Gratitude #59

I just love this photo. My Dad in his element. A country man in a country setting.

My Dad works tirelessly everyday of his life to give Mum, myself and my siblings the best he can.

He is a man of conviction. A loyal man. A good man.

And I love him very much.

 

My fabulous father. Forever family.

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Gratitude #58

I have been remiss - it has been some time. I'm actually a year older since I last blogged. Once again I hop back on the wagon, reins in hand.

I have been singing for some time and more often than not I take for granted the gift I have been blessed with. This morning I sang at a funeral for a work friend. It was moving to sing with others in harmony and to be able to give something to the celebration of Marie's life. I am grateful to be able to share this talent and honored that I am asked to do so.

 

The gift of song. Gratefully shared.

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Gratitude #57

Let me introduce our newest family member - Caruso. Our little opera singer. Who needs a rooster when you can be woken to the trills of a canary. He is a delight.

Caruso Canary. Our cheerful chirper.

Gratitude #56

In our renovation plans I was very keen to have a big opening onto the deck from our bedroom. Hubby wasn't overly keen as he loves the bedroom to be as dark as possible. However we have been grateful every morning to pull aside the blinds and let the day in. I love it. We are very fortunate.

 

 

Pull back the blinds. Let the outside in.

 

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Gratitude #55

A big thank you to a friend of mine who has started her own aromatherapy business and is producing some beautiful products. I have been using the Harmony and Prayer body sprays and they add a little smile to my day. ( A plug for her business - www.skinpassionaromatherapy.com )

 

 

Scented sprays. Smells sublime.

 

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Gratitude #54

I've just come home from my third time going to BUMS and I'm officially a member. The ukulele is fun and easy and even with a hundred playing together in a room you will not be deafened. I'm grateful that groups like BUMS exist so that you can enjoy a good old sing-a-long!

Singing and strumming. Toe-tapping therapy.

 

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Gratitude #53

I think an enormous number of people were grateful for this morning. M opened the blinds to this - glorious sunshine.

 

Streaming sunlight. Soaring spirits.

 

Gratitude #52

Today I give thanks for one of the things we have usage of with the flick of a switch - electricity. Without it I would be lost. Take it for granted much?

 

Electric energy. Powering properties.

 

Gratitude #51

I am very grateful that my three kids are all healthy and well. As we come into the holidays, I am looking forward to spending some time with them. They are good kids. (mostly)

 

Healthy children. Hopeful holidays.

Gratitude #50

Once again I thank my wonderful husband M for working so hard to provide us with a wonderful new pathway to our new carport. I am grateful for him on a regular basis!

 

Pebbles and pavers. Perfect path.

Gratitude #49

This is my favorite road. I love driving along it. It's like a little bit of country.

 

Tree lined road. Filtered sunlight.

Gratitude #48

It's been a little while since my last gratitude post - not for lack of things to be grateful for - they are numerous everyday - but for lack of attention to the task of posting!

Anyway, Today I am very grateful to my baby sister A for helping me gussy up to go out last night. Hubby and I attended a fundraising dinner and it required a bit of fancy schmancy attire. A to the rescue lending me a dress that I would never have dreamed of wearing but she talked me into it - and it was a hit. She also then stayed and did my hair. It was lovely to be spoiled by her and I am grateful to her for her encouragement.

Velvety slinky dress. Very special date.

Self Nurturing Mission - Draw or Paint a Picture using your Other Hand

Become familiar with your other hand, begin to use it to expand on your creative self, and to help uncover some locked away enjoyable emotions, have some fun with this exercise.

This was fun. I grabbed the biggest brushes I had and I felt like using fire colours. My left hand didn't feel that uncomfortable and I just freely painted. I didn't think much or plan out the next move, just put paint on canvas and it was great. Unfortunately the colours dulled as it dried but it was all about the process, not the outcome.

Self-Nurturing Mission - Give Yourself a Tea Party

Make a special effort to have a 'tea party' for you. Have your best tea cup and saucer, make a special tea, and have a really special treat to eat. Sit in a favorite place, play some music and enjoy this time for you.

I used my beautiful butterfly tea set, made a cup of organic white tea and treated myself to a gluten free brownie. I sat out on the deck, all by myself and I didn't bring an apple device of any sort with me! It was lovely. I will do it again.

Self-Nurturing Missions

As part of my women's course at the hospital, each week we have been challenged to complete a Self-Nurturing Mission.

Each week there has been three suggestions and we have to pick one that we believe will benefit our growth process. It is about motivating a continued self-support, self-nurturing and self-awareness routine.

At the beginning of the course each week, we are encouraged to share with the group a mission we have completed. We are all a little hit and miss in completing these!

My new goal is to complete one every week and to share (making it more accountable!).

Maybe some of you might take on the missions with me. We could all do with a little self-nurturing!

