Pre-Teen Blog

Today, my blog turns 12.

Yes, 12!

I'm still here. Even if every post is met with silence, even if so many other blogs are ceasing to exist, even if Facebook is taking over everything, This is what Sed said remains.

It's like my diary.

To celebrate, I've given it new birthday clothes:

And here is a questionnaire to show much my life has changed since 2006:

19th June 2006
Where I lived: A unit in the Perth suburb of Cannington with my friend Emma.
What I drove: 2004 Hyundai Accent.
What I did: I was a librarian at Curtin University, full-time.
Who had my heart: No-one :(

19th June 2010
Where I lived: A farm in Buntine with Duncan, Maya the dog, Ebony the cat, Russell Crowe the rooster, and six hens - Eglantine, Maple, Reebok, Winnie, Princess Layer and Mildred. We moved in December that year.
What I drove: 2003 Holden Berlina station wagon and the Hyundai Accent still.
What I did: I worked at a grower group, three days a week, as an administration officer.
Who had my heart: Duncan and the furry and feathered kids.

19th June 2014
Where I lived: The same farm we live on now with Duncan, Rory, Maya and Gypsy the dogs, Solomon the rooster, and a declining number of hens.
What I drove: 2005 Toyota Prado.
What I did: Stay-at-home mum to Rory and casual administration officer for a ram breeding group.
Who had my heart: Duncan, Rory and the furry and feathered kids.

19th June 2018
Where I live: A farm at an undisclosed location with Duncan, Rory, Flynn, Maya and Gypsy the dogs, Brewster the rooster, and three hens - Sheba, Dixie and Esme.
What I drive: 2005 Toyota Prado.
What I do: Stay-at-home mum to Rory and Flynn, casual administration for the ram breeding group and for Flynn's daycare.
Who has my heart: Duncan, Rory, Flynn and the furry and feathered kids.


Thank you for reading along here for all or some of that time.

How Many of These 250 Movies Have You Seen?

I got this off Facebook. The ones I've seen are in bold.

Vertigo
Memento
Rear Window
Laura
The Third Man
The Maltese Falcon
North By Northwest
Blue Velvet
Dial M For Murder
The Usual Suspects
Wall-E
Forrest Gump
Amelie
The Notebook
While You Were Sleeping
When Harry Met Sally
Casablanca
Notting Hill
Pretty Woman
Sleepless in Seattle
Lawrence of Arabia
Ben-Hur
Schindler's List
Gone With the Wind
Spartacus
Titanic
All Quiet on the Western Front
Saving Private Ryan
Reds
The Ten Commandments
To Kill a Mockingbird
12 Angry Men
Kramer vs. Kramer
The Verdict
A Few Good Men
Witness For the Prosecution
Anatomy of a Murder
In Cold Blood
A Cry in the Dark
Judgment at Nuremberg
The Big Blue
Rocky
Kingpin
Hoosiers
Bull Durham
Baseketball
Remember the Titans
Raging Bull
Chariots of Fire
Jerry MaguireClose Encounters of the Third Kind
Star Trek
E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial
A Clockwork Orange
The Matrix
Blade Runner
Alien
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Back to the Future
The Searchers
High Noon
Shane
Unforgiven
Red River
Brokeback Mountain
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Shanghai Noon
Stagecoach
3:10 To Yuma
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Pinnochio
Bambi
The Lion King
Fantasia
Toy Story
Beauty and the Beast
Shrek
Cinderella
Finding Nemo
The Wizard of Oz
Howl's Moving Castle
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
King Kong
Miracle on 34th Street
Field of Dreams
Princess Mononoke
Groundhog Day
Pan's Labyrinth
Big
The Godfather
Goodfellas
The Godfather Part II
White Heat
Bonnie and Clyde
Scarface: The Shame of a Nation
Pulp Fiction
The Public Enemy
Little Caesar
Scarface
Citizen Kane
LA Confidential
Se7en
12 Monkeys
The Da Vinci Code
Minority Report
The Name of the Rose
Along Came a Spider
The Prestige
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Singin' in the Rain
G.I. Blues
Mary Poppins
My Fair Lady
The Sound of Music
The King and I
Grease
Grease II
Moulin Rouge
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Dirty Dancing
Step Up 2: The Streets
Strictly Ballroom
Hairspray
Centre Stage
Stormy Weather
Flashdance
Shall We Dance?
Saturday Night Fever
West Side Story
Napolean Dynamite
10 Things I Hate About You
High School Musical
Fame
Heathers
Pump Up the Volume
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Dead Poets Society
Rushmore
Rebel Without a Cause
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Ghost
Just Like Heaven
Stepmom
Armageddon
The Wedding Planner
Love Actually
Runaway Bride
Bridget Jones' Diary
50 First Dates
300
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Passion of the Christ
Gladiator
Braveheart
The Thin Red Line
2001: A Space Odyssey
Star Wars IV: A New Hope
Clueless
The Breakfast Club
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Teen Wolf
Donnie Darko
American Pie
To Sir, With Love
16 Candles
Dangerous Minds
Boyz n the Hood
The Princess Bride
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Labyrinth
The Chronicles of Narnia
Willow
Van Helsing
The Dark Crystal
Beowulf
Ladyhawke
V For Vendetta
The Dark Knight
Hulk
Iron Man
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Spawn
Daredevil
Barb Wire
The Watchmen
X-Men
Superman
Dark City
Mad Max
Robocop
Gremlins
THX 1138
Starship Troopers
Army of Darkness
Gattaca
Logan's Run
Conan the Barbarian
Psycho
The Shining
Aliens
The Thing
Frankenstein
The Exorcist
Saw
Shaun of the Dead
Resident Evil
Vampire Hunter D
Night of the Living Dead
The Amityville Horror
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Poltergeist
Nightmare on Elm Street
The Ring
The Grudge
Hostel
Halloween
Rosemary's Baby
Pearl Harbour
Memphis Belle
Apocalypse Now
Gallipoli
Enemy at the Gates
Full Metal Jacket
Platoon
Das Boot
Gettysburg
Glory
Get Smart
Blazing Saddles
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python: The Life of Brian
40-Year-Old Virgin
National Lampoon's Animal House
Ghostbusters
The Man Who Knew Too Little
The Odd Couple
Dr. Strangelove
Tootsie
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
The Naked Gun
Spaceballs
The Birdcage
Coming to America
Meet the Parents
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Anchorman


