CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person.
       - Dr. David M. Burns

Today I am grateful for: a desire to change, friendship, breathing easily

Hello Lovely Girls, It is going to be another warm humid day with rain, the long range forecast is saying it will be like this until January. I am loving that plan, more clouds less sun means it has to be cooler. I don't trust the meteorologist but I am willing to hope. If only we could organise a volcano going off in an unpopulated area every spring!!!!

Well, the carol singing and nativity went off well, sounded wonderful from where I am, one street over from the school. I am making a princess birthday cake today, with a real doll in the middle!, I wish I was my nana. Nothing too hard, considering I have to make another in January for her real birthday and the second party.

I have been reading about the state of your health system and all the additives in your food and felt really sorry that you have to put up with that. I think that we tend more to no additives and no hormones, bleaching and all that here. I don't know if you have noticed but I more often than not eat things that I have cooked from scratch, so does my daughter and lots of other people I know. It is not that convenience food (processed) isn't available and sometime handy but I think that in general we like food that has less rather than more done to it. I just checked my flour and found that it is indeed unbleached and that is just standard off the supermarket shelf. I am really pleased with that, I know that I choose to eat unhealthily sometimes but I am glad that when I want to eat 'temple food' (food to nourish my body) I don't have to hunt for it or pay a lot of money either. I am a lucky woman.

Anyway, I have a princess to make, I have read some diaries and will come back later and finish off. I am having my usual protein pumpkin pie shake for breakfast. I haven't got the rest of the day organised yet. I will be back!!!! Have a great day girls!!

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Today I am grateful for: a cloudy morning, roses, love

Hello Lovely Girls, Forecast 77 degrees, 80% chance of rain, I suspect that it is going to be sunny this afternoon, I can just feel it in my bones. For now it is overcast and cool and lovely. I can hear the cockatoo's giving some other birds a hard time, I think the birds are in the cockatoo's trees. Funny birds.

Yesterday seemed to fly by really quickly, but I am not sure why, I would be happy if all my days flew by like that. My favourite time of day is when I get into bed, just that moment before sleep. Bliss. I never did get round to the bathroom yesterday, and I really must today, I now have a gentle coating of talcum powder all over my bedroom furniture, smells nice, but looks a bit slatternly.  I think I might also risk doing some washing and trust my instinct that it will be sunny.

The big boys have carols and a nativity play at school tonight, my second big boy is playing Joseph, I was invited but I think I will just listen from my lounge room. SIL is having dinner here, going to the carols and staying over, so "Joseph" will sleep up here on the pull out lounge. I figure they need time together, not that I was around much anyway, but also, it probably wouldn't be appropriate for me to whack him in the head while the children are singing Christmas carols. I actually forced a smile at him the other day after I had been watching the children, before my escape up stairs. I can fake it if I need to, and at the moment, I need to. It will be quiet this morning, the little girls will be at pre-school and my daughter is shopping for the princesses first birthday party, she is having two, one now, early, with her preschool friends who she won't see much of once she starts school and one in January for her actual birthday for her church friends. She has a much better social life than me - but, I suppose princesses do!!!! I have every intention of eating the list of food I have below, but I also have my fingers crossed. I purchased, with hindsight foolishly, some chocolate biscuits (cookies) for the boys yesterday, they didn't finish them, so i did. I have no idea what is wrong with me, but I had better work it out or I am very soon not going to be able to fit through the child safety gate at the top of the stairs. So frustrating!!!! Have a good day girls!

protein pumpkin pie shake

toasted ham and tomato sandwich

chicken and vegetable soup

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water.    

- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner

Today I am grateful for: knowing that there is an end to pain, looking for the silver lining, being cared for.

Hello Lovely Girls, Well it is only about 75 degrees but we have 99% humidity. I just got back from shopping and have lugged it all up the stairs, I am too tired to unpack it at the moment so I have sat down to catch my breath and cool down. V, that was my workout, my heart rate is up, I am glistening, so for me that counts. And, anyway, what you gunna do about it????

I was up at five o'clock, had a bad dream, all this stuff with my daughter has heaved up a lot of my baggage that I work hard to keep stuffed down, unfortunately, our dreams tell the real story. Anyway I didn't want to go back to sleep so I was up before the birds, literally.

I am fully stocked with healthy food, I did do some leg exercises in bed, don't ask!! I seem to have pulled a muscle on the inside of my right knee. I don't know how I managed that. I am getting old. Last week I hurt my back, this week it's my knee. Shoot me now and put me out of my misery!!! Anyway, I have to go and unpack these groceries and then clean my bathroom, the talcum powder has once again tried to make an escape into my bedroom, pesky stuff!! As you can tell I have managed to avoid slipping into a depression, even though I had a yucky dream (husband stuff - I dream we are still together, which is a dirty trick I play on myself when I am asleep, and then pow! I wake up and it is just sad).  Have a wonderful day girls.

protein pumpkin pie shake    4

veal steak, cabbage, carrots, peas, gravy    4

rice crackers    4

toasted ham and tomato sandwich   4

total   16

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes. 
       - Charles Swindoll

Today I am grateful for: more rain, family, feeling positive

Hello Wonderful Women, Forecast 72 degrees, with the chance of thunderstorms, it is getting better and better around here, I just love thunderstorms. It absolutely poured down with rain all through the night. This must be the rain they promised us after the volcano eruption in Indonesia. We haven't had as much rain for years, I think since I joined DD's, you girls must be good luck charms.

