Holiday Snaps

These photos are all in reverse order and I really don't have the energy or the inclination to do anything about it so here are some snaps of our holiday going backwards!

The photo above is the view from the Bicentennial Tree at Pemberton. Pemberton is in the South West corner of Western Australia and is in the middle of the Karri Valley which is a wonderful region full of giant Karri Forests, Wineries, Chocolate Factories and most importantly (to Stephanie and Sharon) Cheese Factories. The Bicentennial Tree is a giant Karri tree standing around 240 feet tall. It is one of three trees in the Karri valley that have been made climeable. There are stakes hammered into the tree in a spiral going all the way to the top where there is a viewing platform. These were originally build as fire lookouts but are tourist attractions now.
Here are Kym and Sharon, still in the south west of WA. We are on a suspension bridge over some beautiful water falls. We loved the way this place had an abundance of water and was still so lovely and green in the middle of summer. Very different to what we are used to!

And now we have gone backwards to Christmas day in Perth. It was a pretty warm day so after our Chritmas dinner we headed to the beach. Perth has some lovely beaches and we all had a great time swimming, kicking the football and just relaxing.

Here is Stephanie digging holes in the sand. As you can see it was a beautiful day.

And here we have Stephanie and Scott reliving their childhood at the Perth Zoo. They loved this mini carousel when they were little (we lived near Perth when Steph and Scott were pre-schoolers) and both commented that they remember it being bigger!

Here is Steph doing what she does best, clowning around with one of the displays at the Perth undrewater aquarium. We spent a lovely day out there catching up with some old friends and enjoying a lunch on the boardwalk afterwards.

This is only a snapshot. As you can imagine we took a great deal more photos than this! We had a great holiday and are home for a couple of days now before we head to the shack at the beach for two weeks.

New Years Eve will be spent camping on the beach with my brother, his family and my parents. It's going to be a warm evening so the beach seems to be a good place to spend it!

Happy New Year everyone!

Unwinding

Well, today my holidays officially started.

I actually enjoyed the 5 hour long car trip to Adelaide. Simply because I wasn't at work. I didn't have to think about work, and returning to work is sufficiently far enough away that I don't have to think about that either!

I read a magazine. I checked out some possible Christmas dinner recipes. I checked out facebook. I even had a nap.

Right now I have just returned from having a lovely dinner with the family (plus one, Steph's boyfriend Dale has joined us for the trip). It was a lovely meal, shared with the people I love. I can actually feel myself unwinding. I didn't realise how tightly wound I was.

Next is a relax in the spa. Followed by a good nights sleep, and then a sleep in before breakfast is delivered. We fly out at 12 noon so we can take our time over a leisurely breakfast. Which is a good thing since it's my 40th birthday! 40! Eeeeeekkkk! But that's an entirely different post!

Blessings to you all! It's lovely to be back and to be able to think clearly and not feel as though there a thousand things I should be doing. I'm on holiday. It's time to slow down.

Enthusiasm

Today was my last day of work for three whole weeks.

You'd think I'd be a bit excited about that.... I'm sure I will be, any minute now.

Right now I'm just tired. Exhausted. I've spent the entire week trying to make sure that I have everything done. My office is spotless. I've left notes and messages for all the people who are doing bits of my job for me. I've even left instructions for my boss.

The overtime I have worked this week has been astronomical. Which means I will get a nice holiday bonus in my next pay packet.

But this also means that I'm feeling unprepared for our trip. I'm kind of packed. But not to the point where I can relax and feel that I'm under control. I like to be under control. It's important to me to have "all my ducks in a row" as my Mum says.

I can't even muster up the enthusiasm to feel excited about going right now.

Obviously I need to get off the computer and go to bed! Right after I've checked I have everything...

Absent

I've been a bit absent lately.

To be honest I've always been a bit absent minded, but just now I'm referring to by absentness (is that a word?) from the blog world.

I've spent some time assesing my priorities and have come up with a bit of a list, but it doesn't seem to have helped me find more time in my day.

The good news is that this is my last week before I take 3 weeks holiday. I can't remember the last time I had 3 weeks away from work, other than maternity leave and that wasn't exactly a holiday!

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to it! We will spend 2 weeks in Perth, and then a week at the beach. 3 weeks. I'm smiling just at the thought of it.

So, I should be able to find more time to post here, and on facebook if you want to look me up there....I've been a bit "anti" computer when I'm not at work.

