All is quiet in the Ingram household - sorta

We had a fantastic last day at church, we had a fantastic Christmas and now we are having a fantastic New Years Eve.

A quick update.

Leaving church:
We said our farewells on the 23rd and I am happy to say that Russell was appreciated for all his hard work. I couldn't give a rat's tutu if people cared about whether I was leaving or not, but I was hoping and praying that Russell would feel appreciated, affirmed and encouraged in the work he has done and the work he is going to continue in. We were prayed for by our fearless Elder (and great friend) Rick and received a couple of goodies!! One including a digital photo frame, how cool are those things!! Anyway, I was surprised and even shed a tear or two at the farewell service. I will miss all the creche kids and am praying they will be in good hands.

Christmas Eve:
We spent with a couple who have quickly become some of our closest friends. We met Jaye & Asher in June this year and have absolutely been blessed by their friendship. God brought them along in our lives when we felt so alone and misunderstood by many, when we lost a friendship that left a hole, and they have come along and filled and overflowed that hole! We are planning to hop into a campervan and travel up to Kalbarri at the end of January which will be fun. The four of us in a little van and a small tent. Should be FUN!!

Christmas Day:
Was the most relaxed we have ever had! We went to Thornlie COC on Chrissy Eve and spent Chrissy morning with each other. We sat in our undies (it was soooo hot) and gave each other gifts, couldn't be bothered making breaky so Russell drove down to our local Caltex and bought a sausage roll which we had. I was too excited to eat anything though. I LOVE giving gifts (it's my love language) and all I wanted to do was keep giving and giving to Russell. I was even going over all the gifts we had for everyone and trying to make sure we hadn't forgotten anyone. Then at 11 we headed to Russell's family and saw his sister and bro-in-law and spent an hour with them before heading over to my family for lunch. The 0nly ones there were Mum, Dad, Dru, and Granny and us! So it was very quiet and relaxing. We had a swim in the pool and played lots of Buzz-Mega Quiz!! Dad and Granny were soon hooked!
We were then planning on heading over to Russell's parents (again) to have dinner with them, but they called my mum to say they were coming for dinner! So for dinner we had Mum, Dad, Granny, Dru, Kate, Jos, Robbo, Kaylee, Denise & Steve, and Me and Russ. So it was a lot busier but still fun as we all told funny stories (this ALWAYS happens with our family).

We headed to Russ's parents for supper and a catch-up chat. We got home around 12pm and were fast asleep.

Boxing Day:
We headed over to spend the day with our small group. Every year our small group gets together with all our leftovers and just eats and relaxes all day. It was a great time and in the arvo, Russ and I headed over to my parents for another swim - all Russ wanted to do was watch the cricket so I swam with Kate & Jos - a little awkward since they are newly engaged and can't swim further than 2meteres apart!! It was still fun though! I feel asleep on the floor tiles in the lounge room and we decided to head off around 4.30.

With all the fires going on down near our area it was crazy!! The fires got so close to us that I was worried Jet would die from smoke! It took us 1.20hrs on a normally 20min trip! The freeway and main roads were cut off and it was an absolute stinker to sit in the car. Even when we were home, there were constant helicopters and planes going over us to get water from a nearby lake and to wet the fire. It was absolutely crazy!! It was a crazy few days in regards to those fires. They got so close to a lot of houses!

Now:
I am at work (which sucks). Why does this suck? Our small group decided to go camping for New Years and we headed over to Caversham (Swan Valley) on Sat. morning and I have had to come into work this morning. I am heading back later on and we will spend NY's eve together and head off tomorrow morning. This also sucks because my best friend, Fi, gave birth to her first born this morning at 3.46am!

Jaxon Evan was born weighing 9 pounds, (4.21kg)!!! Fi is tired ( I spoke to her this morning and she didn't seem all there!!) and Robbie (hubby) is ecstatic, but currently asleep. It is just so surreal. I have had many friends have babies, but Fi is my closest friend and I am just soooo happy for her. She was due on the 23rd so it has been a bit of a waiting game all week! All week I have been waking up at night praying for her, I'm not sure how coherent my prayers are at 2.30am, but I'm sure God understands my blabbings. I just wanna leave and go give her a HUGE kiss!

