Club 24!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY!!

Hope you have an absolutely fantastic, enjoyable and memorable day!!

Cheers!! I'm having a drink for you now - but its only chrystanthemum tea coz I don't think alcohol would go down too well at work. Hmmm...it kinda looks like chartreuse though...kinda...in a weird yet wonderful way! :)

That sinking feeling...

Get into work, hit The Age online…

9:01am headline: “Global share markets tumble”...hmm… click on the link and am faced with a 3 page article…get that sinking feeling that things are not looking good…

10:17am headline: “Aussie share market tumbles”...first sentence reads "Local shares in biggest fall since September, 2001"…

Another link… “Australian stocks braced for fall”...

The phone calls and emailing start as we all realise we’re screwed…bigtime.

Blessed and loving it!

I don’t care what anyone else says – I think I am one of the most blessed people on this earth! I have the most loving family ever, the most thoughtful cousins, aunties and uncles…I know the most “elite” girls there are to know, I have the most genuinely caring friends…I have it all! And that includes “material” things as well - tried filling in a budgeting form today and had to list 3 things I needed - couldn’t do it! Its the best yet most mind-boggling thing ever and I love it!

Chinese new year has never really been a big thing to me. Just a whole lot of eating, lion dances, ang pows and any other “chinese-y” thing you can think of. This year, things have been different though and I’m embracing it all! The family time, jokes, mindless chatter, photos…just everything! Its been one of the most enjoyable “ushering in the new year” times ever – think I have a new, even BIGGER appreciation of my whole extended family…+1’s – if thats even possible! Oh on a side note, my mum found the “white strips” in my bag – she thought they were bandages and asked if someone had had a fight…hmm…explained the whole “tablecloth tradition” to her and she couldn’t believe us “older” ones would do such a thing - no comment!

To the most “elite” group of girls I know - WOW! Who would have thought 9 years later we’d be where we are?! Its amazing – and totally awesome! I’m still trying to process the “special-ness” we share…and its hard! A wonderful, fantastic hard though! hehe

So much good has come out of these past few weeks I don’t think I’d trade it for anything…hmmm…well maybe I would but yeah – we won’t go there! I love my life and everything about it – and I want to thankyou for opening my eyes once again to the beauty, majesty and glory which surrounds me and will continue to, all the days of my life!

JOOOOOOH!!

Didn't get to read the last email on Friday arvo but its Monday morning and I've caught up! :)

A million things to say - all coming out at once - Woo-hoo! Let the good times roll! Yeah! haha AWESOME! OMG! No way! hehe Sooooo cool! :)

Its GREAT news and yes - when we least expect it huh?! Ok I never got the "phone call" so you're gonna have to finish filling me in on emails - even if it IS in class...haha...I think I deserve it! :)

I'm excited!

Its a brand new day and today is the first day of the rest of my life!

yippeee!! hahaha :)

Unexpected Avenues...

That you would choose to use all these avenues in order to reach me…once, twice, over and over again - how can I not get the message? I’ve heard it with my ears, seen it with my eyes…my mind comprehends…I get it…I get it. I’m sorry it took so long…

Uplifted...

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...
To more than I can be.

You raise me up...
To more than I can be.

Westlife - You Rai...

One and only "Joy"

Thanks for understanding, hearing me out and the smile you bring to my face!

Reflections...

Sitting here...my minds somewhere else...thinking...just thinking of everything thats been said this past weekend...about how similar, yet not, our situations are...about that part of someone that needs to know, but at the same time knows the question will never be answered...

I think back to a few days ago...it really DOES seem so very long ago...and am still truly amazed at Gods hand in each of our lives...I guess he knew where we were at...perfect timing...

As I told you, as much as I want to be able to say things to make all seem better, I can't...we both know deep down what must be done...and yes - it IS easier said than done. However, its no longer in our hands...having given it to God, only time will tell...

"Awesome Foursome"

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your jobs a joke, you're broke, your love lifes D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cause you're there for me too

You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast so far, things are going great
Your mama warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees, and

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cause you're there for me too

No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Since you're the only one who knows what its like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the best with
Someone who always laughs at
Even when I'm at my worst, I'm best with you

I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
'Cause you're there for me too

"cyber hug" all round...thank yous...love yous...miss yous!!

Mum...

You taught me everything
And everything you’ve given me
I always keep it inside
You’re the driving force in my life
There isn’t anything
Or anyone I can be
And it just wouldn’t feel right
If I didn’t have you by my side
You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me
And no one else can be what you have been to me
You’ll always be you always will be the girl
In my life for all times

Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you’re the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin’ you is like food to my soul

You’re always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did
And you took up for me
When everyone was downin’ me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on
There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You’ll always be
You will always be the girl in my life

...

