A New Year

 I don't know about you but this year February 1st feels like the start of the year......

It feels like January was full of special things but the real year feels like it is just starting...

 I feel like we (me -my family) are on the verge of new beginnings......

 

As I stood in each of my kids rooms last night while they were sleeping....I prayed....prayed for their new school year, the teachers they will have, the friends they will make,the learning that I hope they will do.....

 I have been thinking about what is behind all the doors that will be before us as the year unfolds.....

The new families I will meet through my work role, possibly new friends that will fill my time, the adventures that our family may undertake,

Opportunities that will hopefully present themselves to my husband....work, church and personal interests.......

 The talents that we need to foster and encourage in our children and see them realise some dreams....

I have been wondering what lies behind being intentional about relationships, pursuing ideas, acting on prompts...

So is this a new year thing for you too...or have I just been off the planet for the last month and now feel the need to get a little serious?

Bali was full of doors.....everywhere you went they had beautiful ,mysterious ornate doors that lead somewhere.....I could have done a photographic tour on just doors...and maybe get a peek behind some of them too.

Things I am Loving

Indulge me.....I am loving that we had the opportunity to take a great family holiday......

and on that holiday I loved.....

* Seeing this lady work daily in her little tailor business in a back street...creating the most beautiful sewn cut work.....

* Learning new things about the Balinese culture straight from the locals themselves...

* The lushness and hidden beauties we discovered as we traveled by foot....

* The braveness of our family to try local cuisine....

* It may have been accompanied by some favourites not so often had drinks from home....but we never get them served in glass at home...

* I loved the my kids just fitted right back in this time and took it all in their strides...

* That food.....mmmm I could eat their rice dishes every day....

* Celebrating our national day in another country was certainly fun....

* That my guys have no aversion to exploring on foot...even if it was a long way....

* That despite it being a bust tourist season .....it was very quiet most places we went....

* The abundance of that beautiful Frangipani that is everywhere filling the air with it's perfume....

* No shortage of fun for the kids right outside our door.

* The punt on the accommodation that paid off....

* The decision to take my new camera and loving using it like a proper tourist....

* and finally I am loving that I was brave enough to try something out of my comfort zone.

* Love my family....thanks guys..... (Loved being away with extended family too)

(There were four adults and six children in our party......we arrived three day after the rest of family......4 of the children had no idea were we meeting up until we bumped into each other in the swimming pool....classic suprises and responses)

Joining in with Meghan for Things I am Loving

Bali

I feel like we have been on another planet for the last week.....well I guess we were in  another country ....time slowed a little ...stopped even....

We have spent a wonderful week in Bali...   We met up with family....
The kids didn't know until we "bumped" into each other poolside.......the greatest moment seeing the surprise on their faces.....

We stayed at a different location to last year.....suited our needs perfectly.....just far enough out of town to walk and take in the sights almost daily....

We spent a good amount of time relaxing and some time exploring by foot the sights, smells and sounds of the locals....

The weather was very mild....not as humid most days as we remembered...rain that came and went.....but when you are already wet for most of the time...a little rain didn't bother us....

We quickly got the tips from those who had been there longer than us...where to eat...where to drink...where to shop....

We wanted the kids to take something away...not just some local souvenirs but knowledge....memories....things they will remember when they are older....

It is a colorful, friendly and interesting place to live in for a little.....

For a huge percentage of the week I forgot we even had responsibilities at home.....the signs of a great holiday?

By enlarge the locals love Australians.....so it was a privilege to be apart of their efforts to celebrate our national day......they were so accommodating...not that we were expecting it....give me nasi goreng any day....

The people are so eager to please.....very endearing to both the big people and the kids too....always smiling , always wanting to learn more about you.....our country, our families....

So celebrations included their take on the Aussie fare.....not a bad job too......

We were only too happy to oblige in the entertainment...with the reward of their favorite beverages...

Being on holidays with family added an instant crowd.....

Pressure off us to entertain.....wonderful keen eyes to watch over their fun....

Dinners on the beach....dinners in the market...dinners by the pool.....

Experiencing the art of shopping.....not something I did well but luckily others in our party were able to accommodate the ones who were keen....

Having to be back in my supermarket shopping for the basics felt surreal....driving home in the peak hour just plain annoying.....we have spent a week of no rushing, nothing being to much effort ......a beep of the horn as polite as ever...

I will not lie...I did enjoy the lack of demands on me.....too cook...to clean.....to come up with the plan......

Daily mocktails to try and try again......

As the sun set on another holiday we have resolved to start the saving for the next....meet back with new friends that are working hard to make it in their world...aspire to see more than just their land....while we remember to be grateful for what we have.....appreciate the wealth of our life and treasure another bank of memories we have to store.

Slow time

Taking time to do the simple things....

Wish you were here......

So glad we are ......

Time Out Pt 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spending Australia Day away from home was a low key event.....

Very sobering to pause at the "memorial" and see for real where it all happened....

The opportunity to visit a long thought about place for younger than us men to surf....

The highlight for me of the tourist bits would have to be Uluwatu at sunset...watching the sun set and being educated with a traditional fire dance story...

Then a seafood dinner on the beach serenaded by some talented locals who where very familiar with "Aussies"

So there ends our time out...nothing like planning for more some day down the track....but for now the photos will keep us attached to the fun we had.

Thanks for indulging me .     

Here and Here are also the things I am loving about our trip away.