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Hello, hello, hello!

Today I thought we should all just take a moment!

You see, as I write these words I am just a few days out from moving house! YIKES!!

(I should be packing, but hey writing is much more fun!!)

As a family we are about to start an exciting new season as we move house and city for a brand new adventure!

Last week I asked our kids to share their favourite memory while living in the amazing house we are about to move from.

Their responses were varied: Christmas parties, Easter egg hunts & parties were highlights for all.

As well as the crazy games of hide n seek, monsters in the dark and charades. Then there were the family bike rides & backyard camp fires where we toasted marshmallows and looked for kangaroos. Family movie nights, nerf gun wars and Boxing Day water fights also got a mention…as did sneaking up on Nan & Pop who lived downstairs. We would sneak into their room at night while they were watching TV and scare the living daylights out of them. They nearly had heart attacks while we roared with laughter – sorry Nan & Pop!

You could say we have had a lot of fun here and are leaving with memories that will last forever!

The other day I sat out on my balcony and took a moment to reflect the last three years.  The kid’s reflections were spot on – we have laughed and laughed as we played the most ridiculous games. We have celebrated significant birthdays and events with family and friends. We have spread the Christmas joy with our giant Christmas light displays and hosted many a Christmas party and of course our epic Christmas Day celebrations…..we really have had some fantastic times here.

As I sat on my balcony with cup of tea and chocolate in hand (of course!), I also reflected that there have been some challenging times too. There have been moments I would rather not have had. Moments of sickness, grief, stress, exhaustion and many tears. Moments that, perhaps I will share about another time.

However, thankfully because of the grace of God, these moments didn’t break me – they just made me stronger.  I actually think that reflecting on the good along with the bad is a healthy thing to do. I feel encouraged that I am leaving here a stronger person. I feel encouraged that even though the last 3 years have been fun and memorable, yet far from perfect, the lessons and experience I leave with far outweighs any pain that may have been endured or tears that were shed during this time.

So what about you?

Just take a moment… What have the last 3 years been like for you??

I really want to encourage you to just take a moment to pause, ponder & reflect?

Perhaps you need to write a list of all the things that were fabulous, fun and memorable. Celebrate them, remind yourself of them and laugh about them.

And for the times that may have been hard or painful…reflect upon them and encourage yourself that better days are always ahead.

So have you taken a moment yet?

Perhaps you need to make yourself a cup of tea and grab some chocolate and a nice place to sit. Then take a moment…you might laugh or you might cry…or both at the same time. But whatever you do, be thankful for every memory, the good and the bad. Be encouraged that our trials make us stronger and our triumphs make us smile.

So at the end of my moment on the balcony I can confidently say that I love that we are moving on. I am extremely thankful for the last 3 years living in this grand home and all that came with it…the amazing & good, the bad & the downright ugly!

I look forward to making new memories with my family and am also ready for whatever challenge comes our way.

Sometimes it’s good to look back just for a moment to look at where you have come from and what you have done. But then, once the cup of tea has finished, it is time to turn your head, lift your eyes and without further hesitation…keep moving forward!

I would love to hear your reflections once you have taken your moment.

Till next time… I really do need to pack some more boxes!

Natt xx