Gratitude #47

Today I give thanks for my Mum. I thank her for all she has done in raising me and then helping me raise my own. In a time when 'homemade' is making a big comeback I can look back on a childhood that was filled with wonderful things all beautifully handmade by Mum. I still look back with amazement to think that she even handmade my sister's and my sleeping bags - in the shape of giant sneakers. We were cool.

A very talented woman. Thanks for the genes!

Gratitude #46

What a wonderful night. I feel fortunate to have been able to watch such talent and grateful for the inspiration.

The sun will come out. Tomorrow.

Gratitude #45

The women's program I have been attending at the hospital each week begins with Yoga. We are very fortunate to have a great facilitator who is also a yoga instructor. Part of the program is for us to develop our own yoga program at home. 
In my past I have had established routines with morning yoga but had let them completely slide. For weeks now I have been rolling out the mat and starting my day with breathing, exercises, poses and flows. 
I am grateful for the direction and push back to the practise. 

Centered start. Breathing deep.

Gratitude #44

I am so grateful for three days of sunshine.
I am just as grateful that Hubby and I finished a job that we had started!
What once was a mud pile with weeds, rubbish and junk is a clean slab of concrete for basketball and rib sticking. 
Our new lawn that was full of weeds is now weedless and mown.
Our backyard looks beautiful.

Hard work. Great rewards.

Gratitude #43

I been having a lot of trouble waking up lately. My new meds are mucking me around and mornings are a struggle.
However this morning I woke up to the smell of bacon.
It was so wonderful. I lay in bed praying that the smell was coming from our kitchen and not a neighbours.
My hubby is just great. And it isn't even mothers' day yet!

Bacon alarm clock. Someone invent one.

Gratitude #42

My gratitude today is for all my hands are able to do. Having opposable thumbs and eight functioning fingers gives me the dexterity to accomplish so much. 
I give thanks for the thousands of small things our hands carry out every day. Where would we be if we were unable to pincer our fingers and thumbs together? 
Our hands are a marvel all on their own.

Fantastic fingers. Honorable hands.

Gratitude #41

By all appearances this post could be all about things I have bought today - but those two packages are all about restored hope in humankind.

Today I am extremely grateful to an unknown target shop assistant who found my misplaced package (from Pandora that contained presents for several people), and who handed it in to reception.

Her act of kindness is what makes this world a whole lot nicer to live in.

Unknown assistance. Renewed faith.

 

Gratitude #40

It doesn't always sit right with me to be (publicly) grateful for the things/possessions I have as it can feel that I'm taking part in the consumeristic drive that society seems keen for us to have.
But I love my bath and am so grateful that my fantastical ideas for my dream bath were able to be catered for in our renovations last year.
The bath is just right to lie down in. The edge is just right for my book/ candles/ a glass of wine to sit on.
The spout is beautiful to watch as it fills the bath. The louvers to the side allow me to look outside into our trees while I relax. It is one of my favourite places. I am a spoilt girl.

Beautiful bath. Bubbly bliss.

Gratitude #39

On the weekend I got new hair - or should  I say I had a fabulous hair cut and colour created on my noggan by a good friend of mine. I was feeling so drab. Now I don't mind catching a glimpse of myself in a reflection.

Foils and a fringe. Fancy and fun!

Gratitude #38

My baby is 11. Hubby M and I are officially parents of two teens and a tween. We have left the childhood years. It is a different world.
I give thanks for the 11 years I have spent thus far with my little man. He is an imaginative, spontaneous little soul. He still gives the best hugs in the world!

11 years of love. Baby no more!

Gratitude #37

Look what my wonderful hubby brought home for me just because!

Ruby Red Roses. Beautiful surprise!

Gratitude #36

At times I come up empty in the gratitude stakes - ungrateful I know.
So I will fall back on the - 'be grateful for what you got' - stuff.

These feet are made for walking. Hammer toe and all.

Gratitude #35

My hubby M and his brothers wrote and presented the most beautiful eulogy at Daph's funeral. They gave thanks for the great things Daph had accomplished in her 66 years. Hundreds of people gathered in Dalby to give thanks for what she had given to them. 
I thank Daph for making me so welcome into the family over 20 years ago, for giving so much love to my children. For all the ironing, washing, cooking and cleaning she did for us so many times. For looking after me when M went away. For helping me clear tonnes of rubbish from our yard and from under our house when M went away! 
I thank her for looking after and loving our pets. For the hundreds of cups of tea she made over the years. For the birthday cards that would arrive a week before all our birthdays. For the late night giggles she would share with Miss G when we stayed over.
Most of all I thank her for raising M to be the wonderful man he is. 

Rest in Peace Daph. Hope the coffee is great!

All in My Head

It's been tough lately. On the 22nd March we lost Daphy - our Mum and Grandma. I have written this blog a thousand times in my head. Have 'written' my gratitude for her over and over. Time for hands on the keyboard. To get out of my head. 
This blog is to be part of my journey to better health - out of my head onto the page.

