OUR Tree

So last night as I was writing my post about our Christmas Tree a terrible knot formed in my stomach! Somethig wasn't right. The tree is gorgeous! Perfect in so many ways! Its everything I ever dreamed of and more! But that's just it. It's MY dream tree! It has everything I love on it and the design and creation is perfect! I know these things don't mean a lot to Rob and he is happy with whatever I am happy with but you know what? I want this to be OUR tree! The ornaments reflect us both and our lives but the 'design' of the tree is all me! I swore that I would NEVER and I mean NEVER put tinsel on my tree! Yes my house is covered in tinsel but never on the tree. I remember Rob mentioning once that he loved tinsel on trees! He also loves fresh candy canes hanging from the branches! So today I went and bought some tinsel and candy canes and covered OUR tree in everything that Rob loves!

Marriage is a beautiful thing. It allows 2 souls to still be complete individuals, and a beautiful team all at the same time! Our tree is our symbol of our individual souls coming together to create something beautiful. Tonight I feel happy! Its a shock each time I see the tree but then I smile knowing that its OUR tree and I LOVE it! Shinning and delicate ornaments, cheerful tinsel and sweet candy canes. The perfect combination of Sarah and Rob.

x S.K.K x

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree how lovely are your branches!

Yes Yes I know it isn't the 1st of December but about 2 weeks ago I was sitting in our lounge room and had a thought. They say it is bad luck to put the Christmas Tree up before December 1st. What is bad luck? Have you ever had bad luck because of it? I do believe in Karma but because of putting a Christmas tree up early? Really?  I don't think so! I respect if it is 'traditional' for you but I wont fall into the 'bad luck' wagon. I love Christmas! It's so magical! Yes MAGICAL! That is the one word I would use to describe this holiday. I love christmas lights, I love tinsel, I love special nativity scenes, I love candy canes, I love Santa, I love being surrounded by family, I love Christmas smiles, I love Santa letters, I love angels, I love baked ham, I love bon bons, I love prawns and I love Christmas Trees! Everything about Christmas is magical! Why wait until December to start experiencing, celebrating and enjoying this special time! So I decorated our house! 2 weeks ago at the start of November I decorated our house! Why only limit Christmas to a couple of weeks. I wanted to have the spirit of Christmas fill our house and make me smile for as long as possible!

This Christmas is our 5th Christmas together and our trees 5th 'Christmas' anniversary! This is my first home! My first home away from my parents home. The minute I moved in with Rob I couldn't wait to share our first Christmas together! All I wanted for Christmas was a tree! Not any tree but the most beautiful lush tree I could find! Mum gave me this wish and took Rob and I shopping at Myer to buy our first tree. What a special moment for me! A moment I will remember forever. Buying our first Christmas tree in our first home! It has never changed over the years. Still exactly the same. Just filled with special ornaments that reflect Rob and I as individuals and a couple. I have angels and ballet dancers and rubber thongs and trains. I have decorations with our names from our best friends wedding. I have decorations that we have made as kids. I have a tiny little angel that was given to me by my teacher when I was in grade 1. 20 years old and she still holds a special spot on our tree! Each year we add a few more as our lives change. My dad makes me a Christmas decoration every year and puts the year on it! The first ornament has a tag on it saying "my first tree 2007" I will treasure these forever! 

Here she is...photos do not do it justice! 

I know its plain and simple but it is us and to me its simply perfect! 

It will grow as we grow! 

x S.K.K x

Being Thankful

Well tomorrow is Thanksgiving in America! I love reading tweets and blogs about this special holiday! It makes me envious that we don't have it over here in Australia. Just one more thing to add to my to-do list. Spend thanksgiving over in America! Actually my dream holiday would be to spend Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in America. 3 whole months of pure bliss! How truly amazing would that be! But for now I have to look at the gorgeous pumpkin and crimson coloured photos from all my American friends and loose myself in words like turkey and pie and simply dream. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE Australia and I love our laid back love of life but once, just once, I would love to experience these cozy and special American holidays.

