The Journey

We are now into the seventh week of term. Where has that time gone! So many things have happened and its hard to keep up with it all. Some good, some not so good. When I think back seven weeks, everything seemed so ordinary.  Life was going along smoothly. Nothing too remarkable.
Then it seemed to be one emotional hit after another. First illness with both my parents, then serious worry over an unexplained illness with my nephew ( which thankfully remains an unexplained mystery that seems to be slowly resolving itself and is not the big C that was beginning to be discussed) . Coping with final year exam pressures. Then the seemingly innocent ill health my dad was suffering turns out to be a side effect of a much bigger illness- cancer. This is the news that has really hit me. Dads are invincible, they will always be there won't they? Cancer may not be the dreaded disease it once was, but the statistics on this type are not great. And the testing goes on and on. No treatment or prognosis yet and the waiting seems as bad as the diagnosis.
So, there only seems to  be one way to not succumb completely to the emotional roller coaster I seem to be riding. Everyone's life is a journey and remaining grateful for the many small blessings encountered along the way can carry you through.
What am I grateful for?

1. Having an intern on my class this term who has been doing to vast majority of teaching. This has really helped me balance my time better

2. It has been incredible to see the family rally, first for my sister, then for my Mum and Dad. Being part of a large family is a blessing I have always been grateful for and knowing we are all going through the same thing at the same time is a tremendous support

3. Amidst the stress and tensions of final year exams, very grateful to have a teenager who has not caused any grief or undue stress and has managed to remain focused amongst everything else

4. Friends who pop around to help out with the small projects that can seem insurmountable

5. And lastly, but definitely not least, for eternal promises

As the future unfolds, it is good to know their is a plan, a perfect plan. Good to know, but hard to accept sometimes.

Being that this is the year of getting on top of a few things, I headed off to the doctors this week for a few blood tests. So, where do I start with the bad news? Firstly, I've shrunk 2cm. 2cm!! I think the doctor mismeasured, even though I asked her to measure twice. Next, onto the scales. It has been a goal this year to lose 5 kilos, but it now appears that that figure has to be adjusted to 7 kilos. 7 kilos!! I think there is something wrong with her scales, even though I asked her to check it twice. Sheesh, nothing like going to the doctors to improve your mental health. Whatever the results of the blood tests, it can't be as bad as this!

A Few Days Away

Last year we had bit of an incident with the hot water system. As a result, the floor boards in our entrance way needed repair. Well, they have been repaired, twice. But the results were not good. They needed to be done again so because we can't walk on them for a couple of days, the kids and I decided to head away for a few days. We only had about three days so we didn't want to go too far away, so we settled on Newcastle. It had been at least 10 years since I had been there and other than a quick school excursion for Ben, the kids hadn't either.

What really surprised me about this mini break, was just how much I enjoyed it. Leading up to it I kept thinking that maybe the effort for a few days away just wasn't worth it. But I'm so glad we did. Three teenagers with their mum. Could have been a disaster. But they genuinely enjoyed it. They got along well, they didn't complain about any of the things we did, they laughed, tolerated my need to take a million photos and so on and so on.

The weather was perfect, a beautifully mild, sunny day. So we decided to go on a 5km coastal walk which was absolutely spectacular.

What was really surprising was just how happy the kids were doing simple things.

I came home feeling very blessed by the children I have. And grateful that they don't mind hanging out with their mum. I know every mum feels the same way, but still......

The bad news, the floorboards don't look any better than before. Now to decide if I will complain and have them done for the FOURTH time!! Or just be grateful that I have floors at all....

Old and New

The last few weeks of school were hectic. Report time. The stress, the late nights. How honest can you really be? Apparently not too honest as I was to find out. The number of changes I had to make in order to please parents was crazy. And even then had some very upset parents. And they were for reports I thought were outstanding. Sometimes your best effort is just not good enough.

 So, I was really looking forward to school holidays. Love holidays. Love being at home, love having the kids around. But it's also the time I noticed that we are still relative newbies around here. I think it is possibly for me to go for a week at a time without speaking to another adult, especially while the Major is away. Still not at the catch up for no reason point. It will happen. Thank goodness for church because it at least gets me out on Sundays.

But this week was different. We lived in Toowoomba for nearly ten years. It was where two of my children were born. It's where I could have imagined staying forever. This week one of my dearest friends from Toowoomba came to visit. It was great just to be together catching up. We have a lot of history together.

We did do more than just sit around drinking coffee. We did the tourist thing- checked out the sites of the town. Which didn't take too long!

