Love In A Clothes Dryer

You know what I love ...? How every time I use my clothes dryer I am reminded of my mother and her love for me.

We never use clothes dyers and instead always hang our washing on the line. Living where I live it hardly rains and is often warm so it has always worked for us. We therefore viewed it (or more so I agreed to view it) as an expense we didn't need.

It has rained all this week and today I had no choice but to use our clothes dryer and when doing so I felt so grateful (like I have said this gratitude thing hits me anytime, any place). I felt grateful to own a dryer when I remembered why I owned one. My mum bought it.

My other half never would never ever have agreed to spending money on a dryer so my beautiful mum, god bless her, bought me one when my second son was born. She told me it was my baby gift and even apologised at the time for giving me such a crappy gift (which it so clearly wasn't!!)

Mum told me that now we had become a family of 4 I'd be needing it with the amount of washing I'd soon be doing. It sat in the garage for most the time she was alive, too big to fit in our small laundry and was hardly used.

Today however and in the past few years (mainly since she has left) it is used more frequently and every time it is I am reminded of her.

Its funny the things that become dear to you when a loved one passes. Sometimes its something as boring as a clothes dryer.

It has shown me though that we never do know how a gift we give to another will touch someone some day. I never would have thought all those years ago that a clothes dryer would hold as much sentimental value as this one does to me.

Caring For Another Mans Children.

You know what I love .... seeing a man care for and provide for children that are not his.

In the supermarket earlier I passed a girl I knew and her two children. Pushing the trolley was a man who I know for a fact is not their father. He was playing with them, kissing them and treating them as though they were his own.

When they time came to pay for the weeks worth of groceries I watched as he pulled out his wallet and paid for them all.

I personally believe it takes a strong man, a good man, an amazing man, to love a woman and her children, and to provide for another man's kids.

That man today earnt my respect. Bless him and his heart.

Starting Conversations

You know what I love? How kindness and love spreads.

I was in the supermarket earlier today to pick up a few things. A lovely older lady served me and as she showed interest in my 2 year old (he was climbing up and out of the trolley) I decided to start a conversation with her. We spoke about her grandchildren and how crazy they were and children in general.

Not long after another older couple join the cue and as I pay and leave I notice that they begin a conversation and carry on from where we left off, grandchildren. The whole mood and atmosphere in the line changed. One friendly conversation changed it.

I have learnt people are dying for connection. To be spoken to and seen. It doesn't cost a thing to say hello how are you, and really mean it. Yet how many of us do? The days I do it always reminds me how much I must do it more.

Give Away The Old.

What I love ... charity.

Our neighbors across the road are in the process of moving and today I watched as the Salvation Army truck pulled up and loaded some very nice high quality leather couches. Couches this couple could have quite easily sold yet instead they gave it away for nothing to the Salvos.

I too choose to give to charities as I often as I can. Only a few days ago whilst cleaning the bathroom I noticed Gabe's baby seat he no longer uses. In that spur of the moment random moments I have I decided to take a photo of it and placed it on a for sale facebook page. I listed it as free to anyone who feels they need and would benefit from it. An hour later I had a young mother of 2 at my door taking this much loved bath seat from me.

Both her and her husband had contacted me and told how this seat came at the perfect time. Bath time for them had become a huge hassle and battle with their almost 3 year old and 6 month old. The husband was constantly trying to juggle the both of them. He told me only the night before he was thinking how handy it would be to have a bath seat. Then the very next day he logs onto facebook and the first thing he sees is my post listing a bath seat for free.

Sometimes life just works out and I love it when it does. I love how on that day at that particular time I decided to clean our bathrooms and in a random moment of me decided to put the baby bath seat up for sale and list it for free. It reminded me how we all hold onto items that for whatever reason we no longer use and no longer serve us. Items that when given away and shared benefit others in a way that it never could us. I love giving.

Love Is. Broken Beads.

