Nat Box

HK Here We Come...

2007-03-30T15:14:00.001+10:00

Ok. So. This is what I saw before I raced crazily out of the car to run to see my friend star in the musical Annie. I was late, but HAD to stop and capture this. Wow.

GLORY

AND AGAIN...

Charlies Angels - Trud, Prue, Sue, Rue & Loo. HOT

Kate, Luc, Julesy & Me

Labour Day Barbie with the crew...

Dawsons Creek shot...

Love my Granny:)

And again the glory.

Some of the gang...

Good one Pils.

Ah - as you do.

My Nanny and her sister. Isn't that the cutest thing ever.

The chicks on my birthday :)

So YES it's 12 sleeps til the Planetshakers Band head to Hong Kong shores for the Youth Alpha Conference...along with Tim Hughes, I am sooooooo pumped!!! Just a quick trip, in and out, but I am SO blessed to be able to come!!!

Life is good la.

Wintery today...but I got my new boots on so it's all good:)

And again..."Why God...Why?"

2006-12-02T00:19:00.000+11:00

This is kind of an old post, but I have decided to re-post it. An interesting question was posed to me not long ago...if my friend's broken bone is healed instantly...surely the people who are crying out to God to end hunger could be fed and taken care of. Surely He could do it?

So why doesn't he?

Ok...well I'll give you MY take on it ok:) Ok so this is probably THE most common question God gets asked. Why hunger? Why poverty? Why desperate people living in need? Why death? Why would you ALLOW these things to happen? Cant He just fix it if He's the creator of the Universe?

OK. Well the truth is...it kills Him to see His children living like this. Yes He created us and yes He hates seeing His babies in pain. But it comes down to this...it's our fault.

It says in Genesis 3 that He created this earth for US (humans) to be rulers with complete dominion over it, but all we needed to do was obey Him. Eve was tempted by the devil, grabbed the apple and ate it after God told her not to...and because of this disobedience, eternity was altered.

From her tiny decision, every human that has ever walked the face of the earth has been and will be affected by it. It's why we are like we are. It's why the world is like it is...

...Searching. Not satisfied. Always looking for the next big thing. Always wanting more. And not sure why or what is controlling it.

It is our choice how we live, He gave us all free will. So the moment we chose to "live life our own way", without Him, His hands, as ruler and controller of this earth, were tied. Sure He created this earth, but because of this act of disobedience, the power has gone to another force, who clearly has a powerful position on this earth...and God has had no choice but to stand back and here we see the world as it is today.

As it says in Isaiah 55:9 - "His ways are higher, His thoughts are greater" - now, we dont know His purposes, but I do know for sure and I can testify 100% that in all things my God works for the GOOD for those that love and trust Him.

So why does He do some things and not others? Why some people and not others? Seriously, who knows. But Christianity is based on faith. My belief is in a Saviour who is REAL. In a God whose tangible touch I have actually felt. In a man who walked the earth, was crucified on a cross for my sin, and was raised 3 days later, this belief is based on faith. Belief in a book that was written thousands of years ago but is still living and relevant to my life as I read it each morning, is based on faith...

...and so is God's power to act. In His time.

Everything He does, He does with a purpose. And a plan. And His plans for us are greater than we could ever ask or imagine.

In our minds this world is out of control and God is a harsh God just sitting up there watching down on everyone and not doing anything about it. The truth is - His hands are tied in terms of His overall rulership of the earth, because we have said "no thanks, don't want your help". But He does have the power to change things...if and when we ASK Him.

SO...He can and will do things, in His own time...this world is a messed up and crazy place, and He has His plans for it. But it now depends on us. Do we really want His help? Really? Or do we want to continue doing it "on our own?". It's a tough question but it is reality.

Think about it.

So that's my view on "why God lets bad things happen"...you can take it or leave it:) Bless ya...

Stir it up.

It's black, it's white...it's tough for you to get by...

2006-11-29T01:04:00.000+11:00

Yes these are MJ (aka Michael Jacko) lyrics...one of the songs I am performing at the World Vision Benefit Concert next Monday night Official Ticketmaster site. Planetshakers Benefit Concert Supporting World Vision tickets Athenaeum Theatre One Melbourne, VIC, Directions, seating chart.. I just think of Macauley Culkin when I hear it though, cos he was in the film clip...Anywayyyy...had dress rehearsal with full run through tonight (including moon walks, tilted sequinned hats and high pitched Michael Jackson style yelling from Ashleigh and myself) - very fun. Can I just say I am TRES excited about next week!!!! All proceeds go to World Vision too which is even better. "I'm a Survivor I'm not gon give up..." Hmmmmm. Love a bit of Beyonce.

So I have been a litttttle busy of late. Yes indeedy. Started my new job at Shakers last week (yes yes very exciting!) as Promotions Coordinator. SO COOL...I'm just constantly in hysterics at the whole situation really. 5 years ago I decided marketing wasn't for me and wrote it off as a career option...but now, just over a week in, my teeth are more than sunk into this puppy. Full steam ahead; national conference in just 4 weeks, visual merchandising, and radio & sponsorship campaigns across 5 states that have had me enthralled all week...flatter than chat but I love every second:) God is so funny...all the time he knew. Cracks me up that I am working in this field again, the industry I studied so hard to fit into 6 years ago, wondering why I wasn't passionate about promoting a chocolate bar, but now it's different. So different.

This cause is so much greater.

3rd last Internship Discipleship meeting tomorrow morning - we have our last meeting on Dec 20th - WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh...so sad la. But then...at the same time, so exciting. Gearing up to THE most full on time of the year...Connnnnnnnference:) Jan 2 - 16. No one will sleep. A wink. Actually more like Dec 27 - Jan 16. Ha ha ha. But it's a small price to pay to see 25,000 kids and adults come to see and understand the mighty power of their Maker face to face. To witness people get breakthrough in their lives. To see people healed in front of my eyes.

Hello SIDEPOINT - just a little "som'n som'n" for those who are skeptical about the power OF GOD... OK. Church Sunday night. My friend's broken leg GOT healed. Healed. Instantly. Stop it!!! She broke it last week, Sunday night God heals her and she's JUMPING on it. As in JUMPING.

Incredible.

I just love seeing broken lives transformed. My life before was not incomplete because of friends or family, nor do I have regret for those years because of friendships or people - I had (and still have) the best friends and an amazing family, but I was torn apart inside. And after years of fighting depression and searching high and low for 'meaning' in my life, there was nothing that could fulfil me...until I had the revelation that Jesus Christ died to wash me clean, and that he put me here on this earth for a purpose: to share with others the place where I found this freedom.

Yeah yeah.

Ok, some other background information on me. I'm still living in Pleasantville with Mum, Dad & Katie. You know those Christmas tree light/Chevvy Chase house streets - that is my street. Oh yes. That's right. BBQs and kids riding their bikes, complete with Mr Whippy van cruising the street. You don't understand how excited I am about this coming month. Oh dear :):)

I love this. Love.

And I love kids. How funny are they. I was reading a story to my 3 year old class today (3 more weeks of juggling 2 jobs - Hallelujah) and right in the middle of my pause (and actually often at the SAME time as words are coming out of my mouth) one of them will just look up at the ceiling and come out with a "*sigh* d'you know that I have Incredibles DVD and my Dad can drive really really fast". Um. Ok. And the relevance to the story on 'whales' would be?!! Classic! I just laugh! I just think sometimes we need to be more like kids - chill out and play like they do. Sometimes easier said than done...

Ok time to go to SLEEPPPPPPPPPPP now. But just quickly...bummed I missed a Mentone Girls Grammar reunion lunch Sunday...totally shattered - I've decided I want there to be more weddings, I love catching up with everyone every weekend or two!!!!!! Hoping for some quality catchups in the next week or so. Ya ya.

Right. Better get to bed as it's currently 1:45am. Eek. Why. WHY am I not asleep.

PS - 3 sleeps til Summer.

PPS - Decorate a Christmas Tree for me in the Windy City Janey!!!!

PPPS - if you're reading what date are you due Jods?

PPPPS - will put pictures up soon:)

Stir it up.

Goosebumps

2006-10-29T00:13:00.000+10:00

Anyway...back to goosebumps. This is what I felt run over my entire body when I heard Jimmy Needham. Oh my.

Check him out...www.myspace.com/jimmyneedham

"...Can I sing about my Maker
and have you not roll your eyes
can I weep about my Saviour
and the way He died
I know it don't make sense
to those who ride the fence
but I'm sold out to Christ..."

He's from Texas. Blues. Soul. Acousticy & VERY funky sound. Awesome vocals. His passion flows through every note he sings and beat he plays. Lyrically he's clearly inspired by a faith greater than himself...

How good is passionate. Mmmm. Love.

Speaking of passion...

This is the new album from The Vine - the best church in HK:) Ok I am a little biased, but this music IS awesome. And the Doco included shows footage of the amazing "special feature" water show in the dance performance ;);) Awesome. So impressive. Love it. Guys you have outdone yourself...cant wait for Volume II:) He he...no presh.

This is the link for one eighty - The Vine's Young Adults Ministry. Check it...one_eighty Nice work Dezman. I reckon that was the fastest website ever to go up...he he:):)

Took this at the beach other night. Bit of awesomeness.

Heidi, Anna, Vetty (Happy Birthday Diana!) & Moi after the Planetshakers Vision Night @ Fed Square last week...hot.

Just got back from a dinner with all the Creative Interns & Pastors @ Planetshakers...just loving being part of this church. I just laugh. My bro gave me Shakers CDs when I left for HK and I threw them in my bag without a thought. And now with only 6 weeks of Internship to go...I must say this year has literally CHANGED my life. Bible College is sweet too. Love it. Assignments are awesome. Even if I do have 7:) I have to choose 3 leadership styles we've learnt about and write on how I'll use them in the future. Hello. How cool. Cannot wait to write la.

The Intern Ladies.

Me, Bec & Jess in the "The Dungeon" aka the Shakers Creative Department.

Kel & Scott's Wedding was beautiful the other week - right on the beach in Beaumaris...PERFECT day for it:):) For some reason my computer is not uploading pics...grrr. So in the mean time...

Kel looking hot.

Kel's dress looking amazing.

Kel & Scott looking CO CUTEEE!!!

OK. Watch this space.

Kel & Ollie's last weekend was stunning also.

How cute are THEY.
Pouring with rain all day...Boxy had a word to the big G-Man upstairs and He sorted it out:)

Perfect blue sky and pink sunset by late afternoon. Thank you GOD ;)

Ok. So this is hilarious.

High School Musical.

This movie is so bad it is funny. Cringe factor is probably 8 on a scale of 1-10. I watched it once before a few months back. Then we watched it at a BBQ last night @ Ellen's. Oh my goodness. For those who have not seen it, it is quite a laugh. "Gotta getcha head in the game" The soundtrack is stellar.

Speaking of "Stellar". How cool is that name for a tee shirt brand. It’s my friend Ash’s brand. Tres tres cool. Or alternatively in Cantonese...ho ho geng ah ;)

The chicks @ my friend Dan's party the other night

Had rehearsal for World Vision Benefit concert this morning. Fundraiser is on Dec 4 and I am so excited. Get to sing lots which is very fun.

How amazing is this image. Took it down the Mornginton Pensinsula a while back. Love the colour.

Ah yes. This is me playing a few toooons @ pre Internship Discipleship the other night:) Ha ha.

Birthday shout out: Happy Birthday to Baz for Saturday!!!!! Hope you had a lovely weekend!:):)

6 weeks til Malaysia. TRULLLLLLLLLLY ASSSSSSIA. And yes I have my appointment next week with the Passport office to renew.

Mental note to self: DON'T send passport home in luggage 1 week before leaving a country. Hmmm.

www.myspace.com/nataliebox

2006-10-25T17:46:00.000+10:00

Yes. I have succumb to the space.

It's coming...

2006-10-24T17:30:00.000+10:00

Summer. How GOOD is this. Seriously. I know I have been so slack and haven't written for ages. I will write soon. I really will. Really.

Loving Summer. And it's not even Summer yet. Bring it on.

This one goes out to Baz...

2006-09-29T19:34:00.000+10:00

Isn't it funny how you go through life, friends come and go...but then no matter how long the time apart is, months or even years, when you get around your old friends again, I'm talking great childhood/high school friends, the time just fades away and it feels like you're back in high school again:)

With a plethora of weddings at the mo, I've been catching up with the Grammar Girls on a regular basis, (and also some additions, namely my new friend Baz) and I absolutely love it. Being in HK for 2 and a half years, and despite the awesome technology we have these days, it just doesn't cut it really...I mean, we all know, friendships take A LOT of effort. But having said that, it's so worth it when you sit down and have some QCs (quality chats)...and for me, to be a part of my friends lives in a greater capacity than text messages and emails means a lot to me.

Of late I have been intruiged by a particular thought: how our minds think is one truly fascinating thing. Oh YES YES YES. I mean, I believe we were all created and designed uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully made; and from this unfathomably unique creation we call our human body, stems not only an individual outer appearance, but also a 'one of a kind' thought process by which we view all things in this world. It's actually frying my brain just thinking about the complexity of it all right now.

But...although I know what I believe, I also respect what other people believe. So, to be able to have crazy and in-depth discussions with friends, whilst gaining an understanding of their belief systems, is truly amazing and I absolutely love it.

Was driving home earlier...it's a full moon tonight, and ah yes...and I was sitting at the traffic lights STARING. Just looking up at it at it's perfectly symmetrical 'face'. HOW COOL IS THE MOON?! So awesome. Creation, the moon, the planets, the weather, the tides coming in and going out, the stars, the constellations that we will never know about, the growth and explosion of a flower from a bud, a tree from a seed, a sunset tonight that seriously looked like it had been coloured in with a pale pink crayon. Too cool.

