Forty @ Twelve

This weekend I turned 40. 

Yep, that's me, captured by a very clever friend. Looking like the love child of Miss Piggy & Kermit in my green mac (a patients relative once told me I looked like Shrek too....)

Friend's have turned 40 before me, there have been parties, limo's and wild tales to be told. 

However I opted for a quieter weekend, after the past few months I had a strong sense that I wanted to 'keep it real'. To be with those I know the best, love the most. Who know me the most.

Small children were beyond excited.

Mum & Dad (feeling old!). 

Conversation's with my brothers.

Messages from my sister, thousands of miles away.

A meal in my most favourite grown up village pub.

I gathered together my closest friend's, those who have known me forever, who have grown through adulthood with me. There was a girlie night out at the local Chinese, plenty of coffee, tea and nattering. Plenty of laughing & reflecting.

Delicious gifts from friend's old & new....(thank you Lisa x)

Some people dread their 40th Birthday, some say its the new 30...

I hope not. I'm embracing it all the way.

The years of being 30+, babies, feeding, toddlers & tantrums. Lack of sleep, feeling so very tired. Old challenges now behind me. Life is a huge journey, and I'm excited to be looking at life in a refreshed way. These will be the years my children will be nurtured into adulthood. My G & me, keeping hold of what brought us together in the first place, not losing sight of each other. New challenges to face. Plans being made, adventures to be had, memories to make & capture.

It's all good. 

Lx

Back to Life, Back to Reality

I dropped the ball labelled blogging - just for a while, just till I got used to juggling the balls that are part of being a mummy, wife, homemaker and nurse again.

After a 3 month break from work, I'm back. Nearly a stone lighter, rested & blood sugars nicely controlled, I feel the best I have done for years. The overwhelming feeling of exhaustion has gone. Its been a funny few months, but I consider I am lucky, its been a wake up call to look after myself, not just those around me.

And its good to be back at work. I have a job I love, its stressful but rewarding beyond measure, I get as much as I give, and feel privileged to be a small part of peoples lives at a difficult time.

I felt rudderless without work, I am so used to having a pattern, a rhythm to my days. I now realise that a big part of me is defined by my job, I've nursed now, for longer than I haven't. I missed my colleagues, the social chit chat & humour (we have that by the bucket load) & my patients, their families.

One of the blessings of my time off, has been looking at my work home life balance. I am fortunate to work within a very supportive team, and am now working my 4 days over 5. This means that in January I will be collecting the smalls from school each & every day. No more after school club pick ups at 5.30pm, & the pressure to get through tea, homework, baths & brownies/scouts before the 8pm bedtime.

Now I will be able to balance doing a job I love, with having good quality time with the people who mean the most to me in my life. How good is that?!

October & November have also been deliciously busy months - We've celebrated the changing seasons  

My beautiful girl turned 8 - Celebrating with a vintage tea party & decorating cup cakes....

And my amazing boy, well he is now a still Lego obsessed 11.

And as life settles back down, and Christmas approaches, I am looking forward - looking at shaping Twelve into the home we want to be in, looking into making life simple & good. Looking forward to balance.

Do you want to join me? I so hope so!

Lx