Princesses and party dresses

Theses past few weeks have seen a lot of beautiful little princesses, and a certain mister have thier birthdays. But one particular little girl made me feel super special.

Hannah B (as she is affectionately known) just turned eight and to mark this occasion she was having a high tea party, complete with little sandwiches, cupcakes, pink lemonade miniature tea cups and tiny little fairies scattered around the garden. And to this particular party she was only allowed to invite 6 friends and she chose to invite me miss Steph (or as Hannah insists on calling me Stephi).

I was so flattered that this little girl would chose to use up one of her invites to have me at her party that I just couldn't say no. I cleared my schedule and went all out. As the invitation stipulated I was to were my prettiest party dress, well you might care to know that I am as tomboy as you get and hate wearing dresses but how could I not. So I chose my prettiest dress out of the two or three I own and wore it along with high heels and stockings I looked quiet the part even if I do say so myself.

I had a lovely afternoon with Hannah and all her beautiful little friends, all dressed up in 'spinny' dresses, cute little food ladening the table with everything pink from sprinkles to lemonade to fairy floss.

Happy Birthday Hannah B I love you, and may God continue to bless your sox off. Xx



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Amazing people

I am so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life.

I suppose these people 'stand out' (for want of a better word) in the tough times of our lives, but I feel they need acknowledgement, even in the easy times of our lives too.

This is just that...

Lauren Rowbottom...
An amazing friend and roll model. She's been there for my happy days and my many sad, to give me advice, prayer, hugs, tissues for my tears and to make me smile. God sent her onto my life to help me learn how to forgive the virtually unforgivable (well at least in my human opinion).

Felicity Rouse...
She is again another amazing woman pursuing God, she challenged me to live a life devoted to him. Encouraging me with the wonderful words of wisdom from books written by other people who love the Lord with their lives, and with music and heart felt lyrics from more passionate Christians. And I thank her greatly for this encouragement and all the heartfelt prayers she poured out for me.

Shelley Wright...
Yet another amazing woman, she is a bubbly life force that's affectionately known as Shelby. She is defiantly a woman whom I admire, look up to and love. She keeps me smiling and helps me to see things in perspective, she has this uncanny ability to know when I need cheering up or just a casual care-free day or a big hug. Again she is another woman who has prayed for me. I love her and can not imagine my life without her.

And another amazing woman who I'm sure will be surprised that she made this list, even thought she is every bit deserving...

Rachel Pelentsov...
Were do I start she is a new addition to my life but in the short time I've known her she has made such an impact in my life. She is an incredibly wise, and knows what advice I need to hear. She is not only the chick I hang out with just coz, but she's the one I turn to with the tough issues too. She is a woman who lives by actions not just words. I look to her and see someone who loves the Lord, and wants to live her life to please Him. She is one of my best friends and my life would feel empty without her there. She's a real encouragement and I just want her to begin to understand how much I appreciate her, and that's just the half of it.

I again just need to say what a blessing these women are to me. God has sent each of them into my life for a reason and I thank Him for that, and for each of them.

Thank you God,
And thank you ladies



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House sitting

I have written a few posts about house sitting so far, but this one I hope will be different, because the experience of house sitting was very different this time round.

Not only was I house sitting with two of my best friends, for 3 weeks I might add. But it gave me a first hand taste of what 'moving out' would be like. And I loved it...

You see I live at home with my mum and dad and as much as I love them I am so ready to move out, and now after this I want to even more.

Other then strengthening my desire to 'spread my wings' so to speak, I also really enjoyed the experience of spending a lot of face time with Rachel and Emma my before-mentioned friends.

This might be a weird comment to make but when you think about it you might spend all day with your friends but you still go home to your own bed and you don't see them every morning when you wake up. But the experience of being with your friends all the time and learning to live with there little annoyance, and they with mine was really good. I think it strengthened our relationships and gave us the opportunity to learn lots of little things out about each other.

