tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72137199008302716352024-03-14T06:10:43.736+10:00FLOWERS ‘N’ PLAID HOMESCHOOL"No teaching is equal, more spiritually rewarding, or more exalting than that of a mother teaching her children."
President Boyd K. PackerDonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-3848892496015430342012-04-03T15:55:00.000+10:002017-09-23T19:22:28.849+10:00Farewell Homeschooling.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was going to write a long sad post about how hard this decision was, which it was. But instead, I'm going say that it doesn't have to be such a dreadful thing. It became apparent on the second day of the term that my health absolutely will not do another day, term, semester or year of 'homeschooling'. So a decision had to be made. Our oldest daughter 11 had been in school for about 1 year and loved it so we met with the Principal to discuss our options with Maddie 9 (year 4) and Lucy 6 (year1). They couldn't have been more helpful. They did not question, belittle, speak or treat me in a condescending way because we have been homeschooling. I told them that I did not want them to start on the first day of the year or even the first week. I always think the first day of school is vital for children normally because friendships and pecking order are established and if you are new you are just overwhelmed and no one may even know your new with class shake ups. They were new. New to the school and new to the school. We settled on the second day of the second week. They had an assembly on Monday so I didn't want to throw them into that as well. By the time the Tuesday came, news had spread that 2 girls were starting school who had never been to school before. This was BIG! My husband and I are the regular, conservative looking Mormons, no tattoos, nose rings or other hippy accessories you would expect from stereotypical homeschooling parents. Parents looked really surprised. We were the 3 ring circus I have to say. Well, I have to say as today is the first day of the holiday break, we are 1 term down and it couldn't have been more successful. It's hard work sending them to school. Never be fooled in a moment of weakness that school may be an easier option because it's not when you are hands-on parents. Homework, Notes, excursions, band practice, flute practice, choir practice, swimming carnivals, the list is endless and exhausting. It's always someone else's agenda. I miss ME running the show. The other children and teacher took my girls under their wings like fragile chickens to be taken care of because of their lack of experience in the jungle. After 6 years the Lord <a href="http://flowersnplaid.blogspot.com.au/2010/07/do-you-have-your-affairs-in-order.html">didn't answer my prayer for healing</a> and my health, well, short of a miracle and I felt cheated out of this opportunity to homeschool my babies but He blessed me with a public school that bucks the trend. That has taken my children in and loved them in my absence. We had a parent-teacher interview with Maddie's teacher.<br />
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This is a woman who has taught for many years. She asked us what we wanted to talk about and we said whatever she would like to share with us about mad dies progress. She started to cry. I was really worried then! She said after all her years of teaching she has never met a child so unpolluted by the world. She has such a confidence in herself, which for Maddie is amazing and you can<a href="http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com/2010/06/impact-of-using-mormon-messages-in-our.html"> read here why</a>. The teacher gave us an example of there being a real mood in the classroom with people bickering at each other and Maddie came and sat down and said." I'm so disappointed to hear all of this disagreement". The class stopped and looked at her looked at each other and got over it with the whole atmosphere of the room changing. She said it happens time and time again. The teacher was more than teary once through the whole interview.<br />
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. The purple ribbon Lucy has on her uniform was because the school even organised an Epilepsy Awareness fundraising day which was on March 26, with merchandise & free dress day in purple on Thursday. She is the only one in the school with the condition. So it is sad in one way that I can't homeschool, but a blessing for the girls in another. I can honestly say that the transition for us has been a wonderful one. I still homeschool just in a different way. We are their parents and home will always be the most important schooling my children will ever get. I received the same feedback from each one of my girl's teachers and they all say that there is something different and special about them. I know what that is and that will never change. So farewell to homeschooling. I will miss you but have loved every day of the journey and it is not over yet because parenting transcends it all.<br />
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Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-55625951765811935222011-10-11T12:42:00.001+10:002011-10-11T12:42:32.285+10:00Mental Health Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mental Health Week is an annual national awareness event held every year to coincide with World Mental Health Day, which is held on 10 October each year.
Mental Health Week aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the wider community.
Local and regional Mental Health Week events organised by local groups and communities contribute to reducing the stigma associated with mental ill health and offer a platform to engage the community in dialogue regarding help-seeking behaviours and mental health promotion.
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Now that is the official take on Mental Health Week and all of it is so vital so that for us or those that we love can live life to the fullest.
Check out <a href="http://www.oneshetwoshe.com/2010/08/this-is-not-my-mind-living-with-bipolar.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OrSoSheSays+%28Or+so+she+says...%29">our story</a> and how mental illness has effected our life. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-76767332299788571042011-10-07T11:31:00.005+10:002011-10-07T12:14:08.950+10:00Missionary Farewell<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdIriIalqIthNsdA1EUUDbGDKtIPYPucgMwFWuLhSfHQFumS0YiXSkGDIxxiR83YLculJqDoGOlCU6u3gAo40igWu83EcaN2eylnC4VBvjMMpkyZgzT7Om_DPdtn6BOkIDJpQkvE2SPCX/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdIriIalqIthNsdA1EUUDbGDKtIPYPucgMwFWuLhSfHQFumS0YiXSkGDIxxiR83YLculJqDoGOlCU6u3gAo40igWu83EcaN2eylnC4VBvjMMpkyZgzT7Om_DPdtn6BOkIDJpQkvE2SPCX/s400/IMG_0410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660559035610946706" /></a><br />Well we are now down to 10 days and counting. I am starting to feel a little teary when I think about Dan boarding the plane Monday week for 2 years. We had his Missionary Farewell on Friday night and we had a blast. Nacho's was on the menu and I have to say that was a perfect choice for 150 people. I cooked 15kg of mince, made 175 cupcakes, made a cake like a missionary badge and wrote it in Albanian. Now that was the hardest thing I have to say. We had 20 bags of marshmallows for the bonfire and 2 jumping castles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHjmUfIjvOZTnUXQdT8L9rnOHQUaSs4U8CAui4W6QKXlufvxbsdltewzzEiQPAEiwdix4yfZ4EcjusVCsei_qXLQS8NTihhLouOtC9leG3f9YKIWRhGPGYSQ_NuirVDxTXf1ndQCDJBm-/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHjmUfIjvOZTnUXQdT8L9rnOHQUaSs4U8CAui4W6QKXlufvxbsdltewzzEiQPAEiwdix4yfZ4EcjusVCsei_qXLQS8NTihhLouOtC9leG3f9YKIWRhGPGYSQ_NuirVDxTXf1ndQCDJBm-/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660560307206002530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhKS6BFjr34xMj8I8c_OtFJ2chgm1WAkPo_mpSLBxv1ll_w52ns8rCuwgvQxMhhb9j1Xa2PpIhAeRZua6SeIYWLpoUPxDAGlepFONRVGIUQrytsXc1laQfl473EsCiNvlSdGfD4w9hmRm/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhKS6BFjr34xMj8I8c_OtFJ2chgm1WAkPo_mpSLBxv1ll_w52ns8rCuwgvQxMhhb9j1Xa2PpIhAeRZua6SeIYWLpoUPxDAGlepFONRVGIUQrytsXc1laQfl473EsCiNvlSdGfD4w9hmRm/s400/IMG_0417.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660560298853136818" /></a><br /><br />Thats him sitting down around the bonfire,looking at me strangely. <br /><br />Everyone kept asking what they could bring so we put on the invitation to bring a packet of his favourite chocolate biscuits. he ended up with quite a stash to keep him in chocolate until he leaves and then some to pack in his suitcase and for us to send in those all important care packages. He also received Euro, US dollars and AU dollars from families in the Ward. Dan has bookmarked on my computer all the places that take care packages of donuts etc to the MTC. We watched the best <a href="http://byutv.org/watch/f95d0f6a-aa0e-4ba6-9953-e22b98b03be2">documentary inside the MTC called The Army of Faith</a>. It was filmed this year, so it's all current and now Dan can't get on the plane fast enough. All that American breakfast cereal had his mouth watering. Show this to your kids. <br /><br />We have almost everything in the handbook and he is off today for his last injections. He gave the most amazing 'last talk' at church and will be set apart next Sunday as a Missionary. No now I'm getting teary again. I really will miss him. Lucy (5) has plans that he has to take her to the movies before he leaves. With only one week not sure about that. <br /><br />We have always planned and prepared for this day and even when its here I somehow just don't feel ready for it. But look out Albania here he comes!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-42704932706570899452011-10-07T10:27:00.007+10:002011-10-07T11:30:56.040+10:00Science Morning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qROvRHLEhOZyepNEJ_X-AYL0YAKog3SjYrpy4EIjFU8io3Wqdr9xQ-sODSPl9QDYFg3odWbU4NzG7jL8GX1dI7yA7uoOMIgObINtJmDOv5dVeZ_eeIpyB4Qi09HJKxPDQkENl7Ee6uJo/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qROvRHLEhOZyepNEJ_X-AYL0YAKog3SjYrpy4EIjFU8io3Wqdr9xQ-sODSPl9QDYFg3odWbU4NzG7jL8GX1dI7yA7uoOMIgObINtJmDOv5dVeZ_eeIpyB4Qi09HJKxPDQkENl7Ee6uJo/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660540887885034690" /></a><br />Growing crystals never gets old does it. The wonder of their beauty when they form, the rainbows that you can see in a single crystal. The fun of watching them grow over several days has been great. I love it. <br /><br />Maddie received a Crystal growing Kit for her birthday a few weeks ago and we have been able to spend time on it this week. This kit is well paced. You do one experiment then with the results and left over solution from that one you start another. I love that otherwise I could see us there all day doing one experiment after another. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEAYSyFxTxVWWOt6j6RUlIlu4HJjkgPiL6nRjm3_2UF2crEO0i26ue_Q1U9hMtAQ89f4-mCZS8FXS1ezTjM2wwe_hEDMZDzlKelBI048dHYyZvwqHXgCdzu2awZdXscMzFy5duPNxuK9c/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEAYSyFxTxVWWOt6j6RUlIlu4HJjkgPiL6nRjm3_2UF2crEO0i26ue_Q1U9hMtAQ89f4-mCZS8FXS1ezTjM2wwe_hEDMZDzlKelBI048dHYyZvwqHXgCdzu2awZdXscMzFy5duPNxuK9c/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660542512662684546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJQWkOAHXVfkMZ8oyt_Rd8nbWuVPS6bycFMsiSPc8w3oFvp3YbVXtZEgtnvdyKxU8O4zsK_pHFDnchagYOsZbai0YVoKS3_t7VfaxGfagtyxqTm96FQ-PMA-hmmFDJUMz0Cr7cX7Nx0xR/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJQWkOAHXVfkMZ8oyt_Rd8nbWuVPS6bycFMsiSPc8w3oFvp3YbVXtZEgtnvdyKxU8O4zsK_pHFDnchagYOsZbai0YVoKS3_t7VfaxGfagtyxqTm96FQ-PMA-hmmFDJUMz0Cr7cX7Nx0xR/s400/IMG_0466.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660545191685734930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcBrSbzMh2Ynsfl0wcd1eSU1EH5d4CxkchuI15ixjvE5W5NrU326ly6FoMKWRk6TKnDpWcbt5oZWscUS734YZWVuGtOSTCtP2YJ88WHza3uh_46X3wGhmRBrRkhhKXDQhjFK-LKtZD8G9/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcBrSbzMh2Ynsfl0wcd1eSU1EH5d4CxkchuI15ixjvE5W5NrU326ly6FoMKWRk6TKnDpWcbt5oZWscUS734YZWVuGtOSTCtP2YJ88WHza3uh_46X3wGhmRBrRkhhKXDQhjFK-LKtZD8G9/s400/IMG_0468.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660555292060047362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__diZPjDZA-Y5QfKih3UoQBWw5ojpvI2T01udD7OoCStrmtqyI1l02Pfjcoh-hp4n6HRCTeu_mLHeNxuCEpKMKABD97sJIn7Aq3P25nAKwU0zBGV9OVS_q08fFI9s47sFs1Ph13y10ktm/s1600/IMG_0469.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__diZPjDZA-Y5QfKih3UoQBWw5ojpvI2T01udD7OoCStrmtqyI1l02Pfjcoh-hp4n6HRCTeu_mLHeNxuCEpKMKABD97sJIn7Aq3P25nAKwU0zBGV9OVS_q08fFI9s47sFs1Ph13y10ktm/s400/IMG_0469.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660549543924008274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHkpC0P-NqgVy5JyjUfPGYa0-6FZQN9fygNTcyQ9lLEAE-OVTdUOxzFanxTG700-f08iknhFiXQxOpkuQL1H0MyLZJq662WuCQEqNHe5_FKq7g6FEKPtijxpgSCb9S5UhI4D-VEEJHjpE/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHkpC0P-NqgVy5JyjUfPGYa0-6FZQN9fygNTcyQ9lLEAE-OVTdUOxzFanxTG700-f08iknhFiXQxOpkuQL1H0MyLZJq662WuCQEqNHe5_FKq7g6FEKPtijxpgSCb9S5UhI4D-VEEJHjpE/s400/IMG_0473.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660549533505240290" /></a><br /><br />As we only have 1 kit and more willing hands, so I pulled out an old science book that I use. Bubbles Rainbows & Worms by Sam Ed Brown. Oldie but a goody I would say.