tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19772551044607690092024-02-19T15:58:28.252+11:00Peaceful MotheringMothering from the heartAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-60734225081300780992012-12-25T23:35:00.001+11:002012-12-25T23:35:23.922+11:00Merry Christmas and a new blog!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope that your Christmas was as wonderful as ours. It has been a truly magical time for our family and a time of new beginnings.</div>
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I stumbled my way into this blog 4 years ago. I did a lot of growing up here and if you have been following me for a while, you will have seen how I have changed in this time.</div>
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I feel much more confident in my voice and in expressing myself. I was inspired to create a <a href="http://olgadossa.com/" target="_blank">new blog </a>during this Christmas period. I know that when inspiration strikes, I must act IMMEDIATELY!</div>
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So, I did!</div>
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Please come and join me at <a href="http://olgadossa.com/" target="_blank">my new blog</a>. I hope that it will give you even more peace and inspiration.</div>
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It has been wonderful here, so I leave this space to carry on creating more peace, abundance and joy.</div>
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Blessings to you.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-90079934122305865542012-12-23T20:23:00.000+11:002012-12-23T20:23:37.889+11:00A Christmas blessing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, the time is almost here. We have almost completed <a href="http://olgastuff.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/advent-2010-day-0.html" target="_blank">Mary's walk</a>. She has one more star to step on before it is Christmas.<br />
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Our first Christmas in our new house. It has been a massive year for me. Two career moves and a house move. I am so proud of what I have achieved this year.<br />
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I want to thank each and every person who has visited me here. I hope that you have found some peace and inspiration here. I love the sense of community on the blogosphere.<br />
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Did you know that when we moved to Australia, I didn't know anyone and I felt really isolated and lonely? So I started blogging as a way of finding myself and making connections. I have to say that the friendships I have made with people I have never physically met have been incredible. I have started finding my voice and I am much more clear on what I wish to achieve in my life.<br />
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I feel so much gratitude for my life. It is as perfect as I had hoped it would be when we decided to move across the world and it is only getting better.<br />
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I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and blessed Christmas. May you stop, reflect and honour the light within you. It is a Polish custom that we hold no grudges with anyone at Christmas time. If anyone is causing you pain right now, just let it go, even if it is just at Christmas time. Feel the peace rise up within you.<br />
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And when it all gets a bit too crazy, don't forget to spend 10 minutes with your <a href="http://olgastuff.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/simple-inversion.html" target="_blank">legs against the wall.</a> You will thank me, I promise.<br />
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Blessings to you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-90348485012422434922012-12-16T13:48:00.000+11:002012-12-16T13:48:33.208+11:00What does it mean to me a peaceful mother?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What would it take to be a peaceful mother? Or father?<br />
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It has taken my life journey to realise that the only way to really be a peaceful mother is to put myself first. Our children learn from what we do, not what we say.<br />
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So, what are we teaching our children if we put them first? Instead of ourselves? What a question to ask, of course, as mothers we have to put our children first. That is our role as mothers, isn't it? Aren't we supposed to feed them, clothe them, cuddle them, educate them, make sure that they have all the opportunities we didn't have? Isn't that what a GOOD mother does? She puts her needs last and everyone else's first? Is is not our role as women and mothers to serve?<br />
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That is how we are built, biologically. We carry the children in our womb. We feed them from our breast. We take care of our nest. We serve.<br />
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And it is very satisfying, is it not?<br />
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Just imagine how different it would all be if you actually put yourself first, before anyone else?<br />
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Would you take better care of your body during your pregnancy? Would you slow down your work. And stop trying to please everyone else? Would the baby in your womb be nourished better? Would there be fewer stress hormones being carried to your baby? If you spent the time connecting with yourself in your pregnancy, would your baby feel your joy and peace?<br />
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When the child was born, would you put yourself first by resting as much as possible? Would you let the washing pile up? Would you accept the mess all around you. Would you let others prepare all the meals at home for the first year? Would your baby be happier? Would your baby have a better chance at feeling peaceful?<br />
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A peaceful mother puts herself first. She sees the big picture. She doesn't sweat the small stuff. She understands that our lives have cycles. That there are times for action. That there are times for rest. She acknowledges her own female cycle. She acknowledges that she cannot work on auto pilot because she is just not built like that. She teaches her family that she is important. That she is not there to serve.<br />
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She is there to empower.<br />
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She knows that those precious children will grow up. That she has done her job when they can take care of themselves. Because they do not belong to her. They belong to themselves. They have their own inner being. Their inner being is wise. Their inner being knows what is best for them.<br />
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Just as she has her own inner being. And she trusts her own inner being. And the way her children learn to trust their own inner being is by witnessing their own mother trusting herself. And by their mother having confidence in then. And trusting them.<br />
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These precious children of ours are not helpless little people that we have to teach and mould. They are more powerful than we can ever imagine. They have chosen us as their mothers and fathers. They have come here to teach us more than what we can teach them.<br />
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Yes, we need to teach them how to drive and how to how to use cutlery. But, they have so much more to teach us. And when we stop and pay attention to what they have to teach us, our lives become richer than we could ever imagine. When we give them the respect that is theirs and treat them like the equals that they are, we learn more about parenting than we would ever do if we spent out time worrying about them stepping on a bee by running barefoot on the grass.<br />
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To be a peaceful mother is to just let go. Chill out. Relax. Have fun. Play.<br />
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It is to stop trying to control our children and to just let them be. It is to let them make mistakes. It is to let them trip and fall. It is to tell them that we trust that THEY know what is best for them.<br />
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And mean it.<br />
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Just leave your children alone for a bit. And see the peace within you arise.<br />
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Blessings to you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-21544304359477907972012-12-14T16:54:00.000+11:002012-12-14T16:54:25.379+11:00Peas, beans and summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The school holidays have arrived.</div>
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Summer is here.</div>
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It is time to rest and reflect on the past year.</div>
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I had a spark of insight while I was having my afternoon nap.</div>
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I have so much to share with you.</div>
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Stay tuned, but for now, enjoy the hydrangeas.</div>
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Blessings to you.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-52476454114526154642012-11-03T23:34:00.001+11:002012-11-03T23:35:10.553+11:00Some updates and a question for you.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wow, what can I say? I find that whenever I leave this space, I come back as a new person.</div>
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That has happened to me again.</div>
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I have been so busy doing so much personal growth, that I have not even thought about coming here to share it all with you.</div>
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But, never fear, all will be revealed, as it always is!</div>
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I went to watch the screening of <a href="http://www.redtentmovie.com/" target="_blank">"Things we don't talk about - Women's stories from the Red Tent"</a>. It was a whole day of women gathering. Ritual, dance, singing, henna, yummy food, oracle card readings and then to end it off, the screening of the movie followed by a Q & A with some incredible women's mysteries leaders.</div>
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I was so touched by every woman there, so amazed at every single one's beauty and wisdom. We are all beautiful goddesses and it was so wonderful to see so many women embracing that.</div>
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On Monday, I returned from the third module of my yoga teacher training. I was once again, away for five days, spending my days stretching, meditating, doing lots and lots of relaxation and reconnecting with some amazing yogis.</div>
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I seem to come back from these things with a new lease on life, new insights, amazing growth. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in deepening their relationship with themselves.</div>
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I have been spending the days since my return reintegrating into my life at home. I have understood the confusion I have had about my reasons for starting my business. The business came to me, I did not go and look for it. It seemed to represent all the things I thought I didn't stand for in my yogic, organic, simple, earth mother life.</div>
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And yet, I knew that it came to me for a great reason. My mom has been supporting me through it all the way and I trust her Spirit more than anything. So, I have been doing it wholeheartedly, but with a sense of curiosity. Why is this whole skin care and make up thing so important?</div>
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It just doesn't seem to fit. And yet it does. And yet it doesn't. But it feels so right. But, why am I so confused about why it is right?</div>
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And so it went on in my head, round and round, for the last few months!</div>
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I have received many answers to my questions. And I don't feel confused anymore. It is our right as human beings to have a life of abundance. When we look at nature, She doesn't stop giving to us. When we pick the strawberries from the bush, she doesn't tell us that we have had enough.</div>
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She just gives and gives.</div>
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Flowers are there for human beings to enjoy their beauty. Most animals can't see colours. So, the beauty in the flowers is for us to enjoy. Beauty is all around us. And beauty is within us.</div>
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Beauty and abundance. The reasons for my business.</div>
