Place: Milkd

Poison: Whatever Lorenna made me!

Favourite Things: John Mayer in my ears…

Today as I was driving to milkd I was thinking all about the law of momentum! (andrea are you impressed, milkd and a new thought all in one!) Anyway, the big thought was ‘How is it when you are busier you seem to get so much more done, than the days that you have nothing planned.’

My own Answer ‘the law of momentum’…Event Management is all about momentum, and it is not something that you can force or muster up, its just something that is ridden.

In years gone past, when really busy I have stressed, driven and tried so hard to get everything done that needs to be done in the midst of manic event weeks. However this week is the busiest one I have ever had, in my 7 years of event management, but I am doing everything that I can to ride the momentum rather than force it.

Random thought, but a great one. On the days, months or seasons when you don’t have much on, enjoy that time, rest in it and restore. On the days, months, seasons where it is HUGE, manic, full on and jam packed, rise to the occasion, ride the momentum and go for it.

It is in those weeks more washing gets done, more tasks get striked off the list and more love gets shared.

Love it, harness it, enjoy it. There is nothing worse than a stressed out, manic, painful person who grits their teeth through the business of the everyday. If you’re hating it- change something. If you’re tired- sleep more and say no to something. If you’re busy- embrace the momentum, you never know what could unwrap itself in your life.

LOVE IT!

A

ps- if you are in Perth, get ready for the BIG weekend and Church Together this very weekend. Promises to be a weekend of MUCH MOMENTUM for our entire city! www.riverviewchurch.com.au

 

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Lebanese Food from Jihad’s resteraunt, and of course Miss Claudine in town!

Well, a big fat apology for the lack of posts, it has reflected in the number of hits so I am really sorry. The last week has been so full on, so great, yet filled with lots of real life moments also.

It started last friday with Tracy and Dom’s wedding which was such an amazing celebration of family and all things italian… Check out the GTC below;

Then My beautiful friend and amazing flatmate for a couple of years, passed away Nicola Trethewey. The funeral was so inspiring and reflected the amazing woman that she is. We had the most defining moment down at the beach as a memorial service for her where we threw 100 lilium’s into the water, it was such a fine send off into the land of eternity, for someone who carried such a great sense of another world already!

The South Building was Launched, and it went off with a bang literally. We lost all power right at the start of the service and it was so funny and stress-full all in one! With a bit of energy conservation (urns off, toilet lights out, candles lit) we were ready to go. With 390 people in the building it was a fine start to a memorable moment in history for our Church.

Then it came to friends arriving in droves for the big weekend and my 30th! I am so overwhelmed at the amazing way that everyone who has been around has celebrated together.

 The travellers- Ruth (Auckland), Sara(Brisbane), Claudine (Sydney), Hannah (Auckland)

We had a moving party on Friday night, starting at Milkd, then moving to a groovy bar with a fine funk duo, then it ended with port, krispy kreme’s, sticky date puddings and a solo jazz player at the north perth town hall. Can’t wait to post the photos!

Saturday we spent the day in Freo at Harvest, then Saturday night headed down to rocky for a pirate party with the fam! Thanks so much to my amazing family who celebrated in style.

 

Some of my amazing family!!!

 

Me and Charotte (God Daughter) on Saturday night!

The weekend plowed on with lunch at Little Creatures, then a supper last night with prawn linguni, spinich salad and icecream. More than the food though the toasts to life lived with people and the love that spans accross the oceans.

For those who couldn’t be with us this weekend, I dedicate this blog to you. I miss you and pray the best for you, you know who you are!

Anyways, should be back to normal with a event management packed week.

Promise to stay more in touch.

Lovin

A

PS- I got the coolest digital camera for my bday, so standby for many more captured moments.

PPS- Just need to learn how to use it!!

Place: Office

Poison: Lollies

Favourite Things: baby aquamarine blue jacket

I got given the coolest little book this week ‘Leunig- the book of common prayers’ and I have loved the simplicity within its folds.

Many of his random musings to God, make me smile, but this one is one of my favourites.

 

For those who can’t read it, it says ‘There comes a moment when all the cables, leads, battery chargers and power adaptors we have ever owned gather together and assemble themselves around us and ask the terrible question, “What happened to your life”…

I have seriously been asking that of myself today. I have waited 3 weeks to get my mobile back from the fixer man, and I have had major withdrawals from it. It is one of those blackberry/internet/phone/camera/everything in one little package deal.

However I have become so used to getting my emails whenever I want them, checking my diary 500 times a day, that I have lost perspective of what life was like without it!

