Mountains or molehills

or making a mountain out of a molehill...whatever !

It seems lately everything is a mountain and I am struggling. My to do list is undone and my in box is overfull (as is my email and feed reader).

thanks to Getting things Done GTD

Lightbulbs are exploding in my head as I despair that nothing at all seems to get done despite my good ideas and best intentions.

The path in front of me seems overwhelming at times. It isn't always the big things that wear me down but the constant battles to clean, cook ,budget and maintain a happy household as well as make sure everyone's needs are met.

I was also reading a book in relation to deciding whether a child actions or behaviours or the happening things are a mountain or a molehill.It was interesting to consider and take the long view ...

Does it really matter if he wears baggy pants ?
Does it matter if he hasn't emptied the bin ? ...well no and yes one bag today and tomorrow a mounting mess.
Does it matter if leave folding the clean clothes another day or that dishes are in the sink ?

How we react or respond can also make mountains out of molehills both for ourselves and heap that attitude on our children /spouses.

A very dear friend of mine with young daughters has a very cluttered and untidy house. It also needs a good clean . She works full time and now so does her Dh ...he usually gets home 3hrs earlier but still nothing much changes. No surprise to many ;) of us supermums.

I am not bothered by their 'mess' we only get to visit a few times a year because we live a long way apart. I feel for her and I know it is not her choice.To them maybe it's all molehills. It just isn't important enough.

I know it just wouldn't work in our house , the chaos that reigns in their house would have us tearing our hair out and strips off each other. We would snip and snap constantly.

Too much mess is our house feels like a mountain and creates stress when we run late and can't find important papers,the chequebook or even the twins preschool gear. When the drawers are empty and the clean laundry is piled high waiting to be folded by the good fairies tempers flare.

I know sometimes we are masters at making molehills out of mountains.Except for some organisation the long view says getting basic things done helps minimise the mountains in our lives. Putting off 'our little molehills' soon gets out of hand and you have an impossible mountain to climb just to get to the other side...or the bright side.

I still stick to the mantra this,too shall pass .
As Regina says

• When in doubt, just take the next small step.
• Take a deep breath. It calms the mind
• Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
• If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
  

I found this view at Unconstrained Thinking quite contrary but it was food for though sometimes it actually works to make a mountain out of a molehill !


♥

Never miss a post

Weekly Winners 30 2009

July 2oth - 26th

We went to a small wildlife park in the middle of suburbia ...it's 37 yrs old and hasn't changed much since I went as a child , then took my teenager as a toddler and school child. Monday my friend and I took S & J to enjoy one of Australia's largest private collections of Australian native animals and bird life.


uThey got to hand feed a kangaroo, wallaby and pat the emu or a face-to-face encounter with one of the friendly koalas and a wallaby

Fairy Penguins

Dingo puppies

Wombat

Koala

Turtles & Platypus

White Peacock

Echidna ...needs a hug

My friend brought her friend and two six old boys,One of 6 year olds told her this bird was a Road runner and she believed him ... Golden Pheasant

Tasmanian Devil...at risk

Lazy wallabies and kangaroos

Kookaburra

My little aussie debil ...it was hard to keep him out of the animal enclosures

We had beautiful weather and a wonderful time.
Weekly Winners is a meme to show off your favourite snaps of the week ,not a competition so anyone can join in the fun ...
Please go see more Weekly Winners @ Lotus's Lotus especially has some breathtaking images.

♥

Never miss a post

Tragedy ...

My husband came home Monday to say he had heard some tragic news. A local man (
a father of 7 children ~aged 6 -18) had been killed in a motorbike accident on Sunday.Someone who came into our business had mentioned it to him in passing conversation.

We knew S because he had been a customer of ours a few years ago. He was a local real estate agent at the time. A few years later we purchased a new (7yr old) house through his agency. It was with one of his employees though not S.

The day we had the settlement on our house S was there for the final inspection. The day was very significant in that is was also the day we had to say our final goodbyes to our baby daughter. We couldn't delay the settlement without major penalties.

It only involved us having a 'walk' through inspection of the house so we went ahead despite the circumstances and her funeral being 2 hrs later. S was very sensitive and very caring. He expressed his genuine sympathy. I was very, very surprised. It made a big impact.

Then he mentioned his baby daughter had died two years prior.He offered us his card and phone numbers ...said if we needed to talk (or to his wife too even)...

By coincidence I later met his wife at a Baby/pregnancy loss support group .Their infant daughter had died at 18 days old tragically from meningitis. His wife came to the monthly support group only a few times as she had 6 children (another son had been born after they lost their daughter). Though children were welcome at the support group there was no childcare. As you can imagine it was difficult with noisy toddlers, running about, to grieve so she stopped coming.

Though I did not know S personally I feel tremendous sadness for his loss, for his 6 living children. They were on holidays at the time. The newspaper alleges his motorcycle was hit by a car doing a U turn. It will affect their lives forever , as well as the other children in sporting teams he had coached , his family and friends.

