Hot off the press!

• May
• 5

Issue 42 has now been “put to bed” - printed and packaged up for mailout. It features the beautiful Aliki on the cover, with a piccie taken at our 10th birthday celebrations! As always, the new edition is packed with great stories, including:

- Confessions of a Bipolar Bear!
- God answers Children’s Prayers
- Dare to Dream
- Taking on the Tall Poppy Syndrome
- Know Your Enemy
- Gathering for Growth

Hope you enjoy reading it, as much as we love putting it all together! And special thanks goes to Melanie Page, Nicola Saad, Pauline Brown-Rothwell, Annie Barnes and Tassia Saad for giving up their precious Saturday to come and pack magazines! May the Lord bless you all RICHLY for your dedication and devotion.

Speak Up!

• April
• 18

What? No opportunities to speak for a whole month?!

I thought I’d be ready for a break after quite a busy start to the year, speaking at various church, ladies and other events. But I’d forgotten just how much joy it brings me to share inspirational stories and practical encouragement with others! 

I am often asked what are MY favourite topics to speak on. I’d have to say all of them, or I wouldn’t be bothered to speak on them! However “Clues to your Calling” and “The Footprints Story” are probably two of my favourites; and it is also a passion of mine to share my experiences with depression so that others may be enlightened and encouraged.

I’m looking forward to the end of May when I will be flying up to Rockhampton, and have bookings to speak there and in Yeppoon and Emerald as well. Special thanks to devoted Footprints supporter Ann, who has organised the trip for me. It will be wonderful to meet another keen Footprints reader and share fellowship - plus I’ve never been to Yeppoon or Emerald before! If you live in this region in central Queensland, why not drop me a line at editor@footprintsaustralia.com and perhaps we can meet up!

Footprints magazine’s 10th birthday bash!

• March
• 30

YES, the books arrived the day before our party - so thank you for your prayers!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so for the full story on our 10th birthday party celebrations, why not check out some of the pix from the event? 

We had about 70 people there all up … one of the things I loved most was looking around and there were ladies from every possible denomination sitting in the room – we had AOG, Baptists, Catholic, Christian Outreach Centre, Christian City Church, Church of Christ, Full Gospel, Uniting, Salvation Army and Anglican that I know for sure, plus quite a few non-church people!  It was particularly wonderful to meet so many of our faithful supporters for the first time. As one lady emailed me this morning:

Congratulations to you all for such a lovely afternoon gathering yesterday. To be part of a roomful of likeminded women was wonderful. I was a little anxious turning up as I knew nobody. I asked to join a table of ladies and we enjoyed a lovely afternoon. We found it easy to talk with each other … The efforts you put into everything, be it Footprints, our Christmas surprises (gifts), or your CD, are much appreciated.

Another lady told me that she went away feeling very recharged and refreshed and thoroughly uplifted, which is just what we wanted.

Melanie was our MC, and kicked off the proceedings with an icebreaker game before the very bubbly and enthusiastic Katie Clift from 96.5 FM gave a lovely speech. Nicola shared a little about what Footprints means to not only the readers, but also the Team Members responsible for creating each magazine. We honoured half a dozen long-term Footprints supporters with special awards, before Aliki shared two songs and a message based on …. ummmm… toilets! But don’t worry, there was a message tucked into it once we all settled down from our embarrassment and laughter. The second song she sang was very powerful and I noticed a few teary eyes around the room.

Finally, I got to say a few words about the making of “Decadence” and then we cut the official birthday cake. We shared a truly decadent afternoon tea with some lovely people, and sold quite a few books too.  

Of course it all seems like a bit of a blur now!

In hindsight a second game would have worked well, and as per usual we over-catered hugely, but it’s all good!!! 

Prayer Point

• March
• 16

It’s now less than two weeks until the Footprints 10th birthday party and book launch - but at this stage I’m getting just a tad worried that we won’t have a book to launch!

Despite giving the manuscript to the printing company TWO WHOLE MONTHS before our book launch date, I have yet to see a book proof … which I need to approve before the book can be printed. As we have already paid a substantial deposit, AND with less then two weeks to go, it is too late to go elsewhere.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BOOK TO LAUNCH ON 29 MARCH!!!!!

3 weeks to go!

• March
• 8

Just 3 weeks until our special Footprints 10th Birthday Bash and the launch of our great new book “DECADENCE: treat yourself to 10 years of Footprints”! The excitement is mounting - not only is Aliki coming along to bless us in song, but Katie Clift from 96.5FM will also be saying a few words.

Plus there will be some very special awards for some of our key supporters, an opportunity to meet and chat with the Footprints Team and some of our past cover girls, and of course, we need your help to eat our totally DECADENT birthday cake! There will be prizes and giveaways galore, AND a pamper pack of goodies for each of our guests to take home and enjoy.

Not suprisingly, half of the tickets have already been reserved! So get in quick, reserve your ticket by contacting editor@footprintsaustralia.com or  0421 482 642 (tickets MUST be pre-booked, but you can pay at the door).

It’s all happening at Rivers Cafe which is in the main building of the Christian Outreach Centre complex, 322 Wecker Road, Mansfield.