Hmmm, I don't think 2017 was very 'successful' by looking at this list:
1. Confront (and hopefully conquer) some long-held fears and phobias. More to come in another post.
This mainly revolved around riding my new bike. Unfortunately it didn't happen. This year...
2. Submit my novel to more publishers.
I entered it into the Dorothy Hewett Award For An Unpublished Manuscript run by UWA Publishing, but didn't get anywhere.
3. Try to have regular quiet times. I don't want to set the bar too
high (it's hard to go from pretty much nothing/sporadic times to daily,
so I'm aiming for 2-3 times per week, then build up).
Nope! I really only read my Bible the night before Bible study each week in order to prepare. I have such a hunger for God's Word, but somehow I just can't sit down and read it.
4. Continue to sell baby stuff and other items to raise money for Christian ministries.
I donated some stuff to our church's biannual mission stall. I did sell some stuff, but keep forgetting to actually give the money to ministries! One thing I did last year was save all of the $5 notes I could and put them in a container. I counted 20 notes the other day....that's $100 for Pregnancy Problem House. This year, I want to save $10 notes and pray about which person/organisation God would have me give the money to.
5. Adjust my weekly routine now that I'll be a kindy mum, which will
include taking Flynn to playgroup on either Tuesdays or Thursdays, while
Rory is at kindy.
This was one thing I had some success with. Flynn and I became regulars at playgroup on Thursdays by the middle of the year.
Stay tuned for my 2018 hopes.
Friday, January 26, 2018
Monday, January 08, 2018
A Face in the Crowd
I thought I saw you
In the crowd.
They walked like you,
Their stance was proud.
Their hair the same,
Their profile too.
I really thought
It could be you.
Then I remembered,
You were gone.
My heart fell flat
As I walked on.
I see your face
Wherever I go.
Guess I just thought
That you should know.
Still hear your laugh,
And see your smile,
Though you've been gone
For quite a while.
I miss you more
Than words can say.
Wish it had been you
That I saw today.
Author Unknown
Seven years today
In the crowd.
They walked like you,
Their stance was proud.
Their hair the same,
Their profile too.
I really thought
It could be you.
Then I remembered,
You were gone.
My heart fell flat
As I walked on.
I see your face
Wherever I go.
Guess I just thought
That you should know.
Still hear your laugh,
And see your smile,
Though you've been gone
For quite a while.
I miss you more
Than words can say.
Wish it had been you
That I saw today.
Author Unknown
Seven years today
 |
| Nan's surprise 80th. January 1993 |
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
Fast Away the Old Year Passes
I blinked and 2017 was gone.
It was a year of steady progress in some areas, and stalling in others.
It was a year of adjustment for my family, as we entered the school arena. Suddenly we could no longer take holidays at any time during the year (bar seeding and harvest) - we were confined to term times, like many of our friends. Rory's Kindy days were Tuesdays, Thursdays and every second Monday. This made mid-week trips to Albany impossible. I attempted a few daytrips on Wednesdays and that was exhausting.
After a difficult start, the biggest little man did very well. His teacher was very no-nonsense and he seemed to adapt well to her approach. He did things for her that I could never get him to do. He started Kindy not able to hold a pencil properly. Due to this, his arm would become tired while trying to write. I'd been trying to correct his grip for ages, but his teacher and the occupational therapist who visits the school corrected it within weeks. He has discovered that he CAN use scissors and that craft can actually be fun. But Rory is still very much a 'minimal effort' kinda guy in this area. He'd much rather be running around outside or doing puzzles.
Dealing with his tiredness and resulting tantrums has been a challenge. Term 1 was the most difficult, but it did get a bit easier as the year progressed. Still, I'm kind of dreading full-time pre-primary.
This may seem strange, but my surgery was the highlight of my year. That (and actually reducing my anti-depressants) have made a huge difference in my depression. No longer have I been self-conscious going down the street. After I'd had the surgery, Duncan confessed that many people in town have been asking them if I was pregnant (he quickly set them straight). This reinforced that I'd made the right decision to have the surgery.
The other highlight has been surviving seeding and harvest on my own, without needing house-help. I've had short visits from my mum, but other than that, I had a routine happening and I managed on my own (with God's help, of course). I think if harvest didn't fall around Christmastime it would be a LOT easier, as the added stress of the million end-of-year/Christmas events (which all seem to require you to bring a plate) get a bit much.
