Back from Retreat and a bit of a looooong post.

Well I was lucky enough to spend a weekend away with 24 other scrappy gals.
It was great to meet some new girls and also to share the weekend with my "scrap buddies".
Thanks Marelle, Melissa, Charm, Leonie, Raquel, Eb, Crystal and Laura.  So great to see you all again.
And a big big Thank you to Malinda for organising such an awesome weekend. She was my scrap buddy, my running buddy and she always provides me with some laughs and some great chats.  Thanks Mal.

There were lots of laughs, a lot of scrapping (I only managed 10 pages. Some girls were up to 20 or so pages but for me, it was10 more than I would have done at home), some fun challenges along the way, lots of yummy food, great accommodation and just a fabulous weekend.

I finally met Charmane Koch who was my room mate for the weekend (and a very easy roomie too).  I bought the kids a "Charm Creature" each.  They are just the cutest and the kids loved them as you can see. 

They also named them: W's Green Creature "fang", B's blue creature "Boo", L's red creature "Red Eye" and E's pale blue creature "Dinosaur Scary".

Now

For the past month or so life has been really really busy.  I think we have just had so much on, work, school hols, Easter, broken bones, Birthday, retreat and all of the bits inbetween. I  have been feeling a little overwhelmed and not organised at all. I have felt that I have not given my best "input" into the things that matter most.  It has all blurred into one big month and I was waiting for the beginning of May to slow down, take a step back and get in touch with friends by phone, not just a message, sit down with the kids more often and actually play a game, not just get our homework done, dinner cooked, baths etc etc.  To sit down and look them in the eyes and listen to them.....I just feel like we have not had time to do this lately.
At retreat I missed them more than I ever have when I have been away....I think I carried a lot of guilt that I wasn't with them, that I had not had "time" with them lately....

So then just as I was typing this post, I hear a thud at the door (yes our courier is not really enthused with his job I don't think).  A parcel???  I wasn't expecting anything today. A bit exciting!

It was a stunning page from one of the most beautiful girls I have met along my scrappy journey...Nadia Cannizzo.
 
With it was a note about how she thinks I am an amazing mother and when she has a bad day she thinks of me.....me....the lady who just wrote about not feeling like she is doing all that she should be.....who thinks that she has not put others first lately when she should have.
This note coming from a lady who expresses her utmost love for her girls and family who I look to because I feel like a lot of the time I look at the negatives and forget the positives....she inspires me to remember the good times instead.

Nadia you have blown me away.  From the beauty of your page (and trust me, IRL it is even more amazing) to your beautiful words.  I cannot express how this has made me feel. 
I have just been to your blog and you were hoping this would arrive for my Birthday....unfortunately it didn't but it has changed my day today for sure.

I am going to now call you to say Thank You.  Not just a message.  A real thank you to show you how much it means.  And I am going to try my best not to cry.
Thank You.

Jasx