#243 (31/8)

Today has been hard.  Today was RCH day and I'm not that happy with the way the RCH handled our visit.

That's a long story and this is about being grateful - so I will say that I'm grateful that I do trust the people at the RCH and that, although I have to make the decision on whether to go ahead myself - at least we have a decision.

We also had a lovely day in Melbourne - would have been so much better if I'd been feeling better though!

#242 (30/8)

It was an early get up and on the road morning.  Started my first clean at 9am in Beechworth - did that one and another one and then straight home to shower/pack for Melbourne.

Picked Eb up from school and headed to the train in Wang and then it was a night in Melbourne.

I love these times we have where we're away from home and we can just enjoy each others company.

#241 (29/8)

This morning I went to sleep in Mt Beauty after an on-call night there.  Got to spend a bit of time with "Popey" who would be one of my favorite Paramedics.

We did get a call out - and I'm glad!  I've done quite a few shifts now with no work so it was nice to get some work!

#240 (28/8)

We started a bit of a new venture today.  Graham and I both cleaned the local Sports and Fitness centre.  It was nice to work together and I feel we did a great job.

I'm very grateful for all the work that is coming my way and I praise God for his goodness.

#239 (27/8)

Today is the day we celebrate the fact that our sweet little 12yo decided to be baptised.  Today is a fresh beginning in Christ for her and she shone like a diamond.  She is so humble.  I believe she is aware that this is such an important step.

Oh my heart is so grateful for her willing heart.  We haven't talked her into this - she was simply ready. She said that God told her and I sure wouldn't argue with that!

#238 (26/8)

Today I woke up in beautiful Mt Beauty after a night shift there.

Ebony spent a wonderful (albeit very late!) night with Katelan and they had such a lovely time.  I'm grateful for these beautiful little friends she has and joy of seeing her have so much fun!

#237 (25/8)

Today the sun shone like a beautiful diamond in the sky.  Today I woke up and smelt the jonquils and daffodils that are in my home.  Today I appreciate that winter is cold...and that I have a lovely warm home...and that winter is followed by all the magnificence of spring!

#236 (24/8)

Today we got the opportunity to go and see about cleaning the local sports and fitness centre.  It looks like it's a go so that will see Graham and I working together.  So blessed to have this opportunity!

#235 (23/8)

Oh wow - my little girl brings me so much joy.  She is so thoughtful and kind.  Today I came home from my cleaning job pretty exhausted and all night all she wanted to know was if I was ok and what she could do to help.  #doingsomethingright

#234 (22/8)

The sun is shining and I'm loving it!  A taste of spring is in the air.  Oh how I love these days and all the beauty they bring.  I even saw some blossom today. Grateful for the promise of warmer days and nights.

#233 (21/8)

Well, today I feel a bit shell shocked!  No cleaning, no ambulance work - just a morning spent meeting with someone to help me with the cleaning if need be and then some planning of how the working weeks are going to go.  Grateful for all the work coming my way.

#232 (20/8)

Birthday day.  Our little girl is 12 today.  We are so grateful to have the gift of her as our daughter and today she chose to play 10 pin bowls with us and then a lovely lunch at a dumpling place.  She had such a special day and that means everything to me!

#231 (19/8)

Today I woke in Mt Beauty after doing a night shift there.  Thankfully no call outs!  We arrived home about 11am and then Eb and I picked Frith and Halle up and went to 'Supatramp' Wodonga as a special birthday treat for Eb.  Our dear friends Jas and Frith paid for our dinner tonight - and we ate in a place that we wouldn't normally go to.  Friends are so important and I value them so much but this goes beyond the call of friendship to us.

#230 (18/8)

Oh boy. I'm so grateful I had today off everything!  Today was cake bake day for the big birthday weekend and birthday buying day and card making day and canvas (for the birthday girl) day.  Huge...but oh so fun! :)

#229 (17/8)

Another big day of cleaning today.  So glad to come home to my beautiful family and enjoy a quiet night in with them.

#228 (16/8)

Today is a big day in our memory. Today it is 16 years since Graham's brother Bill passed away in a road accident.

