School Days

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Oma's Day

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My Mum's Mother's Day Album

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Boys will be BOYS!!!

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Man's Best Friends

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Jewellry 1

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Our 11th Wedding Anniversary

Our 11th Wedding anniversary has always been that we were to renew our vows.... Well those 11years have flown and there was no way that we could get everybody together, not to mention the cost.

So...

I organised that Justin and I could go away for 3nights up to Kuranda, in the Tablelands behind the Cairns.....

But secretly, I organised with a little church in the main street, so that I could casually walk in as though to have a look....

This is where I lead him up to the alter and pulled out a booklet with a poem/vows that I had wrote for him. (I'll try and get a copy to add to this blog)

It was beautiful, he cried.

It was so nice... I could go on, and tell you about what I had written, but you read for yourselves.

Any way, we stayed at Kuranda Resort and Spa. It was so nice, the rooms were all little Chalets, set on a tropical rainforest, it had 2 huge lagoon pools that wrapped itself around the restaurant. Have a look at their website http://www.kurandaresortandspa.com/

Justin means everything to me and it isn't often that I get a chance to let him know, he is always the one to come out with beautiful things.

So Here is what I wrote...

And read out to him

Justin,
You are my best friend
My Rock, You're the love that never ends.

I love you more, than on our wedding day, it’s a love stronger than I ever thought possible, because of what we have been through together.
You have nursed me through some of the deepest and darkest times.
You gave up your career, to care for our kids.
You didn’t ever blink or paused for one moment to think.
Just when we thought we lost everything we gained so much more.
We found out that, as a family, we can survive with no possessions, yet be happier than ever, because we have each other.
You are an unbelievable Husband to me, a father to our two beautiful, terrors Drew & Brayden,
And,

A Mr Mum along with the worry and stress that has worn the test of time, and the constant struggle to get where we want to be in life, yet you nurture our family, with unconditional love & support.
Our love is so much stronger than I ever thought possible and grows, by the second.
So here we are in this beautiful Church
in
Far North Queensland,
a far cry from
Little Old Kangarilla
South Australia,
On our 11th Wedding anniversary.
We always planned to renew our vows of our eternal love we share. When they said in sickness and in health, we didn’t quiet expect god to throw it all our way. But our love for each other has pulled us through, to calmer waters. They say everything happens for a reason and god only throws at us what he thinks we can handle.
I have never felt insecure or ever questioned, that we wouldn’t get through it. And even these days, get tough.
As I often say…”Our lives have never been smooth sailing, more like a roller coaster full of ups and downs and never knowing what’s around the next bend. Never knowing what life is going to throw our way.”
But one thing I know for sure…. I know you will always be there for the ride.
So, here I am, standing here today, pledging my love and life.
I don’t think I would change anything if I were given the chance.

I, so much, look forward to the rest of our lives together. You are what keeps us all together.
You are Truly amazing.
Thank you.All my love, hopes and dreams have already come true
Michelle

My Mother in Law

Mem, Christmas before last

I have to say, I proud of my mother-in-law. Before I started to seriously diet, I felt envious of her huge weight loss..... But now what she has been through to get as far as she has. Here, are pictures of her dramatic life changing moments. We are very, very astounded.

Well Done and Congradulations from the bottom of our hearts.

This Christmas just gone.

Justin The Hairdresser in pooch land!

Meet Bailey, he is about 2yrs and loves to chew up everything in sight. He is so inteligent, but so dumb also. Like he chews things up mainly when we are out, and drops them all by the front door, so when we walk in, it's the first thing we see. He knows he has done wrong, cause he cowers in the corner.

Jazzy Before

Jazzy After!!! She has gone into hiding.

We have Jazzy,a 4yr old fat Maltees Shutzu and mother of Bailey, a 2yr old PUP. He is Jazzy's (malteese x) and Henry's (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel), pup. So, I guess that makes Bailey a Cavatee (cavity) ha ha ha.

Well any way, Justin decided to give Jazzy a trim............yeah right! Have a look for yourself.

My friend Mel

This is an email to tell you about this really good friend of mine, Mel (Melanie). She has a heart of gold and is always doing something for others. She lives across the paddock form our house and has a hubby, John and a daughter/bestfriend, in Emily, who is nearly 10. Mel is always looking after her neices and nephews, as well as the whole of the 3 netball teams.

She is a supermum, who is going through the rough at the moment. Her Nan is really sick at the moment and it is really hard for her, they are all so close and Mel hasn't ever lost anyone befrore....

So..... If everyone can hope for a really speedy recovery, it might just help.

