They're growing up.

We've just celebrated Ben's 21st Birthday.

It was a madcap hectic time as we prepared for a party and a houseful of visitors. There must have been a dust cloud over our home as we swished everything into shape.

Its made a me nostalgic for my dear little boys, and how hard I thought it was with babies, then toddlers, one at school, one at kinder; one a babe. Then all at school, but busy with activities, where are my footy boots, my reader, my permission slip. Then they start to finish high school and we scramble to get them set on a career path.

I don't think they'll ever stop being my babies.
At least I hope not.
I am however delighting in watching them grow into men.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX

random acts of kindness and favours with strings attached.

I often contemplate how we treat each other. There are all the nice and nasty people in the world. I wonder if the nasty people realise they're nasty or are they just oblivious to how they leave people; feeling all dented and disgruntled.
But there's also a bit of a trick to the nice people too. There's an outcome they're after. A pass off they're working toward. The good deed comes with strings attached.
Its the big tripping point of being a people pleaser.
We want some to notice what we're doing!

What's been happening with us...

Its our anniversary tomorrow. Twenty three years on the twenty third of March. No big celebrations or gifts. Just out to dinner to mark the occasion. I was hustling the boys out of the house (They are gathering with a group of like minded computer Nerds to play games all night!) when jake asked "why are you trying to get rid of us?"
"It's our anniversary, and your Dad and i want to play hidey/chasey, maybe even in the nude!"
Jake was holding Stuart the cat at the time went:
"Eeeew! When i tell you to run Stu, RUN! And don't look back!"
I'll file that away until he's celebrating an anniversary.
I have a LOOOOOng memory!


I had my mobile phone in my apron pocket at work the other day. I dashed to the loo and while seated the phone beeped to say I had a voicemail. "Why not?" I thought and quickly dialed the number to check who was after me. Unfortunately it was the first time I'd checked voicemail and I hadn't registered yet. I'm not very savvy with this sort of thing and thought if I hang up I'm not sure how to get back to it again!
So I sat there working through the prompts, recording my name and a message. If you ever call my phone there's a delighful echo to my message. Thank heavens no one came into the loo while I was there...they would have heard:-
"Hi this is Linda, sorry I missed you. Leave a message so I can get back to you later. Don't forget to press the hash key! Bye!

I've just put the finishing touch to a layout I'm entering into a competition. I feel very proud of it! This weekend we've been close to home and I have got so much done! Its a good feeling to be on top of my classes. A few more in the next few days and I'm up to date.
The layout i've finished is one of Russ and I. I wrote a little acknowledgement of my love for him and put it in journalling strips on the page. Just beautiful. X

Fun in the garden

I always love those times when the boys join us in the garden. Max the dog nearly turns himself inside out he's so excited to have someone to play with. He's a mad keen soccer player and I believe could actually play for Australia one day.

Russell has just bought himself a new mulcher. Hours of fun! Jake has christened it the "Green Guinea Pig" its such a voracious muncher. There is not a spare leave twig or blade of grass in our garden. Russ is now looking into the trees to see whats about to fall....

My inheritence

Don't you love those unexpected glimpses; when you catch a view of yourself, as other people see you.
I was in the Medicare office the other day and glanced up at the TV monitor, as you do.
The Lady at the end of the queue wore white trousers that were very unflattering and her T Shirt had ridden up the back, framing her pear shaped derriere. I smiled to myself, but I did admire her lovely colour matching, the orange T Shirt was just lovely....wait a minute

It was me!!! Shock.... Horror!!!

And doesn't it send your confidence tumbling like a house of cards. It took the "John Travolta" right out of my strut!

All these years I thought I didn't look too much like either my mum or my Dad. Oh you could see I belonged; but compared to my brothers I was definitely a hybrid of the two of them. Little did I know that it was all time-sensitive.

And like clockwork, forty years later I happened one day to glance at my knees.
Yep, you guessed it . They're my mum's. Exactly the same. And someone's been drawing on them with red and blue pen!

