I totally forgot to write about our wonderful day going on the Puffing Billy train. All 19 of us!! Ten little grandchildren and 9 adults. We had such a wonderful time.
The adults were just as excited as the children and we had a whole carrage to ourselves because there were so many of us and there was so much noise coming from it that everyone else took one look and kept walking.
The photo is of Me of course!! With my daughter Sara behind me hugging her son Monty and Joshua and Riley and McKenzie and then Tambi taking a photo as well.
I just loved the whole day. We went all the way to Lakeside and the scenery and just the beautiful rural countryside was fantastic.
It was also fantastic to all be together as a family having this experience together. I only took 188 photos!!! Lots of scrappin to tell the story of our one day out.

Just Waiting is Awful

This week has been a really difficult one. Close friends, The Brady family, are going through one of those straight from hell moments. Their daughter in law who is only 21 and a mother of a 16mth little girl has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. She was 8months pregnant with their second child. The doctors had to do an emergency C section to deliver baby to save her. All week she has been in an induced coma and of course a full range of tests being done. This has kept the family on tenderhooks waiting for results. Our family, particularly my daughters and daughters in law are very close to Tee and have also been waiting anxiously.
Yesterday Tee went into surgery at 9am and by 4pm was still not out. The tumour is 5cm and very deeply inbedded in her brain. Poor, poor darling. She has a new baby boy, Cody who she hasn't been able to bond with, and who she can't breast feed. She barely knows that he has been born.
The doctors had said to prepare for the worst which is not good news, but at least they can move from that position to a better one without any distress as opposed to doing the opposite.
I guess that by now the family knows the result of the surgery. The initial report was that it was inoperable but obviously the surgeons decided to make an attempt.
It's times like these when your faith is really tested and the answers to questions such as Why?are ones we may not know for a very long time.
It's good to believe that there is a God and that He does love his children. It is also good to know that this life is only part of His plan for us.
It is also good to believe that He hears and answers our prayers. They may not always be answered in the way that we want but to know there is a reason for that is also comforting.
Anyhow, this week has really made me think so much of how fragile our life is and how I take it sooooo for granted. These are the times you want to surround yourself with your family and hug them and tell them how much you love and treasure each of them.
These are the times that I appreciate my friends and family and be aware of how much they contribute to the quality of my life.
As Jerry McGuire once said: 'they complete me!'

Caught in the Act!!

I didn't have to work today but seeing as how I was in the area I decided to pop in to Safeway and just buy a few more cans of .... wait for it....Dog Food. What else?? There I was quietly waiting at the checkout and I got sprung by boss Jodie. What are you doing here? She asked me. Could I tell her?? Actually I didn't have to tell her. She saw quite clearly what I was doing there. The cans of dog food gave me away!
So, that prompted the discussions of having to do a layout all about my obsession with buying dog food only when it's on special. And, from what I hear I am not the only one!!! That's good to know!
Claire, thank you for your lovely words of encouragement in regards to blogging. I will have to take the suggestions on board and go for it.
I also can't wait to get my scrapper exchange layout from Claire. She has done the most amazing work for everyone.
So, I got to try out my new camera. Of all days to have a school trip planned for the Zoo it happened to be Thursday. The only day we have had some descent rain in Victoria. I went with Sara and Monty's Prep class. And it poured and poured and we all got absolutely soaked. Which we didn't mind. The kids loved the puddles. Some of them couldn't remember what a puddle looked like.
It wasn't until after lunch that I finally got to take my camera out. Because, of course I wasn't going to take it out in the rain. I got some great photos. And after rushing to the shop to have them developed the same day I was very happy with the results.
Now, tomorrow I can have the best opportunity with all of my family going on Puffing Billy!
I can't wait.
Lots more scrapping to do.
I had a wonderful opportunity (a free one!) for a facial and a 1hr full body massage today. It was absolutely marvellous. I thought I was in heaven. So, now I feel a new me!
Just got to shake off those kg's and then I will look like a new me!
Well, now I need my beauty sleep just in case I can get into a photo or two tomorrow.
Gonna try and put a photo of the Zoo in my blog. I havn't had too much luck with getting pictures uploaded but will have another try.