I'm baaaaaacccckkkkkk!!!

Yes - it's true - I am still very much alive.
I had to shake out a few cobwebs on my return - wow - it's been a while.
Here's the last few years in a nutshell -

• took a two year break from Uni - needed some space - needed some money!!

• worked a couple of jobs - one mindlesss (admin for a construction company) - another very interesting (ASADA - Aust sports anti-doing mob - short term contract - good times).

• I now have two daughters in highschool - MissG in Year 10 (& now taller than me - eek!) - MissE in Year 7 - and little MissJ is in Year 3. All have great teachers - all doing really well. They are the light of my world.

• girls are playing HEAPS of sport - a mixture of netball, volleyball and Aussie Rules football / AFL!!

• last November I played a week of netball at the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast. It was amazing - never thought I'd ever do such a thing - great team - great times - and I survived 8 games of netball in 5 days!!

• while in QLD I also got to finally meet my bio mother and two bio brothers! Weird, exciting, emotional, stressful - in fact every emotion under the sun. Needless to say - I now feel a peace that I haven't in a very very long time.

• did a few (some minor/some major) renovations on the house - put in an inground pool (woot!) and landscaped the back garden. (below is a peek....) Pool built by JS Pools. (local Canberra pool company - the link is to their yellow pages entry as they don't have a website - highly recommend them - we have 5 other friends who have used them). Lanscape design & labour by myself and Mr W. Hard work but REALLY happy with the results. 

• We're currently working on fixing up the study (looks pretties so far!!) - and the lounge-room. I'll add photos along the way to show you bits that we've done.

• I am now back at Uni - (Bachelor of Education - Primary teaching) - doing a full load - just want to get the flippy thing done!!! I should be able to teach from mid next year - with just one or two extra subjects to finish off by the end of next year. Love, love, love to teach - just bored with the studying bit - but need that bit of paper (the actual degree) - so will suck it up and get on with things!

• looking at starting a design company with my girls. The creative streak has flaired up once more with the return to Uni and the space to use my brain! We've decided to call ourselves stuff by us - and we'll have some crafty homewares - like quilts, paper craft, small home furnishing etc etc. Keep watching this space as I add pics of various pieces along the way. We're all very excited - this is going to be fun!!! (of course it's going to be a slow process - with Uni, school, sports, life - but hay - we have to start somewhere!)

• Molly - our Spoodle - is still doing very well. She's a joy to have around.

• MrW - still my rock. He deserves a medal most days. xx

• and I nearly forgot - I've lost almost 10 kilos!! Last year I went on 'Lite n Easy'- really great food. Have stagnated for now - can't afford the special food with the loss of my income. Have concluded that exercise would greatly help with greater weight loss!! (but it has been a few months - and I have managed to keep it off). Very happy.

That's all I can think of for now. Oh - it's been the stock-standard rollercoaster of life - with all it's ups and downs - but we've faired well - and life is - as always - GREAT!

Nice to be back. xxx

Hopefully Things Will Calm Down Soon............

During this semester I've had to dabble in 3D and photography in my Arts Ed 2 course.

Above is my linear sculpture -

"Thoughts In My Head"

2008

Recycled wire

58cm x 44cm x 35cm

All work I have completed has been photographed, and made into a catalogue - similar to what you would find at an Art Gallery - featuring a collection of a particular artist's work - in this case - my amateur makings!!
I'm almost done - it's all due in this Friday.
I'll post more as I get the time.

In the meantime - I've been really sick - bronchitis once more - yay for Canberra spring and the dreaded lurgies - they get me every time.
(the last week of the school hols - we were all sick - our home was a warzone!!)
It's also MADNESS assignment time. Just 3 weeks until the end of semester - then all clear until next year. (yay)
I just want the bloody piece of paper that says I'm allowed to teach - but they put you through hell and back to get there - I swear.

It's late - I've got to get some sleep.
Counselling essay to due tomorrow - 1500 words comparing two counselling theories.
Oh the joy!!

Night.
xx

Spring Has Sprung - And Other Things.....

03Sep08 - Today I am grateful for -

• The blossoms have started to bloom.......it's a sign of warmer things to come. (YIPEE) It was a rather chilly winter - and although it was a bumper season on the ski slopes (2 hours south from here) - we didn't manage to fit in a snow trip this year. Hopefully 2009.