My favourite inherited body part from my Mum, however, are my hands.
They used to be quite elegant. When I wasn't Nursing I could get my nails nice and long. I was always moisturising, and buffing the nails , pushing cuticles back. Etc etc.
I'd advise Mum on what she needed to do to have "Lovely Nails" Try this product, yes it'll work. Just rub this into your cuticles/nail tips/hands ten times a day. you get the idea. To me with plenty of free time before kids, it seemed so easy. She was obviously not trying hard enough!

Just add twenty five years to those glamorous hands and notice the difference. They've become square and blunt. The knuckles are thick. I struggle with some of my rings, but I'm too vain to get them enlarged (What if i drop a few pounds.) I can't grow any length to the nails. I have freckles on the back of my hands and they always seem dry.

They're my Mum's Hands.

And I know that they are like this because I "MOTHER". We work so hard, my hands and I. Together we make a house , a home; we rub away aches, we give comfort with touch, we nourish and nurture. Sometimes we tackle distasteful tasks, but we do it quickly, efficiently.
They can wield heavy tools if required and then , later, can precisely place a delicate bead or sequin, sew tiny stitches or find an eyelash that is lost in a dear one's eye.

I love that I have my Mum's hands.

I'm not so sure about the knee's.

New Title

I really don't learn my lessons. Tonight Russ and i went to the cinema, and after retraining myself to not need caffeine, and be perfectly happy with decaf; i shout myself a lovely Grande Flat white at Zarraffa's. Hence here it is after midnight and I can't sleep.........

Just thought for the new year, a new title banner was in order. Love the quote from Erma Bombeck. The photo is from my desk, through our front sliding doors and off our balcony. I've tweaked the colour to make our Tibouchina extra blue, and softened the focus to write my little quote.

This is what I see as i sit at my desk and write or scrap or draw or just think and pray.
My intention once again is to write more frequently and now after much thought i know what direction to take this in. I have some drafts for publishing that just need a wee little polish and some little snapshots of my world that may bring a smile to your face.

If I make you smile, or make you thoughtful. If I bring a tear to your eye or even better, if i make you sit up and look more closely as i share my spiritual journey with you then I am glad.
If you hadn't realised I've found God again, I have( apparently he never lost me!)
I can't talk the "churchy" talk so relax; it won't be like that!
Phew! I'm as relieved as you are!

But i want to share with you the amazing things that happen to me daily.

The First thing to share!
This is not what I got out of bed to write, in fact nothing like what I'd intended at all.
I'll share my funny McDonalds story, and the icecream truck story, and the mums and daughters thoughts with you next time.
ttfn
ta ta for now

Newsletter for March/April

Of all the different kinds of kisses in the world, my favourite is a kiss on the forehead. There’s a lover’s kiss; the kiss we give our children where we try to squish them close to our hearts. We “air kiss” our girlfriends so we don’t get lipstick on their cheeks. We smooch those pudgy baby cheeks, and yes I have been know to kiss a freshly powdered baby bottom (my own babies of course)
But the kiss that hits me firmly in my heart is a kiss to the centre of my forehead. Think of the way that kiss is handled. Someone near and dear to you cups your cheek in their hand, brushes your hair to one side and plants a soft and tender kiss right where you have your worry lines. You have to close your eyes for just those few seconds and leave yourself in their hands; feeling loved and for a few moments everything stops as there is a connection between kisser and kissee.
A kiss on the forehead is a gentle kiss. It tells you that the kisser knows how busy your mind is, coping with the day to day dramas of keeping everyone happy, remembering all you need to do. I think it goes straight to your heart, recognises that you are a good person, fighting the good fight in spite of all. It’s a kiss to your spirit, a kiss of encouragement, a kiss of very tender love.
I close my little rambling today with a kiss on the forehead for you. I can see the hard work you are doing, I can see the times you struggle and wonder if it’s even noticed. Keep going, you’re on the right path and you are appreciated.

