The Day Norway Cried... And The World Mourned With Her

On Sunday morning I awoke at my parents house and went upstairs to have breakfast. Getting up there I saw my Mum and she told me two bits of sad news. One being a massacre in Norway from a man who is a Christan farmer. he set of a bomb in Oslo and gunned down people at a youth camp on a island. The second bit of news was the troubled singer Amy Winehouse dying in her London house somehow. With hearing all this my heart sank and my stomach turned. I couldn't believe as to what I was hearing.

That day my parents and I were reeling from what happened in the world. With my having Asperger's I found myself thinking about it more and trying to work it out. After reading the article in The Sun Herald I was dumbfounded. I was on and off the computer all day looking up bits and pieces of both events.

Today my head is still everywhere and my heart as well as prayers goes out to the people of Norway. I didn't think I could write an ordinary blog-post yet do something completely different. I was inspired that I wanted to write a poem about it. Sure the poem doesn't rhyme or stuff like that yet it is just short points of facts I've observed and also been thinking. I haven't written a poem in quite a while yet I feel it is a tribute and most of all rememberance to those who lost their lives. This poem doesn't have answers or judging yet is simply saying how it is affecting me.
I hope you like it.... Here is the poem...

The Day Norway Cried..And the World Mourned With Her

On a quiet Friday afternoon
Oslo's peace is decimated
Metal, glass, people, blood everywhere
As confusion is now present
A few hours later...
A lone man in a police uniform
Wearing a false power of trust
Crosses to a small island (on a ferry)
His mission...
Only known to himself
Setting foot on the island
He changed the world's history
He brought death with him
Creating fear and havoc
Hunting down some of Norway's youth
Saying "You all must die!"
Two hours later 90 or so people are lost
Leaving many injured, wet, cold and bewildered
There are more questions than answers
People asking 'How?', 'Why?'
The news spreads around the world
Causing shock and disbelief
May we remember those who were lost
Also to everyone affected
Praying for justice and peace
This was the day that Norway cried...
And the world mourned with her.

At this time also may we remember that the power of love is greater than the darkness of evil. sure there is no real answers at the moment because it still too early. We will all have to wait and see what happens now not letting this man have a platform for his political ideas. His name and crimes will be recorded on the walls of infamy where justice will be done.
Norway you are in my heart and prayers....
Farewell until next time....

In Memory Of Val Harris

On Tuesday 5th of July at 12pm last week, I went to a memorial service at a church that I've been going to off and on since I was a kid of thirteen years old. I felt unusual going to the church for a couple of reasons with one of them they've added a new bit onto the church recently. The second reason was it was to remember Val Harris who had died last Tuesday night the week before. For a few years she had been valiantly been battling cancer which had grabbed a hold of her. Am amazing thing happened which was as the cancer grew bigger her faith and testimony grew and spread to those around her.

The service was a celebration of her life as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother and a very dear friend to a lot of people everywhere. As I was getting to the church I noticed that all the streets nearby were jam-packed with parked cars everywhere. I even had trouble finding a car spot whihc you don't normally do for a service. Even at about 11:54am or so as I was walking into the church there were special touches from Val. Upon arrival I received a little purple Gideon new testament bible with the memorial service brochure. When I walked in I was surprised to see a sea of people who had come to pay their respects to her - Val.

I managed to find a seat for myself then about ten minutes later I found my parents in the front part of the church and brought them to where I was sitting. My parents had known Val also since I was a kid. Byrne her son was actually in the same year at me in school and Debbie her daughter was a couple of years below me. So basically we've all known each-other for many, many years since we were young. Val was also really heavily involved in the school that we went to as well which was great. I remember on a year six camp Val and a few of the other mothers came with our class of about thirty kids with our teacher to a national park. The camp was for a week of hiking through bush at Heathcote National Park and camping with tents etc.... Anyway it was a really exciting adventure for us all being in the bush and doing all the bush stuff. In the last few days of the camp we got to a waterfall and creek where we were all swimming and jumping of a bit of a rock down below. Some of us were drinking water from the creek and we had Hungarian Goulash for dinner. The next day was raining and about ten of us including me were really sick as in going both ends which was horrible. I was in a very bad way and I remember Val as well as the other mothers taking care of us sick kids. They were like the Florence Nightingale's or guardian angel to us during that time. We all somehow stumbled about two to three kilometres back to the the train station which was hard. Getting to the train station I lay on on of the benches which I needed to. The place was called 'Waterfall' yet i vomited and I always remember it that there was another type of fall there as well. You can imagine the rest. As you can see I've recovered from that and am still alive typing this blog as you are reading it.

