Bus Crash

Today wasn't quite the day I was expecting...it started with news that one of the school buses was involved in a crash which was more traumatic than I first realised. 

Felt very emotional & teary by the end of the day, but so grateful to God that no children were more seriously injured...it is pretty miraculous that they came out with mainly scrapes & bruises...

Today I saw our school at it's best: staff who had a day off arriving to try to help out, parents bringing in coffee, children comforting younger kids, people pulling together & planning how best to help the school community. 

Monday morning I will be sleeping in, but praying from here with Eric, as the morning briefing will involve trauma counsellors briefing the staff who will then try to help kids who might need to share what they've been through...

I'm relieved that I won't be working so hard next week but I really feel for those kids involved & the families of those killed. Kids from our school were OK, but what about that couple who died - did they have children, were they happy that morning, do their friends & families know they they were killed, what happened as the car started drifting across the road. 

As I sat in the staff room listening to the trauma counsellor speak to the staff my eyes welled up with tears thinking - this is what happened in 2007, only at that time the focus was on Leukaemia & how the kids would feel to hear that the Principal had cancer. Today it was another tragedy & reminder of this fallen world we all live in with all it's pain & suffering...

Bed time, cuppa time, rest time...

Glad it's the weekend...

Hippity Hooray it's...

FRIDAY. How I love Fridays!!

There will be no cooking for Mum, uniforms in the wash & ironed & put away for the weekend. Friday night SYTYCD & Footy, baths & snuggly jammies.

My bones are starting to thaw out at Spring quickly approaches! HOORAY!

And wonderful news: D's check up at the hospital yesterday went really really well. His bone marrow is making some good stuff. Despite the ongoing issues - which seem extremely frustrating for us - for the Drs, he is never "as bad" as some others & they want to keep him off drugs (immune suppressants & steroids) as much as possible. I never expect a negative report, but my throat felt very tight - a physical reaction to the fact that he was back there being tested perhaps. Though in my mind I didn't think I was worried, my physical body was. 

And D was able to bump into our lovely friend Geraldine who has just had sweet baby Matilda, & now has to prepare for her own BMT! I want to pray for her & her family so much...when I feel like complaining about life I don't have to look far before I feel ashamed of my lack of appreciation for the thousands of blessings around me!

What Rachel Barkey knows...

Just listened to the most amazing talk by this lovely eloquent lady - Rachel Barkey. She was invited to speak at a ladies night for about 40+ people, but it turned into 600+. I sat listening in tears as she spoke about her journey with cancer, & her great love & hope in a good God. She is a wife & mother of two & is not expected to live much longer - short of a miracle?! She called her talk "Death is Not Dying: A Faith that Saves". Just about broke my heart, yet also made me puff out my chest & cheer her on...you can get more details here if you're so inclined. 

Bah Humbug!

I let Bonnie play with her art things - there are bits of glitter from one end of the house to the other! Harrumph!!

Yesterday was a busy day - Eric had his final day of Preschool (after the Thursday concert) & Mummy was emotional. Daddy came to take some photos & then we went off for some special Bonnie time - we got haircuts (not D, just the girls),  then we went to Gloria Jeans for some caffine & milkshakes. We went to look at the bike we want to get her for Christmas at the local bike shop. She is growing up! Dad went off to his end of year staff luncheon & I had promised Miss Bon a "Happy Meal". I don't know what's so happy about it, but I guess I didn't have to prepare it & it was something she wanted. It was just so wet & miserable for our "Mummy/Daughter Day" I promised we'd try again on a nice sunny day & have a picnic or something like that. 

 

It's been a week of much angst, more tears, late night talks with, (I actually got to bed before MIDNIGHT last night - wonderful to sleep), & phone calls & meetings as D tried to sort out a work position for 2009. Because this is a public Blog I can't pour my heart out here...not about what's gone on anyway. But after months of angst something is sorted. I feel so hurt & disappointed by all that's happened though. We had some dear of friends (who are a part of the Healing Ministry in the city - connected to St Andrews) come around to pray for us this week. He had been through such similar situations at his work (another school) it was so perfect for D to hear someone who has been there & able to give wise advice & encourage us. Still, we feel so emotionally & physically exhausted. It's been such a rollercoaster...I thought nothing could be as bad as last year watching my husband fight cancer. At least you know your "enemy" with that. There is a cancer & you have to beat it to live. It was quite definite & there were clear protocols to follow. How to you battle lies & misinformation being spread around? What happens when you try to tell the truth & people have formed an opinion before you've spoken & do not accept your words? It has been devastating to watch. I've never been through anything like it in my life. Yet I am so proud of D - a lesser man would have crumpled, or yelled abuse, or left...yet he still cares for his workplace & wants to be a part of it. For 2009 anyway. I am so proud of him my heart could just burst. Most people will NEVER know the full extent of what he has faced over the last term. But the few who do have been so encouraging to us. Life will go on...with forgiveness...but it's very hard to forgive at the moment. I know that I can't do it on my own, in my own strength - praying that I can be a part of that school & learn to forgive. I've seen people getting bitter & twisted (& ill)  in their unforgiveness. I don't want that. For the sake of my children - who will both be at this school in '09 - I have to "suck it up" & move forward. I don't know what is ahead but at least we will have money in the bank for another 12 months. Can we not have a QUIET year this coming year - drama free? Is THAT possible at all?? I'm putting in my request for a healthy, easy year!!

I'm going to look for P/T work too...overwhelmed by that thought!

Trying to get organised to go away to spend Christmas with the in-laws...

Just so tired at the moment...bah humbug!!

Things on Thursday

I found this link at appartment therapy of a family that takes a pic of each member on the same day each year - how amazing to see the growth of each person over time...that is just too cool!

And something about this lounge room makes me smile too. I don't think I've ever seen such HUGE lamps? That lounge just makes me want to climb on it & finish one of those glasses of wine & strum a few chords...

I just spent a while talking to a wonderful friend whose dear husband has been battling cancer & other health issues since 1995. I can be so honest with her & she is so amazing. Her love, her courage, her determination, her honesty & her faith in a good God is just wonderful. I always end our phone conversations feeling so very blessed!!! We spoke about the people who are OVERLY positive about everything, the people who are OVERLY negative, we spoke about the miraculous times when things go so well, the trudging along because you have to times, the insensitivity of some medical staff, the joy of a good diagnosis, keeping in touch with all the family...

Woke up this morning feeling like I have the flu again. Uggg. Better get some lunch & head up to school for Bon's p/t afternoon. Wonder what I'll find out?? I'll take some drugs first I think so I don't dribble snot all over the staff. 

D is having a checkup at hospital today. Busy busy busy...