How many have you seen?

Time For a Questionnaire

1. Name? Sarah

2. Age? 32

3. Birthday? 30th May 1983

4. Sign? Gemini (but I don't believe in that stuff)

5. Significant Other? Duncan

6. Workplace? Stay-at-home mum

7. How old do you wish you were?  I'm happy being in my thirties, but sometimes I'd like to relive my twenties again.

8. Where were you when 9/11 happened? In my scungy flat in Curtin student housing.  I walked into the loungeroom and thought my flatmates were watching a movie.

9. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?  Look around to see if anyone's watching, then bang on the machine.

10. Do you consider yourself kind? I can be kind...but I can also be unkind.  I'm a sinner saved by grace.

11. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be? Ankle or foot.

12. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be? German

13. Do you know your neighbours? Yes, most of them.  Although, out here, neighbours aren't right next-door.

14. What do you consider a vacation? Going away on holidays.

15. Do you follow your horoscope?  I used to religiously as a teenager.  Then I became a Christian (see answer #2).

16. Would you move for the person you love? I already have.

17. Are you touchy feely? Only with Duncan or my boys.

18. Do you believe that opposites attract? Yes, but you still need some stuff in common.

19. Dream job? Author and actor.

20. Favourite channel? Channel 7

21. Favourite place to go on weekends? Home, town, church.

22. Showers or baths? Showers for the convenience and quickness.  Baths for relaxing (they are a luxury when I go to other people's houses since we don't have a bath).

23. Do you paint your nails?  Rarely.  I live on a farm.

24. Do you trust people easily?  I usually do a bit of sussing them out first (if they've been blabbing someone else's confidential information to me, I know they can't be trusted with things I tell them).

25. What are your phobias? Walking on gravel or slippery surfaces, climbing, heights, being upside down.

26. Do you want kids? I've already got two.

27. Do you keep a handwritten journal? No, I keep this online journal, my blog hehe.

28. Where would you rather be right now? On a lovely beach without a care in the world.

29. Who makes you feel warm and fuzzy? Duncan, Rory, Flynn and my dogs.

30. Heavy or light sleeper? Heavy.  Once I'm out to it, I don't hear a thing.

31. Are you impatient? Yep.

32. Who can you relate to? Other mums with postnatal depression and anxiety.

33. How do you feel about interracial couples?  Nothing wrong with them at all.  Stupid question.

34.  Have you been burned by love? By unrequited love.

35. What's your motto? So what? (what I tell myself when I'm worrying about something unnecessarily).

36. What's the ring tone on your phone? Old fashioned telephone ring.

37. What were you doing at 2am this morning? Sleeping (in between feeds for Bubba Flynn).

38. What did the last text on your mobile say? From the bank saying money had been transferred out of my account (which had been done by me).