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Growing Crystals</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WHAT YOU NEED</span>; Charcoal Briskets, salt, ammonia, bluing, food colouring. (bluing is that old fashion cloths whitening product and an essential ingredient)<br /><br /><br />WHAT TO DO: Use an old pie pan or shallow glass dish. break up charcoal & put in pan. Add to the charcoal two tablespoons each of water, salt,bluing & ammonia. As the liquid evaporates, the chrysalis will begging to grow. You may add colour to this garden of crystals by adding a few drops of food colouring to the dish. you can control the size of the crystals by the amount of liquid solution you add.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Explanation</span> Crystals are formed as the solution of salt, bluing, ammonia, water, and charcoal evaporates (passes from liquid to gas). Different solutions form different shaped crystals. the structures of the crystals are determined by their chemical content. Children may observe the shape of the crystals with a magnifying glass.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2A87Pkv3Nh2VtCXQ3ZNm6VAqZ8_dPkBl2OkqvB3UJGdKKioBrXSWK18XtwPq6oFW1dmnjvI2eTxCanqZejDSfYwh-HqEn68ISrBcP4a7EwvkDP8EywoY-JjWhC7khANhyJe4hVErYxFb_/s1600/IMG_0476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2A87Pkv3Nh2VtCXQ3ZNm6VAqZ8_dPkBl2OkqvB3UJGdKKioBrXSWK18XtwPq6oFW1dmnjvI2eTxCanqZejDSfYwh-HqEn68ISrBcP4a7EwvkDP8EywoY-JjWhC7khANhyJe4hVErYxFb_/s400/IMG_0476.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660555670918042690" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-29275422678134493712011-09-23T07:44:00.006+10:002011-09-23T08:16:33.370+10:00School Holiday Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFKWB3eP0DJ-8ca0md-SRcTZWe2QveRypcEn9m2lW2cgEXwSHRWxizfJOGJKXkleQQTwr4lIhgjYu6u6GWYJGri3YOO3uWA2RGyF3eI4jjqHosTUOKt0OMsS_epYQ4J1rPQy3oW4o1Zs7/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFKWB3eP0DJ-8ca0md-SRcTZWe2QveRypcEn9m2lW2cgEXwSHRWxizfJOGJKXkleQQTwr4lIhgjYu6u6GWYJGri3YOO3uWA2RGyF3eI4jjqHosTUOKt0OMsS_epYQ4J1rPQy3oW4o1Zs7/s400/IMG_0369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655303795173772002" /></a><br />I love the September school holidays. The weather is beautiful so there's always something to do. Yesterday we spent the day at the water park and had a wonderful day, swimming & riding the wild rides. As you can see above, I had a little visitor at my spot who even smiled for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn1Wa4fAqRmFp05IxmDSUSU2diHCPkV7N3ybVySxfZIi6HbY6I6BGt6SrIpJaIYZJV6xfXHLcbWU3qgMWdtZpOzQgdOzXrZcE1gFxR4t4SHOGOmfR2O9q3pPJxT1ZQOQP2BDT6bxnOIDw/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn1Wa4fAqRmFp05IxmDSUSU2diHCPkV7N3ybVySxfZIi6HbY6I6BGt6SrIpJaIYZJV6xfXHLcbWU3qgMWdtZpOzQgdOzXrZcE1gFxR4t4SHOGOmfR2O9q3pPJxT1ZQOQP2BDT6bxnOIDw/s400/IMG_0360.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655309277432445058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJxm5QbYhZE3mwzXoQ3LaMZaqoKqiJSIigtF_fg4ZD1q3MnwhNm3bUc2oE8tnKAoTBVEVCBJqmEjekwkerP009qRPQjPQB7MUbCzGMxFD8t8lVIX3tlKkwUl68Qs8m_88BEaQoQt6GHvi/s1600/IMG_0364.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJxm5QbYhZE3mwzXoQ3LaMZaqoKqiJSIigtF_fg4ZD1q3MnwhNm3bUc2oE8tnKAoTBVEVCBJqmEjekwkerP009qRPQjPQB7MUbCzGMxFD8t8lVIX3tlKkwUl68Qs8m_88BEaQoQt6GHvi/s400/IMG_0364.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655309669302338114" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPx8IvPnRtVYjzMuPzm-u4W2A38B3ZHUzSAJDVUfJ9UQN_X3wT9eEc3QjL1QVXlItMRkdCtC2cq6GLWR4OZLgRmSDt8mJI2WrnWYvJ93PmOPgJZf12jKWqZ5g2eof1Cb36S5n2gB4U8dm/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPx8IvPnRtVYjzMuPzm-u4W2A38B3ZHUzSAJDVUfJ9UQN_X3wT9eEc3QjL1QVXlItMRkdCtC2cq6GLWR4OZLgRmSDt8mJI2WrnWYvJ93PmOPgJZf12jKWqZ5g2eof1Cb36S5n2gB4U8dm/s400/IMG_0371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655310082988740962" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HYKj4Ub7dZZuiCMzy70gLbI4IqZnNYVCJVM64wEaT0NfOdVpvz7Dlrpv2Y9Y3ygHCsSIxO-tgkLsERVP0vS-mneQObD15w1LhNSqKlD9uUzXyVi0OyVUUXuZK7F71-oaECm6dz11ZnmC/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HYKj4Ub7dZZuiCMzy70gLbI4IqZnNYVCJVM64wEaT0NfOdVpvz7Dlrpv2Y9Y3ygHCsSIxO-tgkLsERVP0vS-mneQObD15w1LhNSqKlD9uUzXyVi0OyVUUXuZK7F71-oaECm6dz11ZnmC/s400/IMG_0374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655310513227482898" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-15896450455524622112011-09-02T18:26:00.009+10:002011-09-02T19:05:47.954+10:00The Spring Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqECE5uwyENSo-TrvH_dUrg_O7eQb9EZLAs2sR36m5KK1XmKN_ZG4-nMIO6jt8wpx0EVhVv4IMMHtBRGq3L3r3dcCui0oLvHqtvl1Zq5xOrpWNAyDuDyZuF9SIEWHBrF4tYUxAhL2xPVb/s1600/pencils+025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqECE5uwyENSo-TrvH_dUrg_O7eQb9EZLAs2sR36m5KK1XmKN_ZG4-nMIO6jt8wpx0EVhVv4IMMHtBRGq3L3r3dcCui0oLvHqtvl1Zq5xOrpWNAyDuDyZuF9SIEWHBrF4tYUxAhL2xPVb/s400/pencils+025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647681483383797634" /></a>
<br />I love not having to stress in the morning. With Jess being the only one that has to be out the door by a certain time its nice for Maddie & Lucy & I to just mooch around on these beautiful mornings. We really should be on a farm. Well maybe not me but everyone else in the family. I love being able to start our lessons when we are ready and just being able to make the most of the beautiful weather.
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<br />We've all been spending time in the garden lately as the girls love to garden. I wish I didn't have a propensity for killing every seed I seem to plant, however the girls are having much better luck.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-XeZYJmgil1KAofjwQsBX7rnr8BBMdP8Qkh09101l8Xs0pYsZnQ_0YrAgGI5dwK7pdyAsqckgNJJclNfdanK0TPGNIkODrT9NwfIqHpfij4_1Ky4TvGjQ7ZG-5BE1ogKHKknVOczG6tE/s1600/pencils+028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-XeZYJmgil1KAofjwQsBX7rnr8BBMdP8Qkh09101l8Xs0pYsZnQ_0YrAgGI5dwK7pdyAsqckgNJJclNfdanK0TPGNIkODrT9NwfIqHpfij4_1Ky4TvGjQ7ZG-5BE1ogKHKknVOczG6tE/s400/pencils+028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647678092072412210" /></a>
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<br />I planted a heap of seeds in the vegetable garden but alas we got a tone of tomatoes, amaranth and 3 radishes which Lucy has now 'harvested'. Not the bounty I was hoping for.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmtBPD3g7h1BQ7BSlLivzew56S6JpFCUEjWOQsqNFTD1xn9xifcFG6nLMHTQrrGrgN88qkIE56EQvf6sWzgApYn-eAP3J5hINRkuSjz3zx7Op_YA5Sy-jYN5TFkWbVw1tCFvdEVV39wcS/s1600/pencils+027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmtBPD3g7h1BQ7BSlLivzew56S6JpFCUEjWOQsqNFTD1xn9xifcFG6nLMHTQrrGrgN88qkIE56EQvf6sWzgApYn-eAP3J5hINRkuSjz3zx7Op_YA5Sy-jYN5TFkWbVw1tCFvdEVV39wcS/s400/pencils+027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647679285917060770" /></a>
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<br />I have retired and will now just be on the support team in the garden. I must have dropped a seed on the ground outside the garden bed and you know it has grown into a beautiful bean plant. In desperation I got Mark to but a bit of fencing around it so as not to leave me totally disheartened. Not even Maddie's scarecrow helped my seeds along.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkkTy4iSg6UZGLzZaNX8ujsFB7uNyrkAw0N8nYGGyWzx5TrNPBFZyKd_NhesTwAg7X1XHO0bW7utX-dszBk8eR5kM67fvsBakGJ9I_VPtFRZanAoNmbANVbBcLTI_LNDRvWeMPNivVrZ5/s1600/pencils+018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkkTy4iSg6UZGLzZaNX8ujsFB7uNyrkAw0N8nYGGyWzx5TrNPBFZyKd_NhesTwAg7X1XHO0bW7utX-dszBk8eR5kM67fvsBakGJ9I_VPtFRZanAoNmbANVbBcLTI_LNDRvWeMPNivVrZ5/s400/pencils+018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647680182270452882" /></a>
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<br />Ever since we visited Poppy in Victoria the girls have had a total love affair with roses and pretty flowers. My dad is an amazing gardener, a skill I didn't inherit unfortunately. I love how they tend to these flowers every morning carefully weeding and watering. I will leave you with a few pictures of the latest blooms from their flower garden.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe0KyBFOGLKiMwb8WIjrlQw7Yq8dF-9-yzMmUXCiXP-FYLBISoVhwQu7ED0bGaH0GGXXHSUwVjbh9C6Vy7MKm8uY88TfDpSxkKPd0X4sEfe9KmWD1uvGmfmHL9e1KnreMqcxOKcdf9TQX/s1600/morning+flowers+006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe0KyBFOGLKiMwb8WIjrlQw7Yq8dF-9-yzMmUXCiXP-FYLBISoVhwQu7ED0bGaH0GGXXHSUwVjbh9C6Vy7MKm8uY88TfDpSxkKPd0X4sEfe9KmWD1uvGmfmHL9e1KnreMqcxOKcdf9TQX/s400/morning+flowers+006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647683328053858322" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwa-haKOh6GRqaYiP29kB6vhMrhvdybFo5k3W0EkSbpvsy3ZJY4OEwsENlCcCfU4RPwINbbz4go26ZtM9k62xUFvhylu6eqsjWvy_o7lfjmaVkATlPl_b6MPanFuwMYoY6JQFmbcfiibu/s1600/morning+flowers+020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwa-haKOh6GRqaYiP29kB6vhMrhvdybFo5k3W0EkSbpvsy3ZJY4OEwsENlCcCfU4RPwINbbz4go26ZtM9k62xUFvhylu6eqsjWvy_o7lfjmaVkATlPl_b6MPanFuwMYoY6JQFmbcfiibu/s400/morning+flowers+020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647683880938859778" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2RZk37gkf-GS2Icd-5delaUMMbaSb9tt6cbnIG0eG14DmqdpQTCeNWXfBn-tD80sK834Qsyrn861f4DzOaVr8s2zGVBM2bTiGzTvSeyKtIte726QeBSbM03luNhyde_Lvb9-lNpY8fCf/s1600/morning+flowers+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2RZk37gkf-GS2Icd-5delaUMMbaSb9tt6cbnIG0eG14DmqdpQTCeNWXfBn-tD80sK834Qsyrn861f4DzOaVr8s2zGVBM2bTiGzTvSeyKtIte726QeBSbM03luNhyde_Lvb9-lNpY8fCf/s400/morning+flowers+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647684970725643874" /></a>
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<br />Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-17304567827835661692011-09-02T17:31:00.004+10:002011-09-02T17:56:42.416+10:00I Love Queensland In The Spring
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfufUA7zIVE5BavR-YVHBMYn0l8KVcyRmXAFX-MtlU075_94YcBO0HzOeg9U6V0rtkHDwJpHhP1d-WR5KiLZ3x3O8v7WfoBIPjtN_ayfU_U1-VGgwmqss2pLNKRsvArj7-Fvh_-g7jn-Y/s1600/pencils+009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfufUA7zIVE5BavR-YVHBMYn0l8KVcyRmXAFX-MtlU075_94YcBO0HzOeg9U6V0rtkHDwJpHhP1d-WR5KiLZ3x3O8v7WfoBIPjtN_ayfU_U1-VGgwmqss2pLNKRsvArj7-Fvh_-g7jn-Y/s400/pencils+009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647663729640640722" /></a>
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<br />It makes me what to buy school supplies. Well it makes my husband want to buy me a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils. Clearly You've Got Mail is my favorite movie and my husband was so cute and bought us all home these bouquets of sharpened pencils. Well I got a bigger bouquet of supplies which I love. He is sooo cute and everyone was up early this morning drawing with their new pencils. I love spring, oh and my husband!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN964OJPjxru62GVO28i-rgL6TRd8sTaX1ZoFEZJYSVrUSFRI5izL6xRF-dYTgumMtupMNrZFG8ZGXGTAJWtpVbYTLGI_2zK2zV9Rgd2FtVduTFWZ16JP2q1hmK6m9q6QPXkWxkcqxQjM/s1600/pencils+010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN964OJPjxru62GVO28i-rgL6TRd8sTaX1ZoFEZJYSVrUSFRI5izL6xRF-dYTgumMtupMNrZFG8ZGXGTAJWtpVbYTLGI_2zK2zV9Rgd2FtVduTFWZ16JP2q1hmK6m9q6QPXkWxkcqxQjM/s320/pencils+010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647666881056840226" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-xtc6B-Qtc2yoyd-aKqgM1v0yUXAejuh5dA9QnN4v-bnQ3ncTiX8xZ_ZF4sg_kLC98CR5IF3l-fqt1RbG8WwmDXP1xO1569Fxf_17YvhDVo1FHKDgxLMozdc9oeB-O-LBdybV5Fv_TNb/s1600/pencils+014.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-xtc6B-Qtc2yoyd-aKqgM1v0yUXAejuh5dA9QnN4v-bnQ3ncTiX8xZ_ZF4sg_kLC98CR5IF3l-fqt1RbG8WwmDXP1xO1569Fxf_17YvhDVo1FHKDgxLMozdc9oeB-O-LBdybV5Fv_TNb/s320/pencils+014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647667229086680322" /></a>
<br />Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-69973461034361231242011-08-23T17:03:00.011+10:002011-08-24T10:04:59.752+10:00Family Photo's<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UXPAEBxwo9nR2-LdwyiYRVlLw0eNBjkZPByR4R5ed4uGdtlmVgXOxAQMUV6qE7sIhna9O-hgcFhAToH-8b24pxpi7NqSzi0r8OjztKxXKjzXWCKRwiBtCwLc2J9WDAMo4FELxCoMJL7K/s1600/294763_277605718922182_115297605152995_1319246_2135744_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UXPAEBxwo9nR2-LdwyiYRVlLw0eNBjkZPByR4R5ed4uGdtlmVgXOxAQMUV6qE7sIhna9O-hgcFhAToH-8b24pxpi7NqSzi0r8OjztKxXKjzXWCKRwiBtCwLc2J9WDAMo4FELxCoMJL7K/s400/294763_277605718922182_115297605152995_1319246_2135744_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643944900408666418" /></a>
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<br />Our family had so much fun with this photo shoot. We decided to take the kids pets with us and now we're sure glad we did because Rosie the Guinea pig passed away on Friday. Maddie just loves the photo with her and Rosie. During the shoot we also had some very friendly chickens join us on the rug. We were at the Fulcher's place for the photo shoot because no one was game enough to be out at the botanical gardens or anything. All the kids seem to think that the Fulcher's is just like being at home. If you went there you would too. Beautiful Queenslander house on rural acreage and friendly chickens as well. Mind you, Kim has a library that anyone would be envious of. Her eye for good children's literature is amazing.
