About me...

I've updated my "about me" description and just wanted to expand on a few things...

Mum of 4 gorgeous boys - Louis 8, Dylan 6, Ethan 5 and Jayden 3 and wife of my spunky husband Michael, living in country Victoria...absolutely living my dream life!!!!! (that has it's fair share of challenges)

I feel passionate about personal growth, respectful parenting and unconditional LOVE! (and still fall and have to pick myself back up again...everyday)

I believe regardless of our past we have the power to shape our future and leave a legacy for our children that will trickle down and change the world! (which isn't anywhere close to easy...it takes persistence, determination and strength and plenty of moments of realising we're heading in the complete wrong direction and realigning...again)

I believe in deliberate mothering and building a strong family! (which takes a lot of learning and researching teamed with consistency and fun and days where I feel like I'm working towards the exact opposite)

I believe if we simplify life we have more chance of seeing beauty everywhere. (and can be so challenging in our modern non-stop, "more is better" society)

I believe we need to tread lightly on the earth. (well...it is the only one we have)

I believe in homegrown, homemade, buying locally and supporting small business. (and no...of course it's not the easiest or cheapest choice but it's 100% worth it and still something I don't always get right)

I believe we need to be kind to ourselves so we can be kind to others. (so simple in concept but challenging in reality...a work in progress)

I believe in empathy and encouragement. (which is much easier to do when we're not making everything all about ourselves!)

I believe in appreciating and having gratitude for every moment of life and making the most of it! (we only get one life and it will be full of ups and downs but we get to choose what we focus on and how we react and respond to it...choose wisely) 

I believe we need to nurture and nourish ourselves with healthy, organic food and plenty of exercise. (we have such a dysfunctional relationship with our bodies...it shouldn't be complicated...eat real food, grow organic if you can't afford it and get moving in whatever ways that you enjoy as often as you can)

I believe we can learn from everyone around us, therefore every experience both positive and negative is valuable! (yep...learn from everyone...especially the people that frustrate and upset you the most...there is a lesson to be learnt in every situation with ever person)

I could probably write about this stuff for days once I get started and there's so much more that I could add. 

I know how it can feel so overwhelming sometimes to think positively, it can feel almost impossible to see through the fog, like your feet are stuck in some thick mud making each step so much heavier than it needs to be.  Like you're looking at life behind a one way window.  You can see what's going on and you want to join in and participate in life but you just can't get there and no-one can see or hear you to try and help.

Or maybe that's just been my experience! haha.  At the end of the day, I was the only one that could turn it around.  No-one else could help me, I needed to do it on my own and to be honest I couldn't rely on the support and help of others because most people don't know how to help in these situations anyway.   

I guess, I notice that people sometimes think that I have things all together and yes, I absolutely adore my life.  A life, that others may turn up their nose at or think is lacking in this or that (which does not bother me in the slightest - there is no perfection to be found here).  This took a whole lot of work though, inside work.  It could have gone a whole lot of other ways if I had decided to give up instead of taking the steps forward that I needed to and just kept blaming others and playing the victim.

It's our life, our responsibility.  Just know that you have the ability to change the way you look at and feel about it though.  All of those negative thoughts and beliefs can be changed if you're willing to explore and challenge them.  We love to tell ourselves stories and excuses as to why things are the way they are and why we can't change them, but it's rubbish.  We all have the power to make our lives whatever we want and to enjoy the short amount of time that we have.  Regardless of the circumstances that are out of our control.

I would love to hear your thoughts...


Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT

Confessions...

I started off so strong with a heap of challenges this year.  FMS Photo a day on Instagram, Clairey Hewitts #myfamilyandme weekly photo challenge.  The 52 project.  All such great ideas and so inspiring. 

Oh and then I also thought I jump in the deep end and have a crack at the shemakesthings crochet mood blanket 2014 challenge.  Not such a strong point although it was a lot of fun having a try.  I have so much admiration for you crafty women out there!

I'm a month in and I haven't kept up with any of them.  I've had a good go at them all.  Well, a reasonably good go anyway.

I've realised a few things though which make me realise I haven't "failed" at anything though, instead I feel like I've just completed some more fine tuning.  I feel like I've learnt a little more about myself and what makes me happy (and of course, what doesn't).

* Scheduling creativity does not appear to work for me.  I'd rather be inspired than forced.  It is something I feel that doesn't come easily for me so when it's there it's there and when it's not..well it's simply not.

*I go through phases.  Some days/weeks I'm all about my veggie garden, daydreaming about our move up to Homegrown farm.  Sometimes I need to focus on our family and building a strong connection or working on current issues we may be facing.  Other times I focus on myself a little more, working on personal issues I want to overcome, or simply re-filling my cup and nurturing myself.  Then I find myself going on my cooking runs where I'll try a heap of new recipes and be all about food.  This is usually followed by a decluttering and home organisation phase.  Who know's what will be next? Haha.

*These phases are part of who I am.  Luckily I'm at a place where I can embrace it.  It keeps life interesting for me and each little phase teaches me something new.  Some of the things I learn I find ways to apply and stick with and others I try and quickly work out that it's not for me. 

*I love taking photos.  I've have been so inspired by the idea of the family photos and I will continue to take them and submit them when it feels natural to do so and not forced.  It felt so good when we are all having a family fun day together to take a snap of all of us.  My photos on Instagram are usually of moments that I want to capture and share.   I know when it feels right to me.  The photo a day sometimes felt like I was just taking a photo just to take a photo if that makes sense.  Rather than a moment I wanted to record specifically.

*I love to blog.  To record our life over these beautiful years raising my boys.  It makes me focus on all the good there is in my life and how grateful I am.

*Living life will always come first.  For me, there's no point blogging if everything else is falling apart at the seams. 

It's so funny how our own thoughts can be our own worst enemy.  We make most of the issues and drama up in our own heads and then let it control us.  In reality we actually get to design our lives in all of our choices and baby steps forward.  I don't want to "should" all over myself  by looking at the lives of those around me who have found a way to make life work for them.  That is their story and it won't work if I try and copy it.  I'm unique so my life will be as well.  It won't look like any other.  

I'm so blissed out with my life right now.  It feels like I have so many things falling into place that I've wanted for so long.  It feels magical to me sometimes.  I am happy and content (most of the time!) and love the direction I'm moving in. It sure is an amazing journey filled with ups and downs, challenges and successes.  Even though it most definitely wouldn't appeal to everyone I wouldn't change any of it for the world. 

First days...

3 boys at school this year!  It's just a crazy concept.  I used to be so scared of this moment but it's actually been really amazing.  They're all thriving and really enjoying themselves which is so great. 

1st day of grade 3 for Louis

1st day of grade 1 for Dylan

The boys love having each other at school.

Ethan's 1st day of prep!  He was beyond excited!

I drove in for the first half week and then they all got to catch the bus together.  The look forward to it far more than me driving them!

Love that smile!

Brothers all together!  Jayden can't wait for school as well. 

Jayden had his 1st day of 3yo Kinder.  This is the second year he's attending.  We could have enrolled him in 4yo kinder but I would rather him start school as 5 turning 6.  I like the fact that he will be more than ready to go to school and have a lot of confidence rather than the other way around.  It also means that the boys will all turn 18 in year 12.  I think it would be really limiting for them living in a country area with no public transport, once school finishes with no license!

So, that's all their first days for another year...they've had a great start and I'm looking forward to watching as they all grow and develop over the year.  I'm so incredibly grateful for these boys, I sure am one lucky Mum.