Highlight Real!

Hi Everyone!

Yes, I am back, I'll be blogging again! It's time to start writing again...

So here's what has happened in my life in the last 18 months...



I got married...
(to the absolute most stand out guy on the planet... Love you Anthony!)

{.love of my life.}

I got pregnant...
(Woo!)

{.37 weeks pregnant.}

And had a baby...
(Jeremiah Fox Brown)

{.Jerry.}

And I now have a 6 month old...

(The cutest kid alive!)

{.bow ties by aunty kirsty.}

Don't worry... there's more to come.

Love AJ Xx

77 sleeps to go...

There's lots to do between now and December 17th...

- invites to go out
- invites to be made
- doily bunting to be sewed (and lots of it!)
- Band to be organised!
- decorations to be made (and bought!)
- bridesmaids to dress
- jewellery
- this list could go on.... But I'm gonna stop!!!!

The countdown is on, and I am enjoying the journey with Anthony Paul Pendlebury Brown, he's a good egg, and I am absolutely stoked to be marrying him. He's the kindest person I know.... I'm gonna forget about the list for now... it'll get done... if it doesn't, who cares (I know there's some people out there freaking as I say that! Ha!)
Anthony will be there December 17th and THAT is all that matters!

Much love

AJ Xx

Ps for all wedding updates follow @tones1986 and I (@ajtyson) on twitter

I Love This Man...

.anthony.

He's a good man...
I could not have gotten through the last year without him...
He's such a blessing...
Thank you Jesus for @tones1986

.love.

First Wedding Anniversary Without Her...

He's an amazing man...

It's One year Today....

Since my sister and I were happily watching Grand Designs, when we got the call off my mum to tell us she had in operable cancer...

It was about lunch time... Mum made us put her on speaker phone so she could talk to us both... as mum spoke Kirsty and I sat there silently in tears...

We got off the phone...

We sat around all afternoon in shock....

We loved our mum so much and we miss her muchly...

Please be praying for my family at this time...

Much love AJ Xx

Birthday

It's 45 minutes until I turn 28... never again will I hear my birth story off my mum...

Last year I got these boots off her for my 27th birthday... I had fallen in love with them and put them on layby, mum paid the rest of the layby... Birthdays were mum's specialty... I miss her. Tomorrow will be my first birthday without her.

.hot.boots.

I'm Engaged!

Yep! I'm engaged to the most loveliest man on the planet... Mr Anthony Paul Pendlebury Brown. Our big day will be the 17th December 2011. He did everything perfectly right from the beginning...he woo'd, he asked my dad if he could date me, he ran on time every date, bought me flowers, chocolates, took me out for dinner many times, protects my heart, loves me, treats me with such respect, honour and dignity. He loves me. Before he asked me to marry him he spoke to his pastor and my dad... he is the man and always has my best interests at heart, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him... I have known Anthony for 3 years, not well, but I have seen (and heard) about him! In mid November I attended a 'Rise Youth' combined youth night at his church, got a flat tyre on the way saw him singing on the night, left with a sore throat without even talking to him, added him on Facebook, he accepted my friend request that night, wrote on my wall the next morning, I spent the next 3 days in bed with bacterial tonsilitus and I've heard from him everyday since. I love him, and could not imagine my life without him...the thought of it devastates me. There has been mixed responses about our 'quick' engagment, generally from people who don't know us as a couple. I don't worry about those people. They're annoying, but my focus is on my future God has set before me and to run my race well, not comparing myself with anyone else or their relational course that God has set before them. I'm concerned on running my race well. I feel like I've known him forever. Í feel like he is a very generous gift from God and my mum. My dad loves him, my family love him. I love him. I am a very blessed woman. He has been worth the wait. More to come! Xx

So, about his loveliness...

The 2nd of March was mum's birthday. I had planned to go to work, just like every other work day, but dad was away and housemate was up the coast. I was alone in the house. Most days I can pull myselt together, but that day I couldn't. The tears wouldn't stop flowing. I called for a casual to come in and do my classes... I wasn't going to push myself.

Word got around to mum's Hill Street friend aka her bestie that I wasn't doing too well, she called that morning, came down from the Gold Coast - with chocolate in hand and took me out for an oyster lunch... we celebrated mum's birthday in style!

That afternoon, I wanted to go and see mum and wish her a happy birthday... Anthony and I had spoken several times about him and mum meeting - but had never before worked out a good time. So that afternoon, with a freshly shaven face and new shirt on, Anthony met my mum.

That evening, Anthony cooked me dinner and I got home just in time for Farmer wants A Wife. I iced the hot pink cake I had made, ate a piece and went to bed. I was exhausted...

On days like these, I miss my mum muchly.

Xx

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

"Storytelling Mum with music" By my sister Kirsty Piper

My sister Kirsty Piper, recently had to do an assignment for her uni course. She decided to do it on our mum...

Much love,

AJ Xx

This week....

My dad has gone away with my sister to Brisbane... it's the longest time I have been away from him since my mum died...

Just wanted you to know.

Much love,

AJ Xx

.dad.&.me.

It was 4 months on Monday....

