New Year's Resolutions 2013

Yep, it's that time of year again.

Time to look back on how things went over the last 12 months.

And time to look forward and set goals for the year ahead.

In my New Year's Resolutions post at the start of 2012 (found here), I set out to do four things:

• Respect my body.
• Improve my parenting skills.
• Spend more time with my husband.
• Spend more time with God.

I made a little bit of progress. I read quite a lot of 'Toddler Taming', and went on about four date nights with Neil. I kept good health during my pregnancy (it has fallen away a bit since then), and read the odd devotional. But I haven't really got there with any of them yet.

Not that it is clear where 'there' is!

These areas of life will always require attention. They're not goals I can cross off as done.

However, in 2013, I'd like to frame things slightly differently. Once again I'm focusing on broad principles. But I'll try to break it down into specific and achievable goals.

I'd like to make 2013 the year I Nurture The Relationships In My Life.

Specifically, I'd like to focus on my relationships with God, myself, Neil, my children, my family, my friends, my church, and others.

In measurable terms, I will:

• Make the gifts I give to my family and friends. I'm already full of ideas. Just expect that your present might be a little bit late to arrive - especially if you're one of the seven people with birthdays in February!

• Go on one date night a month with Neil.

• Invite someone to our home for a meal each month. No matter what the house looks like.

• Go on a family weekend away quarterly.

• Spend some quiet time alone in prayer every day. Even if it is in the middle of the night.

• Look into starting a small Bible study group with other parents of small children. Maybe mums one week, and dads the alternate week?

• Find a way to convince myself I am 'good enough'.

I'm not sure how achievable that is, but I'll give it a go!

What about you? Do you have any resolutions for the year ahead?

Two Little Tongan Girls

My friend Donna recently returned from working as a volunteer in Tonga for six months.

The girls greeted her with great excitement, and enjoyed games, cuddles and tickles when she came over for dinner last week.

She bought Grace and Charlotte each a grass skirt and tropical flower hair clip, and they had great fun dressing up.

Grace very quickly got into the spirit of things ...

... and even Charlotte busted some moves.

Thank you Aunty Don Don ... it's wonderful to have you back!

Community

Neil has been in hospital for almost 2 weeks now. It feels like a lot longer!

He doesn't have a specific discharge plan as yet, but there is just over a week until our scheduled holiday with my family. The girls and I are going, and hopefully Neil will be out in time to come with us. Otherwise I'm sure he'll be discharged by the time we get back.

The first four or five days were particularly hard. Partly from a practical point of view, but predominantly emotionally. I was concerned about Neil (he has depression), upset myself about some of the circumstances, and dealing with the girl's reactions. They were very clingy, panicked if I was out of eyesight even briefly, and much more difficult in behaviour.

Thankfully, things have improved since then. I can sometimes even go to the toilet or have a shower on my own (hooray for the TV and DVD player)! We have all settled into a bit of a routine, and although it is very tiring and hard work, I'm feeling quite confident that we can manage.

A lot of that confidence comes from the support I have received from a whole range of different people:

• The cleaning lady has stayed an extra half an hour each week without charge, and helped with the laundry. Today she even disposed of a dead rat in the drive!
• A couple of people from church have given me food, and another dropped in to visit. 
• My friend Nicole has come each Sunday afternoon bearing a delicious dinner, to play with the girls, help me take the rubbish out and do other jobs, and just generally be here. 
• My friends Lydia and her husband Wayne have looked after the girls twice - once while I took Neil to the hospital, and another night so I could visit him on my own.
• Two mums from the street introduced themselves and invited me to bring the girls to a play date last Friday afternoon.
• A number of my work colleagues have been cooking dishes and bringing them in for me. I haven't really had to cook much at all!

It is quite humbling and comforting to realise I am a part of several different groups in the community, and to feel them reaching out and supporting me. I'm not on my own. Hopefully one day I can return the favour to someone else who needs it.

Friends

I am fortunate to have some wonderful friends, all over the world.

Tonight, I just want to briefly acknowledge two of them.

Nicole

Donna

Donna and Nicole have been my closest friends in Melbourne since I moved here 10 years ago. We have attended church together, socialised together, gone on walks, shopped at markets, had weekends away ... and done lots of talking. They organised a hens dinner for me, and were bridesmaids at my wedding.

Now I'm married, and have small children, things have changed a bit and we don't see each other as often. But even though I live a good 30 - 45 minutes away, each one regularly makes the trip to come over for a meal or a visit, and the girls love them both.

I'll always remember having my first major hand surgery while living on my own. I was unable to use my right hand for three months. Donna and Nicole brought meals, did my ironing, and provided a lot of other practical assistance to help me cope.

There are too many other examples to mention. Helping paint the fence of my new unit, listening and giving good advice regarding past relationship woes, encouraging my feeble efforts to exercise more ... I could go on and on.

Last night, Donna rang to ask if she could visit today. She came early afternoon, and played with the girls while we did a few jobs. She brought us a lovely dinner (including yummy dessert), and stayed to help me sort through and pack some boxes before going home. It's not the first time, either. I really appreciate the gesture of support and friendship.

Thanks heaps, Donna and Nicole. I think I've taken a lot more than I can give for awhile now. But I really value the friendship and support you continue to offer. You're the best!

Christmas Day 2011

Christmas Day started in our home around 6:00 am (as most days do), with Christmas stockings to be emptied ...

... followed by lots of presents to be unwrapped!

Grace spotted her toy kitchen straight away. It was a bit hard to wrap! She loves it, and has played with it for hours already. Many thanks to Grandpa for his superb assembly work.

Grace also loved the play dough toys Aunty Janelle and her family sent ...

... and looked lovely in the new top Mummy bought her (playing with Charlotte's new camera).

The morning was spent enjoying all the new toys (including Daddy's new coffee machine), while I prepared for lunch.

We had thought it would just be the four of us, but were really pleased to be joined for lunch by my good friend Nicole, and her sister Michelle. They spent Christmas with us two years ago, so it all felt very relaxed and like family.

About 12:30 pm we sat down to a lovely Christmas dinner (recipes will come in another post) which included:

• Sweet onion cheesecake with cranberries and sage
• Cashew, cheese and walnut roast
• Gluten steaks with homemade gravy (made by Michelle)
• Baby potatoes with rosemary and garlic
• Little corn cobs
• Honeyed carrots
• Steamed broccolini
• Roast pumpkin
• Roast cherry truss tomatoes
• Salad with orange, grapefruit and walnuts (I don't know it's official name, but it was a contribution from the girls and was very yummy)

After dinner, my wonderful husband achieved a miracle, and managed to convince both little girls to have a nap, at the same time, for about two hours! Bliss! I promptly went off for an hour's nap of my own (the best present I could have asked for!), and Michelle also had a rest. Neil and Nicole kindly cleaned up and solved the world's problems in our absence.

After waking up, Grace was delighted when Nicole brought out a gingerbread house kit. Together they assembled and decorated it, and were very proud of the results.

Daddy and Charlotte enjoyed watching the creation take shape, until it was all too much and they needed a rest.

Rosie felt the same way!

We hope no matter where you were, and what you were doing, you were also able to enjoy some special time on Christmas Day this year.