I guess the reason why I am so intrigued by this holiday is because I love the meaning behind it. To give thanks. People take so much for granted and I think it is really important to take the time to give thanks for all that you have. So I am not in America, my house isn't filled with acorns and dried maple leaves, my oven doesn't smell of warm pumpkin pie but I can sit and be thankful.

I am thankful for...

Our home ~ It's 27 years old and its all ours! Its not renovated, it has yellow walls and lots of stuff. Its always messy and we can't walk into our spare rooms. But it's us. Its filled with possessions and memories that have created who we are today! I will sort it out and clean it soon but right now I'm not ready to throw it all away!

Rob falling asleep on the couch every night ~ because it gives me comfort and sense of pride that he has worked extremely hard all day and has been giving his all. He's at home...with me and that it special.

My Mum ~ through EVERYTHING she is my rock. I take everything out on her and yet she still is always there. She supports me, comforts me, pushes me, pulls me back to reality, trusts me, inspires me and loves me.

Sunsets ~ They make me happy. They are always so breathtaking and they ALWAYS make me smile. What a beautiful way to end the day...smiling.

My Sister ~ She doesn't know it yet but we are goign to be best friends one day. For now I'll sit back and support her through this journey she is going through. Even though I completely annoy her and she cant stand to be around me, I know she knows I love her and I am always here...just waiting...in the background...ready for whenever she needs me. She is a star. She will do big things in her life.

Stinky animal kisses ~ who else will love you unconditionally even after you yell at them for doing something wrong. They look at you with those big eyes and cheeky grins and scream kiss me hug me love me!!! 

My eyes ~ I am so thankful to be able to see all the beauty in this world! A lot of people don't get to witness this spectacular gift.

My friendships ~ I am so lucky for old friends and new friends. They are all a special part of my life and I am very lucky to have unique and wonderful people to share my life with.

My optimism ~ This is my special gift that I will truly treasure forever and I hope will never change. 

Skittles ~ They are so bright and colourful and make me smile and they give me that sugar hit when I need them!

Instragram ~ What a perfect way to capture my journey.

Marriage ~ I am so thankful I have found an amazing man who will always keep me on my toes and ensure our life is fun for the rest of our lives. He still gives me butterflies and makes me laugh. What a special gift. 

YOU ~ I am so thankful to you, my readers, for coming along on my journey. Supporting me and caring about me with your precious words. Your "online" friendship means so much to me! Thank You!

What are you Thankful for???

Instragram

 Completely and utterly obsessed! 

7 weeks, 16 followers and 216 photos later...

 

i heart instagram

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Comment bellow and let me know your name so I can follow your journey as well! 

x S.K.K x

Answers

 I finally got my results back from my tests that I had a few weeks ago and I was shocked at the outcome! I went in to the appointment confident that nothing was wrong yet totally prepared for him to say the words "you have bowel cancer" I don't know why but this was my mental state! 2 extremes. Absolutely nothing wrong or the worst possible outcome. But he just said 2 little words. 2 words that are not bad at all. 2 words that are very common these days. 2 words that I had heard before but did not completely understand. 2 words that absolutly bowled me over and put a knot in my stomach. 

Coeliac Disease

 The minute he said it, I lost everything. My eyes filled with tears and I was fighting back the urge to sob and run out the door. He was explaining it all to me and I was trying so hard to put the tears and shock aside and listen to what he had to tell me. I smiled and agreed with him when he said that this was a positive outcome but inside I was falling apart. Coeliac - how on earth could I be coeliac. a friend from uni was coeliac and every time she had gluten she would throw up. I don't do that. I guess it affects people in different ways. This isn't a bad thing. But its not a good thing. Its not cancer and I should be eternally grateful but right now I'm just angry. I should be happy that I finally have answers. Now I know the answer, all of my symptoms make sense and yes I know how fantastic I am goign to feel when it is all out of my system and my body can start healing itself but right now I'm angry. Ive been putting off writing this post as I'm not used to feeling like this. As you all know Im a very positive person and I can promise you all that I have tried and will continue to be positive about this but sometimes I can't. I know it will get easier but right now I'm angry. Why me? I love my food so so so so much! Yes there are so many alternatives out there and I am very lucky to know now then 10 years ago but alternatives aren't the real thing. gluten free pasta is NOT pasta. gluten free bread is NOT bread. I love these foods and right now I am missing it.

