Reintroduction: Family

I don't for a second believe that family is only those we are tied to through shared genetics. I grew up with a step-father who is my dad in every way (aside from the obvious biological difference). So I knew from a young age what real family is. As far as my immediate - husband and children -…

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Let me reintroduce myself

There are moments in life that define us - maybe immediately, or perhaps they set off a transformation that rolls out over time. A journey. The last few years have been the latter for me. Quite simply, I'm different to the me who was here two years ago. It's fair to say I've been through the fire…

Beautiful Heart

My daughter is without doubt, the biggest challenge of my life so far. I love her dearly - each and every part of her that makes her ... well, ... her. But boy oh boy is my intelligent, highly emotional, stroppy, strong-willed girl a challenge to every bit of patience that I have. She was the…

I am a wife

Happy birthday baby

I love birthdays. Actually, I love gifts. Buying gifts, wrapping gifts, giving gifts. I absolutely adore watching people open gifts that I've given ... although it also makes me nervous as heck. I always want to make the right choice. Give a gift, no matter how small, that makes someone really happy, makes them feel like…

I’m not enough

I can't be all things to all people. I'm always letting someone down. I know that. On some level, I know that trying to be what everyone else wants/needs is a pursuit that will never end well. I also know that I probably place more of those pressures on myself than anyone else. But don't we all…

It’s been so long it’s a new year!

Hello hello hello my lovely blog world. Happy New Year!!! I have been so super busy since school finished for the summer on 12 December but I have constantly missed the world of blog. I've been away from home (still am) and traveling without a laptop which has forced some serious down time. What can…

Thankful Thursday (December 4)

Oops, I just realised it's Friday and I forgot to post my Thursday post. Well, I'm sure it's still Thursday for some of my readers! This past weekend I was reminded to be thankful in ALL things - I was given this little prompt while doing chores and it was most definitely the recurring theme over…

Thankful Thursday (November 27)

Today is Thanksgiving in the USA so to all of you celebrating this day: For me here in little old New Zealand, it's just another day. But every day is for gratitude and as it's Thursday, here's what I'm especially thankful for this week. This week it is most definitely family. Last Wednesday I was able to…

To my strong-willed, passionate, very loved, almost-8-year-old daughter

Dear Nat You have had a rough time lately and I want to encourage you. I want to tell you that you are amazing. I want you to know that even though we do most definitely have our challenges, we are going to work it out. I want to tell you (again and forever) just how…

Thankful Thursday (November 5)

I LOVE: Being a mum - this is a privilege for me. I love looking after my family, teaching and nurturing, providing a safe and loving home for them. Meeting their needs, while definitely challenging, is enjoyable for me. Yes, sometimes when I collapse on the couch at the end of the day, when the washing…

Making Memories

While super-glue is one potential way to bond a family together, as parents, we firmly believe it's our job to come up with ways to create a lasting bond between our brood. This is especially important in a blended family context. As our family grows and they eventually leave home, we want the kids to want to come back…

Goodbye to my Gran

Last weekend I said goodbye to my Gran. I am surprised how hard her passing has hit me. She was 93 years old and had struggled with her health for a little while now. It was a relief in the end, and for the last week it was inevitable - there was no surprise here but when I…

On the happiness trail … why I quit my job

Last Monday I let my employer know I would not be accepting their offer to extend my contract to the end of 2015. And it felt great! Why would I give away a perfectly good job you may ask? A job that wasn't unpleasant, that offered good hours allowing me to drop my kids to…

Thankful Thursday (October 16)

So much to be thankful for. Always. But especially when I haven't written it here for a few weeks. So here goes, in no particular order, just bullet points today... Two weeks school holidays with my family, only a couple of days where I had all four kids to myself but we made the most…

Oh how I missed my Blogdom

I don't even know if 'Blogdom' is a word. I'm not going to check the dictionary. I don't care, I like it, so it stays! I haven't been in the land of blog for nearly three weeks now and I have so missed reading, writing and interacting - I think I actually went through withdrawal!…

Me and my girl

This weekend Nat and I had an action packed weekend as we headed down to the city (Wellington for those of you who know NZ) to see a show. The show was The Sound of Music - I was super excited to introduce Nat to the story and the songs. I was about the same age…

Thankful Thursday (September 18)

It amazes me how complex we humans are - that I can feel so many conflicting emotions all at once but somehow, manage to compartmentalize, so that the bad does not overcome the good. I have so much to be thankful for, I'm walking in a state of perpetual gratitude at the moment. With that,…

Where abbiesbabble is at

Today Wordpress told me I have now published 100 posts. I have 154 people following me. That's not bad in four months - little numbers for most of you I know but for me, I'm happy. I didn't do this to get followers but I have to admit, I love it when I know someone new has read…

SPRING HAS SPRUNG (YAY!)

Yesterday was the first official day of spring. 1 September. Yippee! Spring is definitely one of my favourite seasons. Lambs, daffodils and blossoms. And hope. I always think Spring has a real sense of hope, more so than any other season. What's not to love?! On Sunday we hit the great outdoors and went for a…

IT’S AN INNIE THING

I have hit THE WALL. Not literally, no car crashes or broken fists or anything like that. But that metaphorical wall has come up and hit me in the face. Again. Before writing this I was sitting in my wardrobe staring at my shoes. For quite a while. Pretty much not having the physical or…

MISSING

So it's been nearly two weeks since I've sat at the computer and written a post. Oh how I have missed it. This little blog that started as 'oh I'll give it a go and see what happens' has opened up my mind - I want to write daily, I NEED to write daily now.…