Here are some almond blossoms in our front garden, taken today.

• A great tutorial at Uni today - with lots of discussions on the state of Australia's education system - and all that has been in the news lately.

Sadly - our society puts so much emphasis on the measure of success for a child being how high their university entrance score is upon finishing high school.

Seriously though - one can not measure a child's ability to be successful in life in only those terms. That's really quite absurd!!
As teachers (and as parents) we must care for our students, help them to have a love of knowledge - and just give them the best tools to take on the world.
And those tools MUST include the ability to think for oneself / think creatively / think outside the box / think with empathy & compassion for one's fellow man - as WELL AS having a good grasp of literacy and numeracy, science and social studies.

Teachers and schools are asked to show their worth by children scoring well only in the areas of literacy and numeracy.

How on earth can that really work???????

It baffles me that this education system - and all the government debates - haven't really changed at all in the last 100 or more years.

There HAS to be a better way.

Frustrating - to say the least.

(and I won't even start on how low teachers are paid in this country!!! Scandinavian countries pay their teachers almost the same as doctors - whereas here - we're expected to work our magic for the kids - but live off very low wages. No wonder over 50% of new graduate teachers leave the field completely within the first 3 years.........yes - 50%!!)

Anyhoo - the discussions were good. Rant now over!!

Now I have to work out how I can change it all!!! (I'll get back to you on that one......!)

• Getting around to doing a big food shop today. It's been awhile - just grabbing small bits here and there. Our pantry and fridge are now fully loaded!!!! (we'll see how quickly this hungry family manages to consume it all!!)

02Sep08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Teacher's strike this morning for 2 hours at school - so we managed to have a sleep in. I dropped MissJ and MissE down to school at 11:00am. It was a nice and calm morning!!

• A surprise package arriving from my sister L - who lives in Darwin. She recently went to the UK - the trip was part business / part jolly - and she hunted around for some great treasures for us all.

And here are pics of the girls with their new Gap t-shirts from London....

Yes - it's a dorky photo - I know - but it's so cool that they're all at a similar height difference!!

(they're growing up so quickly - * sob*)

So here's a more relaxed shot - with Miss Molly!!

01Sep08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Having a monumental BLONDE moment - but still being able to admit it - and to laugh harder than I have in a very long time!!! I think it's a good skill to be able to laugh at your own mistakes. It's lucky I can - as I make mistakes often - and I'd be a depressed mess if it weren't for the laughter!!

• My gorgeous friend MrsSmiff came home from hospital today - after 5 days in with pnemonia. She's a busy woman - and the hospital stay forced her to rest. We're all very glad she's now home - on the mend - and resting for another week. It's also made her re-think life choices - which could be a very good thing. Life's far too short and precious to be running around after everyone except you and those that you love.

• Long over-due phone-call with my sister L. It's been awhile - and it was great to catch up. Sadly we may not be able to see one another this year (she lives 8 hours by plane away - in Darwin) - but we'll look forward to when we can.

Bad Blogger.

So apparently I'm not too good with sharing my 3 Grateful Things (3BT) each and every day.
Yes - I can admit it. I'm a slacker.
But truly - life just gets busy at times - ya know?!

I think at this stage in my life - I have to remember to be gentle on myself.
I am NOT superwomen - even though I try to be sometimes.
I am just a women, that is figuring out her place in the world; a mother, that is trying to raise 3 gorgeous girls that show me more about love than I've ever known; a wife, that is not nearly as kind to her husband as she should be; a student, that is not very good at time management and seems to always end up finishing assignments during the wee hours of morning; a friend, that cares deeply but often doesn't show it enough; a netballer, that really isn't fit enough, and may even be an embarrassment to all that play with her - but is having a damn good time at it all anyway.

OK - Things that have kept me busy these last few days.

• The girls had Book Week parade at school last Thursday. It's become an important tradition at our local school - and everyone from the Principal through to the grounds person gets in on the fun!! It's a hoot. Here's this year's effort from MissE and MissJ................(MissJ's very first Book Week Parade...my baby's growing up too fast)

MissE was a 'Fairy Godmother' and MissJ was a 'Princess' - obviously. Miss E put her outfit together herself - and luckily we found enough supplies for everything around the house and in the dress-up box. (thanks goodness for well stocked dress-up boxes - I say!!)

