Close your eyes...

....make a wish and blow!

                          You are never given a wish

without also being given the

power to make it come

true!

Sending out lots of love

and

May all your wishes be

fulfilled

Danni xx

Summary Sunday!

It's been a while since I've taken the time to stop and think about what I have to be thankful for this past week - I randomly do of course but to really think and look back on my week in a positive light is what is needed today!

A few close encounters of the non-patient/non-tolerant and inappropriate kind this week from myself - something to keep in check this next week going forward. It's all about lifes' lesson's isn't it???

In no particular order:

I am grateful for my beloved camera. This is like another child to me and I take it just about anywhere... I'm such a lucky girl ... a good camera enables you to take lots of lovely pics... and the wonder of digital photography allows you to take 563 thousand photos before you get one decent one.. without running up exorbitant processing bills.

Finally my very OWN photo of a dandelion on my Blog!



I am thankful that I have my health,  a roof over my head, clothes on my back and people who love me surrounding me. So many others less fortunate than ourselves out there. I  really am blessed. I have a LOT to smile about.

It made my heart melt when my 2 babies were sick together this week ~ they gave each other "huggles" and shared blankets, tissues and water bottles. I love that they are still so full of love even with high temps and sore tummies. I love that they can still smile - even when feeling really rotten.

I am thankful for some sunshine after all the rain and grey-ness we've had lately - great for a day trip out to a park with bubbles and Ice-cream ! The kids had their first ever ( soft serve) "Mr Whippy" van ice cream... I think the photos speak for themselves!

I was thinking this week how very lucky I am to have a bit of an artistic "eye" - and how that allows me to be a bit creative and to do things on a budget ( which pleases the Big Cheese ) . I found a gorgeous little magnet that had "Welcome - family faith & friends" on it - and knew straight away what I wanted to do with it. Found the perfect frame ( which coincidentally matches my little clock) and voila! another piece to add to my vignette on the foyer/entrance dresser/bookcase/junk storage thingy!

This week had some trying moment but also some wonderful laughs and conversations with people very dear to me. I am very blessed with the friends in my life.I love that they "get" me and know what makes me tick ... and what gives me the giggles.... I love that a quick phone conversation can put so many things back into perspective when feeling a little lost ( for example a text message from a very dear ( and very loopy) friend of mine asking me if I'd ever noticed that the cartoon character Miffy's Mum had a moustache.. and if I had noticed.... was I as concerned about this issue as she was?And did I want to join the crusade in saving Miffy's Mum from looking just like her Dad, but with a pearl necklace????? ) ( please remember that I DID preface the description of this friend as loopy!!! But oh how I love her loopy-ness!)

I wish that I could take away my friend's pain and sorrow sometimes and replace it with rainbows and happiness. I hate feeling helpless when friends are struggling with difficult times.I have learnt ( finally ) not to take other's issues on board, but I still hurt when they hurt and want to make it all go away for them. I wish I knew the right things to say.  I can't take it all away - but I'll Close my eyes, make a wish and blow.



Love

Danni xx

P.S: It's just a little after midnight Sunday.... I think this can still count as Summary Sunday! The Photos took too long to ... oh well doesn't matter! Talk soon xx



One of my favourite things ....

Don't you just LOVE to have a steaming hot long shower on a cold windy night after standing ironing for 4+hours??? Please note : yes I said long! No interruptions, no keeping an ear out for sibling domestics, no cleaning the shower while in it... Just a long hot shower to wind down the day...


Next best thing is climbing into a freshly made warm bed in comfy, snuggly pjs to read and regroup before drifting off to sleep... Ahhhhh

BTW ~  I had lost my blogging mojo for a bit - but be warned - I'm back with a vengeance! Things have settled down a little here and there isn't quite as much chaos as there  previously was ... so am not as exhausted and brain fried at the end of the day... and lots of ideas, thoughts and photos to share with you. See you soon

Lotsa Lots

Danni xx

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there!

What does Mother's Day mean to you?

For me it's significance changed significantly

( that kinda sounds wrong but I like it, so bear with me)

once I became a Mum.

For me - it's obviously still about my Mum, but it is also a time for me to

count my blessings and to give thanks that I have the privilege of being

a Mother myself.

There was a time in my life ( a very sad, lonely and sometimes bitter time) when I never thought that

I would ever hear a little voice call me Mummy. It was a time when everyone around me seemed

to be having babies or were pregnant. Mother's Days were always very hard for me - for while

I was giving thanks for my own wonderful mother,

my heart was aching and breaking in two because I was not one.

