Christmas Cheer and New Beginnings!!

So it hasn't been quite as big a gap between posts!! I know! Shock Horror!

However, as usual I have been very busy. As many of you may know, Thursday was my very last day of Family Day Care EVER after 15 years! Now one might think that I would be feeling regret about my decision in the lead up to my final day. But let me tell you the truth of such things.

It was an answer to a prayer!

Strange?! Well, yes maybe. Especially as the prayer was said about 3 years ago and went along the lines of "oh and Heavenly Father I am not enjoying my work as much as I used to and I really need a change. I am so very grateful to have a flexible job when others have so little but I would appreciate a way that we could manage without this income at least until I finish my degree. I would be grateful for your input in this."

Well, something like that. And well, then we didn't discuss it much but from time to time I gave a little reminder and continued on . . . . .

But life has a way of changing. And you never know where it will take you. But I'll tell you the secret to big changes. It's all about making the decision. Yep, what unfolded was a set of circumstances that put me in the position to succeed. But God wasn't going to just make it happen, I had to play a hand. I had to take control of what I wanted and own it. I had to be the one to take the step.

It was a tough decision but it was the right decision. And so this week when I have woken at 1am and not been able to sleep again until 3:30am due to unusually intense anxiety, I have not wavered a bit from the choice I have made. Am I unsure of how the future will go? Hell yes!! Am I freaking out about the change?! Sure Am! But I have faith in my decision. I have faith in my ability to follow it through and I have faith in God to guide me along.

So here's to changes and new beginnings!

Ok, enough of all that. IT'S ALSO CHRISTMAS!!!

So, every year I like to buy my daycare children a Christmas present. But this year after having so much fun playing with all my dress up capes (them not me!) I decided to make them one each. Below is one of the girls ones modelled by a cute little friend.

All my daycare children loved them, which made me very happy! But 13 capes in 3 nights is not to be sneezed at! It was worth it in the end though to see them running around with their capes flapping behind them.

We have also been gearing up for Christmas and making some farewell and thank you gifts for teachers and carers. Below is one of our little stockpiles. I like to show my appreciation to the teachers for all the effort they put in throughout the year. Teachers usually go way beyond what is expected. And my kids really like to give something to their teachers. It also teaches our children to show appreciation, which is important.

Another thing we do in preparation for Christmas is add to the Kmart Wishing Tree each year. You can read about the Kmart Wishing Tree here http://www.wishingtree.kmart.com.au/
Now our usual routine is that we give our kids a certain amount of money (usually $20 which works out to a lot in a family of 7). We get the kids to do chores to earn the money first and then we head in to Kmart. We each choose a person we would like to buy for (boy, girl, young child, teenager, grandma grandpa) and we purchase a gift for them. The gift is then added to the Wishing Tree where they are distributed via the Salvation Army (The Salvos work in conjunction with Kmart).

You write a little note on a pre made gift tag which allows you to choose who it is for and write your name is you wish. I have always written my kids first name along with their age as I think if I was the person receiving the gift I would like this. Now we always let the kids choose their own category but I always ask the people in charge of the gifts at Kmart which category has received the least each year and I try to encourage that we pick those ones. Everyone enjoys this activity and we try to do it as a family although most years Heath misses out as it's hard for him to get away from work.

Anyway, this year has been even harder to get everyone together for whatever reason - work, school, wedding plans, getting ready for finishing up??? I'm really not sure? And we just hadn't got there yet. I was also struggling to find the extra cash this year but was feeling guilty and sad about it. So today when we were in town, we headed to Kmart. I had to cancel a layby that was no longer needed and I was going to use the cash refund for the gifts. I was feeling a little anxious about it though as I still havn't bought any Christmas food and I was quickly running out of money.

Anyway, while I was there I went to the service desk to enquire about an item we had paid for in a layby last week that was supposed to have been delivered to my house. I was then told that those items had not arrived in store and that they were very sorry but could only offer me a refund on the item ($99) AND get this . . . a $50 gift card for my trouble ( I really wasn't that troubled as these things happen!). I immediately asked the girl at the desk if we could still add to the wishing tree, to which she said yes! And the look on her face when I said 'Oh we'll use the gift card for that then' was priceless! She looked like she was going to cry (which made my day too). We were so blessed to not only be able to continue our tradition but also be given help with it. I was overjoyed. (I also added money to it from my $99 refund of course).

