Merry Christmas From Afghanistan

A Special Phone Call

I had a very very special phone call this morning,

-in fact I am still in shock :)

My Dil rang and asked if I would like to come to her ultrasound/scan

........would I ever!!

Wow she has made my day/week...cause not only do I get to share this very special occasion with her, Soldier Boy is able to be there to.

I did mention to her that I didn't want to intrude on their privacy

seeing as he won't be here at the birth, but she said it's not a problem.

Soldier Boy,Dil & her little poppet are coming up tonight for dinner so I'll be able to get all the details then!

So today dear Dil I feel very honoured THANK YOU.

Caroline xo

PS-I have received a couple of emails lately that I haven't got around to reply to yet. You both know who you are -thank you.

I shall email back soon.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Lane

with much love from us all...xoxo

They've started.....

Schools holiday's have begun at our house

so this is what I will be letting my boy do come tomorrow morning.

He's just at the age he needs no encouragement to have a sleep in.

The age of hollow legged boys, tired in the morning but can stay awake all night type of boys.

With just a little but enough back answering to let you know

they have spirit :-)

He's my youngest.... gee I'm going to miss this when it's gone.

Caroline xo

Homemade Pasta

Oh so fun for the girls to make

& easier than I thought.....

we borrowed the Pasta maker

but I'd definitely think about getting one.

Does anybody else make their own pasta?

Any hints,tips or best brand to get?

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend

Caroline xo

What is Christmas?

What is Christmas?

It is tenderness for the past,

courage for the present,

hope for the future.

It is a fervent wish that every cup

may overflow with blessings rich

and eternal, and that every path may

lead to peace.

Agnes M. Pharo

A Neglectful Blogger, Sydney & a Grandbaby

Haven't I been a neglectful blogger of late. Thank you to the people that still follow, check in & send me an email to see I haven't dropped off the earth -I haven't lol!

but wow! where do I start...

First & foremost next year my first Grand-baby will be born. (I posted about my son's wedding back in July)

As you know my son is a soldier & therefore will not be here for most of the pregnancy nor the birth. Which is so sad & very hard on both of them, fortunately though DIL has been through it all before (DIL has a child to a previous relationship) & hopefully this will make it a little less stressful & scary for her. You can only wish, hope & pray for the very best as unfortunately we have been told that nobody will be holding the baby after it's born, and our friends have now said they will just wait till my son gets back to see the baby & Dil.

However my Granny-who will be the babes GREAT GREAT GRANNY is pretty upset cause as she says herself at 88 "I'm on borrowed time" Anyways I am sure it will all work out & they will both be the best of parents.

How big the contrast is to my friend that is due around the same time & has asked several of us to help her so she can at least have some time with her other kids and an undisturbed toilet or shower(I think we all remember what that's like)

We have had these little control issues come up in the past and we are hoping with maturity & a feeling of security for her & her daughter they will disperse. They really put a dampener on things. We have also been told we are to come & leave at a certain time on Christmas Day. To us this is not what Christmas Day is all about so we will probably stay at home where friends/family can come & go as & when they please -it's really not the day to rush! While we are all sympathetic to these issues our family has decided it is still best to stick to our principles & the interests of all family & not to the wishes of one.

A few weeks ago I went to Sydney to Equitana. (a national horse event) I took a friend that had never visited Sydney before so after Equitana we had a lovely few days doing the tourist thing.

Lane has now finished school for the year. (only two more years to go) & is getting some work with a Baker, we all have our fingers crossed that in time it may lead to an

apprenticeship as he would love to be a pastry chef. The school has given me a contact to an organisation that negotiates with employers about employing kids with disabilities so hopefully that will work in our favour as well.

Yesterday I spent the whole day 5am to 6.30pm at The Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane. My neighbours baby had an operation and she had no one to go with her to support her. How terrible it would be to have to sit there by yourself for hours while your little baby was in theatre, anyway the operation went well & I hope I was of a little assistance in taking her mind off things. Yesterday I felt so thankful for my children & was reminded of how impossibly hard it was after their father died doing it all myself. I am forever thankful for good friends & hope I am somehow returning the favour done for me.

Emerald started a new job and now within 3 wks she has been made a supervisor. This has given her a lovely self esteem boost as she wasn't being treated very well in her last job & ended up being hurt as they didn't provide the necessary protective equipment for her to use. The new boss seems to be so much more understanding of her Uni hours & that it must always be her first priority. Emerald has now finished the first year of her nursing degree and is very excited about becoming a second year student.

Anyway I must be off only 25dys till Christmas and this is the most disorganised I have been in as long as I can remember.

Take Care

Caroline xoxo