martha's travels: December 2008

2008 the year that was

STUMERS CHRISTMAS DAY

2008

a real end of year note!with photos!just some highlights!from the start....

I was accepted in a graduate entry program into Nursing at Griffith- Gold coast in Feb this year. It was a matter of getting a letter on wednesday and starting a summer semester the following monday!it was good to meet 15 other people who like me have done another degree...in something...and done other things for a little while. The group of us that are at griffith gold coast are all still friends helping each other out!

I had a few visitors this year from overseas. Hannah was the first to come from Northern Ireland. She was my roommate at camp in 2006=) it was nice to have her for late night giggles again. A month later came Matt - who i met in 05 at camp and soon after that was Julie- camp 2007!(whom are now engaged!!how fun!)it was so very very nice to be able to show them my home! More recently Nicole from New zealand came over (also from camp 05 and 06)and now Ben from england whom will be in Aus- indefinitely. Looking forward to some american visitors earlier in the year in 2009!

This year I got to go back to camp. I really don't consider it routine even tho it seems like it to everyone else!i feel very lucky to go back and spend time with the campers and friends i have there!Its so nice to see the kids grow up. I had a few chats this summer with some campers that will be too old to come to camp next year. I have known them since they were 8!that feels like such a long time. There are a few who have changed so little physically(ie greg and Big Matt- he's still 12 since 1970 lol)and lots who have grown so much over the year!its so nice to be able to help lead a person to make good choices!the lil influence i have i am glad i can be apart of it! plus i get to share apart of their childhood memories- what fun!. This summer i was lucky enough to be a counselor. I had the best cabin on camp!honestly they were awesome!tough but awesome! And i was also lucky enough to go to Brittany's parents wedding!that was a nice time! This summer we took the trip up to boston!that was fun!stayed in new kids on the block old place!it was nice to see something a lil different to NY or NJ during a long break...ANYWAY just in case you were wondering I am not engaged. i still hear about it even now....the rumors are not true and facebook is not the be all end all.....so for future reference i never was engaged!no more questions bout that one!

i'm still a lifesaver at main beach- southport! I think i found a refreshing interest in it this summer. I think after the rainy summer we had last year this summer has been a nice welcomed and well deserved change!it is not as fun as some of you may think sitting on the beach in the wind and rain for 5hrs or more!

The plan...2009 will involve finishing my nursing degree. that will be nice to be 25 (ahhh) with 2 degrees. A way off being a doctor yet but I am still aiming for it. I sit Gamsat in March- from then i will see how I go. It could mean another 4 years on the gold coast after that.

I have the chance to do my clinical placement back at camp=) which will be awesome!can't wait for it all to happen!seeing as the plan for the last 7 years of my life didn't go as planned i think i'm a lil more patient then i was before. Things really do happen for a reason, and even tho i don't know what the reason is its ok.

I have a new job i plan on keeping. I now work for GC PHY. (we house homeless 14-17yr olds for a 6 week program)Finally!some youth work!its hard some days but i love the work and most of the time the kids as well=) I missed the marriott alot this year and made the move to the sheraton- shame really...unfortunitely I never really enjoyed working there. but that's ok. I have found something better for me=) and i get to laugh alot at work!good times!

I had Knee surgery back in april... After snapping my ACL i had n ACL repair and was on crutches for 7weeks. No fun!that really hurts!i wouldn't reccomend that surgery!

biggest event of the year was Kizzie and Dales wedding!it was the most beautiful day you can imagine!perfect in every way it was planned!bridesmaids had a ball all day as did the stumers and most importantly kizzie and dale! there are photos back a lil if you wanna have a look!so so nice!

the next biggest news was Jethro and his round the world trip! he was half way through his trip in canada when he had a mild stroke. 10 days of stressing here at home and day being in hospital chatting up other nurses....Dad was flown home with only speech problems which only sometimes now give him grief!we are so very lucky!he knows it we know it!so we;re just thankful for him being ok now!

we had christmas early this year. zac had planned to come up b4 kizzie and Dale went on their honeymoon and to see dad when he got home from canada....SO early december we had stumer christmas early!......and the rest of the year....not long to go now...all my girls are home. SO nice to have them back every year for the holidays...we talk about the carribean nedxdt christmas!i would like to think that will happen=) we will see...stay posted and you might find out

Have a good one....enjoy the photos

xx

Hannah From Northern Ireland, Zoey the Joey and I.

MwahJulie Kim(from melbourne) and Lander

Nicole and I at rainbow bay

The shot we always take when at least 5 of us are all together. The Round the World crew- Kizzie, Nicole, Christina, Mwah, Anisia and Daniel. At Anisia's engagement party

my 31 girls on the day of Anisia's wedding

Kizzie and Dale Hinze

The last photo wit the same last name=)

My newark week girls!brought smiles tears and a few- why did you just do that-moments!great week!great kids

Stumer Christmas a lil early this year

Christmas came Early for us this year. We had the chance to have Zac up from melbourne before Kizzie and Dale went on their honeymoon so we had a family at the start of december!must say it wasn't as hot!