In the above photo is a gift I was given today. I want to tell you more about this gift and why its so special. I receive many of these ‘gifts’ all as unique and all just as special…

As some of you may know I visit an elderly lady weekly. I met her through a Red Cross Volunteer scheme and what a blessing it has been. It fills me with so much joy and the friendships I have since made are nothing but treasures.

Today I visited Olga again and shortly before leaving she dug into her bag and pulled out an old vicks container full of beads, many broken, and many covered in food.  Before this moment she had asked me if I liked craft and if I did then she had a gift for me. I’m not overly keen on craft but said I did as I knew how much it filled her with joy to give me a gift. So I accepted the gift. 

She often gives me these ‘useless items’,  a watch with only half its face, a calendar from 1992 and once she tried to give me an old lamp but due to its size (and the fact I wasn’t quite sure where it came from … did she steal it?) I declined. The one and only time I declined.

I always accept her gifts. Always. I always accept them because I know it’s her way of saying thank you. I know that as she has hardly no money and never leaves her nursing home she has very little to gift. I know that each time she gifts me with one of her ‘treasures’ she is really gifting me with little pieces of her heart. And I know that every time I accept her gifts it’s my way of saying you’re welcome, and you have a special place in my heart too. 

Love comes in many forms. Broken beads with food stuck on them included.

Flannelette Sheets Are The Best!

 You know what simple pleasure I love...? Getting into a bed with flannelette sheets.

Last night hoping into bed on a colds winters night and feeling the warmth and comfort of those raggy old thick flannelette sheets I felt grateful. It had me thinking how blessed I was to have such a luxury as a bed. There are currently over 100 million people who sleep every night without one.

If you have a bed to rest your head at night be thankful ... your one of the lucky ones!

Favourites

I thought I’d share something I’ve been doing with my kids now for a while. It’s a bedtime ritual we call “Favorites”. Previously I would read a book as I tucked them into bed or tell them a made up story. However one night (about the time I officially started recording my own gratefuls ) I started telling them my favourite thing that happened that day. What had made me happy and what I loved most about the day.

It has since become a nightly occurrence in this house and a must. My boys will not go to sleep without hearing my favourite and sharing theirs. I remember originally doing this one night because I wanted to send my boys off to sleep with happy thoughts so their dreams would be pleasant. However it has since become more than that.

My favourites must always involve them and I now find myself consciously looking out for what will be that night’s favourite. As it’s normally something we do together, if I am unable to think of something I realize that I clearly haven’t spent enough time with them. And when it’s something they have done (such as good behavior or a kind act) it has me focused on the good in them rather than the bad I would usually see, and I have found that I now notice it more.

I absolutely love that we do this and think it’s one of the best things I have incorporated (even if by accident) into our family. It is something that has changed the lives of us all and I’m certain that it has been for the better

I Love To Pay Bills.

Paying my water and sewerage bill the other day I did what I normally do and thanked it. You see whenever a bill arrives now, I view it differently. I no longer pay it from a place of anger or regret. I pay it from a place of giving and try to pay it with love and gratitude in my heart. Ok this all sounds crazy I know, I too thought that when I first read it but since trying it I can actually see the good it’s doing.

Money isn’t something to hold on to and this is something I am still learning. Money is to be circulated and shared. Without sharing money it wouldn’t go around and wouldn’t be passed on from person to person and that includes you. 

If we all held onto our money we would only have what we have now. There would be no incoming money and no outgoing money. You would just have what you have and that’s it. In life we need exchange. We need money to circulate. So paying a bill is a part of that process. Its moving the money along and paying for a service. So whenever I pay a bill I look at it that way and I also look at it as an exchange for a service provided to me.

For example the other day I paid our water and sewage bill. In the past I would grudgedly pay the few hundred dollars and feel hard done by that MY money was being taken from me. Not now, now when a bill arrives, I smile at it and see it for what it is and pay it.

 I paid the water and sewage bill and as I did I felt grateful that we have the luxury of clean fresh running water provided instantly every hour of every day to our house. I also was thankful that we have a sewerage system where I live and that I personally don’t have to deal with it. 

