It's not about where the brushstrokes begin... 20/366

it's about the journey you create with them that makes them art.

That's life really, isn't it? 

It's not about the destination, or the first step, but the path you take, the wrong turns, the right ones, the short cuts that end up taking you somewhere completely different.

They're what make you who you are. 

Even the mistakes.

Especially the mistakes.

How else can you possibly learn anything if you never make any mistakes?

It's all about the journey... 

Hope your's is a good one this weekend! 

Practice, practice, practice... 14/366

My drawing skills are pretty rusty, so I figured it was time to get back to basics. 

Learning form, and line, and shading. 

Remembering how to hold the pencil just right, to get the lighter lines. 

How to keep my pencil on the page for the image to flow more. 

I've got a long way to go, that's for sure!

But I've got plenty of time, too. :)

Is that? No... it can't be. It is. It's a SUNNY DAY!! 5/366

I woke up this morning, after a horrible night with not much sleep and a Wide! Awake! Max from 2am-4.30am, and I actually thought I saw SUNLIGHT peeping through my blinds.

Turns out - it was!!

Which had me so excited I got dizzy and had to sit down again after getting out of bed so quickly to look!

Did I mention I was woken by a solid lump of a 4 year old Max using me as a diving board for my bed? No? 

Well... he's definitely better from whatever it was that was wrong with him (fever, grumpy, tired, not his usual self, basically).

So, we're finally ALL feeling well, and more than a bit stir crazy from staring at the same walls every day. 

Not that any of us actually stare at walls - that would be strange. 

No, I prefer to attempt to lie down for a snooze and stare at the ceiling. Much more interesting. 

ANYWAY, the furthest we've ventured since the schools were out (that was the TWENTY THIRD of December, mind!) was the shops which are like a 20 minute round trip to walk. That's including actually *doing* the shopping, by the way. 

So we (ok, I... the boys are too young to decide these things! *cough*) decided to go up The Knock, to have a bit of a picnic (what do you mean pop tarts don't count?? The boys loved them!) and head back down. 

Really it was to get us all the hell out of the house and somewhere that would tire everyone out!

Well, we met some gorgeous, friendly (i.e. scavenging for food type) horses on our way, who followed us as far as their paddock would allow. 

Zack was smitten with this one, as he was with us. He was the one who must have got the whiff of the last crumbs of pop tart as we were giving him pats and scratches behind the ears. 

[Note to self: You've now found your horses to go and cuddle when you want to, yay!!]

We had a good long walk. It's gorgeous up there. 

Max had a great time and the only time he got upset was when we had to go home. 

If we'd stayed any longer I'd have ended up carrying him home. You should have seen the state of his feet! Caked with muck! He really seemed to enjoy the way it felt - all squelchy underneath his boots. That was pretty awesome to see. I wasn't sure how he'd take to it!

So, all in all? A good first attempt at a longer walk for my boys and me. It was an hour and a half by the time we got back home. All of us rosy cheeked and sooo glad to get into the warmth of the house, cosy up with a drink and some chocolates, and watching Rio. The new favourite movie in our house!

Oh, and look at the gorgeous view we had when we were nearly back on the highstreet:

Other than being cropped, I haven't done anything to this one either - not bad for being taken with an iPhone! 

Day 6: One of my favourite quotes...

... though I have *no* idea where it's from, other than pinterest!

Nearly Monday again... yay! Hope everyone had a great weekend. :) 

It's Good to Get a Pat on the Back!

The one thing I've learned throughout the whole diagnosis process that Max and I have been through, is that actually I'm doing a damn good job raising my boys.

I've frequently been told this throughout their lives, but now I'm finally at a point where I believe what's being said.

I had one of my last meetings with my Parent to Parent advocate today. Let's call her Lovely, cause she is.

The amount of support I've had from Lovely is just beyond words.

From helping me with filling in DLA forms, to even coming with me to one of Max's appointments and going in with him to get his bloods taken so I didn't have to.

Not only that though, she *gets* it.

She has gone through similar with her own child when she was younger.

And she's now helping people like me who are at the beginning of this journey.

I think I might want to be like Lovely when I grow up!

Today was really just a recap of all that's been going on, the final diagnosis, and a good old chatter.

I love it when she comes over.

Lovely reminds me that it IS down to me that my boys are doing so well.

She's been giving me that pat on my back since I first met her.

That although the "officials" have been wonderful (which they have, I really cannot fault the help and support we've been receiving since moving here and getting Max's diagnosis process started), it's me who's taken that information and used it in ways that will help Max.

This is the end of our journey together.

As she said, I'm doing really well, and it's time for her to help someone else who was in my position last year.

I know that whoever she helps, they are in very good hands.

Hopefully we'll still stay in touch though.

Lovely told me to keep her number and if ever I needed some help, whether it's with forms, or to talk over something, she's there.

She really is one of a kind.

And you know what? So am I!

So Lovely, if you're reading this (and since I gave you my blog address I really hope you are!) THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all the help and support you've given me throughout the last year.

It really has helped more than words can say!

*hugs*