High Thai Times

It's been along time coming but here it is...
I really do have the most amazing husband and in-laws ever! when I first approached Bax about a possible 10 day getaway, in which it would be only me getting away with a friend, I was expecting to be told a big fat resounding "no" or more accurately            

" Have you lost your mind? NO!"

Maybe it's because that's what I would have said, but mostly it's because Bax really is amazing, I was pleasently suprised when his actual response was more along the lines of:

"Go. You deserve some time to recharge. Enjoy it and take lots of photos."

And just like that I booked my flights to Thailand. I won't bore you with every glorious detail of my trip but here are a few things I cant help but brag about and experiences I won't ever forget.

 old mate trying to get a glimpse of Aims :)

AMAZING food! 

 







Ferry rides

 pineapple boats

 

Climbing all 1,237 steps of the Tiger Cave Temple!!! 

 Have I mentioned amazing food!?
 

Para-Sailing...

Tuk-Tuks...
 

Long-Boats...

 fish...

the general scenery...
 

floral ninja...

meeting new people...

Phi Phi Island...

 fruit smoothies!

A massive thank you to Alex, Stacey, and Grandma for caring and loving my babes so completely in my absence and making this trip a reality for me.
A massive thanks to Aimee for coming along for the ride and keeping me honest and upright in my travels!
But the most massive thank you to Bax, for everything! I really am the luckiest little girl in the world!

Tinkerbell

I just could not resist this Tinkerbell outfit for Indi to wear to her dance classes and to add to her dress up collection; which now consists of this and a Cinderella Princess dress. India is one happy fairy.

Things my Dad has taught me.

Dear Dad

Today is Father's day.

You are such a good father to me and I will forever be indebted to you for the sacrifices you have made , the love you have offered , and the lessons you have taught me throughout my life!
You have taught me that honesty is above gain, that forgiveness is attainable and change is possible. You have taught me the value of a hard earned dollar and the worth of souls, particularly my own. You have shown me how to love another and  how to be loved in return. You have taught me that music is the cure to any ailment or heartbreak and the backdrop to any good celebration.
Growing up, I have watched you try hard to be the best father you knew how to be and what I see now, continues to teach me how to love without restrain or guile. I have learnt that imperfection is not failure and love makes up the difference. You have taught me that love comes with a heavy price tag, but the heart wrenching, back breaking work required to secure the down payment is worth my continual efforts. And you have taught me that there is still work to be done...
         ...But when I am tired and worn out, when I feel that, on certain days, my efforts have been for naught, you have taught me that I will always find refuge in you.

I love you Dad... Happy Father's Day.

Love Georgia xxx

lately

There have been a few changes in our home since my last post. Minutes have turned to hours, hours to days, days to weeks and before i know it a month has slipped by. That's the thing with time... it just keeps on ticking.

tick tock... 

and I have new hair ...

tick tock... 

and Reeve is walking!

tick tock... 

and India is a dancer.

tick tock... 

and Bax gets a promotion!

Life is really great and we have so much to look forward too... but I find it difficult to think too much on the future. Having been deprived of an aptitude for optimisic forsight, the future holds too many unknowns; too many uncontrollable variants; too many prospects for loss or sorrow. And despite that there are just as many prospective positive outcomes, I am a receptacle for anxiety. It is a stone that finds refuge within me. I have become a harbour for a tedious anchor of petrified assumption.  It is something I am desperate to remedy and I do recognise that this abiding fear is not the product of Deity. Rather a tool, fashioned by an adversary that is actively seeking to bring about my unhappiness. Time on this earth is fleeting and is but one breath in the bosom of Eternity. I do not want to spend it afraid! but alas... tick tock, tick tock, the clock continues.
Life and Time and change go hand in hand... but my love for my family grows stronger everyday and it will prevail. Light will always trump darkness and nothing burns brighter than my little family. Together we are building a home that is a sanctuary of hope, comfort, and soul nourishing love. A home that will {eventually} cast out fear and enable me to look forward in faith and be still.

fleeting warmth

Winter is here and our house is FREEZING! We don't have insulation and our heater is broken... We had sunshine today and we made use of our window of opportunity to enjoy some outside play. Here are a few of my favourite shots from our backyard ...

I cannot wait for Spring!

daughter

Dear India,

I look at the picture above and find it hard to believe you were ever this small and vulnerable. I worry I will never be able to tell you just how much I love you but I hope that you feel how much I do. You are developing into this little person, you’ve always been there, I know you were born complete with thoughts, feelings, desires, talents etc etc… but being a special witness to your development is simply miraculous. I’m a spectator to your increase and I have the best seats in the house!

You love nail polish and music and dancing and bike rides. You love white sauce {mayonnaise} and tv and painting and lip mackers {lip gloss}.  You hate bugs and potatoes and bedtime. You love to read and your favourite books are 'muddled up farm', 'big and little', and 'funny faces'. You breast-feed your dolls, and have even tried giving Reeve chichitas.You make up your own songs. You are terrified of unexpected noises and run – fast – when my phone makes any kind of sound. You are a great friend and sister and cousin.

You have taken on this endearing shrug whenever you ask a question. It’s my new favourite thing about you. You ask for Family Home Evening almost every night and you even asked for a Book of Mormon. You are beginning to pray on your own… and the prayers you offer can be both humbling and highly entertaining!

I don’t know what I did right {and occasionally I don’t know what I did wrong} to be blessed with the stewardship of your head strong spirit. I take my responsibility of raising you very seriously but I hope you don’t feel that seriousness in our everyday life.  I want you to feel free to become whoever you are here to become and I want you to feel loved… especially by me… for whoever you choose to be.

I love you boody,

Your Mama xxx

My Rough Welcome Home from Thailand

Reeve gave us a big scare my first real night home. I had put him to sleep when he awoke ½ hour later SCREAMING! He wouldn’t settle in his room so I brought him out into the light to see him better. He was pale and crying and a bruise/rash was creeping up his neck! He would not respond to our calls and he began to sporadically convulse… I was out. of. my. mind. with. worry! Through tears I asked Bax to administer a blessing to our son and the moment Bax laid his hands on Reeve’s head his screaming ceased! As I positioned my boy under his Father’s hands he went from fully fledged battle cries to instant silence. As the blessing continued Reeve became unsettled once more, but the earlier screams did not return and he began to regain colour and to respond to our voices. I knew to check the rash to see if it was one to be weary of and sure enough it was! Once Grandma arrived to watch the blissfully, ignorant, sleeping India, we rushed off to the closest E.R. It took over an hour to be seen by the Doctor, by which time Reeve had returned to his usual, albeit tired but happy, self. He did, however, still have the rash, which concerned the Doctor enough to have her senior also check it out. It was determined that Reeve does not have diabetes  (random fun fact) and that he was to be monitored closely by us over the next few days for signs of the rash spreading or high temperatures. Short of these things Reeve should make a full recovery and the rash, though strange/concerning,  could possibly be put down to an oncoming cold. So after being poked and prodded and even pricked for a blood test, the only one to leave the hospital worse off and crying was me! Reeve is now doing fine and, minus the odd tantrum, he is a really content little trooper.

It’s been hard to shake the anxiety that has plagued me these past few days… but harder to shake is the feeling that the Lord has been with us and with Reeve. Thinking about the blessing he received there is little room left for me to doubt that this played a major part in Reeve’s recovery and I will forever be grateful  for the blessing of the priesthood in my home.