New Direction...

Hello Lovelies! I have been very naughty and once again let life get in the way of my blog..... Given that my last post was in October (!) me thinks I have been busy! I could type and type until the cows come home, but will keep it simple with the catching up - Life is good. A recent visit to a foot reflexologist has seemingly lifted a fog hanging over me, and things just don't seem to get to me as much as they were. I know it sounds strange, but 45 minutes spent venting all the little things that were causing me so much stress, all the time having my feet "fixed" - seems to have given me perspective and the calmness I had been wanting. So all things are now less stressful, and I have chosen to be happy. For all the things this lovely man with the magic hands said, this was the most powerful - "you know Melissa, we can choose to be happy?" So I have, and it is so far working! So having said all of the above....I have ventured back in to Bloggersphere with the idea that I shall now share my latest "hobby". Back in November, I pulled out my sewing machines and began creating. It was more out of a need (for some extra cash before Christmas), but has now moved in to the want! For the first time since I was in my Textiles classes at High School, oh so many years ago, I am really enjoying letting the creative juices flow. I made a tonne of library bags and art smocks, and surprisingly sold so many it was almost ridiculous! But given that these items are a little on the seasonal side - parents ordering them when their children are starting back at school - I jumped in to a project that I offered to do for a lovely girl expecting her first baby. I answered her call for someone who could make Bunting for her nursery. I had never made them before, and admittedly, straight after I offered I wondered what I had got myself in to! But I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed making them. And I was wrapt when upon delivery, this Mummy to be really loved the end result!

So I have decided I am going to take my new hobby, and run with it. I will make beautiful hand made goodies to order, and will learn along the way! Looking back at those high school years, there was a reason I got A+ results - I can actually sew! Hehehe.... I shall now endeavour to post more often. Happy days to you all!

Eat, Pray, Love.

So, today I enter the world of "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I first heard of this literary gem a couple of years ago, when a lovely friend of mine mentioned it during one of our playgroup get-togethers. I didn't think much of it then, but just recently, when the book was made in to a movie I recalled that little conversation and wondered what all the fuss was about? It sounded like yet another "movement", much like when Oprah rolled out the minds behind "The Secret" and it became a world wide phenomenen. So I delved a little deeper.

I watched another delightful episode of Oprah (have I really mentioned her twice already?) about the movie, and the stars brought in to play the real-life characters. Enter Julia Roberts and a number of gorgeous men as her side dishes. As per usual, Julia gets me interested and more curious, so I post on Facebook my curiosity and am met with offers to lend me copies of the book - so I take up the offer!

Which leads me straight back to why I ventured back to my blog tonight! This evening marks a historical event - I picked up a book and starting reading it! Not a fairytale, school reader or magazine - an actual grown up book. And I am pleased to say I made it 66 pages in before having to put it down due to my eyes hurting as tiredness took over.

The first 18 pages had me enthralled. I had to take a break and message my friend who had left the book on my door step for me this morning.
"Oh.....my.....goodness......I'm up to page 18, and I literally feel like she has been a fly on the wall in what is (well, was) my life, and wrote about it! I think i'm in for a rollercoaster ride! x"
It has stirred up some emotions I thought I had buried, so I am intrigued to see where the next 300 pages lead me...

I am also intrigued as to how I am going to read another 300 pages before a few of us are scheduled to go and see the movie once it has opened here in Melbourne? I shall keep you posted!

Oprah's coming to Australia!

I had to rewind The Today Show this morning. Did I really hear that correctly? Oprah is coming to Australia? One toilet stop, breakfast for the kids and a cup of tea and I could listen to it properly. Oh.....my......God!!! Hooray for small miracles - my good friend is heading Down Under!

Now, how to go about getting tickets to her one and only show, being recorded at the Sydney Opera House, some time later this year? Me thinks it will be a one in a million chance, but I shall give it a crack! Apparently I am going to have to watch her show daily through October to get details on how to gain these "rare as hens's teeth" tickets....what a shame, I so don't think I can do that! Heheheh......

I shall keep you updated on the cause, and will be googling like mad until I get the answers required.

Forgive me Father.....it has been 20 days since my last confession.....

Oh dear! I have once again let life in general get in the one of a good post. I am sincerely sorry!

So, what's been happening since my last post? Well, as per usual, my time on this earth never fails in its excitement value. It seems I move on from one "drama" - for want of a better description - to yet another. I won't go in to full detail, but let's just say it has something to do with a certain someone I have referred to in past posts as "the ex-husband"....

What I will say, is that despite this new episode of non-stop action, I have an amazing sense of calm. Which isn't what I had expected. What I find even more amazing, is that I have discovered my wonderful husband is, from this point on, going to be named "my voice of reason". For without his un-wavering support and devotion to the cause - our family - I think I would most definately be a raving lunatic by now!

There have been many other beautiful things going on the last few weeks - my eldest son has found his voice also, but from within. I am so very proud of him. My youngest son is turning six tomorrow, and although at times I really would like to switch his voice off, he really is such a gorgeous and sensitive little soul. Chelsea has shocked us all by displaying her new-found "white line fever". For those of you who have no idea what this is, imagine a delightful little girly-girl, who is a singing, giggling and caring creature. Now imagine that little girl on a basketball court, glaring and growling at the opposition, who dared to knock her over! That, my friends, is white line fever! It is certainly a sight to be seen....

And our youngest in the tribe? Well she has also shocked me, to some extent. In a matter of weeks, I will be working an extra day per week, and Chloe shall be venturing in to the unknown - day care. It is something I thought she would really struggle with. And yes, admittedly, I would struggle even more with! But to my surprise, and much delight, she has taken to it like a duck to water. The day we were looking at the different centres, she was very excited and enjoyed playing. Then last week when we went for a play, or orientation as they call it, I pulled in to the drive way and she said "bye mum!"......ummmmmm, not quite what I had expected!

