Monday, June 21, 2010

All The Beautiful Ones....

Today I have been really 'lovey-dovey' as my husband called it. I woke up to my little darling snuggling into mummies warm chest and just felt overwhelmed with how beautiful he really is. Later, after a wholesome breakfast shared with my family, I took Zai outside to bask in the sunlight and swing him on his tree swing. The sunlight is very missed these last few weeks as winter has crept on in! So, in seeing the sky so clear blue and the sun caressing the flowers & trees, I thought 'yep, today's going to be a beautiful day'.

While I was lying down reading an interesting book, one of my 2 cats, Max came to say hello. He strolled over towards me & snuggled himself into my chest, just as my son had done this morning. He had been unfortunate last week as I found 3 paralysis ticks on him and because I can't afford the extreme costs the vet requires to fix him, I let nature take it's course. The whole time I was so worried he would die & it would be my fault. He's such a lovely tom...I didn't choose him or buy him. My husband would only let me have one cat...my Rocco. But he came to my back door one night, he seemed to be a teenager (he was too big to be a kitten, but too small to be an adult). He was skinny & his coat was very dry & tatted. He was hungry. I am not one to turn away someone/thing in need so I just had to feed him. He never left. I named him Max & now I call him mine. So when he was so sick from the paralysis poison, I felt awful....and angry thinking 'why would this happen?' I fed, cleaned, de-flead & loved this cat and now I was going to suffer watching him slowly die!! All I could think to do was pray... and... he has now made a full recovery!

So, I'm petting him and telling him sweet nothings when my other cat comes over for some love which isn't a regular occurrence, he's usually keeps his distance when Max (the alpha) is around. But not today... I just felt wonderful. I was surrounded by love & beauty! I have been so blessed to have beautiful people in my life and I thought I'd share some of my thoughts about these people.... The Beautiful Ones.

My Husband, Lee Joel
We met 6 years ago & were hard to keep apart, wanting to be together all the time. I just thought he was the most handsome man I'd ever seen. I saw him to be mysterious & that intrigued me. He was kind, considerate, respectful & intelligent. We found it hard to get sick of each other!! Now I know him in & out. He is my knight in shining armor & he saved me from an awful path I was headed down. Being of Itali
an background he is very strict with what he believes, very headstrong, but loving to his lucky wife...ME! I love him so much and can't wait to share the rest of our lives on Earth together. I love you...forever and ever, babe.



Our Son, Izaiah Antontio
Well, where do I start!! This little light of my life shines more with each coming day. He is full of personality and character. Through-out my pregnancy I sang & spoke to him everyday. I was a very happy pregnant woman and it shows in him. I was shown to really appreciate him when I was put through a long, pain-filled and stressful labor. He was delivered at 2:30am on 30/05/08 by c-section after 26hours & was breast fed for 9 months. The bond we share is amazing. I thank God every day for the blessing he is in my life. I have learned and am still learning so much from him. He sings, dances & spreads his joy to each person he meets. I love my Zai and will be here for him as long as I am able. I know he will become a great man & do great things with his precious life.


My Mummy, Jennifer Anne
My Mum is such a laugh! She's loving, generous, helpful & brave. She has been through a roller-coaster of ups and downs in her life and has come out still shining. She has raised 3 children along with working, keeping a lovely home & still managing to look great. I admire her strength. She has recently suffered from breast cancer and though this must have been very hard on her, she never wanted us to worry...therefore, keeping her pain & worry hidden. She has been living in Hong Kong for the past 3 years due to her husband, Matt's work. He finally landed a job in Oz & the 2 of them now reside in a beautiful suburb in Brisbane. Always fulfilling their goals together! She is a loving Nana to our son & is always helping me when I need it. Thanks Mum, I love you!!

My Dad, Graeme James
This man is so cool! He's one of the funniest human beings I know. When I'm with him the laughter is non-stop. He is loving, gentle, thoughtful & wise. He has so much talent oozing out of him & I'm glad it's not wasted. He & his wife Colleen run a Karaoke business in the Far North Coast of NSW where they reside together. He is a very proud grandfather to our son and has never been afraid to tell all his 6 children that he loves them. I am proud to be his only daughter and love him so so much. Never stop making people laugh Dad...it's your best trait... along with your muscular physique & stunning good looks :) (I saw a joke coming & thought I'd get there first!) Love ya Daddo!

