tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-302377132024-03-07T17:19:09.533+10:30Heavenly SunsetsAmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-83949751031201719932010-11-12T21:07:00.002+10:302010-11-12T22:47:54.335+10:30ContentIts been ages since I blogged. Just couldn't bring myself to do it. Have struggled in so many ways in recent months. The longer its been since Noah's death, the harder its been to cope. Which is the opposite to what I thought it would be like. And the opposite to what other people thought too. Some think I should be 'over it' by now. Well I'm not. I don't know how long it will be till Noah's death doesn't produce raw feelings in me. Till pregnancy and birth announcements don't tear me in two. In the meantime I'm praying for healing and for strength. For grace to congratulate those who have had babies and those who are pregnant. Up until now, I've found it impossible to do. Apologies to all who I've not sent my well wishes to. In my heart I'm pleased for you, but the pain prevents me having the strength to say or do anything. So far..<br />
<br />
Today was the first day in months that I felt content. We picked up our family Christmas present today. We get ourselves a treat each year. Well... our daughter a treat anyway :) We got her a playhouse playground thing. She loves it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOyReS8TTW9kmANRyvAg2Nl2Y7TgpBcV4HjwsWn_eB8THouWlXy7VQb0HDsCsXFMKod3PYE3ajER9_DclG5rkEytfLkb7QtiihnAfoHaCX1A6t16B1Hfk2ZfRnCLryR-hz8MW/s1600/12thNov2010_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOyReS8TTW9kmANRyvAg2Nl2Y7TgpBcV4HjwsWn_eB8THouWlXy7VQb0HDsCsXFMKod3PYE3ajER9_DclG5rkEytfLkb7QtiihnAfoHaCX1A6t16B1Hfk2ZfRnCLryR-hz8MW/s200/12thNov2010_0002.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlXcz3NpWD7aFX1jw2Kc_f9u7Y1VLb2ZRsgS5NIHX5OTDywuNNWdsInjk5uNjH1VhfVzPmtrc77vU1GWKgyNOO6y1oPYqsRgsKLlYmwp2OnJTjdWxH9NEAhSvvf54VXrM8y5r/s1600/12thNov2010_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlXcz3NpWD7aFX1jw2Kc_f9u7Y1VLb2ZRsgS5NIHX5OTDywuNNWdsInjk5uNjH1VhfVzPmtrc77vU1GWKgyNOO6y1oPYqsRgsKLlYmwp2OnJTjdWxH9NEAhSvvf54VXrM8y5r/s200/12thNov2010_0012.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
My perfect moment happened today. Picture this.<br />
<br />
I'm in the kitchen, making my favourite meal at the moment (Chicken and Asparagus Mornay). I'm listening to Michael W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman music. I'm watching my wonderful husband play with my wonderful daughter outside. All I can hear over the top of the sweet music was the even sweeter sound of my daughter giggling with delight.<br />
<br />
Content. Yep thats how I feel today. And to top it off... God sent the most amazing and heavenly sunset.<br />
<br />
A reminder He loves me... a reminder He loves Noah and is holding him close in heaven. For me.. sunsets are a sneak peak at heaven. I don't think heaven will be white clouds or angels with harps. It will be colours... lots of colours, bright golden light and LOVE ... overwhelming love.<br />
<br />
And one day I'll be there. I'll be with Jesus, I'll be with my children and family. I'll be home.<br />
<br />
Content.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblnMQ1l5LJMRYxHHts9obhpKXNNbzy_X2bCXmrLoLuon__FwPi3Yyv2WZg_N9RHlCAXQDyCyGD0ZiXRtxms7WhsgQxoUWAxJ8XDKykLTRLdQN5GzTHKELPTBHGst7H_-D3wP5/s1600/sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblnMQ1l5LJMRYxHHts9obhpKXNNbzy_X2bCXmrLoLuon__FwPi3Yyv2WZg_N9RHlCAXQDyCyGD0ZiXRtxms7WhsgQxoUWAxJ8XDKykLTRLdQN5GzTHKELPTBHGst7H_-D3wP5/s320/sunset.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The sunset from my backyard. Makes me wish sometimes I was closer to the beach or high enough to see the horizon. Still... it was big enough and beautiful enough to get my attention and I loved it.</span>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-65062379559545659102010-08-20T21:47:00.001+09:302010-08-20T21:49:40.185+09:30Blessed.Its been a while since I posted. I had a gastro virus for 2 weeks and just at the tail end of that virus I got the flu. Have had that for over a week now. Not feeling any better either, getting worse in fact. I'm rather over being unwell. Hoping my body will get better soon.<br />
<br />
We found out Noah's results yesterday. We've got a diagnosis for what was wrong with him. We've found out that its not likely to be a genetic cause which means its not likely to happen again. What happened to our sweet boy Noah was 1 in 10,000 babies. The doctor said to me ''You may ask 'why me' but when the statistic is 1 in 10,000 babies, why not you? If not you, it would have happened to someone else. It was going to happen, it just happened to be you. You've been struck by lightening''. I thought he approached that in a good way. I haven't found myself too often thinking 'why me'. I do admit to getting jealous of my friends having healthy pregnancies when I haven't been able to the last 3 times. But I understand that everyone has something to struggle with in life. This is just a trial I have to cope with in mine at this point in my life. The thing that makes me sad.. is that my sweet Noah fell into a small percentage of babies that just don't happen to have all their organs form properly. Amazing when you look at how complex the body is, and how much has to go right, its a wonder any of us are here at all.<br />
<br />
On the way to the hospital, it was very 'rainbow' type weather. Cloudy, random showers of rain, with sunshine breaking up the clouds in places. Reminded me a lot of the day before Noah was born. When we saw that beautiful rainbow right in front of our window. That looked like it was placed there, just for us. I believe it was.<br />
I felt disappointed I didn't see any rainbows on the way to the appointment. I thought that it would have been a great way for God to comfort me (gotta love how I tell him how best to make me feel better. When He knows whats best... I tell him anyway..). Got to the hospital, went to the appointment and got our news which was better than we thought it would be.<br />
The reason I've called today's blog 'blessed' is because the news we got could have been so much worse. It could have been a genetic cause that meant any future babies could have the same problem. Or we could have not received any answers at all, which so many people I know have. All they got was a 'we don't know'.<br />