• Thursday was also a successful day for me - as I handed in an assignment for my counselling unit - on time. PHEW!! Apparently my brain does still function - dispelling all fears to the contrary. So - on to the next assignment I go - due next week - ICK!!

• Friday saw another wonderful day off. It's good to let my batteries recharge at the end of the week.

• Saturday was full of netballing madness.

Great news - MissG and MissE both had wonderful games - and they both now head into the finals. VERY exciting. (especially since last year - MissE's team didn't win a game all season!)
My game was a loss - and that's it for the season for us - but we had a GREAT time - my first ever season of netball - we're all planning on playing again next year. It was a hoot. Great friends, good laughs, no major injuries - all was good!!!

Here's MissG in action -

And here's MissE -

• Today - we had rain - lots of rain. It was wonderful to hear it falling on the roof - and being snuggled up and warm inside - with a fire for added warmth and visual pleasure!! (perhaps the fire was not so good for the environment - but I feel the cold - damn it.......). Our parched soils are looking kind of sad - so rain is good. I say - bring it ON!!! More rain please Mr Weather-Man!!

OK - I've stayed up far too late - once again.

Thanks for coming.

25Aug08

25Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Meetings with Uni peeps that put things into perspective - and assure me that I am heading in the right direction.

• My finished clay 'Totem' being fired safely - and all working out well.

Here is - 'Mother and Child' - by ME.

I'm very pleased with how she worked out - as I haven't touched clay since I was at school. Not bad for a couple of hours work!!

• Meeting at Netball Associations running on time - and not taking all night!! (which I had feared)

21Aug08

21Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Staying awake during my lecture & tutorial today. It was a struggle - but I managed.

• The Opals (Aussie Woman's Basketball Team) - winning their game against China in the Olympics - and now they're heading into the Gold medal match V USA. They played brilliantly and it was a pleasure to watch. (they're at least guaranteed a Silver - but they could go all the way!!)

• Our new BOSE Ipod SoundDock - this thing is just amazing!!! MrW surprised me - and ordered it thru his Frequent Flyer points (very good bargain - in fact it was FREE!!). It arrived tonight. The sound is incredible. I'm in LOVE!!! (and it has a remote!) Yep - I love new toys!!

20Aug08

20Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Finally catching up on past posts of gratefulness here. It got away from me - but I managed to get back up to date. YAY ME!!

• Getting major work done on my visual arts book. It's looking great. I am pleased!!

• Really getting into my Counselling unit readings and getting my head into things. I've been absent - just driving on auto pilot - but I can feel myself edging back. The arty stuff helps - I should keep it up - and keep it constant. I think my soul works best when I have a creative outlet. I just have to find a way to not get too manic on projects (as I'm prone to do) - and just plod along - getting the right amount of creativity to get me through!!!

19Aug08

19Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Coming up with loads of ideas for my visual arts project. I've named my book - 'Moments in Time'. I hope to post some pics of my pages when I'm done. Each event must be depicted abstractly using collage. I forsee lots of cutting, pasting, and general mess around my desk for awhile. (well - there's usually mess - but it's gonna get a lot worse - me thinks!!!)

• MissG surviving back at school. We hired her some crutches to help get around while her ankle heals - and they hurt under her arms a bit today - but she was allowed to use the lift at school all day - to help navigate between the 2 storeys at her school. She's healing.

• MrW seeing the doc and getting some days off work. It's not great he's not well - but it's good that the doc is making him have some rest. No major illness - but some icky lurgy has invaded - and he's just a wee tired. Rest will be good.

18Aug08

18Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• More creative happenings in my visual arts tutorial today. (we're going to make a book now - showcasing significant 'events' in our lives.) Hee hee - Possum rubs her hands together gleefully!!! I love love love getting arty!!

• Surviving another Art Ed 2 seminar - and completing set tasks for the week. (thanks be to Fee for being my ROCK and bestest Uni buddy eva!!!)

• MissG seeing a physio about her ankle injury - and the verdict not being too bad. (phew!) She goes back to see him on Friday. Her ankle is 'out' - and her hips aren't quite straight either - but at least it's nothing major. She heads back to school tomorrow after having 2 school days off.

Life is good!!

