What Lifting Has Taught Me

The majority of my life I have battled with my brain to becoming skinnier, until the last few years I had never pushed to become stronger. The number on the scale was still seen as the ultimate goal.

Lifting has taught me a number of things and now I have more NSG (non scale goals) than scale goals

*  It’s taught me to not be so hard on myself

*  I’ve developed a deeper respect for how powerful, awe-inspiring, and enduring my female body truly is

*  On days when I’m unsure of myself, I remember how much stronger I am than my emotions

* Lifting taught me how to focus on my goals, visualize them, and then absolutely crush them

*  It’s taught me that I am a smart woman. I am a strong woman. I am a beautiful woman

Last week I finally reached a goal of dead lifting my body weight - I had been joking with my trainer if only I weighed less I would've achieved this goal a heck of a lot sooner ...

I am ready for Autumn and Winter

As I sit writing this, I'm sitting outside in the wonderful sun! 

The children are at school - breathe and exhale - 

It's actually feeling quite summery ... there's something about this sunshine that's so so lovey, and that is, it only comes out between crisp cold mornings and long cold evenings. 

Autumn is here, the fig tree is laden and I can see feijoas fallen from feijoa trees under the apple tree, ready for the children to collect after school ... I am loving every moment of this season ... and it is these cold evenings that have inspired and pushed me to start creating again ... 

I've recently made three quilt flimsies - including cutting up my vintage linens and my liberty of London stash and I have two lots of knitting on the needles ... 

I am ready for Autumn and Winter 

A good friend - like a quilt is both a treasure and a comfort ...

Friends ...

We all remember our first childhood friend. The one we woke up excited to see inside the school gates. Play dates filled with adventure, confidences and laughter. 

Even now, as adults, our friends remain a hugely important part of our lives, from sharing problems, asking for advice, uncontrollable laughter and good times, sharing our life events and proudest moments, our friends help each of us define who we are.

Friends are better for us than all the self help books and protein shakes we could consume

If we want a rich, healthy, nourishing life ...

We need to go out of our way to be with our friends

That's it

That's where life happens

We've been having a lot of talks in our house recently with our children about friends and about values. 

Values and skills like respect, caring, kindness and justice. 

Recently whilst searching for something totally unrelated I came across this blog post On Friendship which was written about me ... I was humbled to read how Deb saw me as a friend and re assured as I navigate my way through parenting my children and the importance of their friendships and how to manage conflict within their friendships I was hopefully teaching through example ...

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be xxx

All Of The Senses

Visiting:  Rotorua for the weekend 

Eating :  Pulled Pork and Coleslaw, picnic on the side of the road in Huntly

Drinking :  Cups of tea from the thermos 
Reading:  Listening to audio stories of Famous Five as we road trip to Rotorua
Pondering: Crazy Crazy Friday afternoon peak hour traffic 

Buying:  Gondola Rides and Luge rides x20 

Enjoying:  Watching the childrens confidence grow with each ride down the track 

Yelling: At the idiots on the chair lift in front who stood up and rocked the chairs until the luge fell off, thus freaking my wee girl to the point of no return and not continuing her rides - ggrrr  

Making :  Picnic lunches to eat lake side inbetween adventures 

Deciding: Whilst Rotorua is incredibly expensive with its tourist prices, it can be done economically 

Wanting:  To do all the things with these 3 gorgeous kids 

Admiring:  His braveness after being stung by a bee, whilst watching for any reaction 

Remembering:  My first visit here as a child and the memories of holidays in Rotorua

Wondering:  What they are getting from this ...

Smelling:  Like sulphur

Wearing:  A Smile and Mud

Needing: Absolutely nothing at this particular time, but maybe a shower after this experience

Feeling:  Absolutely petrified of heights, however, going up anyway

 Waiting:  Until dusk to experience 'tree tops' so as to get day and night without the children staying up too late 

Marvelling:  At this wonderful feat of engineering

Looking:  At the faeries once the sun set and the lights were on  

Noticing:  How she LOVES motorbikes

Watching:  Her smile and run towards the bikes

Remembering: the days before children when Mr B and I would spend every weekend on our bike

Laughing: 2 adults, 3 children, 1 weekend ... so much gear  

Hoping:  They had a good weekend full of memories

Missing:  My Mr B ... We had planned (and paid) this weekend away before we knew he was heading to America for work
Thankful:  Sara and Max were able to join us and enjoy a weekend away   

Happy Anniversary

Today I've been married to Mark for 18 years. 

