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.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Do you hear:

• wrapping paper rustling as Mr Button begins his annual ritual of wrestling with the ribbon just prior to bed?
• the carols from Christmas Eve mass still going through your head?
• the excited little voices checking just one more time that tomorrow REALLY is Christmas?
• the hum of the air conditioner?
• Mr Button, Uncle Button and Mr Button's good mate carrying the ginormous trampoline up the hill from the neighbours into our yard? Have I also mentioned that we live on the side of a mountain?
• the sound of cool drinks tinkling on ice for the strongmen?
• Christmas cake being munched?
• Christmas books being read aloud?
• the turkey sizzling in the pan, ready for tomorrow's lunch?
• snuffles and snores from tired little buttons tucked up in their beds?
• blessings being counted and thankful prayers for the good and beautiful life we live?

Merry Christmas to you who have made such a difference to my days and have brought me so much pleasure. I hope the things you hear fill you with the same warm, squishy sense of contentment that I am feeling. Christmas Blessings and Peace to you and to your families.

A Christmas Treasure

After a fortnight of barely catching breath, I thought I'd do a quick post and share one of our Christmas treasures. My Dad's brother John, trained as a carpenter many, many, years ago. I think it is probably more helpful to say he is a fine, arts, craftsman. He became quite skilled at chip carving and some of his work is in Parliament House. One Christmas he presented us with a beautiful Christmas string. Each one is an ornament in itself. I love looking at them and notice something different each time I walk past. It was the most surprising and delightful gift!

I couldn't quite show all the pieces and capture the hanging string so I have placed it flat on a table. The detail in each piece is extraordinary. I love the gentle, rustic, colouring of the timber.