the how-tos of a successful relationship - part #2

Man I love my family - they crack me up. There are ups and downs, fights and differences... but there are also mud-cake-with-vanilla-ice-cream moments that will always make me smile when I look back at photos and think of the stupid things that make my sisters, brothers, and parents laugh.

And so today's message to Mr Architect goes a little something like this:

You know you're doing well when her Dad asks why she didn't invite you to his birthday dinner... and tells her she should have.

More of Joy's smile material:

- Hershey kisses
- Late night ice-cream
- Popping candy
- How much I suck at puttputt
- The song game during the drive to Dural
- Stubbornly sharing a recliner with Matt
- Dancing the Nutbush with old high school friends *sigh - memories of yr 8 disco!!*
- Seeing everyone at Christina's 21st
- Being poked in the right boob by Ella
- Knowing that the funniest, most honest, most trivial... and in fact: the best aspects of old friends will never change
- How lying on a couch can make me feel like the luckiest person in the world
- Laughing for 5 minutes straight at the guy who says, "hey baby!"
- MORE DAYLIGHT... YAHOOO!
- Christmas is less than 2 months away
- My Dad was born today many many years ago :) And then the rest of my family came along decades later...
- I have an urge to paint something pretty
- Running fingers through scruffy hair
- Day by day I know that God is listening to me
- 2 weeks left of uni babY!!! :)
- Next stop(s): New Zealand, Hawaii, Venice, Spain, Brazil, Jamaica, Egypt, America (when Ryan turns 21... hahaha)... and the list goes on
- "Baby It's You" by Jojo

Lessons of: the how-tos of a successful relationship - part #2

- "This will last forever if we choose to do it right"
- "The more people shout, the more likely you will hear... so the more people pray, the more likely God will listen." [Toilet talk with Charelle, Nette and Mary Anne]
- Character is who you are when no one is looking: let us develop our character to be more CHRIST-LIKE
- 1 John 4:8 says that GOD IS LOVE. By staying close to the ultimate source of love, we will be changed... the more time we spend with Him, the more we become like him. ;o)

"Love... so amazing, so divine...
demands my soul, my life, my all..."
[Isaac Watts]

sweet november...

I love this weather. Singlets and skirts weather. Wear your hair out all scraggly weather. Spontaneous drive to the beach weather. Late afternoon walking weather. Early morning Mass weather. Sunshine, butterflies, pretty flowers and cold beverage weather.

How did the end of the year come around so quickly? Today it's Angela's birthday - Anj: one of my first real friends here in Sydney. One of the first people who I told about my dreams, crushes and deepest darkest secrets. The one who giggled, teased, discussed, joked and asked questions with me about pashing, sex and boys. The one who I made plans with to move out and be sisters-in-law because we were both going out with boys from the same family. The one who still comes to me for advice, and who always gives me the most honest opinion - even about how bad I look. The one who is always Angela - even after months of not seeing her. *sigh* You're the epitome of the bestest friend to ever have... and I hope today's the best day for you!

Our lives flew past... since our times jumping down the giant steps at St Pat's. Long jump behind the yr 1 and 2 classrooms. Playing "Families" under the Four Trees. Throwing bottle-brush seeds at make-believe enemies in our shameful but funnily creative games. Stuck-in-the-mud, Red-Rover and touch football. Getting hit with a batt by Ryan Marchetta. Fights about immature things like jealousy and ice blocks.

I love how to a 7-year-old, a concrete path is anything BUT a concrete path. In primary school that path to the back gate was the divide between make-believe dimensions. It was loaded with fantastic creatures who breathed fire, melted into chocolate when you touched them, and spat out slugs if you tried to run away. It was the division between the boy's soccer field and the rest of the playground, but it was also the division between the not-so-real world and the world where you wish everything you imagined was real; like candy covered pencils that gave you the ability to fly when you finished eating them, bull ants that spoke to you about whether or not you were on the right path to finding treasure, walls that had hidden maps embedded into its sandstone surface... ice-blocks also gave you magical powers. Powers to fly, powers to read people's thoughts, powers to do voodoo on mean sports teachers, powers to make boys like you, powers to turn your ham sandwich into chocolate fudge... the list goes on.

