Slow Down January!

 

good afternoon!

 

i have been messing around with this today,

changing the header and colours...

i'm quite liking a kind of woodsy rustic feel at the moment.

 

 

 

i think i've caught it from some of the delightful fabrics around

&

all of those christmas deer ornaments.

there aren't any squirrels in australia

so miss b just had to send her dad one this year

&

i found a brown owl languishing at the back of a cupboard

while looking for christmas platters in december!

 

 

after the christmas tree went

there was a bare patch,

which i've filled with a cabinet to hold mr m's things.

 

 

 

now,

who could resist the opportunity to freshen up the corner

with a few woodsy folk,

a couple of apples,

gingerbread and cinnamon candles

&

a nice green pot plant?

 

tomorrow

i may just attack another corner of clutter...

 

 

but

january

please slow down!

 

i'm enjoying you too much to have you rush past fast!

 

 

do you get the urge to organise and clean at this time of the year...

it must be something about the idea of a new start.

 

what do you think?

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 



2013...

 

this day

is the first day

of

365.

 

 

 

each day is like an empty jar...

 

 

a jar which you will fill.
beginning with possibilities & dreams ...

remember
the fruit of the Spirit...
love, joy, peace
patience, kindness, goodness
faithfulness, gentleness and self control...
there is no law against these.
 

 

 

i asked my son to light a candle.

at first the light was small and weak,

i sheltered it with my hands

as i carried it across to the jar.

 

i realised it was like a thought.

as it flickered briefly across my conciousness,

thinking on it,

it grew stronger and became part of my day.
 

 

 

lowering my candle

some of the wax spilled and ran down the side of the jar...

oh, my days are messy too!

 

 

 

in the shadow the light shone brighter.

 

 

let your light shine this year...

this year when anything is possible.
 where light is needed

your light will be bright and shiny

and will dispel the darkness...

go

fearlessly!!

 

 

happy new year!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 



 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 



A Year Ago...

 

hello again!

 

christmas has come and gone for another year...

it's that wonderful inbetween week.

it's a relief that christmas was peaceful

&

that we were able to take the time and enjoy each other's company

&

enjoy the preparations this year...

even though the day itself was stinking hot

&

by afternoon, after lunch we were all having nana naps...

totally zoned out.

 

i was brought back to reality by a phone call from family in nz...

it was nine at night there,

three hours ahead of us

and i had forgotten to ring them...and i think they were ready for bed!

 

i have been quietly reading about all your fantastic celebrations

and enjoying them all.

 

 

well, a year ago...

 

 

mr w and i and our son {no 3 son, below in the photo} phil were in taiwan.

 

 

 

steve {no 1 son } & amy were getting married...

 happy first anniversary to you both!

 

 

 

 

 

interestingly this celebration was just for the 'westerners'...

they had been officially married in a celebrant's office beforehand.

that morning there was a formal ceremony at the bride's house

where her parents 'gave' her to steve

and he had successfully answered the questions asked of him

by amy's family and friends.

 

at this ceremony

when they both vowed before God to take care of each other

&

then celebrated with us all at the reception.

 

that night,

on new year's eve

we were able to view the new year's arrival..of 2012,

from amy's work's roof

which had a fabulous view of the taipei 101's fireworks...

 

 

 

 

 

the start of a new year brings hope...

what are you believing for in the new year?

 

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

p.s..amy & steve are expecting a baby boy at the end of may!

 

 

 

 



Hope & New Beginnings!

happy new year!!!

2011

this year...

a year of hope

&

new beginnings...

wishing you all

the best year of your lives!

with all my heart

naturally Carol xox