I really really really do not want to sound selfish and ungrateful as I know there are so many people out there completely worse off then me but right now, here on my own blog, I need to write and I need you to read and understand. My tears are falling as I write because I know how silly I am being but I guess the shock hasn't really warn off yet. I'm still getting my head around it all...what I can and cant eat. Most of the time I am positive about it. But in these early stages food is boring! Im sorting and sifting through labels and ingredients trying to find what I can and cant eat. Ive never read a food labels in my life. I was never a dieter, I was never a calorie counter. I ate whatever I wanted and was happy. This is a huge change and I know its going to be amazing! I cant wait to see how I feel once I start to heal. But gosh I could eat a quarter pounder right now!

To throw a spanner into it all I am also completely lactose intolerant. Our tolerance levels should be between 40 and 120 with the average being 60...mines 1...ONE....seriously why me??? No more cheese, no more chocolate, no more milk, no more smoothies, no more ice-cream. Yes yes yes I know there are 'lactose free' items but they are NOT the same!

So right now its been 2 weeks and its been going ok...the food isn't bad but I just miss a lot of foods right now and the thought that I will never be able to eat them again upsets me. But this is it now. This is the answer that I wanted and now Ive got it. Its going to be a big journey and I know it will be for the best but I'll leave being positive about it until tomorrow. Just this little minute I want to cry and get upset and be angry. I think that's ok. I hope that's ok. I just need to deal with all the different ups and downs. 'You cant enjoy the highs if you don't experience the lows" It might seem a petty little thing to everyone else but in my world, it's HUGE!

x S.K.K x

Positive Intent - 11.11.11

Today is a very special day! The date 11.11.11 is one of the most powerful shifts in human awareness that we will ever get to experience in our lifetime. It is a unique opportunity for all of us to release our karmic scripting. It is the day to forget the past and re-write our future. We can choose. We can decide. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. 

Although every day I try to live my life with happiness and positive thinking I think it is always good to sit down and reassess your inner self. I'm in the process of creating a vision board however most of these things are materialistic. I think we need to look inside ourselves and look deep into our hearts and our souls and really connect with who we are. Today I ask all of you to take a minute at 11:11am and search your soul. Who are you? What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Are you being the real you or the you who you 'think' you should be? There should be no more pretending. 

Make a wish inside your heart and hold on to it forever. Today is the start. This is my positive intention...

"I will share with my family, my friends and my world, the love, passion and magic that is inside my heart. I will be silly, I will be positive, I will be fun, I will happy, I will shine! I WILL BE ME"

x S.K.K x

We Remember

 

 

They will always shine for us ~ here on earth and those we have lost ~ Thank You for your sacrifice

We will never forget

x S.K.K x

Pink Sky

 I love when he messages me and tells me to look at the sky! I get to witness a pretty pink sunset!

Have a beautiful Friday everyone!

x S.K.K x

Why I do what I do!

What drives you! What is your motivation to live? Why do you do the things you do and why do you think the way you think? What inspires you everyday? Why do you live? What sparks the fire in your heart and lights the shine in your eyes! I have a dream of what my life will be like! I have one single vision that drives me every single day! Every experience I have, every memory I create, every mistake I learn from, I hope they all roll into a single ball and fly me into this single moment that I look forward to every day!

Sometimes I think what's the point? Why are we here! Everyone has their purpose, I'm sure! But why do we go through all this hard work to just die. O.k that's a bit harsh and dramatic but sometimes this goes through my mind! I guess those are the 'who am I?' days...'could I be doing something more?' actually 'SHOULD I be doing something more' days. 

But then I remember this vision, this dream, this goal. This is what makes me happy and excites me and motivates me every day to get there. This is why I document our lives, every second, every minute, every smile, every tear. I want to remember...forever.