So, I am here at work blogging because it is soooo quiet, and really no point to me being here! Anyway, I should catch up on some of the things I've been putting off.

Sorry it's a boring post, and not really interesting, but I thought I should check-in with ya'll and hope you all had as great a Chrissy as we did, and that you have a great night and New Year this year!!

Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz End Results

The scores from the last and final round:

Pete: 6.5
Middo: 6.5
Sarah: 5.5
Russell: 5.5

And the Grand Finale:

Pete: 19.5
Sarah: 18.5
Russell: 12.5
Middo: 9.5

Congrats Petey! Something is coming your way!!

And a HUGE encouragement award to Middo for kicking butt in that last round - you blew our socks off!!

Thanks for participating guys, you made my Christmas that little bit more special ;)

Now, let's go paaaaaaarty!

Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz Results Round 3

First the answers:

1. Who was the first English monarch to have a Christmas Tree? (Multiple choice)
Henry VIII Queen Victoria Queen Elizabeth II King George VI

2. How many sides does a snowflake have?
Six

3. In which two oceans would you find a “Christmas Island”?
Indian & Pacific

4. The carol “Silent Night” was first played on what instrument? (Multiple choice)

Guitar Piano Trumpet Violin


5. At Christmas, it is customary to exchange kisses beneath a sprig of which plant?
Mistletoe

6. What is the connection between “Comet”, “Cupid” and “Vixen”?
They are all names of Santa’s reindeers

(But I accepted - They are Santa's reindeers)

7. In what year was the first Christmas card produced? (Multiple Choice)
1823 1892 1895 1846

8. Finish this line from an old Christmas Carol: Oh come, all ye faithfull….....
Joyful and Triumphant

9. How many “Lords a Leaping” were there?
10

10. What one reindeer is never mentioned in “The Night Before Christmas”?
Rudolph

The odd feeling of finality

Our last Sunday at church is this sunday.

We have been having odd feelings about it these last couple of weeks. While we are extremely excited to be leaving and embarking on the adventure God has got planned for us, it still feels rather odd coming to a close of something.

As much as I have struggled at this church, it will be sad, and I am positive that Russell will be sad about leaving the church he has been in his entire life. He has never had to leave a church before.

He sent out his last email today saying that he can no longer be contacted there, and there was a sense of sadness that went along with it.

I guess we are feeling a little weird because we don't feel like we will be missed at all. Russell has been left out of a lot of things at the church recently and it feels as though there was no point to all his hard work over the last 4 years....so that adds to it a little.

I have no doubt whatsoever that I won't be missed, and I am fine with that. I have already moved on and am just waiting on God.

It feels as though so many things are starting to finalise in our lives. Russell is considering taking his Advanced Diploma in Theology rather than continue studying for his Bachelor, and now that he doesn't work at the church, he is looking for work. For the first time in our married lives we will have an income coming from both sides...that will take a little adjusting to I'm sure!

I don't really know the point of this post, I just wanted to put a few thoughts down.

Sorry it's not much of a read!

anyway...I'm bumbling along now, cya!

Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz Round 3 - Final Round

1. Who was the first English monarch to have a Christmas Tree? (Multiple choice)

Henry VIII Queen Victoria Queen Elizabeth II King George VI

2. How many sides does a snowflake have?

3. In which two oceans would you find a “Christmas Island”?

4. The carol “Silent Night” was first played on what instrument? (Multiple choice)

Guitar Piano Trumpet Violin

5. At Christmas, it is customary to exchange kisses beneath a sprig of which plant?

6. What is the connection between “Comet”, “Cupid” and “Vixen”?

7. In what year was the first Christmas card produced? (Multiple Choice)

1823 1892 1895 1846

8. Finish this line from an old Christmas Carol: Oh come, all ye faithfull….....

9. How many “Lords a Leaping” were there?

10. What one reindeer is never mentioned in “The Night Before Christmas”?

Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz Results Round 2

Sorry about the long wait guys...I have been sick this week, and have only just been able to drag myself to work today. Hence, instead of doing work I am catching up on blogging and reading blogs!