I feel blessed. I not only got to hold my son, carry my son and love my son. I was able to find out information that can help with some closure and still gives me hope for the future. Hope. Another word that is so special to me.<br />
When we left the hospital we thought we better stop at the pharmacy there and buy some teething gel, since my daughters molars are yet to come through. While I was waiting for Nigel to get the teething gel I looked over at the hospitals gift shop. This is what it is called:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_j8PIxwgfeRVB6Vda1artFhR7IsiUUHQfG7JpN71oG1wkJP4UZCfAJQ7wqt57UYQL3GI5owJikn63f0ggIR7cN3pr00-fojcGbde_gvHhl0juO91hl6Lqa_lIGoVdEsq6YfG/s1600/19082010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_j8PIxwgfeRVB6Vda1artFhR7IsiUUHQfG7JpN71oG1wkJP4UZCfAJQ7wqt57UYQL3GI5owJikn63f0ggIR7cN3pr00-fojcGbde_gvHhl0juO91hl6Lqa_lIGoVdEsq6YfG/s320/19082010.jpg" /></a></div> So I did get my rainbow in the end... just not the way I expected. I love it when God does that.<br />
<br />
Blessed.Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-43690335299798390162010-08-11T22:46:00.002+09:302010-08-11T22:49:58.238+09:30He is faithful<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: purple;">Finally starting to feel better after being ill for a week or two. Nice to have a bit of energy. On my way to my parents house today I stopped by a Christian bookstore and bought a few cds I've been meaning to get for months but hadn't gotten around to it yet. One of them was Steven Curtis Chapman's album Beauty Will Rise which he wrote after he lost his daughter Maria. I have found the songs on this album to be exactly how my heart is feeling and have found great comfort and encouragement in his songs.</div><div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: purple;">In a week or so's time we'll be finding out Noah's autopsy results. I'm so anxious about what they might say and what that means for our family. I have so many questions that I want answered but at the same time am terrified of finding out.</div><div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: purple;">This song I listened to today, really helped me. Here are the lyrics:</div><br />
<b>Faithful - SCC </b><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am broken, I am bleeding, <br />
I'm scared and I'm confused, <br />
but You are faithful. <br />
Yes You are faithful. <br />
I am weary, unbelieving. <br />
God please help my unbelief! <br />
Cos You are faithful. <br />
Yes You are faithful. <br />
<br />
I will proclaim it to the world. <br />
I will declare it to my heart <br />
And sing it when the sun is shining. <br />
I will scream it in the dark. <br />
<br />
You are faithful! <br />
You are faithful! <br />
When you give and when You take away, <br />
even then still Your name <br />
is faithful! <br />
You are faithful! <br />
And with everything inside of me, <br />
I am choosing to believe <br />
You are faithful. <br />
<br />
I am waiting for the rescue <br />
that I know is sure to come, <br />
cos You are faithful. <br />
Yes You are faithful. <br />
I've dropped anchor in Your promises, <br />
and I am holding on, <br />
cos You are faithful. <br />
God You are faithful. <br />
<br />
<br />
I will proclaim it to the world. <br />
I will declare it to my heart <br />
And sing it when the sun is shining. <br />
I will scream it in the dark. <br />
<br />
You are faithful! <br />
You are faithful! <br />
When you give and when You take away, <br />
even then still Your name <br />
is faithful! <br />
You are faithful! <br />
And with everything inside of me, <br />
I am choosing to believe You're faithful. <br />
<br />
So faithful... <br />
<br />
Though I cannot have the answer <br />
that I'm wanting to demand, <br />
I'll remember You are God <br />
and everything is in Your hand. <br />
In Your hands you hold the sun, the moon, <br />
the stars up in the sky, <br />
for the sake of Love, You hung Your own Son <br />
on the cross...to die... <br />
<br />
You are faithful... <br />
Yes, You are faithful... <br />
When you give and when You take away, <br />
even then, great is Your faithfulness! <br />
Great is Your faithfulness! <br />
<br />
And with everything inside of me, <br />
I am choosing to believe You're faithful! <br />
Oh, oh, oh... <br />
Oh, oh, oh... <br />
When you give and when You take away, <br />
even then still Your name <br />
is faithful! <br />
You are faithful! <br />
And with everything inside of me, <br />
I am choosing to believe... <br />
<br />
...You're faithful...</div><div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday I drove to visit Noah's grave. I just sat there and talked to him. Sat with him in silence. Prayed to God. I miss my son so much. They still haven't got his plaque on his grave yet. They told me it would only be 3 - 4 weeks.. its been more like 6 .. I wish they would just be honest with time frames.. not try and make things easier by telling us it will be quicker when it won't be. I had the hospital do that to us too with almost everything to do with Noah (autopsy results, hand and foot prints, appt times, phone calls etc). They told us it would be a certain time frame.. then you ring up when nothing has happened and someone else says ''I don't know why they told you that.. it never happens that quickly''. I'd rather be told the longer time frame.. and be nicely surprised if it happened sooner.. than constantly waiting and wondering why things haven't happened yet. What went wrong? Did someone make a mistake? Its just more torture at a time that is already difficult. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Am going to get ready for bed now and listen to some more music to relax and encourage me before I go to sleep. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm going to try my best to keep trusting in the God who is faithful.. and who.. when I haven't seen a rainbow in real life for a few weeks.. gave me one in my dream last night. A rainbow that when I moved to looked away, that it followed me and didn't disappear. God's faithfulness. Beautiful. Thanks God for being in my dreams. </span> </div>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-60655825805204593972010-08-09T15:30:00.000+09:302010-08-09T15:30:43.571+09:30SighNot doing so well at the moment. Feel like I've got nothing useful to post about really. I'm still ill and starting to feel quite depressed about my situation. We find out Noah's autopsy results next week which fills me with anxiety enough, without not knowing why I'm still sick and whats wrong with me. I just want things to be a bit more normal, to have a break from difficulties, tests, worries, health issues and appts for a while. But no.. God still is allowing all this to happen.<br />
