Gratitude Sunday

Where has the time gone?

It feels like forever since I wrote anything on here...and my posts tell me it's been a couple months since I wrote last. 

I've had the occasional blog post written in my head, but never got on the actually blog to write it.

I could have started this year off with a recap of my 2012, or what my goals for the year are, 

but I never got around to writing those either.

Some how I find it perfect that today is when I wrote again.

There is never enough gratitude to be expressed.

and with that being said, here's some things I am grateful for at the moment:

- Changes

- My calling with the Primary kids at church

- My time with the girls I babysat, which came to an end this past Thursday

- The home I have

- My family

- Work

- Clean water

- Downsizing

- Getting to start my teaching course soon

- Almost being 22

- Feeling like I am moving in the right direction

- Fun texts to and from my brother and sister in law

- Free feeds and the company that comes with it! (It's always appreciated)

- Music for every mood

- My lil bro getting his mission call (England London South Mission!)

- Good walks and chats

- New friends

- Holidays

and so much more...

Remembrance Day

Lest We Forget.

House Sitting

So for the last month I've been house sitting.

There are a lot of pros to house sitting.

- A whole house to yourself

- A bathroom to yourself

- You can stay up as late or go to bed as early as you want (provisional on work of course)

- You limit your own bills, because you're not there to use it

- You get a working tv (well I did)

- You get a cleaner every couple of weeks (well I did)

I kinda got used to the little lifestyle I had there...it was a nice little break.

Almost like a mini holiday....but not quite. 

Now I am back in my own little room, having to share a small bathroom and back to reality.

The plus side of being back to my own life is not having a cat stalk me all the time.

I have all of my stuff when I need or want it in the one location.

I have space to put things away, instead of in bags on the bedroom floor. 

Have you ever house sat for anyone?

Did you have a good or bad experience? Goodness knows you can have some bad ones!

Gratitude Sunday

It's been a couple weeks since I did one of these...so here goes.

Over the last month I have been grateful for:

- Having my little bro come and visit...a couple of times

- Building relationships with friends

- Having sunshine to break up the dreary winter weather

- New shoes...and the deals I got buying them

- Going old school and playing different boardgames with people

- Free weekly rentals from the video store

- SLEEP! Apparently we are best friends now

- Getting to watch bits of the olympics....some seriously amazing athletes out there!

- Reading stories of people doing the right thing and standing up for 

- A random late night chat with Dad while he has been in the United States

- Any extra work I can get

- Good hair days...they seriously just make it all better

- Chocolate

- Fresh water...seriously loving it at the moment

- My new phone

- Skype...THE BEST THING EVER!

- Mexican food...apparently I'm obsessed with it at the moment

- Getting in the Aussie spirit

- Tips that help me save just that little bit extra towards Europe

and finally

- New and exciting things in general

What are you grateful for at the moment?

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Seeing my family

- Celebrating my parents 30th wedding anniversary

- Having fun with Janelle and Leah

- Finishing some of my post exam tasks

- Learning how to play a new game

- My car still holding out

- Enjoying holidays

- Extra sleep

- Fun sleepovers with my niece

- Giving things one more try before I have to accept defeat and walk away

- Little things that make it all worth it

- Perspective, perspective, perspective

- Life...and learning to work it all out as I go

Lazy Days

So I had my last exam on Friday and I've been enjoying the days since...without any guilt!

Sure I've been to work a couple of days...but only for a couple of hours each.

I was able to go home for almost a week and it was nice to chill out with them and have a few good chats with my siblings. It's funny how our relationships have changed over the years.

I've also loved the extra sleep...I get seriously stressed during exam time and don't sleep properly at all. It was nice to be normal again....somewhat anyway :D

Now that I've had a few lazy days, I am going to start working on a list of things I have been putting off or have wanted to do for ages but study got in the way of.

I have till the 11th of July to find out my results and so I am going to start getting on with it.

Starting with a few little presents for my pregnant friend.

I think I'm going to enjoy the holidays! :D

Except when not long after I wake up I hear a strange male voice in my apartment and walk out in my pj's to find a young electrician fixing my thermostat....that was slightly awkward :P

Other than that...bring it on!

Anzac Day

Here in Australia the 25th of April is a celebration and remembrance of those who have fought and died 

to defend our country.  

Today I attended the dawn service. I love going because it is something small that I can do to show

the respect and admiration I have for those who have allowed me to have the freedom I do. 

During most services someone will recite the fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon's poem,

'For the Fallen', which says:

" They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them."

