cheers to you, old mate

Dear Mr Adam Killer,

I know you think that I forgot – and I really did forget. To get you a card and write you a lunchbox letter for Monday, your 30th birthday. I could tell you that I have been so focused on getting ‘The Great Big Party’ finalised, and finishing my assignment and remembering to wake up at 5am for the gym the next day. And whilst that is all good and true, I know had the shoe been on the other foot I would have felt sad also.

So, you are getting a public lunchbox letter, of my gratitude and thankfulness that we got to enjoy the past year together. Enjoy.

Your year of 29 was a good one. We didn’t have many speed bumps, the only one I even remember is the car explosions. We found our little Italian restaurant and have been there every single friday night ever since. We went to Port Douglas and remembered what it was like to just chill out, relax, drink cocktails and stay up past 9pm – even on a school night.

And whilst it wasn’t a year that I am able to measure in the amount of memorable big ‘events’, it is definitely a year that I am able to measure in the amount you have grown. As if you weren’t already amazing and awesome enough – you went and took it to a whole new level.

Its almost as if you said to the world, this is who I am, take it or leave it. You learnt diplomacy in that, and stood tall among people who would rather bag you out all over town and refused to retaliate or join in. I admired you greatly for that. You stayed through speed bumps in your workplace, and it is still a place that you literally love going to work every day – I enjoy the half hour at the end of every day that I get to spend there, it is a great place to be and I am glad that 4 years later you still love it just as much.

You grew to be a strong leader in every aspect of who you are and where you go in your life, and it’s not something that you shout, or even recognise sometimes. You just do it quietly and gracefully (if i can use that word to describe a man!) and without any hint of arrogance. I love this part of you, and the freedom that it allows me to learn from you how to best do that in my own life, particularly as I am the hot headed firey one in this duo. You work so hard to maintain the relationships with the lifers and your family – and you never once complain about the distances that you need to travel in order to do this sometimes. I know that I greatly appreciate this – particularly as we are one car family and I am yet to get over myself and drive said car further than out of the garage. I know sometimes you get tired and frustrated – but you never once take it out on me, ever. I am grateful for your patience. Always patient, and waiting for me to be ready to do what needs to be done.

Speaking of patience, one thing that absolutely changed a big part of who ‘we’ are is how much a part laughter has become of our daily lives. And i love love love it. Thats right, not once, THREE TIMES! I know that at least two or three times each day I will laugh, and laugh good and proper. This part of us, this part that is almost tender,and absolutely beautiful, a lot of people dont and may not ever understand. But understand this, I am never going to give it up!

Because who else would tell me as soon as they wake up on their birthday that they are going to retire now, because they are old, and then pull the covers over their head? Who else would understand the universal killerhouse meaning of ‘pow’ or know that ‘your mum’ or ‘your face’ is a perfectly acceptable answer to ANY question? Who would know that to diffuse a situation, or get yourself out of trouble you just have to look at me with that look, or say something completely random and ridiculous? Thats right… only you. Im glad that we get this part of each other, that it encapsulates so much of who we are and how we work, and how well we know each other.

Thankyou for your love, your patience, your strength. You are endlessly supportive, and my loudest cheerleader – even when i am whining about the same thing i have 1830 times before (thats once per day for every day we have been together in case you were wondering). You push me daily, to be better, to do better, to try new things, to be spontaneous for once in my life. You trust me implicitly, and believe I am capable of things I never even dreamt of. You work through everything with me – and never ever once do you think its not going to work out, or be anything other than completely fine.

So. Happy 30th Birthday old man. I am so proud of you, and all that you are. I’m so excited we get to kick off your thirtieth year with a great big party and more travel adventures. Cheers to another great year

xx

<its thursday, so i was totally reminded to be thankful and write this! … thanks kate!>

Simple words, connecting thoughts…

‘Am I a bitch?’
‘No Lyndal, you just know what you want.’

‘I’m being a bitch aren’t I?’
‘No, you have boundaries, and expectations and thats healthy.’

‘But seriously, I’m totally a horrible bitch of a person.’
‘No. This really wasn’t your fault.’

I’m pleased to know that this isn’t the face of a bitch. That this is the face of a kind, caring, super organised, lover of tiger lunch boxes and bright plastic containers, responsible, supportive, loving woman.

