Day 86...

FRIDAY 28.11.14 - I am thankful for... Youth booklets

*Real booklets but names are not visible to protect identity of the kids

Each youth member gets an empty booklet at the start of each term to write it. They are allowed to write down anything; something we ask them to, notes about the devotions we did that night, or questions for the leaders. We, the leaders, then take the booklets home with us and if there is anything they want answered or commented on we can do that for them. This has proven to be very effective. I know at least from the girls' perspective (ladies collect girls books, men collect boys books) I have had some pretty personal and serious questions asked and it's nice for me to know that they knew they have someone to talk to besides parents and friends. Teenage years can be difficult. I know, I've been there before, as most of you reading this. If you ask a teenager straight out "What's wrong?" or "what's on your mind?" more often then not they'll just shrug and say "nothing". Literally. They feel embarrassed and not willing to share something upfront. But this way is a little more private and they can feel comfortable and not embarrassed. Therefore I am thankful for these booklets as a method of communicating effectively with the teens at our youth group, so I might be a positive and non-judgmental influence in their lives. I hope that's how they see me anyway!

Day 85...

THURSDAY 27.11.14 - I am thankful for... Magazines

I can safely say that I've always loved reading. From an early age I remember reading the Goosebumps paperbacks, then progressing onto teen novels and mature reads such as Jane Austen, Shakespeare and the Bronte sisters. I think my favourite author would have to be Marion Keyes. Her novel are hilarious and moving at the same time. But when you just don't have time to read a novel, I like to read magazines. I'm really into the creative things you can find, fashion, food, photography, home and lifestyle etc... However, I'm not a big fan of celebrity gossip. I must admit it makes me sad because most of the time you read negative things abut their lives, things I know I wouldn't want splashed on the front page for the world to see. I realise that's part of being famous but I feel sorry for them in that way and don't wish to participate in anyone's misgivings, whether I know them or not. Recently I discovered Frankie magazine, it has all the things I want to read and the articles are about ordinary people doing great things, entrepreneurs, travellers and the like. No celebrity gossip. So I'm really thankful for finds like this, for magazines about things I'm interested in providing entertainment and light reading between novels.

Day 84...

WEDNESDAY 26.11.14 - I am thankful for... Surprises!

 

I told you all I'd show the work crafty "surprise" when we revealed it. Tada! Today is the day! Two colleagues of mine made a paper chain of everyone who works in our Cardiology Level 1 department! I was able to help out a little. Every paper person has something unique to the person it represents. There are people in their uniforms, doctors with stethoscopes, people with flags representing the country they are from, people with the fancy things they love, funny hair and hats, and even our cardiac MRI specialist inside an MRI machine! We were so happy with how everyone turned out. It's a little Christmas surprise, but more so a celebration of the people in our department, the people who make it run as we have a few people who don't celebrate Christmas but felt everyone should be included. There we many "wow"s and "that's awesome"s and laughs as more and more staff saw the creation. My favourite comment so far was from a doctor who said "there's a lot of love on that wall". And she's right. We took the time to think of each and every person individually and with a positive result. On another surprise note, I also bought my boyfriend a small surprise and can't wait for him to see it when I see him on Friday!  So I love surprises, giving them to people more than receiving them. I love to see the joy I can bring to peoples lives.

Day 83...

TUESDAY 25.11.14 - I am thankful for... Santas in Shopping Centres

*I did not take this picture, obviously. Picture from the internet.

Walking around the Westfields near work during my lunch hour, I saw that Santa was being visited by children. The children seem so excited to be there! All jumping up and down, impatient for their turn with Santa. A group of disabled teens was also there. The excitement and pure joy on one of the boys faces, as he waved excitedly to Santa, would have just melted your heart.  I remember sitting on Santa's lap as a child, with my sister, and getting our photo taken. Christmas really is my favourite time of year and whilst I'm a little too big for Santas's lap now, I have wonderful memories which I hope to share and pass onto my Children some day, and see their faces light up when they see Santa and the shops. So thank you shopping centre Santas for putting the smiles on little and big faces like you do :)

Day 82...

MONDAY 24.11.14 - I am thankful for... The hospitality of others

In August this year, a friend of mine from church married and moved to America with her new husband. She was also in my bible study group and sometimes her parents would host our group in their home for the study. Even though she no longer lives in their home, or even in the country, they still allowed us to meet at their house, have dinner and our study there, with her mum even participating in the group time. I thought that it was such a wonderful gesture, but not surprising because that's the sort of people they are. It's a wonderful thing to have people that open their homes to others. It can be daunting as your home is 'your space', somewhere you can escape the craziness of the world outside. A safe haven. A place to relax without others. And yet how wonderful it is when people freely and selflessly open up their homes for others. So I am thankful for those who are hospitable to others, not just socially but in someone's time of need. There's a lot we can learn from keeping our doors open.

Day 81...

SUNDAY 23.11.14 - I am thankful for... Worship music practice

I have been blessed to be part of a worship music team for some time now. Firstly in my church in Brisbane and now in my Sydney church. I absolutely love to sing, but don't necessarily like to be a focus of attention, so being in a band is great. Besides, the congregation sing along as well so it's not like everyone is staring attentively at you. I just love participating in music practice. Being so musically inclined, there is just something about taking a song and making something out of it, changing it up to make it different, experiment with different keys, harmonies, tempos. We have a great team at my current church and we just work so well together and bounce ideas off each other. And the end result is usually awesome! So I'm thankful for the opportunity to be part of this type of service at church with fantastic people.

Day 80... and still going :)

SATURDAY 22.11.14 - I am thankful for... Celebrating Hen's nights

*Picture from blackbirdcafe.com.au

Tonight we went out to a Cabaret Magic Show and dinner to celebrate my friend from church's hen's night. The show was great, full of illusion, dance, bad accents, appearing rabbits and flying birds (into my other friend's face in one instance!). The last trick went wrong and two out of the three magicians thought it was so hilarious they had trouble keeping their composure... which just made us laugh even harder! I'm really bummed as I realised I didn't take any photos! It was quite dark in the theatre restaurant and it was so much fun that honestly I didn't think of it, so used a picture from the internet, sorry! As much fun as we had, it was a great opportunity for the 'hen' to just relax and have a great night, with the rest of us celebrating her as a person and friend of ours. It looks like she had a fabulous night too! Earlier this year we organised a Hen's Day for my bestie before her wedding. Unfortunately through the wedding process there is always a person or two who decide that their opinion is most important, even more important than the couple getting married and do things their own way. When my other bestie, the bride's sister and I organised my besties we made sure that the decisions were 100% in line with what she wanted. We added in the surprise of a limo ride but she knew everything else that was happening and she still says it was one of her most favourite nights ever. It really did turn out well. Weddings can be stressful so I'm thankful there are days like Hen's Days/Nights for other people to take over so the bride can just relax and let her hair down, in the most tasteful way possible of course!