Category: meaningful thoughts

Ten years ago…

Posted on by Libby Withnall

I had a 9 month old baby and we were just a family of 3…

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We had two goldies – Sam & Belle….

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We lived in a different home…with no thoughts of moving…

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And we spent New Years Eve in Sydney with Mum & Dad and some of their friends….

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What a ride the last 10 years have been! I could NEVER have imaged my life as it is now. It’s been a great 10 years as we’ve raised our babies and settled into our family roles. We’ve done a LOT of travelling, built a new home, collected more animals and had a lot of wonderful experiences. I’m hoping the next 10 years will be just as good, but I’m thinking things might be a little more stressful as we enter the teenage years :-).

 

2009 Goal Evaluation

Posted on by Libby Withnall

It’s that time of year to evaluated the years goals. Very happy to see lots of yeses this year!

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* Have regular family dinners at our new kitchen table     YES

* Take more baths    NO

* Have at least 2 family vacations – at present thinking of Byron Bay and the Snowy Mountains (in Winter)   We only managed ONE – we went to Surfers Paradise.

* Continue work in veggie garden. Start to grow own seedlings.    STILL NEED TO WORK ON SEEDLINGS

* Rework weekly routine to do more detailed cleaning around home.    YES

* Read more with girls     YES

* Take dogs to dog training, and work with them during the week.   YES, THOUGH WE HAVE STOPPED THIS NOW

* Follow Red Carpet Ready health/fitness program  (signed up for the 6 week Diamond Club starting 8th Jan)    YES

* Try digital scrapbooking   TRIED BUT NO SUCCESS. HAVE SIGNED UP FOR AN ONLINE CLASS

* Teach myself to sew (Annie if you were close by we could learn together)    YES, YES, YES

* Finish knitting wrap (my friend Sue started it for me in June)   YES

* Learn to Crochet (Sue is going to teach me this June)   YES

* Borrow and read more books from the library – esp. about simple living.   YES

* Attend at least one event run by Sustainable Illawarra NO

* Try to met more online friends in real life   – YES – Kerrie AND AILSA

* Try to have some computer free days during the year – maybe even one a month   A BIG NO!

* Develop new (and old) friendships    NOT REALLY, NO NEW REAL LIFE FRIENDS

* Continue to stick to my budget and start paying extra off the mortgage   YES!!!!

* I had planned to complete Project 365 but it’s already SOLD OUT!!!   NO DID UP TILL JUNE

* Keep developing my Library of Memories (maybe rejoin this class again)   KIND OF

* Develop and expand scrapbooking skills (Mum got me a Big Picture Scrapbooking gift certificate for Christmas)  KIND OF

* Organise the spare room (and keep it tidy)  YES

* Continue to reduce, reuse and recycle   YES

* Make more gifts (instead of buying)   YES

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Where is my Christmas Spirit?

Posted on by Libby Withnall

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Those of you who are my friends on Twitter and Facebook will know that I’m really struggling to find my Christmas Spirit this year. I was really hoping after returning home rested and relaxed from our cruise that I would find the magic. But alas it’s not to be. I had thought maybe it was because I was having trouble with gift buying this year but I’ve conquered that and still haven’t found the magic. In all honestly I could easily just skip it this year.  I’m not sure if it’s because my thoughts about simple living at are odds with the season or something else is going on. The girls have started their advent calender and I’m trying to get excited but it’s just not happening.  It’s lucky I “partly” decorated  when I did, cause the rest of the decoartions are staying in their boxes this year. If things don’t change soon I’m going to have a do a big evaluation of how we handle the season for next year. We aren’t religious at all but maybe we could focus on giving or helping others instead of ourselves.

Anyway, if anyone has any (non-Christian) ideas on how I can find my Christmas spirit please me know.