It came back today and seriously you would have thought that I had seen Jesus, or at least won the lotto. However this mortal soul was in trouble as it STILL DOESN’T WORK!!!

So, after much counselling, a bag of lollies and some prayer later, I am sending it back, and hopefully gaining a bit of perspective at the same time.

Mobile phones and technology do not equal life!

Hmmmmmmmmm….

They help, but they don’t dictate it. Turn off your phone during dinner, why not be wild and leave it at home sometimes and for the very daring send them back!

Love

A

Place: My Office

Poison: Diet Coke

Favourite Things: My new shoes…

I have been quite unwell the last few days, and with the South Launch, Tracy and Dom’s wedding and a big week of event management I have just not been myself.

To brighten my cold-filled world though, Miss Hannah has arrived from New zealand, and seriously she is like water to my soul.

In my sick, impatient state, she has just served and loved on me and made my busy days bareable. When your unwell, a shining light of inspiration is someone who notices the little things.

She walked down to 130′s early this morning and walked me back a long black! She has encouraged and loved me, made my bed, cleaned my room and those things just mean so much in the midst of cloudiness.

Much more to write about this beautiful woman, but not much time or energy!

I brought a T shirt in New Zealand in January this year that says ‘Be light in the darkness’ for me light is noticing and loving on those around you with the little things.

hmmmm, nice!

A

Ps- Trace and Dom’s wedding was fabulous, photos soon. An amazing night last night.

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: lip gloss

I love this photo, if you look very closely, My sister and I are completely covered in dirt and the cheeky look of pure delight is hilarious.

Today we had our final production meeting before the launch of our new venue and service in the South of Perth, WA. The building seriously is a mess, dirt everywhere, but together we sat with a glow of pure delight, because together we were building something that will service thousands of people in the years to come.

When you build something from scratch, get your hands dirty and together as a family accomplish, the end result is breathtaking. Creativity as a team is the most rewarding of all. However building something with purpose and vision is even more delightful.

I wanted to send out a big toast to Ray Lampard (Project Manager), Craig Tucker (Action Man, Tech genius), Dave Hadfield (sound guru) and all the hundreds of volunteers that have got dirty together out there in the outback of Jandakot.

I wish I had before and after photo’s of how they have transformed a warehouse into a modern, theatre of amazing standards and technology. The cafe is funky as, can’t comment on the coffee yet as the machines not plugged in, but sure to give you an update. The Launch of our South Service 10am this sunday morning. Yehaaaa!

A toast to getting dirty out in the country and doing it as a family.

Rock on Riverview, its such a privelege to get dirty together….(hmm, should I change that line?)

Nah!

lovin

A

Place: My Mums House

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: My mums house…

Tonight has been GOLD! We had Tracy’s last supper at my families house in Rockingham and it was hilarious. For those who don’t know me or havent read previous posts, I have quite wild twin mums who set up a dinner tonight for one of the GTC (green tea cup club, nearest and dearest) who gets married this friday.

Anyway, the men of our family dressed up as waiters and all the women were upstairs extravagantly enjoying the view, the company and our dog.

Tracey was dressed in my aunties wedding dress and my mum and her veil. So very funny, but reminded me of a simlar post that I wrote just a month ago when Elly was getting married but the extension has to do with U2 and a book I am reading at the moment.

The book ‘Walk On’ by Steve Stockman about U2, the page 82, the thought ‘GOLD’…

‘Here’s to the future! The only limitation are the limits of our imagination. Dream up the kind of world you want to live in. Dream out loud at high volume. That’s what we do for a living!!’ Bono New years eve, 1989

Contrasted with a draining coffe barista Bonnie, Rose and I encountered yesterday who whinged for the entire duration of our extraction of our coffee, complaining how boring Perth was, how culturally uncool it was, and how quick he wanted to leave the place. I was like cool, no worries, leave!

He should have seen the balcony of my house tonight, with 12 amazing chicks screaming our heads off and celebrating Tracy and Dom’s future…

Mr Coffee Man from Mount Lawley, you just dont know the right people, and also you are not willing to open yourself up to people who celebrate life with abandonment. Steve Stockman’s book about U2 is really inspiring, but more than that so are my family and friends.

My family, such devout, beautiful Catholics, (my mum and her twins birthdays tomorrow, the big 52!!) they live a life that celebrates the future.

My friends, the GTCC and the extended crew also love to live lives that celebrate the future.

Here’s a toast to Dom and Trace! Have the best last week as singles, in preparation for the most amazing life of unity!

Here’s also a toast to my crazy but unbelievable family, I long to continue to dream up the kind of world we want to live together. We dream out loud at high volume…I ask forgiveness of our neighbours!