So me and Morgan decided to choose 4 gifts from our family this year (as no one else could make it to town with us) and so we asked which gifts were the lightest on this year. The girl said that teenagers were the lightest on followed by grandparents.

So our decision was made!!!!! With Asha tantruming the whole way (and I mean the whole way) we chose our gifts. Our spirits weren't dampened though by his crying and screaming (I did try to make him happy but 3 year olds have a mind of their own!).

So here's what we bought . . . .

A cup and bickie set for a Grandma.

A beautiful landscapes of Australia 2013 calendar and a box of favourites for a Grandpa

An Art Journal, set of paint brushes and set of oil paints for a teenage girl

And a Footy for a teenage boy.
I really hope that these gifts bring someone joy this Christmas and I hope we chose wisely. I also hope we can continue our tradition for many years to come.

And on a funny note, as we were leaving the Kmart car park I reversed out of my park and was hurled abuse (swearing and yelling) by a man and a woman who had pulled out at the same time a couple of parks down ( I thought they were waiting to pull into my park but alas I was wrong - as they told me and everyone else in the car park) But that didn't even dampen my spirits. So on impulse I yelled at the top of my lungs "Merry Christmas" to them (in a nice voice, I truly meant it) much to the amusement of Morgan and about 6 other people in cars who had seen and heard the whole episode! It was hilarious as I thought to myself "Well Maranda, You can't change the world but at least you can do a few things to try"

So anyway, It was meant to be that those 4 people got gifts this year. I would encourage you to do the same if you ever get the urge. It is a great system they have going.

On a lighter note, My friend Peta called in about an hour after my last child left on Thursday and we toasted to new beginnings! It's awesome to have people who care about what is hapening in your life and that's the value of a friend.

These next two pics are in the wrong order but the second one is the cake she also made me!!!

The flowers are from NCN (Northern Childrens Network) who I have run my business through over the last 15 years.

So there it is!! Christmas Preparations and a New Beginning. I hope you all have a very safe and very Merry Christmas. Remember to reach out to someone who might need to see a smile or have someone hold their hand this Christmas season. It's what Jesus would do! Oh and if you don't like reading 'God talk' Go read another blog! It's part of my life ;) Have a good day/night/Christmas/year/life!!!

On Turning 40 . . . Well . . . In 3 years

I turned 37 yesterday. It's been a long time coming as I kind of skipped a year. For the whole year that I was 35 I thought I was 36. Which was fine and then when I had my 36th birthday I realised my mistake and began another year of being 36. After all, it only matters what is in your head, not what age you really are! So I feel like it has taken ages to be 37.

But that's not what this post is about.

This post is about Life, about Women and how we change as we progress through life.

It's about hopes and dreams and finding balance in what you want, what you need, what is expected and what you never thought would happen . . . So let's begin.

And so I Hope . . .

That when I turn 40 . . . in 3 years . . . That I am not completely the wild and erratic girl I was when I was a teenager. Not that I didn't like that girl, she was ok. But she was unsure of who she was. She was trying to fit in to a world where she just didn't. She was crazy and carefree. She was pensive and yet abrupt. She was skinny and brown. She was curly and lively. And she was a mother.

A mother to two gorgeous girls.

The first one came when the teenage girl was 16. Sixteen and two months to be precise. And the first one saved the teenage girls life. The teenage girl had no idea about babies and had only held one once for about 5 minutes a couple of months before. And she sure didn't know how to be a mother! (but who really does with the first baby). The first one came to teach her selflessness.

What she did know was - She didn't want to fit the stereotypical teenage mothers ideal. She didn't want to be a bad mother; a good one was the only thing to consider. And she didn't want the judgement and scorn that came with the territory of teenage motherhood.

 

But there were only two of those things that she had control over and she tried her best to accomplish them.

 

 

The second little girl came when the teenage girl was 19. The second little girl changed her life. The second little girl came to teach lessons of love and fun. And the teenage girl was surprised by the judgement that still came even though she had a little family at home. And washed all their clothes. And cooked them fresh veggies every night. And NEVER gave the little girls cordial to drink. And kept the house clean. And played with the little girls all the time. And sewed them little blankets for their dolls beds out of scraps of fabric from her Grandmothers stash. (She certainly couldn't afford to buy fabric).

And so I hope . . .

 

To be braver in that teenage girls honour for she fought so very hard to fit in.

