Things that happened in the past month

In the past month a few things have happened.  Mr 26 and his lady have moved to Melbourne.  He moved ahead of her, and then he came back to get the rest of their things and they drove off into the sunset to make a new life.  I felt pretty sad and had a few weeks of doing the mother thing, where you feel like another one of your babies has flown the next.  I accepted that he was moving on and have come to terms with the changes.  I have my moments, but on the whole I'm fine now.  They have settled in to their new home and seem very happy.

Miss A had her 21st ..... yep, I can't believe that my youngest turned 21.  But I guess it happens. 

We had balloons 

We had cake 

We all dressed in our Pyjamas and had fun.  

Miss A made lolly bags and everyone got to take one home.

Ashlee got some lovely presents and enjoyed her party so much.

and Presents !!!



Things have changed in my work life.  After much soul searching I've taken a position in the office of the company that I have been working for.  I have been working as a carer/support worker.  I was given an awesome opportunity by my boss and have grabbed it with both hands.

Do you ever have that feeling that you are not quite doing the right thing in your life?  That you need to make changes?  Sometimes we continue on the way we are going because we are not sure quite what to do or where to go.  I loved my job as a carer and looking after my clients, but the time had come to move forward.  I didn't have to be asked twice to take a position in the office.  In a previous life I was a secretary and have had a number of jobs, so this work is right up my alley.  I love office work .... really enjoy it.  So that's what I'm going back to.  I'm doing it because I know that I need to take better care of myself.  I need a job with less stress and physical requirements.  Personal care is very physically demanding and my body is not what it used to be.  I have arthritis in my spine and my knees and it was a struggle to keep going some days.

I came to realise that if I didn't look after myself, no one else would.  Saying goodbye to personal care has been a hard thing and the decision has not come easily.  I tend to keep on going until I can't go any more and even then I keep on going.  This time I knew that I couldn't keep on going. My feelings are mixed, but I will deal with these feelings and keep moving forward.


Within my extended family there has been the thing that we all dread to hear, cancer.  It has been a time of taking stock of life and thinking about what is most important to you.  It makes you take stock of what our priorities are, especially when the person is young and healthy.  Fortunately the family member is doing very well, which is a wonderful outcome.  

Life is so short and you never know what is going to happen tomorrow.  You can never know what tomorrow will bring.  It has made me realise the importance of valuing each day.  Not that I haven't always valued my life and what I have ... but it certainly hits home when it is someone close to you and makes you value life even more so. 

How often do we take people in our family for granted?  We just think that they will always be there.  I realised through this time that members of our family and those that we love can so easily be taken away in an instant.  It has made me realise that we need to tell those that we love, that we love them and never assume that they know it.

Due to a situation within my own family where I am not in contact with my eldest daughter and son and not by choice, I realise more and more how short life is.  It makes me realise how important it is to mend our bridges with those people who are important in our lives.  Sometimes there is nothing that you can do about the situation, but if it is within your power to change the way that things are, then I say do it, go for it and make things right within your family and your life.

I've become all philosophical, I know, but with everything that has happened, I can't help but think deeply about the meaning of life.  So often it is easy to look to the negatives and live life as though we don't have choices.  I've come to realise that we all have choices.  We have the choice to make decisions in our lives, to do the things that we want to do, to progress through life taking the path that we want to and not the path that we think we have to take, feeling as though others have chosen what we should and can do.