Over the three weeks we watched a lot of movies, both scary and funny, and Em's favorite tv show Private Practice which Rach and I kinda really began to like. We went bike riding, baked a banana cake.

On one of our last nights there Emma cooked dinner for us, it was an amazing roast, with carrot, potato, sweet potato, and cauliflower cheese (the best I've ever had).

The last day we spent cleaning and even that wasn't that bad. It was really sad to leave the freedom of living away from home and living so closely with my friends. I really missed them the next morning.


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Riding free (again)

Just this week I have been out horse riding twice and have loved every magical minute of it.
As I have mentioned before my friend has just moved, and this ment that I could go and explore the new neighborhood.

Monday:
Although the ride started a little rock to say the least (Megs stood on my foot and bruised it quiet badly, it swelled up and was quiet tender and painful) by the end of the ride I was all smiles. I found a little lane way that was covered in grass and flowers, so beautiful. I cantered up and back half a dozen times before heading back to the paddock for another canter and some bare back warm down.




Today:
I decided to be a little more adventurous and went all the way to the end of the road were I found a reserve with horse-riding trails. It was marvelous, Megs and I eyes wide open, ducking and weaving through the trees, wind in my... Helmet. Magical, just magical, once I worked out Which way home was. Then back home for a hose down, for Megs not me. Although I did end up just as wet as she was after she shook all over me.



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Riding Free

There is nothing on this earth that is as freeing as riding a horse. Well in my opinion at least.

Just the other day I went to see my friend who recently move to the country, although she was a little busy we had a quick coffee, and I saw her new house and how she had made it their home with her creative touch. She also recently moved her horse (Megs, whom I have mentioned in previous posts) to her new house, and I being the avid horse lover did not pass up the oppotunity of a ride. It had been some time since I had last ridden... and boy did my body tell me that the next day.

Anyways this particular afternoon was a beautiful one with a few showers here and there. I quiet like the rain so I didn't mind riding through it. It would sprinkle then clear up just enough to dry-off before it came again.
It was quiet out in the paddock not much noise from anywhere, just the steady sound of Megs canter as I discovered all the twists and turns to this new stretch of land. I like the quiet it gives me time to think and pray and contemplate a whole bunch of things that I tend to push aside in my busy day to day life.
During one of the 'dry' patches a woodpecker came out to visit, he was happily pecking away at the tree in the neighbouring paddock, I had never seen one in action before. He was focused and determined and majestic all at the same time. Isn't Gods creation beautiful.
At one point I was cantering straight up the paddock, my hair blowing in the wind, rain lightly dusting my face and I couldn't help but think how amazing and free I felt. Gliding through the air the thudding of hooves resounding in my ears, how magical, how heavenly, how utterly speechless I was. And how in awe of God I was for this opportunity, this time spent with Him.

The Shack

... sorry it took me so long to post this but I attempted several times to post a video, unfortunately it didn't work, so you will have to miss out on that funny and slightly embarrassing footage...

Isn't it funny how people leading a background/non-speaking roll in the play known as your life sometimes for some reason or another become a main character? Well that's the case with our new friend Rachel. She is a more then welcome new friend and has made my life all the more enjoyable.
Which leads me to the story of our fun weekend at her shack in Stansburry.
So as mentioned above we, being Rachel, Emma and myself went for a little holiday down to Stansburry to celebrate Emma's birthday. This trip was fun for a lot of reasons but I will just share with you a few of the highlights.

• A random night hike, during which Emma hurt her knee, and I piggy backed her up a very steep hill.
• The giant light outside the hotel which Emma decided to lick.
• The play ground, were we hung up-side-down from the climbing frame by our feet.
• At the same playground we decided to hitch a ride on the lockness express. (the photos are not flattering)
• Fishing although unsuccessful, cold and slimy wasn't too bad.
• The wooden spoon. Thanks Emma!
• Ping-Pong balls. We had seen you-tube footage of guys bouncing ping-pong balls off all kings of things and getting them into a cup so we attempted to do the same. We succeeded a few times, and our stunts were a little more 'beginner'.
• Squid fishing in the tidle pool at night. Again unsuccessful and really cold, but we got lots of casting practice.
• The wind farm. The windmills were huge and amazing and a little scary.