Here are the answers from the 2nd round from Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz!

1. What was Rudolph’s punishment for his red nose?

Could not play the reindeer games

2. What did the Grinch use as a substitute for reindeer?

His dog

3. What carol is known as the counting song?

Twelve Days of Christmas

4. Traditionally, does the oldest or youngest family member open the first present?

The youngest

5. What country started the tradition of exchanging gifts? (Multiple choice)

Germany England Italy Poland

6. What are tiny, inexpensive gifts usually called?

Stocking fillers

7. What do most elves wear on the tips of their shoes?

Bells

8. After red and green, what are the two most popular Christmas colours?

Silver & Gold

9. What two words are normally pre-printed on gift tags?

To & From

10. Who wrote a Christmas Carol?

Charles Dickens

So here are the results for this round: (congrats to Middo doubling his score from last week!)

Sarah: 6
Pete: 7
Russ: 3
Middo: 2

And the grand total scores: (oooo can Pete take the lead? Can russell gives us a straight answer? can middo knock everyone's socks off?...we will have to wait and see!)

Sarah: 13
Pete: 13
Russ: 7
Middo: 3

Quote of the day

"Three things that never come back; the spent arrow, the spoken word, the lost opportunity."

- W.G.P.

The fish aren't bitin'

Since none of you bit when I said Russell had 10 points, I'll just have to fess up and say I was joking.

Geez...

Here are the official results:

Sarah 7
Pete 6
Russ 4
Middo 1

I wonder if Pete can catch Sarah, or if Sarah will streak ahead, if Russ can give a decent answer, and Middo prove that he truly does love christmas. (stirring you middo)

Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz Round 2

Here is Round 2 of Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz. If you didn't enter in the last round, feel free to join in now.

This weeks questions are:

1. What was Rudolph’s punishment for his red nose?

2. What did the Grinch use as a substitute for reindeer?

3. What carol is known as the counting song?

4. Traditionally, does the oldest or youngest family member open the first present?

5. What country started the tradition of exchanging gifts? (Multiple choice)

Germany England Italy Poland


6. What are tiny, inexpensive gifts usually called?

7. What do most elves wear on the tips of their shoes?

8. After red and green, what are the two most popular Christmas colours?

9. What two words are normally pre-printed on gift tags?

10. Who wrote "A Christmas Carol"?

Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz Results

Alright, well it seems that no-one else is going to enter my brilliant Christmas quiz, so it is just the four of you.

Here are the results:

Points

Russell 10
Sarah 7
Pete 6
Middo 1

I decided to give Russell 10 out of 10 for making me laugh. So, he is leader of the pack…you lot have a lot of catching up to do.

Here are the official answers to the questions:

1. How many reindeer does Santa have?
Nine
2. In Frosty the Snowman, who brought Frosty back to life?
Santa
3. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, what biological shortcoming made the Grinch so mean?
His heart was two sizes too small.
4. What is the biggest selling Christmas single of all time?
White Christmas
5. What was Scrooge’s first name?
Ebenezer
6. What carol contains the line “O tidings of comfort and joy”?
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
7. What was the first gift my true love sent on the sixth day of Christmas?
Six geese-a-laying
8. In what city did Miracle of 34th Street take place?
New York
9. In the Night Before Christmas, where were the stockings hung?
By the chimney
10. What is the last ghost called in A Christmas Carol?
The Ghost of Christmas yet to come

Stay tuned for the next 10 questions in Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz!!

Last few weeks #1

First things first, I have some good news....Kate and Josiah are engaged!! They will be getting married in May next year. Congrats guys....I love you both, and couldn't ask for a better brother-in-law - good catch Kate!

Kate & Jos

The ring - ooooo pretty!!

Me & Russ on the way to Carrie & Eric's wedding

On Russell's b'day in our favourite spot - the kitchen!!

Russell looks so old, donchya think!!?

