Day 3

1. I am grateful for water. We have enough water to drink, water to wash in, water for our gardens and water for our kids to play in. My boys have spent the afternoon playing in a friends pool and had such a great time.

2. I am grateful for sleep ins on a Sunday morning.

3. I am grateful for the shade of the tree I sat under this afternoon while my boys played in the pool.

Day 2

1. I am grateful for energy. I often don't have much so am very grateful when I do have some.

2. Today I played simple board games with my boys. We all laughed together and that is special.

3. I am grateful that my youngest son is not embarrassed to cuddle me in public. He will cuddle me anywhere we are. And I'm talking a major cuddle. He wraps his long little arms and legs all the way around me and holds on. I love it. :)

The things I am grateful for....

This is a small beginning of a little experiment which purpose is to explore the things I am thankful for and the good things around me. Everyday I need to write three things I am grateful for or happy about. It has been proven that this creates a happier outlook on life and perspective of ourselves. So, no matter what, I have to consider the good things in my life.

Day 1

1. I am grateful for my husband. He is supportive, loving, a listener, patient and tolerates my craziness.

2. I am grateful I have a house to live in and a comfortable bed to sleep in.

3. I am grateful I have people who love and care for me. My friends and family that surround me are concerned for my wellbeing as I am for theirs.

Have you smiled today?

Have you ever wondered why happy people always seem to be surrounded by other happy people?
It seems that smiling is contagious. If you smile at someone, 9 out of 10 tens they will smile back at you. I want to teach my kids to smile and I want to be the one that sets the example and the one that starts the smiling 'flu'.
But how on earth am I supposed to do that when everyday is a battle for me to even find some sort of happiness let alone smile. My darling husband read out an interesting fact to me the other day and of course I had to try it.

Sit up straight, shoulders back, feet flat on the floor, chin up to the sky, and smile. Through out the next bit you have to stay smiling. Now think sad/depressing thoughts. I found this almost impossible!!
Wearing a smile is not just a physical thing, its also a mindset. When you smile it almost does something to your mind, something that makes it hard to think on depressive thoughts. You know this could well be the key for me. I need to smile. If someone smiles at me I always smile back. I need to keep the smile on my face. So too do I need to smile at the people around me.
So I going to smile more, create a happy mind and cause people around me to smile too.

Bernie

Out for a while

Hello again.....

I know I've been gone for a while. So much has been going on. I have a new position at work and got my nose pretty squashed by the books when I was burying it in them.
Goodness me! My brain feels a little fried at times with the amount of study I'm doing and this is just the beginning. I am just about to enrol in the next course. But enough said about the boring stuff.

I have managed to fit in a little crafting. This has been such a release from the grind of work and study. My little man even told me one night, "You deserve a night off from study mummy". From the mouths of babes!!

Miss Niece's new little hat. Shh.. She hasn't seen it yet!

I have managed to whip up a couple of crocheted hats for my little niece to keep her head warm. Having 2 boys of my own makes it really special to be able to crochet something in pink or to make something pretty. I am also in the process of putting together a costume or such, for my works mid year staff party.

So yeah I have been out for a while but I would like to come back more often, if that would be ok with you. So it shall be Tut ta for now.

Bernie

Mmm... Yum!

I took a break from my reasonably strict eaten rituals today.

As tradition in my little family goes, On Queen's Birthday weekend, we make olibollen and appelflappen. Well this time we went a little further and made croquettes as well. And Yum Yum they all were.

What on earth? I hear you asking. Olibollen is a traditional Dutch kind of donut (minus the hole) which some currents added and are sprinkled with icing sugar. Best eaten while still hot. Then they have a crisp outside. Appelflappen are similar but have apple and some cinnamon added instead of currents. These would have to be my favourite.

I wish I had taken some photos so I could show you all how well they turned out but alas I don't even have left to take a photo of. Yep they were all gobbled up. But believe me they were really yummy.

Bernie

Oh my poor tile...

My poor tiles on my kitchen floor may not last as long as I first considered they would.
In a spot of screaming and with a stomp of my beautiful boots, I managed to crack a tile on the kitchen floor. See that, I am human and do crazy things like scream. The new broken tile is next to an old broken tile so hopefully it will not be noticed as quickly.
What did I learn from all this screaming and stomping?  To not to!! That's what. I did end up a little hoarse afterward with my boys looking at me in absolute astonishment.
It has been a long time since I "lost it" but I am not superhuman. It wasn't good that it happened and I am not very proud that it did.
But it's not the end of the world. I am on the upside now and feeling heaps better. At least now I am able to sleep properly and wake up refreshed.
I need to look at the positive things and those funny little things that your kids says at the most bizarre times. I must laugh at the things that would normally make me cry for sheer frustration. I must cherish the moment when my littlest boy says "Can I have just one more hug 'cause you're so warm and snuggy, mummy. I love you the bestest."
Tomorrow the sun will rise on a whole new day.

Bernie