THE END OF ONE YEAR AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER......

I can't really say that I will be sad to see the end of 2012... It's been a tough year.... filled with much loss, grief and sadness.....
It has also held some very special moments too.
It allowed us all to have very special time with my Mum before she passed away
It saw the birth of our first grand daughter..
It saw us trusting God more.....
but I can also say I will be pleased to see the year end and a new year begin....
I am praying that this new year will be full of peace, and deep seated joy....
that it will hold more happiness for us all
and that it will hold good health for family and friends....

I have been following this blog here  .... and this week I read her article about "Seven ways to simplify your life".  so I have decided to take her words and adapt them slightly to fit in with  how I want to see the new year. 
I think along with working on my health and general fitness this year, I want to find ways to simplify our lives.... 

These seven points struck a cord with my own heart.....

1. Expect that it will take time. I like routine and am a bit on the side of wanting everything perect..... Life is a journey, and in the journey things change. If everything was exactly the way we wanted it today then we'd have no goals to strive for. So we need to expect that change will take time. And with that we need tenacity and persistence. Keep going, keep going, keep going. Often we want to quit too soon and don't realize the strength we have within.

I need to expect the change I want to see in our lives will take time, and that God will teach me and grow me through the changes....

2. Don't expect perfection. Remember? Me the perfectionist who doesn't want to be such a perfectionist? Just as it takes time, it also isn't perfect. Right now my bedroom has piles of washing in baskets on the floor, the curtains didn't get washed this Christmas.  The house didn't get the normal big spring clean before Christmas  Normally this is the time of year  that I clean up and reclaim my home from all the build up from a busy year. This year it just didn't happen.. And I have to recognize that even though it's not perfect, it's still good. My family was here, there's laughter throughout, and we were blessed with many new things. All good. Perspective.

3. Let stuff go. See how they all relate? This year I've  really  had to let the mess go. I could push myself, but I'll end up exhausted and grumpy  and that doesn't benefit anybody. So I'm choosing to let it go. It's the same strategy with things - let them go. We don't need everything, and in fact, too many things creates this inevitable chaos in our lives as we strive to manage it all. Let stuff go. We don't take any of it with us when we die - so lets not live clinging to it all so tightly. The lesson today for me is as I find homes for new things, let other things go.

4. Involve your family. Teach your children now the value in setting goals, and always trying but not needing everything perfect, and that letting go of things is truly a good thing. In fact,  I love that my kids have already learnt this lesson better than I have and that they are being a good example in getting rid of the things that clutter up their lives.  Holding on consumes your time in looking after it all, and maintaining it all.  Think I still need to work with my spouse on this one.

5. Give yourself grace. You will mess up. It's inevitable. No matter how hard I try, or how perfect my color-coded chart of goals is, or how determined I am to make this plan work or the kitchen stay clean or to not raise my voice there are still times where I mess up. Give yourself grace. Remember - you are not your emotion. You may be feeling frustrated, irritation, and overwhelm, but you? you are simply not the emotion. Emotions are there to teach us to change or that something isn't working. Often overwhelm is a simple signal that the current strategy isn't working. Step back, breathe, recognize that you are more than overwhelm, and replace that emotion with something more empowering. And give yourself grace. Constantly be on the lookout to give and to receive grace.

6. Make some target goals. This is similar to the one word that people choose for the new year. Set some simple target goals - I will wake up at this time, I will fit in some exercise each day even if it is only a walk around the block, I will shut the computer off at this time - and then work hard to stick with them. Notice the word - some. So often I end up writing a list of a zillion target goals and find myself overwhelmed by day two morning. Write your list of goals, and then pick three. Work the three that will make the biggest difference and leave the rest till those original three become a habit.

7. Start fresh every morning. Finally, remember to start new every morning. If yesterday was awful it doesn't need to define today. When family in the home create chaos, mess, challenges - expect that - but don't lose sight of all the good they create - laughter, joy, eyes to see beauty, and love of the little things. Bless your family with each day starting fresh - everyone gets a clean slate. The past is the past. Learn from it, grow from it, but do not let it define your today. Today is a new day - a gift - use it wisely and remember to cherish the little moments of joy that are tucked within the fabric of normal.
 
I wanted to record this tonight.....
I want to look back within the next twelve months to use this as a measure to see how far I have come in making some much needed changes in my life for this next year....