39. Whose bed did you sleep in last night? Mine and Duncan's.

40. What are you wearing? Pink/red coloured sleeveless top, denim maternity shorts, and my old ugg slippers.

41. Most recent movie you watched? Date Night.

42. Name three things you have on you at all times? While out it's my phone, wallet and keys.

43. What colour are your bed sheets? Grey/blue.

44. How much cash do you have on you right now? None of your biz haha.

45. What's your favourite part of the chicken? Breast

46. I can't wait 'til...? Harvest is over!

47. Who got you to join a site that you're addicted to? My friend Sarah, who invited me to join Facebook in 2007.

48. What did you have for dinner last night? Tacos

49. How tall are you barefoot? 164cm 

50. Have you ever smoked heroin?  Eww no, definitely not!  Who asks these questions? 

51. Do you own a gun?  Duncan does.

52. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water

53. What's your secret to lure in the opposite sex?  Be yourself and smile hehe.

54. Do you have ADD? No

55. What time did you wake up today? 7:15am.  Duncan lets me sleep in, because I'm up feeding Flynn during the night.

56. Current worry?  Abdominal diastasis.

57. Current hate? Vague, insincere offers of help.

58. Favourite place to be? Right now...bed!

59. Last thing you ate? Chow Mein.

60. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years? Only God knows...

61. Last thing that made you laugh? Rory. He's a funny little fellow.

62. Worst injury you've ever had? Sliding face first along bitumen and ripping skin off my face after a skipping accident in Year 7.

63. Does someone have a crush on you?  If they do, sorry I'm taken.

64. What is your favourite candy? Lolly bananas, Kool Mints and musk sticks.

65. What song do you want played at your funeral? Shower of Grace.

66. What are you doing right now?  This questionnaire!

How Do You Do?

A questionnaire is about all I can muster up at the moment.  The child is refusing to have a day sleep, refusing to go to bed at night, wakes up during the night, then wants to start the day at 5:30am!  To say it's draining my enthusiasm for blogging would be an understatement.

1.  Were you named after anyone?
Yes, my great grandmother.

2.  When was the last time you cried?
Monday afternoon.  I was just so frustrated with Rory.

3.  Do you like your handwriting?
It's ok.  It used to be much neater when I was at school.

4.  What is your favourite lunch meat?
Salami or chicken.

5.  Do you have kids?
Yes, one.

6.  If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
I guess so.  I'm 'interesting' haha.

7.  Do you use sarcasm a lot?
I try not to as I really don't like it.

8.  Do you still have your tonsils?
Yes.

9.  Would you bungee jump.
Umm let's see.  I hate heights, I hate falling, I hate being upside down.  That'd be a no.

10.  What is your favourite cereal?
Weetbix Wild Berry Bites.

11.  Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Most of the time.

12.  Do you think you are strong?
Nope, God is my strength.

13.  What is your favourite icecream?
Cookies and cream.

14.  What is the first thing you notice about people?
Their mood.

15.  Red or pink?
Pink.

16.  What is the least favourite thing you like about yourself?
Physically, my stomach (it's never been the same since having Rory).  Personality-wise, my temper.

17.  Who do you miss the most?
My Nan.

18.  What colour pants and shoes are you wearing?
Black shorts and brown ugg slippers.

19.  What was the last thing you ate?
Cheerios.

20.  What are you listening to right now?
My house being cleaned.  Yay!  Cleaners are a wonderful provision when you have kids.

21.  If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
Blue or purple.

22.  Favourite smells?
Freshly baked bread, coffee, men's deodorant, roses, lavender

23.  Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Duncan

24.  Favourite sports to watch?
Aussie Rules football. No other sport compares.

25.  Hair colour?
Brown.

26.  Eye colour?
Blue.

27.  Do you wear contacts?
No, I wear glasses for watching TV and computer work.

28.  Favourite food?
Chocolate.

29.  Scary movies or happy endings?
Usually happy endings as long as they're not too cheesy.

30.  Last movie you watched?
Blinder.

31.  What colour shirts are you wearing?
Purple and white, kind of tie-dyed.

32.  Summer or winter?
Winter.

33.  Hugs or kisses?
Hugs.

34.  Favourite dessert?
Chocolate mousse.

35.  What book are you reading now?
Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 by Steve Stockman.

36.  What is on your mouse pad?
Some brand name.

37.  What did you watch on TV last night?
Nothing, we watched a DVD.

38.  Favourite sound?
Waves crashing on the shore.

39.  Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Beatles.

40.  What is the furthered you've been from home?
Tasmania.

41.  Do you have a special talent?
Novel writing and acting (I hope!).

42.  Where were you born?
Perth.

Anniversary Questionnaire

Tomorrow Duncan and I will celebrate six years of marriage.

Happy anniversary to Amanda and Michael who will be celebrating 18 years tomorrow.

Time for a marriage-related questionnaire.....

1.  When was your engagement anniversary?
14th July 2007.

2.  When is your wedding anniversary?
12th April 2008.

3.  How long have your known your partner?
Nearly 11 years.

4.  How long did you date/court before you were engaged?
6 months.

5.  Where did you meet your partner for the first time?
At church in Perth.

6.  What is your partner's full name?
Duncan.  That's all you need to know. ;)

7.  Do you have any children yet?
Yes, one.

8.  How many boys/girls?
One boy - Rory.

9.  Do you have any house pets?
Don't ask me that question, I'm seriously going to cry (we give Ebony away tomorrow).

10.  Do you live in the country or in the city?
Country

11.  Do you own a house or rent?
Neither.  We live here rent-free as part of Duncan's job.

12.  How many siblings (including in-laws) do you have?
Only 2 - I have a younger brother and Duncan has an older brother.

