you believe it?! a week and a half and finally I'll be a married woman. But better than that, I'll be Tims wife!<br />Bec you asked what the wedding is going to look like. Without making the whole thing sound completely daggy, due to my inability to describe it the way it deserves [the photo's of the day will do a far greater job than my vocab ever will...don't worry, I'll post some ;) ]<br />In my opinion, it's going to be gorgeous. simple and uncluttered. Think; black lace; peacock feathers; blue iris's; accoustic guitar; self written vows; crystal glasses lit by tea candles. We've opted for classic elements with the hope that we'll look back in 10 years and still really love it.<br />I realise that I really haven't given much away. But I shall give you a hint of excitement and tell you to follow this link <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=15526687">Here</a>, click on the song "Forever". The song is gorgeous, now try to imagine it stripped back so that all that is left is an accoustic guitar and beautiful male voice for the whole song. Now try and imagine where on earth I would decide to use that ;)<br />All shall be revealed in less than 2 weeks. Oh I am cruel :P<br />For all of you who are planning weddings of your own, I do hope that it is all going splendidly, and that you have enjoyed it as thoroughly as I know I have.<br />Alas, I have a list of "to-do's" calling. I look forward to posting pics and filling you in on all the details.<br />You know what? I really am so excited, I cannot wait for the 6th of October to be here! Though more than that I cannot wait for Timmy and I to make it all official and start this wonderful, challenging and growing, once in a great lifetime experience, called marriage. I adore this incredible man of God, named Timothy. I love him and I choose to love him, for the rest of my life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-54902837388182862562007-08-04T20:06:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:04.874+11:00Back Again...I realised just how slack I had been in terms of blogging lately. Everything, life in general has been incredibly busy, and exciting and moving along so quickly that it's actually a good thing to stop for a moment and think.breath.enjoy.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>Lets see.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiFp9X5gJDAOUEnptgOCnMBsgQOCwsBS0jA3yWHsk211eUOFoRGR7iDRVSz-o0bYEO0HZE6oEwgnLVuSEWGiPFrbblPtx1uEX05M7NjzADt9KVAyzBeUh8TrCK5Oj4_m44mMnzw/s1600-h/littlekeyscoreyamaro_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094796483113925602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 153px" height="206" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiFp9X5gJDAOUEnptgOCnMBsgQOCwsBS0jA3yWHsk211eUOFoRGR7iDRVSz-o0bYEO0HZE6oEwgnLVuSEWGiPFrbblPtx1uEX05M7NjzADt9KVAyzBeUh8TrCK5Oj4_m44mMnzw/s320/littlekeyscoreyamaro_1.jpg" width="283" border="0" /></a>Tim and I are counting down the days untill he moves into our first home! The plan is for him to move in this friday, and I shall follow after the wedding. Which come monday 6th is exactly 2 months away. We went over to see that place for the first time since Chris[the owner] had finished alot of the work he was doing to the place. Brand spanking new front deck and all the walls have a fresh coat of paint, the place looks positively amazing. I actually felt so close to tears, it's so beautiful and it's amazing that we will be calling it home. So blessed!</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu5NMeaX8lfT1ipUpqysTW5t5qqIkoK5g3MI3MzgadnE4lm17NiMIEgMliyHsHqVEsNWEwM80EGfPwfsvk-EUzmFzHGSCw3QiemfbI5gcxdkkFyUwzcOeFGvJ3HmUtSCzPkhyphenhyphenIQ/s1600-h/doris-day-teacher%2527s-pet3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094798355719666674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px" height="296" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu5NMeaX8lfT1ipUpqysTW5t5qqIkoK5g3MI3MzgadnE4lm17NiMIEgMliyHsHqVEsNWEwM80EGfPwfsvk-EUzmFzHGSCw3QiemfbI5gcxdkkFyUwzcOeFGvJ3HmUtSCzPkhyphenhyphenIQ/s320/doris-day-teacher%2527s-pet3.jpg" width="276" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I've been getting regular casual work with the Autistic school and continue to feel challenged by the experience. I've been eyeing off a number of jobs beginning to be advertised for a 2008 start. Some applications have been sent and I'm waiting to hear back.