Gratitude - day six...

Observant readers may notice that I hadn't posted a message for well over 24 hours... and there is a reason. The past few days I have been staying in Victor Harbor with my Dad (and Mitch & Jack). Victor is a beautiful seaside town about an hour's drive from Adelaide. It has lovely beaches, great restaurants and lots of things to see and do. Now that Dad has moved here we have a good excuse for visiting often.

And how does that relate to my gratitude journal? Well I am grateful for time to just relax and be. This doesn't happen all that often, but when it does I relish it. I remember reading once that "taking time to do nothing is never wasted time". BUT it is hard to remember it when life seems to be a series of deadlines, jobs to be completed and places to be. And being the kind of person I am, it is often difficult to prioritise relaxation, before the household chores or whatever "job" I think needs to be done.

So I am grateful for the opportunity to relax, to sip a glass of wine, read a good book or doze in a comfortable armchair. It is times like these that I am reminded of just how good life can be.

Hope you manage to find a little piece of heaven too,
Lisa xx

Gratitude - day five

I am grateful for my home. That might seem a bit funny, especially since we are looking for a new home. But recently I listened to a radio program in which they discussed homelessness in South Australia and particularly Adelaide. They estimated that there were more than 230 homeless families with children currently residing in Adelaide. These families were often reluctant to seek help, as they were fearful of having their children taken away. The radio article commented on how homelessness impacted on everything in a child's life - and would impact on their adult life too. How is it that we live in such an affluent society, but we have children living in cars or in parks? Having cared for homeless people as a nurse, I understand that some individuals remain homeless due to addictions or mental illness and that even with the best intentions in the world they are unable to be housed. BUT children? What choice do they have?

That got me thinking about my boys and our living situation. Sure our home is a bit cramped, but it is comfortable and clean. We live in a nice neighbourhood and are fortunate to have good neighbours. It will be great when we find a new home, which gives us a little more room to move. However our family doesn't have to wonder where they will sleep each night or whether they will be safe. Our little home is a haven away from the worries of the world. So I am grateful for our home.

Hope you have your own little haven too,
Love
Lisa xx

Gratitude - day four...

I am grateful for my parents. My Mum and Dad raised us in a loving home and we had no doubt how special they thought we were to them. Although it has been more than four years since my beautiful mum died, I feel her touch in a lot that I do. Sometimes I miss her so much that there is a physical pain. Every day I wish she was here. And sometimes the need to talk with her is almost unbearable. My Mum taught me what it is to be a Mum and I would love her to be able to experience the joy our three little men bring. She was so thrilled to be a Gran and was so excited awaiting the pending birth of my nephew Liam. I am so grateful to have had a loving and close relationship with her. And my Dad despite his obvious grief at the death of my Mum continues to be an important part of my life. No matter what time of day he is always ready for a chat and some words of advice. The boys adore him and so do Kev and I.



I am grateful for my brother, sister-in-law and my beautiful nephew. Adam, Kelly and Liam are a loving family and I grateful to have them in my life and the lives of our boys. Although I know Adam gets sick of the childhood "Adam stories" - he puts up with my reminiscences and good-nature jibes. I can't remember a time when Adam and I haven't been friends. We even lived together for a while as adults! And if he could tolerate my cleaning obsession then he must be made of strong stuff. And soon there will be a precious little addition to their family - can't wait :-)




And I am grateful for my extended family. Although we may not see each other very often I always enjoy spending time with them. Having a relatively large extended family has been a bit of a steep learning curve for Kev, as most of his family lives overseas (his Mum & Dad are in Queensland). I especially love when the cousins get together. Now we have grown up and have families of our own it is a double blessing to see our children playing together. And I enjoy seeing my Aunties and Uncles too. They have been an especially important part of my life since Mum died and I am grateful for their wise counsel and understanding.



And I am so grateful for Kev's Mum and Dad. Norm and Iris have accepted me into their home and their family. They live too far away and we don't get to see them often enough, but when we do its like no time has passed at all. They are wonderful grandparents and so loving towards me.

So you see I have a LOT to be grateful for and as I head off to bed I am reminded just how lucky I am,

Lisa xx

Gratitude - day three...

I am grateful for my friends. I heard it once said that you have a friend for a reason, a season or for life. And I can certainly relate to that. I have had friends who have seen me through my darkest hours and highest of highs, I have had friends for certain periods of my life. And then friends who are stuck with me for life. And for each of those friends I am indeed grateful.

Its funny how no matter how special our friends are, we often fail to tell them. We are often more comfortable sharing our feelings with people who are merely acquaintances. I suppose that part of the reason is that we get so busy with our lives and the time just slips away before we realise it. But aren't those close to us the most deserving of our love and honesty? So if I have one New Year's resolution it is to make sure I tell my friends how much they mean to me.

With much love,
Lisa xx

Gratitude - day two...

I am grateful that my family and I live in Australia! And probably more to the point that we live in South Australia. SA is a hidden gem - beautiful beaches, Mediterranean climate, fantastic wineries and restaurants, and a city which is easy to get around (on most days).