13.  Do you work or stay at home?
Stay at home, but, boy, do I work hard!

14.  What town is your current address at?
The Great Southern region of Western Australia.  That's all you need to know. ;)

15.  Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Pemberton and Donnybrook for a few nights, then we went on our 'proper' honeymoon to Tasmania a few months after we were married.

16.  Where were you married?
Perth

17.  What sort of fun things do you like to do as a couple?
Watching movies/TV series at home, going out for dinner or coffee, walking, going to the beach, swimming, camping (well, we did before bubba came along), going to the cinema, reading the Bible together, driving around the farm in the ute with the dogs.

Photo by Justine Stevens

Hehehe!

11 Questions

Janine from Reflections from a Redhead tagged me to answer 11 questions.  Here goes:

1.  Do you have a place you visit in a recurring dream?
It used to be my bedroom (surprise, surprise).  When Rory was born, I would always have the same recurring nightmare...I was in my bed and he was in the bed with me, except he would disappear beneath the doona and I couldn't find him. I would wake up screaming.  Horrible!  Thankfully I haven't had those dreams for about six months now.

2.  Which albums or songs were your personal soundtrack to the year you turned 18?
It was 2001.  I remember With Arms Wide Open by Creed, Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse, Hit 'Em Up Style by Blu Cantrell were some of my faves that came out that year.

3.  Which band did you originally hate but in time became one of your favourites?
I never hated them, but I didn't get why everyone raved about U2.  It wasn't until I moved in with my friend Emma and listened to her The Best of 1980-1990 CD that I was hooked.  I went to their concert in Perth in 2010.

4.  What is your favourite holiday and how do you usually celebrate it?
Christmas!  We take turn about to visit our families - one year with my parents, one year with Duncan's parents, then we also have it at our place and invite our parents and brothers to join us.  My parents aren't Christians so sometimes we go to church and sometimes we don't.  We have a Christmas tree and presents which my Dad hands out wearing a Santa hat (although last year my brother took over).  If we're with Duncan's family, then we always go to church and then have a roast lunch afterwards, usually with extended family as well.

5.  What is your most outrageous Lotto dream (not helping family/charity or paying bills, just something completely out there if you the money and permission to do anything)?
It seems so selfish, but I guess a European/UK holiday then a trip to a beach paradise, then support myself to write novels.

6.  Where do you wish you could revisit again for the very first time?
Sydney and Esperance.

7.  When do you think we will finally have hoverboards?
Soon I hope.  I want one, but it probably won't be for at least another 10-15 years.

8.  What is your favourite photograph of yourself?
I would say one from my wedding day:

9.  What is your favourite memory from the town/city you live in now?
Christmas 2011.  Our first Christmas as hosts and the first time we had both families join us.  The 'battle of the siblings' tennis match (me and my brother versus Duncan and his brother) was a classic!

10.  What is the song you danced to when you first danced with someone you liked?
I have no idea.

11.  What now obsolete or lost item from your childhood/teens do you wish you bring back?
Judy Blume books.  My cousin lent them to me when she finished with them, now I've given them back to her so her daughter can read them.  I get so excited when I find one in an opshop.

Feel free to do this questionnaire on your own blog. :)

I'm Back....With A Questionnaire

Janine tagged me in a questionnaire.  I thought it would be a good way to ease myself back into blogging after my hiatus, so here goes...

What is the thing that makes you want to get out of bed each day?
The first thought that goes through my head is....I really want to press 'snooze'...but I gotta pee!

What do you tell yourself to get through painful, difficult, or challenging times?
God has a reason for this and He is in control.  He is using this situation to make me more like Christ.

What can you look back on and remind yourself you were successful at, or were strong enough to come through?
I don't think I'm strong enough on my own to come through anything, but God is my strength. I'm thankful that He has brought me through times where I've felt depressed.  I'm thankful that He has helped me persevere with dealing with difficult people, my family's opposition to my faith, and with completing my university studies and my first novel.

Look around you at this moment and choose one thing to smile about or be thankful for. What is it?
Our first child who (God willing) we will meet in four and a half months.

If you could do anything at this moment to make yourself happy, what would it be?
Go opshopping. :)

Do you have a special place, real or imagined, where you go to in your mind or reality to regroup, seek peace, or just be?
I like walking along the beach for some time out.  Pity we live inland so it doesn't happen that often.

Has there been a particular book that you have read that inspired or motivated you to seek your potential?
The Writer's Guide by Irina Dunn and The Australian Writer's Marketplace.

What childhood fable, fairytale, or movie stretched your imagination and sticks with you today?
The Neverending Story.