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The furniture for the new house arrives on Friday, so the house will be beautifully furnished. What else can I really say, we have some incredible people, our parents who just keep on giving and giving and giving to the point that it blows our mind and we feel almost overwhelmed by the generosity and love.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJb9f57bKoVzf94IyrO1HQxv4gfsBv55alMNusan8PlNNQXroE7maX9n7j8Z3IhTXqjxNJ8129vBKb0lBRWhCstzcM3NaI31G-TfiGzYqWw0CqcO115A0AkHrCtCZ9FZa_c8i17w/s1600-h/DSCF5405.JPG"></a>Me and my king are going great guns as he just continues to challenge me through all aspects of my life; Discovering and deciding with Tim on our roles as future spouses - preparing to become one, while maintaininga healthy dose of independance from one another; continuing to build uplifting and encouraging friendships here in Melbourne; choosing a church home; chasing my life purpose and passions and just living in a way which is pleasing to him.</div><br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD_TOeIxYi62-VHZc0-83ha0_53YgxYaDi49ZgU5MgVW4TWjik_4AicQ3iJUNVnRiUb-YjMTwgALhDJhn82B8eMeoLNcKZiEQB15BG7f0Parh1dCH2W8WHgMZHtlqos-Nja5S8w/s1600-h/DSCF4907.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094799244777896978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD_TOeIxYi62-VHZc0-83ha0_53YgxYaDi49ZgU5MgVW4TWjik_4AicQ3iJUNVnRiUb-YjMTwgALhDJhn82B8eMeoLNcKZiEQB15BG7f0Parh1dCH2W8WHgMZHtlqos-Nja5S8w/s320/DSCF4907.JPG" border="0" /></a>I feel really happy with life in general right now. I'm ready for the wedding to be here already, as I can't wait to be able to call Tim my gorgeous hunk of a husband and begin the next chapter of life as a married woman. I'm enjoying my work, enjoying the friendships which are continuing to grow from strength to strength, while also knowing that there are a heap of people I am yet to catch up with since I've been here in Melbourne. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing you, so if we haven't caught up and you want to, then please sent me a text, email or comment here and we'll have to get together...either way, I'll probably be getting into contact soon, if I pull my finger out and get to it.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvunNANcYTizqBmYo5zBMOXSSNutypsvL4jYSQHW3PivBz-vtV6kh1FU8WmrvjLp0SX9rjL796wQzfV9PuPMvu129gJ4FoHEXhUYk-oPzuHFfOPISDEFRAE6_8AYRZnJGiE0NRmA/s1600-h/l_46e74699cdec37a774a3291a7c280f75.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094795959127915474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvunNANcYTizqBmYo5zBMOXSSNutypsvL4jYSQHW3PivBz-vtV6kh1FU8WmrvjLp0SX9rjL796wQzfV9PuPMvu129gJ4FoHEXhUYk-oPzuHFfOPISDEFRAE6_8AYRZnJGiE0NRmA/s320/l_46e74699cdec37a774a3291a7c280f75.jpg" border="0" /></a>The most recent event on my social agenda, was the girly night I spent with Cathy out at her place. Which basically involved, Princess crowns, bubbles, videos, fairy bread, face masks and lots of D&Ms and giddy-giggles. Twas fun to just chill and act like little kids again. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in what it takes to be grown up that it's too easy to become jaded and surly...when all we need is a moment remembering what it is to be a kid, in all it's creative glory, building sheet cubbies and believing with all we are that we truely are princesses.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_7j7VdfgYxwSOn-dL_cv809WgJ-VP2dEJRv-Mjpyv8JoWh-r4xEi9O41y0X4Tww0_ngawZkfSZgJgRNlqnXFvWeDe-L3kOQ1hQXG5R5lM4mQLVbaneEq-Zv_-XGppBoo_LXpnQ/s1600-h/shut_up_and_sing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094795409372101570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_7j7VdfgYxwSOn-dL_cv809WgJ-VP2dEJRv-Mjpyv8JoWh-r4xEi9O41y0X4Tww0_ngawZkfSZgJgRNlqnXFvWeDe-L3kOQ1hQXG5R5lM4mQLVbaneEq-Zv_-XGppBoo_LXpnQ/s320/shut_up_and_sing.jpg" border="0" /></a>Cathy and I headed out today to see "Shut Up & Sing" The documentary made about the Dixie Chicks to document their experience after the backlash of Natalie's [the lead singer] comment in regards to the War on Terror and George Bush. I was transfixed by this film and it has shot up to sit quite easily in my top 10 favourite movies. It shows them in a completely differnt light to everything I thought them to be. You see the many hats they wear in their lives which are far bigger than simply musicians and performers, but also loving mothers and wives and quite simply people living in a country which insists it promotes free speech yet shuns those who actually decide to use it. On a bit of a side note, the singing in this film is incredible and I now know I never gave them enough credit in regards to their voices, because the harmonies were quite literally giving me goosebumps!