It still amazes me how the years come and go so quickly... and suddenly all the plans you had become distant memories. With time slipping away so fast, I wonder why I find it so hard to be patient?

recent discoveries include:

- an ice-block with popping candy
- one of my besties is the biggest dumb-ass of all time
- clouds look amazing when it's raining somewhere else
- a different bathroom routine
- baileys & scorching almond + passionfruit ice cream
- cha-pict-aboo
- am a fan of: The Goonies
- am a fan of: Hersheys almond kisses
- am a fan of: funny sms conversations about nothing and everything
- am a fan of: God's way of keeping me on my toes
- new SPY members: cool stuff!
- late-night dvds of childhood movies are the best bonding sessions
- honey-lemon ice tea from a vending machine (weird)
- 5 minutes = priceless
- old-school love songs by stevie wonder, peter cetera and coco lee
- 101 reasons to smile: the list lives on!
- "God doesn't unite people purely for love, but for purpose" [email in my inbox titled "hey hey"]
- i can't find my book called "passion & purity" - grrr... coz I got that from Phils! =(
- sometimes ignorance really is bliss
- iPods have a variety of language features incl. French, Spanish and Italian
- the 750 bus home always gives me a headache (except for when I'm on it with Suarez)
- Dom is a legend
- orange guitar strap on my desk
- dry cleaning is a bloody rip-off
- heartbreak sucks
- listening to other people's soppy heartbreak playlists sucks more
- last-minute style is the best style of them all
- "gossip = death" [from sms in my inbox frm suarez - yes i agree - people PLZ shut up!]
- kebabs on richmond rd (we must try this one day)
- God speaks in mini-miracles
- people need to start earning trust
- early morning walks to Mass are sooo worth it
- spare Nokia batteries can save lives
- neuro-science is boring
- Eddoes is the best at being late (but this does NOT justify your speed-demon antics)
- not a fan of: boys with coloured contacts(that one's for you Gerry)
- not a fan of: boys who drive dangerously
- not a fan of: boys who follow girls around like a puppy without a leash
- not a fan of: girls who talk without thinking first
- patience with prayer will always prevail
- it's hard to be patient
- the past can still come knocking to tear the walls down
- 60 sit-ups = excruciating afternoon and muscle pain
- chyskin kinge (chicken king) totally defeats the purpose of the 60 sit-ups
- my sleep cycle is sooo screwed

the warrior in this woman

I recently read a short anecdote that reminded me of one of the first women I looked up to as a child, and that was Helen Keller. I discovered the life story of this woman amongst the bookshelves of St Patrick's Primary School library - back in the days when we had bean bags and pillows in the reading pit, when library monitors rode the red trolley up and down the ramp, when the cataloguing system was still on hardcopy, and when Apple Macs didn't have full-colour screens.

Helen Keller's story unfolded in a series of cartoon animations on off-white pages with a large type-face - the first of many courageous lives that shaped my own. For those who don't know, Helen Keller's story is one of determination, faith, and incredible endurance. At a very young age she fell ill with a fever. The fever left, but took with it her ability to see and hear. For the rest of her life, Helen Keller remained deaf and blind.

How does a person speak when they can't see the letters or hear the sounds? She couldn't see the people she met, nor could she hear their voices. She couldn't be taught the way normal kids get taught. Yet she learnt how to speak. She learnt how to understand people... and it was these two skills that allowed her to leave her legacy in the world.

It takes a miracle... And that's exactly what Helen Keller is - a miracle in a world where people forget that miracles are happening daily. She is an example of a woman who was determined to do something extraordinary with the less-than-ordinary cards that had been dealt to her.

Part of her legacy was setting up clinics for people with disabilities as she travelled around the world. But this wasn't her only achievement. I was affirmed reading about her appreciation of art and performance. She "saw" things with her hands, and heard people with her touch. Other than a change of scent, the rest of her life was a black hole - but it was never boring. She travelled, she spoke at conferences, she watched New York broadway, she visited Michaelangelo's David. National leaders, politicians, renowned actors, children and adults alike wanted to see her, and be with her. They wanted to hear her speak. They wanted her to share her faith. She was a hero - because she overcame her own weaknesses and turned them into her strengths.

There are very few people I have met or learned about who have earned my admiration is such a strong way. But there are people everywhere who remind me that I have what it takes, and that I don't have anything to be afraid of. Helen Keller is one. St Therese of Lisieux is another. Mother Teresa and Mother Mary are another two.

These are people who I think about so that I can remind myself that it's ok to dream. It's ok to set crazy goals, despite the things that might make me doubt. It's possible to accomplish things, despite them defying what the world says is or isn't ok. It's ok to be an idealist.

I never want to forget what I was like, back in primary school when I used to read and re-read the book about Helen Keller. The amazement I felt in me, reading about her strength, her faith, and the people who supported her, guided her and loved her.

But what I love most, was that this woman could see things that most of us don't.
Most of us are afraid to be dreamers, and most of us are afraid to step out of mediocrity. We think it's impossible to have more... but each time you feel that urge inside you to be more, to experience more, to live for more... remember this: you were made for more.

