So very grateful!

I am so thankful for this little boy. My youngest son just turned one this week. A year ago I was just meeting him for the first time and now it feels like he's been with us for ever. I am so grateful for the sense of "fun" my son brings to our family, for his funny ways and loads of giggles. I am so glad he made his way in to my life and 'completed' our family. He is a wonderful little treasure that brings me so much joy ahhhhh.....

soothing lullaby

I am grateful for a soothing song by Nickle Creek. It's very beautiful and it makes me feel like I sitting by a trickling riverbed. I have particularly appreciated this tonight as my computer has really played up and made about double the work of what it should have been! It has really helped to keep me calm (sigh) and for this I am extremely grateful.

Mel

Windows By the Bay

I am grateful for the lovely dinner I shared with 3 of my 'mother's group' friends last night. We got to sit right by the window and watch the sun set over the water as we chatted. The food was delicious, the company lovely and it was an all-round wonderful night out.

Splash

Well my grat for today, on this Sunny Saturday, is for a great swim at the local pool this morning. It is always so refreshing, fun and the kids always sleep so well afterwards LOL.

I feel very blessed to have the chance to live in this beautiful country with safe and fun activities like the pool to enjoy together. It is also wonderful to see the kids having a blast in the water...although my little one is a tad too fearLESS and was of the opinion that she didn't require any adult supervision! Hmmmm I don't think so my dear!!!

Mel

145th post!

Sometimes I catch myself thinking that “it’s only easy to find things to be grateful for on the ‘good’ days” but so often I am reminded about how many things there are to be glad about on the hard days too.

Yesterday was one example where despite things totally not going to plan; I was clearly able to see acts of kindness, helpfulness and provision amongst it all.

I had to do the kinder run leaving at 8:10am, rush back to get the passports witnessed then go to the passport interview… that’s all but getting through all this was more of a challenge than I thought.

It started in the night with my almost one-year-old having a high temperature and vomiting on me by about 7am. Thankfully my precious father-in-law was able to drop my other son at kinder, which meant my little one could have an extra sleep. This made all the difference in him being able to sit through all the waiting of the next couple of hours. The passport lady was really kind and thankfully didn’t find fault in any of the forms (this was a huge load off my mind). The old lady at the bakery took a fancy to the children and gave us some free bread rolls. The doctor’s surgery near our temporary home is free/bulk billed for children, which is so different to our old one. They are really lovely there too and were so understanding as my little boy vomited again and was so unsettled. My husband then swapped around his day and took my daughter with him to do the kinder pick up and attend a parent-teacher interview. He then stayed out later and played with the two eldest at a park and brought dinner home with him!

So amongst the tears and sadness from my baby (I can call him that for another week!) there was also so much to be thankful for.

Andie

God spot

I'm so grateful for my "God spot" out the back of my house. Andie, you've been here before, and we sat having coffee and chatting (that was so nice!).

Every morning I sit out on my back deck, its not very big, but big enough for this fabulous day bed that I got (for a bargain!) last year. I sit and have breakfast out here. Sometimes I play some music; sometimes I just sit and listen to the birds. It's almost always sunny here (spoilt!) and I love just "being" here watching the banana palm trees sway. It's been like my little piece of paradise while I've been up here. I think I will miss this spot the most when I move on as it's been such a place of peace and refuge through this season. This morning I'm just sitting here with my coffee and thinking back of Gods provisions- like this one- refuge. It's so cool how looking back I can see how He's provided little gems like this to buoy me along the journey. My heart is bursting with gratitude this morning for these things. I'm praying that my next place has a spot like this- it's been so preciouus! :)

$2 Tuesday

O.k so I a bit rushed tonight but I really wanted to grat quickly to say how thankful I am for a refreshing day "off" from playing my mum role today! My lovely hubby offered to have our 2 girls today so I could have some time to myself. I spent the day fluffing about and chatting with girlfriends uninterrupted which was such a treat! I even sat at the park for about an hour chatting and staring at the lake - sigh. It was delightfully relaxing and the weather was perfect for it too. I also wanted to grat about the bargains I got from the op-shop aswell. I managed to get 9 really funky tops for only $2 each wahooooooo!!!!!!! I took a punt and bought them and just tried them on and they all look great! So I have named today $2 Tuesday in honour of the fact that I also got 40 books in a kids series I love - all for $2...plus I nabbed some great bargains from the $2 shop this morning PLUS I got a movie on the way home becos tonight is $2 movie night at our local video shops HAHAHA!!!! Go figure?! All in one day - I love it!

