I think I'm dying

Has anyone noticed I haven't been on here?? Well I have been/am sick. I started getting sick last Sunday and have just been REVOLTING. Too many details to write about but 2 trips to the emergency department, 3 trips to the doctors (including having 2 litres of saline), 2 trips to the chemist and I'm still vomitting..YUK!!
I really think I have some horrid disease. Asking all my friends who believe in God to pray for me for healing.
Now I don't need phone calls or anything..but flowers would be great ...LOL Just explaining my absence. Alan has been amazing. He has worked like a dog..(sorry Molly)

Presently I am having an ok moment. They don't last but when I have these I try and pretend I am ok..but really since Monday I have eaten about 6 Saltines, 3 slices of toast and thats it..anyone else would be tiny by now..but not me.. especially with the 2 litres of saline..It went in and stayed there..(i think i was a tad dehydrated) so will keep you posted on how I am feeling in the next few days.
Currently standing firm on Gods word..Proverbs 3: 5-7
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
   don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
   he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
   Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
   your very bones will vibrate with life!

Please stand with me and believe..

on a brighter note our neighbours have gone away for 3 weeks and we are feeding their cat. It lives inside and in the 3 days I've been going in I am yet to see it..Mind you its eating the food so I am guessing its somewhere..or else they have a very contented rat that has also eaten the cat..yep i guess its in there somewhere..

OK

OK this picture has given me an idea where to look...

another video of the infamous Molly new shoes

Wednesday Wickedness

Today we picked Heather Locklear. Here's Wednesday Wickedness!

1. "With a parent, it's always guilt. You want to be there, but you kind of also want to be here." Tell us about a time where you had to be selfish with your time, and felt guilty about it (whether it was time taken from your children or a S/O).
Heck, doesn't every parent struggle with that?  I don't think I can give one example. look truly 5 kids in 9 and a half years my first at 18 I reckon I have so much guilt. But you know what? I did my best and THAT ladies and gentlemen is what counts. 30 years ago you weren't supposed to feel guilty it was your job. I was fairly modern and forward thinking, but I never left my children for even a night until the baby was 2 and a half..so we were married for 13 years. So yeah I did my best, and no no guilt


2. "Sex appeal is not on purpose." Do you feel that you can create more sex appeal or that it's just a given?
Well I reckon, that the difference between being in my trackies and slippers, no make up and hair messy to  being dressed up, make up on and hair done..a little perfume etc is NONE!! he still finds me sexy. The difference being how I feel about myself. I feel far sexier dolled up..o yeah

3. "One man is not enough." Has there ever been a time when monogamy seemed difficult?

OOOO no. Honestly one man is often way enough!!

I have an amazing husband and ok sometimes dreamy movie stars look great, but the truth is I love my man he loves and accepts me and honestly I wouldn't want anyone else

4. "I think I've always been good so God wouldn't strike me dead." Do your religious beliefs really influence your behavior?

Before I found Jesus as a friend and saviour, I did have images of Father God being up there with a big stick.ready to smite me!!! But now I just like being good (some would say boring) My life and heart is for God. So yes I guess my "religious beliefs" do influence my behaviour, but I'm not concsious of it.

5. "You just have to forgive them for being men." Do you feel there are some things in a S/O that you can't change because of their sex?

Heck yes..their obsession with the female form..sex, breasts, sex, legs, sex, o and did I mention sex!!!

6. "When I look in the mirror I see the girl I was when I was growing up, with braces, crooked teeth, a baby face and a skinny body." Do you see a younger less secure person when you gaze in the mirror?

O if only i saw myself as younger. I see every wrinkle, age spot, and evry blemish, but I also see a much more confident woman. I see a woman who has a loving husband who is obsessed with her and loves and desires her for what she is..see answer to above question!!!

7. “I was a pregnant vixen.” If you have ever been pregnant, or have been with a woman who was, how did effect your sex life?

well really, i was pregnant 5 times to the man mentioned above and guess what, even though I vomitted for 9 months..he still desired me (hanging over the toilet bowl) got to love that

8. “Everything needs to be worked on...” What would you like to work on to become a better person?

Maybe the times i go into myself..withdraw a little.. Its safe in here and so I like to spend time in here regularly, unfortunately its often to the detrement of those around me.

9. "From an early age, I was aware of what America meant, and how the Marines at Camp Pendleton were ready to defend us at a moment's notice. I also remember what fabulous bodies those troops had." When did you think that you understood the sacrifices that people in the military make on behalf of their country?

I've always been aware of Australian soldiers. I knew my dad was in WW2, that his brother was killed in WW2,  I knew that my grandpas brother had been killed in WW1, but until I became an adult with children of my own., I don't think I fully grasped the sacrifices that not only did and does the military make but also their families. We have had 5 Australian soldiers killed in the past few weeks and my heart goes out to all their families. So grateful that my boys showed no interest in the forces.