Newsletter for January/February

Have you ever been into Daisy chain and watched Barbi in action!
It’s easy to watch and see only that she’s busy on the phone or on the computer (or as all our husbands think, sitting and having another coffee chat at the morning tea table with all her staff! )
We don’t see unless we look closely the true magic of daisy’s, and why she has created a safe place for you to rest your burdens for a while.
I have watched Barbi quietly comfort recently bereaved with the warmest of hugs as they rest they’re worries against her shoulder. I watched her give abundantly more than is expected to the people who come to our counter that do good works in the community. I’ve watched her remember not just names, but the stories of people from near and far who come back to us again and again and each time are welcomed “home” with food and drink. I’ve known the amount of work on her plate and still been astounded when the home baking arrives! Does she sleep? I’ve watched her show the most amazing grace to people, who may not deserve it, (and she’s taught me not to judge)
I used to be frustrated at the “jumble sale” that is our third table at Daisy’s and the office/dumpster that is our “behind the scenes”. But now I know why! You can’t be tidying when you are ministering! (It’s our job to tidy) When I find a little pile of papers and tools and scraps in a corner I know that Barbi has just given a demo to someone, its probably after shop closing time, they probably bought the product somewhere else and have no clue how to use it, they may not even be grateful, or quite arrogantly announce they can get it cheaper somewhere else! Does this deter our barbi?
No way!
I’m happy to be able to come along behind and tidy and straighten; finish and put away because the whole time I’m remembering that someone has probably been helped, guided, advised, comforted, nurtured, encouraged, reassured, or just taught a skill.
Barbi is my role model on how to be, and my mentor on how to work. I can only wish that we all get this kind of boss, who has her priorities exactly right!
Bless you Barbi! X

Treat them different , love them the same.

I've often had one boy or other say to me that one of the sibs gets special treatment!

Yes they do i always answer.

I treat you all differently because you are all different.

But i love you all exactly the same.

Its a gentle little home that russ and i have created.

The squabbles are few and far between. Lots less now that they are older. But even as small kids( i don't mean toddlers who are still learning the whole sharing the world with other people situation) they would all cheerfully get on with each other.

Today as i was huffing and puffing on my treadmill on the back deck i was watching through the glass sliding door and was a bit overcome at the gentle men in my life.

In the background i can hear Alex practising his accoustic for his first gig at the high school speech night. In the kitchen Russ has just got home from work and is putting the roast on for dinner. (my turn to cook tonight but my work at my desk here at home met with computer complications so i was behind schedule. He stepped in like he always does. Bless him)

Jake has spent the afternoon at the beach without sunscreen (Life lesson there) and his big bro Ben is putting some aloe vera spray cold from the fridge on his back, quite enjoying the shock value I'm sure, but also cheerfully helping his brother out.

If there was an audience not one of them would do what they do.
But when its us, at home, there's a caring for the rest of the tribe...............



............................



.............a bit like monkeys really!