Russell getting the Christmas tree ready while I just watch

My help - entertainment

Oooo pretty - and yes, I did eventually help!!

Russell doing the honours

oooo....pretty lights

kissy kissy

A little decoration we have had since we got married - it say's 'Our first Christmas'

Last few weeks #2

Every year our small group throws a 'dodgy christmas party' where we invite friends, put on a feast and give dodgy christmas pressies. Basically pressies that you would hate to receive and would re-gift. It's always a huge laugh

At our small group's 'Dodgy Christmas party' on Fri. night.

Me with Jaye

Russ & Asher - feeling the love

The 'Dodgy present' pile

Russell got handcuffs - 'purrrr'

Pete, the pillow says 'Time spent teaching is never lost'....DODGY!!

Evan got 2 little wreath candlestick holders. Asher said they could make breastfeeding Merry...so Evan gave us a demonstration

Jet before he got the zing (shaved)

1/4 of the way there

Mum helping zing him

He wouldn't let us anywhere near his head, so now he really does look like a doofus. He is a mini lion. He really looks stupid, but if that's how he wants to look , then fine. He has to deal with it, not me.

Then Asher decided he would like a zing.

Side shot - verrrry nice

Lovely Asher, lovely

Paper Scissors Rock

My cousin sent this to me last night. Ah, it made me laugh this morning :)


"I understand how scissors can beat paper, and I get how a rock can beat scissors, but there's no way paper can beat rock. Is paper supposed to magically wrap around rock and leave it immobile? Why then can't paper do this to scissors? Screw scissors, why can't paper do this to people? Why aren't sheets of college ruled notebook paper constantly suffocating students as they take notes in class? I'll tell you why, because paper can't beat anybody. A rock would tear it up in 2 seconds. When I play rock, paper, scissors, I always choose rock. When somebody claims to have beaten me with their paper I can punch them in the face with my already clenched fist and say, oh, I'm sorry, I thought paper would protect you..."

What's wrong with you lot?

'Cmon already people! I need more entrants in my BRILLIANT quiz!

I can't just have 2! Thanks pete and Sarah.

But seriously people, 'cmon!! It's absolutely brilliant and fun and not really that hard.

I promise I won't laugh if you don't get any right. I may have a brief giggle, but honestly, please enter my quiz people.

I'm on my knees begging you to join in with my festivities...for once I can consider myself semi-smart for coming up with this, and if you don't enter then I will be forced to plunge into the depths of my doona and I may never recover.

I don't know what's up with me this morning, I think I'm losing it.

But seriously, enter and be amazed!

Age defying beauty

I need a vent. Not an angry vent, I just need to get some things off my chest.

On sunday we had a hymn service.

Yes, you read me right! A hymn service.

Now, I am not against hymns. I actually enjoy some hymns. I don't give a rat's tuu tuu if certain people wish to gather one night a week and have a hymn service.

I do however, give a rat's tuu tuu, when that hymn service is pushed onto other people.

I do not appreciate being told that I should attend the hymn service, that I need to just enjoy it. That, to me, is like telling Russell to just enjoy having his nails painted or something, "you'll see, you'll like it!"

I do care when Sunday morning is altered to suit certain people's needs. I do not push for my style of music every sunday, I do not push for my own wants and needs, and I would expect that those who are (apparently) more mature in their Christian faith, to do the same.

I am not trying to be all 'holier than thou'. I am just frustrated when people constantly think that church is for them. News break...IT's NOT!

I was told on Sunday that the service had been designed for a certain age-group. I asked would our age group then be catered for next week? To which I was responded with, "It is every week isn't it!?"

I'm sorry, but songs from the 60's doesn't really cater for my age-group. Anyway...

I was then asked "What is a youth service?" My response was "maybe having songs from the 2000's would help."

However, after thinking things through and chatting with Russell, we decided that the following (in our own opinion) is what the youth are looking for/would enjoy. Keeping in mind that church is not set up for our own wants and needs.

