Living fearlessly is, for me, living happily. It's about playing life to my own tune. It's about doing what is right and good for myself and my family. It's about doing things that challenge me. It's about living in the moment. It's about making choices that bring true joy. It's about being true to myself in what… Continue reading Reintroduction: Living Fearlessly
I no longer wistfully long for the life I once wanted, the life I dreamed I might grow into. I have it. I'm living my childhood dream. I'm a mama to children who are happy, healthy and fully engaged in everything life throws at them. I'm married to my very own 'tall dark and handsome', who also happens… Continue reading No longer longing
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… Continue reading Let me reintroduce myself
Today I drove through a red light. Seriously, not just, the light was amber and I made a call to sneak through. Nope, the light was red, I didn't even see it, I just kept driving. At an intersection I drive through daily! Man did I get a fright. I'm so grateful for God's protection… Continue reading Red lights
There's a song I've been playing over and over a lot lately. If We're Honest. I love love love this song. The tone, the lyrics, the message, and of course the divine voice of Francesca Battistelli (I love this vibe for her, much more than her more commercial 'pop' sound). Honesty is something that's very much on… Continue reading Note to self: Honesty
Yesterday someone pointed something out to me. Something really important. Something that I thought was a slightly funny but inconsequential moment, was actually potentially significant. Bear with me... Yesterday on the school run I had fractious kids - I blame Monday! I was pre-coffee and not really up for the noise levels that six kids, mostly boys, can produce (I also pick… Continue reading Making memories
Yesterday I posted about being enough. I am enough. You are enough. Even on the days when we feel like we don't measure up WE ARE ENOUGH. This morning a friend posted this story on her Facebook feed. This friend has the most amazingly beautiful heart and I'm almost always inspired by what she posts.… Continue reading Prowess – I am / You are 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… Continue reading I’m not enough
It is only six weeks since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Wow. Seriously, wow! It quite honestly feels like months. I can not believe how much information has been crammed into the part of my brain filing cabinet section labelled 'food and nutrition'. Obviously, I have also had to start a whole new draw in that filing… Continue reading Celiac journey – six weeks in
Have you ever noticed you were watching something on TV that you weren't really interested in ... but there wasn't anything else on? Or you get to bed only to think you'll just check your Facebook page ... one ... more ... time? Or get sick of the kids fighting over who has had a longer… Continue reading Our technology take down
As 2015 has well and truly set itself in motion, I realise how different this year is to the last one. Without getting all deep and personal about the big stuff (for a change), I just realistically, don't have as much time on my hands to blog as I used to. Ironically, giving up work… Continue reading INSTAblogging
Earlier this month we went to one of the most beautiful weddings I think I have ever attended. The setting was gorgeous, outdoors under well established trees in a beautiful garden. We sat on hay bails covered with white taffeta as the sun dimpled through the trees. The groom was handsome, the bride was stunning.… Continue reading When 1 + 1 = 8
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
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
I used to think that I didn't have a testimony. I am so ordinary and I didn't have a big 'ah-ha' moment or life changing interaction with God. "I don't have anything to say" I used to tell myself. How can anything I say make a difference to anyone else? I mean, we've all heard those amazing… Continue reading We all have a story
Over the weekend I had a great chat with my daughter, quite possibly, the best so far. We had a two-hour road trip and we talked. And we talked. The. whole. time. I can't speak for Nat, but for me, that was so good for my soul. I feel like we totally connected and were both… Continue reading When being yourself equals trouble
Imagine if you tried to eat only once a week. I think for most of us, that would be something of a disaster right? Our body needs nourishment, it needs food daily for us to thrive. As my pastor pointed out the other week, we also need to nourish our souls daily - we need… Continue reading Where do you get your nourishment?
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… Continue reading To my strong-willed, passionate, very loved, almost-8-year-old daughter
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'm really starting to annoy myself. Do you constantly find yourself checking for new activity on your blogs, tweetbooks, facetags, instapins and hashmails? 😉 I do. I can hardly wander past my phone without checking the notifications some days. If I'm sitting "watching" the kids at sport, you'll probably find me on my screen a lot. Over at… Continue reading Just put the screen down
I got cross yesterday. Like really cross. Like two hours after the incident I was still steaming. This has always been one of my pet peeves. But now it's getting personal. Some people are just so ignorant, selfish and rude! What am I on about this time? People parking in Disabled parking spots without permits.… Continue reading Random rant: Parking matters
As a baby, my mum used to put me on the potty to read books. I guess that's a form of toilet training?! I have always gained a lot of enjoyment out of it (reading, not the potty, just to be clear). Now, as part of my 'live a life I'm truly happy with' I'm making more… Continue reading Books books books! (a roundup)
Sometimes the amazing kids are labelled the trouble kids. I come across them a lot in my job, which I've written about before. Recently I had a chat with a young person who absolutely broke my heart. After they left my room the song 'Hosanna' from Hillsong came to mind, specifically: "Open up my eyes to the… Continue reading Break my heart for what breaks yours
Abbie's Babble 