Yes I know you are all thinking...here goes Nat again with her "freaky nature obsession" but come on...dudes...the earth is hanging on nothing.

So I will continue along the path of thinking out loud, and tell you all what I've been pondering lately: the concept of wisdom. Like as in, where it stems from. And how I can get more of it. Ha ha. Yes I know I AM being deep here, but hey...deep is fun sometimes. So yeah, back to wisdom. What does it consist of and where can it be found? Where does understanding dwell? Some say within us? Some say in books...I believe it was tried and tested at the beginning of time, laid out with the other foundations of this earth and is readily available in chunks and handfuls for anyone to grab if we seek it properly. So that's my mission right now...to get me some more of the stuff.

Rewind: Planet Worship Conference was awesome the other week, a great opportunity for other churches' leadership and worship teams to come and be imparted to by some of the worlds' greatest preachers and worship leaders...just being a part of it all was just mindblowing. To think of all I've done this year makes me laugh. No not laugh, just smile:) It was such an honour and privilege, and seeing our Pastors work tirelessly day after day, giving their all so we could be that little bit more inspired...just incredible. And being entrusted with running the entire conference was quite a big thing, but we pulled it off:) But not in our own strength...there were many many times where things almost went crazy, but...miraculously, every time we were saved. Oh my goodness faith is a powerful thang.

Bizarre Melbourne moment: Last Wednesday - 30 degrees, Thursday - 18 and raining. Gotta love it.

So side point, I'm looking after 2 gorgeous little boys at the moment...Matthew & Christopher...who seem to have the same obsession with my camera as me:) seriously - OBSESSED! Maybe when we do the letter "C" in my Kinder class I should teach them about CAMERAS and take a few snaps.

OK...it's beddie byes now...

...but for the person who asked me the other day what "amazed" me about the God I serve...

I believe there is a God out there who, if we call to Him, WILL answer us and tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know. He knows and understands the depths of our heart and LONGS to give us immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Everyday I am BLOWN away by His greatness, and find myself daily being brought to tears from the sheer joy of this salvation...so if you can say that you are also knocked off your feet day in and day out by something you believe in...let's catch up for coffee soon cos I wanna hear all about it...:):)

Peace out guys...stir it up:)

xxx

And so they meet again...:)

2006-09-06T16:45:00.000+10:00

From HK to KL to Melbs...The Super Seven meet again...:) The chicks @ Kelby's Hen's Dinner last Sat:) 2 sleeps til the wedding now!!!

How good is Spring. Ah love it. Sun piercing into my eyes whilst driving at 6:30am instead of driving in the dark!! Perfecto! Love how it doesn't get dark at like 5:30pm anymore...it's just the "feeeeeeeeeeeel" of Summer coming...

Had sushi for lunch with Katie today. On hols so was nice to actually RELAX for a few minutes and catch up with my sister, rather than chatting in the bathroom at night. She had her dance performance last night - I was just watching her in awe thinking, that is my little sister...after a year of preaching the Word via music and dance all through Europe last year...she has been busting her butt training so she can get back out there and do it again:) So proud of you Kass:)

Love flip flops. Havaianas I reckon the dude who invented havianas, Mr Havaiana, would just be LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOVING life right now. Nice idea mate.

Cant wait for daylight savings la!!!! I missed the Aussie Summer last year so I am highly excited about being involved this year. Sat in the glorious 24 degree sunshine yesterday doing homework then did ALL my lesson planning for Term 4. Yes yes I am very proud of myself. Surrooooouuuuunded myself with paper, glue, feathers, glitter, lambs wool - I felt like Lincraft had just exploded in my lap. He he:) So I'm all excited now:)

Our Hens Day surprise! Horse & Carriage...yay!
How romantic..
The venue...gorgeous outdoor terrace Madame Brussels in Bourke St...gorg!
Janey & Nat being morons...

Sitting filling in at Shakers reception the other day thinking of all the random reception jobs I've ever done in my life and hated. What a classic. I really have temped my way around the world. I think back and crack up. If I had have known then I'd be doing this now...I probably would have breathed a sigh of relief instead of stressing my head off for 4 years searching for meaning in my life, worrying about my purpose and how I was going to make it big as a famous rock star. Oh dear. Strugs. Thank you Lord for saving me.

Anyway...where was I. Oh yes. Reception. The other day though, LOVED IT! I could hear the pastors from the front desk...in their prayer meeting...it continues to inspire me day after day how passionate they all are. I remember seeing them on DVDs and hearing them on CDs and having this perception of them in my mind; being so amazed at their gifts and talents and how they have used them for God, and wondering if they really were that "caring" and "genuine" in person. Let me reassure you. They are:) Man I am blessed.

The chicks at Dave & Lucy's wedding last weekend...stylin!
Hello. Beautiful.
Cinderally Lucy:) CO CUTE!
Julesy, Luc & Me:)
Catty, Emmy & Me at the Sydney Aquarium
Hello how cool is this?
NYE 2004...so long ago la
Shakers Malaysia 2005...less than 3 months til we leave for this years' conference/mission trip!

Yessssssssssssssssssssss. 8 more sleeps til Planet Worship Planetshakers - the coolest & most funky Praise & Worship Conference EVERRRR. 3 days of inspirational teaching and awesome worship...not that I dont feel like I get that every week - seriously at Shakers, every week feels like conference. We are so so so incredibly blessed to have such awesome men and women of God, who are on super-super-high-demand all over the world, personally bringing us life-changing messages week after week. I seriously pray I dont EVER get complacent.

So at the moment we are busy being "creative" interns...helping with set design and basically making the place look "pretty" for conference. This is just a taste. Preparing us for Planetshakers conference of 8,000 @ Vodafone Arena in January.

Who May Ascend? GrapeVINE This is the live worship album produced by my dear dear friends at the Vine in Hong Kong. Guys...just wanted to say - I am SO proud of you. It's funny, cos being here now, I understand fully (as opposed to...'hmmm, I guess it takes a while to put an album together') what is involved in planning for, recording, producing, mixing, mastering an album...well I'm sure I dont even understand fully, but anyway...I wanted to say congrats and that I'm extremely proud of you guys, esp you Tom...and I cant wait to hear it:) I'm your no. 1 fan in Oz land:):)

Alrighty then...I'm off to catch 40 winks, well probably 20 as it's pretty late and I have to be up in about 5 hours...nice one. So techincally I could say my friend Kel is getting married tomorrow! Eek. How exciting!

Fattoria Bassetto - Photo gallery This is a place I stayed in Tuscany 6 years ago with my friend Pen...ah beloved Fattoria Basseto. Bike rides, gorgeous rolling hills, staying up way too late playing cards in the massive old kitchen...lots of memories. Love it:)

Railay Bay Resort, Krabi Thailand, provide comfort accommodation with special rates. Ah sweeeeeeet Thailand. How I miss thee. I will return!

BERKLEE | Berklee College of Music. Ok this is a whole other Blog. Berklee. Ah. And I smile:) Fulfilling my dream to go here was one of the most amazing things I've done. I used to have this picture on my wall, of the clock BERKLEE | Summer Programs and tell myself that one day I would STAND in front of it...and when I got there, I called Mum from that pay phone you can see there:) Ha ha. Love.

I have a passion for travelling. And I have always loved this world in it's entirety...every land unique. Every culture so diverse. Every language so beautiful. Every destination different from the one before. No two creatures, plants or stars the same. Yup. Love this world.

But what I love more than anything NOW is that I am friends with the dude who CREATED it.

Here's to travelling ;)

Cabin crew prepare for take off

2006-08-23T20:02:00.000+10:00

Peace out man. How cute is my neice...

FRIDAY MORNING 8:30am...
Sitting here at Melbourne Airport once again. Sydney bound. It’s been so long since I’ve been here. Well. 5 months. That is long for me. Ha ha. I have traveled every 3 months for the past three years, so 5 months is a large amount of time to be in one place! Ah airports. Aeroplanes waiting at the gate. Check in counters. People in suits rushing off to meetings interstate grabbing a coffee on the way. Bookshops that you would never normally be so excited about, but since you are about to be whisked away somewhere…you venture in, full of “holiday” thoughts. Coffee shops with the aroma of a fresh brew and bakeries permeating that “bread smell” :) Love it. Swarms of travelers grabbing a snack before hearing their boarding call. Surf shops full of customers pondering last minute purchases. Music pumping. So familiar. So nice. I love airports.

Some people hate them. Some people are indifferent. LOVE them. For so many different reasons. Watching people coming and going from a million different places, wondering where they are off too or coming from today. The excitement in the air at an airport is unlike anywhere else, (well second of course to the feeling of chatting to the Creator of the universe as He adds another star to the night sky…) So, as I was saying that feeling of anticipation, of readiness and expectation, cos normally the hours, days leading up to departure are incomprehensibly crazy, and you just get to the airport and just…breathe. Ha ha. Which is ALWAYS the case for me!! I always seem to have a million gazillion things on, even up to the last hours…such was the case last night. My car had to be towed last week, so I’m driving Dad’s car. Last night after a full day of teaching, I’m fanging to the Kids Conference I was helping with…Dad’s car dies. On a hill. I roll. Down the hill. Turn the wheel into Swan off Burnley and bam straight into a car space. Nice. Wait for a cab. Nothing. Time passes. Finally I get someone to come pick me up. Conference goes awesome – God moves incredibly (reminding me that my car problems are alllllllll irrelevant really) then get a lift back to my car. Oh dear. Call RACV. Wait. They come. I need a tow truck. Wait. Towed home. Meet dad at mechanics & he drives me home. Now I have to pack! Ha ha. Thank you Lord for your strength! Seriously, what a crack up.

The pillow was so sweet when my head hit it let me tell you. Up at 6am. Send a few emails. Drive here to the airport, check-in and BAM. Here I sit in the glorious morning sunshine looking out as planes reverse, pull in, land and take off. And I smile. The things that used to get to me just dont seem to anymore…this life is temporal. And for those who want it, there is something so so much better to look forward to...

...Life with JC is sweet. Highly recommend it. Nothing has and ever will compare to the joy. Oh my the JOY. TM. Too much. Almost incomprehensible and definately indescribable, you just gotta try it.

So I type this, with a quickened heartbeat full of excitement, no phone and loving it, laughing at the events of the last 24 hours, and in anticipation of what my awesome God has in store for me this weekend :)

Biggest cutie ever.

TUESDAY NIGHT 11:48pm...
So that was that! Got back from Sydney last night…had THE best weekend ever:) 24 degrees and sunny. Love Sydders. Spent 4 glorious days with Catrina (sis) and Emily (niece)…blue sky, warm air, insert into the picture harbour bridge, opera house, picnic in botanical gardens along with crazy bat chasing and cactus spotting. Continuing on with lunch in the sunshine at Darling Harbour, people watching for hours on end, watching the sun set over the entire city in Bondi whilst chowing on falafel pitas with Kaz, blending in with the tourists whilst chilling harbour-side with gelatis as Em chases seagulls and imitates lions in the process ☺ Was truly a great weekend.

Yo wassup homy.

Churched it up Sunday morning @ Hillsong City…Em and I donned the curls as she checked out Hillsong Kids and I the 11:30 service (1 of 7 services on a weekend – hello). Youth Pastors Andy and Phil brought an awesome word on relationships, absolutely hilarious…you know when you are hearing something and thinking…I am so meant to be here at this point in time. Yup. One of those defining moments. Missed Planetshakers like CRAZY though…had serious withdrawals Sunday night as I sat watching ‘Australian Idol’ :):) But was quite a cack watching the debacle with “George Bec” – good luck to him…thanks for the laughs George…classic mate. But it was just proof to me that church is not about a building, comfort zones, or how many people are there, church is about coming to worship God in His house and I was so blessed to be able to do that.

HOTTIES!

So back into my crazy life here…studied til all hours last night, up @ the crack for work this morning followed by internship and vocal lessons and then home to do another 4 hours of study – yeah yeah…and I am about to hit the hay as I have to be up at 6am…gotta love 7:30am tutorials:):)

Sunrise out my living room window the other morning.

Hello. Who dat? ANNA I MISS YOU...come backkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
It's 9:10pm and I am sitting here in the Shakers office listening to some of the Malaysian girls chatting away in the next room...so nice! Reminding me of Honkers. Busy day today...getting stuff ready for conference...still 5 months away, but I am so excited! Internship was A-MAZ-ING this morning. Ps Mike nailed it yet again...preached on hearing the Word...not just hearing it but hearing it. Exodus 17. Numbers 20. Oh Moses. What were you thinking. Who would have thought 2 scenes would turn out so differently. Ha. Love the Word. Remembering reading the same scripture (Psalm 46) when I was a teenager, and reading it now and being FREAKED out by the power and the passion it still has, only relevant to me right where I am today.

Anna & Me being fangers:)

Buzz buzz

Good ol' Sydney harbour
Fun timmmmmmessssssss:)

Sorrento front beach

Oh my. Glory:)

Shakers chicks

Peace Nanna
Ngor tzau la yee gar, fan ok la, ngor ho gwoy ah (I’m off now, going home, very tired la!)

4 sleeps til Dave and Lucy’s wedding…this is SO the year of weddings! Kel and Scott in a few weeks, followed by Kel and Ollie, then Ben and Suki in HK aiya!!!! Ho geng ah! (cool!)

Tom…don’t keep me in suspense la…where can I buy CD la?!?!

If you read this Tari-girl I am thinking of you...:) Love you xxx

Stir it up.

Slllllllllllllacker...

