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July 10 the unknown...wyd sydney 2008what lies within us is far greater than what lies behind us and before us...
 Folks am off to World Youth Day in Sydney on Mon morn, departing from friend's house on bus at 4.00am, with 42 other young people. I just remembered the last time I embarked on the twelve hour bus trip to Sydney was three weeks after I set foot on Aussie soil in 1988. Wow...a lil time ago and then I was on a mission to sell Collier's encyclopaedias to make a quick buck to get around Aus before I left, a year later for England
 . It was there that I was to meet the father of my children. Got more than I ever dreamed of!!!This time 'round am on a voyage of a different sort. Am hoping that in my mingling with 200,000 people from around Aus and the globe that I will make earnings of a different sort. A new spirit and a new heart are some of the word that spring forth. However, the unknown leaves me mystified. Sleeping on floor of a primary school in Mosman, a pretty suburb in North Sydney with 186 others, not to mention sharing a shower with them makes the body twitch into several different states of frozen composure. We have been asked to bring swimmers so that we can shower modestly, if we wish...hmmm
 . I know that we will have event and fun packed days....non stop entertainment even on Darling Harbour. Collecting our evening meal, breakfast and lunch for next day prior to sleeping over on Randwick Racecourse are some of the mind boggling items on the agenda that we are aware of. We will wake up to the actual World Youth Day in the presnce of Pope Benedict XVI and 500,000 people. I actually saw Pope John Paul II, in Ireland, when I was a mere 15 years old, in similar circumstances.
Yes, I have shopped for the thermals and rain proof gear and now have to make sure that luggage is only 20kgs...a tall ask for a diva who likes to pack a suitcase of "what ifs" when just going away for a two night stay over at a five star hotel on the Gold Coast.
I am reminded of the catchcry for World Youth Day: "A tourist needs a map, a pilgrim finds a way". It is my hope that I do find a way that is so much more than I imagined and that all who cross my path are better for having done so. Have a great few weeks folk! Until we chat again...namaste...carpe diem...slan...farewell...blessings.
 July 06 these are the daysinsights
 Now, that I have "me time" I take time to do what I like best: eat salad, sip coffee on the verandah and read whilst I listen to my latest CD (Chirs Brown or Fleetwood Mac). And of course blog my insights from the last three months of what seemed like a whirlwind spin.
This year, I have enrolled myself in a leadership course for middle management, called OUT OF THE BOX. I have enjoyed meeting up with the other 15 who also play a vital role in the running of the everyday educational expectations of a Catholic College. What have I learnt this year about leadership?
Read:
Reading:
tuesdays with Morrie, is an apt way of succintly expressing what I am attempting to fulfill by undertaking the above mentioned course. It is also a fantastic and realistic insight into what being true to yourself entails. This book is truly an astoundingly honest exchange between a student and his dying Professor. It very simply sums up the core of living "...The culture we have does'nt make people feel good about themeselves. And you have to be strong enough to say to yourself, if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it. So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they are busy doing somethings they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to something that gives you purpose and meaning."
 The happenings during the past week have reminded me of what is truly important to us. Going out for dinner to the Japanese restaurant at Portside with the admin team reminded me of the power of a great team. Our time together further accentuates the meaning behind the dynamics of the great team that we belong to. Not once did we discuss work...pheww. We didn't need to as we had too much to catch up on re our families and global happenings. Not to mention the delight we take in the fun we have together over scrumptious food.
 Having spent time with another beautiful friend from work and her family, we were reminded of the radiant tapestry of growth that comes from our friendship that we have shared over the past five years. From our struggles and pain in our individual paths we have been able to recognise, on many occasions, the phoenix burning in those ashes. We both have survived stormy break ups with the fathers of our children and yet we can laugh and cringe through the strife that life can bring us. Our strong faith has enabled us to take and treasure invaluable life lessons. This morning we hiked out to the local Church to celebrate our blessing for our departure to World Youth Day Sydney 2008 with 40 other young people. Yes, we consider oursleves still "young"...hehehe. Perhaps, that is the secret to the constant spring of energy that is a hallmark of our working relationship.
Having spent time on the Bunya mountains with a friend and her family from way back (met each other 15 years ago/post children), made us realise what a wonderful exchange we have. Our amicable and fun filled support that we lend each other, when together, enables the household of eight kids and three adults to indulge in moments that we will treasure forever. Whether it be sitting by the log fire in our PJs sipping coffees and chatting until 10.30 in the morning or putting our children straight regarding the dreaded household chores, we still manage to laugh.
Colleen and I were left to pack up the tribe on the last day to find that her Tarago had a flat battery. Our two oldest boys went hunting for jumper leads which didn't seem to work the anticipated trick. I then had to skip next door, hoping to find a handyman who could solve our dilemma. Sure enough we found a lovely Pommie gentleman who got us out of the mountains. Meanwhile, both of us were in our own way praying our way from one problem to another. The last exchange we shared was one where the children swapped Christian worship CDs. Needless to say, we were raised to another level on the way back to our everyday existence.
 Spending time with my beautiful brother, his wife and three adorable cherubs made me realise how much I had pushed them out of the picture over the past three months. The busyness of our working/school life meant that we got caught up in our own little spin. Going to the local Italian restaurant, with my sister-in-law, whilst the others watched the long awaited State of Origin final, reminded me of the richness of the exchange that we share on a presonal and professional level. Having the four and two year old nephew sleep over on Firday night brought so much tender and hilarious fun to the household. Julie, my sister-in-law's beautiful gifts to us on Saturday further sealed the wrapping on the exquisite rich treasure that we share as a family. During our time together we talked about family issues and she suggested that we pray a beautiful prayer "...I’ll take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
(Jeremiah 29) for Tommy, my 16 year old nephew in Ireland who is struggling with teen issues. All of the family will pray this prayer at the same time every day. Julie has already experienced the power of this prayer when praying for her young friend who was given up for dead with lymphatic cancer last year. What a wonderful link we share!
How lucky are we to have such positive and enriching people in our lives right now!! How much more fortunate am I to have another week of catching up with more wonderful folk and myself (of course), before I head off for World Youth Day in Sydney, next Monday morning! Real living is awesome.
 "Happiness,” wrote Yeats, “is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing.” July 04 just be... "Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like no-one's watching. Sing like no-one's listening. Live like there's no tomorrow. Fear like a stone."  Two weeks holidays leaves me lapping up and loving:
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