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Oh and the biggest one: Financial freedom!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mGgtb4b9EiFknLc1rVkz9KWgbxGY9hcrFLudFhYFA9iOqTEo0RJhRDpnDoV1-BpEN5OWSYr4GrzOL-zv6gxUMEQ9q_fD7aBXwRnC1HJaWu3dw_YJV_0T6jUyoWOGQX_bt_x1C-9Qhg0/s1600/IMG_8427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mGgtb4b9EiFknLc1rVkz9KWgbxGY9hcrFLudFhYFA9iOqTEo0RJhRDpnDoV1-BpEN5OWSYr4GrzOL-zv6gxUMEQ9q_fD7aBXwRnC1HJaWu3dw_YJV_0T6jUyoWOGQX_bt_x1C-9Qhg0/s640/IMG_8427.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I will give you some things to think about from Kim Kiyosaki's latest book - <a href="http://www.richdad.com/its-rising-time.aspx" target="_blank">It's rising time: A call for women, what it really takes for the reward of financial freedom</a>:</div>
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<i>"Today women rank "financial issues" as the number-one most pressing concern in their lives - more pressing than family, health, or time.</i></div>
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<i>We women know we need to do something, so why don't we?</i></div>
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<i>What holds women back from getting actively involved in building their financially secure future? A 2010 study found these top three reasons:</i></div>
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<li><i>Women have little knowledge about money and investing.</i></li>
<li><i>Women find the subject of finances too complicated, confusing and overwhelming.</i></li>
<li><i>Women say they have no time to devote to their financial life because of children, job or career, and daily obligations. (Yes, we women are pros at putting everyone else first and ourselves last.)</i></li>
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<i>It's not difficult to see why women place money at the top of their worry list. The facts regarding women and money, especially as we get older, are downright scary.</i></div>
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<i><b>Women are poorer in retirement than men.</b></i><br />
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<li><i>Women are twice as likely to live their retirement years in poverty.</i></li>
<li><i>In the United States, an alarming 87% of the elderly living in poverty are women.</i></li>
<li><i>Even more surprising is that the majority of these women now in poverty were not poor when their husbands were alive.</i></li>
<li><i>Here's an interesting twist: A woman might go through the couple's nest egg paying for the healthcare costs of her ailing partner and deplete the financial resources she needs for the rest of <b>her </b>life.</i></li>
<li><i>Not only do women live longer than men today, but women often marry older men. That means many women will be widows who will have to support themselves for 15-20 years.</i></li>
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<i><b>Women are poorer in divorce than men.</b></i><br />
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<li>Divorced women with children are four times more likely than married women to have an income that is under the poverty line.</li>
<li>In the United States, in 2000, the average income for a middle-aged, divorced woman is only $11,000 per year.</li>
<li>In a study of married men and women in Britain, 59% of wives said they would divorce immediately if their future economic security was assured.</li>
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<b>Women, on average, are financially unprepared.</b></div>
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<li>58% of female baby boomers have less than $10,000 in retirement plans.</li>
<li>33% of women investors admitted they avoid making financial decisions out of fear of making a mistake.</li>
<li>Women tend to own investments and securities with a very low rate of return.</li>
<li>Women are tree times more likely than men to NOT know what types of investments offer the best returns.</li>
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According to the research authors Christopher Hayes and Kate Kelly, Women's decision-making tends to be directed toward gaining enough money to get by rather than to get rich. This desire for security also means that most of their decisions favour 'safe' investments rather than those that might return more."</div>
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Some sobering things to consider there. I am not prepared to be one of those women. I am not prepared to retire and struggle financially.</div>
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Life is abundant and beautiful and the Universe provides us with all our needs. BUT, we need to claim that. We need to state that, yes, we do deserve all the abundance and beautiful things that life has to offer us.</div>
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And then, we have to ACT. We have to take ownership of our lives and our futures. We all deserve financial freedom. It is within all of our grasps.</div>
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It is time to stand in our power. And live the lives that we deserve!</div>
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My business has come to me because it is my vehicle to financial freedom. I asked the Universe for financial freedom and it delivered it to me by way of skincare and make up! Yes, perfectly delivered, with a great sense of humour.</div>
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I am not sure if this blog makes sense to you, dear reader. (There are a lot of deeper layers which I haven't gone into.) </div>
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It doesn't matter. </div>
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What matters is that you consider whether you have taken ownership of your beauty and deservedness of the life of your dreams. The Universe wants to give it to you. Ask and it shall be given. It is a universal law.</div>
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Are you paying attention to what the Universe is giving to you?</div>
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Blessings to you.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-7205709308866405192012-09-23T21:49:00.000+10:002012-09-23T21:49:13.983+10:00Spring Equinox 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBz47mRUT83R0ojbnF2seDDJoytRwfV3qQCuLwRngSoCbWU6JXDV2ZMqH-LaylFOP5UDJX-avQKAJmhkQAB1Ue-pZbJisGppPj-PWuRC2qRtqIS9ID3DXjoTW6-tN5oA7ECTlQ3-hCGo/s1600/IMG_8208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBz47mRUT83R0ojbnF2seDDJoytRwfV3qQCuLwRngSoCbWU6JXDV2ZMqH-LaylFOP5UDJX-avQKAJmhkQAB1Ue-pZbJisGppPj-PWuRC2qRtqIS9ID3DXjoTW6-tN5oA7ECTlQ3-hCGo/s640/IMG_8208.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy equinox to you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a lovely day, spent with some special friends.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8R-sB1WgIz7whv7WwInZe-G1LxR5PBaTscNC_lsW9yvikLEakERkcedY6RyhA0LOxWQNEBZL4sW-cVCq32jEKaEJNvFXbMAZzksm7PnOW2wpKpNsXPVLTiH_QNt8yk1wJZ0WtN6uiTw/s1600/IMG_8233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8R-sB1WgIz7whv7WwInZe-G1LxR5PBaTscNC_lsW9yvikLEakERkcedY6RyhA0LOxWQNEBZL4sW-cVCq32jEKaEJNvFXbMAZzksm7PnOW2wpKpNsXPVLTiH_QNt8yk1wJZ0WtN6uiTw/s640/IMG_8233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In keeping with the spirit of Spring, our children started the ceremony with a beautiful dance which brought a couple of us to tears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love that my children are embracing the changing of the seasons and the meaning behind them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was so fitting that the young vibrant energy of youth started us off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spoke about what Spring means to us. The shrugging away of the Winter stillness and contemplation. Spring is the time for renewal. Looking forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really feel aligned with the spirit of Spring at the moment. I am so energised, excited and focused on what I want to achieve in my life.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAneH9hc1c057F3jgjA9BJ8yeQQbbVd38rZKZRZQOCROz8snIVFWwrXJgGrB1ntLWWqNpe4HwBWKYjvDtUjKNRyb7h9436MENdPSkqbYJW-Wl9e7X38fA5ixXsrtQJPd_UvEryWGeo414/s1600/IMG_8241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAneH9hc1c057F3jgjA9BJ8yeQQbbVd38rZKZRZQOCROz8snIVFWwrXJgGrB1ntLWWqNpe4HwBWKYjvDtUjKNRyb7h9436MENdPSkqbYJW-Wl9e7X38fA5ixXsrtQJPd_UvEryWGeo414/s640/IMG_8241.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We collected things in nature to symbolise what we wish to grow this season. I collected a lot of flowers. Some Jasmine, as it is a plant that seems to grow wherever I live and brings me such joy every Spring. The flowers represent the beauty and feminine energy I wish to grow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added a lemon into the mix, because, lets face it, sometimes our journey has a bit of sour in it. That's ok. It's part of the journey. When we get a taste of what we do not want, we are much clearer on what we do want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Challenge and contrast are necessary for our growth. We should embrace them. The challenge will pass and we will come out of it much stronger and clearer about our vision for ourselves.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCpvrZR4idRm8thzCE9QB_TRUQR34eLKi-tdF51VBuG64OSA0wOXr7dam7_-v4SXTQhJnnjZhegvafSCXSmm7S2nut-h4hvRYM-WWiLb-kvhyphenhyphen5XOybo-py0uzn-uGHnbmTU6x7f3WaPA/s1600/IMG_8264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCpvrZR4idRm8thzCE9QB_TRUQR34eLKi-tdF51VBuG64OSA0wOXr7dam7_-v4SXTQhJnnjZhegvafSCXSmm7S2nut-h4hvRYM-WWiLb-kvhyphenhyphen5XOybo-py0uzn-uGHnbmTU6x7f3WaPA/s640/IMG_8264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We added our creations to the fire pit. We shared about our creations. What we were wishing to feed with the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wished to feed my expansion, growth and limitless possibilites. I said this while looking out over the most incredible view, a view that seemed to go on forever, much like the posibilites of what I can create with my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also offered some sticks to the fire, which were to the person on our right. I was lucky to have my husband on my right and I was so pleased to bless him with the wish that the fire feeds him with the ability for him to keep sharing his magnificence with the whole world. The magnificence I see so clearly in him, that I see shining even brighter, every day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61505NHCYGSmCosRTAMda8Q0_eenOiJgSd9XzthuQ5GrwTu4UQaJde3TAsVzlefIRwesdlgfbWw8lCynDaLc1o6MSXZsSPgjHx_EDhZcAcphhzCdRK6ztAFetDFxHmrdMXQYzoE0sePY/s1600/IMG_8275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61505NHCYGSmCosRTAMda8Q0_eenOiJgSd9XzthuQ5GrwTu4UQaJde3TAsVzlefIRwesdlgfbWw8lCynDaLc1o6MSXZsSPgjHx_EDhZcAcphhzCdRK6ztAFetDFxHmrdMXQYzoE0sePY/s640/IMG_8275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Here is Annie's friend, so beautifully engaged in our celebration.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJJEMl4zkukPhwAtIEKeyMTxmbLw7W3Me9eKfVKHtNCj4EBtMIE_vc42Ddy86FrWcYamov2FlFzfkjcm88w6zh2gVPR1rpQ9p4lAxVfwwqskLTVkl6_OpV9pBT15TWpJCvjEIPePZKwU/s1600/IMG_8288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJJEMl4zkukPhwAtIEKeyMTxmbLw7W3Me9eKfVKHtNCj4EBtMIE_vc42Ddy86FrWcYamov2FlFzfkjcm88w6zh2gVPR1rpQ9p4lAxVfwwqskLTVkl6_OpV9pBT15TWpJCvjEIPePZKwU/s640/IMG_8288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fire was lit. We sat enchanted as our dreams were given more life. There is something so primal, so magical about a fire. And a fire with a purpose is even more powerful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was really interesting to see the families all connecting with each other in little clusters. Husbands and wives holding hands. Children jumping on parents laps. Our family sat all together, just the four of us. Watching the fire. Sitting together in wonder and appreciation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then closed our ceremony and shared a beautiful meal around the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also gifted the families with tomato seedlings I have been growing. A tangible way to see our dreams growing, with the intention of making chutney with the tomatoes we get when it comes to Autumn equinox.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A beautiful way to honour the wheel of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you do anything special to mark the time of transition between the darkness and the light?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-65260648962865935192012-09-13T20:54:00.001+10:002012-09-13T20:54:17.145+10:00Fluffy and the Gayatri Mantra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uPe0_w6UmiC3J3WxUznqoEZlFFnzX7MTDVSfLyr9qmmczldUudBzspHCZEZsiaFGNpV3WZQ8di5IA2gy8gNpV7n95rONxwShHuG6cub2nYqJfdSPygEvQnyKtWBFFa4oeFOTznU3yHE/s1600/IMG_8196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uPe0_w6UmiC3J3WxUznqoEZlFFnzX7MTDVSfLyr9qmmczldUudBzspHCZEZsiaFGNpV3WZQ8di5IA2gy8gNpV7n95rONxwShHuG6cub2nYqJfdSPygEvQnyKtWBFFa4oeFOTznU3yHE/s400/IMG_8196.