"The Politics of Life" - Waking Ashland

Sat around and thought about destiny
Which led me to feelings I could not conceive
Because I was holding on to yesterday
Had to let go to find today

Your breaking through my boundaries
The many moons it took me to find you
You're burning through
I want to fall in love with you

Sat around and talked about politics
And all the different reasons why we exist
But what if the answer is right in front of me
Turning these pages

It's taken me over
It's taken him over
I'm thinking it over...

*Cough cough* To the Mistletoe Boy: this one blog's for you - you message me in the middle of class while I was editing the Rufio song "One Slow Dance" coz I'm using the intro riff for two of the project characters. *sigh!* I am loving this song more and more... hahaha... it cracks me up and reminds me of YOU!

So salsa dancing ay? Yes let's go. Apparently you're not the only one willing to learn - but on the condition that we're in a room full of strangers. Which I'm totally ok with - I'm game but I suck - so you better be good! I can't believe you had a fancy-schmancy dinner without me. And those latina dancers prancing around? Well I'm flattered - they better have been HOT... *sniff*

And as for Fr Warren's advice? That's not up to me!! Boys are so slow and stupid. And frustrating.

Dude... what will I do without our bludgy lunches and stupid talks about nothing... miss teasing you like the idiot that you are... playing pranks that make you cry and making fun of the "remote control" incident... Buhahahaha... BLARGH!! Don't worry - no one who reads this has a clue what I'm on about.

And and a P.S. to Mr Architect: Do you miss me yet? I expect a bunch of flowers and box of chocolates soon. Hehehe... (no pressure)

riding on a pass

What a weird week it's been. Since Sunday, I've had so many ups and downs and I am all over the place - I feel like I'm surfing on quicksand - moving slowly, clumsily, and waiting for the moment where I fall off and drown completely.

Right now: listening to "Stay Together For The Kids" by Blink 182 (which is starting to get depressing... so let's forward it to... "Isn't She Lovely" - the punk cover. Sitting in the media labs abusing wireless Internet again.
Planning to: Edit some tracks for the soundtrack of the Revelations project. (hence the depressing music - Harley is a depressing character.)
Realised: My greatest traits and biggest downfalls run from the same characteristic: I am an overly ambitious person by nature.
Sometimes: I just need people to remind me that my dreams... no matter how crazy, far-fetched and ridiculous... are achievable.
At the same time: Please do not be afraid to hit me in the face with reality. (only not this week, because I'm incredibly sensitive and prone to a tear here and there - be VERY careful and DO NOT attempt anything out of the ordinary unless you bring offerings of pretty pink flowers and lots of almond Hersheys.)

Hey so I just realised that people from my household are probably reading this... hmm... normally that would cause me to think twice about what I should include in my bloggings. But I do apologise... I'm in no mood to cull my thoughts and hide my feelings - I'm an open book and you might have to get used discovering strange contents on my pages.. you might even find some torn pages, stained pages, pages with nothing but scribble, pages full of little sketches...but (as the title of this BLOG alludes) - you will mainly find completely random gibberish because that's what I am full of! And blah blah blah...

But... since Ava did say I'd blog about the girls household: Here it is: my thought and findings of what ended up being a very fun and inspiring night...

"I wish for no other joy but that of making you smile..."

I woke up on Tuesday and went to Mass with one clear prayer in my heart: "Speak to me today, God... I need you to guide me. Give me faith, direction and especially strength to walk the paths you are directing me to."

So when the night's conversation moved to being a saint... what more direction did I need? As the life of St Therese of Lisieux unfolded in our discussion, God's voice became clearer:

St Therese was born into a big family. After 4 children died, she was the youngest of 5 girls. She always got sick... but was healed through the intercession and beautiful smile of Mamma Mary. Her goal was to please God by doing ordinary thing in extraordinary ways so that God would always be glorified.

And as if the night's conversation wasn't enough guidance, God decided to make me smile a little more. Got home around midnight... walked into my bedroom, and what did I see on top of my sister's bed?

"The autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux - The Story of A Soul" ... hmmm... *winks to Jesus*

It's a beautiful book - and I'm only up to reading about her childhood. But what a sweet sign of love - for God to put the book in my room, just so I could read it. Nice huh?

