When you are reading this, I will be out in the Australian bush camping with my family and some friends. No internet access. No electricity. No phone reception apart from trips into town. These times of unplugging and slowing down are invaluable for our family. Our souls unwind and we are more intentional in our connections with each other. It may not all be perfect and nerves are rubbed at times but that builds deeper relationships as we navigate those times together.  I am thankful that we have taken steps to set ourselves up with the camping gear we need to make these trips possible. I am thankful for my…

What a week! September continues to live up to the anticipated intensity but the end is in sight. This past week has come with busyness, anxiety, mum guilt, beautiful and inspiring moments, family memories, sickness and relaxation.  The MOPS Western Australia leaders conference came together beautifully. It marked my commissioning into the State Coordinator role. I learned many lessons for running conference next year and inspired me anew in this ministry I am privileged to be part of. We have so many amazing women giving of their time and resources to invest in the mothers of our state. The gala night on Friday was beautiful and full of sparkles. I…

As we approach my daughter’s fifth birthday in the week ahead, I have been dealing with swells of emotion. I don’t know if I’m ready to be the mother of a five-year-old! Whether I’m ready or not, it is coming. It comes in the midst of the intensity of the MOPS WA conference preparation, parent-teacher interviews, and beginning hand over into a new role. So much on my mind but so many beautiful life moments and gifts to be thankful for. Spring sunshine. It is such a mood lifter and has me wanting to clean and sort. Hopefully, I will get the opportunity to do so when the intensity of…

September has arrived! My brain is trying to resist this knowledge as September is set to be an intense month with Father’s Day, my daughter’s birthday (and party), our MOPS leaders conference, going away on holiday and preparing for the Write 31 Days challenge in October. Growth and stretching are in process but it is never comfortable to go through. I started the day feeling reasonably upbeat but now sense the creeping in of feeling demoralised and overwhelmed. A perfect opportunity to take the time to look at what I am thankful for this week. Antibiotics! I can talk and breathe again! I try to let my body fight off…

So it seems I was a little hasty in being grateful for a brief battle with a cold last week. I have been more sick this past week than I have in years. I am still fighting hard but feels like a while left in this battle. Finding gratitude  has been far more difficult this week. I am so thankful for my husband this week. He has had to pick up the slack to get essentials done despite an injured back. He even makes night runs to the shops to get treats that will settle my stomach and give me a boost. I am also grateful for my mum who…

The days keep ticking by whether I use them well or waste them, feel overwhelmed or capable, embrace them or dread them. Their progress is not impacted by me. It is my choice how I use my days. On Thursdays, I choose to stop and be thankful. The number one thing on my gratitude list today is the cold I have battled this week. That may seem strange in many ways. I realised today that I am thankful for it as it forced me to rest, it came the worst over a weekend when my husband was home to care for my daughter and me and has seemed to act…

It is amazing what a difference a week can make in your outlook on life. Last week was tough for me. I felt like I had reached the end of my capacity. This week, I feel like I have found another reserve. I dug that new reserve with rest, connecting with God, spending time with my people and processing through my words. I won’t lie and say I have it all together this week. I am learning to get comfortable with feeling stretched. I am learning to let go of some of the standards I hold myself to. I am learning to be more aware of where the minutes of…

On a cold wintery day, in the midst of a week where I am battling exhaustion and re-evaluating where my time is going and how to recharge, Thankful Thursday comes around again. Developing gratitude is good for my soul and focuses my eyes on the good in my life. This week I am thankful for: The impact that merely 15 minutes spent on the beach can have in soothing the frazzled soul within. An added bonus is the effect it has on my daughter. I watch her light up from the inside while digging her hands in the sand and dipping her feet in the cold ocean. Sheer delight! My…

I was reminded over the past few weeks how quickly I can fall out of the habit of noticing goodness and developing gratitude. An epic family adventure can contain so many opportunities for seeing the good but also provides opportunity for unmet expectations, disappointment, irritability and negative thinking. I sheepishly admit to spending too much of my holiday ruminating on the things I didn’t like and turning into a harpy in my mind and sometimes my actions and words. I cringe thinking back on some of my responses. I could try to redeem myself with explanations and mitigating factors or I can spend some time focusing in on some of…