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a story to share with you. Something that must be told. Something I think will affect you as much as it has affected our family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two days ago, Annie called me. She looked very upset and wouldn't tell me what was wrong. All I knew was that I had to come outside. I found her special little chick, Fluffy, on the grass outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had let the chicks play in the coop for the day as it was nice and warm. When Annie had come home from school, her and Xavier had put the chicks on the lawn to free range a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other three chicks were happily playing, but Fluffy was not ok. Her whole body was contorting, she was gasping for air and was not making a sound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My heart sank.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought that Fluffy was dying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only chick that gets picked up. Annie carries her everywhere. Cuddles her. Insists on having photos taken with her. The chick that Annie loves so very very deeply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In retrospect, we think the sun had dehydrated her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I told Annie to bring her into the house. I was panicking. By this stage, Annie was hysterical. I told Annie to hold Fluffy tight. To give her all the love in her heart. I thought that if Fluffy was leaving us, it was going to be in the most loving and gentle way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I told Annie that we were going to chant the Gayatri Mantra to Fluffy. The Mantra of light. I thought that if Fluffy was to leave us, at least her soul could go into the light. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I put on my favourite version of it. The one by Deva Premal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We sang our hearts out. Annie screamed it for Fluffy. I sat in deep concentration. Delivering all the light in my heart to this little chick. I told Annie and Xavier to keep singing and sending the light. I was at peace. I know that this is the cycle we go through. I also know that there is no death. Only transformation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nonetheless, it is the most painful thing in the world to see your child's heart broken open like that. I was thinking about how we were going to bury Fluffy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sang my heart out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This went on for about fifteen minutes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then, a cheep. The light coming back in. The light we were sending her way. Fluffy was coming back to us. She was not leaving us anymore.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She stayed in Annie's arms for another hour. Within the hour, she was back to her normal self. Cheeping along with her friends. She is still cheeping.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Modern science would call it a miracle. I would call it Spirit coming back.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the midst of the initial panic, I thought that perhaps she needed her lamp on her warm her up, not realising that she was dehydrated. So I took the lamp and switched it on. As I did, the bulb blew. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would have killed her if I had put that light on her. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her angels broke that light.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am shaking as I write this. So struck by the perfection of God, Spirit, Source, whatever you like to call it. It doesn't matter what you call it, it is Love.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that Love is all around us. If we would just open our eyes and see it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I tried to load a You Tube video of the mantra for you, but it is not coming up. Please go to the link <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6NYJyUohEI&feature=fvsr" target="_blank">here</a> to enjoy it.)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-88915060709604887212012-08-11T21:05:00.002+10:002012-08-11T21:05:38.845+10:00Chicks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTM8q30AnOOuDT7ix8JFNIgrA4LeC-jTIF6WMw2PikpcHXyjSdzW0P69-311ox8jQiDsuXZPHX8V8oAPxx6LVs0tBNUdsD-X-QttW0Nemd1E-nLSkjkMWxzdaYzqt6WwiJqydgtB0vC8/s1600/IMG_7955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTM8q30AnOOuDT7ix8JFNIgrA4LeC-jTIF6WMw2PikpcHXyjSdzW0P69-311ox8jQiDsuXZPHX8V8oAPxx6LVs0tBNUdsD-X-QttW0Nemd1E-nLSkjkMWxzdaYzqt6WwiJqydgtB0vC8/s640/IMG_7955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We just got our chicks!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A day old.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aren't they cute?</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsNru4SwfLF1Gl0bxCPQ_dR-29NAQMuxw12MqU06ehL3umUGAJ6LtO75FIpNyzZXDHyCOX9iA7myCV6iu93nmAdjh3y7iv4REF8lvR3iA3FI3J-DXFGq-7qghgs7j__v-Z_xjgdw8Mec/s1600/IMG_7959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsNru4SwfLF1Gl0bxCPQ_dR-29NAQMuxw12MqU06ehL3umUGAJ6LtO75FIpNyzZXDHyCOX9iA7myCV6iu93nmAdjh3y7iv4REF8lvR3iA3FI3J-DXFGq-7qghgs7j__v-Z_xjgdw8Mec/s640/IMG_7959.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Australorps - Or Austranaughts if you are Annie and Xavier.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Silkies.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZSxJNWAehoApQh41IsOgtco-6iTIM-m9FkJOS8z1_MGtLgjk4cmtdRytlAV6Fz6mC2ZRlyvGTl8piRonsS3XhYnqUwxsdDpi7PAvX5ZI4iupI1STI1i_94xMvJKz2GcOM8lZJEGXXa4/s1600/IMG_7961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZSxJNWAehoApQh41IsOgtco-6iTIM-m9FkJOS8z1_MGtLgjk4cmtdRytlAV6Fz6mC2ZRlyvGTl8piRonsS3XhYnqUwxsdDpi7PAvX5ZI4iupI1STI1i_94xMvJKz2GcOM8lZJEGXXa4/s640/IMG_7961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rainbow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fluffy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fifi.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lulu.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3czXewqcFeZqQIy0w3Hmz6nJ_U_ip4BXxu6ZUr3ZQLkGmobBE41zXPbKplBrAQxAbtcixVSSxZwkTl42fRnOQTGR7BFQ6RhCxMbeZaOSKuUbSe0xFk7ST2lwgIYRDQYjsgMRy1v3h41Q/s1600/IMG_7963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3czXewqcFeZqQIy0w3Hmz6nJ_U_ip4BXxu6ZUr3ZQLkGmobBE41zXPbKplBrAQxAbtcixVSSxZwkTl42fRnOQTGR7BFQ6RhCxMbeZaOSKuUbSe0xFk7ST2lwgIYRDQYjsgMRy1v3h41Q/s640/IMG_7963.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annie and Xavier are very pleased to tell us that the chicks are their responsibility.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is their job to give them food, water and to clean out their little box. (They have requested some help with the last one)</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrwen2Xdhpw4D1qrrCAlx-S7l5iUofdr8OKqt8uZC5TYSLk1g2eIp-vf8j_vHseHJDIKmbRtBFns4PtfqlPzj7tyDt02VN96CtbdnSGi2-Pypn5oACEm65hkps0jyQL0GuWmI7r3LBpQ/s1600/IMG_7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrwen2Xdhpw4D1qrrCAlx-S7l5iUofdr8OKqt8uZC5TYSLk1g2eIp-vf8j_vHseHJDIKmbRtBFns4PtfqlPzj7tyDt02VN96CtbdnSGi2-Pypn5oACEm65hkps0jyQL0GuWmI7r3LBpQ/s640/IMG_7967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight, they read them stories and sang them a lullaby.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope that your weekend is as much fun as ours.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I have some big news to announce in an upcoming post. Something that I never thought I would be sharing with you, stay tuned!)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-38819659583388264152012-08-01T21:31:00.000+10:002012-08-01T21:31:26.108+10:00Imbolc 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzwR6CTEAHGCkISXeycS6woaf330Uc_e1ZaNq_QJAgjHBgiSivxEf6WhzQ-ch9iqDlBYdjRgjuUSVJoHfq8oVf9dgPOC9grVY1cujklA3RMh_vp-5zEZU1nuQVE9D6tiGEMewxonAXCc/s1600/IMG_7920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzwR6CTEAHGCkISXeycS6woaf330Uc_e1ZaNq_QJAgjHBgiSivxEf6WhzQ-ch9iqDlBYdjRgjuUSVJoHfq8oVf9dgPOC9grVY1cujklA3RMh_vp-5zEZU1nuQVE9D6tiGEMewxonAXCc/s640/IMG_7920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Imbolc! The quickening of spring. The days are getting longer. It is still cold (freeeeeezing in Melbourne), but we see signs in nature that spring is on the way.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just read my post for last year's <a href="http://olgastuff.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/imbolc-aka-candlemas-is-this-week-in.html" target="_blank">Imbolc</a>. We had much warmer weather then. Spring blossoms and daffodils gracing our table. A beautiful ceremony, which I now see, planted the seeds for the home we are living in now.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitG8AYui9PMr_ZUHQa9xFuEVonQWheLli6AfmdsyjyOCk78AugL5V4IQ7mxFO8RCdIcCXk1NFQl3Z58TJXnUg1-kPXWljJL03PlpPHDms4grhtj5kvvdUFI43GSl-EPC0g7D0-3biM_U/s1600/IMG_7906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitG8AYui9PMr_ZUHQa9xFuEVonQWheLli6AfmdsyjyOCk78AugL5V4IQ7mxFO8RCdIcCXk1NFQl3Z58TJXnUg1-kPXWljJL03PlpPHDms4grhtj5kvvdUFI43GSl-EPC0g7D0-3biM_U/s640/IMG_7906.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this time of year, we are still lighting the fire and are all blocked up with colds to varying degrees. Trying to make sense of the heating in the new house and adjust to our new life. They say it takes two years to adjust when you move into a new house.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am learning about the garden here. It has been left quite neglected, but the soil in the beds is good. I find lots of fat worms when I do the weeding. I am planning my vegetable garden. I have never had one before, so this is both exciting and daunting. I am researching what to plant now, so that I can start seeing some produce coming out of this little patch.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are planning to get some baby chicks soon.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And a dog. Yes, a dog.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think we are definitely in the spirit of Imbolc over here. Dreaming in our new lives. Rebirthing ourselves. Letting go of the old. And letting in the new.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIStLGhyphenhyphenBJlket-CKJXA5HyfJ7Co8wyJEA_sZsikPCQaD4fNbEXufoWEx4op-VkOat0uQLiEpvR5r469cRgm0Lp6pBBWhF_dZaARqFQgysdJDsuXOI40swV1uwnFtbEQfJWo0akFKrMU/s1600/IMG_7892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIStLGhyphenhyphenBJlket-CKJXA5HyfJ7Co8wyJEA_sZsikPCQaD4fNbEXufoWEx4op-VkOat0uQLiEpvR5r469cRgm0Lp6pBBWhF_dZaARqFQgysdJDsuXOI40swV1uwnFtbEQfJWo0akFKrMU/s640/IMG_7892.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the owl in Annie's hot chocolate?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Letting go doesn't have to be painful. But, sometimes it comes with a cold, oh my.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-19535525168547581692012-07-27T20:44:00.000+10:002012-07-27T20:44:14.092+10:00Welcome home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWaFnRtUGaoDbJpxGXjqspU-X3vj4Z-NvF9ffHNAgph0vx6plOqDozmbLN9uGchYrJEDTMCgaUHJ8sRtdloaIeRP4NeUvXdXGPKs0upJRqP3cw0-Ut3rkhlVuEtV-fdHY5Nk4sdQb02A/s1600/IMG_7784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWaFnRtUGaoDbJpxGXjqspU-X3vj4Z-NvF9ffHNAgph0vx6plOqDozmbLN9uGchYrJEDTMCgaUHJ8sRtdloaIeRP4NeUvXdXGPKs0upJRqP3cw0-Ut3rkhlVuEtV-fdHY5Nk4sdQb02A/s640/IMG_7784.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally I have internet! I have been dying to share my little piece of paradise with you. We moved in a week ago and I could not be happier. The picture above is the view I have outside my deck.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is where I sit and have a cup of tea.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIo7nIMU2Bf4TMfo-lfcnOusqLc6QxejkCXFbGmtoCl5OaciDnT7_ujE3ZxzUIFssfyCbeeJ9diz3LoN1Oh-HjIhl43O_9eIS4AkBjic02sXXzSBy9_mMmjYVhK-OonvCAiGG-jjjhJs/s1600/IMG_7802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIo7nIMU2Bf4TMfo-lfcnOusqLc6QxejkCXFbGmtoCl5OaciDnT7_ujE3ZxzUIFssfyCbeeJ9diz3LoN1Oh-HjIhl43O_9eIS4AkBjic02sXXzSBy9_mMmjYVhK-OonvCAiGG-jjjhJs/s640/IMG_7802.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The picture above is the view of my driveway. Yes, we live on a dirt road. It is so awesome!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAexnD93sL9rBan0NPmfFz6U5cPypZCoWZ2YdDSlvaTtBvCC2jSGc3-XAsrL3Sbx3o4bxm7vooa_zVogXmQfRF7XuM2fj5nRJugpNdK4P0eCmAGJ-HL5_FWpSGYCUd_0eJWSGKPNGIbi0/s1600/IMG_7818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAexnD93sL9rBan0NPmfFz6U5cPypZCoWZ2YdDSlvaTtBvCC2jSGc3-XAsrL3Sbx3o4bxm7vooa_zVogXmQfRF7XuM2fj5nRJugpNdK4P0eCmAGJ-HL5_FWpSGYCUd_0eJWSGKPNGIbi0/s640/IMG_7818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We went for a short walk today and saw the local kangaroos in the paddock.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4kXZeq-QsqoFaXXEFk4nBTdUYZnV5EqDvNkifztl5BaD8FD4hxpr2awzywA7Umn0hNc0TLJF_0vfcTx-zlhj5pIUdNecObwml1jCRkn9sPQ0BxlO4_M_hOykveLCgUrVoNjGM9UBsqM/s1600/IMG_7873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4kXZeq-QsqoFaXXEFk4nBTdUYZnV5EqDvNkifztl5BaD8FD4hxpr2awzywA7Umn0hNc0TLJF_0vfcTx-zlhj5pIUdNecObwml1jCRkn9sPQ0BxlO4_M_hOykveLCgUrVoNjGM9UBsqM/s640/IMG_7873.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Children playing in the mud and calling themselves country children! I love that the city is an hour's train trip away, the school is a ten minute drive away and the country is, well, in my back yard.