During the service we heard a few words from Debbie, Garnet her husband and Byrne read a few verses out of the bible. Sitting there were heard the beginning of a friendship between Garnet and Val. It lead into a love story of how they married then moved from Zimbabwe which was formerly known as Rhodesia to Australia then settled down. Seeing Garnet there on the platform talking about his best friend and wife with such meaning was very moving to me. I'm sure other people were really moved as well. We also saw a montage of photo's with music which came up on the screen with members of the 300 plus congregation sharing memories as well. It occured to me just how many people she has touched with her life an it got me to thinking. That means for me that with my life I am touching other people as well. Also that I do value and matter as well like everybody does.

Garnet shared a few stories about how Val looked at "The Big 'C'" - for Cancer. During church one time Garnet stood up and shared with everybody about the cancer referring to to it as the "Big C'". Val was quick to correct him and said something like "The Big 'C'" wasn't cancer in her life yet Christ was instead! The cancer was a "Little 'C' " instead. I'm pretty sure I was there that day at that particular service yet it was poignant to hear it another time. With other situations and time like that she was like a shining light out there who shared with people her great love for God despite what was happening to her. She still ministered and shared with everyone around her no matter what.

Words are not coming easily to me here yet you just had to be there to see and hear the service. The service went for about two hours then there was afternoon tea as well. Walking away with my parents I felt a deep sense of sadness and mesmorisation. I was astounded to see how many people had been touched by Val and also how we do affect others around us. That night Val breathed her last was the night that the world lost a very generous, loving, caring and Christian women. She was truly unique and those of us who knew her were well and truly blessed. She is one person who was a real character and I will never forget her. She has seen me grow up since I was a kid into an adult which means a lot to me. She was like almost family to me and I loved her as such. She will be sadly missed by everyone in the church community yet she is in a better place now away from the pain of cancer. Val Harris may you Rest In Peace! You will always be remembered and loved!!

Happy Birthday Mum!!!!

Last Saturday only a couple of days ago... 2nd July was my beautiful Mother's birthday. We all decided to go to Yum Cha at Chatswood for the birthday celebrations. Finally we all met up outside where I gave my brother Cam three Easter eggs which I had saved for him and his girlfriend. He was quite surprised because he wasn't quite expecting it. We managed to get a table really quickly which was lucky. We've all been there before where the queue for the table is about half an hour long or so which hasn't been good.

Upon being seated we decided to exchange the birthday presents to my Mum which was great. From my brother Cam and his girlfriend Rachael Mum got a reasonably large Cupie doll which was as it turns out in a chef's costume. My Mum was so happy because she collects chefs and can put it in her now growing collection. I gave Mum two wooden statue type angels with one saying 'love' and the other saying 'peace'. Yet I don't think Dad gave her a present there but did at home in the morning. I forgot to ask what he got her yet I'll find out. All in all she loved all the presents that she got.

Soon after we managed to get some food from the trolley's which were going around. After about ten minutes we had several different plates on the table including a pot of Chinese tea to share, fried squid, prawn rolls, pork buns, spring rolls, other rolls with prawn and garlic, some type of noodles, eggplant with fish roll thing, a Peking duck pancake each and quite a few other items also that I quite can't remember what they were. I also right at the very end saw some chickens feet which I wanted to have but if i had anymore I would have burst. For dessert we shared a coconut jelly with red beans in it and also we had some mango type of pudding with a bit of condensed milk on it. By the time we had all finished we were so full that we could have rolled out like balls out of the restaurant.

Before we all went out into the big wide world again I managed to take a couple of family photos just to remember the occasion. Yes an occasion of a birthday family get-together where sharing food and most of all company is one of the best things to do. Yes my Mum has another year of wisdom and experience underneath her belt yet it is still great to have her here. I realised something this afternoon... That last Tuesday night as I was writing my blog from last week some-one very special to a lot of people was losing their battle with life. It was strange as I was writing my blog about my parents growing older...that she - Val had passed over into God's hands. So thinking about it tonight I am so glad and grateful to still have my special Mum alive. Also not to forget my Dad as well who is still going along strong.

So I am so glad that my dear special Mum has had a very Happy Birthday surrounded by family for some of the day!! Also Mum as each year passes I am appreciating you more and I am very lucky to have a Mum like you. I pray that you may have many more happy birthday years ahead of you... Farewell for now....