Splish Splosh Splat Grat

Wow I still get amazed at the small things that happen, that clearly demonstrate a higher power going before me.

Today was the first week back of swimming for the year, for my 3 year old. It was a new day, new time and new class. The previous term she had been going with her cousins so I was wondering how 'different' it would be this week. HOWEVER God in his graciousness had it all sorted. When we arrived, we found that none of the other 3 girls had been able to make the first week, so low and behold, my normally fairly timid (in a group) child, got to have her whole lesson one on one with her teacher!!! This was of course perfect because she hadn't seen her for about 6 weeks and it was just the best way for to feel so comfortable and at home. Plus the lesson was tailored exactly to her needs! On top of that, right at the end of her class, her little friend Charlotte and her Mum walked up and they were in the group after us...this is my friend was playgroup who the girls actually started out in the same class together when they were in the preschool classes! It was only Charlotte and one other little girl in that group and so Hellen the teacher asked if I wanted to swap Bella to the 11am class from the 10:30am class. HOW PERFECT!!! Now I have someone to sit and chat with while I watch the lesson, Isla has a little playmate to keep her entertained and the girls get to be in the same class as well!!!! This is the same lil friend who Bella did dancing with for a term also and they just LOVED seeing each other during the week and at playgroup:)

Man I am so grateful that God is not bound by times or circumstances and that he manages to coordinate everything so perfectly. How great that he sees the big picture unlike me who finds it hard to plan 2 days ahead LOL!!!

My sparks

I am grateful for my beautiful little Island. The way her eyes light up when she looks at me, the cheeky shine that is always there. She warms my heart and I just want to eat her up. She is always looking for ways to make us all laugh and it usually doesn't take long to it either! Her strength of character and posture is remarkable. I am excited to see how God uses her friendliness and strength in years to come. I feel so blessed to have her in my life, especially bringing me such joy at the moment.

And I am grateful for my sweet gorgeous Bella. Her kindness and generosity astounds me. Her thoughtfulness is far beyond her years. God has given her the most compassionate spirit and I feel blessed to have her around me each day, especially as a comfort at the moment.

Milestone

Today my 2 little girls both went to their kids church program together. It was the first time my littlest was old enough to attend. And it was sooooooo adorable to see them 'looking after each other' lol.

My grat is that I was able to sit in church and listen to the message without a billion interruptions from my cute but distracting 18 month old!

Fingerprints

Yesterday I farewelled my big sister, bestfriend and fake twin (as we would joke) as she moved to Thailand with her husband and 3 little children. I can't recall the last time I cried this much. The pain of knowing how much I will miss having her around feels a mixture of 'unbearable' and 'plain disbelief'. But and there is a but...how grateful I am to have had the past 29 years to develop a truly beautiful friendship with her. I feel so blessed to have so many happy and crazy memories of our time hanging out together. In my goodbye letter to her I explained it was like she has left her fingerprints all over my life. Everywhere I look, everywhere I go and everything I touch, I see her. Whether it is the clothes she has given me, the roads I would travel frequently to visit her, the many trips to G.J's for a creme brulee chiller and five hundred babychinos, or simply the endless memories of fun things we have done together. Those fingerprints are everywhere and while they are causing me so much sadness at the moment as I imagine my life here in Australia without her, I am also so very extremely grateful that those fingerprints remain there. They are a constant reminder of how much I love her. How much she has helped to shape me and how much better my life is because she is in it. I am grateful for these fingerprints...and when I eventually stop crying, I will look forward to getting over to Thailand to spend time with my beautiful B.S and bestie.

I now pronounce you...

My grat for today is for the beautiful wedding that we all had the privelege to be apart of on Friday. My sister-in-law married her best friend and boyfriend of 7 years in the most spectacular and glamorous fashion! Everyone looked gorgeous, and the day went off with any blips on the rader. My specific grat however is not for the incredible limbusine we had on the day (a minibus mated with a limo for a very sweet ride) nor is it for the fabulous weather that shone on us all day...but rather my grat is for the fact that this beautiful couple have found love and have committed to loving each other for the rest of their lives. This is the most wonderful gift and I know they will treasure this and protect it. I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to be apart of their lives and now their wedding day... to be able to share in watching them become husband and wife was amazing. I am so thankful for their friendship and for the impact they have on our family. We are truly blessed to have them in our lives especially considering for so long we didn't even know where the other one lived! Yay what a totally fantastic gratitude todays is!!!