Following on from my last post  I am most thankful, really for the people that I do have in my life.

I am thankful for my friends on twitter – who although I haven’t physically met them, they understand the power of words and use that to serve me well. To be great friends, to keep that spirit connection going. Because we are all in this together, and a simple tweet to say hey I’m thinking of you can get you through a dark time.

I’m thankful for my blog friends – to those who take the time out of hundreds, no thousands of blogs to read the words I pump out here… and then be bothered to leave a comment to say you know what i read what you wrote.. i heard you Its hard work to find blogs to read, to connect with, to love on, and I’m thankful for those that read here, and for those that write for me to read and provide the same support and encouragement.

I’m thankful for my closest friends – who don’t even read my blog, because they are so in my face and in my life day to day, they know all the stuff I write about before I even think to write it. For the phone dates, the daily emails. For doing the tough times when I’m not especially likeable, or I have hurt them. For doing the great times. For allowing me to be selfish and talk about myself at times, for it being a two way street. For giving me two of the three nicknames i have ever had in my life. LOVE.

I’m thankful for Adam. Who not only lives with me, but loves me. Who is my all time best friend. Who pushes me to be better, to do better, to want to be amazing. Who doesn’t even often read my blog, but loves that I do blog. Who doesn’t do tradition, or expectation, but who shows love and joy and laughter in every single day. Who pushes me to fight fair, to be honest with my thoughts, to be more assertive. Who supports me even when it would not be his choice of action.

I’m thankful for my family and extendables, who forgive me when i lose my patience, or do really stupid things, or just plain forget to think. I’m thankful for all the quality time, and the absolute gold quality of those relationships. I’m thankful for the text messages that absolutely touch my heart and i will treasure for many, many years. I’m thankful for all the memories we are creating, and the network of support, love and encouragement that surrounds everything that we do. I’m thankful, that even as adults we can still be friends, and not just friends, but those good sort of friends.

I’m thankful that all of these people are investing their time, their energy, their selves into me. I’m thankful for what they bring to my life, and that it’s a lot of two way streetage happening. I’m thankful that I am loved for who I am, not for who I am expected to be, or should be. Because that makes for a very sweet, beautiful amazing journey of life.

Fantastic amazing people – you underestimate your value.

The take over, the breaks over…

Hi All,

Mr Adam Killer here, taking over the blog for the day. We are linking up for Thankful Thursday, with Kate so thats what I am writing about…

I have been pestering to write a guest blog for Family of Killers for a while. I thought it would be easy as I always torment Lyndal saying how easy it is…. wrrrrooonnng

Things I am thankful for (laughs) the first one is that we have a semi pro blog writer in Lyndal in the family to make our lives seem remotely interesting.

The second being all the stuff that joe average would speak of. I’m thankful for my family, my life, my friends to keep this a little left of the middle.

One thing I am thankful for is bicycles and motorcycles. I got my first bike at age 4 or 5 it was green and we called it the milo bike (same colour as a milo tin!) With family came support, with bicycles came BMX – you can’t do one without the other. I have travelled all of this great country Australia racing my bicycle. At the time I didn’t realise the sacrifice that our families made. One year, I believe my father telling us that we have spent over $22 000 to race bicycles including family travel and so forth. Now I look back at the blood, sweat and tears that we put into this I am truly thankful.

I am thankful for Lyndal and that she shares my passion for anything two wheel related. Happiness can’t really reflect gratefulness. Gratefulness is something you feel on the inside, I believe it also evolves around understanding and love.

To be grateful is hard to describe, there is a lot more to be thankful for – like the country that I live in. My beloved Australia. To leave my safe haven was hard, but after months and months of planning and coaxing ‘it’s going to be alright’, I am forever thankful to my wonderful lil Lyndal who totally convinced me to take on the other side of the world.

I am thankful for many things, and in my vague listening of this blog stuff, these posts should be kinda to the point and I have realised I could ramble on for hours about the things I am thankful for.

But the one that is most important is my lovely lil Lyndal. The person who is ready to take on the world all 5ft 1in of her. I am thankful to have her in my life and opening me up to the big world that stands at our feet.

Thanks for letting me do a fill in blog – I might just be back.

Thanks for reading…

AK