I don't want to constantly feel sadness in my life in 2013
I want to find the joy in life again...
I want to focus on those things I am grateful for.
I want to focus on all the blessings in my life
I want to focus on God's goodness to me...
And most I all I want to work on my health this year...
I want to get fitter....
Feel better,,,,
I want to appreciate life around me...
Family
and Friends...

And above all I want to wish all our dear friends and family a very Happy New Year...
May you all experience God's peace and joy in your lifes....
May you all enjoy family and friends....
My you experience good health and happiness...
God Bless....

A VISIT TO THE MOVIES & ART GALLERY

It has been a lovely relaxing week.... the days are going way too quickly though.
 On Boxing Day, we have a family tradition of going to the movies together,  so we went here

Rockhampton Cinemas

 to see this.....I was out numbered this year... not my choice but I have to admit it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be....

We saw it in 3D also

I have never been a fan of Lord of the Rings but the rest of my family have, and they had all be hanging out for this movie.  I still found it a little slow moving at the start.... could have also had something to do with the fact that I was tired...

But I would have to say it was a brilliant movie in terms of the cinematography.  Amazing in fact.  The scenery was also really good.... and it definitely ended leaving you in no doubt that there was more to come.... pity though we have to wait another year to see it. 

Yesterday, we went on a family  excursion to the Rockhampton Art Gallery.  A few years ago I took Pete to a Ron Muich exhibition at the GOMA in Brisbane for his birthday.  Steve was always impressed by the photos I had taken and commented at the time that he wouldn't have minded seeing that exhibition.

Whilst I was away in Brissie he saw an article on the current exhibition at the Art Gallery here and thought it sounded like the one we had been to in Brisbane and thought it would make a nice family outing when Pete was home.

It was not the same artist, although his work is similar but on a much smaller scale...

Pilbeam Theatre

 Our Art Gallery is situation right next to our lovely Pilbeam Theatre overlooking the Fitzroy River..

On a visit to our Art Gallery

 When we first walked into the Gallery I spied this lovely chandelier... So funky,  I couldn't resist taking a photo of it.  

Colours of the Rainbow...

The exhibition we really wanted to see was the Sam Jinks "Body in Time" exhibition...

His main works

The detail in this was pretty amazing... Every wrinkle, every hair...

A little about his self portrait...

I particularly liked this piece.....

New baby  surrounded by frogs....

This was so life like... even size wise.  and I guess having just come home from spending time with my new grand daughter,  this particular piece stood out to me.

The detail in this one was superb... particularly all the fine tatoos

The detail was quite amazing... eveyr little piece of stubble in his chin was put in place. 

It definately was worth going to see... even more so considering that admission is free.

We also spent some time  wandering through the rest of the Gallery....

Admiring some local work....

A little about the atist and the poem written to go with the above

Admiring some of the artwork...

We then wandered upstairs to see the rest of the displays.  It was really interesting in that each of us really liked very different pieces of artwork.... Art truly is in the eyes of the beholder.....
I really loved the detail in this piece below...

Pride of place as you came up the stairs

I particularly like the artiist work below... I love all the detail and the very bright colours... This photo doesn't do it justice...

Some very detailed drawings....

It was a great morning out together......

Leaving the Art Gallery and the views of the river from the front of the Gallery

We headed off to lunch together from here... All of us are enjoying our relaxing days off.
When Pete comes home there are a few places he loves to visit...
One of those is lunch at the Brunswich....
Best meal and prices in town...
So he shouted us all lunch...

He is yet to make his visit to Cranston Pies....
There is no pie shop like it in Brissie.
Maybe it is just the memories of his childhood that calls him back there.

Still we are enjoying our leisurely days... sleep ins...
A little shopping
Nanna Naps
Catching up with friends...
Sight seeing...
Movies....
I love this week between Christmas and New Year.

It is about to come to an end though as we all start getting ready now for the next stage of the holidays...
We are packing to head to the Sunny Coast
Pete is getting ready to head back to Brisbane tomorrow
And Chloe is off on a road adventure for the next week.
First Stop is Canberra,  then heading across to Adelaide, then back to Mt. Gambier and then along the Great Ocean Road back to Melbourne.... all this in a week, because she flies home from Melbourne this time next week...

CHRISTMAS DAY 2012

And so this is Christmas.....
At our place in 2012
The table is all set ready for Christmas day as we sneak off to bed in the early hours of Christmas Morning......

Table set for Christmas Lunch

 But not before Father Christmas makes his rounds and delivers the Christmas Stockings. 

