Celebrating 27 years married to this guy today! ❤️
They say that it’s not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages. Whether that is true or not, I’m so thankful to have found a guy who is not only an amazing husband but also the dearest of friends.
Thank you for your unwavering faithfulness and for making me laugh on a daily basis.
We recently got to attend our son’s graduation ceremony as he received his Bachelor of Nursing degree. There were limited numbers to attend but it was so special to have most of our family able to be there, especially my Dad who hasn’t been well. It was also Dad’s birthday!
So proud of you Mykah! You’ve worked so hard during a difficult three years filled with so many disruptions and difficult moments (hello Covid!).
It was so special to be able to celebrate with you!
This Christmas will be a little bit different with two of our family members missing this year - Symon’s Mum (Grandma) and my Nana (June Nan).
It felt strange this year not purchasing them their usual Christmas treats. Mum Drake always loved and looked forward to her annual homemade calendar featuring photos of the kids, grandkids and great grandkids from throughout that previous year.
While June Nan always loved her chocolate covered ginger. She knew I got it for her every year, but without fail would act surprised.
Memories are funny things, often triggered by locations, smells and traditions. This means occasions like Christmas are filled with treasured memories and often time when loss is involved it can make those seasons extra hard.
I still miss my brother dearly, nearly 23 years later, but cherish one of my most favourite Christmas memories with him as a child.
It feels just like the scene off “A Christmas Story” (no not the part with the leg lamp) but the part where the family are gathered around the Christmas tree and all the presents have been opened, then the Dad points out something hidden over to the side of the room, and there Ralphie finds his dream toy - yet in my memory my Dad pointed out an odd shaped gift and it was a surprise for my brother. It turned out to be his very own unicycle!
I remember feeling so excited for my brother. The shock, surprise and joy was equally mine as well as his, even through the gift was not for me. That summer my memories are full of my brother learning to ride that unicycle. He spend many hours learning to ride it in our passage way then out on the back lawn holding a rope strung up across the section until he mastered it.
Loss can ring extra loud at this time of year, but when I start to remember the good memories and cherish them with a thankful heart the deep loss melts into joy, thankful to God for the precious gift of those we love greatly.
What do you make when you have a heap of chai syrup to use up and it's a holiday to remember Queen Elizabeth II, so you're in the mood to make a fancy cake?
I found a recipe online here and have adapted it to make my own aromatic, spicy chai cake and it turned out delicious!
Recipe below - enjoy!
Ingredients
1/4 - 1/2 cup chai syrup
300g butter
2 cups caster sugar
6 eggs
2 cups self raising flour
1tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground ginger
Ginger Cream-Cheese Icing
250g cream cheese, softened
150g butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 cups icing sugar (sifted)
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 170°C and grease and line two 22cm cake tins.
Measure out 1/2 cup chair syrup (or 1/4 cup and make up to half cup with water. If you don't have chai syrup, soak chai teabags in 1/2 cup of boiling water and set aside to cool.
Beat the butter and sugar until thick and pale, then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well. Sift in the flour and spices and mix well to combine.
Add the chai syrup (or cooled chai tea with tea bag removed) to the batter, beating constantly.
Divide the batter evenly between pans, spreading to even the surface, then bake for 45-50 mins until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Cool cakes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Icing
Beat the cream cheese, butter, brown sugar and icing sugar until smooth. Add ginger and cinnamon and beat to combine.
Ice cake and dust with ginger or cinnamon before serving.
Christmas felt rather different this year - slower, less happening, and I loved it.
Due to Covid restrictions our Christmas Eve Church service was Online only, and our only Christmas celebration was at my parents house, but it was lovely.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
