To care for others, first we need to care for ourselves

This one is for my spirit :) What do I mean? Well, a couple of posts back I mentioned a reevaluation on my priorities, of the five, the first one is spirit. I want to care for my soul, to nurture and cultivate my spirit. I'm doing just this when I recognize the great things and wonderful people that touch my life in a day. I hope that it will be a kind of talisman for when I slip into negativity and allow myself to become overwhelmed. Feelings of inadequacy do twist my spin on the world. But every moment I breathe, I have the opportunity to control those feelings. I have also been known to offer up a prayer to angels and God, and have asked for people to pray. I find that it does help :)

So tonight, even though its nearly ten pm, am recklessly tired, and have a sink full of dishes awaiting me, I first want to share the moments that have fed my spirit over the course of my Wednesday. Be warned, they aren't grand things, just happy moments and little finds, but it's the small things that are often the best.

Mr E, my hubby, is away with work for a few days and even though he is incredibly busy, I'm glad that he makes time to call us as often as he can and enjoys my calls to him. I try to share the funny little things our boys do when they happen, so he feels involved. Even though he's not physically here, Mr E is able to laugh over our boys everyday doings at the same time I am. Todays' call concerned Kangaroo needing to go to the toilet and being a typical boy and our upstairs just being way too far, he peed on a tree, that's not the funny part though, the dog joining him at the same tree was. It was horrendous and hilarious.

Kangaroo doesn't get the time I want him to have from me. There is always something that seems to need me more, how crazy is that?! My child, my little boy, is more important but striking a balance between giving Kangaroo what he needs from me and all the duties that I perform like some crazed circus acrobat... can be hard. Books really get inside this little fellow, and one of his favourites from the library of late, has been the adventures of a dashing, seafaring hero named 'Captain Horatio Fleet', who saves damsels from mortal danger and is thanked with a kiss on the cheek. Going into town today Kangaroo has donned a flowing, red cape, announced himself as being the afore mentioned hero, and was suitably equipped to save us from any peril which may dare come our way.

Kangaroo has a nasty cough which he can't seem to shake and has been plagued by it for about a month and our trip into town was to be our second appointment with the doctor. When we arrived, I asked what the wait may be and unfortunately it was going to be about an hour! So understandably, we rescheduled for Friday and went bargain hunting at the op shop next door.

We love to hunt for great books that cost only my spare change and I really enjoy the way our boys pour over any lucky and wondrous finds. Today, in our op shop hunt, we were fortunate and scored a number of books. For three dollars we picked up, 'The Reluctant Dragon' by Kenneth Graham, the very same author of 'The Wind in the Willows' which Kookaburra in particular enjoyed. A copy of 'Watership Down' by Richard Adams for fifty cents. 'Tuppeny, Feefo and Jinks' by Enid Blyton for twenty cents and a new favourite by Arthur Lobel, who wrote all those lovely 'Frog and Toad' stories; 'Mouse Soup' for fifty cents. This book is a real gift, Kookaburra is just finishing up 'Mouse Tales' by the same author and having a great old time reading them too. I really recommend the op shops for books.

A late lunch of croissants with my boys before picking up their cousins from school. Sharing half a chapter of 'Mr Meddle's Muddles by Enid Bltyon before the girls were let out from school, have both my boys intent on finding out what silliness Ms Blyton's odd little character will be up too.

My little nieces are always great company. More children does make it harder but I've found the benefits of having them as often as we do well worth the little bit of difficulty I might experience and I'm sure we bring something to them too;)

Wednesday night is my night. Dancing and piano lessons. My Aunt and Uncle who live in a small town near our little city, still a good twenty or so minutes away, spent the late afternoon and evening caring for our boys. Bathed, fed, copious amounts of books read and the best is my sweet Aunt has taught my eldest, Kookaburra, to knit with a french knitting Busy Bee. Kookaburra kept at his new skill for most of the evening, only stopping for food and happily continued on to make this very exciting 'tail', pictured below. Kookaburra has grand plans and has declared the results of his knitting will be a scarf for his kitkat Merlin.

Seeing friends at dancing and *learning* to dance, it is honestly going to take forever if I don't remember the steps :( but on the up side, creativity on a larger physical level despite the fact I'm over thirty.... pretty happy with that :)

Piano lessons with my lovely friend, just beautiful. I'm so lucky to have this special girl in my life, I've talked my heart out with her over the past year and learnt music to boot. Who could honestly ask for more?!

So like I said, all small things, but important. Family love in forms encompassing more than our immediate foursome and valuable friendships through which I gain so much.

My spirit, that number one priority, is nurtured everyday. I'm just about recognizing those moments. Even right now, with my boy Kangaroo in my arms, in complete happy, trusting, peaceful repose, my needs are also being met.