So much to catch up on!

I have been in moving mayhem, it just seems to have taken control of my life!!
I needed to get Jessica's birthday photos up first because it seems like such a long time ago, even though it was only last Tuesday.
So much has happened since then, with me finishing up at work and then getting the house organised for the removalists.
But back to Jessica first. Joe, Jayden and I went into Brisbane so that we could have dinner and birthday cake with her. I finished work early, went home to change then got in there around 6.00 - Ray still wasn't home, he had to come via Sunnybank so that he could pick up the present that he had bought her. A gorgeous gold chain bracelet, all shiny and new.
We had tea at the Wynham Tavern and we're surprised at how spectacular the food was. Joe and Jayden had Wagu steak and salad, Ray had the pasta carbonara, Jessica the parmigiana and salad and I had the Thai beef salad - to die for!

We had a really fun night and I was trying really hard not to think about the fact that it was probably the last time we would all be together for quite a while. I didn't want to make it about me and the way I was feeling, but more to make Jessica feel special.

Although, anyone who knows me will know the 'I'm leaving soon card, would be something too hard not to play, so I'd better take lots of photos of us all together now'!
As you can see - it worked.

Ok, so much more has happened since then, so I'll be back tomorrow with the next installment!! It's getting very late and we've got another big day of, yes you guessed it - MOVING!

It's no fun moving!

Yes, we are packing up the house and at the moment my life, which until recently had some sense of order and normalcy, has in just a few short weeks been replaced with utter chaos and uncertainty.
While Joe's not working, he's doing a lot of the cleaning - YAY!!
Yesterday he did the windows and inside tracks and the ceiling fans. Today, I don't know what he was thinking, but he thought he had time to play a quick 9 holes of golf with some buddies - I let him get away with it today, but tomorrow by gosh, it's back to work buddy, the oven is filthy and needs some attention. (only kidding honey).
I try and get a couple of boxes packed each night, because he's not allowed to. I'm just afraid that I'm going to get up there and find half 'my stuff' has been left at a Gold Coast dump! I am such a hoarder and he's just not. He just doesn't understand the sentimental value of 'stuff'!
I think it's probably a boy thing.
We aren't taking any beds - we have a waterbed, it's the only type we've ever had, but we've decided that we are going to try a mattress and base (that should be interesting).
Jayden is taking his bed of course, then we have both the kids king single beds, that we bought when each of them was ready to go into a 'big bed' when they were two. One of them is going to one of my girlfriends for her son and she's trying to find an owner for the other one for me.
Jayden is taking the fridge, because the residence at Calliope already has one, and our dining room suite will be too big for the small kitchen we're going to, but we're taking it and storing it up there.
At this moment I have about three different piles growing in what used to be my lounge room. 1.Chucking 2.Giving away 3.Cash Converters. So as you can see, I will be very glad when at least this end is done...then we get to do it all over again at the other end.
(Have I told you how much I hate moving?)

Work is frantic at the moment, I'm so snowed under, I hardly have time to sneeze. They've only just organised interviews, which will be happening next Tuesday and because there's been such a huge response to the ad, they're doing an initial 'cattle call' style meeting, with three groups of 12 starting at 8.30, then at 12.30 and the last one at 4 - then a second interview on Thursday for a 'lucky' few. Did I tell you they are replacing me with 2 people!! I couldn't believe it, in a way I'm flattered, but then when I think about it ...... no don't even let me start!
'Wax on - Wax off'
Anyway, I can't imagine they are going to have my replacementS in time for me to teach them anything before I leave next Friday.
I am quietly enjoying the fact that I've caused so much chaos and that the cracks are starting to show in their 'I don't care that Jo is leaving' attitude.

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It was Jayden's birthday on Tuesday, he turned 20! As you can see, my baby is all grown - when did that happen? I swear I only looked away for a minute, then my little boy changed into a man.
After we move away, I'm really going to miss his sweet smile and big bear hugs, talking in the morning before he goes to work, cooking something and having him tell me it's the best he's ever tasted. What I won't miss is his messy room, smelly clothes or his whiskers all over the bathroom basin.
I was sitting at my desk at work yesterday, when my phoned beeped, telling me I had a message. My sweet boy had just wanted to tell me that he loved me. What made it so special is that it barely never happens. I sent a message back telling him he was the sweetest child in the world and that he was my most very favourite son!

Jayden, Col and Ryan

Joe and Jayden


Jayden with his cake


Joe, Jayden & Joanne


Jayden's birthday cake

Now we get to do it all over again next Tuesday for Jessica's 22nd birthday. Joe, Jayden and I are going into Brisbane to have dinner and birthday cake with her and Ray.
Then we have to get ready for next year - a 21st and a wedding!!!!