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<br />Anyway it was nice to just feel relaxed and have fun with all the family.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pWF8qJgw2KqONyGvB72-vNe8fTHK47a29ySpaATacbt9VGEHvdi6yMabEA1lq9vfbK7JcNo_Pi9OUXkVbd8yGp3-yGrEWH5uEEHnAb2StTp7daDyd4JCo5ufqUMt-_PlP3qq8jE29b-A/s1600/306378_277606655588755_115297605152995_1319251_1580830_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pWF8qJgw2KqONyGvB72-vNe8fTHK47a29ySpaATacbt9VGEHvdi6yMabEA1lq9vfbK7JcNo_Pi9OUXkVbd8yGp3-yGrEWH5uEEHnAb2StTp7daDyd4JCo5ufqUMt-_PlP3qq8jE29b-A/s400/306378_277606655588755_115297605152995_1319251_1580830_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643944892569929186" /></a>
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<br />We decided to have a family photo shoot before Daniel leaves to serve his Mission in Albania because those boys never come back looking quite the same. Also James (son in-law) is also going to be deployed with the army. In fact tears are flowing already as there has been a change of plans and as of yesterday we are so glad that we didn't leave it any later. We figure in 2 years no one is going to be the same. Jessie will be a teenager, I could be a grandmother!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJTThxWuE7JQYJUlFvuHsGP_I4ownPzUKQO4SFT8tnW31jW5SR0fEyt2QENvPxM4YPCpooEkWKwEtkeRqH2drsZ2_9nfSfI2oUv59lmsulvlZ8RmbmxVNLOSd2IgntaWgFswMzNGUfxc0/s1600/297811_277605592255528_115297605152995_1319245_70547_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJTThxWuE7JQYJUlFvuHsGP_I4ownPzUKQO4SFT8tnW31jW5SR0fEyt2QENvPxM4YPCpooEkWKwEtkeRqH2drsZ2_9nfSfI2oUv59lmsulvlZ8RmbmxVNLOSd2IgntaWgFswMzNGUfxc0/s400/297811_277605592255528_115297605152995_1319245_70547_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643944898283568226" /></a>
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<br />They sure do grow up all to quickly for my liking but I do love having these beautiful photos.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GdK3hd4Zu533ysdeG5c8M_tmBBESCOA5X4MXvGdc_LkFSsU_thzaNjoxnmVIKHZGez-DoGEiZaZoQX5M9NB3P-wTfes6HDRyHJYLzSlTIPzYhXRKkyjqWq2aYyHwvTnu5Sbgv4eH7G5c/s1600/294117_277605958922158_115297605152995_1319247_8241717_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GdK3hd4Zu533ysdeG5c8M_tmBBESCOA5X4MXvGdc_LkFSsU_thzaNjoxnmVIKHZGez-DoGEiZaZoQX5M9NB3P-wTfes6HDRyHJYLzSlTIPzYhXRKkyjqWq2aYyHwvTnu5Sbgv4eH7G5c/s400/294117_277605958922158_115297605152995_1319247_8241717_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643944891874657666" /></a>
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<br />This is Marks funny old ute that I wouldn't even get in but when the kids where younger we always went on driving holidays around the place jammed into the hilux which was just as rugged as this one, so it was like old times all crowding into dads ute. I honestly don't know how Alana survived us on this shoot.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4XTF5CZZ-QgEv_rKI1GlKGlWY9iezyIMwaO1pwQVrQ-rzVRdAVqDTdRqRUMKhmuTVHBJ_t1NVsrPFXKGgKfFcdDF6tEUb8SP8PU1ojRtmyHpLqYQci34aKjRILhyOryKmPZUTd0Sysr6/s1600/301082_277606552255432_115297605152995_1319250_3503055_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4XTF5CZZ-QgEv_rKI1GlKGlWY9iezyIMwaO1pwQVrQ-rzVRdAVqDTdRqRUMKhmuTVHBJ_t1NVsrPFXKGgKfFcdDF6tEUb8SP8PU1ojRtmyHpLqYQci34aKjRILhyOryKmPZUTd0Sysr6/s400/301082_277606552255432_115297605152995_1319250_3503055_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644205547881107250" /></a>
<br />Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-60160185076480741152011-07-13T09:05:00.008+10:002011-07-13T10:23:29.142+10:00Under Contract!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Kz3nNv9WeWhWOGrS0_L2kJzmyBGJ5o4ZIGbE2silUQ4yrkZFTD0Ph_M-_EMer5EOm0eyr7cUh2HS8Vk44RiLuVoIP1dmRSjw_POLL3QV-ouauUTGv095GOoApohonJzP0Y3jPO5nW4ld/s1600/4f689c35231ef14baa496336fa60fe93cd7adc4a.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Kz3nNv9WeWhWOGrS0_L2kJzmyBGJ5o4ZIGbE2silUQ4yrkZFTD0Ph_M-_EMer5EOm0eyr7cUh2HS8Vk44RiLuVoIP1dmRSjw_POLL3QV-ouauUTGv095GOoApohonJzP0Y3jPO5nW4ld/s400/4f689c35231ef14baa496336fa60fe93cd7adc4a.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628606761861155074" /></a><br />Ashleigh & Matt are finally 'under contract'. This is major exciting! The great Australia dream has been slowly slipping past many of the young ones but much to our joy they are on their way. I might add in fine style as well. This house is awesome! Plenty of room for the snakes, shingle back lizards, rats, dogs and cat. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH1-qlAF0H3NfD1PM1kEESn23UgkZY1gc-PFgMjz-uIA1px5OQAkGF1OA8gQ5PBfiXd_y0V6WvwQSV8ga7T6oTuXg56OWjgbBzBqmzeHBybN3JGuebg_wF81FVXBVHdjmLvNn2qyMTKjx/s1600/20110531120522.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH1-qlAF0H3NfD1PM1kEESn23UgkZY1gc-PFgMjz-uIA1px5OQAkGF1OA8gQ5PBfiXd_y0V6WvwQSV8ga7T6oTuXg56OWjgbBzBqmzeHBybN3JGuebg_wF81FVXBVHdjmLvNn2qyMTKjx/s400/20110531120522.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628607376209931010" /></a> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX2R_cZ3lhwshHz4PXcGSV843TdE9AuYUg1e0ExcSFCFiBIuDQCGr5DdnQolrNujhRBi7ZmWCLJYe_MLhyphenhyphenAPkv5JcvXz7QJqyyxWsRKAEG9vkZkyYNO-B31guykxOz8J_WztUIVVzr30_/s1600/20110531120129.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX2R_cZ3lhwshHz4PXcGSV843TdE9AuYUg1e0ExcSFCFiBIuDQCGr5DdnQolrNujhRBi7ZmWCLJYe_MLhyphenhyphenAPkv5JcvXz7QJqyyxWsRKAEG9vkZkyYNO-B31guykxOz8J_WztUIVVzr30_/s400/20110531120129.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628625214433163042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNgnf_O_jkJGg06tOoFph60p8jeH0qbpzdIDNx9mph2mNN95A32vw0Oc7rJebVQjAN_fuQzPNXKiWjRZsM1EHisEYfw4qQibotC3Yko9DhLLH1rnSP8Z4hLaZ62V95tWZ31PeA8jV-qCf/s1600/20110531120146.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNgnf_O_jkJGg06tOoFph60p8jeH0qbpzdIDNx9mph2mNN95A32vw0Oc7rJebVQjAN_fuQzPNXKiWjRZsM1EHisEYfw4qQibotC3Yko9DhLLH1rnSP8Z4hLaZ62V95tWZ31PeA8jV-qCf/s400/20110531120146.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628625213007254818" /></a><br /><br />Lucy is totally sold on her sisters new house because it has a toy room. She doesn't get that the toys will all go before Ash moves in , I think she may be up for a little disappointment. Me on the other hand are totally in love with the kitchen. Matt and Ash always niggle each other over who's turn it is to do the dishes. Problem solved and who wouldn't want to keep this kitchen clean and tidy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0cXpHM3R-y6LFNNRlxoUcgmAmp01hxaThsoRcI9ijpaTkyluEBMNhyphenhyphenGlM5y1vWgZweZMKW93MW3ELrTngmV_iFmXylMR5AEnEirjejQM4DU1loijbh1u7pBHZSeH8StgIKAIfAuodreP/s1600/20110531120332.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0cXpHM3R-y6LFNNRlxoUcgmAmp01hxaThsoRcI9ijpaTkyluEBMNhyphenhyphenGlM5y1vWgZweZMKW93MW3ELrTngmV_iFmXylMR5AEnEirjejQM4DU1loijbh1u7pBHZSeH8StgIKAIfAuodreP/s400/20110531120332.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628608490988699170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-c557chxRznPIdodMNdB3A2R9hCysDcydrat41QuPPjDJ53W9wouttGrVwzZqh7DRVAkvoTK4i3b_BVOF0PVN4BfJy8aU3fpwlx5woQP0VuphUJEPK70KTlIV8jArNogzn-aBbsZE1Me/s1600/20110531120325.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-c557chxRznPIdodMNdB3A2R9hCysDcydrat41QuPPjDJ53W9wouttGrVwzZqh7DRVAkvoTK4i3b_BVOF0PVN4BfJy8aU3fpwlx5woQP0VuphUJEPK70KTlIV8jArNogzn-aBbsZE1Me/s400/20110531120325.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628608489526049538" /></a><br /><br />For the boys, the shed out the back has a big work bench and is totally powered. Matt is a very clever boy. He makes fantastic snake enclosures and restores VW cars that he shows, so to have this great shed is perfect for him. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBoDvprFfaePSO8RyO4VsM-eW538TKA0Y9G1K2pExW2-zy58et1-Sda05uQ6gF5i8xyFq-iUANJRin2AcSCN11XIReozWi1bHSi7wIZPRUmET6f0JLFw8qtYSDIPq3Qk5EF_66t2QPX_h/s1600/20110531120401.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBoDvprFfaePSO8RyO4VsM-eW538TKA0Y9G1K2pExW2-zy58et1-Sda05uQ6gF5i8xyFq-iUANJRin2AcSCN11XIReozWi1bHSi7wIZPRUmET6f0JLFw8qtYSDIPq3Qk5EF_66t2QPX_h/s400/20110531120401.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628609545623130594" /></a><br /><br />Downstairs is awesome as well. the man that they bought the house from was a builder so he has done a fantastic job on finishing everything off really well. The office and playroom will become a home for Matt's lovely mother. She has been a widow after loosing Matt's dad to cancer when Matt and his brother & sister were babies and she has worked hard to raise them on her own. Dedicated her whole life to her family which is amazing. Not only did we get Matt who we love but his mum is the perfect 'mother in-law'. Ash loves her to bits and is more than happy to have her with them. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWItkKDMenCZRVujHT2jDb6_D3TR4NV-uy91Jfs5fuZn-HYACdMsmqn21CzC2c_v2to5UhRx1PZqJjYxqXB9kWV-1qYmjUXPAIr1awBLdfShEQnz-yXyEnfmoQfMkFLCMu512n69MgVogm/s1600/20110531115836.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWItkKDMenCZRVujHT2jDb6_D3TR4NV-uy91Jfs5fuZn-HYACdMsmqn21CzC2c_v2to5UhRx1PZqJjYxqXB9kWV-1qYmjUXPAIr1awBLdfShEQnz-yXyEnfmoQfMkFLCMu512n69MgVogm/s400/20110531115836.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628610320028657826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h7fqqoTM9PC83wjpw4mc4adMKkHW5MayJuy53LC67k0_1iD7vfStBw_DzGs8_Qdu9_m3F9xNy4V06XVyO53tXk9JAEc1Dh1Cz_toBAiMmN3F41PElyKT6KNgfNamgE3TMhJBNYMe1Kcc/s1600/20110531120425.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h7fqqoTM9PC83wjpw4mc4adMKkHW5MayJuy53LC67k0_1iD7vfStBw_DzGs8_Qdu9_m3F9xNy4V06XVyO53tXk9JAEc1Dh1Cz_toBAiMmN3F41PElyKT6KNgfNamgE3TMhJBNYMe1Kcc/s400/20110531120425.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628610314798988162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAIm3sKZeh5AhTyNWiL5jQ9gH6_2ArZtJ8KVOj1wSwJqFH9mWUkQnzldkkMB1nOpn069Ovof7A9OR-iYLnWap7E7U-aGqP0JNnMn2h2m6KCLXTHr5d-psONPlwTGOpnAAhvkVaAMonjF7/s1600/20110531120422.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAIm3sKZeh5AhTyNWiL5jQ9gH6_2ArZtJ8KVOj1wSwJqFH9mWUkQnzldkkMB1nOpn069Ovof7A9OR-iYLnWap7E7U-aGqP0JNnMn2h2m6KCLXTHr5d-psONPlwTGOpnAAhvkVaAMonjF7/s400/20110531120422.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628610311527918770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxjRQ41l0aykA6fVp7Bcv2fyKNN48SSY9vtX5ujG36I4FW1VUvmrBT_HilevH8wR_dbl8BR1F6N8d2M2r6o35Xse_6bgtVQC09GdK_2yQFGNTAjKoYOIXzcV70pPkcflTzMDu-zVlar1N/s1600/20110531120417.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxjRQ41l0aykA6fVp7Bcv2fyKNN48SSY9vtX5ujG36I4FW1VUvmrBT_HilevH8wR_dbl8BR1F6N8d2M2r6o35Xse_6bgtVQC09GdK_2yQFGNTAjKoYOIXzcV70pPkcflTzMDu-zVlar1N/s400/20110531120417.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628610306350435218" /></a><br /><br />Needless to say we are all bursting with excitement at the news of the last week. Ash & Matt's house, Dan's mission call to Albania & Cait & James are off on their first overseas holiday. I love having a big family, it sure is a blessing.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-3311609403714818352011-07-05T19:58:00.006+10:002011-07-05T20:23:54.043+10:00Daniel you have been called to serve in....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsmzyYd1r_H8D0ZSMrW0yH8CaCcGqC68NDLDSMSZBLrDFFgHykZCQcIw0Lk0PT-WIw66S7-KtjTX_SL1sXrtgbrNyh9_i3CX0z7l_yesct7DMFE2U0-Lront3xMwqp5JYq2VzpKP8kWtu/s1600/dan%2527s+mission+call+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsmzyYd1r_H8D0ZSMrW0yH8CaCcGqC68NDLDSMSZBLrDFFgHykZCQcIw0Lk0PT-WIw66S7-KtjTX_SL1sXrtgbrNyh9_i3CX0z7l_yesct7DMFE2U0-Lront3xMwqp5JYq2VzpKP8kWtu/s400/dan%2527s+mission+call+007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625807007342934914" /></a> <br /><br />The Albanian Tirana Mission!!!! Now this is followed by screams and where is Albania? Yes we are VERY excited. Poor Dan had to wait for all his sisters to arrive and his Nanna. He held it, put it down, played with the ipad, paced the floor. Finally 3 1/2 hours later, everyone arrived and he could open the letter. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUMWfED64UQl4O80CuBHBgQFoyeYs-aOwr9foDUXN0WYHR3GC7ZNT_XPYfFe-Mt2scLs2ebjcC-XYBfk6mH28l_Tg3pcYWanOaiWNa8VWHEAEpn95_JFqrzEueSztKjOdXQFqFdxDUHR6/s1600/dans+mission+call+009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUMWfED64UQl4O80CuBHBgQFoyeYs-aOwr9foDUXN0WYHR3GC7ZNT_XPYfFe-Mt2scLs2ebjcC-XYBfk6mH28l_Tg3pcYWanOaiWNa8VWHEAEpn95_JFqrzEueSztKjOdXQFqFdxDUHR6/s400/dans+mission+call+009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625807608099978866" /></a><br /><br />Dan has been planning, praying, preparing for his Mission for many years now, so this is just such a fantastic time to be finally holding this call to serve the Lord as a Missionary in his hand. The stress of waiting was getting to him. Volcanoes holding up the mail didn't help this either.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfshDtZGwd40218QUUbfVPZWRyXXjOWZCoXIJtTP0ne-6fY1KhNgNwY4xguOEXyG8nokAri4G3hvRF7dmwO9CSn5AS3t1yL-aVz4ul95shw8fnsBxGLOgWp71qUKrsVHeDS3wgYfjHEtZ/s1600/dans+mission+call+005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfshDtZGwd40218QUUbfVPZWRyXXjOWZCoXIJtTP0ne-6fY1KhNgNwY4xguOEXyG8nokAri4G3hvRF7dmwO9CSn5AS3t1yL-aVz4ul95shw8fnsBxGLOgWp71qUKrsVHeDS3wgYfjHEtZ/s400/dans+mission+call+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625807604573520498" /></a><br /><br />This would be us all saying Albania. Lucy is holding the fish she caught yesterday just so that she wasn't left out of all the excitement. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-NtKKtm7hPhMAFva4WD9z3wB17ut07cDm_o8eDDYNtNKLSDkdmp1EF612HklOKAsd-47Qxxcbb3u2TEKKMTjVYwCc_7b9-dfafs1BBb2s8WsCV4M7V7OMX0d1aSX0noBsRxj09UxY6eH/s1600/dans+mission+call+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-NtKKtm7hPhMAFva4WD9z3wB17ut07cDm_o8eDDYNtNKLSDkdmp1EF612HklOKAsd-47Qxxcbb3u2TEKKMTjVYwCc_7b9-dfafs1BBb2s8WsCV4M7V7OMX0d1aSX0noBsRxj09UxY6eH/s400/dans+mission+call+007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625810602522571602" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-86416732898603784472011-06-30T16:13:00.005+10:002011-07-01T14:28:47.512+10:00Winter Holiday's Australian Style<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ7SeXb81nVqNjNq8iErhnNFRDx9hhqAPJmeynD5C2Cqewn-TFxc9FTKibaGJJLzCtPwlkJRohpeSKjQW0Lv_wNWCZxn2KBXFOz4EZvB-RuATvQ5iakp74NKMhUZ_e3mkpLdLoemcmrVs/s1600/shorncliffe+beach+046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ7SeXb81nVqNjNq8iErhnNFRDx9hhqAPJmeynD5C2Cqewn-TFxc9FTKibaGJJLzCtPwlkJRohpeSKjQW0Lv_wNWCZxn2KBXFOz4EZvB-RuATvQ5iakp74NKMhUZ_e3mkpLdLoemcmrVs/s400/shorncliffe+beach+046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624232986535191282" /></a><br /><br />Well semester 1 is all done now and its time to kick back for the holidays Australian style. Of course what do you do during winter holidays in Australia you ask, well we go to the beach. I love the weather this time of year. The days are mild and the skies are blue. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqIAJAZEhe7AA1qWDtDJkFGBEZpbutIWToYenaKzNzB2Gxr0iDWm8o7h-051c6IdXI2yQexEqRumd_cvmMBZcHvYSWYJUgEIKCT4A55quxtqQfvlXVw7vofiKhdahRwNgEalIdWmjKerE/s1600/shorncliffe+beach+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqIAJAZEhe7AA1qWDtDJkFGBEZpbutIWToYenaKzNzB2Gxr0iDWm8o7h-051c6IdXI2yQexEqRumd_cvmMBZcHvYSWYJUgEIKCT4A55quxtqQfvlXVw7vofiKhdahRwNgEalIdWmjKerE/s400/shorncliffe+beach+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623892946645991858" /></a><br />We headed off to our local beach because the girls had been itching for a swim. The day was so so lovely. We climbed the rocks, rode scooters around the paths and built sandcastles until sunset. It was such a great day. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusgVgDAlba1szYZ7Wtu7bJtNMDjl9NZ-suTCOGvMcBEMCfqdNIejl4zrVjiVWv0YkLC7msyhSFYNdtAwg-pO3axpmDTjpUKj3g8CQYWVvZbnP1JwkyYb5iapD9X7VC3HhsZSOau4ED5Vv/s1600/shorncliffe+beach+044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusgVgDAlba1szYZ7Wtu7bJtNMDjl9NZ-suTCOGvMcBEMCfqdNIejl4zrVjiVWv0YkLC7msyhSFYNdtAwg-pO3axpmDTjpUKj3g8CQYWVvZbnP1JwkyYb5iapD9X7VC3HhsZSOau4ED5Vv/s400/shorncliffe+beach+044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624232993701158978" /></a><br />I love our Brisbane weather! As usual I had plans of keeping the school work going through the holidays but when we all wake up and see such a beautiful day we just head out and do...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9qpOSVTTr_WD-PoEWfTJCTB88-PleAdYLRBCWa01_cv4AWSYkPXTdZVed4DRpNpjofW5VZIbssWSD62avJ2c2BRZsU8FH01bxcWizD-Ej12HgPUb0nZ-J_sls4yFLGxYALPebHnSwvt8/s1600/shorncliffe+beach+042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9qpOSVTTr_WD-PoEWfTJCTB88-PleAdYLRBCWa01_cv4AWSYkPXTdZVed4DRpNpjofW5VZIbssWSD62avJ2c2BRZsU8FH01bxcWizD-Ej12HgPUb0nZ-J_sls4yFLGxYALPebHnSwvt8/s400/shorncliffe+beach+042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623892950599104354" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-38357100024545338182011-06-22T19:06:00.003+10:002011-06-22T19:39:43.931+10:00She came Second!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxrGYlxV4SZUA3-Njd8-TGiozo4giYKzkDOM2NeX7pz1fD14OXJSfzxcJn31A76GJKSrx2jOPQG6ZhrKmq6dMWZvCbx_sLZyWzgKKoQ5E_Mj8o_ZJMDTbA_hyUUT9H-5tzzHKbQh1WG9I/s1600/lomandra+FHE+fire+052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxrGYlxV4SZUA3-Njd8-TGiozo4giYKzkDOM2NeX7pz1fD14OXJSfzxcJn31A76GJKSrx2jOPQG6ZhrKmq6dMWZvCbx_sLZyWzgKKoQ5E_Mj8o_ZJMDTbA_hyUUT9H-5tzzHKbQh1WG9I/s400/lomandra+FHE+fire+052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620968419432445874" /></a><br />We were very happy to learn that Jessica came second in the Photography competition. Needless to say she was over the moon. I now have to stand aside while she takes the photos when we are out. <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW3VENWgOcrxSfqat8AOziY86dUvhdkMk78CRJHuyksyTU3V34MZMgHWnn4qXe7a9m1v29vH_jKdF3xCVqUeaHeDdIBPwFgy4si386UHfTTaJApoUIlYQLoR_wGyJUxXdNppv06F58eLe/s1600/lomandra+FHE+fire+010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW3VENWgOcrxSfqat8AOziY86dUvhdkMk78CRJHuyksyTU3V34MZMgHWnn4qXe7a9m1v29vH_jKdF3xCVqUeaHeDdIBPwFgy4si386UHfTTaJApoUIlYQLoR_wGyJUxXdNppv06F58eLe/s400/lomandra+FHE+fire+010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620970582136202146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ki9EWkU1AOTZbCsVdaJcbybBHsL-m-yeww5v4mJRF2Iw1U8FI-jLmY057vU5Wiu71BIVauHx7cXKUKAD2r13FuwwsDGGUeKGVpOPH00O-rmBge_c2oQzCJDMPfqI1l4hHrcvf99q3yTu/s1600/lomandra+FHE+fire+039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ki9EWkU1AOTZbCsVdaJcbybBHsL-m-yeww5v4mJRF2Iw1U8FI-jLmY057vU5Wiu71BIVauHx7cXKUKAD2r13FuwwsDGGUeKGVpOPH00O-rmBge_c2oQzCJDMPfqI1l4hHrcvf99q3yTu/s400/lomandra+FHE+fire+039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620970580585559650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyciDMypqCGo4qr0uSgnP57VwNnOiLiSW0hHF1BxY5tYYtd5Uy5H-wnu397Ni0cnhG27369JbjoA3Gm12YPU3OtRkkl9tevslM2_80HPr9S9M_lVgQjbmQ50QtCqihZ-DwGc8aTfylEFR/s1600/lomandra+FHE+fire+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyciDMypqCGo4qr0uSgnP57VwNnOiLiSW0hHF1BxY5tYYtd5Uy5H-wnu397Ni0cnhG27369JbjoA3Gm12YPU3OtRkkl9tevslM2_80HPr9S9M_lVgQjbmQ50QtCqihZ-DwGc8aTfylEFR/s400/lomandra+FHE+fire+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620970575245762994" /></a><br />We head to Lomandra park for FHE on Monday night to toast marshmallows. It's been so cold for us here at the moment. I realise that in Brisbane the word cold doesn't even rate on the 'coldness' meter when we just have to wear a jumper, not even a really warm one to beat the cold. No snowing in for days on end, so I do get it that I have no business complaining about the cold. We did have fun toasting marshmallows though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPddOimcx5zd26X3-Qo2zhDu_5bYtHn3QErdjEWk6g62-XGiUJbzcKk4Ng0082y3KCQ8y0v7_iNlut9jmCSLK4epqcynAXDNq8_DOAHIM8he4Zh7ZUhgBkL1M1vDSa8AUqKLVFQFn9veH/s1600/lomandra+FHE+fire+009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPddOimcx5zd26X3-Qo2zhDu_5bYtHn3QErdjEWk6g62-XGiUJbzcKk4Ng0082y3KCQ8y0v7_iNlut9jmCSLK4epqcynAXDNq8_DOAHIM8he4Zh7ZUhgBkL1M1vDSa8AUqKLVFQFn9veH/s400/lomandra+FHE+fire+009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620970570276192130" /></a><br /><br />ps one or two more sleeps and the mailman will be here with a certain mission call. Now that I will keep you posted on!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-52167707425611473152011-06-16T09:17:00.008+10:002011-06-16T09:46:33.083+10:00Jessica Behind The Lens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwAcjIxSBcaFq72gGT8NOSaVzSKoCYyBDXVJCmD0BfkjICoSbkiqtrmgFl5Ev3VOXFxZCxA-_sk5eoPpMZZ5gEaO6B8wpx_ZZ0nX1vLQa1YkcFC54XUjy7N7Q0_8sGaLSUndhK2b9ncw0/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwAcjIxSBcaFq72gGT8NOSaVzSKoCYyBDXVJCmD0BfkjICoSbkiqtrmgFl5Ev3VOXFxZCxA-_sk5eoPpMZZ5gEaO6B8wpx_ZZ0nX1vLQa1YkcFC54XUjy7N7Q0_8sGaLSUndhK2b9ncw0/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618583462003426658" /></a><br /><br />After I arrived home from my weekend away we headed out for a bush walk. We live right near some beautiful spots to walk & this time we took the new camera for a spin. Jessica has entered an art competition in the Photography section. So this is some of the photos she took.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEy3-Tdw1cNK9rBCnDdWQqhYN2lbsW0Gx9KfQsVTUIvx8cLHNmPMoeb3eTB5ifZLGjPjMbjYJEZVpna5WKEaROfD7u4AMlsw-lnLW_128oX_Qnym9krcnrBIOOtlNJ23ka5hQmp4DO2C/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEy3-Tdw1cNK9rBCnDdWQqhYN2lbsW0Gx9KfQsVTUIvx8cLHNmPMoeb3eTB5ifZLGjPjMbjYJEZVpna5WKEaROfD7u4AMlsw-lnLW_128oX_Qnym9krcnrBIOOtlNJ23ka5hQmp4DO2C/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618584468318882722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrzSRRfOdI5TJpUUI1EYNz_SAFIl4lUDuAIOHq6_ebMwYSWJOyBUVlNy126HbS5ZRcciAgTY4T86fOwH4wNATO_2BAUi-qC-7UKPqExG0CYf_PZx0Ja_QGAK-ZGwN_M-Irfx0V4YPOCpU/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+013.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrzSRRfOdI5TJpUUI1EYNz_SAFIl4lUDuAIOHq6_ebMwYSWJOyBUVlNy126HbS5ZRcciAgTY4T86fOwH4wNATO_2BAUi-qC-7UKPqExG0CYf_PZx0Ja_QGAK-ZGwN_M-Irfx0V4YPOCpU/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618585022355425346" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM18B9NJLKQsvh0iz0rQ-9qKJ-5Guc2E9C0W7i_BMsJYiPjZ2sENRlTVKh7vVS2Vmb5MSn63yInEhUWhpiaqHB29cV9nqbaBT8Ax4LNHLGb5PnKW8dEm5xqYZhSquAJRoUdgfyXmC4HMnj/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+026.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM18B9NJLKQsvh0iz0rQ-9qKJ-5Guc2E9C0W7i_BMsJYiPjZ2sENRlTVKh7vVS2Vmb5MSn63yInEhUWhpiaqHB29cV9nqbaBT8Ax4LNHLGb5PnKW8dEm5xqYZhSquAJRoUdgfyXmC4HMnj/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+026.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618585254278502146" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-T-oGUJ8Gyy0CK5KzEZ4RuzB2YE73Um8ZFBZkZW1rpU4u8rnoIy5WJjJk4Yi3S0pzODO2SSN_awUjhnsvEuNpKIXgBxNiG-GJoh149jRzafWZNbpqQQL2xSxtgeQE31NDoj2fVVKIN-_/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-T-oGUJ8Gyy0CK5KzEZ4RuzB2YE73Um8ZFBZkZW1rpU4u8rnoIy5WJjJk4Yi3S0pzODO2SSN_awUjhnsvEuNpKIXgBxNiG-GJoh149jRzafWZNbpqQQL2xSxtgeQE31NDoj2fVVKIN-_/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618585598712037762" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaxVefzblk1nK4SgdHW8PkOMNBrjlBM_vpelgobdf67Mp4Ai-H5d21Y-bgHavzr_W-c7UbKNwSjh0q66TGGYOjYOymcW4t92u6pcZZlgZ6MBN4bqXqTseDIGdYAeTBH9ZxzWIL-R1Pfkr/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+037.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaxVefzblk1nK4SgdHW8PkOMNBrjlBM_vpelgobdf67Mp4Ai-H5d21Y-bgHavzr_W-c7UbKNwSjh0q66TGGYOjYOymcW4t92u6pcZZlgZ6MBN4bqXqTseDIGdYAeTBH9ZxzWIL-R1Pfkr/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618590900241559010" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29kSxZ-SwUp6vCJ5yYmDjREWwfpiFT4gTxB3n9Nylb3H6UsDRsSpNBhHvW4rMdvzulc04kSsw2MTuHj-Cc4p9C2wJXckaRyYg2fGVll2NL3pJEvk6EYctGYp4S1rxU_G3JWXIVWSmsNQS/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+050.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29kSxZ-SwUp6vCJ5yYmDjREWwfpiFT4gTxB3n9Nylb3H6UsDRsSpNBhHvW4rMdvzulc04kSsw2MTuHj-Cc4p9C2wJXckaRyYg2fGVll2NL3pJEvk6EYctGYp4S1rxU_G3JWXIVWSmsNQS/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618585948204733410" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhHezk90ZU5F35s-FuPeE8_L28wYS4H-O1r3Eh96FmvkSPCjaZYK50xNCmgzHPrEC0gUllTpQG3OlYvhVvR_jCGmAvTCCVmT7TYuwCVmdB7c9T_b0TByQGZi0tzW-dgPoBrNuR7vHFZcm/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+106.