Today was my first full week back at work, I work as a primary school chaplain. I love, love, love my job.

I am so blessed to be at two amazing schools, that are so invested in the life of the students.

I really wanted to encourage all the teachers and staff that went back to school this week.

I want to say to you that you inspire me.

I want to say that I see all the extra hours that you do.

I want to say that I notice how much you invest in the students.

I want to say how much you give.

I want to say how invested you are.

I want to say I notice the hours and hours that you do.

I want to say how early you are at school before the students are there.

I want to say that I notice that you will be at school long after the students have left for the day.

I want to say I notice that you are at school on the weekends.

I see the sacrifices that you make.

I see how committed you are.

Be encouraged.

You are making a difference.

I love what you do.

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday I went with my sister to her work, she is an amazing woman that is the CEO of Water Ski Australia.

We went to her open day which was so much fun, this was on the Perth river.

We have such a beautiful river in Perth called the Swan River.

I had decided that I would go water skiing.

Yes!

Now let me share somethings with you (insert venerable moment) that I am a little bit afraid of-

• If I am swimming, I really need to see the bottom of the water
• I don’t like jelly fish, I really don’t
• If anything touches my leg, I might let out a very loud scream
• I am not a very good swimmer.

Well there you go.

But I wanted to face my fear and I wanted to have some fun and an adventure.

So, I booked in for a have a go session and my sister went out on the boat with me.

Oh, my goodness, let me just say that it is really such a physical sport.

The instructors I had were so amazing, kind and especially patient.

I practised in the boat first and then had to put on my skies and jump into the water.

Yes, I did that.

Then it was time to swim towards the bar on the side of the boat.

I think that water skies have a mind of their own and they just were not co-operating with me.

I had to use my strength to make my way towards the bar and yes, I made it.

I did make it.

I had to just not think about the jellyfish and I really didn’t see any.

I think that I was focusing on wanting to get up on the skis, which I achieved.

 

What is something that you have been wanting to do?

I think that the funniest part of the day was me trying to get back into the boat.

I am so grateful for my sister pulling up by my life jacket, to get back into the boat.

There are times that you have to rely on others.

 

2019 for me is to be an adventure, to get out of my comfort zone and say yes to new things.

What is your 2019 looking like?

Would love to hear?

Will share more soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last few days I have had two of my lovely nieces stay with me.

There is so much that I love about being an Aunty, I love just being in the moment with them. I love chatting with them and being there for them.

It is always an adventure.

We did so much and had so much fun.

I love spending quality time with them, they make my heart smile.

Monday was spent showing them the new room that I had set up for them. It was also time for them to help me go food shopping and then I cooked for them the meal that they had requested. I enjoy hospitality.

Tuesday was all about exploring the city of Perth.

We caught the bus in early about 9.05am, and explored our city.

We loved Elizabeth Quay, and took heaps of photos, you have got to love creating memories.

We then ventured into the city and explored and we walked a lot.

I think for my youngest niece she really loved the water fun place at Forrest Chase and being in the water. It is such an amazing place for children, they can go into the water and it magically appears. Yes, she did get very wet, we were blessed that it was a warm day.

We also have some amazing buskers in the city and we stopped and watched this man who balanced some knives on his chin. My youngest niece was so mesmerised by it she said “I am going to try this.”

My other niece and I looked at her and said “No you are not.”

My youngest niece said “Oh with pretend knives.”

What!

We had the most amazing day and yes, we were very exhausted.

Yes, I need an early night.

Will share more soon.

 

 

 

 

I haven’t blogged for 3 days and I am okay with it. Well!  I know that I had wanted to blog everyday for January, but sometimes life happens.

Sometimes we just have to go with what happens and not be hard on ourselves.

It doesn’t mean that I have to give up on this goal, no I will get back into it.

This is a difficult lesson for me and I need to be kind to myself.

It doesn’t mean that I have failed.

No!

Sometimes things will try and derail us from out goal or send us off into another direction. Be encouraged we don’t have to settle for that, we can choose how the story will end.

We can choose, how refreshing it that.

The last few days, I have just been enjoying life. I went out for lunch on Friday and I spent the weekend sorting and organising my house.

I have two very precious guest coming to spend sometime with me this week and I have been getting ready for them to arrive.

They are two of my nieces and I may not be able to blog tomorrow.

I want to spend as much time with them as I can and just be in the moment with them, while they are here.

These are the memories that I look forward to.

These are the moments that I love.

Be kind to yourself this week.

Will share more soon.

 

There is something about a brand-new day.

There is something about a beautiful sunrise.

There is something about being blessed.

There is something about when you wake up with purpose, when you wake up with a passion.

What is your passion?

One of my goals for this year is to commit to two boxing sessions a week.

Yeah!

This week I completed my first challenge.

I am so loving being on holiday’s and just having the space to create.

I am so grateful for having the space to just rest, to just spend time to journal and to discover what is really important.

There is so much that I want to achieve this year.

I don’t want 2019 to just be a copy of 2018, I don’t want this year to be different/

I want 2019 to be the year of stretching, the year that I step out of my comfort zone.

Stepping out of my comfort zone, is something that I want to do this year.

I know that it will be challenging, I know that it will take commitment and yes I am really for this.

I am!

I have this on my heart-I want to make a difference.

This is my heart’s cry.

What is on your heart?

Will share more soon.

 

 

 

I have been reading Lysa Terkeurst book -It’s not supposed to be this way and it is really speaking to me.

Don’t you love it when you pick up a book to read and you realise this is where I am at the moment. This is what I am thinking about.

It is like the author is right there speaking to me.

I am encouraged and inspired by others who can write about their difficult journey or experience.

I am encouraged by their vulnerability and their honesty.

For I long time I have wanted to write about my journey, I wanted to write about recovery and that it is possible. I wanted to write to let others know that there is hope and that you have a future.

I love encouraging others and I want to make a difference.

The book is a work in progress and I really wasn’t sure how I wanted to structure the book. Then a few years ago I started writing devotionals for a publication in America. I had never written a devotional before, I submitted it and it was published. What!

I few years ago I went on a writing retreat and was focusing on how I was going to write my book. I didn’t want there to be triggers for the reader, that was my biggest concern. The amazing person running the retreat met with everyone individually to mentor us. While we where discussing the book, I thought that maybe I could write a devotional about my journey. Yes, a light bulb moment had happened.

As I write this, the focus for 2019 is to get back into my writing.

I am going to look at submitting for publications.

The focus will also be about finishing the devotional book and working on a journal.

Yes, I can do this.

Yes, this is the year.

What are you going to finish this year?

Will share more soon.

Today I finally made it to boxing, yeah!

The first session of the year and not the last.

I love being there it is my happy place, it’s a place where I can just go and be in the moment.

I have had a break from it and not because I didn’t want to go. Life just happens.

Our minds a so powerful and we can talk ourselves out of doing the things that we enjoy.

You know those thoughts that are-

• It is too hard
• I can’t go tonight, I will go tomorrow (a popular one of mine)
• I won’t be able to keep up
• I will start next week
• I don’t have the energy today
• I am tired.

I am sure that you could add a few of your own.

Today I did have some of those thoughts, but I got ready and drove there and embraced the class.

It was a bit difficult, I did sweat but I got through it.

Afterwards I felt great, I loved the challenge of pushing myself to see how many sit ups or push ups I could do.

So, my commitment for this year no matter how I feel is to just go.

No matter how I feel I will not let myself talk me out of doing the things I enjoy.

My plan is just go twice a week, no matter how tired I may feel or not like going.

It is my time to give to myself. It is time to focus on my fitness.

What are you going to focus on?

Will share more soon.