Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

Yay!! What a great time of year! Alecz even had the day off! Which is actually pretty rare for a chef. The second Christmas Day he's been able to spend with us in the 5.5 years we've been married.

It was a wonderful day with the 3 children rising at 5:30am......and poor nanna waking up to stop them opening all the gifts...(thankyou so much mum!) So it turned out that 7:30am was present opening time, and for the record the girls were actually pretty good about not getting into it. As hard as I know it was for them.

After the present frenzy the day rolled into a rather cool, breezy almost windy day, that consisted of us all just sitting around! We had one visit from my sister-in-law Kim and her son Tait, and that was the only other frenzy part of the day. Other than that, it was a relaxing, calm, lovely day.

I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and are being safe in the silly season madness. I will post photos soon.

Love to all and Merry Christmas.

Fishing

Alecz also had a ball at the beach. We took his fishing rods so he could spend the afternoon casting away. (As for me i'm not that big on fishing for the sake of fishing...i actually want to catch something!)

This time was a lucky time as the fish were biting and on his third cast out he caught something! A fish of course - Whiting actually. Not very big and we aren't seafood eaters so he let it go. But it was exciting nonetheless.

Happier thoughts

Now, to more pleasant tidings.

We took the little girls to the beach a couple weekends ago (to re-celebrate Jasmine's birthday). What an exciting trip!! We went to Bribie Island - my ultimate favourite beach to go to.

It was a glorious day. The sun was shining but not ridiculously so, there was a lovely warmish breeze and the water was perfect and pristine.

It was Jasmine and Veronica's first trip to the beach and they were so gutsy and cute, I couldn't resist taking heaps of photos.

Further Explanation

I had hoped my last post would be it. But no.

"before their scheduled time to leave" We didn't know there was a scheduled time to leave. They did not tell us. My dad knew before we did. My dad lives in Cairns. Perhaps this would have been VERY important information to tell us BEFORE WE CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR THESE UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE?!!

Cost a lot to get them back??? What about the excess rent we can now barely afford. What if we had gotten that bus?? Got them into school? Got them anything?? We visited parliamentarians to have registrars decisions altered, to allow them to commence school here. Michelle and Crystal both went to the primary school where we were going to enrol the middle child and they carried on the farce never once indicating that they had no intention to stay at all.

We pulled in favours from people to have the fees dropped because of the visa situation - but why would we bother with all this if we knew thay were not staying? We didn't know because they didn't tell us. Life may have been very different if they'd just been honest with us. Maybe we expected too much from them. But then is honesty too much to expect? We don't think so.

And if the social workers couldn't handle them. Then where was the warning from the rest of the "family"??? We knew it would be hard - but we did not expect to be hit with a wall everytime we turned a corner.

We were not left a choice as to whether they came or not. We did not question the decision. Perhaps we should have. That's a moot point now.

"It was your responsibility to have stopped this before they embarked on this mission of folly"
Exactly how is that? When everyone else turned their backs? Stop them? They made decisions without us, they arranged to come on a visitors visa without talking to us. They didn't include us in any of that it was merely "dumped" on us. So no, we don't take responsibility for decisions made without us included.

Mission of folly is right. They had no intention of staying and yet let us do so much rearranging, organising, financial planning, changing and "fixing". We did open our hearts and home for these people only to have it spat on, jumped all over, complained about and ripped apart before having it thrown back in our faces in spite.

To err is human, to forgive divine. We do forgive. But we do not forget. Crystal burnt her own bridges by disrespecting us as people and as parents. And she did it in front of my children and that I WILL not forget. Just because she did a horrific job of bringing up her own children, does not mean we have to follow suit. Just because she has crap values as a person and mother - does not mean i have to compromise my children's future and their lives to become as pathetic as they have.

I think when a four year old girl stands and says to me "Josh ruined my birthday. I don't ever want to see him again" Thats so potent I can't even begin to forget what they did. Will they ever be welcome in our lives again? Hell no, we won't go.

Frankly we don't care where they end up. God has his own plan for them. Not sure that it's a good one but oh well. Just think...the boys will probably end up with Gordon. And frankly if it does? Michelle has only herself to blame for that.

Had we known they only planned on coming for a short time, things may have been different. But that's a choice they made - to not tell us and keep us informed of what was really going on behind our backs. So really - they made their beds. Now they can sleep in them...wherever that may be. But it will not be with us.

An Explanation.

