In times of tragedy we stand together united as one. Since Saturday Victoria has been in a state of crisis with bushfires ravaging so much of our beautiful countryside, unleashing it's fury on so many, destroying everything in it's path and tragically taking so many lives. At the time of this post 181 are confirmed dead with at least 50 more still missing, 900 homes destroyed and 7000 people have registered for assistance with the Red Cross.
Many appeals have been set up and at least $45 million has been raised. Donations of all things neccessary are in place including blood donations and once again Australians dig deep giving so much to help those affected by this tragedy.
Our family has already donated money to the Red Cross 2009 Bushfire Appeal and I know that The Salvation Army is able to take international donations as well. There are many other fundraisers happening both on the local scene and further afield and Coles is donating profits from their store’s sales this Friday so I plan to shop there this week myself. You can also check on the ABC radio Melbourne’s website for good up to date lists, contact numbers and info on how and where you can help.
Please if you can help....dig deep as so many of us already have! Hugs Chris xoxo
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Monday, 9 February 2009
What a tragic weekend.
My heart and my prayers go out to each and everyone devastated by this weekends fires with a number of them still burning, some contained and some still out of control. My heart has been touched just like so many and although it has not affected me personally we know only all too well we are fortunate to still have our home and our loved ones.
Bendigo has suffered badly. Many homes have been lost and people are still counting the costs of the impact our own fires have had on them and we have had 2 confirmed dead. Personally while I focused on the fires in Melbourne and Gippsland what started to unfold here in Bendigo in the early afternoon is almost unbelievable. The fires that roared through the suburbs not far from us tore through houses, streets and communities so quickly, no one had time to prepare themselves for what they were about to go through.
We ourselves had never experienced the mayhem of that day and we were lucky. Although the fires were not too far away, our neighbourhood although on high alert and ready to leave in an instant survived intact. Yes the guys up the road had to wet down their roof and the people around the corner survived the embers attack and quickly dealt with that before it took hold but for so many others only 3/4 minutes from us by car, lost the lot and I am ever so grateful that I have a home and my family still with me.
I am touched deeply by what has taken place, worse then Ash Wednesday and worse then the fires in 1937. We have lost so many and although I am sure the figure has risen last news I listened too confirmed 108 Victorians had died and none of them should have. The reality that some of these fires may have been purposely lit is just unthinkable, unimaginable and tragic.
To all of you who read my blog or happen upon it while surfing the net please keep us all in your prayers, this is Victoria's worst ever fires and it's not over yet.
Onto some more positive news and somewhat exciting. In my last post I mentioned how Lance was getting a movable unit in the backyard and the building contractors were coming out today to inspect etc....well they've been and guess what.....they start Monday. I cannot believe that Lance's unit is happening along so quickly. As they are movable units ours is coming from Reservoir in Melbourne and once they start Monday they say it should take only 3 weeks, 4 at the very most for it to be finished and Lance can move in. Once erected they paint it, put in new covers both floor and window, new heater, new hot water service, new lino/tiles and I am sooooooo excited. Lance is sooooo excited and he's already wanting to go shopping for some furniture.......lol!
And until next bloggin' stay safe and take care out there and if there is ever a time to really put this into action....now is it. Hugs Chris xoxo
Bendigo has suffered badly. Many homes have been lost and people are still counting the costs of the impact our own fires have had on them and we have had 2 confirmed dead. Personally while I focused on the fires in Melbourne and Gippsland what started to unfold here in Bendigo in the early afternoon is almost unbelievable. The fires that roared through the suburbs not far from us tore through houses, streets and communities so quickly, no one had time to prepare themselves for what they were about to go through.
We ourselves had never experienced the mayhem of that day and we were lucky. Although the fires were not too far away, our neighbourhood although on high alert and ready to leave in an instant survived intact. Yes the guys up the road had to wet down their roof and the people around the corner survived the embers attack and quickly dealt with that before it took hold but for so many others only 3/4 minutes from us by car, lost the lot and I am ever so grateful that I have a home and my family still with me.
I am touched deeply by what has taken place, worse then Ash Wednesday and worse then the fires in 1937. We have lost so many and although I am sure the figure has risen last news I listened too confirmed 108 Victorians had died and none of them should have. The reality that some of these fires may have been purposely lit is just unthinkable, unimaginable and tragic.
