Happiness & Gratitude is a Choice

I was talking with a dear friend recently about unrealised dreams and how we respond to the storms in our lives.

For me, these unrealised dreams came in the form of a broken marriage. Since I was a little girl, I had dreamed of a long & happy marriage to a man who loved me unconditionally, “until death do us part”. However, after 14 years of marriage, during which I lost 2 babies to miscarriage, I also lost the father of my 4 (+2) children to adultery & abuse.

It would have been natural, to allow negativity to overtake my thoughts and steal my joy. However, I chose rise above my circumstances; to stand and praise Him anyway through these times of trauma & loss, and to be thankful for what I have rather than what I have lost.

My friend had a very similar story to me. We were discussing how we could have responded very differently than the way we did, and the affect that would have had on our own lives and the lives of our children.

It took time to heal my wounded heart... before I found peace, contentment, forgiveness and happiness in my "new" life as a single Mum to my four young children. God carried me through, just like in the well-known poem “Footprints”.

However, it would take 12 years of single parenting until I finally met the man I had dreamed of as a child (and surprisingly, he was a man I had known since I was 6 months old)!

The biggest lesson I have learned through all my life experiences is... Gratitude in all things!
It's a choice to be grateful. It's a choice to extend forgiveness to those who hurt you. It's a choice to find joy in even the toughest situations!

Just last week, I lost that dear friend... she died from complications after giving birth to her 7th child... she leaves behind 6 young children. To say I am sad is an understatement. I will miss her terribly.

Her loss is a reminder of how unpredictable life can be. We never know when our time is up; there is often no warning, no time to prepare. I believe it is important to never leave things unresolved. My aim is to make sure that the last thing I have said to my loved ones is "I love you".

**This post is dedicated to my dear friend Vicki Leanne Butler. Until we meet again, Vicki!**


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At the Lake

Each time I visit the lake at Minnippi Parklands, it looks so different.
These images were taken way back in 2013, after a LOT of rain... The lake was at full capacity.

I love this image; the cloud formations were particularly superb that day!

I really love Minnippi lake! Each time I visit, the scene is so different.
The following shots were taken in 2012.

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GRATITUDE: A Belated Thanksgiving Post.

The 19th November marked 7 years since my car accident, which has challenged my life in so many ways.
If I had to pick the biggest thing that I have learned over the last 7 years, it would be that living in GRATITUDE every day is incredibly powerful and life changing. My focus has been not looking back on the past, not focusing on what was or could have been, but rather focusing on the blessings in my life on a daily basis. I cannot adequately convey the benefits that daily gratitude has had on my life.

2016 has been a year of enormous change in my own life and for us as a family. We have had huge breakthrough in reconciliation with my oldest son, who is now back in our lives but sadly his marriage has broken down. 4 weeks ago, we were given court ordered time with our 4 grandchildren on a weekly basis which has been wonderful! All of this has been a huge answer to our constant prayers!

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation." ~ Brian Tracy

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." ~ Bill Keane

"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse." ~ Henry Van Dyke Read

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." ~ Melody Beattie



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Storms and Sunsets

Sometimes a passing storm can deliver a lovely subdued sunset.

We can also experience this in the journey of life -- although 'storms' may hit us and toss us around, there is always something positive that comes from these experiences.

Whether we learn from them, we grow as a person, our character is tested and strengthened or our courage increased.

These storms serve to shape us, to make us the best version of ourselves -- if only we are humble enough to allow it.

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." - Helen Keller

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Golden Hour at Minnippi Parklands

"Lost - yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever." ~ Horace Mann

One of my favourite "go-to" places for sunset is the local lake in our area. If the clouds are cooperative, you can be assured of a stunning sunset along with the resident bird life.

The serenity is therapy for your soul. The colour is a feast for your eyes.

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