And since then... I've been affirmed of a lot of things; but to cut this blog short (and actually start the assignment that I came in here to work on) - here they are:

- Living the life of a Christian is always going to be hard. Following Christ means picking up a cross - no matter how big or heavy (or how small or strangely shaped) - and embracing it. The onlookers laughed at Jesus when he embraced his cross the day He walked the long path to Calvary. But He asks us to do the same - to embrace suffering of all kinds and remember that in doing so, we join him (what a privilege!). We'll get laughed at too... but it comes with the territory. And it's worth being a fool for those you love...
- St Therese did this by being joyful in her sickness. She didn't do this self-righteously, but with the calm and sincere understanding that through her own suffering, she was imitating God. Her story is empowering because she achieved anything with the unshakeable faith of being loved by her Creator. How I wish I could have the same passion and desire to please my Father, my Brother, my Best Friend... ;o)
- The girls in the household pointed out that in our small sufferings, we have the opportunity to miss God and go on a journey to find him again... which is exactly what someone in love would do if they were separated from the person they loved. When we're separated from God, we want to find him... and mate - HE WANTS TO BE FOUND!
- We must be lost in order to be found, broken to be re-assembled, sick in order to be healed. The small things that make us stumble are simply an opportunity to get back up again. Whether we do this on our own efforts or with the helping hands of others, the point is that we realise God wants us to get back up.
- We can always be reaffirmed with the fact that after the crucifixion came the ressurection. There is nothing that can't be conquered - anything can be overcome... for through Christ we conquer death and rise again.
- Prayer won't always be inspiring, nor will it always be hyped up, full of the Spirit, nor will it always leave us with an indescribable feeling of ecstasy... it is when we choose to pray when it is difficult that we gain merit and build up our treasures in heaven.
- Achievement is not about accomplishing what feels good - it is enduring what can sometimes be terrible, despite it being terrible.
- The more we discover the intricate secrets of science, the more we are affirmed that there is a God - from the proportions of our bodies, the contours of our face, the enormity of our universe, the serinity found in silence - there is evidence that there is nothing that could possibly exist in its shape and form without something bigger and more intelligent shaping it into existence.

And I'll leave you with one of my favourites:

"The sun shines equally both on cedars and on every tiny flower. In just the same way God looks after every soul as if it had no equal. All is planned for the good of every soul, exactly as the seasons are so arranged that the humblest daisy blossoms at the appointed time..."
[St Therese]

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere. The pessimist sees only the red light. But the truly wise person is color blind.
Dr. Albert Schweitzer

a spoonful of tuna

I got home at about 2am and had 5 missed calls on my phone.
Now I'm lying here, tucked in bed with my purple pj pants and Mac Uni jumper which is very nice to cuddle and snuggle in - but there's no-one to cuddle and snuggle with, which is quite a shame really.
So why am I up so late? Beats me - I was absolutely knackered in the car on the drive home. I feel like I should give Frenace an award for the drive - Ags, Edz and I all fell asleep as we crawled down Parramatta Road in traffic. TRAFFIC AT 12AM?! What the? But Fran persisted... and because of her persistence, I am here in this bed... with my purple pj pants and Mac Uni jumper which is very nice to... etc etc. So... THANK YOU Frenace!

Was ridiculously thirsty and hungry when I got home. Discovered a bowl of carrot sticks on the bench so I ate those, had a glass of milk and decided to fix myself a bowl of tuna with lemon and pepper and mayonnaise... sat on my bed consuming the contents of the bowl with some crackers. Yum yum yum... But the crackers finished before the tuna did so I have spoonful left... what a weird midnight snack. Figured I had to consume something because I didn't consume much at Michael's house warming... except a small plate of very YUMMY food (which his very talented flat mate cooked) and beer. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the beer - which I usually don't. I'm not that big a fan, you see. Bacardis I can do. Cocktails and white fruity wine, I can do... beers... well apparently I like them too.

Actually I think I liked it because it gave me an excuse to go back inside instead of hanging out in the balcony listening to small-talk (with which I am easily bored with) and I ended up dancing with Han, John and Michelle. Han is a crack-up to dance with - which is precisely what made it so much fun! And by "dance", I don't just mean do some body-rolls, shuffle your feet and chuck in a corny Beyonce move type dance, I mean we were in the living room swinging hips and holding hands doin the real salsa, cha-cha, tango and samba style. Kudos to the guys who decided to break out of their shell and learn some moves (John and Han were two, the others will go unnamed!) I know for sure that they did something out of the ordinary by responding to the invitations to get up and get moving... and I'm very proud of them for doing so. I don't know why guys are so afraid to dance - considering its a perfectly valid excuse to hold hands, get close and break a sweat. Hahaha... but not in the sordid way. We did get to hold hands and get close... but the only thing we broke was a table (sorry Michael!)

Eventually the whole room was full of us just moving to the rhythm. I think I've found my favourite party people - Bex, Han, John, Rian, Michelle, Vicky, Michael, Ags, Fran, Edz, Scotty... there were heaps of others and you know who you are, no I haven't forgotten, yes you're included... it's just really late.

So yes.. today was quite eventful. A lot longer than I thought. Got all prettied up in a skirt... went to Dax's after doing some uni readings... did more readings after Edz took me home, and then we ventured off to Paddington for a night in the city. Good times!