***********

 There is a house! A nice, gorgeous house, nothing huge but big enough to have housed, fed and comforted a few children's souls. This house doesn't have the latest gadgets or modern furnishings but comforting decor and children's paintings on the wall. Their heights etched into the walls with tiny little fingers and memories of their little faces looking so excited of the 1 centimeter they have grown since last time! This house has a veranda! A front veranda or full surrounding veranda, it doesn't matter but a veranda. There are two white wooden rocking chairs, faded by the afternoon sun that shines upon them every day.  They creak with each single rock over the wooden veranda. These rocking chairs are surrounded by old pots and jugs filled with blooming flowers, favourites that bring memories from earlier years. There is a wheelbarrow in the corner. Old and rusty. It's growing herbs. Their scent is picked up by the afternoon breeze and is sent sailing through the veranda and into the house. Delicate chimes hang from the ceiling and form an orchestra with the native birds. Everyone is in harmony serenading the afternoon with their peaceful chimes and chirps.

He sits there. Dark leather skin from the years of enjoying his favourite past time of fishing in the sun. Hard, course blistered hands from working with every ounce of energy he had to provide an enriched life for our family. Wrinkles surrounding his gorgeous face, wrinkles that show and remind me of every worry he had protecting me and our family. That sparkle. That sparkle in his bright blue eyes is still there. Its never faded. Never will. The sparkle in his eyes captures me and opens the door straight into his soul. The sparkle is his reason. Why he does what he does. Why I fell in love the minute they captured mine in the evening light of December 02. He reaches out his hand and holds mine. We smile. Oh boy do we smile. We are looking through pages upon pages of memories. Memories of the good times. Memories of the sad times. Every crisp or blurry photo brings us back to a special time in our lives. Every word and dramatic sentence ignites a fire of memories that once made us smile and still does in our mature years. 

Our children have grown up and have moved away and have started families of their own. Here we sit, older, on our gorgeous veranda of our beautiful house and remember. We remember every single special moment because they are the memories that have lasted forever. We close our eyes and smile. We know we have lived a truly spectacular life and everything we have done or not done has brought us to this very special moment of just being together and remembering. 

 ***********

  

And that is it. That is what drives me every single day. That is why I take photos of everything and why I write this blog. I do it for us. For our family. So when we are 80 and sitting on our rocking chairs, our memories a little faded, we can open up a book or a photo album and have the memories sore like an eagle straight into our hearts.  

We may not save the world, or discovery a cure, or win any awards. But we have each other and I know we will do great things. When life get tough, or we fight, or people disappoint us, or we have money troubles, I take myself to this place. I take myself to that veranda and I know it is all part of our plan. Every joyous moment, every bump in the road. It all happens for a reason and will be a memory in our book to enjoy reading about on our veranda...together.

That is why I write, that is why I take millions of photos,
and that is why I do what I do...

x S.K.K x

Week-a-Boo *Celebrations and Alone Time*

How could you not love the weekend when it starts off like this! Magic!

I got home Friday night from work and had 2 special visits from our dear friends! Life gets very busy and unfortunately that means that visits and catch ups become less frequent with some people! Although I love when you haven't seen someone in months and you get together for a quick Friday night catch up and it was like no time had passed! I like those moments.

Saturday morning I woke up at 7am! I love a good sleep in! Mostly because I don't sleep much at night therefore, once I'm asleep, I take advantage of being asleep. So weekends are alarm free and I mostly sleep the mornings away! Not this Saturday! I was excited! My best friend had just moved into her brand new house and I was going to visit her! Her gorgeous new house and her gorgeous baby bump! She is due in 3 -4 weeks!!! Um can somebody say AMAZING! This house is just a dream, her dream, and the happiness I felt when I entered just warmed my heart! Michelle and her husband have waited and waited for this house for so long and have worked their butts off to get there and finally it has all paid off and they are living their dream! There is something so beautiful and peaceful about a brand new home! And just in time to welcome their little miracle!

After my visit I had booked in with the beautiful Leanne from Lea-Beauty Pamper Room - I don't want to go into too much of what happened here, but in short I got very lost and very sick so I missed my appointment! Along with the sickness I felt very guilty as I had asked Leanne especially to fit me in! I'm so sorry for missing it! If you ever need ANY beauty treatments and are around the gold coast area Leanne is your girl! She has amazing products and is very talented!!! Head on over to her facebook page and check her out!

Saturday afternoon brought another storm! Our 'summer storms' have come along a bit early this year and each weekend has been going off with a bang! Literally!