Ok. So an explanation has been requested of me. And therefore I give you one. The truth, the whole truth, the absolute truth, so help me God.


This is gonna be a long post so you better go get yourself a beverage of choice and a snack cos you might be here for a while.


Ya'll ready for this?


Firstly, a little background. Michelle has Glio Blastoma Multiforme. Brain Tumour. She's had chemo, medication and surgery - all of which have not worked. The USA doctors have said there's nothing more they can do. Because of this, Michelle started making her final preparations - will, power of attorney etc. She also asked Alecz and I to take her boys and raise them as our own after she passes. We didn't even hesitate. Of course. They are family afterall. We committed ourselves to the care and raising of her three boys, along with our three young girls, and Alecz's wonderful son and 2 beautiful daughters.

So, still with me? Good.

Next comes the rearranging of our lives. We only lived in a small 3 bedroom house - so of course we start looking everywhere for a nine (yes nine) bedroom house. That took us nearly 12 months. We take our girls and combine two households into one (with my mum) and move into this huge house, ready for them to come. Then we're told that the medical visa Michelle applied for has been denied because immigration decided she couldn't afford to support herself and the kids and her mum and pay for medical expenses on the money she said she'd be getting. (What immigration failed to take into account was that we would be helping them out with that.) And it was a case of one fail - all fail. So they decide to come over on a visitor's visa and then once here apply for a visa that allows them to stay. Which, just for the reader's info - is illegal.

So now we are faced with them coming over in mid November. That's ok, we're in the house, we've got the room - we've got boxes everywhere but we've got room. But wait, plans change. Flight times change and all of a sudden they're coming within the week. So now we're faced with the immense task of rearranging and once again changing the plans we'd laid out for the next 4 weeks to a more immediate if not temporary arrangement. Oh and how on earth are we going to transport them and pick them up from the airport?

Still there? Ok.

So Alecz and I go to a commercial car yard and find the perfect vehicle - a 14 seater bus. Yes you read right - a 14 seater Toyota commuter bus. After sitting for almost 90 mins, we're finally at the point where we can put the deposit on it and then sit back and wait. We do this and cross our fingers. But in the meantime we have to hire one for the weekend, when they are due to arrive. This turns out to be easier than we thought. Now we're ready to get them home. At least - to a degree.

Ok a summary. They're coming earlier than we thought, we've changed our entire life's plans, got a massive house to accomodate everyone, started the process of buying a bus even though we're told we need to get a Light Rigid licence, we've frantically fixed the house so that it's livable, and now we're waiting for them to arrive.

They arrive in Cairns and my father waits to greet them and let them zone in to Aussie time while waiting for the connecting flight, the flight that cost me and Alecz over $800 to get them from Cairns to Brisbane, which they promised us they'd pay back. So yea, he's waiting for them and when they arrive he finds out they have 17 pieces of luggage!!!! YES, 17!! And they can't get Jetstar to let them have it for the flight to Brisbane so it has to stay with my dad.

Still with me? Good.

So we head out the next day to pick them up from Brisbane Airport. It's raining, thunder, lightning and windy. When we arrive the rain has abated somewhat - enough time for us to get into the terminal and find them and bring them out to the hire bus. Everything seems ok. We do a little bit of driving that day, take them to KFC/Maccas for lunch - wow that was expensive. We took them up Mount Gravatt to see the city, then we take the hire bus back. That would pretty much be it in the "everyone going somewhere for the day" category.

Back at home, everyone gets into their rooms and it begins - they change everything in the bedrooms because they weren't happy with it. There's boxes everywhere still so they take it upon themselves to go through them and hurry us into moving them or putting them places or whatever. Then they actually start going through all of our stuff. Like it's their own. We are pretty private people, and we don't appreciate it when people stick their noses where it's not welcome, wanted or asked for.

They started to complain about everything. The food wasn't right, it wasn't like america. Why don't we have instant food in a tin? What do you mean you don't have instant bread? I want meatballs - not fresh - frozen. There's not enough this, there's not enough that. What do you mean we can't have 10 different dinners each night - one for each person?

We're in the middle of the biggest drought on record and we are allowed a certain amount of water per person and that entails 4 min showers per person - after the 3rd 25min shower we put our foot down and said one 4 min shower every 3 days - it's not like anyone's doing anything to warrant showering every day.

They were spoken to on several occasions to pick up their act and go with our rules if the boys were supposed to be living with us permanently. They didn't. They spent $85 on one meal the mother cooked for us - which was really not the nicest meal I'd had, but after all the big-noting they had placed on this meal - the youngest boy didn't even eat it all. So they made something else.