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I highly recommend you see this movie if you have a chance, It comes with my highest recommendation.<br /></div><div>[if your in melbourne then word is it's only showing at one Cinema, Lygon Plaza on the corner of Lygon and Elgin Street, with Drummond street running down it's other side]</div><div> </div><div>I hope that life is beautiful for you also, lets share prayers</div><div>xoxo</div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-12641059597319414592007-06-28T16:41:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:04.996+11:00The Website<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUcZNxo7sPASLTdx40cBmTC01A-NOya2U_rivDGNthQJ_bqFykeftnaecS0GeWcYTb1Z9DWmCghqnEnk4YQVXrXfdDy1-5r6MJcJEzf0wg63THP7aFgPHS2vVB4jmuGszzhRdXg/s1600-h/507501061_908e05787b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUcZNxo7sPASLTdx40cBmTC01A-NOya2U_rivDGNthQJ_bqFykeftnaecS0GeWcYTb1Z9DWmCghqnEnk4YQVXrXfdDy1-5r6MJcJEzf0wg63THP7aFgPHS2vVB4jmuGszzhRdXg/s320/507501061_908e05787b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081015989585258658" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, so I'm pretty sure that I've spoken briefly of it before but dah der dah DAH!! here it is,<br /><a href="http://www.freewebs.com/jessandtim">The wedding website for Jess & Tim.</a><br />Now "why would we need a wedding website?" I hear some of you say. The simple answer is, we've got a lot of family and friends travelling from right around Oz to be there and conveying all the directions, specific details and extra info to them is easier on the web than trying to cram the invite envelope full of extra pieces of paper. Plus we've added options like online RSVP [which has been an unquestionable fave] and Gift suggestions and confirmations all from the comfort of the good old computer chair. To add to all of that, the general consensus we've received from people has been that the website has made them feel more involved in the whole wedding experience by making the excitement extend beyond merely the big day.<br />The plan is to keep the site running after the wedding to include wedding pics, as well as keep all our family and friends updated on life together hitched.<br />Anyway take a squiz at the site and for all those who are preparing for their own big days, this idea comes highly recommended by none other than me! Your family and friends will love it!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-78620997615781292632007-06-18T01:32:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:05.265+11:00Keep Living Your Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0qJgfjIc5APSuW-JtPDyoQgFTm_d9sURdynVsM3yiasU3ox5x3DaGHww-2cpQ7hVfKlbEja_73J3VlET79lrBHV1Mt_zUE2QRn_aWXqYASyCnyZi6heGUgaFiwEKjGgSqZZhuA/s1600-h/flamingheartscoreyamaro_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077059429635957810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0qJgfjIc5APSuW-JtPDyoQgFTm_d9sURdynVsM3yiasU3ox5x3DaGHww-2cpQ7hVfKlbEja_73J3VlET79lrBHV1Mt_zUE2QRn_aWXqYASyCnyZi6heGUgaFiwEKjGgSqZZhuA/s200/flamingheartscoreyamaro_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>A couple of days ago, I spent the day with a gorgeous friend of mine. Now when I say Gorgeous I mean in every way. Beautiful spirit, personality and achingly beautiful to the eye also. Now it was at the end of my time with her, after we had parted ways that the old lie began to creep up on me<em>..."Look out Jess, how can you ever expect to be standing within the same league as her...I mean seriously!!..."</em></div><br /><div>As the lies rattled around in my mind, I struggled and I struggled, my mood continued to sink and I could feel a sadness slowly creeping itself over me.</div><br /><div><em>"...If you acted more like her, took on a personality like her, tried to look like her then you would be more beautiful...people would like you more...you'd like yourself more..."