My Newsletter article for November December 2007

From Linda with Love.
I Love Christmas! I always have. The celebration of the reason for the season. The time for family and sharing and special food and yes, also the gift giving.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being on the receiving end of a beautiful gift, (especially the ones in velvet boxes.) But one of my greatest joys is the giving of the perfect gift. As the final layer of paper is unwrapped there is the little gasp of breath and then the look of delight, as they catch your eye; and for that moment they can see that you are in tune with them! Love it!
As wives and mothers our pre Christmas time becomes a
“survivor” style marathon of shopping, card making, card writing, card sending, gift buying and wrapping then sending , School break ups and concerts and find a gift for the teacher , work parties and secret Santa gift buying: Christmas decorating: Food shopping ahead of schedule and then back again for the perishables ; will the shops be open? Pre cooking, then storing don’t touch it its for Christmas and on and on to the ultimate goal of a fuss free perfect Christmas day. What would happen if we missed a task? Would the family get together and vote us off the island?
Are they expecting The Martha Stewart” Christmas, or is it just us?
Would Christmas still be Christmas without the fuss?
You betcha!
So here is my Christmas wish for us all. I hope the shops sell out of tinsel and you have to make do with homemade paper chains and that the whole family help you make it! I hope that wonderful rain comes through in a fabulous summer storm and takes out the power and you make do for Christmas dinner. It’s the sharing of the food, not the food itself! I hope you make something for your gift to your loved ones. Watch their faces as they unwrap it! Come and see me if you want ideas! Wrap it in brown paper that you have decorated yourself!
Don’t send cards at time this year. Send them in January instead or even better, ring your Christmas card list and wish them a heartfelt Merry Christmas over the phone. Want to thank someone? Do it personally, shake their hand and tell them what they have meant to you this year!
And lastly bring your family close around you and tell them what they mean to you at this blessed time of year and truly celebrate the season.
Merry Christmas to you all. Love LindaX
(Disclaimer: Of course the frenzy of materialism referred to above in no way reflects on card making, scrap booking or any kind of paper craft. They are, of course, an essential service and as such, compulsory for our well being.)

My Happy Place

I’ve always got two or three books on the go at the same time. My formula has always been one book to learn something new, one for pure entertainment and one book for my soul.
My book to learn from can be a scrapbook magazine or reference book, or a cook book, or a basic guide to something. I’ve tackled the idiots guide to politics, travelling the world, designing your own backyard, lots of handicraft books, autobiographies, how to write the great Australian novel. Its exciting how much there is to learn!
My books for pure entertainment are frivolous things; the less brain required the better. I especially love old Harold Robbins, or Jackie Collins. You get the idea! These are what I turn to when my brain is tired. I’m so used to reading before I sleep that these are a perfect remedy to drift to sleep by. I do tackle other crime solving, mystery type exciting books, but I know what I’m like and I can’t afford to be lying awake all night with my nose stuck in a gripping read!!!
And then there’s my soul food. My Bible has always had a place next to my head where I sleep. Sometimes there’s been a little layer of dust, but that reflects the changing tides of my life. (It’s dust free at the moment!) I’ve walked with the Dalai Lama, visited the Seat of my soul with Gary Zukov. That men are from mars, women are from Venus makes sense to me! Dr Phil has helped with relationship rescue. I thought if I spend time and feng shui’d my home maybe I’d find the contentment I’m seeking. I’ve enjoyed reading of other people’s journey of faith. I know what’s amazing about Grace!
But my greatest sense of inner peace, contentment and joy has always been in meditative handiwork. I’d not realised until recently that it was my time of prayer.
It’s common for many women that we sometimes can’t find twenty minutes of uninterrupted time. It’s during those times of busy hands that our minds become free to wander. When others see that we are occupied, they leave us be. It can be as mundane as ironing, or knitting or crochet. (Or for us scrap booking or card making) the simple repetitive actions of our hands free our minds to wander.
In the centre of our home, in the heart of the family living area I have carved out a space for my craft. It’s the crossroads room, where everyone passes through to go to another part of the house. It has the highest traffic of any room in our home. It’s there that I sit surrounded by clippings and snippets, colours and patterns to create my legacy to my family; and my mind can drift away!
I count my blessings, and think of all the fabulous events of the day. I think of my hubby and sons and contemplate their journeys of the moment. Then in my mind I travel to other family, and to friends, to events unfolding in the world. I smile to myself at the stories of divine intervention, and place in context the ills of the world. In front of me, amazingly a project is completed, almost without being aware of it.
I always have an ear open for the family. I overheard the other day from one of them. “Wait til later, mum’s in her Happy Place”
Take care, God Bless and enjoy your Happy Place!
Love Linda



A little snapshot from our last retreat

Happy Holidays

Its just extraordinary how tired we were. That first week all we did was sleep and since we have a lovely new stove and we both love cooking so much, the other thing we've done is eat!