10. "The bigger the better. Do I dare say that!?" In your experience, is there truth here?

Well heck yes..I'm big and I am awesome. Why have a small icecream when you can have a big one, a small pay packet when you can have a big one, a small chocolate when you can have a big one..need I go on????

kidney transplant (the donor family) (a serious blog)

Ok so most of you know that just over 5 years ago I received the gift of new life from an anonymous donor.
The call to get my new kidney was received at about 2.45. Those amazing words.."we have a perfectly matched kidney for you" are ones I will never forget.At the time the thing furthurest from my mind was that somewhere a family was grieving the loss of a loved one. Maybe I was thoughtless, calous..I don't think so it wasn't till much later that I really began to think about it.

On the anniversary of my 2 year post transplant,  wrote to the donor family. I wrote to let them know I was doing well and to say thank you. We remain anonymous and all cards/lettes go through the transplant coordinator at the PA hospital Brisbane. Well 1 year later out of the blue I received a reply and it was then I discovered that my donor had been female and a mum and wife AND a christian. Blew me away. I had always said that I had some old mans kidney..so then I knew the truth. The day i received the letter i burst into tears and wouldn't show anyone for a long time..

Well this year (5 years) I decided to write again. I let them know how much I had achieved since my transplant (including my NZ trip and all the weddings our family had celebrated) Before I sent it I rang the team at the PA hospital and they said as it was an out of state donor family they weren't sure if they were still in contact. So I sent the letter anyway and then got caught up in our move. I completely forgot about it..until yesterday.. There in the mailbox was a letter from the "donate life" team at the PA hospital.

Woah..I was suddenly silent..a rare thing for me..I opened the envelope....

Yes a beautiful card..thanking ME!!!..wow Iopened it and this is what i read..

Dear Recipient,

It was wonderful to receive your letter earlier this year and at the time of my wife's 5 th anniversary of her death.As a family we are so pleased that you have now had over 5 years of new life with your kidney.We are also so very pleased that you chose to write and share your good news with us.

My wife loved life as you obviously do as well. She particularly loved music and travel, New Zealand was one of her favourite places.

As a family we continue to be actively involved with our church family which has been so very helpful to all of us over the past 5 years.

In so many ways I feel that I would like to meet you and your family, but I know that his is not possible. So I will continue to keep you in my prayers and hope that you continue to enjoy great health and happiness.

The 5th anniversary was a fairly emotional time for all of us, receiving your letter however helped ease that pain.

My best wishes to you and your family

May God bless you all

"the donor family"

Was I blown away??? yep..and there is my very serious blog but it was with such joy that I received the card that i wanted to share it..

Molly in her new shoes

Claire was here..in Charlies Trousers and having fun

So after our big trip to the dam/falls and Ravenswood we were pretty tired but pumped to be seeing Claire. She had texted me about 4 and said she was leaving Emerald.  6 hours I figured..I told her to txt me when she got here.
So about 10.05 i got a txt and it said she was at the saleyards. I gave her what I thought to be easy directions..(note to self..next time go meet visitor..) O my gosh..when she hadn't turned up in like 15 minutes later, my mind was racing..car accident? on her way to cairns? abducted by aliens? broken down? O where was she?  So an hour later..when every possible scenario had played itself out in my head..Alan went driving and found her. Scary isn't it. That you can still find someone in this town. Poor thing she had got lost.
 Well after we got her and Kevin (her faithful cockatiel that travels everywhere with her) safely inside It was time to catch up and then into bed.

.t

The next day when we were out driving she kept saying "I've been here..and here and here" I think she has seen more of CT then me.Honestly she really did see heaps.




Claire would have loved to go to Hughenden (where Kirsty spent her first 2 years teaching) to see Mutabuttasaurus, but i felt 6 hours driving was a bit much when she had a 40 hour plus return trip to make.

So we did very little, but laugh, watch tv, and enjoy the company. We did do the lookout a few times..fed the rock wallabies, fed the birds ( well ducks,chooks and peacocks)at the park went to the dam..had "wet cake" up the street and she did a tour of Alans Library. She also helped me to buy a heater..big help. I have now officially frightened winter off..it hasn't ben under 10 degrees since i bought it..lol

The wet cake incident was hillarious. I have been off wheat for a few weeks so we decided to have a friand at one of the local bakeries. I tasted it first and Claire asked what it was like? I said sweet playdough..but her answer was the best.."wet cake" she reckons that it had slipped into a sink full of water and the people had said..o its still good..we will just call it gluten free now..the funny thing was we both ate it all..

the said wet cake

where we had the wet cake and our slushy


So I have includd a few snaps..it was just a fu time.. She left Thursday and was on a mission to photograph every big thing between here and Ballina..with her bucket hat..It took her 2 full day to get to Gympie..so I bet she has lots of pictures..

We visited the tourist information centre..Claire holding "the world"

Lunch at our place..with kevin

Claire taking a sneeky photo..of the most awesome mullet ever..and not only 1 there was 2...O Yeah!!

Claire and me..what a team

I

The afternoon we did the lookout and captured some pics of rock wallabies. The Mother and baby were so cute

Claire leaving..complete with Kevin

Anyway thanks for visiting..thanks Clairebelle.. Hope u come again.. I know I know the excitement was too much.
You who are reading this blog can also have this fun.just come visit me..in Charlies Trousers. A name coined by son in law Michael and quickly picked up by Grandchildren..Natty, Chari and Sammy..But how cute is it??
Lave u with some snaps of the birdlife at the park...

WHAT A WEEK in Charlies Trosers (Charters Towers) curtesy of my beautiful granchildren

SOO..what a week..Its been ages but its been a very busy week.
I heard late last week that our friend Clairebelle was coming for a visit. I couldn't believe that she was coming to visit. She was leaving Friday spending Friday night with Kirsty and arriving Saturday night. WOW a visitor!! Then the panic set in "what do i do with a visitor??" Out here its not like rivetting..but hey then I relaxed and decided to just enjoy the time.

Friday night we went out to the civic club..an amazing building ..originally was a "gentlemans club".being slowly restored. We did our bit for the economy 2 drinks, $10 in the pokies..and off. We had a great time..

Yes a bautiful building..certainly worth a visit..may go again..need tostimulate the economy again.

Anyway Alan and I decided to be adventurous and drive to Burdekin falls/dam. We left the crazy dog at home..outside prepared to come home to chaos..
Its a 2 hour drive..through 100 cattle grids, past 1,000 cattle and zillions of acres of dead grass, trees and causeways. No other car to be seen I also pointed out I had not seen one sign for RACQ or a phone to call if we needed help. Heck those help phone things are everywhere on major roads..LOL
So we got to the dam..it was quiet.why people would chose to go there with their vans completely escapes me. I obviously am missing the point here. There was no green grass..nowhere to swim (o a pool sorry) no shop, nothing.."ah the serenity"

On the way to the dam..we stopped at the dam viewing spot..so funny..bus shelter facing the view..

 As you can see it was a tad dry..this was at the dam itself..there were about 12 peacocks wondering around..a little random but cute.

 THis is the actual dam..please note that the skinny wavy section under the dam wall is an actual road..It obviously is closed due to water running over it..I'm thinking I wouldn't drive on that in the dry..thats a lot of water behind that wall..but check it out in the wet...

Road????? what road


Ok so as I had been feeling a little down and so I did a silent prayer..God please show me you are here with me..let me see something today I don't normally see..so after the peacocks and heaps of Apostle birds at the dam..I thought Ok was that God? ok..but then on the way back to Ravenswood we saw....

 2 huge eagles..like enormous..complete with furry legs..I have never seen anything so amazing..I think they are wedgetail eagles but regardless of names I WAS IMPRESSED...then...

 2 emus..I was beginning to think it was a sign of huge rains to come..should I build an ark??? 2 by 2???ok Thank you God i know you are with me..how awesome that God hears our little prayers too..

There was lots of straight roads..but it was fun ..apart from the lack of phones and RACQ signs..I mean with all that wild life we could be picked clean in no time

One of the "cute cows" I think they are droughtmasters..I know I know..I sound so knowledgeable..they did like their road...they looked at us like we were rude to be on their road.

 Ok so then it was back to the historical town of ravenswood for lunch..we just made it..1.45..phew. Our next door neighbour had told us about the Railway hotel and their Railway burgers...the town is amazing and the pub was awesome and the burger??? well Alan devoured it. It was massive and we believe a trip out here for Danny when he comes to visit will be a must

an awesome pub and just an amazing town..full of history..we ate in the beer garden..but check out the beer holder they put Als beer in..

Thinking they are not doing so well..or very hungry people..need to order the railway burger

After lunch we went exploring.walked up to the mine lookout..O my gosh.very steep but very spectacular..a huge working mine just there..right beside the lookout..so after I pretended to stop for the view.(as i was gasping for breath) several times I made it to the top..great viewand you can see heaps of the old chimney stacks still scattered through out the town

We then headed for home..on the way we stopped at Macrossin bridge to see the flood height marker..check it out..mammoth ammount of water..can't wait to be here for a flood.

Then it was home..We pulled up and Molly was happy to see us..but no siree I was not fooled.I told Alan I was going to check with the neighbours..He wanted to know if I really wanted to know how bad she was..yep..I was brave.. I went over and guess what????? they thought she had gone with us as she had been so quiet all day..YAY YAY YAY..Molly is settling down.. Thank you Jesus.. 

It was then dinner and settle down to wait forour first ever visit in Charlies Trousers...