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u6B7IMKwZFgwDdUeiMiDTM9-PKfCReJeqc_gExePAhOj3lPkYbg3qhFw3bBcmzeI_Vb0JW-U67A6bjm5vZ1iFrwMsH8Xneam4CqB6cFqPy3M07WqgeqQmxPi8SDIO9dYa91SmzVjJg0/s1600/IMG_7883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u6B7IMKwZFgwDdUeiMiDTM9-PKfCReJeqc_gExePAhOj3lPkYbg3qhFw3bBcmzeI_Vb0JW-U67A6bjm5vZ1iFrwMsH8Xneam4CqB6cFqPy3M07WqgeqQmxPi8SDIO9dYa91SmzVjJg0/s640/IMG_7883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No speeding here.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rUKC744qxUXO2zVJtJEC6zM4S7rgQ8lmZAvKNveTRg19CcJPTvcwuqOkdcDdBozR1B5WWyG4dSzxbseakArn9gAqwI7FQfY4M2ftqj-cFf9X4sZitWsjSx-HOTbVpcvbfXtFFTZpbf8/s1600/IMG_7887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rUKC744qxUXO2zVJtJEC6zM4S7rgQ8lmZAvKNveTRg19CcJPTvcwuqOkdcDdBozR1B5WWyG4dSzxbseakArn9gAqwI7FQfY4M2ftqj-cFf9X4sZitWsjSx-HOTbVpcvbfXtFFTZpbf8/s640/IMG_7887.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A swing in a tree a few steps outside our house.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sUPcoU6cgBH-Ge1wSmObeNayS2mn4uJVLeGxldcXr28uE6O64PiscznTnzqi-2jHcH7hUN4MNyrLhvpGFkdZtfJgdhuZw1CzLH0K7N-pW3mdFOmkD5Gr7GqQEu74MZ6cLOg2KR_mrYI/s1600/IMG_7901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sUPcoU6cgBH-Ge1wSmObeNayS2mn4uJVLeGxldcXr28uE6O64PiscznTnzqi-2jHcH7hUN4MNyrLhvpGFkdZtfJgdhuZw1CzLH0K7N-pW3mdFOmkD5Gr7GqQEu74MZ6cLOg2KR_mrYI/s640/IMG_7901.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the beginning of my yoga room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel like a different person here. I feel like I have come home. Everywhere I look, I see trees. I do my work in the kitchen and I see my children playing on the trampoline outside. The birds don't stop singing all day. I have a smile on my face. All. Day. Long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is good, yes it is. I followed my dreams and I got here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't ever let anyone tell you that your dreams are not real or that they cannot come true. Because they do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-42181850460017291162012-07-15T20:20:00.002+10:002012-07-15T20:22:59.303+10:00Still packing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_cU53jqBYTNYGjK-NPXmQW7Yn-eZF29005VOhB4eGfhyphenhyphen0btgbIKQvHDI6HNQBcY-TqUBmHOuL-XDR-EYBEu9_sxHymfnvtWNpci1L60H3SuFl0s_U2vlh8L37M2ywQJRLJwsIi0UtAI/s1600/IMG_7744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_cU53jqBYTNYGjK-NPXmQW7Yn-eZF29005VOhB4eGfhyphenhyphen0btgbIKQvHDI6HNQBcY-TqUBmHOuL-XDR-EYBEu9_sxHymfnvtWNpci1L60H3SuFl0s_U2vlh8L37M2ywQJRLJwsIi0UtAI/s640/IMG_7744.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sun streaming in through the window this morning</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a week's time, we will be in our new house. The house is covered with boxes and, ahem, chaos. My usually peaceful home is not exactly the ashram I usually try to create. The pictures are packed away, the walls are being patched up and the usual green cleaner is not cutting it to get that grease out of the kitchen. I feel a bit unsettled in this transition time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I came back from the yoga module a week ago and had a good weep. I truly felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of packing up the house while being premenstrual and still reeling from the intensity of what I had learnt in the previous four days. It is normally a good idea to gently ease back into life after Module, but, the universe had other plans for me. (And to think that I originally wanted to move two days after I came back from Module. Luckily Sohail had some sense to convince me that moving two weeks later would be more sensible!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I had a good cry in <a href="http://olgastuff.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/simple-inversion.html" target="_blank">legs against the wall</a> and just felt it all. Never underestimate the power of your tears to shift your emotions into a higher place. I have been spending these days processing everything that is coming up. Letting it go. The house we have lived in since moving to this country. The kind of person I was four years ago. The kind of person I am now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Transitions are beautiful. They bring up all the cobwebs we have been hiding. It is so liberating to move through them. We come out much stronger on the other side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so excited for the next phase of my life. Moving house is always so much more than moving to another location. It is a movement of our spirit into another plane. It is a movement out of our comfort zone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is what I so love...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Growth. Change. New jewels discovered in the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I may check in here again, but if I don't, I will see you on the other side once we have settled into our new abode.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHlPc0u9_dELNhpx2ZdTqntAZ89RaOJz5wveIeHyP_KgzizIciI-l0KBOVNWXHIHDRHylYyonzc2c4AnkijPGgNPDZHyepfCBOteNycXR-WIJc0GOsAlwnb2aDZZP1nhe0E8FHosoe5Y/s1600/IMG_5034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHlPc0u9_dELNhpx2ZdTqntAZ89RaOJz5wveIeHyP_KgzizIciI-l0KBOVNWXHIHDRHylYyonzc2c4AnkijPGgNPDZHyepfCBOteNycXR-WIJc0GOsAlwnb2aDZZP1nhe0E8FHosoe5Y/s640/IMG_5034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just so you know</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-5911958821280499272012-07-03T16:00:00.000+10:002012-07-03T16:00:43.169+10:00Winter reflections<div style="text-align: center;">
I wasn't going to blog today. But then, I sat outside and looked all around my little courtyard. I felt my mom's presence as we admired all the beauty around me. She instilled the love of gardening and beauty in me. Whenever I appreciate a beautiful flower, she is there. I do not miss her anymore, I have learned that when I still my mind and focus on her, she is there.</div>
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There is no death. Only transformation. And whenever we think of someone who is no longer physically here, they are with us. We just need to trust our feelings, they are our eternal compass. Still our minds, and bask in appreciation. And all is clear.</div>
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Here are some photos that I took on this winter morning.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySh_id2kpEutRE9jmBRdzrtEJZKUNpYpURY9uQzn0bzCxj1vMNIBbN8SAc-tA4cCZJPBtEIGJsG8L-5uMVp3ejbdta9qmETPypU_pU-4H5NYXfZD_EjoBw8BHIwQRAVGMxgPW04nTTx0/s1600/IMG_7669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySh_id2kpEutRE9jmBRdzrtEJZKUNpYpURY9uQzn0bzCxj1vMNIBbN8SAc-tA4cCZJPBtEIGJsG8L-5uMVp3ejbdta9qmETPypU_pU-4H5NYXfZD_EjoBw8BHIwQRAVGMxgPW04nTTx0/s640/IMG_7669.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Sparkly fairy lights</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBuHnYdCSo3L3lMoIHE7RzDmiyPNqNHYOorbKc8XgEEP68fnOH3DvBOhtycPGixkL6td8-qYIP69dSexwGMjllq1TkBLfPYGQw476bws-gbg6XXuPssQHtR7qWTRe3nEwIdgKznThqPc/s1600/IMG_7670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBuHnYdCSo3L3lMoIHE7RzDmiyPNqNHYOorbKc8XgEEP68fnOH3DvBOhtycPGixkL6td8-qYIP69dSexwGMjllq1TkBLfPYGQw476bws-gbg6XXuPssQHtR7qWTRe3nEwIdgKznThqPc/s640/IMG_7670.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azaleas in bloom</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7loo6L37AxdZ4adA4S6CcqPaqEL9WxryK_ViDcITnmjG86NQG49i4utgiIeb2T04AmucOmlRoyWux040_ysKyrXNvfnmlSrb3Be_4UBnnQj42DxgTp8PLlpU19D-xk4IEl1CLpY85MMo/s640/IMG_7667.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyacinth bulbs</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDwO-oYiacmFpGILdJnPI-4rM_Nud0pXd-1CO907sBbKcz9Cs31Z4rHaPhSd5VcjbfmqmExZdRP7WjzgrbD-TJK7_gzNaUO7PD0qc5rN4gPEPYk-zj8P8e9yN-c7N6Q7zSH2fI9BqS-U/s1600/IMG_7671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDwO-oYiacmFpGILdJnPI-4rM_Nud0pXd-1CO907sBbKcz9Cs31Z4rHaPhSd5VcjbfmqmExZdRP7WjzgrbD-TJK7_gzNaUO7PD0qc5rN4gPEPYk-zj8P8e9yN-c7N6Q7zSH2fI9BqS-U/s640/IMG_7671.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New gardenia planted in old watering can</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV8SRPzbTWvYUxRn48HTeqRumg4IPV1j4Zqd1iCHB2WPZTvqzMiqMT3ovasKBg-4dLrpBj7eYsGE0HUHCdnfVjp0Ytw3w2Y9h4ltaqysK4Asz5MpBEcTsfenIB1wqS6Z2VsUlMzZ8W_Y/s1600/IMG_7679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV8SRPzbTWvYUxRn48HTeqRumg4IPV1j4Zqd1iCHB2WPZTvqzMiqMT3ovasKBg-4dLrpBj7eYsGE0HUHCdnfVjp0Ytw3w2Y9h4ltaqysK4Asz5MpBEcTsfenIB1wqS6Z2VsUlMzZ8W_Y/s640/IMG_7679.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVQD5aV_nldhDEgkYeCyi7tyGfqx9YfkJEGVMW37JhoVzGGflmFakWWO141HcW11hR-aHr0xVLLnoDIEJS4BwEgd1BfrVk7TQ3ocHiaY851gISN7F2yN4bcg3YCuyq0jFckUrbR70hiI/s1600/IMG_7674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVQD5aV_nldhDEgkYeCyi7tyGfqx9YfkJEGVMW37JhoVzGGflmFakWWO141HcW11hR-aHr0xVLLnoDIEJS4BwEgd1BfrVk7TQ3ocHiaY851gISN7F2yN4bcg3YCuyq0jFckUrbR70hiI/s640/IMG_7674.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulbs coming up</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the inspiration for my writing and sharing on this space. My two beautiful children. The ones who remind me to laugh. To play. To stop taking all of this so seriously. I have eternal gratitude for what they teach me every single day.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, winter. I do love you. You bring me the clarity and peace that opens me up the wonder of this beautiful world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-31041763827926986732012-07-02T22:13:00.001+10:002012-07-02T22:13:12.450+10:00Simple inversion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am getting ready to go off to the second module of my teacher training. It is more like going on a yoga retreat than going to learn something. I came back totally filled up, inspired and a little bit sore the last time, which was three months ago. This yoga journey takes three years, but, truth be told, yoga is a lifetime of learning. That is one of the things I love about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been busy doing all my portfolios. Descriptions of each of the practices we learnt in a set format determined by our tutors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I would share one of my favourite poses with you. (Although most of them are my favourite poses, ha!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sarvangasana 1 - Simple inversion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or you could just call it "Legs against the wall". That is what it is!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByD5KToBB_HxB-36ntLEsFFYkUWV8XDmwMoRYtIBFZiyZdPJSBhc4JjAq_MUIW8FITrT7c7FljJNsAbXOtGoMNNnGs_XeiNTbHOZ9i-bfz3RNymUdXSBVwrMRFGs4ehDEEZwrKgpPUfI/s1600/IMG_7664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByD5KToBB_HxB-36ntLEsFFYkUWV8XDmwMoRYtIBFZiyZdPJSBhc4JjAq_MUIW8FITrT7c7FljJNsAbXOtGoMNNnGs_XeiNTbHOZ9i-bfz3RNymUdXSBVwrMRFGs4ehDEEZwrKgpPUfI/s640/IMG_7664.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this pose for many reasons. It is really easy. Basically anyone can do it. It can be done with children around - a very important one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I normally do this while the children are in the bath. I also like to do it at the end of the day, especially when I am feeling really "heady". I also love doing it during my menstrual cycle. It is also really good for jet lag and if you have been travelling for a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sometimes do it with my children, they really enjoy doing yoga with their mama and they can last about 5 minutes in the posture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> All you need is a few minutes (try for 10 if possible, but every bit helps) and you come out of it really refreshed.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPhddZiIIZzd9aqnndXxfxRVenAqy6H0Al_6LoqeIKEyiooccH8P1eYyV_w7NFmaw6VmGxIPXADH6LJZFSNEK1MJGhjwX1cdPCNEwZf0MY1YKONZVd8D5NLn3gwdfAyRwUAEMwcW2R8Y/s1600/IMG_7633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPhddZiIIZzd9aqnndXxfxRVenAqy6H0Al_6LoqeIKEyiooccH8P1eYyV_w7NFmaw6VmGxIPXADH6LJZFSNEK1MJGhjwX1cdPCNEwZf0MY1YKONZVd8D5NLn3gwdfAyRwUAEMwcW2R8Y/s640/IMG_7633.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sohail had a lot of fun taking photos of me in the position next to my new sign for my new yoga room. As you can see, I was on the floor, which is not very comfortable. Do it on a carpet and if you don't have a carpet, lie on a mat, rug, towel, or blanket. You should always be comfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is always a good idea to elongate your neck and upper back before performing any inverted shoulder stand family posture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before going into the pose, lie on your back. Interlock your hands behind your head. Slowly lift your head up, bringing your elbows towards each other. You will feel a mild stretch along the vertebrae of the neck and upper back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To perform the posture:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Position yourself next to a wall, lying down, with your hips very close to the wall. Swing your legs upwards until they are in an upright position, supported by the wall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Relax in this position with your legs inverted and your torso completely on the floor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you get tired, drop your feet towards your buttocks and rest there for a few minutes. Then roll over onto your right side and lie in that postion for a few more minutes. Come up very sloooooowly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You should feel calmer and much more centred.