Saturday, February 28, 2009

The move so far.....

I promised I wouldn't blog again until we were at the house & so many days I've wanted to, but net access is a bit of a juggle at the moment. Come mid March we should have a new modem that we are waiting on and communications and office networks should be back to the "old ways".
Life so far has been great!! Whilst we knew the first month would be a bit of a struggle financially as we recovered from all the house buying and moving bills, God has so graciously provided for ALL our needs and we've just been so surprised where extra money has turned up or we've gotten something way cheaper than expected or for free.

Blessings over the last 2 weeks have been:
- Getting our tank filled for $230, not $900 as originally thought
- Getting our hot water system fixed for $120 and not needing a whole new system
- Getting the shower fixed for free thanks to my Dad having the part we needed
- Getting our fencing fixed as there was spare fencing rolled up at the house
- Mark not ever giving up and thinking "outside the square" for solutions on things
- The solicitor over charging us and giving us a refund cheque
- The truck hire company overcharging us and giving us a refund
- Wonderful neighbours and chats over the fence
- The kids going beserk in the backyard building a cubby/clubhouse
Now all the things that "had to be done" are done and all at a cost of $340 not $1000's. Praise the Lord!! And we can go to our original plan of just sitting for a while, not rushing to do things and working out the priority of what we can and can't live with. So far the kids & I are content, Mark's struggling with not having a shed, but he's got a plan lol.

I took the kids to Girls & Boys Brigade Thursday night and it got "I LOVE IT!!!" all around. In fact on the way home from Brigade three voices called from the back seat "WE'RE NEVER LIVING IN THE CITY AGAIN!! EVER!!!". I think the kids like it ;-)

So some before and after pics of progress so far.

BEFORE: Lounge and Dining
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After : Looking from the other end at the front door. This is our entry, dining & school area.

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And the lounge part of the room
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Before: Front room girls half
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AFTER: Girls half looking from the doorway
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BEFORE: Boys half of front room
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AFTER: Boys half
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BEFORE: Sleep out (this is divided into 3 rooms)
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AFTER: Mark's office part of the sleepout
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I'll try to blog some more this week with more pics around the place, (especially of some of the big efforts Mark's been putting in) but there's a start :-)
This week off our mountain is a paragliding competetion, we had one land behind our house yesterday, so hope to get some cool photos of those. Was just chatting to our back neighbours and they said on the last day of the comp the sky is full of them. Lets hope the wind is blowing in our direction :-)

Friday, February 13, 2009

Last Days..

We have some BIG days ahead of us.

My Mum has been here working solid for the last two weeks and I'm still looking at the amount of packing that has to be done today, we'll get there. Nothing like the last minuet work under pressure to pull it all together.

This afternoon the kids go to my sisters house. Last night was the last time that they got tucked into bed at this house. It's crazy I'm crying as I type this, I told Mark last night I got a bit emotional doing it. Hannah had a cry. He had a gentle laugh at how crazy emotional us women are and said I carry the emotions of the whole house. Boy it sure feels like it. I kind of feel like I'm the energizer bunny, I just go and go and go and then whammo I hit that emotional release and it comes flooding.

I know God has a plan for us and I know how much joy and security I feel when we're out at the house, and really all I'm leaving is a "shell", all the important things that are here are moving with me. Yet it's sad to leave the place where so many things have happened.

- Our two youngest boys were born here.
- Mark and I faced one of the biggest tests our marriage will ever face here, and we got through it.
- It was in this house that I poured out my filth to God and asked Him to save this broken person. He Did.
- Mark rededicated his life to God here.
- We started our home school journey here.
- The whole family has come to God here.

You know on the outside we just look like every other person in the neighbourhood, just getting on with life. Nothing great. But the things that "really matter" the HEART of our existence, Jesus, really met all of us here.

Yet I am so thankful that these things have nothing to do with the house we live in, that it's not the walls that contain the experiences, but our hearts. I am so thankful that God is with me leading me and carrying me no matter where I am. That my precious family is with me, no matter where I am. My memories are with me no matter where I am. The Internet allows me access to all my friends, no matter where I am.