We've had one week at carlo point camping. ( weather beautiful) and planning to go again this week! How fast the time goes, then only another week and back to work.

I've included a photo of out stopover on Fraser Island. There's a great spot thats in the middle of Fraser, hervey Bay and Tin can bay that we can get to by boat. The fishing was great although on the day we were there it was "Fish playing with people" day and of course nothing was biting.

Here are my fellas soaking up the sun. A snap of me (thanks Russ ) after a stern talking to about how there needs to be photos of me for posterity. I had to use my angry eyes but he gets it now! Look at that lovely beach!

How glamorous!!!


Also a nice shot we've taken to getting of our shadows, and Alex reminding us that he is after all thirteen years old and a boy!


Its cold and rainy as we pack our gear this time. The weather people have promised sunshine for wednesday. Ben and Jake&Jess will be coming on Saturday for the night. We've promised angel steaks from the rainbow beach butcher for barbeque dinner. (they're a special cut of beef obviously, the other kind are way too hard to catch )

We're taking Max as well. That should be interesting...nothing adds a special something to camping like a fox terrier thats been playing in the mangroves. We'll take his little house and a lead and he'll be fine!

Not taking any papercraft this time. Took a lot for the last trip but did nothing, so this time just sketching and maybe some watercolours.... hey twinkling h2o's would be fun...and I could always do that onto some cards, and alex likes painting ...................
til next time
ttfn

Road Rager

Road Rager.

The other day I had a lady in a four wheel drive absolutely furious with me! It seemed I was completely ignorant of the “rules” and was giving way at a give-way sign (???), just where she wanted to turn. How inconsiderate of me!
I then had an amazing conversation with my boy Alex (13) at how angry people are all the time. For what seems like trivial reasons. They go from zero to fury in moments.
He suggested “Maybe they are too busy to know their own feelings; it’s quicker to make it everyone else’s fault”

Pretty insightful I thought.

So I imagined that lady’s world. It’s after school time and she’s negotiating an all terrain vehicle through suburban streets. The car is full of kids , tired, hungry and full of news. Going to an after school activity or several. Probably squeeze a trip to the supermarket in before home/ homework/dinner/family time.
So mix that with some whinging in the car, the petrol light might be flashing, her mobile phone is going , and someone announces that they can’t find their clarinet ( or soccer shirt, tennis racket, glasses or retainer…whatever) its little wonder that that pause at a give way sign would seem like the last straw.
I can understand that… trust me I’ve been there!

Taking a moment to take stock of how she was feeling would be my gift to her. The time goes too quickly in our family lives for us to race it away.
Our commitments can sometimes control us, but what are the more important lessons.
How to keep to a schedule, or how to laugh and let go.
To run yourself into a frazzled heap meeting the deadlines you’ve set yourself;
Or stealing some time back for you and the kids and have an ice-cream and a play in the playground . Leave the mobile turned off and grab your camera instead.
Trust me! The memories that they will treasure as your families grow to have families of their own are not how you always made it on time to after school sport, but “hey remember when we were stuck in traffic and we had a fart noise competition and Mum won cos her’s was the loudest!”
I told Alex.
“You have a lot of empathy for a boy your age kiddo!”
” Do I? he asked “How do I get rid of it?”
Teenagers!!!
Ta ta for now. Linda
PS Please be nice to little orange cars. Imagine I’m a giant orange M&M or smartie!