Much Love and more

A

Place: Home

Poison: Diet Coke

Favourite Things: thinking about all the people coming to Perth for my birthday!! oh WOW…

I know there is nothing worse than spending an evening with an immature, self centred person. However, I think its even worse to do life with people who are so meditated and so planned, so intentional, so flippin intense that they loose the freedom and beauty of spontenaity.

I am all for planners, outlook and living a disciplined life, but the innocence of a childlike heart is so refreshing. Someone who believes the best not the worst in friends. (I am seriously chatting to myself here) Someone who seizes the moments and allows the wind of change to breathe liberally on their page.

Somedays I wish that life didn’t force me to grow up quickly, and I could have remained a child longer. As I am growing older, (30 very soon! aha moment) I am realising that niavity and a fresh belief in the good in people is not a bad trait to have.

The older I am, the more gentle I want to be. I don’t want to be a cranky, old granny. I want to be one of those marshmellow types, who sees the world through pink glasses, sharing her wisdom liberally with the world.

Innocence and purity, is not such a bad thing. (i know some of you are wanting to throw up right now…sorry)

Living light is a beautiful way to travel this earth.

A

Place: Milkd

Poison: Water

Favourite things: book mark from miss kym…

When excercising or in the heat of the summer sun (so want to write ‘oh baby dancing with you in the summer rain’ aka belinda carlisle right now, but won’t go there, umm looks like I have!) lack of thirst is not a great sign.

If you can go through an entire day and not feel thirsty it actually shows a sign of unhealthiness. When we are thirsty and quench that thirst with the right nutrients, water and vitamins, you will end up being more thirsty.

Are you confused? I am nearly…

Anyway I was thinking the same deal about life and creativity.

When you are in a dry place, the arid landscape breeds aridity. Lack of inspiration breeds more lack of inspiration. But the more you drink, could be reading an inspiring book, randomly meeting a friend like polly that just came into milkd or smelling a big beautiful oriental lilly, it breeds inspiration and you will become thirsty for more.

Simple but random thought, drink more, look more, inquire more, love more, live more, your thirst will not be fulfilled, you will just be thirsty for more.

Same deal with God and spirituality, the more you seek him, the more you will thirst after it!

Thirsty?

A

Place: Milkd

Poison: Long Mac

Favourite things: Claudine on the phone

John Mayer’s new album ‘Continuum’ is inspiring. I love his lyrical content, the bluesy, jazz, accoustic vibes but most of all the creative picture that the whole package unveils.

Music is something that totally unravels the tension in my being from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Some days you just need to turn on some tunes and dance in the dark!

Some people freak out at the thought of dancing. What if someone sees me, what if I look dumb, seriously what if…But dancing for no reason whatsoever in the privacy of your living room is one of lifes simplest pleasures. I remember so fondly the years where I taught dancing, in random outback halls, basket ball courts and church common rooms. I think I enjoyed myself often more than the kids.

Growing up we were a family who always put on little performances and created a stage out of our sunken living room. Dressing my brother up with oranges and my mums bathers was something we thought was just so hilarious esp when he let us get the lipstick out as well.

Today in the midst of Christmas production auditions tonight, The Big Weekend around the corner, Church Together on the horizon, I turned the lights off in my living room, swirled my ipod onto John Mayer’s new tune ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning room’.

Praying my neighbours werent peaking through the fence.

Gold!

A

 

Place: My house

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Ipod with John Mayers new album downloaded! (NICE)

With our biggest events of the year a few weeks away, we are on the volunteer bandwagon again…When we ask people to sacrifice their already precious time, often its done with much reticence, as we are so sober about time and its value in our society.

I have been thinking though, when I volunteer, when I give of my time for no expected return, I am always the one who recieves. Its the paradox of servanthood. Serving others seems like such a sucky way to live your life, but the more I serve, the more I give away, the bigger and more meaningful my life is becoming.

Self centred, self consumed, self orientated people are so frustrating and boring to be around. Those who continue to think beyond themselves and generously give of them selves are so INTERESTING because they stick their finger up at society and its percieved cultural norms!!

Life is not just about you and your pursuits, your plasma and its remote control, give your time away for another and that is the true meaning of fulfillment.

Volunteering for a local community interest group, for a church, for a cause is an amazing way to pass away the hours. Wherever you are in the world, right on your corner there is someone doing something that needs your help!

In humility walk over to them, ask what you can do to help and then do it with all your might.

I will make a bet with you, that if you do it with the right spirit, you will be the bigger for it!

Generousity rules…

A