What is your favourite form of art and artist (anyone and anything you consider art qualifies)?
Photography.  I'd love to be a photographer, but I don't have the right 'eye' for it.  I love seeing friends, who are talented photographers, put their work on Facebook.
I'd also have to say writing.  It takes a lot of talent and hard work to write passionately and move a reader to engage emotionally with the characters and story.

Do you have a personal anthem, a song, that reminds you of who you are and want to be, that represents the ideal of you?
Not really, but Be Thou My Vision would be one.

Another One Of These Things

What time did you get up this morning?  6:15am.  I was in Perth and had an appointment to get to.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Safe House

What is your favourite TV show?  Packed to the Rafters

What do you usually have for breakfast?  Fruit and yogurt usually.  Sometimes bacon and eggs.

What is your favourite CD at the moment?  Let All Creation Sing by Emu Music.  But I have lots of faves.

What kind of car do you drive?  2005 Prado

What characteristic do you despise?  Apathy

What colour is your bathroom?  Pale green

Impressive skill/talent? Well, after writing a novel...I hope I can say writing.  I guess the publishers will decide that.

Pets?  Two dogs (Maya and Gypsy), one cat (Ebony), one rooster (Russell Crowe), and eight hens (Florentine, Omelette, Eggnog, Shelley, Clementine, Gloria, Rose and Princess Layer).

What did you want to be when you were little?  A princess, a famous person.

How are you today?  Sick and tired.

What is a date on the calendar you are looking forward to?  First weekend in July when we get to see our friend, Jane, from Sydney.

What time is it?  7:01pm

Piercings? Ears

Favourite Alcohol Drink?  Beer, Baileys and Vodka Chocolate Mudshake.  I don't drink very often though.

What colour is your bedroom?  A pale brown/mocha type colour.

Celebrity you'd most want to have dinner with?  The old cast of Blue Heelers from 1997.

What are you listening to right now?  Myself typing and the heater.

What was your first job?  Being a stocktake kid at Woolworths in Albany when I was 15.

What is the greatest place on earth? I dunno since I haven't exactly seen much of it.

How would you react to a flat tyre?  I'd get frustrated, call the RAC (depending where I was) or call someone else to come and help.

Tattoos?  None.

First concert you ever saw?  Saw a few local bands in Albany, but the first big concert I went to was Kelly Clarkson in November 2005.

What colour are your socks right now? I was wearing black socks, but I took them off.  Now I'm wearing slippers.

What was the last thing that you ate? A meat pattie

Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, but I haven't for so long, I doubt I can still do it.

Last person you spoke to on the phone?  My mum

How old are you today? 29 years and 2 days.

Favourite drink? Water, mocha, Coke

Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, but I haven't for a while.

Favourite food? Chocolate!

What do you do to vent anger? Blog haha, but I've learnt it's wise to cool down and process my thoughts first.  Have a rant to Duncan or a good friend.

Cherries or Blueberries? Neither

Living arrangements? With Duncan and all our critters.

When was the last time you cried?  Last week while watching Marley and Me.

What is on the floor of your closet? Sporting gear

Who is the friend you have had the longest? Rachel

What did you do last night? Went out for Chinese with some family friends.

Favourite smells? Coffee, fresh bread, lavender

What are you afraid of? Physical pain

Favourite dog breed? Golden Retriever, Daschund, Pug

How many years at your current job? 1

Another Questionnaire!

Is your best friend single? Don’t have a best friend, but most of my good friends are married or in relationships.

Who was the last person you cried in front of? Duncan

Has anyone said they love you in the last week? Yes, my honey and my mum.

What’s wrong with you? A few things.

Where will you be 12 hours from now? Asleep

Do you know what you are going to wear tomorrow? Something appropriate to wear to work.

Are you on a desktop or laptop? Laptop

Does anyone hate you for no reason? For no reason? Probably. For a reason? Well, they must have a reason.

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? Yeah it would be incredible to see how things were long ago. As long as I could get back to the future though.

Are you easily confused? Sometimes. Some movie plots baffle me and so does some people’s behaviour.

What is it you truly want right now? My loved ones to come to know Christ…oh a big block of chocolate would be nice too.

How many windows are open on your computer? 3

Who was your last incoming call from? The accountant.

Ever dated anyone starting with J? No

What did you last eat? Chicken and salad.

Last drink? Water

Who do you want to be with right now? My Duncan...awwww.

Where is your sister? No sister, only one brother.

Do you like surprises? Yes, good ones.

Last three people to text you? My dad, my mum and my netball coach.

Is there a meaning behind your Facebook profile song? Whaaat? I didn’t know you could have a profile song. Isn’t that a bit myspace?

Are you slowly drifting away from someone? Yes, unfortunately. Some friendships just don’t survive growing up, distance and life changes.

Where was your profile picture taken? On Facebook: Frenchman Bay, near Albany.  On my blog: my old house in Cannington.

Something you do a lot? Watch TV, listen to sermons, read, Facebook, blogging, walking, cooking, looking after pets, sport.

Are you mean? I do have a mean streak, I’ll admit that.