I hadn't seen the headstone, so Monday afternoon dad & I went for a drive to Lismore to see her. It was so, very sad.
We arrived, and BAM, there's mum... pink headstone, surrounded by beautiful flowers, she'd love it - everyone else's headstone around her is the normal brown & gold... but hers, hot fuschia! She'll stand out for years to come!!

My mum hole is still very present, raw and very real... it's not something that I'll just 'get over', or be healed from instantly within a few months. I lost my mum very suddenly and it hurts. I have good days, I have bad days. But the best thing is I have Jesus & the holy spirit who are the ultimate comforters on those bad, sad days.

Much love,

AJ Xx

I've had a really bad couple of weeks...

My dad moved back into the house the other week, it's not because he's bad to live with, no - it's because, mum, dad & I used to live in the house, and dad being here... without mum just highlights the fact that she is gone, and will never walk in the front door ever again, ever....

It's hard readjusting to life without her

I miss her today.

Big love to you all

AJ Xx

I wish my mum was here....

Not only so I could see my dad laugh & smile & be happy again, but for me too. I've had some pretty important occassions over the last few weeks, that I would have talked with my mum about... Having my annual work fundraiser, my Frocktober event, going out for dinner with a lovely gentleman, losing weight & just chatting to her about the stuff that goes on everyday... She was always interested in the things that happened, no matter how big OR small they were, if they were important to me - they were so precious to her. Noone seems to be as interested about my normal everyday details of life that my mum did, but that's a mum for you - I'm so glad my mum, was my mum - what a great example she was - I'll strive to be the mum that she was for me, for my kidlets! Life is so very different without her here.

FROCKTOBER!

About two weeks ago, I held my Frocktober event, & raised about $450 - if anyone would like to make it $500 that'd be great (http://www.frocktober.org/) Next year will be bigger & better, & will raise more awareness & money for ovarian cancer research. Here are some pics from this fun evening! My mum's sister Helen came on the night, that was very special. These photo's are by my friend Casey Nipperess.

.me.jess.janine.claire.

.some.of.the.girls.

.the.family.

.me.aunty.helen.adele.bethany.

.annelyse.kc.georgia.me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Big love to you all!!!

AJ Xx

Hello faithful blog followers!

I've snuck the laptop into my room finally to debrief about a few areas of my life to you...

I sit here on a Wednesday, 10:30 at night - finally having a moment to type. Tomorrow night I am holding my Frocktober event (7-9pm at The Point, Ballina, $10) You should totally come!!!

I woke up at 6am to go for a walk with Molly and pray. As I was praying this morning, I had a slight inclination that there was going to be some good surprises today, and there was!!! Let me tell you...

I went and caught up with our Operations Pastor, but also my friend Annaliese, while chatting with her my friend Taryn was trying to call, but, my phone was on silent so I missed her. As soon as I left Annaliese I called Taryn back.
Taryn works for the guy that runs Bluesfest & she phoned to tell me, that her boss wanted to donate 2 tickets to my frocktober event. A 5 day Bluesfest pass, valued at $410 and a 3 day pass valued at $305! I was blown away...like, seriously!!! I thanked Taryn, a plethora of times, and all she said was, that she wanted to help me out somehow, and she definitely has... what an amazing friend!!

I then met my friend Aliska for our irregular, regular catch up - whilst walking down the main street, shopping and sipping our diet cokes we went into one of my favourite shops... not because of the clothes, but beccause of the owner, Nel. Nel is one of the kindest human beings on the planet, and I was chatting to her about this event and she went away for a few minutes, came back with a hug, and placed in my hand quite a large donation to support what I was doing... what a great egg she is!

God has been so faithful to me the last few months (not that he hasn't been previously!) but the sense of peace and favour I have felt from him over this journey has been beautiful. I love God so much. When you take a step out and want to see justice in an area... he will come running to help you in your time of need.

Frocktober is all about raising awarness of Ovarian Cancer, the money raised from tomorrow nights event will go towards research into an early detection for this cancer. As I am well aware, ovarian cancer is a silent killer, every 10 hours, one precious mum, wife, daughter, sister or grandma, is taken from somebodies life. Now that it has effected me, I want to do something about it.

It's A Frockin' Good Cause!

.mum.&.me.in.our.frocks.

On Saturday, dad and I were at the local IGA in Mundubbera looking at the notice board where we saw a flyer for 'Frocktober' - I read on because it had cool graphics... The only cafe in Mundubbera (La famille) was holding a fundraiser every Friday in October where you get your girlfriends together, wear a frock and have a coffee/tea together - the cafe then donate a percentage of the days takings to support Frocktober. I liked the sound of that!! Nothing better then getting together with my girlfriends, chucking on a frock and eating and drinking together... and helping a great cause!

.girlfriends.&.frocks.=.good.times.

I wanted to find out more, as I had never heard of Frocktober before (am I the only one?!) So, I got home and googled it straight away!!!! Frocktober aims to raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) One woman dies every 10 hours from ovarian cancer... for many women with ovarian cancer, the disease is already well advanced when they are diagnosed. Unfortunately, there is no screening test for ovarian cancer. Frocktober aims to help improve the outlook for women with the disease by supporting the quest for a suitable, early detection test through fundraising for the OCRF. For more info on this initiative please visit http://www.frocktober.org/

I haven't told you this yet.