So today I pack up the last of our things. So many good things are going to come of this move, I know it, I know the enemy doesn't want me to feel that right now, he wants me to stay where I am, in the safety of familiarity, but we're stepping out in faith, we're following the calling of our Lord & we will certainly share the journey. And I promise to keep it real.

And in keeping it real, I'm blogging because I am procrastinating big time about packing up my office. So I shall promise that this is the last blog post from from Brisbane.

Prayers for our safety getting our stuff to the new place and for everyone helping us, that they stay injury free and protection over their backs would be greatly appreciated. And for a stressful job to remain positive.

God Bless, and see you soon.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

ARE YOU FOR REAL?...............

Hmmmmmmm Am I for real?

Most days we post the "nice" stuff, not often the "real" side of everyday life. I know I go through the blogs thinking "If only I had it together like them". But I really can't find anyone who has the perfect life, but I think everyone else does. Crazy Stuff.

Miss Lusi, has challenged us to take up the "GET REAL" challenge on her blog. Lusi this idea rocks and I'm jumping on. Thank you for the reminder to humble ourselves and share the real us not the sugar coated us.

So for today here's my GET REAL post.

REALLY - I yelled at the kids this morning and had a major "JUST GET OUT OF MY WAY!!" moment because I was stressing about the next two days.

REALLY - I spent the last 3 weeks stressing about money and the lack of work on the horizon

REALLY - I am embarassed too often about the state of my house and cringe at the thought of someone just "dropping in" Yet I hate the fact that no one just "drops in"

REALLY - I am the worlds biggest procrastinator

REALLY - I should have done my tax (see above)

REALLY - I can be a major computer addict neglecting the family around me

REALLY - I have eaten way too much takeaway this last week

REALLY - I just wish Holly's ezcema would dissapear so it wasn't something we had to "deal with"

REALLY - I don't get 2 & 4 year old boys and "pushing the boundaries" time and time again.

REALLY - I am insanely jealous of the amount of toys other kids have. Yet I still think our kids have too much!

REALLY - My new house is 100yrs old and she looks like it.

So there you go that's me today.

BUT, you know what, I love my life regardless.

I am so thankful for.

1. A God who sent his one and only Son to die for me, and you and you and you and you
2. A husband that loves me and we work together well
3. Five kids who are not perfect, but are mine and I am so grateful God chose me to be thier Mum.
4. A family that is working so hard to help us move and clean this house. I love you Mum & Dad, John & Sam, Penny & Darin, Kym & Michael & our friends who will help on Sat.
5. That even though our work has its ups and downs and we don't have a six figure wage, we have time for our family, and that time is worth billions.
6. That no matter where life takes me as long as I keep my eyes on Jesus, it will be okay.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

1 More Sleep!!!

Then we'll be home owners. YEAH!!!!
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We're going to have a sleep over at the house tomorrow night :-) Should be fun!
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Well my last official weekend as a Brisbaneite was shared with some beautiful Scrap of Faith girls.
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We headed over to Wriggle It at Kingston so all the kids could have a big play and the Mamma's could have a nice sit and chat.
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I was a slack girl & didn't take my camera. Pics are courtesy of Chrissy & Leanne :-)
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It was just so lovely to sit and chat with these girls, hopefully the move won't reduce our chance to catch up.
I then went over to see my sister & BIL and their two big kids Erin & Tara. Poor Erin has spent the last week in hospital with a "massive" blood clot. From her hip to her thigh. Thankfully she has had a massive clot when she was young as it will affect pregnancy. Not something you want to find out while pregnant :-(
And I have to say thanks for Nat for letting me drag her around town yesterday. It was great to have that extra time with you Hon.
& today it's a kids birthday party with Mark's side of the family.
So our last official weekend in Bris and it was spent with Family and Friends. Nice!!!
It's now the run into the home straight. We move next Saturday, so I had better pull my finger out and get all the things packed that need my attention. I'm soooooo not looking forward to this office lol. At least it will be finished by next week :-)

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

We are getting closer to this........

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So my wonderful Mum has been at my house doing a lot of this.....

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And Mark and I look like this.........
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And I realise I've been sprung...............
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It's the real reason why we're moving. They wouldn't think to look for me out here.....
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