“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” - Thomas Merton

For the past few weeks, I have been thinking about how to keep balance in my life as it is something that I have been struggling with. As a mother I have so many responsibilities that I have to do. I have to keep the house clean, make sure my family is fed, do the washing, buy the groceries and make sure we are sticking to our budget. I also need to find some way to entertain the girls through out the day without having them sitting in front of the TV all the time, make sure they are eating healthily, break up screaming matches and comfort a crying daughter who has hurt herself or had something snatched away from her. I also need to be a good wife and make sure my husband is happy and healthy as well finding time when we can spend quality one on one time together. And then on top of all of the things I'm supposed to be doing, I also have to find time for my own spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

This list seems long and endless, and while it is, it probably seems worse than it is when I write it down. But it serves to illustrate my point and that is, that from day to day I have so many things to do, how do I keep the balance between keeping on top of everything and making sure I do those things which are most important. These are some of the things that I have been thinking about over the last few weeks.

1. Isabelle made me very aware of something the other day. She was playing with her blocks and she asked me to come and sit down and play with her. At the time I was doing something so I said something to the effect of "Mummy can't right now sweetheart". And Izzy said to herself (or at least it's what I heard) "Mummy's too busy to play blocks". My heart almost broke into a million pieces. It broke my heart to think of my daughter believing I was too busy to spend time with her. So I immediately sat down with her to build a car and resolved in that very instant that I would never ever be too busy to sit with my children and spend time with them. Never too busy to go outside with my husband and children on his day off. Never too busy to sit and spend quality time with my husband and strengthen our marriage.

My Babies

2. One thing that always seems to get pushed back is my spiritual well being. Too often I should read my scriptures or say my morning or evening prayers and I think, I'll do it later but then later never comes and it's the end of the day and I'm falling in to bed after not doing any of it. I have realised lately, that this isn't what should come later, it's everything else. So I have decided on another resolve that scripture study, prayers and other spiritual matters, come before things which aren't eternally significant.

3. For me, the one thing that has ALWAYS gone to the bottom of my priorities, when it should be near the top is my physical well being. We all know the things we hear everyday, eat right and exercise, but it's kind of just another thing that I have to do. It's easy to say eat right, but as well as healthy food being far more expensive (even more so up here), healthy food often takes more time to prepare and isn't as popular at dinner time. And exercise is the same. I have no time between getting up at 7 and going to bed after 11 to stop and exercise. (I mean, I'm moving all day as it is - I wish it would show on my waste line). So I have resolved (again) that I will take more care of my self so that I can be healthy and active and have the energy to play with and chase after my 2 very active babies!

4. The last thing is that I have decided that sometimes there are some things that just aren't important, and just have to go from your daily life. Watching TV - not important, surfing the internet - not important, having an absolutely spotless house - not important. So I am cutting out those things which don't matter.

So how will I try now to keep the balance? I am cutting out what doesn't matter, realising what can wait and focusing more on what is most important: My family, my health and my eternal wellbeing. That's all. Everything else is secondary and can wait.

"Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love." - Mildred B. Vermont

So I'm back to do more blogging. It's only been a year and a half!

Today's blog, is of course, inspired by Mother's Day! Today I pay homage to the Mothers in my life who have made me the person I am today and then to my own Children who make me the mother I am.

To the mothers in my mothers group. These women are all truly amazing! We all come from so many different backgrounds. There are so many different parenting styles and so many different ideas and they all do a fantastic job. They truly make me want to be a better mother!

Firstly to my sisters, who constantly inspire me with their devotion to motherhood. They are so dedicated in everything they do. T amazes me with how relaxed she is and how she just takes everything as it comes. She serves others and still manages to complete all the things she needs to do as a mother. I only wish I could be as half as relaxed as she seems to be! K amazes me with her devotion to her son. She shows me that their is so much you can include your children in and how patient you can be. She has so many fantastic ideas for home life and motherhood and always inspires me about the ways I can be a better mother and homemaker. My sisters are amazing mothers.

To my Aunty K. I have watched you so many times over the years, when I stayed at your house and when we have visited and in more recent years when you have lived much closer! You are such a good homemaker and such a good mother. You have raised 2 beautiful daughters so well, and with such devotion that I hope my daughters can one day want to be like yours.

To my Grandmothers. Nanny & Grandma H. & Grandma C. You both raised my parents to be the people they are today! Nanny did it on her own from when my dad was only 4 and she lost her husband. She needed strength and courage and I know she had both. Grandma H. has always been an example to me of righteousness and pioneering. She has always been there as I was growing up and has taught me how I can raise children in righteousness. Grandma C., I have only known for a shorter amount of time, but as I have gotten to know her I have been amazed by how strong she is. She grew up as the oldest of 4 and her father left the family when she was young. She survived the great depression and helped to raise her 3 younger siblings. She is such an example to me, that if you have enough strength you can overcome all odds.

To my mother-in-law D. Well, what can I say but she raised a good son! LOL. She raised 2 good sons actually. Sons who learnt how to be the people they are by watching their mother. They were brought up in a home that was filled with love and beauty. D was devoted, loving and caring, just as she is today with my 2 girls. I'm grateful to have such a good example to follow and to know how I can make my home a place of beauty and love.