2006-08-18T16:55:00.000+10:00

OK OK I know I am the biggest slacker ever. Ha ha. In Sydney for the weekend..it is SO HOT! Sitting here in a skirt and tee shirt! SO hot la!!! Wrote the hugest update this morning sitting at Melbourne airport in the sunshine...was mega early for the first time in my life...

OK...my 3 yr old niece, Emily, is spinning me on the swivvel chair...so I think that means I'd better go:):) Hmmm...what an attention seeker...wonder where she gets it from...

Now she's strangling/hugging me:):) Fun times. I've taught her to say the following things: Peace out, vibing, hmmmm....interesting (with her pointer finger on her lips whilst squinting) and of course m'goy sai (thank you in Canto)

Peace out from Sydders...(Emily is doing the peace sign)

Headin' down the coast...

2006-07-29T10:03:00.000+10:00

Yup. Bout to jump in the car for a bit of a road trip down to Portsea for the day. Anna heads back to HK in 2 days and it is my aim to have her see as much as poss! So...I'm praying the sun comes out!

Busy week...but great, love busy. Lots going on at Shakers...our creative team have moved from our big old house to the basement of the office where the rest of the crew are...all together as a happy family now:) Luffly. The concrete basement which one was a "throw anything in here" area has now been transferredddddddd into a Mac-clad creative haven. He he.

Tres funky.

OK, the little lady has arrived...must depart!! The sea beckons...

Stir it up...

Boxy:)

Headlights, raindrops and a freeway...

2006-07-21T17:12:00.000+10:00

ANNA IS HEREEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

She arrived the other night from Honkers…we had playtimes the other night – so fun!! Grabbed a delish curry from “Lentil as Anything” (awesome organic eatery in St Kilda where there are no prices and you pay what you want!!! check it out...http://www.yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/lentil_as_anything/)Am I’m going to pick her up in about 20 mins, and we’re off to Boom. Fun times.

So I’m driving along the Monash Freeway the other night, on the way to dinner with Mum and Dad, it’s raining, the traffic is terrible (please note: my petrol light only came that morning) and suddenly, I’m pressing the accelerator and…hmmm…nothing seems to be happening. Oh dear. Yes yes yes. I slowly steer my little Beemer into the emergency lane and she slowly cracks it, refusing to go any further.

And there I was. Just like a scene in a movie. Broken down…side of a freeway…raining…cars zooming by… sitting in the front seat waiting for “assistance”. So I sit there listening to Martin Smith and Darlene Zschech’s rendition of U2’s “Walk On”, goosebumps increasing in pointyness as the harmonies build and crescendo. V inspired. So as I waited for Mum and Dad to rescue me…I start writing a song ☺ La la la.

Sitting there with my phone recorder ticking away, I watched the cars zoom past, wondering who was inside each car, their story and where they were headed. And the melody just flowed. It was awesome.

So I’m gonna write a book one day. And one of my chapters will be entitled “Sunday morning ham and cheese croissants make me smile”. My friends Dave and Lucy are getting married next month, so I went to visit them the other Sunday morning to see their new wooden floorboarded, “Villa & Hut” clad abode. Could it BE any cooler. Talk about funky pad…nice one…you guys have so got it goin’ down ☺

Gorg weather in Melbs today…loving it. Off to pic up the lovely Anna, hope she doesn’t get lost on Chapel St…it’s her first experience with Melbourne public transport…☺☺ He he…good luck to her! Will put pics up soon...

I heard someone use my email footer the other day...made me smile..."Attempt something so great that failure is guaranteed unless God steps in." I know this is not everyone's viewpoint, but hey...don't knock it til you've tried it...

No day but today.

Stir it up.

Boxy

Expectation...

2006-07-05T16:34:00.000+10:00

Kids riding their bikes with Slurpies in their hands, mums walking dogs, cars being washed, front lawns being mowed, kids playing cricket in the street. This what I saw looking out my living room window yesterday. Funny. Seasons are funny. Not 5 months ago I was living in a crazy Asian city on the 13th floor of a high-rise apartment looking out over bustling Hong Kong, about 5 buildings within a stones throw of all my windows…insert 5 months by a lake, and now I’m back to my childhood again. I agree, this nomadic lifestyle it’s not for everyone, but for me – love seasons.

Crisp early morning walk the other morning. Luffly.

Have had a few full on past few weeks. Internship is half way through now. CANNOT believe it. It’s been the most amazing 5 months though – challenging, stretching, humbling, inspiring, rewarding and so so much fun. And it really has taken that whole “age is a state of mind” to a new level. It’s interesting…coming into Internship…and the majority of Interns a great chunk younger than me…I guess I kind of wondered how it would work out ☺ But…I am actually in awe of their maturity, level of understanding and knowledge at such a young age. I can see such great things in all of them…powerful. ”A chosen generation, a Holy nation…” (1 Peter 5:9)

Ah ma girls:)

Intern girls la...

So I’m rapt with the amount of catch ups of late - makes me very happy indeed. I HATE not being able to see my friends lots☹ so it's been good cos lately I've seen them lots:) Dinner with Kel, Kel & GG the other week was delish – wedding plans coming along very nicely!! Kazzy when she was here…Janey and her gorg John from KL – wish we could’ve had more play time…LOTS of coffees & car shopping with Marcus…fun fun he he. Got dinner with Jess tom night too which I am VERY excited about!!!!

Me & Kaz playing the other week...

This is Morgan. Jodie's little munchkin. Could she BE any CUTER:)

So rewind back a few weekends. Picture this. 600 over-energised and passionate kids on a campsite in Phillip Island – add a flying fox and giant swing over 50ft high and you pretty much have craziness in a bottle all ready to unleash. Boom Camp. Brought back so many memories of camps I’d been on, hot chocolates and Scotch Finger biscuits for supper, ugh boots with EVERY outfit for the entire weekend no matter if it matches or not, and ski jackets lookin hot and getting a great workout in the icy weather. The Friday night and Sat morning sessions were amazing, although nothing could top the Sat night partayyy that went down. Now I have been inside many a nightclub in my time, and let me just say that NONE of them could ever produce the raw energy and atmosphere that went on in that room that night. It was crazy. So incredible to see these kids so unbelievably excited by a God that created their universe, with the knowledge that He can fulfill their every need. So filled with purpose and sure of themselves. No insecurities and full of freedom. Something which is lacking in so many kids today.

Yup. I found my calling.

So I came away feeling really proud. That I am blessed to be a part of this awesome ministry. The values and culture of Planetshakers, the leadership, the mantle that is over this church – it is unbelievable. And I wake up everyday and pinch myself to make sure I’m really here☺

I will never ever forget my past, it’s made me who I am, my school years, awesome friendships, my hilarious backpacker adventures, studies, and of course the instrumental time in Hong Kong, but God is doing something in me here at Planetshakers that I would have never thought possible.

Dinner with Kel, Kel & GG

Car shopping with Marcus

I remember the first time I went to Hong Kong, to sing, I was in my apartment one night. I was just hanging at home, and I suddenly stopped what I was doing. Something inside me just felt so empty inside. I was like “what am I doing?” Here I was in a different country, doing something I always wanted to do, yet it wasn’t satisfying me. I was trying to work it out in my head, cos everything else added up. So what else did I need? It was driving me insane cos at that time I remembered my family and their constant prayers and invites to church, which made me even more frustrated, cos I just didn’t want a bar of God.

Anyway, clearly I wasn’t saved, but something in me wanted to listen to some gospel music. JB (my bro) had given me a Planetshakers CD before I’d left, so I put it on. I still remember that moment (and this totally makes me laugh) cos I REMEMBER feeling something in my spirit, and thinking…”there is ‘something’ about this God”. But being my stubborn self I ignored it and went back to my life as if nothing had happened. Little did I know that I would leave and come back to HK completely changed, then 3 years down the track I would be back living in Oz serving in that very same church.

Katie & me chillin' by the lake

Just been looking at photos of my 10 year high school reunion. I love school reunions. So American. Ha ha. Well not really. But you know, love those cheesy movies. I wasn’t actually there for mine cos I was in HK, but it’s freaky seeing pics of everyone all grown up☺ I can't believe it’s now been 11 years. Wow. I was teaching one of my little students this afternoon thinking…wow…imagine what it would be like to be in Grade 4 again. I was just sitting there while he was writing, thinking about his life and all that is ahead of him, and picturing him like all grown up and at uni…and then he finished his essay and I was like “oh, ok, um, woops – sorry…back to English lesson…”

So yeah, I am loving the amount of people I am still in contact with…from over the years☺

Kel, Tari, Pen & last Christmas Eve:)

Out for dinner the other night with church gang...

Mmmmm wigs...

Chillin at the Vine in HK

Crazy HK chicks

Psycho sisters

Matty Cook. HAVE to give your up and coming webdesign/DVD production company a personal plug. I am prophesying…you guys are gonna come back here and make a packet!!! Thank you for your pressent! I loved the DVD you made of my going away party – lay ho chong meng ah…ho ging ah!!! Doche doche!!! Miss you guys.

So I had dinner on Lygon St the night – AKA Little Italy, or BIG Italy actually, it’s massive! Let me just say they were a “tad” excited about the soccer. Actually the whole of Melbourne have been soccer-mad. Not really sure what the fuss is about if you ask me. I think about how psycho-obsessed these fans are…about sport…yet Christians come to church and sit there like the preacher is talking to them about how to grow grass. And it frustrates me.

I’m sorry. But I’m not forcing anyone to believe anything, everyone has free will, BUT…if you ARE Christian and have CHOSEN Christ to be Lord of your life – then you have no excuse but to be completely passionate about it. IT IS your life. The REASON we are on this planet – to tell this earth of what He did for us and why. THIS is why I am not freaked out when people are jumping up, dancing, throwing bibles, laughing and screaming their lungs out in the middle of the sermons at Shakers…Christianity is NOT about religion and rules, it’s about being passionate about what Jesus did for us – getting CONSTANT revelation of what this means, and living and breathing it every second of this life.

Sorry, but complacent “Sunday” Christians make me a little irritated. If you believe in something believe it all the way, otherwise, what’s the point.

So yeah, feeling pretty reflective at the moment…just about life, refueling old friendships and focusing on what I am here to do – life is short ☺ Ps Mike preached an awesome word at Internship this morning…on expectation…spoke to me so clearly, God can only give us what He’s got for us if we are expecting it. So my mind is about to explode with dreams of the future at the moment. HA. Can't wait.

So slurpies and picket fences it is at the moment…

Ok. This has been an intensely long blog. Apologies…

This one goes out to you Brian.

Stir it up.

BOOM CAMP

2006-06-16T10:34:00.000+10:00

Well. After last weekend's awesome DNA Retreat (DNA: a 4 month fortnightyly church discipleship program one is required to undertake should they wish to become involved in ministry within our church) the question is: Can I handle anymore of what God has for me? :)

Answer: Of course la.

I'm suckin' it up with a mighty passion. I will write more about DNA after this weekend, too much to share in this post...but let's just say...it was a turning point in my life. NEVER EVER did I imagine I could feel the touch of God so strongly...wow.

So more on that later (and loads of pics to come!)...but currently I am packing my bags again. Yup. BOOM Camp is this weekend. 800 young people from all over Melbourne are currently preparing to flood buses and cars and flock to 2 campsites in Phillip Island, about 1.5 hours out of Melbourne, to be a part of it. Now, a regular Friday night @ Boom consists of...Friday night games - ie/ live telecasts to outdoor crazyness RoveLive style, an incredibly passionate and inspiring word from God, 800 styled up kids moshing to the funkiest beats ever, and a presence of our Creator like no other. So I think this weekend may just top that mark. And I cant wait:)

Bringing along my little cousin, well she's not little anymore...she's 18! But hey...when you're pushing 30 that's little:)

To top it all off...two of my BESTIES are in town, Janey the international superstar flew in from KL this morning, and Kaz the Director Queen down from Sydney...girls...cant wait to PLAY! Breakfast with my friend Jods and her little angel, Morgan, yest morning ~ it's amazing seeing a miniature version of someone you know so well. At 2 years old she's just so smart and so incredibly aware of life. Just leaves me in complete wonder...

...so much more to say...

...but the buses are calling.

Stir it up.

Eleven times in 2 years

2006-06-05T12:47:00.000+10:00

This is how many times I have moved. Hmmm. Interesting. From Elwood to Hong Kong. From Hong Kong to Melb (Black Rock). Black Rock to Glen Waverley. Glen Waverley to Boston, US. Boston to HK (Happy Valley). Happy Valley to Discovery Bay. Discovery Bay to Wan Chai. Wan Chai to Mid Levels. Mid Levels to Mid Levels again. Mid Levels to Melb (Patterson Lakes). Patto Lakes to Dingley. Yes. As of 2 weeks time I will have moved for the 11th time. I am temporarily moving to my childhood haven once again:) 1 street away from the house I grew up in...so crazy:) But hey, I am an intern this year, it's ALLLL about being "ho chong ming" (very simmaarrrrt) because "ngor day mo cheena" (we all have no money). So once again another season begins:)

So, side point...one thing I AM quite thrilled about is not being the "bag lady" anymore. Moving from house to house, trapsing all over HK (and the world actually) with thousands and millions of bags. Ah, how I longed to be that girl with only 1 bag. Just one. Well yesterday I cruised into church with my one bag over my shoulder and laughed.

Just thinking about the last 3 years, where I've been and what I've done, and how immensely huge this planet is. I wonder how long it would take to journey to all places. I don't think it would even be possible. Or to meet someone from every culture. Or to taste a morsel of every different type of food. Or swim in the waters of every beach. Or to climb the peak of every (climbable) mountain...PS: Janey...Mt KK IS SO going to happen. Or to read every book ever written. Ok ok I think I'm going to stop there cos I am starting to freak myself out. Ok at least set foot on every continent. THAT is doable:) So many choices. Love it.