Did some blog-surfing when I got home. Had intended to watch some Daria episodes but for some lame reason it wouldn't work, so I caught up on the lives of some mates online. I've decided that the survey on Luke's blog is the type of survey I never wanna do because it makes me wanna puke (really... Colloes - if you haven't read it already, do so and puke with me!) Although I've had a lot of ppl telling my mushy lurv stories lately - but the ones that make me smile, as opposed to the icky ones.

I have recently rediscovered the feeling you get when you look at each other for a split second from the other side of the room and you wanna smile but don't wanna be a dead give-away so you both pull funny faces - both of which are dead give-aways anyway. And the electricity when you brush past someone in a crowd, and you realise who it was. And the it's-so-nice-to-know-they're-thinking-about-ya feeling...

It's all fun feelings... *crush* feelings... the feeling that sunny spring days and walks during sunset remind me of. The nostalgic, primary school excursion, mango ice-cream from the bucket, water-sprinklers-I'm-in-the-clouds-type of feeling that I never want to lose... so I'll just leave it there and go brush my teeth.

french toast and the happenings of Saturday mornz

WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON'T LIKE READING OVERLY PERSONAL SHARINGS OF TEDIOUS DAYS-IN-THE-LIFE-OF-ME.

I'm procrastinating... AGAIN. I'm so good at that, really. I deserve an award.

Right now I'm listening to my work-out music. By "work-out," I mean the playlist I throw into the jukebox when I feel doing exercise... the funky dance, hip-hop and fast pop rock tracks that, when combined with sit-ups, push-ups and a few toning stretches, makes out for a very satisfying morning.

But... I didn't do any of that this mornz. Instead I had brekky with my paroes, read a bit of the paper, scoffed down some French toast (yay to my mummy!), a cup of coffee... and refrained from beating up my roomy, who is really seriously testing my patience... *hmmph!*

This morning I have my project stuff strewn all over my bed, but, thanks to my obsessive-compulsive-disorder/habit of tidying EVERYTHING before I get my work started, my room still looks relatively NEAT. Although... (glances around to inspect) ... I just noticed I have a lot of laundry waiting to be done - all the handwash stuff that you can't just chuck in the washing machine for fear of it being wrecked (there are about seven or eight bras hanging on the back of my bedroom door...) -hrrmm... should do something about that.

Hey so I'm gonna get my rags soon. Seriously, I'm in such a strange mood. Anticipating something, moody, snappy, really sedated but aggressive. I couldn't sleep on Thursday night and ended up tossing and turning violently, throwing pillows here and there and getting NO rest whatsoever.

*sigh* what is going here? Stuff that's confusing the hell out of me. But it's good confusion I guess... I did ask God to teach me patience this year... and that's exactly what he's doing by giving me opportunities to choose to be patient, instead of rushing into things I'm not ready for (like the consequences after beating up my sister)...

What am I doing right now? Looking at WYD photos... haha... this rainy weather reminds me of Paris. PARIS. Oh wow do I miss Paris right now...






I'll leave you with this one - it's one of my favourites... hehehe... gotta love EJ man.

taken in Prague... August 2005.

"Look what I scored!" - thursday thoughts with additions of boys and african drums

What I've eaten:

• Four squares from a very scrumptidiliumptious bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate
• A snack pack of mixed fruits and nuts
• Several teaspoons of red jelly (discovered on top shelf of fridge)
• Bottle of water
  

Waiting to consume:

• Spinach and Ricotta pastry puffs that are cooking away downstairs.
  

Songs that I've listened to this morning:

• It's A Party - Tamia
• Stars - Switchfoot
• We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
• My Kind of Girl - Brian McKnight
• Sending Postcards from a Plane Crash - Fallout Boy
• Crush - Gavin Degraw
• From My Head to My Heart - Evan and Jaron
• Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
  
• One Two Step - Ciara
• London Rain (nothing heals me like you do) - ???
• Cool - Gwen Stefani
• Follow Through - Gavin Degraw
• How Do I Deal - Jennifer Love Hewitt
• The Best Things in Life Are Free - Janet Jackson
• With You (acoustic version) - Jessica Simpson
• Your Body Is A Wonderland - John Mayer
• Kuch to Hua Hai - Alka Yagnik
• Baby It's You - Jojo
• My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson
• Song for a Sleepwalker - Something for Kate
• I Just Called to Say I Love you - Stevie Wonder
• For the Moments I Feel Faint - Relient K

Current Favourite:

• I Just Called to Say I Love you - Stevie Wonder

Currently Relating the Most to:

• How Do I Deal - Jennifer Love Hewitt
• Kuch to Hua Hai - Alka Yagnik

Feeling warm and fuzzy because:

• I woke up today with a smile on my face.
• Yesterday's primary feeling was FREEDOM!
• I love my high school household.
  