It took 45mins to get him to eat 1 yes 1 piece of pizza!!!! They just kept caving in to him and making him something else. Like meatballs...that they bought from the shops....They lived with a CHEF!! How insulting.

They expected us to have 2 sets of rules. One for our kids (who before they came here were wonderfully well behaved girls and after were unruly and hard to control - how can i insist on good behaviour when their boys can get away with murder??)

They were here for Jasmine's birthday. And they ruined it. The youngest boy took it upon himself to climb up on the table and blow out Jasmine's candles before we'd even finished singing "Happy Birthday"!! And the half-hearted attempt to get him to stop by his mother and his grandmother standing there telling us "he just likes to help blow them out" was just NOT good enough. And then he had the audacity to try and open her presents for her and chucked a spac when he wasn't allowed. Because I stepped in and took him down from the table he was again trying to climb up on to do it. And then when she opened her gifts - her aunt was in there trying to actually open the boxes - he insisted that Jazz had to share and that it was his turn and this piece was his and no Jazz couldn't keep all her brand new gifts to herself!!!??? Our rule is that anything you get on your birthday is yours and only yours and you DON'T have to share until you're ready to put the toy out into general circulation. That applies for all our girls, and that's that. His wailing cry and incredible selfishness completely ruined the evening for us.

They made a mess but never tidied. They expected us to work all day then do everything for them for dinner and then sit and bitch and moan about how bad or strange the food was. Because it wasn't fast food or instant from a tin. And it's so different from America. Well DUH!! Seriously what did they expect? They're in a different country with different/better values, rules, people, standards and they had no intention of changing to their new environment. None at all. So of course it was going to be different and confusing and difficult. They didn't even want to try.

And the 3 nearly 4 year old was still sucking on a bottle!!!! You could have knocked me over with a feather! My 3 year old gave up the bottle nearly 12 months ago! And he was so un-disciplined. Given everything he wants as though he was some golden child (which he most definitely was not), while the eldest was left to fend for himself and control his youngest brother while the middle child was ignored completely, except to be yelled at for speaking his mind. Oh the slapping upside the head got to me too. This by the grandmother who was supposed to be the soft caring soul. Yeah right.

For someone who has supposedly lived all over the world and had to adapt to different cultures, she was one of the worst. And the main culprit for going through our things. We'd even gone to the trouble of getting her volunteer time at the workplace that mum and I both work at. And all she could do was tell us how she'd change things more to her liking. Like anyone cared what her liking was.

Hangin in there? Good. We're nearly there.

There was disrespect for us, me and my mother. There was rudeness, conniving , lying, plotting and all out dishonesty. Alecz finally had enough when we were told that the grandmother was sitting on OUR phone (which they never helped pay for) telling whoever it was that I was a bad mother and an evil person and my 8 year old heard her. That was the last straw. The final act of wickedness that we could not look past. And so he went downstairs and told them to pack their things and get out. They didn't even argue or beg to stay. Which if you were dying of cancer and had asked your brother and sister-in-law to take your children to raise as your own - wouldn't you beg to stay? Promise to change? Apparently they didn't think so.

In truth we should have seen it for what it was. 6 Americans trying to get a free holiday and screw over some good honest australian people in the process. The fact that they got the tickets to Cairns for free because of a benefit held for her is another matter. And the fact that so many people in America were gullible enough to be suckered in by their over acting, presumed innocence is also beside the point.

They were supposed to have sold the car and the house to help us out financially. They never did. They were supposed to pay us back for the plane tickets. They never did.

Financially-wise we asked very little - $300 AUD a week for 5 people. That means that that small amount was supposed to cover all their food and the phone and the electricity and the gas and everything else they mounted up. Which just for the record - it didn't cover it.

Still there? Hope so.

Then came a turning point. Or at least another one. They tried telling us that we couldn't buy our girls more presents than the boys because they would compare the amounts...that we had to make sure the boys had the same amount. I mean seriously! Where do they get off telling us what we can and can't spend on OUR kids?? As far as I was concerned they spent on the boys was up to them. But don't you dare tell me what I can spend on MY children. Especially telling me how one year they bought them a tv and dvd player....each....and a stereo system....each. I mean really! I was gobsmacked.