I'm tired of life and tired of being tired. I'm trying to hang onto Jesus and focus on him and how he's pulled me through in the past. But being ill means I've got less strength to keep focussed and my doubts rise up.<br />
I'm thankful for some friends who haven't forgotten about me and my need for prayer still.<br />
In the meantime.. I'll keep walking through this valley... one day I'll reach the mountain top.Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-42988961649950934042010-08-06T21:28:00.000+09:302010-08-06T21:28:52.776+09:30Footprints on a mothers heartI've been very unwell all week. Hormones everywhere, got a cold/gastric flu thing and also strained my neck. So been very uncomfortable and feeling very sorry for myself. Sometimes I just can't stop crying and wish Noah to be in my arms. Especially as his due date gets closer and closer. I would have been around 30 weeks by now. I've been trying to lose weight since Noah's birth. Interestingly since not eating for almost a week from this bug i've lost a few kilos and my tummy just seems so flat it upsets me (rather than making me happy). I wish Noah was still in there but healthy and growing well. But he isn't. He wouldn't have been.<br />
<br />
I finally received from the hospital his hand and foot prints they took when he was born. They're beautiful and precious.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ5sGFjrpwRrDW54OM3w4ENeS-D4rrVnSfR-CpqAarALbBix1yv5PRqFp8gGpieceDnsTGrUqxJUe7NczQbrwQG9w2FJOag47rJgPGD376T1tX6wt8y_WZ8Csc9-THsx9Mufo/s1600/06082010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ5sGFjrpwRrDW54OM3w4ENeS-D4rrVnSfR-CpqAarALbBix1yv5PRqFp8gGpieceDnsTGrUqxJUe7NczQbrwQG9w2FJOag47rJgPGD376T1tX6wt8y_WZ8Csc9-THsx9Mufo/s320/06082010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Its nice to have these prints. It represents how I feel.. though I only had him for a short time. He changed my life forever. He left his footprints on my heart. They will be there always. xo</div>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-74790367805404326772010-08-04T11:32:00.001+09:302010-08-04T11:35:47.017+09:30MiraclesI'm so tired. I've spent hours lately just sifting through so many blogs families have set up dedicating to their children who have died. Its quite overwhelming actually. Makes my blog feel like a drop in the ocean. But thats ok. I am mainly writing this to get my own thoughts out. Stop them swirling around in my head. If someone reads them and finds them helpful or interesting then thats a bonus.<br />
<br />
I was thinking yesterday a lot about miracles. I was listening to a song by the Newsboys about miracles and how they believed they would happen. My immediate thought was 'hey.. I prayed for a miracle for my son to be saved.. and he wasn't'. But then I thought about it more. Jesus says God answers our prayers. But often it seems like he doesn't.<br />
<br />
So it got me thinking about Noah and what happened. I prayed to God for a miracle.. to heal his kidneys. I asked God 'please can you give me a miracle'. Well I think he did. He didn't heal Noah's kidneys. Noah still died. But God gave me a miracle of faith. I've had many people mention how amazed at my faith they were during all our heartache. And I can honestly say it wasn't anything I did. I couldn't have given myself that much faith.. I couldn't have done anything in my earthly power to be that strong, to keep trusting in God after so many heartaches and losses. But God gave me that faith.. and in my mind.. based on where I was at in my faith a few months earlier... that it was a miracle of faith. God gave me faith when I needed it. I wasn't strong enough, but he was.<br />
<br />
We face situations in our life that are harder than we can handle. And we can't handle them alone. God gives us everything we need. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it, but he does, just in ways we sometimes don't see or notice. We need to look and search out for those little surprises and gifts he gives us, even in the darkest of times.<br />
<br />
I wish so much Noah didn't die, I long to hold him in my arms, see his smile, hear his cry. But I can't. I won't. I don't understand why I've lost so many babies and so many people have children without difficulty or illness or infertility. It doesn't seem fair but its an imperfect world.<br />
But we do have a perfect God who loves us. Loves our children. They are HIS children. And he lends them to us. Then he takes them home. We are his children too. He's lent us to our parents. One day we'll be with him too. It will be a wonderful day.<br />
<br />
In the meantime.. until I reach heaven.. I will look for the little miracles that surround me.. the prayers God answers in ways that are the best.. the ways that are in accordance with his will.. and the ways which are special and intended just for me. Our God who loves us personally... xx<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7Eh4SNkxmoJzcPX8vsEq4qPH8HMY09k4AUVm6AfWhkYheVrRPyc28heNZqppmgID1bVhd6YsCAzQqZlAJILFG6QSAa6LwAYMLDsuGHNQ0N79W7o38d6ByHgpHwNUyMjdu_qY/s1600/Cause.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7Eh4SNkxmoJzcPX8vsEq4qPH8HMY09k4AUVm6AfWhkYheVrRPyc28heNZqppmgID1bVhd6YsCAzQqZlAJILFG6QSAa6LwAYMLDsuGHNQ0N79W7o38d6ByHgpHwNUyMjdu_qY/s400/Cause.gif" width="400" /></a></div>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-52702093028184938382010-08-03T01:29:00.000+09:302010-08-03T01:29:02.225+09:30Missing NoahI've been feeling ill for a day now. Caught a bug or ate something dodgy yesterday. Even though I've had the day to rest while my wonderful husband stayed home to look after me and Charlotte, I've felt very stressed. Probably just built up stress from everything with Noah and everything thats to come.<br />
<br />
Missing him so much tonight. So many friends pregnant at the moment. So many due when I would have been. I had a lot of friends have babies when I had Charlotte. Most of them are now pregnant. Feels hard to be the one who has tried and failed so many times to have another baby. I know I'm not alone in this but still is difficult.<br />
<br />