• I love late night conversations about everything and nothing.
• God is opening doors for me.
• My happiness is founded in His promises that I will live a fulfilled life.
  
• So far... I've been living life to the fullest!
• I'm pressing on!

Things I'm hoping to (or planning to) do today:

• Smile a lot because I'm in the clouds! And for once... I like clouds.
  
• Pray more.
• Finish my MAS309 story board and checklist
• Email my HSB minutes and monthly report.
  
• Go shopping?
• Say "yes" with a selfless and generous heart.
  

I'm thinking...

• I love starting a new book.
  
• I write... a lot.
• I have lots to do... but God has lots of time to give.
• He will judge us by our faith.
• I want to be faithful.
• I need to take a shower.
• Bed hair is maaad.
  
• MY SPINACH PUFFS ARE DONE.
  

set it free...

Today's favourite moments:
- Opening my window and realising there was a blue sky waiting for me outside...
- Mass
- Lighting candles and saying prayers for all that happened and all that could... later
- Watching someone drive past at the traffic lights
- Breakfast and organising my life
- My To-Do-In-Life list during the road trip to uni
- Getting through 2 hours of reading in the library
- Bus trip home with Suarez (looking hot bro!)
- Nap
- Waking up to chicken soup with quail eggs... mmmm..mmm....
- Chatting to Ella on MSN.

Goals for tomorrow:
- Wake up at 6am
- Morning exercise
- Get to uni EARLY!
- Buy my course reader (yeah yeah - it's 9 weeks late... SORRY)
- Read my course reader
- Write up the user-testing report with my MAS309 group - due on Wednesday
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS DAX & DOM LEROY!
- Be happy and at peace with what God's blessed me with.

Lessons from 366 yesterdays ago:
Midnight, 9th October 2004 [ice-skating at Blacktown]:
Thank you, Lord, for the youth and seeing them enjoy themselves... Today's ice-skating experience taught me a fair bit about life ...
- You can't be afraid to let go of the wall - You're allowed to speed up but you have to be able to slow down - You're allowed to scream - You'll get cold and wet but that's the fun of it - There will always be people who are better and faster, just as there there are people slower and more scared than you - It's all about being confident and balanced - It's not as fun watching from the sidelines - There's benefits in learning new tricks...
Humans are funny - breaking legs, cutting off fingers... we find enjoyment in going around in circles on a cold, hard surface, and enjoy the risk of falling flat on our faces. I stacked it big time... and loved it."

"Though I love the idea of 'being in love' more and more things come up to remind me WHY I WON'T BE FINDING THE RIGHT GUY for a loong time! Had dinner with my sis... they're married, in love, passionate, hard-working... and life isn't perfect. But they choose to experience things together.
"LOVE IS A CHOICE"
... He reminded me of the quote I used to tell him all the time as we were growing up:

>'If you love something set it free. If it returns, you haven't lost it. If it disappears and doesn't come back, it was never yours to begin with...'

Admittedly, last night I remembered something really simple: Don't just settle... I don't want to be content with mediocre. I know God is giving me THE BEST."

What I wrote that night:
... One day I will call you and see how you are. And I hope you don't push me away. Coz one day you'll wake up and regret the way fear and pride prevented you from truly loving. My prayer is that you will never have to regret that... so one day, when you're ready, we'll go have a coffee or some ice cream, and you can tell me where you've been and what you've been up to. This is what me "loving" you is - trying my best to be my best and be happy ... because I know that's what I want for you. I miss you, but it's ok because life is great and thre's plenty to be happy about - no point or time to wallow... because the thing is... I am excited to fall in love again.

Wisdom to apply from now on:
"Choosing to love someone means choosing to spend this part of your life knowing them, understanding them, learning them, growing with them, struggling with them, encouraging them and accepting them. By no means does it ever mean keeping them, because love involves God and acknowledging that essentially, we all belong to Him. When we acknowledge that, we automatically want the best for them. Love doesn't mean growing closer to that person; but bringing that person closer to God."

Don't let impatience rob you from what the Author of life has waiting in the chapters to come...

zzzzzzzz......

Hmmm... where to start... all I've been doing today is thinking. My mind's been going tick-tick-tick - and it's about nothing productive. Interesting thoughts, daydreamy thoughts, happy thoughts, last night's thoughts, last week's thoughts, close thoughts, yummy thoughts... but nothing to do with what I should be thinking about - and that's the fact that it's week 9 of semester 2 starts tomorrow and AGH! I still haven't gotten into the swing of uni.

