when the words are not enough..

(photo credit: my brother and his iphone)

There are not a lot of words I'm able to write for this post. February has left me emotionally spent. Grateful, relieved, blessed they're all a good start and all prominent in the fore of my heart and mind.

My dad built this house when I was 5.  Well, started building it, it's been a long process and a labour of love. Living in the country there is always the threat of bush fires, the worry sits there in the back of your mind all year round and then come summer you are on high alert, the possibility becomes very real.  

I remember walking home from the bus stop after school when I was about 11, along the dusty unmade road the air thick with smoke and knowing fires were very close.  When I got home mum had cases packed by the door and I couldn't quite believe we were actually going to have to leave.  

Ever since that day I've been in fear of bush fires and not being quite so lucky.  After the devastation of Black Saturday, when the fires came closer still and the realisation of their enormity and power would leave little hope of being able to fight, our parents made a promise that if they were ever under threat again, they would not stay.

They didn't stay.  The fire came up to the front steps and they lost sheds.  The neighbours lost their homes.

Grateful. Relieved. Blessed.  The words are not enough.

this and that..and thank you

I want to thank you all so very much for your comments and emails on my last post.  Thank you to those of you who shared personal experiences, they were of great comfort and warmed my heart immensely.  A visit from my Mum and Dad did wonders too.  I think I needed to have my freakout to get to where I am today.  I feel happy, blessed and positive.  I've decided not to let statistics dictate this pregnancy and this precious new life, but mother nature and the the love we all feel.

My beautiful parents have just left us and are officially off on their travels around Australia! I'm so excited for them.  This trip has been a long time coming, in fact, I didn't think it ever would!  My mum and dad have worked so hard their whole lives, and like most parents I suppose, life was never about them, it was always about everyone else!  I didn't think they'd ever retire and just enjoy what they've worked so hard to achieve.  This is their time, finally (I hope) it can now be all about them.  Although, if there was even an inch of room in their car or trailer we would have done our best to stow ourselves away and join them, if not just til we found warmer weather!

For someone who typically loves winter, I have to say this year it has well and truly beaten me!  I'm longing for the warmth of sunshine on bare skin, shedding layers of clothing and getting that spring back in my step.  I never thought I'd see the day when I wished for winter to just be over!  Still, Spring is just around the corner, and although there is an icy cold wind blowing out there today, the sun shines, blossoms bloom and I am going to make the most of it while it lasts...

lately...

we've been baking bread, discovering allergies and trying very hard to feed our family well with unprocessed,  homegrown, delicious food. It's the most satisfying feeling as a parent, knowing that you are providing your family with the good stuff.  Once we get to the bottom of the allergy issue it'll be much easier, but it sure is nice to see our little people enjoying everything we're making and not feeling at all like they are missing out on all the yummy stuff..

we've been spending time... 

just hanging about... 

we've been celebrating a never ending birthday...still! 

we've been visiting nan & pop's, a favourite place on earth... 

sewing heat bags with nan to keep us cosy on these cold winter nights... 

we've been climbing trees (always climbing trees)... 

and building bonfires with uncles, sharing stories, dreams and plans for the future..

what have you been up to lately?

grateful...

so grateful this weekend for some time at Mum & Dad's place.  It's such a beautiful piece of this earth, I good long walk over the hills & down the gully is always like food for the soul.  A trip down memory lane every time & the chance to share it with our boys & to see how much they love it is so precious.

I often wish my parents would sell up & move down closer to us, but then I go home & I realise that if they did, we wouldn't have this, and I can't imagine life without this land, a whole other world for our boys to explore & enjoy...

heaven on earth...

head over to Maxabella's for loads more grateful posts...

at my house...

I'm loving simplicity & stealing quiet moments...

We've spent the weekend up at my parents place which is always a highlight for the boys, they just love it there, especially when all their uncles are around for shoulder rides, tickles, wrestling & running wild over the hills & wide open space...

I also managed a peaceful drive through the countryside all on my own while the boys played happily at nan & pop's.  I pottered about in some antique shops, gorgeous book shops & found a lovely spot to sit and enjoy a coffee with the prettiest view...

There's one week left of school holidays & we have a sleepover planned for the big boy, a day in town & hopefully some more hanging about home doing not much at all.

What's going on at your house?  

Pop over to Buttons By Lou Lou to join in...

how's the serenity...

I've joined the boys up at my parents place for a few days.  They absolutely love it here, the space, the freedom to play & so much for them to do.  It really is so pretty, I especially love it in the winter time.  Even though it's bitterly cold, it is just so pretty & peaceful...

Off to Daylesford tomorrow to visit the Lark garage sale, the Maker's Market & the Farmer's Market, what a treat, a weekend of markets - heaven!  Maybe I'll see you there...