And at the moment, her treasured Kia Carnival is broken... unfixable. And she has to rely on others... Which she isn't used of doing.... She has only ever been on the giving end.

I regard her as a treasured friend and part of the family. And just want to let her know how special she is....... Smile (at least for a minute).........We can't wait to see the Happy, funny & halarious Mel.

WOW

These are Photos taken at the school, we had a crazy hair disco, and open school night, it was heaps of fun. Brayden won ( I did his hair) & Justin did Drews hair.

I have been using Facebook a bit and although I'm not into the quiz's and virtual flowers and teddy bears much. I do love the way that we can find old friends that have been lost over the years. I'm not as fast and hi-tech as some, I love finding friends and being able to look at their photos... I suppose it's a bit of a "Resume" on themselves. I don't know... I just love it. Shaylee, who I haven't talked to in at least ten years. And to top it off, we added ourselves to MSN and we are able to talk, voice to voice through the computer. We chatted like no time had passed.

Another couple I have finally tracked down, after tones of phone calls to the wrong numbers. I have finally found them... Jarrod and Lisa Bielby. I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have only just received an email through Facebook and have sent an email..... And I'm anxiously waiting for an email or phone call.............waiting .....................waiting.

I guess I'm a little nervous, as I was with Shaylee, Jodie.... But can't wait all the same. I know through the email that, they had a little boy last June.............wow!! I want to see pictures...NOW

I want to know what they are up to now....... The last time we saw Jarrod and Lisa, was when they came up to Mossman on a surprise visit. It was so beautiful to see them. But at that time I was still on morphine and down and out............ But times have certainly changed.

Justin and I have moved our Bedroom down the other end of the house, closer to the boys rooms and our master bedroom with ensuite and walk in wardrobe, is now our office. Justin is so busy with the business, so we have made the office so that I have a desk in there as a reception, where I do the bookwork and Appointments, quotes, design etc, and Justin has a computer souley for the graphic design and websites, then there is an area souley for the repairs, where he has screens, keyboards & mice, set up for about 3 computers to work on at anytime.

Yeah, I am excited. Again, I am feeling useful and worthy. I suppose how I feel about the Rural Fire Service. I have condensed my arts back to mainly jewellery, and will keep that up as the demand comes back for the busy season. I love my art, but have to concentrate more, on less areas. As most know, my aim is to be fit and healthy enough to become a paramedic. But in the mean time, I have to focus on Justin's business, the kids,Rural Fire's and jewellery, lastly.

So I suppose I better be off and do what I'm supossed to be doing!!!!

Michelle

Rural Fire Brigade Fire Management Course

On the weekend I did my fire fighting course, and will soon be on call to any accidents, fires and rescues. I can’t wait. The first day of training went really well, but on the second day, I was shocking. Hence they are holding off giving me my pager….oops. I did get really hurt, I tried extremely hard not to cry, but the tears did come out, which I am so embarrassed about. It was 98% humidity, 36oC with not a breathe of wind, and it was raining. I don’t handle the heat on a good day, let alone being 120kg in a huge fire suit. I did manage to get a bit of my dignity back, they passed me. But as I mentioned earlier, I can’t be on call until I prove myself. I know all my theory really well and have the folders at home so I can study up on them, but I need the confidence out on the field so I don’t second guess myself and the other crew members. I have a problem, where I tend to try and think for everybody else, and get my tits in a tangle because I feel like it won’t get done, right or properly, if I don’t follow through.

I’m like “Dory”, you remember the Disney movie “Nemo”. I have a really bad short term memory, so I try to remember harder at every stage, when I’m learning something new. So I ask heaps of questions, until it really clicks in, then I’ll never forget. A bit like Drew, I need a rule that helps me to remember the specific task. Eg. Reading time is Quiet Time!, for Drew, so he remembers and doesn’t have to keep asking the why’s and what for’s. Where for me, for instance, Learning the different hoses and connectors that come off the truck and where the tap is that controls the opening and closing and which one to use…. So we use a Case one, Case Two ect.

Anyway, I better be off. We have had flooding up here the last few days. So I need to do a lot of catch up stuff.

Talk soon…

cRaZy sHeLl

The biggest ever suprise!

The weather up here is so hot and so humid. There isn’t a breath of wind, just a small breeze would be nice. We just got our power bill in $1200.00 and that’s for 3 months and we have gas hot water and cooking. The house we are in is so hot, there is no insulation in the tin roof or in the walls. We have two big air cons that we own, we put one in the kitchen window and one in our bedroom, but the one in the kitchen does nothing at all and we roast. They are the biggest ones that you can get. So, our lease comes up in March and we are looking for another house that is a bit cooler and smaller. We are trying to save for a deposit for our own place, we miss out on the first home buyers grant because we bought a house previous to the grant existing.

