Hello, Ola, Bonjour, Harro - a Positive Blog.

Hey hey babeh!

So its's been a while! a long while even! I believe the last post I wrote was 'sometimes i cry because i miss you' and the one before that was a whole bunch of randomness that probably didn't make too much sense!

Well it is true. sometimes i cry because i miss you! There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with my dear sisters...chatting and laughing until our hearts contents. and its seems lately I've been deprived!

Today I smiled. Because I made a difference in someones life. One of my clients from placement wrote me a letter, thanking me for the time I spent helping her. :)

I've been deprived because...well of course...you're in a far of land with the love of your life, being the creative genius you are, drawing towers of kittens...Jordy is on holidays spending time with, the other who has a dear little baby...and yes Sari is at work...and I've been on placement 8.30-5 each day, so any contact. I seem to miss! So sometimes I feel sorry for myself...or I find things tend to go the opposite to how I would like them to go. 

• Sometimes...often... life doesn't seem to go the way we expect! 
• Sometimes we get so exhausted, it would just be easier to crawl up in a ball and hide. 
• Sometimes its just really unfair!
• Sometimes other people's choices, bring you sadness, hurt or pain. 
• Sometimes you have one of those days...when everything just seems to go wrong!! (i slept in through my alarm, couldn't find anything to wear, scrapped the work car into a wall and forgot my lunch...all in one day)
• Sometimes you look in the mirror and don't see anybody important.
• Sometimes it's hard to look up!

But fear not...I've been putting my preaching into practice. I've been spending weeks trying to get my clients to focus on the positives. 

and...let me tell you. It's better to look up! (Thomas. S Monson says so haha) and oh yes he is right! 

This is the extent of my creativity. We had Art Therapy at placement...and it seems you stole all the creative genes. thanks haha 

So yes, as I've been telling my clients to focus on what is good in life. I've been doing the same! 

It is wonderful. There is so much to be grateful for!...even when things go wrong, even when you have to work until midnight and all you want to do is sleep...even when you feel like crying, and you feel like no one understands or cares. Even when you are separated from the ones you love. 

So my little positive tips are:

• Search for joy in all things...find the positives in all situations. There's always something, even if it's small. 
• Smile. Smile at somebody, smile at the sunshine, or even the rain, smile at things that make your day special. 
• Do something for somebody else. Write them a note, say Thankyou, tell them they're beautiful, make them something, give them a hug...make someone else smile too! 
• Count your blessings. There is so much to be grateful for! It's amazing how blessed we truly are when we really ponder about it :) 
• Remember no matter how devastating or difficult it may be...there's always someone who is experiencing something much worse in the world. 1st world problems are sometimes a little trivial. (but yes they can be significant to us)
• Respect yourself. When you respect and love yourself and don't put yourself down...it's much easier to find the beauty in other things :) 
• Remember your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ loves you, knows your circumstances, and wants the best for you. He atoned for us so that all our pains can be eased. 

Beautiful Beautiful Melbourne Temple!! :)

• Go on a picnic, dance in the rain, build a cubby, bake till your hearts content, listen to a new style of music (like bagpipes?)
• Look up and have an eternal perspective on life :)

So there it is. Yes... you are one of the happiest people I know. But everyone has down days :) and yes I think it's healthy to have them...but when things get sad and exhausting...Focus on the positives and smile :) 

I miss you and love you and can't wait to see you again! and i hope your life is full of sunshine, joy, love and a rainbow or two!

I LOVE YOU!!!!

I MISS YOU!!!!

and thankyou for your constant love, support, advice and words of kindness. You and all of my sisters are my rock.

XXXX

you can come home now. 

The End.