I was also thinking about all the possible titles I could have written up for this blog:
- "8 days in the making"
- "Fluff and tingles"
- "Red Spring-time dresses and sexy white heels"
- "I am such a sucker..."

- and a whole heap of other things...
But you're stuck with something sleepy and mundane like "zzzzzz" because that's exactly what I'd be doing right now, only I've been sitting here next to the phone waiting for it to ring. Come on... just let the lights turn on, let the vibration rattle against my bedroom desk, and let me see that name and photo appear on the screen!

Why is it that I'm always sleep deprived?

Not that I'm really complaining though... I'm actually quite happy to postpone the conversation. It lets me return to the happy-snappy thoughts about things that happened, and things that have yet to happen, things that I really want to happen... and the crazy things that God wills to happen.

My brain is sooo all over the place. MAS309 assignment - postponed til tomorrow morning. Eeep! (Will work on it after Mass...)
How about I vent all that I would have vented had I titled this blog something else?

"8 days in the making"
Where do I even start? I sat down to eat lunch in an almost-empty house today and realised I hadn't sat down for a home-cooked meal in over a week. A week ago I had roasted away under the sun on Dee Why beach in the company of my mission partner and funny faces of the YFC crew who I hadn't seen in what felt like forever... Jug, Conj, Aimelle, Redell, Ian and Suarez, just to mention a few. At about this time last Sunday I was wandering the aisles in Coles, trying to find tucker for our SPYRC camp... a shopping expedition that took a good 2 hours to complete - but I'm definitely not complaining!
And speaking of SPYRC camp... wow. 4 days in a tent. Well... not really - can't say I spent that much time in the tent. Where do I even begin to detail the happenings of such an affirming, enjoyable, ridiculous and hilarious SPY rep training!
Monday - waking up at 6am to pack. (whoops! I was pooped after shopping) Hacky sack in front of the church. Waiting for my Dad to buy ice. Mass. Seeing the excited faces of 7 very excited SPY leaders. Driving off in Fr Warren's Vectra and leaving him to jog 200m to the car.... (teeheee.... *blush* sorry!) Being interrogated about whether or not the person that I liked had kissed me yet. My embarrassed and defiant "NO!" Pitching tents on bumpy ground. Realising me tent was tiny, funny... and soooo NOT waterproof. Rejoicing as I changed into my bikini and boardies! WOOOHOOO! Afternoon lying on the sand in 28 degree heat. Getting thrown in the water. The seaweed under the bridge at the swimming hole. (GARGH! Yuck!) Matt... and him not wanting to swim across the deep water (awwww!!) Session 1 and the screaming and the laughing and the finding of the crucifix and the lessons, and the cold front that followed the warm wind and the stars at night, and the feint murmur of water on the distant shore. Praying the rosary with the girls... (favourite moment - FOR SURE) Tuesday morning bacon and eggs (cooked by a professional... hahaha... kudos to Fr Warren!) Early morning jog to the end of the beach. Sending MMS videos to people at work and making them mighty jealous of our morning jog to the end of the beach. Bait hunting. Fishing. The very first round of TABOO and the speakers workshop. Invisible soccerballs, the 2 minute spiel about toes, ab muscles, The Cinderally Story, the new Charlie & The Chocolate Factory movie, strange creatures and made-up SPY announcements with fake information (well done guys! You make me so proud!) Volleyball with Scott and Danielle. Teaching a 5 year old how to say "gravity." Listening to the leaders lift up selfless prayers in our tent as we prayed the rosary for the 2nd time. Celebrating Mass in the tiny little shack... Laughing really hard at late-night interrogation. Waking up on Wednesday and realising I had to go to uni... ewww... Driving Fr Warren's VECTRA in peak-hour traffic. Going really fast... (I mean... *ummmm...* :o|) Embarrassment at uni during out "User Testing" presentation... getting back and realising they were all fishing. Jealous that they got to go fishing... Happy to get back into my swimming gear again! Sausages and pasta and fried potatoes and yummy food cooked lovingly by EJ, Gemma and Nereus. Happy that we had visitors that cook for us... haha. Volleyball... again. Setting up the challenge course. Winning scissors-paper-rock against Fr Warren.. YEAH! Laughing on the floor as I watched them trying to build sandcastles and win 3-legged raced - blind-folded. Not wanting to get out of the sea. Shell hunting. Walking on the water. Fried rice in the darkness of the night. Playing "We Are One Body" out of time... Taboo - Round 2: "Fallopian Tube," "Boobs!" "Jugs!" "Tits!" "Where I go to chuck a..." "Where the heck is Siberia?" "Gemma, you and I are geographically challenged," "WEDGIE!" "Something-job..." *blush... again!* Roasting marshmallows on a BBQ campfire. Writing in my journal. Realising it was the last night... nOOOO!!! Crawling into my sleeping bag for the last time. Making rosary beads out of shells at 7 o'clock in the morning. Getting help from Danielle's big sister Kelly, and her friends. Laughing, laughing, laughing... and getting tackled by a four-year-old boy. Philadelphia cheese with crackers. Packing up the tent. Volleyball finals - sorry we lost guys! Getting smacked in the face by the ball... *gargh!* Watching Matt getting smacked in the face with a ball! *gargh x2!!* The good cry at Fr Warren's car. Wanting to cry some more when the leaders affirmed each other (good tears... not bad ones) Knowing that they pray more now... Falling asleep on the drive home. One hour 1-2-1 with Phil in front of the church. The "toothbrush visit" when I got out of the shower. Sitting on the couch talking about nothing and everything...
The end of a very satisfying adventure... and the beginning of a million new ones!

