Prints

I'm slowly forming an idea... I say slowly, because creativity doesn't come naturally to me and something really has to grab me to before I'll consider putting it on my wall at home.

I've gotten into the habit of browsing Pinterest.com in the evenings... it's a good chill out time for me and a nice way to remind me how much time I don't have to let my creative juices flow! :P

To get to the point... I've come across these prints, and I adore them. I'm considering framing them and making a small photo wall section with these prints and some others with a similar theme.

Please don't hold your breath for me to post pics of the completed wall. It's likely to take another year to actually do it. :P

My favourite part

If I could, I'd quote the entire book. I've just finished and it is a must read!

"I've discovered one reason I can bring comfort to people who are facing death themselves or have suffered the loss of a loved one: I've been there. I can give them every assurance that heaven is a place of unparalleled and indescribable joy.
Without the slightest doubt, I know heaven is real. It's more real than anything I've ever experienced in my life.
Since my return to earth, I've been acutely aware that all of us are on a pilgrimage. At the end of this life, wherever we go - heaven or hell - life will be more real than this one we're now living."
- Don Piper.

Whiplash

I finally organised Ambulance Cover for our family today.

The day after Jacob went on a joy ride in the ambulance on New Years Day, which cost us $800 (yikes! but worth it), I've had it on my mind to organise insurance. It's only taken me 8 months to do it. I'm pretty proactive. :P

Work. Oh work. The emotional roller-coaster ride with one of the staff, is slowing down and I'm finally allowed off onto the platform. This wasn't before the ride totally tipped me upside down and inside out. It threw me back on the platform after it was done with me. So I'm now dusting myself off and walking on level ground again. For some unknown reason, the staff member has changed their tune and is now treating me wonderfully.  So yeah. That's a relief, but I must admit - one bitten, twice shy. My professional and polite guard is up. To (embarrassingly) quote Bella in the Twilight movie "Your mood swings are giving me whiplash!". Ha!
I would like to never go on that ride again thank you very much!

Some exciting things ahead.... Father's Day, a weekend in New Norcia to attend a Prayer Retreat and Lewy's birthday in a few weeks which I'm busy planning some special outings for. September is looking to be a good month. :D  

Chocolate in the car was a bad idea!

Right, I'm off to finish my book.

Good night my friends :)

The Book

So I started reading this book yesterday and I'm almost finished .. Cannot put it down!

It's a true story, auto biography about a man who was dead for 90 minutes and in that time went to heaven. Amazing book .... AMAZING! Ginge the cat thinks so too 😜

Mental Health Day

An old boss of mine used to say that every now and then, we need to take a Mental Health Day. Translated this means, when you are at your wits end and overextended in every way.. it's good to take a day off and recover before you end up in a mental institution.

Today was that day for me. I had used up all my sources of energy, my stress levels were sky high, my brain was frazzled, I was worn out in every possible way. So I knew for my sanity and well-being, I needed a time out. 

Today was exactly what I needed... in every possible way. I started my morning by letting in my cleaner, to work her magic on  my house while I went out. This is progress right there.. usually I'd waste a day off by cleaning myself, but not today! Oh no. I had bigger and better plans.

Val had given me a gift voucher to a beauty salon for my birthday, so I booked myself in for a massage. Bliss.. complete bliss.

Waiting for the massage, in my Toms - otherwise known as the most comfortable shoes on the planet. :P

After the massage, I spontaneously invited myself to Val's house for a one hour power counselling session! A coffee later, and I was starting to feel human again. You're a great friend Val, my angel in disguise today :X

Then I headed to Koorong Bookstore for some leisurely browsing of the shelves. It was wonderful. They have a Cafe at this bookstore, so I relaxed with some lunch and to browse my books. Guys.. I was by myself in a bookstore, having lunch, by myself. By myself. :P

My final purchases. I'm a massive fan of C.S Lewis. Love his work. Can't wait to get into these books.

After the bookstore, where I spent 1.5 hours, I decided to surprise Sam by picking him up from school and heading to the park for some one on one time. It was lovely. "We're going on a bear hunt, we're going on a bear hunt, we're going to catch a big one.... " We had fun :)

Oh the concentration!

I may never take these shoes off..

After the park, we took a walk down the road to a construction site that we pass every single day on the way to daycare/school. Sam is obsessed with this place and always talks about the machinery and trucks they have here and what they might be building. So he was very excited to take a walk past. He is trying to peak around the corner to check out what is happening.

A little bit upset that the truck was parked and not going to drive past him.

After a special dinner, prepared by my Mum (thanks Mum.. delicious!) ... the boys settled in for some popcorn and wind down time watching cartoons. Love my boys .. they love sharing the little couch and wrapping up in blankets.

