Welcome to my Sunny Corner!

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Welcome to Leeshy’s Lessons & Life! 
 
I’m Alicia (though you can call me Leeshy), and I’m currently a primary teaching student and stay-at-home Mum. My days are a mix of university classes, managing a household, keeping my sweet toddler alive & happy, all while dreaming about the day I finally have a classroom of my own.
 
Why “Lessons & Life”?
One of my uni professors encouraged me to start a blog, and while I was nervous at first, I realized I wanted a place to document more than just my grades. This is a space for:
    • The Lessons: Reflections on my teaching journey, creative ideas for the classroom, and those “lightbulb” moments that happen when you’re learning to inspire little minds.
    • The Life: The things that keep my heart full—my faith, my family, my church, my love for sunflowers, a perfect mug of hot chocolate, and the occasional nod to my love for cows!

I believe that being a great teacher starts with being a whole person. For me, that means leaning into my Christianity for strength and finding comfort in the simple, warm things in life. I want this blog to feel like a cozy chat over a warm drink—soft, encouraging, and full of sunshine.
 
I’m so glad you’re here for the ride. I can’t wait to share my lessons & life with you!
 
Blessings, 
 
Leeshy x

Wednesday, 3rd June, 2026 ~ Recipe for Comfort

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They say that baking is a science. But I truly believe it’s a form of love.

We all have those moments when someone we care about is going through a heavy season. Words often fall short when we try to comfort them. We want to fix the problem, but a lot of the time, we can’t. So we find ourselves looking for small ways to show them that they are not alone.

Today, my way of showing up was through a warm kitchen, a messy counter, a sink full of dishes, and a fresh batch of homemade cookies. And even though cookies can’t necessarily fix the problem, they can provide a moment of peace, and it tells someone “I am here. I am thinking of you. You are loved“.

To truly capture the heart behind it all, I wrote a poem…

Flour on the counter, sugar in the bowl,
Baking warm comfort to soothe a weary soul.
Oven keeping warm what words cannot express,
A little taste of comfort to soften the distress.
Sweeter than chocolate, richer than cream,
Is the love we share to make a dark day brightly gleam.
A recipe for healing, a timing set to rise,
Bringing back the sunshine to a loved one’s eyes.
For life is truly sweetest when we take the time to see,
The joy in blessing others who are a blessing unto me.

Sometimes, the best way to heal our own hearts is by filling someone else’s.

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Sunday, 31st May, 2026 ~New Study Period

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After a very wet and rainy week, it’s nice to be able to sit outside on the deck and enjoy some fresh air.

Tomorrow marks the start of the new study period, and I used this afternoon to familiarise myself with my new units.

But, I am going to be honest, I am feeling very anxious.

Especially with the wait for final grades to be released towards the end of June…

New people, new units, new expectations. Everything is new. And even though not much is really changing, I am still feeling nervous.

But other than that, I’m actually feeling a bit excited, as one of the units is focusing on Literature, which is a major area of interest for me, as I love reading and writing. Not to mention, the importance of Literature in learning. So this unit feels like it will be right up my alley.

Even more exciting? The coordinator is a Children’s Author!

One of my favourite things about uni is the passion that all the teachers and coordinators have, and all of the knowledge and experience that they are passing along to us!

Makes me excited to be a teacher!

Anyway! Does anyone have any books that they remember from their childhood that they love? I have to do a LOT of research and curating, so I’m keen for recommendations.

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Thursday, 28th May, 2026 ~ The Grace of Forced Rest

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The rain is drumming against the window, the lounge room is a beautifully chaotic mess around me, and my dog is currently plopped on my lap, acting like a living hot water bottle.

And after being sick this week, I couldn’t think of anything better.

Usually, a messy room and a change in routine would make my control-freak brain short circuit a bit.

But today, listening to the rain outside, I’m just practicing the art of learning to be still.

There is a unique kind of grace in being forced into a period of rest. When you are juggling uni studies, running a household, and taking on the billions of tasks that come with being a mother and a wife, you don’t exactly schedule “do nothing” into your calendar.

You just keep pushing forward.

But this week, my body said “Yeah… If you’re not going to listen, I will force you to listen!“

I am slowly learning to let go of the guilt of being imperfect; to simply accept the chaos that surrounds me.