I've mentioned before that I love Scissors Paper Rock's prints and this one is no exception! It has it's special place in our kitchen and reminds me every day to live life to fullest and even though things get a bit 'stormy' at times I should always find the silver lining! Well Saturday I took this quote literally and I danced in the rain! This storm was so beautiful! I just could not sit inside and let it pass I had to go out and experience it! It was truly amazing! I just stood in the middle of my street and felt and experienced all the changes! The view was spectacular!!! After a horrible experience at lunch this really blew out the negativity around me and put a spring back in my step!

The storm left as quickly as it came and we were into the car and off to our next 'event' Bowling for our good friends 30th birthday! How much fun is bowling! No matter what your age, it is always fun! Rob and I arrived late becasue of the storm so we got a lane to ourselves! man Vs wife! It was on! Ok so I lost both times but hey it was my first time bowling without bumpers so I think I did a pretty good job! I was actually beating Rob in our 2nd game till about the 7th round...damit! After bowling we headed out to a Mediterranean restaurant for dinner! It was deliciousness! I had a lamb and beef-curry-pot-sorta-thingy. What ever it was it was YUM! oh and I fell in love with their hummus dip! real proper hummus dip...no store bought stuff!

 ~ Got to love party bags at a 30th! Massive hit! ~

Sunday morning I was up early again! WHAT THE! I have no idea what is going on there! I decided to embrace it and get up a do a yoga session! I am totally digging yoga at the moment! I'm loving it purely for the stretching at the moment. I'm only doing it at home from an iphone app - gotta love iphones- so I haven't been able to experience the meditation/energy side yet but the stretching is totally amazing and I am loving it! I cant wait to actually find the time to go to a proper class and be taught by an instructor! But for the moment my app is doing me just fine!

I spent the rest of the morning in the pool with the animals and then watching a movie hahah I think I've mentioned before that I spend a lot of time alone with my animals! Rob was out again but thankfully not working! He was out with the boys 4wding! He loves it! It makes him happy therefore I am happy!

When Rob came home we went to our neighbours for a BBQ and to watch the footy! A nice relaxing afternoon with great friends! Perfect end to a perfect weekend! 

Have a beautiful week everyone!
x S.K.K x

Dear Wendy...

 

A lovely lady is feeling a bit sad today! This is quite out of character for her as she is one of the most loving and sweetest people I have 'met'. I want her to know that we are all here for you and we are sending all of our love, support and extra big hugs your way! 

Sometimes it's ok to cry and sometimes it's ok to be sad. But always know that after the tears, just like the rain, a beautiful rainbow will appear and tomorrow will be a bright and beautiful day! 

~ Their memory and souls are in your heart forever ~

x S.K.K x

Wordless Wednesday

 

For more "Wordless Wednesday" shots please head over to "Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love"

x S.K.K x

Week-a-Boo *Storms and Sunny Days*

I haven't done a week-a-boo in so long! I guess weekends get so busy and the weeks are even busier that by the time I sit down to think about writing about my weekend then next has rolled along. Even though Claire from Scissors Paper Rock doesn't get to week-a-boo much these days either...I'm sure for the very same reason..you all must go and read her blog. Her writing is so beautiful and real.

This weekend started off with a bang! literally...a massive bang! We woke up to a very big and loud storm. Boom!!! The first thunder that woke me was at 7.00am and I shot straight out of bed and raced into Ruby! We are pretty lucky with all of our animals. They are storm lovers like their mummy and daddy. Our beautiful Bindi LIVES for the rain. The minute it hits shes out there chasing it and jumping at the rain drops. Shes a special kind of something ;) haha anyway this storm was Ruby's first so I was worried about her. But as I got to her cage she was sound asleep in her bed! Bless! the storm didn't even faze her! We brought all the animals inside however and had a Saturday morning storm party in the back room! 2 dogs 2 birds and a cat just chilling and hanging out while listening to the booms and the clashes. Miss Ruby was delighted with the storm. She was laughing the entire time and singing and chatting away!