</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And then I clicked. Something in my mind clicked. That part of myself that is choosing to love spoke up and silenced the wounding whisper,</div><br /><div><em>"What good can you do by becoming a clone? Exactly how long do you honestly think you can keep up a charade? What are you giving to the world that isn't already here? Nothing!</em></div><br /><div><em>If you want to be beautiful then be beautiful in your own right, be beautiful in who you are and what you have to give..."</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I can feel the change taking a stronger hold in my life and I feel stronger and more in love with who I have been created to be. I want to offer my unique gifts and self to this world, I want to find what it is I can give. I want to continue to love what I have to offer while appreciating [not mimicing] the gifts that others can offer to this world. I want to look at the beauty of fellow women and be grateful that we're on the same team...The numbers and positions may be different, but we're all wearing the same jersey, it's time we started cheering each other on!</div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-64922384387117659712007-06-18T01:18:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:05.472+11:00Put your key in the Lock<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ztBF9i3S1ztSy_LJdIQG2YE3rj3ri6tmqFs_lL-LGCaq-KmS50jEqK7uKt_AGpwomggNDwebtmPyrquRUAAe9N5tkglq1tqlkvg31mRPLBeIne490884J_X0bMOfYBktbb_3og/s1600-h/littlekeyscoreyamaro_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077053253472986146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ztBF9i3S1ztSy_LJdIQG2YE3rj3ri6tmqFs_lL-LGCaq-KmS50jEqK7uKt_AGpwomggNDwebtmPyrquRUAAe9N5tkglq1tqlkvg31mRPLBeIne490884J_X0bMOfYBktbb_3og/s200/littlekeyscoreyamaro_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div>Little keys that unlock big doors.<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Please leave a key to a blog that you would like to share.<br />It can be to one of your own favorite posts,<br />or to another person's blog.<br />It can be to a book</div><div>or to a video.<br />You can show me the way to a poetry site that you like.<br />Or to something delcious (chocolate is always good.)<br />Or to a place of enchanting creativity!<br />Give a key that opens a door<br />that we might tag along and discover a new place through you.<br />Have fun!<br />Thank you very much for SHARING THE LOVE! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-23439020286164064192007-06-18T01:11:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:05.645+11:00Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fm5BrQZyGJG8ACJ0vAJb-lWd2fCr_WiBU6Jn_mWy57cL4tSgHBiIn2vD6qaTxQg4ZWTrFaw2UrPIAzOOEWyBXZZeWSRD_KLJ6_kOpu8moH9ch-irJnAsBR0u8QzZR_tcOCDGEA/s1600-h/pins.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077051453881689106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fm5BrQZyGJG8ACJ0vAJb-lWd2fCr_WiBU6Jn_mWy57cL4tSgHBiIn2vD6qaTxQg4ZWTrFaw2UrPIAzOOEWyBXZZeWSRD_KLJ6_kOpu8moH9ch-irJnAsBR0u8QzZR_tcOCDGEA/s200/pins.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>Take a pin.<br />On a strip of paper write the word 'love'.<br />One word, one gesture, can change the way...<br />Our smallest actions are worthy of greatness.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-54609501308395710162007-06-18T00:50:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:05.847+11:00"How Can I Keep From Singing"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZBQDxyjyeUexHZR7NvXja9PjW2VXVuFaWTrP98esttdlU-0nLy5vK9vRI5VVS8OFa4JJVDwIp-6_MGjicHb6xKvtuT82-U17ZmWiCQlkiblLeszB-PxTzOjYDCDCJNar9tdaxg/s1600-h/img_6855.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077050229816009730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" height="177" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZBQDxyjyeUexHZR7NvXja9PjW2VXVuFaWTrP98esttdlU-0nLy5vK9vRI5VVS8OFa4JJVDwIp-6_MGjicHb6xKvtuT82-U17ZmWiCQlkiblLeszB-PxTzOjYDCDCJNar9tdaxg/s320/img_6855.jpg" width="261" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I heard this song by Chris Tomlin tonight and I must say it was incredibly timely. Back at my old church in NSW, Rob [the musical genius] used to sing a cover of it and it used to make my heart soar, and very often brought tears to my eyes with the power and truth in it's words. I was reminded of its beauty in my life tonight. To hear it check it out <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=94631118">here</a><br /><br />As I wipe the smudged mascara from under my eyes, I can have a little chuckle. I'm sure God knew he'd be doing this to me tonight as I was deciding today whether to use the waterproof mascara or not, I'm sure he's giggling. It's been a good night, God is a truely amazing bloke!