My bloggy friend Al, who blogs at 3 timesKewl also has a new blog called One second. A blog to promote and encourage people into safer driving and making safe decisions when about to drive.

One second is all it takes for someone to make a fatal mistake when driving. Al's husband lost his life due a drink driver, a tragic victim of another man's bad choices. Al, lost the love of her life and his children lost their father forever.

One second is all it takes to make good choices too .

It aims to facilitate discussion and help raise awareness of safe driving practices.Most importantly, it is about giving conscious thought to your defining seconds, and making them count.

My favourite from one of Al's latest posts ... only because I can't link this bit directly.

Every time you get behind the wheel, you take people's lives in your hands.

Every time you turn the wheel to steer around a corner - you choose life.
Every time you break - for a red light, to adhere the speed limit, to safely take the bend - you choose life.
For every second you have your eyes on the road - you are choosing life.

Alcohol
Drugs
Speeding
Driving distracted

These things impede your ability to turn the wheel, to take the bend, to see the red light, to drive safely -

To choose life.

Please go visit her blogs and encourage her too.
♥

Do you jiggle or dangle ?

... do you even know what I am talking about everybodys jiggling, everybodys jiggling we love our Liptons jiggler tea its quality number 1



Aussies do you remember this ad ?

I won I won a Lipton tea pack , with a fantastic Tefal quick cup from the gorgeous Leigh who blogs at All for women ,Crazy meezer and That's Noice.

I tried it out and I love it already.It's prefect for me during the day.
I am forever boiling the kettle and forgetting, then re boiling ...oh maybe 2-3 times over 4 -5 times a day.Now at the press of a button I have a steaming hot cup of tea in 3 secs well not including jiggling time ;). It's instant not preheated.

DH is forever waiting for the kettle ...not any more that will save his energy and me waiting.
It's energy saving up 65% and is filtered water too.
I also won some beautiful sunny yellow Maxwell & Williams mugs and some Lipton tea.

It is also safer when you have toddlers around who might grab a kettle with hot water still in it.
Tefal quick cup can also give filtered water (@room temperature).
Thanks Leigh and Lipton for my prize.

Right now, 50% of Lipton Black and Lipton Yellow Label sold in Australia comes from Rainforest Alliance certified farms.Lipton aims to achieve full certification by 2015. It's the first tea in Australia to receive certification.

To win I had to share my favourite tips for being a “little greener at home”... It's worth reading all the submissions on All for women blog.
What little things do you do at home to be a good global neighbour?
Ps I'm a jiggler ! Come have a cup of me with me ...and Leigh when she organises the next blog meetup ...
I love this ad too
♥

Never miss a post

Weekly Winners 29 2009

July 12th -19th edition 29

Dangling boots

Gate Keepers

S wasn't well ...

Their return brought back his smile A bike ride ;) with Daddy

Feathered visitors

new cows

Even the Birds were cold

He did not like being chased by small boys ...

Old hay/machinery shed

New Hay Shed

HOMEWARD BOUND

...I had more to show you but I have an early start tomorrow ...
What I didn't take pictures of
... the new Bull who they found with a broken leg and had to be euthanized
...and the newborn calf the foxes got
...the crazy weather rainy/overcast/ sunny all in 5 mins
the rivers of snot ... (LOL not so funny since we all have the lurgy now).

Weekly Winners is a meme to show off your favourite snaps of the week ,not a competition so anyone can join in the fun ...
Please go see more Weekly Winners @ Lotus's Lotus especially has some breathtaking images.

♥

Never miss a post

Ease a cold ...tell me how you do ?

Yes, I've been away and we all returned sick or sicker ...

In the blue corner, rocking ... on the recliner we have the 'man flu' with J, nursing a hearty dose of toddler temperatures , lung hacking cough , ear infection and a vomiting bug warming his lap.It is serious people.

In the brown corner ...is his twin S with temperatures, similarly hacking cough ,red ears and a bump on the head thanks to mummy lifting him into the car.

Next to S is me, with the 'wife flu' , a still sore ankle and mouth ulcers.Woe is me ...because , well because yes people man flu is much more serious than wife flu ..of course you all know that !

I spent a small fortune at the Dr's, pharmacy (x two trips) and then the supermarket for tissues and anti cough mixture (that I just discovered under 5's can't have - poor babies) Mouth ulcer gel, and other 'commercial' natural remedies ...Ease a Cold please tell me it works.

So I am asking what do you do to ease a cold /flu ... Kate has already been suggested I send him to his mother ;). Unfortunately , the same toddler warming his lap has a serious case of Daddy adoration and I'd miss him...well both of them (never mind the whinging).

I act out of love in caring for them all and I really don't mind.I know I can handle things better being a former nurse and all.

One of my favourite quotes last week
# 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

My friend Janice thinks

Love is more than three words mumbled before bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day.

I agree and I meditate on these four words well being a family blog ... This, too will pass ...

Seriously ...what do you do when you have a cold /flu symptoms to ease them ?

Share your best tips ...please and help me out !

