Defining My Values...

I love spending time with my family, friends, making new friends, worshipping God, reading, dancing, and socialising!

Upon defining my values I was able to come up with things that I love to do very quickly, they sprang to mind and it was so beneficial to work through the things I love in order to find what I value. I watch in awe, people who seem infectious... You know, those people who can state what they believe, what they've done, and share their knowledge, and it just flows. There is no stumbling upon words, no awkwardness as they chat, they kind of shine! I am inspired my these people, and I love that I have the pleasure of having people like this in my life, who I am looking forward to getting to know better.
These days I am better at standing up for my conviction that I know Christ as my saviour, and God as my creator.I will continue to push myself to get better at this!
I have a heart for children and I believe that the adolescent crime and out of control behaviour is due to the absence of parents throughout the childhood of their little ones, little ones NEED their Mummy's and Daddy's around - alot!

The future me - is outgoing, talkative, well liked, is inspirational and uses such a gift to glorify God and to provide others with friendship and support and an easy conversation! I believe in standing firm on my beliefs.

I am strongly against child abuse and neglect, am saddened by atheism, abortion and believe that bullying in schools could be  and should be totally abolished, and that this should be a bigger priority that scores & marks.

I've defined my values as the following five:

#1. Family
#2. Love & Acceptance
#3. Grace
#4. Friendliness
#5. Contentment

My head feels clearer, so does my heart... awesome exercise!!

A Commitment, A Promise and A Purpose...

It's been playing on my mind recently just how often I can find myself in a rut and how often I seem to lack the ability to take control in some areas in my life, and yet in others, I am considered a control freak. My first baby is off to school next year, and that fact rips my heart out and causes me a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty. I don't want the world to influence her yet, I'm not ready for her to learn that kids can be mean and life is hard. But most of all I do not want to let a single second go by wasted in this last year I have before she starts. We are already in March and I can feel the year slipping away already. Not yet... please not yet. SO I am determined to make this year a year full of wonderful amazing memories that her and I, and her litttle sister will create together(And Dad too of course, when he isnt at work). I will also make sure we are preparing for all of the learny schooly type stuff as well, but mostly I just want to give her a year that is as full as possible of what she loves the most, play. Imaginary play. Think dolls house, barbies, dress ups, 'mums and dads', doctors, shops.... She loves it and loves it even more when I join in, which, on reflection, hasn't been enough lately. What's been stopping me? Email checking and Facebook. Bye Bye computer, you may see me in the evenings, but unless its work related we will meet no longer during the times my children are awake. I am going to set my self a goal for the next week, that everytime I have a free moment and I think about FB, I will pick up a book to read, it bothers me how often my girls see me on a computer, and I would much rather them see me reading a book. I won't lie this will be an incredible challenge for me, so here goes......

2011... Where to from there?...

2011 was a year that simply can't be wrapped up with the introduction'in a nutshell'.. It just wasn't that type of year, and I can happily say now that I am actually very grateful for that.

My two little girls energised me in 2011, with their giggles, smiles, cheekiness, and their incredible personalities. They are the reason I get up in the morning - literally :). And they are what energises me to be a better person and push myself to be more confident.

My happiness was also wrapped up in my little family, my husband and my two little girls. But also, the ways in which I felt I became more established in our reasonably new community, finally I was beginning to feel settled and build friendships, this made me very happy!

Feelings of peace, I must admit, are coming and going, but one part of my life that I have so seeked peace and spent alot of time praying for it, was in my daughter being settled at pre-school, and confident in her ability to build friendships, and to feel a sense of belonging there. I did start to find peace in this part of my life in term 4 , I hope that Term 1 2012 brings more of this!

The positive people that lifted me up were wonderful interstate friends and local family at the start of 2011, but I can happily say that I have some lovely new friendships blossoming, beautiful people that have truly lifted my spirits throughout last year.

My husband and I reevaluated our work hours and priorities and reminded ourselves of the importance of family time, as well as couple time! We are still working in this but progress has at least begun!

I learnt that I can stand my ground without losing love, but actually gaining respect instead :)

I am grateful for God's grace, for my beautiful family and for my very flexible job that allows me to work around my kids.

I am excited and motivated for the challenges and changes that are ahead for me and my loved ones in 2012. Bring it on!