Happy New Year Imperfect Mums! xKelly

So, final day of 2012, and I feel I should write something inspiring to everyone! So here I am! *gulp*

I wish I could say I did something memorable on my final day of 2012 – like flying or jumping out of a plane or climbing a mountain… But instead I had a normal day, doing what I love :-) Looking after my four kids at home.

I won’t pretend and fake that I love doing this everyday!

Anyone stuck in a house with cabin fever kids bouncing off the walls knows how quickly things can go from good to bad. Even more so if the weather is wet and the house is small (like I am blessed with) but for me today, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else :-)

My hubby told me a quote he heard on the radio once about being a mum “The days are long, but the years are short” and it is so true. My kids have all grown so fast this year!! I must of blinked at sometime! Wow!

I’m excited and saddened that my ‘baby’ will be two in 2013 – and is already playing rough with her older siblings. No more babies in my house for me – unless my sister brings over her little one when born :-) *YEAY!*

And so life goes on and another year over and another on the way…

I love having the time to sit, reflect and meditate on the past year. I feel I have grown so much in the past 12 months and so despite the ugly and difficult times – I tick the year off as successful :-)

I make no new year resolutions as I fear failure. Terrible, I know, but I also see everyday as a new beginning – so why put so much pressure to sticking to something for a whole year??

I am however starting one of these –

..this picture has been floating around facebook for a few weeks now, so maybe you have seen it?

Earlier this year, I read a book called ‘One Thousand Gifts’ by Ann Voskamp – and it has surely changed my view on life.

It has taught me to be thankful for what I have, instead of disappointed or upset for what I don’t. Very opposite to what the media pushes down our throats in magazines, commercials and other forms of advertising 

And so this jar, will be my families gratitude jar. From January 1st 2013, when we come across a memorable moment or good thing, we will write it on a piece of paper with the date and pop it in the jar! Easy 

…..and on December 31st, 2013, I hope it to be full for my family to read out together.

Unfinished diaries and scrapbooks mock me from January’s past, but I love the jar idea as we can pick up and put down as we remember. Skip days? No one will know or feel guilt.

And for hard days when beauty is hard to find, the jar with notes will remind me there are still good moments to be had.

If its empty, it will only be because I am not looking hard enough.

I once heard a rainbow lorikeet and a vulture are both birds – but they both look for different things. One looks for something sweet and beautiful, one looks for something dead and ugly. And both find what their eyes are searching for  I’m going to be looking for sweet and beautiful this year! Who’s with me???

Happy New Year Imperfect Mums!! If I had a jar for 2012, then “being asked to help with running ‘The Imperfect Mum’ group” would be in it! You are all a blessing to me!

Thank you Kristy for this group and what an amazing thing you have started! You have impacted the life of many others and we are all thankful for it 

x Kelly