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhHezk90ZU5F35s-FuPeE8_L28wYS4H-O1r3Eh96FmvkSPCjaZYK50xNCmgzHPrEC0gUllTpQG3OlYvhVvR_jCGmAvTCCVmT7TYuwCVmdB7c9T_b0TByQGZi0tzW-dgPoBrNuR7vHFZcm/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+106.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618587550609120882" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQz19s3e2COHDcw3MVgYLWTNahXI26NJu9ozT1rVT4E558uiv50QB8VTh3ESZdkqoEmfsP1K8fMAOkMC5JgqNj35M3ffHq-USf5Ae-B0I0UVNlbbkULeQIbZHO9Lw8p-w3cDmaplmlTgI/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+055.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQz19s3e2COHDcw3MVgYLWTNahXI26NJu9ozT1rVT4E558uiv50QB8VTh3ESZdkqoEmfsP1K8fMAOkMC5JgqNj35M3ffHq-USf5Ae-B0I0UVNlbbkULeQIbZHO9Lw8p-w3cDmaplmlTgI/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618586245546701618" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These are the photo's that she submitted to the competition. One colour one black & white with a quote from Confucius <br /><blockquote>"There is beauty in everything, just not everyone see's it".<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></blockquote><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ccax9Lzaglk2Vk1QjiHJRY8aRuOCkdlZKIQ3Zh86g5saGntLKz2jgSX_gOOw6ccEpk3eCiEx902XuJt9dnw0JV94lppUTsm_pwVWz91QIRGrrCPE7HoLgAzucr70PLiRTWKSmTsdo67-/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ccax9Lzaglk2Vk1QjiHJRY8aRuOCkdlZKIQ3Zh86g5saGntLKz2jgSX_gOOw6ccEpk3eCiEx902XuJt9dnw0JV94lppUTsm_pwVWz91QIRGrrCPE7HoLgAzucr70PLiRTWKSmTsdo67-/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618588093820755202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhEkNaSpY__RENPaVHZvhGryoIdo5JHJYONCdrPJEWIAmsH-XYDUiFaHVI3xTlaC9csTHcf5WjcUI33Iv3_iSR3-hqWhpNLoX-4Lmsh9loWjABhoT-jlZ2P6RmU-WoLiq4rRRjDkjEu_S/s1600/of%253D50%252C480%252C342LEAF.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhEkNaSpY__RENPaVHZvhGryoIdo5JHJYONCdrPJEWIAmsH-XYDUiFaHVI3xTlaC9csTHcf5WjcUI33Iv3_iSR3-hqWhpNLoX-4Lmsh9loWjABhoT-jlZ2P6RmU-WoLiq4rRRjDkjEu_S/s400/of%253D50%252C480%252C342LEAF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618587929920216786" /></a><br /><br />I thought not bad for her first time out with the camera. I took a couple as well but I can't wait to start my photography class next term.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE6CH5rKFIxRow1UY1zxUY5P3JpWzBIjly0g0t0G8rtyIfPTOPUh5Q-vfHddLte9vNDImeRGb_6q_5AZJGvnXld3z1eUVww0ZKqWuUjgXsHQC_kXiGU78Z4KbuJ_dzuUwPu9NckXaF0xt/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+004.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE6CH5rKFIxRow1UY1zxUY5P3JpWzBIjly0g0t0G8rtyIfPTOPUh5Q-vfHddLte9vNDImeRGb_6q_5AZJGvnXld3z1eUVww0ZKqWuUjgXsHQC_kXiGU78Z4KbuJ_dzuUwPu9NckXaF0xt/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618592618648902450" /></a><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/AVvXsEgEl2YLDUjZ87EcNAr0WZQOQtlg1Vbn4xTcwe5Uxq53giJ-UoiPxpYNqzEkb0wI3XbL6vbK5zUCr2kNST52exDXywJ50hjwMKzpirpgSUJD5aAS-tCCsYgdMkMkvPJuJWNa_WSJTt1_lB6m/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEl2YLDUjZ87EcNAr0WZQOQtlg1Vbn4xTcwe5Uxq53giJ-UoiPxpYNqzEkb0wI3XbL6vbK5zUCr2kNST52exDXywJ50hjwMKzpirpgSUJD5aAS-tCCsYgdMkMkvPJuJWNa_WSJTt1_lB6m/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618594666054289138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSFRvnJ2s4Oci0qutOIa8YR7bFK2M3sZyA0xAojCRthWGvCFlJ40YoEI7p47c9-nwsCpS9wsSgBGxAMmvaUR2LOAdC0hgNpLqxoNhwxG8KLuqMSarh23RfjTRIrrcvYzJPsGf0KpJhiOU/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSFRvnJ2s4Oci0qutOIa8YR7bFK2M3sZyA0xAojCRthWGvCFlJ40YoEI7p47c9-nwsCpS9wsSgBGxAMmvaUR2LOAdC0hgNpLqxoNhwxG8KLuqMSarh23RfjTRIrrcvYzJPsGf0KpJhiOU/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+069.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618594654325761922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AhyjIBk6sGuU-zO2BxpX6JXf3QEJxNN7fXnbGOMnC3zYVLzTXQ4Tocb3_NGJfqr5g06CWVHJDG74ddAooTsfJwQkSlI0A06hlfo463L5HNINxnj8NSEyi4Ppig4kvEni1j4G1eKlrNW9/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AhyjIBk6sGuU-zO2BxpX6JXf3QEJxNN7fXnbGOMnC3zYVLzTXQ4Tocb3_NGJfqr5g06CWVHJDG74ddAooTsfJwQkSlI0A06hlfo463L5HNINxnj8NSEyi4Ppig4kvEni1j4G1eKlrNW9/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618594643179230802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DgxTzYdS_0sZ3qvuOV5xP31yEUhf6tdWk1bwXOj6lSDCk8fDDYCYhg43mSgLLdl2UWAf5v7eK9b-MQPtWIXu1Pe5pJyrBYoRvuBVZdDk31Xox3QoJODgvG7eocVy20KFxYruIf3A-1hq/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DgxTzYdS_0sZ3qvuOV5xP31yEUhf6tdWk1bwXOj6lSDCk8fDDYCYhg43mSgLLdl2UWAf5v7eK9b-MQPtWIXu1Pe5pJyrBYoRvuBVZdDk31Xox3QoJODgvG7eocVy20KFxYruIf3A-1hq/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618595359886240370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZUeTYEXFXz0Y3286z7wFiySEMT4EZKvDKPLNTrJo69imjNRy_LdGW3uPEj8PjcydEKTFlzUmDfGH9ZXF2kZLRO3D2rjSQdRH9eljMBaMd0kW7Vh8oZ17rJqqKo3TOlNuLcwBFj5Rq6wv/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZUeTYEXFXz0Y3286z7wFiySEMT4EZKvDKPLNTrJo69imjNRy_LdGW3uPEj8PjcydEKTFlzUmDfGH9ZXF2kZLRO3D2rjSQdRH9eljMBaMd0kW7Vh8oZ17rJqqKo3TOlNuLcwBFj5Rq6wv/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618595358615468834" /></a><br /><br />I will let you know Monday how she went.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-81578596044064065452011-06-15T09:36:00.004+10:002011-06-15T10:23:47.418+10:00Do You Know What Grown-ups Really Do?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf3EUrUkOUqY4Urv0owEcc6BqBMgNTnmbpoDNfNJ3nUlC1P5_v5az_r5sn3-KrB1D5f3L5avGab7hiFIWwVBO4aDcXhzaUxm9O5xF8VR4vvgTKY7ciC5LbirGfddnT6qXJprQeENPSNS7/s1600/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf3EUrUkOUqY4Urv0owEcc6BqBMgNTnmbpoDNfNJ3nUlC1P5_v5az_r5sn3-KrB1D5f3L5avGab7hiFIWwVBO4aDcXhzaUxm9O5xF8VR4vvgTKY7ciC5LbirGfddnT6qXJprQeENPSNS7/s400/bush+walk+queens+birthday+weekend+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618229125374369954" /></a><br />After a wonderful weekend away with Ashleigh, oldest daughter aged 22, I discovered that there are such things as Restaurants . Not McDonalds, but real ones that cost lots of money for a small, but very delicious meal. <br /><br />Ash & I went up to stay the week-end once again at Joan & lee's unit (thanks again) which is a hop skip & a jump from Sunshine Beach. After a nice sleep in we headed to Hastings Street Noosa, to find something to eat. Aroma's is apparently the ultimate place to be seen and to check out everyone walking along Hastings street. Aroma's cafe has, as Ashleigh informed me because she has been there, Parisian style seats and round tables with the chairs facing out onto the street. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWmDlKvIZvptT143YAyFDkpeLC_KqBfosWVhVESxh7xBJTvDkipYt6c_rUHkWWNBQ0MUK1kDLA1s_ug4aIJ49jEWnsm2yVFXP10vBdf_DEbV_szG0DTcWLMfIQx3L2qpPSlOfYrJtbUhH/s1600/hastings_street.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWmDlKvIZvptT143YAyFDkpeLC_KqBfosWVhVESxh7xBJTvDkipYt6c_rUHkWWNBQ0MUK1kDLA1s_ug4aIJ49jEWnsm2yVFXP10vBdf_DEbV_szG0DTcWLMfIQx3L2qpPSlOfYrJtbUhH/s400/hastings_street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618229739055086322" /></a><br /><br />The food was amazing. Ash had Eggs Benedict & I had Potato Pancake with poached eggs and tomato relish on a bed of fresh basil. It was sooo good. The little fellow in the photo above was our dining neighbor. Noosa is rather a posh sort of place with everything horribly over priced to lure the tourist dollar out of everyone's pocket. We headed straight to the bookstores of course. Ash & Matt are about to buy a house, so we popped into some home wear and decorating stores along the way. I went into all the stores that I wouldn't go in with the little ones. <br /><br />Dinner was equally as lovely. King Prawns on sourdough bread and some relishy stuff and seafood pasta for Ash. Once again sooo yummy. It rained all the time we were there but it was so lovely to spend quality time with Ash. We could talk in whole sentences without someone jumping in, and just generally hangout together doing nothing really. Need to do it more often! Ash gave us a weekend at a Resort down the Gold Coast for our anniversary so Mark & I are going to take that one very soon. We won't know what to do with all that grownup time together. <br /><br />It was nice to come home though to all my little people and Ash headed back to her house with Matt sick, 2 dogs that missed their 'mummy' and a mountain of snakes waiting to go into hibernation for the winter. Thanks for a great weekend!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-6856664546526200082011-06-01T09:31:00.003+10:002011-06-01T09:51:20.238+10:00Play Dough Play Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EfUOsRu_jU0ZDZPStNhjv5FMT2rCit2iERG4A-cRCqhQ7vOf5bLPUq6ekwNdKuQvAd4AfiP4k8OebQ0CkraMNaHvz56FxkSRoLO3YMeeR8eeT80zKdoG-I9I6yHYhAo_cN5MENo5vEns/s1600/playdoh+day+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EfUOsRu_jU0ZDZPStNhjv5FMT2rCit2iERG4A-cRCqhQ7vOf5bLPUq6ekwNdKuQvAd4AfiP4k8OebQ0CkraMNaHvz56FxkSRoLO3YMeeR8eeT80zKdoG-I9I6yHYhAo_cN5MENo5vEns/s400/playdoh+day+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613028540751474770" /></a><br /><br />This stuff is a always a hit & so easy to make. We needed a change from from the lego overdrive that we've had going on at home lately. So Play Dough it was. Oldy but always a goody! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6fJfejotOARKSiiXIZmlTfPQ-BqWPf9Tu7sSNur245oeJzomFzBOpQebQYnE-scZrzefLr2VqCpc9Y3uSabdFgHrHEwO4I3VVHBiZfiLz5bFSyibY1U9K50EeIUzsbzOpjR8Dyi6uto6/s1600/playdoh+day+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6fJfejotOARKSiiXIZmlTfPQ-BqWPf9Tu7sSNur245oeJzomFzBOpQebQYnE-scZrzefLr2VqCpc9Y3uSabdFgHrHEwO4I3VVHBiZfiLz5bFSyibY1U9K50EeIUzsbzOpjR8Dyi6uto6/s400/playdoh+day+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613028553160414866" /></a><br /><br />This is my favorite recipe: <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Shortcut Cooked Play Dough</span><br /><br />1 cup salt<br />2 cups plain flour<br />2 tbsp oil<br />4 tsp cream of tartar<br />2 cups of boiling water<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Method</span>: Combine ingredients (except water) in a bowl. Pour the boiling water & stir. Knead lightly on table top. This will store in an air-tight container in the fridge for months.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZ3_uWTnsdxjWDGwwaUYzj8PXxU8v21NKHkwMEnLoh_mlq-HpfU87Y0zdvn_9HukQ4mwnRwZPe3u6NEWFTvzD9HxbFoqJq3r0LZeae6DM4jFkHgff5LykYh4UERd8nWHvQvwTwoC0sKsh/s1600/playdoh+day+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZ3_uWTnsdxjWDGwwaUYzj8PXxU8v21NKHkwMEnLoh_mlq-HpfU87Y0zdvn_9HukQ4mwnRwZPe3u6NEWFTvzD9HxbFoqJq3r0LZeae6DM4jFkHgff5LykYh4UERd8nWHvQvwTwoC0sKsh/s400/playdoh+day+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613028556791567954" /></a><br /><br />Check out the aprons! These too are tea towel aprons. Cute hey. Now you can see why I'm crazy for them. I never knew there was so many cute aprons out there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZQZgfumBr_FQwaDR91l7JcrpTGOWRNN2l6EQORXgPaZtgK4U2rRIjHnL7iQCquOo6apBCP3R0ERWZq_JEI3FT0rhGhyprKNhyc5H20wFO2mENM3DdfW6CO4weYXNTkRborBa8DrTO4ro/s1600/playdoh+day+005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZQZgfumBr_FQwaDR91l7JcrpTGOWRNN2l6EQORXgPaZtgK4U2rRIjHnL7iQCquOo6apBCP3R0ERWZq_JEI3FT0rhGhyprKNhyc5H20wFO2mENM3DdfW6CO4weYXNTkRborBa8DrTO4ro/s400/playdoh+day+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613028549233663250" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-40282426759247408112011-05-30T07:58:00.005+10:002011-05-30T09:00:20.913+10:00A Gift On A Budget<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5DktWsAR7-rkezX4nhL6StbVbjGTkwACzSFRDA_Tuiaeqzglbhm9BEEM1Fszec-7xGR996XGrrmKLAzh-OWWWODGvGpsbGEdRA9mODi05LhtekcQUb9ZfsxxfUHcDdr1JgJkqEbrQ-gO/s1600/apron+present+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5DktWsAR7-rkezX4nhL6StbVbjGTkwACzSFRDA_Tuiaeqzglbhm9BEEM1Fszec-7xGR996XGrrmKLAzh-OWWWODGvGpsbGEdRA9mODi05LhtekcQUb9ZfsxxfUHcDdr1JgJkqEbrQ-gO/s400/apron+present+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612263190707413298" /></a><br /><br />Jessica was off to a birthday party on Saturday. Now the child in question is one that has EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING. I have never seen so much 'stuff' in all my life! Not even at a Target toy sale. So what do you get a girl like that, plus we had a seriously limited budget this week.