Wednesday 22 June 2011

A Tribute...

A very cosy welcome to you today. I hope you are well.

Are you being kept inside by the impending rain too? I'm considering putting the heating on. Apparently it was the first day of Summer yesterday. Please, if you have some Summer, can you send a bit my way?

Yesterday morning my husband received some sad news. The news that his beloved Nan had passed away in the early hours. Such sad news but it had been expected for a while and although Paul and his family were deeply saddened, it was a blessing that she was now out of pain and in a much happier and more beautiful place.

I first met Rhoda Byers about three and a half years ago when Paul and I first got together. A wonderful, wonderful woman and at the grand old age of 89 when I met her, she had those wonderful eyes that you know could tell a lifetime of stories. Stories that you and I could never imagine being able to tell. The stories of a war, of a hard life and of a love with a man that would last her entire lifetime, a love that proves that soulmates truly do exist. A love with Bill, Paul's grandad. A love that stood the test of time and a love that you only hear of in fairytales. A match made in heaven and which is now flourishing in heaven once again.




I had never known of love being so pure, so unbroken and so missed. Her world fell apart when she lost Bill about 6 years ago. Remarkably they had been married over 60 years. I never had the pleasure of meeting Bill, but he lived in Rhoda and I felt like his spirit never left her side.

Rhoda was truly a remarkable woman. A very well known and well loved woman, she had an army of great-grandchildren and lived in a town where everyone knew her name. She was kind, loving and you were always welcome, anytime.

Paul, my wonderful husband, was very close to his Nan and Grandad especially as he was growing up and although he's putting on a brave face I can see the hurt in his eyes and wish I could help ease his grieving.

It's never easy to lose someone close to you, but I truly believe that we go to a better place, a place where the sun always shines, there is no pain and upset. A place where you are returned hand in hand with your loved ones never to be parted again.

I feel so very privileged to have known Rhoda, even if it was only for a short time.

I write this for my love, Paul, and his family & I write this so that one day my daughter and son can read a little memento about their Great Nanny Rhoda.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a 1,000 winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sun on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled light
I am the soft star that shines at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there; I did not die.

I'd like to think of today's post as a tribute and not as a sad one.

I hope you have a wonderful day and I thank you for letting me share this with you today.

Love

Bex
x

Thursday 16 June 2011

A Wife and Mother...

Good Morning.

I was sat thinking last night of the last 14 months or so and what an amazing journey it has been. I found myself thinking about Elle mostly and how she is growing up so quickly. Over the last 14 months she has gone from being the most tiny, beautiful &quiet little baby to quite a tall, noisy and humourous little toddler - she's still beautiful of course!



This morning as we sat watching Peppa Pig I found myself giving her that little extra squeeze as I thought how lucky I was to be able to enjoy these little moments. She loves Peppa.

I remember being so scared, ok, petrified, that day we took her home from the hospital. What do we do? Will she be ok? It was the most daunting feeling in the world. Paul and I were now responsible for this tiny little being. Looking back at the pictures, I can't quite believe how small she was and find myself wondering how we did it. The thing about being a mum and dad is that I don't really think that you have time to think about it and the most wonderous thing is, it all comes so naturally and even though she was only a few days old, she  already knew how to let us know what she wanted and when.



Watching her grow has been the most incredible experience. It's been hard work but I wouldn't change a second. The lack of sleep is the hardest part but you even get used to that (most of the time).

My happiest moments are when the three of us are together. I love my daughter and my husband and I wouldn't be who I am today without them. They are what drives me, what completes me and what makes me the happiest I could ever be. As we wait in anticipation for our son to arrive in October, I start thinking of how it will be to have a baby in the house again. I can't wait!



And as Elle continues to grow, we all do. I'm learning everyday, learning how to be a better mother and how I can help my daughter grow into a caring, polite and loving little girl. She's definitely on the right track.

So my promise to you, Elena, is that I promise to be the very best mum that I can be. I promise that your dad and I will always be there and that we will always love you. Nothing will ever change that. And as the future is not yet written, all I can promise is our love as that is the only certainty and that will never change.

And for you, Paul, I want to say thank you. For all that you are and all that you do. I promise you my love forever.



I hope that you have a wonderful Thursday and thank you for reading.

Love

Bex
x

Monday 6 June 2011

A Brand New Adventure...

Hello Friends!

& a very happy Monday to you!


How have you been? I hope that I find you well.


It has been such a long time since my last blog and so much has been happening! I've managed to grab myself a peaceful corner in our gorgeous new dining room, warmed by the sunshine, to write today.



I am missing a little something...

A cup of tea... Sorted.

You may remember that the reason for my lack of blogging was due to the fact that we were in the process of moving. Well the move went well, it started at 9am on 26th March and we completed the move at around noon on April 12th. Not the quickest house move on record I'm sure! - and that was only half of it!

We had the bulk moved into storage on the first day of the move and since then my husband, Paul, had been working around the clock to tidy up all the odds and ends, painting here there and everywhere and general finishing all those little jobs that you seem to move by on a daily basis and not really notice them. As of 11th April, the keys were handed to the estate agent and the realisation of never stepping foot in our beloved house again, started to set in. The stomach churning feeling was quickly set aside by the fact that I was now ueber excited about moving into our new house in Penkhull.



After 5 weeks at my parents house and Elena's very 1st birthday, we finally moved into our new home and although tiring and albeit slightly stressful... The house is just perfect.




I love it.






We have a fair bit of painting to be getting on with and even though we've been here a month there are still boxes everywhere! I must admit the cellar has come in pretty handy as everything is dumped down there first and brought upstairs when a suitable space has been cleared. I just can not believe how much stuff we have. Goodness knows how it all fit into our old house!

The last few weeks I've surrounded myself in colour charts, home decorating magazines and various other catalogues. Sifting through the pages and pricing everything up. Elle has been helping me pick out ideas by ripping pages out and either attempting to shove them in my mouth or hers. Ever the helpful child.



The place is coming together piece by piece and we are so very happy here. It seems we have filled the house with warmth and happiness already and the plain walls and soft white furnishings seem to be basking in it and even smiling back. This is definitely home.





There was also more wonderful news shared over the last few months. Paul and I had found out that we were expecting our second child. We were also blessed to find out  a few weeks ago that the little one is that in fact a little boy and we couldn't be happier. Being able to bring one being into this world is the most amazing feeling so to be blessed with two, well words can not describe how truly happy we are. We just hope and pray that the next few months go as smoothly as possible as we wait in wonderous anticipation to meet our son.

There is so much, I'm sure, still to tell you. My gardening projects etc but I'll be sharing them over the next few weeks.

I really hope that you will continue to read and I thank you so very much for reading today.

I wish you a truly magical Monday.

Love

Bex
x