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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Summer Days at Mount Martha Beach

One of the beaches we visit regularly when we stay on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula is Mount Martha beach. It's an easy walk, or a very short drive, from my parents house and a beautiful place to spend a few hours or to catch a summer sunset.

Summer days; blue skies, wispy clouds, crystal clear water & colourful beach umbrellas...

Iconic bathing boxes...

Perfect!

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Autumn at The Briars, Mount Martha, VIC

The following images were taken while I was staying on the Mornington Peninsula for my Mum's 80th birthday, back in May.  This beautiful rural property, only a short walk from my parents house, is steeped in local history, flora and fauna.

The Briars, a beautiful old homestead, is situated at Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula on 230 hectares.There are many things to see and do at The Briars including the 1800’s historic homestead & gardens, historic farm buildings, wildlife sanctuary and wetlands.

Last time I was at The Briars (Dec 2011), it was a stormy Summer day and the grass was brown & dry. Since then I have had visions of photographing this historical old tractor on a gorgeous Winter blue sky day when the grass was green & lush. This time I got what I was after.

An old timber cart in the picnic area.

The Briars Homestead was constructed from 1848 to 1851 and was used by Alexander Balcombe until 1876 as he farmed the land surrounding it and tended to 100 acres of vineyards. The homestead houses a world renowned collection of Napoleonic memorabilia, established by Dame Mabel Brooke.

Grape vines.

I'm looking forward to going back "home" to see my family on Boxing Day (Dec 26) for 2 weeks. I may not get many photography opportunities as I probably won't be walking very well by then. I am going into hospital today for knee and foot surgery. I am hoping and praying the outcome of the foot surgery is really positive as I have been in extreme pain walking for the last 3 years.

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