I've been asked the same question a number of times this week. "So what will you do after this year?" It's interesting to think about, but on the other hand it's almost ridiculous to imagine. The level of change I have seen in the last 4 months, let alone the last year is more hilarious than I can fathom:) This time last year I was a Kindergarten Teacher sharing in a 400 sq ft apartment in Mid Levels, about to head to Oz for a holiday. Who would have though that my RANDOM last minute visit to a church named Planetshakers last July would have been so memorable:) Back to HK to be a "real-life teacher" in Sept he he...27 little munckins all of my own, side trip to a Shakers conference in the Land of the Satay in Nov was too too good. Some sun & chick time in Lang Kawi with Tammy solidified some pretty serious desires God had placed on my heart. Back to HK. Application sent. Approved. Bam. Find replacement teacher. Pack up apartment. Ship 100kgs of stuff home. Why not post your passport IN YOUR LUGGAGE as well while you're at it. Cheh. Home in Feb and smack bang into internship the next day. Intense.

I'm just taking it each week, actually each day at a time is probably the right way of saying it:) So many new thoughts and revelations everyday...and teaching little kids again is freaking me out, to think that their brains absorb wayyyyyy more than ours. Even hurts me to think about. So yeah, studying again is just giving me a whole new perspective on life. The last time I was at uni, 6 years ago - crap - assignments were tedious, lectures were boring, but this time, it's so different. Studying something I am passionate about, kinda like Berklee 2 years ago - studying music there was just amazing, and this too is freaking me out, even more...studying the BIBLE...writing papers on the Old Testament...doing tests and writing journals...it's literally a pleasure cos I'm getting so much out of it.

These are some of this year's interns. This is our gorgeous old (sometimes clean) Kew Building. The creative team are here, we're moving to the new offices soon with the rest of the clan...ah Kew Building...oh how we love thee:)

This is Dan, Ellen, Whitney, Cara, Jeremy and Me volunteering for the Red Sheild Appeal (aka Salvation Army). Hmmm. We had much success. I collected 80c. The Boy Scouts had been through our area earlier that morning...CHEH. But hey...our hearts were totally there.

Boogying the night away @ Jules & Andrew's wedding...shake it chicks. Congrats Mrs Robinson!!!

Cook-fest @ Courtney's. 10 mins prior to this...10 chicks bolting around Coles Supermarket getting stuff, shouting to each other back and forth from each aisle. What a cack. The check out chicks weren't impressed.

Me & Katie @ Blue Train the other night for Mum's B'day...rock on Margie:)

Dinner @ Joe's Garage in Brunswick St last night. THE best eggplant dip I've EVER eaten.

Ah my HK chicks. How I MISS THEE!!! Come and play soon! :):)

One good thing about moving again...I'll be closer to my bro & Leigh:) This is JB is his glory. And I just want to eat Emmy. Cat & Emily I miss you guys!! :( Melbourne IS closer than HK but, Sydney is still just too far away:(

But this is what I will miss:) Waking up to this. This was yesterday morning. How glorious.

I wasn't sure I could have another year as full on as last year, but so far this year seems to be winning the 'challenging' race:) At the same time though, so so rewarding. I'm just sitting here laughing at how much I NOW know about the bible as compared to last year. I was teaching kids church @ The Vine, and actually LEARNING stuff at the same time (is that wrong?) Anyway, much more educated now. The bibs rocks. I want to eat it.

So...to answer the question...what will I do next year? Man...as the saying goes "God knows what's next"...

Thank goodness for that.

Picking It Up

2006-05-26T17:39:00.000+10:00

Album launch for "PICK IT UP" this Sunday night...SO SO exciting! Am choiring it up - what a privilege. Seriously so exciting!!! This album is unbelievable.

Hitting the books BIG style tonight. Ah. 4 assignments chasing after me! 1.5 down...I think this is seriously the first Friday night I have had at home in...hmmm...2 years?! Ha ha. Has to be done though.

Apartment hunting today...a little over driving an hour and 15 mins every morning so...Katie and I are on the search for..."the perfect apartment". I just miss being close to the city, something great will come up soon:) Cant wait.

My little munchkins are so cute, my 4 yr olds are already doing penmanship! Love it.

So if any of you Melbournites are in for an AMAZING night...Sunday night. Melb Town Hall @ 5pm...it will be awesome:)

Pick it up.

Stir it up.

Yeah man.

ASDLKFJASDKVNMASDOFN

2006-05-24T18:41:00.000+10:00

In a silly mood. My friend Inna (Anna, she is from NZ) is sad. Her Le Snack just smashed in her bag and she is really struggling with her emotions. Now she says she is not sad. Hmmm. I wish she would make up her mind. Now she is telling me she doesn't like my laugh. How rude. CHEH.

Anywayyyyyyyyyyyyyy...she now thinks she is authorised to have a section on my blog. Although she just asked me if she could write on my 'log'. Hmmm, some people actually call them B L O G S:)

Here we go...may I introduce to you all...my dear friiiinnnd Inna...:) Take it away..........

****

Finally, someone is going to write something interesting. So I will start off with a traditional Maori greeting as I'm a New Zealander. Kia Ora, Ke tei pehe koi? Tena kotou katoa. I will not translate it for you, cause if you don't know what that means you are just stupid. [Nat here...she is just kidding...]

Lets get a few things straight, I do not get upset over little things like le snacks gettings smashed, and I do refer to blogs as logs as where I am from I would be 'logging an entry' I have no idea what or where the 'B' came from.

Does anyone even read Natalies logs? I know I don't. I think only her family does.... So Nat has just brought in some lovely food that her mum made and its really nice. But what she doesn't know was when she turned her back I licked her fork and now I just spilt some of it on her work, shiverse, I think I have to go....

PS; Marg if you do ever read this can I just say, great spag bol. How do you get the spaghetti so small?

****

Inna. That was uncalled for. I give you half of my dinner and you BAG me! HUH!

I know she loves me. Way too much actually, I think she is trying to stalk me.

This is me and Ellen going psycho at the footy on Friday night at the G. Go Dees.

Cheese on Toast

2006-05-17T13:35:00.000+10:00

Yum. Just woofed down 2 bits of yumbo cheese on toast with a bit of chutney. So so good to be eating at 12:07am. Nice. Gotta be up in 5.5 hours...got tutorial at 7am.

Recovering from the lack of any kind of 'rest' over the last few weeks! Been great though, the conference on Sat was so ace. God filled the place and touched so many lives. Was amazing to see all our hard work come together and to stand there and see it as a final product was very cool:) For months we have been dreaming up this concept, and planning each and every part...and we were awestruck just standing there on Saturday morning, amazed at the fact that it was actually THE day!

Everyone worked so hard...we were there til 4am the night before, popped home for an hour's sleep then back there at 7am. Was a full on team effort to setup, tree branches hoisted, black curtains hung to cover the pics of school stuff in the boys school hall, ribbons hung, seats covered, satin draped, banners hung, flowers arranged, leaves spray painted, spotlights positioned under the trees (see pics - cool effect huh?!) we prayed up a storm and and it all came together without a hitch:) 800 gift bags each with stunning earrings, mini perfumes, chocolates, all donated and presented perfectly...I'm so honoured to be working with such awesome people with such generous hearts.

We were all just standing there as soon as the band started playing with smiles on our faces as 800 women, girls, chicks and grannys began to worship, touch God, and discover the dreams and passions written on their hearts...I was like "yup. This is WHY we do this".

Was hard at the same time though, cos I missed out on Tari's Drinks on Friday night :( and Pen's B'day drinks on Saturday :(:( ...ah...?!?! I am sorry girls...HAPPY BIRTHDAY - this one goes out to Pezza Burzza!!!

So yes...in other news...I got a JOB!!!! At a Kinder/Learning Centre...so cool! Tues and Thurs mornings, I will be teaching 2s, 3s and 4 yr old classes! So excited! Been waiting faithfully...finally yay! Start next week, I'm taking over a girl that's leaving, so I need to make the transition smooth...gee, sounds familiar for some reason...;)

Anyway...I am off to beddy byes. Ah God is so good.

Peace out...bless ya guys;)

N :)
xxxx

It's raining it's pouring...

2006-05-10T20:54:00.000+10:00

Could it BE any colder in Melbs?! Rah! Well I'm currently eating Nasi Goreng and making banners and funky "dead branch/tree theme" stage designs for our 'chick conference' ~ Beautiful Woman this Sat. We're expecting 800 there so yup, been a little currrazzy this week. Left here at 4am last night and back here at 7am for tutorial...sunrise was sweet though;) It's ok...will sleep next week!

Melbourne's cold weather is now coming back to me...oh how I remember thee!! Used to hate it, but it's funny, now I am actually embracing it...getting rugged up and watching DVDs...it's quite a nice change from "walking-out-the-door-being-covered-by-sweat" in Honkers:) He he...my hair is loving it too...no more humid la!

OK so I wrote that the other day!! It's now Friday and tomorrow is the BIG day! Beautiful Woman Conference! 800 women in a boys' school that we are about to toally transform!!! It's gonna be great!

Everyone has worked really hard for this event and I think it is gonna all come together - Praise God! So many littlte things just falling into place! Woo hoo!

Will wack some pics up shortly!!! Too much fun...

OK I am off on a search to find cherry blossom to go with our "spray painted white branches, clad with jewellery and photos hung with mini pegs" theme!!

I am getting yelled at...bye!

And my heart yearns:)

2006-05-05T17:28:00.000+10:00

Feeling a mixure of emotions today. I totally know Melbourne is where I am supposed to be right now, and my heart is totally and utterly STIRRED up to the max at the thought of what God is doing and is going to do in me here...but today I am feeling kinda torn between completely bursting with excitement that I am smack bang in the middle of God's will for my life, and feeling a little empty inside, like everyone else is at the party and you are the only one not there.

Something BIG is happening in Hong Kong today...today is the day that The Vine are recording their first ever worship album. Wow. Such an awesome thing...it's been a dream on so many hearts for so long, and now it's finally happening! So my little Honkers friends are bursting at the seems with excitement today...and so they should be!!! This is the start of even greater things...

But I have to say my heart is feeling a little, sad that I am not there and a part of it all:) Looking on Derek's website...ah yup, the tears just started welling:) He he.

So yes my heart yearns...for so many things...for the awesome plan for my life, to follow the destiny that has been written on my heart years before I was born, to keep friendships close to my heart - no matter HOW far apart, to see my friends come to know their Creator, to understand the God that created the universe step by step, and that His plan is perfect...and to understand that NOTHING is too great for him:)

So...I just had to get that out. Feeling better now. Planetshakers is where I am meant to be right now - I know this:) I am so so so so blessed to be a part of this awesome church, and the friendships I am making here are amazing:)

Have an AWESOME night Honkers crew...!!!! ROCK ITTTT!!!!!

Stir it up.

Think I might go twirl in the rain:)

xx

Chai tea with milk...?

2006-05-01T10:09:00.000+10:00

Well I was shocked and surprised to watch my Gloria Jean's "Chai Tea" being made with milk. Hmmm...I am standing there watching the guy thinking "um, no...um, no milk". Having not had one since leaving HK (Life Cafe...yumbo) I was a little skeptical in my initial reception of such a drink. As I was informed "sorry we dont do it without milk, it's in the mix" - so, shutdown completely, I thanked him and my friend Ellen and I walked to our seat. Nervously I took a sip.

Well! Hello boys! My tastebuds were having a part-taeeeeeeeeeee! And if I had have kept my old "sorry, I only have it without milk" way, I would never have experienced such a great thrill! Ha!

So there. My little word for today...don't look only at the outward appearance of things, allowing preconcieved ideas and beliefs to dictate your decisions:) Think about things, try new stuff and you may just be amazingly surprised and pleased with the result:)

Stir it up.
Boxy
xxxxxxx

Thank you to the Anzacs:)

2006-04-26T20:50:00.000+10:00

Hello there from Sunny Melbourne!

Ha ha, after about 5 weeks of clouds we finally see the sun:) 2 gorgeous days in a row - ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Day yesterday...so we had a pub hol to remember the diggers of WWII...my Dad went to the Dawn Service with my Papa:) So cute:) He marched in the parade all through the city to the Shrine of Rememberance. Ah, makes you really stop and think, and remember WHAT they went through. I cant even imagine what that must have been like to live during that time. My Grandma was telling me of her friends that just "went off to war", just like "going to the shops" and she never saw them again...so full on. Bless them God:)

Really settled in here now...it's been a while coming, but really feel at home now:) Have made some great friends, nothing like HK ones of course:):):) AH - when are you guys coming to visit me!! But yeah, God has been so so good to me...wow...every single need I have had...BAM he has taken care of it:) So faithful.

Just had a week of minimal sleep...exams, assignments, events...it's all happening here...but thank goodness I dont have an early start tomorrow! Just back at the office now after a scrumptious dinner at my friend Oksana's place (she's from Canada) - homemade pasta and apple pie! YUM! So it's now 9:00pm and the Creative Building is buzzing - so funny, the Youth Interns have their discipleship meeting here, and there are just randoms so it pretty much feels like it's the middle of the day!

We have a double baptism service this Sunday...ah, almost a year to the day since I got dunked at Repluse Bay, HK:):) Ah memories:) V cool.

Got a call from a lady today at Xavier - Private School, re: PT work in their Early Childhood Centre...PRAYING about it cos it would be so cool...so we shall see:)

Had internship meeting this morning, Ps Matt Fielder preached an awesome message about us being the "salt of the earth" - making a difference and influencing lives...he is so amazingly gifted...

