A Year Review {2013}

{photo sourced from pinterest}

HAPPY NEW YEAR! To all of my family that I count as my best friends and friends that have become family, thank you for all of your support, encouragement and memories that we have shared over the past year. Can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for us! 

2013 Highlights:

1. Mr J and my engagement party

2. A weekend serving at KCO

3. Camping at Mambray Creek

4. My first teaching placement

5. Spending a long weekend in Melbourne with family

6. Buying and moving into Mr J and my first home

7. Celebrating Mr J's birthday with a day of surprises

8. Making art

9. Hosting meals

10. Spending days with family in my home town

11. Visiting Lauren P at her farming university

12. Becoming the closest of friends with a wonderful couple from church

13. Having date nights with Mr J at home

14. Cheering on the power and visiting Aami stadium for the last time

15. Mr J and my breakfast date to East Terrace Continental Cafe

16. For a day of unfortunate events that left me feeling grateful for the people in my life

17. A weekend serving at SAYCO

18. A day spent at Victor Harbour eating fish & chips and playing mini golf

19. Cheering Mr J as he did Movember

20. Eating and playing games at Hungry Hippos

21. Attending the Adelaide pageant for the first time

22. Hosting a Body Shop Party with the girls

23. Buying my own Christmas tree

24. Going to Swan Reach for young adults retreat 

25. Celebrating four years with Mr J

26. Celebrating Farnder's 70th Birthday in style

27. Attending Adelaide carols with family

28. Spending Christmas with loved ones

29. Relaxing at Port Elliot with Mr J's family

Favourite Songs:

Oceans (acoustic) - Hillsong United

Wanted - Dara Maclean

The Big Parade - The Lumineers

Where the Sprit of the Lord is - Hillsong United

I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz

Favourite Movie:

About Time

Favourite Series:

Packed to the Rafters

Favourite Books:

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

For Men Only by Shaunty Feldhahn

The 5 languages by Gary D Chapman

The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller

Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney

Things I am looking forward to in 2014:

1. Getting married to the man of my dreams

2. Game nights with friends

3. Getting another year closer to graduating my degree

4. Living with my best friend

5. Using our free movie vouchers

6. Going camping

7. Hosting dinner parties

8. Turning twenty-one

9. Starting a new personal bible study and book

10. Improving my cooking skills

2014, let's do this!!

Happy Holidays

Three cheers for Mr J getting some days off of work so we could spend time here! 

As we joined Mr J's family at their annual beach holiday, we fulfilled our aim of doing close to nothing.  A holiday made for relaxing, laughs, games, family time and fresh air. The best. 

We even got a visit from the cutest puppy, named 'Oi'. 

Happy Holidays! 

Happy Christmas

I hope that you all had a very happy Christmas! 

Some of the things I was thankful for over this holiday season was…

 A reason to build a gingerbread village, which became gifts for some special relatives. 

 The feeling of joy that came from celebrating, giving and spending time with loved ones.

Buying my very own Christmas tree and getting creative with gift wrapping.

 Being able to make rocky road and overdose on chocolate.

 For dogs that guard the pile of wrapping paper.

For festive table settings and delicious three course meals.

And most importantly for a Saviour that was born to give us eternal life. 

Happy as Larry. 

Summer is Definitely Here

Dear 43 degree days. You resulted in me having a sleepover in the lounge room under the air conditioner. You are hot! 

How do you keep cool on these warm nights? 

Happy Friday!

A Night of Carols

I am so blessed that I was able to attend the carols with some of my favourite people! Our eyes fought with the sun for the first couple hours of the evening but then it wasn't long until we pulled out our jumpers, lit our candles and tested our singing voices. The night finished with fireworks over the rotunda and a swarming crowd of people as they headed back to their cars. 

What a great night of community and love! 

Nine sleeps until Christmas.

Man of the house

Here's to days when the only option is to be the man of the house!  

Hello new bedroom curtains!

Happy Thursday Everyone! 

Happy 70th Birthday Farnder

I was blessed to spend this past weekend with relatives, at a location two hours away from home. I slept in a swag, laughed at fairy lights that looked like 'sunglasses', watched a massive game of family cricket, aw-ed at the cuteness of my cousins and most importantly celebrated some special birthdays. One birthday in particular was very special, my grandpa's 70th. An inspiring and amazing man I call Farnder, who I see as one of the most wise men I know.

On the Sunday, we woke in time to enjoy eggs & bacon for breakfast and be out of the caravan park by 10:30am. Four cars conveyed towards a park for family photos and present time, with the company of some CB radios for commentating and conversation. Our journey continued to the no-power Claire Main Street for ice creams and refreshments before driving to the main area Farnder grew up in. It was incredible. I learnt where Farnder's childhood homes were - His and His Grandma's. We drove past some amazing old buildings, one being Farnder's school (now a B&B) and arrived at St John's Lutheran Church and cemetery. Spending the weekend learning about the history of family was so much more than I expected. I'm still smiling from the love and enjoyment of celebrating a very special birthday. Family is everything.

Thankful

Sitting on the couch watching the sunshine turn into a thunderstorm is glorious. The smell of the rain hitting the warm ground is one of the best and it has left me thinking of some of the things I have to be thankful for.

 Thankful for times when I can share a giant donut with the love of my life. 

 Thankful for bath times to relax and forget about all the worries in the world.

 Thankful for times when God teaches me wonderful things about being a women of God. 

This book is great, based on Titus 2

 Thankful for puppies that make our hearts melt and love us without judgement.

 Thankful for hair styling to lift my spirits and make the wedding feel even more closer.

