The Best Laid Plans…

I originally chose this clip to bring some cheer… which of course it does.
Just not the way I thought it would 😆

We were entering the finish line for Christmas, before the wheels came off.
Or, the car broke down.
Last week, just before a block of events and obligations that had to be reassessed to find other methods of transport. We hoped it was a minor fix, but it seems that fixing the faults would cost more than the car is worth. So, here we are. Looking for a value priced, reliable, not too old car. Just before Christmas.

This year seems to have gone very quickly.
Good things happened; bad things did as well. I had hoped to overhaul my health issues and get them on the way to “better”, but that still needs work!
My boys are both adults now, though, and Sweet Bean has been forging ahead into becoming a grown up – changing accounts, looking for work, basically separating himself from us as much as possible (in a good way – not emotionally 🙂 )
We will have a good Christmas, whatever happens.
Life still has many beautiful surprises in store.
❤

But here is a song for the sad places in our hearts, where we feel lonely and unheard.

Be blessed.
Be merry.
And know that there is still the possibility of light.

Published in: on December 15, 2021 at 1:04 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Wassup?

Our tree!
😀

Hello, my Renaissance angel!
…presiding over our tree.

Now I can sit down with a mug of gingerbread milk and watch Elf.

Published in: on December 13, 2021 at 8:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Eggnog?

Why is that supposed to be a Christmas drink?

Two weeks to go…
Still haven’t got our tree up, but here’s the one in the mall –

Shiny! 😀

I’ve been doing bits and pieces as I can, and resting in between.
Been having pain episodes again – off to the doctor to have a check. He suggested looking at medicinal cannabis… that would be interesting, but I don’t think we could afford it.
So ends my chance at a real hippy life! 😆
Yes, I know most medicinal cannabis uses CBD without THC, but it seems that some pain control needs the THC component. I’ve never used it in any form, so it’s an unknown quantity at this point in time. I tend to be a bit wary with those.

Still, if I were to try the whole shebang, it might help to understand this little Christmassy musical interlude!

Published in: on December 10, 2021 at 7:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Looking To The Glory Realms

Still haven’t put the tree up.
Still have presents to buy and food to sort.

… but still able to have another look at what it’s really all about.

Published in: on December 7, 2021 at 11:38 am  Leave a Comment  
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Having A Laugh…

First day of December, so I suppose it’s acceptable to get a bit Christmassy.
We haven’t put any decorations up yet – maybe this weekend, or the next. I love decorating for Christmas! It just requires a bit more energy than I can sometimes access…
In the meantime, here’s a bit of a song to cheer us into the season.
😀

Published in: on December 1, 2021 at 9:16 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Where Beauty Began

Lately I have been reminded
of the artistry woven into the fabric of life,
the tapestry of existence on Earth.
The delight in the small things,
tiny details,
discoveries for every moment of our days.

I have been reminded
that we are created
by a Creator

to be creative –
each of us having a part to play
(and all our pieces are needed for the full picture!)
We can bring our unique gifts
to help hold back the darkness,
and uncover the Light.

All of us
artists,
born for community,
to navigate the hard times together,
and together, to rest.

Published in: on November 24, 2021 at 9:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Lifting The Heavy

There’s been some beautiful heavy rain today. It’s made it easier to do the housework that’s needed doing – cooler days make the heavy work bearable.
The end of the school year means doing the more in depth cleaning that doesn’t get done so regularly (although much more often than once a year!) At least I can use the conversion chart that came with my virtual races to add some more distance to my challenges… the housework I’ve done today converts to around 10km. This gives me a sense of achievement, but I can also say that I felt every one of those kilometres!

Sweet Bean is embarking on his new adult life. Today was spent changing various accounts over to their adult versions, and was also the day to start applying for jobs. It won’t be too long before I have to start doing that as well, but I have a couple of weeks yet.
Everything is new and fresh, for the moment.
That sense of accomplishment is satisfying. Unfortunately, there is always more to do…

I shall bask in satisfaction until then, and enjoy my soundtrack for today!
😀

Published in: on November 23, 2021 at 12:32 am  Leave a Comment  
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Dancing Into The Future

We have been having a quiet day, after two days in Brisbane preparing for and going to Sweet Bean’s graduation dinner. Parents were invited as well, although we sat at a different table.
Here he is in his new suit.

Isn’t he gorgeous?
❤

I may have spent too long taking photos…

We stayed overnight in an airbnb near the venue – basic, but adequate. It was like a mini-holiday 🙂
Ended up being a bit late. The battery in the car decided to give up completely just as we got in, ready to go off in our finery. Trying to push start a car, or work on the engine, while dressed up in our formal gear, was…interesting!
We had some help from a couple of people also staying there. They tried to jump start the battery, but when that failed they gave us a lift to the dinner. Such kindness, just when we needed it!
Here’s Sweet Bean, just about to go in.

He got to finally meet some of his teachers, and catch up with those he had already met. There were various speeches, and they each went up to receive their graduation gifts – a lovely folder with their final reports and other documents, a gift that turned out to contain a devotional book for next year, and a special “graduation” pen. There was lovely food (although not quite enough for my hungry boys), and everything was decorated beautifully.

Afterwards, there was dancing!
Sweet Bean joined the throng – mostly students, but some parents as well.
They danced for ages, everything from the Nutbush and Footloose, to Uptown Funk and Shake It Off.
We finished late, and thankfully got a lift back with his area teacher, so we got to have a chat with him.

The moon shone brightly, as the evening rolled on towards midnight.

And then – it was time to go home.
Take a deep breath, glance lightly at the past, and turn towards the future…

Published in: on November 20, 2021 at 5:04 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Penguin Appears!

…and a splash of creativity graces the world!

I went to the library the other day – books are one of the necessities of life 🙂
The librarian who was on duty at the time saw me admiring the little blu tack figures on the frame of computer, and said that she made them when she had some time.

So cute!
😀

When I passed by today I noticed that there was a tiny baby penguin there as well.

We are lead to believe that “genius” is something that only a small group of people possess. We are often taught to seek the one “true” answer to something, rather than thinking outside the box to see if there’s a better one – every school generation seems to have a new way to do maths problems, and the old ways are no longer used.
I was listening to a zoom call recently, and we heard that genius is far more prevalent than we were told. The word itself seems to come from a root that suggests an “inborn power” that doesn’t seem to be reserved for the fortunate few. We all have something that we are born to do, and that we are good at.
That won’t necessarily be a blu tack penguin 😀

…but it may be –

a beautiful garden,
the best apple pie,
the ability to fix any car you come across,
making delicious school lunches, every day, for 12 years,
creating a home that people love to visit,
being the person who can organise the neighbourhood to have barbeques for every conceivable occasion…

or we could all be the person with a smile so big, and a heart so wide, that everyone knows they’re safe and loved and welcome.

What’s your genius?
❤

Published in: on November 17, 2021 at 5:03 pm  Leave a Comment  

The First Day After

Yesterday’s final exam excitement for Sweet Bean turned into today’s low key celebration…
There were errands to run in town, so we eventually met up at the Handmade Markets in the mall.

Had a look round.
Shared some chips.

I found a new friend at one of the stalls.

(I think her name is Mavis 😀 )

Did the shopping.
Picked up some nice food for a celebratory lunch.

So lovely to spend the morning all together as a family!
❤

Published in: on November 13, 2021 at 11:20 pm  Leave a Comment  
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