52 Weeks to Simplify

So it's been a while since I was here again and I thought it was fitting that my first post of the New Year entailed this.. Last year I was barely keeping my head above water, emotionally and physically...and at some points my gorgeous husband spent the night consoling me when I couldn't even explain why..No-one else knew what was going on, and to be honest I really didn't/couldn't be bothered telling them! So here I am, jumping head first in to this challenge.."52 Weeks to Simplify Your life" There's a few others that I know that are taking part in this and I'm really looking forward to reading along with them and sharing their journey on it too..maybe you would like to take part as well? I'm going to be taking part in the form of a blog post, I'd love to say I'd scrap an album as well, but I'm really conscious that while it may be a wonderful reminder it may also become a little bit of pressure to complete each week alongside the blog so will see how we go! So the following are guides to get your started as Deb said, you don't have to answer each one..I'll do my best! What energised you? I started back in the workforce in 2011, something that I've been out of for the best part of 12 years..I've been so fortunate to be able to stay home with our babes and really spend that time with them, but felt that even though our little man isn't quite at school yet, it was time for me to start finding myself again. What made you feel happy? There were a couple of things that made me truly happy in 2011, My beautiful beautiful niece was born, completely my sister's family..Life hasn't always been a smooth road for my sister, so meeting her second husband and enjoying being truly loved and cherised led to the birth of Willow..which in turn led to a wonderful family unit being completed..To watch how much joy my sister has in her life now with my nephews, my niece and my brother in law brings a huge amount of comfort to me, as the older sister I worry about her a lot, probably more than I need to but meh..that's what you do! so this all truly does make my heart happy.. What made you feel at peace? Inner peace is such a hard place to reach for me sometimes..having two children on the spectrum can for me personally make me question and second guess everything I do, am I doing enough for them? are they having every opportunity offered to them, but seeing my eldest graduate from grade 6 gave me a sense of peace that yes..hubby and I were doing something right, that we needed to follow the path we are on and everything else will just fall where it is meant to land. What positive people lifted you up? I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a lot of positive people who are always there to pick me up when I need it, and often times before I've even given a hint that I'm struggling they are there.. My best friend...she amazes me..she often has so much going on in her own life but is always always there for me, we speak every day, text every day, see each other every day..I'd be so lost without her. My sister..I wish I could convey in words the relationship we have..we are so so close..she makes me feel like an amazing mother, and constantly encourages me in anything that I do, we weren't always so close an I'm so grateful that we have reached that part in our relationship where we lean on each other for support and advice. My Mum..You would think at 36 I would be a little more independant LOL but I still rely on mum to reassure me that yes everything will be ok.. somedays the day can be just travelling along as normal and I have the need to speak to mum, not for anything in particular but just to centre me..she gives me a huge amount of comfort, and is constantly telling me that she is proud of me and how I am raising my babes..that's huge to me, I always said when I had kids I wanted to be the mother to my kids that she is to me.... My husband...my whole world..enough said ;) What worked to bring your family together? We had a family holiday in September, we drove to QLD from Victoria, a trip that allowed us to reconnect as a family. To often I sit back and watch as families including our own, get so caught up in the day to day that they start to disconnect, unfortunately we had started to do that..between work, moving house and appointments with psychologist, paediatricians, drs, school transition officers etc I felt us slowly drifting apart and I'll be honest, it scared me..my family is my world and after 18 years my husband is still my universe..he makes me heart beat happy. So having the holiday brought us back to each other, allowed us to really sit back and take in our kids and all their quirks! Seriously, kids are amazing...and kids on the spectrum..well the way they see the world is soooo different to everyone else, makes you stop and think for a while! What did you learn (positive things)? I learnt that I have a lot to be thankful for, I also learnt that it is possible for me to wear all my hats...mum, daughter, sister, friend, wife, employee and still be centred in who I am, and that I'm not to bad at all..I have a long way to go till I'm completely comfortable in my skin but I'm getting there ;) What are you grateful for? I'm grateful for my husband for loving me...it's a rare thing to find your soul mate and I'm so grateful that I found mine early in life..i have a whole lifetime to experience the world with him My children..they have truly made me a better person and have taught me to look at the world in a whole new light.. My family..Our weekly family tea, always being on the other end of the phone and basically for supporting me and my family... My friends..Seriously..I have the most amazing group of friends...and each of them is different, completely different to the other, they make me laugh and laugh and laugh.. Thanks for stopping by...maybe you'll stop by Deb's blog and join in to find your simple? Xxxx