Thoughts from Linda
Why is it that we are so afraid to engage people? We offer “arms-length” compassion in case what they require of us will deplete us somehow. Doing just enough of the kind and good work to look the part, but not getting our hands dirty with the gritty, grim real life “helping” that requires a giving of ourselves to make some one else feel better.
We see people everywhere who are burdened with life’s challenges and we deliberately choose to keep our distance in what’s become a typical attitude of not wanting to get involved. Imagine a world where we all not only listened to each other but heard what we were saying as well. Everyone carries a bag of worries. The battle we are waging at the moment, be it a money worry, insecurity about your love, career challenge, conscience for a wrong doing, health concerns or grief. Everyone! Imagine if completely at random you were able to help to carry that bag of worries for someone else, share their load just by asking a kind question from your true heart and then listening to the answer?
One of my joys in this craft is that I see women of all ages nurturing each other while they share common ground. To the happy sound of snipping and cropping, pasting and painting I hear hearts unburdened, support being given, listening to each other. There’s time to hear the whole story, (usually accompanied by pictures) and then the peace that comes from putting it all in context, filing it into our memories, moving onto the next project. We leave feeling grateful to the “family” we have found at Daisychain.So, how are you really?

News Years Resolutions

Every year I have the best of intentions to start the year. After all, its a clean slate! I can start as I intend to finish . I'll be fitter and heathier! I'll be slimmer and take better care of myself. I'll be more organised and manage my time efficiently. There'll be no late payments of Bills or forgotten birthdays. I will remember to send a card to all my nieces and nephews. I will write an old fashioned letter every week to my mum and my in-laws. This year i will be in touch with my christmas card friends before December.

Like I said the best of intentions.

We set our expectations of ourselves so high , then beat ourselves up when we don't achieve them. There you go, another broken resolution! There's always someone else out there to commisserate with , they'll share that cream bun, light that cigarette and point out as if to comfort you; their own broken resolutions. We're all the same!

This year I'm changing my direction.
This year it won't be about ME but about someone else! My rules are simple and summed up in this little prayer that I clipped from the newspaper a couple of years ago.

"Can you say today in parting with the day that's slipping past
That you helped a single person of the many that you passed.
Is a single one rejoicing over what you did or said?
Did one whose hopes were fading, now with courage look ahead?
Did you waste a day or lose it- was it well or poorly spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
"You have made the world much better for the life you've lived today!"

So my resolutions for the year?
I'm going to give more and be less self indulgent! I'll talk less and listen more, sometimes you don't get the point of a story until right at the end.
I'll stop counting time and start relishing moments. When I scrapbook, there'll be much more journalling from my heart to remind me of my riches!
I'll make beautiful cards to give away for no particular occasion, just to make someone smile! I'm going to cast a goodwill eye on my entire home and all those sad old possessions I've been accumulating and no longer need can go to charities.
I'm going to put a tin of cat and dog food in the Sippy Downs Animal Shelter Donation bin at the super market every week. I'll buy raffle tickets whenever i see them being sold. That a tough job sitting there selling tickets. (Even if i buy just one.)
I will write to our parents, maybe not weekly but often ( Hey I could send them a card!!!)
I'm going to write on my blog every day.
There, that seems more achievable!
Have a happy new year!
With Love from Linda.

Speed wobbles

A photo of one of my peaceful places.

Today was one of those days where for just a little while i lost my footing, and got the speed wobbles. It doesn't happen often. I pay way too much attention to myself, get full of self pity, and lose sight of the big picture. If i didn't have a focus on what and why I am here then I'm sure my knees would buckle.
And like a team of soldier bees protecting their queen my men rally around me. My littlest man seems to be there for more hugs. My bigger boys make me laugh. My Main man covered my face in kisses and gave me the biggest hug i nearly broke!The nurturing is so timely and perfect; they probably don't even know they're doing it! I feel so wrapped in love i'm lifted back on track again. I'm truly blessed. Now ......where was I?

All about Jake

Here's my gorgeous boy!
You never cease to amaze me.
I had to wait for this layout to come home so I could scan it and put it on WigWam.
This reminds me so much of you , and all your different facets!
You tell me think its incredible that I've got a blog, pretty cool for a Mum!
I wouldn't know where to begin if I didn't have you to guide me!
Thanks Darling! Love you xmum

God's Bubble Wrap Suit

Gods Bubble wrap suit.