• The gate at the wind-farm should not be flipped over. All I can say is ouch! (see previous post)
• Cruzing hanging out the sunroof. So much fun.

• Fish and chips at the tidle pool. There were lots of seagulls and we got them to come so close, it was awesome.
• Then a $40 bet that resulted in me fully clothed dripping wet and freezing, with no towel and a 20min drive home. Crazy. (I tried posting the video but it wouldn't let me.)
• The Standsburry pub... no vegetarian meals. Grrr.
• To different park that night. We are so cool. lol.
• Teaching Emma to drive a manual shes actually really good.
• And soooo much more...

All in all it was an awesome weekend with two awesome friends and it was a little sad we had to leave.

Clumsy

I have just discovered that I am extremely clumsy.

Some might mistake this for lack of co-ordination, but I assure you it has very little to do with my ability to catch and throw a ball, and a lot more to do with my lack of attention and forward thinking.

Over the past few weeks I have managed to....

• Fall dramatically of a chair (in front of a class of yr. 7's I might add). I had really impressive bruises and a really sore back. Ouch.


• Bump my head on the monkey bars, after successfully flipping off of them.


• Hook myself with a fishing hook, after we had finished fishing.


• Stacked, tripped and stumbled numerous times.


• And the most clumsy of all, flip over a mettle grid gate, and smack the crown of my head on the gate.... gee was that stupid or what? I can't begin to describe the headache.

... I always have these unexplained bruises... and I have no doubt that they came from one of my clumsy moments. Just pinpointing which bruise came from what particular moment is the hard task.

House sitting with the 2 legged kind...

This past weekend I have had a blast....
I've been house sitting with my good friend Emma.

Usually when I house sit I'm accompanied with furry friends of the four legged kind, their fun and full of life (which is a good thing, nothing worse then coming home to a dead pet.... It hasn't happened yet.) but these friends are a little hard to converse with; at least on any basic human level anyway.

BUT....

This time I had a friend of the two legged human kind. It was awesome....
We both had a set of keys, so we were free to come and go as we pleased or as was needed for work and such.
We shared all the duties, with out even communicating it, we just did our part as needed.
We realised that we thought very similarly, often finding ourselves saying or thinking the same thing. We just both happen to be on the same quirky wave length.
And We had fun......
One night we went for a little drive to sus out a possible house rental, and the current tenant was out the front looking at us like we were stalking her, which we weren't....
That night just before bed we went to turn on Emma's fan and found out that the power points in the spare room don't work, so we climbed out of bed and hunted high and low for and extension cord. We ended up using 1 power board and 2 extension cords to make it long enough to reach the nearest working power point. Insanity Emma.
The next night we sat on 'our' couches watching One Tree Hill, both playing Sims on our lap tops. We are so lame.
Saturday night she corrupted me convincing me to not only paint my toenails black, but also my fingernails. (gasp, how dreadful)... (she wears black nail polish, not because shes goth but because she likes to).
And then just this arvo we got Maccas for lunch (our first lot of take out, thank you), and then went shopping with our friend Rach. Had a blast, then she took us to see her block of land, also known as a dirt patch. Now I should mention she has a slightly fancy car with an awesome sun roof, which Emma and myself may or may not have stuck our heads out simultaneously as Rach drove around the new development..... Its was thrilling, fun, a little scary (well it was Rach driving) and most likely a little bit illegal. and to top off a fabulous day we went back to 'our' house and we all played killer bunnies, which I won, and it was mine and Emmas first time playing I might add.

... All in all it was a good test run for Emma and I. We know we can live well together, now all were waiting for is money and a house.

let go...

Why is it so hard to let go and let God?

