It's a special day tomorrow!

And why?

It's someone's birthday!



So today is a testimony post, where I act really cheesy and say nice stuff about how God has blessed my life with her. Let's be honest. He has.

It's funny how things turn out. Even though people at church label us as Token Whites and assume we're the same person, we're actually very different. As in completely different. As in totally different temperaments (fiery vs deceased, impulsive vs cautious), totally different interests (babies vs puppies), and totally different ambitions (babies vs... I nearly wrote career, but then choked at the thought and passed out for a few moments. Career? Yuk!). For some reason we get on really well.

Anyway, here are some of the ways Sam has been a blessing to me over the last year:

a. She gives really good advice. The advice she gives is usually the same as that given to me by leaders in the church. And the times I haven't followed her advice I usually end up doing something I regret. Such as when this happened, and I followed pressure as opposed to Sam's reasoning.

b. She is someone I am accountable to, and a big reason for this is because I trust her, and she trusts me (at least she seems to...). Anyway, what that means is I don't feel condemned by her, which makes it easy to be accountable to her in anything. Except maybe that time when I took those easter eggs...

c. She keeps giving me books. These range from Christian books she enjoyed, to Biggles books she gets for me off the internets. Biggles! So awesome! I want to be a Spitfire pilot!

d. We both have food issues. While this means we can't eat the same things, it also means we have someone to sympathise with.

e. She is my concordance. I cannot remember, no matter how hard I try, where specific verses or events are in the bible. This is painful, especially when trying to write a lesson. Sam has saved me many times. All I have to do is say, "Hey Sam... do you know that verse on faith and..." "Hebrews 11," is her reply.

She kills cockroaches. This is important. Heroes aren't always around.

g. She has rescued me from unwanted attentions. And I believe she will always come out fighting for the things she believes in!

There are many more things I could say, but I will only share two more. Sam is awesome because she accepts me for who I am. I can turn to her when I'm at my ugliest and lowest point and know she won't judge me, point out my flaws, or kick me when I'm down (she's very generous and caring). Also, we possibly bring out the worst in each other at times, which is quite fun =D

So here is a song that reminds me of Sam:

I hate to be the one to bear the bad news
Yes it is true, I've finally fell in love
I fell so hard that I'm killing myself
Yes I need out, out of this grave that I dug

And all the friends that I have gone through
And how much I deserve the pain
It's a shame

So hold your head, hold it up high
Here's to the friends that were alibis
Keep this close, by your side
When I come home we will have our night

Oh, they always told me I was gorgeous in a way
And that fateful day I found who I was
So fill this hole with my prescriptions
And just keep feeding my addictions

And all the friends that I have gone through
And how much I deserve the pain
It's a shame

So hold your head, hold it up high
Here's to the friends that were alibis
Keep this close, by your side
When I come home we will have our night
We will have our night

You were the ones that stood by my side
And I was the one that fought all of your fights

Hold your head, hold it up high
Keep this close, by your side

So, hold your head, hold it high
Here's to the friends that were alibis
Keep this close, by your side
When I come home we will have our night

(Friends and alibis- Escape the Fate)

Happy birthday Sam!

Delayed wedding photos

Sorry for not uploading sooner. I am a sick and busy thing. Here are some photos. As you can tell, I'm not very good with my camera, especially for indoor portraits. Here are a select few photos from the wedding, not chosen because of their quality but because of the people in them. Hopefully some of the nicer pics will make it to Kallie's art page.

Jocelyn the pretty.


The elegant ladies, Amy and Anna.


The bride and groom and friends, Anton and Chiann.


The devious ones. They are up to no good. You can just tell. I have nicer photos of Sam floating around. They will feature later.


My favourite. The cute little Stephen. Looking cute and smart. At a tram stop.

Happy Fathers' Day

During today's sermon a part of the message touched on the fact that an increasing number of people don't live in "ideal" family situations- broken families, conflicts, abuse, teen pregnancies, etc. The speaker made the point that she had been made aware of all this through her friends, counselling course and so on, and it made her more thankful that God had blessed her with such a loving family where she never had insecurities or fears.

I thought back to my own family. As a kid my parents were always fighting. My parents loved me, but they always fought with each other, and there was frequently talk of separation. My Dad had a pretty violent, explosive temper, but I adored him. As a young teen my family situation worsened. Betrayal lead to humiliation and separation. Although my parents weren't together the fights were worse. There was a lot of bitterness, unforgiveness and poison. My Dad hurt my family a lot, and he manipulated my brother a lot. There was no clean end. It was dragged out over several years. I hated what my Dad had become. I hated the way he hurt us, especially my Mum. And I hated the way he was hurting himself.

As a young christian one of the big challenges I faced was forgiving my Dad. It was extremely hard. It is hard to forgive someone who was constantly hurting the people you love most, including himself. How can you not feel angry as you watch them destroy their own lives? It took several attempts, but I forgave him. I forgave not because he deserved it, but because I loved him.

Looking back, I think of my family situation and I think of the words spoken today. Being in a family is supposed to be a taste of what is to come in heaven. My family situation could be better likened to a taste of hell, perhaps. But I wouldn't exhange my family, with all it's flaws, for anything else. All the hatred, humiliation, confusion, sadness, mistrust, betrayal, violence, fear, insecurity, guilt, condemnation... I would not trade these for a better past or another family. I thank God that He blessed me with such a family, and I still love them very much, inspite of (or perhaps because of) what we have been through.

I wish a very happy Fathers' Day to my Dad, and pray that God will bless him very much.

Sam

Dear Sam,

this is a special post for a special girl who is celebrating her birthday today!

I realise you don't like mice much. In fact, I'm fairly certain you hate me. But let's push all that aside while I share to the world some of your lovely attributes on this day when, not that long ago, you were born.

Thank you for being an awesome friend (okay, not to me but to your silly housemate, that tradie husband of yours). I can tell she appreciates it a lot. She enjoys your company, and she especially loves the really awful conversations you have together. Yes, I listen to those conversations. You can't deny that they are awful but at the same time very amusing. She is also in awe of the fact that for a small kid you're very strong. But enough of her perspective! This shouldn't be about flattery. This should be about shocking romantic poetry!

Darling Sam of skin so fair
With golden locks of elfin hair,
And laughter in those smiling eyes
Of colours like clear Cornish skies.

Oh pretty Sam, of figure sleek
And slender, with those words you speak
So tenderly of things you love,
Namely kids and the Lord above.

Sweetest Sam! How every time
I hear your name I make it rhyme
With, what else, dear precious Sam,
Than traffic jam and Yarra tram?

I hope you like it. Happy birthday Sam!