6 Family Drives

Family drives, sunny afternoons and raspberry and cokes <3

Did I mention that last time I played pool I sunk 4 balls in a row and kicked Graemes bum? This time I lost miserably. I think it must have been the baby putting my balance off ;)

Yes Mum, I know I should be wearing lipstick...

5 Nails and Chocolate

A girls night was organised and treats were had! I stuffed my face with lollycake and did many peoples nails and exfoliated many toes.

I love girl nights :)

Afterwards, one of the girls came home with me and I did a special french mani and pedicure for her for a university ball the next night. She gave me a block of chocolate (which I have been slowly devouring in the present day) and an elephant button. I love that people give me elephants!!

I also love doing manicures and pedicures. If you ever want one I'm totally up for it. Chocolate would be appreciated ;)

4 Elves and Scarves

Lord of The Rings and crochet scarves and afghans. Recovery.

I am especially thankful for my husbands income today. Our only income. And that I can stay home and recover and grow a baby.

3 A Friend

Today was quiet. I took Graeme to work which meant that I can use the car all day rather than be house bound. I made the most of it by going to visit my good friend and pastor, Dawn! She lights up rooms and makes any day a special one. We both went to a friends house to help them move. Silly me still recovering from my epic walk the day before I probably did more damage. I spent the rest of the afternoon in spotlight hobbling around, but it was worth it. I found super cheap wool and took home a few balls to make a few scarves to sell in my Stitch Africa facebook sale.

After work, Graeme and I snuggled on the couch and watched movies :)

Really, a very typical and average day for me, but it was so nice to get out of the house, see friends, sunshine and wool. :)

2 PJ Party!

You've probably heard me lament many times that I wish PJs were acceptable attire in public. Especially these days.

I discovered today that it's perfectly acceptable to go to the supermarket at 9pm and buy milk and cookies in your PJs with a hobble / limp.

Why was I in my PJs? Well, I didn't even realise I was until I was in the carpark of the supermarket and my legs were a little chilly. "Oh well" I thought and continued on my way. Did people look? Sure they did. Did I care? Not an ounce. Did someone let me go before them in the check out line? They sure did. Did everyone give me a pity look? I think so.

Why was I hobbling / limping? I walked a distance to visit a great friend who works at a cafe near our house (and I got free lollycake and coffee!! SCORE!). Previous walks there have taken me half an hour each way (and I'm a pretty fit walker). Well, it was a beautiful day today and I wanted to be outside enjoying it. Against better "I'm 35 weeks pregnant" judgement I walked, and it took me an hour each way. 2 hours walking. I got home and my hips and pelvis felt like they were about to explode. I crawled into bed and waited for my lovely husband to get home and tell me how amazing I am. That did the trick ;) Ouchies.

Afternoon (and night) well spent.

1 My Spirit Is Alive!

Day One and I still haven't made any goals for the next 30 days of living. How rebellious of me. 

Certainly I must be nesting. All I want to do is preserve myself. I want to sleep, eat and be merry. Did I mention clean? I can't stop myself (unless sleeping comes first). Everywhere I look my house is filthy. Surely its not, though? I feel as if I can keep a reasonably tidy home, but everywhere my eyes fall there is mould, fly poo, dust, or a mark on the wall. The cushions are dirty. That is todays job.

Because of this I feel as if goals probably will not be made. I can't even think of anything I want to do in the next month. I think this represents my current state; Knocked up. 

Todays bible reading had me reading the perfect scripture for this moment (Romans 8). Alive in Christ. If I were to create goals that may be my only one right now. To be alive. In everything I do. Alive as an attitude and a state of being and living. Today I am thankful that my spirit is alive in Christ, even though my body is dead to sin.

I 'did' a lot of things today. I cleaned, cooked, baked, crocheted, watched a movie, read, did washing. But most of all I enjoyed it. I did everything with a smile and sometimes a song. That makes life much easier to live.

Did you live today?

30 Days Of Living - Introduction

Last year on my Wordpress blog I ran a personal social experiment called "30 Days To Live". The idea was that I would spend 30 days living as if they were my last on Earth. At the beginning I made a few goals of things that I wanted to achieve but overall I discovered quickly it was more about a state of being rather than achieving - Which is definitely a state of living that I want to be in.

(You can read all my posts here)

Honestly, this exercise was so helpful to me in ways I could never completely express here. I learnt so much about myself and others in this time, I learnt not to take somethings too seriously, to try my hardest and to wake up with an attitude of thankfulness and joy. With the right attitude I discovered that new opportunities came my way and I was able to spend time smelling the roses, so to speak. Sure, I got a few things done on my list, but mostly life became about experiencing and loving.

Last August was pivotal for me and I want to have that again. This year life is exceptionally more challenging to "live" being at home most of the day without a career purpose and reliant on my ever generous and patient husband. With that, most of my independence feels as if it is snuffed out so I need to learn to live within my new means. Time for an overhaul.

Practically, my daughter is due at the end of the month (Sept. 3rd to be exact). That will change life in a whole new way again. There is nothing that I feel as if I have missed out on and cannot do because of her. Like I said, this is a way to live life in a new way. Because of that I have changed the name to 30 Days Of Living rather than "to live" because I dont want to give you the impression that I feel as if I will have no life after Camilla. Infact, the opposite is true. I know life will just start to begin after her arrival. She will transform our lives. In the mean time I want to get into the habit of appreciating each day as it comes and making the most of it.

Here's where you come in: I will be posting most days. I don't expect you to read them, although I found last year my readership sky rocketed (by probably a million percent... okay maybe not. But it at least quadroulpiled) and I had many many people want to discuss different issues that came up in more detail. I thought this year I would be far more organised and offer you the chance to get in on it too. I have banners, side bars and other thingys designed, and I would really LOVE for you to link me to your posts so I can read about the transformation in your own life. Have a think about it and then flick me an email on sophie@moo2.co.nz

I'll be starting on August 1st and doing a concluding post on August 31st. I can't guarantee that I will manage to get everyday on its proper day, but you will see them all eventually :)

**EDIT** So that I don't spam you all, I think I may just do a few bulk posts with the days in them, rather than each individual day.

Thanks for reading!