I needed today. I needed the break and the time out to wander around doing whatever I wanted to do. To take some time to think and process. I've got some changes to make to my every day life, so that I don't end up in this place again. But today... I am feeling refreshed, and that's exactly what I needed.

Visiting

Another beautiful day, visiting my parents in Mandurah. Love it down here. Some major shopping this morning, followed by a relaxing afternoon and a trip to the coolest park down the road.

Please don't judge me for dressing my youngest child in bumble-bee leggings! Jacob adores them!

Hanging on for dear life. They boys had a ball on this ride!

"Jakey, smell the flowers"

"Don't eat the flowers!!!"

Happy days!

First Aid

If you have an accident and are unconscious, break your arm or leg, are bleeding or are choking on something.. I'm your gal. (Please don't come to me if you have any other issues outside these areas). :P

Today I went to a First Aid Course. What a day! I turned up to work as per normal, to find out that one of the girls who was booked in for the course today was sick, and could I go in her place. I wasn't booked in until Monday, so of course I hadn't done any of the required pre-reading as yet. Now if you know me well, you'll know that if I have homework to do or any preparation to do for a course or meeting.. I'll darn well do it! So, feeling a bit nervous and unprepared, I rock up to the course, in my high heels and lovely little office outfit. So appropriate :P

The day went great, I saved many lives and put splints on many fractured arms. I applied pressure on bleeding wounds and elevated as required. I gave CPR till my arms were sore and filled those lungs with air like there was no tomorrow.

Passed the practical assessment, and then got ready for the written assessment. Um.. nervous. I'm such a nerd, that I even came back to my desk early from the breaks so I could study. I know, I'm a total dag. Turns out half the stuff in the assessment wasn't covered in the class, because you were supposed to read it during your homework. Freaked out for a moment, then realised I had watched enough Hospital and Trauma shows to pull me through. Done and dusted! 19 correct out of 20 thank you very much :P

By the way, if you have an open wound on your chest, please don't seek my assistance. I'd just lay you down on your back, cover it up and hope for the best :P

Subtracting

I could do with a bit of subtracting! Can't we all? Life gets so busy, I don't think we were really meant to be so crazy busy. I read a little quote yesterday that said if you can't find time to pray and read the Bible, then you are probably busier than God ever intended you to be. And that example hits home for me. For others it could be changed to anything else that is important to you, but can't find time to do.

I haven't had much luck in subtracting anything at the moment, but I'm working on it. :P

Oh oh good news! I've been working on a new website for work, revamp and refresh the look etc etc. Finally.. today after what seems like months of emails back and forth, checking out drafts, making 1000's of changes.. we went live! Okay, so this might be much more exciting for me than for you guys .. but it's a project that I'm very proud of :P I would tell you the link but just in case I have a stalker out there who will find out where I work and come and kill me, you know, I better not :P

Happy Days,

Quinn

I've been sitting here watching Glee.. and tearing up. What is it about that show?!

I remember when I was heavily pregnant with Jacob, and Pam and I at that time would often call each other or message while we both watched Glee at our homes. I remember in this one particular episode, Quinn went into labour, and I was bawling my eyes out, poor Pam.. having to deal with an uncomfortable, hormonal woman!

So Quinn went on to have her baby and I went on to have Jacob... it all worked out just fine in the end :P

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Meet Mike the Knight. Sam runs into his bedroom yesterday and comes out in a new outfit, shoes on, and bag on his back.

Sam: I'm Mike the Knight!
Me: Oh wow, you look great!
Sam: I'm very different from Mike the Knight though.
Me: How are you different?
Sam: Well, he rides a horse and I ride a bike, that's very different.

Love this kid :X

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I survived today at work. I can't say there weren't any tears, but I survived. It can only get better right? I have very supportive work mates (minus the one who hates me), a very supportive CEO, a wonderful husband who prepared dinner, dessert and wine when I got home from work, and a lovely friend who received some texts from me during the day just because I needed her friendly interaction. I chatted on the phone with my Mum, emailed my Dad, messaged another friend just to make sure she was okay... all these lovely friendly interactions throughout the day, that make everything worthwhile and keep me sane. Thank you to all those I bugged today!

Tomorrow is another day, my phone hotline to God is ringing off the hook, and He has my back :) And I know you guys do too : ) Love you all xxx

Crayons and Textas

Lewy has been out of action today, lying in bed, with what looks like a bad case of the flu. Don't ask... our family is having no luck with health lately! 

So, the boys and I have had to fend for ourselves. There has been a whole lot of drawing, "painting" the fence with water, riding bikes, Happy Meal for lunch, watching cartoons and sailing in boats (clothes basket of course :P).

Jacob wanted his hair done just like this.. I swear!

The lounge room.... so far.

A beautiful, peaceful (as peaceful as it can be with children!) Sunday. Now to prepare myself for what faces me at work tomorrow. Eek!