I felt grateful that I live in a house that has plumbing, hot showers and cold water to drink. When you feel and look at a bill this way its much easier to pay, even if the money is tight it makes you realize exactly what it is your paying for and that every dollar spent is worth it <3

If We Could All Live Like The Birds ....

 

This morning I passed a tree full of birds and as I noticed yet another bird join the tree it had me thinking ....

I love how birds all live together happily and share the SAME tree. This tree was full of cockatoos, magpies, lorikeets, pigeons and possibly a robin or two. Not one bird claimed it as their tree and only for their particular species of bird. They are all shared it together in harmony and that is how I believe we all shall live on this earth. 

This earth isn't mine, it isn't yours ... its ours!

Billy Ray Harris

Billy Ray Harris

I heard a story yesterday that I wanted to share as it really warmed my heart and gave me faith in us and in humanity.   

You may have heard it but there was a homeless man in America who recently returned an engagement ring to its rightful owner after it was accidentally dropped in his begging cup. This lady Sarah had been out in her local city when she saw Billy on the streets begging. She gave him some loose change and kept walking. It wasn’t until later that day she noticed her very expensive and very valuable diamond ring was missing. 

She searched for it for days with no success then remembered Billy on the streets who she had given change to. She realised then that it must have fallen into his cup. So she went back to find Billy, most likely presuming he would no longer be there or if he was that he would deny that such ring existed. 

So it was to her utter surprise that when she approached him and mentioned that she may have left him something a little more valuable than just a few dollars change, that Billy looked at her and handed her the ring. 

Billy said that he didn’t notice the ring at first but when he did, due to its size, knew it was expensive and that the owner would some day return.

What a beautiful man but what I love most abou tthis sotry and what makes it even more beautiful and amazing is that a campaign has since started for Billy by Sarah.  So many people have come forward to help Billy by giving him little bits here and there. To date almost $172,000 has been raised for Billy.

More details can be found here

http://www.giveforward.com/billyray

 

This story gives me so much faith in the human race and how the world works. I honestly do believe that what you give is ultimately what you get back.

Billy Ray you are one beautiful man whom so many of us can learn from. Bless your heart.

I love Silence

Silence is music to my ears. Which is funny since silence isn't music at all. In fact its no sound. But I love it.

As a mother of three young children - all boys. I crave silence. Silence is where I find my peace. It relaxes me, rejuvenates me and fills me with a sense of calm like nothing else.  Silence is a massage for my ears.

If you ever get a chance to sit in silence and just be then do. I assure you it will be music to your ears. Music your ears never knew they could hear. 

Teeth. Today I loved them.

 

Today whilst driving and eating an apple I all of a sudden became extremely grateful and aware of my teeth. 

Unit now I had never really given my teeth much thought. I just go about my day, eating, talking and doing what I do and the whole while my teeth are right there with me. So today as I chomped down hard on my super crunchy apple I thought of my teeth and how I loved them and what they do. But mostly I loved that I had teeth.

Its the simple things as I say and without my simple things such as my teeth, life would be a hell of a lot different and not to mention more difficult. So today I was grateful for my teeth and the very fact I had some.

What were you grateful for today? 

 

I Love. Love.

 I see it everywhere. In everything and in everyone

I see it here

and I see it here

I also see it in this

and right here.

 Love its everywhere. Its what we are made of.

I love Hospitals.

My 9 month old had an appointment at the hospital recently (nothing serious) and it got me thinking...

Hospitals. I don't mind them. In fact I quite like them and enjoy visiting.

I understand that they aren't always the nicest places to be or to visit but they are also places full of hope and full of love.

Every time I visit a hospital I don't see heartache, illness, the sick and the dying. I see love.

I see it in the faces of  those caring for loved ones who are ill.  I see it in the faces of the nurses and the doctors. Who fight to save the life of someone who only moments ago was a complete stranger. I see it in a newborn baby and the face of its mother.

Love, its everywhere. Always. Its just a matter of looking for it.