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We sometimes do this for half a yoga class. It is really therapeutic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We often get caught up in our daily activities and end up losing our perspective. What I notice when I do this posture, is that I actually get MORE done when I stop to recentre. I get my focus back. I am not running around with scattered energy anymore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does it sound too simple? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not meant to be complicated, this life. We just make it so because we are convinced that the only value is in doing. But, when we stop and just be, we gain perspective. And we can go out to the world and give from a better place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doesn't everyone's family deserve that? A happy parent. A parent that is focused on what is important. A parent that is making clear decisions. A parent who demonstrates the importance of self care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10 minutes. Choose your favourite music. Close your eyes. Breathe into your belly. And let it go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Please always listen to your own body. If you experience any pain, please stop. The mantra is "no pain, no pain." Also, I am not a qualified teacher, or a doctor, this is just my own experience. Please use your own guidance system or consult a qualified teacher for assistance.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-48893952214881646862012-06-24T09:39:00.001+10:002012-06-24T09:39:48.899+10:00Breakfast time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnD80ZPW5NeXcXy84go-YqqhWbaSPekWKAvkbzzsx85Q9Y61u4vIJwM4wMd_AaYglypPm5XzBSPANq68xGQW5DLzTKhIX3Cier7KEEn0trvZ4cJsjfTTDX6ZCMGsuXtNDHgQZ3rrZ5ow/s1600/IMG_7610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnD80ZPW5NeXcXy84go-YqqhWbaSPekWKAvkbzzsx85Q9Y61u4vIJwM4wMd_AaYglypPm5XzBSPANq68xGQW5DLzTKhIX3Cier7KEEn0trvZ4cJsjfTTDX6ZCMGsuXtNDHgQZ3rrZ5ow/s640/IMG_7610.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I would share what we are eating for breakfast at the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone's bodies are different and we have different nutritional requirements at different times of our lives. So, the most important thing is to ask your body what it needs and to give it that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the moment, this is my breakfast routine:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I eat anything I have a big mug of hot water with half a lemon squeezed into it. This gets my system going, is a great detox for the liver and just makes me feel good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love porridge. I especially love it in winter. Right now I am having oat and chia seed porridge with walnuts and cranberries. Here is the recipe:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tablespoon of coconut oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Half a teaspoon of cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup of oats</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup of water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Half a cup of milk (rice, almond, soy or cows milk)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons of chia seeds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Half a handful of berries (cranberries, blueberries, raspberries)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Handful of walnuts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melt the coconut oil in a sauce pan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add the cinnamon and stir until fragrant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add the oats and toast and coat with the cinnamon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add the water and bring to a boil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add the milk, warm through, but do not bring to a boil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stir in the chia seeds, berries and walnuts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This serves one adult and two hungry children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sweeten to taste. I use raw, local honey, this is said to be great for allergies. It makes sense as the bees are pollinating flowers from your area, so your body gets used to those pollens. Also, raw honey is much better for you than conventionally processed honey because all the healthy nutrients are not destroyed in the heat through the processing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another thing I thought I would mention is the importance of protein for breakfast. If we eat protein for breakfast, we stabilise our blood sugar for the day. I was diagnosed with hypo glycaemia (a precursor to diabetes) in my early twenties. I got such a fright that I changed my eating habits. I have not had any symptoms for many years and I am always on the lookout for eating things which are beneficial to my body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chia seeds are really good for you, they are a very good source of protein and my children like them. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Always important!) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walnuts are also full of protein and are a great source of essential fatty acids, another important thing for brain development for little growing bodies. Cinnamon is also really good for stabilising blood sugar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coconut oil is a great source of essential fatty acids and a super food. I use it whenever I can, I often saute food with it. (You can also put a spoon into your tea or coffee as a boost - it doesn't have a taste)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Berries are a great source of antioxidants, so get those in every day if you can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't take any vitamins. When my health was not as good as it is now, I took a multi vitamin, extra vitamin C and a B vitamin, and think it was important to give my body the extra help it needed because of sub optimal eating habits. But more importantly, due to the strain it was under due to a stressful life, this depletes us more than any food we eat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rather eat a McDonalds burger with a sense of appreciation and joy than eat an organic salad while filled with anger and resentment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The state we are in when we eat is so much more important than what we are actually putting into our bodies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though I don't take vitamins at the moment, I have a green shake every morning. I have a glass of water with <a href="http://www.vitalgreens.com/" target="_blank">Vital Greens</a> and a scoop of <a href="http://www.sunwarrior.com.au/sun-warrior-protein-powder-info.php" target="_blank">Protein powder</a>. I love this mix to keep me going all the way until lunch time if I need it. Although I make a point of having something small to eat at about 10 am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also thought that I would mention that I give the children <a href="http://naturalhealthdirect.com.au/health/herbal-remedies-72/floradix-247/floradix-kindervital-for-children-250ml-1702.html" target="_blank">Floradix </a>every morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I buy all of these products at the health shop, they are easily accessible online even if you can't get them at your local health shop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that is me and my breakfast. Even if I don't eat so well the rest of the day, at least I know I have had a good start to get me through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you eat for breakfast?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-62142315971765042872012-06-22T21:39:00.002+10:002012-06-22T21:39:56.210+10:00Following our bliss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyRLVSfZRS50GgIoiueT9iqAii5yS1Trcq500aUhuLtv_V_sEN4p3RN4wW1S958m7MU0phzskqguu0gnz2beRiAFJQvAHN1dOF_ikmlJe7cCRrnxcO4PTu4L-tfNK0xFcuGI84v4J-lo/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyRLVSfZRS50GgIoiueT9iqAii5yS1Trcq500aUhuLtv_V_sEN4p3RN4wW1S958m7MU0phzskqguu0gnz2beRiAFJQvAHN1dOF_ikmlJe7cCRrnxcO4PTu4L-tfNK0xFcuGI84v4J-lo/s640/IMG_7606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is Friday night and I am home alone. Children asleep. Husband at a work function. I could spend the whole evening feeling guilty for not packing boxes the last few days. Or I could get hung up on why I have been so tired and a bit out of sorts. (Impending move, perhaps?) Or I could feel guilty for not doing my yoga homework. Or I could watch mindless sitcoms on TV. (Ok, I don't really do that one!) Get the picture?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead, I will do something quite revolutionary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will listen to my body. I will ask.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you feel like doing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My body said, "Have some toast and chocolate spread."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I did. And it was deliciously satisfying. Our bodies never lie to us. They tell us when to sleep. When to play. When to eat, drink and be merry. We have been taught from a young age to disregard what our bodies tell us. Do you remember that you had to wait for the bathroom break at school? You couldn't just go when your body wanted to go? Unfortunately, that is how we have all been trained to shut off from ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been so shut off that we don't even know what our bodies are telling us. And our bodies hold the secret to our bliss. Our bodies will guide us to the life of our dreams. We just need to trust. We need to stop second guessing ourselves with our minds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, that is also how we have been trained. To listen to our minds. And override our bodies. We have also been trained to be constantly busy. And feel guilty for not being busy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I call it busy guilt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guilt for not being productive. Guilt for not achieving a measurable target. Guilt for sitting down. Reading. Gardening. Playing. Guilt for having fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are conditioned to believe that we only deserve all these things after we have worked. Really. Hard. For a long time. We believe that these things are only due to us when we retire. Or in some heavenly place when we die.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Children know that this is not true. Have you been for a walk with a toddler lately? You will be lucky to get to the end of the block. They don't care where they are going. They are smelling the air. Looking at the fallen leaf, the caterpillar. Noticing the birds flying in the air. Laughing. Joking. Playing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They only start crying when we try to pull them out of their blissful state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Hurry up!", we say. We have somewhere to BE. And they wonder what is wrong with right here? Right now? And they resist us. Because they know. They know what is good for them. We have forgotten. But, they know. We should listen to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a gift to be a mother. To be in the presence of a little person who is still so close to the heavenly realm, they were there not long ago. They have not forgotten yet. They still know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are not here to teach them. They are here to teach us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is meant to be blissful. Joyful. For everyone. Not just some lucky few. All. Of. Us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow your bliss. I promise it will take you to places you had never imagined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if you don't know your bliss, that's ok. It has probably been "thought" out of you. Start with your body. What does it want right now? Perhaps a toast with chocolate spread. Perhaps some alone time. Perhaps a run. Perhaps a nap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just listen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your body never lies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just keep following it's requests. It will take you to heaven on earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(If you want to learn more about living joyfully, please read anything by Gill Edwards, I just picked up one of her books that I haven't read in years and it is brand new to me again, full of joy and inspiration.)