• Feeling involved/engaged in the service
• Understanding the words that are being sung - this aids towards feeling engaged
• Things to be done well - not tacky
• Sometimes newer songs, but not necessarily. We have the ability to enjoy hymns if they are not done in some monotone tacky way.

The youth don't necessarily want loud music. It doesn't have to be loud, just done well, engaging and inviting. Being told before a service that this music is for a certain generation and to just try and enjoy it DOES NOT invite or engage anyone else in that service. Obviously this music is for certain people, not me, therefore they switch off.

I also don't think it is wise when you have the most visitors I have ever seen come in one service to have this sort of stuff going on. It is not inviting or engaging the community that surrounds us.

So, my question to all of you out there is"

"What is a youth service - what do you think it has/involves?"

I'd be interested to see what other people think. I may be way off with how I perceive things at the moment...I seem to have lost my perception somewhere along my journey's. Am I correct in some of my thoughts on what a 'youth service' has? I hate saying 'youth service'. I don't want a service dedicated to a certain age-group. That's not what church is about....but don't get me started on that!

So, get crackin'!!

Russell may need to upgrade me soon

It’s true. I’m falling apart.

These last 2 months have been very trying and I fear that Russell may need to get an upgraded wife soon if I keep heading down this track.

Last month I had 3 doctor’s appointments, 5 blood tests and lots of stress. This month I have had to go to the podiatrist to get my feet sorted out. I have my father to thank for the ingrown toenail gene (ugh I just hate even saying it) and my mother to thank for my ‘broken’ arches.

I have only had one ingrown toenail on my left foot (my big toe) and had it operated on in 2001. I was worried that my big toe on my right foot was going to go ingrown because I got a pedicure in Thailand and she cut my nails in an odd way. I’m a little paranoid about these things and thought I would just head on over to the podiatrist to make sure everything was ok.

The doctor checked my toe – all is good – YAY! Then I asked her to check my arches.

“Major dodgy-ness” were her exact words!

She then proceeded to tell me I would have to book another 2 appointments to get my feet moulded and scanned and all this techno stuff done to get these fibreglass innersoles thingys. I don’t even know what the heck you call them, but I know what the heck they cost! $1300 smack-a-roonies!

I thought I was covered for this stuff under my health insurance, but it turns out I’m not. So either we cough up the $1300 – though I’m not sure where we can cough it up from, or I end up with my knees around my back and hobbling like a 98 year old!

*Sigh*

I told Russell yesterday that I’m just falling apart and that he may need to upgrade soon. Funnily enough, he didn’t agree. (awwww)

I wouldn’t be surprised if my boobs fell off next!

Bek's Brilliant Christmas Quiz

I am going to do a Christmas Quiz for you all! I can tell you are just all so excited about it! I will keep a running tally of who is in the lead, but we have a few simple rules!

A) NO GOOGLING!!
B) NO Phoning a friend

Please try and answer the questions without cheating...it's a real tester on your knowledge (if I may say so myself!)

Here are the first 10 out of 30 questions! I will post the next 10 next week. Post your answers in the comment section....and remember....NO CHEATING!! We are using the honor system here people!!

1. How many reindeer does Santa have?

2. In Frosty the Snowman, who brought Frosty back to life?

3. In How the Grinch stole Christmas, what biological shortcoming made the Grinch so mean?

4. What is the biggest selling Christmas single of all time?

5. What was Scrooge’s first name in A Christmas Carol?

6. What carol contains the line “O tidings of comfort and joy”?

7. What was the 6th gift my true love sent to me on the 6th day of Christmas?

8. In what city did Miracle of 34th Street take place?

9. In the Night before Christmas, where were the stockings hung?

10. What is the last ghost called in A Christmas Carol?

I will also post the answers in the next couple of days! Enjoy!!

Movie Quiz

Can you all have a shot at this?

I've got 17 so far, so if you could give me your answers, that'd be great!!

Thanks!!

Oh, and enjoy :)

This is a boring post

Ugh! I have a bit of news but I want to wait until I have photos to post about it.

So in the meantime, can you guess what it is?

One hint, it's something that has happened in my family :)