The Purple Journal

Day 5 was done, but done in my actual book. I scanned it in at home last night, but only have internet access at work...I was supposed to bring it to work on my memory stick today, but forgot! So I will load it as soon as I remember! I am doing a digital and traditional book for this challenge...Some days I will do both, some days I will print out what I have done digitally and stick it in my book. Both ways I am really enjoying, although I am really a beginner at both methods and use Powerpoint for my digital layouts. I need some time to try to figure out how to use Photoshop which I have at home. Also, I forgot to say I GOT MY LEARNERS LICENCE!!! At the ripe old age of 31! I am now a menace on the roads...and will go for my first lesson on Saturday. The Job I applied for at the bank has not come through yet, but I went for psychometric tests and will hopefully hear by Thursday whether I have the job or not! Wish me luck on that one...

I love this quote...change and taking risks. I need this careerwise right now. In my mind and heart, I have left this job. Its just my body that is still here. The passion, drive and love I had are gone. They will not come back. So it is time for me to move on to a new challenge. Something that I love and where I have prospects to do different things of MY CHOOSING! I have always been willing to change, but the change must be something I want to do, not something that circumstances have forced on me. So I am CHOOSING to change!

getting something down....thats what this challenge is all about. Not over thinking. feeling free to explore. being creative for creativity's sake. allowing myself to try new things. not worrying about messing it up. feeling free to create "bad art". developing. I have taken the challenge and am loving it! I am still a couple of days "behind"...but this is my day 4. I read something in the SARK book that am reading last night and I woke up with this phrase repeating in my head (that sounds a bit psycho, but you know what I mean!). We create better in a community.

I have been following this on Rhonna's blog and have decided to do it... its a 21 day journey to change, develop, master and conquer a habit. It will be done art journal style and she gives daily quotes to inspire those taking part. Go over and have a look for more information! I am starting today and will "catch up" hopefully over the weekend... My goal is to create something everyday in whatever medium - writing, layouts, cards art journal This is a poem I wrote when I did the Artists Way last year... and my journal entry for today I will add the digital stuff that I do and try to get the other pages of my journal scanned in to post. I am SO EXCITED about this! When I first saw the post, i thought it was a great idea. But I have never done any kind of "challenge" apart form the ones I set myself, so thought this would be a good way to show commitment and make sure I carry it out until the end!

I can't deviate from the plan! Depending on what the plan is, but generally...I like to stick to the Plan. I put a lot of time and effort into the Plan, and like to stick to it as far as I can. I am not spontaneous or impulsive or unstructured. I am not a fly -by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of girl. I generally don't do "spur of the moment" I like to plan. I enjoy thinking things through and mapping out all the angles. I dont think well under pressure (which is why I never do well in arguments=0) I always think later " I should have said..." which is always funny and witty and clever in my head. I must stick to the Plan as far as possible - if the Plan must change...it must be on my terms and because I have thought it through and things have changed. I like structure and order and some path that is being followed. I can be very. inflexible. I know that and am trying to change. Its only about some things though. Somethings maybe that i think are not THAT important I can be quite relaxed about and "let it go"...just depends on the issue, and my mood at the time.. I am finding my inflexibility coming to the fore wit the renovations at the house...and having to fight it all the time! I am a natural Worrier by nature...but I am learning to let go. To trust more. Trust others. People that love me. I dont always have the answers. My way is not always the RIGHT way! Let go. Trust.

Feel better than I have in a while. I have been feeling down mainly because my family has been disruptedover the last 2 weeks. I travel about 45 km to work everyday through a huge amount of traffic. I get a lift with someone I work with everyday. For the last 2 weeks he has been sick in hospital. I am not sure waht is wrong with him and worry about him, BUT that leaves me without a lift to work...SO I have to come to work with Jerome everyday who works on the other side of town...He also takes the children to school everyday..This means we all have to wake up at 5.00 am and leave the house by 5.50 at least. I we dont (and we havent on some days) Jordan is late for school which i HATE! I feel so bad every morning because

1. everyone has to wake up extra early because of me
2. they now have a 2 hour trip to school
3. I dont have a set way of getting home every evening and have to ask for lifts from people who live near me which I HATE
4. Jerome has to come and fetch me from wherever i get dropped AFTER he drops the children off...

As a result of all of this, we are all exhausted and worn out when we get home and I feel like it is ALL MY FAULT!

