I'd like you to meet....

Anthony Paul Pendlebury Brown - he's my boyfriend!!!

.anthony.

Much love,

AJ Xx

More details of him & his loveliness next post...

6 Months Today

It's 6 months today since I lost my mum at 7:55pm on Thursday 29th July 2010.

I remember waking up 4:30am the morning of her funeral and being stumped as to what to say about her. I felt no words could ever encapsulate the amazing person that she was, or could ever describe how much i was going to miss her... this is what I came up with...

"My Mummy...

I remember going to church when I was little with my mum, me vomiting in church - mum cleaning it up, mum playing with my ear while my head rested on her knee during the sermon, waking up at night as a 4 yr old and her being in my room praying over me.

I don't have any really amazing funny stories for you today, even though she was really, really funny and fun to be around - all I remember is mum ALWAYS just being there.

I had the amazing privilege of living with mum for 25.5 years - what you saw outside our home - at church, work, out shopping or in a cafe, was the same Mary we saw at home. A beautiful, strong, loving, caring, kind, thoughtful, consistent, generous person. One that I am so very going to miss having around.

Mum was always keen for an afternoon coffee, Saturday coffee or a spontaneous skim cappuccino in a mug - I loved being the gooseberry the last few years when mum and dad went out for cuppas - even if they didn't. Mum never made me feel like the gooseberry.

14 days ago while us kids were packing up their house in Charters Towers I had the greatest privilege of listening to my parents pray - I'm not sure if they realised I was there - but I stayed anyway. Mum and dad used to tell us kids they prayed for us, their partners and grand babies every morning - that morning I heard mum pray to God through her pain, discomfort and nausea and sickness - my mum was a faithful woman. I used to love coming home from my morning walks and seeing mum with her bible out, journal and pen in hand and praying in the lounge room with Molly (the dog) nearby somewhere - usually at her feet. My mum loved God so much.

Last week mum said she wanted to see each of us kids in heaven with dad - the place that we know she is because of her love for Jesus here on earth. I know she would extend that invitation to each and every one of you in this room, mum loved people, so I know she'd wanna sit with you at a cafe in heaven on the streets of gold and have a cuppa with you when you arrive.

I'm really gonna miss you mum, your smile, your laugh, your beautiful soft hands, your random calls, seeing you in church, doing your hair, at Christmas time, on mothers day (because u were the best mum ever) I'm gonna miss not having you there on my wedding day, I'm gonna miss talking to you about anything, anytime, I'm just going to miss you.

To mummy, you are the most beautiful person I know. Thank you for being a beautiful example of love. You taught me so much, I want to be exactly like you. I love u so much and thank you for being an amazing role model.
I will miss you.
Love AJ .
P.S you are really, really, really hot."

.my.beautiful.mum.

Thanks for stopping by,

Much love

AJ Xx

P.S Next blog I'll be introducing you to someone pretty amazing! You won't want to miss this introduction!!

Aunty Lucy

Yesterday, at around 7:45pm dad got a voice mail off his brother, Bob, it was about my aunty Lucy. Bob had rung to tell us that after a long battle with cancer, his wife, Lucy had passed away at lunch time.

.our.last.visit.to.their.home.

Over the last few months dad and I have traveled up to the Sunshine Coast to see Lucy a couple of times. I am blessed to have reestablished a connection with my cousin, Bob & Lucy's daughter, Kylie. Kylie and I 'get' each other. Just a few months ago on my first visit in a long time, Kylie & I chatted about my mum, her mum and the sadness & grief we were both feeling. Sickness & death of a family member (in this scenario - our mum's) is very hard on a family. I won't say I know & understand exactly how Kylie feels, but I think I may have a little insight, perhaps...

Since Kylie & I first chatted, I have had such compassion for her... I've texted and on occasions called her whenever I thought of her. The last few months she has been a very busy daughter, sister, friend, co-worker and mum herself - looking after her teenage children. When I heard yesterday about her mum, my heart sank for Kylie, I remember the day after my mum had passed away, there is no words to describe how I felt....

If you are a pray-er please pray for my family at this time...

Much love,

AJ Xx