<br /><br /><strong>How Can I Keep From Singing</strong><br />By Chris Tomlin<br /><em>There is an endless song</em><br /><em>Echoes in my soul</em><br /><em>I hear the music ring</em><br /><em>And though the storms may come</em><br /><em>I am holding on</em><br /><em>To the rock I cling</em><br /><em>How can I keep from singing Your praise</em><br /><em>How can I ever say enough</em><br /><em>How amazing is Your love</em><br /><em>How can I keep from shouting Your name</em><br /><em>I know I am loved by the King</em><br /><em>And it makes my heart want to sing</em><br /><em>I will lift my eyes</em><br /><em>In the darkest night</em><br /><em>For I know my Savior lives</em><br /><em>And I will walk with You</em><br /><em>Knowing You'll see me through</em><br /><em>And sing the songs You give</em><br /><em>I can sing in the troubled times</em><br /><em>Sing when I win</em><br /><em>I can sing when I lose my step</em><br /><em>And fall down again</em><br /><em>I can sing 'cause You pick me up</em><br /><em>Sing 'cause You're there</em><br /><em>I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord</em><br /><em>When I call to You in prayer</em><br /><em>I can sing with my last breath</em><br /><em>Sing for I know</em><br /><em>That I'll sing with the angels</em><br /><em>And the saints around the throne</em><br /><em></em><br /><em></em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-82202704390967030802007-05-31T18:04:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:06.137+11:00The Table Set Before Us...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5urpFrvRPxpB1cP-h2pQaJMOwhMcd3aJ6XjWV-T77yC7o27hrLdJXJW7mtcsw1cVh2ixpQqD1BOWEq_GTeYY-c2xWKttjstowpmIGMZUTL3clAPW75w1Qy5VuYaG9uAtcuK9yg/s1600-h/img_5059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070635304636233042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5urpFrvRPxpB1cP-h2pQaJMOwhMcd3aJ6XjWV-T77yC7o27hrLdJXJW7mtcsw1cVh2ixpQqD1BOWEq_GTeYY-c2xWKttjstowpmIGMZUTL3clAPW75w1Qy5VuYaG9uAtcuK9yg/s200/img_5059.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Are you comfortable with yourself...are you enjoying the feast? </div><br /><div>Each day the door opens to who we are. Our hand leads the way, with a beating heart it greets us generously! A like mind speaks our language telling us many tales wrapped up in wisdom.<br />Surrounded by what we know to be true, we sit in the soul of the matter taking a taste. Light and darkness seem to intermingle; our eyes do adjust! Two feet begin a journey we have seen many times in our dreams, like a distant aroma it stirs our senses to a memory we know and long to follow.<br />This moment is a gift, even if I do not like the pattern on the dish, or the food being served, even if the candle isn't lit or if the music is too loud. I believe there is a feast of holiness on the table set before us. </div><br /><div>I plan on enjoying it, and you? </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-30690038110729373002007-05-31T16:58:00.000+10:002008-12-13T14:39:06.340+11:00Released...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArfrgnTJsZfnWzYeIAHRQnsi3_J0qirCBjV9cNYdOKcB1c4wVl4XNHeiI92tc7D5MHFcSQkcPQTG4zK4zcEIRgn-WxN6GffulKxUKmtOSkP-cHa6R-HZtoPPYKByaGM4JFtLi6g/s1600-h/img_4251.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070627711134053698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" height="226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArfrgnTJsZfnWzYeIAHRQnsi3_J0qirCBjV9cNYdOKcB1c4wVl4XNHeiI92tc7D5MHFcSQkcPQTG4zK4zcEIRgn-WxN6GffulKxUKmtOSkP-cHa6R-HZtoPPYKByaGM4JFtLi6g/s200/img_4251.jpg" width="126" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I was quite literally welling-up big time around nowish, yesterday, after chatting with Tim on the mobile. I just continue to feel overwhelmed and moved by the genorsity of those in my life, and now our life as Tim and I continue to prepare for the wedding.</div><br /><br /><div>Obviously I feel touched and blessed by the obvious support of family and friends in the preperation of all things wedding and life thereafter, but it is the unexpected and suprising support which has moved me beyond words.