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary

(This photo is from my niece's wedding in October 07)

Our anniversary has come and gone without the anticipated whooha that we had originally planned to give it. There seems to be so much going on at the moment that it has ended up being a huge non event.
Although we did receive some really beautiful cards, emails and phone calls from our respective families, we felt so special when so many people remembered us on the 11th and we would like to thank them for:


(my sister-in-law Aline)
Dear Joanne and Jo, Happy 25th Anniversary! The kids and I love you two heaps and wish you the best on your special day, I don't think I know anyone besides my Grand parents and Mum and Dad Ball, who have made it this far and still look so content . Love you guys, Aline, Jach, Dan and of course Georgia! xxxx

(my brother Brett)
Firstly congratulations and well done on your fantastic achievement of 25 years of marriage !! In this day and age it's something almost unheard of ! Also i got the pics of the service station and i gotta say it is very clean and seems very cosy. Give me a yell when things get closer and i'll come up and give you guys a hand. Congrats again and see you soon. Brett xx

(my cousin Deb & hubby John)
To two beautiful people. Hope you are not going to Wellington Point. What are you going to do?
Have a wonderful time. And congratulations on 25 years - you are an inspiration!!!
Deb and John

(our gorgeous friend, Cheryl O'Bree)
To a wonderful couple.
Were has the time gone. We have spent many working hours together, many holidays sking, getting sunburnt and having fun. Having kids and bringing them up, and we have come through all the hard times. Congratulations on a fantastic milestone.
Love always Cheryl xx

(The cards we received - the one on the right is a special hand made card from my very clever cousin, Lynda)

We also received some beautiful cards and I remember thinking when I read 'On Your Silver Wedding Anniversary' - on some of them, that that just can't be right. I always imagined having to be really old to be celebrating a 'Silver'. But there you go, I consoled myself with the fact that we we're EXTREMELY young when we married, mere kids, as young as our son is now. We've been through so much together, grown up together really and yes we've been extremely lucky to have been able to weather all the storms that have rolled over us and have somehow, almost miraculously come out at the other end still committed to each other. I am truly loved by the man I married all those years ago - I know it, I see it, I feel it every single day, there is nothing he wouldn't do for me - to know this, is the most wonderful gift I could ever receive. (honey, if you're reading this, a diamond ring would also be nice, of course, not necessary, but really, really nice).
So thank you to everyone who remembered us and for all your congratulations - you all have played a huge part in our marraige being so sucessful with all your love and support.

The big reveal!!

Ok, now's the time to let you all know what Joe and I have been up to for the past few months. We've been offered a husband/wife team managers position for Choice Petroleum in Calliope! It's something we've thought long and hard about, weighed up all the pros and cons and we feel confident that the timing is perfect for us to accept the opportunity. Joe gave notice at Freedom already and finishes up tomorrow and I gave notice yesterday and after worrying about maybe having to give 4 weeks, was told that I could finish up next Friday the 20th. It's all been much easier to leave our jobs than we anticipated.

We had originally intended on taking a trip away on the Queen's birthday long weekend to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, but when this opportunity presented itself, we decided to head up there just to have a look at the place and see whether we thought it was going to be a viable proposition instead. So last Friday we hit the road at 4am and headed for Calliope (20mins southern side of Gladstone) - definitely a little less romantic than what we had originally planned, but well worth the trip. We got to see the site which has a 3 bedroom residence above it. All living expenses are included in the package which will give us the chance to save a wage a week - that was the clincher really.

Moving away from the kids is pulling at my heart strings, but the financial gain is something that we've unfortunately had to consider over that and I've been assured by people who really love us that the separation from the kids (especially Jayden) will do them good. I'm not worried about Jessica, she's fairly self sufficient and doesn't rely on us for anything. Jayden on the other hand is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. How is my boy child going to cope without his Ma?? A few short months ago it was him looking at moving out, who would have guessed then, that it would be us moving out on him!

Ok, so there you have it. I have taken photos of the residence as well, but I'm too scared to put them up yet - I'm going to wait and do a 'before' and 'after' post - obviously that won't be until we are up there and moved in.

Laura Rose

I just wanted to thank my beautiful niece for the comment she left on my blog on Sunday. Laura is the second eldest of five children to Ralph (Joe's brother) and his gorgeous wife Anna, whom I absolutely adore. I fell in love with Laura the moment she was born and we have always had a really special relationship. She's a very grown up 11 year old who loves her family and is a great sister to her brothers and little sister Sarah. I just love to watch the interaction with those kids and the lovely vibe this family creates, it's really special and I feel privileged to be a part of their lives and to be loved so much by them all.