To all of you who read my blog or happen upon it while surfing the net please keep us all in your prayers, this is Victoria's worst ever fires and it's not over yet.
Onto some more positive news and somewhat exciting. In my last post I mentioned how Lance was getting a movable unit in the backyard and the building contractors were coming out today to inspect etc....well they've been and guess what.....they start Monday. I cannot believe that Lance's unit is happening along so quickly. As they are movable units ours is coming from Reservoir in Melbourne and once they start Monday they say it should take only 3 weeks, 4 at the very most for it to be finished and Lance can move in. Once erected they paint it, put in new covers both floor and window, new heater, new hot water service, new lino/tiles and I am sooooooo excited. Lance is sooooo excited and he's already wanting to go shopping for some furniture.......lol!
And until next bloggin' stay safe and take care out there and if there is ever a time to really put this into action....now is it. Hugs Chris xoxo
Friday, 6 February 2009
Incredibly exciting news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..sorry couldn't stop at one....lol
Awesome photos don't ya think? This is our 17 yr old son Lance and yes he loves the emo style...suits him anyway and I love both these photos of him. A little editing in PSCS2 and the use of Totally Rad's Black and White Photo Action...I love these actions is the result of the above piccies. can't wait to find the perfect kit to scrap the perfect LO or 2 and I have some more pics too. If there is a kit out there that totally rocks designers let me know.We have recieved some really exciting news today but before I tell you that let me take you back 2 weeks. As both boys are autistic and living in a fairly smallish home with the need for both boys to share a bedroom we were encouraged to apply to the Department of Human Services - Disability Services - Movable Units. Our son already fits the criteria because of his disabilites and we had a few of the team working with us look into it for us.
Paper work was sent, filled out, sent back, more sent, more filled out and sent back and then we received a letter on Tuesday to say we had been approved. As if that was not exciting enough today we had a phone call from the building contracter to say they had a unit ready and available for Lance already and they would be out on Monday to start planning for the permits needed (they do all that), council regulations and paperwork (they do all that) of course we just sign on the dotted lines but DHS do the lot and that includes putting the unit on the site and connecting the utilities and they do all that.
The incredible positive impact this will have on the entire family will be huge. More doors will open for Lance with support workers helping him do whatever is necessary, shopping etc etc and the fact that he will just be in the backyard in his own unit that comes complete with bedroom, loungeroom, kitchen, laundry, bathroom and the all important loo.
Teaching him to become as independant as possible is something that will take a very long time and there will always be things he won't be able to do but this is just one huge step towards someone who is autistic and someone who needs lots of help and we are finally getting it.
I cannot express in words the excitement and what this really means to the family. The fact that both boys can have their very own space and have their very own stuff properly in place will be incredible. Lance hates toys (ok I know he is 17) but because of this Maddi's huge collections of things sit in the shed and he can't have them in his room.....that will change and they won't have to share because that does not come easy to either of them....another autistic trait they both have and a very strong one at that too. Oh I can't wait and I hope you can join in our excitement for what this fully means to us.
God certainly does perform miracles and I cannot thank my God enough for this one.
Ok till next blogging please take care and stay safe. Hugs Chris xoxo
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Ooooh what a challenge!
Wow can't believe I am actually blogging again so soon but Ann-Marie asked me to play along so I will. The challenge is to go to my photo's folder grab the 6th photo and post it here. Now I have lots of photo folders.....doesn't every scrapper and I'm thinking which one.....which one.... but like Ann-Marie I have decided to grab one from a folder I have named latest 09....yep some of my more recent photos and this is it, totally oh so cute and adorable.
Please welcome our newest addition to the family....Little Puss! Yes he is a male and he actually belongs to DD Grace. She brought him home in November and he's about 4/5 months old now and just the cutest thing you ever did see. Talk about cheeky though oh boy this cat has it all. Cattitude and catrisma and the things he gets up to are just too darn cute to fully tell him off. Of course Tim and I are proud kitty grandparents now and in absolutely every sense of the word because we generally do most of the looking after....go figure.....lol!!!
Ok so now that I've taken the challenge and posted the 6th photo from my Photo Folder it's your turn.....hummmm who shall I pick let me see. Ok Jane first up I pick you. Then I think it should be Jo, then I'll choose Kelley who is a fab paper scrapper. Of course next is Sharon over here and last but certainly not least is the very talented Amy H from A5D. I hope you can join in and thanks Ann-Marie for the challenge...super easy!
