The year that was: 2018

This year has been full of trials and 

triumphs. 

Some of you already know what these are, and for those who don’t here’s a quick overview. 

  

We found out mum had breast cancer. It was in the early stages and she was able to have surgery and have the lump and a couple of lymph glands removed. 

She completed and recovered from chemo and radiation therapy and now we are praying it won’t come back. 

 

Within a month of mum finding out about her cancer, I had test results come back from a pap smear that said I had Precancerous  cells around my cervix.

If I didn’t have surgery and get the cells removed then within a year they would have turned into cancer. 

I was able to have surgery and all the cells were successfully removed and I have recovered fully. 

For the longest time I was convinced I’d never be able to have kids. And when I found out about the precancerous cells I felt so broken. But God had a plan. 

We had already discussed trying for children this year and we had to wait until I was healed fully and God blessed us within 3 months of trying for a baby with the news that I was pregnant. 

 

This year has been an emotional roller coaster but we are so greatful for Gods promises and the healing He has brought this year.

We are looking forward to 2019 and seeing what it brings with the birth of our little girl due in May.

F I V E Things I've Learned Growing Up

So now that I'm over 30 I thought I should put together a list of five ( 5) things  I've leaned over the years.

These five things are:

•  Be on time

• Be efficient but do the job well

• Be honest - the truth ALWAYS comes out

• Listen to your body 

• Keep commitments

Lets dig a little deeper.

Be on time & keep commitments - these two go hand in hand.  It shows respect to the people you've arranged time with and to your boss.

         

Be efficient but do the job well -   This shows that you are capable (and you ARE) and can do tasks and handle responsibilities that you are given.  This in turn will gain you respect and will increase your responsibilities.

            

Be honest -   The truth ALWAYS comes out - so why bother lying to people. This goes for life in general as well at work.

       

Listen to your body -   Don't push yourself if you physically can't handle it. Learn to read your body and its reactions. If you want to cry -then cry.  There is a time to push through things and there is a time to rest and recover - it is totally ok to take mental health days.

And that's it! They are my FIVE things I've learned growing up.  

Just a friendly reminder

Friends,
please don't talk yourself down. 

You are unique
You are smart
You are kind 
...there really is no one else like you. 


Be confident in who you are and your abilities.

You never know who you're inspiring.

 I can guarantee that your story WILL inspire others 

J xx

Victim or Hero...

Lately I've come to realise that there are  two types of mentalities -  Hero or Victim.

Hero mentality - you decide to rise above your issues and allow them to mould you and grow you into someone stronger than before.

Victim mentality - you keep holding on to things of the past, those who have wronged you and keep playing the "poor me" card.

We have a choice every day which mentality we choose to live in and with.

Everyone has a different back story, different life experiences and I'm not disregarding or diminishing anyones story, but there comes a time when you decided to  use those bad life experiences to help you become stronger.

I'm not dismissing the fact at all that some people have worse pasts than others, however you do have a choice to let it define you or refine you.

As a Christian, we are a new creation  - 2 Corinthians 5:17   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Therefore we have a choice every day  to choose to hold on to  what has happened in the past or to use it to be come stronger.

It took me many years of playing the victim until I realised it was affecting all of my relationships and hindering me from growing stronger into who God has called me to be.

Story Time -

I was bullied all through primary school, all through high school, and even in my adult life and still even now.  

I have suffered from depression since I was 15, I attempted suicide but then I realised that enough was enough. I couldn't keep going the way I was going.  

It was with the help of an amazing couple of friends who helped me through these hard times.

I came to the realisation that the way I was living and the fact that I wasn't taking responsibility  for my actions because I was so use to being abused, hurt, walked over, put down. 

- As an adult, there come a point in your life where you need to stop playing the victim and take control of your actions and reactions.

Which will you choose?

I guarantee that if you do this you will feel freedom and you will grow stronger as a person.

Jem

xo

Pumpkin Pie

Hey peeps, so I've been craving pumpkin pie lately so I thought I'd share a recipe I found on a website called: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/6561/pumpkin+pie 

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 800g butternut or Queensland Blue pumpkin, peeled, cubed
• 1/2 tsp each ground ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbs rum or Amaretto
• 1/2 cup cream, plus extra to serve
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 200g (1 cup) tightly packed brown sugar

• Pastry

• 225g (1 1/2) cups plain flour, sifted
• 100g unsalted butter, cubed
• 1 tbs icing sugar
• A little milk, to brush

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. To make the pastry, place the flour, butter and icing sugar in a food processor and process until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add enough chilled water (about 4-5 tablespoons) for the mixture to come together to form a smooth ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill.
3. Meanwhile, wrap the pumpkin in foil, place on a baking tray and roast in the oven for 40 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool slightly, then place pumpkin in a food processor with the spices, vanilla extract, rum and cream and process to combine.
4. Beat together the eggs and sugar in a small bowl, then stir into the pumpkin mixture.
5. Roll out the pastry and use to line a 23cm pie dish. Trim the pie and reserve excess pastry. Line with non-stick baking paper, then fill with pastry weights or rice and blind bake for 10 minutes. Remove the paper and weights, then pour in the pumpkin mixture. Roll out reserved pastry and use a leaf-shaped pastry cutter to cut out leaves to decorate edge of pie. Brush the leaves with milk. Reduce the oven temperature to 170°C and bake for a further hour until the filling is set. Set aside to cool. Serve with the extra cream.

Nutella Mug Cake

Hey all,

 my dad sent me this in an email. I cant wait to try it! :)

xx

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons self rising flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons Nutella
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug.
2. Whisk well with a fork until smooth.
3. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 – 3 minutes. (Time depends on microwave wattage. Mine took 1 /2 minutes.)
4. Top with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce if desired.

my fave cupcake recipe

Hey lovelies

Just thought I'd share with you my fave cupcake recipe to make.
I got it from the Woman's Weekly Cupcake book

no-bake chocolate cakes
  5 x 60g Mars bars
 50g butter
 3 1/2 cups (120g) Rice Bubbles
200g milk eating chocolate, melted


1)  Line a 12-hole standard muffin pan with paper cases.


2)  Chop four of the Mars bars coarsley; cut remaining bar into slices.


3)  Place chopped bars in medium saucepan with butter; stir over low heat until smooth. Stir in Rice Bubbles.


4)  Press mixture into cases, spread with chocolate; top with sliced Mars bar.  Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set.




Finished product