Any way! We had a really big supprise... You could have knocked me over with a stick. We were home because we were looking after a friends two kids. They were out on the trampoline playing with the hose and Drew came running in and said that there was a man looking over the fence and he looked like Opa. We said “I don’t think so” but Justin thought he would have a look cause we thought the kids may have squirted the neighbour with the hose. We oped the door and were literally floored. I went into shock and Justin cried. But the weirdest thing was, about 4mins after they walked in the door the phone rung and it was the Mum of the kids saying that the first aid course she was doing ended early and that they wouldn’t need us to watch the kids the next day. Wow, when Karma happens it happens all at once. We had a great time with them and it was over all to soon and they were gone. It was great to see them and seeing how much weight Marina had lost was pretty inspirational. I was 2 days off my second weigh in, in this group of five of us who meet each Monday. That week, my first whole week I lost 300g and last week, I lost 600g. It hasn’t been much, but I have lost and not put on…. But, it is a small difference that I think that if I hadn’t peed before hand, I may not have lost at all. These small amounts play with your head. I’m a comfort eater and have been feeling pretty low of late, the let down after Marina and Corrie left, has had me eating chocolate… But… I have been having tiny Easter eggs so, instead of devouring a block of chocolate I have been having one or two eggs instead.

Any way, that’s me for now, keep smiling

Michelle, the crazy woman

PS. This is the waterhole that we go swimming in. We bought Marina & Corrie their the day that they had to go. It is so beautiful.

Emotions run away with a CRAZY day

I have so many insecurities and feel I am not worthy of befriending people because of their place in the community, but would like nothing more than their friendship. This is especially how I feel at the moment, I find it so hard to make friends. Justin and I are one. We don't do things without each other, we don't drink, we don't smoke and we don't watch sport. Justin and I have been together since we were 14 and have always been one unit. He has been my carer for 4years now and is happy to sit with the ladies to chat. But is just as happy to sit with the blokes too. It is really hard cos' people err because Justin doesn't drink beer. God! We really don't care if people drink, we both probably know more about beer, wine and spirits than the average person, BUT, we prefer Coke or OJ. We always have cold Beer, wine in the fridge, cider and rum. We love nothing more than to have friends over for a good night. But we find it hard because friends that we do know have their own groups and already do their own social thing.

Don't get me wrong, we have heaps of friends, but they aren't the type to extend an invite. I feel that I am constantly saying "drop on by for a coffee" or "I'm always home if you feel like dropping in" and would dearly love someone to say... "same goes if you want to visit"

I am always worried that I come across desperate or weird. I was just feeling a bit better about holding a conversation with Michelle Davis the school principle, as in the past I get really nervous and tend to have what I call Verbal Diarrhea. I always try to relax and say the right thing, so I don't come across as crazy..... Any way, I was driving down the road yesterday and I wave at Michelle, as she was walking up the road, and I always go around the corner cutting into the bike lane a bit (safely)... anyway just around the bend I saw her two littlies riding their bikes up the road. I was only going slow and was nowhere near where the kids were, but I felt all of a sudden that she might have thought that I was careless and crazy, "cutting the corner like that" So any way that is my state of mind at the moment and feel better now that I have it off my chest.......

Well I'm signing off, untill I have my next emotional blah blah blah

Happy New Year to All

Just a quick post, to wish everybody a Happy New Year. I made a resolution that...I will strive t0 be fit and healthy. I know that I will cope allot better in almost everything that I do. It is just so damn hard to avoid all the comfort foods, and exercise!!! It is so damn hot and humid here, the only time you would be able to exercise is from about midnight to about 3am. But I will try...? The Photos are of the Boys with Justin at a Cross Country, and the top photo is of the Quad Bike that my Brother and Mum & Dad bought for Drew and Brayden for Christmas. What a great idea!!!! They are constantly nagging to go for a ride. And the last photo is of the Table Decorations I hand made, Bon bons, these had a personalised joke for each person and a piece of jewelry (bookmark or keyring etc), gold star confetti, Place settings, Napkin Rings, Rum balls with personal tag. We had about 18 people, and we did cold meat and salad, it was too hot for anything else. It was a great day!! I'd better go and pick up Drew, he rode to Mum and Dads on his Quad... See ya for Now!!!