Daniel's Graduation

Last week I was down in Brisbane for some professional development.  I love professional development, 1. because I like learning new things, and the area of Learning Support is extremely interesting, and 2.  because I get to see my family.

This trip was especially well timed because it was Dad's birthday (and soon mine).  One of the biggest things for me living so far away from my family is that I miss out on special occasions.  I missed my nephews 4th birthday and my brother's birthday as well.  We are a close family, and birthdays have always been the time when we get together for a family dinner.

I was so happy to be able to spend Dad's birthday with him.  Even better, David was still visiting his family, so I got to see my husband after a week without him.

It was such a nice evening, mum even had my birthday dinner then too because it will just be David and I for mine this week.  The only low point was that my nephew was sick so my brother and sister-in-law couldn't come.

The next night (I was lucky enough to not have to fly back straight after my PD) was my brothers graduation from studying his PhD.  He's Dr Dan now and I am very proud of him, even if he did look funny in his Harry Potter robes and floppy hat.

Unfortunately my sister-in-law and nephew couldn't be there (Will was still sick), Daniel was disappointed they couldn't be there, but Will was so sick it was impossible.  Poor little thing had to be taken to hospital when Dan got home that night.

Congratulations Dr. Dan! Very proud of you big brother!

New Template

Tonight I decided that I wanted to make a new template...so I did.  I made the background in Photoshop and used the template builder in Blogger to do the rest.

I like it...it's purple...enough said

The Love Hub

Run by my AMAZING sister-in-law, The love Hub, just in its infancy is a place where people can go to find out about ways they can share the love.


Stolen from the page:


The Love hub is:

Kara (twitter: @lifeofkara): Perioperative nurse, Compassion child advocate and the mastermind behind the love hub. Her energetic and passionate drive is contagious. She has a desire to make a difference and see others inspired to the same.

Dan (twitter: @geekdan): Husband of Kara, Software Engineer, Doctor of Philosophy and technical support for the Love Hub. Dan focuses on the logistics and technical aspects of The Love Hub.

Together, Dan and Kara are parents to a lovely son, as well as government Foster Parents to any child that needs their love and care.


Please go check it out and support.

The week is nearly over.

I'm 28....29 in just over a week.  I have spent most of my adult life alone, independent.  I have been married for nearly 7 months, not an overly long time, but in that time I have lost my ability to be alone.
My husband went to visit his family this week.  Something that is important and he needed to do, but he will never be doing it alone again.
It's been a hard week.  I never knew that it was possible to miss someone so much, but a week without him has seemed like an eternity.

It's funny that we are perfectly capable of spending time alone in different parts of the house doing our own thing, but when it comes to him not being here, I really don't like it.

I like that I'm not so independent anymore.  I like that I have someone to rely on.  I like coming home to someone.

I haven't slept much, and when I do I have to go to sleep with the TV on to compensate for his snoring.  When he was working night shift I could fall asleep just fine, knowing that he would be home about 4am and I would wake up next to him.  Waking up alone sucks, I can't do it anymore.

I guess it really is true that when you love someone and get married you really do become two people living one life as one.  When the other person is gone, things just don't feel right.

I miss him so much, and it has only been a week.  I could not and don't want to imagine what life would be like without him in it.  The only thing that has gotten me through is hearing his voice every night.

I'm so excited that I get to see him tomorrow.  I'm flying down for work stuff and he will meet me at my parent's house.  We will get to celebrate my dad's birthday together, and mine, and then we will both be home again on Tuesday.

I'm glad this week is over.  Next time we are both going together when we both have time off work.

Whirlwind Week!

This week was the first week back at school after the mid-year break, and what a week it has been!  I think we have had more kids through the office, more decisions made and more positive outcomes than the rest of the year combined.

I love the feeling of making headway.  I can see the progress we have made so far this year, but this week has been a leap forward.  It one of those times when you have been walking forward and suddenly you break into a run, taking you much further in a short amount of time.

Hopefully it will continue.  There is still so much work to do, but I am feeling confident that we can get it done.

Calming Down

So our horrendous week has nearly come to an end.  David is much happier seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and him being happy makes me happy.

Yesterday was our 6 month anniversary, and even though we went away for the weekend last week, we decided we would take advantage of David's only day off this week to go to lunch together.  It was only Sizzler, but hey it got us out of the house, and me out of cooking!

In other news, I have successfully completed my first week of Uni for this Term.  I'm only doing one subject, but working full time I think this is the wisest idea, at least until I get back into "study mode".