I still appreciate my Charlotte, who constantly brings me joy. I love the way she loves me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQ142vKbmfrzER_7GNLyahtsVdWPWGMLGSq7iY1WtDoYiBS456Ny5JIY8y9pOX0YwUlnNeXzmrXLM1Znf5JX_4qdYHBrs-nHS6pmZRqz0DR7n4w8r4KyoEZbKkDpvYP_zugld/s1600/Noah's+Funeral+23rd+June_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQ142vKbmfrzER_7GNLyahtsVdWPWGMLGSq7iY1WtDoYiBS456Ny5JIY8y9pOX0YwUlnNeXzmrXLM1Znf5JX_4qdYHBrs-nHS6pmZRqz0DR7n4w8r4KyoEZbKkDpvYP_zugld/s320/Noah's+Funeral+23rd+June_0011.JPG" /></a></div>This photo was taken the day of Noah's funeral. But I love it.<br />
<br />
I got another photo to remember Noah by today. The same wonderful woman who did the sunset photo for Noah and my miscarried babies, did a personalised butterfly for me too. One of the photos she took for me is below. The hearts next to Noah's name represent my two miscarried babies. I miss them so much too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZxtpBnqG_67jbhePl_Jr5mul9tbQ6K4Lg_MPXtH9AVU-YddDhz5_8_HV7w8rnqouvzZIGkQhm0BSoiIxQTeCfKwAC0hQ_sjeQPXDrBN0eLWEJhPF6fMAnSz-YbnTtmez-ub3/s1600/Noahbutterfly2+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZxtpBnqG_67jbhePl_Jr5mul9tbQ6K4Lg_MPXtH9AVU-YddDhz5_8_HV7w8rnqouvzZIGkQhm0BSoiIxQTeCfKwAC0hQ_sjeQPXDrBN0eLWEJhPF6fMAnSz-YbnTtmez-ub3/s320/Noahbutterfly2+resize.jpg" /></a></div>So beautiful and so special.<br />
<br />
I wonder if anyone reads my blogs. Suppose it doesn't matter if they don't. Somewhere for me to talk about how I feel. I know it can get tiring listening to me drone on about missing my babies. Depressing I guess.<br />
<br />
But I can't help it. At least I know God isn't sick of listening to me. And he knows how I feel too. I'm thankful for his compassion and mercy towards me. And his strength to continue walking this long road.Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-80092336727466338122010-08-01T21:34:00.001+09:302010-08-01T21:38:11.497+09:30ExhaustedBusy day today. Family get together this morning at the baptism of my niece and nephew. Big lunch afterwards and then tea at the in laws. Overall was a nice day. Difficult to in some ways. Had a few people mention Noah and how sad they are for me. Which meant a lot they said something. Some people say nothing which can be worse. Depending on the day. Losing Noah is a huge part of my life. He is still my son. I don't want him to be ignored just because its painful and I miss him. I still love him and thinking of him still brings a warmth to my heart. Also held a few babies today. First time since Noah died. One of them is the same age that one of my babies would have been had I not miscarried. Thats always difficult. Seeing other peoples children the same age and just wondering what life would have been like if that baby had survived.<br />
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Its hard cos I miss my miscarried babies as much as Noah. Its just I have a name for Noah and I got to hold him. Doesn't mean I don't miss my other babies. As well as the photos for Noah that I got made, I also had ones done for my two miscarried babies.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN25wNj__JL31NrUnlr4Bn8ZKBKiH4CidrhwuanK-0iX3eJLRgdDRwttKRFhABDAaU99CD4wTmPjF3oyAn5u2Shr9NeiwkkfevHF-aPsrxLOxoW5lHvolaHl-rpuRW1lqzTyI/s1600/Glory+Babies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN25wNj__JL31NrUnlr4Bn8ZKBKiH4CidrhwuanK-0iX3eJLRgdDRwttKRFhABDAaU99CD4wTmPjF3oyAn5u2Shr9NeiwkkfevHF-aPsrxLOxoW5lHvolaHl-rpuRW1lqzTyI/s320/Glory+Babies.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnMEAIFlUpDvKkP3TpJcY5TGqcpC6VKvi31bLi4fwAvFHh_qHWWa27llhq01azNyxW9wSK-ep29kol4jFdaPBfn0fbl5Ur73_kreoAXi2sm6Ynw_o0Mmv3jb1xVvQJidLZQQ1/s1600/Glory+Babies+Butterflies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnMEAIFlUpDvKkP3TpJcY5TGqcpC6VKvi31bLi4fwAvFHh_qHWWa27llhq01azNyxW9wSK-ep29kol4jFdaPBfn0fbl5Ur73_kreoAXi2sm6Ynw_o0Mmv3jb1xVvQJidLZQQ1/s320/Glory+Babies+Butterflies.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(Thanks again to Carly for doing these photos for me) </div>Its hard knowing we have 3 children in heaven. But good knowing they are happy and safe and can miss out the pain of this world. But its hard for a mother to lose her children. Its not the way it should happen. And it doesn't matter how early you lost them. Its still a child you love dearly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6WsvjHDJVQ97g55qVq_XQCdUgElayWEbTXhhtOTg72L3y7LVUtInt1yTitsURXWxv4qtIhvFHxCwm4gf8u3cuKUjopWMcQav0RI7tP75h3JFyJaSe4UHAqypKOAR71172SpF/s1600/P1020439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6WsvjHDJVQ97g55qVq_XQCdUgElayWEbTXhhtOTg72L3y7LVUtInt1yTitsURXWxv4qtIhvFHxCwm4gf8u3cuKUjopWMcQav0RI7tP75h3JFyJaSe4UHAqypKOAR71172SpF/s320/P1020439.JPG" /></a></div>After Noah was born a family member gave us a 'Willow Tree' statue. It was a boy holding a heart. I've been given a few of those Willow Tree statues over the years and when I received my new one I put it up on top of the tv with all the others. I was surprised with what I saw. It was 6 people represented and it just looked like my family. Nigel and myself with baby Charlotte, Noah standing and watching over us and our two little angel babies next to him. Our beautiful family of 6.<br />
I love how God puts together things like that for us. Little things to bless us. In ways we could never have imagined but are so special. Awesome.Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-18274436480821475502010-07-31T19:48:00.001+09:302010-07-31T19:53:04.561+09:30God loves to remind me...Have had a busy day today. Lots to organise and places to go. Didn't manage to go to all the places we wanted to today. Hate days like that. But God showed me some special things along the way.<br />
