Monday

Nearing the end of June? Already?  What has happened to the weeks?

Well, I know how the time has been spent.  A lot of it in groundhog day... waking up to the same.  I continue though, to desperately try to find the balance between the fast paced necessary activities that consume life, and the things that enable us (me) to breathe, to be still, to listen.
So what has happened?  David had a birthday.  Nicholas has played some outstanding football.  He faced one of his biggest fears and gave a speech at school to stand for SRC.  He didn't get a spot on the SRC but I am as proud as I can be, because he chose to do something that makes him anxious.

Audrey is doing a great job at her reading and writing.  She I growing up quickly, but loves Rainbow Magic fairy books, her Tinkerbelle and My Little Ponies.  She loves our "coffee time".  

Maggie is growing.  She is talking and has a number of new words every time I take the time to stop and notice.  She has a lisp. She still sleeps beside me at night.  I need to stop that soon, so that I can sleep...

I have finished Trimester 1 at university.  Now I sit waiting for my grades.  I have moved offices.  So modern!  Sensor lighting, great coffee close by, lovely modern, clean bathrooms (sorry West Block).

Probably the biggest change for me is that I have left my job.  A job that I have enjoyed a lot.  I had spent fifteen years doing something that made going to work an enjoyable thing, for a long time.  But things were changing, nothing that needs detail here, but I had done everything there was to do.  And a change is good, right? Day one my boss asked if I wanted to go to Melbourne.  Yes please.

I think about this space.  The reason behind my keeping it remains the same.  To remember. I anticipate the next trimester, not looking forward to the demands of study.  Two units remain and it will be over, but to be honest, that road looks long from where I am right now.

If I list the small things, the simple things that bring me pleasure, they would be a good flat white.  No sugar, no froth.  A striking journal - I love notebooks.  I have too many that I have not written in.  Aesop products... Seeing the mountains - something that gives me pleasure that I feel and notice immediately.  My family.  My kids, and the grace they show to me everyday when I feel I fail.  

An early night, something that never seems to come.  ;)

Monday

Time to catch up.

Out and about with the family! Firstly to the Apple Festival a couple of weeks ago.  It was nice to just be outside, somewhere different.  David and I sat in the shade and had coffee and dutch pancakes while the kids played. 

And this weekend ~ Easter.  Technically it is Maggie's second, but the first time that she is able to take part in the fun.  It soon became clear that all the focus was on her and I can see she is going to be loved (spoilt) very much as she grows up.  :)

Maggie is starting to understand stopping and (kind of) smiling for the camera.  :)

 

Sisters.  She loves her big "sissy". xxo

*when these photographs were taken, Nicholas was off rounding up sheep!

Thursday

I am so proud of David.  Last night, I admit to shedding a tear as he graduated from university with a Bachelor of Education.  The past seven years have been a long journey for as all, but he worked so hard and did so well.  It was wonderful to see him graduate.

Friday

We love Autumn...

Saturday

 

A couple of weeks ago I received my final mark for the unit I was studying this past Trimester.  A Distinction!  Nobody more surprised (or happier/relieved) than me!  However I am now two weeks into trimester one for for 2015...  I remind myself, only three units to go...

Meanwhile, life is marching on in all its forms. Work.  I am back to three days per week.  Normally this, for me, is the ideal.  The balance is right. I am continuing to question whether I continue to be in the field I am.  Should I take opportunities to make changes to my work??  Changes that I know will benefit my family.

Family.  David is well into his new position, teaching.  I knew it would be demanding of his time, and he is also studying two nights per week.  

I am learning to s l o w   d o w n. To stop juggling.  Not to multi task, but to be present in this moment.  The now and what I am currently doing, not the many things that are waiting to be done. 

On Being.  My very favourite podcast. I am like a sponge soaking water.  I love it - drinking in the conversations.  One that I listened to was with Yo Yo Ma. Somewhere in his conversation he mentioned Stravinsky, which reminded me of a book my parents bought me when I was first at university.  By Joseph Brodsky. He wrote an essay on Stravinsky.  I think.  That is what came to mind.
Another I listened to this afternoon, with poet Marie Howe.  Later in the podcast she mentioned her lecturer at Columbia University - Joseph Brodsky.

What I find in listening to these conversations is that I am being brought back to the beginning.  The things that I feel I resonate with.  It does feel like home.  I remember back to 1990 when I started at university.  All my friends had left college and moved on to other things.  We had gradually drifted apart... I was on my own and life filled with so many things I came to love.  In another season of life we can forget these first things.  It is refreshing to remember them and bring them into my new life, with family.

Sunday

Nicholas had a cub camp this weekend.  I noticed how much I missed him last night.  David went to the camp as well, so it felt so quiet and lonely late last night when Audrey and Maggie were asleep.  I spent the time folding clothes and watching some television.  Earlier in the day I had looked at fabric to make library bags for the kids.  Maybe tonight I will get to make them.

Audrey and I watched the Tinkerbell movie last night.  She thought it would be nice to take our lunch to the park and take her fairies with her.  So that is what we did today. A honey sandwich, a cheese sandwich, some chocolate biscuits and milk.  And coffee for me.

Fun. And. Games.  and Maggie's strawberry blond hair :)



Maggie's Day

...she played in the cubby house, fed the chooks, smelt the lavender and collected the mail. 

 

 

 

 

It doesn't seem so long ago that it was Nicholas and Audrey.  Where does the time go?