Whenever I face a huge hurdle that seems too big to overcome; I stop and remind myself that God knows how far he can push me. In fact it’s all part of The Big Plan; it’s been in the pipeline for a long time and as usual I’m not privy to all the details. He knows what he’s doing!

So there I am, frightened and working very hard at convincing myself that I’m in his hands. He’s the only one who knows what’s in my deepest heart. He’s never done me wrong before. Sure, we’ve had some close calls where I’ve been slightly worried. Are you sure you know what you’re doing? That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me? But he’s always manages to pull it off, yet again! You see He gets to look at the blue prints of The Big Plan…. I don’t!

I just get to trust that he’ll take care of me. I let him do the worrying. He’s given me an invisible bubble wrap suit and nothing can harm me and I can lie gently in his hand and he’ll carry me safely to the other side of my obstacle.
And once again I’ll be able to say “Hey thanks God!”

A reason a season a lifetime

It’s a delight to tackle those old albums of photo’s and treasures. Once I get the dust bunnies off them I love that first look through the collection. All those wonderful treasures that I felt were important keep, but look at now and wonder “what was I thinking?”
There amongst the photos of my life are all my dear friends from over the years. The ones with whom I had so much in common; I’d shared lots of first’s and made lots of memories and now years later, I scratch my head and wonder where they are?
I used to feel very sad at how friends would come and go from my life. Mum and Grandma always said ….” True friends are like diamonds rich and rare, false friends are like autumn leaves found everywhere.” This didn’t ever explain it well enough for me. Let me share with you now what I really believe to be true. This was sent to me years ago in an email (from a dear old friend Sue Redfern) It struck a chord with me then and reminded me that I’m part of a grand plan and since then I’ve added my own spin to help me understand.

People come into your life for a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime!
When someone comes into your life for a Reason it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with a guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend and they are!
Then suddenly the relationship will end. It maybe that there is a falling out between you, they may move away, they may die, or they may just walk away for no apparent reason. It’s important to remember its because our need has been met, our desire fulfilled. Their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered, and now it’s time to move on.

Some friends come into your life for a Season because your turn has come to help someone to grow, share and learn. Friends for a season are those friends you gather because of common interests, children and sports, maybe colleagues from work. Because of your shared interests you seem like soulmates and it’s a joy to spend time with them. But only for a season. As your circumstances change, so do the things you have in common and there is a drifting apart. The relationship is no less precious.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build on to have a solid emotional foundation. Lifetime friends live different lives; that from time to time run parallel with ours and allow us to reconnect. We pick up where we left off! Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you learn to use in all your relationships and areas of your life. When I look at photo’s of all my friends from the past I’m sad that I don’t see them , but also very grateful. They have added all the dimensions that make me, ME!

Why wig wam?

Okay so I have had a play around with the blog. I've added those articles from the newsletter that are from my heart. I've worked out how to add photo's and so now its all systems go!
I have the shortcut on my desktop to streamline the time from idea to writing. I've worked out how to rough draft and if i need to , go back and edit.

Why Wig Wam for a gooses bridle do you ask? Its a funny old saying that my Gram used to say as an answer to our constant questions of "What are you doing Gram?" one of those nonsensical answers that really mean " I'm not sure I'm in the middle of the creative process!" or even just "I'm doing a whole lot of nothing!"

I miss my gram often and wish I could go back and pay more attention to the things she said. How can you know as a little person what will be the most important things to remember. I do remember her heating our socks on cold mornings in the wood combustion heater. Serving us sneaky portions of doorstop toast with cream and sugar sprinkled on it. Helping her write cheques when we shopped. She'd write the numbers then i'd write the words for the numbers. I thought it was for me to practice, but now I know it was probably because it wasn't her strongest skill. I was only about eight or nine then. What must the bank have thought of those round childish letters.