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Was feeling a bit sad again. Sorry for myself. Missing Noah. Longing for another baby. Realising that could never happen or be a long way away. Had to go and get a card for my niece and nephews baptism so went into a Christian bookstore to buy them one. Happened to just browse around the corner from the cards and discovered these:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqTqaGK6k2eifNmcABRwfBDcXL6qmAhBuOPZueNvRKpVimOj9aszfJo2ZvmYx2lwIl4BS_FomGLEPh2v2r2Jv8f8aXXOblQ5uAEn1f_x8fox_4csnEiWgtgVMdYAQ5r7iyiuK/s1600/31072010123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqTqaGK6k2eifNmcABRwfBDcXL6qmAhBuOPZueNvRKpVimOj9aszfJo2ZvmYx2lwIl4BS_FomGLEPh2v2r2Jv8f8aXXOblQ5uAEn1f_x8fox_4csnEiWgtgVMdYAQ5r7iyiuK/s200/31072010123.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9heiPtyqSYcAZ4Hwkgp7Fx1zMGT8qNEcSrefgMytlMJp-MaHJulatV7k6VJN29yU2rvdDUhUbgybr9KXOdu4zysdKDDbNapOTfFM0lD2oWyXgUXHawFCjZYkohdtlmS9WuCc/s1600/31072010124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9heiPtyqSYcAZ4Hwkgp7Fx1zMGT8qNEcSrefgMytlMJp-MaHJulatV7k6VJN29yU2rvdDUhUbgybr9KXOdu4zysdKDDbNapOTfFM0lD2oWyXgUXHawFCjZYkohdtlmS9WuCc/s200/31072010124.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOVlOWK4PQ8s3Nx1B24yQvw7ZVFsWZ2uPJFJzfasT5yS8TdOb2v5GlpcJIQioM7y5A0_9oWgalC0m3raaLVkZTHvJtnwqJiesV0QSsZjs7VqQoWrFhCG9f3NoCxZH8GpHY899/s1600/31072010125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOVlOWK4PQ8s3Nx1B24yQvw7ZVFsWZ2uPJFJzfasT5yS8TdOb2v5GlpcJIQioM7y5A0_9oWgalC0m3raaLVkZTHvJtnwqJiesV0QSsZjs7VqQoWrFhCG9f3NoCxZH8GpHY899/s200/31072010125.jpg" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl7P2U_qfLXADX19XLNIapdD4hzvn2RBW_zcD25k6elMaFL2D7w2ZoI-wJolnp7WbSMv2HJf7ULIlgREEuUI6SxqXM_ljAuSOCXPo4ZzHdwsZ27Xb8t5HdTf8F8ZJWnyqgfHW/s1600/31072010126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl7P2U_qfLXADX19XLNIapdD4hzvn2RBW_zcD25k6elMaFL2D7w2ZoI-wJolnp7WbSMv2HJf7ULIlgREEuUI6SxqXM_ljAuSOCXPo4ZzHdwsZ27Xb8t5HdTf8F8ZJWnyqgfHW/s200/31072010126.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgxrRUZJFmFWpuMhktWdHeMEiN8St7ztur6y1pzPzmbR7KV2WpaZASt2SFRDPetYtbLECehh4IjFkVGHpttQnjRIb7PLGpX89Nc2UPigkcKUCc7-H2TfhEOFeLCBcF5sSHjJf/s1600/31072010122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgxrRUZJFmFWpuMhktWdHeMEiN8St7ztur6y1pzPzmbR7KV2WpaZASt2SFRDPetYtbLECehh4IjFkVGHpttQnjRIb7PLGpX89Nc2UPigkcKUCc7-H2TfhEOFeLCBcF5sSHjJf/s200/31072010122.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I couldn't believe it. Keyrings and magnets with Kookaburra's on them with a sunrise and sunset. And not just that.. but the verse saying 'Be still and know that I am God' is one that was a big comfort to me during Noah's birth. And the other verse is from Samuel which is Noah's middle name. Amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then Nigel found this poster. We had to buy it and will put it up somewhere where we can see it and be reminded. Its just beautiful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WLLXXHT08RN1meVfq-PdIn_LfeWOL9Gxg0TSe5kSL6blnV0zhOVIopCb-x9sTf7DA3C86WAbkNLnPSca2Z4PWawTEiHOswGMimtTCXbtyBt8siQLbvCxj74bWlSPq9g1Fs7H/s1600/31072010127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WLLXXHT08RN1meVfq-PdIn_LfeWOL9Gxg0TSe5kSL6blnV0zhOVIopCb-x9sTf7DA3C86WAbkNLnPSca2Z4PWawTEiHOswGMimtTCXbtyBt8siQLbvCxj74bWlSPq9g1Fs7H/s200/31072010127.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZzLs8TkRvlKA71L-uR9b9DnX_nJTX0YTpxwfoJULSTzzAX4Jkpk5VHIczy-UQ6YQ5h5JApQcg8W0HdG7Z1mbMRYocpCdfWlk1nU9mkyGFGfIMnRK8Ip6FQyJksHd3IFseVeW/s1600/31072010128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZzLs8TkRvlKA71L-uR9b9DnX_nJTX0YTpxwfoJULSTzzAX4Jkpk5VHIczy-UQ6YQ5h5JApQcg8W0HdG7Z1mbMRYocpCdfWlk1nU9mkyGFGfIMnRK8Ip6FQyJksHd3IFseVeW/s200/31072010128.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>What a beautiful God we have. One who comforts us in our sadness. One who is faithful to us when we need his help. One who will never abandon us. One who doesn't forget the grief you feel, even after others have forgotten. One who died for us so we could be with him. So Noah could be with him.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A beautiful God.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for the reminder God.</div><span id="goog_564176020"></span><span id="goog_564176021"></span>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-1897806612981510302010-07-30T13:34:00.000+09:302010-07-30T13:40:28.231+09:30<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I recently lost my son Noah. These are my favourite pictures that will forever remind me of him. They comfort me in my grief.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHFych87CsRKsMih7rhrkIZ4Kx6o2c33q1_AiOfon5KvAtUcbyN-hE_a0Yz-EM5dOy9vjqceQMmifkui80-VzF3lReAgmZ4gae2gdPRFE4O4I8xP_bVSvOTk8By0ReHwdX-G/s1600/30072010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHFych87CsRKsMih7rhrkIZ4Kx6o2c33q1_AiOfon5KvAtUcbyN-hE_a0Yz-EM5dOy9vjqceQMmifkui80-VzF3lReAgmZ4gae2gdPRFE4O4I8xP_bVSvOTk8By0ReHwdX-G/s320/30072010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a necklace I got made in memory of Noah. The 3 birthstones in the middle signify 3 months.. January (conception), June (birth) and October (due date).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHFych87CsRKsMih7rhrkIZ4Kx6o2c33q1_AiOfon5KvAtUcbyN-hE_a0Yz-EM5dOy9vjqceQMmifkui80-VzF3lReAgmZ4gae2gdPRFE4O4I8xP_bVSvOTk8By0ReHwdX-G/s1600/30072010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXB_y3nbWCVrlHGY7ZessFpA2lddL4jYolJwleJAERwCufgIWcjkCZrcgmjIirOnvIwhJiONe8gh7e-eDqjzf7nHgskEqD3_Cj2y3jGRRYP1zk22Uj6VzyQpXCxiG0GsEHRk7/s1600/NoahSamuel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXB_y3nbWCVrlHGY7ZessFpA2lddL4jYolJwleJAERwCufgIWcjkCZrcgmjIirOnvIwhJiONe8gh7e-eDqjzf7nHgskEqD3_Cj2y3jGRRYP1zk22Uj6VzyQpXCxiG0GsEHRk7/s320/NoahSamuel.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXB_y3nbWCVrlHGY7ZessFpA2lddL4jYolJwleJAERwCufgIWcjkCZrcgmjIirOnvIwhJiONe8gh7e-eDqjzf7nHgskEqD3_Cj2y3jGRRYP1zk22Uj6VzyQpXCxiG0GsEHRk7/s1600/NoahSamuel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>This is a photo that I ordered for Noah. He is free as a butterfly now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8BhHLqPbwD5EGXdfiW20WCsdsTg_tA7pGHkpzS_TJB_mOTrxFnDf1SZGMiiU_qgS850DqomWUA4jbxnyGUr4iGxmRCsvaeEXpdus1DJN0n3b0I5EyzTS6QK3Hl89Hho47lRK/s1600/29062010057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8BhHLqPbwD5EGXdfiW20WCsdsTg_tA7pGHkpzS_TJB_mOTrxFnDf1SZGMiiU_qgS850DqomWUA4jbxnyGUr4iGxmRCsvaeEXpdus1DJN0n3b0I5EyzTS6QK3Hl89Hho47lRK/s320/29062010057.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainbows will always be a special reminder of our son Noah. Because of Noah in the bible and because a rainbow appeared the day before Noah was born. It was God's promise of faithfulness and love to us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This photo was taken at the cemetery Noah was buried in. The rainbow was right over his grave. So special.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM_k-cYsPw3CZkM46XFVQb_A_pHWW_Zpjg7SDZ0ikzgpM8tRB_mr__Tj6nnbbp5yc7hRDPHOGHk5O1iQWLvnm5DImiwTFPWt_Pc_CAWRO3RHjlQaWTEpPRoa_xDaT8i9RPYBW/s1600/180px-Kookaburra_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM_k-cYsPw3CZkM46XFVQb_A_pHWW_Zpjg7SDZ0ikzgpM8tRB_mr__Tj6nnbbp5yc7hRDPHOGHk5O1iQWLvnm5DImiwTFPWt_Pc_CAWRO3RHjlQaWTEpPRoa_xDaT8i9RPYBW/s320/180px-Kookaburra_portrait.