Theme

I'm one of those really annoying people that is always thinking about a month ahead.  Actually now as I type this I am thinking...really, I need to live more in the present and not a month ahead..BUT THAT SAID let me ask a question of you dear reader, one to ponder.  What will your theme be next year?  Just pick one word.  Living consciously with this word in mind before every step taken might just be a beautiful guiding light, especially as we enter the new year and start to set intentions for ourselves. 

Mine is going to be SIMPLIFY.

I invite you to think about about what your word/theme might be for 2013 and if you feel comfortable I would love to hear about it - if there is anything I can do to support you in the upholding of your theme I'm there for you friend, just let me know.

That inspirational girl

I adore the self titled tumblr page of this girlie.  And whoomp, does this page read my style wishes for the season!

Check it out for some serious inspirational images:

http://inspired-design.tumblr.com/#20

Tulku

I found this link through facebook.  Arent the items sensational?  I only wish they were more affordable.

I love you

Thanks Miss Christine.  Perfection

http://vimeo.com/53128785

WOAH NELLIE

I posted about these crystal caves in Mexico a while back - but I stumbled across this again.  Im sure a non-scientist Kiwi girl would not be able to get access to these caves, but if I could, I would.  Read more about it http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/photogalleries/giant-crystals-cave/index.html
and prepare to be open mouthed.  WOAH NELLIE! 

Grateful for the day

Today is my 9th wedding anniversary. 
Im so happy to be able to say that, and know that my future only holds more happy time spent in the company of the one I love.  I just know it, and thats comforting and exciting all at once.  I really feel like there is SO MUCH yet to come for us and Im thrilled about that.

 Greatful for the blessing of our marriage.

Great writers

Im grateful for wonderful writers that provide me with daily inspirations - like this for example:

Anyone can hold a grudge, but it takes a person with strong character to forgive. When you forgive, you release yourself from a painful burden. And no, forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was OK; and it doesn’t mean that person should still be welcome in your life. It simply means you have made peace with the pain, and are ready to let it go and move on with your life.
- Marc Hack



Tad and Ron

I am so lucky and so blessed to have two friends/family members like Tad and Ron. Everyone should be so lucky



This is Tad with his pal Amy, I love this picture!

Quick Synops

Tad

Nickname (s): Tad, Tadpole, The Pole
Interested Factoid: Tad is an avid lover of hand sanitizer and has crazy mad Math skills

Notorious For : Being a coupon Queen.  Literally, there is very few places we would ever go that my sweet Tad has not already researched (via Yelp etc) and got a coupon for.  And he ALWAYS has deals for Bed, Bath and Bodyworks should you ever need a source for such things. 

How we met: Via Gary, Tad and Gary used to be in the same team at ATT.

What I love about Tad:  He's so much fun, I love making him laugh and he likes to make me laugh.  I love that he always points out owls to me as we shop - and that the only owls in my home are gifts from him.  He's so sweet.  He's also a kind kind person.  He really blows me away with how tooth achingly sweet he can be with others - its very much an example to me.

What I want Tad to know: You are so important to me. I always look forward to the next time I will get to see you.  You're my bestie and I love you like a treasured family member.  I wish you and Ronnie would get married and that I could plan it.




This is Ronnie

Quick Synops

Ronnie

Nickname (s): Ron, Ronnie

Interested Factoid: Ron can pretty much do anything he try's.  He is incredibly talented with all manner of things from mechanical stuff to stacking wood, and billions of other things.  Did I mention, though not a plumber, he recently plumbed a new loo into his home?  He's amazing.

Notorious For : Being the most incredible dancer.  His hip swivels are no joke - and he would rival any pro cage dancer.  I love to see him dancing!  It brings him so much happiness.

How we met: Via Tadpole

What I love about Ronnie: everything.  He's a sweetheart.  He and Tad are very similar in their hearts - so kind and so sweet.

What I want Ronnie to know: I miss you heaps now that you are working graveyard shift.  Like Tadpole, I consider you a treasured family member. I wish you and Tadpole would get married and that I could plan it.

Unity Center for Positive Living and Juan Enrique

So grateful for having a spiritual side to me.  Since a young age I have felt the presence of something larger than me that is the all of everything.  I've churned through many different religions and been a student of many different philosophies and somehow, have now happily landed here, at Everett Unity. 

We arrived here by chance - I think it was via an accidental drive by on the way home one night, and seeing the wonderful sign on the building "Unity Center for Positive Living".  The Sunday we first went was the Sunday that the church leader was retiring...so we really arrived at a time of transition, perfect?...Yup, it turned out to be so.  The new incoming Reverend is Juan Enrique Torro who I just adore. 