17Aug08

17Aug08 - Things I am grateful today -

• More Olympic fun from Beijing. I never watch so much sport as I do when the Olympics is on!!!

• Actually getting some readings done for Uni - wonders will never cease!!

• The fog starting to lift from my head - and progress towards getting into this semester of Uni. This year has been a wee taxing on my brain - just too much external stuff going on. But I'm getting there. And that's a good thing!!!

16Aug08

16Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• An absolutely brilliant 4-page letter from my bio dad!! (the one he's been promising to send since December last year) Family medical history, a little bit of family history and a shared hope that one day we may meet. WOW. Some missing pieces to this adoptee's life - FINALLY!!!

• A day off from netball duties. MissG has a sore ankle and my game got called off - while MrW took MissE along to her game at 10am. It was nice to have a Saturday at home - out of the cold.

• A day of study, reading and research for Uni assignments. I'm finally getting knuckled down for the semester. (it's only week 4 - eeekkkkk!!!)

11Aug08

11Aug08 - Today I'm grateful for -

• Internet access being restored to my home!! (see the following post) I don't know how I lived without it before we had it. I now have it back (after a few wee hiccups) - and life is good!!

• My visual arts tutorial for my Arts Ed 2 course this semester - where my creative juices are once again ignited. I LOVE any opportunity to switch the right side of my brain to maximum power! I LOVE being challenged artistically and I LOVE to CREATE!! Today we looked at how to capture the concept of 'TIME' via photography - along with how to share with kids the concept that artists - even from way in the past - were just like us - and were influenced by all that was around them. Last week I used clay to make a 'TOTEM' - theme of our own choosing - I made a 'MOTHER & CHILD' statue (it should be fired in a few weeks). I'll post some pics of my finished creations - later in the semester. Really really fun stuff.

• The training I've already received in my course - and being able to help MissG with her Maths homework - using Lego blocks to show her concepts in a manipulative form. (I love those 'light-bulb' moments with kids.........."Oh, now I get it!!!") Got to love 'perimeters' and 'areas'.

Off to do some reading for tomorrow's tutorials.

Night!

Celebrations and Gratefulness

This semester I am taking a subject/unit called - 'Promoting Positive Learning Environments' at UC.

It's all about behaviour management and discipline in the classroom - and how to get the most out of your students.

We have been given a huge list of movies to watch over the semester - to see best practices in teaching - and to witness those teachers that have really inspired their students in the past.

First movie on the list - 'The Freedom Writers' - is an amazing story about a teacher that really cared about her students - like nobody had cared about them ever before.

The most amazing part - my gorgeous friend J - currently living in New York - sent me this book for my b'day last year - and she wrote on the inside cover -

'To dear Possum - because I know you will be an incredible teacher!'

(I heart my gorgeous friend J !!)

The story is extremely inspiring - and it has been made into a movie - staring Hilary Swank.

Do see it if you get a chance - check out the website - or better still - get your hands on a copy of the book.

So anyway - today's lecture talked about 'Positive Psychology & Positive Education' - and about an experiment that is running on 'Celebration and Gratefulness' - to increase one's own sense of well-being and happiness.

The gist of it is - if we give to others of our free will - and be constantly grateful for the good things in our lives - no matter how big or small - our lives can be happier & ultimately healthier in the long run.

So - from today - I shall try to write about 3 things/people/events - each and every day - which I am grateful for - that I wish to celebrate!!!

I know - I'm a slack bugger when it comes to keeping this little place updated - but now I have a challenge - and I hope that I can keep this up - to document what matters in my life - and to see if this helps me to truly appreciate the wonderful-ness of my life.

(yeah - I know it's not a real word - and I promise not to teach the kidlettes my Possum-isms when I become a real teacher - K?!!)

05Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• My gorgeous girls - that always give me the BEST hugs and kisses any mum could ever wish for.

• MrW - my husband - for being the MOST patient, loving man - and I'm so thankful he's stuck around!!!

• My PPLE Lecturor - Dr Thomas Nielsen - who is an extremely inspiring teacher in his own right. I'm so glad that I know him - and that he is so giving of himself.

Now - go be grateful for the good things that happened in your day!!!

See you tomorrow! xx 

ETA: I'm labelling all of my 3 Things' under '3BT' - for '3 Beautiful Things' - which is used around blog-land.

Where Am I Going??