As posts in the past have suggested I am finding it hard to ‘find a future’ for myself. At the beginning of this year I started at an adult school with the intensions of gaining a TER and a position in the vet science course at uni. Well a lot has happened since then...

After just a term back at school I decided (rightly or wrongly), that it wasn’t for me. I pulled out of my classes and went back to a minimum wage income at my job of 6 years. Don’t get me wrong I love working there. It’s such a friendly atmosphere and I have been blessed with the best boss you could ever ask for; but it’s not a career.

So were to now? I have a passion for children and youth, and for animals. The saying goes don’t work with children and/ or animals, but the truth is that's all I could ever imagine doing. So all I need to do is find a career that encompasses one or both of these passions, right? And fits perfectly into my preconceived idea of the perfect career, right? Well somehow I don't think it's as easy as that.

I may have omitted the fact that I also have a passion for God and serving Him. But what does that look like? I don’t know. And to be completely honest I'm scared to find out.

See I am scared that if I LET GO of my preconceived ideas and what the world tells me is a suitable career, and a healthy enough pay packet. And LET GOD take reign over my future, guide my path, challenge me in ways I never thought possible; then well I wouldn’t be in control.

This is and has been a huge struggle of mine for many years. I am a self admitted control freak who NEEDS to learn that GOD SHOULD be in control, and I am simply the vessel He MAY choose to use. My hopes and dreams pale in significance when it comes to what the Lord can achieve with a willing, eager, and faithful vessel.

Why should I conform to the ways of the world, their actions and their way for thinking? Should I not break free of the strong hold of this worldly thinking and be set a flight by the power, might and strength of GOD? And dare to dream the impossible, because through Him the impossible is made possible; if we have faith and we are in accordance with His will; A will that we will never know about if we don’t have a relationship with Him.

Four on Friday

I just realised I really like alliteration, I use it in most of my titles.
So Four on Friday...

I was blessed with the task of babysitting the four Rouse kids, over night on Friday night... That's right I had 4 kids under 8 over night all by myself, and as you all know nothing ever goes exactly according to plan, so I'll share the highlights of our wonderful 24 hours together.

• First up was the challenge of strapping the car seat into the car. It took us about 10 minutes to workout how to adjust the strap so we could anchor it in the boot. Then it took about 10 minutes to fold the stroller up, poking and prodding and pulling almost every part of the darn thing to get it to collapse, Before squeezing int into the back seat. Car seat, stroller and Anika all secularly in the car and off I was.

• Then came the school run, one kid there 4 kids on the way home sounds simple enough, right?!?.... well 3 school children equal, three: schoolbags, lunchboxes, homework packs, jackets. and 4 children equal eight legs. Ok head count, 3 kids .... 2 kids ... 5 kids (were did that extra one come from?) ... 4 kids, all rounded up and with bags on backs we were set to go.

• Dinner time, was so easy (thanks Flick), dinner all made and ready to stick in the oven, garlic bread on the side. awesome. A little argument about who got the privilege of sitting next to me. (very flattering..... see Emma Miss Stephanie is the best). 3 dinners devoured and the other two not so keen on finishing theirs, even with the prospect of ice cream. (sorry mum, not ratting anyone out)

[as a side note I should make you aware that I go to a home group on a Friday night as do the Rouses, and I was determined to get all the kids ready at to the home group on time, a few doubted but that just made me more determined]

• Home group time arrived, the kids bathed and in their jarmies, and their teeth were brushed. Pillows, blankets, teddy's all acquired and in the car along with the kids. done. Arriving at home group and jumping out the car Harry says "Miss Stephanie I forgot my slippers.", One kid forgot slippers, one forgot a pillow and another forgot their blanket, but all in all not a bad effort.

• Setting the kids up in bed, I gave them a few minutes to read. then lights out, they of course mucked up a little, but with a gentle reminder at the prospect of Maccas for breakfast I didn't hear another peep.