I love his passionate delivery of messages (this past weekend he had tears in his eyes as he was delivering the Sunday message) and his amore for the mystical side of things really suits my temperament.   A little Buddha, a little Rumi, some Bible, a sprinkle of Neale Donald Walsch and more: its a perfect set up for my/our week.  Expanding on the Sunday visits we are also attending a Thursday night class that focuses on prosperity which is simply delicious.  It's the revisiting of knowledge already found many years ago, but in a new fresh way, and best of all it's deepening our relationship with other members of our community so now on Sunday we know people!

So grateful.

Elliott, Geneva, Dorothy

The kids, then

and now

Im so grateful for these three.  We met on a cold fall night in October of 2001 and I've been in love with them ever since.  I was never able to have kids of my own, so when Gary told me he had three children and they lived with him, it was like buttercream frosting on the worlds most delicious cupcake. 

Become a parent at age 30 was definatly a transition, and for many it would be looked upon as a trial, but fortunatly for me, these three individuals have always made it so easy.  I delight in their presence and its has been, and continues to be a great honor in my life to be a part of their lives.

The love I have for each of them individually is huge, and I would do anything for any of them.

Bursting, with pride and happiness

and Im so grateful, for you:

Congratulations Mr President, and congratulations to the free world. 

A great leader continues to work in our favor. 

Vote, please

Sibs

Alex and Shona

I miss these two very much.  They are both in New Zealand which is about as far from here as you can be.

You can see from these pictures what kind of people they are.  Im the oldest of the three of us (please, hush your shocked gasps), sissy Shona is only 17 months younger than me and then there's my baby brother Alex.

Quick Synops of Sissy

Nickname (s):  Shonz, Sissy

Interested Factoid:

Notorious For (and this is one of my favorite things):  laughing so hard that she starts to squeek and then snort which progresses into her rolling into a ball while squeeking and snorting.  Its the best.  Especially over our last visit I took every opportunity I could to make this happen.

How we met:  Probably in the hospital

What I love about sissy:  See above.  In addition, I can proudly say that my little sis , is one of the most thoughtful people you will ever meet, she is fiercely loyal and very open hearted.  She might not know it, but there are things that she knows about me, things I have told her and know one else about because I consider her my closest confident.  Yes, like most families we have had our ups and downs over the years - but I am glad to say we have a very good relationship now, one that I am so very grateful and thankful for, and now and in the future I will always do all I can to preserve and grow this because our relationship is very important to me.

What I want sissy to know:  You are so important to me.  Cant wait for you to visit again.  I love you and would do anything for you

Quick Synops of Broski

 

Nickname: Al

Interesting Factoid:  I've always thought Alex was a pixie

Notorious For:  Enjoying farting, alot

How we met:  On a stormy afternoon through the window. You inside the hospital, me and sis on the path outside

What I love about Alex:  I love the father Alex is, how capable he are of everything he puts his hands to.  Alex is like a joy pill for me, when we talk on the phone, on skype and in person I feel so happy - there is just something so wonderful about him.  Gary always comments on this after our conversations together.  I feel so fortunate that we have always had such an easy relationship, pretty much like no other relationship I have ever had.  I don't take this for granted.

 

What I want broski to know:  You are very precious to me.  I miss you more than you will ever know.  I love you and would do anything for you

 

 

Mum

 

 

Quick Synops

 

Nickname (s):  Robbie, Mumma, Doris

Interesting Factoid:  Mum has several gold teeth

Notorious For:  Her wonderfully infectious laugh

How we met:  In the delivery room

What I love about Mum:  The thing that I love best about Mum is she is very herself all the time, which is refreshing, many put on different persona's depending on how their own personal mood is and depending on who they are with.  Not Mum.  She could be with the Queen of England and still be herself.  I appreciate her bravery.  She met the love of her life, John, her husband, over the phone in unlikely circumstances.  She found out through this, and consequent conversations, that he was very sick with cancer.  Despite the fact that she didn't know him and that he lived in the middle of the outback in Alice Springs, Australia Mum decided she needed to go and meet this man.  So she hoped on a plane and did.  How brave.  She decided to extend her stay for another few months and was his carer as he went through recovery.  Not many people would have this story, but Mum does.   