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will always think of Noah when I see a Kookaburra. We had one keep us company near our window during Noah's birth. He flew away when Noah was born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM_k-cYsPw3CZkM46XFVQb_A_pHWW_Zpjg7SDZ0ikzgpM8tRB_mr__Tj6nnbbp5yc7hRDPHOGHk5O1iQWLvnm5DImiwTFPWt_Pc_CAWRO3RHjlQaWTEpPRoa_xDaT8i9RPYBW/s1600/180px-Kookaburra_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa56dWRW1nC4GfcGtZtRnHohb5pHUkktfS1PpCSbEy9gWHoc_1p1BKVd4X7VzH5OuqwVDjRvmJ5piKJMyVGomBxPschddzJMbNSLkfu8EMZL_LPexRgaoHyDK9D-oXkLUjYlU/s1600/Noah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa56dWRW1nC4GfcGtZtRnHohb5pHUkktfS1PpCSbEy9gWHoc_1p1BKVd4X7VzH5OuqwVDjRvmJ5piKJMyVGomBxPschddzJMbNSLkfu8EMZL_LPexRgaoHyDK9D-oXkLUjYlU/s320/Noah.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A sweet woman named Carly writes babies names who have passed, in the sand at a beach during the sunset. Sunsets have always been special to me. They are a reminder that God loves us. God loved us enough to give us Noah. Though He took him to heaven, we will always be thankful for that gift. Even though our time was so short with him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mummy loves and misses you Noah xo</div>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-8521470907993065722010-07-30T11:59:00.000+09:302010-07-30T12:01:09.984+09:30Time FliesJust found my old blog after 4 years!!! Somehow managed to get back into it. Am lucky it sent me the password to my email address. Would never have remembered that one. Was a random password set for this blog only.<div><br /></div><div>But I do like it so will keep it. Just must remember to come on here more often.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think time has come for me to do some blogging again. This time though, not for a holiday. Just daily life as I walk along the path God has set for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading xo</div>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-1157210747462902712006-09-03T00:36:00.000+09:302006-09-03T00:55:47.606+09:30Nearly home...Hi there!<br /><br />Many apologies for the lack of entries in my blog of late. We have had a bit of trouble getting time on the internet, well thats not technically true. We have had time on the net, but I haven't really been prepared to spend a huge amount of time on the net to get this blog done, as it meant less time doing other things like sightseeing and spending time with family in England. So really all I have been able to get out was one or two emails. So I apologise.<br /><br />Below are a few photos from London, Norwich and the last one from Singapore.<br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0941sml.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">(The London Eye)</p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0942sml.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">(Big Ben and Parmilent House London)</p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_1167sml.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_1167sml.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_1049sml.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_1049sml.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p></p><p>(Left: Nigel and Amy at Trafalga Square)</p><p></p><p></p><p align="right">(Right: Amy and Nigel with our nephews Ben and Jonah in the carriage of a small steam train we rode on)</p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_1167sml.jpg"></a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_1264sml.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">(Castle Rising)</p><p align="center"></p><p></p><p></p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_1459sml.jpg" border="0" />(This is a picture of a house in Norwich which over the years has become very crooked. Its so crooked that the owners have to buy specially made and shaped glass for the windows - see window far left at the top - as the original glass would have broken many times with the movement... crazy)</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_1809sml.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">(Amy on one of the streets in Singapore - everything is very bright and colourful here)</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">Well this is probably my last blog from overseas... I shall probably do one last one about our trip when we get home on Monday. Thanks for reading and sharing these lovely memories with us!</p><p align="center">Love Amy and Nigel</p><p align="center">xoxo</p>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-1155418269130113872006-08-13T06:20:00.000+09:302006-08-13T07:01:11.370+09:30<div align="left"><br /><br /><br />Hi There Everyone<br /><br />Once again Nigel and I have had another great few days on our trip so far. In Orlando so far we have gone to seaworld twice, Universal studios, swam with the manatees and gone to the outside of Wet n Wild (hehe we saw the line up and felt the heat and went..' ahh no' and went back to our hotel). We've spent a lovely day relaxing in our hotel pool and our room. Its so nice to have someone come in and tidy up your room and do your dishes etc. Will be hard coming home hehe. We've been very blessed with the weather here too. It should be more stormy than it is, and so far while we've been here its only been blue skies. God knows that I am frightened of storms, so I know he's had his hand on us.. and I'm very thankful to him for that!<br /><br />Well I thought I'd add a few more photos of the Grand Canyon in cos that was incredible..