2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 151

Day 151 - Today I was grateful to be able to spend time with my friends Sue and Bonny catching up for coffee! We used to go out quite often but due to the last crazy 4 years we haven't had much time to get together. So we had a lot to catch up on today :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 150

Day 150 - Today I am grateful for Mulled Wine! When the sun set tonight I felt quite cold and I really enjoyed the warmth of a drink of mulled wine :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 149

Day 149 - Today I am so grateful to have known my friend Natalie Souness.

Natalie passed away early this morning after a short battle with a rare form of Thyroid Cancer. I met Natalie when I was working on the Mary Kay stand at the Christchurch A&P show. She joined my team and was one of my consultants when I was a Mary Kay Sales Director. Nat lived in the Catlins then and we would often have long conversations on the phone talking a little about Mary Kay and a lot about Christianity and Politics! She was an extremely creative person , especially with felt. Natalie's circumstances changed and she left Mary Kay but we became Facebook buddies and would often chat. I have watched as she battled this cancer with temerity and positivity. It was a shock to see that today she left this world. I was talking to her on Facebook on Tuesday. She had hoped to come to RISE, but just wasn't well enough.
My heart does out to her daughters Ashley and Melissa. Too young to lose their beautiful Mum <3
Rest easy Natalie - it was a privilege to know you xx

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 148

Day 148 - Today I was so grateful to come home from work to find that the dishes I had soaked and didn't do last night because I was too cold and tired to wash them in the dark, had all been done by Kirsten. What a wonderful feeling and gave me time to get other things done. Thanks so much Kirsty Bubble :) xx

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 147

Day 147 - Today I was very grateful to be invited to RISE,  thanks so much to Maria and thank you also to Kate for organising such an amazing day. It was very exciting for me as I was live Facebooking and Twitter throughout the event! What an inspiring day :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 146

Day 146 - Today I was very grateful to have delicious warm soup and extra warm hospitality at Denise's on this very cold day :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 145

Day 145 - Today I am grateful that even though it is cold and damp outside, we are warm and cosy in our caravans.

These are our temporary homes on the driveway! I took this photo yesterday while it was warm and sunny. Not so tonight but we are coping ok with that! 2 and a half weeks to go! (Hopefully)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 144

Day 144 - Today I am very grateful to have had an absolutely fabulous meal at Jillian and Richards tonight. We've been eating fairly simply while living in the caravan so it was very special to be treated to such a delicious meal. Thank you so much Jillian for looking after us while life is a little more challenging :) xx

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 143

Day 143 - Today I am very grateful that our Project Manager made the time to come and see us today, to let us know what's happening next with our house repair. After a few delays, work will resume again on Monday. Projected sign off date is 10th June!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 142

Day 142 - Today I am grateful for sales and bargains! I had a lovely shop at the Farmers one day sale. I went to buy an electric frypan and came away with two bags full! Then after a lovely coffee with Maria, I went to Thrifty Thursday at Pak and Save! Great bargains! The freezer is full to the brim.

I am also grateful to my nephew Tom and his mate Jason who came tonight to finish patching the holes in the walls! Yay. All ready for plastering :)  

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 141

Day 141 - Today I am grateful to Miss Olivia who fixed my laptop when it said "The User Profile Service failed the Logon. User profile cannot be loaded"!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 140

Day 140 - Today I was grateful for beautiful cuddles with some little people in my preschool music group <3 :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 139

Day 139 - Today I am super grateful for a day full to the brim with great outcomes :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 138

Day 138 - Today I am very very grateful that my nephew Tom came over to repair the holes in the wall left over from the electrical rewire before the plastering begins! He has done an awesome job so far. Thanks Tom :) x

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 137

Day 137 - Today I was extremely grateful that Andrew Crow and our electrician came early this morning to lift part of our roof so the electrician could reconnect the phone line and broadband. It's been challenging without it for 5 days. It has shown us how much we rely on it!!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 136

Day 136 - Today I was grateful for a beautiful Christchurch day after a the first frost of the season! I walked my Father in law through the broken CBD, had coffee with Diana from the school I worked at the last 2 1/2 years, and took Bagel for a walk on the beach with Janese. Great way to end the week :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 135

Day 135 - Today I am grateful to have a day completely free to concentrate on stuff I need to do in conjunction with our EQC repairs. I went in search of kauri floorboards, internal wooden doors and opaque windows! The demolition yards are fascinating places!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 134

Day 134 - Today I was very grateful to be able to have dinner with my friend Pip down from Wellington for the day :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 133

Day 133 - Today I am very grateful that Miss Olivia was able to babysit tonight so I could go to my BOT meeting. I was also extremely grateful to get home to find she had done all the dishes! It's a bit crazy washing dishes in the dark inside and I wasn't looking forward to it. Thanks Livvy :) xx

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 132

Day 132 - Today I was grateful to have coffee with my friend Denise who I know through Isleworth Kindy and Wairakei School. We talked about our kids, our lives, our parents, and most excitingly our businesses :) It was a real highlight in a pretty challenging day!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 131

Day 131 - Today I am grateful that on this Mothers' Day, I can reflect on how lucky I was to have such an amazing mother.

It's been a bit strange to not spend Mothers' Day with Mum. Over the last few weeks when I've been out shopping I've seen things and thought "that would be nice to get for Mum". Miss you today and always Mum xx

I've have had a lovely day though and been very spoilt by my children (and husband).

Happy Mothers' Day to all of you who are Mothers :) xx

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 130

Day 130 - Today I was grateful that it didn't rain while the roof is off one side of our house! We are having some electrical work done while we are out of the house and it's a bit nerve-wracking seeing one side of the house open! Should all be finished tomorrow, so hoping for another fine day :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 129

Day 129 - Today I am grateful for Frugal Friday at Pak and Save! Nothing like cheap chocolate and 12 rolls of toilet paper for 99c :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 128

Day 128 - Today I am very grateful to have been able to get to bed reasonably early. Its been a big few weeks and it is bliss to be able to get into a warm bed and just relax :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 127

Day 127 - Today I am so grateful that I am part of an amazing group of women who meet once a month for dinner to network, chat, and try new types of food while meeting fab new people! Every month has been fun and inspiring, and it is so much fun trying new food as well. I have come home tonight inspired to make my new business the best it can be :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 126

Day 126 - Today I am grateful to be able to choose new colours for our home. Dad always said to me that you buy insurance but hopefully you'll never need it. After paying EQC levies for 26 years, this is the time we have needed it. I'm grateful that we have insurance to cover damage to our homes after natural disasters!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 125

Day 125 - Today I am super grateful that earthquake repair work has started on our home. We survived our first night in the caravan. It is very cosy and fortunately the weather has been great so far! 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 124

Day 124 - Today I am very grateful to Maria and Peter, and Danielle and Andy for providing our accommodation while EQC is at our place! Tonight all 7 of us moved into caravans on our driveway! I'm also very grateful with how hard everyone worked to get us all moved out. Our container on the grass verge is chocker block! 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 123

Day 123 - Today I am forever grateful that 22 years ago, on this day, this baby boy was born.

Happy Birthday Matthew - I am so proud of you! 

Love Mum xx

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 122

Day 122 - Today I am grateful that we were able to have an early birthday dinner at Simon and Lynn's for Matthew's birthday. We have no furniture at home for a while so it was nice to sit at a table and relax on a couch! 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 121

Day 121 - Today I am extremely grateful that there are big burly men who make moving furniture look like they are tossing pillows around! All our heavy furniture is in our container and we are camping on mattresses in our home before we move into caravans on Sunday!