Hanging in the desert

I went to a seminar on the Gold Coast last night with one of my closest friends, Cam. A guy from the USA was speaking about times in the desert. He talked about Moses, and how he wandered the desert for many years- alone and with the Israelites. He said that these times God uses to refine us and prepare us for something big, the next stage on our jounrey with Him. He spoke about that it is in these times that we often feel the lowest and find stuff the hardest where God minsters to us the most. He draws close to us in these times and we can hear Him the clearest at these points- why? Well, I think because we listen more! In the desert you're alone, hot, tired and there is nothing around you to lean on or prop you up. It is in this time when life isnt rosy that we do seek more- more of God hopefully, but in our seeking we listen more. Look for His voice, for signs of life, water, shade. This guy was amazing and he seriously spoke to my heart last night.



I finally understood my year of 2009. Its like it clicked. God has completely taken away everything or everyone that I used to lean on INSTEAD of Him. All year He has been saying to me, My love is enough. I am. I am enough. All year I've been trying ot get it. All year I've been trying to practise it, and well, to be honest friends, I've completely struggled. I've been closer to depression and all those nasty lonless things this year than I care to define. I never thought I'd be where I have been, emotionally and physically, this year. BUT you know what, I'm SO grateful for it. It's been unbeliveably tough, unbelieveably, BUT I see God in it. I see Him walking in this with me. I see Him steering the ship, and now- finally- I get it, in my heart. I get why I've been in the desert, and you know, I love it.

I know I'm out coming out of it because I feel myself wanting to stay there now- which sounds completely ridiculous I know!! but we are so close now- me and my God- I hear Him; I feel Him; we chat. That's what He's taught me in the desert. If i hadn't had all my vices stripped away; if I hadn't had 'poeple' let me down and not be around for me; If I didnt have to struggle with doing many things solo that I normally would have taken someone to, or had someone to help with, I wouldn't know the depth of Gods love for me. I just wouldnt be able to get it. I understand that now. I get Him. I'm so greateful for my desert season cause I know this now, and I KNOW that he is enough. Isn't that cool!!


This guy spoke last night, and all I could do was nod and go "yep, I get it". I finally understand that God loes me enough to let me go into the desert for a season to refine me; to refine 'us' and our relationship. That's such a privilege.

So much love in the room...

On Friday, my wonderful, long-time friend (who I've known since I was about 4 years old) came over for a play with her three children. We started the morning by celebrating her daughter's 4th birthday with a little party and then giving her a present. She is a huge "Angelina" fan (and 'no' that's not Brad and Angelina... Angelina Ballerina).

I'd found a DVD of the actual ballet, which she's been to see at the beginning of the year. She was so excited and asked to put it on immediately. This was great because my children had been asking to watch it too but I kept telling them they'd have to wait. So we put on the DVD and four eldest children sat mesmerized watching the ballet for about two hours. Occasionally they would call us to tell us what was happening in the story which I was impressed about because there was no dialogue to help them understand. They just had to watch really carefully.

I am grateful for this opportunity to sit and chat with my friend while the four big kids snuggled on the couches and the two little ones slept. It was a lovely morning and when the DVD was over my daughter kept lovingly trying to kiss my friend's son who she been snuggled next to on the couch and then later my friend's daughter was caught kissing my son and chasing him around for a bit more affection after they'd been together on the other couch. Ohhh there was so much love in the room. It was a very funny time watching them all - especially seeing the eldest two and realising that that's how old my friend and I were when we became friends and life had gone a full cycle.

Open wide come inside...

This grat is dedicated to my beautiful daughter who just turned 3! Wow what an amazing gift her life has been to me. She is such a cheeky cherub who I marvel in wonder at each and every day. The way she is learning how to structure new sentences, how on Thursday she couldn't hop and on Friday she could!! Man it melts my heart to watch how gentle and nurturing she is with her little sister. So many millions of things I love about her. She just sparkles and lights up my world. So today we celebrated her birthday with a play school party and all her little friends came to join in the activities I had planned. There are so many things I am grateful for it's hard to know where to start - p'haps with the weather which held off raining so that the kids could all have a great go at jumping on the new tramp...or p'haps that my 15 month old slept in till 8:45 am this morning (unheard of) allowing me some precious time to organise last minute things?! Well actually I think I will start with how grateful I am for such generous, loving and kind friends and family. From offers to help clean, bake and lend me things, thoughtful, creative and beautiful presents and simply their 'presence' on the day...I really am thankful for our friends and family both big and little. I feel so blessed to be able to share this special time with people I love and care about and who obviously love our little girl back!