Something hopingforheath commented on yesterday made me think that I don't just want to coast along just because it is getting close to Christmas. So I have decided to put a bit of effort into losing some weight before Christmas and not just go for maintenance. I feel more positive now that I have made that decision, so it just goes to show that you never know how your comment can affect how someone feels. I am always grateful to those of you who leave comments for me each day, it is like having my own cheering section. Or in V's case, my own comedian/wingwoman, as she is the only one who actually tells me off.

I have my usual day of looking after the angel, in fact I have her in front of me now because of the rain, her mom didn't want to juggle two little girls at pre-school when she dropped the princess off. I can't begin to tell you how beautiful this little girl is, not only because she looks beautiful, but she genuinely loves her family, she hugs everyone and calls everyone her nana, her sister etc. I am such a lucky woman, not withstanding the many sadness's I have had, I have been compensated with these beautiful children. Other grandmother's here will know what I mean and mom's will just have to take my word for it that as much as you love your children it is nothing compared to how much you will love your grandchildren. I know it is hard to believe, but it is true. I am absolutely in love with mine, even the nearly 12 year old who is turning a bit moody, to me I just look at him and see a big boy turning into a young man, it is like when you are older you see the big picture, and it is a great blessing. OK, enough raving, like I said I have my usual day, baking, afternoon tea with the big boys (we watch WWE together - they think I am a cool nana), and bathing the little girls. I have a full menu planned for my new attitude. Have a wonderful day girls.

hot chocolate, porridge     5

toasted ham and tomato sandwich  4

protein pumpkin pie shake    4

veal chop, cabbage, carrots, peas, gravy  5

                  total            18

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.      - Martin Luther King 

 Today I am grateful for : lots of rain, the wonders of nature, our beautiful world.

Hello Lovely Girls, Forecast 72 degrees 90% chance of rain. Yay!!! Another perfect day. Although I must admit I have had to get my blankie out again. I thought that with all the heat from last week it was gone until May or June. However, I am glad I am having to keep warm. Excellent!! I was so chilly last night I slept with my blinds and windows closed and as a result didn't wake up until after seven thirty which is better than waking up before six. So that is two good things before I have even gotten out of bed. 

I am doing OK with my food, could be better, I am still struggling a little with my crazy brain, but feel that I am winning the battle with the 'black dog'. I am finding it hard to get really serious so close to Christmas, shortly I will be making Christmas treats for all those people who have been kind to me during the year. There seem to be more than usual this year (it hasn't been a good one - apart from finding DD's, I would prefer to forget it) and then we start decorating and so on. But, like I said the other day I don't have junk food in the house so it is hard to go overboard, I mean who wants to binge on vegies????

My plan for the day is a long hot bath, putting in a hair colour (ssshhh) and relaxing for a bit (my version of a spa) my daughter is taking the girls to visit a friend for a couple of hours, so lovely peace will be mine. Then it is just the usual, baking, big boys, and little girls bath time. Food today, will be: protein pumpkin pie shake, chicken, snow pea and noodles, and I don't know what for dinner yet.  I am off to read your diaries, so have a good day lovely girls.    

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

 I am only one, But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
       - Edward Everett Hale

 Today I am grateful for : rain, good ideas, chilly mornings   

Hello Wonderful Women, Forecast 70 degrees, with 80% chance of rain. Actually, it rained all yesterday afternoon and it woke me up this morning at six o'clock. So here I sit listening to the rain at six thirty, it is a beautiful sound. I kept my quote from yesterday for today as well, I thought it was so good and resonated with me so much that it deserved to be pondered for another day.

As usual, the rain puts me in a reflective mood, and I have been trying to think about all the good and positive things that have happened to me in my life instead of all the bad stuff. It is difficult when trying to fight of a depressive period but I am working really hard to keep myself on this side of the line, where things are a little painful but nevertheless, I am striving to find ways to hold myself together. I definitely think that the rain has helped me to feel this way, as I always find it calming and reassuring. I can here a couple of cars, and voices, neighbours heading off to work, the cockatoo's are enjoying the rain and screeching as they fly over. Everything else is a little subdued, even the birdsong, I can here a few, but not as many as normal.

I have very little to do today, just as well, I don't think I am up to doing a lot. I have to do some cleaning, some baking for the big boys, the princess will visit later, and then the highlight of the day when I get to give the girls their bath. All in all not a bad day in front of me. I hope that whatever is happening in your life's, you are able to find the silver lining, there always is one, sometimes it takes some effort to see it. Love you girls.

protein pumpkin pie shake      4

toasted ham and tomato sandwich   4

crab salad         5

total    13 

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
       - Edward Everett Hale

Today I am grateful for: loving people, laughter in the face of pain, trust in my Saviour

Hello Lovely Girls, Forecast 77 degrees 90% humidity, so it is occasionally raining as well. No sun shining, total cloud cover. Now, this may not seem significant to you but I just love this break in the hot weather, my doors and windows are open and a coolish breeze is blowing in. Which already helps my mood, plus I just love my quote for the day.

