Happy New Year

Happy New Year

May 2010 bring you nothing but happiness, love and laughter

May the goals you set be easy to achieve

May you find more reasons to smile in each and every day

No matter when midnight strikes for you

May the following dawn be full of promise

Many hugs from Perth

xxx

Entering the New Decade

So only a few more days and another new decade begins, having been born right in the middle of the 50s there are quite a few already under my belt, I hope that I have many more to come.

I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, but way back in early December I decided that 2010 was my year, the year I turn my health issues around. I will lose weight in 2010 - I am not setting myself a goal, but weight will be lost. I will exercise more and eat well and stop drinking coke (my one weakness). This is the year my life change starts.

Have you decided to make some life changes in 2010? Are there things you are going to do that make your life better, happier, more fulfilled. Is this the year you are going to look at life as 'glass half full'? Let me know, for if I can encourage you in any way during the year I would love to do so.

Roll on 2010 - it is going to be a great year!!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

May 2010 bring you peace, love, laughter and happiness

Hugs from Perth xxx

The 12th Day of Christmas

2009 - the year that was, good, bad, painful, happy, sometimes joyous, often filled with laughter, sometimes with loss, new beginnings, sad goodbyes, days when my glass ran over, days when it was dry. But always filled with love - both given and received. So I don't think I could ask for anything more.

Bring on 2010 - a new decade, the year I turn 55, the year I lose weight (yes I am determined it will happen).

Wishing everyone a year ahead filled with love, laughter and happiness.

Hugs from Perth xxx

The 11th Day of Christmas

Well the 11th day of Christmas sees me busily wrapping Christmas presents and thinking, boy I have gone overboard again!!! Obviously still a lesson I need to learn and not taught in 2009 - but then again, while I can give I love doing so.

So what else can I share on this 11th day of Christmas? Well, 2009 saw me start this 2nd blog as a way to try and inspire others with my life philosophy. I had hoped that other bloggers might send me inspirational stories of their own that they would like to share. Initially I was a little disappointed that it didn't happen that way. But then I realised that it was unfair of me to have expectations of strangers and I should be happy that people come and visit and read and hopefully go away with something to think about, something that might help them in their life journey - and really that is enough.

And so I blog when I have time and have something to share, I no longer feel guilty if that is not every day or every week, for there should be no expectation by me on me either.

So I hope that you have found the odd thing here and there that has helped. 2010 may bring more, but only time will tell.

The 10th Day of Christmas

2009 has reaffirmed some things - I am not perfect, never will be, and don't really want to be - after all once you are perfect what is left for life to teach you.

I know that my heart is pure and strong, that I use it to love unconditionally, that it helps me care deeply for others not just family and friends, but the wider community.

I know that my friendship has helped others and that my friends have been there for me this year - they have lent me their shoulders to lean on - and I realise it is okay for me to take solace there.

I've learnt to be happy with my face, it may be a little worn with time, but the lines are mainly smile lines and my eyes still sparkle with the joy of life.

The 9th Day of Christmas

2009 has been a year of loss, we have lost some friends, some family and some old family friends (from when I was a child so more my Mum and Dad's friends but people I knew well). Some of the people who left us this year have had long and fruitful lives, they were aged and while none of us wants to see anyone die, for some it was a relief from suffering. We also lost some friends who were our age (hubby's and my age) - one from a heart attack, one by their own hand, a cousin of mine from cancer who was not much older than us.

So each and every day, I now appreciate even more than before, for no-one knows when the time will come for us to leave this earth, I hope it is a long time from now, but just in case it is not, I take the time to smell the roses, tell people I love them and enjoy the blessings that life is giving me (of which there are many).

Never get too busy to appreciate what you have, once you have gone it is too late.

The 8th Day of Christmas

2009 presented me with some new toys - a brand new iMac computer which this blog is written on, a new laptop so I can stay connected even when we travel and a brand new car. So I suppose you could say that I have been spoilt with material things in 2009. Each of these give me joy, I love driving my car - I could spend hours in it and never get tired of the pleasure of driving - I have loved driving since I was 15. My old computer was getting so slow that some days it drove me insane - so a new one was one the cards - and it has renewed my love of getting out there in cyberspace to see what is happening in the world - a chance to reconnect with some old friends and to meet new ones.

What this has also done is make me even more aware of how lucky I am, and so this year I have also given more than I normally do to a number of charities, for while I get joy from my new things, I am also acutely aware that others in the world - including Australia - are less fortunate.

The 7th Day Of Christmas

The 7th thing 2009 has bought me is a renewed sense of looking at life with the glass half full.

