Tonsillitis

It seems that Jade has Tonsillitis.  This is about the fourth time she's had it in the last few years.  I'm happy it's nothing worse than that yet, at the same time am feeling sorry that she has to put up with this.  

Back when I was a kid (and yes, we are going back many, many years), they would just whip out your tonsils as soon as you complained of a sore throat.  They used to take out your adenoids at the same time.  My how times have changed.  

My cousin told me that nowadays they are very reluctant to remove them and that they actually have some sort of connection to the immune system.  Wow, to think that before I heard that I would have told Jade to ask the doctor to take them out. Not now, not unless she gets another bout of it fairly soon after this one.

Yes indeed, times sure have changed....

She has her final exam (a three hour one) this Friday.  Right now she's still really sick and has a temperature, headache and of course a very sore throat.  She's decided she will defer the exam.  Poor girl was feeling really guilty about it but I think she's made the right decision.  The uni doesn't mind deferring tests and it's much better to attempt it when you're feeling good rather than rotten.

So, if you're reading this Jade, don't worry.  Things will work out.  Just concentrate on getting better sweetheart.

Books and Jade

I've just finished reading Eclipse (Book 3 of the Twilight Series).  I found it slow to start but once I got about a fifth of the way into the book I just could not put it down.  

Today I started reading the final book, Breaking Dawn and can't wait to see how everything works out :)

I must say that so far I've enjoyed the series so much more than I thought I would.  Hopefully the last book will be the best of the lot!

Jade came over today and was so sick.  Brian rushed her down to the doctor's and he saw her straight away.  He made her have some urgent blood tests and we should get the results in the morning.  Hopefully it's nothing more than a virus.  She has a very sore throat (and had the flu last week).  She also had pretty bad stomach pains and that's what's worrying me the most. 

Layouts of Jade

I think this is the last of the layouts that I did at the start of the year.  As with most of my layouts, these are all about Jade :)

 Confidence

 A quick and simple layout using torn paper, a vellum quote, flowers and lots of rub-ons.

Lovely

A layout about how cute she looks, with no make-up and damp hair.

You Inspire Us

This layout talks about her enjoying the teaching course she was doing at Uni.  However, she has now decided that it's not quite for her so next year she'll start a six year course and will be studying to become a Psychologist

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers."

Today is my mum's birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

Thank you mum, for all the many things you do for us.  Thank you for being there when we need you, for your words, for your unconditional love, for all the little and big ways that you help us, for your strength, your courage and your unfailling belief in us.  Mostly mum, thank you for just being you.

We love you so much.

Layouts

I made these layouts at the start of 2009.  The photos are from 2007 and they are for Jade and Aaron's "Love" Album.  It seems fitting to post them now seeing as they are engaged.  Jade took my camera on holidays with her but it broke so I doubt I'll have many (if any) photos from their trip.  

When I made these layouts I was having trouble getting back into scrapbooking so I concentrated more on just having fun playing with the paper and embellishments and putting the layout together, rather than writing much or telling a story.  I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out and they look nice in their album.

TRUE LOVE

LOVE

I used my sewing machine to stitch the vellum quote

KISS

KISS

I used my sewing machine to sew the vellum quote to the photo.  Kinda like the way it worked out.

Jade and Arron are ENGAGED!

JADE AND AARON ARE ENGAGED!

OMG, I can't begin to express my happiness.  Jade and Aaron are in Melbourne right now.  They left last Wednesday and come back tomorrow night.  They are staying with Aarons brother and his family for most of the time but last week they stayed at the Crown Towers Hotel.  

The day before they left Aaron had asked us for our blessing and for Jade's hand in marriage.  Of course we said YES.  They have been together for over 4 years and we've known all along that one day they would marry.  They're made for each other and their love affair is so similar to Brian's and mine.  I guess it was just a matter of when they would get engaged in our minds.  Well to say we were thrilled with Aaron asking for Jade's hand is an understatement.  It meant so much to us that he would do that.

Jade had no idea he was going to propose on the holiday.  It took place on Friday 30th October while they were staying at the hotel.  Jade said it was so romantic.  Their room had huge windows that overlooked Melbourne and they were standing at the window at night, holding each other and looking at the view.  Then Aaron got down on his knee and proposed :)  She said the tears just poured down her face.  She was so happy when she phoned us to let us know.  

We couldn't have asked for a better young man to be our son-in-law.  They adore each other.  The engagement party won't be until next year and I think it will be a while till they get married.  