Do you know anyone who was adopted? Yes

Do you get a lot of colds? Not usually, but the second half of last year was horrible for sicknesses.

Would you consider painting your bedroom purple? No. Duncan wouldn’t like it one bit, and it would remind me of the Dockers *bleergh*.

Do you like Chris Daughtry? Who’s he?

Would you rather watch the Disney Channel or the Discovery Channel? Disney, but I want the old Disney stuff from the 1960s - Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Sword in the Stone, Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, Swiss Family Robinson…stuff like that.

What is one thing that you hate about living where you live? No mobile reception, isolation, small town mentality.

What is the weather like today? Overcast and windy.

Did you know that you can actually RENT wedding rings? That’s awful, it’s like just assuming the marriage will fail. Although I think some Hollywood couples should invest in this sort of thing.

Have you ever read an entire book in a matter of a few hours? Yes, but it was a short book.

Do you like 3OH!3? I have no idea.

Do you own an iPod? No, I’m so behind in technology. I don’t feel the need to keep up with the Joneses.  I have an mp4 player, but it's crap.

What was the last movie you watched? Antwone Fisher

How many siblings do you have? One younger brother.

Do you have a lot of posters on your wall? No, stopped doing that when I left home at 17.

What's your writing look like? Half neat, half scrawly. It used to be much neater when I was at school, but got messier when I went to uni and was trying to take notes in lectures.

Did you drink any coffee today? No, I usually only drink it when I’m at work, a friend’s house or a café.

Do you eat whip cream straight out of the can? No, gross.

Do you have any Jordan's in your cell phone? Yes

What was the last thing you spent money on? Groceries

Have you kissed or hugged someone lately? My man everyday.

Are your parents over the age of 40? Yes, well over 40. They are in their early sixties.

Do you like glitter? Not really. It gets over everything and is hard to clean off.

What colour was the car that you last rode in that wasn't yours? White

5 Books That Changed Who I Am

Thanks Meredith and Karen for tagging me.  I love quizzy meme thingies. :)

This one I actually found quite hard because it is asking me to list books that actually CHANGED who I am - not merely books I enjoyed.  I have read plenty of books that I enjoyed immensely, but they didn't change who I am.

I'm not going to include the Bible in the five because I think that's a given.

1.  Promoting the Gospel by John Dickson

God drew me to this book in 2005 when I was still recovering from a very low period in my life from the previous year.  I had started to feel that I wasn't a true Christian because evangelism scared me silly, and it was at a camp bookstall that this book caught my eye.  Written in Dickson's usual down-to-earth style, this book breaths grace on every page by showing that there are many ways to promote the gospel, and that we are all part of the body of Christ - different yet with the same mission.  It brought me great comfort and encouragement and I plan to do a proper review on this blog later.

2.  Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns

Another book God used to help me.  For the past few years I'd been concerned and sceptical about the strong belief in what Brauns calls 'therapeutic forgiveness' - that is forgiveness offered without repentance.  This book will challenge many people and some people won't like it for that reason, but it is very biblical and practical.  It was just what I needed after a conflict-ridden past few years.  I'll review this one properly as well when I get it back from a friend who has borrowed it.

3.  No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green and David Hazard

This is one biography I cannot stop thinking about.  As confronting as he is inspiring, Keith's life and passion for God continues to challenge me.  He shows me how far short I fall, but that we serve a gracious God.  I found myself nodding as he journeys through a series of thoughts, sometimes swinging too far to the side of judgementalism, because I've been there myself.  I was inspired by the way he and his wife, Melody, took in so many homeless and drug-addicted people, showed them love and told them the gospel.  It makes me realise how addicted to comfort I am and challenges me to believe that nothing is impossible with God.  Read my review here.

4.  Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges

I admit I picked up this book because I felt sure it would be a great book to give to Christians who I considered to be annoying hypocrites, but when I read it, I felt it challenging me and stripping me of my pride.  The book shows how different our standard of holiness is compared to God's.  Bridges writes in such a way to show us how serious sin is (even the things we don't consider to be sin, such as gossip, anxiety etc), but he also writes 'from the trenches' as he shares the struggles from his own battles with sin.  The book showed me that we have a holy God.....but also a God who is committed to refining His people.  Read my review here.

5.  Looking For Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Fiction doesn't usually make as big an impact on me as non-fiction, but this is probably the book that has impacted me the most.  I saw the movie when I was in Year 12 and read the book after I graduated.  Although I've never suffered racist taunts, I found myself being able to relate to Josie's struggles of not fitting in (she is Australian-born, but of Italian heritage).  Like Josie, I care too much of what other people think of me and burden myself with trying to live up to their expectations.  Josie's coming of age at the end of the book is something I often remember when I feel like a dork.  Some people like to feed off other people's insecurities so the key is not to give them that opportunity.  I may not be popular, but I have the best friends in the whole wide world.

Now, this is a meme so I get to tag a few people at this point. Here are the rules.