• Whilst at bible study, my car was egged, the last thing I needed when I had 4 sleepy children, but what can you do but soldier on... Settling the kids into their beds back at 'home', I set out to wash my car, I had to find a bucket and cloth, and wash the car under the illumination of a little light under the carport. Grrr.

• Sleep, that was defiantly a highlight.

• Jo and Anika woke up first at 6am. Not happy Jan. But Joanna played quietly in the toy room, and Ani snuggled with me for a while, so cute. Then Harry and Jessie got up at 6:30am, and it was time for snuggles with Jess.

• Anikas outfit, was adorable. The others are old enough to dress themselves, so I was helping Ani, she wanted to wear her bear dress, but it was too cold so I put leggings on a top underneath, she looked so cute.

• Macca's was fun, ordering was chaos, but we ended up with everything we needed. I also bumped into someone I knew and the Rouses didn't, they were surprised to see me with 4 kids until I explained that they were not mine, I was babysitting.

• At the park, the kids were riding their bikes around, and climbing on the jungle gym, I look up and Anika is right at the top, then she insists that she can climb down all by herself, standing by to catch her if she falls, she climbed down with quiet some thought and skill, shes growing up so fast.

These are just a few glimpses of our wonderful time together, I love the Rouse kids, I love all kids, and I really enjoyed spending time with them. ... but once Henry and Flick got home, I was ready to go home and have a Nana nap.

Thanks for all the great memories.

only 2 years, but yet a lifetime

On the 7th of this month it was the second year anniversary of my Dads operation. For those of you who don't know this was a huge and highly risky operation; and on that day God graciously granted our prayers for a safe and successful procedure.

Also on that day God gave me an inner peace like I had never felt before. I had to let go and put my trust in God that He was going to do what was right according to His perfect will. He rested his had upon my shoulder and let me know that He was there no matter what the outcome, good or bad, He was there.

It had been what seemed like a lifetime, but in fact just 4 or so hours had passed, Dad was out of the theater and in a stable condition, but the road to recovery was not going to be an easy one.

6 days after his operation he was moved from the cardio ICU (intensive care unit) to just the ordinary ICU.

Day seven the 14th of April, it was Dads birthday. Still in the ICU he was only permitted 2 visitors at a time. Baring cake in one arm and gifts in the other Mum was devastated that the nurse wouldn't let us all in (Mum, my brother and sister and myself) to wish him a happy birthday. At that time Dads Doctor was walking past and inquired, he escorted us in we sang Happy birthday, Dad blew out his imaginary candles, we sliced up the cake and he unwrapped his presents. It was a memorable but slightly abnormal birthday.

...before the operation the Doctors told us that Dad was never going to be 'cured' but the operation would extend his life. And that after his opp he was going to get worse before he got better...
They were spot on Dad did get worse, but then he got better, he could do things and it was as if he had a whole new lease of life.

* * *

So people ask me "how's your Dad?" from time to time, and I think how am I supposed to answer that? It's hard because I am with him everyday, I don't notice the slow but steady decline in his health until something really strikes him and we are forced to take a step back and re-asses.

Like just recently Dad was a little under the weather so he went to see his GP, who sent him to the Hospital. It was nothing major thankfully, however they were thorougher and kept him in all long weekend, which he was not overly thrilled about.
But stepping back and looking at the big picture I realise now that Dad isn't well, in fact I would say he is the same now (if not worse) then before he had the operation.
I try not to dwell on it because it makes me far too sad, but knowing that my father is just going to get progressively worse, slowly but surely until.... well that's just not a happy thought.

Thankfully I know that he will live forever in eternity with the Lord almighty, and that makes me happy, but selfishly i want him here with me. I think about my wedding some day, will he be there to walk me down the isle, or to see his gran kids.
But then I think of how hard it must be for him, the same thoughts he must have about missing out on life's milestones, or the frustration he must feel when he can't complete a simple task without taking a break. I pray that God my ease his burdens and worries, that he might to feel that inner peace that I felt that day 2 years ago. And that I might be a support for him and that I may to rediscover the indescribable feeling of handing it all to God and resting solely on Him.

more guinea pigs

Monday morning I had to get up early to take Mum to work. When I returned home I went through my daily routine, first on my list; feed the guinea pigs. Much to my surprise my fat mumma Tosh was skinny, which meant... more babies. YAY!!!