Dad recently went to our family doctor for a check up, about 8 weeks after mum died. During his consultation they talked about mum and her very, very, extremly short fight with cancer (19 days). We never really got any answers off the doctors after mums death as to what cancer mum had as her primary, and not knowing has been really difficult. I know naming the cancer won't make anything better or whatever - but what I do know is that if I know, then I can keep an eye on my health, to make sure me and my future family is looked after.

Our doctor, had looked over mum's tests and blood work from those few weeks and he told dad at this consultation that the test and markers show that it was probably ovarian cancer. Blah. Which is the cancer she had been originally diagnosed with. The doctor told dad what Kirsty, Clare and I can do to make sure we don't have to fight the same battle my beautiful mummy did.

I want to help bring awareness to this horible, aggressive disease and help other women and their families, not have to endure the pain of losing someone so quickly through ovarian cancer.

Sooooooooooo....after speaking with my friends, and having their support - Ballina will be having a Frocktober event!! Date is to be confirmed tomorrow, so locals, clear your diaries in late October, because ladies, it's a frockin good cause!

.frocks.

EXCITING NEWS!!!

Yes! Us Tyson's had some great news the Monday after mum's funeral. On the Sunday night, all 13 of us were having dinner at Kim & Bethy's. Daniel for some reason was having egg's on toast, Adele (my sister in law) has never been an egg fan and got one whiff of Daniel's eggs and had to leave the room...ha!

The next day Danny and Adele found out they were expecting baby No.1! Mum and dad's 4th grand baby! We were/are just alllllll soooooooo ecstatic.

.the.lovers.

Going through mum's stuff we found one of her most recent prayer journals, with many prayers written in it, but most predominantly the prayer for Danny and Adele to have a baby. We also found a little "my first Christmas" size 0000 that mum had purchased last Christmas, ready for this baby (Faith without works is dead! Go mum!!)
Baby Tyson IS a gift from God, so wanted and is already so loved and blessed. We are all so excited for this baby and it's future. We are also very sad that this baby, along with my other future neices and nephews and my babies to come that they will never get to meet their Ginny...

.baby.tyson.=.bt.

BT is due late March 2011... so excited!!!!

Until next time!

Big love & hugs,

AJ Xx

I'm sitting in my sister's lounge room on her brown leather recliner in Mundubbera, QLD as I type this next blog out. I'm on holidays with my dad...


The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, which is why you have hardly heard from me. I've been working 4 days a week and absolutely love being back at school, it's been incredible, getting into some sort of routine, seeing young teenagers chase me in the playground and say 'AJ, I want to be a christian' (yes, seriously!) and being able to tell of young people of the reality of life and death and tell my students of the peace that my mum had when facing death. What a testimony. BUT, oh... my... goodness it has been exhausting, grief is exhausting...


When I'm not at school, I'm with this guy...

.my.dad.

We hang out quite a bit, I see him every day. I have all the time on the planet for him. We go out for coffee, have daddy daughter dates, we take Molly for walks, I make him dinner at Kim and Beth's, he comes over to my house for dessert, we travel and we cry together - just to name a few things!

This guy is amazing and so precious. He must be going through the most horrible thing on the planet at the moment and he has every reason to not get up in the morning, but he does! Go him! What a great man of God ... he just keeps on going!


I'm not going to say this road I'm traveling is easy, it's hard, very hard and people seem to treat me now like everything is back to normal. It's not. I snap easily, I cry when I feel anything more then everyday pressures, random things upset me, I find it hard to make decisions... that wasn't AJ before my mum got sick and passed away. Things have changed. But, that's grief. But, I also know who I am still. I'm still God's precious daughter and want to serve him wholly and completely. God gives me grace each second of every minute of every hour of every day, I need it, now...more then ever.

Each Thursday since my mums funeral I have continued to go to our youth and young adults prayer meeting from 6:30-7:30am at our church. this is where we pray for our town and the incredible people in it, followed by coffee at the Coffee Club, where beautiful Helen the proprietor serves and makes us the best coffee on the planet! Ever since the funeral I have made this prayer meeting a priority, because in this storm of emotions that I am facing, I know prayer will sustain me, heal me and give me break through as I pour out my requests to God in this season. Yes, you can pray on your own and in isolation, and God will hear you, but I love the discipline of this prayer hour, praying with people I am doing life with is the most powerful thing you can do to encourage a community of believers.

.for.where.two.or.three.are.gathered.together.in.my.name.there.am.I.in.the.midst.of.them.
.mathew.18:20.

Don't you worry! I've had some fun and exciting things happen as well in the last few weeks ;) will fill you in on those things in future blogs!


Just to let you know, I'm not ready to write about July 29th 2010 yet... I've tried to write it on several occasions, but nothing I write seems the right way of writing it and no words express the broad spectrum of emotions that were felt that day. So watch this space, one day it will be on this blog, but for now...bear with me...

Big love to you all

AJ Xx

P.s It's 9 weeks today since my beautiful mum passed away....