</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-33029983576689136512012-06-19T21:23:00.002+10:002012-06-19T21:23:51.145+10:00Winter solstice and seasonal tables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A dear friend and soul sister asked me to do a post on seasonal tables. She asked me to talk about the elements of the seasonal table so that she can do what I do. I laughed because she is incredibly creative, so I would have thought that I would be asking </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">her </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to do a post for me! So, I thought it would be fun to share what we have done at home and perhaps it can inspire you too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqudNxasbf5dfMTvukXINIhpBIB3-3-QTsEhRr3XP-gjDZuAb03piQ82zLmwJQjSMD5OSVkrhSC7DPd6WD4dVG781P8vIDwM9-hZVo13rtQYEE9rpqzX9TGtQrOqC9hZb1tuTyiv9gb8/s1600/IMG_7590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqudNxasbf5dfMTvukXINIhpBIB3-3-QTsEhRr3XP-gjDZuAb03piQ82zLmwJQjSMD5OSVkrhSC7DPd6WD4dVG781P8vIDwM9-hZVo13rtQYEE9rpqzX9TGtQrOqC9hZb1tuTyiv9gb8/s640/IMG_7590.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the seasonal table we have set up at the moment. It was created mostly by Annie, with minimal input from me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before you set up a seasonal table, it is important to consider the purpose of it. For some, it is a place to collect things from nature that are relevant for that time of year, for others it is a prop for story telling during the year, for others it can just be a beautiful, inspirational place and for some it can even be an altar for the current season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, it is a little reminder of where we are in the wheel of the year, in a beautiful setting for my children to enjoy. I am happy for them to play with everything on the table, but there is a level of respect for what we have created, so it needs to be cared for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have used a blue piece of muslin as the base, "winter animals" like polar bears and wooly sheep, little wintery trees, which Annie dutifully stuck up one by one and we also sewed little clouds and raindrops out of felt last year. If you look carefully (they are hanging), you can see the raindrop that Annie made by herself, I was very proud of her efforts.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyneMnlGl8INVO1Dy1z-ceP5rQWUzvJBNt2C-MMSq3zHhmqICx44sH_Ark_j3xrDo2uG61HQzs4RCHcKOCmntKDR3xcX8Re6PSgAbfGUgiBkof0FAOGBNSVGskRx46F99Qg4BaLETKu58/s1600/IMG_7593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyneMnlGl8INVO1Dy1z-ceP5rQWUzvJBNt2C-MMSq3zHhmqICx44sH_Ark_j3xrDo2uG61HQzs4RCHcKOCmntKDR3xcX8Re6PSgAbfGUgiBkof0FAOGBNSVGskRx46F99Qg4BaLETKu58/s640/IMG_7593.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I was preparing to take the photos, I realised that we didn't have any water on the table. Water is the active element in winter and I thought that it was relevant to have it on the table along with some flowers from our garden.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb4aWh7C64bmuwad9P0MkCq0pdiWNAEIgfR0isSfQ0nj4mf96zXm-AUG9vxvLWYmptcYDhE2DVqFr6ltUpdGnez5jMFPK9rx9xieCWIR2rKQNtOlmMR-k9tXEeH5B0Kt5ggfNqRkAfL4/s1600/IMG_7595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb4aWh7C64bmuwad9P0MkCq0pdiWNAEIgfR0isSfQ0nj4mf96zXm-AUG9vxvLWYmptcYDhE2DVqFr6ltUpdGnez5jMFPK9rx9xieCWIR2rKQNtOlmMR-k9tXEeH5B0Kt5ggfNqRkAfL4/s640/IMG_7595.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like to rotate the books that we have out and change them every solstice and equinox. I like to have books that are relevant to the time of year. I don't like to have a lot of books out as it creates clutter and they are not enjoyed. Rather have a fresh set out every few months, it is much more interesting that way.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsjzZG_9y_WMhIDrCGKx9un89xijw5F1zG_QEQpe4PJ1VNXLEvCNM76vslzm-_yR2PdAiimBYELGf3CqCOnjsromjdHaYBQyftjE4wVKeP660LyiZzwtA6mWOOSlbaBuT355rLkYrbUY/s1600/IMG_7603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsjzZG_9y_WMhIDrCGKx9un89xijw5F1zG_QEQpe4PJ1VNXLEvCNM76vslzm-_yR2PdAiimBYELGf3CqCOnjsromjdHaYBQyftjE4wVKeP660LyiZzwtA6mWOOSlbaBuT355rLkYrbUY/s640/IMG_7603.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I bought this lovely King Winter from Rainbow River Designs. You can get it <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60224714/mini-king-winter-wool-doll" target="_blank">here</a>. I must say that even though my children go to a Montessori school, I have a love affair with Waldorf toys. They are so beautiful, lovely to play with and inspire so much creative play. We have a lovely balance of Montessori schooling during the day and Waldorf inspired living at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The winter solstice is coming up and we are planning another nature walk like we did last year. You can read what we did last year over <a href="http://olgastuff.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/winter-solstice-2011.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I think it will be a very similar affair this time round.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will be thinking about what we will incubate during the coldest and darkest time of the year. It is the time to dream, rest, sleep. It is not the time for activity. All of nature goes to sleep, the bears, the trees, the bees. We also need our time to hibernate. Spring is the time to wake up again. If we don't rest now, we will be burnt out by the time we need all our energy for the bursting activity of summer. That is just how the cycles work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have to rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is interesting to note that I dreamed up the house we are moving into in the middle of winter. I wonder if I would have had such clarity of vision if I had not taken the time to slow down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you planning any special things for the solstice? (summer or winter)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-29637519887400164282012-06-18T17:40:00.002+10:002012-06-18T17:40:57.193+10:00Boxes and fertility awareness <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxeP9H3FrD0tOGV2UHi8RR7pM8WjEALIkPWoIgrGozGkGqoSoZk2BrGdpT4ZdqLDuwBGptZ21qF8dbNAo_7lg_bNDk4EinnXmZbeGqUORSSx3WoYs85CTHrTrdUA5cmHcMmnoBfMJbA0/s1600/IMG_7581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxeP9H3FrD0tOGV2UHi8RR7pM8WjEALIkPWoIgrGozGkGqoSoZk2BrGdpT4ZdqLDuwBGptZ21qF8dbNAo_7lg_bNDk4EinnXmZbeGqUORSSx3WoYs85CTHrTrdUA5cmHcMmnoBfMJbA0/s640/IMG_7581.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The boxes have come out. I have started packing. I took down all the photos in the house. The symbolic first step. Telling the house that we are leaving. Thank you for housing us the last four years, we are really grateful. And now it's time to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must say that I love moving house. The chance to start on a new adventure.The chance to clean out everything that will not serve in the new home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love de cluttering and I do it as often as I can. Small children accumulate a lot of stuff. And the adults too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We underestimate the amount of energy too much unwanted stuff saps from us when it is in our environment. I feel so much lighter with less stuff around me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I try to live by the rule that if I am going to bring it into the home, it needs to beautiful. Beauty is a big driver in my life. I also try to consider how it will leave the home one day. And if I am willing to go through all of that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I donated a box of old books and toys to the op shop. Books which don't suit our family values. Toys which are not well made, beautiful and open ended. I find that the more toys I take away, the better the children play.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Annie comes and tells me that she is bored, I tell her that I am very excited to hear that. It means that she is on the verge of a creative discovery of magnificent proportions. If I suggest things for her to do, she misses that magical window into her creativity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just this afternoon, the children were flying paper aeroplanes made out of their pictures. Now I have two kitty cats sitting at my feet asking for milk. Give me a second, I will be back...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4Aqszt1aX1voxex_PWVYk494RszEukbmF6sGIo5GxNarBDA-jvY1eynORwzIp1cv-f-po0i6RYLY0u2HofgnGWwIWm-Zh0jeOkU64t5Nj5RSR0Gfh1LMCDroTMbPA2NThxghvLqlvFk/s1600/IMG_7579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4Aqszt1aX1voxex_PWVYk494RszEukbmF6sGIo5GxNarBDA-jvY1eynORwzIp1cv-f-po0i6RYLY0u2HofgnGWwIWm-Zh0jeOkU64t5Nj5RSR0Gfh1LMCDroTMbPA2NThxghvLqlvFk/s640/IMG_7579.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have my last appointment with a fertility awareness specialist tonight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a really fascinating journey coming off hormonal contraception a year ago. Trying to find a reliable contraception that is not permanent and does not involve hormones has led me to the journey of tracking my cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am also on a journey to align my cycle with the moon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning about how my body responds to stress and how it affects my cycle. It turns out that I am not as fertile as I assumed I was since I have a short luteal phase. It turns out that I have a stress cycle when I have a lot of stress in my life. Which is not good for my hormones and the people living around me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am also learning to live my life <i>with</i> my cycle instead of trying to go on autopilot all month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My period has just ended, so I am capitalising on my energy burst in these two weeks in anticipation of the post ovulation phase where I feel much more sensitive and inward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We do have such amazing bodies as women. I am so in awe of my body. I am so in awe of my power and learning deep respect for my body wisdom, which never ever lies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you track your cycle? I would love to hear about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-11257102302223790632012-06-17T16:11:00.001+10:002012-06-17T17:43:58.257+10:00Some news and a name change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbe2OsysEUAdH6KoC2hnN3PQvFd3ifFc0r0mrHNqinO67MsQGGfn9AddE3VMqmAg9gK7ECKAMLDB_yEXbnA-wcWgI9eVvVSYtrOa0viqXw2xl9VXNvnHD6mtwEC86ivDEse3d71C8c1Kc/s1600/IMG_2689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbe2OsysEUAdH6KoC2hnN3PQvFd3ifFc0r0mrHNqinO67MsQGGfn9AddE3VMqmAg9gK7ECKAMLDB_yEXbnA-wcWgI9eVvVSYtrOa0viqXw2xl9VXNvnHD6mtwEC86ivDEse3d71C8c1Kc/s640/IMG_2689.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been quiet on the blog front.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been spending a lot of time reading, resting and dreaming of my life in a house with a vegetable garden and chickens. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY67g6rtKXk64IYd8UmGXOirmojPS4LsouYgQHnooB1saDf0aq6LB0GmXUJ58IewuuGrQiTvTcnT65dOtGUlvouBfVS8Y0jYRD9qH5kwIJdcMxD09Kyr_JomW8USBysCR8dXosjI21tHY/s1600/IMG_7542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY67g6rtKXk64IYd8UmGXOirmojPS4LsouYgQHnooB1saDf0aq6LB0GmXUJ58IewuuGrQiTvTcnT65dOtGUlvouBfVS8Y0jYRD9qH5kwIJdcMxD09Kyr_JomW8USBysCR8dXosjI21tHY/s640/IMG_7542.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXcxAjzB1ogDMAfe4FRBWu_tm5UpcxTctmD0xh1WXa331ZG2guG0bp7-R4SZzmAdfpcmNv0cfdlFmhipUZ6Fsom_J6akpesHuJ7qfgCYdGPa5gQ2Y88Ypv2kI2SAXmnntr9JnR3F5v28/s1600/IMG_2707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXcxAjzB1ogDMAfe4FRBWu_tm5UpcxTctmD0xh1WXa331ZG2guG0bp7-R4SZzmAdfpcmNv0cfdlFmhipUZ6Fsom_J6akpesHuJ7qfgCYdGPa5gQ2Y88Ypv2kI2SAXmnntr9JnR3F5v28/s640/IMG_2707.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have also been doing some sewing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yoga homework.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfi90Cvc1EZqWo7m06IJL11XYacg_3H6sem3LLHiZhHVRnyIZS3cOA7uDr6J9JFjh8b6HUav0l3gJFji-PimHmCbCNY3Cx1h70NeYXphSysmPS18_gg27lrVGAtn7l8bqNvGziCRL0-c/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfi90Cvc1EZqWo7m06IJL11XYacg_3H6sem3LLHiZhHVRnyIZS3cOA7uDr6J9JFjh8b6HUav0l3gJFji-PimHmCbCNY3Cx1h70NeYXphSysmPS18_gg27lrVGAtn7l8bqNvGziCRL0-c/s640/IMG_7568.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting sick a day before Sohail's birthday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a dear friend come over and bring us home made cupcakes so that we could celebrate his birthday even though I was out of action. How special to have friends looking out for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something else that is special is that the Universe heard my dreams and wishes about my life with a vegetable garden and chickens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About a year ago I wrote out the requirements for our next house:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCE2NG2RX2jGm18fVMz6fsiLdxSfQ_GWUvMG8CKH1sWC2XAh185TAkIh6ho5qmS_B9IoZx2Z4EdVgktFVn_FJIzai5iWVCBSBFSrOMjIn7dJO_PkI7Ro3UYwkhSybt4GKyr6iiuNVJso/s1600/IMG_2732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCE2NG2RX2jGm18fVMz6fsiLdxSfQ_GWUvMG8CKH1sWC2XAh185TAkIh6ho5qmS_B9IoZx2Z4EdVgktFVn_FJIzai5iWVCBSBFSrOMjIn7dJO_PkI7Ro3UYwkhSybt4GKyr6iiuNVJso/s640/IMG_2732.