I am reminded daily of just how beautiful this place is when I drive a short distance from home and stretched out before me are the magnificent vineyards of the Barossa. A community settled in part by people who were fleeing religious persecution in their homeland of Germany (formerly Prussia). They came to our country seeking a new life and as a consequence brought their knowledge of viticulture which is now an integral aspect of our lives here in SA. Now a trip to SA wouldn't be the same without sampling our local wines.



Our beaches are wonderful. And there is something so soothing about walking for miles along a deserted beach. Withing a short drive from the centre of Adelaide (or a slightly longer tram ride) you can be at the beach - enjoying a swim, sunbathing or taking a walk.




Our scenery is breathtaking. Whether you explore the Great Australian Bight, The Flinders Ranges or The Murray River there are wonderful photo opportunities everywhere. Sometimes it is easy to drive past in a flurry and fail to take it all in, but it IS there waiting to be discovered.

Yes, living in South Australia is something I am very grateful for (although not as often as I should be). So my plan this weekend? Enjoy some of the fruits of the vine, take a walk along a beach and take the time to explore my little corner of the world.

Thanks for reading,
Lisa xx

Gratitude journal - day one...

I wanted to concentrate on all the good things I have in my life - the wonderful friends and family, the great places I have been and also the simple pleasures of my life. And I couldn't go past mentioning my beautiful husband Kevin. Most of you probably know that Kev and I met after he responded to an ad I placed in the Connections section of the local Sunday paper. That was 17 years ago this April. He was one of over 200 respondents and he was my 17th date (I am nothing if not persistent!). I first met him when he came to my place for a coffee - not the wisest thing to do, but my brother Adam was lurking in the background. He knocked on the door and Adam welcomed him and handed him a beer. Kev said later that he was desperately hoping he was at the right house (grin). We chatted for a few hours and I headed off to a nursing night shift. After that it was just one of those things. We kept ringing each other and catching up and six months later we were living together. He was nothing like the man I imagine I would spend my life with, but at the same time he was everything I needed. He was (and is) calm, kind and genuine. There is no pretence. He says what he means and doesn't tend to sugarcoat things. Most of all he loved me for all my faults and foibles - he never (and has never) asked me to change and he wanted the same things from life that I did (and still does).

17 years later I consider myself very lucky to have such a good man in my life. He loves our boys and is an active part of their lives. He loves my family and although he would happily spend most of his time at home, is happy to come to family get togethers with me. He is a good provider. And most of all he is my safe place in the world.

I am forever grateful for having Kevin in my life...

Thanks for reading,
Lisa xx

Gratitude...

Today I was thinking about how life can be altered irrevocably in a heartbeat. The Queensland floods have had a devastating effect on so many families - homes have been washed away, businesses destroyed and worst of all lives have been lost. And as the death toll slowly rises, it is the individual stories which have moved us and made this awful event all the more real.

The other morning I read of the desperate struggle of pregnant mother Stacey Keep to save her three young children from the flash flood that swept through their home. She was swept onto a railway track whilst clinging onto her 23 month old baby girl Jessica, but the little girl was torn from her arms by the current and is presumed drowned. Her husband Matthew tried to keep two of their children above the flood waters, but they were all swept out of the house. He somehow managed to find some roofing to cling to and was rescued down stream. Maddison (5) and Jacob (4) were saved by their grandmother Pauline, but she then drowned. And the children's other grandmother is also presumed drowned. The toll on this one family alone is just dreadful.

As I read their story the tears fell. I could not imagine what they were going through and it made me pause for a moment and think of all I have to be grateful for in my life. A friend posted on Facebook the other day about how the act of cleaning out her fridge made her realise how lucky she was to have a fridge and electricity. And so this got me thinking about gratitude (and my lack of it). Seems I am all too ready to complain about things, but expressing thankfulness falls way behind. So my challenge this week is to blog about those things (big and small) which I am grateful for in my life.

Maybe you might like to share your blessing too,
With much love,
Lisa xx

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year from Australia...

Well 2011 is almost upon us and the festive season is in full swing. Here in Australia we are experiencing devastating floods and ferocious bush fires - such extremes of nature. And although it seems trite I find myself thinking back over the past year. There have been highlights and lowlights and lots in between.

The boys enjoyed their first year of school and by all accounts it was a huge success. They surprised me though, because Harrison was the one with the glowing report. Seems he IS able to stop talking when he tries and he has worked hard on concentrating in class and is a kind classmate. Mitchell is a social butterfly (no surprises there) and needs to work on his organisational abilities, but he is reading extremely well and enjoys maths. We have been blessed with wonderful teachers and great SSOs who have made this past year such a special time. Lets hope 2011 is just as successful.

Jackson has been a joy - he is a happy boy and loves cuddles and food (but not necessarily in that order). He isn't walking yet... but will be soon. He is loving having the big boys at home and falls into an exhausted sleep at 7pm, usually only stirring the next morning. He has started playgroup which has been a lot of fun. He is growing like a weed! Now in size 1 and threatening to burst out of some of his cute clothes. He goes swimming once a week and loves the water. It is hard to believe he is only 15 months old as it seems like he has been part of our family forever.

