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!

Rainy Days and Opportunities

Good friends will come out ~ Even on rainy days ~ If we need shelter

Today ~ This was our gym 

Judges Bay to Achilles Point 

Life is a climb ~ But the view is great

Last week there were days when I felt like a little girl standing on the edge, wondering if I was good enough.  Where I felt too fragile to bounce back yet again.

Today I stood on the edge with my beautiful friend by my side, breathless and laughing.

You can't be sad whilst riding a bicycle 

Riding in the rain ~ Exercise, therapy and a shower all at once 

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass ~ It's about learning to ride in the rain

17.3km mostly in torrential rain, mostly with me singing at the top of my lungs

Pure happiness ...

Taking Stock - January - it's all about Family n Friends

Enjoying: Time with family family family 

Liking: This bunch of people

Watching: My children with their cousins and grandparents

Feeling: Loved 

Family: Together again after a 3 month overseas holiday

Celebrating our extended German Family: Together again after ... too many years

Loving: How each time we meet it is like we were never apart

Understanding: Very little German no matter how much beer I drank 

Reading: Knitting patterns

Making : Baby Milo Vests (x4)

Wanting: Interchangeable circular knitting needles

Buying: Interchangeable circular knitting needles

Deciding: Knitting is a great way to deal with anxiety

Noticing: my garden

Listening: to my girls cackling

Waiting: on the fruit all to ripen

Eating: fresh from the garden

Cooking : BBQ's every night

Drinking : So much wine we ran out and had to do an emergency trip back into civilisation 

Loving: This bunch of friends and their children

Wishing: Her a very happy birthday

Looking: At my Mr B and laughing 

Watching: My girl and her friend and smiling

Loving: This opportunity to be 4 days away from the grid (apart from when we ran out of wine) 

Smelling: The BBQ .. .. ..

Wearing: My togs and feeling 99.9% comfortable in my skin

Needing: The coolness of the river in the heat of the day 

Getting: Wet !! !! !! 

Feeling: Neil the eel swim past my legs _eekk_

Admiring: This piece of land in the middle of nowhere

Feeling: Completely relaxed and happy

Looking: At handmade quilts/love on our camp beds

Taking Stock - December

Snuggling: Babies are just delicious

Celebrating: Surprise birthday celebrations for my Mr B

Loving: Friday Funday has become a bit of a theme around here

Friendships: Celebrating year end #friendswhotraintogether with my Boxing friends

Drinking: copious amounts 

Realising: just how much this group of humans has loved me supported me and pushed me this year

  

Cycling: Everywhere ...

Achieving: Another goal - lifting my body weight - gosh I'm 'heavy' 

Laughing: At Buddy The Elfs antics

Marvelling: We have another year of our 10 year olds belief

Giggling: at the 'naughty' antics and the innocence of children

Pondering: Am I your Aunty or your cousin or both .. .. .. 

Loving: this beautiful niece/cousin of mine

Deciding: you are never too old for face paint

 

Merry Christmas

Loving: Family

Feeling: The heat

Visiting: Swing Bridges 

Playing: water bombs

Watching: Grandparents and Grandchildren make memories

Buying: Icecream in the heat

Adventuring: In a microlight - my fearless girl

Feeling: apprehensive _but_ 

Loving: her smile

Enjoying:  My first ever 'big girl' live band concert

Listening: To Six 60 at the Riwaka Hotel

Smelling: 'Devils Lettuce' thick in the air 

Tis the season .. .. ..

There was so much crammed into the first two weeks of December - School trip to the Art Gallery, Christmas cards, Christmas tree and house decorated, annual Santa Grotto visit with friends, non school uniform days, Secret Santa gifts, school reports, my busiest time of the year work wise and all done whilst Daddy made endless trips away for work.

Life is hectic, as any Mum of school age children knows only too well.  My organisational skills have been tested to the max this term, however, with learning to say no to the endless 'end of year' social events we were invited to, we survived intact and here we are at the welcome start of an eight week respite from school routine. 

Hallelujah, we are all so, so ready for it.

Now summer and the school holidays are finally here and the children have flown down to my Mothers, I have fallen into a more relaxed morning routine. There is no school lunches to make, no rush, no deadlines and no stress .. .. .. A cuppa tea or coffee in bed and a spot of knitting. 

 

There is calm, there is peace, the house is tidy!  _and_ during the day in-between clients there is time to catch up with a friend over coffee or tea, whilst in the evening my Mr B and I can train at the gym together, take in some theatre or a movie, the world really is our child free oyster.  

We are truly blessed my Mama seamlessly and effortlessly takes over the parenting reigns for a week (or longer) every school holidays and the children get magical memory making time with their Grandma and Grandpop.  Win/Win .. .. .. it takes a village!

I hope you are all doing good in the run up to Christmas .. .. .. I hope you are happy and all is calm and bright in your days.

Biking MORE Bridges

A weekend away, out of town ... childfree *bliss*

Before checking into our hotel a bike ride 'around' the Mountain and along the beach broad-walk, finishing with coffee at a local cafe. (because doesn't everyone take their bikes away on holiday?)

The following morning a lazy sleep in sipping on coffee brought to me in bed ... 

One simple positive thought in the morning can make such a different to the day ahead.  

There is always a reason to smile, find it early and enjoy it all day ... and that was our plan 

  ... the Hauraki Bike Path ... 

"lets do them all" he said *gasp* 

Railway Tunnel Loop ... with prescription sunglasses on and no lights on my bike ... look for the light at the end of the tunnel he said ... fek off I said laughing ~ all I can think of is the possibility of an on coming train 

Another bridge and more gorgeous scenery 

Happy Birthday Mr B ...

I'd love to come back with the kids and maybe some bike lights and torches AND I can tick off two more bridges and a tunnel ... Including a swing bridge!

How Blessed We Are With Love

Those who love you are not fooled by the mistakes you have made or the dark images that you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty or your purpose when you are confused

- Alan Cohen -

How blessed we are with love, if we could only love ourselves so much when we need it too

Be kind and gentle with your precious souls.