It's not the marriage I like to celebrate but the togetherness we have had in those 18 years. It's the growth we have done and continue to do as a couple. 

Marriage is merely a relationship which comes with a piece of paper that says .... Married

It doesn't change anything about us, it changes nothing about our relationship, and it changes nothing about our love or the way we treat each other. 

Marriage or not he is and will always be my friend, my lover, my sanity, my not so sane sanity, and the best father to our miracle children ... 

It seems crazy to me knowing, not everyone can marry the person/people they love - crazy - 

However, I am happy I get to spend the next 40+++ years being in a relationship with this man, loving him, annoying him, finishing his sentences and knowing things about him before he knows them ... 

Happy Anniversary Mark (I'm sad we aren't together today) - I love you to infinity and beyond xxx 

Thank you for loving and accepting me just as I am xxx

If you want to experience peace plant a garden...

There is much to be said about the healing of the mind and soul found in nature (I'm not so sure my body agrees tho) ... My garden, planting and weeding has literally kept me sane the last few weeks.

If you want to experience peace plant a garden...

I've weeded, dug over, planted (no need to water with this rain) and I've messed with my OCD self as I've planted a cottage garden for Miss P.  I've spotted self seeded plants re appearing from seeds sent to me from friends and I've purchased new ones.   

I've read up and learnt about pruning, separating runners and roots and I've learnt the difference between annuals and perennials.

Instead of letting the stress rise I've diarised to spend time in my garden (and also with my friends) ... My garden is a peaceful place to be ...

I Feel Loved .. .. .. So So Loved .. .. ..

It's been an amazing birthday week ...

Surprised (to the best of their ability) with not one but two 'not' surprise surprise parties ... 

My friends and family made me feel so loved and appreciated.

Surround yourself with people who make you hungry for life, touch your heart, and nourish your soul.

Good times, crazy friends (or is it them that has the crazy friend?) and amazing memories of an incredible birthday week ...

Thank You 

And the very next day I achieved the challenge I had set myself ... 

Leg Press 200kg on my birthday week ...

I am thankful for my struggle (injury) because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength - Physically and Mentally - 

I am strong

IF YOU DON’T LAUGH…

It’s so important to be able to laugh ... 

Thought I’d share a few moments lately where if I didn’t laugh I’d probably cry … (and thats not going to help anyone!)

Miss P getting a double fracture in her arm & elbow a week before we were to go camping ... to the beach 

Nana being in hospital since January ... Going from bad to worse 

Helping Nana to walk again after a fall in hospital broke her hip 

Convincing Nana that eating soup that you can stand a spoon up in is good for her

Cat ... laugh, it’s really not that bad - reminding myself to find the good in every situation!

An Extra Long Weekend In Sydney

Friendship is one of life's greatest treasures. Friends that are loyal are always there to make you laugh when you are down, they are not afraid to help you avoid mistakes and they look out for your best interest. This kind of friend can be hard to find, but they offer a friendship that will last a lifetime.  

So when we received an email to say our German friends were coming to Sydney ... We didn't think twice about booking our flights and meeting them there.  

Meeting whilst staying in the same resort twelve years ago in Rarotonga ... We have managed to catch up in Germany x2, Portugal, New Zealand x2 and this weekend in Sydney.  

Toasting marriage, friendship and deciding when and where in the world we will all meet next.

  

After a morning of shopping we took in a musical at the Theatre Royal, introducing Merrin to her first ever musical/theatre.  I have promised to go to a Rugby game in return!

Walking almost a half marathon in a day of ticking off all the tourist spots and Opera House photo, it had to be done

After a busy full day previously we soaked up the chance of a two hour train trip to the Blue Mountains, taking in the magical breathtaking sights and riding the worlds steepest train.

Friends who've seen and done so much together ... Travelling through Europe: cruises n campervans (where she first met our German friends), Love, divorce, births (she was my birth partner when I had Miss P) and deaths, we've done it together.  

Life is too short for serious and when the two of us are together - serious is not even an option - my sister from another mother.