To be stronger from the mistakes that she made .

To be more cautious as those around you can sometimes not have the best intentions.

And to be more humble so that the judgement didn't make any bitterness.

 

And then came the 20's

 

The 20's girl was much braver than the teenage girl and she took the world on with a sword in one hand and a string of children in the other.

 

 

The 20's girl learnt a lot in 10 years. The 20's girl had two little boys. A blond one and a brown one. The blond one came when the 20's girl was 23. The blond one came to teach her tolerance and unconditional love. He came to teach her not to judge others in their own battle. And he came to teach her that she needed to think outside the box.

 

 

 

The 20's girl gained confidence and plowed into life. The 20's girl tried to fit in everything she could. The 20's girl started a business that would sustain her family for many many years to come. The 20's girl got married. And the 20's girl built a house from start to finish and settled in to enjoy being alive. But still the judgement came and still she didn't quite fit in.

 

The brown boy came when the 20's girl was 27. The brown boy came to teach her understanding and sacrifice. The brown boy came to teach her to face her demons and come out the other side; changed but better. The brown boy came to teach her to question everything. Especially her spirituality.

 

I swear that Jory is in this picture! He's just in a carrier behind Heath's back!

 

The 20's girl still had a lot to learn though. The 20's girl didn't know what was true inthe world. She didn't know the reasons for being on Earth. And she didn't understand why she had faced challenges. And so the 20's girl started to search.

 

And so I hope . . .

 

To be more understanding of others than the 20's girl

To be more humble than the 20's girl because sometimes she wasn't.

To be slower and take in the beauty of the world because the 20's girl flew through like a shot from a gun.

To not be pushed around because the 20's girl still let people choose what was right for her.

And to appreciate the world that I have and what I have chosen.

 

And then came the 30's

 

Now the 30's girl was much more cautious than the teenage girl or the 20's girl. She had faced many challenges and had learnt to be careful. The 30's girl found what she was looking for. And the world made sense . . . For a while.

 

The 30's girl then lost a friend. She lost a brother. She lost a kindred, kind and humble spirit. They had been friends since before he was born. But he was too beautiful for this troubled world. His heart was too broken. And so God was calling him back. He had been calling for a while. And so he decided to go.

 

The brother came to teach the girl about acceptance and trust. He came to teach the 30's girl that she couldn't control the world and that she would still be ok. He came to show her that she had to accept God's will even if she didn't understand it.

 

 

But the 30's girl still had a lot to learn. And it came in the way of two tiny spirits who only needed to have a heart beat and experience life. Two tiny spirits who wanted the 30's girl to know they were hers but that she couldn't hold them just yet. And those two tiny spirits came to teach the girl to be humble. They came to teach her to value what she already had. The came to teach the 30's girl that she had to make sacrifices.

 

But then the 30's girl was blessed with a little white boy.

 

 

Now the little white boy came to teach the 30's girl about True Love and Blessings. He came to teach her that life is sometimes hard but it's totally worth it. He came to teach her that she could take it to the brink and somehow survive.

 

 



But the 30's girl still has a lot to learn.

 

The 30's girl achieved a lot too. The 30's girl learned to trust in her own ability. She learned that she was capable. She learned to trust in the unknown and go with it.

 

And so I hope . . .

 

To learn the lessons that are for me so that I can move forward

To remember to be myself and not what others expect of me

To grow my spirituality and remember that it is a continuous journey and not a destination.

To remember the beautiful moments in my life and never never forget what they mean.

 

And so - On turning 40 . . .

 

I Hope . . .

 

To be a much more knowing and spiritual person than I was when I was just a teenage girl

 

To have much more energy than I did when I was a tired and very busy mother as 20's girl

 

To be a much more balanced person than I was as a very very tired mother, breadwinner and student that I have been as 30's girl.

 

To have gained what I have been working towards as 30's girl - My degree

 

 

 

But I also hope . . .

 

To NEVER fit in as it's just not who I am

 

To (try to) NEVER question my spirituality

 

To (try to) NEVER take what I have for granted

 

To (try to) NEVER waste a day bogged down with misery

 

To try to embrace the new girl that is bound to come. And she is 40's girl.

 

I can't wait to meet her. She's on her way.

 

But I am also a realist. And I know she won't be perfect. So I am going to try to give her a break

 

And so I hope . . .

 

To be more understanding and caring to myself.

 

x x x x x x x