Lauren's resolution

The journaling reads:
I have learned a lot always being under foot about how people work BUT yyou get stepped on and pushed around ALOT so it's time to be assertive to grow up and not be afraid of being myself! Love, LA
You can find Lauren's work here.

Helen's challenge 72 (b)

Title:- "More than I ever imagined" {which also serves as the last line of the journaling}. The cherries symbolise the saying {my} "Life is just a bowl of cherries" {meaning it's all good...} & the cupcake implies {everything that has happened since meeting DH has been...} "the icing on the cake" & the hearts are obviously a symbol of love & happiness. The King & Queen cards symbolise my husband as the king & me as his queen.

FFrom a young age I knew that things weren't as they should be. My way of coping was to visualise my life when I left, with the perfect family I would to create. A loving husband, two girls, two boys - I had my future all mapped out & I knew it would happen. I tried over the years to make my parents see that things weren't right but it was always such high drama that I learnt eventually to accept that I would never have what "everyone else" had - a mother & father that loved each other truly & nurtured their children, nor would I have the sibling camaraderie "everyone else" had along with it. I accepted that my brother had the problems he had due to our upbringing & that my sister had so many of her own issues & hang ups that it was not possible to have any relationship with her at all. I came to terms with the fact that not everyone has the picture perfect family & despite my parents still remaining married & me having three siblings, I would never have close relationships with any of them. It took a very long time & an ocean of heartache to get to the stage of acceptance that I am at now, where I know that this is how it will always be & there is nothing I can do in my earthly power to change it. And I feel fine...I really do. It's taken many years but I've accepted that not everything is "only up to me" & not everyone desires harmony. I know that there are other people "out there" who have had similar experiences & I praise God for giving me the strength of character to work through these issues on my own. I have succeeded in reprogramming my brain on almost every issue. I wasn't taught about what was important in life, I had to work that out for myself. Indeed it has been no mean feat but I have done it. I've overcome my feelings of worthlessness & have found refuge in the arms of a man who sees me for who I really am, for who I have always been. With him as my anchor I have become capable & independent & the reliable & steadfast person that I am. I credit him tremendously for his steadfastness & unconditional love toward me, for always seeing the good in me & accepting me. For trying to understanding me & for loving me for being & not doing. For looking beyond my rough edges & for seeing the heart of me. For always giving me the benefit of the doubt & nurturing me to realise my full potential. With my dearest friend by my side I am strong & unafraid. Today I have that perfect family I visualized for so many years - the one I always dreamed of...right down to the 2 boys & 2 girls.

Together we made that happen, to compensate for my loss. Of course things are not always the way I would like them & I have learnt that sometimes things go wrong despite one's best efforts & that I'm not responsible for everything my children do. At times they disappoint me, just as I disappoint them, but it's not for want of love but rather because we're all just human & sometimes we lose our way a little. As they are growing up & I am having to step back & let go a bit I am seeing that I need to be less needy & allow them to be the kids & for me to be the strong one. It's another tough challenge that requires work on my part but I am overcoming it, just like all the others I have faced up to this point. Despite my less than stellar beginning I love life & embrace it fully now that I am free to do so. I have turned the tables. I set out to do this wilfully because I didn't want to waste any more time feeling the way I did & missing out on life. I didn't want my past to stop me from reaching my full potential or being a permanent ball & chain around my ankle or a big chip on my shoulder. I didn't want to waste my life being bitter & twisted. I made a conscious decision to move forward without turning to look back. The hand I was dealt taught me that life is short & time is precious. That's why I savour so much that others take for granted. Not a day goes by that I don't give thanks for the peace & unity in our home & the genuine affection we all share. I've long given up asking "why me?" about my past. Some things in life just are. I'm not one for complicating things & over-analysing. As soon as I was old enough to make my own choices I did everything in my power to alter my reality. I looked to God for help & he steered the course of my life with his perfect timing, realising all my worthy dreams & fulfilling all the requests beneficial to my soul. This is why I find it hard to tolerate people who feel hard-done-by & sorry for themselves & those who can't cope with life & keep falling back on others. I left home at 17, became independent & made it on my own, emotionally & financially. I had no other choice. That's when I really began living & the journey since then has made up for the one that came before it.

