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    Home » pondering

    By Amanda Smyth 8 Comments

    the world is still a good place, the 16/05/14 edition

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    I’m hesitant to write another The World is Still a Good Place post.  I wrote one on David’s birthday back in February.  While I was busy concentrating on being grateful, I denied myself the chance to be sad.  In the days after his birthday, my body struggled.  I tried to keep going, but I didn’t have the energy to get through the day.  At the gym, weights I normally lift with ease seemed impossible.  I was using a bit of silly machinery made to help people who can’t do actual chin ups, but I was still not going up.  I stopped, wiped my tears with my towel and tried again.  Still nothing.  Tears started to stream.  Fearful anyone would notice, I grabbed my keys and made a beeline for the car.  My body decided that I wouldn’t consciously take some time to be sad, it would make some for me.  I’m still floored by what a physical process grieving is; how exhausting it is, how much is hurts.  Still, here are five reasons why the world is still a good place this week.

    1. The lunch

    I learned an important lesson back in February, so as Mother’s Day approached I was ready to be gentle with myself.  I asked Bearhands if we might invite our mums to lunch on Uncle Davo’s Hill.  I told him my vision of cut glass and crystal and the Sunday afternoon sun.  He instantly agreed.  On Sunday morning, he loaded a table and chairs on a forklift and drove them to the top of the hill.  I set the table with all the trimmings, we shared lunch while the kids played and the sun shone on us all.  Later Bearhands mixed Mausie and I a cocktail and I woke Monday with a Mother’s Day hangover.

    My favourite moment of Mother's Day - finding out the Big Sister thinks I'm speshil.
    My favourite moment of Mother's Day - finding out the Big Sister thinks I'm speshil.
    Cut glass, crystal and Sunday afternoon sun.
    Cut glass, crystal and Sunday afternoon sun.
    JC and the Little Sister
    JC and the Little Sister
    Bearhands and Mausie
    Bearhands and Mausie
    Mother's Day blooms
    Mother's Day blooms
    Lunch lasted nto the late afternoon.
    Lunch lasted nto the late afternoon.
    Mother's Day VI

    2. The Little Sister’s words

    Our annual Fraser Island holiday always changes my kids.  Inevitably my girls come home more grown up, with new skills and new words.  I suspect it’s being surrounded by so many adults and older children who really talk with the girls instead of transacting with them, that makes them grow.  The Little Sister has come home a chatter box.  She’s singing the alphabet song.  It seems like only moments ago her older sister was singing "a b c d e f g h i j k elemenopeeeeeeeee".
    The Little Sister is very different to the Big Sister.  My eldest has always been easy to get along with.  My youngest is  ...well... not.  Her wilfulness combined with her new found voice is making me laugh.  “Mummy, don’t count these steps! NOT one!  NOT two!  NOT three!  NOT four!”

    3. The athlete

    Last week the Big Sister competed in her very first cross country.  She's a competitive little possum by nature and I have absolutely no idea where she gets that from.*  She finished seventh; a fair result when you consider that her and her little mate chose to complete the optional obstacle course, stopping to straighten the hurdles before jumping over them.

    cross-country

    4. The party

    On Tuesday night, I lay in bed wondering if starting a Pinterest focussed link party was a good idea.  My inner teenage girl worried that I was about to throw a party to which no one would show up.  I needn’t have worried, my lovely friends helped me spread the word and lots of interesting bloggers (even some I hadn’t yet discovered) joined in.  I’m Pinning Around will return on Wednesday, I hope you enjoy discovering some new blogs too.

    5. The little kidney that could

    A couple of years ago, the Little Sister had a string of bad health that led to an investigation of her kidneys.  They discovered that one of her kidneys was markedly smaller than the other.  They both worked, but the size discrepancy worried the paediatrician.  We were to keep an eye on it.  The time came to have another ultrasound this week.  I told anyone who would listen that I wasn’t worried.  That she was a happy healthy kid.  Then, on Wednesday, we got the results: two perfectly pink kidneys of equal size!  The best possible news we could have hoped for.  Parked at the lights on the way home I started to cry.  I thanked David for watching over the baby he only held once.  Then, as we turned the corner of road to the farm, a massive rainbow appeared.  As I turned into the driveway, it disappeared over Uncle Davo’s hill.

    the-little-kidney-that-could
    I told her she was very clever for growing her kidney. She said "I'm not clever, I'm cranky!"

    So that's it.  Five reasons why this week was a good one.  How are things with you?

    did you wake with a hangover on Monday or is it just me?
    what’s making the world a good place for you this week?

    * Actually, she gets it from me.  It speaks volumes that my kids have inherited their least admirable qualities from me!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. mumabulous says

      May 16, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      Little Sister sounds alot like my P2 - so cheekily adorable. I am so happy to hear that all is good with her health.

      Reply
    2. Me says

      May 16, 2014 at 2:50 pm

      What a beautiful post and what a fantastic way to celebrate Mothers Day.
      So glad to hear Little Sister's kidneys are all good now. Have a fantastic weekend !
      Me

      Reply
    3. Becky from BeckyandJames.com says

      May 16, 2014 at 8:46 pm

      What a gorgeous Mother's Day lunch. That table setting is just gorgeous. I love this post x

      Reply
    4. Sonia Life Love Hiccups says

      May 16, 2014 at 9:35 pm

      Such gorgeous things to be grateful for sweet girl and I am soooo thrilled to bits for you guys especially about the 2 healthy kidneys. And that Mothers Day lunch... precious!!!! xx

      Reply
    5. The Plumbette says

      May 17, 2014 at 2:43 pm

      That is fantastic news about the kidney! What a relief. All beautiful things that make the world a happier place. A lovely post to read Amanda. X

      Reply
    6. Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says

      May 18, 2014 at 8:08 am

      Cute photos and what a lovely post. Great news about kidney, here's hoping we get similar good news when we go at the end of the month! You? Stubborn? No... comment xx

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. the world is still a good place, the 09/09/14 edition - Cooker and a Looker says:
      at

      […] Today I will be unguarded in my sorrow.  I’ve come to learn that if I don’t take the time to grieve, it catches up with me at the least convenient times. […]

      Reply
    2. same old story - Cooker and a Looker says:
      at

      […] It’s the same old story every September. The good news is, I know that this won’t last. Next week I’ll be back cracking jokes about the best ways to style a camp toilet in your living room and sharing Mum’s delicious satay chicken recipe. Until then I’ve learned it’s important that  I give myself the space to be sad.  […]

      Reply

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