I have always loved this poem. It is just a simple way of expressing our respect for the fallen.

Lest We Forget

via

The Day of the Irish

Happy St Patrick's Day!!

I got a little festive and painted my nails.

and did a few jigs at work to entertain my co-workers!

I also spoke a few times in a poor Irish accent...I love Irish accents!! Real ones, that is :D

All that's left now is to...

New Year's Eve Carnival!

From 3pm-1am today/tomorrow...minus the 3 hours of work I have to go and do...I will be having a CARNIVAL of a time :D

Kat has organised a YSA New Year's Eve Carnival! 

We are currently setting up...and getting sunburnt! I am going to be so red tomorrow! 

But the fun I have will all be worth it! :D 

More on this even next week...after all the festivities!! 

Have a safe New Year!

Bring on 2012!!

2 weeks

It's been 2 weeks since I returned from Japan...

this is rather a depressing thought :'(

I loved my time in Japan!! 

So today I present to you just some of the many things that I learnt while in Japan...in no particular order!

1. Being stared at for an average of 1.5 hours a day on a train and countless times while walking around helps you to get over your insecurities and just roll with the whole situation.

2. Learning a language while in the country that speaks that language is the BEST way to do it! I can not even explain how much you pick up just being there!

3. Be more adventurous with food. Sure there are times when this comes back to bite you but in most cases I got to try some amazing food. 

4. Be more adventurous in general! I found that I was a bit more confident in Japan and was more willing to try out new things. It's good to be outside your comfort zone. Occasionally :D

5. You get out what you put in. I realised how much effort I should have been putting in earlier! Especially with studying the language and really getting the basics cemented in my head. Would have helped me out a lot more in situations. It also helped me to get motivated to study harder this year.

6. Making mistakes is ok. I made plenty while in Japan. I also just learnt to laugh it off and when you don't know how to say something...just try...or look it up in the dictionary and go from there.

7. Everything can have a little musical tune attached to it... I swear SO MANY things had little tunes in Japan. The street crossings, the vending machines, the school clock, the real estate agent down the street...so many things! I had a love/hate relationship with this. I loved it...but then sometimes it starts to get on your nerves...such is life.

8. Hand gestures and body language can be your best friend! There were times when my hands were doing the talking in trying to describe what I wanted etc. Judging people's body language is also very useful...particularly when selecting people to stop and ask questions. 

9. Some times acting like a tourist when you are one can be a lot of fun! Plus you can get away with doing weird things and not caring what people think.

10. Life is meant to be lived. I really realised that the things that I want to do while I am young and don't have children need to be done now. I am quite free at this point in my life and I really want to take advantage of it. I changed some of my goals and had a lot of time to really think about the things that I want to do. 

These are only a few of the things that I learnt from my 5 weeks in Japan. It has been a real eye opener to me and has changed me for the good. 

As the year is coming to an end I have been evaluating my life...as most people do this time of year...and have made some plans and have some ideas flying around. 

Over the next year you will be hearing about them. 

Not long now till 2012...bring it on!

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Getting to go 'shopping' as part of study time

- Everything Christmas related starting to come out! 

- Curry rice...three times this week alone

- Snowman shaped donuts :D

- Arcade games and photo booth fun

- Free hugs from strangers

- Finding Milo!

- Funny English tags

- New food...the good and bad

- Getting to ride a ferris wheel! :D 

- Managing to find church and getting there on time 

- Cute kids

- This wonderful opportunity to be in Japan

- Having a lesson on just what I needed.

And so much more!! I really have so many things to be grateful for and need to take more time to be grateful for it.

The Good and The Bad

(via)

Today has been a bit of both.

I woke up this morning to try and get my results for my Winter School...no go!

Results Withheld.

THE WORST two words you can read on your results...besides Failed.

It either means the results aren't submitted by my school yet or...I have to sit a deferred exam. I feel it will be the first though and have e-mailed the lecturer to find out.

The good news is that I (well technically my parents) paid the deposit for my trip to Japan in Nov/Dec!! SOOOO excited!

Other good things include:

Semester fees are also taken care of

I got the book I requested from the library for one of my courses

I spent a couple hours with Nelly

I paid some money off what I owe my parents

I'm also flying out to Sydney tonight to meet up with my Mum and Sister to go to the

Time Out for Women program that is being run tomorrow.

Excited! :D

It's been a pretty good day....despite not knowing about my results yet.

Here's hoping they update it soon!!

I won't be here tomorrow....Sunday will be the regular post...and Monday there will be a little surprise for people here, so come back and check it out!