3 September. I loved these rows of little paper people at school pick up today symbolising care@gslc week, as part of child protection week. A beautiful way of creating awareness and sharing that all the students should care about each other and protect each other. I am grateful for the gentle lesson to my children that we are all responsible. That we can all help make the world a safer place, a better place. Simply by caring for each other more.
2 September. B is a fabulous father. He encourages and enables. He loves Kate and Jem with every inch of his being. He believes so absolutely in them. He helps them to laugh at themselves. He helps them to be themselves. He teaches them to be kind, compassionate, patient, dedicated, genuine, authentic and fair. And funny. Because that’s who he is. I am grateful for the wonderful father the girls have, but I’m also just grateful for B. He does this for me too. Except for the funny bit. I’m just not.
1 September. I am grateful that life has gone back to Cawood normal so quickly. Kate and Jem had some loving sisterly chat which ended in Jem storming off to her room. After a while I went to check … and found her lying there having torn a toothpaste box into itty bitty little pieces and spelt out love with a heart, peace with a peace sign and happy with a smiley face. I’m not sure whether I was disturbed at the slight obsessive tendency emerging or grateful that clearly my bleating on about positive affirmations might have registered somewhere. I wish my sister was still at googa, I love, I choose peace, I am happy, this feels good, I love, I choose peace, I am happy, why am I in my room again, I love, I choose peace, I am happy, I know she loves me, I love, I choose peace, I am happy. Or something like that.
Today I am so very grateful for happy homecomings. For a brave daughter who has had a fabulous taste of the adventure that awaits her. And for the reminder of how precious and fleeting this time is. Right now life is back to as it should be. For our family of four. For now. And for that I am immensely grateful.
I am grateful for memories, for friendships that exist beyond this life, for the everyday reminders of those we miss. I will forever honour and respect the memory of my dear friend and her little angel every time I kiss my daughters and hold them close. I had to write a mother daughter letter to Kate and hand it to the camp leaders for an intensive girls night out session they were having this last week. A letter of affirmation, pride and for me, gratitude. In writing my letter I ended with the words to Martina McBrides song, In my daughter’s eyes. It is my favourite mother daughter song, most especially because it was shared by my friend to farewell her sweet little angel and will forever sit in my heart. As will they.
I am grateful for an unexpected gift today. A just because gift. The very best kind. From an authentic selfless aware caring friend. The very best kind.
I am grateful for solitude, wide blue seas and perspective.
We put an offer in on a house. You have no idea how huge that is. Never mind that the egotistical architect owner wants too much for it and won’t budge on his over inflated price or overinflated ego. The point is, we put an offer in on a house. To live in. That is huge. For me who was only coming for a two year adventure. I know its just a house and we can sell it and move on, but its more what it symbolises. To us. Commitment. To being here. To calling this home.
I am grateful for unplanned monday lunchtime feasts, Belmondo‘s sublime chicken liver pate and for my tendency to overcater. Yes, even for a picnic.
26 August. I am grateful for a wonderful family day spent with our child. How beautiful to be with her after three weeks away. Away from life as we all know it. How wonderful to see how much she has grown, how much she has learnt, how full of gratitude she is and how free she has become.
grace and dignity 