Lastly to my own mother. You have raised me from the day I was born. You gave me everything I have and taught me everything I know. You gave me courage, strength and a firm testimony and told me I could always be whatever I wanted to be. You have loved me and cared for me through my best times and my worst times (and their were plenty of those!). I knew that no matter what happened, you were always there no matter what. You raised 4 children, for much of the time on your own and did it with a strength that makes me determined to be the best mother I can be. I am forever grateful to you. I love you mum.

And now to my own children, who are so young and so innocent and yet teach me so much. In the last 2 1/2 years I have learnt what it is like to be physically & mentally exhausted and to have my patience stretched as far as it can go. I have been puked on and pooped on. I have spent nights on uncomfortable couches in hospitals and days wondering how I was going to get to the end of it. Would I change it? Not a chance. Motherhood is the hardest and most rewarding thing I have done. I have a beautiful 2 1/2 yr old Is., who at the moment is so incredibly active and is testing the boundaries of what she can do and is testing me so much on a physical level, but she is also so loving. Sometimes she will just come up to me and say "Kiss Mummy" or "Hug Mummy" and it just brightens my day 100 times. She is smart and bright and just loves to sing and play the piano. My other beautiful 10 month old baby K, is so amazing. I know that she is only 10 months old, but she is sweet and beautiful and has the most amazing smile. She is so different to Is, and I know that growing up they are going to be like chalk and cheese, but that they will compliment each other in the best ways. K, loves to cuddle and loves to be with people. If she finds herself alone, she will always crawl off through the house to find someone to be with her. She always lights up when she sees Is. and just loves to play with her. These 2 beautiful girls have made me the mother and person I am today and have helped me to become the person I have always imagined I want to be.

Anyway, sorry this is so long, but I had a lot to say. And I apologise for any spelling or grammatical errors, but I'm not going back to check it all! LOL.

"Any fool can be a Father, but it takes a real man to be a Daddy!" - Philip Whitmore Snr

With Father's Day coming up this Sunday and getting ready for it, it's got me thinking about the Fathers I know in my life. I know many fathers, mine, my father-in-law, my grandpa, poppa, uncle's and of course my husband. All of the fathers I know are good, kind and loving men who treat their wives with respect and love and teach their children well.

The quote that I started my blog with is one that I've heard often over the years and I believe to be true. All of the fathers I've mentioned before are definately all Daddy's too. Every time my dad calls me on the phone I always answer 'Hey Daddy' and I'm never afraid to tell him that I love him. Although my dad hasn't always been here (he's lived interstate) I've never doubted for one second that my dad loves me and would do anything for me. He always helps when I need it and always listens when I talk to him. He's recently become a father again and he is the same way with his new little girl.

Me and my daddy in Sydney

My father-in-law is also a really wonderful dad. I obviously didn't grow up with him but I know he raised a good son!! Over the last 5 years or so I've really got to know him and know him to be a wonderful man. He's so supportive of our little family and always helps us whenever we need it, always going above and beyond what we need. He's also a great grandpa. He adores our little girl, I see it everytime he holds her!

Another father I know is my Uncle J. My Aunty K married my Uncle J when I was about 5 and so he's been in my life for pretty much as long as I can remember! He's a really wonderful man who has always been there for me and my brother and sisters and mum whenever we've needed him, no matter what time of the day or night. He's also a wonderful father to his own daughters who have grown into wonderful young women.

My Uncle J and his 2 daughters

Of course the father that I see most these day's is my wonderful Hubby. He's only recently become a father (10 months ago) and while I know that he was a little worried about becoming a father, he has taken it on and does an aboslutely wonderful job. The look of love and happiness he has when he see's his little girl is absolutely fantastic, there is nothing better. He works so hard to support us and make sure our little girl has the best life that we can give her and more love than she'll ever need.

My hubby and our little girl

The last father is my Heavenly Father. He sent me to earth, gave me life and loves me more than I could possibly ever comprehend. He sent his son to die for me so that I could return to live with him. What greater example of love could there be than that.

There are many other wonderful fathers in my life, my other Uncles, my brother-in-law and friends but I just wanted to pay tribute to some of them. I know there are many men out there who have fathered children but aren't good dad's, but I feel truly blessed to know so many fantastic fathers. Always remember that even if your father isn't perfect, they still raised you and they still love you even if they have trouble showing it.

Have you thanked yours today?

" A brand new little baby boy, to fill our lives and hearts with joy." - Anonymous

At about 3pm yesterday (Friday 14/08/09) I received a phone call from my sister to say that she had a new little baby boy. I was so excited. It was a bit of a surprise as they hadn't told anyone that they had gone into labour but it was wonderful news. She was still in the labour ward at this stage so I couldn't go and see her then and unfortunately I had to be somewhere is the evening so I couldn't go in then either.

Luckily, this morning I was able to go in and visit her and meet my new Nephew for the first time. He was born at about 2.35pm, weighed 7lb 4oz and was 50.5cm long. He was so tiny and made my little girl look huge!

Here are some pictures I took of the beautiful little man.

'Joshua Josiah Howes'

'The new mummy & her beautiful baby boy'