2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 364

Day 364 - Today I was very grateful to explore Disneys Hollywood Studios here in Orlando with my family :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 364

Day 364 - Today I was very grateful to explore Disneys Hollywood Studios here in Orlando with my family :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 363

Day 363 - Today I was very grateful to spend the day and evening at the Magic Kingdom :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 362

Day 362 - Today I was very grateful to explore the exciting lands at Epcot :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 361

Day 361 - Today I was super grateful to have an amazingly awesome day with our family, exploring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 360

Day 360 - Today I was very grateful to fly via Charlotte (where all 7 of us had to run to make our connection) to Orlando to meet up with Simone :) x 

This is us running through Charlotte airport! 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 359

Day 359 - Today I was very grateful to experience a Northern Hemisphere Christmas Day, to be very spoilt with some lovely presents and have a fun day hanging out with my family playing games and watching movies 🎄 :) xx

2014 Gratitude Journal / Day 358

Day 358 - Today I was very grateful to be able to go out to do some last minute Christmas shopping and then watch a Christmas Eve movie tonight with the children, trying eggnog for the first time :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 357

Day 357 - Today I was very grateful to visit the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and then we all got to go nighttime Ice Skating in the Sculpture Park in the National Mall here in D.C. :)    

2014 Gratitude Journal- Day 356

Day 356 - Today I was very grateful to take the train into Washington DC to visit The White House and then have an authentic Mexican meal cooked for us by Blanca who boards at the house we are staying at :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 355

Day 355 - Today I was very grateful to take the train with my family to Pentagon City Mall to do some CHRISTMAS Shopping and get my nails done :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 354

Day 354 - Today I was grateful to wake up in Arlington, explore the local shops and tonight have Kirsten arrive from Indiana to join our adventure :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 353

Day 353 - Today I was very grateful to fly from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. to stay at Yani's parents home for the next week :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 352

Day 352 - Today I was very grateful to not only find Paul McCartneys star on the Walk of Fame but that all the Beatles are together!

 I was also supposed super grateful to be able to have a swim in Los Angeles in Winter! 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 351

Briana was a little nervous at first meeting SpongeBob!Day 351 - Today I was very grateful to spend the day at Universal Studios & Theme Park, Hollywood :) 

Josh's smile was almost as big as SpongeBob's smile was!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 350 Part Two

Day 350 (Part Two) - Today I was very grateful that we landed safely in Los Angeles after a long flight and an easy transition through customs, to arrive at our hotel in the middle of Hollywood, California to experience the 16th December all over again

 :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 350 Part One

Day 350 (Part One) - Today I was very grateful that everything ran smoothly and had an awesome flight to Sydney followed by an easy transition to our 13 and 1/2 hour flight to Los Angeles :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 349

Day 349 - Today I am supremely grateful that Sophie has moved into our home to house sit for us while we are away and look after our furry babies :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 348

Day 348 - Today I was very grateful to catch up with some old neighbours, and then later with Judy and Eric before we head away :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 347

Day 347 - Today I was so grateful to be able to have an early Christmas dinner tonight with my family since we wont be with them at Christmas time!

2014 Gratitude Journal -Day 346

Day 346 - Today I was very grateful to be taken out by Jillian for a belated Birthday coffee (and grateful Olivia was home to be with Briana). 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 345

Day 345 - Today I was grateful to have a very productive day at home, completing most of my work I needed to finish up until when we get back from holiday. Can just about say I am on holiday now!!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 344

Day 344 - Today I was so very grateful that I work from home to be able to be here with Briana who is unwell at the moment. 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 343

Day 343 - Today I was super grateful that Sarah hosted the Twinklestarrs Christmas Party at her home. However, I was very disappointed that I was wasn't able to attend because Briana was home sick today :(

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 342

Today I was very grateful to finally meet up and have lunch with photographer Lisa Powers. I met Lisa through Facebook and was instantly blown away by her gorgeous photos. Check out some of them here :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 341

Day 341 - Today I was grateful that Josh and Bri finally got to have fish and chips on the beach (as we have tried to do this for the last 3 weeks)! We tricked Mother Nature by taking lunch instead of dinner so got there before the cold wind got too strong!!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 340

Day 340 - Today I was very grateful to Emma and Stephen for babysitting so we can attend the reception of a wedding that Glenn officiated at today :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 339

Day 339 - Today I was grateful to have our house sitter pop over to finalise stuff, for getting our mortgage refixed at great rates by our amazing mortgage broker and to Livvy for babysitting tonight so we could enjoy a lovely meal out :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 338

Day 338 - Today I was super grateful to  catch up with Wayne and Judi Street here for dinner tonight :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 337

Day 337 - Today I was extremely grateful that we have the most awesome Doctor, who we saw today because Josh has been feeling a bit unwell this week.