And now they're back in the States, bad-mouthing us to anyone they can say it to. Even Alecz's ex-wife's mother!!! And his ex-wife! Because of course to ruin the kids chances of coming to stay with us would be a mark on their side of the score-board.

Michelle actually rang up Alecz's ex-mother-in-law to bitch and outright lie about us, to cause her to ring his Ex, her daughter and give her hell about us and the fact that the kids are coming to be with us. Unfortunately, they didn't count on us being actually quite close to his ex, me included and the honesty we have between the three of us. Which means that his ex emailed us straight away and told us what was going on over there. Not to mention the fact that we have a lot of contact with her and his kids.

Or the fact that while they were here they could do nothing but badmouth and bitch about her (his ex) and the past with her and Alecz. But see she's told us a few home-truths, both about Michelle and Crystal. So you see, we're one step ahead of them there too. Because we know who his ex is and how she's made her life a better one and we welcome her into our family just as we welcome Alec, Elisabeth and Isabelle.

And frankly, I was afraid that Alecz's kids (my awesome step-kids) and our girls could be corrupted by the badness that is the two of them and the boys. And we don't want them to have anything to do with any of them.

We are good honest, God loving people and we believe that if God lays a path for us we will follow it without question, without doubt, with our whole souls in his hands. The problem is, we always, when we know we're on the right path of God, have a good feeling and positive thoughts about what it is we're doing. This time we didn't. And that should have rung alarm bells in our heads. We did what we believed God asked us to do. Unfortunately this time, they took that and exploited our goodness. And for that we will forgive them, but not forget.

We don't have an extended family anymore. Alecz does not have a mother or sister. The boys were just as bad as their mother and grandmother. But then with them as an example - why would that surprise you. We're done with them. Want nothing to do with them ever again. We will pray for their souls. But now? It's in God's hands and in front of him they will be judged. We did what we could but they threw it in our faces.

Now, I hope they're praying for salvation. Because it won't be coming from us.

How things change....

Isn't it interesting, how things change from the way you first interpret them, and how things are never what they seem...and how misinterpretation can get you into so much trouble, even when you're innocently following along a path that seems to have been pathed for you....

But as Robert Frost said - Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less travelled by - and that has made all the difference......

Time to take that other path....

Home Again

Well everyone arrived safely, if not a little worse for wear and rather weary but everyone was very excited to be here. This will be a very new and excited experience for everyone involved and we will all take each day as it comes. But it's good to have them here.

I'm back - and an update.

Ok so it's been awhile. Sorry! But I've been busily preparing...or at least trying to...for the arrival of the next 5 instalments of my evergrowing family. In fact as I sit here at my computer it's 11:18pm on Sunday the 29th of October - they should already be on Australian soil. In Cairns in fact, in the caring and often witty arms of my dad fnqwoogoon!

They all travelled from the East Coast of America to the middle in Texas, then a mammoth run from Texas to Guam, at which point they got a breather in between flights. Then from Guam to Cairns tonight and first thing tomorrow morning (Monday) they fly from Cairns to sunny (read raining, thundering, lightning-ing) Brisbane.

This is them, from the right; young Josh, Michael, Michelle, Crystal and Sean. All excited and eager to get on the plane at Jacksonville, Florida. The very kind and caring people at Continental Airlines in the US have donated the tickets to get them here and arranged lodging in Guam for them. We being on the receiving end of this family, want to thank everyone who has helped support them until they were underway. God Bless.

To Pool or Not to Pool

The house used to have a pool. When we did the intial walk through the house had a pool. A disgusting, dirty, smelly, weedy gross pool. But a pool nonetheless. We were told that it would be filled with dirt. That didn't bother us it wasn't for the pool that we were wanting the house.


Then when we sat down to sign the lease, we were told it would be cleaned and filled with water for our use. An extra bonus. Then the owner had a second opinion done on the pool. She was told that there was a crack in the lining and that it would cost more than filling it in with dirt. So bye-bye pool.

Then we hear that it is actually costing her more to fill it in with dirt than it would to repair it. Oh well. Some people decide some weird decisions. So they filled it in. With dirt. Now, instead of a disgusting muddy pool, we have a dust bowl-come-muddy quagmire (of course it's rained since they did it hasn't it!).

Almost

So we're almost there. We've moved house, and almost got everything sorted. The spare bedrooms are still storage areas, but we're almost there.

We still have two storage sheds to empty. But we're almost there.

We'll get there. Eventually. And when we do we'll have a nice little housewarming party with the few friends we have.

