If I dont show or tell you enough... I love and appreciate you

With alot of time on my hands I realize how much energy, among other things, that people give and take back and forth amongst each other. And I want everyone who has given to me in love, spirit, time, or materially I thank you. I have some wonderful people in my life and I am grateful for each and everyone of you.
I realize that we as humans needs to be more grateful and appreciate what we have RIGHT NOW!! And if someone in your life does not fill up your love tank and energise you then ask yourself.... why do you have them in your life?? What are they giving you?? What are you giving them?? Is it a balanced relationship??
If no, then why do we do it???
Life is too short to have negative energy around or as I call it "leeches" and this is my big new lesson in life.

Look into your crystal ball.....

If we could look into a crystal ball right now just to get a slight glimpse of what our future holds I definitely think we would take it. Its nearly overwhelming all the opportunities or potential options that we are going to have in the next 12 months. Where in the world will we end up??? what job will Cam be doing?? What job will Lee be doing?? When will this happen?? Should Lee start her masters??? Should Cam try apply at SFU and do his masters?? Should we stay in Oz until we have jobs somewhere?? Or should we go back to Canada and search from there?? How long should we stay in Byron Bay after Cam graduates?? Will we get a chance to go to South-East Asia before our careers kick into full-time??
Soooo much happening it can make us feel dizzy. So if anyone has the wonderful ability to see into the future, and you can see Cam and I... please let us know as we have NO FRICKEN IDEA!!

Oliver heaven

Oliver's new swimming spot.

Daddy and Oli hanging out at the swimming spot. Throw the damn rock already is what Oli is thinking.

Through exploring and adventures through the bush, Cameron and Oliver found a gorgeous little swimming spot (a gravel pit or quarry) right near our house. When they took me there, both Cam and Oli were like kids on xmas morning. Oliver was beside himself with excitement and when I saw the spot I could understand why. Oliver fricken LOVES swimming. He could go out and swim for hours (I am seriously not exaggerating). Oli loves the beach but the waves dont make it the best swimming spot for him so this new quarry is PERFECT!!

So sure enough Oliver goes out swimming and Cam and I sit in the sunshine and relax. There are no houses or other people around so its peaceful. Its a great place where we can go and have some time alone and just hang out together without interruption. Its perfect. I am sure if Oliver had an idea what heaven was.... this spot would be it!!

Thank you Starbucks

Elizabeth ( in blue) a very loyal and amazing customer now a great friend. Along with her whole family who I am so thankful to have in my life.

Leonie (aka Burger), Sarah ( aka Lover) and Jase (aka yes his real name is Jason Bourne)

Kylie, Sarah and Cale. Part of my amazing team.

Alison(faithful and loyal customer and now a friend forever) and Kevin 08


Bourne.........Jason Bourne

If Starbucks has given me anything, I must say thank you to Starbucks for bringing so many wonderful people into my life. I have made some amazing friends (including the many that I dont have pictures of to put above) and for that I am very thankful. Great friends are hard to come by so when i do get blessed with good people in my life, I need to appreciate it and recognize it.

Is so much time on your hands a good thing???

As we all know I am currently unemployed.....HA!!!! Thats weird but its true. There is only a very small amount of time since the age of 14 that I have been classified unemployed. And the funny thing is that Cam and I have decided that I am not going to go "back to work" until the end of Oct. Full-time anyway. I am actually looking at doing some fruit picking.
Why .....you are thinking.....
well it will be very hard for me to go get a so called good job with only 9 weeks and 2 days until Cam graduates. Cam will then be applying all over the globe and then we will be moving AGAIN. So me starting a "real" job would be silly. Thats what we decided. And thats what everyone else seems to agree with. One thing though...... I'M GOING CRAZY!!!
How the hell do people do it?? I have been unemployed for 12 days and it feels like a life time.
BUT on the positive side I am having lots of time to think. And we all know I'm a thinker. And Cam and I are having some awesome discussions about our lives.
What do we like...... what do we dislike..... and what are we going to do about it........
If there is one thing I have truly learnt over the last couple years is that I am responsible for me and me only. I cant control others or make them do things or change them. I can accept them or not. If I accept then i need to love and support..... if I dont accept then I need to let it go.
And the funny thing is that "let it go" is so damn hard to do. But this is where I am right now. Loving and supporting or trying to let go.

Posers!!

Little Charlie and Oliver posing beautifully for the camera

Laura and I took the boys (Oliver and Charlie) to the beach today and we thought it would be fun to see if we could get the dogs to sit still for 2 seconds and get some nice beach pictures.

We found this nice spot on the beach and started to position the dogs and told them to sit and then I went around and started snapping shots. Not only did they sit there as still as can be for the camera, they changed poses and angles for me to get some even better shots. what the??? It was amazing. We have 2 absolute posers on our hands. I must admit that I am 100% in love with my baby and take 100s ...ok 1000s of pictures of Oli so maybe... just maybe... it has worn off on him.

Lee and Starbucks

hi everyone
thank you to those of you that have been reaching out to Cam and I over this last few days. And for those who dont listen, watch or read the news..... Starbucks Australia has decided to close 61 of the 84 stores in Oz and one of those 61 just happened to my beautiful Ballina store.
Of course I was shocked and very upset by the decision with me and my team sharing many many tears and the worry about "what now" and the whole bullshit thing about needing money to live.
BUT
I am happy to report that I am doing fine and even happier to report that every single one of my team have either gotten other jobs or are in the process of picking a new job. Yes I use the word picking because we have been approached and reached out to by SOOOOOOOO many other businesses offering work that they are lucky enough to have a choice of what they want to do next. That makes me so happy and proud of them as it is a testament to their hard work and proves what a great bunch they were.
As for me, I am also very lucky to have many offers on the table and very blessed for all of them. I guess my choice is what is best for Cam and I at this time in our lives.... with him graduating in 11 weeks and me being FRICKEN EXHAUSTED!! So I'll see where life takes me but I do know I plan some good quality beach time, playing with Oliver and loving my husband. (Corny I know but very true).
So for now I have one last day at my store tomorrow watching the trucks take everything away (insert tears here) and then I am officially done. Of course I am throwing a massive bash at my house next weekend for all ex-Starbucks partners so that'll be fun and then I am free. So we'll see.........