Kev is still at Air Movements and doing reserve work in Aviation Medicine. He works with a great bunch and we had two Xmas parties to enjoy. He is still an avid gamer, but family commitments don't allow as much time for him to enjoy his hobby - nevertheless he seems to sneak in the odd game purchase here and there (grin). He is due to go away to the USA for 6 weeks mid year if it all works out - was initially hoping we would come too, but that has had to be shelved as we look for a new home.

I am busy with the three boys and looking after our home. Life is never dull, but it IS tiring. Now and then I think this "job" would be far easier if I was 20 years younger! I try to do a bit of scrapbooking, but haven't got the motivation at present. I have a lovely group of friends in SA and with a bit more organisation and planning (on my part) I hope to see them a bit more often. I have managed to get away for one weekend this year with some friends which was lovely... must do that more often.

YES! We are STILL househunting! It is not nearly as much fun as you would imagine. After all three little boys do not want to be dragged around looking at houses. Mitch said yesterday "Mum when are you buying us a house"... to which the only response could be "when Daddy lets me" (grin). We are finding it hard to agree on a place to live, mainly I think because I am keen for a fairly new home or a well renovated old home and Kev is more set on the suburb he wants to live in. Nevertheless we will persist (groan).

The big news in our extended family is the imminent arrival of our beautiful niece - due in approx 6 weeks. Can't wait to have an excuse to peruse the pink aisle at the local shops. Hoping that she doesn't make an early arrival and behaves for her Mum & Dad and big brother Liam.

Apart from that we have just returned from seeing Kev's parents in Queensland. Yes, apparently Queensland is beautiful one day and perfect the next... but NOT when we decide to visit and the region experiences the worst floods in 140 years!!! We spent most of the week inside, venturing out for the occasional swim or to brave the shops, but we had fun. Thankfully the boys received a Nintendo DS each for Xmas and so were happily occupied for many hours. They also loved seeing their Nana and Grandpa. We were joined on the adventure by my Dad and our dear friend Pat. To say it was an interesting time was an understatement. Up until the morning of our departure we were unsure if we would be able to get through to the airport (a 5 hour drive south), but we managed to get there and with plenty of time. Now the post holiday washing and cleaning begins... oh joy.

Well I must get back to the chores - wishing you all the best for the festive season and hoping the New Year will be a time of blessings.

Love Lisa
xx

Its beginning to look a lot like Xmas...

Hasn't the year flown by? Ours sure has - with school for the older two and our little man becoming more and more independent as each day passes. I find it hard to imagine a time in which every waking thought wasn't about snacks for lunchboxes, healthy meals and readers, even though it was only a few years ago.

Mitch & Harry are loving school, although we are all looking forward to school holidays at the moment. We should find out what classes they are in tomorrow and their final school report should come home too. They love reading (especially Mitch) and they have made lots of friends too.

Jack is cruising the furniture, but hasn't tried walking yet. There are too many things for him to do and he needs to beat his big brothers to the toys! He LOVES food, but has taken to spitting anything out he doesn't fancy, which often causes shouts of dismay as he sprays Kev or I with food. He is a fruit fiend and wants bananas all of the time. He loves his big brothers and they adore him back.

We are still on the hunt for a house. It is draining, but hopefully we will find something soon. Its not that we are particularly fussy, its just that we need room for a games/ craft room and so that is limiting our choices somewhat. Apart from that life is busy, but happy.

Well, I better go and write some more cards... seems the list grows each year :-)

Wishing everyone the best of the festive season,

Lisa xx

Hello again...

Okay okay - so every few months I tentatively venture back to this blog and make myslef a promise that I will try to update it more often... and then life happens! So here I am again (a bit embarrassed) and I am hoping to be a bit more conscientious.

This is a quick update as I have a load of things to do whilst Master Jackson sleeps. Jack is now 14 months old and is crusing the furniture, babbling away and loving nearly every food group. He is a good sleeper - usually one long nap a day and then off to bed by 7pm and awake at 6.30am. He adores his big brothers and loves to destroy their lego creations.

Mitch is doing well at school. He is reading well and is still charming nearly everyone he meets. He has lots of friends and has enjoyed a few classmates' birthday parties in the past few months. He loves drawing and invariably brings home 10 drawings which all must be put on the fridge.

Harry is also enjoying school. He finds reading a bit harder, but is doing well with Maths and Spelling. He has been slower to make friends, but has some strong friendships with some boys in his class and has been to lots of parties. He is still computer obsessed and longs for the day when a Nintendo DS will be finally a reality.

Kev is still working at Air Movements as well as doing Reserve work. He has packed up most of his games in the hope that we may find a house to move into (6 long moths and still looking). He is due to head OS next year with work.

I have just returned from a lovely girls' weekend away and it is back to the grind (grin).

So that's about it in our little neck of the woods. Hope this finds our friends and family well.
AND hope to be back soon :-)

Lisa xx