So anyway I had such a great time zipping around the party watching and helping the kids make some special crafts, I got a lot of joy out of seeing the reactions on peoples faces when I said they could take a bag home that I'd made. The cake that my hubby made was fantastic and I am so grateful that he was happy to choose and make it! I helped by baking it but he did the rest - clever boy!! This meant a lot to me as I have a bit on my mind of late and this just took a whole lot of pressure off me. So GRATS for a wonderful party, GRATS for my sweet and wonderous little girl and GRATS for great friends and family to enjoy this precious time.

Mel

SOLD!...or not

So I'm grateful for Gods hand on and in my life.  I'm on the property hunt at the moment which is both exciting and exhausting depending on when you ask me...

Today I went to an auction with my Dad on a property that was within my price range and looked like it would suit my needs.  All I asked God was to make it really clear whether it was or wasn't for me.  We got there are noted that there will be some major re-rendering that needed to be done on the property in the near future. My Dad got a real sense that we shouldnt even bid for this place.  There were a couple of other things that were supposed to be on the property to ie courtyard- that well, didn't really exist! 

So we listened to the auction with interest, kept our hands glued on our sides! and watched someone else buy it.  I'm so grateful that I feel really unemotional about all this.  I really feel God will provide for my needs on this front (not necessarily all my wants - lol).  I'm grateful that He made it really clear for me.  I'm grateful that my Dad could come with me as my support person, and that I had a really close mate praying me through the day.  Mostly though, for God and the way He's teaching me so much in this area of my life, both practically about properties and about Him being enough.  I'm really loving Him in this!!

God is good!

Wonderful warriors

I think I've said it once or twice this year before, so at the risk of sounding like a broken record....I'm grateful for my friends!

I have this little network of what I've come to look at as "warriors" in my world. God, I am SO grateful for them. They journey with me through the ups and downs of the year thats been; we laugh together at life and I share their journies too. What a blessing it is to have them in my world. I am SO grateful! They never cease to amaze me with their kind words of encouragement, the little texts or the prayers of love and support. They are real and honest and faithful- they indeed show me the aspects of God, I really see the face of Jesus in them. What a priviledge.

I wish I could give you all a glimpse into my heart and see it exploding with love for them.
My prayer is that, in return, that i can be even half the friend that they are to me. They are such treasures!
Tam

Celebrating Life grat

My little sister has taught me a lot. She also keeps me accountable for so many things without even realising it. When I was pregnant for the first time, I started feeling fearful about all the things that could go wrong (the "what if....."s) but she helped me see that I could just be happy in the moment and enjoy my pregnancy while everything was going well. If something did go wrong, then I could face that if it happened.

I'm glad she taught me this because it saved my a lot of unnecessary worry that would've robbed my joy at that time.

Another thing she's taught me is to celebrate life... really celebrate it. She insisted I had 3 baby showers (one for each of my pregnancies) and although I tried to resist, she managed to find a way to celebrate in 3 completely different ways. I appreciated this.

She also makes the time, no matter how busy to squeeze in a special moment for everyone's birthdays. It could be weeks later or as simple as a coffee out but it's a moment in time that she sacrifices to let you know that you're valued and that your life is a gift.

There's always choices in life. Hard ones, easy ones, spur of the moment ones and well-thought out ones but we always have a choice.

I remember when I was a graduate teacher back in 2001. I was trying my hardest to make a good impression in the affluent girl's school I had been employed at. A few months in to my job, my grandmother passed away. The funeral was on a weekday and one that I taught a full load. I arranged my day to try and cause as little disruption to everyone else around me so that I could leave at recess and be back to teach the final two periods. As I set out across the city to an unfamiliar area, I got lost and stressed as I drove around unable to find the church. I eventually arrived late and had to listen to service from the foyer as it was full in the church. Afterwards I raced away, making it back to school just in time.

This event has left a lasting impression in my life. It is a huge regret that I live with and choose not to forget because it has taught me so much about the decisions I make. Looking back now I reflect, "Did the school appreciate my selfless actions on that day, trying to create less work for them?" Of course not. The only thing anyone probably remembers from that day was my poor form in showing up to my grandmothers funeral. What I'm left with is a scenario where I viewed something temporary (my job) as more important than the relationships around me. I wasn't particularly close to my grandmother so I could've justified it away like that but I am close to my father (and it was his mum). And I should've been there for him and valued the relationship with him on that day.