Mia's challenge 72 (b)

Title: Queen of my Life

Journaling: My life is far from perfect. I have said words and did actions that I regret. And yet, if I could change something in my life, I don't think there's anything I'd really want to do differently. I have learned to accept myself, my weaknesses and my flaws. I wouldn't be who I am now without all these. I have learned to be Queen of my life.

Janis challenge 72 (b)

Journaling Reads:
It helped that we were both on the rebound when we got together. We laid our full deck of cards right away and expected nothing but love. After 5 years in the relationship, we took the plunge and got married. Love is a gamble and I am so glad I bet all my cards to make it this far with you.

Lynn's challenge 72(b)

Title: How do you like them apples?

journaling reads:
Life isn't always easy & I don't always like the hand that is dealt to me.
I believe in making the most of what you've got though. You have to take the bitter with the sweet, and sometimes those rotten apples are the ones that hold the most valuable lessons. I'm very different from the girl I was 10 years ago. Though hard at the time, those sour apples have made me stronger & more self assured.
I used my January Scrapagogo kit & was inspired by Ronda Palazzari's LO on the Feburary cover of Scrapbook Trends.

Shayne's challenge 72(b)

title: My life?

My journalling:

"Looking at these photo's you would never have thought I was once a 'city slicker' trapped in a life in the city and with no thoughts of ever going anywhere else. Six years ago that was me, but today i'm a farmer's wife and loving every minute of it. Having gone from being a single mum of one, working full-time and over-time, to make ends meet and support my child, to now being a full-time mum, spending my days outside with my girls and supporting Dean. This is not how I imagined my life would ever pan out - not in my wildest dreams! But I could not have wished for more. Two days are never the same and each day brings with it new opportunities for learning and growing. The support I have received from my new friends and family, from Dean and my family in Cape Town is what has made this life-style change easier for me, but make no mistake the road I have travelled has been filled with challenges. Challenges that have helped mould me into the woman I am today and made me appreciate what I have lost and what I have gained .... and just how blessed I am. Jan 2010"

Nicole's challenge 72 (b)

This is not what we agreed on.
We were only supposed to live in this town for 5 years. It's small, and remote and cliquey. I put in my time so why are we here when many have moved on? This wasn't part of the plan. It's 14 years later. You have a job you are content with and a boss who is incredibly flexible. I have my own business. We live 5 mins. from a fabulous beach. We've made friends as have our children. We are basically happy in every way that really counts.
Sure, it's hard being away from our families and a simple trip to Edmonton can feel like a major production, but we have our jobs, chums and a little 'niche' in a big world.
And, after all this time, I'm not so sure I'd want to pull up stakes and start all over again.
Even if this wasn't what we originally agreed on.
Maybe, in some ways, it's better.

Liza's challenge 72 (b)

Title: Facing and Dealing with Life

Journal:

My life was fairly manageable as I was growing up. Yes, there were responsibilities, being an eldest child, but it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be handled.

However, I did see how my parents struggled to make sure we have what we need within our means. I saw how they both went through the ups and downs of family life. They would sometimes argue but before the day ends they settle the differences, never sleeping with an argument unresolved.

And through all their ups and downs, I knew that I will look up to them as my guide in life when I build my own family. And yes, I did start a new chapter in my life by building my own family with Nelo.

It was a good start for us then. We were about to have our baby and we were also trying to find a new home for us. Life was happy. But life was life, changes were bound to happen. Happiness abruptly took a sharp curve when we lost Raya. Her passing devastated both of us.

It was hard to deal with everyday life then. But we knew, we felt and we believed that we had to move forward, we had to face life. Healing was slow but it will happen at the right time.

We then focused our energy into building our new home. A different kind of struggle faced us this time. Worries on finances and the need to finish your dream home became a driving force. We hung-on and we believed. And now, our home is almost finished. We survived this one.

I didn’t realize that this is how our life will turn into. The foundation of family life I’ve seen with my parents helped me deal with our own. And being with the one person you love and trust helped facing life easier. I know there’s more to life for us, and we will face it with what we have learned and deal with it.

Cabbie's challenge 72(b)

the sweet life

journaling:

i had a sweet life the past few years. blessed with four kids is indeed a blessing. though i was not able to fulfill my career successfully, there is always a rare kind of satisfaction at the end of the day. to see your children accomplish in school is like me having a big promotion already! sometimes it may seem ironic that we plainly accept motherhood in place of other things yet there is always something at the end of the rope... a light different from the usual we see everyday. i am just thankful for this sweet life...