more about nothing v2

I went to Mutemath's first EVER gig in Sydney on wednesday night. Two days later and I'm still raving about it.

Here are a few videos from the night.  As usual, please forgive the audio, as it was VERY loud and there's only so much an iPhone microphone can handle!

Sometimes, a song just captures IT.

This is one of them:

Listen to one of my favourite renditions of this song HERE

In Christ Alone
(Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

In 57 Days, I embark on the biggest adventure of my life (to date).

I’ll be jumping on a massive jumbo-jet, and heading off to the UK for a month.

A month on my own.

Well technically, 2 weeks on my own and 2 weeks with some of the best friends in the WORLD.

I’ll be going to London, Norwich, Belfast (and surrounds), Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, and then back home via Paris and Dubai.

To say I’m excited is the biggest understatement ever made ever.

I’m ridiculously excited about the stop in Cardiff. That is my self-declared “Nerd Pit-Stop”. The home of three of my favourite UK tv shows - Doctor Who, Gavin & Stacey, and Merlin.  To be honest, I’d even forgotten that Doctor Who & Merlin were filmed there - I was all about getting to Barry Island so I could find out what’s occurin’ all for myself :)

However, the only downer about the whole trip is that the Doctor Who Experience is being held a full month before I arrive. Some people have no consideration :)

As one of my friends kindly said to me the other day: “Paula, just when I get used to your nerdiness, you go and get nerdier.” (Thanks, Bel.)

The next 57 days are going to be the longest (and shortest!) 57 days in history.

My friend Tarlia was expecting to give birth to her second son this year.

However, Jayden died on December 19, at 19 weeks gestation.

In Australia, if a baby dies after 12 weeks gestation, the mother is either induced, or a caesarian section is performed to deliver the baby.  BUT, it's not until 20 weeks gestation (or if the baby weighs over 400g) that the baby is eligible for a birth (and death) certificate.

What that means, is that even though my friend gave birth to Jayden, there is no birth certificate to say he existed. Even though there was an autopsy, there is no death certificate to say he died.

As you can imagine, to a grieving parent, this is a double blow.

Tarlia has never been one to take things lying down.  She has since spoken with the Attorney-General's office and has met with Members of Parliament - specifically Family First member Robert Brokenshire.  As a result, a Bill is being submitted to Parliament called "Jayden's Bill".

According to the front page of today's Advertiser, "Jayden's Bill" (among other things) is asking for recognition of all stillborn babies after 12 weeks' gestation. This recognition gives parents the option to register the birth and death and recieve birth and death certificates.

If you live in South Australia, can you please contact your local MP and encourage them to support this Bill? 

It may seem like such a small change in legislation, but to grieving parents, this could mean everything.

UPDATE (25.01.12):

A Facebook group has now been established to aid awareness and also assist with collection of signatures for the petition to be submitted with the bill. If you are from South Australia, I would love to encourage you to do all you can to gather signatures in support of this Bill. Please join the group here:

Support Jayden's Law for early stillborn babies

Tarlia's campain is gaining momentum and has been featured again in the Advertiser and also in the Port Lincoln Times:

• The Advertiser (Editorial Column)
• The Port Lincoln Times article

i thank You God for most this amazing

day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth

day of life and love and wings:and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any-lifted from the no

of all nothing-human merely being

doubt unimaginably You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

e.e. cummings

I think Part 4 will forever be my favourite :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Jears!