A Little J update :)

Number one- I miss you so so so much

I think about you every day and wonder what you are doing in the big New York...I wish you could come home and have fun with me :)....I wrote a little story about us...here's a snippet

I have grown up with the blessing of four big sisters in my life, they are a part of me and each one has helped sculpt the young woman I am today. With seven years between us it would seem unlikely Naomi would become my best friend. At age twenty-four she had already experienced my struggles and she knew all my weaknesses. So many memories we built together, memories created on the basis of friendship and love. Together we explored the entire Melbourne city which we called our home away from home. She introduced me to a world of excitement and showed me alternative places in the mazes of Melbourne which we both adored and we would spend hours in the laneways and hidden doorways of the city. We ate at expensive and cheap cafés and tested every hot chocolate around, scoring them on taste and creativity; she introduced me to culture and beauty. Photo booths captured priceless moments; these moments remain pinned to my wall at home. Train rides went too fast as I would tell her about my dreams without stopping for a breath. We shared books and interests, watching movies almost every school night and we would talk about the worlds we read about and how we would go there together someday and meet the characters we grew to love. I met her friends and she met mine. We sang at the top of our lungs no matter where we were and went to concerts together basking in the excitement. She encouraged me to do things I love in life and helped me feel brave when I was actually terrified; she lent me strength when I needed it. So when the day came that she was offered an opportunity of a lifetime I had to be brave and watch her follow her heart to New York where I knew she would achieve everything she wanted in life and be with her fiancé.

Number two- I turned 18!!!

Mummy's classic birthday chocolate cake :)

Little Taj stole the show at breakfast and was more popular than the 18 year old...but you can see why!

Jess said a little bit about my birthday on her last post but this is the eighteen year old herself speaking! So you saw I got a birthday sign on the bridge (at long last). That was only a small part of a fantastic day...there was no partying or legal raging but there was lots and lots of food! We had breakfast at Flinders in the morning and then that night Dad, Mum, Jess and I went on a mystery eating tour in the city...it wasn't planned...and this is what happened.

#first course- Jess following a map on her phone navigated us to an Indian restaurant, it looked awful on the outside but it was full of Indians so we thought it must be amazing!...and it was... because Indian entree is the yummiest.

 #Main meal- so we walked and walked and walked....and walked looking for the perfect dinner destination, we walked down alleyways and read menus and finally ended back at de graves street were we had giant sized meals served to us by an Italian waiter. By the end of it we could barely stand we were so full! 

 #Walking off dinner- we walked to the other side of the city to burn off our dinner and watched the city lights on the yarra bridge :)

 #Dessert- we went to the lindtt restaurant and had sundaes!! They were soooooo yummy. And that was my birthday food tour! SO FAT

Number 3- SAT 1 of my studio arts folio is finished 

So it's all handed in and she loved it...your absence has served as great inspiration haha. So here are a few pictures of the stuff I did while you were gone. I'm starting my final pieces now so it's pretty exciting!

I Love you :)

A quick recap of the things you've already seen and helped me with!

 Inspiration for my final pieces!

 my folio :)

 I made this envelope and stitched the flower and clouds, it really hurt!

 hello naomi! I'm going to do a series of these with each sister poking out :)

 Richard's cello

Number four- Just Stuff you ought to know :)

 Well I got my hazards PHEEEWWW and there was no sneaky tram and motorbike scenario haha. We told you we were going out to lunch on skype once I passed and here we are at lunch...baby Taj having his bottle!... all I need to do now is get my P's I'm going for it in exactly two weeks eeeeeeeeep, wish me luck!

 Mu tickets to Lana Del Rey on the 24th of July...I'm so excited!!...I listen to her album every day and it reminds me of the times we painted together :)

 Jess and I got to babysit little Taj the other night while Steph and Brad went on a date to see Snow White and the Huntsman (such a good movie, you should see it!) and he was so good and happy, he smiles and tries to talk now. This is him in his bouncer about to give his aunty naomi a smile :)

 Dad told you we went to sassafrass and this is our morning tea, we had a grand old time eating scones and sipping hot chocolates.