Anyway, I feel better. I have got a date to write for my learners, and have been called to write tests for the job at the bank next week, so hopefully things are looking up!

I wanted to post this yesterday...kits are the Shabby Princess free kit

Happy Valentines Day. Its a good day to remember those you love and what you love about them....

outside my husbands office - bleak!

and whiskers on kittens.... ("Favourite Things" from the Sound of Music) I wish I had such happy thoughts about the rain! All I see is dull, miserable COLD weather! Today is cold and overcast and REALLY miserable. You would think after and ENTIRE SUMMER of this we would all be used to it, BUT I AM NOT!!! I want hot humid weather. I want to perspire and be thirsty. Thats what we DO here in summer! Wev wish for icecream, the beach and lazy afternoons spent in the sun. I dream of long bright evenig that disolve into orange and pink and purple sunsets...follwed by long warm nights with the windows and doors open to coax the breeze into the house.Did I get that this summer? Not once. Have I got that? I look outside my window from my office and I see and endless grey sky with the trees blowwing in the gales blowwing outside! LOVELy summer weather! I want a decent summer before winter arrives! Please!

Thopught I would put a quick one up of my 2 cutie pies. Taken at their aunties house a week before Christmas.

Randoms....

• We are in the middle of making a decision about contractors for the kitchen and bathroom renovators
• Our cricket team SUCKS, so does our soccer team +0( they have not been doing well
• I have been BUSY DOING WORK!!!!
• I havent heard from the agency re: the job at the bank. I'm actually not worried about whether i get it or not. If it happens, it was meant to be if not, it was not the right time. Although it was a nice job, there are things I want to do here, so the longer they take, the better for me!
• It has been raining here for 2 days - I am so SICK of rain!
• SICK SICK SICK of ADS!!!!! They are bombarding and overwhlmingly taking over the WORLD!
• Tonight is the Amazing Race and Prison Break - LOVE LOVE Tuesdays!
• I want to write some letters tonight - hope to get to them in between TV shows! LOL
• Have been wihout a lift to work for 3 days - its very annoying and stressful! Thanks to DH who hase been doing drop offs and pick ups of me and the children for school! I love tyou Jay!
• Happy Tuesday

About this man today. My wonderful Dad. He left us too soon. The picture on the left is of him when we went camping one year about 20 years ago. On the right is one of my sister and me with our children about 2 months before he died. We didn't know then how sick he actually was... I loved and miss him SO MUCH!

You are PAPER!You are an all natural basic person who likes to act as a foundation to others. You are willing to take a backseat in most of your relationships and let others take the spotlight, while you show your support and help them shine! Underneath it all, you are the one who makes it all happen. You are the focus and stability in any group, even if you are not the leader. Others look to you to set the pace and provide ideas for ways to get things done. But Paper Beware - sometimes you get a little edgy with the people who look to you for support and can give them some papercut remarks that can hurt their feelings. Remember to watch what you say, because you are best when leading by example.

Day yesterday!

1. My daughter had her first day of school! We were so nervous that she would cry and not want to stay when we left but she was absolutely FINE! She was a bit scared at first, but the other children were very sweet. The teacher showed her around all the toys and different things they were going to do and she was quite fascinated. Eventually she sat with the other children who rolling out playdough and she seemed to be fine. We stayed hovering around for a little while, then left. They phoned me at about 9.00 to say she was absolutely fine, she was really well behaved and had tried verything already! Shes a real little go-getter!
2. Jerome and I had a quick anniversary breakfast at Wimpy - it was nice noty having to worry about children misbehaving and not eating etc.. for a change. We chatted about stuff - nice
3. I had an interview with the bank. It went really well, and they have shortlisted me and want me to come in and do some personality and psychometric tests. I am holding thumbs for this one! The money is good and most importantly it will be a CHANGE!!!
4. I met with Jordans teacher who says he is doing well at school and seems to have settled in. She says he is a very sweet and caring, loving boy=0). She says he has problems with word selection, if it does not improve, we may have to send him for speech therapy, so we are going to wait and see if it improves.
5. Dropped the children at home, then went to the mall for a while - Jerome bought a BIKE!
6. Got home and the children rode their bikes with their Dad
7. Had supper and collapsed on the couch....

Phew - hectic.

Today I have not yet heard back from the agency regarding when they bank wants me to go in and do the tests, so I will just wait and see.

Happy Thursday!