So it's not unknown to many of you how much I enjoy knitting and crocheting. And it's not unknown that I am studying nursing and finding out some pretty awesome and mind-blowing things. While studying is enjoyable because I like what I'm learning about, I also need some time away from study, and essays and mini online tests. During this 'downtime' I like to watch T.V. shows, like I'm currently making my way through season 7 of House, I also have been busily finishing off a blanket I started yonks ago (last year) and finally finished it and wanted to share with you.
I've also been making a few things for my niece but I want them to be a surprise for my sis!! Linking up today with Jess for
So it's been over a year since I posted this list of 25 things to do by the time I'm 25 and I wanted to update it, so here is my updated version!
Pay off my car
Visit all the towns in the song "I've been Everywhere" (a photo with every town sign)
Finish my degree
Earn a living
Create my own pattern
Knit a jumper
Crochet a blanket
Overseas trips (to England; still working on it!)
Further my AUSLAN study
Learn a language (French or Russian)
Read 200 books
Write a story
Do a counselling course
Develop good eating habits Was going really well, but then I got married. So trying to fix it up again!
Get fitAgain was doing well... then I got married
Write a song, lyrically and musically
Read the OT and NT of the bible
Read all the novels on my shelf (doesn't equate to 200 books but it's a start)
Apply and get in to CSU
Own all the F.R.I.E.N.D.S dvds myself (moving away from home, need my own collection!)
Improve my photographer skills (maybe take a course)
Use up all the wool I've had since I was 15!
Paint our house (once we've moved in!)
Get Married
Move to Wagga Wagga
"A goal without a plan is just a wish" -Larry Elder
Not doing too bad, 6 out of 25 is getting there. Once I get closer to 25, which is still a couple years away, I may change it to 30byThirty, I already know of one that I could add to that list that isn't on this one!!! Any guesses what that is??? Hint: my sister's about to be one again!
So I’ve been learning a LOT in class so far, and one of the
things I’m starting to get the hang of it essay writing. I hate essay writing,
I hate looking for references and I hate trying to think of my own argument but
then to make it sound legitimate by backing it up with someone else’s quotes.
Fun stuff really.
But I digress, the point of this post isn’t to bore you on
all the details of my new adventures into academic writing, or to tell how well
I’ve been doing in my marks so far (except sociology, but really, it’s
sociology).
One of the main things that has been coming out of my
classes, sort of like a theme running, is the inequality of health around the
world and even in our backyards.
The life expectancy rate of an aboriginal is shockingly low
compared to that of a Caucasian, as well as that of rural dwellers to city
dwellers.
There is a 31 per cent increase in C-section births in 2007
than compared to 18 per cent from 1991.
Citizens of Africa can expect to live at least 40 years less
than that of Americans or Australia.
Russia’s life expectancy has decreased by 11 years since the
end of the USSR.
The question we are asked about this is why? Why are all
these things happening in society today where health is so well known about,
preventative measures are so well thought out.
About three-quarters of deaths under the age of 75 are
considered preventable!
And chlamydia rates are rising!!!
No seriously go look up that statistic. In this day and age,
where sex education is told throughout schools, safe sex is advocated
everywhere you look, adults aren’t pretending like there kids aren’t having
sex, so they give them the information for them to have safe sex. So why are STI’s
on the rise!!
Some things baffle me, but some things sadden and hurt me
deeply.
Blood minerals and phantom aid, has anyone heard of these?
If you’ve seen the movie blood diamond you already have a
glimpse of what blood minerals are, take for example the mines in the Congo,
have hundreds of workers being beaten and rapped on a daily basis, and all to
extract minerals from the earth and rocks.
I’m not naïve, the minerals they are finding, are the ones
they use in this here laptop and my mobile phone, minerals that I don’t even
realise are in my computer, and that someone somewhere half way across the
globe is beaten so that I can have my laptop.
It’s horrible and it makes me sick.
Phantom aid is another topic we learnt about today, in sociology
actually, what I thought would be a boring topic turns out to be pretty
interesting.