Jade has decided to leave teaching as it turns out it's not everything she expected.  She's going to follow a dream that she didn't realise she would be able to follow.  She wants to be a Psychologist.  The only down side is that it's a 6 year course.  It will be some time before they will have a dual income.  But as far as Brian and I are concerned, we just want her to do whatever it is that makes her happy.  I think she'll make a brilliant Psychologist (after all she's had to deal with Brian and myself and all our problems over the years LOL)

Jade and Aaron, your dad and I wish you the very best of everything for the future.  We love you both so much and know you are perfect for each other.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON

Happy Birthday Aaron

We hope you have a lovely birthday sweetie.  Enjoy your day!  Hope your party this weekend is awesome.  Brian is going to try and pop along for a while :)  (I had to give you some cupcakes!)

Miss you Dad

23 years ago today my dad died.  I can still remember it like it happened yesterday.  

You're always in my heart and my thoughts dad.  I miss you so very much and love you always.  xxx

Thanks to my friends - comments

I just wanted to say thank you to my friends for leaving comments on my blog and letting me know you are still around :)  It's such a thrill to hear from you all.  I lost most of my contact addys when my computer crashed ages ago so if I haven't written, that's the reason ... I don't have your email.  Please feel free to email me at my old lmccorry@space.net.au email addy anytime.  I'll do my best to answer you as soon as I can.  Love to you all. xxx Lynn

Jade turned 19

Yesterday (Saturday 17th) Jadie turned 19.  Oh wow, so now I'm officially old LOL  She came over for the day on Friday and we pigged out on almond fingers and ice cream.  We had already given her the wrist tattoo for her birthday present.  It was such a lovely, relaxed afternoon.

Yesterday her friend Mitch turned 21 so she and all her friends went to his 21st birthday bash.  I'm so happy she got to celebrate her birthday too.  There were lots of photos taken but alas my dear daughter managed to dodge them LOL  So this year I don't have a birthday photo of her.  

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER

You are everything we could have asked for and so much more.  Enjoy this last year of being a teenager :)  Your daddy and I love you more than words can say and we are so proud of the incredible young woman that you are.

Handmade Cards

Here are a few handmade cards I made earlier this year.  They're all pretty simple, easy designs and were nice and quick to put together. 

Valentine's Day Card

I used the packaging from some Basic Grey Rub-On's for this card.  It was way too cool to just throw it out. It's hard to tell from the picture but the top left is pop dotted and the image is 3D.  Hand cut the heart and inked it, hand wrote the title and used rub-on words under it.  Finished it off with red Ric-rack ribbon.

Happy Everything

Just a fun little card with some paper tearing and flowers

Hello Card

Used copper and gold ink around title, flower nailhead and some pretty ribbon

Thinking of You

I kinda like the softness of this one.  It has a bit of a shabby chic look to it.  I really love the way that pink and brown works together.  It's one of my favourite colour combinations.

Thinking of You

Simple and earthy.  I just love that brown, natural-fibre Ric-rack ribbon. The white paper is embosssed with dots.

Thinking of You

Yet another simple card.  These actually look a lot better in real life.

In my Thoughts

I used a light weight bronze corner as a "hanger" for the title

Mum's back and thanks to family in Ireland

Mum came home yesterday and it was so lovely to see her.  She came over today and we chatted for hours.  I'm not sure if the trip back to Ireland brought her any closure as far as the deaths of her sister, brother and brother-in-law are concerned but I know she's really happy she went back.

I forgot to post condolences to my family in Ireland on the loss of my uncle Geoffrey.  We are so sorry and you have all been in our prayers.

I really want to thank everyone who looked after mum while she was in Ireland.  A really special thank you to Sandra, Stef and your boys.  Thank you for being so wonderful :)  

Love to all my Irish family and mum's Irish friends :)

Books, Movies, TV and Vampires

I read the Twilight book a few months back and really enjoyed it.  In fact I could hardly put it down.  This was strange because I had seen the movie before reading the book and hadn't thought that much of it.  It was an OK movie but not entirely what I was expecting.  After reading the Twilight book I went back and re-watched the movie and must say I enjoyed it so much more the second time. 
 

So then I went on and read the second book, New Moon.  Another great book.  I got about half way through the third book, Eclipse when Dan Brown went and released The Lost Symbol.  

What to do?  Well actually it was pretty easy for me ... put down Eclipse and read The Lost Symbol.  I'm enjoying it thoroughly and delight in each page as it unravels.  If there was one disappointing thing about the book it would have to be the typeface, it's too scrunched up.  There should be a fraction more space between each line.  Or, maybe I just need glasses ;)  

 
This week I watched Angels and Demons and yet again listened to all the hype and was expecting much more than was delivered.  I read the book a few years ago and thought it was awesome.  The movie couldn't capture what the book gave.  I will probably go back and re-watch the movie in a few months.  No doubt I will enjoy it more the second time around ... I usually do.

