Oh wow. Just checked "why" they decided to picket you guys.
Sigh.

Should be interesting?

I have some friends who are revelling in being the victim. It hurts so much to see the damage they're causing themselves and others. But, anything we'd say they'd manage to manipulate into supporting their position. It's sad.

Argh! Intense Debate deleted my comment as I went to post it!!

So, dot-points

- we don't have an agreed-upon budget, but we each work to our own budget. (eg: all the presents I give my family will be worth the same amount. However, that amount might not be the same as what my sister decides to spend on each of us. We give according to our own personal ability).

- I am working on an insanely tight budget this year due to a massive blow-out in the cost of my flights home.But it means I'm being creative :)

- we only give presents to immediate family members, unless otherwise agreed upon (cousins only get presents until they turn 16. it's too hard after then)

- I HATE SHOPPING IN GENERAL. Not just Christmas shopping :)

- So, I decided what I'm going to get, and then search online for the best prices. Once found, I'll either order online, or go to the store and pick it up. That option is my least favourite, so I always treat myself to a coffee at my favourite coffee shop afterwards :)

- I don't shop too early for Christmas - usually late November. One year my Mum had all hers done by September. However, the other week I suddenly realised that the saturday coming was the ONLY day I'd have to shop until after Christmas. Whoops. Guess that's what happens when you're in the Creative Department Christmas Production and all your waking hours are spent at rehearsal :D

- I know that I'm impossible to buy for. My most hated question; what do you want for Christmas?? (at least this year I knew of one thing I wanted)

this video totally reminded me of Barry Morgan (www.worldoforgans.com) who I discovered via a very popular music quiz show here (www.abc.net.au/tv/spicksandspecks). Noone plays the organ like Barry Morgan :D

Tam, I wish I could hug you right now.

xxxxx

Yay!!!

And I totally get everything you've written. More than you know :)

xxx

Welcome "home"

I have the pre-lim results already, which I can't understand, so I'm going to google them before going to my GP :)
The biopsy results should be ready when I meet with the specialist in 2 weeks.
Pretty sure everything's ok, but then why take a biopsy when there's nothing to biopsy?
But then, I didn't see the specialist in post-op, which he said I would if there was anything serious.

Thinking about the whole sharing thing again, I find that the things that are closest to me, I hardly talk about at all, while non-essential things, I'm fine to discuss. With most of my friends I barely talk about my health at the moment, but the ones that know what's going on actively follow me up. Our senior pastor's wife chased me down at church last night to find out how things were progressing - she's been keeping an eye on me too. It's nice to know :)

During my ulcer saga (which is continuing - had a scope & biopsy just yesterday!), they discovered that my gall bladder is full of stones....and some are HUGE!! So, unless they dissolve on their own accord, I may be going the same path as you.

As for sharing, sometimes I feel I share a lot. But then I realise that I'm not "really" sharing at all. It's just surface sharing. I don't share myself with many people at all. Most of the times I have, I've been burnt. I don't rely on others for much at all either. I'm just too afraid of being let down - again.

But I must say that knowing people were praying for me yesterday (and have been for the whole time I've been unwell) made yesterday a breeze. I wasn't nervous in the least (which is quite unlike me when it comes to things like this!)

Glad you're on the mend, Tam. xxxx

I totally get that. Just recently I have some close friends that I've told why I don't like to rely on others, and now they're keeping me accountable. It's hard :(

(clarification - hated Kanye, LOVED U2!)