Moving

So we're in the midst of packing up a house and moving into a bigger house. Much bigger. 9 bedrooms bigger. Wow. What a lot of housework....shudder....oh well, it's necessary.

You see my family is about to grow. Quite considerably. And no, there's no buns in the oven. Actually these buns are quite well done now. My nephews, Michael, Sean and Josh, my sister-in-law, Michelle, who is actually quite ill with brain cancer, terminal in fact, and my mother-in-law, Crystal are coming to live with us for a while. There's a doctor here who has agreed to assess and help Michelle medically. It's her last hope and with any luck, migration issues won't hinder that. You see they're coming from the United States.

And soon my 3 step-children are also coming to live with us for a while. Alec, Elisabeth and Isabelle are Alecz's three great kids from his first marriage. They've said they want to come and spend time with their dad and their other three sisters and get to know us and Australia.

So that count is - 5 adults and possibly my youngest brother, Anthony and 9 children. Their ages range from 14 down to 3. Wow. Kind of exciting actually, having sons and stuff. We speak to all kids regularly, either on the phone (thank goodness for engin! thanks dad!) or on our webcams. I've even sewn a couple of items for the girls and have started some cool camo clothes for Alec.

So yea...our house is going to be a constant beehive of activity. Huh, I just thought of something...imagine the chrissy pressies under the christmas tree!! Wow, what an image!! Interesting experience. Looking forward to tackling it.

Blogging

Well I've done quite a bit on this here blog now. Don't know that it's very interesting yet but what the hey. It's fun. And has put me back in touch with rellies I haven't had contact with for...I don't know how long. The lord works in mysterious ways.

Family

This is Alecz and his Cousin Danny who actually comes to Oz from Canada every so often to work on land-based drilling camps over in WA (western Australia) and other ridiculously remote areas.

He's very possibly one of the funniest guys I know and has us in a constant state of mirth. An absolute pleasure to have over here visiting us. And the girls love him "It's Uncle Danny!"

My Flowers

One of the sweetpeas on my very young sweet pea plants. I love how simple they are and yet have such a beautifully potent scent.
My zygo cactus. It's now going on 7 years old (wow I just worked that out. wow!) and this is the best it's EVER flowered! Mind you it might have something to do with the dose of worm juice it got.
The banksia men flower. As a kid I loved Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, and for some really strange reason I always enjoyed the evil banksia men! Go figure. Weird.

Funny Movies

OMG I just sat through THE funniest movie yet. "Wild Hogs" - John Travolta, William H Macy, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and Ray Liotta. So freaking hilarious I barely stopped laughing.

I highly recommend seeing it. It's honestly funny, not a cuss word in ear shot and in all a great watch. I don't think I've seen W H Macy in anything as funny.

Creativeness

So I've been inspired. I recently bought an absolute kickass camera and have been happy snapping with it left right and centre, without really knowning exactly what to do with what I have. Angus and Robertson are at the moment having a big sale and just on a whim I go look at what they have and there they were. Two inexpensive beginner guides to digital photography! So I bought them. There's some pretty useful info in them and some amazing photos. So now I'm going to take some extra impressive shots and I'll post them to let everyone see! hehe...well maybe. Here's hoping!

Memories

I received a photo today that brought back so many memories. (Thanks freefalling). That's the Nanna I remember.

NEED WASHING ???

An email I got from a friend...just thought I'd share it.

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must Have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.

We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of theTarget. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we wereall caught in. "Mom let's run through the rain," she said. "What" Mom asked. "Lets run through the rain!" She repeated. "No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about anotherminute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain," "We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. "This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now somewould laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignorewhat was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey,you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!! Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other-- and don't forget to run in the rain.

Spayde

This is my cute, way smart, partially annoying, sometimes aggravating, Border Collie X Blue Heeler - Spayde.

Ponderings

Hmmm learning this blogging thing is an interesting new concept...It's fun to learn new stuff...This is me attempting to put more than one pic in one post... here goes...

These are my beautiful little girls in all their cheeky glory.

Look at how clever I am! And look how gorgeous my girls have gotten!

Anyways I'm off to do more sewing. And possibly more blogging. LOL

PJ

A Beginning

Well this will have to do as a start. What an interesting concept...Exciting and a fantastic way to keep everyone in touch and a cheaper way too. hmmm. Anyways enough rambling more editing hehe. I'll be adding a whole bunch of photos of the family etc really soon. Stay tuned.