Right-o well I believe I have crrrrrrrrapped on sufficiently...I must away now!

MWAH...love you guys...
Love Nat
xxx

PS - sorry for no pics...will send soon!

19 minutes and 8 sneezes...

2006-04-14T00:09:00.000+10:00

Ah...I have hayfever...not loving it. Just sneezed 8 million times. AHHHHH. Sitting in bed typing away and I my battery is about to die, 19 mins to go PLUS I should be sleeping right now cos I am so sleep deprived at the moment it is not even funny. What IS sleep anyway?

Assignments coming out of my ears (handed in on Wed though praise the Lord!) as well as lectures and all that jazz...working on Beautiful Woman (women's conference) at the moment too...busy busy la!!! All good though! Still learning heaps and growing into different things and areas and challenges...

This past week has been especially challenging. Just God doing His work in me. Moulding me into who He has called me to be...:) Seeking and searching for your calling, your purpose is not the easiest thing in the world, but the end result is totally worth it:) Love it:)

Still trying to get a camera...pray for me!! I'm totally serious! I am DYING without one...cant even put pics on this BLOG...ah!!!

Well tomorrow is Good Friday. Wanna get a fresh revelation of what it means, what Jesus' torture and death on the cross for ME.....means. Wow. Incredible. Reminds me of when I watched The Passion on the plane on the way to Berklee and God totally whacked me in the face...I'm balling my eyes out in my aeroplane seat, having this massive revelation, whilst the flight attendants are handing out peanuts! Classic.

It's all about timing;) He he:)

8 mins to go...ah...talk about suspense!

Saturday we're taking a road trip...down the coast (Geelong) to watch a bit of footy - Geelong vs Hawthorn...so that should be good! Gotta love rugging up and having a meat pie in the chilly winter (yes, pretty cold already) weather whilst watching (or pretending to watch) the footy. SSC...so so cool!!! Ha ha:)

Alright 3 minutes to go I'd better post this!

May God bless you guys over this special weekend...wow...

...most awesome 3 days of history...

Blessings:)
Love Nat
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PS...Matty take it easy...dont get your knickers in a knot!!!

Clocks back...

2006-04-02T22:40:00.000+10:00

Ah I HATE the end of daylight savings. Makes me really sad. Seriously. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Summer and when the sky is light until really late, like 9:00pm and you can totally stay out in the street after dinner, playing cricket or Hiaki in the street cos Mum says it's ok cos it's "safe" when it's still light...

Ah those were the days:)

So yeah, darkness at about 7, which will change to 6 in a few months! Grrr!

Just got home from church. Wow. Blown away again. So so so great. PS Rob (Kids Pastor) spoke...SSG (so so good!)

Been a good weekend...did my exegesis (scriptural analysis) on Gen 12 - rah, took so long! But it's done now...only 1 more assignment and 3 lectures, to be done by Wed...eek! The Creative girl interns have a project, we are heading up the design for the women's event (Beautiful Woman)...Michele you would love it...;) and have to have a 3 min promo DVD up and running next Sunday night. Uh huh. So yup. Thinking it's gonna be a few all nighters this week...

Grand Prix is mad too...Melb is buzzing with international activity at the moment! So cool!

Literally falling askeep whilst typing this so I may head off now. HA!

Bless y'alllllllllllll and talk really soon:)
Nat
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Oh dear...

2006-03-28T23:42:00.000+11:00

Well...now my shoulders can breathe easy as I dont have to lug around a heavy bag anymore! Gee, thank goodness for that!!! Well, I am trying to see the best in a bad situation! Had my handbag stolen the other night...not happy Jan...lots of goodies in there:( Camera, brand spanking new phone, wallet and of course my bible:( Poo!!!

Praying the person who took it will read my bible and get saved! Ha!

But yeah...have really been amazed at how I have actually dealt with this whole situation...had this happened, ooh, 2 years ago...I would have been devo. But, it's funny, when things happen they seem like the end of the world, then you realise, they are just things...earthly things, and although it's quite inconvenient, it's totally all good:) SOOOO not gonna let this get me down!

No WAY. Stir it up even more I say.

So I now have another trade to add to my resume...painter. Been painting all weekend, the new PS offices...lovely. Although the baby blue WAS a nice touch, the off white and chocolate feature walls looks just a TAD better! So yeah, down with the lingo, ya know, so busy "cutting in" and all...so yeah...was there for 14 hours yesterday! Little more tomorrow and that should be it!

OK I promised myself I would be in bed by midnight...and it is 11:52...eek!

Above is a pic of some of the chick interns...groovy huh...yeah, such cool chicks, and at this moment, the guys were moving all the heavy equipment (woops!) while we were outside praying for Oksana who is going to NZ to get her Visa renewed. At LEAST being an Aussie, I wont have that problem...sounds like something I would totally have to do though:):) Embassies and Consulates just seem to attract me to them...

Ah the joys of being a fanger. Builds faith though let me tell you.

OK I am off...love you lots...say hi to your Mum for me;)
Nat
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PS - Cool message for the day...

Matt 17:20. Was driving down the road yesterday, thinking about my bag, and kinda worrying about it, but still trying to have faith...anyway, this 4WD pulls in front of me with this scripture BLARING across the back windscreen.

Full on.

Check it out...I actually read it whilst driving...v cool.

Come on STIR IT UP!!!!!

2006-03-16T14:44:00.000+11:00

Just found myself getting very creative...got "stirred up" as it may be listening to my fave fave fave worship song ever "Consuming Fire" and started drawing with oil pastels - went a bit crazy! I'm sorry, but when it gets to the bridge...WOH...there is nothing more you can do. It's all over.

Whether listening to Tim Hughes CD style or experiencing Tom Read doing a stellar live version (rock on Tozza Rezza)...by this stage in the song, IF you are not completely gone, psycho, jumping, clapping your hands, shouting, punching the air, bursting and competely and utterly filled with the spirit then I dont know what's wrong!!! Sorry if I get a bit fired up...but hey, Jesus is my passion. So, woops, can't really help it:)

Here are some snaps I got at the beach last night. I was in my car almost home and God told me to go buy a journal. So I did. Almost home, he told me to go to the beach. So I did. On the way there I glanced up at the sky, bleak and grey, cloudy and almost dark. Nothing special to look at. But when I reached the beach...a few things had changed.

It was like watching a movie. HE was up there CREATINGGGGG THISSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

And then it became still.

Awesome.

Woo!! Intense.

Just thought I would share that with you and encourage you...seek Him, get into the word, cry out, get hungry, get thirrrrrsty, fill up, get desperate, make an effort to STIRRRRRRRR IT UPPPPPPPPP, and he WILL!!

Ok...Nat's gone off tap again...sorry;)

Just finished Old Testament study - David and Saul the psycho...what a little munchkin David is:) And what an absolute fanger Saul is! CHEH! Ha ha. About to get cracking on my 3rd lecture..."God, Creation and Redemption".

Planetshakers is going great, learning heaps and just allowing myself to be moulded and developed...such great teachings...really really blessed:) Pastor Russell delivered an awesome word on Sunday night about having the KEYS and using the right ones to unlock the right doors. ON FIRE!!!!!!!

Just looked on the Flight and 180 websites...gotta love the Thirst pics...ha ha, just grabbed a few:) Ah...praying about coming back to HK in May...really really want too, praying for finances...have a ticket there but not back again...so, it's up to the G-man:)

Just one final thing...HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS:):):) Great, now EVERYONE will know:):) He he!

Bless you alllllllllllll...and yup yup...

Stir it up;)

Nat
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When I was a little girl...

2006-03-09T13:31:00.000+11:00

...my dream car was (said really fast and all in one breath) a "redconvertableBMWwithacarphone". That was when I was 6.

And now, 22 years later it's finally happened:) Not red, not convertable, and really, who has car phones these days...but yes I have just got meself a funky Beemer;) How COOL!

Been praying about a ve-HIC-le for the past 3 weeks, and although a few cars have come up, it's amazing what happens when we really do wait on God. Even when it comes to being OBSESSSSSSSED with cars:) I saw this gorgeous champagne one the other day, and it was perfect. Perfect. So perfect. But God said no. And then I saw this one, looked at the address...it's in the next street from me. And SUCH a bargain too!

So finally I am able to have a little more freedom:) Cruised down the beach this morning and chatted to God...

Ah. Isn't it funny how amazing sunshine makes you feel? Was just walking along the beach, and I was just like...freaking out...looking around me, surrounded by BEAUTY. Stopped walking and just sat down. Just complete awesomeness in front of me as I looked out over the clear aqua water and to the horizon, where this gorgeous blue water met an even more brilliant blue sky. Millions and millions of grains of fine white sand at my feet and the warmth of the sunshine on my back, the morning breeze whispering things to the soaring birds as they flew overhead.

How did he do it? How DID he do it? In such infinite detail. It's too much. Too much to comprehend. And this is not a drop on the scale of the entirity of this earth. Or the universe. Man. "And these are but the FRINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGE of his works" (Job 26:14).

Seriously. I cant speak anymore cos I am so over-awed at his greatness.

Keep stirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrin' it up guys...COME ON!

Yeahhhhhhhhh!!!!

Word UPPPP

2006-03-06T16:19:00.000+11:00

Currently listening to the 2nd hour of my Theology Lecture...love it...and New Test before that - so many revs!!

Recovering after an FO weekend, Katie's 21st was great, huge of course, and most of last week was spent in preparation for it! Gorg weather, so with fairylights and candles the deck was beautiful:)

Still praying for a vehicle...and believing it!! Will be updating you with the news of the purchase shortly;)

My spiritual growth through being here and at Planetshakers is freaking me out more and more everyday...just amazed at God's grace and abundance. INCREDIBLEEEEE!!!!

Ok...off to look at cars now...

Boxy Snaps ;)

2006-02-27T23:50:00.000+11:00

Ah...well what a crazy crazy week it's been in this lovely city of Melbourne. Did 7 hours of study today. Oh yeah. Started my bible course, 4 subjects, online lectures, LOTS of note taking and journal writing...but learning so much!

Had the 2nd Anniversary service yesterday...had Ps Glenn Berteau in from the States - awesome speaker. Place was packed, over 2000 people in there, I was ushering - it was mad! So powerful - God was definately in that place:):) I recorded a "2006 the year that was" news report for the service...the guys edited it and made it really cool! Was a bizzare experience seeing myself on screen though!

Here are some pics from the last week:) Haven't got any pics of the actual service, just haven't felt right about taking pics INSIDE ya know...?:) But will suss it cos I want you guys to "feel the VIBE"...

This is the PS Creative Dept - HUGE old house - so many rooms and high ceilings - gorgeous! Then, here's me and Katie going to the Lion King the other night in the city, Kaz and me on the beach for breaky the other morning and ROCKIN it in the office:) Ohhhhh yeah.

More pics...dinner with the crew after church last night - about 30 of us went to LYGON ST MAIIIITTEEEE (Melbournians will know what I mean!) it's like Little Italy...very cool! BUT WASN'T THE SAME as Tsui Wah or Archies la!!! WAAAH! Then with my friend Lucy, breaky on the beach - so nice! Gorg Flinders St Bridge, and Pen, Kaz and I on Sat night:)

Dont ya love my text books...thought I'd go with the artistic angle...:) Ok it is time to go to sleep, I am in denial and still think "it's really HK time"...it's not that late. HELLO Natalie you are in AUSTRALIA NOW.

Anyway...love you all lots - keep writing to me I love it!

Keep stirrin the FIREEEE!!!!!

Love Boxy:):):)

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The circle of life...

2006-02-23T11:55:00.000+11:00

Went to see the Lion King last night - SO GOOD!!! A cool surprise for Katie's (sis) and my birthday - had a luffly dinner in the city with the fam then went to the show...man can they sing!

Sun is shining today. 29 degrees. Had a great chat with God. Man he is awesome. I just freaked myself out with his greatness. HOW can one COMPREHENDDDDDDD IT?????!!!

Ah. Isaiah 40. Love it. Breathe it.

Recorded a "news report" yesterday to be played in this sunday's service...it's the 2nd anniversary of PS City Church...so the guys wrote this funny script and had me present it...had to do a few takes cos I was laughing so much. HA HA!

Started school yesterday, Certificate in Ministry. Gonna be FO (full on) (Loving the acronym game...CMU..."cracks me up". Feel free to get into it...now that I am gone I want to see someone else instigating the "gay-Nat-Box-isms" K!!) So yeah school...really cool, 4 subjects: Theology, New Testament, Old Testament and Field Work. Meeting with a woman about music teaching today so praying that works out! Need a car though! PT here SUCKS!

Right o...

I am off...gotta go buy my 80 million books and stuff for school! Ah...

Keep stirrrrrrrrrrrin' it up for HIM!!!!

Bless you all:)

Boxy out.
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HK-sick...

2006-02-21T23:04:00.000+11:00

So I'm not sure what you call it, I am home now, but am feeling homesick for HK:) Just the busyness and high level of social activity is what is getting to me most I think! I mean I cant really complain about where I am right now...

SO...dont get me wrong, I TOTALLY know this is where God wants me and I know awesome things are gonna happen, it's just sometimes it hits me that I am really NOT in HK anymore.

