Happy New Years to all My Wonderful Bloggy Friends

I Am The New Year

I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.

I am your next chance at the art of living. I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.

All that you sought and didn’t find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it but with more determination.

All the good that you tried for and didn’t achieve is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you dreamed but didn’t dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have—these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him who said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

Dear Readers I pray

God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead

Secret Santa Gift

I recieved this the other day

I have no idea who sent it to me

which is ashame as Id like to say

Our Christmas Day

For My Little Man Chistmas started on Christmas Eve when he went his daddy to see the Christmas Light and have his first ever ride on a bus.

He was so hyped when he got home but soon fell asleep.  The long glow stick he got from Santa helped

Unfortunately My Home Schooler and I couldnt go.  My Home Schooler spent Christmas Eve and the day before Christmas in bed with a sore throat and cold.  He was upset and worried that Christmas Day wouldnt happen for him at all.

On Christmas day I was awoken by our door being closed at 6am by My Home Schooler.  He was strict instructions not to wake us until 7 and intentionally he had suceeded in waking me   We waited an hour and then woke the other 2.  It took some doing to wake Our  Little Man but My Home Schooler could wait no longer.  I must say that despite the late and very exciting evening and all the festitivies of Christmas day Our Little Man did very well on Christmas day.

We had lunch at home.  Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus when it was cake time.

The afternoon saw us go to the rest home where Mum Wonderful now lives.  It was nice seeing her but she was tired.  As way of a catch about her she has lost the ability to use her legs.  She has 24/7 care at the hospital.  She has her good days and bad days.  On bad days she cant remember anyone.

Its a nice rest home though and when the hospital board wouldnt pay to get Mum and Dads house reorder (in order that she live their and most importanly shower there) there was only 1 option and it seems to have worked out ok.

Some of the extended Wonderful family were there.  Our Little Man decided to go with his favourite aunty back to the party house.  As for My Home schooler, Mr Wonderful and I we went back to Dad Wonderfuls house.  My Home Schooler went with Poppa/Dad.  Mr Wonderful and I went via the petrol station where we had 1/2 an hour to ourselves with an icecream (2 in the case of Mr Wonderful who won another one (it was written on his icecream stick).  He was pleased he seldom wins anything. ) and drink.

After a little time at Dads we went to the party house.  One of Mr Wonderfuls sisters is a wonderful hostess.  At the party there were probably 30 people.  A wonderful time for cousins to get together and play.  Their outdoor area was set up with BBQ, tables and chairs.  We all sat in the shaded area, talked, ate (salads, cold cuts of meat, a very yummy seafood salad, BBQed steak, sausages, sliced potatoes follwed by all sorts of puddings), drank, laughed and had a merry old time.  Catching up with people we hadnt seen for a while.   Sometimes Mr Wonderful and I have hard times.  Sometimes I dont feel loved.  Sometimes I think I could walk out (if it werent for the boys).  However, if I were to do this I would miss these times.  I would miss belonging to a wonderful, caring, speical family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

to all my readers

A Christmas Card for you my dear

reader

click on the above heading

Bread Cases

I was asked a couple of times what Id made for Sunday lunch

This was a recipe I learnt from my mother and its EASY!!!

Cook potatos in the normal way.  Then mash them with milk and butter.  On Sunday I added tinned fish to this.

Get your muffin trays and cut the crusts off 12 slices of bread

put these into your tray pressing down

then pop the potato mix into the bread cases

I sprinkled grated cheese of top of these

then put under the grill in your oven until the cheese melts and the bread cases kind of toast

The other plate I made on Sunday was simply the left over potato mix again sprinkled with cheese and put under the grill again until the cheese melts

I dont tolerate or condone domestic violence.

Today the 25th of November is White Ribbon Day – the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

I found out about this on Saturday here http://www.stuff.co.nz/4768820a11.html after reading the horrific things that can take place I feel I got off lightly.  However I will share with you my stories of abuse with you.

Case 1

I had just come out of my marriage and felt lucky that someone seemed to love me still.  We had been friends for ages before we started seeing one another.  People told me he wasnt treating me right but I was too “blind” to see.  Not too long after we started dating he told me he’d like to live nearer his dad and in the South Island and so we packed up all our gear and we moved south.  It is common for men to try to isolate their victims.

It wasnt long before his anger escalted here.  He would throw plates across the room.  He sent me out to work part time and while I was gone I later learnt that he abused my daughter verbally.  One day I was putting my baby boy down on the floor to play.  He started to interverve, he believes I punched him, I never touched him.  He hit me then he had me by the tshirt near my throat and was backing me through the room and up against the couch where I sat down.  He was yelling that I was to never hit him again.  I was telling him I hadnt.  He then took off which he did frequently.  I find it hard to forgive myself I use to cuddle my children to get comfort.  Shortly after this esposide I left.