The Subject is "Social Foundations of Psychology".  This week I learnt about Intelligence.  It really is very interesting stuff and I really am very proud of myself for organising time to watch the lecture, read my text book, complete the labs and do the study questions.

Part of our assessment every week is to take part in an eFil quiz.  Basically on Friday we answer 4 multiple choice questions, then on Saturday a forum opens so we can discuss why we chose those answers.  On Sunday we get to re-sit the same quiz.  The Sunday quiz is the one that is marked, and I am pretty confident, after going back over notes and the text that I can get 100% when Ire-sit on Sunday.  Good to know as well that other people are just as stumped over one of the questions as myself.  Makes me feel like it really is a level playing field and I can actually do well in this.

And so this is how my week ends, happy again, and very proud of myself.

A Challenging Week

This week has been rather challenging, and it is only Wednesday.  It will most likely stay this way until after Sunday, but could go on into next week.

The problem, David's work hours.

They are hard hours at the best of times.  With me working full time during the day, we don't see nearly as much of each other that we would like.  Often times he is at work when I get home and doesn't get home till 4am in the morning.  When he does works days he has to go to bed really early so he can get up at 3am to do it all again.

Needless to say, we treasure the time we have.  It is difficult being newly married and unable to spend quality time together.

This week is the killer though.  David has to work a 70 hour week.  Today he is doing a 14 hour stint, starting at 2pm till 4am, right after getting off night shift last night.  And tonight is Origin, there will be lots of drunk douche bags out and if QLD loses they will not make for happy cab rides.

David gets overwhelmed when he has to work such a mammoth week as this, and rightly so, it's not fair.  Who works a 70 hour week as a driver, with quick turn arounds from day to night?

I never knew your heart could break for someone so much.  I thought that feeling only happened once you had kids and one of the was hurting.  It's stuff like this that makes him hate where we are living now, he wants to go home.  He wants to have family and friends around him.  I want those things too, I just seem to cope better.  But I feel guilty for moving here for my work every time something like this happens and he gets stressed, overwhelmed and lonely.

It's difficult for him to make friends here because of his work hours, and driving a cab means he doesn't really have any workmates he can become friends with.  It's a lonely job.

I just wish I knew how to make it better for him.  Any ideas?

I thank God every day that I can just get on Skype and have a teary to mum any time I want to.  Thanks mummy I love you, our Skype dates are part of what gets me through each week.

Sorry if this post is kind of disjointed, I'm rather emotional at the moment and thoughts are going a million miles an hour.  Hopefully will have a much happier post for you next time.

More Weekend Photos

I promised some more so here they are.

Plants grow in the most amazing places!

From the lookout at 1770

I lost David for a minuet, turned the corner to find him up here!

Wonderful husband!

Amazing colours!

The LARC we went on for our sunset cruise 

In the water crossing over to the sandbank

Driving along the beach

About to crash into the water

We stopped so that we could watch the sunset

David and I with the LARC

A Weekend Away

So we went for a weekend away!
We both needed it I think, and it was just wonderful.
Here are some of the pictures I have edited so far.  There will be more to follow soon.

My Wonderful Husband

View on the way up to the lookout at 1770

The path up to the lookout at 1770

Our lunch time view from The Tree Cafe and Bar in 1770

Another from the Cafe

And another on a lonely little boat at low tide

Sunset on the LARC tour

And again

And again

Such a wonderful weekend...only spoilt by David's boss telling him he had to work when we got home. So now my husband is off to work a 70 hour week.  He is not happy about that! 

6 Months

I know 6 months isn't a long time, but for the girl who never thought she would get married it has been such an amazing time!

In 6 days, David and I have been married for 6 months!  I should probably write this post actually ON the anniversary, but we are going away this weekend to celebrate, so I am writing now.

Happy 6 months Baby! I love you more today than Idid on our wedding day.  I'm so proud of you, and believe in you!  I can't wait to start a family with you, and see where the rest of our lives will take us!

Here are some of my favourite photos from the wedding.  Afterwards stay tuned for our weekend getaway!

I think the smile says it all

I don't know what was said to make us laugh here but I love this picture!

Where we were supposed to "tie the knot" in the gazebo.  Unfortunately with all the rain at the start of the year we couldn't.  When I went back a few days later to collect the cake topper, this entire garden was underwater!

Chilling out after the ceremony.

The limo that brought me to the venue

My FABULOUS cake made by my cousin Kim

During the cermoney

The most PG kiss photo I had :)