Aunty Jo & Laura June 2006

Sarah had done my hair and put a knitted hair band on me - very special!
Here I am teaching Laura how to knit. She was a quick learner.

A quiet moment with the girls.

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I had a breakfast meeting at work this morning, we have them at different locations around the coast every quarter. Today we went to Evergreen, on the corner of Bundall & Ashmore Rds, I've been there a couple of times for lunch with Colin and Alan before and have always said to Joe that we must go there for lunch one week end, we haven't done that yet, but we might just have to make a reservation for our wedding anniversary next week. It's a very upmarket nursery with little specialty shops and an a la carte restaurant. A bit pricey, but for a special occasion it would be worth it, we don't spoil ourselves very often.

Happy Birthday Dags!

Today is my big brothers birthday - the only thing is he is celebrating it without his family and half way around the world, in Iraq. He's been posted there for 6 months after leaving earlier this month. He gave us a call the night before he left, which I thought was pretty special, but then when the phone rang on Sunday night, the last person I expected to say hello on the other end, was my big brother Darren. Now I felt like an A lister!!
The line was amazingly clear, with just the slightest delay, he could have been calling from next door. He sounded really good and even though he is away from his family quite often with his job, he has never been quite this far away from everyone and he just seemed a little homesick to me. He said it's very hot - about 43c at the moment but with summer not too far away, the temperature will go beyond 50c. That will be something to look forward to.
Speaking with some of the guys that are getting ready to come home, they've said that their time over there has gone really quickly and I'm sure the same will be for Darren as well. Once he's done over there, he'll go back home to his family in Ocean Grove, pack up their things and head back up here, for their last posting. I'm pretty sure Darren will seriously consider retiring from the Army to live a little less regimented lifestyle. Not that I'm sure he will know how to do that after being a soldier since he was 15! I'm sure he'll catch on to civilian life quickly enough, he's a pretty resourceful bloke. Needless to say, I'm very proud of my big brother, I think of him often and pray for his safe return to us at the end of the year.
Happy birthday Dags!!

Celebrating Darren's love of music

(click on image for larger view)

What I've been doing.

This is a little project I've just completed for a baby shower. I had a lot of fun doing this series and the client was ecstatic with the finished product:

MORNING JO!!

I LOVE THE THANKYOU CARDS YOU ARE SO CLEVER!! WOW THE ENVELOPES ARE AWESOME THANKYOU!

OLI

Thanks Oli for your very kind words, it was my absolute pleasure. I want to wish you and Luke all the best for the upcoming birth on the 14th June - and look forward to hearing from you after you've all settled in at home. xx

Just on another note: I got sent an email, it was just a forwarded email that we all get every day, but I thought it was such a special story, I wanted to share it:

Subject: FW: This is a lovely story.
When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was 'Information Please' and there was nothing she did not know. Information please could supply anyone's number and the correct time. My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbour. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landingclimbing up; I unhooked the receiver and held it to my ear. 'Information, please' I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. 'Information.' 'I hurt my finger...' I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience. 'Isn't your mother home?' came the question.'Nobody's home but me,' I blubbered. 'Are you bleeding? The voice asked. 'No,' I replied. 'I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts.' 'Can you open the icebox?' she asked. I said I could. 'Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger, said the voice. After that, I called 'Information Please' for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts. Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, Information Please,' andtold her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, 'Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?' She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, 'Wayne always remember that there are other worlds to sing in.' Somehow I felt better. Another day Iwas on the telephone, 'Information Please.' 'Information,' saidin the now familiar voice. 'How do I spell fix?' I asked.All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. 'Information Please' belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations neverreally left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy. A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle had about a half-hour or so between planes.. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown Operator and said,'Information Please.' Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well. 'Information.' I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, 'Could you please tell me how to spell fix?' There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer,'I guess your finger must have healed by now.' I laughed, 'So it's really you,' I said. 'I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time.' I wonder,' she said, 'if you know how much your call meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls.' I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister. 'Please do', she said. 'Just ask for Sally.' Three months later I was back in Seattle a different voice answered 'Information.' I asked for Sally. 'Are you a friend?' she said. 'Yes, a very old friend,' I answered. 'I'm sorry to have to tell you this,' she said. 'Sally had been working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago.' Before I could hang up she said, 'Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne?' 'Yes.' I answered. 'Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you.' The note said, 'Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean.' I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant. Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today? Life is a journey ... NOT a guided tour. So don't miss the ride and have a great time going around you don't get a second shot at it.'The happiest people don't have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything.