Category Archives: grateful

Feeling grateful

Posted in 12 Days of Gifting, grateful, Nora Corbett by

No matter how blah I feel, I’m not like one of my poor gouramis. He’s bloated! Concensus is its because he’s greedy and swallows air when he feeds, so everyone is on a 48hr fast. Tomorrow they get de-shelled peas. Hopefully that deflates Captain Ego quickly.

image

I also managed to get some stitching done. Maybe around 100 stitches and I had to frog a bit, but I’m happy to be stitching with minimal pain. Photo on Wednesday!

Also Si kept playing with his Batman ornie, and loved his gift today. Sucess!

L at Twenty

Posted in family, grateful by

louise

(mine’s the one on the right)

Well I warned you it would be a few days before you read about her birth…

And actually, you’re not going to get a birth story. Ewuu. Suffice to say she arrived FINALLY but safely. All was well. Freaking odd, but well. I guess most first-time mums feel the same!

So at twenty…she is utterly beautiful (when not wearing those awful purple shorts). She has a distinctive & mostly appropriate dress sense (when not wearing the aforementioned purple shorts). She is working full time, has already gained a significant role promotion, and has a range of loyal, true friends. She has a creative streak and with one friend, has started up a part-time bakery business. It will be a while before this will translate into true profit and a full-time role for either, but they have very high standards which is fantastic. She is a big sister to three and has a solid relationship with all three, unique to each relationship. Our relationship has evolved too and I love spending time with her. She is so very different from me – especially her height! – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Love you, sweetheart.

You Can Quote Me III – NaBloPoMo twenty

Posted in grateful, Journal, me, NaBloPoMo, OLW by

Another favourite quote reminds me to be faithful, confident I will get what I pray for. Example? I have been working for a major retailer on a maternity contract. Noises about keeping me on when it expires on Dec 30th, but nothing concrete and moving into November, I was starting to look around, nervous about paying the bills and so on. Then last Wednesday I was offered a contract. Woo hoo!

oswald_chambers_faith_quote_printable

As I seem to have got the hang of this new habit (planning blog posts, thinking ahead) I’m going to add five minutes of solitude to my mornings as the next habit. Just me, a Bible and a notebook. Very much in awe over Teresa Collins’ faith – the below is from her blog as she has been working through a huge amount of personal trauma.

because he bends down

Thinking that Faith should have been my One Little Word for 2014.

Inspiration

Posted in grateful by

sorry – I tried to post this last night but the phone app wouldn’t function 😦

 

Yesterday a twitter “friend” passed away. I loved tweeting with Jared; I found his comments witty, clever, kind, inspirational, lovely and FAITHFUL. Jared was in an awful position; a young man, husband, new father-to-be, doctor – and suffered from an awful disease. Thanks to stranger’s generosity he was able to fund treatment which allowed him to meet his daughter – he was even well enough to be present at her birth.

 

I first came across Jared as a result of his photography; he was always generous with his knowledge. I expect that his patients also feel the same; and I feel so sorry for his family and friends and colleagues, but amazed that through everything Jared held onto his faith, was so full of grace and beauty. He is now with the Lord.

 

Jared’s blog: http://jarednoel.wordpress.com

Stuff article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/10595242/Doctor-dies-after-living-to-see-daughter

20/20 video: http://tvnz.co.nz/20-20-news/living-dying-video-5186876

 

so it’s been a while

Posted in family, grateful, House, sport, work by

Until very recently, I’ve been using Facebook a lot. An awful lot. It keeps me in touch with 99% of my family & friends, it enables me (look, a book! must add that to my TBR pile) and makes me laugh. I can look back on photos and know what we were doing (altho I haven’t done much in the albums lately) BUT…


sometimes it isn’t as good as journaling can be. Sometimes I just need to write and write and write…

and as Dad and Mum don’t use facebook, they aren’t in the loop like they should be. HI MUM! HI DAD!

2013 was pretty good to us. Sold one house, moved to the MILs for a while, then brought our new house. Fast – listed Sat morning, we viewed Sun afternoon, we brought Sunday afternoon. We’ve brought looking at the long term – ok school zones, lots of new buildings (pushing up the price already), close to public transport, close to the MIL and our daughter. We have managed to kill one of the two plants (possibly one for each of the house’s birthdays?) but have gained back enough room for the massive trampoline down one end of the property and about the same at the front, just by filling in the drops where soil was dug out and moving the fences to the berm. I love how Si is so clever engineering wise. It will take a lot to move the new fence & retaining walls. I’m looking forward to selecting the fruit trees – proper plants, not just my roses and herbs!

2014 hasn’t been so bad either. I’m on a contract with a well established company, the creative juices are flowing, we’ve squeezed in a family holiday, spent time with friends, and the house is reflective of who we are (and yes, Bran’s room could rival a pigsty). All three boys are now playing league (Si & I are coaching Mase’s team, which apart from a few unrealistic parents is great fun) and all are doing well at kindy/school. Mase is about to start 4 days a week at kindy, in prep for school – the “lasts” are starting to catch up. Si is now road cycling to make up for the fact he can’t run (that achilles/plantar fascialitis is hell) and I enjoy walking with Zac. He’s great company. Louise has started her own baking/catering company with a girlfriend and YUM they are already getting word of mouth jobs. 

Anyway, the next posts will be more specific. And hopefully frequent.

Picture: Mase after “helping” Louise with her fabulous chocolate cake 22 April 2014 – a preview of his pirate birthday later this year?

thankful #4

Posted in grateful by

This is to cover Friday and Saturday…cause I was too tired to post last night.


I AM GRATEFUL that it was a gorgeous day on Friday and I got to walk with Mase thru Devonport exploring (Si was doing his medical. Funnily enough it was about the same time 24 years ago he did it for the first time! Things are coming full circle).
I AM GRATEFUL that we recycle things. Brought this pencil sketch print for Si at the Goodwill equivalent (photo to come).
I AM GRATEFUL for the family I am attached to. Si’s sister and her husband are visiting, so we have had a Christmas dinner tonight and shared presents. Wonderful night.

thankful #3

Posted in grateful by

Today I’m grateful that we have easy access to quality health care. Mase is still under the weather so went to his GP today.
Also that the boys chose fantastic presents for other people.
And that the new wireless broadband set up worked! Phew – I still have some kudos in my house 🙂

thankful #2

Posted in grateful by

Today I’m thankful for:
little boys who love surprises – Troy from WAB gave me some Transformers posters and boards so Si, his friend Kevin and I decorated the room. The photos aren’t the best as I had to use my cell but they show the expressions!

for the spring sun – Si & I did a dummy run over to Devonport and walked around for about an hour looking at houses and so on – which is why I had to use the cell as the camera is still in the ute!

for the piles of washing – at least I have people to dirty them, even if there is a reluctance to put them away!