Brownies

Brownies bring me Joy in making them, sharing them, gifting them, eating them.

My Sister-In-Law has always been great at making Brownies.  I have loved enjoying them at Birthday parties and special occasions.

I tried making Brownies from scratch yet this was not easy and unsuccessful.

And then after years of wondering how my Sister-In-Law made the perfect Brownies, my Sister-In-Law gave me a Betty Crocker packet mix and admitted the truth – that she does not make her Brownies from scratch.  This was a surprise!  I was shocked!

I love making packet mix Brownies.

Last year at Christmas I made Brownies for so many people.  I loved making the homemade gifts.

For Cameron’s Birthday I also made a slab of Brownies and decorated it with smarties as a cake for him and he loved it.  We all enjoyed it!

On Wednesday afternoons we have started going to the park to hang out with friends.  On Wednesday I made some Brownies to share and all children and adults loved the Brownies – seeing the Joy on their faces as they came back asking for more Brownies.

And then today my daughter went to a friend’s house and so I made some Brownies as a thank you and for my daughter to enjoy them with her friend.  And I kept a few for us too. 

I do enjoy treats and yet I try to limit them to what I really enjoy and as a treat.  My favourites are Cadbury Easter eggs, TopDeck chocolate and Brownies.  I like treats to bring me Joy rather than regret.  And I like to have a balance between healthy and treats and to show my children that it is important to be healthy and good to treat ourselves too. 

In the past, when I did competitive running, I was really strict about not eating treats.  I didn’t eat treats for around nine years and over the years I have set challenges of not eating chocolate for a certain period of time – yet now I have to say that Brownies and other special treats bring me Joy.  And I love bringing Joy to the people that I love too through making and sharing special treats together.    

Sleep

Sleep, defined as “the natural state of rest which your eyes are closed and you become unconscious”, “not awake”.

Since becoming a Mum I have had less Sleep, definitely a lot less Sleep.  I remember before I had children that I would go to bed and Sleep through the night.  That all changed when I had my children.  The biggest shock to the system when having a baby was the lack of Sleep”.  This was so tough. 

I remember when I started new jobs I would train my body to get up earlier.  I should have done some training to build up to the lack of Sleep.

I remember when bringing our first baby home and I struggled not sleeping.  I thought I was tired towards the end of my pregnancy yet this was easy versus no Sleep and looking after a little baby.

The best move I made was when I brought my baby into bed with me at 5 months - cosleeping changed our lives and made sure I got Sleep.

When I had my little boy I remember being in the hospital and ringing my parents in desperation since I really needed Sleep, and I rang them to ask if they could come and watch over my baby so that I could Sleep. 

I remember as the months went on with my babies that I used to add up all of the hours of Sleep - and was happy if I got 5 hours of Sleep all up – which was always broken Sleep with babies and children waking up. 

In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Sleep comes up as one of the most basic needs that need to be satisfied before moving onto higher levels.  Food, water, warmth and rest come into this basic needs area. 

It was helpful doing some research which states that for every hour of Sleep before midnight is equal to 2 hours of Sleep.  It is also interesting researching to learn about recommendations for Sleep such as having a routine and not having television on just before you go to bed. 

I still have a lot of work to do in this area.  It is something I am definitely experimenting with and keen to learn more about, to maximise the benefits of Sleep for me.

Googling “how much Sleep do I need” it states that adults need 7 to 9 hours. 

Often I have been staying up late after my children have gone to bed as I am always working on different projects and need this time.  Yet I have ended up staying up so late each night.

This week I made the decision to go to Sleep at 10pm Monday to Thursday nights.  As soon as the clock struck 10pm I turned off the television, switched off my computer and went upstairs to clean my teeth and climb into bed.  I have been proud of myself and felt so Joyful that I have stuck with this Sleep commitment that I made to myself.  And I have definitely felt more refreshed when I wake up – this has been so incredibly helpful in my role as a Mum in the morning and for work too.  I work hard and have been so exhausted at the end of the day and so I definitely welcome Sleep - as I lay down at night I do feel a sense of Joy.  And when I wake up in the morning, I feel that I am ready to start the day.

I am also conscious of the Sleep my children need too.  My son in particular has not had a good routine.  Up until this week he has not been going to Sleep early or on time or at a reasonable time.  Instead he stays up with me.  Lately, I have seen a big change in his level of happiness where I’ve found it hard waking him up and he is tired and cranky and even cries when I take him to school - I have realised he needs more Sleep. 

And so this week we started a new sticker chart for him with Sleep by 8:30pm being the first goal - and this week he has been in bed 5 nights in a row at this time and it is a massive win and then again tonight - bringing me so much Joy that he wakes up easier and seems more happy again – and I feel Joy as a Mum.

I also get so much Joy from Sleep when my children Sleep next to me too.  My son has been next to me since he was a baby and he loves cuddling into me and it is very special.  And my daughter sleeps in the “big bed” once a week which she loves - mainly because she loves the comfy bed and she also likes to Sleep next to her Mum too.  I feel sorry for my Hubby as he is the one normally hanging onto the side of my daughter’s bed or our bed and each night I hope he gets enough Sleep too. 

Strengths

I love knowing my Strengths.  I love seeing the Strengths in others.

 

I love the process of getting to know myself and other people. 

 

I love hearing people’s stories and hearing where they shine and pointing out the gold of their Strengths.

 

It brings me Joy to acknowledge the Strengths in others.  It brings me joy to encourage others.  This is one of my key Strengths that comes naturally for me.

 

Last weekend I spent time with my Niece and her boyfriend and I loved getting to know them and helping them to articulate and record their Strengths.

 

With my children I am always on the look out for their Strengths and love telling them that I am so proud of them.  This week my daughter received a Silver Award from school, plus another Mercy Card for Maths plus was moved up to Extension English.

 

I do believe we have our gifts and talents, our Strengths that come naturally to us. And I also believe in personal development, where we can work on areas that don’t come as easily for us and increase our Strengths.  I also believe that it is important to put time and effort into building our Strengths and skills.

 

I am blessed that I naturally see the Strengths in others.   I am blessed that this is my life’s work.

Welcoming

One of my favourite parts of the day is Welcoming my children or Hubby home.

 

Welcoming defined as “behaving in a polite or friendly way to a guest or new arrival”; “friendly and pleasant, especially to someone who has just arrived at a place”.

 

Most of the time now, I pick up my children from school which I love to do.  I get so excited when it is my time on carline and my daughter gets in my car and I love being so Welcoming to her, so happy and friendly and excited as she gets in the car and tells me all about her day.

 

I also love when I pick my son up and I see him running towards me and I embrace him and love Welcoming him into my arms.

 

Welcoming brings me Joy.

 

When my Hubby is picking up my children or has been out with my children for the day, I love when I hear his car door shut, and I stop everything and run to the door.  I want to be ready and waiting to be present and Welcoming with my children.  I am excited and happy and full of Joy - and I love when they see me and run to me.  I want them to always know that I will also be full of love for them and in me they can trust that I will always be Welcoming to them.

 

I smile at them and they smile at me and my heart is so full of love and Joy.

 

When my Hubby has been out shopping I also like to jump up and greet him at the door as I want him to know how much I love him too.  I am grateful to my Hubby and love Welcoming him home.    

 

In those moments of Welcoming I feel so much Joy.

 

I also love when friends come over too - our friends, my friends, my Hubby’s friends, my children’s friends and parents - and I love Welcoming them.  There is excitement and the feeling of possibilities.  There is Joy.