The weekend, obsessions and my blog

As you might have noted, I have an issue with my blog templates. I get sick of them really easy and I keep changing all the time. I think it really depends on how I feel - if the template does not suit, I will change it. But there are not many places to find free templates so I am not entirely happy with any of them for some reason....

Anyways.

My weekend was awesome.

Saturday night the ladies from our church had a farewell for me, we had a fruit fondue night and karaoke. It was so much fun, I can't sing to save myself but I sang my heart out, top of my lungs type of singing. It was not pretty but I had a blast. I was really glad my awesome friend had no neighbours close by, otherwise noise control would have been involved in the evening at some stage. But top of lungs type of singing is the best way to sing. And sing I did.

At some point, they had a little speech and made me cry. I will so miss my church sisters. They have been great throughout the years, offering their friendship, their houses, their shoulders, their ears. I want to thank each and everyone one of you just for being who you are, you guys have been great friends and I hope your bond carries on and I hope you guys carry on blessing each other like you have blessed me. My prayer is that I God prepares a church family like this for us over in Australia. We're all part of His family and the bond we all share is somethings that only we can understand (typing as I sob....)

This weekend I have been so very crafty and it is such a shame I don't have a camera to take photos and show you guys what I have been up to. I bought a plain black fabric bag and make fabric flowers to go on it. I also made a fabric flower headband for myself, some fabric bracelets and a rosette ring. I love to be creative and make stuff and this weekend I have done lots of it. Very therapeutic indeed.

I seriously need to stop typing as my fingers are frozen. All of you in the northern hemisphere, where it's nice and warm and you have been swimming and enjoying the sunshine.... I hate you. Well, no I don't. I am just joking. But I seriously envy you.... in a good way of course.

God does look after us

I was feeling a bit down yesterday. I was missing hubby, my boss was being annoying, it was so cold. I had a headache and a sore throat (I still do). It was one of those days.

I left work at 4, as I had to do a couple of things for Jason. I browsed through expensive shops as I walked. At that moment I wished I had lots of money to buy lots of clothes. But the circumstances are that we spent quite a lot more than expected with our move to Australia, so money is not available as I would like and I started to feel sorry for myself.

And then I snapped out of it.

I prayed. I told the Lord how I was feeling. And carried on on my merry way. Then I had a brilliant idea. I went to the Seeker's Mega Mart, which is a massive second hand shop. I started to browse and I could not believe my eyes when I found some totally awesome and sooo me items. A skirt, a nice vintage top and a black jacket. I was so happy! Do you want to know how much I spent for everything? $9.50! Yep, you read it right! $9.50 for three super awesome items of clothing. I seriously could cry because I was so happy with how God takes care of us, and He knew exactly what I wanted and what I like, and He gave me just that!

Our God is awesome. He really is.

♥

I miss my hubby.

That is all for today.

even though it's wednesday...

... here in New Zealand, it's still tuesday for a lot of people, so I am going to join the

So please, leave me a comment, I ♥♥♥♥♥ comments and follow me and I will follow you back!

Update from Australia

I talked to my lovely hubby last night. He starts his new job today.

He has been busy trying to figure out how everything works. He said even though it's only Australia (we're in New Zealand), everything is very different. He was stressing out a bit yesterday because he didn't know where to go to do what he needed to. So he was quite frustrated. I was telling him, these things take time. And we will be there in 12 sleeps! I really can't wait, because I just want to get there and get settled.

So hubby already started shopping! He bought a car, a lounge suite, a fridge, beds for the kids, and a mattress for us. He will get a washing machine and try to get table and chairs. He got a tv for free. So things are starting to come along, slowly... despite the lack of funds. Hehe. I told him to only get the essentials for now and when I get there, I will use my super creative crafty self to make our new house, our new home!

On a side note - it is FREEZING here. It is seriously cold and I am so thankful for fireplaces! And heat pumps. And socks. And scarves. And hot soup. You get the idea.

"A happy heart is a good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries the bones"

Proverbs 17:22

Being graceful and patient

I got a situation.

I ask you to read this with a light heart, but I need to vent. I need to let it all out and work it out in my head how I am going to deal with the situation gracefully and patiently.

Not easy.

**************************************

So most of you are aware that Jason has gone to Australia two weeks ahead of us and the kids and I are staying with my in laws. You see where this is going, don't you?

Please don't get me wrong. I love my in laws, we get along fine, but I think living there is not ideal. The house is really small and MIL is a bit of a clean freak. I have three kids, they are loud, messy, like any other kid. I do have to nag them a lot in the morning when we are getting ready for school, but what parent doesn't? (If you are reading this is going 'I don't have to nag' please share your secrets!!)

Anyways, MIL is hard to live with. She won't say things to my face, but she will tell the kids to tell me things when I am standing right there. Not just that, I keep getting "if it was me" or "if it was my children" speech on and on and on. And I seriously don't mean just a little speech... the WHOLE time we are there, she does not stop complaining or comparing my kids to hers (her youngest being nearly 30 - my hubby!) and just being a pain for the sake of being a pain. I think she keeps talking to hear the sound of her own voice, or maybe she feels that she needs to do that? If things are not done the way she wants them done, watch out. I am so upset because of it, I honestly don't know what to do to make it better. I am trying really hard to think ahead to avoid unpleasant comments, but it's a losing battle my friends.

That was my vent post.

************************************************

Now, how am I going to deal with her gracefully and patiently? How am I going to go on and NOT explode and be angry at her or say things I don't mean?

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. It is so hard to bite my tongue and not say anything when I really feel like telling her to butt out!

So far I have done well. Apart from telling her to stop judging one of my friends, someone she does not even know - and I did it nicely. But I am really upset this morning. It's only 9am and already I feel like I can't take it anymore - I still have 13 days there! I am glad I go to work and the kids have school. Otherwise I don't think things would turn out okay.

As I type this, a verse comes to mind:

"You have heard what it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 'But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn his the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said. 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. But I say to you 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" Matthew 5:38-45

Let me just say this: She is not my enemy. As I said, we do get along, I just think we're having a 'own space" collision. I am in her space and she is in mine.

I think Jesus was aware of how difficult it was to 'turn the other cheek' when he said those words. It's one of the hardest things to do - because in our own minds - we're being wronged. I am doing everything I can to avoid the complaints and rambling, but no matter what I do, I still get them. I think it's so unfair and it does not make it any better to have someone in the background criticising every single thing I do. It's very hard to let go and not be upset or annoyed by it not to mention the unspoken tension.

I am really working hard on this one. Be gracious and patient. Turn the other cheek and agree with things even when I really want to scream and hide. I know it's not for long, I know I have the power to make things or break things. Given the circumstances, I do not have an option but be like Jesus and practice my patience. A whole lot.

It's actually tuesday here. But here we go:

21. Chocolate cheesecake

22. Friends who let me borrow their car!

23. Karaoke! So much fun

24. Kid's tv channels (it's been so wet around here, and grandma's house is small)

25. Safe flights

26. new crafts on my to do list

27. Cough syrup and honey

28. Our new car in Australia

29. Jason's new cell phone - I can call him

30. Phone cards - i won't cost in laws a cent for the overseas calls!

Isabella

This is Isabella. She is nearly 6.

Her prayer tonight went like this:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for the beautiful world you gave us. Please keep daddy safe and give the children in Africa food to eat"

She sure knows what matters, doensn't she? I love this girl.

My birthday and such

Yesterday I turned 29. There's something about eing nearly 30 that bothers me somehow. I think it's that big milestone that is arount the corner, the fact that I won't be a 20-something anymore. The fact that you are for sure a grown up. I know 30 is not old - but it's a corner turned. But I am not there yet, I still have one year of being a 20-something, so I might as well enjoy it.

My day was quite quiet actually. Hubby is not here and that made me sad. Allyah went to a play date and I had Bella and Elijah tagging along with me. Bella said she was going to try and be a good girl for my birthday, as it turned out, I waited all day for it, it didn't happen, hehe. She is a livewire that girl, throughout the day I got about 10 handmade cards from her, everytime she remembered it was by birthday, she made me one.

I had to go and clean the farm house which didn't take me long, it had to be done.

So we pottered along all day.

I had a couple of friends over in the evening and everyone gotto try my chocolate cheesecake, it was actually quite good, my first cheesecake. I was surprised how easy it was to make - so I will definately be making more.

Spoke to Jason in Australia, he is trying to get us a car, and he is thinking of driving from Adelaide to Mount Gambier. I miss my hubby.

I am not feeling that inspired to write lately, maye when things slow down a bit, my inspiration will come back? Maybe if I have some left over cheesecake for breakfast will help? Hmmmm,.... worth a try!

Friday, I love you!

Oh yay, it's friday. Life has been very hectic, not just hectic, but different. We don't have our stuff, we are living out of our suitcases - at grandma's house.

We sent Jason off last night. He thought his flight left at 8pm but it didn't actually leave until 9pm. So we sat around for a while and when it was time to say good bye, the girls started to cry, it was so sad - I kept reminding them it was only for two weeks - but that didn't work too much, they still cried heaps. I think it was a combination of sadness with being very over tired.

I am so glad it's friday, we have been crazy busy but things are going to slow down a bit for a while, until we leave, that is. Tonight I am really looking forward to doing NOTHING all night. I have not done 'just nothing' in a while. The kids will definately go to bed early as they had two weeks of late nights.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be alone. No hubby, no in laws (they are going to the beach), so I have decided I am having a couple of people over for dessert. I am making a chocolate cheesecake... yum! So if you are local - and you are reading this, you are invited to come around - bring some dessert to share and laughs. If you need more info, email me!

1 sleep and he is going!

Jason leaves tomorrow.

We're so stressed. So busy. So tired.

Bleh... who thought that moving countries was going to be this hard?

This last month has gone by so quick! We had so much to organise. Well, Jason did most of the organising because I am at work. Anyways, bills, disconnections (power, phone...) garage sale, sale of our stuff by other means, the moving out of the farm house, and amongst all of it, the running of our holsehold, laudry, dishes, cooking, school work...

I don't think we realised the amount of work it is. But now, we're nearly there. We can see how things are coming together. Like I said, Jason leaves tomorrow night. Then we follow, two and a half weeks later.

Only two and a half weeks! Eeekk.

Isabella is still having sore tummy bouts. I am actually a bit concerned about it. I am thinking she might be feeling the pressure of the move too? Or maybe it's something in her diet? Wheat or dairy intolerance?

I am sorry I am a bit whingy today. Well, not whingy, I am just a bit frustrated and tired. I am allowed to be sometimes ain't I? Bleh. I think I need some prayers sent my way plus a drink of a calming tea. I have been drinking strong coffee, a lot of it. I sorta need it right now.

I need a holiday.