<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="205" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/320/IMG_0474sml.jpg" width="166" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong>(A photo of the canyon while in the helicopter about to head down into it)</strong></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="149" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/320/IMG_0456sml.jpg" width="209" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><strong>(A photo of the Hoover dam taken while in the plane)</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="190" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/320/IMG_0647_sml.jpg" width="204" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong>(This is one of the beautiful manatees in Seaworld. I don't know what his real name is but I've nicknamed him Kenny. After my Manatee toy I bought that day! hehe)</strong></p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="173" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/320/IMG_0605sml.jpg" width="202" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><strong>(We saw quite an entertaining, if a little corny, show at seaworld with the killer whales which cornyness aside was quite impressive with all the tricks and stunts they do with the whales)</strong></p><p align="center"> </p><p>Well we've only been in the USA 1 week now, and anytime we receive any kind of excitement from americans at the fact we are australian we are constantly being told how much they love the Crocodile dundee movies.. hehe. Oh dear. Our hotel staff member this morning couldn't stop quoting the movie to us. He had both movies on dvd and watched them again yesterday. oh dear. He wanted to know if Aboriginal people really were like they were depicted int he movie and if we had seen any. </p><p>The other funny thing that happening in Las Vegas was when we went to a resturant and our waiter was very excited to hear we were from Adelaide because thats where Alby Mangels was from and this guy had seen all of Alby's movies and really wanted to come to Adelaide. He was very funny, I think he was lucky that people our age even knew who Alby Mangels was.. lucky for me I watched many Alby Mangels stuff as a kid so knew what he was talking about.. hehe thanks mum n dad! hehe.</p><p>Anyway.. thats about it for now. Will make another post at some point when we have internet access again.. we're off to New York tomorrow and are not sure how accessible the internet will be where we are staying. We'll soon find out I guess.</p><p>Take Care and thanks to everyone for their prayers. It has been noticed and much appreciated!</p><p>Amy and Nigel</p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0442sml.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0442sml.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0443sml.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0443sml.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p> </p><p align="center"><strong>(Us at M&M world in Las Vegas.. hehe!)</strong></p>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-1155177688731607082006-08-10T11:05:00.000+09:302006-08-10T12:11:28.776+09:30Tired...<div>Hi Everyone,</div><div>This will be short today as I am soo tired. Below are some photos of our last couple of days, not much I know, but we've had 3 hours sleep in 2 days, so we're tired and need our rest. We will put up more photos later in the week. Enjoy the photos!</div><div>Love Amy</div><div>xoxo</div><div> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0528_sml.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0528_sml.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br />Photo of the Las Vegas strip from<br />the top of the Stratesphere hotel tower<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0511_sml.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0511_sml.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Photo of the Grand Canyon<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0570_sml.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0570_sml.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Photo of my dear Manatees<br />(They're soo cute!)Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-1154913354375304892006-08-07T09:55:00.000+09:302006-08-07T10:45:54.443+09:30Hot Hot HotHi There<br /><br />Well here we are in Las Vegas.. finally. After months of planning we've finally made it. The last couple of weeks leading up to our trip was a little stressful (ie Nigel got pneumonia and the day before we left I badly bruised one of my toes - got an xray cos I thought I might have broken it - by sleep walking in the middle of the night) so its really nice to have made it here safe and have a good time. Though the walking can be a little painful for my toe, we're still really enjoying ourselves so far. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0428.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 167px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 116px" height="134" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0428.jpg" width="182" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We're staying at the Luxor hotel which is a themed hotel (like most hotels here are) about Eygpt! So basically our hotel is a pyramid and has the sphynx out the front. It is very cool.<br /><br /><br /><div align="right"> A photo of our hotel - the pyramid part</div><div align="center"> <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="109" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0430.jpg" width="151" border="0" />A photo of our hotel again - the Sphynx part<br /> </div><p><br />We arrived here on Saturday 5th August, after leaving Australia on Saturday 5th August. Crazy time difference. Anyway, it was a long day but we still somehow found some energy to walk a little around the strip. We got to see the water show at the Bellagio which is pretty cool<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0419.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="125" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0419.jpg" width="152" border="0" /></a><br />America is a very interesting country. I tried to order a 'small' meal at McDonalds and got told I can only do Medium or Large. Their medium was as big as our large. Crazy. Nig and I are also finding that crossing the street is rather dangerous, not just cos of the american drivers, but also cos we tend to look in the wrong direction first.. cos we're used to Australian road rules.. hmm. </p><p>Another thing we've noticed is the heat. It is hot here. However, if anyone from this part of America tries to tell you that their summers are hotter than ours, you can safely tell them NO! It is hot here yes, however, the sun does not burn your skin like it does here. When you are standing in the sun here, you just feel warm, you don't feel like your skin is about to burn off in harsh heat like you do in Australia. So we are actually enjoying some nice warm weather without getting too hot. But our real test will be tomorrow when we head to the grand canyon!<br /><br />Well had better sign off now. We're about to leave to go see a show. So will make another post later with more stories..!<br />Love Amy and Nigel<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0413_sml.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0413_sml.