First of all, let me apologise for not posting more often of late. To those who still faithfully check coffee break lane I am truely thankful!
So, its been a big few weeks...
Firstly, JT was on holidays for the last two weeks and it was such a blessing to get to spend so much of that time with him....brunch and beaches, cocktails and chicken burgers at manly, new cafes and movies....
And what was even more perfect about the timing of this break was that it was the week before I started a new job!
Yes, you heard right, I got a new job!!!
After looking for about 9 months I had two interviews in two days and for one of them they called back within 2 hrs of the interview and offered me the job!
Its in Human Resources....and if you have been following this space for a while you'll notice that wasnt exactly my desired #1 option....but thats ok! It is a part time (3days a week) and only 5 mins from my house - how perfect is that? Which means I have time available to pursue other avenues (ie photography and film& theatre and art and ministry). So I am thankful for this answer to prayer God has so generously given me.
The not so good news is that, having been sick for about 4 weeks now, 2 days into starting my new job I got even sicker and discovered I have Glandular Fever!!
hmm great timing indeed! hmm can anyone say many, many, MANY hours of rest?!
Never fear though, spring is here, the sun is out, summer is coming, good things are still happening... and the very wonderful JT bought me the most beautiful roses I have ever seen... 
Snow Patrol
Last Saturday my amazing man took me to see Snow Patrol in Newcastle for my birthday.*
The concert was amazing!!
I love these guys, but they were even better live than I had imagined! Their songs sounded great, the crowd was singing along in unison, and lead singer Gary Lightbody was busting some crazy and rather entertaining moves up on stage! Plus, they've got cool Irish accents so hearing them was a nice added bonus! But even better was, being at Newcastle, our seats were so much closer than expected and we had a great view!
All in all, a VERY good night!!
*dont worry, my birthday isnt for another month so if you thought you'd forgotten you still have time ;)
Cocktails, Candles & Car Crashes
Two weeks ago we celebrated JT's birthday.
And it was definitely a memorable weekend.
A mixture of the very good and the rather bad.
After an earlier but extremely enjoyable Bible study, I headed to the Newtown... Oh I was excited!!
After some present fun times, we headed to Bondi Icebergs with a bunch of his friends to sip martinis by candlelight taking in an ocean view!
It was a great night - and more importantly, the amazing man that is Josh had a good night! (Ill let him expand more on the detials though)
Saturday brought some more fun times...and some suprises too...
After staying the night at MAC, which I enjoyed muchly, especially cos I could just get up and go across the street to JT, we inspected the Moore College Carnival and alter headed to Victoria Park for some more festivities. After checking out all the environmentally friendly product stalls, we very quickly migrated to the all the food stalls..... mmm pancakes with strawberries & chocolate....
Not long after enjoying the festivities in the sunny day, it was time to head to JT's brother's place for a family dinner in his honor. Unfortunately, on the way, us driving in convoy, a car rammed into the back of me, pushing me into JT's car.
Yup, my first car crash!!
Its amazing what damage can be done in such a split second...
They hit me pretty hard - so hard my stereo even flew out!
...leaving mine and the car that hit me undrivable,
...me with quite a bit of neck & back pain, which also meant I couldnt work (or do much at all) for over a week! (Its thankfully easing now though)
...And as of monday this week, the car I was driving was officially ritten off!
...Here is a pic of the damage to the back...
I am of course very thankful that neither of us were worse off and I personally am very thankful JT was there with me!
Thankfully, after lots of phone calls, dealing with the four tow trucks that decided to pull up, and an hour wait for the police to come, we still finally made it to JT's family dinner, for which I am so grateful, as his family were great and it was a lovely evening.
So the week prior to the accident I kept having that line by Snow Patrol in my head "For once I want to be the car crash, not always just the traffic jam. Hit me hard enough to wake me..." But people, I didnt actually want to be in a car crash!! Its just a song!! I mean really....
So it was a full on weekend - a lot of very good memories made and moments enjoyed, celebrating JT's b'day and enjoying the blessings of family and friends....just with a little trial in there to make us appreciate each of those things so much more!
Reading: Spurgeon Gold
"Sin, whatever it might be to other people, became to me an intolerable burden. ... I felt it would not satisfy my conscience if I could be forgiven unjustly, but then there came the question, how could God be just and yet justify me, who had been so guilty?"
"I do from my soul confess that I was never satisfied till I came to Christ."
"I could scarecely content myself even for five minutes without trying to to something for Christ."
Thinking & Feeling: refreshed and convicted by the sermon heard last night at church. After missing it on and off for a couple of weeks for health reasons I felt renewed & joyful being there this week! What was preached was something I am familiar with, but it was just one of those sermons that reminds you of that beautiful freedom we have in Christ. We addressed the common objection to Christianity that we all find truth for ourselves, dont force me to believe in God, I can find truth for myself. Gav pointed out that, despite what your personal view is, there is much, much freedom in the Truth. The question is not whether you have a master but which you choose to follow If you choose Truth as your master, you will be set free, free living life as it is meant to be with the right restrictions, free to be what we are meant to be and free from all other false masters. And that Truth is of course a person, Christ Jesus - it is not doctrine but personal. All quite fitting with conversations had recently regarding freedom...
Praying: Last night we started our september evangelistic series at church, dealing with questions and hard truths, and this was the message of freedom in the Truth was what we kicked off the series with. Itd be great to pray for those who came last night, those who are being invited, and those doing the inviting for the rest of the series! Big stuff happening, but God is even bigger!
Also, for wisdom in writing a study on Heaven for my yr7 girls.
Photo of the week: JT & I dressed for a 21st Sat night.
Listening: 'She Stays' by Northern Line and 'The One Thing' by Paul Colman - "The one thing I dont question is you; You really love me like you say you do...All I know at the end of the day is your love remains."
Looking forward to: Snow Patrol concert next weekend!!!!!!!!!
First of all, let me apologise for not posting more often of late. To those who still faithfully check coffee break lane I am truely thankful!
