#JournalinginJuly Challenge Week 3

Another week of #JournalinginJuly has passed and I can certainly see how people struggle with journaling daily. For me this week, life threatened to disrupt my challenge but I managed to get some of my thoughts down, even though i was in danger of being stumped by some of the prompts. I kept asking myself ‘Why did I make these prompts so difficult?’ I’ve also not been as lengthy with my responses to the prompts but the challenge continues!

Don’t forget to join Deb from Deb’s World and I and link up your post at the end of this post, if you are participating in the Challenge. If you aren’t, then you can read the thoughts of others and their take on the daily prompts.

#JournalinginJuly Challenge Week 3

Day 14 – Best Holiday

I love travelling and have been so fortunate to travel the world each year since 2004. Our first holiday as a couple was to Bali so that is special. It was also where we experienced The Night We Were King and Queen in Bali a story you need to read as it is quite unbelievable.

I can’t pick a favourite holiday but I can remember my husband’s face when he visited his birthplace in Italy. He had come to Australia at 4 years old in 1952 and didn’t return until 2004. I had visited Italy but so enjoyed sharing the experience with him as he met his Uncle (Zio), Aunt (Zia) and his many cousins who all made us feel so welcome. We also stayed for a week in a Villa in Tuscany and had the biggest steak in Florence. Such a magical trip and one that we both still talk about and laugh at my attempts to converse in Italian with his family.

A couple of years ago we went to Spain. Mike and I are ‘second time’ arounders and both been married before. During our ‘courtship’, he would always say ‘We retire to Spain’. It took many years and no, we didn’t retire to Spain but we enjoyed a fabulous holiday there in 2017. We visited many places but Barcelona we made sure we stayed in La Rambla in the heart of the city. We were also there at the time that the Catalonian government wanted to break away and form Independence.

Day 15 -View from my Window

I am fortunate to live near the ocean so I have beautiful views from my window. Looking north and south I see apartment and commercial buildings but to the east I have the ocean and to the west the beautiful hinterland. Each morning I try to stand on my balcony to greet the new day and just take in the beauty of nature which surrounds me.

Day 16 – My Family

My Family. Some of us have large families and others small or we are estranged from our parents or siblings. To me family is not just blood and I found this quote which says it perfectly. Our friends can be just as much our family as those we are born into.

I don’t have a huge family – no uncles or aunties left and many cousins that I’ve lost touch with. My family are the most precious treasures in my life and although my Mum and Dad both died relatively young, in their 60s I still think of them. My husband, Mike, my children Rachel and Nathan and of course my grandsons, Ethan and Elliot. I also have a blended family including Mike’s children, Nikki and Brett and our other grandchildren on his side, Lexie, Harry and Camden. Last but not least is my 93 year old MIL, Luisa who is still enjoying life.

Family is so important yet I was estranged from many of my family for many years for private reasons. I managed to reconnect with my brother and speak with him before he died almost 3 years ago which I’m grateful for.

A highlight was to reconnect with three of my cousins two after 20 years and 1 who I hadn’t seen for 40 years. In 2017, my cousin, Carole who is like my big sister and also happens to be my godmother, her daughter and I flew to Adelaide to meet with our cousin April who I had not seen for 40 years. It was a wonderful reunion which I wrote about after the trip.

Day 17 – What makes me laugh?

I’m not sure really. I haven’t had a good belly laugh in quite a while so on Day 17 I’m stumped. Sure, there are many things that make me smile but not many times when I actually laugh. That seems a bit sad doesn’t it?

Day 18 – My Favourite way to relax?

I have several ways I love to relax and I can’t decide which is my favourite.

• I love to get lost in a good book for the afternoon and while away the hours.
• Earlier this week when I was minding Elliot, Ian had taken him to get his vaccinations. I had an hour to spare, the sun was shining and they have a beautiful deck. I took the time for myself and did a 40 minute yoga practice on the deck in the sunshine. It was pure bliss and I felt so relaxed after it. I reminded myself I need to do this more.
• Running – to me I can overthink things or become overwhelmed so the best way for me to clear my mind and relax is to go for a run. Not only does my body feel alive when I’ve finished but my mind is clearer and I feel so much more in control.

Day 19 – My Home

We recently downsized to an apartment on the Gold Coast after living and caring for my in-laws for the last 11 years. We have had the apartment for quite a while and are now keen to do some renovations to make it our home. I love my new home because it is near the ocean with beautiful areas to walk and enjoy. The only down side is that I am now one hour away from my darling grandsons, Ethan and Elliot rather than 10 minutes when I lived in Brisbane.

Day 20 – My Ancestry

Predominantly my ancestry is from the U.K. I have quite a lot of information because cousins on each side of my family are very interested in Ancestry. In fact, one cousin found me through Ancestry.com and I hadn’t seen him since his engagement party over 40 years ago. It was so wonderful to catch up with him and his wife and he sent me through so much information I just need to make time to read it.

My most precious mementos were recently given to me by my cousin (my godmother). She was very close to my Mum and like a daughter to her. As she was decluttering her home, she came across a letter my grandmother (who died the year before I was born) wrote to my Mum when she was in hospital recovering from the birth of my brother. It is so lovely to think I have something written by my grandmother. I also have songs listed on an envelope written by my Mum. It is special to me because she used to sing these songs to herself when she was having her chemotherapy.

How are you going with the challenge? Have you found the experience helpful? I would love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment below.