Mum also has been there for me several times when no one else was - she supported me in and through a previous relationship when others didn't, and she also was integral in Gary and my connection strengthen soon after we first met.  I could not travel to the US because the government wouldn't give me a visa and Gary didn't have the cash to travel - Mum stepped right up to the plate and purchased his travel so we could be together because she knew it was something that was important to me.  It was another time in my life where the decisions I was making and the direction I was going in was not so popular with all, but she stood by me and supported me and I wont ever forget that.  Thanks Mum.

What I want Mum to know: Thank you for giving me life and for the support you have always given me,  I'm very lucky to have you in "my corner" and I love you lots.

 

 



Dad

Dad



Quick Synops

Nickname (s):  Shena, Pops, Pop, Popsicle

Interesting Factoid:  Dad is part of a secret society.  He takes this very seriously and I find it totally intriguing

Notorious For:  Being politically incorrect in a way that makes you laugh even though you're shocked at the same time.  Also famous for his cooking - breakfast king, roast dinner king etc

How we met:  He was the first man I ever met - it was love at first sight.

What I love about Dad:  He's a complicated man with a strong will, I inherited both of those traits along with Dad's solid calf muscles.  I love how generous Dad is with other people - its really something I look up to and its always been a great example to both me and my sibs.  I appreciate his strong sense of equality - this was always something that was top of mind for him as he parented and its something that I have engrained in my psyche because of it.  His sense of humor is so great.  Dad was the primary parent from my 11th year, maintaining a full time job at the same time as raising me and my three sibs.  I think he did a great job, and I will always be so grateful for the childhood he gave to me, its made me the person I am today.

What I want Dad to know:  Thank you for giving me life, and for teaching me (and continuing to teach me) so many life lessons.  I'm so lucky to have a Dad like you, I love you to pieces!

Gary

Quick Synops

Nickname (s):  Geck, Gazza, 50 (miles per hour, not Grey)

Interesting Factoid:  Has a third nipple (Ok, not really but wouldn't that be so fun)

Notorious For:  Scary monster noises are his specialty along with the phrase "wanna here something weird" which is followed by a truley awesome turkey gobble

How we met:  Fate.  I think that we were written in the stars and destined to meet.  How else would a girl in NZ meet a boy in Washington? 

What I love about Gary:  I honestly do not have words to adequately describe what Gary means to me.  He's my breath, my everything, my present, my future.  It sounds cliche but I fall in love with him more every day we are together - and its been 11 years now. I can't imagine life without him.  He has always, and still, makes me feel like a princess, I've never been loved better.  He also impresses me daily with what a great father he is and how much his kids mean to him in every moment.  He's also an incredible hard worker - his general work ethic is amazing.

What I want Gary to know:  You  amaze me, you thrill me, you are my beloved.

Carrie

I should be starting with the hubs, but I am starting with my work wife, Carrie instead.  I actually probably spend more time with Carrie than Gary (hahaha, BRING THE RHYMES) when it comes down to it.

Quick Synops

Real Name: Caroline

Interesting Factoid: Maiden name Bus, I really like this

Notorious For: Singing loudly for all to hear.  Especially any kind of rap or brain worm type of song

How we met:  Carrie was one of the first people I met at work, she helped train our group of agents

What I love about Carrie:  Where do I begin - firstly, she's hilarious.  She and I can pretty much be in fits of hysteria at anything and everything.  Sometimes we even start laughing at a single word..She's a really good friend, I know I can tell her anything and she wont judge me, she'll just listen and then give thoughtful advice.  She's a wonderful caring parent to Oliver, who is her 2 year old son, cuter than a bugs ear.  She's a yogi in her spare time - I really find her quite inspirational for my own yoga practise (really, I did it more often this month than last due to her).  She's so capable...of anything.  Changing tires, painting her own bathroom, erecting (snigger) a faux tree bough at her desk, there is nothing this superwoman cant do.

What I want Carrie to know:  I love you, I appreciate you so deeply.  Thanks for all you are in my life.  Mwwwa!

30 days of thanksgiving

We all have so much to be thankful for, but when it gets down to it, for me at least - it's the relationships with family and friends that am the most blessed by.

With this and mind, and Thanksgiving soon arriving here in the US, I welcome you to Flourish's first annual 30 days of Thanksgiving celebration. 

I hope that you enjoy reading about all these amazing peoples and that they enjoy their 15 minutes of fame with at dozens (ok, 2) members of the Flourish tribe. 

Very inspirational

Do it

Red Solo Cup

This is my kind of version of a red solo cup.  SO SO freaking excited to see Carrie's cup from Starbucks