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 336

Day 336 - Today I was very grateful to get a lovely gift from St Andrews Church for taking Twinklestarrs Preschool Music Group this year :)

2014 Gratitude Journal -Day 335

Day 335 - Today I was very grateful to receive a copy of the book from the author I am currently working with on their Facebook page :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 334

Day 334 - Today I was very grateful to get back to the car on our weekly walk on the beach, before it started to pour with rain :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 333

Day 333 - Today I was very grateful to be able to go to the last scrapbooking day of the year at Anna's place :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 332

Day 332 - Today I was grateful to have a walk with Jillian Fenton before the rain and then go out for birthday lunch with Glenn at Baretta :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 331

Day 331 - Today I am utterly grateful to have been completely spoilt by my family, 

 taken out to lunch by Janese, a visit from Maria and had Denise, Lynn and Simon join us to celebrate Thanksgiving Dinner on my birthday today :) x

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 330

Day 330 - Today I was very grateful to receive a super fun gift at my final meeting of a Board I have been on for 4 1/2 years  :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 329

Day 329 - Today I was super grateful to have a wonderful catchup with my friend Anna and a fabulous Christmas breakup tonight with the Dinner Club girls :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 328

Day 328 - Today I was very grateful that Tamara waxed my legs and then later for an impromptu visit from my very kind friend Maria :) xx

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 327

Day 327 - Today I am very grateful that Bagel is fine after a pitbull terrier went for him on the beach this afternoon. Thanks to the quick actions of the owner pulling the dog off, Bagel seems to have no ill effects, although he was a bit quiet for awhile :(

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 326

Day 326 - Today I was grateful for a hot norwester day to dry a mountain of washing followed by a lovely bit of rain to water the hot, thirsty plants :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 325

Day 325 - Today I was grateful to get a lot of work done this morning and then go for an almost 5km rather hot walk on the beach with Janese this afternoon :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 324

Day 324 - Today I was very grateful to have a fabulous catchup with Kate this morning and tonight to attend the Christmas breakup dinner for the ACTIS trust where we got to sing Karaoke with DJ Chick Therese :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 323

Day 323 - Today I was very grateful to have morning tea with Gudrun to see more of her amazing photos and for Bagel to have a great play with Hui too :) 

I was also grateful to have a long overdue afternoon tea catchup with Anita, Nikita and Hudson! 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 322

Day 322 - Today I was grateful for the most awesome Mint Slice at music made by Mel, a huggy lunch with Maria (thanks sweetie) and to come home to find Olivia had cleaned the windows, the oven and the fridge :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 321

Day 321 - Today I was grateful to go and have morning tea with Emma, Sophie and Henry and see their lovely new home :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 320

Day 320 - Today I was very grateful to have a lovely catch up with friends at Denise's place and then a brisk walk on the beach with the two youngest children :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 319

Day 319 - Today I was very grateful that we were able to borrow a trailer and take a huge load of rubbish and boxes to the dump! What a great feeling clearing out is :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 318

Day 318 - Today I was very grateful to not have an alarm go off and have a gorgeous day to start the long weekend :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 317

Day 317 - Today I was very grateful to have a productive day working at home :)

2014 Gratitude Journal Day 316

Day 316 - Today I was grateful to be able to spend some time with Hamish and Laura :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 315

Day 315 - Today I was grateful for fun birthday catch ups and extra cuddles at preschool music this morning and for Miss Olivia waterblasting the back of the house clean this afternoon :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 314

Day 314 - Today I was super grateful to receive my very own Purdue University t-shirt in the mail from Kirsten :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 313

Day 313 - Today I was so grateful for another glorious Sunday for walking on the beach and finishing the day with an amazing sunset that looked as if the sky was on fire :)

 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 312

Day 312 - Today I was super grateful to go scrapbooking at Anna's and also very grateful to Janese for babysitting so we could go to the Rockabilly Ball tonight :)