Like tonight when I was hanging out the washing on the washing line in the garden ... (as opposed to outside the window of a HK apartment block or in my living room!) ... and I just burst into tears:) Ah, gotta love emotions. I think being overtired may have something to do with it too...:) But thank GOD for Msn and Skype seriously - I think I should be the ambassador for both of them:)

Got a jam packed day tomorrow...will take pics...they probably think "um, who is this psycho stalker taking pics of us...what a random..." but hey...that's what I'm ALLLLL about;)

Until next time...;)

STIR IT UP!!!!
Nat:)
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Day One

2006-02-18T11:15:00.000+11:00

Hey guys,

I MISS YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah, Flighters - I missed you SOOOO much last night...Fri night was NOT the same without you:(

Wow, this is weird. My first blog from Australia. Feel like I am on holiday...:) Feeling pumped after yesterday, Day One as a Planetshakers Intern. Wow. There are about 5 of us in Creative (Music) and prob 35 in all the other areas (Youth, Events, Media)...and had a pretty productive first day. I arrived to find my team working on a radio ad promoting a speaker coming up in a few weeks...all they needed was a voiceover. They got me to read it and bam, the next thing I know I am in the studio recording a Planetshakers radio commercial! HA! Classic! Gonna be on air next week I think...will send it to you guys when they are done editing:)

Am still getting me head around being here...arrived at 9am Thurs morning...Mumma picked me up, and I was greeted by the hot Australian sun:) So gorgeous - and to be able to breathe air - woo hoo! We went straight to the cargo place to grab my bags...what a pain in the **! Go somewhere to pay, then go and get a signature, drive somewhere else to to get a stamp, then to customs to answer questions, then to quarantine to answer more, then back to the cargo place to kit ourselves up in HOT fluro yellow vests and walk along the "special yellow painted pathway" to meet the forklift guy who then brought my 7 pieces to the car. Cha Ching! 4 hours later and we were off! So glad to get it all shoved in the car...Peter Simpson you are a LEGEND mate:) (finally picked up the other bag too!)

Soooooo good to see my fam again...Mum surprised me with her famous lasagne for a bit of a birthday dinner Thurs night, traditional dinner table antics went on with my bro the joke teller and Katie and I in tears on the floor choking in hysterics. Classic moments. Then coffee on the balcony watching the sun go down. Gorgeous:)

Then there was youth last night. "BOOM". Wow. 700 kids at Melbourne High...setup started at 3pm...insane. The prayer meeting 20 mins before doors opened was intense...I have never felt the spirit so strong in a room...my chest was seriously hurting...about 200 leaders and interns were pacing up and down all over the hall worshiping and speaking in tongues - FULL ON! This went on for about 10 mins...and it was CRAZY! The kids were screaming from outside...and the spirit was going crazy - so awesome:) 2 hours to set up and even longer to bump out...I cant imagine church on sunday. They start bumping in at 10am. For a 5pm service. Hello. Will give you an update on that stich;) HA!

But worship was fabbo...nothing compared to Vine worship though;) Or Flight for that matter!!! Mike Gug preached an phenomenal word on Mark 2 - Jesus at Capernaum...and us taking up our mat and WALKING...wow. Dude so powerful. Dez-Man you would have LOVED it;)

About to attemped unpacking my 4th out of 8th bag...rah. This is proving to be a bit of a headache. Loving the LACK of wireless here. NOT. Planetshakers have it thank the LORD, as are they OBSESSED with Macs...see guys, it was meant to be:) So Wed and Fri's at least I will be online all day...the other days, well my parents have dial-up. Hello. What is THAT about...what century are we in again?!?!

I feel like Dorothy..."That's right Toto, we are NOT in Hong Kong anymore"...

OK guys...missing you like crazy, want you ALL to come visit...

Ah - really missing you guys...tomorrow is gonna be hard, I am SO excited to be here dont get me wrong...but you guys are so special to me:):) So DONT forget me ok dammit!

OK...I am off to start the battle of the suitcases...ah...Nat's greatest dilemma: way too many clothes and just not enough coat hangers. Story of my life.

Ok I am really going now:)

STIR UP THE FIRE...!!!! OH YEAH!!!!
Love always
Boxy
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Yes I am from Syria.

2006-02-16T00:14:00.000+11:00

I am possibly THE biggest bimbo, fanger, loser, dork, doofass, whatever you wanna call it...I am currently at Vietnam airport...and it is Wednesday the 15th. I was meant to be here in this airport on Monday the 13th and starting at Planetshakers TODAY...until...I realised that I mailed my passport home inside the luggage I shipped back to Oz the other day.

Hi. Could I BE anymore stoooopid.

So. 2 days later, so many trips to the Embassy they are now my best friends, I have an Emergency Passport and I am on my way home. Oz bound once more:)

This airport cracks me up. It is like the dodgiest airport I have ever seen...I dont even think the Burberry store here stocks "real Burberry"...so random...BUT, it has wireless!!! We got these random food vouchers cos we are in transit for so long (hello, I have never heard of that before!?!) and the noodles were surprisingly good!

Ok...after 4 hours of sitting here, it's finally time to board! WOO HOO!

Catch you guys on the flip side...will write again soon!

Stir it up...

In HIS name:)
Nat
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Imagine working for the...

2006-02-09T02:22:00.000+11:00

...Internal Revenue Service. I'm sorry...but that would have to be one of the more boring jobs one might choose.

After an exceedingly productive day (...5 days until LIFT OFF...) I spent the latter part of my day here. I watched them process peoples tax enquiries, and attempt to seem interested whilst doing it.

This morning, I awoke to a cool chat with God, followed by a chilled breakfast at Pacific Coffee with Gabby (why ARE their sausage rolls so darn good...?) then I hung at The Vine, completely unsociable, my face practically INSIDE my mac like Little Miss Psycho and punched out the final 27 report cards (aka death cards)...WOO HOO. Praise the Lord! Somebody pop the champagne!! I then caught up with Derek (aka Dezza Mazza)...during which time we reminisced about my earlier "Vine days" where I maaaaay have been a little on the weirder side:)

It was a good day. And I love Mexican food. Dinnered at "I Caraumba" in SoHo with my ex-flatmate Julie:) It's 5 mins from my house, and do you think we ever went there?!

God is funny. Just when I look at my day and think "there is NO WAY I can get this done" and get myself into a fluster and a fit of crazy, psycho anxiety, it ALL works out:)

So 4 more days to go...and yup - I am making the most of every last GLORIOUS second:) Bring on the catch ups, chats, crazy times, dinners.

Catch up, shopping, catch up, double catch up tomorrow...

Yup yup. Peace.

Stir it up.

Boxy
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9 Sleeps Til My B'day...!!

2006-02-01T09:03:00.000+11:00

6 times in just over a year. That has got to be a record right?! Since coming back to HK in Sept 2004, I have moved 6 TIMES. I think that has got to win some kind of award right?!?!

Ah, so yes, moved out of my gorgeous apartment today...feeling a little weird about it all...3 suitcases and 3 giant packing bags later and I am once again "on the road again". Staying at Peta and Matt's (my HK bro and sis) so it's really nice to be with them for these few weeks:) Apart from a few short hysterical moments, I have been surprisingly calm about the whole thing. Lost it for a brief moment today, then...decided that this season has been AMAZING. I have loved living in that place, I wish everyone from home had have been able to come over for a drink and a chat...BUT...God blessed me with that, and I am glad I had the experience, even just for a short while:) Still gotta say bye to my kids next week...ah...praying it wont be horrible:)

And so begins another one...so what chapter are we up to now??!? Feels like only yesterday I was leaving Oz for Berklee, wow, what a whirlwind this past year and a half have been. HK, to Oz, to Boston, to UK (luggage lost) to France, to Spain, to Italy, to HK, to Melb, to HK and now...it's back to the great south land once again:)

Have had an amazing few days actually, just realised a dream of mine, recording my original music. James and I recorded our songs yesterday...3 in total, I think they turned out pretty good;) Cant wait to hear them when they're all done:)

I have been reading back over old journals and songwriting stuff lately, so cool. I love it! Hey that's the joy of moving, finding all this random stuff that you forgot you had and reminscing over it and totally procrastinating and not getting around to doing what you are actually supposed to be doing, because what you found is so interesting!!! So yeah, found all this stuff in my journals from last year, about Planetshakers...about how I would love to go there one day. Freaky. And now I am going.

Ah - too COOL! God is TOO COOL and freaky!!:)

A glorious 9 days of being 27 left...then...the big 28!!! Am I ready for it? Absolutely. Bring it on.

Visiting the wonderful land of DISNEY tomorrow...cant wait...!!!

Ok bed is calling...ho gwoy ah...(so tired!!)

N

Stir it...
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Sitting here in my apartment...

2006-01-18T17:20:00.000+11:00

It's 12:02am and I'm here in my apartment looking around and contemplating the next few weeks. I'm really gonna miss living here...

One more week left of school. I cannot even begin to get my head around that. And 4 more weeks here in HK before heading back to Oz to see what God’s got in store for me there;) I’m shaking my own head in disbelief. And laughing at the same time. I am so so so unbelievably excited! But don’t get me wrong, as much as I am so looking forward to being at Planetshakers, there is just something here that I don’t want to let go of here. Just yet anyway…

Was sitting up on the podium of IFC overlooking the harbour yesterday. The sun was shining brilliantly and I was, for the first time in quite some time, still. Just there. Listening to music and I began writing. I haven’t written lyrics for a while now, just merely due to a lack of available time…but I tell you, I miss it so much. I could sense it had been building for a while now, and there is more brewing…gotta get it out la! I just love allowing the thoughts and emotions to flowwwww…soooooo healthy.

Seriously. If I could write all day I would. Journals, diaries, song lyrics, poems, ah…I feel anxious just thinking about how much more time I want to have in 1 day! Ah, if only we didn’t need sleep…

Speaking of which, it is 12:02am and I better get my little patoutie to bed…

So here’s to never EVER saying “goodbye”, here’s to “life-changing friends”, and to “embracing NEW seasons”. These past 2 years have been filled with so so many different seasons and I look back at me, and really wonder how I did it. But the growth I have experienced could not have been achieved any other way. God is so ironic. And…yes I know I am a crazy nomad chick who has lived in 5 different places in the last year, but hey, would I really want it any other way…?

No way baby.

Stir it up…;) Let’s shake the planet…

Bless you all…
Nat☺

Happy Birthday Emmy!!

2006-01-08T13:31:00.000+11:00

I seriously cannot believe it is 2006. Yesterday was my neice Emily's (aka Emmy) 3rd birthday. Where does the time go? 3 years have flown by so fast it is scaring me. I had a bit of a "convo" on the phone with her yesterday, love it, she was telling me all about her day, her presents, and I'm like 'Emmy, I can't hear you can you talk slowwwwly so Auntie Natty can hear you" and my sis tells me after that she's holding the phone in front of her face like a walkie talkie...nice one. Very cool. Apparently that's the way 3 year olds talk on their mobiles these days...ah technology.

I feeling some crazy-assed emotions about leaving HK and heading back to the "land-down-under", but seeing my neice more often is one thing I am so looking forward to. It's been one of the hardest things ever being over here, so far away from seeing her grow up into this smart and beautiful little girl...ahh. Can't wait to spoil you with the world gorgeous girl:):)

Ah. My New Years' Eve was a little "CRAZY" to say the least, check out the pics below. Classic. 80s party at church, so much fun. Ah. Why did we ever move on from the 80s attire, I mean, it was just so "flattering". Man, there were some attocious outfits. Mullets, spikes, shoulder pads, and that was just Tom...(nice one mate). So it was a fantastic way of beginning a new and exciting year, worshiping God with best friends:) Perfect.

Too funny. Love it. Man am I going to miss you guys...especially my girls:)

CHANGE. I told my kids this week at school that I am leaving, and they pretty much reacted as I had imagined. I tried so hard to prepare their little minds, but never-the-less, they were hysterical. Inconsolable sobbing, to the point of coughing, you know how little kids do that?! :) Ah, it was a mess. 12 or so 7 year old girls spread randomly around the room on the floor balling their eyes out and wailing. My other teachers next door and down the corridor were like "um, what have you done to them?!?!?!" Ah. The joys of "change". So I will be finishing up just before Chinese New Year at the end of Jan, before which I have to mark a year level of assessments and write report cards for 8 subjects! Then finally I will begin sorting my life out here in preparation to make the big move.

That reminds me...I should really book my ticket.

Sunday today...at my friend Tammy's, Anna and I stayed over last night after 180 (Derek & Janice, you guys rocked...loved your message) and had a girly night...full of chocolate, watching 80s movies and talking until...4am. I cannot believe I'm up at 10am. Singing in church tonight...cant wait...lead worship at Youth Friday night, was amazing, then 180 last night and church tonight - ah LOVE IT!!!! I'm gonna miss The Vine so much when I leave. BUT...God has a wicked plan for 2006 - bring it on baby:)

This is us from last year's 180 Tropical Christmas Party...some of the boys' costumes were...interesting...

OK...2006 - no more resolutions, bring on the year of revolution & as I said in my message at Flight on friday the "year of revelaaaaaaaation"!!! Oh yeah.

Stir it up...

Boxy
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Christmas Day Feast!!

2005-12-30T18:08:00.000+11:00

Merry Christmas!!!!!! Wow - what an unreal week it's been! From the ballet, to Christmas Eve parties, to insanely huge turkeys, to 14 hour Lord of the Rings marathons...it has been a phenomenal week! And I have managed to go to the gym every single day! (Apart from the day I was dying in bed...from a disease otherwise known as "eating too much crap"...)

Here are some Christmas pics from over the week:

NUTCRACKER, CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY & CHRISTMAS DAY

Twinkle twinkle...

2005-12-23T19:53:00.000+11:00

How cute is this!!!!! This is my tree:) Am loving the lights!!! Off to see the Nutcracker tonight with the crew...and having a Christmas Eve Partaeeeee at mine tomorrow night - yay!

2 sleeps til Christmas!

xxxx

And the time has come...

2005-12-20T17:10:00.000+11:00

And who said life was boring? Well the last time I wrote I was Malaysia bound...

