The five people you meet in Heaven

I love reading and have read hundreds and hundreds of fantastic books. But sometimes you read a book and you think, this one's a "must share"! (I have also read Tuesday's with Morrie, that too was a great read)

“This book is dedicated to Edward Beitchman, my beloved uncle, who gave me my first concept of heaven, Every year, around the Thanksgiving table, he spoke of a night in the hospital when he awoke to see the souls of his departed loved ones sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for him. I never forgot that story. And I never forgot him.

Everyone has an idea of heaven, as do most religions, and they should all be respected. The version represented here is only a guess, a wish, in some ways, that my uncle, and others like him – people who felt unimportant here on earth – realize, finally, how much they mattered and how they were loved.”

Their songs

Each of my children have a song - it's their song. For Georgie, Connor and Harrison their song was something I used to listen to all the time when I was pregnant.

Georgie's is "Cecilia" by Simon and Garfunkel

Connor's is "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker

Harrison's is "Two of Us", a Beetle's song, sung by Aimee Mann & Michael Penn

Grace's & Olivia's are a little different, they picked their song, actually they just decided it was "theirs".

I have put Grace & Olivia's in because, Games People Play should get you thinking............and the other fills you with a sense of peace and purity. I hope you have time to listen.

Olivia's is "Games People Play" by Joe South. This is a really awesome song - those of you who have done GIY will be VERY familiar with it :-)

Gracie's is.............wait for it ......."Amazing Grace". This is a really beautiful version!

You've got mail!

My friend Kim (from Canberra) sends me letters and I love getting them. With all the electronic communication these days, letter writting has really fallen by the way side. But I think most of you would agree with me, it's really fun getting a hand written letter! :-)

Oh, definitely the 70's

Today I'd like to share with you..................

This website has something for everyone:  http://pinterest.com/

 

"When I'm flying I feel closer to heaven" - by Alicia Sherwood

A day trip

We found this beautiful oasis west of Adelaide river. The road is rough as guts - it takes an hour to go 10kms but it's a fun drive!!!

 

Sal took this flower shot - I think she should be a photographer when she grows up!

And  just as Glen (over the radio) says, careful that hole is really deep........

Hey look at that - he's right!!!! Of course it wasn't so funny when that stinking water started seeping onto the carpet.

Lizzy

 

Mum would have been 68 today, hard to imagine! Love these pics, easy to forget your parents were young once too!!

I'll love you always mum
xo

Kristian Anderson

Kristian died on the 2nd January. I felt privileged to be able to  follow his journey via his beautifully written blog and twitter.

I watched the celebration of his life on line - that too was an honour.

I have always said I don't believe in coincidences. I can see the reason why he may have come into my life.

As I said his funeral was really beautiful, but something that really resonated with me was what his wife said during her eulogy.

I have included two links - the tripple m one is only Rachel's tribute - if you don't have time to listen to the whole 11 minutes, it would be great if you could just hear the last (about?) 5minutes - that was the kicker for me!

I have also include the link for the whole service - if anybody's interested
I have been searching for a while now and am wondering if I have found what I've been looking for?

http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/shows/grill-team/blog/video-kristian-andersons-wifes-beautiful-tribute-to-his-extraordinary-life/20120106-fauo.html#ooid=YzOG84MzqhWr32ZbuzofBjeSl3BFaAQ0

http://vimeo.com/34940118

Happy Birthday me

42 years young! Georgie made this movie for my 40th but I had lots of trouble uploading it - then the computer crashed and I thought it was lost forever........

Lucky for me Georgie's room is a cess pit and a couple of months ago she found the disk she copied it on!

Thank you for all the time and love you put into making this movie Georgie, I love it.

Things to treasure

The other day I was face down at the Physio's and Olivia was on the floor colouring in. She was asking me about my favourite colours. I heard a tearing sound and asked Olivia what she was doing then the physio said open your eyes mum.....................It was seriously cute, Olivia had ripped out her picture and put in on the floor under me so I could see it!

I love my children more then I would have thought was humanly possible.

Leigh Munn's 40th

We're getting  good at these 40th's and this party was no exception.

Arthur and I went as "King Arthur & Guinevere" (to begin with) and part way through the night changed into our Grease outfits. As a surprise for Leigh, we had hired a choreographer to help us co-ordinate a Grease dance and had been secretly practicing for weeks.

It was a very exciting thing to do and an enormous amount of fun. When I find the disk the movie is on I will put it up on a separate blog.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEIGH

XO

Kim Scott

We recently went to Canberra to help my friend Kim celebrate her 50th birthday. Actually calling it a celebration is an understatement. Kim put so much effort into organising everything.
People travelled from all across Australia but by far the largest contingency was from the NT (of course). She organised so many exciting things - A Harpist playing through out our buffet breakfast, A trip to Floriade, A very talented Bush Poet, Belly Dancers, a Choir and my absolute favourite a ten member Bag Pipe Band. We also took a stream train ride to Bungendore for lunch.

The Bag Pipes were extra special for me because Kim dedicated their first song to my Mum, Lizzy as she used to call her, and they played the song she wanted at her funeral - it was very emotional.
The picture was taken at Canberra Airport (just after she hunted down Kevin Rudd for a picture.........). Her outfit is an absolute cracker and caused more then a few stares................it was her signature outfit for the weekend.
Thanks for an awesome weekend Kim, Arthur and I really enjoyed ourselves and hey we'll be back with the kids IN THE SUMMER!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND
XOXO

Happy 18th Birthday Tilley

I love these "then" and "now" pics

xoxo

"Arts's" - Winners 2nd division

Alicia filled in for Alysha Collis  - As a team, we've really got it "going on", we work so well and our age is deceiving because the younger teams look at us and think "geriatric" but their speed does not compete with our skill and how we work as a team - I LOVE IT!!!