</div><br /><br /><div>Right this moment as I type this I feel as though I'm verbally blundering my way to my point, but I feel utterly scattered. My emotions are flooding me and I just feel so light, so joyful.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tim and I were looking a number of pending loans in the face, paying them off as best we could, working on our savings. Generally the loans were Uni based and of the parental variety which we were hoping to have paid off, if not before the wedding, then not long after.</div><br /><br /><div>Today Tims father blew us away with the news, that as our wedding gift he was going to nullify the loan outstanding to Tim and add to the mix some money to be put towards our honeymoon. </div><br /><br /><div>When Tim had told me, I was unashamedly speechless, his father was so humble as he stated, "Really it's not a huge deal, it was a $2000 loan, consider it gone"</div><br /><br /><div>But as I voiced to Tim, what he had offered was so much more than money, it was so much more than simply wiping a 2000 dollar loan, what it represented was a relief of burden. He was offering us a simply start to our life as husband and wife. No doubt that we will have financial ups and downs right throughout our life together, but it feels like such an incredible blessing.</div><br /><br /><div>My own parents are also blessing us incredibly both monetarily and emotionally. They have put so much into not only the wedding, but the beginnings of our life, they have poured blessings into our future home through furniture and love. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tim and I are so grateful for so much, we are incredibly, incredibly blessed. </div><br /><br /><div>To anyone reading this right now, it must be blatantly obvious how flustered I still am, because I'm repeating the same words...obviously my vocab doesn't handle the shocks of blessing as well as I would hope...but I just feel, So humbled by everything, by the support and the love of those around us.</div><br /><br /><div>We are looked after, and I just adore you all!</div><br /><br /><div>I do not know what else I can say, but from the bottom of my heart thankyou, and I love you!</div><br /><br /><div>-Jess </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12064403.post-29526601242372078082007-05-29T21:45:00.000+10:002007-05-29T22:51:31.898+10:00Self Love<div><div><div><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rte/lowres/rten128l.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rte/lowres/rten128l.jpg" border="0" /></a> I spent Sunday afternoon hanging around with my Tim. As we pottered our way up the street to find something for lunch, we were chatting lightly about the week, brushing softly on the happenings. By the time we had wandered our way back to Tims flat we were well and truely into the deeper issues of our week.<br />Societies place for me as a woman is something which I will wrestle with my entire life, I do not doubt that for a second. However, what is changing in me is my thoughts, my opinions when it comes to what is said of me as a women.<br />I sort of got to the point when I was talking to Tim that I realised I was standing on my soap box a little bit, but he humoured me and listened intently, and even threw some encouragement and questions my way, which stirred me, in order to help the conversation remain two sided and not simply a preach.<br /><br />I've been thinking about this for a while. Not constantly, but it always seems to find a place to linger, at least at the back of my mind. However, after this weekend it really has come to the forefront again.<br /><br />As a woman I believe that I have accepted a lie as truth for far to long.<br />We as women are the absolute best at personally ridiculing ourselves. We pick and we pick and we pick at ourselves more than anyone else we come across in this life. We have accepted a lie, which has been manufactured and marketed by cosmetics and clothing companies, the fashion industry as a general whole. The lie reads;<br /><strong>"If you love yourself then your stuck-up. There has to be something wrong with you, take a look, there's no way you could possibly be the way that your meant to be. You must always have something to wish you could change"</strong><br />it's so obvious why the lie has been invented, because once we hear the whisper of the lie, it's quickly followed with a; <strong>"You should buy this product, it will fill that void in you, it will make you happy, it will make you finally feel happy with yourself"</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />It's interesting how naturally we as women are ready to pull ourselves down. Tim pointed this out to me while I was mid way through my rave.