Ps S is now asleep cuddled up to me on the lounge ... yes he is still sick it is now even 8pm and no where near HIS IDEA of bedtime and OMG he hasn't had his milky.
♥

Never miss a post

Weekly Winners 28 2009

July 5th -11th edition 28

Nesting time ...the zoom on my camera shows me so much detail I'd otherwise miss

Blue skies and windy days

Farm Feathered friends

Hardhat Dam ...

Old Cattle ramp

Smiles, Sore noses and shiners in the new birthday tracksuits

Paint is not edible son !

Under the blanket day

Dreaming of going up and away...

Yes, I am a little late . It's been a busy week and a week for laying low with the winter lurgies (?sp). It was my birthday though I didn't get to scare the fireries this year.
We are away at the farm for a few days so my access is restricted to when I take the boys to the park ;) or into town to play at the golden arches. I promise to visit you soon.

Weekly Winners is a meme to show off your favourite snaps of the week ,not a competition so anyone can join in the fun ...

Please go see more Weekly Winners @ Lotus's Lotus especially has some breathtaking images.

♥

Never miss a post

Waste time faster and other musings ...

I saw this funny sign here the other day for high speed internet with power boost .I like it and I'd like it.

I am forever wasting time waiting for my connections to connect or pages to load .I just want to hurry them up. Then I waste time ...well not that I don't learn, laugh and cry as I connect with humanity.

There are 86,400 seconds in day and I waste too many of them.Exploring my time wasting activities is anxiety building.
Sometimes I stress about the time I waste on the Internet. Time I should could perhaps be using more wisely or productively.
Time I could be doing more cleaning ..nah , cooking , spending with my family and playing with precious little boys.
Little boys who are growing in the blink of an eye and soon won't want to be seen in public with me *sigh* play with me.

I have read some tragic news stories and blog posts recently of children dying too soon or disabled in accidents.

So, today take some time out to hold your children close.
Tell them how much they mean to you.
Show them.
Play with them.
Get down on the floor dirty, messy and laugh! ...with them and at them.
Time is fleeting don't waste it. Time spent with your children is never wasted.
Oh and don't wish whatever stage they are at to be over faster ... I so miss the snuggles of my tiny babies, though preschoolers do give the best hugs.

They keep me on my toes but I couldn't imagine it any other way!thanks Heather

♥

Never miss a post

My odometer rolled over today

and gladly I celebrate another trip around the sun.I'll leave the maths to you ...

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more

Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion... Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27 Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.
I highlighted some of my favourites.
♥

Never miss a post

Operation beautiful ... join

...I found this on Carly's blog. It spoke volumes to me. I struggle with my self esteem and beauty or lack of. It makes me anxious that people think less of me.

I feel ugly and very self conscious about my appearance due to the NF and a turn in my eye though not so much my weight as it is the one area I can control.
I know the narrow definiton of beauty as per the fashion industry and media is not one size fits all. My head tells me it doesn't matter but ...


visit www.OperationBeautiful.com to read the latest notes .

I am going to do this ...today in the ladies toilets at church playgroup ;).
To all my beautiful online friends

You are so beautiful ...

off to find my post it notes, if my three year olds have left me any.

♥

Never miss a post

Weekly Winners 27 2009 Birthday Edition

June 28th -July 5th edition 27

Playgroup ...2yrs 364 days old

Goodnight 2 yr & 364 day old Joel

Goodnight 2yr & 364 day old Sam

Yes, it was a big week and weekend with lots of food consumed, mini cupcakes galore all week

... the scales are hiding under my bed.

The smallest present they opened first ...my boys ♥ chocolate (for breakfast)

Bubble machine
...that we forgot all about at the party

Of course they had to sing Happy birthday to themselves

mmm cake

More cupcakes more birthday...
Playgroup #2

thanks to Planning Queen for the Milky way car idea

Mummy -you didn't light Joel's candles !
(I wanted them to have their own happy birthday sung because they shouldn't have to share everything)
(See the hand ... not mine but 7yr old nephew
I wasn't taking the photos and didn't notice till I uploaded them LOL )

We had lots of balloons ... lots got popped or blew away to angels in the sky ;)
Did I mention cupcakes ?
(I actually made 12 dozen mini cupcakes over the week I kid you not with not a single one left in the house)
Plus Gluten free chocolate ones that TRC brought...mmm

The house is a bomb , though we all had fun ...phew.
We got to meet Blossom (a lovely blogger and her family ) and we're delighted to see our friends from Three Ring circus again.
Happy 3rd Birthday Joel
Happy 3rd Birthday Sam
Weekly Winners is a meme to show off your favourite snaps of the week ,
not a competition so anyone can join in the fun ...
Please go see more Weekly Winners @ Lotus's

♥

Never miss a post

Almost Wordless Wednesday Happy 3rd Birthday

Happy Birthday S & J

Read my Birth Story here
Today is also the anniversary 4yrs ago when I started blogging ...my first post is here ~ well it was one post ;) not My little drummer boys then .Most importantly is it the day we started our first IVF cycle and i never for one minute expected the joy my babies have brought.