Musical Monday - "I Would Die for That"

Children are a gift from God. Eda Le Shan, a U.S. educator, wrote this in her book The Conspiracy Against Childhood:

"Babies are necessary to grown-ups. A new baby is like the beginning of all things—wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities. In a world that is cutting down its trees to build highways, losing its earth to concrete - babies are almost the only remaining link with nature, with the natural world of living things from which we spring."

** Super Sweet Blogging Award **

I have been nominated for the Super Sweet Blogging Award! 

How sweet it is to be awarded by you .... Thank you Rhonda for this sweet award.

So, the award…and the rules:

1) Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2) Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back.
3) Answer the “Super Sweet” questions.
4) Nominate a “Baker’s Dozen” (award 13 blogs), link to their blogs in your post, and notify them on their blogs. It’s ok if you don’t have 13 blogs to nominate, just share the love!
5) Copy and paste the award and image on your blog somewhere.

Super Sweet Questions:

1) Cookies or Cake?

Cake it is! Especially if it is Black Forest Chocolate Cake!

2) Chocolate or Vanilla?

To eat - Chocolate. To smell - Vanilla.

3) What is your favourite sweet treat?

Caramel filled chocolate.

4) When do you crave sweet things the most?

Probably in winter. Snuggled up under a blanket with a good book, a glass of wine and some chocolate! 

5) If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be?

Sweetie Pie??

And so, the nominees are…

http://www.theblessedbarrenness.co.za/

http://queenoftheslipstream.blogspot.com/

http://onestepatatime.co.za/

http://www.mudhutmama.com/

http://www.tertia.org/so_close/

http://babagerber.blogspot.com/

http://mangasaurus.blogspot.com/

http://immeasurablelove.co.za/wp/

http://twobehold.wordpress.com/

http://mydadsandi.blogspot.com/

http://mummyinwaiting.wordpress.com/

http://theluckylife.wordpress.com/

http://jimandamyhopingtoadopt.blogspot.com/

Grateful

The last two weeks have passed in the blink of an eye. I did not get time yet to stand still and reflect on where I am. So I'm taking a moment to do that now, to sit a while and be grateful for where I am.

The weather today is very hectic and a bit scary - we had a terrible wind storm with sheets of rain in between. It is really cold and unpleasant outside. Yet, I am warm(ish) - I never warm up during winter... - and safe inside and I did not have to get up at 5:30 in the morning and rush to the office, getting rained on and blown about.
I now get to say good morning to my husband before he leaves for work. He returns for lunch and we eat lunch together. In the 10 years that we've been together we never had the chance to eat lunch together on a normal workday. I like it.
I got a vast amount of work done since there is no distractions.
My fur-babies keep me company and I love having the time with them.
Next week I'll be going to our CT office for 3 days. It will be great to see the people again and catch up a bit.

So yes, I feel very blessed and am grateful for my life at the moment. I'm also grateful that God's time is different than our own. That we haven't received "The Call" while our lives were up-side-down. That we are in a place now where we are happy and relaxed and ready to love a little child.

I hate goodbyes

Today was my last day at work at our Cape Town office. I'm having such a lot of mixed emotions over this one. I thought that I would be happier - more excited. Truth is, I'm very very sad and a bit scared. I'm sad as I'm leaving people behind that has meant a lot to me during the years. My boss, Rose is like a second mom to me, always ready to help and give advise. And now she is taking a huge leap of faith and trusting me to carry on

Goodbye cake for me from Rose

with my work 200 km away from the office.

My colleague is also one of my best friends, although I haven't treated her as such during these past few months. She had her 2nd child about 10 months ago and we just kind of drifted apart. I'm sad that I let these past couple of months flew by without really participating in life. I was going through the motions, getting up, going to work, going home, eat sleep, repeat. Rushing to "visit" my husband over weekends, trying to stretch the hours before rushing back. Seven months have passed in a blur and left me feeling dizzy and disorientated. 

Oh and yes, I'm actually not a little bit scared, I'm a lot scared. Not scared about making it work, but scared that this might all be to good to be true. Can something so great really be happening to me? Can I really have all that I dream of, and will this turn out to be all that I want it to be? In my heart of hearts I know that I deserve this, that I've paid my dues and did my part. It just feel strange to not be fighting and struggling to get what I want...

Done & Dusted!

I've just e-mailed our updated profile to the printers - happiness!!! 

I am relieved that it is done, although I've enjoyed putting it together, it was also torture. I'm a typical Libra and it takes me hours to decide whether the background looks better this way or that, whether the border must be black or grey (or maybe red).., whether the photo looks better if it's smaller or bigger or must I maybe use another photo altogether...

There is way too many options when doing a photobook, at least with the scrapbook I had to use whatever I had at the time.

But I'm happy and will not let myself over-think or question it any more. What is done is done. 

The only really bad part is that I'm sending it off to the Agency directly from the printers. I'm leaving Cape Town next Friday and as it takes 2 weeks for printing, I do not want to waste time for the book to be send to me first..

Thank you all for the encouragement and lets hold thumbs that this book will work some magic!

My Mothersday

Ah yes, Sunday was Mothersday - celebrated by many and as it seems, dreaded by a whole bunch. I read a couple of blogs and was in awe of the different emotions that this day stirred up. From seasoned moms enjoying a day being spoiled by their children, to first time moms excited by having the opportunity to celebrate this special day, to not-yet-moms, hiding in their houses or implementing emergency plans on how to survive the day.

I had a pretty good day. I went to the mall - yes, the mall - filled with Mothersday decorations and specials and people handing out chocolates and cards. A couple of salespeople, cashiers and even the car-guard wished me a Happy Mothersday. I was like thinking, REALLY?? Do I look like a MOM to you?? I guess I did, so I smiled and said thank you very much...