My Step-dad, Matthew Robert
What an achiever! Matt is great fun! He's a Sydney boy who moved to the Far North Coast of NSW, I suppose to get a taste of the cruisy country/beach life. That's where he met my Mum. They are so well suited to each other and have been happily married for almost 4 years, and have known each other for 11 years. Matt has always wanted to fly. His mother Lorraine has told stories of when he would tape sheets of paper to his arms and jump from high-up places flapping his 'wings' like crazy in an effort to fly.....he was 4 years old! He courageously took on the role of step dad to my brother & I after falling head-over for my Mum. He had no experience with children & although it showed at times, he did a great job. He is now a Captain, flying with Virgin Airlines in Oz. He has achieved his life-long goal to
become a pilot & I admire him for that. Onya Matt! Love U ;)

My Step-Mum, Colleen
Colleen is such a soft spirit. She never has anything bad to say about anybody. I am constantly amazed at what a dinkum person she is. She has raised her son Cale to be a wonderful young man. He is full of intelligence & is currently at University absorbing all his required knowledge to be a Doctor. What a proud Mum she must be!! Her love for my Dad is endless. He can be a handful & she still looks at him as if he had a halo. I love this lady so much & am so happy she is a part of my life. She adores her grandson Zai & is a great Nana. Her talent joined with my Dad's make for an awesome duet and I get goosebumps every time I hear them sing together. Let your light always shine Col, love you lots.


My mum in-law, Crystal Mary
I am so blessed to have such a lovely, understanding mother in-law. I've heard some of them can be awful creatures....but not in my case! Crystal was so welcoming towards me from the word go...enough to ask if I'd like to call her Mum!! That blew me away! I've always felt comfortable talking to her about things and she always listens. She is a great Mum to her four adult children Femia, Peter, Daniella & Lee. Her faith has kept her sane through her years of hardship and she shines His light so bright. Her caring nature complemented her career as a Registered Nurse and she always quick to share her knowledge when need be. She is a loving Nanni to her grandchildren & a wonderful wife to her husband Raymond. Thanks for your kindness Mum...you are truly beautiful.

My sister in-law, Daniella
This gal is great! We have been through some rough patches, but don't all great friendships?! She's Lee's closest sibling as they are the most alike and I believe this to be why we get along so well. We share so much in common and are always yackin' about something! There's never a lack of conversation when we are together. She is a top chick. Her children are awesome people whom I love like my own. I am so grateful to have someone to hang with when I'm bored or lonely or just in need of feminine company (I'm surrounded by males in my home..animals included!) I have learned so much from Dan from nutrition to knowledge about God. It was Dan who helped me take my first steps towards the Lord and I will be forever grateful for this. U are a beautiful person Daniella!! I love you lots n lots!

My baby brother, Lorne Gray
I love this lad so much! He is funny, out-going & full of love. He is my closest sibling and one of my best friends. We have come through a lot together and he has always managed to keep smiling. We were great buddies as kids & always played together. He is a proud Uncle & loves spending time with his nephew. He is a Manager at McDonald's and has a very active social life! Like myself, he has inherited the singing gene from our Dad and BOY!!... he bust out a tune! We love to share our talents singing and dancing together and have been since we were little. He is always willing to help friend in need. I love the bond we share & I'm so proud of the person he is. Keep laughing Lorney, it's the best medicine!
I love you so much.

My big brother, Blake Samuel
Blake is a champ. He is such a family guy. He loves us so much he would do most anything for us. He is a true gentleman. He is a skilled soccer player & a great boyfriend to his lovely gal, Della. They've been together for 3 years and are only falling more and more in love. He cherishes the love they have...I can see it when his eyes light up when she enters the room & when he stops everything to watch her in awe when she speaks. Although we were apart for a few years during my childhood, we've always remained close. We can talk about most anything and I trust him a lot. We can clash sometimes but always manage to resolve our issues. He's a deep thinker & a peace-lover....he isn't in any way aggressive and I love that softness about him. I can't wait to see him as a Dad. I know he will be great! Love you Blake XX

My sister in-law, Hilary (Della)
This is my big brothers beautiful girl Della. She is such a sweet girl. My bro wouldn't have any one else. She lights up a room when she walks in and she is so fun to be around. Her laugh is brilliant. She let's it all out, no holding back! Even if you don't find what she's laughing about to be funny, you just laugh with her because it's contagious! She has a love for the creator God & is currently studying/working as a financial adviser. She is confident, loving, kind & funny. She loves our Mum and has a great relationship with her. I am so happy she is my sister in-law, being the only daughter was tough and she is a great sis to have! I love U Della Bella! MWAH!



These are my beautiful ones and I love them soooooo much!

Til next time... Cassie :)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Healthy Treats!

All I can think about is the following...so I'm just going to write some light stuff about my new Mothers Day gift!


I've been blessed with such a loving & generous husband!! It's not Mothers Day until this coming Sunday but I was showered with gifts last Sunday because my hubby just couldn't bare the suspense! He's so funny, he has to give me my gifts early! Maybe to make me feel extra lucky!


So among other wonderful gifts, I got a blender! Something I've always wanted but have forgotten to ask for every year! So many people have blenders these days, sometimes put to use, but mostly collecting dust in the back of the cupboard!!