<br /><em><strong>"Jess, I totally agree with you, the attitude does need to change, but it only can if people start to change. Do you realise how many times I've tried to give you a compliment and you've scoffed or you've pointed out something about yourself which you don't like..."</strong></em><br />He's right, he's absolutely right.<br />I need to begin to change my thought cycle. I need to give myself a break and begin to focus less on what I think I <em>should</em> be, and more on what I <em>am</em>, what I have to work with and loving it.<br /><br />When I picked Kate and Rea up from the airport we had this incredible conversation in the car, about this very topic.<br />It was during this chat that I realised how female understanding of self love is warped, it's confussed so easily with snobbishness. I don't think that i could put it any better than Kate said it herself;<br /><strong><em>"...Theres a difference between loving yourself and being stuck up. If you're stuck up, then you carry an attitude of 'I'm pretty wonderful, I want everyone to know it, and know that it makes me better than them'. Whereas an attitude of self love is being able to look at yourself and say 'I may not be perfect but I'm happy with what I've got, I'm going to continue to be the best I can be and I want to share the best I've got with others..."</em></strong><br /><br />Timmy's helping to keep me accountable to 'The Change'. Helping me to Focus on God to reach inside and stir up some attitudes and habits which have been hanging around for far too long, while outwardly focussing on giving myself a break, accepting a compliment and projecting this fresh attitude further. By taking on a healthy attitude of self love, I do believe that it, in some small way encourages other women to give themselves permission to love what they've got, and hopefully continue to project that on to the people around them. I may be getting completely carried away, but I do believe that when we are loving in a full and healthy way then there comes this God-given desire to push it outward, push it further than merely ourselves, and begin to really touch and bless those around us.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.childrenofthenewearth.com/images/authors/cherney_bella/bella_january_07.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.childrenofthenewearth.com/images/authors/cherney_bella/bella_january_07.jpg" border="0" /></a>Love yourself ladies. It's not about thinking your perfect [coz none of us ever will be] it's about realising that no amount of makeup, clothing, jewellery, money, boyfriends, friends or whatever the lie is telling you to consume, is ever going to fill that void. I believe that only once we begin to love ourselves and give one another as women, permission to love ourselves - then we begin to break down this vicious wall of masked self destruction which has been built-up for far too long.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.shinyshiny.tv/popfly_website.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.shinyshiny.tv/popfly_website.jpg" border="0" /></a>As consumers we are taught to speak like this, look like that, be interested in these things and you'll be a vibrant and attractive person.<br />But you were created unique, you were created to be like no other, similar sometimes maybe, but never exactly the same. Only once you give yourself permission to be the person who comes naturally only to you, will you truely step into a self which is truely dynamic and vibrant and beautiful and magnetic to all those around you. Because finally...finally after all this time spent hiding you now look so honestly comfortable in your own skin.<br /></div><div>Shine beautiful woman...all it takes is to give permission to yourself. You deserve it, and I honestly hope that you're beginning to believe, see, feel and understand that!<br />I love you!</div><div> </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1