let's go on a date...in may

We went bowling the other night for date night!

Have you ever been bowling with just 2 people? I hadn't usually I'd been with a big group of people, usually with youth and so it takes a while to play a game, someone if off ordering some food or going to the bathroom! But with just 2 we finished our games in no time at all!

So we played some arcade games...or Tim played some arcade games..

I won the first game and Tim won the second! 

 We went and got a sundae and then cruised home to enjoy the semi finals of Euro Vision! :)  

Whenever I go bowling I always remember how fun it is! If you haven't been in a while get some friends together and head out!

Check out some more of the date goers here!

tc- getting it off my chest

I got some pretty...well let's be honest shitty news this week, an old (as in known for many years) friend was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He's 28, has a wife and a couple of little cuties. Facebook does give me the absolute shits sometimes but I was grateful for it this week because otherwise I probably wouldn't have heard about it yet. I've known Daniel since I was about 10 or 11. We went to Sunday school together and then got confirmed together. We stayed in reasonable contact when we moved from SA to QLD. Back in uni we used to chat on msm and when he and Chantelle got married back in 2005 I was invited to the wedding, so I made the journey from QLD and enjoyed celebrating with them. But as time goes by you do loose contact a bit, you have different priorities or are going through different life changes. Him and his family moved to Alice Springs and Tim and I continued to potter along here.

It's been a bit of a shock really, I guess I've never thought about it in depth and perhaps I had this internal idea that people, men rather aren't meant to get testicular cancer when they are 28. (Even though Shaun did on Felicity...) I have known people who have had cancer before, younger people and older people but never someone the exact same age as me, and who is a friend. But he is (from what I can gather...I haven't seen him face to face) handling things quite well, staying strong and keeping positive. Him and his family have come down to Adelaide so he can have treatment,  He's started chemo and will be having treatment for the next 3 months.

The news has rocked me a bit and it's been at the back of my mind all week. It's got me thinking about how vigilant we need to be with our health and to look after the amazing bodies we have been given. And if I have learnt anything...or been reminded of anything self checks are very important, whether breast or testi's. Be vigilant people and don't put these sorts of things off.

project number 3

There was a sweet little girl who turned 3 on Sunday...and so I made her some bunting...cause that's what this Aunty does! :) Another project done and dusted. And this one was a lot of fun! I have spoken about making bunting here before...more than once! I feel confident making it and the finished product is always so lovely!

So this is Project 3 of 28...making a slow start but we'll get there! 

Mumma!

My mum, me and my sisters!

Happy Mumma's Day.

To my Mumma, My Mother in law, our Grandmothers, Sisters in law with children and expecting child

and all the mumma's out there, hope you have a wonderful day! 

I read a lovely article earlier in the week about an Adelaide woman celebrating her 87th mothers day! She was the grand age of 107!

And just for a bit of fun...I saw this on a friends facebook page earlier in the week...I had a little giggle hope you can too!

grateful for my day job

So as some of you would be aware...I changed jobs at the start of the year. I finished at the school and church I had been working at for 6 years and embarked on a new adventure. It has been such a steep learning curve. Meeting the students, getting to know them and understanding them. Most of the students I work with have experienced some sort of trauma...and not just I saw the cat run over trauma (which I don't discount as being traumatic as people react and respond to things differently, but the type of trauma that scars. Sexual abuse, Neglect Domestic Violence etc) Sometimes some of the students have been really closed. And a lot of the time trust is not something that comes easily to them but some of the tall walls are coming down slowly but surely. It has been wonderful to work with a new bunch of professionals. Passionate, talented, creative people. And I have been welcomed instantly to the group. It has made the transition that little bit easier!

This week I just caught myself thinking WOW! This is where it is at. I decided to finish at my other job as I had trained in social work and I really wanted to sink my teeth into something more social work specific. Well my new job is just that! Yesterday there were 3 things that happened that were highlights. I met with a young guy who has been disengaged from school for quite some time, and by disengaged he hasn't attended for quite some time...possibly over a year and when he has he's found himself in a fair bit of strife. He is 12. But over the past few weeks I have been meeting with him at the library and working on his reading, writing and maths. And he is coming ahead in leaps and bound. He wouldn't meet with me at first and now he churns the work out like a little champ! And little by little I hope he may transition to our school campus. While I was working with him yesterday I got a text from the mother of another young guy I was meeting a couple hours later saying he would not be attending. Which didn't shock me but it was disappointing. I couldn't call her back straight away but when I did she said no he will meet you, expect him at 12. And he churned out some good work too! He is a really smart kid but due to so many reasons has not been able to attend mainstream school. But that is one of his goals...and a big factor holding him back at this time is drug abuse...but it was so positive to have him meet me and engage with me for a little bit. While I was finishing up with him I got a call from a fellow youth worker/case manager saying a student had rocked up at school and would I be back soon. This young guy has sort of flitted in an out of school over the past couple of weeks. He's found himself homeless and had a bit of trouble with the law. He pretty much was trying to put out fires all over the place where things were going pear shaped big time. But we talked some things through and made a plan to meet today to get the ball rolling with legal aid and applying to change a bail condition. I felt like we kicked some goals...AND the sweetest thing when I was said goodbye to him today and that I'll see you Monday at school he said "Lauren thanks so much for your help today I really appreciate it!" 

These are the moments this week where I thought, Wow I am really enjoying my job and I am so grateful for it and happy to have made the change. 

If you have made it this far...Thanks for reading! :)

for more Gratefuls head over to Maxabella's and share the grateful love!

wish list

This is at the top of my wish list at the moment...

AND I've ALMOST saved enough to get it! HUZZAH! 

I live super close to work and one of the teachers who is MAD on bikes (owns about 7 or 8!) pointed me in the direction of Mojo bikes so I thought I would get some exercise in and ride to work.

Very excited!

In other news life has been busy, I had a catch up with 2 old friends from primary school on the weekend, and I'm sort of addicted to pinterest! 

Hope you're having a wonderful week so far!

too short

 I took a short trip to Sydney on the weekend...hanging out with these cutie pa touties...and their parents...and it just so happened that Tim's sister and brother in law were there too! It was lovely.

 Ava was super serious to start off with but by Sunday afternoon was giving lots of snuggles! 

Sophie is walking like a little pro and Isabelle is as cheeky as ever!

I also got to meet this little man! (and see his mumma and pappa!)

It was too short and I hope I get to visit again soon to give all the cuties kisses again!