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you can't read my writing it says: near the train line, near the school, wooden floors, natural light, fire place, yoga room, beautiful garden, beautiful entertainment area, a sacred, loving place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And a blessing to Goddess Lakshmi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been sitting on my altar ever since I wrote it. Imagining this life where my children can run outside and play in the garden and I can try out my hand at making us a bit self sustaining and living from the land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had finally decided that this house could not be found. We would have to build it. And that is still a few years away. So I started making my plans to live my self sustaining life in my courtyard in the 'burbs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then, the house came! When I let go of the resistance and attachment to it, it came!Everything on my list, is in the house. And the funniest thing is that there is a vegetable garden already in the house. And chickens roaming in the back yard. And they come with the house!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are all still laughing when we think that the chickens actually come with the house!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We move into the house next month, a year and a week after I made my request to the Universe. It is making me think about the next thing I want to create...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are reading this, I would like you to know that you can do the same thing. We can all create exactly what we want in our lives.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_CdvmOSVSCx9-3Y0zm3Q04pHtrDe8IlJmkwXqCq1aYzkM4ZOaV-nzgU3gq8b3GMHjChHRArpBitwPsSD5HaHdl_C_uVM6kXVxCY8tPpiOo1zj_1yEdaDgQO5hWw6mr7n9VAt61RMfYU/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_CdvmOSVSCx9-3Y0zm3Q04pHtrDe8IlJmkwXqCq1aYzkM4ZOaV-nzgU3gq8b3GMHjChHRArpBitwPsSD5HaHdl_C_uVM6kXVxCY8tPpiOo1zj_1yEdaDgQO5hWw6mr7n9VAt61RMfYU/s640/IMG_2734.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we start packing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I go away in between for the second module of my Dru Yoga teacher training course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I feel that a shift is happening within me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel that I want to share more of what inspires me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And hopefully it will inspire you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am often asked about how I get it right that my children are so peaceful. So happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have obviously come into this life with their own personalities and life lessons. So I can't say that it is all because of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, what I can say is that I am always driven by peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A peaceful home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A peaceful mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A peaceful life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And to be a peaceful mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps I have something to share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps I should go deeper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps I should go lighter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps it's time to change the name of my blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you are now visiting Peaceful Mothering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A place where yoga, spirituality and mothering come together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who knows where this journey will go. I am just being called to take it in this direction. So I trust it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also have a Facebook page now. You can visit it <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PeacefulMothering?ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank">here</a>. I am not sure if that link works. I will try and create a button on the blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you join me on this journey. Life, is really so very beautiful. Let's open our eyes and see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-84327736500934393682012-05-13T10:19:00.000+10:002012-06-17T17:44:12.710+10:00Happy mother's day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In celebration of all mothers, especially The Great Mother who is all around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I find that when I mother through Her, I am able to do it effortlessly. I feel calm, centred, focused, compassionate and strong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> On this day, let us celebrate our birth mothers, ourselves, all the other mothers who do so from their hearts every day, our Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon and the Divine Blessed Mother who is within all of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy this beautiful video.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words by the amazing Clarissa Pinkola Estes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, <a href="http://www.mysticmamma.com/ode-to-great-mother/" target="_blank">Mystic Mamma</a> for sharing this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/Lsw_j2A302w/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lsw_j2A302w&fs=1&source=uds" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Mother's day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-39036237130050190772012-05-08T11:36:00.000+10:002012-06-17T17:44:23.799+10:00Three!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIZTtqCdfQhIWMiPabre9aHtCESzO-lkcMkJr1YXwlHBVnq0cuBdt0a7mixhYapMgq4DmnwBjuNWTsA3tgephNH9zikaof57rL6n5tLFBhpST0HNDoAVnNjVAWs7VjyeNSAHfaRsLBPY/s1600/IMG_7487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIZTtqCdfQhIWMiPabre9aHtCESzO-lkcMkJr1YXwlHBVnq0cuBdt0a7mixhYapMgq4DmnwBjuNWTsA3tgephNH9zikaof57rL6n5tLFBhpST0HNDoAVnNjVAWs7VjyeNSAHfaRsLBPY/s640/IMG_7487.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My big boy is three today.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkx9Odv9SCLgEgpAPIqMO_W0lPiY15Jl1lvMd_GRs5w1vUC3p78DRm4_1RTNRVhCU-ncyIMBeNbjcvqWpuwCMmoZt5wb4k0G7UeBYpYeJt8RBbbi2mrd2KuBFXP59CNrVmcHYZUA5zV-8/s1600/IMG_7532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkx9Odv9SCLgEgpAPIqMO_W0lPiY15Jl1lvMd_GRs5w1vUC3p78DRm4_1RTNRVhCU-ncyIMBeNbjcvqWpuwCMmoZt5wb4k0G7UeBYpYeJt8RBbbi2mrd2KuBFXP59CNrVmcHYZUA5zV-8/s640/IMG_7532.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three ribbons by his door.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWtR62XoJnaZDnufG-5KEvL78ofQvUFMxHr__nVcE0Aynu0wgt6sBc3dVB8N4k9v-ndEKKFEY09lVurSSvRS0u_35qbElZJ6BAml4sM9NA-pxmpMQkDpq5dtZSqJMHyldjZ02PSa43rI/s1600/IMG_7533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWtR62XoJnaZDnufG-5KEvL78ofQvUFMxHr__nVcE0Aynu0wgt6sBc3dVB8N4k9v-ndEKKFEY09lVurSSvRS0u_35qbElZJ6BAml4sM9NA-pxmpMQkDpq5dtZSqJMHyldjZ02PSa43rI/s640/IMG_7533.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A big boy bed and a mama made quilt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made it using some of his old clothes as well as our old bed sheet. Annie even drew a picture of her and her brother which I embroidered on to one of the squares.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quilting, I have discovered a new passion!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYibC3bC8eTmqmPzl7Y-uqe01UO4lGu7iu1Vj-f9lCWMus80fos1M4qwu0porzNdVygKm_4468mcwoY7WQLLygBBbOxhcqp4wIpOYfPpNvm_RsrvG4cvTiab2jUTY8WnJOruPKv6RIK4/s1600/IMG_7540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYibC3bC8eTmqmPzl7Y-uqe01UO4lGu7iu1Vj-f9lCWMus80fos1M4qwu0porzNdVygKm_4468mcwoY7WQLLygBBbOxhcqp4wIpOYfPpNvm_RsrvG4cvTiab2jUTY8WnJOruPKv6RIK4/s640/IMG_7540.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My big boy and his big sister.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is such a happy person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Always laughing, never quiet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy birthday, Xavier, we love you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-45294461908856459192012-04-26T21:34:00.001+10:002012-04-26T21:34:20.361+10:00When was the last time you gifted yourself?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My moon time arrived, I decided that it would be the perfect time to treat myself as the goddess that I am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Our monthly time of bleeding is such a potent time of release.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A beautiful time to release what no longer serves us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It is a sacred time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We are at our most powerful at that time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Did you know that a carnivorous, wild animal that would normally attack humans, will not attack a woman during her bleeding time?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So potent is our blood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Think about how amazing and powerful you are, when next you have your moon time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I decided it was time to buy myself a new candle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6HeQJJTJIlC3kSay-8-MzaywEk5E1axA0wIqmhB3pTPKfzjbwYAins20VkHjuC1VPhT99t-S3SqJqS3a8vA0DNY5uCnTNeUZ_Un3ZlGtwhXOfE6gOFliGRsUC_lOSZ0_8lOIrvGdYys/s1600/IMG_7461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6HeQJJTJIlC3kSay-8-MzaywEk5E1axA0wIqmhB3pTPKfzjbwYAins20VkHjuC1VPhT99t-S3SqJqS3a8vA0DNY5uCnTNeUZ_Un3ZlGtwhXOfE6gOFliGRsUC_lOSZ0_8lOIrvGdYys/s640/IMG_7461.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I went to my favourite shop and picked out the perfect candle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was paying at the counter and the conversation went like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Shop keeper: "Is this a gift, or is it just for you?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Me: "...Um, well, it's a gift... for me."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Shop keeper: "Oh, uh, ok. So you don't want it wrapped then, do you?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Me: "Actually, yes, I do."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The shop keeper gave me a huge smile. Wrapped my candle up and handed it over to me with the reverence that any gift deserves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I received it with great gratitude.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhL80YJBwj5e8aiI7TTuNoHV-CjjYqX6d16MolvAJAEqk2FuF0QdGfD6eLlhIBcT2dfluvXbTWnyVcNCrVoUt4kiEwP0uCC37F58Vg5zrwhbdS2R9UXBQFtlx3wBLcTO4UhVyC5CWlU4/s1600/IMG_7465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhL80YJBwj5e8aiI7TTuNoHV-CjjYqX6d16MolvAJAEqk2FuF0QdGfD6eLlhIBcT2dfluvXbTWnyVcNCrVoUt4kiEwP0uCC37F58Vg5zrwhbdS2R9UXBQFtlx3wBLcTO4UhVyC5CWlU4/s640/IMG_7465.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I took it home and lit it at my altar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My sacred spot, just for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I pulled out a card.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Pele, the volcano goddess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Asking me to follow my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A validation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yes, it feels good to follow our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And so good to treat ourselves as well as we treat everyone else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What have you gifted yourself today?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blessings to you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-22744106191826734312012-02-02T19:54:00.000+11:002012-02-02T19:54:52.431+11:00Eight years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0hHFHBk1vjmaR6VhW9BipXVwalIfWf6FKPwiX9j8dSdZ_gpsm2VFrx8TXhY87pNFR5rojP8lrjRiui-ECIg7562pnBdHNSAk5lz4I6ZS3UMjQo3sTjvG4iHV6SI7tnP7xn5rdUJwt80/s1600/IMG_7208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0hHFHBk1vjmaR6VhW9BipXVwalIfWf6FKPwiX9j8dSdZ_gpsm2VFrx8TXhY87pNFR5rojP8lrjRiui-ECIg7562pnBdHNSAk5lz4I6ZS3UMjQo3sTjvG4iHV6SI7tnP7xn5rdUJwt80/s640/IMG_7208.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Eight years of marriage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We had dinner at home with the children. Eight is a lucky number. It signifies abundance. I do feel very lucky and we have so much abundance in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I thought it would be fitting to take inspiration from Chinese New Year, so we had a Chinese inspired dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dumplings, spring rolls and a whole bream, fried in the wok. I have never handled a whole fish and it was quite confronting for me. We gave that fish so much respect and appreciation for giving it's life so that we could eat our dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">If you are interested, you can read my vegetarian journey over <a href="http://olgastuff.