Well this year really seems to be the year of the Vampire.  We got the first season of True Blood and pretty much watched each episode back to back.  What a fantastic series.  I can't wait till season 2 comes out on DVD.  

I've both read and watched a lot of vampire books, movies and TV shows over the years but still, as good as many of them are, I can't find anything that has that special something that both Buffy and Angel seemed to possess.  I've started watching The Vampire Diaries and am not sure if I will totally get into it.  I've also watched a couple of episodes of Moonlight and again, am not sure if it's something I'll keep watching.

Layouts

At the beginning of this year I did a few layouts and cards.  I thought I'd share them and am keeping my fingers crossed that some sort of inspiration hits me soon so I can scrap or make some altered art again. 

Message to our daughter (a shabby chic style layout)

The Dress (it was so nice to finally see Jade wearing something other than black!)

Similar Paths (it's uncanny at just how similar Brian and my relationship was when we were Jade's age)

I'll share some more layouts later on.

A couple of small albums

I made these two small paper bag albums earlier this year.  I was really happy with the way they turned out.

Friend Journal

Faith, Trust Journal

Tattoo

Well, Jade finally got her first tattoo. These are the photos but I've taken the journaling from Jade's blog. Her thoughts about it are way better than anything I could write. If you look closely you will see that the letter "L" is supposed to look like a love heart and the "B" and "J" look a little like the eternity sign.

Jade's words

"On the 17th of August this year I got my first tattoo.
It is a 'Lbj' written in script on my wrist. The letters stand for Lynn, Brian and Jade.
I have always known I would one day want a tattoo with my parents names somewhere. But as each day passes, especially in the last few years, I have realised just how much they both mean to me. My tattoo is a reminder, that no matter what I will always have two people who love me more than anything, who will always be there for me and who will always believe in me... even when I can't believe in myself. It is also a symbol of my never ending love for them, my pride, my trust and my strength." ~ words by Jade

I'm back (again)

Hi friends, it's been ages since I've ventured back to my blog. Maybe it's because I didn't really have that much to say? I don't know...

Anyway, I guess it's time for an update.

Jade is nearly 19 years old which by my standards makes me "OLD"! She's doing so well at Uni and has made the Dean's Honour List (picture me squealing like a kid when I heard LOL) She and the love of her life (Aaron) have just celebrated their 4th year together (and back in March, Brian and I celebrated our 28th year together!) 

Mum lost her brother a few weeks ago and is in Ireland at the moment. 

Brian's CFS and Bi-Polar are pretty bad. I see glimpses of the old Brian now and then but most of the time I feel like I'm with a different person. I love that man with all my heart and that will never change. If I have to live my life waiting for the sparse moments when I see my old Brian, then that's what I'll do and I'll thank God for every glimpse. 

Me? Ha ha. I really wish I could say that my life has changed but nothing has. I shall battle on though and never give up hope. 

I've done a few layouts and cards this year (at the beginning of the year) but that's about it. I want to create but just don't seem to be able to find the inspiration. I tried to go back to the scrapbooking sites that I used to practically live at but pretty much popped in and left straight away. I have no idea why. I miss my friends so much but feel displaced. It's got nothing to do with the people, it's me. Once I get back into my artsy ways I shall again return to that wonderful world and hope my friends will forgive me for leaving.

I am going to try and blog regularly again...no promises but I shall try. I'll leave you with the lyrics of a beautiful song by Bryan Adams. In a way, I suppose it's how I have been feeling lately.

It's from the movie "Spirit" and called "Sound the Bugle". The last two verses are particularly lovely... 

Sound the bugle now - play it just for me
As the seasons change - remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on - I can't even start
I've got nothing left - just an empty heart

I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here

Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere
Without a light feat that I will - stumble in the dark
Lay right down - decide not to go on

Then from on high - somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls - remember who your are
If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow

So be strong tonight - remember who you are
Ya you're a soldier now - fighting in a battle
To be free once more -Ya that's worth fighting for

The night before Uni

It's 11.58pm Sunday night. All that I can think about is the fact that Jade starts University in the morning. Brian and I are so proud of our girl. She is 18 years old and in her relatively short life she has gone through much more than most girls her age. She has such an incredible inner strength and beauty and we adore her.

GOOD LUCK OUR DARLING JADE AND REMEMBER TO "FOLLOW YOUR NOSE. WE LOVE YOU BABY GIRL*"

**This is something we have told her since her very first day of school...just follow your nose and everything will fall into place. :)