Last Sunday our family had plans and the children were excited. At the last minute though my sister arranged a farm day outing to celebrate her eldest daughter's 3rd birthday (an extra event to her party this weekend). I initially said 'no' as we'd made plans and I knew we had her party coming up but when I got off the phone and thought about my grandma's funeral, the importance of my decisions hit me hard again. Was this one of those moments where I would later look back and wish I'd made the decision to go? Yes! So I called her back, we changed our plans and I am SOOOOO glad because we had the most lovely day celebrating and created memories that I will never forget. So my long-winded grat is for my sister. Her ability to celebrate life and all that comes with it. The value she places on her relationships and for the reminders she gives me that even when it's busy, "we still celebrate". I am so glad for this because I just don't want to miss a moment.

Thai, cars and signs of hope

Yesterday I took my neighbours dog for a walk along the waterfront where I walk regularly. I've only recently started soing this with "Brandy", a fluffy full-of-life shitzu. He's really cool, he's got a real overbite which cracks me up, but he' a gentle fellow and loves to get out and run along the wind pushing back his cream fur. He's a real dude, and a kind of subsitute dog for me when I miss my Millie who is having an extended stay interstate! I think I can speak for him in saying we both love our walks!! lol

We got back from our walk, and after a challenging couple of days, I felt refreshed and had my head full of my "God music" that I played as I walked. My other neighbour, Terry was waiting at my front door. He gave me a slip of paper with one of his clients names on it- saying he was looking for a car! how cool, I only told Terry that I was selling my car in passing the other day as I re-told the story of the scammers. I'll ring the person today, and whos knows what will come of it. To be honest, it doesnt matter, what it reminded me is that we never know what's around the corner with God. It renewed my hope in tomorrow. Praise God!

Terry and I ended up going out for a bit of dinner (mmm thai...) which was such a blessing as we chatted and ate. Thanks God for all this.

There is sooooo much to be grateful for!!! Firstly, this amazing cookies and cream cheesecake that I discovered yesterday....oh my goodness soooo good!!! :)

Grateful for the family lunch we had today, where we went to my brothers Tafe and watched Andrew at work as he served up a yummy lunch for us. So grateful to see my brother getting excited about his hospitality course and having a dream to someday set up his own cafe.

Also grateful for Tupperware! Been selling heaps of it which means extra cash and a massive glory box full of Tupperware that I didn’t pay for!!

Also grateful for my new job that I start on Monday!! Yah!!! I’m so excited about it because it’s what I want to do, both business and IT and will be getting a salary higher than what I was on in my previous job!! There is no such thing as a bad economy with God! :)

What a MESS grat!

Since we hurriedly moved in to my in-laws house last month, it has felt like I have not been able to get on top of the sorting. There's still half packed suitcases, random boxes of stuff I don't know what to do with... on top of bags of things to give to people, take to the op shop, sell at a garage sale etc etc.

Well last night (and the night before) I made a couple of steps forward in the "re-organising" department. Our temporary bedroom now feels like a bedroom and not so much of a dumping ground. I actually opened the curtains proudly this morning hoping someone would walk past and notice how tidy it was LOL!

So my grat is just for the small feelings of progress amongst the constant emotions of upheaval, waiting, planning, mourning our old house, feeling overwhelmed at attempting to move overseas... all that!

Grace

It's been a funny year for me this year. In some senses I think I've felt God's presence more this year than I ever have. In other senses the human part of me has experienced a lot of the 'challenges' that life throws at you- loneliness and solitude have visited more than I care to divulge! I find myself often disappointed in human nature. The last couple of weeks a number of situations have occurred that have torn at my heart. We can be really unkind as people- knowingly and unknowingly.

I've been trying to sell my car, and I very nearly got scammed last week, by a man posing to buy the car for his son. He was just setting out to rip me off. That's a long story girls, but again I found myself really disappointed and questioning why people do these things. A Christian acquaintance of mine up here, made some really nasty comments about me this past week with were really uncool, and again I found myself questioning why we do this to each other. Isn't it about love? grace? How disheartened I feel at all the selfishness, dishonesty and cruelty. How easy is it to get resentful of all this and become bitter. I so don't want to live like that. Lately I feel like I'm watching my own movie though with people just throwing stuff at me. It's been a real barrage of things just presenting themselves to me and I feel totally out of control watching all this occur in front of me. It's hard not to hold on to the feelings that this naturally brings up. Instead though, I'm choosing to turn it around. I'm praying for the scamming man! and the others that are doing these things. God reminds me that that none of us are perfect. I'm far from it so who am i to cast the first stone?