• Tag between 3 and 5 people
• Link back to this post
• Call the post ’5 books that changed who I am’
• Enjoy

I tag Iris, Bek and Jenny.

30 Pictures

Ever since I saw Allie from It's A Wonderful Life do this, I've been meaning to as well.

Here goes....

1.  Someone you spend a lot of time with

2.  A picture of you

3.  A random photo of you and your significant other

4.  An old picture of you

5.  A picture of something that makes you happy

6.  A picture of your siblings

7.  A picture of a person you miss

8.  A picture you've never posted on your blog before


My friend Rachel and I trying on kids' sunnies in Kmart (don't we look special!) - Feb 2006

9.  A picture of people who knew you then and know you now



10.  A picture of your favourite place



Frenchman Bay (near Albany)



11.  A person you can tell anything to



My amazing friend, Sarah



12.  A picture of your everyday life



Life on the farm



13.  A picture from a place you love



MELBOURNE! :)



14.  A picture that reminds you of good times



Christina and I at my 16th birthday





15.  A class photo




Year 7 (1995).  I'm in the front row, third from the right

 

16.  A picture of the best day of your life

17.  A picture that always makes you laugh

18.  A picture of your spare time


My blog hehe



19.  A photo from a great night



My parents are officially weirdos!



20.  A picture of the people closest to you

21.  A picture of someone you always have a good time with



Mandyman! :)



22.  A picture of your parents when they were around your age



My parents' wedding - 13th April 1974



23.  A picture from last summer

24.  A picture of your closest friend of the opposite sex (not your significant other)



Mine and Dunc's great mate Craig (married to Sarah)



25.  A picture of your favourite vacation

Our honeymoon in Tasmania.  Getting to meet Freddo at the Cadbury factory in Hobart was a highlight.

26.  A picture of an accomplishment

27.  A picture of your closest friend

28.  A random picture from Photobooth

Ok so it's not Photobooth, but you have to admit it would make a darn good Photobooth photo hehe.

29.  A photo that makes you smile

Hehe Amanda's light fitting hat and Taryn's veil always crack me up.

30.  Someone you will never let go of



The Lord Jesus (He will never let go of me)



If you have a blog, why not have a go :)

Photos 16, 20 and 27 were taken by our wedding photographer, Justine Stevens.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

Your Hidden Talent is Your Quick Wit

You are a great communicator. You have a real way with words. You're never at a loss to explain what you mean or how you feel. People find it easy to empathise with you, no matter what your situation. When you're up, you make everyone happy. But when you're down, everyone suffers.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

10 Things That Make Me Happy

I love quizzes, questionnaires and all that jazz.  Thanks Meredith from The Key to the Door for tagging me.

1.  The knowledge and comfort that Jesus Christ died for ALL my sins - past, present and future.  It's not up to me.  He has paid what I could never pay and my eternal future is secure.  Sometimes I don't think I will ever fully understand grace.

2.  Spending time with my wonderful man.  He is such a top bloke and I don't deserve him.  I love just being with him even when we don't have anything exciting planned.

3.  Going home to Albany to spend time with my family and return to my roots.

4.  Catching up with good friends, the ones who are your 'pyjama' friends as in you are so comfortable in their company.   Even a phone call or an email really makes my day.

5.  Travelling.  I'm so used to spending hours in the car that I really love it.  Road trips ROCK!

6.  Playing or watching sport, especially my Eagles.  I love the euphoria behind barracking for a team; it's totally goosebump kind of stuff.  It makes you feel united with complete strangers who you suddenly have something in common with because you go for the same team.

7.  Curling up on the couch with a good book or watching a DVD and eating chocolate.  Bliss!

8.  Bopping along to music - Christian or secular.  Dancing around like a maniac, singing in the car....good stuff!

9.  Going to the beach.  Whether it be plunging beneath the ocean on a beautiful day or just walking along the sand, dipping my feet in the water, the beach is truly a special place.

10.  Writing my book.  The satisfaction that I have finally gotten my ideas down on paper, and it is my very own creation.

It's hard to stop at ten.  There are so many things I enjoy and are grateful for.

I tag Amanda, Iris and Ronnica.

56 Random Things You May Not Know

This was emailed to me ages ago, so I thought I'd finally give it a go.  I'm sure you all want to get to know me better :)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8am

2. Diamonds or pearls? Neither really.  I like my beads.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Clash of the Titans.  And yes we saw it in 3D.  It's all action and no storyline really.

4. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal, toast and a glass of juice.

5. What is your favourite TV show? Packed to the Rafters.  Can't wait til it comes back!

6. What is your middle name? Rosanne.  My nan's name is Rose.  My great nana's middle name was Anne (her first name was Sarah) so my mum combined the two and chopped the 'e' out of the middle.

7. What food do you dislike? Tomatoes are foul unless they're chopped up so finely and mixed with other things so you can't really taste them.  Brussel sprouts, spinach, silver beet....I could go on and on and on...

8. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Forrest Gump soundtrack.

9. What kind of car do you drive? A silver 2004 Hyundai Accent that's not really liking the rough roads up here and I think she desperately wants to go back to the city.

10. Favourite Sandwich? Chicken, cheese, lettuce and mayo.

11. What characteristic do you despise? Manipulation, controlling behaviour, bitchiness, vagueness and hypocrisy.

12. Favourite item of clothing? My Eagles jacket WOOHOO!  And my dresses!

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation: Austria so I can do a Maria and sing on a mountain.

14. Favourite brand of clothing? Don't have one.

15. Where would you retire to? The beach.

16. What was your most recent memorable b'day? 21st cos I had a costume party with a 'TV characters' theme.  In high school, I loved my 15th and 16th birthdays which I had just with close friends.  My 23rd was pretty good too, just had an open invite to a pub in Vic Park.

17. Favourite sport to watch? Aussie Rules all the way baby!

18. Furthest place you are sending this? I'm not sending it anywhere.  It's going on my blog so really anyone in the world could read it.  By the way, do I have any international readers (apart from Iris)?

19. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Well, I'm gonna tag everyone who reads this, but I don't actually expect anyone to do it (prove me wrong!)

20. Person you expect to send it back first? Absolutely no idea.

21. Your birthday? 30th May 1983

22. Are you a morning or night person? More morning than night.  I'm more productive in the morning, and start to slack off around nana nap time.

23. What is your shoe size? 7

24. Pets? Ebony puss and Maya dog, and we're getting more chooks in a few weeks.  In Albany, I have my dear old Ellie cat who is now a not-so-sprightly 18 years old.

25. What did you want to be when you were little? An author and a librarian.  How strange that I've done both (well, still waiting to be a published author).

26. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with us? Not really.  I live in the middle of nowhere.  Nothing exciting happens here.

27. How do you feel today? Mellow.

28. What is your favourite candy? Mentos - fresh and full of life :)  A friend of mine told me I need to go to MA (Mints Anonymous).

29. What is your favourite flower? Frangipanis.  I had fake ones in my hair for my wedding.

30. What is the day in the calendar you're looking forward to? Next weekend - Cornerstone!

31. What is your full name? I'm not silly enough to put that on the net!

32. What are you listening to right now? The hum of the laptop and myself typing.

33. What was the last thing you ate? Marshmallows.

34. Do you wish on stars? Nope, I worship the God who created the stars.

35. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? I used to have a rainbow crayon when I was a kid.  I'd be that!

36. How is the weather right now? It has been quite overcast today, but now the skies have cleared a bit.

37. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My dad.  I'm not really a phone person, and I get nervous calling people I don't know well.

38. Favourite softdrink? It used to be lemonade, but now I think it's Coke.

39. Favourite restaurant? I like Whaler's Galley at Whaleworld in Albany.  It's more of a cafe and has a beautiful view.

40. Hair Colour? Brown although I have had a few colour changes over the past six months.

41. What was your favourite toy as a child? My Cabbage Patch Doll who I called Belinda.  I later found her birth certificate and her name is actually Bridget.

42. Summer or Winter? Winter

43. Hugs or kisses? Hugs

44. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

45. Coffee or Tea? I usually drink more coffee, but I like tea too.

46. Do you want your friends to email you back? Nope I want them to do this on their own blogs.  If they don't have a blog, I'd like them to leave a comment with their answers.

47. When was the last time you cried? Last night.  Sometimes the isolation of living here really gets to me.

48. What is under your bed? Ummm what's NOT under our bed!  There's a sleeping bag, a rolled up camping mattress, a blow up mattress and pump, some of Duncan's shoes, a sports bag....I'd have to check to see what else is lurking under there.

49. Salty or Sweet? Sweet usually, but salty chips are SO good!

50. How many keys on your keyring? A car key, two office keys, a post box key...so four I think.

51. How many years at your current job? Five months of my admin job, a year of being a TAFE student, and many years off and on of being a wannabe writer.

52. Favourite day of the week? Saturday because there's still another day of the weekend to go.

53. How many towns have you lived in? Just three - Perth, Albany, then Perth again, and Buntine.

54. Do you make friends easily? I thought I did, but now I realise the sad truth that I don't, and it gets harder as I get older.

55. How many people will you send this to? See question 46.

56. How many will respond? Wouldn't have a clue.

If you're reading this, I tag you.  Do it on your blog and let me know, or if you don't have a blog, leave a comment with your answers.  C'mon I know you have nothing better to do this weekend :)

What Nightmare Are You?

You Are Falling

Sometimes things in your life feel completely out of control. You get overwhelmed. Like everyone else you have a fear of failure... just like falling in a nightmare. You may need more balance in your life. Take time to take care of yourself.And learn to go with the flow a little bit more. Falling can feel exciting if you let it!

What Nightmare Are You?