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… Continue reading Beautiful Heart
Regular readers of Abbie's Babble might be aware of our struggles this year with bullying (my seven-year old daughter has been bullied over the last few months). Unfortunately, things have hit an all-time low and I felt forced to remove my girl from school for the rest of the year (our school year finishes in 10… Continue reading Bullying still sucks
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… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (December 4)
Last week I wrote about how, for the longest time, I didn't think I had a testimony to share. I was ordinary. God hadn't changed my life in big, jaw dropping ways. Or so it seemed. And wasn't that the point of people who shared their testimony at church - the high impact, spectacular stories, the… Continue reading This is my story #testimony
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… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (November 27)
I don't think there is a single person who is living a perfect life. I mean, we all have problems, challenges, issues, trials, tribulations. Whatever you want to call them. There are a lot of us walking through this life hiding the bad stuff, I know I do. So this is probably a good reminder… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (November 13)
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… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (November 5)
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… Continue reading Making Memories
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… Continue reading On the happiness trail … why I quit my job
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… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (October 16)
I have happiness on the brain at the moment. I'm getting intentional about finding my happy. I do think that being grateful and being happy are intertwined - well, for me, I actually know it. Since I started my gratitude journal, I have on some levels, been happier. Definitely more aware of the blessings in… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (September 25)
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,… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (September 18)
I am super grateful that we have a faith-based radio station in New Zealand. Every morning in the car the kids and I listen to the hilarious hosts on the breakfast show of Lifefm. Funny as they are, everything is delivered under the umbrella of being inspiring and encouraging youth with faith on their journey.… Continue reading Thankful Thursday (Sept 11)
I am grateful that... ...Spring is here! The sun is shinning (like it's okay to wear a t-shirt kind of warm), there are lambs, daffodils and blossoms everywhere. Love it. ...There are amazing young women who lead my daughter's Brownies every week. Natalie comes out of there absolutely buzzing every time. I get a kick… Continue reading THANKFUL THURSDAY (September 4)
Oh my oh my oh my. So I've been nominated for the Liebster again. This blows me away. Honestly, I write/blog for me - I pretty much spew words straight from my heart to the keyboard. I'm amazed every time a complete stranger likes or comments on something I've written. Let alone follows me ... and keeps… Continue reading THE LIEBSTER (AGAIN?!)
I give thanks to God every day - for His provision, endless love and grace. This week I am especially thankful that my children are healthy. That we are able to spend time as a family, especially in the great outdoors. That we live in an amazing country which is peaceful, safe and where one can… Continue reading THANKFUL THURSDAY (August 28)
I am thankful for a hockey trip up to Hawke's Bay on Sunday - my home. I haven't been up there since March, it's been hard to face. Hockey kind of forced the issue. It was hard but I've done it now. Phew. Lambs and daffodils - spring is nearly here. Oh my goodness, how cute… Continue reading THANKFUL THURSDAY (August 21)
Daily prompt: Breaking the Ice There are so many causes that I believe in. But it is impossible to support them all. Basically, I want the world to be a better place. I want more of the world, actually I want all of the world, to experience the sort of life that I have. A world where… Continue reading CHANGE THE WORLD
Daily prompt: 10,000 Spoons Irony is the littlest person in the house, having the biggest bed! Seriously, look at the size of that → → → Yes our little person (with the gorgeously big personality) has a KING size bed. We put it up today after picking it up on the weekend - a generous gift. The other… Continue reading ISN’T IT IRONIC
Something different for Thankful Thursday this week. I came across these gorgeous words which really resonated with me. Gratitude CAN turn things that seem hard/bad/wrong/challenging, into positives. I call them lessons. To be fair, sometimes it takes a bit of hindsight to see them (learn the lessons), but as long as we get there in… Continue reading THANKFUL THURSDAY (August 14)
This week some of the things I have written on the Thankful pages of my journal are: Birthdays. Turning another year older is a privilege not given to all so I'm grateful to be 37. Not only that I also enjoyed a birthday weekend catching up with family I don't see all the time. An… Continue reading THANKFUL THURSDAY (August 7)
Let's just get this said up front. I'm not writing this for brownie points. I mean everything I say (write). I have one very truly amazing husband. There are a lot of blog posts, and comments in general, about husbands who don't do enough around the house, husbands who don't spend enough time with kids… Continue reading MY MARVELOUS MR.
Abbie's Babble 