This is the gang at Planetshakers!!! So cool!

And now it's CHRISTMAS WEEK! I am so beside myself with excitement! 2 sleeps til the end of school and 6 sleeps til Christmas!!!! Dressing up and going to see the Nutcracker on Friday night...then having a Christmas Eve party - yay, then Tammy's Christmas Lunch Extravaganza with the homeless expats:):) YAY...

Derek reminded me last night that it's been "some time" now since my last entry...so here I go with an update:) He he and yes I have some news...:)

So I returned from the Planetshakers Conference last month (inspired is an understatement) with something new inside of me. The conference in Malaysia was, in a hyphenated word "life-changing". I went there full of expectation and ready to receive...and from the word go I was completely and utterly inspired and filled with such passion! It was unbelievable all the energy in the room, 5000 Malaysian Youth all going crazy for Jesus - man. Sooooo cool!!!!

From the moment I walked into that room, full of teenagers worshiping God, the band on stage just going crazy, singing and playing their hearts out for their Creator...I knew right then and there that I was BORN to do be a part of something like that. A group of passionate musicians and speakers, traveling the world, with one goal in mind. To tell the world what Jesus did for us so we might be free.

Those 3 days were amazing. And after chilling out in Langkawi after the conference with Tammy, I was able to really process everything I'd learnt and heard. In those 3 days I heard some of the most amazing speakers preach absolutely phenomenal messages. The worship was second to none, WOW God was surely in that place. It's funny, being in a place like that, with no distractions, you can totally focus. God spoke to me, telling me to stop "seeking" and asking for Him to "show me" - because He's already given me all I need, deep down I knew the way.

About 6 months ago God spoke to me, telling me I would travel the world leading worship, making a difference in young people's lives - he gave me a passion for youth and opened up a door to be a youth leader and youth worship leader at Flight, my church's Youth Ministry. I adore my job, I adore my life here in HK, my friends, my kids, my church, I DONT want to leave HK. This is my LIFE. But God said to me, GO. Go and immerse yourself in my word and do all you need to do to prepare because I have a great and amazing plan for your life. So I a few months back I applied for various worship colleges, but didn't really feel strongly about any of them.

On my return to HK, and after MUCH prayer I decided to apply for the position as an Intern in Planetshakers' City Church. In Melbourne.

Having not heard anything God woke me in the night and told me to resign from my job. Hmmm, ok...just quit? With no confirmation or anything yet?! Why dont I just wait a little bit, to be on the safe side...and just ya know, see what happens?:)?:) But that wasn't gonna happen. So the following day I resigned.

The day after that I received an email - I had been accepted:) So...this means...I am moving home in Feb. Yup. I'll be working within PS City Church 4 days a week. I am so friggin excited. Scared as hell but excited.

I am totally going through all the emotions right now. Denial is a major one. Still haven't told my kids. Totally worried and feeling sick about that b/c they are so so attached to me. They cried when I left for Malaysia and they beg me all the time never to leave them. Hmmm.

Lots of thoughts racing through my head as I attempt to process it all:) But God is a good God...He knows my heart and He will help me with it all:)

I AM super excited about moving home, don’t get me wrong…I can’t wait to finally spend time with my Melb friends, and NOT try and keep up friendships over email☺ But the thing is, when you travel, and give your heart to a place like Hong Kong, of course amazing people are going to come along and change your life ☺ So one of the hardest things will be leaving my friends. I cannot begin to describe the influence and amazing impact they have had on me.

I arrived back in HK just over a year ago, and they welcomed me in with open arms...(even if I was a psycho freak who emailed everyone my life story even before I set foot in the church)...BUT, as hard as it will be saying goodbye - we are friends for life now. LIFE. (And you are ALL expected to fly back to Australia should anything “exciting” happen ok!!)

Sorry for the essay...too much going on in my head right now...crazy...

I’m now in my classroom with my beautiful babies (well, not really babies…7 years old!) and I cannot bear the thought of leaving them…must get back to making Christmas hats!!!!

Will write again soon:)

Stir it up...

Nat
xxxxx

Malaysia Bound...

2005-11-08T17:03:00.000+11:00

Hey guys!

I know I am crap and am the worst blog-updater IN the history of the world!!!!!! But I have been so insanely busy lately it's just been impossible!!!!!!

Still in HK of course, teaching away...and life is great!!!!!

So so so SO excited as tomorrow (after our Grade 3 Field Trip to the Space Museum) I am hauling my butt as fast as I can to the airport and flying out to KL to the Planetshakers Conference (www.planetshakers.com/my). I am so so so pumped, after a crazy crazy 2 months I am totally hanging for this!!!!!! I am stoked I have been granted the time off - a total miracle considering they are so tough even giving one day! Such a blessing!

School is awesome. My kids are just amazing - I never thought I could get so attached to a bunch of munchkins! They are just so so cute:) Really busy and very taxing but totally and utterly worth every second:)

Gigs have been flowing like mad, just finished a month long stint in SOHO performing with James (a c o u s t i k is our name...yeah rock on) as part of SoHoctober, so that has been full on! Every Fri night straight after Youth...but totally fun!!!! Then every Monday night I organised a street performance - complete with funk/hip hop dancers, rapping, breaking and stomp. Was so cool...trying to work out how to attach pics, have a million and I am sure it is the easiest thing ever...but clearly I haven't worked it out yet:)

Youth is cool, I am a leader and also in charge of co-ordinating the youth band, which is so so great:) The kids are totally amazing and so much fun. So this week is going to be an absolute BLAST - lots of our leaders are going, and I am just so excited about the conference, the music...and just chillin out with God and having ZERO distractionsssss!!!!!!!

In addition to this Tammy and I and some of the others are heading to Langkawi for 4 days. Man. I cannot tell you how much I need this!!! My body is sitting here screaming for it now as I type! 1 more sleep la!!!

Ok, the bell has just rung, my babies await me...double English and we are doing Haiku Poems! Cool huh!!!

Love you all lots, will update you on my return - til then...

Stir it up...

Boxy
xxxxxxxxx

Grade 3 Baby!!!

2005-08-25T21:01:00.000+10:00

Hello ah!!!!

RAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! :) How long has it been?!

First day of school yesterday and I am now a Grade 3 teacher! Ho exciting la!!! And I'm teaching Music too which I'm psyched about! Teaching at a Bilingual Private School, day 2 of Orientation today and all is good!!! 4 more days of Orientation then meeting kids next Wed! My new friend Sam and I are leading a musicals class - hello, do you think I am excited!

Just breathing for the first time this week! It's been crazy! Met with my friend's marketing company last night, they're doing a promo in SoHo next month, chatted to them re: jazz performances thru the month of Oct...and they want me to prepare a proposal for a month-long campaign for "live entertainment in SoHo", so yeah, that will be cool.

Heat is killing me. Seriously. Boiling and disgustingly humid one day. Torrential death rainstorms the next. Doesn't have the same ring as "Queensland, beautiful one day...." does it. Hmmm.

So much goin on...leading the Youth Band is proving to be more than I expected - SO AWESOME...I'm so pumped. The kids are so on fire and it's just rockin!

Janey came to visit last weekend - she can vouch for the "torrential death rainstorm" mentioned earlier...we almost were KILLED as my umbrella snapped dramatically and rapped around me like a thick sheet of plastic trying to strangle me. Yup. And I am NOT overreacting am I Janey. I have pics to prove it. We almost choked to death laughing, whilst trying to battle the tornado winds and Hong Kong killer crowds! Hilarious.

This Sunday is my last week of leading Sunday School boo hoo:( Been doing it all month, so hilarious! Picture a Jonah and the Whale skit with my friend Joshua being "spat out" all over the kids. Too funny.

Anywayyyyyyyy...yeah so lots going on! But God is doing FULL on things. Yup. Email if you can and let me know what you're up to!!!!

Bless you all to bitssssss!!!!

Big kisses
Boxy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Planet Shakers

2005-07-24T22:56:00.000+10:00

And so after a month in the Great South Land, she heads back to the land of chau siew fannnnnn (and yes I so know that is not how you spell it:) Leavin tom, 1 night in KL with one of my besties Janey, then back to HK Wed!!!

Night out with the chickas last night, tried a new hair style...we'll see how it holds up though, but of an 80s rock look but hey...sometimes these things are necessary to spice things up a bit:) He he:)

Fam lunch today here at the new house...and finnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnally got to get to Planet Shakers Church YAY!!! (Guy Sebastian's church) I mean, it was only on my list of things to do back at Christmas time...rah, was told the wrong time twice, so finally getting there tonight was an achievement!

WOW. I'm speechless. Can those kids worship. In a nutshell, it was like a Blink 182 concert. Seriously. Haven't seen a mosh pit so big since high school!! A sea of bouncing bodies! The band was amazingly and powerfully annointed, Henry Seely and his team were just phenomenal, leading the predominantly 'youthful' audience into an awesome encounter with God almost instantly. I was awestruck.

4 FULL-ON praise/punk/pop-rock tunes were belted out creating an atmosphere so passion-filled and joyeous that even my traditional Anglican Granny would have been rockin in the aisles!!! (ha ha, and as my Grandpa said to me at Hillsong..."whats with all the jumping"!!) Ah - loved it!! Then the "pre-offertory message" was given by Pastor Sam Evans - man, can that woman preach it - the Diesel-clad kids in the front row were jumping out of their seats punchin their sticker covered bibles in the air shoutin "PREACH IT!!!" as she delivered an amazing Faith message that gave me goosebumps.

So inspirational.

Massive alter-call and about 20 kids got saved...then another hour long Worship set. Insane. Followed by Pastor Russel Evans bringin the PlanetKids Leaders on stage and personally giving them a MAJOR dose of the Holy Spirit (aka "God juice") and bam, they were gone!!! It was so great!!!!

Then the Youth, Kids and Young Adults Leaders got up in between ad-lib spirit-filled singing, they shouted passionately about the amazing things God had done in their services this weekend - just amazing:) Next time I am in the country - I will be draggin peeps to come check it out!!!

Ah...so AS IF I wasn't passionate enough as it was after Hillsong he he...

AND United Live are comin in less than 2 weeks.

Stop it.

Keep on stirrin'...

Boxy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS: > > > > > Attempt something so great that failure is G U A R A N T E E D unless God steps in.

PSS: FYI Melbournians: Planet Shakers City Church - Story Hall, RMIT, cnr Swanston & La Trobe - 6pm Sat, 3:45 & 6pm Sun. DO IT. www.planetshakers.com

This one goes out to Peta...

2005-07-20T18:10:00.000+10:00

He he:) Just cos I know you love the dedications...do you love it!

Just about to head out for a catch up with my good friend Georgie...who is getting married soon! YAY! I'm getting prepared for the "head tilt-eat with all the food on one side of my mouth" thang, since I had my wisdom tooth yanked yest! OUCH! 4 times for the anasthetic to work..CHEH! Oh and the fact that the roots were totally curved made it an even more delightful experience! Love it!!!

Sun's just gone down, the lake is like glass, and the sky looks like a painting:) God is awesome:)

Ok must be off now...listening to Salvation Is Here of the Hillsong United album...get it.

Stir it up...

Boxy
xxxxxx

Sick as a dogggg

2005-07-13T20:34:00.000+10:00

Ah.

Why do we, as human beings, CONSTANTLY allow ourselves to run-on-empty, time and time again, thinking we can "do it all", never stopping for a break, or a healthy meal, with the knowledge mind you, that the last time we did this, we were totally slapped in the face with every illness known to man (and yes all at the same time) the second we stopped this insane GO GO GO mentality.

Ah. Such is the life of a stupid 27 year old.

Maybe next time I will learn:)

BUT...having said that I am liking recovering and being sooky sooky la la in our new house on the lake:) Melbourne is rockin it...here for a little longer...the fresh air and sky is just lovely:)

Will write more when my fingers have defrosted...

Blessings:)

Boxy

Not enough space...

2005-07-11T12:10:00.000+10:00

To capture the emotions evoked from this past week, that are brewing inside this body of mine...

It's too much. TOO MUCH!!!!!

Hillsong was trully amazing. Despite having WAY too many people, but hey, what a problem to have at a Christian Conference hey:) So many inspiring teachers and just a BUZZ that I cant explain!!! Man God is cool.

Perspective is a great thing. If we can get it.

It's left me with one question...how is MY life working towards fulfilling the dreams, allowing myself to share in the desires, walking in the promises of my Creator. I WANT SO MUCH MOREEEEEEEEEEEE LA!!!! Come onnnn...this life is not enough!

Ah...it's not possible to understand how much He has planned for us. It's too big. Just a tiny inch would be amazing...whatever it is that stirs us, that bubbles our excitement in this life, that gives us butterflies - that is NOTHING compared to what could be ours.

If we seek it.

So I encourage you. Seek God. Just ask him.

What have you got to lose.

Nothing.

What have you got to gain.

Everything:)

Be blessed and dont miss out on the BEST.

In His Mighty Name,
Nat:)
xx

PS - I'm in Oz til the 27th...0403 186 502 xx.

Christianity In My Eyes

2005-06-27T23:48:00.000+10:00

Hey guys:) How are you all...

I am currently sitting here in shorts and a singlet and slippers...sweating my butt off in this heat! Ho yit la!

Just wanted to blog about something really dear to me...and it's funny, cos I've been assuming a lot of things of late, and have just realised that my Dad was right. I should never assume. There are many people out there who are getting all these emails from me and going...um...Nat's a Christian?...um...what the...?

:) As most of you know I've changed heaps over the past year. And yeah I'm a Christian again.