things that make you smile

I'm not one to send people forwards - I'm not a fan of SPAM mail that floods my inbox. But I thought it'd be nice to put this up... because it's nice to think of things that make us happy... =)

1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket.
5. A special glance.
6. Receiving a letter in the mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshakes.
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach.
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Holding a newborn baby.
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke.
24. Friends.
25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
27. Your first kiss.
28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
29. Playing with a new puppy.
30. Having someone play with your hair.
31. Sweet dreams. !
32. Hot chocolate.
33. Road trips with friends.
34. Swinging on swings.
35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
36. Making chocolate chip cookies.
37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
38. Holding hands with someone you care about.
39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
41. Watching the sunrise.
42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
43. Knowing that somebody misses you.
44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think...

*count your blessings!*

roughin it

Good morning readers! I'm sitting at my laptop and just took the final sip of a double-shot of coffee... which should get me through this morning (at the very least). The next four days will be mighty interesting - roughing it amongst the trees, in the dirt and under stars on the lovely coast of Australia. Praise God for beach weather...

As of this morning, I've decided to surrender. I guess I can't do much else - I'm so mentally and physically drained... and after this major event, I've promised myself to START SAYING "NO!" because I just can't hack it anymore... I need a bed, a pillow, and about two years to recover from going hardcore in pretty much every aspect of life - from famz, to uni, to HSB to SPY...

Mind you, the glow that I had post-WYD is still here... it's just hiding behind the pimples and the stress of having experienced about ten gazillion mishaps over the month of September.

But October has arrived... and I am happy - for many reasons.
Yesterday is one of them. The sunshine, the water, the waves, the friends, the laughs, the sand fights... and finally being able to leave the world of work behind for one day. Just one... PRAISE GOD. I missed being able to chill-ax.

Now it's straight back into the race... armed with nothing but an unprepared program, but a very faithful heart, a digestive system full of toast and caffeine (and soon an apple and banana)... and a few sweet, happy memories from last night's shopping expedition at Coles.

Just before I jump into the car and head south - RYAN I'M GONNA MISS YOU!! Sucks because I'm used to you being 5 minutes away, as opposed to 5 countries... but have a blast in the States, and remember the things you need to bring back. Hopefully we'll have exciting stories to exchange by the time you come back! ;o)

Ciao for a couple of days people! PRAY FOR ME THIS WEEK! And for our SPY Rep Council too...

why am i awake?

Thinking:
Cold rock ice cream totally kicks ass (right Gemma?!)
There are no sheets on my bed because I cleaned my room today.
I miss staying at home.
I miss hanging with my family.
I miss not having something to do.
I miss days of bludge and I especially miss sleepy lazy days on a couch with friends. *sigh*
I miss being pimple-and-stress-free.
Taronga on Tuesday... (catch the wombat in the pic...) Buhaha...
Ah Tuesday - the day I broke my phone (I'm sooo bad!) And suddenly the holidays are over and we're back to uni this week... eww. Only, I'm not at uni this week, I'm at Bonnievale. (God, you'd think this was my full time job or something!)

Thinking:
Why am I awake? Beats me, it's almost 4am. But I stayed up working on stuff... and now I'm not sleepy, but I sure as hell am exhausted. Oh God... will this ever end? Or will I crash and burn?

I must admit though... today was an awesome day. I've been up for a good 20 hours... and each one had its own blessings. YFC Sector was an absolute inspiration... praise God for Ron and that worship... YEAH! Hey... WYD Sydney here we come!

Thinking:
Count your blessings, not your worries.
The nap I got.
Two hours worth of "would you marry" on the phone.
Awkward but exciting exchange of looks across a chaotic room.
Ice cream and fudge brownies.
Power of prayer.
Leadership camp... wooh!
Feeling mighty satisfied.

Btw, Ivy, that ID pic is just for you. Hahaha... =p
Gnyt sleeping world...