Thankful for game nights with friends.

 Thankful for anniversary dates with Mr J and spontateous Christmas light hunting. 

Thankful for the Christmas season coming up fast. 

A season to celebrate Jesus's birth and the act of giving. 

& always thankful for a wonderful family. 

Gratitude turns everything into enough. 

What have you been thankful for lately? Big or small. 

Four Year {Dating} Anniversary

Today marks the fourth year since Mr J asked me out. 

So blessed to have such a crazy and super amazing man in my life. 

One month, twenty-nine days, twenty-three hours and six minutes until I can call him my husband. 

In love. 

Weekend at the River

Saturday began with a breakfast with the ladies from church and then a road trip to Swan Reach for the weekend. The company from two beautiful girls and a very well behaved puppy for the ninety minute trip was precious. We were greeted by other young adults from our church and were pumped to enjoy various activities, such as knee boarding, tubing, skiing, vitamin D absorption, board game playing, consumption of delicious food and quality time with friends. The weather was fabulous. We are blessed. Sunday afternoon we trekked home across the ferry and through the hills, stopping at a bakery for lunch.

Weekends like these provide enough relaxation to let you continue your life routine for a little longer. 

Happy Monday-eve! Happy December!

Thankful

Dear Em, thank you for inspiring me to write a little letter to the things I love. Dear Mum and Dad, I miss you but thank you for your ongoing support no matter how long we spend apart. Dear Milk Bath, you are so talented in the way you relax and moisturise. Thanks.  Dear Braid, thank you for leaving my hair untangled and wavy. Dear Loz Pfitz, thank you for our recent coffee and shopping date. You are a big bundle of joy with an impressive bruise the size of a pumpkin. Dear Young Adults Retreat, you arrive tomorrow. Thank you for providing us time to relax by the river with some incredible people. Dear Mr J, thank you for letting me sqeeze your arm when I'm scared, thank you for reminding me of the things I have to be thankful for and thank you for sleep overs when you wake me up with a kiss on the cheek.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" ~ Phillipians 4:8

Feeling magic

Tuesday I began my Christmas shopping and gift wrapping. Presents under the Christmas tree makes everything feel a little bit more magic. 27 days to go. 

Wednesday night finished with Mr J and I travelling to the other side of town for a delicious home cooked meal made by our friends Alex and Alex. It was a wonderful change of scenery for great conversation and company. Feeling extremely blessed. 

A Christmas Show

After an afternoon with Mum and Dad, Mr J and I dressed ourselves up to attend an annual Christmas work show. It was a night full of drinks, nibbles, funny faces, photos and a bus/taxi ride home.

Mr J is one big ball of trustworthy fun - I admire him and his idea of a nice photo.

Hungry Hippos Cafe {take 2}

my tummy was satisfied after this scrumptious dinner

Not many things top a Friday night more than sharing games and food at this cafe. Thank you to our friends Daz and Jo for inviting us and creating a night of new games, great fellowship and many laughs. Thank you to the owners for creating such an awesome place to socialise. 

Happy Weekend! 

The Best

The feeling when I get home and see a little treasure underneath my door mat is one of the best! A great start to the weekend. The past weekend included baseball, pirates, a bonfire of warmth, a date with Mr J for lunch, a trip to the cinema and finished with church. Another big weekend of fun. 

Happy Monday! 

{P.S. About Time is highly recommended. A movie with a great message for life.}

Simply happiness

My Nan shared this quote with me recently. 

'To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring--- these are some of the rewards of the simple life' - John Burroughs

A simple life can sometimes be the best. 

Happy weekend everyone! 

{Today I finished this piece of art}

Yesterday. Today. Holidays.

Yesterday Mr J and I shopped and ordered our wedding bands, bought a Christmas tree for a whopping thirteen dollars, treated ourselves to a doughnut to share and visited family for dinner. 

Today I jumped up early to assemble and decorate the Christmas tree. With no Christmas carols on CD, I listened to two hours of Glee's Christmas Mix on youtube. Quite good. I was greeted by at parcel at my door and I'm about to start my new book with a cup of tea, work a short shift and start planning this. Keeping my days filled. 

Holidays are giving me time to A) start a new book B) start making Christmas presents C) finalise wedding plans and D) drink lots of tea. This is great. 

Letters

{everyone has something to celebrate}

Dear University, I can't say I'm extremely sad to say goodbye to you for this year but thank you for challenging and teaching me a few things. Dear Koorong, I could spend all day with you. After browsing and reading the blurbs of books for a couple of hours, I walked out having started my Christmas shopping and gained a book for myself to read during my break. Thanks. Dear Christmas, forty-three days until you arrive. In the meantime, your carols are lifting my spirits daily. Excitment is high to celebrate the birth of Jesus! Dear Mr J. Thankyou for making me smile when I'm down and giving wonderful advice. I love how the Lord works through you.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Gratitude

Gratitude turns everything into enough. 

Lately I have been thankful for a new summer dress and the sunshine to wear it in.

For coffee and cronut dates to please say please.

For close friends to relax, talk, laugh, play board games and eat with.

For times to share the love.

For pageant days to pick up chalk, draw on Adelaide main roads and feel like a big kid

For cute cafe's that make yummy chai lattes and refer to me by name

For a fiance that is brave enough to face a baseball head on and smash it out of the park.

For nights when Mum and Dad sleepover.

For plastic plates to prevent dishes and for mum's that willingly do the dishes anyway.

For Dad's delicious bacon and egg mcmuffin with orange juice.

And most importantly, for quality family and friend time. 

What have you been thankful for lately?