You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water.

Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

May we all be COFFEE!!!

Aaahh all is good today no BS in the chats… Yippee.

Well both my boys have decided to start blogs. Daniel got tired of getting updates from me every evening & Vincent needs a place to put his thoughts.

Both boys will be starting exams soon. *yuck*

Things on the work front are very busy, at least I know I have a job for another year but I have to be honest I am not happy about the direction of my career path. They seem to be steering me in the totally opposite direction. Hmmm will she want happens.

We are having a cold spell at the moment, even the dogs water bowl was frozen solid.

Ok on to the subject of the robe….. I managed to convince DH to take me to the Oriental Plaza to get the pattern & material. First they did not have the pattern I wanted so I had to hunt down a new one. Simplicity 9891 for those of you who want to check it out.

I decided on the easiest style as it has been 15 years since I last attempted to sew anything. I went for a Royal blue. Tis very pretty. Any way Daniel decided that he had to make a photographic journal of this here project. He even got a video of me curse like a sailor when I discovered that I had to unpick for the who knows how manyith time… at once stage I made him unpick as I was gonna have a total melt down. So far I still need to sort out the sleeves, insert a zipper( have never don that before) I foresee some cursing coming, an sew up the sides & put in a hem. All in all if I do not have to unpick to often I might have the dress done by the end of next weekend. (yeah wishful thinking on my part)

Keira has decided she want a dress like mommy so now I have to find a pattern in mini size. I keep trying to convince myself that once I have completed mine & will be experienced enough to tackle hers…..

Hope you are all well

Here is a pic of me pinning the pattern to the material…. Even that seems to take forever to do….

Hi all just to clarify something. It was not me who was the victim in this mornings chat but rather two really special peolpe for whom I care deeply. Thanks

Today I was going to post about my weekend & my attempt to sew my robe.

Instead I have this need to address the BS that was going on in the chat.

This morning (your evening) I logged onto the chats as I normally do. There was a free for all taking place, after reading it for awhile I had the urge to step in when one of my blog friends was subjected to the worse belittling I have ever seen. the things that were said was beyond hurtful.

Anyway I could not sit back & continue to read this abuse so I jumped in & defended my friend & his wife.

This got me threatened & told that I was now on this persons list of disliked people (or something to that effect). She also said that she knew who I truly was (what ever that means). Now I am not afraid of this person or by her threats for many reasons one of which is that I live thousands of miles away from the States.

If she sends me any mean spirited PM I will put them up on open blog. This is a polite warning.

I just wish people who learn that we are all different, we all make mistake & learn from them.

Everything in life happens for a reason & is a lesson to be learnt, yes some of us never learn.

To the person concern…. Never bring my children into the fights you are having.

To my friends who saw my bitchy side sorry.

I am sorry to my friend & his wife for my speedy departure from the chats but the server crashed & by the time I got it up you had both left.

Now lets all try live in peace & accept that we are all different.

Ok

After seeing the lovely robes on Katies site I got a bee in my bonnet that I also wanted something pretty like that. So I started to hunt for something. Lets just say I found nothing, & believe me I hunted all over South Africa. There was on place in Benoni but I did not like there stuff. So I moved on to plane B….. Look for patterns.

Now it’s not like you can find it under Pagan dress, nooo that would make it way to easy. So I started hunting under the costume section…. & boy did I find some lovely patterns.

Now my sewing skills are not so hot But I am willing to give it a try. So I have managed to find a friends mother who will be my lifeline should I mess up. I was going to post the pics of the patterns but my gallery was bitching at me & would only allow be to put one pic up.



On the kids front:

Vincent never got to spend last Sunday with his son as the ex changed her mind again, he was very disappointed.

Daniel has announced that he has a new girlfriend… too cute.

Keira is full of flu so is rather grumpy with life at the moment.

Steffy is teething night before last she was up every 2 hours, there was a time when I contemplated sleeping outside in the dog kennel for peace & quiet, just a pity it was a little chilly. Last night was a much better night.


Steffy in the wash basket ... Vincent put her in it.