This blog is all about me......I come here for respite in between caring for JoJo (our Daughter who has Special Needs)......I am addicted to starting new projects......I am becoming a fabric-a-holic... I love to try out recipes... take a beach walk and breathe in that salty blue air......love to have coffee...sip a glass of champagne......read a book......I am Queen of the Armchair and am inspired by all the wonderful blogs out there!!!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

~Aloha......it's Carer's Week 2013......A Special Verse for Carers~




Last week it was Carer's Week and our local Council organized a special little lunchtime getaway for Carer's in the Shire......

Above are the steps to a property out-of-town Moruya called Cattinya



The property sits on about 32 acres and is an Eco Property
It sleeps approximately 32 people.......4 to a room and was built as an Education Centre
One of the girls was thinking what a fabulous place for a girly weekend
A bit or organization would be involved here as we are all caring for somebody


By the front steps


Verandah


And upon entering we were each presented with a lei


a little goody bag


and a Mocktail!!!


Part of the open area inside


One of the Hostesses Shaneane at the 'Bar'


I loved this green crepe paper cut into strips


Part of the lunch......Frittata......made by Gundary Store


View from one of the bedrooms


A seating area outside


And I had to take a selfie into this fabulous mirror!!!

Thanks so much to the Organizers........we all had a great time for a few hours!!!

Caring is a hard job......there are no sick days if you are sick.......no holiday
Hard if you have no family around

Caring is ongoing

This verse below written by a Mother beautifully describes our very own piece of Holland......
especially the last 2 verses

'Welcome to Holland' 

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this ...

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The Colosseum, Michelangelo's David - the gondolas of Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, 'Welcome to Holland'.

'Holland'? You say. 'What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy'.

But there has been a change in the flight plan. They have landed in Holland, and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, filthy place, full of famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while, you look around, and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips, Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they are all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, 'Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That is what I had planned'.

The pain of that will never go away, because the loss of a dream is a very significant loss. But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

Written by Emily Perl Kingsley......Mother of a Child with a Disability

No matter how many times I read this it still gets me every time and makes me all teary

I hope all Carers were treated out by somebody and were spoilt for a few hours......coffee......even a meal.......perhaps some respite while you had a massage, pedicure etc!!!

Hugs, Dzintra xo


20 comments:

Chookyblue...... said...

glad you got a break......

Susan said...

A well deserved break for you all. X

Rachaeldaisy said...

I'm teary from reading that story. It so beautifully written. It's great you had a getaway, I love all the fun details like the leis and colourful mocktails. The selfie of you looks as though you are looking through a tree trunk.

Sarah said...

What a lovely little escape Dzintra. It looked like fun! The verse is beautiful.
You do a wonderful job with JoJo. Happy Carers week....

Cheryll said...

A well deserved day out I would think. My DD teaches special ed and often tells me of the difficulties. You are doing a fantastic job I'm sure... and JoJo would think so too!
Still nice to be spoilt even for a short while! :)

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful place for beautiful people,love the verse.xx

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh Dzintra, that was a beautiful metaphor of a path not usually dreamed for, but once taken, can open your eyes and mostly a HEART to a population yet understood by most. Only a parent can really know what this "detour" from a dream can truly be. What a gorgeous place to come together and share, grow and leave fulfilled and ready to carry on the caregiving. You are just a sweet friend, and I'm grateful to know YOU. Anita

Fiona said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fiona said...

looks like an awesome place to visit.... you sound so lovely and you and Jojo make are special... I think only very special people get to see the secret beautiful places in Holland...
Hugz

Lynn said...

I have thought about this story often since I first read it on your blog, I appreciate your sharing it. What a lovely place, so green and lush and some well deserved pampering.

Lynn said...

I have thought about this story often since I first read it on your blog, I appreciate your sharing it. What a lovely place, so green and lush and some well deserved pampering.

RitaGri said...

Labi, ka tev bija iespēja atvilkt elpu skaistā vidē. Lai skaists "ceļojums" pa Holandi!

Deb R said...

I love this verse Dzintra, glad you enjoyed your pampering and in such a lovely spot too!

Domesblissity said...

What a gorgeous spot Dzintra and I'm so glad you got to have a bit of a break.

Anne xx

Bev C said...

Hello Dzaintra,

That first photo is so inviting. Glad you were all able to enjoy that beautiful home and surrounds in comfort without a worry in the world for a day.
I did enjoy the story about Italy and Holland, we never know what we are going to get in life, we just have to live it.

Happy days to you and Mr Armchair and Jojo.
Bev.

Palomasea said...

That is so beautifully written, dear Dzintra...
And what a gorgeous get-away....that lush, green landscape...pure bliss.
Love to you and JoJo,
- Irina :)

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Wow what a spot...

Nat Palaskas said...

Good rest to the carers. Well done!
Hugs
Nat

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Darling Dzintra.....just know this: your children will never forget you. LOVE TO YOU and thank you so much for coming by. Anita

Anita said...

What a lovely thing for your council to,Luton for you! Looks like a nice place! You do a great job in your own little part of Holland?,

Welcome To My World

Hello, my name is Dzintra Ingrid ... have been known as Ingrid and since our Sea Change I have started to use Dzintra ... pronounced without the D ... (but still known as Ingrid, I know, it's confusing ...)

Welcome to my world ... a journal of our Sea Change ... Mum to three wonderful children ... bringing up a daughter with a disability and seeing life through her eyes ... being a new Nanna ... photos ... inspiring quotes ... taking on a cookery course ... the odd recipe ... and trying to get some stitching done amongst all this ...