Ho Ho Ho.... says Father Christmas as he loads up his stockings, 

 We missed Sarah and Colin and Willow this year.... it seems we had a little extra sleep in and didn't get up until after 7am

Even Penny got presents in her Christmas Stocking this year....

Playing with her new Christmas present....

 It seemed to be all about Penny as the kids spoilt her rotten.....
 We shared the opening of our Christmas stockings around.....
Chloe loved her new shorts.....

Opening her Santa Sack presents....

Opening his Santa Sackpresents......

 it was then time to get ready for Church..
We don't hold a special Christmas morning service so this year we went to Church at the Baptist Tabernacle to remember the birth of Jesus.... the very reason for this season.
It was nice to catch up with some old friends who were home visiting family for Christmas...
It was nice to catch up with some old local friends as well....

We arrived home just before 11am...
Just in time to get the turkey in the oven before we opened our gifts...
And what fun we did have
And how spoilt were we
And how excited was some of us as we gave gifts we knew would surprise and delight each other.

The dog seemed to score well this year...
She is such a cutie and gets so excited and we had fun spoiling her and watching her have fun...
She was in the middle of all of our activities...
She wasn't missing out on any of it.

She loved her bird

  Sarah and Colin sent her a Christmas present and she just loved her bird....
It didn't last too long,,, she had the rope legs chewed off within the first 10 minutes but she LOVED it .

She scored sausages and monkeys

 She went a bit skitso with all the excitement as yet more things came out of packages for her to play with...

Not sure about the PIG

 This one she wasn't sure off.  Pete got her a squeaky little PIG who actually grunted like a little piggy...  She was so funny to watch with this one... She wasn't at all sure of it and kept trying to hide behind Chloe.... it was really quite hilarious...

Our day of togetherness

Fun and laughter...

 I love the family togetherness and the fun and laughter we have....
It really gives me the greatest joy seeing everyone so relaxed and happy... The greatest gift they can give me....

All with head gear on....

 It seemed that Steve and I got spoilt this year...

Lots of new clothes

Unbelievable.... I have wanted one of these forever....

 Steve was so blown away by this gift.... He has always admired them and been drawn to them in shops.... but never has he had one.  You can imagine his delight when he opened this gift from Pete....

Fun opening gifts....

Steve getting spoilt

 Loved his new cover for the caravan... long overdue..

Could it be.... could it really be....

 Chloe was pretty excited as she got her hammock that she had been wanting....

The colour is red this year...

 I scored a lovely new bag from Pete.... love it... it is actually a back pack bag... hopefully I can redistribute the weight that is normally in my handbag...

He loves to play Father Christmas

Oh my goodness I have been spoilt....

A massager

Wow this is awesome... This should save Steve's fingers as he massages my neck. Even got a trial practice run....

Tricky girls...

They did well... They completely threw him off the trail with their cleverly wrapped gift... Sarah and Chloe you did well... he loved his new game and enjoyed playing it Christmas afternoon.

And just when we thought it was all over and all the gifts were handed out... then comes this....

No Way.......

I honestly cannot believe it....

In face completely overwhelmed

 I couldn't believe it.... I have been wanting one of these for over 12 months.... but Steve was pretty convinced that we didn't really need one.... so I really did not expect to get one at all... I also knew the price range and figured that it really wasn't a necessity at this stage so you can imagine my total, surprise, shock, delight and joy when I unwrapped my present to find I had an iPad for Christmas.  I was pretty stocked with my massager,  but totally overwhelmed when I got my iPad.....

 By the time we got through opening all our gifts it was after 1.30pm.  It always takes us a bit of time to open gifts as only one person opens a gift at a time.... We all love to share in the joy that each person feels when they get a gift they love....

 It was a bad dash to get lunch on the table and I think we finally sat down at almost 2pm...

Lunch on the table

Sitting down for lunch

 By the time we got up and cleaned up it was well after 3pm..

Pete and Chloe went out to visit Chloe's friend Daina and her family.  They had set up a water slide in their back yard and were in for some serious fun..

Pete went penguin sliding...

Penguin sliding fun....

The penguin slides

Daina's family

Pete Penguin sliding

Pete penguin sliding

 We were all a little full so didn't really have much dinner... just the pickings and some fruit.  We had friends drop in and we exchanged gifts,  Bevan stayed and he and Steve played some Halo.... My friend Eleonore dropped around and we enjoyed a good catch up...

We finished the night by watching a DVD that I got for Christmas..
Loved our day....
Hard to believe that it is over for another year...

I am so blessed...
I have an awesome family
and the greatest gift they can give me is just being here and being together....