I'm almost at the end of another semester of Uni.
I'm so close to done - for these latest 3 subjects - but I just can't seem to get. myself. over. the. line.
Like this picture - I can see where I need to go - but I can't seem to go straight - and I can't work out why.
I keep putting off - what I NEED to do.
I've even considered doing ironing so that I don't have to even start what needs to be done.
(yes - I'm THAT desperate to NOT do the study)
Is there awards for 'best procrastination skills'??
If there was a degree in that - I'd already be done!!

OMG - I think it's time for more therapy!!!

And Another Set Of Holidays Flies On By.....

WOW - where did the holidays go???

So much for a long break from the studies and the books.

Uni started back this week - and I'm glad to say that my timetable is GOOD - and I'm really looking forward to ticking off another 3 subjects by the end of the year. Assignment workload doesn't appear to be too horrid - so all's good so far there.

The girls started back at school this week, and we're looking at another busy term for them.

We're looking forward to a visit in early August from Hubby's cousin from Holland - CousinR. We're very close to him - there has been numerous visits back and forth between us all - but it's not been 8 years since we've last seen him.

CousinR has various interests and occupations - one which includes skiing tuition on the beautiful white fluffy stuff - otherwise known as snow!! So - we're all going skiing together for 5 days - and the excitement bubbles are starting to grow.

We introduced the kids to skiing last year - and they had an absolute HOOT. So this trip should be a whole heap of fun.

CousinR will be staying in OZ for a total of 3 weeks.

So - for now - that's the news and reviews from House 'O Possum.

We'll now return you to your regular programming.............................................xx

The Results Are In

Finally - I received my semester results for Uni.

PHEW - another 3 subjects out of the way. (Possum does the Happy Dance!!!)

Again - I had to drop one subject midway through this semester - and I will now only be taking 3 subjects each semester for the next 2.5 years.

Twice now I have tried to do the full load of 4 units - and have almost been put into the nut house on both occasions!!

This will bump my degree out to 5 years - but it's for the sanity of our wee family unit that has caused me to make this decision.

Trying to study full-time whilst trying to maintain some type of normality within one's immediate family - is just NOT GOING TO HAPPEN - especially in this 3-kidlette house.

The house looks constantly like a tornado has passed through the place / kiddy homework gets more and more stressful for us parents to cope with as each term rolls on / all contact with one's family and friends comes to a complete standstill (YES - we are still alive - we're just unable to string together any words into a coherent sentence) / and life seems to travel faster than the speed of light - and before you know it - I'll be finished this degree - but my children AND husband may well have left for greener pastures.

So - FIVE YEARS IT IS.

(surely that will mean that I'll be a smarter-er teacher in the end - huh??!!)

I'm not saying that anything will get better - as 3 subjects is still a heap of work - but at least that way we may actually get through it all in one semi-held-together-with UHU glue-piece.
Here's to December 2010 - that's not so long away - is it?????

All About Me

For those that don't know me -

• I am forever 21! (that's what I tell the kids - and that's what I'm sticking with)
  
• I am a wife to a wonderful, understanding, patient man - MrW - who has been my husband since 1990. He was a Navy man for 23 years (yep - the uniform did it for me) - but he now works for the Dept of Defence as a civilian.
• I am a Mum to 3 gorgeous girls (no bias at all!!), born in '96, '98 and '02.
• I was born & raised in Sydney.
• I attended High School at an Anglican School For Girls - and I survived.
  
• I was once an exchange student to Sweden. (yes - I learnt Swedish - and no - it's been of absolutely no use to me throughout my life - but the experience was a blast!!)
• I worked in the Travel Industry for 8 years - and travelled lots.
• I was an ENJO consultant for 3 years - and travelled some more.
• I now live in Canberra - since 2000 - and I really don't hate it nearly as much as I thought I would - hence - we're still here. (I kinda really like it)
  
• I am finally back at Uni to finish my Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching). I took a two year break to earn some $ and get my head back together - but now I'm back and should be teaching by mid next year.
  
• I love to let loose my creative streak every so often.
• I love to ski, scuba dive (although haven't done for some time), play piano, sew, travel, spend time with friends, drink champagne, create things, blog and breath!!

I'm looking forward to writing stuff about my life.

I hope you enjoy the ride.

Poss. xx