This year has been by far my roughest year (roll on 2010), but as I reflect on it I see God's steady hand with me. This morning in one of our 'conversations' He told me that He is here, and that He walks with me through every moment. He sees the disappointments and tears that others don't. He will never leave. How amazing is He that He still has time to care about lil old me! I think it's cool that He cares about the man who was trying to rip me off; about the friends who are unkind or the people who are not thoughtful. It reminds me that it's all about Him. None of us deserve grace, that's why it's grace.

So this long-winded grat and it's roundabout way it just that- I'm thankful for His unfailing love; for His grace and for His refining in times like these. Whilst it's hard to see at the time, I know that He is going to use all of these experiences for His purpose- so that's pretty cool.

tam

Disorganised but still blessed

I am not the worlds most organised person and while I do have several good reasons for being this way, lets just say...I don't plan ahead efficiently like some of my close friends. No, you wont find me at the Toy sales in June buying up my Christmas presents early, nor will you find me tucked up in bed early the night before a big party I am hosting the next day. No...I am the gal who stays up till 4am desperately getting everything cooked, cleaned and decorated for the arrival of guests at 10am!!! Anyway the point I am trying to make here is that we have wanted to buy a either a trampoline or swingset for our daughter who will be 3 on Sunday, but despite my best attempts at getting to the shops, I missed out on the swingset that I really wanted (that was on special). Not only did they take the 'bargain' price off the item they added another $150 to the price!!!! Anyway all hope was lost or so I thought BUT 3 days before her birthday and all the big stores have started having sales on tramps and swingset again and wallaaa we have found ourselves a fantastic bargain for her birthday!!!!!!!!! Yes, I am disorganised but still blessed!!!

A moment in time

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to see my Grandpa again after not seeing him for far too long. He is getting really old and I had never had a chance to introduce him to my youngest daughter who is now 15 months. It was a bit touch and go as to whether I would be able to go due to my girls being sick but my doc gave us the all clear so off we went to visit along with all the cousins, aunt and uncle and grandparents! It was so lovely to have the chance to see him again and I was very grateful that there were lots of other adults around to help keep my kids entertained so I could have a chance to sit and talk with him. I have a real soft spot for Grandpa as he is just like a really old version of my Dad!

Perfume Grat

I have a few bottles of nice perfume but my favourite perfume ran out a couple of days ago and I began to wonder when I'd be able to justify buying myself some more.

I usually wait until an overseas trip and get some duty free but the next overseas trip I have planned is to go and live in Thailand and be a missionary so I was thinking that buying perfume probably wouldn't be a high priority on my list of things needed LOL.

God is so funny how he provides though. At my girl's group last night one of the ladies in the group came in carrying a big bag full of things saying that her sister worked for Lancome and had kept giving her samples of perfume and things that she wanted to get rid of because she had too many. I thought she was talking about sachet samples or something but when she started unloading her bag, they were full sized (large) bottles of perfume!!! I got to take home a bottle of Emporio Armani Diamonds and a bottle of the matching moisturiser. How cool is that?

Food grats...

I really didn't feel like heading out late to do the grocery shopping the other night in the rainy, cold Melbourne weather but I am grateful that my in-laws offered to stay up and babysit our sleeping children allowing my husband and I to do the shopping together!! This just never happens anymore so it was so much fun being out late and cruising round Coles finding bargains and chatting together. I know... how exciting is MY life LOL!

This leads me to my next grat of bargains... while we shopping, the deli kept making announcements of reducing things like salmon from $20 a kilo to $3 a kilo etc. We got 1.5kg of hoki for like $4 and a cooked roast chicken for$5. We ate half our fish tonight cooked with some fresh coriander, garlic, butter and lemon and it was absolutely delicious and sooooo cheap! Yippee.

Two grats...

I am grateful for a really lovely weekend filled with fun and friends, it left me in very good spirits and reminded me of how blessed I am to be surrounded by so many amazing people!

I am also grateful for peace - and the chance to 'grow up' in such a blessed nation, with so many opportunities, not the least of which is freedom! How blessed I am to have this when so many other throughout history have not.

closing doors

Im grateful today that God has closed a couple of doors for me with things I'm seeking Him on. Of course, it's always easier to step through open ones,...as opposed to me ....

"step, bang, ...ouch, I guess that's a no then..."

Still, I'm thankful He does close some, it at least enables me to go "OK not there, right, next". and I'm sure He is preventing me from making mistakes too. Plus WHEN He does open one, I'll know and I'm looking forward to that day where He will confirm His presence and will.

Have a good week ladies :)