     

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 311

Day 311 - Today I was very grateful to have coffee with Diane and Jillian, and then later have an awesome time with the children at the Marshland School Twilight Fair :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 310

Day 310 - Today I was grateful to catch up with Ruth Grey and hear all about her fabulous trip to the UK :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 309

Day 309 - Today I was most grateful that the rain held off long enough for us to go have dinner in New Brighton and then sit on the beach to watch the Spooktacular Fireworks display :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 308

Day 308 - Today I was very grateful to be driving around town in a very clean car after Miss Olivia cleaned it inside and out :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 307

Day 307 - Today I was very grateful that Matt arrived safely home from the PAX game convention in Melbourne and Josh and Bri were very grateful their thoughtful brother brought them home a gift :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 306

Day 306 - Today I am grateful for another beautiful Sunday where we could walk on the beach and still have the door open to the garden at 10.15pm :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 305

Day 305 - Today I was very grateful to be able to host the last social gathering of the current Wairakei School BOT for a pot luck dinner here tonight :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 304

Day 304 - Today I was grateful to be able to walk with Jillian Fenton in the morning and meet up with her again at St Albans Baptist Church at the Children's Light Party tonight where Briana and Joshua had an awesome time :)

It's great to be able to go to an alternative Halloween event to celebrate the real meaning of All Hallows' Eve! 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 295

Day 295 - Today I was very grateful to see on the news that doctors and scientists have found a possible way to regenerate the nerves in a spinal cord that have been severed http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29645760

How incredible is that! Something to be celebrated :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 292

Day 292 - Today I was grateful for an afternoon at home to hang out with the children :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 188

Day 188 - Today I was very grateful to be able to go shopping to get a new wardrobe system for our walk in wardrobe, while Glenn went bowling with the children :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 303

Day 303 - Today I was very grateful to be able to have a trip with Janese to the Culverden Fete :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 302

Day 302 - Today I was grateful to have a wee jaunt to Akaroa to pick up Glenn who cycled there as part of his training for Le Race next year!

Glenn rode in to Akaroa so quickly I almost missed him as per below :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 301

Day 301 - Today I was grateful to have time to go to school for awhile to watch the athletics. I was also grateful for a fun party to celebrate Twinklestarrs 8th birthday and that Glenn made dinner giving me time to sort out some old clothes in the garage :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 300

Day 300 - Today I was super grateful for an extra day off for Labour Day :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 299

Day 299 - Today I was grateful for a beautiful spring day to take the children and Bagel for a walk on the beach

Bagel wasn't so sure about getting too close to the water. Briana and Joshua loved it though. Briana asked me why I didn't bring their togs. It will need to get a little warmer first :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 298

Day 298 - Today I was very grateful after being very good about what I have eaten during the week, to have a cheeky little takeaway for dinner tonight ;)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 297

Day 297 - Today I was most grateful to have dinner at Simon and Lynn's to celebrate Miss Holly turning 30 tomorrow :) x

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 296

Day 296 - Today I was very grateful to walk with Janese on the beach in the morning and have lunch with Fiona in the afternoon in amongst doing some work #multitasking

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 294

Day 294 - Today I was very grateful to catch up with Ruth for a little while on the phone :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 293

Day 293 - Today I was super super grateful to get an email from Andrew Young with the new plan for wooden foundations for our sleepout. Having had no luck getting anyone to build a rib raft foundation, we have changed to a wooden floor and timber piles! Hopefully that will speed things up a bit :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 291

Day 291 - Today I was very grateful to catch up with Janice for afternoon tea :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 290

Day 290 - Today I was very grateful to go walking with my friend Wendy Cross and that after our walk she came apple tree shopping with me (and coffee). I was also grateful to be invited out for lunch with Peter Hamilton on his birthday! And then after school it was lovely to meet our neighbour Kathleen :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 289

Day 289 - Today I was so grateful to hear peals of laughter coming down the stairs as Josh and Briana were trying to outdo each other drawing funny pictures tonight! Isn't it great to hear children laughing :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 288

Day 288 - Today I was grateful to come home to dinner cooking in the crockpot after being out working today :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 287

Day 287 - Today I was grateful to have a few hours to get quite a few fiddly, boring sorts of jobs completed, that I've been procrastinating over! They're always the ones I put off, but get a great deal of satisfaction when I actually do them :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 286

Day 286 - Today I was very grateful that the children had a lovely first day back at school :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 285

Day 285 - Today I am super grateful that Glenn finished putting bench tops into our walk in pantry 

This means we can use the cake mixer and other appliances in the pantry which is very exciting! 