I have had some ups and many downs this year - probably more than in any other year that I can think of. I have had more pain than ever before, I've been more lonely than ever before, I've felt sadder then I have in a lot of years. There were days and days of sadness, loneliness and pain - maybe even weeks. Some times I got bogged down in it, but always I tried to think of my glass as half full. For no matter how bad my pain was, someone somewhere is always worse, no matter how lonely I felt because my hubby was away - I had family and friends and knew he would be back - some people have no-one in their lives. No matter how sad I got, I only need to have my chicken (my eldest grand-daughter) ring me up and hearing her voice put a smile on my face, I only had to spend some time with my munchkin (my youngest grand-daughter) to have a happiness injection. And though it all, I had my sisters and my family loving me just because they can. So really my life is very blessed and I am so thankful to be walking this earth each and every day.

The 6th Day Of Christmas

One of the surprises of 2009 was my trip to Singapore, my daughter's blog Childhood 101 was nominated and then became a finalist of the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards for best parenting blog. She asked me if I was able to come to help with my youngest grand-daughter as her hubby was unable to take time off work.

While I initially said yes without even thinking, when I stopped and thought about it, it was a little daunting, see my menopausal mumma blog entry here for more info.

It ended up being an amazing journey, I really enjoyed spending time travelling with my daughter and my little munchkin. We met some amazing people, got to experience a different country and to top it off my daughter won the award.

Sometimes things are put before you, you can either choose to jump or stand back and not try - this time I chose to jump and free-falling was awesome.

We Interrupt This Transmission

Did you know the Salvation Army is having a Christmas Appeal. You can donate online here.

Any amount is worth heaps, it all adds up. I've donated for the past 2 years as I feel I am in a position to share with others less fortunate at Christmas time. Can you help to?

By the way, I don't work for or follow the Salvation Army, this is not sponsored in any way, I just wanted to remind people the Appeal was on. There are also many other worthwhile volunteer organisations that could use your help - whoever you prefer, please give something to one of them this Christmas - Let Share The Joy.

The 5th Day of Christmas

Well the 5th thing that 2009 has bought me is new cyberfriends - some are fellow bloggers and some are new FaceBook friends (with some connections to old friends once lost too).

There are some amazingly wonderful women out there blogging, for the most part they are honest to a tee, show an openness that sometimes astounds me, show support for each other - even though most have never met face to face. There are some wonderful young Mums and some wiser older women - all merrily blogging away, not worrying if they are followed or not (although most do have some). There are some mothers of sick children, using the blogging world as a sounding board, a place to voice their frustration and their confusion. There are women with amazing literary talent, all have stories to tell. Taking the time to visit their blogs makes me feel a connection I never thought possible.

So to all my new cyberfriends - thanks for sharing with me and supporting me through the ups and downs of my life.

If you are a lurker and do not have your own blog - go for it, it is a fun ride and opens a whole new universe.

The 4th Day of Christmas

The 4th thing 2009 provided me with was, something I didn't think possible, a deeper love and appreciation of and for my husband. For most of this year he was away in Adelaide working every week (only home on weekends), it caused its share of up and down moments for both of us. But we survived and are now closer and more in love than ever.

So I am thankful that the hardship of his travel came into my life, for after 32 years, while we still love each other and really are soul mates - we are human and took each other for granted somewhat.

I am also thankful that this travel is now over.

True love can endure and strengthen no matter what the obstacles.

3rd Day of Christmas

So what could be the 3rd thing that 2009 bought my way that I am grateful for.

The chance to cut my working hours down to 8 days per fortnight. Didn't know how we would cope money-wise or how I would cope doing 10 days in 8. I should not have worried. We have managed with less money and by re-scheduling and dividing the workload between my staff and I, probably as I should have been doing for a while now, we have had all bases covered.

Don't be afraid to take a chance, I arranged to do it on a 3 month trial basis first with the option of going back to full time if I felt I needed to. Sometimes all you need to do is admit you need a change and then have the courage to ask for it.

On The Second Day of Christmas

Further to yesterday's post, my strange bent on the 12 days of Christmas, here is the 2nd thing I am thankful for.

2009 gave me the chance to become closer to some great friends, started by sharing New Years Eve with them and finishing with celebrating New Years Eve this year too.

P & J, I have really appreciated the time we have spent together this year, the 4 of us always have a blast and your cooking P is to die for - glad we are going to get fit together in 2010 - then I can eat more of the cherry tart and not worry about my expanding waistline - LOL.

Finding time to spend with friends is always uplifting and well worth the effort in our busy lives.

The 12 Days Of Christmas

A new bent on the old favourite. I am going to list 12 uplifting things over the next 12 days that 2009 has sent my way. I would love you to join in by leaving a comment and letting me know what has happened in your life over the last 12 months. After all it is only 1 thing per month.

In the first month - the world gave to me - my Sydney family moving back to Perth - yippee.

Oh and I am also having a new layout just for Christmas. Do you love cherries too - head over to Childhood 101 they are giving you the chance to win a cherry red iPod Nano courtesy of Cherry Growers of Australia. Just look under the Sponsors Section. There is also a week's worth of Glamour for Mums posts - just the thing to make you feel better about yourself.

Hugs from Perth xxx