Category Archives: Family Life

Simplicity Lesson – Ask And Ye Shall Receive

A few weeks ago I was in the midst of a big fret. I was worried about my children not having family in their lives, not feeling loved by enough people and I was worried about emergencies – who would … Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Anxiety, Faith, Family Expansion, Family Life, Journeying, Lessons Learned, Love, Ma Famille, My Chlidren, My Daughter, New Beginnings, Oh so Blessed, People In My Life | 9 Comments

The Assumption Everyone Has Money Part I

One of the greatest lessons from my downshifting journey, has been an appreciation that you never really “know” someone’s financial situation; there are people we assume will be “well off” based on their job title, education or family of origin, … Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Budget, Family Life, Frugal Parenting, Goodbye Jones', Inventing My Life, Lessons Learned, Ma Famille, Parenting, Perpective | 34 Comments

The First

I found key themes have thread through the month, themes which my children teach me again and again… Simplicity – our Christmas was simple. No large tree adorned our home, there were few decorations (a fairtrade nativty set, a small wire … Continue reading

Posted in Fairtrade, Family Life | 14 Comments

December Goals

I can hardly believe it is now December; over the last three months I have hardly blogged, I think because I haven’t felt like I’m capable of writing anything particularly profound, or moving, but I suddenly realized today, that maybe … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, Frugal Living, Getting Healthy, Goals, Ma Famille | 14 Comments

At 7 am, Saturday Morning

I have been awake for two hours, though I’m not sure I’d define what happened between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am as sleep! The dog has barked so much I have a headache {she’s excited about her … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, Life Is Beautiful | 25 Comments

Menu Plan Monday – Family Edition

Last nights dinner - veggie thai green curry, rice, cashew salad, avocado & cucumber! My first six weeks of motherhood included a scary food bill, I tried not to let it bother me because as I’ve mentioned before, my focus was on … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, Menu Plan, New Beginnings | 16 Comments

Making Memories

It is the little moments, when we are quietly reading a book or singing a song, that I see what is really happening – we are building a life, making memories, opening a new chapter. Most of my children’s stories … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life | 9 Comments

These Days

It is Sunday evening and what I most want to do is cry, but I’m not yet there yet, or I’m too tired, I’m not sure which I know so many of you would like an update, this is all … Continue reading

Posted in About Me, Adoption, Family Expansion, Family Life, Motherhood, My Chlidren | 45 Comments

Wherever You Go, Dance…

I’ve been thinking a lot about the choices we make through life, the choice to embrace or reject, be kind or complacent, be j0yful or feel hard done by, the choice to drag our heals or dance. In two sleeps, baring … Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Family Expansion, Family Life | 66 Comments

Financial Goals

Lately I think I’ve been so focused on living in the now, understandably so, that I’ve forgotten to have a semi-plan for the long-term. I was thinking about what my financial needs & goals are over the coming 12-18 months … Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Beans and Rice Budget, Budget, ChinaKidz, Dreams, Emergency Funds, extreme frugality, Family Expansion, Family Life, Frugal Food, Frugal Living, Giving, Goals, Hope | 15 Comments