ten things

ten things from my head; new adventures, things that have moved me recently and some winter reflections...

peace seeker

i have suddenly become very aware of a theme that appears in my thoughts recently. this is our third week living in a new place, surrounded by beautiful coastline and new places to explore. i don't have anything to complain about. at all but what i have noticed is the need for peace...

rise ::1::

how does it look to rise up? what could i say has changed when it comes to the word i chose here?

i am sharing some thoughts on the word i chose for the 2015 year...

on the last day of 2014

i savour the process of reflection; looking back and discovering choices and decisions that have shaped life and events that have thrust you into new situations to find new things about yourself.

so on the morning of the last day of 2014, i want to acknowledge a year full of deep lows and some highs... to commemorate and acknowledge but also say farewell. i am ready for a new year!

who we are publicly and privately

so today i was washing the daily dishes pile, looking out on the garden and listening to ted.com radio {you should try it too it goes behind the ted talks with interviews from the presenters, so fascinating!} and the radio dj was interviewing ted talk researchers on the fact of lying {and as a result cheating} and how sometimes we need to lie.

like {honey, how does this look on me?} better half thinks {does she really want me to tell her what i think?} and sizing up the situation, replies {it looks so good babe!} it's fascinating to think that there are times in our lives when the truth might be more hurtful than a little white lie, or a protective phrase uttered to make the other person feel good may not be the total truth.

it got me thinking of a situation i randomly overheard in a carpark on the weekend...

six things to do when dealing with disappointment

 a sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of one's hopes or expectations

as you may well guess, i am in a season of transition; moving through to {new ground} or searching high and low for it! it never feels comfortable or safe but it's definitely inevitable. as i wrestle with the feeling of disappointment i want to share some keys i use to push through. i hope these encourage you or a friend if you are in this place too.

reaching up

our boy is continuing to grow {funny that!} he is two months away from hitting the big two year mark and is now an avid grabber of things. he has some amazing strategies for gathering the things he wants from the spaces above.

being shaped in the wait

man, waiting can be hard and i actually regard myself as a patient person! but being in this period of my life when i don't quite know how or what the next months are going to look like is an unsettling one.

imagine if every door you knocked on was opened to you? imagine if you never had to wait for anything? you could just ask and get it! would you be grateful? would you challenge yourself with new endeavours that might mean you fail?

Dreams are emptying out.

Image by artist BennyAndrews

Dreams are emptying out. 

Decisions need to be made.

I am quiet here without a voice.

But many thoughts.

Bal~anced

... having different elements in the correct proportions ...

I feel like I can't quite do this at the moment! Have I lost it or misplaced it? Maybe I left it on the kitchen table?  

I think I am going a little crazy and I just keep having the thought that I want to press pause on my life and be able to make everything calm down!

'Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.' Philippians 4:11

Oh how I want to be like Paul!! Choosing to be content in every situation... He encourages me when he says 'I have learned'...


Can you give me some ideas??... Please don't be shy. I am putting myself out there.


How have you learned to be balanced even when you live a super-busy life?

The dreaded...

I found this on my friend's fb page today and just had to share it with you...

Isn't life just a little more fun when we choose to have fun?

I realise I have so many 'dreaded things' in my life that I expect will be hard or long or boring or un-fun. 

This video was just so sweet and gave me an incentive to look for the fun side of the not-so-fun stuff we have to do in the day to day!

It also reminded that at the start of my time here in South Korea my awesome principal Mr. P gave each of us a book to read entitled 'Fish!'.. It's a book about 'catching the energy and releasing the potential' and is a super easy book to read too. It's based on a very famous Fish market in Seattle called  'Pike Place Fish' and they are such a model for having FUN in their every day!! 

Their philosophy is you may not get to choose your task but you can choose your attitude towards it!

They also choose to PLAY in life... to be happy to treat others well. They know that fun leads to creativity... Having a GOOD, FUN time is healthy and that when there is FUN, work becomes a reward!

I love how this clip reminded me of this.

And God says...

Philippians 4:8 (Contemporary English Version) 

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.

Amen on that!

Any ideas on how to make 'the dreaded ...' more fun??

I'm threezero soon.

Hi everyone,

I'm here in bed with my lappy not feeling 100% today, upset tums are not fun.

Well from the title of this blog you can see I am in a thinking mood, confession time.

My bday is coming up soon.

I am super excited to tell you the truth but have recently realised that it's ALWAYS been that bday on the horizon and one that you think when you are maturing that you will be like this, this and this. And now it's just around the corner. Woah.

I am writing this post for ideas.

Any thoughts on what I could do? Do you celebrate monumental birthdays with a bang or do you just 'see it through'? I am always in a very reminiscent mood when these days come and I would like to do something but don't know what.

The other thing is that I will be in a foreign land to celebrate...

Hmmm. Thinking, thinking.

Dreams

What good are dreams 
if that's all they really are? 

lyrics by All Left Out

I had this question written in my diary last year. And I just wrote it in my diary for 2011.

I love this question. I ask myself this once in a while. Dreams are exciting and so fun to think about!

Many people say it's cliche to have new years resolutions or dreams for the coming year. 

But I disagree.

It's not cliche - it is what we are created to do.

Have hopes and dreams.

I'm not necessarily going to share my dreams here at this point (I might do it later - who knows!) but I do want to encourage you all to use this year however you want to, to reach your goals. There is always tomorrow but don't make this year empty dreams... 
choices are to be made!

That is why I value this question so much. 

We have to keep on keeping on. Just like this quote from a movie I like...

'Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse, wouldn't quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out. 

Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.' 

Quote from here.

So which mouse are you?

Are your dreams just dreams or are you putting them into existence?

I sure am keen to give it a go. 

The Tide

Powerful, untamed, always present, dependable. The tide comes in, the tide goes out.

Today it hit me.

I miss the beach (Bream bay). Walking down the long stretch and enjoying the freshness, the waves, the beauty. I'll be honest with you. I really did take it for granted.

It was always there. It's basically seen me grow up.

Surfing, pondering,  celebrating birthdays, gutted about something, walking my precious dog, praying for break-throughs with my mum, running with Hubby, hanging out with friends... the list could go on...

We are SO privileged to have such a beautiful country! I know it's cliche but I just didn't realize how important it was.

I cross my heart and promise to never take it for granted again. :)

Hey Everybody!

Wow, this is my first post. I can't believe it. A bit nervous and unsure. But here goes...

I had been meaning to start this for a long time, my friend Tina-Lee had encouraged me to do this when we first arrived in this new land. But with all the changes and also my obligation to start this one;  I just couldn't fit it in.

So hope you enjoy the ride... Wherever it will take us.