<br /><br />Well my girls believe that presents should be thoughtful and made these days. The made bit is usually by me though. As Hayley likes to cook, tea towel aprons was the winner. I'll do a little more on these tea towel aprons this week. They are cheap, cute & reversible. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhb5mRFB2l5eMfYjQG4yBvYo6INx3SYOqTxZ0j9jgKDCRrceljVLtAy5lKP5b05R_l3_ssMbvZg7F4dRTN22eBAZkwWwNdwr5vDfPBPo0qC14ZH0aXPTPo_ajE4LxzA51fPWqvehJI7fM/s1600/apron+present+006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhb5mRFB2l5eMfYjQG4yBvYo6INx3SYOqTxZ0j9jgKDCRrceljVLtAy5lKP5b05R_l3_ssMbvZg7F4dRTN22eBAZkwWwNdwr5vDfPBPo0qC14ZH0aXPTPo_ajE4LxzA51fPWqvehJI7fM/s400/apron+present+006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612261133177903314" /></a><br /><br />I have been a little addicted to these cute little aprons and can't help myself stalking the tea towel section of every store checking out the latest & cutest tea towels. So with a 3 pack of tea towels, basket & a couple of miniature utensils we were set and best of all, we didn't spend over our $15 budget.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBnX7ptvDjzR7jZ9NawTsztF4bY_FABZ6YhaPSDpzxbsRatah18ODY2VWQytm2ZDOa4unttHtcWBSBsQGz4I-RcqQuxNPwPuKqcQ4NV16ODyzH0SGAqhkdQkM0OuWxCoHnOhpLbeHZ2Tb/s1600/apron+present+015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBnX7ptvDjzR7jZ9NawTsztF4bY_FABZ6YhaPSDpzxbsRatah18ODY2VWQytm2ZDOa4unttHtcWBSBsQGz4I-RcqQuxNPwPuKqcQ4NV16ODyzH0SGAqhkdQkM0OuWxCoHnOhpLbeHZ2Tb/s400/apron+present+015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612275333462691826" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-44988754183400732302011-05-27T17:33:00.007+10:002011-05-27T20:29:54.307+10:00Fantastic Fun Fishing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjani2yXoUMeMpt4u0GkdigS9TAjQXY5aO_4QeQh4TdgMRAaGtZl3mZYTR5yZg2lpoV7a2aHLO-u3JBYZRAqWQ83O_tmEez448Aom4dnkjCB7Cting9E3GlbuuSQArXjq5bny7ENHaq5HPm/s1600/maddie+animals+096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjani2yXoUMeMpt4u0GkdigS9TAjQXY5aO_4QeQh4TdgMRAaGtZl3mZYTR5yZg2lpoV7a2aHLO-u3JBYZRAqWQ83O_tmEez448Aom4dnkjCB7Cting9E3GlbuuSQArXjq5bny7ENHaq5HPm/s400/maddie+animals+096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611297711063468994" /></a><br /><br />During the Easter break we had the fantastic opportunity to stay at Joan & Lee's unit at Sunshine Beach. While the sunshine was missing for many days it really didn't matter. We had an absolute ball. The fish were biting, waves were rolling and we just had the best time. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwIN3WELlFN6MFNZECFNUEN5VjHIvspnvxLWXrsEgex0-5y8dSavLaM6X08b3_d-iLjTBB6UYzjui24dh_UYS1sO8TxtebejKhdRdo1GlexHU90-VuPl-UBgCADaQHqRID1L-QbjTQWb5/s1600/maddie+animals+062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwIN3WELlFN6MFNZECFNUEN5VjHIvspnvxLWXrsEgex0-5y8dSavLaM6X08b3_d-iLjTBB6UYzjui24dh_UYS1sO8TxtebejKhdRdo1GlexHU90-VuPl-UBgCADaQHqRID1L-QbjTQWb5/s400/maddie+animals+062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611297703407505906" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnK9GE-1IP2p18-S5CXhHexR6YFC9HUhw4LNoGOcbpg6V4EtDmG7woLgF3V4XhDvH6nitpebHqDAYXg-pFNRTID9bG2dEHykpP5wexkNq8gG6Sk9eI6vEzyAmJVlrhd8jz2eYtA7REgtz/s1600/maddie+animals+063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnK9GE-1IP2p18-S5CXhHexR6YFC9HUhw4LNoGOcbpg6V4EtDmG7woLgF3V4XhDvH6nitpebHqDAYXg-pFNRTID9bG2dEHykpP5wexkNq8gG6Sk9eI6vEzyAmJVlrhd8jz2eYtA7REgtz/s400/maddie+animals+063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611299172275414850" /></a><br /><br />Lucy very 'bestest' friend James came to visit us with his mum & little sister for the afternoon and he caught his very first fish. Now that was exciting! It was freezing cold and a massive storm came rolling in but it didn't dampen anyone spirits or enthusiasm. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vvTP_fz4EAbfsh1DXIGyHwYCrOD5iFFZr6R3dcEJ9JwPhiYIlJDcV9-60rRC3m84_pTt0RieYgVu0P6bwcXPK2ZG6rLnErWNWHw4pIMMmCY71xGOoDEx8kMk2cBr7WkRTHZZg0Ocads0/s1600/maddie+animals+048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vvTP_fz4EAbfsh1DXIGyHwYCrOD5iFFZr6R3dcEJ9JwPhiYIlJDcV9-60rRC3m84_pTt0RieYgVu0P6bwcXPK2ZG6rLnErWNWHw4pIMMmCY71xGOoDEx8kMk2cBr7WkRTHZZg0Ocads0/s400/maddie+animals+048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611298581541854098" /></a><br /><br />The best part for me was I got to curl up on the couch with a great book and read away to my little hearts content. Not good for me to be in the rain now is it. Someone has to be at home keeping the home fires burning don't they.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpqzcxjkulS5OTQEdXzNiovVQs0kzwLbJI7LTMifHvRR-Fuqeju32tQIWIQke15dC3geOClIReceH75oPD96A-5d6i1mt-XRqNt0zwkGwaBj-MP7cgyslBlidZac8CAspqhlOh4FKYqDy/s1600/maddie+animals+035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpqzcxjkulS5OTQEdXzNiovVQs0kzwLbJI7LTMifHvRR-Fuqeju32tQIWIQke15dC3geOClIReceH75oPD96A-5d6i1mt-XRqNt0zwkGwaBj-MP7cgyslBlidZac8CAspqhlOh4FKYqDy/s400/maddie+animals+035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611297712777354866" /></a><br /><br />Ashleigh turned 22 that weekend so every one came up for a roast dinner with us. It was just a perfect week. <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpOoyQrTaRQQGiopH1DJVXODp9ezqDB6dKudteeGzda8IDW8ZbyaGiXEI0o4gp8UxKIVU135fXDuvn8WZUlaKcRO21_a4kFwe8KDc-cc3hWYUy76NIbS6Cu8u-9pOKeSiJGfJNXz2jR92/s1600/maddie+animals+053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpOoyQrTaRQQGiopH1DJVXODp9ezqDB6dKudteeGzda8IDW8ZbyaGiXEI0o4gp8UxKIVU135fXDuvn8WZUlaKcRO21_a4kFwe8KDc-cc3hWYUy76NIbS6Cu8u-9pOKeSiJGfJNXz2jR92/s400/maddie+animals+053.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611301944859084146" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPat0vMaZ7fLGHZtmam4vQrrQVP74qSXe-_j26rGp6OJvyWBZ0xfSI0TQGhVmrpUDTdKrT_2FwzIt7kCXGdx9cAgQZAdieuxxf3fcW1xcnXrMOkvFtmS58-yxXWGSWkMDumZkMqPe4yuEJ/s1600/maddie+animals+094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPat0vMaZ7fLGHZtmam4vQrrQVP74qSXe-_j26rGp6OJvyWBZ0xfSI0TQGhVmrpUDTdKrT_2FwzIt7kCXGdx9cAgQZAdieuxxf3fcW1xcnXrMOkvFtmS58-yxXWGSWkMDumZkMqPe4yuEJ/s400/maddie+animals+094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611301941835966722" /></a><br /><br />The bush walks round Noosa heads are amazing. I only went along because on Hastings Street is the very best ice-creamery in the world. It's sorbets and frozen yogurt and is all made fresh on the premises. AMAZING!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT33J4yf-mnGXzld5gp283v5iRqesJukCnerSgP6OTd_J-tOXsWSlVF1IhrRmJBgN0ckrQL5ut4ygmrRnjOzMlzkbyfx6VOGNgOgTuvc4DU0-VzUmvaKdO8nLFsFX_v4wZQvZ-Z5VCNavY/s1600/maddie+animals+091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT33J4yf-mnGXzld5gp283v5iRqesJukCnerSgP6OTd_J-tOXsWSlVF1IhrRmJBgN0ckrQL5ut4ygmrRnjOzMlzkbyfx6VOGNgOgTuvc4DU0-VzUmvaKdO8nLFsFX_v4wZQvZ-Z5VCNavY/s400/maddie+animals+091.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611301935114037106" /></a><br /><br />Ashleigh & I are heading back to the unit (thank-you again Joan & Lee) for a mother daughter retreat. When I asked Ash to go away with me she's like "weeelllll yyyeeesss, but what's the catch". It's tough being the oldest of six. You don't live at home and are an easy going kid, you can get kinda over looked. But not that weekend. Ash, me and the ice-creamery! You will forgive me if while I'm away that weekend that I could assume that the eagerly anticipated rapture may have occurred because her and I will be in peaceful heaven.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-33217443477839751462011-05-25T16:29:00.002+10:002011-05-25T16:38:24.933+10:00Missionary Photo Take 2!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0qUVvf1zOzr0y94ERBdiN1RHhiBbVEB74-FB1O7c3myrWRVucja1SUIzd7WkO4fJ1AZBxvYcoVVIKq8rUVikcIfrZy-PrTG0qYFd3soYEgdoMO4zuyfWcbBnPPB58y1lXMlkur95OJQv/s1600/dan+after+surgery+013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0qUVvf1zOzr0y94ERBdiN1RHhiBbVEB74-FB1O7c3myrWRVucja1SUIzd7WkO4fJ1AZBxvYcoVVIKq8rUVikcIfrZy-PrTG0qYFd3soYEgdoMO4zuyfWcbBnPPB58y1lXMlkur95OJQv/s400/dan+after+surgery+013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610537948495009154" /></a><br /><br />Poor boy. He is so off his face with the medication he let me take the photo. He has actually never even had a panadol in his ENTIRE life. Not even as a baby. Hates any medicine so has always just sucked it up. But I had to put the mortar & pestle to work and grind it up & mix it with the custard. Must go, he phoned from downstairs to come down & change his ice pack. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKjAN-I4gPElSL4YqBr3-oFmGkYHKvUFLn9rnIB6sKB_qiI0rhHFa1c00LXQOEh9cvSMbkrEg5RfW82NPFY9Yih3Nm0t2uBKT2nfFNWsdlrHkQZBshg-VzxiHncSNzajyyYuUL2ppREkc/s1600/dan+after+surgery+012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKjAN-I4gPElSL4YqBr3-oFmGkYHKvUFLn9rnIB6sKB_qiI0rhHFa1c00LXQOEh9cvSMbkrEg5RfW82NPFY9Yih3Nm0t2uBKT2nfFNWsdlrHkQZBshg-VzxiHncSNzajyyYuUL2ppREkc/s400/dan+after+surgery+012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610537943328399698" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-14782456654850264292011-05-25T08:00:00.003+10:002011-05-25T08:20:04.588+10:00EAT THE FROG FIRST!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxyCZWCmk1c_ByKO6Q7GhUV4DBtLb58rmN_2yfDQPAEtp8rdbMhPdHYLTmttAtA_4ZqQPp5CWqkz60zW3wnRA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />A little while ago a women in our ward gave a talk, I guess, was about procrastination. One of the stories she told was about 'Eating the Frog First'. It really resonated with me and I started applying that to my life and to our life as homeschoolers. <br /><br />There are certain subjects that Maddie doesn't enjoy, mostly maths and copy work so we sat down together and looked at the schedule, which I might add was set 100% by me as I load the workboxes. More often then not it would be met with certain resistance as she would try to negotiate her way out of doing the work she really didn't want to do.<br />If she did do the least loved work first she would take FOREVER!<br /><br />So after watching this clip and explaining the principle behind it , we now swallow the frog first. The kids get it better now as we looked at how they felt during the day when they knew something unpleasant was going to come like it or not. This simple principle has really made a difference to us all. We sat down worked out what OUR frogs were, because each of us was different , then put them on the top of the list. It is amazingly liberating.<br /><br />Now when I have to do something & I try to fob it off I think."NO SWALLOW THAT FROG".Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-43483889613897380652011-05-24T12:40:00.005+10:002011-05-24T13:16:49.621+10:00The Missionary Photo!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8W6uavh99vj6MrMw9HAz1iJL8iuEpGlW6V7Uyb6zuyssn3QQXchkJX2EWKgvT5qRG-1vEpy5uGY3y7pwedsYl7g-vhJmzIFL8W6hZFcKgoEbratEXbDNUGJ7_-_SBxs3XvvyqY0j_fmD/s1600/mission.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8W6uavh99vj6MrMw9HAz1iJL8iuEpGlW6V7Uyb6zuyssn3QQXchkJX2EWKgvT5qRG-1vEpy5uGY3y7pwedsYl7g-vhJmzIFL8W6hZFcKgoEbratEXbDNUGJ7_-_SBxs3XvvyqY0j_fmD/s400/mission.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610107630981464162" /></a><br /><br />It is 12 more days until the Mission papers are submitted. I took THE 'missionary' photo that goes along with the mission paper and after having taken it silly me goes "would you like to get your eyebrows tidied up and I can take another one?" What sort of a monster mother I'm I . He's like "do you think I need it?" What was I thinking! Clearly having 5 girls has got to me in ways that I could never have expected. He has been jabbed with vaccinations, going in to hospital tomorrow to have his wisdom teeth out, crowns done, medicals, not to mention that he just a really well behaved 18.7year old that hasn't even lost a point for driving and I'm pointing out scraggy eyebrows!!! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5nFmrJHkyzHam2cp1LXq46pp7SecX6B3prl78dKlEs-ufiVeJ9-LEj77kgspRB5zu7u_CL-cYsiRRi7KPeew5EX8KLSiaQiSw7TyPzsQKocW-rlnysOcvvmCZS66k3adZqBy2U-C1OYu/s1600/widdison_photography.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5nFmrJHkyzHam2cp1LXq46pp7SecX6B3prl78dKlEs-ufiVeJ9-LEj77kgspRB5zu7u_CL-cYsiRRi7KPeew5EX8KLSiaQiSw7TyPzsQKocW-rlnysOcvvmCZS66k3adZqBy2U-C1OYu/s400/widdison_photography.