The ability to forgive in an instant...the love and support and understanding...amazing reconciliation...beautiful restoration...to hold me in your arms and look past all faults...to share the burden and the hurt...to comfort...to pray...to speak words of wisdom...to be able to just sit and listen and offer advice when needed...to walk the road and carry me when I can't go on...for guiding me through trials and tribulation...for just being you...

I want to thankyou and say I love you - from the depths of my heart.

To: D

I now realise what you gave up. Fulfilling my every whim and fancy, always there to please and satisfy. No, actually I realised it a while ago, but its only now, all these years later, that the magnitude hits me. No words could ever express what I’m feeling. I’m sorry for all that was said, or not said. And I’m sorry for all that was done, or not done. If things were different, things would be different. I’m not sure if I’d change everything that happened, but I’d sure deal with it a lot differently. Rest assured that I now know…and am wishing that this time away brings peace above all other things...

Thankyou

And its then - at that point, at that instant - when you feel you can't go on, that he sends an angel - or a few - to pick you up and help you along...

And for that, I want to say thankyou...

Love Actually...

"General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed - but I don't see that - seems to me that love is everywhere.

Igniting laughter, wreaking havoc, breaking hearts, daring commitments, forcing choices, catapulting spirits, forging inroads, creating risks - ecstatic, exciting, unexpected, unwelcomed, inconvenient, inexplicable, inelegant, unequalled.

Love actually is all around."

What to do, what to do?!

I have a dilemma…

Went shopping at Country Road Doncaster on Sunday. Tried on the “button detail shorts” in “charcoal grey”. Loved them. Problem - they didn’t have my size. Lady at the counter checks the computer and announces that the Brighton, the Glen, Myer Melbourne and Myer Doncaster stores all have 1 more pair of shorts in the size I’m after.

Question: Do I buy, or not buy?

She recommends I purchase the “too big” pair from Doncaster and take it to one of the other stores to exchange for the smaller size…

Good thinking…so I do.

I then walk to Myer Doncaster only to find that they don’t have the shorts AT ALL – leave alone the shorts in my size so I walk back to Country Road Doncaster and tell this to the lady…her response: “check the other stores”…

Great – thanks…

First thing Monday morning I ring the Brighton store…no size…call the Glen…no size…call Myer Melbourne…no size…call Myer Doncaster just in case I happened to miss them on Sunday (not likely, but still possible!!)…they take my details and promise to call back as there are no more pairs on the floor so reserves have to be checked…

This is my last chance! I’m excited…and hopeful! But a few minutes later they return my call…there are none left!

Ok…so by this time I’m just like NOOOO!! I call the Melbourne Central store and they check the computer…1 pair left in BONDI – SYDNEY!! And they can’t do a store transfer so the only way I’m going to get them is if I actually GO up to Sydney!!

Ok…not going to happen – so my question now is: Should I just keep the “big” pair of shorts that I love so much, or should I return them and buy the correct size if more get ordered in…which could well be…NEVER…according to the sales assistant…decisions decisions!

Wedding bells...

AUDREY & ANDY...CONGRATULATIONS!

The very unexpected message this afternoon made my day and I'm soooo happy for you!! :)

"not me"...

Ok so I’m feeling slightly frustrated, but at the same time - not…a little uptight, but not…just feeling a little unsettled…kinda…or not…

I don’t know…

I’m confused, but not really…a little “lost”…just a little…lost…

Theres this “thing”, a little “thing”, some “thing” inside me that’s making me feel on edge…and stressed…and just generally NOT calm…"jittery" – that’s the word!

Anyway I wanna climb to the top of a mountain and just yell...let it all out...

not gonna happen...PLUS theres this poster in front of me stating "calmness is power"...hmph...

Wanna squash it and make it go away…its making me think…making me nostalgic…making me want to go back…I miss what I’m missing…SO MUCH...

Its making me…not me.

Look...

you need to look…past the surface…past the masks…past the pretence, the drama and the acting…

Take a step back and just look…deep down…inside…it may be hard to find, but I assure you – its there…

Warning: there will be much to see - a lot of it, unexpected…there will be so much to try to understand…it may not be easy and it will take time…but the trust and release will come…

Hold it, care for it, love it, treat it as your own…nurture it and see it grow…watch it open and bloom – it will be beautiful and it will be worth it…

Remember: a rose will grow anywhere.