So yes, it has been a fun filled few weeks, but on reflection, I must say I am still a very grateful Mummy. Life throws us so many twists and turns, but I am finding as I am getting older, I am far more accepting of the ride.

To be Grateful - Day THIRTY....

Who would of thought? Thirty days. I've made it. When I started this "experiment", I thought it would actually be quite easy. Surely, finding three things each and every day to be TRULY grateful for would be simple? Surely I could fill pages each day with what I am grateful for? Hmmm.....to be honest - it was a little harder than I had anticipated. Although I really am grateful for everything I have in life, actually taking note on a daily basis was quite intimidating. Sound strange? Well, for me, I didn't want to be grateful for the same things each and every day (not on here anyway!), I wanted to delve a little deeper, sort of analyse my days with a magnifying glass! I hope that I have done so, and have even slightly enlightened your day at some stage....

For my final entry of gratitude:

1. I am grateful I live in a democratic country. I know I have probably bored you at times with my Oprah-isms, but today's episode on North Korea made me appreciate the freedom and rights I have living in Australia. It is abhorent to me that in this day and age, there are millions of people literally being held hostage in their own country. Unable to access any form of communication to the outside world, and denied the basic human rights to choice and freedom. Yet another eye opener...

2. I am grateful for a day spent on the lounge. Chloe had a huge daytime sleep, and given that I wasn't feeling so flash, I took the opportunity to do a whole lot of nothing and thoroughly enjoyed it.

3. I am grateful for the feedback that some of my "invisible followers" have given me on my little blog. Officially, I only have three followers, but some of my anonymous friends have contacted me to let me know they enjoy reading my posts and have encouraged me to continue sharing my thoughts. I have said it before, but this blog is like an open journal for me. A place I can come and give my opinion, share my feelings and really just vent. So I will continue, and although I will not be entering my daily gratitude, I will definately make a point of being grateful each and every day.

This afternoon I finished the little book of verses I quoted last night. So I would like to share another beautiful little gem: "Record your experiences, feelings, frustrations, and desires in a special book. Your journal will become your memory, your truth, and your friend." This is my hope....

To be Grateful - Day twenty-nine!

Hooray! I have nearly made it through a month of being grateful! Well, I am grateful every day, I have just never made an effort to be so conscious of it and put it in to words. I realise I have missed a few days here and there, but I can promise you I have been thinking about my gratitude entries each and every day. For instance, today, I was watching yet another episode of "Dr Phil" and thought to myself - "That makes me feel really grateful". So now I shall share why....

1. The episode was about overseas adoption, and the troubles some parents are going through with the trauma these children have been through, and how it is showing in their lives. Watching what these parents, and children, were going through made me feel incredibly grateful for my very happy and healthy children. Sure, we go through some rough patches, but in comparison, my life is perfect.

2. I am grateful that the librarian at my children's school mistook me for another parent this morning! In doing so, I was able to put my hand up to help with the upcoming book fair. I really love helping out at the school, but find it difficult due to having a two year old busy little girl! So it was a lovely little chance conversation, and now I get to contribute to a great fundraiser for the kids.

3. I am grateful I found a little book my Mum gave to me as a gift many years ago. Its title is "Caregiver Therapy", written by Julie Kuebelbeck and Victoria O'Connor. Mum gave it to me because of my occupation, and I don't think I actually ever read it until it dropped on my bedroom floor this evening! Lots of lovely little verses centred around being a caregiver, and how to make life for yourself and those you care for just that little bit more meaningful. I shall share one I ready tonight and found so very true:

"Sometimes helping others means allowing them to give. A homemade card, a smile, a heartfelt "thank you" are gifts to be treasured. Graciously accept what others have to offer." We should not measure a person's worthiness by what we are receiving from them.

To be Grateful - Day Twenty-seven...

I have had a most productive day today, given that I had the day off work! Off to basketball for Chelsea this morning, where I discovered she had found her inner biatch......something I'm not sure whether to be proud of or not? You see, since she began playing her first season a matter of months ago, I have been telling one of the other Mums that perhaps Chelsea needed to get in there a bit more, and be a little more aggressive. Well.......I think Chelsea overheard me. She took flight in what I shall now call "kamikaze mode", and made a very amusing sound whilst doing a couple of Jackie Chan moves. To say it amused the crowd at the stadium would be an understatement. It's a very good thing she is a natural performer, because there was no embarassment, and quite frankly, she lapped up the attention! Unfortunately, it did not end with her winning the ball, or the game!

1. I am grateful that we had some wind here in Melbourne today. Added to that, a couple of hours of sunshine, and I was able to get some towels half dried on the clothes line, which then means I only had to use the clothes dryer half the time!

2. I am grateful that Cadyn pointed out to me the buds sprouting on our plum tree in the back yard. This is a wonderful sign that Spring is (hopefully) just around the corner. In Melbourne it is very easy to forget that we have four seasons when Winter seems to go on forever. But days like today put a smile on your face and a little bounce in your step.

3. I am grateful I got to spend a couple of hours on the couch watching a movie with Andrew tonight. This is a rarity these days, so it didn't matter what we were watching. But I must say, "Notorious BIG" was not a bad flick. Albeit all the rappin' and cursin'! It's always strange watching films based on real life events. I found myself saying things like "oh, that must be Lil' Kim?", and "Is that Puff Daddy/Diddy/Sean Coombes?" Ahhhh, memories.....

And with that, it is off to bed for this tired little mumma......