Saturday, December 25, 2010

So this is Christmas

The Christmas day has come to a close. Guests have gone home, leftovers from lunch have been eaten for dinner (not that there's much difference in time between the two) and the remainder put in the fridge for tomorrow. Presents were opened, paper strewn throughout the room, and mostly put aside, to be used another day. Now that the celebrations have died down, the meaning of Christmas has been placed aside for another 12 months.

With the amount of preparation and planning, present buying & wrapping, cooking, cleaning, baking and organising that goes into arranging a single day of celebration we are all relieved that it is over once again, and everything can go back to 'normal'.

It bring to mind the theme of Ps Dave's sermon on Christmas Eve, and a script of which he wrote and the children acted out wonderfully. Who needs Christmas?

Who wants to bother with the organising? Who wants to bother buying presents, wrapping and hoping that they'll be appreciated? Who wants to bother catching up with family, people we see once a year out of a feeling of obligation? Who wants to bother going to church, seeing the same story retold by small children year after year? Most people would want to boycott Christmas for those reasons alone - but they will be missing the point.

We all need Christmas. Without the birth of our Immanuel we would all fall short of God's expectations and no one would go to Heaven. Instead, we need to see the birth of our Saviour, Jesus, and the life he is about to lead in order that we are forgiven and know we will one day join Him with God the Father.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:6

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Cleaning

Well, only 3.5 more days to go before I'm on holidays!! This week has flown by, and I like to think it's been productive.

I had a blast on Thursday night in particular. It was Fumo Blu's 10th birthday, and so there were free drinks from 7pm-9pm for those who were invited. Luckily Jesse works with one of the owners. I was only slightly hungover when I went to work on Friday. I felt a little worse for wear in the morning but after lunch I was perfectly fine.

Saturday Dad, Bradley and I picked up my new fridge and took it, my bookcases and TV cabinet to my unit. It's slowly coming together. After we put in the fridge and bookcases and Dad left I spent the next 3 and a bit hours setting up, sorting and cleaning. I filled 6 shelves with books, and found so many random ones lying around my room because I had no where to put them. I've got a big pile of things to throw out, and another pile to donate to the salvo's. Unfortunately they will sit there for a bit as with Christmas I won't be around to put the bins out. My next task is to find a dining room setting.

I also feel proud because I was an inspiration to one of my Facebook friends. She saw my post on Facebook and commented that after hearing of my success she was inspired to sort out her own room. Yay! Normally I'm the first one to procrastinate and de-motivate, so this is something new =)

Today (Sunday) I went to lunch with my family, to say goodbye to my cousin Jordan and his wife Amy as they left today for a 6 month trip backpacking around Europe. They've been planning it for a while, so it means they will miss our wedding, but I think they're going to try and organise an internet feed or something. But I wish them all the best, and can't wait to see pictures and hear all of their stories! It is such a wonderful journey for them to take early in their marriage.

This week is a short one - we finish on Thursday at 1pm and have a staff lunch before we say goodbye and best wishes until we see each other again on 10 January. I'm getting very excited as I want holidays.

I can't guarantee the timing of another post so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Breaking the Habit

Friday night I took a step towards cleaning up my life and getting rid of time wasters and distractions. I deleted all of the time based applications from my Facebook account - meaning I do not have to log on each day/certain times. I have kept a couple random games apps for when I'm really bored, but I will try to play them as little as possible. I have since gone through and deleted all of the randoms I added to unlock features and enhance the game play of these applications.

I chose a good time to do so as this weekend I have not spent much time where I was even able to access my computer/internet. I had a ball Christmas shopping with Ali on Saturday, and then out to dinner to catch up with Gretel and other friends that night. (I can recommend the Balhannah Hotel - delicious food!) Sadly that night the Subway I had for lunch disagreed with me, and I was unable to go to a baptism Sunday morning. So after getting up nice and early to try and make a 9am service in McLaren Vale I went back to bed and got up again at 11am. I went out to lunch for the Commuserv Christmas party. I probably ate too much (but the food was yummy) and tonight I'm feeling much better.

My aim is to try and free myself from thinking about Facebook while I'm unable to access the computer, and not worry about feeding animals or crops or missions or any of it! I want to use the time to read or blog more or perhaps *gasp* write!

I felt accomplished when I came home tonight. I put together a clothes airer that I bought the other night from Ikea. All by myself! I felt proud, even if it's nothing major.

But I shall be off for now. 8.5 more days of work and I'm on holidays for 2 whole weeks!!!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

New Years Resolutions

I don't think I've ever really gotten the concept of New Years Resolutions, but then again, I was never a real goal-setter. I think I set a resolution one year to publish my story. As the year progressed I realised that my story wasn't ready, nor could I afford the editing or self-publishing. Part-way through this year I decided to expand on a short story I wrote end of high school. I gave myself a 2 year deadline. I was dedicated for a couple weeks, and since then I have not found the motivation to turn my 10-page story 'summary' into a full length novel.

Perhaps that is my problem - my motivation. I think it shows through in my wedding planning too. I get a few things done, and then don't think about it for a month...which will probably end up for the worse. It just feels odd when people ask me how the wedding planning is going. Well, chose venues and booked for the reception, did that in June; chose, paid off and picked up my dress; chose bridesmaid dresses; decided on type of flowers; bought everything to make the invitations; decided on 'bonbonniere'; looking at quotes for car hire. What can I really say about it? I haven't really done a lot. I don't understand why people would stress so much about this? Or is it just me?

I think the only part of the wedding I just can't decide on is the honeymoon destination - and technically Jesse is supposed to be organising that.

But but to my original thought - perhaps I should make a resolution for next year - to be more motivated, and set goals, and actually follow through with them. How long do you think I'll last?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Hello Summer, where is my sunshine?

Well, it has been a while since I update this. As I write this, on a cold and rainy first day of summer, I can't believe how quickly this year has passed. I know it's such a cliché, but every year at this time I wonder where the months have disappeared to, and if I can join them. There are only 3 weeks tomorrow until we break up for the year at work, which is crazy to think about...but I can't wait for my holidays!

Having a look back on the month of November I can't say it wasn't eventful. Jesse and I have been looking at various places in which we could live. But now, with Rosie having to move back home (*sadface* due to work scheduling) we will be staying in my current unit until at least after our wedding (5 months yesterday!!).

Let's see...this month for wedding things I have started looking at and have gotten quite a few quotes for limos. And I've pretty much organised flowers (yay!). January will *hopefully* be productive for me. I will be taking my dress to the dress-maker for alterations, and *hopefully* making the invitations ready to be posted out in February. I'm also quite annoyed that I never heard back from the glass printing place. After our initial phone call where he said he would email me samples I got nothing. I emailed again and still have gotten no response. This was a while ago so I really need to follow up, but he said no rush, it takes about 6-8 weeks so I have plenty of time, but I want to order in Jan/Feb.

So I'm trying to think of what to buy for Christmas presents, especially for Jesse (anyone got any ideas???). Thanks to Ali I can cross my parents and brothers off my list, they're all sorted =)

Oh, and one other 'big' thing that happened this month - due to 'cost cutting' Dad has been offered a redundancy package from work, so he finished up at the bank yesterday after 32 years of service (that's right, Dad was only 17 when he started there!). So I caught up with him for lunch on Monday as he had an interview in town with a recruitment agency to help him find a new job. Until then, he is unemployed (I never thought I'd say that about my dad!)

Over and out for now!