Sadly 2017 has seen the slow demise of this blog. I seem to have lost my passion. Whereas once my head was bursting with ideas for posts, now I'm lacking both inspiration and motivation. By the end of the day, I'm so tired, I can't be bothered starting up the computer to write a post. Plus, I have taken on a small paid admin role for Flynn's daycare, so that has taken up some of my time. I think the fact that many other blogs I have enjoyed over the years have slowed considerably or stopped has been a factor in my own lack of enthusiasm.
What will 2018 hold? Well, it has already got off to a less than ideal start with the death of Solomon, but there are still 362 days left for it to be a good one.
It was a year of steady progress in some areas, and stalling in others.
It was a year of adjustment for my family, as we entered the school arena. Suddenly we could no longer take holidays at any time during the year (bar seeding and harvest) - we were confined to term times, like many of our friends. Rory's Kindy days were Tuesdays, Thursdays and every second Monday. This made mid-week trips to Albany impossible. I attempted a few daytrips on Wednesdays and that was exhausting.
After a difficult start, the biggest little man did very well. His teacher was very no-nonsense and he seemed to adapt well to her approach. He did things for her that I could never get him to do. He started Kindy not able to hold a pencil properly. Due to this, his arm would become tired while trying to write. I'd been trying to correct his grip for ages, but his teacher and the occupational therapist who visits the school corrected it within weeks. He has discovered that he CAN use scissors and that craft can actually be fun. But Rory is still very much a 'minimal effort' kinda guy in this area. He'd much rather be running around outside or doing puzzles.
Dealing with his tiredness and resulting tantrums has been a challenge. Term 1 was the most difficult, but it did get a bit easier as the year progressed. Still, I'm kind of dreading full-time pre-primary.
 |
| Rory's Kindy 'graduation' |
 |
| One of the many Kindy creations - milk bottle top elephant |
 |
| One of Rory's paintings. Apparently it's a picture of Daddy haha |
This may seem strange, but my surgery was the highlight of my year. That (and actually reducing my anti-depressants) have made a huge difference in my depression. No longer have I been self-conscious going down the street. After I'd had the surgery, Duncan confessed that many people in town have been asking them if I was pregnant (he quickly set them straight). This reinforced that I'd made the right decision to have the surgery.
 |
| Flynn and I at a Melbourne Cup lunch |
The other highlight has been surviving seeding and harvest on my own, without needing house-help. I've had short visits from my mum, but other than that, I had a routine happening and I managed on my own (with God's help, of course). I think if harvest didn't fall around Christmastime it would be a LOT easier, as the added stress of the million end-of-year/Christmas events (which all seem to require you to bring a plate) get a bit much.
 |
| Flynn at the playgroup Christmas party |
Sadly 2017 has seen the slow demise of this blog. I seem to have lost my passion. Whereas once my head was bursting with ideas for posts, now I'm lacking both inspiration and motivation. By the end of the day, I'm so tired, I can't be bothered starting up the computer to write a post. Plus, I have taken on a small paid admin role for Flynn's daycare, so that has taken up some of my time. I think the fact that many other blogs I have enjoyed over the years have slowed considerably or stopped has been a factor in my own lack of enthusiasm.
What will 2018 hold? Well, it has already got off to a less than ideal start with the death of Solomon, but there are still 362 days left for it to be a good one.
Monday, January 01, 2018
The King is Dead
I had planned to do an end of 2017/start of 2018 musing type post today.
That will have to wait.
Today, we got back from a lovely day by the river (about 45 minutes from our house), only to find Solomon dead. He'd been the King of Cluckingham Palace since a month before Rory was born. Understandably, I'm sad.
If only the eggs had hatched, he could have produced an heir. And we're finally in the process of building a new chook house. What cruel timing.
He had a good life. I like giving roosters the chance of a good life.
That will have to wait.
Today, we got back from a lovely day by the river (about 45 minutes from our house), only to find Solomon dead. He'd been the King of Cluckingham Palace since a month before Rory was born. Understandably, I'm sad.
If only the eggs had hatched, he could have produced an heir. And we're finally in the process of building a new chook house. What cruel timing.
He had a good life. I like giving roosters the chance of a good life.
 |
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| Enjoying a dustbath with his wives. January 2015 |
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