 We walked through the Sherbrooke rainforest, we were the only people there and the light was beautiful on a crisp winter day. Dad could hear Liar birds so we went off the track like true explorer's and followed the river. It reminded me of the Wild Thronberry's and dad was Nigel haha. But it was so beautiful listening to the water fall and birds. Your American friends wouldn't have seen anything like it!

Signing off Little J xoxo

Sometimes i cry because i miss you.

I Love You.

I Miss you.

Come Home to Me. Dear Sister.

Bloggers Block.

Some like it Hot :)

Hello my darling sister.

I've been suffering lately...from something I've seemingly named, Bloggers Block. There are obviously so many amazing things I could be writing for you, but the right words seem to be running away from me.

But I believe I made a resolution with my dear sisters, and i quote; to:

Share each moment of excitement with each other...it may be something small..like seeing a novelty sized object.. or something as big and exciting as a new baby!...Let's not keep it to ourselves! Share it, and spread the excitement! Post it on the blog, email it or facebook each other :)

So here goes girlies! 

Moments of excitement!...after Nomi left us.

1. On May the 4th (be with you), the excitement started, when our precious sister Stephy decided she'd had enough waiting, and drank some castor oil; as she read it brings on babies!...well aparantly it works, because that night the labour began, and 12 long and painful hours later, our brave girl gave birth to the most beautiful little baby boy you have ever seen. Taj Dylan Whitchurch. :)We would do anything in the world for him to meet his Aunty Nomi!

He's so handsome!!

Beautiful Mumma :)

...ok so nothing can really top that one, but im still going to continue

2. Parking at the hospital is absolutely insane, and costs lots of money. On her last day, I managed to get a free 2hour car park! HECK YEEES

3. One rainy and windy cold day, I trooped down to Mornington, and watched the waves...I also found the most perfect card for you Nomi at a cute little store, but it hasnt quite found its way to the letterbox yet :I

Beautiful Stormy Mornington

4. We celebrated our Mothers! We hurrah-ed and jumped for joy at the wonder and blessing it is to have a Mumma such as ours :) She is so lovely. We truly are the luckiest 5 daughters in the world. She is joyful, compassionate, beautiful, caring, understanding, loving, righteous, patient, cuddly, eyebrowless, courageous, strong and a mighty fine example of all things good. She is a 'wow' of a cook...I don't think I've ever seen her exercise in her life, she eats her meals plus everyones left-overs and has had 6 whole babies, and is still a smoking bod ;) WOWEE. She always goes too far, and puts up with us teasing her. She cleans like she wishes she was Mrs. Sheen (not wife of Charlie, wife of Mr. Sheen cleaning product man). and she is the most selfless woman in the world. We are oh so lucky! :)

and Stephy had her first ever Mumma's Day, and birthday, together, and we are so proud of her. She is such a wonderful Mother! Our Nephew is the luckiest boy alive :)

5. Jordyana turned 18!! Our little J is not so little anymore! I can't believe how quickly she's growing up! She celebrated her birthday in breakfast style, as we do. :) We went to Flinders and had breakfast! Yippeee :) We also had a night on the town in the city and ate till our hearts content! I know the only thing that would have made that night complete would have been to have you there Nomi! 

6. I have officially finished Year 3, Semester 1 Uni! Woopaaah!.. after way too much stress over leaving assignments to the last minute and not knowing what i needed to know for exams. I can only pray that I pass. :/ 

7. The sun was shining today and it made me smile. The sunshine always reminds me of you...maybe because you always have a tan? haha or maybe because you brighten my life! 

8. Today I discovered the reality of my unfitness...exciting? yes i think so ;) The story of Jess crawling the 1000 steps and Kendall strolling them casually, is one you would enjoy Nomi. ;) Lets just say...your little sister is all class; she wasnt puffing at all, her head did NOT have a heart beat of its own and old ladies weren't encouraging her to keep going, because she could do it all on her own. hahah. or simply: POOR KENDS! :/ 

9. Tomorrow Stephy and I are baking a wedding cake for my friend Kristen! :) 

To finish off, I just want to say "Honest to goodness it's the absolute ultimate!"  