A bit of a catch up.... Steph has been having singing lessons once per week in Whyalla, a city about 1 and a half hours drive from here. Her teacher is nothing short of amazing. Positive, caring, enthusiastic and very talented. Just what she needs, it's done wonders for her confidence.

Kym has just completed our best harvest in around 6 years. Praise the Lord! Such a relief to finally see some return for the hard work he puts in year in and year out.

Scott has just had his first day of school holidays and is "bored". He is really looking forward to our holiday. He loves to fly....

I am ridiculously flat out at work. The good season has resulted in a LOT of machinery sales! It's a good thing as it means my job is very secure, but it's an awful lot of hard work!

So..... I'm hoping to be a bit more consistent in my blogging in the coming weeks, and perhaps find something a little more profound to say!

But for now this little black duck is heading to bed.

I will be coming to visit everyone very soon! Promise!

Letting Go

I have decided that letting go sucks.

It's too hard. I don't want to do it. I am refusing to participate.

This morning I waved goodbye to Steph and her best friend as they headed off to Whyalla to see a movie. All alone. In her own car. Whyalla is a 150km drive and is one of our nearest cities. It's an easy city to drive in, nice wide streets, not too busy. Steph has driven there before...with me.

It was just two girls going out for a fun day together.

And yet I felt physically ill. I have been see-sawing between panic and prayer all day.

I'm a bit surprised at myself. I've never been the hand wringing type. Until now obviously.

They are still in Whyalla at present. Steph has her singing lesson at 6.30pm, which means she will be traveling home at dusk, contending with trucks, headlights and kangaroos. The horrific possibilities are endless, and I can't stop myself from imagining the worst.

Is this normal? Am I a complete basket case?

A very wise friend reminded me today that they are in God's hands, and that he is a much better parent than me (thankfully!). I know this and still I worry.

I will continue to worry and pray until she is home.

I'm hoping it won't be this bad every time she takes a step away from my protection. It's my job to protect her. It's not a job I'm ready or willing to give up!

She may be almost 17, with a licence, a car, responsibilities and a job. BUT SHE IS STILL MY BABY!!!!

Someone get me a paper bag....panic panic panic panic.......

Juggling Act

I've dropped a few balls just lately in the juggling act of life.

I'm ashamed to admit that regular attendance at church is one of the dropped balls.

As is blogging regularly.

Not to mention the washing, the ironing, the housework.

I feel as though I'm barely keeping my head above water at present. And tomorrow I'm going to take a step toward remedying that by going to church. Church always makes me feel better. Gets my head in tune with my heart and helps me sort out my priorities.

God doesn't want to be my number one priority. He wants EVERY part of me, and rightly so. He should be my ONLY priority. Once I manage to get that right, then everything else just falls into place.

I know this truth.

I'm just really struggling to put it into practice.

Lord, help me get my priorities right, and help me remember that you are my everything, and deserve nothin less than my undivided devotion and attention. Help me with the reality of my life at the moment and get me though this busy time of year with sanity in tact. Please just help me stay on top of my committments and if something needs to go, then help me work out what.

Please Pray

Last night we lost an absolute legend.

He was an icon at my place of work. Everyone loved him. He was a diamond in the rough with a heart of gold.

Last night one of our mechanics was killed in a car accident at the age of 43.

His 18 year old son also works for us, and is in the third year of his apprenticeship.

Finny was what we call in Australia a really top bloke. I have spent almost 10 years sharing jokes, stories, arguments and laughs with Finny. I loved him dearly.

Finny was also somewhat of a trouble magnet. He got into fights in bars, he drank too much, he swore a LOT, he lost his licence and ended up in court countless times and he drove way way too fast. And last night speed was his downfall.

I feel a bit numb. I haven't really reacted to this terrible news at all. I feel quite removed. I don't know why.

I do know that I am not looking forward to tomorrow. We have a staff of about 20, and we all loved Finny. Everyone has a funny story about Finny. I don't know what we will do without him, or how everyone will react to this tragic, and unneccesary loss.

The worst part is that we won't have time to grieve. We are in the middle of the busiest time of the year. We all must carry on regardless, even though it's the last thing any of us want to do.

So, please pray for all the staff in the coming weeks as we deal with sudden loss of a dearly loved and respected workmate.

Also pray for Finny's girlfriend, who is an ambulance officer and was called to the scene of the accident last night. I can't imagine what she must be going through right now.

Lord, please be with our staff and management tomorrow as we all come to terms with this sudden and tragic loss. Please watch over Finny's girlfriend, his son's and his family as they deal with their loss. I don't know where Finny is now Lord, but I pray that somehow he is with you.