As I mentioned yesterday on my blog the year 2010 was going guided by the word EMBRACE. This wonderful concept comes from the fantastic blogger Ali Edwards. I have thought that now was the time to embrace more of what life has to offer and hopefully make my life more fulfilling. I look forward to seeing what this means to me.
And so with that here is a quote and image to start me off
“I embrace emerging experience.
I participate in discovery.
I am a butterfly.
I am not a butterfly collector.
I want the experience of the butterfly.”
by William Stafford
(the image comes from this free butterfly image sharing site )
Have you chosen a word and what is it. I would love to know.
I have been sitting here and reflecting on the year 2009. It has had it's ups and downs, what with having greater financial freedom and me discovering a way that I can work and still stay sane. Well that is only because I stepped over the line of sanity and took on too much but now I know my limit. Catching up with our great friends from Brunei who have immigrated here from the UK was also fabulous and now we are off camping with them.
Hayden's health has been great too. His white cell cystine count is under 1 ???whatever the measurement is, which is the desired level for Cystinotic patients, no seizures in 2 years, only one unplanned hospital stay and two fabulous people who helps us out at home, Phyllis who does my after school care so I can work and Paul who helps out at dinner and bedtime. I cant thank them enough as their help keep our sane more ways than one. Hayden is now more tolerant of the monthly blood taken out of his portacath and that means no screaming, kicking etc each month which I am grateful for. Kath and the wonderful nurses at Daystay who take Hayden's bloods, so efficient and knowing when it comes to Hayden.
Andre started school and loved it. Such a bonus when they love school. He settled in well and that meant I was home alone for the first time since McKenzie was born in 2000. I did not know myself.
McKenzie, my wonderful little girl. My how she is growing up and how proud she makes us. Diligent and hardworking both at school and in the sporting arena. The efforts acknowledged with trophies and awards.
Of course it can go without saying that my DH is wonderful. Without his support I would not have been able to work or be the person I am today. He is my best friend, my compliment, my sounding board. He takes the crap from me and pulls me back onto level with I am dreaming way too much. He is the love of my life which I cant do without.
The low point really came when my great friend Lee was tragically struck by a car while riding her bike and left of dead on the side of the road. She left behind a husband and young primary school age son. My thoughts go out to them ever time I think of Brunei where they were living when this happened.
Life always has its ups and downs. Each year I try and achieve something new or focus on something I think needs attention. Last year it was all about time management for me. This year well it is about embracing life and making sure that we live life to its fullest,( in a sane kind of way).
So now I am off to fine tune what that means to me,what I might be able to do about it and how by me doing this my family will benefit too.
Finally as I always say....there is always someone worse off than you.....and if you think that then life can be so much more positive and forward moving.
This is the last menu plan for 2009. I have been total hooked by menu planning. It is saving me money and helping to make my life more organised. Thank you to the wonderful Laura who has inspired me.
It is summer here and also the school holidays. I am taking the laid back approach to food. Easy to prepare and does not require me to be stuck inside my kitchen.
The stir fry from last week was a huge success for everyone in my house, even the fussiest of eaters. So I am sticking with a similar plan and keeping it simple.
I loved the idea that Mel has been doing on her blog so I thought that I would take a leaf from her blog and try this idea. Thanks Mel.
1. School is over for the year. I know that it has been a busy year for us all and of course we are all tired but I cant wait for the holidays and to spend quality time with my children.
Okay it is not that easy to get a great photo of them all but here are the little cherubs.
2. I am so proud of my daughter. She won a trophy at prize giving this week. This was for Dilligence and effort. Such a wonderful group of attributes for anyone to possess. Now the photo is not great because she had been crying because we are having to move her out of this school and she got very emotional about it.
3. I have scrapped. For the first time in weeks. I actually cant wait to get back into it now I have time and energy...well almost do.
4. It is Christmas time. I am always conscious that our children need to not only get excited about all the trimming and trappings but also to appreciate that Christmas is not such a great time for many. So this year we are going out to purchase a gift for a needy little boy this Christmas. We don't know who he is but my children cant wait. I hope that we will be able to make this some sort of tradition.
I am hanging out for the last days of the working year. I cant wait I have to say. So I have planned ahead for the meals in my house so I dont have to cook too much and the meals can be dragged out of the freezer...yes that type of meal again.
Monday Wraps with cold meat and salad on the inside. Very easy and the children love them.
Tuesday My mum dropped off a frozen meal so that is for tonight.
Wednesday Frozen caserole potatoes and green vege
Thursday Homemade pie from the freezer with salad
Friday DD choice of takeaways as it was her birthday earlier in the week. She tells me it is Indian takeaways.
Saturday BBq chicken and vege
Sunday Leftover banquet.
Just to add to this I have baked 3 birthday cakes and 2 loads of Christmas cookies in the last 7 days. Oh to be out of the kitchen.
I came across a fabulous idea from the wonderfully talented Gabs. so here is my version. I used white envelopes instead of brown bags but the idea is the same as you can see here.
Inside is an activity to do, including some gifting and looking at the reason for the season.
Here is the the layout of the page I used. All the products I used are from Weeds and Wildflowers shop.
And here it is hanging in my house. We don't have many walls in our house so I had to be a little creative in my hanging.
It has been nothing but drama in our for the last 3 weeks, maybe even 4 weeks. Starting with Hayden in hospital, being burgles and then on Tuesday with DS2 breaking his arm after school. These things usually happen when DH is away and require and great deal of help from family members. Thanks to them my other children were all in bed when this when I got home the dishes done and the house tidy.
Anyway back to the lest than dramatic moment when DS2 tripped and broke the two bones in his arm. Yes just tripped, not pushed or anything dramatic. He was with my sister at her house just after school. Thankfully she knew just what to do and we ended up at the local A&E clinic where he was xrayed and given good pain relief before the ride in an ambulance.
Two green stick fractures, one ex rugby player orthopedic pediatric physician, with large biceps, to put it back into place and the fabulous ED physician to make things run smoothly. Lets not forget the nurses to make all the wheels keep moving.
All in all broken bone at 3.30pm back home in paster 8.10pm. Fantastic I say.
So here is the one sad looking little boy the morning after all the drama
4 to 6 weeks of this might become a little tedious I think.
Now i know my menu says November but it is full steam ahead into December here and Christmas just around the corner. More drama in my house this week but that is for my next post tomorrow.
Now to my menu. It is all about survival for me at the moment.
Monday Fahija (as I post this I need to say that is did not happen as I was in at the hospital with DS2)
Tuesday Chicken and vege.
Wednesday Crockpot food my recipe. Filled with leftover vege and meat.
Thursday Pie, potato and salad.
Friday Easy meal toasted sandwiches
Saturday Beef roast with vege to match and salad
Sunday cold meat and salad.
I know my DH will be saying again when it comes to the salad.