Very grateful to have such a clever husband :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 284

Day 284 - Today I was very grateful that we were invited for a most delicious dinner at Jillian and Richards home. I was also grateful that Glenn put the first bench top in the walk in pantry :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 283

Day 283 - Tonight I was grateful to chill out and watch a couple of really good programmes with Olivia :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 282

Day 282 - Today I was grateful to have a whole day at home, working in the morning and loading heaps of auctions on Trade Me in the afternoon. So thrilled to be decluttering! It's a great feeling :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 281

Day 281 - Today I am grateful for a beautiful clear night and a good camera to record the eclipse tonight. 

It looks much more red than these photos show! The wonder of nature!

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 280

Day 280 - Today I am very grateful to my husband for re-organising the shelving unit in the hot water cupboard so I can put away our bed linen.

I am also grateful to Livvy for babysitting at lunchtime so I could go to a business meeting :)

2014 Gratitude Journal- Day 279

Day 279 - Today I was very grateful to be invited with the children to Lea-Ann's for an afternoon tea catch up with more of my friends. Thanks for a fab afternoon Lea-Ann :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 278

Day 278 - Today I was very grateful to go to the Women's Expo with Olivia as it was something that Mum and I loved doing together. I thought it wasn't as good as previous years and the goodie bags had all run out! But it was still great to be there and a great Mother/Daughter experience :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 277

Day 277 - Today I was immensely grateful to spend the day with family on the first anniversary of Mum passing away. Rosemary flew over and we went out for lunch. Then back to our place where we toasted Mum with wine Karen had given Rosemary for her birthday last week.

I was also very grateful that we were invited to Hugh and Raewyn's for Hugh's 70th birthday dinner. 

It's been an incredible few weeks of birthday parties! 

2014 Gratitude Journal- Day 276

Day 276 - Today I was very grateful that Olivia has almost finished building us a small shelving unit in the new pantry!

Here it is beside the unit Glenn built! Getting sorted :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal- Day 275

Day 275 - Today I was grateful for a beautiful day to get all the washing up to date before the rain that's coming and to be able to take Bagel for a nice long walk :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 274

Day 274 - Today I was very grateful to catch up for networking with my Dinner Club friends and also grateful to Olivia for babysitting so I could go. I was also extremely grateful to pass the breath test on the way home :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 273

Day 273 - Today I was very grateful for the school holiday to catch up with girlfriends for lunch, who I don't often get to see in term time :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 272

Day 272 - Today I was very grateful to catch up with Tamara and meet Leo (pictured here with Briana).

2014 Gratitude Journal- Day 271

Day 271 - Today I was super grateful to my amazing husband for building me shelves in our new walk in pantry so I could put our pantry containers away. 

Isn't he so clever! 

We were also very grateful to be invited to lunch at Hugh and Raewyn's to celebrate Hugh's 70th birthday with everyone from church :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 270

Day 270 - Today I was super grateful to spend the afternoon and evening celebrating my wonderful sister Rosemary's 60th birthday! 

In the afternoon we had a beauty pamper session and I got my nails painted. And tonight we all had dinner at King of Snake! Amazing food :)  

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 269

Day 269 - Today I was very grateful that we were invited to Peter Lindsay's 50th Birthday Dinner. We went to Winnie Bagoes and enjoyed delicious pizza! Thanks for inviting us Maria and Pete :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 268

Day 268 - Today I was so grateful to Miss Olivia for helping me get everything organised for starting the shelving in our new walk in pantry 

We've bought this cabinet and some melamine. Both Glenn and Livvy are going to build shelving units! So exciting :) 

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 267

Day 267 - Today I was super pleased to finish compiling our tax records and send them off to the Accountant :)

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 266

Day 266 - Today I was very grateful for some newborn cuddles at our last day of the term for Twinklestarrs :)    

2014 Gratitude Journal - Day 265

Day 256 - Today I was very grateful to be at school to see Josh win the citizenship award for his class this term :)