I miss watching Gidget with you...we somehow missed it in our marathon of films while you were here! 

I aboslutely miss you and love you a million, and hope your practicing your surfing skills in that little apartment of yours as a true Gidget would do ;) 

A Braless Hug is Always an Awkward Hug

...so a more appropriate title to this blog might be...welcome baby Taj! or Happy Mothers day!

But I must say. it's true! a braless hug is the most awkward hug of all. 

Sorry to any men who read this; but ladies, we all know the best thing at the end of the day is to take off your bra! Bras are not the most comfortable items of clothing...why else do you think women of the 70's Burnt their Bras!? 

It's wonderful freedom being braless - but a braless embrace with anyone (minus your possible significant other) is weird...and an unnecessary bonding moment! 

Today was an exam day...and lets just say, it wasn't a breeze. Exams will never be my friend. 

So to cheer myself up...and maybe bring a little smile to your face...
I'm posting a blog on hugs...awkward hugs. :I
I will vouch that the braless hug is the winner!

1.	hug
	A hug can be between friends, relatives, man and woman, and human and animal, as well as animal to animal. A hug is an expression of warmth and friendliness with arms outstretched around the other. Hugs are used as an expression of love, kindness, sympathy, friendliness, greetings and used sometimes to say goodbye. Hugs, or cuddles provide a sense of intimacy. If there is chemistry between two people when hugging, then a tingling sensation can occur. (HAHA)

"Hugging someone from behind can be surprising and even threatening, and is usually only done by friends who trust one another implicitly."

Hugs:

Happy Birthday ;)

A very "special" Cambodian Happy Birthday to You darling sister ;)

Hey baby girl! It's your birthday today...(in normal time anyway)!! :D This is exciting because

1) You're a year older!!

2) Hopefully Rich will spoil you with all types of lovely things :)

3) The baby could be born today!

4) Everyone has fun on their birthdays!

5) You could have a wild old time and have a party....and maybe even eat some cake!

and last but not least

6) You get presents ;) and this is my present to you this year.

How do I begin?

Well. Once upon a time?...Yes.

Once upon a time, there were 5 sisters who loved each other dearly. When they were young they would stay at home and dance, laugh, play games, sing till their hearts content, and make faces at the strange dinners their sweet Mumma would prepare for them.

They would hold each other when one was sad, they would give kisses when one was hurt, they would lie together and cry when a heart was broken. Wise and kinds words were exchanged to help each other on lifes journey.

As all of their journeys continued, each went off to have their own adventures. Some got married, and began to start a family of their own, the youngest went to France for a time, all by herself to gain a knowledge of all things wonderful, one went to New York to follow her dreams and have the most exciting experiences one could think of....

the other went to Cambodia in hopes of having a good time, all was well, until some locals trapped her in her path and forced her into something that she would forever look back at in shame.

She came home to show her family what they had done to her...

they were in complete shock, but all they could do to help to horrible situation was laugh.

and so, for your birthday dear Nomi, I'm giving you the laughter and photos, ....and a new poster for your wall ;)

Please note that this birthday gift to you involves posting my lifes most utter embarrassment on the internet...and if I'm single for the rest of my life, i hold you accountable hahah...and YES my eyebrows are drawn on, and YES I have brown eyeshadow on my nose.

Before

Happy Birthday Nomi Nomes or should I say Rik Reay Tngai Kom Nert, Nromi !!...Presenting your gift; My Shame!..I hope you enjoy my extreme frustration and awkwardness... and my poor efforts to "smile smaller Jessy!! You smile to big!!"

After:

They tried to make me look elegant...my giving me heaps of props to distract from my face haha 

HARRO!

...she's single! men...WATCH OUT ;) haha

I love you Nomi, and now you really know how much I love you. Happy Birthday!!

xxxx