I am trying to remind myself that we are not built to run on empty. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

I’m making it my mission to try to be more intentional with creating down time for myself. And this evening, that involves watching the rain, cuddling my big sooky dog, snuggling under some cozy blankets, listening to my daughter laugh and play, and just simply being still.

Besides, even God rested on the 7th day, who am I to think I don’t need rest?

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Sunday, 24th May, 2026 ~ Rooted in Faith

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Have you ever looked at a massive, towering tree and wondered how it stands so tall against fierce winds? It is easy to admire the height of a tree, but its true power lies completely out of sight.

In the Christian walk, the depth of your roots is far more important than the height of your reach.

If you want a faith that can brave any storm, flourish in times of drought, and bear abundant fruit, you have to look below the surface.

We live in a world obsessed with big results. We want instant maturity and immediate success. But God’s kingdom operates differently.

Jesus famously compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. It is the tiniest of all seeds, yet God can work with the smallest beginnings to create something of immense importance.

Real spiritual growth develops slowly, often in the hidden, quiet places of our lives.

A deep root system does not mean you will never face trials. Winds will still blow, and seasons of drought will still come.

The promise of a rooted life isn’t a storm-free existence; it is unshakable stability during the storm. When your foundation is anchored securely in God’s truth, the trials of life cannot uproot you.

To flourish, roots must find water. The prophet Jeremiah describes the blessed person as a tree planted by the water that sends its roots out by the stream. It does not fear the heat, and its leaves stay green.

How do we find this constant refreshment? Jesus gives us the answer in John 7:38:

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.“

The Holy Spirit is our living water. When we tap into Him, our souls are continuously nourished, regardless of how dry our external circumstances might feel.

Apart from the Lord, we cannot produce anything of lasting value. But when our roots are firmly established in Christ, a beautiful spiritual equation takes place: Stronger Roots ➡️ Bigger Tree ➡️ Abundant Fruit.

The fruit we bear is shown through our daily actions, love, and character. Ultimately, your fruit is what you will be remembered by.

Let’s stop worrying about how high we are growing in the eyes of others. Instead, let’s focus on digging deep into the Living Water.

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Friday, 22nd May, 2026 ~ Child-Like Faith

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This morning, our living room was flooded with that beautiful, warm morning sunshine. I was just getting settled in to start my uni work (revising for a test), mind running a mile a minute with everything that consumes the mind of any adult, parent, or student, when my young daughter comes over and begs to listen to some music.

I hesitated. I know I shouldn’t have. There are already so many distractions, adding music sounded like sensory-overload waiting to happen… But I turned it on anyway.

Without a care in the world, she began to twirl. Her little hands reached straight up into the air, her face lit up with a massive smile, and she started dancing across the rug. There was no hesitation, no self-consciousness, and absolutely no overthinking. It was just pure, unadulterated joy.

As I watched her little bare feet spinning around, Psalm 150:4 & 6 immediately flashed through my mind:

“Praise him with tambourine and dancing… Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

She certainly has breath, and she certainly has dance! It was a beautiful reminder that God doesn’t just tolerate our energetic, messy movements—He delights in them. He created that joy!

But as the song continued, my heart felt a gentle tug. I realised how differently I approach worship these days. So often, I enter church or a moment of prayer carrying the heavy weight of the week. I worry about how I look, I get distracted by my to-do list, or I let self-doubt quiet my voice. I overcomplicate what should be so simple.

My sweet toddler was completely unburdened. She wasn’t thinking about yesterday, and she wasn’t stressed about tomorrow. She was just fully present with her Creator.

It reminded me so deeply of Jesus’ words in Mark 10:14-15:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Sometimes, as mums and students, we think our job is always to be the teacher. But in that sunny living room, the roles were completely reversed. My daughter was the teacher, and I was the student. She showed me what it truly means to receive the Kingdom like a little child—with open arms, total trust, and a heart ready to celebrate.

I want to carry that childlike faith into my own worship. I want to strip away the performance and the worry, and just focus on the goodness of God.

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Monday, 18th May, 2026 ~ Bookshop Chats & Treasures

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One of my favourite things about supporting local businesses is the relationship you form with the owners.

We have an incredible second-hand book store that I visit whenever I can, and when I do visit, I bring a bunch of books to donate. You know, move books along so you have more space for more books!

