Changing Lives

If you've been around here for a bit, you would know that last year was one of extreme highs and lows in the Button household. Mr Button found out about this time last year that the long talked about kidney transplant needed to happen or dialysis would start. There was lots of uncertainty and fear and watching him change and watching our family change, way too many trips to the hospital and long, boring, stressful hours without him. Then, there was THE GIFT. It came from an everyday hero and it gave great hope and wellness for him and for our family. Now, we see the real Mr Button again and life is changing into a mundane and healthy normal. It's a blessing I thank God for many, many times each day.

Our story has a magnificent, happy, healthy ending. Mr Button's kidney came from a living donor and they are both doing very well. Many of the people we've met throughout his treatment have received their GIFT through the Australian Organ Donor register. Others are still waiting. It is a terrible thing to lose someone you love. It changes you and your life forever. I have seen how that terrible, aching, loss can transform someone else's life and I urge you, if you haven't already done so, to talk about about organ donation with your family and to make your wishes known here.

This week has been Organ Donor Awareness week. A very personal reminder of the need for thought and discussion is here.

BrisStyle Update

On Saturday I kicked off the market year at The Handmade Expo. It was a great day with just enough rain to take the edge off the heat. The steam train was running alongside the market and my Mum was reminiscing about the days when she and her six sisters were frequent commuters on the train. I was imagining those beautiful, foofy 1950's skirts and dresses, backcombed and set hairstyles and gloves, squeezing into those little carriage doorways and not picking up the grime and dust from the coal train! Apparently there was a knack to it and headscarves were a handbag mainstay.

I did manage a little treat for myself in between customers! Mel from Dragonfly Designs was nearby and she was selling some Creative Artyfacts beads. I've been coveting a unique, handmade, glass bead for my charm bracelet and Liz's beads have a sterling silver core. Liz was at the BrisStylemarket in November, last year but the Little Buttons prevented any hard core purchasing! I have great hopes for Saturday 6th of March which is the first BiDM for 2010.

Molly's Wimcee skirt

The beautiful and now, Great Aunt, Steph from Wimcee will also be there on the 6th. Last year, she very generously gifted Molly a beautiful red and white skirt which she has worn almost constantly. I have to hide it when I hang it on the washing line or she stands underneath the line and rouses until it is dry! What can I say? The child knows quality when she sees it. Might be time for me to extend Miss Molly's wardrobe!

Cute as Buttons will also be a stallholder amidst the beautiful grounds of St Augustine's Church Grounds, on Racecourse Rd, at Hamilton. I'm very excited to be joining the ranks of the BrisStylers and I am having a delightful time preparing lots of lovely goodies for the event. Take a peek here for all the BiDM goss.

Thought for Thursday

Change always comes bearing gifts.

Price Pritchett

Hello out there! As it has been two months since my last blog post, I thought it was an opportune time to launch back into it for 2010. I'm feeling a bit like one of my friends who frequently hangs onto already overdue library books in the hope that there will be an amnesty on late returns. No amnesty for bloggers so here I am, back in the saddle, albeit slightly shamefaced!

I love the notion of change as a gift. It's a great way to approach life and a brilliant attitude to pass onto children. It helps make them more resilient people. We've taken to playing a game at the dinner table which I picked up here. Each night we share a high and a low from the day. It's a low key way to talk through some of the challenges that we're encountering as we deal with things like; the start of a new year of schooling, Mr Button's long awaited return to work, the end of the BEST HOLIDAY EVER. The game is not a hit with everyone, bear in mind one of the smallest buttons won't speak and the other small button tells us that seeing the neighbour is his high - everyday! She is a pretty great neighbour so I do understand where he is coming from. More about the changes at Button Central over some future blog posts and lots of lovely pictures, too.

There, it's done! It's like I was never gone. Promise I won't leave it so long between visits next time.