Shine A Little Light

It's been two weeks since I was last here - and even though there's lots to be a grateful for, I will try and keep the list compact.

1. I am grateful for having had four days at the Sunshine coast - time to stop, relax, build sandcastles and frollic in the surf. It also meant not having to cook dinner for three nights.

2. I am grateful for surprise lunch dates and having wonderful friends who bouy me with their enthusiasm for what is going on in my life.

3. I am grateful that Dylan is enjoying going to kindy gym and to introductory gymnastics. I continue to be amazed by his fortitude and determination.

4. I am grateful I am coming from a position of building bridges rather than burning them .. and for Dan sharing the philosophy of non-resistance.

5. I am grateful for supportive and clued in writing colleagues who were able to support me through the Facebook article debacle. Now I'm just glad for the traffic going to my blog.

6. I am grateful for free tickets - and thankful to Kerry and Kylie from Mothers Toolkit for the opportunity to go to the International Women's Day Luncheon last Friday.

7. I am grateful that networking is really just talking about yourself - and oh how I love to talk, and don't mind sharing a bit about myself either.

8. I am grateful that I still have a Facebook account.

9. I am grateful that the car is still running despite a massive oil leak. It WILL go to the car doc this week.

10. I am grateful for chances to rest in bed on the weekend - even if it comes in the guise of a headcold.

11. I am grateful for a resourceful partner who managed to find me sugarfree throat lozengers - so I could have a less sore throat without the sugar rush.

12. I am grateful for the continuing adventues of the amazing shrinking woman ... I am now 7kg lighter than I was at the beginning of the year ... and revelling in the comments from friends about the glow that I currently have.

13. I am grateful it was my turn to write some Captain Juan this week - I feel as though my fiction muscles as been atrophied of late.

What are you grateful for this week?

It's time once again to pause, reflect and give thanks on the week that was (again late!)

With things back on a slightly more even keep than the have been in the past few weeks ... I should be back on track in a fortnight to start posting these wonderful lists on a Sunday evening.

1. I am grateful for the time and space that my partner's business trips bring.

2. I am grateful that I had my mother in law here to share the job of keeping Mr D amused while his Daddy was away.

3. I am grateful for high school crushes and the interesting twists they bring to life 20 years later.

4. I am grateful that the IGA down the road opens at 6am for emergency supplies of flour.

5. I am grateful that I am still moderating my sugar in take and continuing on my path as the amazing shrinking woman.

6. I am grateful for long cool glasses of mineral water and easy conversation.

7. I am grateful the Mr D is finally settling into kindy and enjoying himself.

8. I am grateful for kindy gym.

9. I am grateful for routines that fall into place without any thought or effort.

10. I am grateful for both my writing roles at Type A Mom and Write Anything for creating some structure to my writing week.

11. I am grateful for the writing courses that the Queensland Writer's Centre puts on.

12. I am grateful to have a business partner and writing colleague in Paul Anderson, and all the wonderful gifts he brings to these collaborations ... as well as being a wonderful friend.

13. I am grateful that after all this time Chinese Whisperings is starting to move forward and gain momentum.

14. I am grateful for the gifts that the Universe lavishes me with and for the moments of synchronicity.

What are you grateful for this week?

It's time to give gratitude and thanks for the week that was (very very late I know)

1. I am grateful that I horded clothes for years and was able to donate them to the Victorian bushfire survivors. I thought that I was saving them for a rainy day - seems I was waiting for a fire storm. In doing this I was able to consolidate some of the trauma I felt from the '83 Ash Wednesday bush fires.

2. I am grateful that Dylan is back at kindy full time.

3. I am grateful that I am beginning to refill my cup again.

4. I am grateful that I have my mother-in-law staying while my beloved is away.

5. I am grateful for beer at the pub and conversations about quantum physics.

6. I am grateful that I collaborate with writers who are as crazy as I am.

7. I am grateful that I can say 'I love you' to my sister.

What are you grateful for this week?

It's taken me two days to work up to writing this post. In the aftermath of the Victorian bushfires I've felt guilty about coming here to write what I have anything to be grateful for, when so many others have lost more than I can ever imagine.

I am grateful that all my family and friends, both north and south are alive, safe from fire and floods and have their homes intact. I am also grateful that out of the death, destruction and anguish that a family rift has been healed. We've been estranged from my aunt's family for the past 16 years. The fires around the Whittlesea area were the impetus for my Mum to pick up the phone and ring her sister. Now there's a new chapter to look foward to in our family history - when chapters for other families are closing forever.

My heart and thoughts go out to not just the victims of this weekend's fires, but the survivors from Ash Wednesday in 1983 and Black Friday in 1939 - who must be reliving the horror all over again.

Tomorrow I will be going through our wardrobes for clothes and Mr D's room for toys to put with loads of other donations being shipped to Melbourne from Brisbane. I will also be donating blood next week. I am grateful that I have a chance to give something despite being so far away.

It's time again to give thanks for the week that was.