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610112476410029922" /></a><br /><br />This boy has had this mission planned since FOREVER! He then informed me that there could be a little hick-up and that is the First Presidency may be on vacation when his papers hit Salt Lake. This would mean the eagerly anticipated Mission Call (where in the world you are going to serve your 2 year mission) could be delayed. When he was telling me at first all i could hear was delayed & vacation. I reply "who is going on vacation, they can't go on vacation right now, it will have to wait! OH the First Presidency!! Well OK then. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d_D-nCZLnFGr_uKoFIuneg7YL0TMRZD3e0nVJa-7Ir2_LCARTqEip-Wnd7osZGWO84ZzLBsX_LInXBaeNetVoba9KKI6n-blY6LYW_ht6FFjZVatDODrsOXhmyMLjJdSoBEv1RMzNJce/s1600/3553291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d_D-nCZLnFGr_uKoFIuneg7YL0TMRZD3e0nVJa-7Ir2_LCARTqEip-Wnd7osZGWO84ZzLBsX_LInXBaeNetVoba9KKI6n-blY6LYW_ht6FFjZVatDODrsOXhmyMLjJdSoBEv1RMzNJce/s400/3553291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610113860541675442" /></a><br /><br />I am so glad that we only have one son, because this comes with just as much anticipation as having a baby. We are blessed to have a son who didn't just wake one day when he was 20 odd and think not much else is happening so I might as well go on a mission. We have one that at exactly 18 years and 8 months to the day he can submit those Mission Paper. He saw the bar had been raised and aim right over the top for it. He is a blessing to our lives.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-63778610405674964252011-05-23T14:46:00.006+10:002011-05-24T20:08:41.579+10:00YOU CAN NOT SWALLOW YOUR TONGUE!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32WE5aM_LdbTyEheE_W90N3tgTP1-SD4FsTv2Jpd4koEvrNyT_FstAP78qm2QJZN6L7B5WvwyclRdd8S-TF68p88_dfCGSOFTS66AFIHyDeiy0Nyf4rqQ78eHRbFEVYfHkqY2nqUOpGto/s1600/epilepsy_awareness.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32WE5aM_LdbTyEheE_W90N3tgTP1-SD4FsTv2Jpd4koEvrNyT_FstAP78qm2QJZN6L7B5WvwyclRdd8S-TF68p88_dfCGSOFTS66AFIHyDeiy0Nyf4rqQ78eHRbFEVYfHkqY2nqUOpGto/s400/epilepsy_awareness.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610196615094460114" /></a><br />The reason for my extra computer time is that I have had some sick little people at home just now. Lucy's epilepsy has been less than stable shall we say, Jess has a throat virus & today we have Caitlin, the married daughter here sick as well, being ever so careful not to invoke a seizure as that would mean the chance of a drivers license would be set back about another 2 years. The computer is next to the couch so they are there and I am blogging away happily in between calls of "mum can you get me, and feel my head!"<br /><br />Recently in our local newspaper they ran an article on how a mother had picked her daughter up from daycare & whilst traveling home the 1 year old had a seizure or febrile convulsion.<br />The article was so poorly written and so full of dangerous miss information I had to do what I have never done before and write a letter to the editor. This is some of what I wrote.<br /><br /><br />"I just want to say how disappointing it was to read the story “Mum’s skills save baby”. While the essence of the story about the need for first aid training is important and the scare Mrs ............ must have experienced is very frightening, you have allowed her to perpetuate a dangerous myth about seizures. While the child’s tongue would be “stuck in her mouth” because that is in fact where it is meant to be, it is a myth that that has anything to do with a blocked airway which is what the mother implied in the story. People do NOT swallow their tongues! People reading this could assume that you do in fact have to hold the tongue down so as to not swallow it. This is a dangerous myth that parents of, and people with conditions such as Epilepsy have spent a long time dispelling. <br /><br />You also generally don’t have to administer CPR to someone having a seizure. The blueness in the face is caused by air being dispelled from the lungs during the actual seizure. You place the person in the recovery position and make sure the person is free from harm and time the seizure. Once it has ended the person usually begins breathing on their own and will more often just go to sleep. Don’t give CPR during the seizure. That is very dangerous and actually quite futile.<br /><br />I have 2 daughters with epilepsy, one 20 & one 5, I have been doing this for a long time (20 years), have had to call 000 more times than I can count and have had to administer CPR as they have failed to begin breathing at the end of a long seizure. Mrs............ "auto-pilot" as she put it, may have been more dangerous than 000. I’m not sure if it was the way the story was written as both the journalist and the parent are only speaking from this one experience, but I can tell you that it was a very misguided, inaccurate article. I hope you will run another story in the near future to dispel the very dangerous myths and inaccuracies that occurred in this story. I am not inferring as a contradiction to Mrs ............. story but just a story on what you <span style="font-weight:bold;">should do</span> and highlight the information from the Ambulance Paramedic. <br /><br /><br />It has taken years for people to learn that when a person is having a seizure you don't stick a spoon in their mouth or anything similar. I was shocked that this story even made it to the paper and obviously they do not have a fact checker. <br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GVkPMY-2x_8yyVwki7Bs1Zh-Ms-Kziq5EqRAFk7M8BObCxz7VDXM53qhy83oCJdnTdxbGhtjXWcE8IgotbTQXdnAhc_z31pV7KzJc0EO0a5grH3rVCKuWPnFY4Rc77HWEA2Go4fmgxLS/s1600/pic_littleposs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GVkPMY-2x_8yyVwki7Bs1Zh-Ms-Kziq5EqRAFk7M8BObCxz7VDXM53qhy83oCJdnTdxbGhtjXWcE8IgotbTQXdnAhc_z31pV7KzJc0EO0a5grH3rVCKuWPnFY4Rc77HWEA2Go4fmgxLS/s400/pic_littleposs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610222311919745442" /></a><br /><br />Some time ago I wrote an article for an American blog site <a href="http://www.oneshetwoshe.com/2010/07/epilepsy-awareness-shedonna.html">Or So She Says on Epilepsy Awareness</a> with facts and more information on our story & Epilepsy itself. It is handy to have some knowledge and it has links to other info if your interested.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-60029990627310466642011-05-20T20:11:00.008+10:002011-05-20T20:38:16.127+10:00Fulcher Friday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORvc8re-FA-M7TuPSOnu0PuhPYvGDZFZQ2jToKKRs_U1nWTWOoII2wNg4g-U4e2nmpliwy_DhjCWYS6IvuWpLLNGeovmXDX0eYJVifV2lBS69M_ALT28WXenTH_HDy-EYzhi0KvPQmMD-/s1600/DSC_0988edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORvc8re-FA-M7TuPSOnu0PuhPYvGDZFZQ2jToKKRs_U1nWTWOoII2wNg4g-U4e2nmpliwy_DhjCWYS6IvuWpLLNGeovmXDX0eYJVifV2lBS69M_ALT28WXenTH_HDy-EYzhi0KvPQmMD-/s400/DSC_0988edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608739075194323090" /></a><br /><br />Well Friday is quite often park afternoon with the <a href="http://kimroger.blogspot.com/">Fulcher's</a>. This photograph was taken a little while ago on one of these Friday adventures and I have been dying to use it. Peet Fulcher of <a href="http://peetfulcherphotographs.blogspot.com/">Peet Fulcher Photography </a> is like 15 but is developing into an amazing photographer. Spend a few minutes on his blog and just have a look at what this kids can do eg: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiortNZHUeQNc9UK8SBSpraOE6LpxZmTvB-dwYVMdP_k33L77UV5iPZ2zZblH3MPdCfDFtZ9darxHV6q8VTNCcbvXNNt7thJgEbX1Sn6rSCQc1k8_tTItUTGbEmEqQSBbzeHrAvMCH7phFE/s1600/_DSC0161.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiortNZHUeQNc9UK8SBSpraOE6LpxZmTvB-dwYVMdP_k33L77UV5iPZ2zZblH3MPdCfDFtZ9darxHV6q8VTNCcbvXNNt7thJgEbX1Sn6rSCQc1k8_tTItUTGbEmEqQSBbzeHrAvMCH7phFE/s400/_DSC0161.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608740578154979090" /></a><br /><br />He tackles a lot of technical stuff because this is just one of his hobbies at the moment, but boy he is good!! Also now when I pop over to the <a href="http://kimroger.blogspot.com/">Fulcher Family blog</a> it makes me want to curl up with Dorothea Mackellar and read <a href="http://www.imagesaustralia.com/mycountry.htm">Our Country</a> too.<br />Dorothea Mackellar - is one of Australia's best loved poets and her beautiful lyric poem "Our Country" is just echoed in their way of semi rural Australian life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWlQOGP4B0Q0er2Uwuh1ecu2ngXSNQB2unFwvzKbKiHy8rF7smdUQxg-Cj-5mBzuKgXUjR06OJ50NR-RjTkRQqL4sjAFuMR9gwNQzA5unFYdirr8bzBLuVnx7TW8hoeSglEdpc6U3-8ut/s1600/mycountry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWlQOGP4B0Q0er2Uwuh1ecu2ngXSNQB2unFwvzKbKiHy8rF7smdUQxg-Cj-5mBzuKgXUjR06OJ50NR-RjTkRQqL4sjAFuMR9gwNQzA5unFYdirr8bzBLuVnx7TW8hoeSglEdpc6U3-8ut/s400/mycountry.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608744096245815458" /></a><br /><br />I'm so looking forward to getting out on the weekend with my new camera. Don't you just love Australia!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-5913483240037360622011-05-19T09:08:00.012+10:002011-05-19T11:53:57.808+10:00A Family Affair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGu6K0eJSgpHQBRkVA4PiajvefhKj8_cv8B-dMBch39PwxQcBKkfNMMzd5TSNllTx_R11lRNYe0CS8UkjJTFh5r5JGTOulSJOW19P_YEXdJMtJiPrxmBUtxK9p9Q2g4Zy9Jot8dL7Gn5V/s1600/first+canon+photos+167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGu6K0eJSgpHQBRkVA4PiajvefhKj8_cv8B-dMBch39PwxQcBKkfNMMzd5TSNllTx_R11lRNYe0CS8UkjJTFh5r5JGTOulSJOW19P_YEXdJMtJiPrxmBUtxK9p9Q2g4Zy9Jot8dL7Gn5V/s400/first+canon+photos+167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608203431888028834" /></a><br /><br />Happy 90th birthday Grandma! We absolute have been blessed beyond measure to still have her with us for this day. For the last few months of 2010 we found ourselves caring for her more and more in her home. She would ring and say that her lunch hadn't been delivered, I would hear a ding of the microwave, tell her to check the microwave & that I would be straight over. She was confused, afraid and very unwell. After a terrible fall which left her with head injuries and a broken pelvis (in 3 places) she was admitted to hospital. She was in organ failure & absolutely not expected to live. Hospital was where she stayed until the miracle of getting her into a wonderful nursing home so near to us all. As I said previously the three of us were ruled out by the ACAT team to have her live with us which made me really sad, but it's a reality.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqfKxwZ49SFAjWCJK8NzSLMble32VaBvDqkjnVn9ZoCn_uCtcxy2Ptoc8Z-GTzWaNkKUHud7nf8tJPRreTw3EZlTzKcsUDhcmYjMOcbqo5iuiKwgsjtrl80Bj9fwjKfVprQ8pRC5rVRdt/s1600/first+canon+photos+164.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqfKxwZ49SFAjWCJK8NzSLMble32VaBvDqkjnVn9ZoCn_uCtcxy2Ptoc8Z-GTzWaNkKUHud7nf8tJPRreTw3EZlTzKcsUDhcmYjMOcbqo5iuiKwgsjtrl80Bj9fwjKfVprQ8pRC5rVRdt/s400/first+canon+photos+164.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608205179441536690" /></a><br /><br />My Aunt was home from having her second round of breast cancer surgery. Now does this look like a women with cancer. AMAZING. She isn't so old that she needs to carry her handbag with her everywhere she goes , the yellow strap is in fact her drainage bag that has a drain attached to her breast. She looked so wonderful & my Grandmother was so relieved to have her with us on Sunday as well. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v3_WZlBFuNmC4UKgAy5buZHNlvN7VT7LVTidmejc4px-WnihbVLoViboj65A5aiBt4mu41IkixR1nzQY3O-QdIKDH5qFbVK_Ung0LbukeqSgyotXfo3w9bD69cX6kZ6TaqJLRsfponLe/s1600/IMG_8699.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v3_WZlBFuNmC4UKgAy5buZHNlvN7VT7LVTidmejc4px-WnihbVLoViboj65A5aiBt4mu41IkixR1nzQY3O-QdIKDH5qFbVK_Ung0LbukeqSgyotXfo3w9bD69cX6kZ6TaqJLRsfponLe/s400/IMG_8699.