Gratitude #34

What a wonderful family day. A day spent where Miss G made all the choices - what rides to go on, when we ate, where we shopped, what rides we went on.....etc. She was the focus and it made her day.

Great family day. The rains stayed away.

Gratitude #33

I give thanks today for the 15 years J-boy has been in our life. He's been a great kid to learn to be a parent from.

15 years as a parent. One beautiful boy.

Gratitude #32

I farewelled my other grandma today. My siblings and I lost both our grandmas in two days last week. It has been a shock and a hard week with back to back funerals. However, this is just how it is sometimes.
Grandma Tonge had the most beautiful smile and could cook Italian chicken spaghetti like no other (even though she wasn't Italian!). She drove this old green machine that had the responsiveness of a tank but she would tear it up. Driving with her was fun. (I think my mum was a little scared!) She worked hard and loved her family - 5 children, 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
I thank her for her smile, the stripy cups with lemonade and her chicken spaghetti. Most of all I thank her for bringing my Dad into the world. That is the greatest gift she gave to me.

Rest in peace grandma. Clear be your thoughts again.

Gratitude #31

Today we farewelled my Grandma May. She was one of the kindest, cuddliest and generous person that has been in my life. She lived a long life - 7 children, 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. 
I thank her for raising my mum and for being my little grandma. We love you and know you will be waiting for us.

29/3/1910 - 3/3/2012

Rest In Peace. Amen

Gratitude #30

Today I am very grateful that my J-boy's wrist is not broken. Dancing and singing in the chorus would have been just a tad difficult with a cast.

Minor injury. We can deal with that.

Gratitude #29

I have no picture for today. My gratitude goes to a friend I have on facebook who has such a great sense of humour, loves the Doctor, dares political discussion and links to different things that give a lift to my day. He is probably unaware of the impact he does have.

I couldn't find a photo that didn't compromise his identity

Random postings. Laugh for the day.

Gratitude #28

Finally met baby E tonight. She was born into a wonderful family. She is a lucky girl.

Newborn baby cuddles. New life and love.

Gratitude #27

I received an unexpected gift today. Time, conversation, australian bush tea and this meditative labyrinth.

Gifts spontaneously given. Gratefully received.

Gratitude #26

I attend a group session of some sorts here every week. It's a place where I feel safe and am amongst people working towards the goal of better mental health. The staff are wonderful and the programs they run always open my eyes to a new learning about myself.

Help on the hill. Support and learning.

Gratitude #25

M is the cook of the house. This morning he got up and made us poached eggs (my favourite) and bacon before we went to rehearsals. How lucky am I?

Sunday morning breakfast. Cooked by someone else.

Gratitude #24

Whilst Hubby M was on long service leave we gutted, cleaned out, packaged and labelled our pantry items.
It has kept in order. We are grateful to each other for getting the job done and maintaining it.

Ordered + Organized Shelves = Less Stress

Gratitude #23

Oh heat pack, how I love thee. Once a month you are my best friend.

Wheat and corduroy. Warmth in 2mins.

Gratitude #22

This isn't about saying thanks for the rain. This is about the gratitude I have for the smell of rain. I grew up in the country where you could always smell the rain a'coming. The smell of the dust being layed down. The smell of the freshness of vegetation drinking in the rain. The smell of aliveness in the skys.
I am so fond of the smell of rain. My kids are like..."Yeah Mum, I smell it already..."

Smell the country carried along by water. New rain.

Gratitude #21

I have one of these everyday. I still have a sigh of relief at the start of everyone. A hot shower is such a blessing.

Clean, hot, running water. Bliss.

Gratitude #20

I have been helping out with rehearsals for my J-boy's musical. It gives me the chance to do things that I love (ie singing, dancing, performing!). The kids are great to work with and their energy and talent is wonderful for the soul.

Singing with young people. Good vibes.

Gratitude #19

With all the food restrictions and avoidances I have I don't have a wide range of snack options. I probably have an orange a day now. I just cut mine into 6 and then end up with juice or over me and bits in my teeth. Hubby M, however says he has now reached master level in preparing an orange for me. No skin, small pieces, served with a fork. I get spoilt regularly with one of his 'master' oranges.

No mess orange. Prepared by hubby M.

Gratitude #18

My little man is a hugger. Always has been. He's turning 11 soon.  His hugging days may be numbered. I'll take them when I can.

Little Man's hugs. Warms the heart.

Gratitude #17

I give thanks for my Miss G who is developing the habit of emptying the dishwasher first thing in the morning.

Empty dishwasher. Great morning start.

Bring It Back Again

Last August my wheels fell off. 
I have a great pit crew working with me.
Laps are slow going.


I've been set the task of keeping a gratitude journal.
I blogged that once.
Bring it back again.