1. I am grateful that I am still awake to write this post - it seems to be a mammoth effort. But I am here.

2. I am grateful that we not only survived, but enjoyed our first camping trip away as a family.

3. I am grateful for the natural beauty that is so close to Brisbane.

4. I am grateful that I am fit enough to almost climb to the top of a crazy mini mountain. Check out the facebook photo.

5. I am grateful for having partaken in some sugary food and drink last week and discovered as a consequence that sugar now gives me a hideous headache. Now I have something else to sure up my resolve to stay away from the nasty substance.

6. I am grateful for Annie's folks for putting us up at their place for two nights.

7. I am grateful to Annie for inviting us all up to the Stanthorpe show and to revel in the excitement, via Dylan, that I once had for the carnival during summer as a child.

8. I am grateful that I am still crazy enough to consider the dodge 'em cars great fun and even more grateful that the head on collision I had didn't give me a sore neck like I feared it may have.

9. I am grateful that Dave's Mum is here allowing me some time to really get stuck into my anthology editing.

10. I am grateful for the new insight for a theme for my anthology and for the new challenges it poses to the creation of the anthology.

11. I am grateful that the weather has cooled a little and that the rain held off for my washing to get dry today - no more smokey camp fire smell infusing our clothing.

12. I am grateful that my internet is running at full speed again.

13. I am grateful to be doing the Artist Way with old friends and new ones, and to have Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach complimenting the wisdom of Julia Cameron.

14. I am grateful that I was able to devour Twilight despite having a busy weekend and spending one night without electric lighting! It will be easy to hit my February target of two books - though I might not learn much about good writing, just a little about the trascendence of a brilliant story over clumsy and immature writing!

15. I am grateful to Tallula for putting us onto the brilliant camping store - so I could get a camp fry pan, a toaster for the open fire and a few other necessities that large franchises don't bother to stock.

What are you grateful for this week past?

This week it's been the end of my creative year and the beginning (today) of a new one. It's also been ridiculously hot and humid for Brisbane, and the end of my love affair with the school holidays.

Having said that - it's the time of the week to look back and give thanks for the week that was.

1. I am grateful for airconditioning - I cannot believe that I am writing that as my number one for this week, but it's totally and utterly true. Those who know me wont believe it. I've lost my Cairns fortitude for the humidity.

2. I am grateful that I am look back and give thanks on my first year of writing .. and to also offer thanks to those who have travelled that path with me.

3. I am grateful that yesterday there was some quiet time to make card to say thank you!

4. I am grateful that I know my limitations and boundaries and that I can ask for help when needed.

5. I am grateful that I am bleeding today - one more day of PMT and the family would have relocated.

6. I am grateful that I can create a Red Tent in my head and retreat there.

7. I am grateful for good friends, good good and conversation.

8. I am grateful that it is the Year of the Ox and I feel fantastic about it!

9. I am grateful that Mr Dave and Dave spending time together is win-win-win for all of us.

10. I am grateful for discovering the pink bubbles that Annie left behind.

11. I am grateful to my beautiful friend Michelle for opening her home to us last week and allowing us to romp and play in the surf.

12. I am grateful also to my friend for Michelle for being flexible and allowing Mr D to camp out under the massage table so I could have my KaHuna body work and still allow Mr D to have the connection and sense of safety he needed.

13. I am grateful that childeren tell the truth - there are no veils, not deceptions - all you have to do is listen!

14. I am grateful that I will only have to sit through the Tale of Desperaux ONCE!

What are you grateful for this week?

It's time again to reflect back on the week that was and give gratitude and thanks.

This week it's a bit tough, as I sit here (a day late), in a less than gracious mood, being hassled by Mr D to make porridge (because they had porridge on Sesame Street) to be grateful, but I'll give it a try.

1. I am grateful for making this weekly post, because it forces me to be grateful when I'd rather be writing a list of things to be p*ssed off about!

2. I am grateful to have a new writing and editing gig at Type-A Mom in the breastfeeding section.

3. I am grateful that the Universe always knows the best place to put me - that breastfeeding is probably a far better (and safer option) for me to be in, than birth.

4. I am grateful that I might actually earn some money from writing or editing.

5. I am grateful that my partner has a sense of humour and can tease me about my friendship with Paul - calling him 'my other boyfriend' - without any element of jealousy.

6. I am grateful that my profile as a writer is increasing.

7. I am grateful that I've enjoyed most of the school holidays.

8. I am grateful that we are on the count down to the start of the kindy year (with Orientation morning this Thursday).

9. I am grateful that Mr D has been asking when kindy starts again - missing it makes m hopefuly that the transition back in will be easier than last year.

10. I am grateful for really cool, free public activities like Disco Puppy at the Ipswich Art Centre.

11. I am grateful that Mr D and I will be spending the day together doing fun stuff on Thursday.

12. I am grateful my nephew really liked the the Wedgeits that we got him for his birthday.

13. I am grateful that I am now in a better mood for having written this list!

What are you grateful for this week?