It was all I ever wanted in the world and I did not have it - I would have traded anything.

 I was starting to give up hope.

How was I to cope with it if that was what was meant to be for me?

But...

Like the saying goes... "All good things come to those who wait" and I am now blessed with

two of the most precious beings on this earth after a 7 year journey.  

As you may have read in a post a couple of days ago, the Big Cheese and I have decided

no more babies for us....

So this Mother's Day - for me, is about my babies.

Finn - my beautiful blue eyed boy.

What a miracle you are and what joy you brought into our lives.

I never thought I could love anyone as much as I loved you from the moment you were born.

I felt totally complete the moment I first held you in my arms.. like the part of me that

had been missing for so long finally clicked into place.

You were such a beautiful baby - with this ginger hair and big blue eyes...

nothing like we'd pictured you to be.

You were even more perfect.

Three and a half years on and you are still the love of my life.

You have the most wonderful laugh, smile and sense of humour.

Words of affirmation are your love language and you know how to use them.

My favourite is: "Mum... I love you so so much" - I could listen to that forever.

You constantly amaze and amuse me little man.

Sure,there are times too, that you drive me crazy...

( Once when I muttered that under my breath, Finn said -

 are we turning left or right, Mum?)

....but I wouldn't change you for the world.

Thank you for being my baby boy.

I LOVE you more.

My other little surprise miracle Ruby.

After all the years of trying to have Finn - you were such a welcome surprise!

The bond I felt with you was immediate - you were my little girl. You were

as dark as Finn was fair and I loved that about you. And so so pretty -

My little cheeky chops.

My little snuggle bunny. To this day 2 years on, you still "assume the position" on my left

shoulder when you need a Mummy "tuddle"

You are such a little smoosher - you love your cuddles and kisses.

Physical touch is your love language as are acts of service - you love to help

and are the first to give someone a kiss or cuddle if you think they are upset or

have hurt themselves.

I'll never forget the first time I heard you say

"Besh you Mummy" in the car after I sneezed. You are just so sweet.

I love that you love your big brother so much and that you have a wicked sense of

humour - never lose that twinkle in your eye sweetie - it will get you far.

Thank YOU for being my baby girl.

I love you more.

Thanks Mum for giving me such a great example to follow.
Love you

Danni xx

I just can't get you out of my head...

I had an encounter yesterday with a gorgeous gorgeous little man at Finn's preschool. I saw him in the morning when he was being dropped off and my first thought was "Oh he looks like a  cherub" He had that white blond hair, big blue eyes and beautiful skin with rosy cheeks. But a real sadness in his eyes.

I also thought about him a couple of times throughout the day ( hectic as it was). When I went to get Finn that afternoon the same little boy came up to me and stood leaning on my leg as I was talking to the teachers. We were having a good old natter and this little one just kept hanging around... I found myself absently playing with his hair as I talked - not even realising what I was doing - just like it was one of my kids. He looked up at me with these big blue eyes and my heart melted. I told one of the teachers how gorgeous I thought he was , that there was something about him and that I hadn't seen him before. They said that he was in foster care and not sure how long he was going to be there. My heart melted a little more.

As we continued our social chat, he stayed by my side - then ever so quietly and gently, I found these little fingers and hand slipping into mine - holding on tight - just like it was meant to be there. My heart melted completely.

I wanted to take him home with us there and then.

As some of you know.. we tried for a baby for 7 long years. It was a long and rocky road and included a lot of heart ache and loss. But - we got there in the end and have been blessed with two beautiful children.( More about this journey in another posting at another time)

Along the journey at several points, I contemplated foster care and adoption. But since having my two, these thoughts have been pushed back into the recesses of my mind ( what a scary place that must be!) - however they have always been there. I am a carer by nature, I can't help it - sometimes to my detriment I know - but that's who I am.

The Big Cheese and I decided a couple of months ago that we wouldn't have any more children - a concept that I initially struggled with - although I supported it, I just couldn't get my head around it. I mentioned then to him that I was OK with this as long as we didn't rule out Foster Care completely... being the big hearted man that I married him for.. he agreed.

I can't help but feel that I encountered this little man today for a reason... after all... I don't believe in consequences, do I??

Danni xx

Thought for the day....

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that" - Martin Luther King, Jr.