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/eating-meat.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But, I digress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was a wonderful evening. We ended up talking till midnight. We could have talked for longer, but we did have to get up the next day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We spoke about our "creation story". Every couple has it. You know the one where someone asks you, "So how did you two meet?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And you give the same story over and over again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Ours has always been:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"We met in accounting class, how romantic, ha ha!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I challenged us on this story. I said that we had to give more meaning to the beginning of our relationship than that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So we went back 14 years. And unwound the creation of this amazing, soulful relationship that we have. The relationship that pushes both of us to be better people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">All.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We realised that we have not stopped growing since we have been together. Something is always happening. From family dramas, to weddings, babies being born, family members passing away, moving countries, it just keeps coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We also realised that there have been a few blockages in our relationship. Some things we need to heal. Some things we didn't even know we had to heal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This is the benefit of age and hindsight. You can look at things with a fresh perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And make new choices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am so happy that I get to go to sleep with my soul mate every night. We work damn hard on this relationship of ours. And it is paying us such dividends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Marriage is hard work. It is a constant reinvention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I feel that the test of a relationship is whether that person makes you more of who you are. And whether that person makes you a better person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I encourage you to talk about your creation story with your partner. You will gain fresh insights. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Some things are hard to look at. But, we have been given them to deal with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Which means that we are able to deal with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blessings to my husband.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-32715869249872786582012-01-29T21:58:00.003+11:002012-01-29T21:58:56.718+11:00Handbag sewing<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My handbag broke when I got back from Bali.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So, I thought that instead of buying one, I would make one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAL4maHMp1UDSnqQVaMZVMFzaPIfxM5nMlk6Rt9GkOAdOCepa3qJH_VKF-B3e5XNIgFGln9X6Evyb-QBVt3KeLXNrXZKxaniQGFW52GIWilPw3WRRd81RXP4JIhMOyt3yTubyA69aUINk/s1600/IMG_7203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAL4maHMp1UDSnqQVaMZVMFzaPIfxM5nMlk6Rt9GkOAdOCepa3qJH_VKF-B3e5XNIgFGln9X6Evyb-QBVt3KeLXNrXZKxaniQGFW52GIWilPw3WRRd81RXP4JIhMOyt3yTubyA69aUINk/s640/IMG_7203.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It took one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/handmade_home/" target="_blank">Soulemama</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The first bag I have made with a lining.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am so pleased.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I understand why they say this whole sewing thing is addictive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-59514156410401299772012-01-28T23:21:00.001+11:002012-01-28T23:21:54.292+11:00Almond milk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I love almond milk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It's full of healthy protein.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And really yummy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But have you seen the ingredients on the box if you buy it in the shop? Sugar, salt, rice (?!?!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Never mind the price.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Never fear, here is a recipe that won't break the bank and tastes sooooo much better than the box variety.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhJmNN8Cwx8bWQK5jfCGiNrGb1VU53BbiM5rdUNj1GurSvzWI4bcglx20d8TKcXbwbO0BbHvF0hhyphenhyphenWPzLnHQ5BURljf0ZJz_hOwb2D1SqDiSOYr_R6nL475PRXycbpZgKsJf4-ySAeec/s1600/IMG_7181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhJmNN8Cwx8bWQK5jfCGiNrGb1VU53BbiM5rdUNj1GurSvzWI4bcglx20d8TKcXbwbO0BbHvF0hhyphenhyphenWPzLnHQ5BURljf0ZJz_hOwb2D1SqDiSOYr_R6nL475PRXycbpZgKsJf4-ySAeec/s640/IMG_7181.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Soak one cup of almonds in water overnight.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYSmEnGlequZp1kvJ5xRZL6b8LfkbgkvIxFyFH1HN3fgTm_zAWX__pBREqY5LW_rmrCAAMUhtMFTBnlRtcMuGYUIP4QXIkZnb44mf92Shr-2sp2GV7TSg3GXN4PqrPqIAbyzuxg_6smM/s1600/IMG_7189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYSmEnGlequZp1kvJ5xRZL6b8LfkbgkvIxFyFH1HN3fgTm_zAWX__pBREqY5LW_rmrCAAMUhtMFTBnlRtcMuGYUIP4QXIkZnb44mf92Shr-2sp2GV7TSg3GXN4PqrPqIAbyzuxg_6smM/s640/IMG_7189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In the morning, drain your almonds and rinse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Pop them in the blender.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Add three cups of filtered water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blend.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6XNI7wb5ED_kOZAWm8qTokKeAPZdiZK5uGrK4nAAOEiblm6_4s8sObpwDLxaWR6vBNdzam_3_JFo6kjhPMAjyVTAfgSIgiOtpWqbWz3gE-DEAn9bKwLbLUiz-dW_BxmVxZJ7KryWskI/s1600/IMG_7194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6XNI7wb5ED_kOZAWm8qTokKeAPZdiZK5uGrK4nAAOEiblm6_4s8sObpwDLxaWR6vBNdzam_3_JFo6kjhPMAjyVTAfgSIgiOtpWqbWz3gE-DEAn9bKwLbLUiz-dW_BxmVxZJ7KryWskI/s640/IMG_7194.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Strain.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxOnL4YkFMh4RCAUoekjBG7UvzKE2h5n08vevhtzluiRvK_3Kt2jJpXHoTciRee2xDVu4OLWJlxWP4T2EPnDzkzlLiBXAzqTqdWbmKrQkVnii5bOStR4_1SmZXuWmJyjDQxcbnrvtlk8/s1600/IMG_7195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxOnL4YkFMh4RCAUoekjBG7UvzKE2h5n08vevhtzluiRvK_3Kt2jJpXHoTciRee2xDVu4OLWJlxWP4T2EPnDzkzlLiBXAzqTqdWbmKrQkVnii5bOStR4_1SmZXuWmJyjDQxcbnrvtlk8/s640/IMG_7195.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yum!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">(Recipe from Sara Avant, I love her work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Get her amazing book over <a href="http://www.thewayofthehappywoman.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGJ9tK4e6-1sOOTJFK4rFBb0La54SUj6gq-3q6TjFd9ZwNTK3zgQAvNgKzEpyJzQwbzIpeM0Aravu5NHhMrDuM-VmE9m8UU-O_N3ZMHi4OfQMGocxbh2-iJr7X52O8vtKvlU6YJgpYsw/s1600/IMG_7196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGJ9tK4e6-1sOOTJFK4rFBb0La54SUj6gq-3q6TjFd9ZwNTK3zgQAvNgKzEpyJzQwbzIpeM0Aravu5NHhMrDuM-VmE9m8UU-O_N3ZMHi4OfQMGocxbh2-iJr7X52O8vtKvlU6YJgpYsw/s640/IMG_7196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Put some in your green smoothie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Another yum!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">You can use the almond pulp to make bliss balls. Sara has a great recipe in her book, I will share it with you one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Isn't that so easy?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">On another note, please pop over to <a href="http://mylittlesandi.blogspot.com/2012/01/past-few-days-have-been-long-and-nerve.html?showComment=1327751371328#c2383720391979618974" target="_blank">Heather's blog</a>. She needs some loving support right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977255104460769009.post-30907105170406815672012-01-28T11:32:00.000+11:002012-01-28T11:32:06.244+11:00Bali - The first week back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have been back from Bali for a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I did not expect that I would experience such a culture shock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Not from Bali, but from my own country!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I spent my week in Bali waking up naturally, doing an hour of yoga, having a shower and then eating my breakfast at a leisurely pace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I would then intuit what to do for the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I would take my time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I would walk around the markets with no one talking to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">No one making any demands on me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I would interact with people on a personal level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">People would look me in the eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Ask me my name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Bow in gratitude for my mere presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I came back and felt completely overwhelmed by my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This massive home (it's not massive at all by Australian standards) that I have to manage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Clothes to wash.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A family to feed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Children that just keep talking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">All.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Going shopping with the children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And my ability to think, being interrupted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This, I am adjusting to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But, what has made me sad is my interactions with people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was at the counter at Ikea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I greeted the lady.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">She didn't even acknowledge me or look me in the eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was just another body that was at the counter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">She had to move me through so that she could serve the next person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Everything is so fast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Everyone is in such a hurry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Where are they all going to?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What is the rush?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Annie's teacher is from India, she tells me that she has the same feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">She says that it feels like there are fewer hours in the day over here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What do you think of this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I would love to know.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh3AkFXraD6jKjQgvpC7eUpDYh9amCN5-yniGcoJRhXfOI0Bs4n9LYarpu1VcDdMFF43ajjHXnbaqZ8mYNQHFvFExaxqTc8vWoZauisLkXYTCJkM3bgXEFLC_ZB7BbetxminI-3g-jPo/s1600/IMG_7187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh3AkFXraD6jKjQgvpC7eUpDYh9amCN5-yniGcoJRhXfOI0Bs4n9LYarpu1VcDdMFF43ajjHXnbaqZ8mYNQHFvFExaxqTc8vWoZauisLkXYTCJkM3bgXEFLC_ZB7BbetxminI-3g-jPo/s640/IMG_7187.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In our quest to create more simplicity in our lives, we have rearranged our study.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We now have two desks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And Sohail can work from home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">All the rearranging has added to my anxiety this week, but it is necessary and I am glad we have done it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This is a little look at the space I am creating for myself.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysDi5y-Dd-2vFe-LJSDNvzlyttmtPeXNUKDK9gpUyAp9zZL0_ZRrDIVSGNT-WHQ1SELH-ymMs7dP6Tx5S-6-oQjaA3PUqeANs60KK2yE-oj9xSqOMZKPgf8tYc8x9JYPSxF-r5GzpVZY/s1600/IMG_7197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysDi5y-Dd-2vFe-LJSDNvzlyttmtPeXNUKDK9gpUyAp9zZL0_ZRrDIVSGNT-WHQ1SELH-ymMs7dP6Tx5S-6-oQjaA3PUqeANs60KK2yE-oj9xSqOMZKPgf8tYc8x9JYPSxF-r5GzpVZY/s640/IMG_7197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have also been cleaning out the children's play space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This shelf was made by my dad when I was a little girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It is my favourite piece of furniture, as simple as it is, purely because it is made by hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blessings to you.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07553241854872265955noreply@blogger.com1