The Dalai Lama

Molley Percy Crackles Hill

This is Molley. Our loyal cat Soxy, who we had before Georgie was born (so she was at least 18years old) died June last year and I put off blogging her passing because I couldn't find a picture of her - stupid reason I know.

I also put off getting another cat because I felt that I didn't treat Sox as good as I could have - particularly towards the end of her life. I neglected her and got cranky because she kept peeing in the house, I didn't realise she was loosing control of her bladder because of her age.

Anyway this is Molley, we got her from the RSPCA and she is spoilt rotten!

Arthur finally takes the plunge............

"Thank you for loving me enough to want me to do this course"

This is what my husband of 23 years wrote to me after having done Greatness In You. I am so proud of him. He did this for himself but also for our relationship and our relationship is so important -because if our relationship isn't working our children will suffer.

We've been in a good place for a long time now, but it requires lots of work and lots of honesty. Life's not perfect, we're not perfect, but we are GOOD!
Does everybody get that if your not happy it is impossible to make anybody else happy? It's impossible to give anybody the love that they need! I'm talking about your children, aren't they the most important thing in your life? They know when things aren't right in a relationship - they are a whole lot more perceptive then adults give them credit for.

Life it too short to be unhappy, to settle for less then you deserve. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for your children.

GREATNESS IN YOU

1800646482

Hey Dad

Dad came up for a few days this month. We managed to fit heaps in - breakfast overlooking the beautiful Fannie Bay, visited a few tourist spots, a BBQ at the stunning East point beach with some of our closest friends (I was so happy Dad was able to get to know some of the really important people in our life), an impromptu breakfast with Alicia and Robert and dinner at Hanuman's.
We had a great time and didn't waste a second of his visit. Oh and in case anybody doesn't already know - that man at the end is Georgie's boyfriend Luke and he's lovely...............
What an enjoyable weekend......feeling the love dad xoxo

Faith and Courage

I have been following Kristian's blog since last year. He made a beautiful birthday movie for his wife Rachel's birthday and I guess because it had Hugh Jackman and the president of NZ, John Key in it, it went viral around the world.

This man can write, I mean really write, he has amazing gift, but what astounds me the most is his courage and his unshakable faith in God. He's about 35, has a beautiful wife, two beautiful children and unless there's a miracle, the cancer will kill him.


He's not angry or bitter at God, he's scared, hell, he'd have to be terrified, but not for one second has he blamed God. God loves him and has a plan for him, this he is adamant about.

I find that absolutely amazing. I have learnt a lot from this man.

The other day I realised that I have been avoiding his blog  - I know why, I don't want bad news! Pretty weak on my behalf I know.


http://howthelightgetsin.net/ This is his blog address, the movie is on here (you have to look at "previous entries" but the you tube address will get you there quicker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfZMyHpmhJU

Greatness In You info night

Organising this was a challenge for me and I am happy to tell you it was a great success! We had nearly 40 people and it meant so much to have most of my friends come along and support me (It was free and was about 1 hour out of their lives and whilst they may not have understood what it was about before they came -and god love them for coming despite this, they certainly did by the time they left!)

Lyall is a great speaker, very entertaining. It definitely had an impact, several people are planning on going to a seminar (one good friend went last month and another this month) which is great because, after they've done it, they'll tell their friends, who'll tell their friends...................such a fantastic life changing experience!

Happy 8th Birthday Harrison

So handsome!

Wiligi 2011

Ok so this is a short video of our campsite - it's the one we have each year. It's not terribly professional - I was a little, oh fuck-it - A LOT hung over.........

I love this pic - oh the meat hanging out of Nic's mouth - they are eating fresh crabs.......which were killed before we boiled them!

Kim Hunter

Left to right: Nicky, Sally, Me, Alicia, Cerise and Kim

This is my friend Kim who I have known since I was five - she made me piss in her bathroom sink once - I only agreed because she said she'd do it to..........

Kim doesn't travel, but she came up in June to help me with the kids while Arthur was away. She's only had one child and she lives with her husband Mike in a quiet little flat...........Can you imagine what that transition must have been like for her? To her credit nothing fazed her and she didn't she yell at me or the kids (I suspect there was some sobbing in the bedroom)

I love you my friend, thank you visiting me and for all your help xoxoxox

My cousin Dayna

My cousin Dayna Caulder nee Ward is my dad's brother Gordon's daughter. These are her two boys, Maverick 5 and Jett, born 31 January (3 months early - I suspect he was in a hurry to meet me). They are both gorgeous - Dayna is so good at making babies.............she should have more!

There are lots of things to love about Dayna, but what I admire most about her is her strong sense of family and god help anyone who messes with Dayna's family because she WILL have the last word! I know that it wouldn't matter how annoyed she might get with me, she will always be there for me (and my family).

I don't take this knowledge lightly, it really does mean a lot - especially since mum is not around any more and dad lives so far away. She's a beautiful person and we are lucky to have her in our life!

Happy 6th Birthday MaeMae

The Darwin Ice Hockey Club - Oh, and vegemite

Reminds me of the Alice Springs Yacht Club........

Any takers?

You may need to click on the picture to read the writting!

Happy 4th Birthday Livvy-Lye-Loka

Olivia and her best mate ClaireBear