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608206678749992562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdYkF6cCeFF61fgvZszOgRiDh7J5HUcPE5TOdEb_1X94pHjwr1r7j_Tjr_lATHiNu1X68vaQDdJHkpJOx5zaHb54_nUDe7kFZLa8FSE4nHTLcfLzNTQSIj5N8LmLQKFF0v_CefMjcXQ9s/s1600/first+canon+photos+165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdYkF6cCeFF61fgvZszOgRiDh7J5HUcPE5TOdEb_1X94pHjwr1r7j_Tjr_lATHiNu1X68vaQDdJHkpJOx5zaHb54_nUDe7kFZLa8FSE4nHTLcfLzNTQSIj5N8LmLQKFF0v_CefMjcXQ9s/s400/first+canon+photos+165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608215532335686946" /></a><br /><br />Lucy was having seizures everyday for the previous 3 days. Poor little one. All she could manage was 1 piece of cake and plenty of attention. She did also get to wear her pajamas to church which she proudly informed her 'other' family the <a href="http://kimroger.blogspot.com/">Fulchers</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabsKDhfRziCI6pww2HUHcReyadznqkFtKFNhL4yYunAOHd5-Qa6HoX5jGenPQqwdXZHLNLve68GvVHo7C7aXroFYcvdtiWMlxNUrrjm9wSnvq1VVj7HKXTlwFf-S3znZEPzfOtDvNsso4/s1600/IMG_8711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabsKDhfRziCI6pww2HUHcReyadznqkFtKFNhL4yYunAOHd5-Qa6HoX5jGenPQqwdXZHLNLve68GvVHo7C7aXroFYcvdtiWMlxNUrrjm9wSnvq1VVj7HKXTlwFf-S3znZEPzfOtDvNsso4/s400/IMG_8711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608210359704307266" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKnTdDeoozLGwhz3GzoKOCmzYjVzrU7PwKw-xnSNbNW1iubSP94LV757fl0AMLlq2vEViYy6DXg5Z9kr_-MU2ZFxgPNrhpk6B-635VJa5Clod8gp1OsOVV0isLaYCFxcIUBzWWwFIMuP8/s1600/IMG_8709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKnTdDeoozLGwhz3GzoKOCmzYjVzrU7PwKw-xnSNbNW1iubSP94LV757fl0AMLlq2vEViYy6DXg5Z9kr_-MU2ZFxgPNrhpk6B-635VJa5Clod8gp1OsOVV0isLaYCFxcIUBzWWwFIMuP8/s400/IMG_8709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608233491577531234" /></a> <br /><br />The newly weds had returned from their trip around Australia honeymoon. Now what are the words I'm supposed to use. Matt is a highly esteemed Corporate Lawyer, who attended Oxford. He is all that and so much more. Kirsten is one of my 3 cousins and I love her to bits. Their wedding was amazing and when the photos are in I will be blogging about that. They had <a href="http://www.studioimpressions.com.au/">Marcus Bell</a> as their photographer & for those of you who don't know, he is now listed as one of the top 10 photographers in the world. Kirst & Matt are now back 'home' in Abu dhabi and we miss them already but not nearly as much as her mum does. Got to love Skype. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm0zk_qmOXYC2dVDcwghTaT88h8u6JwrWoqVJoRhWrtb1lYabTFvNXMBvPR2rMF6kDP9TojwZHlgt8KKJWeW9KcQqeiOCjJSOikliirDIAj31V5jfkswpAfZZxK_Yf2Ta7fYLYClPBPCc/s1600/IMG_8707.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm0zk_qmOXYC2dVDcwghTaT88h8u6JwrWoqVJoRhWrtb1lYabTFvNXMBvPR2rMF6kDP9TojwZHlgt8KKJWeW9KcQqeiOCjJSOikliirDIAj31V5jfkswpAfZZxK_Yf2Ta7fYLYClPBPCc/s400/IMG_8707.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608219700030137682" /></a><br /><br />I just love having all my babies, yes I said babies even if you're 22 & married, so close to me. That is a real blessing. I must add that it is 16 more days until those mission papers go in, then 1 baby may not be so close! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseZSL9vHz69UjzTqn1x6R8QZcWazc47PBLwDHE6g3R59d2y5qHBCgS03tNh2uKAtAxNkBJ3gIGR_uARVQ5D1uyIrvUkCUnFklvD-qQ-V4ftsoo48aFDz_yWN7PbxkDSYwM607qgnLw-47/s1600/IMG_8727.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseZSL9vHz69UjzTqn1x6R8QZcWazc47PBLwDHE6g3R59d2y5qHBCgS03tNh2uKAtAxNkBJ3gIGR_uARVQ5D1uyIrvUkCUnFklvD-qQ-V4ftsoo48aFDz_yWN7PbxkDSYwM607qgnLw-47/s400/IMG_8727.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608233473205913778" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTCmDhNlu6y-LN3MpgXoUYRZL1zihOGzKdFauipCWWQslBstxqvmlV_6419IvbRCqhpEgK2j3J6SMWw7yEFyCeyCuPKuRDHkGH54nP8qjmLivvniLoLCETbaq7g8XS64YL0vUQAZGi-ST/s1600/first+canon+photos+170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTCmDhNlu6y-LN3MpgXoUYRZL1zihOGzKdFauipCWWQslBstxqvmlV_6419IvbRCqhpEgK2j3J6SMWw7yEFyCeyCuPKuRDHkGH54nP8qjmLivvniLoLCETbaq7g8XS64YL0vUQAZGi-ST/s400/first+canon+photos+170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608222878935569922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvHaLHfp8CU7qnaRdQxmtjut2A_h5aSFHDYtZF61lN-Ph0OUCsO-m7NZaTXqbf1YlhVmCsvi2V7Nku8LWR-0m3UwNu6riOe0YbGogeHKlWL-lV6h32Ou__39bwbuBUnqX3EVCHoP0ay-E/s1600/first+canon+photos+173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvHaLHfp8CU7qnaRdQxmtjut2A_h5aSFHDYtZF61lN-Ph0OUCsO-m7NZaTXqbf1YlhVmCsvi2V7Nku8LWR-0m3UwNu6riOe0YbGogeHKlWL-lV6h32Ou__39bwbuBUnqX3EVCHoP0ay-E/s400/first+canon+photos+173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608222892845596898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jb5hHgeap3u8LfjPPBV9eLXvvDSdQkf5UjndvYaIXBO3xcbTicgDlW7ximXnBL9NL_GR0s0Ww3ApQt5P37vG9gdWDHyMjikI0DGRf2vZKZF1p-0ZATeRqjwxqrOKtGX6QDcB9-yO9QKB/s1600/first+canon+photos+171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jb5hHgeap3u8LfjPPBV9eLXvvDSdQkf5UjndvYaIXBO3xcbTicgDlW7ximXnBL9NL_GR0s0Ww3ApQt5P37vG9gdWDHyMjikI0DGRf2vZKZF1p-0ZATeRqjwxqrOKtGX6QDcB9-yO9QKB/s400/first+canon+photos+171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608222881416871042" /></a><br /><br /><br />My mum made the cakes, prepared the platters and did so much again in the food department and as usual making the setting so special. What makes the cooking so special is that my mum was never a baking mum. She was a single,working,just trying to keep 3 kids feed and clothed & educated kind of mum. She recently married a man that she loves very much and now has found the joy and luxury that I have always taken for granted in the kitchen. So two weeks in a row mum has excelled in providing the environment for a perfect family affair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNURQJKdXpaBQwUOJOPAmWJ1Pth8xc4YL75mfnuWJfBbvDNsKcwH7sjy4Xce7_6Fh1Y6UwGjAZXaLIgiz9bTTBzIHsRBHagxBbek6oAyxpHpY2_sIDl_QZMKEcb45_ef5kRjtuw1Hgkncc/s1600/IMG_8714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNURQJKdXpaBQwUOJOPAmWJ1Pth8xc4YL75mfnuWJfBbvDNsKcwH7sjy4Xce7_6Fh1Y6UwGjAZXaLIgiz9bTTBzIHsRBHagxBbek6oAyxpHpY2_sIDl_QZMKEcb45_ef5kRjtuw1Hgkncc/s400/IMG_8714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608233481317791762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqa8pwFYC7moLpgYMH3_0jeOAMtb_11iaZEBVduPwG-Rk8udbM9XFhL7Ko9NyGeS_Wa9PiWRlBQvhkjtdbU-L_eRfsEbp3fncwTItb0krg8Fasj-6cOtAJYUDbOH1OyxLepgbOchAG7_g/s1600/IMG_8741.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqa8pwFYC7moLpgYMH3_0jeOAMtb_11iaZEBVduPwG-Rk8udbM9XFhL7Ko9NyGeS_Wa9PiWRlBQvhkjtdbU-L_eRfsEbp3fncwTItb0krg8Fasj-6cOtAJYUDbOH1OyxLepgbOchAG7_g/s400/IMG_8741.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608229497688000690" /></a><br /><br /><br />I had prayed and pleaded with God to take Grandma home to Him because it seemed so cruel to just linger like she was. I love my Grandmother very dearly. But God had other plans, plans that now I see so much more clearly. If she died months ago she would have left a broken family and a family full of disenfranchised grief. This opportunity of working together has given us the chance to begin to heal as a family. The time we have left with her has been so healing for us all and such a blessing. I'm so grateful to our Heavenly Father and His wisdom. I'm also so grateful for my <span style="font-weight:bold;">whole</span> family!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-38269715870727593402011-05-12T17:10:00.000+10:002011-05-14T06:23:25.124+10:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw9FhlJsfBK1jqjO8Qofq9tot13hiYorbrttEIAKzEL615ELCf7-5SURQSYBpT3V2XzAppZ3xRwql9BLGfjqKZrHrkgExcael4CZvTtNP6MVz_b74DENftaZDePxHwo2uFfxgDRKT6CEU/s1600/male-breast-cancer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw9FhlJsfBK1jqjO8Qofq9tot13hiYorbrttEIAKzEL615ELCf7-5SURQSYBpT3V2XzAppZ3xRwql9BLGfjqKZrHrkgExcael4CZvTtNP6MVz_b74DENftaZDePxHwo2uFfxgDRKT6CEU/s400/male-breast-cancer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605727577467527954" /></a><br />Today I went for my routine mammogram and as I had my husband with me we sat in the men's area. Next to my husband was a man, perhaps in his early sixty's that was sent in for a what he thought would be a test and the next thing he was waiting to see the surgeon. He had arrived, on his own, as he had traveled for several hours to get to the Breast Clinic never expecting this outcome. <br />He seemed alone, afraid, and totally out of his depth in what one could only describe from the surroundings as 'secret woman's business'. For women in the clinic it's full of lovely smiling volunteers, guiding you through every step of the way, but this gentle man had arrived on an alien plant, and was left not sure which way to turn wishing that he had has wife with him.<br /><br />He said "I thought you had to have 'man boobs' to get this sort of thing"? We didn't even know what to say to this man. I piped up and said well Tom Cruise had it. Not sure that was any consolation to him, but what do you say. Breast cancer is pink & ribbons and teddy bears, not 60 year old men. He said that this will be some story to tell at the pub. <br /><br />My heart sank for him. I wanted to go back and hold his hand and sit with him during his consultation with the surgeon because bet you anything his wife does all that stuff! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxFSBHvqVT9KRLx9_UmL2iznVyWmEWC0ZOcaALB8dCcq2StMhN5Eq3mrN6fizLyHdgVX2AjjSvpkFzFxxcvp63iyOvEwMwLJAVePZw5tTy53Rf3VfnTGOoe0G0j7a6DxMAAIecuWyH-Q3/s1600/AAAADOAC2IoAAAAAAF0taA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxFSBHvqVT9KRLx9_UmL2iznVyWmEWC0ZOcaALB8dCcq2StMhN5Eq3mrN6fizLyHdgVX2AjjSvpkFzFxxcvp63iyOvEwMwLJAVePZw5tTy53Rf3VfnTGOoe0G0j7a6DxMAAIecuWyH-Q3/s400/AAAADOAC2IoAAAAAAF0taA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605728319071129682" /></a> <br /><br />It is rare but possible. I came across this article <a href="http://www.bcna.org.au/sites/default/files/Bearded%20lady%20who%20slew%20a%20cancer%20dragon.pdf">"Bearded lady who slew a cancer dragon"</a><br /><br />For more info if your interested <a href="http://www.bcna.org.au/about-breast-cancer/male-breast-cancer">Breast Cancer Network Australia </a> This is the link to male breast cancer. I have learn something new today. <br /><br />I also looked around the room at all the women in their surgical gowns and I was wondering which one of us will be the 1 in 8. Who's life is going to change forever today. I lost my very best friend to breast cancer, my aunt has just return homed an hour ago after more surgery and will start chemo, radiation and will wake up tomorrow to a new normal. That's how I felt when I was diagnosed with with a life changing illness. Still I feel like the lucky one.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7213719900830271635.post-22507480891534527652011-05-10T09:46:00.004+10:002011-05-10T10:11:50.059+10:00He Does Hear Our PrayersYou know how at different times in your life you have a song that really resonates with you. Well mine is this one at the moment.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c9zHn4QSH-8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />It's really the last verse of this song that has touched me the most.<br /><br /><blockquote>"Oh what peace we often forfeit,<br />What needless pain we bear<br />all because we do not carry<br />everything to God in prayer" <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></blockquote><br /><br />I'm so full of questions about my health, homeschooling, serving my family & those at Church so as to be serving the Lord.<br />I've had this on my playlist for ages but the words really just caught me recently and I've felt the difference in the weight of the burden's feel so much lighter. That verse could not have been more true, as I have forfeited a lot of peace unnecessarily.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><blockquote>I love what President Hinckley said while reminding us of D&C 84:88. He said:<br />Sometimes you pray to the Lord with great earnestness for help, for relief from your struggles. You wonder why your prayers are not answered as you would like them to be. We have all had that experience. But we come to know as the years pass that our Father in Heaven does hear our prayers. His wisdom is greater than ours, and we come to know that He answers our prayers even though the answers at times are difficult to discern.</blockquote></span>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501186526053876531noreply@blogger.com1