Case 2

7 years later and hopefully wiser I started dating men.  I met one man (amongest others) whom seem so handsome and nice.  Often these men can seem like nice guys.  In fact the first one was like a Mr Jerkel and Mr Hyde.  Nice when he was out in public not so nice when he was home with his family.  He told me the day after we met that he had been in trouble for manslaughter in the past.  He fed me a story about a fight he had gotten into years ago.  I believed him, I shouldnt have, I should have run for the “high hills” then but I didnt.  It was his past and he was so nice and handosme.  I was only with this man for 3 months but it was the longest 3 months of my life.  He had control issues.  If I didnt do exactly as he wanted he would turn nasty.  He would yell, he smashed my cellphone one night with a hammer, he threw our stuff across the room, he threw things that belonged to us out the window as we drove along in the car, he terrified my children.  I can still remeber them hiding under the desk in their room.  He yanked power cords out of the wall.  We eventually broke up when he decided that I wasnt obedient enough.

He left me stranded with just my togs on in a public swimming pools miles away from my house on a Sunday when the public transport system was not working to proper capicity.  My children (8 and 11) were with me thankfully they were dressed already.  Eventually we got home on public transport late at night with only a towel around me.  Hed left.  The next day he returned, we fled out the back bedroom wiondow, I somehow now knew he was terrifying.  I later learnt that the manslaughter story was partly true – he had in fact mistreated a little girl whom ended up dieing.  I grieved for her even though I didnt know her.  He also treated her mother much worse than hed treated me.  Not that that should make any difference.  It doenst matter how badly a man treats you – You dont need to live with men like these in your life.

If you are a female trapped in this situation you dont have to put up with it.  All too often we are made to feel like we deserve it but we arent.  Abuse also doest need to be physical.  It can be mental and emontional.  If you dont feel valued, respected and loved chances are you in an abusive relationship.  No female needs to live in fear.  No female needs to feel its their fault – it isnt!!

Go tell someone you trust.  A neighbour, a friend a family member.  They can help you get your confidence back.  My mother and I dont get on but her one piece of advice that I clung too and I believe helped me take the brave move to get out was she told me if a man ever hits you get out!!  Its not an easy thing to do and may take some planning but do it.  Being a Christain I also believe that God told me to get out too.  I heard his voice firmly the first time.  Go somewhere safe.  I went to Womens Refuge if you dont live in New Zealand I am sure there are organisations in other countries whom will help you.

You dont have to take this.  You dont have to tolerate or put up with this type of treatment.  You are worth much much more.

Today I am wearing a paper ribbon this morning and a more plastic type this afternoon.  I am helping with My Home Schoolers yatching programme and I dont want it to get damaged with water.

Weekly Review

My Home Schooler and I had two attempts at this boiled fruit loaf the first one burnt on top BADLY

it was yummy minus the burnt part for desert

this one went to playgroup

after kindy Our Little Man and I went and picked up my happy pills

I had to ring the noise control at 2am there was a party across the road

We went on a Home Schooling trip to the Faraday Centre.  Unfortunity I forgot my camera.

this afternoon when My Home Schooler was doing his paper run and My Little Man was with Mr Wonderful I had a rest and a nap

My Home Schooler came home with this HUGE tennis ball from one of Mr Wonderfuls clients

Mr Wonderful and he played with it after dinner

after gracerys tonight drank fanta, ate nuts and read my book until My Home Schooler had finished Sea Scouts

this afternoon My Home Schooler and I went to a meeting to learn how to rig a yatch and tie knots.  Next week My Home Schooler is going to go on a course learning how to sail an Optism Yatch.

Movie night with popcorn and fizzy drinks

My Home Schooler brought the dvds The Bee Movie and Wallace and Gromit – The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Our Little Man fell asleep ½ way through the 2^nd movie so I put him to bed and went to bed myself and read

church feel like Im starting out on another moving closer to God period

His Birthday Wore Him Out

My Little Man is 3

This morning I was woken up by one of Mr Wonderfuls sisters texting Happy Birthday at 6 am!!

I went outside and set up my present to Our Little Man

Then surprisingly Our Little Man whom normally sleeps in woke up at 6.30 am

After recieving his presents from his dad and I

we went to McDs for breakfast – he LOVES burgers

We came home I taught My Home Schooler some and then at 11 am My Home Schooler and I set up lunch

I noticed that in some ways My Home Schooler is a prefectionist

He made the cake and decorated the table

This afternoon My Home Schooler and I packed for his weekend sea scout camp

Then he went and did his paper run and saw Anne (he didnt go yesterday – she was busy)

It was a very busy day for me.  I hardly stopped all day.  It will be an early night for me

A good day and Our Little Man is growing up

hes getting bigger as he likes telling us

I got clucky the other day looking at photos of him over the last 3 years

Friday’s Fave Five! My third week

This weekly meme is hosted by my long time bloggy friend Susanne.  Click on the picture to link

1. a nice afternoon this afternoon. On a Friday afternoon we finish the week at the local pools. I read my book. Watched the boys and relaxed.

2.  After the grocey shopping last night I spent ½ an hour to myself. Watching the boats near where My Home Schooler goes to sea scouts – where I had to pick him up. I ate pretzels, drank raspberry fizzy drink – it was nice

3.  A friend of mine at play group gave me a skirt she didnt want anymore – its nice and long too

4. Last Sunday the boys and I walked along Marine Parade and they also had a play at the play ground

5. tomorrow is the 1^st of the month and I can get off this dial up Ive been on for the last few days and can use broadband again