Ok until next time take care and stay safe. Hugs Chris xoxo
Please welcome our newest addition to the family....Little Puss! Yes he is a male and he actually belongs to DD Grace. She brought him home in November and he's about 4/5 months old now and just the cutest thing you ever did see. Talk about cheeky though oh boy this cat has it all. Cattitude and catrisma and the things he gets up to are just too darn cute to fully tell him off. Of course Tim and I are proud kitty grandparents now and in absolutely every sense of the word because we generally do most of the looking after....go figure.....lol!!!
Ok so now that I've taken the challenge and posted the 6th photo from my Photo Folder it's your turn.....hummmm who shall I pick let me see. Ok Jane first up I pick you. Then I think it should be Jo, then I'll choose Kelley who is a fab paper scrapper. Of course next is Sharon over here and last but certainly not least is the very talented Amy H from A5D. I hope you can join in and thanks Ann-Marie for the challenge...super easy!
Ok until next time take care and stay safe. Hugs Chris xoxo
Almost Back to School!
Yep that's right my kids are getting ready to go back to school Monday 2nd of Feb. I cannot believe how quick these Christmas holidays have come and gone and now it's a new year with new teachers and new aims and goals to achieve. My kids are certainly growing up and each year I feel seems to fly by just that little bit quicker then the last one.
So what's happening round the Turnbull place? Well as already mentioned kids are back to school tomorrow and so one more sleep in before early morning chaos is upon us 5 days a week.
The next piece of news I have for you is about our son Maddison, he is our youngest child and is 13. He was diagnosed 3 months ago with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) but on the 22nd January he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. More assessments to be done, a 6-12 month waiting list for most of them and no real help until they have been done. Another difficult diagnosis to deal with. Maddison is also visually impaired and was diagnosed with Best's Vitelliform Dystrophy when he was 3. A genetic, progressive non curable macular degeneration which effects the central vision which results in the central vision going blind, his sister Stephanie has it and so does Tim. I could go onto why he has a late diagnosis as well but for now I'll leave it and come back with that for another time.
This year was meant to be a better year and although our son Lance is doing ok for now it is so full on and now with both boys and their dual diagnoses and everything else I still deal with.......I feel I need a holiday from the holidays.
Summer.....I so dislike summer and all the heat it brings with this season. We have been in the worst heat wave this country has experienced for 100 years and boy is it hot. No relief in sight a weeks worth of over 40 degrees celcius and we drop down to 39 tomorrow. I don't think I've ever sweated or drank so much in these last few days. Anything to stay hydrated, cool and dry and with little success as well. There's a cool breeze blowing tonight as the temps have dropped nicely so hoping it will be a good night sleep.
And upon that word sleep...that's where I am headed....yep off to bed and then to sleep. Till next bloggin' take care and stay safe. Hugs Chris xoxo
So what's happening round the Turnbull place? Well as already mentioned kids are back to school tomorrow and so one more sleep in before early morning chaos is upon us 5 days a week.
The next piece of news I have for you is about our son Maddison, he is our youngest child and is 13. He was diagnosed 3 months ago with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) but on the 22nd January he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. More assessments to be done, a 6-12 month waiting list for most of them and no real help until they have been done. Another difficult diagnosis to deal with. Maddison is also visually impaired and was diagnosed with Best's Vitelliform Dystrophy when he was 3. A genetic, progressive non curable macular degeneration which effects the central vision which results in the central vision going blind, his sister Stephanie has it and so does Tim. I could go onto why he has a late diagnosis as well but for now I'll leave it and come back with that for another time.
This year was meant to be a better year and although our son Lance is doing ok for now it is so full on and now with both boys and their dual diagnoses and everything else I still deal with.......I feel I need a holiday from the holidays.
Summer.....I so dislike summer and all the heat it brings with this season. We have been in the worst heat wave this country has experienced for 100 years and boy is it hot. No relief in sight a weeks worth of over 40 degrees celcius and we drop down to 39 tomorrow. I don't think I've ever sweated or drank so much in these last few days. Anything to stay hydrated, cool and dry and with little success as well. There's a cool breeze blowing tonight as the temps have dropped nicely so hoping it will be a good night sleep.
And upon that word sleep...that's where I am headed....yep off to bed and then to sleep. Till next bloggin' take care and stay safe. Hugs Chris xoxo
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