She had 2 beautiful boys, one the spitting image of his mother and the other a grey coloured one.

Cookies and Cream:

Cream on the left (camera shy, he closed his eyes every time I took a photo) and cookies on the right.

My other guinea pigs:

My first guinea pigs (brothers that turned out to be brother and sister)

Called Mac and Tosh, (just a little shout out to Gilmore Girls from which these 2 were named)

My next addition, a gorgeous little girl Apple,

(making this trio: Apple Mac'in'tosh) that's one for the computer nerds out there.

My first lot of babies, from Tosh, Bubble and Squeak

Bubble (top picture) now in pet heaven, and Squeak (bottom picture) now at her new home, with her new name Molly.

My Second lot of babies Rusty and Diesel:

Mother: Apple. Rusty a handsome baby boy and Diesel a delightful little girl.

Mac (affectionately known as Big Mac) is the father to all these cute little babies.

I'm a mummy again

... Now I'm the proud new mum to my guinea pig Apple's two babies. This is immensely exciting for me, I love animals, and I love my guinea pigs especially. I grew up with pet guinea pigs, but we haven't had them in years until just recently (about 8 months ago) bought some, much to my Fathers disgust (he's not much of an animal person, my mum on the other hand is).

So I bought 2 boy guinea pigs (brothers), who I found out not long after were brother and sister :) whoops (I didn't mind, Dad was NOT happy) Mac (boy, affectionately called Big Mac) and Tosh (girl), not long after I brought another girl which I called Apple. Apple, Mac and Tosh.

Well Tosh started to get really fat... aka she was pregnant. It was an incredible moment the day when I was holding Tosh and I could feel her babies moving. I was so excited, it was one of the best experiences of my life, I can't imagine what its going to be like when I feel my own baby kicking.

About 2 months later Mac became the proud father of Bubble (girl, black/grey) and Squeak (girl, white with black patches). Squeak went to a friend and unfortunately Bubble went to pet heaven.

Then not long after Apple started to get fat, however I though that she was sick and had cysts (she hadn't been with mac in 3 months and therefore either should have already given birth or was not pregnant). much to my surprise and relief she had two beautiful babies awaiting me one afternoon. Rusty (boy,browny, redy colour) and Diesel (girl, pure black)...Later renamed Bubbles by her new owner. (a little confusing I know)

Now Tosh is impossibly pregnant again (I swear Mac has his own cage) I think she is having triplets, and they are wrigglers, which I love because it makes them easy to feel. :)

...I cant wait to be a mummy again, again.

even the small things

Please bear with me as I'm catching up on all my posts all in the same day. The words just float in my head until I have a spare moment to sit down and type them.

So this amazing thing happened the other day, but I have to back track a little so it makes sense to those not living in my head.

I don't know if I have previously mentioned that have started studying at school this year, but I have. And I was really nervous about the whole thing. I've been out of school for two years now and I am going back to fulfil the prerequisites to go to uni and become a vet. The school I'm at is an adult campus so there's people there from all age groups. So fitting in was a concern of mine considering I wasn't so great at that the first time I went through school.

Anyways long story short I told a friend about my concerns and she prayed for me. She prayed that I would find a friend especially a christian one.

There is this girl from my math class who I kinda started to talk to; I mean we would sit at the same table at lunch and read our books and magazines, and exchange just a few words here and there.

Then the other day at lunch she came and sat with me at the table, we got talking (she wants to be a lawyer) and I found out that she is a christian.

The Lord is good and answers prayers (no matter how small).
Some times we need to be reminded of how awesome our God is and how much He cares for us.

The best year of my life

So I was going to write this post about how a friend said that her 19th year was her best of her life, and how I'm still waiting for the best year of my life.

Then she told me why it was her best year. She said it was because of the big 'fork in the road' decisions that she had to make... And how that changed her life.

Reflecting back, my 19th year was full of big life, out look and attitude changes for me too. It was a year of blessings and challenges. Trials and support.

Thank you Lord for a year of so much learning, breaking, moulding and shaping.
And thank you friend for helping me realise that the best year of my life wasn't necessarily a year of all 'ups' but the year in which God developed and refined me the most.

For Him

I guess at the end of last year I was a little confused about what the future held for me; now for those of you who know me, you have probably worked out that I'm a bit of a control freak. So not knowing my plans for the new year really bothered me. I winged and wined (I would say talked, but we all know it was more likely that I actually winged) about this to my 'mentors' on more then one occasion and eventually got the message that God knows my future.

This is the verses that popped up a few times...

John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

After a lot of prayer whinging, researching, reading 'Cure for the common life, Max Lucado', Praying, talking to 'wise' friends, applying and more praying... I came to the conclusion that god had put a desire for animals and their welfare in my heart for just this reason ... to be a vet. (Dr. Steph) has a nice ring to it.

Ever since I was 7 I wanted to be a vet, I looked up to Dr. Harry Cooper, on his TV show Harry's Practice, and had the pleasure of meeting him once. I loved all animals of every description, big or small, wet and slimy or dry and prickly, you name it... (all but spiders).

But somewhere along the line my life became crowded with other desires. Children and the desire to serve God, had me leading youth group and a Sunday school class, and interning at the church and school. Don't get me wrong the past two years of my life have been full of challenges and blessings, and lots of growth both personally and spiritually.

So at the end of 2009 when it came to assessing my life and setting a future path, I was at a loss, I had know idea what to do with out the identity of "Stephanie the Craigmore intern, dependable, reliable, and at your service". But God knew, He knew all along that I needed those two years to grow in Him, and he new that at this time in my life I was ready to walk the path He had set for me...even if I was a little oblivious to it at the start.

I am currently a few weeks into term 1 at Para West Adult Campus studying Maths Studies, Chemistry and Creative textiles. Heading for a TER of 93+ to enroll at uni for veterinary science. It's hard work and most days I try and go it alone, but I know that I cannot do this in my own strength but it is the Lord alone that can get me through. And when I am a vet it will be because of Him and for Him.

A bridge called Hope

I wanted to tell you about this awesome book that I have just finished reading, I wanted to blow your mind, sharing of its inspiration, fun and laughter, it's wisdom, and it's sadness and tears. This book has opened my eyes to the glory of the way God answers prayer; in His own time, and His own way (which is best for us) even if He answers it in a way and time we were not expecting. This book told me stories of rescued horses, that when showered with love and compassion that went on to 'rescue' youth from their own battles of lack of love, or their miss fit nature or their inability to trust. Through these horses and this youth ranch God has used both the two legged and the four to restore love and ignite hope in the lives of these children, which are so precious to God.

... I suppose I have some what shared with you this amazing book A Bridge Called Hope, Kim Meeder. And I hope the lessons this book has taught me will continue to effect my life and the lives of others around me. I hope that I too am a viable vessel that God can use for His glory.

2009

It's a little over due but here's my over view of 2009

. Started horse riding (thanks Trish and Karen)
. Begun teaching a sundayschool class
. Interned for Nathan
. Shaved my head for worlds greatest shave
. Some loud American came along and stole the show
. Studied at ACM
. Quit working at OSHC
. Built a hutch
. Got guineapigs (Apple, Mac and Tosh)
. Road a motorbike
. Fell off a motorbike
. Revamped my room
. The loud American moved back to America
. Turned 20
. Best friend got engaged
. Caught sundancekids drumstick
. My other best mate moved to Queensland
. Enrolled in school for next year

... Bring on the new year, hopefully its better then last year...