I've always been a big fan of 'boost juice' but have had to be careful in the past as they can be quite taxing on the wallet! So....now that I have my awesome blender, I can make fresh smoothies & ice crushes from home. My favorite so far would have to be my "Watermelon Berry Blast'. It consists of - watermelon, mixed frozen berries (strawberries, blackberries, cherries & blueberries but you can choose your own I guess) 1 pink lady apple, a handful of grapes, some lemon juice, apple juice & chopped mint crushed with ice cubes. It is so refreshing & tasty...and the health benefits are endless!

Tonight, I made Cannelloni & shared it with my Hubby's sister & her kids. They loved it!! But the special treat made my 8yr old niece's eyes almost pop out of her head! She really enjoyed tossing all the solid ingredients into the jug & watching it blend to a liquid desert! It's funny though, I bet if I told her it was good for her she wouldn't want it! So I made it seem like the most indulgent desert around! She wanted more!


It was a great feeling....to clean up & then relax knowing everyone in the room had tummies full of delicious, healthy food!


Feel free to try my super yummy treat, I know you won't be disappointed!
And if you're blender is sad & dusty, get it out!! USE IT! There are so many wonderful things to make with it!

Thank-you Lee for my present...It will last years & it was the perfect gift!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

My left/right brain results













Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz
The higher of these two numbers below indicates which side of your brain has dominance in your life. Realising your right brain/left brain tendancy will help you interact with and to understand others.
Left Brain Dominance: 16(16)
Right Brain Dominance: 16(16)
Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Forgiveness is Love




To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.
A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, and the waste of spirit.

How often we turn to hate & revenge over forgiveness, but t
here is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. I know myself, in the past I've found it difficult & thought it to be weak to just 'forgive ' people for they're offense towards me. What about justice & punishment I'd say to myself! But I know once I have forgiven, it's like a weight is lifted off my shoulders and the rest I put to God to sort out for he is our only Judge, saying - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned...." Luke 6:37.

As soon as we find ourselves wanting revenge, we are judging and it's not our job....aren't we lucky for this! Can you imagine having to be the judge for every single human being! From the smallest and pettiest of offenses to the most painful and grueling - we are to forgive all. It's not a suggestion or a recommendation, but a command. And...ask for that person to forgive us too, for the negative feelings towards them. God tells us "...if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" - Mark 11:25 and Forgive, and you will be forgiven" - Luke 6:37

Today I went to a program through a local church about How To Fight Feelings of Suspicion & Distrust and How to Avoid Rehearsing Past Hurt & Regain Trust After Trust has been Broken. The main point/solution was to forgive & be forgiven. It was quite interesting the points he made that really, I'd known before, but somehow lost grasp of overtime.

My mother always taught me & my siblings that "two wrongs don't make a right" which I'd always interpreted to mean - if someone does something bad to you, doing another bad thing back to them does not solve the problem, it only makes it worse, and this is so true!
I've been thinking about this since, because my thoughts about forgiveness have been that it's about letting go of negativity & ceasing to desire revenge.

So, I googled it (Oh! How I love google!) And this is what it states: Forgiveness is the process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation or anger for a perceived offense, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution”.
But, the meaning of the word "forgiveness" hasn't always meant to stop feeling hatred towards someone for a past offense, but used to mean to give something from yourself, at a cost. To for-give, give forward...? This is what I believe it was intended to mean. So to sum it all up, I now know that forgiveness isn't only a feeling, it's an act. Both the new & old meanings combined make for an awesome kind of forgiveness!

The feelings & blessings after forgiveness way outshine the small thrill from negative thoughts & continued resentment. It's not healthy for our souls.

I love you, O LORD, my strength. - Psalm 18:1

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but LOVE your neighbor as yourself, for I am Lord - Leviticus 19:18

Hatred stirs up dissension, but LOVE covers all wrongs - Proverbs 10:12

Blessings to All!

Cassie


Monday, April 19, 2010




What a beautiful day to wake up to!

Unlike most, I like the cold, crisp fresh air of an Autumn morning...it's a great way to wake up, a nice whip across the face with that cool breeze. This morning my son decided that 8 hours slumber was a little short, so I was able to organise my day with ease as he wasn't at my feet begging me to play. He is such a playful little tyke, but very dependent on Mummy's company, which I suppose, is a nice feeling.

But still, a touch of sadness holds my happiness in chains at the moment, as a dearly loved family member of my Husbands has passed away & he is due to fly down for the funeral today. I always miss him when he's not with me. We are so much in love with one another that it hurts to be apart. I should be thankful, as I know it'll help me to appreciate my Husband so much more. So as to keep our love strong and it can only deepen & sweeten over time. I am cleaved unto him & we are one flesh.

Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from God.
Prov 19.14

Lucky I have family nearby to comfort me & keep me company!

My little shining star!


Those liquid brown eyes
Those round plump cheeks
That infectious belly laugh
The dimples when U grin

What makes my baby so exceptional?
Is it his loud, exited spirit?
Or is it the glow of love he radiates?

What makes a heart fill to the bursting point for one little person?
I'll never truly know...

But, let me tell you little man,
Your Mummy loves you so!