Now if you don’t know what Phantom Aid is, it is where the
countries that gives aid, such as America, Britain, Australia and Canada, give
aid to countries that are having difficulties, such as a natural disaster where
they are unable to help themselves, these countries give them money. But
there’s a catch. Like there always is with money.
If America gives money for aid assistance, they will
stipulate that they can only use food grown by American farmers, and only if
they use America shipping containers, to get them there. So in effect, what
America is doing by giving this money to poorer countries, putting these
restrictions on it, they are basically using their own money to fund their own
economy. These countries also then have to pay the higher pay rates for
American produce and carriers, so more of their aid money is taken up by this
when they could put this money in to their own economy, to create jobs in their
own country, save some money on the cost of food, and maybe be able to put some into medicine, education, better infrastructure, and all these types of things, but
they can’t because they are having to buy more expensive food.
Or for example, when a country pledges money to another
country and says, we will help you build this dam, only if you use our
consultants and our builders and constructors. So effectively, half the aid
money that is pledged never actually leaves the country.
This kind of aid needs to stop, and I’m quite happy to say
that Australia has become stipulation free in its aid giving. But it is still
very prevalent in other countries and I encourage you to go research it if you
don’t already know!
Why have I never heard of phantom aid? In a world with
fast news and thorough in depth investigations like all the advertisement says,
why do I not know about the people suffering for the things I use!
Here is a clip we watched at school today it is a bit sad
but what makes us sad, is what people are living through. I think we can take
the time out of our busy lives to pray, to think of, and maybe
even see what difference we can do on our side of the world. Because nothing
will change if someone doesn’t take the first step!
Congo: Blood, gold and mobile phones
I know it a bits late but I'm linking up with Jess for
I've always cherished family. The time spent with them and the memories made with them. One of my childhood memories that I really savour is back in the 90's when my family had christmas at Aunty J's house. Christmas' were always special, not only the birth of our saviour but the time spent specifically with family. This christmas sticks in my mind because that year my brother and sister and I got water pistols for christmas, which we thought were awesome, and like all good kids, we took every present we got from christmas to our Aunty's house to play with. This christmas happened to be a really hot day and so our water pistols came in handy when playing around with our other cousins. So the day just basically escalated into a full blown water fight. Not just a kids water fight, a whole family water fight. Our older cousins would go into the house and drag all the older aunty's and uncles out and we would dump water buckets all over them. It was a great day and we caught a lot of it on camera. What I liked most about this day is that everybody joined in, older and younger all helped each other out to create a day that stays in my memory and built the foundation of the importance of family in my mind. Family compares to no other relationship. It is an example of unconditional love, love that isn't dependant on what you bring to the table but that you are just at the table. Family is a sliver of the unconditional love that God shows us everyday. This past week has been incredibly sad as we sad goodbye to our Aunty J. So many memories were made over those years and I will hold them close to my heart. I look up to Aunty J and my Grandma, the stories I heard about their life, their dedication to educating those in need, helping in all areas for those in need, mentoring young adults to become real people in Christ and following their calling. So many stories were told at Aunty J's funeral, her four children and husband got up and said an incredibly heartfelt, tearful and wonderful eulogy, about the life of Aunty J, how she loved her family, her neighbours and how much she loved her Almighty God and Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart, she knew what death would be, to be with her creator who loved her more than anyone on this earth could. I admire the courage my cousins and uncle had at speaking at Aunty J's funeral, I can't even imagine what that must have felt like. Knowing Aunty J is in heaven with Lord Jesus and we will see her again is the one saving grace from having to say goodbye to someone way to early. The sunshine through the rain, the silver lining. Living with the knowledge that death can not separate us, death can not hold us, the fear of death is gone and life after death is assured. We are not made for nothing, we are more than just the atoms that make us up. God made us for a reason, for a purpose, to love Him, to worship Him, to live life with Him, and that's exactly what Aunty J did. We are not bound by rules and obligations but by the desires of our heart to do good and to love our neighbours, help our neighbours and love Jesus with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Cherish the time we have on earth because it is fleeting, it doesn't last forever, death is not a choice, but the way in which you chose to die is. RIP Aunty J, no need to say goodbye, just that I'll see you later!!!