But since I am over here and away from everything back home, I guess the change is hard to digest and understand. It's easy for me, hey I'm here and I'm me, so it's kinda self-explanatory:) He he.

I grew up in an amazing Christian family and became a Christian when I was 13 years old. But I didn't really understand what it all meant until last year.

So anyway...I left Australia last July thinking I was totally in control of my life, off to Boston to realise my dream to study music at Berklee followed by a hot-shot gig at a 5 star hotel. Cool. Life sorted. Ironically it was at that moment what God stepped in and was like "um...do you really think this is ALL that I have planned for your life? I have much more for you than this".

I walked away from God when I was about 17...and from then until the age of 26 and a half I thought I could do this "life" thing on my own.

Sure I could, to an extent...but I have realised now, that I was selling myself waaaaaaaaaay short. I was living what I thought was the best life I could lead. Had wicked friends (which I still have) amazing family (ditto) and an awesome job singing (ditto again), but yet...I was still searching. For more. Heaps more. More than just "work/friends/home/family/work/friends/family/home". It wasn't enough.

Although in my head I wondered about God, my stubbornness and self-righteousness kept my mind from thinking anymore about it.

Until I was on the aeroplane. Boston bound.

I know many of you have seen The Passion, and I am sure you all have mixed opinions of it, but my belief, wherever I was "at" at that particular moment in time, was that wherever I stood with God, I knew that I still believed in Him, and in Jesus and in the bible.

Watching that movie was like coming home. I saw in that Cathay Pacific TV screen, what Jesus did for me. For me.

At that moment, all my stupid barriers fell down and I suddenly realised that if Jesus can die on the cross for me, then I can at least give him the benefit of the doubt. So I questioned him. Ok God, show me?! Hello? If you are real? Prove it.

I cant even tell you the millions of things that have happened between that moment and now, to confirm that I DO infact (as does every soul on this earth) have someone in control of my life, someone who is faithful, watching out for me, taking the pressure off me, to take care of me, who will never ever EVER forsake me no matter what I do and how crap I am and continue to be, who suffered the worst pain ever imaginable and laid down His life for me. For me. Someone who loves me unconditionally, and that I can trust in with every inch of myself, and that is a damn good feeling considering the state of this world today :)

This is why I really dont like it when people call it a religion.

Cos it's not. I just have a relationship with Jesus. That's it. I believe He's the Son of God who came to this earth to set us free from our crap. And man does this earth have crap. And so now, I've asked for Him to forgive me for dumb things I've done, and so now...you guessed it...freedom. An unbelievably amazing feeling of joy that I cannot explain to you, except to tell you that I have lived without God and I have lived with God.

I have walked both paths. And seriously I couldn't even bear to go back even for a second. I used to go to church with my brother JB (now a Youth Pastor he he) and we would sit in the back row and mock everyone. Wondering what they were doing and why they were "worshipping" like that. I didn't get it.

But I do now. And I cant put it anymore simply than this. God put us on earth for a plan and a purpose. There are no accidents. And we all have a choice. And if we are living without Him, then we are not living to our best. He has proved to me in a million ways that He is real. And I completely trust Him with my life. It's not about rules and regulations. The only rules are simply to live the way Jesus would live. The passion inside me is indescribable. I thought I used to love singing, but when I sing in church it's like...ahhh...I cant be anymore passionate if I tried!!! And I am passionate about telling my story to the younger generation, who are seeking this "something more" even more than us, and they're finding it in all kinds of destructive ways. They have so much to offer yet they are constantly squashed by negativity imparted on them. It's crazy.

And the reason I go to church so much is cos I love it:) He he.

I cant get enough of it.

And THIS is why I am so freakin' excited about Hillsong...big church conference in Sydney next week http://www.hillsong.com/hillsongconference/bin/view.pl?sitename=hillsongconference&page=nights&showhillsong=true ow yeah.

Sorry to crap on but lots of people have been asking questions, what's going on with me and where it all came from, so I hope it answers some of your questions...and keep em' comin:)

Bless you heaps...Melbournians, see you in 2 days............................I am so excited I can hardly BREATHE!!!!!!!!

Stir it up

Love Boxy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

9 sleeps til Aussie!!!

2005-06-23T01:14:00.000+10:00

Well after 80,000 million litres of water having flown from the heavens above Hong Kong in the last 5 days...one would thought we'd have HAD ENOUGH?!?!?!?!?

.

Clearly not. AH. Combine torrential rain with humidity and it is NOT good. SO looking forward to being in cold, DRY Australia!! 9 sleeps!

.

Seriously, I almost got WASHED down the alleyway today. Not good.

So so looking forward to it, will be in Melbs for 3 days (night out on the town on Fri 2nd Melbournites) before roadtripping up to Sydders with the fam for Hillsong - a christian conference that is going to be a-ma-zing - ah, so stoked for it, meeting up with 1/2 of The Vine (my church here in HK) once we get there so it's going to be a blast. God is going to do amazing things...watch this space.

.

Then after that I am driving back down to Melbs with Catrina and my gorgggggeous Emmy...I am just so so excited to see them I cant contain myself!!!

Currently staying at my darling friends Matt & Peta's house, I move into my new abode on Sat - yay, praise the LORD. I mean I've only moved 5 times since arriving in HK last September:)

.

Had a ball last weekend at the wedding of the year...the gorgeous Derek & Janice are finally married. After the most beautiful ceremony we partied well into the night overlooking HK's infamous skyline. James, Dave, Ben & I were honoured to be the musos for the evening - whipped it up with a bit of "It's not unusual to be loved by anyone" - HIL-arious!!!! Then we all cabbed it up back to Matt & Peta's for a qual sing-a-long sesh for, ooh, another 4 hours!

.

Massssssssssssssssssive night.

.

Ok la...tjsau la - ho gwoy ah (tired!) got my babies tomorrow, for the 3rd last time! Finishing up at Sunshine House next Wed. Summer Hols now and I have decided not to go back... Am going to be just a tad emotional on the last day I would imagine. Saying bye bye to my first class ever:(

See you Aussies in OZ next Fri...

Stir it up.

Boxy
xxx

20 chicks dressed in black...

2005-06-13T01:36:00.000+10:00

Ah, well, feeling quite exhausted today. Two of my good friends, Derek & Janice, are getting married next week...and of course last night, being the week before the wedding, was the last chance for crazinesssssssssssssssssssssss on both parts!!!! So 20 of us chicks got kitted up in our sporty do's and rockclimbed all afternoon - so fun la! Then sweated our way back to the Grand Hyatt where we all showered and lazed in the scrumptious suite overlooking Hong Kong whilst eating rubbish, listenin to funky tunes and talking crap!

Champers was popped, make-up was applied, moves were swung, we glammed up to the max and hit the town for dinner and dares (I had to hug 10 randoms on the street whilst Cece had to pinch their butts whilst saying 'hey baby' - nice). The boys' Bucks night was, among other things, craziness on a hired-tram...which just happened to pass our restaurant, so we raced down to tart ourselves and grab a sneaky pick of the groom in hot pink hotpants and other tasteful garments!

The black mamas continued on by strutting through Wan Chai, completing random dares along the way before heading back to the hotel for elicit gift giving! Eek!!!! Lots of 'interesting ideas'...lets just leave it at that shall we...

Then...the 80s music was pumped and more champers flowed, then we all got a second wind and headed out for serious boogying.

4 hours later we were all jumpin like 'homys' to "jump around, jump up jump up and get down". Ah too funny. Such a good night...

Managed to get up and do children's church this morning which was a great feat I think!!!!!!

Anyway...stay tuned for the update after next Saturday's wedding activities...I'm moving this week - yay! No more shoebox!!!!!

Stir it up.

Boxy
xxx

PS - I am now a spy. Dressed up as Violet from Incredibles for my kids party yesterday. Man it was too cool. Red lycra, black boots and hotpants and black mask. I seriously felt like Angelina Jolie...

Oh my GOT...

2005-05-31T17:21:00.000+10:00

Hey guys:)

Sitting in Pacfic Coffee chillin' before heading off for my next lesson, Rex. He is a 14 year old boy, actually more like a man-child...and he crrrracks me up. My friends here are already aware of the quirks of this young boy...one of many being, the minute I walk through the door, he walks from his bedroom, looks over my shoulder at the clock and in the most monotone voice you could ever imagine utters "to-day-we finish-at-um...6:30". Now the fact that his lesson starts at 5pm and finishes at 7pm doesn't seem to be an affecting factor..."his" finishing time changes daily, sometimes it's 6:30, and sometimes he likes to mix it up a bit for a bit of variety and just whack in the old "6:25". Classic. He is hilarious and he IS actually learning a lot (in the short time we have together due to the constantly changing finishing time!!!).

My all time favourite is when I try and get excited about giving him an essay or exercise or something (ok, I admit, I do sound like a fanger) but his immediate reaction is putting his thumb and first finger on the bridge of his nose as if I have given him a huge headache, and it's the biggest problem IN the world, he closes his eyes and says "Oh my GOT" (as in 'Oh my God'...but the accent just makes it hysterical). Ah, yep, he pretty much does this on a daily basis too.

So so funny.

So there you have Rex.

I must be off now, he is awaiting:) Will be in touch re today's finishing time:) He he...

Stir it up.

Boxy
xxxxxxx

And the point would be...?

2005-05-23T21:55:00.000+10:00

Can I just say, what is the point of humidity. Seriously. I cannot seem (apart from the lovely lush greenery I see before my eyes) to see the point of it, apart from to cause complete and utter devastation and torture to all those living under it's spell.

Sorry had to vent. Just over it! I mean I love the temperature, and the fact that for 8 months of the year in HK you can get away with flip flops, but ya know, sometimes I just wish I could build a giant dehumidifier and whack it on top of IFC and just turn it on full ball and just lap up the dryness of it all.

Anyway, I will stop. Apart from that, life is good! Had a massive youth event/dance party at church on Sat night, our second "THIRST" of the year and this one definately superceded all expectations. We had hundreds of kids and young adults acting like psychos and just going sick for Jesus. Love it. The music was phenomenal, I loved being part of it...it was rocking - smoke machine did cause a few coughs in my mic though...woopsie:) But the live music after was so so much fun. Dave and Ephraim the superstars belted out tunes, as did James and I (even sung an original - his music my lyrics...I have been super scared and have been making the most stupid excuses about walking across the "singing my own songs in front of people" bridge for way too long and decided to just do it). Hello. Get over it Nat. So I did. SO fun! It's amazing what God can do when you just put your faith in him. Crazy man.

Then, it was like Chaps-maiiiittttee, the strobe lights began flickin, the decks started pumpin' and the 'rave' began:) Oh moh Gosh maiiiiittteee....it was so cool. He he - well, I mean, it was basically like your average rave, just without some "key ingredients" - quite refreshing actually. So the sweat poured, moves were busted and pics were snapped - will whack them up soon, when I find my cable. Schweeeet.

It was funny, being in amongst all that, the vibe, the lights, the DJ, the same exact house tunes played at any club or party in the world, made me think...what is it really that makes the two environments so different? Interesting.

So tired today though. Ah, I struggled to get up this morning, but once I saw my munchkins, and Toby and Xavier ran with open arms and grinning to hug me, suddenly I was re-energised:) Ah they are so adorable. So not the same little babies I began teaching last September. They are little people now. Speaking, (not always coherent but still) understanding (not always obeying but hey) and when their little eyes light up it is just the most rewarding thing ever:) Toby is obessed with my jewellery, he's a classic, everyday I have a new colour bracelet on and he just grins and goes in for the grab. I dont think I will tell his Dad just yet...

But I yeah, sadly I wont be returning to the old "Sunshine House" next year...just want to do something a little different, I actually have a few things on the cards right now, some projects set up for my return from Oz in mid July. I have a lot of gig contacts now, both musicians, agents and potential entertainees! It's amazing the people you meet teaching in so many homes! So I am currently planning the initial stages of my own music agency. Yup. With all these contacts, it's really just all falling into place. A bit exciting:) Got a few private functions coming up with my crazy talent-freak friends, and I'm gonna use that as a platform to really market the concept.

Sorry if I am boring you all with my crrrrrrrrrrrrrapping on, it's just that I am realising I haven't written for SUCH a long time and there is so much to say! Rah! But hey, the beauty of this thing is you can just jump on whenever and say hi...nice one.

Well it is now 8:28pm and I have had a rather full day. Bed at 3am (dont ask...stupidity) then up at 7, taught this mornin, lunch with my lovely friend Mandy then rehearsal with Sarah for the women's event next week at church which I am co-leading worship for...eek!!! ON GUITAR AS WELL! Ah! Ho scary la!!!!!!

It's funny cos I have never jumped in so many deep ends at such short intervals in my LIFE. It's such an amazing feeling, being stretched so much...

God is so full on. Cant explain it. Love it. AHHHHHHHHHH.

OK...well...I am off now, got more practice to do, see I really am obessesed! HA!

Talk soon k

Okbye
Nat
xxxx

Ok, clearly I am a little slow...

2005-05-20T00:18:00.000+10:00

Hi there...

Welcome to my Blog. I'm quite glad to be typing this finally.

OK, story goes...my dear friend Derek set this up for me, ooh, about 5 months ago.

Anywayyyyyyy...I have just figured out how to access it. Nice. So from now, hopefully I will be on the ball and updating and prettying it up as often as possible.

It's 10:23pm on Thursday May 19, it's my Mumma's birthday tomorrow and I am currently sitting here listening to my new Matchbox 20 cd. Gotta love them. Reminds me of first year uni...ah memories:) Just been rehearsing for gigs coming closer by the day eek, have to get back to my guitar now...she is screaming for me!

Anyway...will run now and will be back soon!

Word.

Love Nat:)
xxx