 Poor Bindi! Robs mission is for 'everyone to live in harmony' 

hahah look at poor Bindis eyes! She so sad! Get this dam bird off my head hahah

While I was prepping for my tests and recovering, I did a lot of research on food and diet for eclectus parrots. I found a lot of native trees that are really good for them to nibble at and chew on! So Rob and I are going to start giving her a branch a week to play with and eat! Her first this week was a callistemon! 

She LOVED it!

After the storm had past and all the animals were back inside cages and outside, I went back to bed. Those silly tests really knocked me round and I was just so exhausted I slept the entire day! I woke up in the afternoon feeling a bit better but still a bit sore! hahah if that makes any sense??? Rob took me out to our local nursery to get me out of the house and to buy some new herbs for my new pots for the kitchen. We went with basil, chives, mint and rosemary. I think we will use these 4 in most of our cooking! We came home and potted them and I am so happy with the way they turned out! They look FABULOUS in the kitchen on the windows edge!

After potting our plants we went over to visit out next door neighbours and took Ruby with us! I love our neighbours. Beside, behind, diagonal. We are so lucky where we live and we have become very close friends with all of our neighbours. With my best friend down one end of the street and my cousin down the other I am in the most perfect position! We have created a little community and it makes me happy and feel safe. We just sat down and had a talk and a laugh. It was great to be out of bed and enjoy special peoples company.

Miss Ruby opening up a beer for daddy at our neighbours bar! CUTE! 

Sunday morning I was woken up to breakfast in bed. Rob had made me scrambled eggs using our fresh new herbs. It was deliscous and it was nice to be spoilt. Rob and I have been taking turns each Sunday morning to make breakfast for each other. It has become a little unspoken and unplanned tradition. Even though Rob is working most Sundays its our little time that we take just for us! 

This was a beautiful start to my day and as Rob went off to work I got myself up and decided to enjoy the beautiful weather instead of wasting it away in bed like I had the past couple of days. I spent the day cleaning and playing in the backyard with the animals. I do this a lot lately. It gets lonely with Rob working a lot but I am so grateful to have such beautiful animals that love me unconditionally and are so much fun. haha oh o I'm that crazy lady with all the animals. Oh well its true and I wouldn't change it for the world. Ruby went for her first surf in the pool! She also went for a dip! It was funny, she spread out her wings and just glided in the water on my hand. I didn't get her too wet as I'm not sure if the pool water would be good for her so I bathed her straight away just in case!

3.00 came and it was time to go to a special girls birthday party! My cousin (who is also one of my best friends and lives down the road) her daughter turned 5 today! I headed off for a family celebration with laughter, food and cake...there's always cake! mmmm! I had a fabulous afternoon! My family is so hilarious! there is so much laughter and joy that surrounds every get together that makes me so happy! We have fun together and that whats so important.

 Look at that sausage! Now that's a sausage!

The weekend came and went so quickly and before I knew it I was at family dinner at mum and dads house. I got these beautiful flowers from Rod and my favourite chocolate! What a beautiful sweetheart. He knew I was feeling a bit yukky after my tests so he bought me them to cheer me up! I cried! What beautiful gesture!

They fit perfectly in my new beautiful kitchen. O.k so its years old but its amazing what 4 new pots, 2 new chairs and a beautiful bunch of flowers can do!

Have a gorgeous, fun and safe week everyone!

x S.K.K x

Ruby Update

Well that last post was a bit depressing so I need something to make me smile! I think its time for an update on our gorgeous Ruby! The last time I wrote about her HERE she was only a baby. She was 43 days old and was still growing her feathers, I was hand feeding her 3 times a day and she was still in her 'brooder'.

Ruby 43 days old

Well here is she today at 5 months old!

 She has found her place in our family of animals and has stolen our hearts. She is eating successfully on her own and loves and I mean LOVES a good chat! She can already say hello and hi and she meows and laughs. and last night the most amazing thing happened. I was playing with her and went into the kitchen to get her a treat and she yelled "sarah" it was clear as day and I nearly fell over! She doesn't say anything on command yet but chats away in her own time. She is always having a good laugh! A big hearty HA HA HA - wonder where she gets that from! Here are some photos of growing up over the past couple of months. She goes everywhere with us! I love taking her on little trips. We have even been to the beach!

 

 x S.K.K x