I haven't spent much time remembering it, but I'm sure Graham has.

I'm grateful for the time we got to share with Bill before he died and grateful for the years Gra and him had together.

#227 (15/8)

Today I have done 6 hours of cleaning.  I then came home and painted a canvas - a great way to relax for me.  I love that I'm able to paint.  It's something I love doing and hopefully will bring in some cash at some point.

Also very grateful for the beautiful rain I'm listening to as I sit by a beautiful warm fire.

#226 (14/8)

I've done so much today!  Went and visited with a person wanting a cleaner and won the job!  That's #11 job. I'm so grateful to God for this provision.  Now I just need God to help keep my body capable of all this cleaning!

#225 (13/8)

Well, today I spent the majority of the day in an Occ.Violence AV day.
It was fantastic and such a great thing to go to.  Learned so much about personal safety when working the Ambulance.  Well worth it!

Then it was a lovely and quick, couple session with a couple getting married in 4 weeks.  Loved my day!

#224 (12/8)

First wedding back for the 17/18 season.  Such a lovely intimate (only 10 people) wedding and such a fun couple.  Great way to get back into it! :)

#223 (11/8)

I love Fridays! end of the week (and it's been a rare day without being on call, no bookwork, no cleaning, no photography! - yay!) and today I got to go out with some of the other mums from St Jo's.  I wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for the fact that I purposely asked someone I knew if I could pick them up.

So glad I did.  I only stayed for a few drinks, but it was a lovely night out for me!

#222 (10/8)

Today has been huge - but I also feel great.  I can't believe that I'm actually enjoying my cleaning jobs.  I had to go to an horrific accident today where a person ran off the road, hit a tree and then the car burst into flames.  The occupant didn't make it.  It's times like this I feel so grateful just to be alive.  Someone on their way somewhere who never made it.  Tonight I hug my family just a bit closer.

#221 (9/8)

Today I've had a day at home and I'm so grateful.  I think there are times when I've forgotten how hard it is to work and have a home and business at home to run.  I haven't taken the time I've had away from 'real' work for granted, but I must say today has been wonderful and I'm very glad the pager didn't go off.

#220 (8/8)

Today was back to the cleaning.

Today I got such lovely feedback from a very very happy client.

That makes doing such a hard job worthwhile!

#219 (7/8)

Today I went into Wodonga and celebrated my dear friend Minnie's birthday with a few other girls.  It was so lovely to have a relaxed lunch and chat together.  I do miss my girlfriends!...but grateful to have them :)

#218 (6/8)

We headed off to Church this morning and it was a great service to be at.

We then did a bit of shopping, but probably the thing I find myself most grateful for is the gratitude my little girl showed when we bought her a new pair of winter boots today!   oh and getting to watch the end of Harry Potter #1 together!

#217 (5/8)

Oh how beautiful is the rain...and lots of it.

I'm so grateful to be in a warm home and be able to listen to the rain on the roof and just relax.

I sat with my little girl tonight and started to watch the first movie in the Harry Potter series....looking good to me and she is all smiles!

#216 (4/8)

So today I'm exhausted after all the cleaning in the last 3 days.

I've taken a big of time out and and worked on another painting.  I'm so glad I have this hobby at the moment - it gives me space and peace.  Perfect time in my life to be taking this time for myself.

#215 (3/8)

Today was huger than huge.  3 cleans today and all a minimum of 2 hours and one was 2 stories.

I find myself feeling absolutely exhausted, but very much in a different state of mind.  Feeling grateful that I can give these hard working people a place to come home to that is fresh and clean.

#214 (2/8)

Well, today was day 2 of cleaning.  1st clean of this home and it was good in comparison to yesterday!  I feel much better and hope that the owners enjoy coming home to a clean space.

#213 (1/8)

Oh boy - this is hard.  3 hours of cleaning and hard cleaning, and I have to question why I have to be doing this when I'm almost 58 years old.  I've felt deflated and defeated and frustrated today....but I've found a way to thank God for the work.  Without it, things would be even worse than they are.