I could spend hours browsing this bookstore, and even longer chatting with the owner. He always has a huge stock to look through, and in my many visits, he’s recommended some incredible reads!

If you can, take the time to visit your local bookshops, or even just small businesses where you live or anywhere you visit. There are always treasures to be found (especially the people you meet!)

Anyway, here’s my most recent haul!

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Friday, 15th May, 2026 ~ Chasing Childhood Dreams

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It is hard to believe that I am reaching the end of my Undergraduate’s Certificate! In just a few short months, I will be able to officially start my Bachelor’s Degree! I am so excited!!!

Uni studies have been surprisingly refreshing. After graduating Year 12 in 2017 (photo tax provided), it has felt so good to be back in the books! Despite some self-doubt, I feel like this has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself and my future.

It feels so surreal to be taking this journey. But I feel so blessed to have met some wonderful people on this journey! Online studying can be a little bit lonely and daunting, but having an amazing new friend definitely makes it feel less scary. This is the sort of thing Little Leeshy stayed awake at night, dreaming about!

Little Leeshy would be beside herself with excitement to know that we have finally taken the leap of faith in becoming a teacher! After spending 20 years being told I wasn’t smart enough; wasn’t good enough, it feels like such a victory for me (and Little Leeshy) to be taking on this challenge!

What did you want to be when you were little? Has that dream changed? Are you chasing your dreams? I hope you are!

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Sunday, 10th May, 2026 ~ Mother’s Day

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Today is Mother’s Day.

If I’m being honest, I’m struggling.

Mother’s Day is often painted in soft pastels and perfect family brunches. But for many of us, this Sunday feels more like a “both/and” scenario—both a celebration of the little ones we love and a quiet reminder of what is complicated, missing, or heavy.

I’ll be honest: my relationship with my own mother isn’t the stuff of greeting cards. There is no easy blueprint for me to follow, and some days, as I navigate life with my three-year-old daughter, I feel like I’m barely keeping myself afloat. Motherhood is hard. It’s messy, loud, and downright exhausting.

But every time I choose patience over a past pattern or a hug over a harsh word, I’m reminded that I am building something new. If you are parenting while reparenting yourself, I see you.

Motherhood isn’t always defined by blood; it’s defined by commitment and love. Today, I want to celebrate the “Bonus Mums,” the step Mums the mentors, the aunts, and the friends who stepped into the gaps.

To the women who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself—thank you for choosing to be part of my story. You have shown me what nurturing really looks like.

To the women holding little hearts in their memories rather than their arms: you are still a mother. Your motherhood isn’t measured by how long you held your baby, but by the love you continue to carry for them. Whether you are a “loss mum” or navigating the pain of infertility, your heart is seen today.

Whether you’re in the thick of toddler tantrums, grieving a loss, or keeping a respectful distance from a complicated past, know that there is no “right” way to feel today. You don’t have to perform perfection.Take the space you need. And remember—you are doing better than you think you are.

If you, too, are currently hiding in the bathroom for five minutes of peace: I see you.

Happy Mother’s Day

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Wednesday, 6th May, 2026 ~ My 2026 Reading Goal

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I plan to carve time out of the rest of this week to smash out the last book of a trilogy I’ve been reading.

I’ve set a goal to read 100 books in 2026! I’m counting anything over 100 pages, that doesn’t include my course textbooks (wish I didn’t make that rule) At first, it seemed very doable. But life tends to get in the way.

So far, I have read 21 books! That doesn’t include any DNF or the book I am reading now.

Do you have a favourite author? I love Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult, and I’ve recently discovered Drew Taylor, and love her work too.

Feel free to leave a comment with your favourite books or authors. I would love some recommendations. Clean is definitely preferred.

Blessings,

Leeshy x

Sunday, 3rd May, 2026 ~ Sunday Worship Reflections

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What an incredible service at church!

We were blessed with our Senior Pastor visiting, which is always wonderful. He always brings a great message, and today was no different.

But what really made today’s message great was how important it is to share our testimony! How else can we show who God is without telling what God has done for us! Think of the blind man in John 9 for as a perfect example of the power of testimony. If you’re unfamiliar, I highly recommend you have a read!

I also got a chance to sing on the worship team! And the set-list today was just amazing! The Holy Spirit moved through us and His presence filled the room.

Feel free to leave a comment to share how God has moved in your life.

Blessings,

Leeshy x