And we spent the day in a very tiny town about an hour away. In it's day to was a thriving gold mining town. Now, it has a few quaint stores that rely on the tourist trade. Only a tiny town, but with much to offer.

And then it was time to say goodbye. I do so miss not being able to spend more time with old friends, friendships that have stood the test of time. But, I am grateful to have had them at all and feel blessed to know as many people from as many different places as I do.

If I thought it was already too cold this winter, then I was in for a shock this week! -4ºC. Waaayyyy too cold for me. 

But what has been beautiful this week are the sunsets. I have a soft spot for sunsets. My collection of sunset photos is really amassing! I'm sure to everyone else they all look just the same, but to me they are a real work of art. God's fingerprint on the end of the day. And this week they didn't disappoint. Simply stunning. Breath taking.

Oh, and another beautiful sight I saw this week- Miss E and big brother washing up without arguing! It's a miracle!!

A Whole Deck

You know, it's one thing to have a tissue go through the wash, but a whole deck of cards!! Nothing surprises me with Miss E...

Winter Blues

There are some things I am very grateful for. Not living in the Northern Hemishere is one of them. Don't get me wrong. We have lived in the northern hemisphere and loved it. Loved, loved, loved it. I'm desperate to go back soon. But it's the winters that would get me. I cannot do the cold. No matter how hard I try. Once it drops below 20ºC I feel like I've moved to the Antarctic. So, I'd never be able to live in the snow.

Or maybe I could...
Maybe everything would be centrally heated...

Here, we do not build our houses well to cope with the cold. Especially older houses. And with the cost of electricity, heating becomes a real issue.

Last winter I google the type of thermal underwear you wear when you climb Mount Everest. I figure that if it keeps them warm, it should work for me.
Im still trying to work out how to afford it.....

Anyway, winter is here. For just over a week. And I've already had enough.

Maybe I should move to the northern hemisphere during our winters, and the the southern hemisphere during their winters. A permanent summer. Yes. That would suit me just fine.

Or maybe I'll just move to Queensland.

A Big Year

This year is a big year for many reasons.

1.  We are entering into the third year since we moved. After two years in Adelaide I wanted to leave. Badly. We knew people superficially, not very well. I was lonely and very homesick. We were so far away from family. So, as we entered this year, I knew what to expect.

But it is different. I shouldn't be homesick. I am home. That has definitely made the settling process much easier. And we have met some really lovely people. So, rather than thinking we don't know too many people really well, this is the year to get to know them better. To nurture friendships rather than abandon them.

2. After a six month, 3 day a week contract at a school last year that left me worn out physically and mentally, it was with some trepidation that I took a 12 month contract at a different school the year. But it was the best decision I could have made. I feel very blessed and grateful to be working at this school. Beautiful children, lovely staff, fantastic teaching environment. It is a four day a week contract but I almost always work five. And it's easy to do. But settling into a full time teaching role after several years of casual/release work, has hijacked my time. Finding the balance between work, mothering and having a life has been a balancing act. So much after hours work!

3. The Major has changed jobs. After 18 years, reaching the top of his field, he has decided it is time for a change. A huge decision. There is no work in his field here, so it means commuting and time away. He will be away for several months training before settling into the real job. And it means taking a big step backwards. He needs to go backwards to go forwards, and that will be hard for a while.

4. My biggest baby is completing is final year of school. Not sure if it's a bigger year for him or me! I can't believe it. He's now driving, studying hard, thinking about his future. I can't fathom that we are having these conversations, that his future without us is so close. 

But amongst all the busyness, there is always time for 4 hour phone calls with J!

On another note, J and I have decided to do a photo challenge on our blog http://lesleyandjo.wordpress.com/. 

Day one was blue. 

Looking directly into a glass of water.

Ok, so now it is time to stop procrastinating and get back to writing school reports.....

Really? Do I have to?.............

Apparently so.

Three in Three

It was that time of the year...again.... Three birthdays in three weeks.

It starts with Mr J turning 15. It just doesn't seem possible.

Then Miss E turned 13 and I officially became a mother of three teenagers.

A combined afternoon tea with family for these two

And then it was Mr B's turn. 17. Unbelievable. This time last year I was astounded that I had an L plater. Now I have a P plater. Even more unbelievable.

His birthday was the day after Easter Sunday so we celebrated a day early with family.

It was a gorgeous afternoon on mum and dads farm. There really is no place like home and nothing like family

As a result of Miss E's birthday, there is now a new addition to the household - Harry the shoodle

And then it was over for another year.

No, wait! There was one more very special birthday last weekend.

Happy 100th birthday Nan! xx