Just got back from church and am feeling a little more optimistic although I am still borderline functional. My daughter and I were laughing in the car about how hopeless we both are - which I thought showed not only a tendency to look on the bright side but a willingness to laugh at our own inadequacies. Both good things in my book. I am off to make my almost compulsory protein pumpkin pie shake for a very late breakfast and then to your diaries. I hope you have a wonderful day girls.

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.       - Greek Proverb

Today I am grateful for: sleep, knowledge, good health

Hello Lovely Girls, Forecast 88 degrees. It was a cooler night and I got a good night's sleep. I really liked to quote today, there must be opposition in all things so that we can appreciate those things we treasure when they are returned to us. I am hoping that for me, it will be a quiet Saturday. I am feeling like I am hanging onto my mental balance by my fingers. SIL is coming to take the big kids to cricket and then babysitting the girls while my daughter takes the big boys to see Harry Potter. I am hoping that I can just spend the day by myself and try to gather myself again. I am just a little worried about my depression sneaking up on me because of all the stress, I can feel it lurking in the back of my head, it feels like a darkness just waiting to take all the stress away and sink me into oblivion. Which to tell the truth doesn't sound to bad at the moment. I wish I wasn't needed so much, it is guilt that stops me from just letting go. Maybe when things are worked out and MIL is home again I can collapse into a screaming heap!!!

Food has been a bit iffy, I seem to have lost the will to eat, if only my body would get the hint, I am finding it most annoying when my tummy tells me it is hungry. Then I just eat something to shut it up, carbs mostly, although, I am managing to have the pumpkin pie shake for breakfast. I can't be bothered cooking, so it is sandwiches or something equally quick to prepare and eat. I have no junk food in the house, as usual, so only healthyish stuff to choose from.

I hope you all (except for Kathy) had the type of Thanksgiving that you planned for and that you enjoyed yourselves with family or friends or by yourself (V). Now onward toward Christmas. I hope you have a good weekend girls. Enjoy yourselves.

CHERISH LIFE'S  SIMPLE PLEASURES

The charitable give out the door and God puts it back through the window.       - Traditional Proverb

Today I am grateful for: my DD family, a government that cares for it's people, happy tears.

Hello Lovely Girls, Forecast 89 degrees. I hope that each of you has a wonderful day of celebrating the joy you find in your family. It is ten o'clock in the morning and my daughter and I just got back from a quick shopping trip after dropping the princess and the angel at pre school. I needed more pumpkin for my shakes and a few other things. I have absolutely fallen in love with these things, I have added a couple of scoops of protein to the original (hope you don't mind lifestylechange) which makes it more of a meal. Just delicious!!

My daughter came up the stairs crying yesterday afternoon and I thought something else had happened, but as it turned out they were happy tears. She had just received her final assessment for receiving her supporting parent benefit and found out she will be getting $1417 each two weeks, hence my gratitude list today. I am so grateful to live in this country and grateful that my step father and mother emigrated here. Other news, she has already received two phone calls from her husband today. He is running at about four or five each day, nothing particular to say, he just finds 'stuff' he needs to let her know. He took the children to their swimming lessons last night and stayed for dinner. I am always amazed at how 'slow' men are, they show all the behaviour that should give any sensible person the information they need to tell them what is best and then try and think about it.!! Oh Well, we will wait on him, trouble is he is a Libra, like my husband, under normal circumstances it takes him an age to come to a decision. Fortunately, when he makes up his mind he knows what he wants and he confident in his decision.

I purchased cheap and nasty low fat vanilla ice cream (home brand) today, the one I had been using was a French Vanilla Low Fat (this is for the pumpkin pie shakes) that was really yummy. Needless to say it isn't lasting as long as it should.!! I don't like the cheap one, so I and it should be safe. Not sure what I am eating today apart from the obvious shake for breakfast. Have a wonderful day girls.

CHERISH LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.        - Virginia Satir

Today I am grateful for: laughing children, a good night's sleep, a positive outlook.

Hello Beautiful Girls, Forecast 88 degrees, I will say no more. Well last night went very well, the princess did well during her graduation, sung her songs and presented her teacher with the class gift. So cute. My SIL has now left for his business meeting, but I think that the children really loved having him here for the night. I can hear them all laughing loudly about something downstairs, so that is a good way to start the day.

I don't have a lot planned for today, a little cleaning I think and something substantial for lunch as it will be too hot to cook this evening. I have already read your diaries so I will love you and leave you and get everything done before it gets too warm.

protein pumpkin pie shake     4

roast chicken, roast potato, cauliflower, peas, gravy  9

lemon cheesecake           6

              total      19