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Nigel in front of New York New York hotel. When we get to the real New York we will send you a picture of the real statue of liberty ! hehe<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0421_sml.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0421_sml.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Amy in front of the Bellagio hotel</p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/IMG_0424_sml.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/IMG_0424_sml.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>The Eiffel Tower in front of the Paris hotel!</p>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-1152192546980668612006-07-06T22:44:00.000+09:302006-07-06T22:59:07.006+09:30Be StillWell its almost four weeks until we leave for our trip overseas and I’m already starting to get a little nervous. I’m not a big traveler and I have never been away from ‘home’ longer than a fortnight, so this should be interesting <em>(Yes ok I am a wimp)</em>. My husband Nigel and I will be jet setting off to the USA on the 5th August. We’re heading to Las Vegas for a few days to see the lights and action of the city and also to experience God’s great creation of the Grand Canyon. I think I will be spending a lot of time talking to God for that trip, cos I think I may be a little nervous hopping on the small plane out there, not to mention the helicopter ride into the canyon.. ahh holidays.. such fun and adventure.. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/800_Patrick_Rose_logo.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/800_Patrick_Rose_logo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We then set off to Florida for some fun in the sun.. or more likely, some fun in the thunderstorm or hurricane. Yes we are going to Florida during hurricane season. Oh what fun! This is coming from me who is terrified when any thunderstorm arrives. I hate thunder.. and am frightened of lighting.. I think God and I will be pretty darn close during our time in Florida too. Hmmm. The best thing I’m looking forward to in Florida is swimming with the Manatees. For those of you who haven’t heard of Manatees.. you are missing out! They are the most sweetest mammals you will find. <em>(see pics)</em> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/manatee.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/200/manatee.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />They are sea mammals who mostly live in the waters near Florida and Africa. We do have a cousin of the Manatee here in Australia called the Dugong, but they are not nearly as cute (well I don’t think so anyway). Their nickname is a sea cow or mermaid. They are often referred to as mermaids because early explorers on the sea thought they were mermaids when sailing along on their ships as they are very graceful swimmers! Anyway.. Manatees are endangered and mostly die because of speedboat propellers cutting into them in the water. So yeah, swimming with these beautiful creatures will be a beautiful experience for me. And yes we will be doing the normal touristy thing in Florida and going to the general theme parks, Seaworld (more Manatees yay!), Universal Studios etc. So we will have a great time despite any bad weather than may arrive.<br /><br />Next is New York… we shall once again be tourists and enjoy the hustle and bustle of this big city and hopefully see a Broadway show or two! Should be fun. Then we’re heading over to England to London for a couple of days of sightseeing!! But the highlight of England will be traveling to Norwich to see my little nephews, Ben and Jonah <em>(see pic below),</em> but not forgetting my brother Matthew and his lovely wife Sal. Will be wonderful to see them all again, has been too long!!! We are hoping to do a family trip and catch up with our cousin Alison as well and also Nigel’s brother Jason and his wife. But we only have just under two weeks.. so our time will be limited but it shall be beautiful!<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/1600/DCP_2619_sml.1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2763/3238/320/DCP_2619_sml.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><strong><em>How cute are they??</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em></em></strong><br />After some much sad goodbyes, we leave England and are off to Singapore for a couple of days. We are looking forward to this a lot and I know Nigel is keen to see what kind of fancy computer equipment he can get for a bargain!! He is also keen to return as he spent many months there as a child while his father worked over there.<br /><br />Then we finally go home in time for Fathers day. So yes.. our trip will be varied and busy and hopefully full of wonderful experiences. So I am looking forward to sharing all those experiences with you. I do hope you enjoy reading them.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Be still and know that HE is God, be still and know that HE is our Father, come rest your head upon His breast, listen to the rhythm of, His unfailing heart of love, beating for His little ones, asking each of us to come.. BE STILL.</span><br /></strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Steven Curtis Chapman – Be Still And Know)</span></em> </div>Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30237713.post-1151244177087973042006-06-25T23:14:00.000+09:302006-06-25T23:32:57.093+09:30Here we go...Hi Everyone<br /><br />Here is my first entry on my blog. Please feel free to drop in anytime and read my thoughts and my latest activities!! Soon my husband Nigel and I will be off around the world encountering experiences together and creating memories!! We cannot wait, and although I must admit I am a little nervous about our trip, I am also looking forward to experiencing it all and then coming back to home sweet home. If anything, I hope it makes me appreciate even more of how wonderful my little Adelaide in South Australia is, but also how colourful and creative our God is with creating his world with such diverse cultures and people!! We are blessed with such technology that seeing other cultures is an easy thing to do!!<br /><br />Well, as I'm a beginner at this, I shall leave things as is for now and will post another message later. Remember to thank God when you see a sunset.. it is him reminding you day in, day out, that he loves you and wants to make you smile!Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233822620502543965noreply@blogger.com2