Differently the same....

There is a post on Facebook at the moment which says something like, '12 months ago I never would have imagined my life the way it is now'. For us this quote couldn't be more true.

Last year I greeted the start of 2012 with trepidation and a little dread. My little family was happy but busy. I'm sure many mothers could relate to me when seeing their children playing and wanting to join in but needing to do X or Y or Z first then missing the moment. Or the pressure associated with timetables, drop offs, activities and homework while still trying to work or study and have some sort of (insert gasp here) social life or time to yourself, (don't even mention the preparation or guilt associated with either of these).

So my husband is brave and he  started applying for positions far far away from the life we had created and I didn't say "no" (not even considering that he would be successful) but he is not only brave but employable too as it turns out. There was a movie out at the time with a quote I remember  'it takes 20 seconds of courage to change your life forever' and whenever I felt like putting the brakes on the move I would quote this to myself and take a breath.

So whats different now....

We drive 2 hours each way to our nearest supermarket along dirt roads with wandering cows and crazy wallabies who love playing 'Frogger' with the cars. This makes each shop count as it doesn't happen very often. We have a shopping list on the computer and print this off a few days before we leave. We plan meals and write quantities, we take Esky's with us and now know why ice takes up so much space in the frozen food section.

We have time on our side now. Time to plan food trips, time to play , bake, clean, do craft, time to think of activities, places to picnic and swim. Time for myself to start a Blog, knit, bake, read and learn to sew.

We walk. We walk to get the post 3 times a week, we walk to the pool, we walk to one of the local pubs for dinner, we walk to BBQ's. We were always in and out of the car and couldn't walk anywhere previously.

It's hot, really hot. We no longer need jumpers, tights or jackets even in winter. At the moment while the rest of Australia is in a heat wave, everyone is enjoying temperatures similar to our normal summer temps.

What do I miss? I miss strange things that I never thought of, the daily newspaper, fresh bread, fruit and vegetables and going to the gym for 'me time'. I miss the thought of family and friends being close by but with communication we are never far from each others lives.

Any regrets? None, not for a second. For the first time since our eldest daughter was born almost 8 years ago we can slightly financially breathe a little. We are enjoying life and have been able to bring a new little member into our family due late June. We never could have considered this as a possibility 12 months ago. This baby will be the first where I haven't worked or studied throughout the pregnancy or soon after, What a lucky baby (and mother)!!


Whats the same? The kids are essentially the same though it maybe because I see them more but I think they have become 'more' of themselves. More imaginative, more adventurous, more crazy. More centred and comfortable in themselves. They have grown and learnt how to get along with lots of types of people. They have felt what its like to be different and to not understand some of the cultural norms we all take for granted when we have lived somewhere for a long time. They have developed empathy and they have adapted.

From the experience I encourage everyone in 2013 to take some risks, do something new, scary, foreign. Change your life a little for the better and shake it up a bit. You will grow and discover you are stronger, braver, calmer, wiser than you think.... and it will make more of these beautiful days in your life.