Living the Impossible

You Can't Make Me

2011-08-06T14:19:00.000+12:00

The common rant of children who are being forced to eat broccoli (or some offensive vegetable), clean their room or apologize to their tyrannical siblings is often heard in many a home. "You can't make me!" The bulging eyes of an enraged parent and the snap of a belt usually has the tot singing a different tune rather quickly. Despite the lovely echo one may hear of Bill Cosby saying "I brought you into the this world, and I can take you out of it", the reality of being made to do something we don't want to do can seem crushing.

This week, as I was trying to iron out a situation, I got a phone call with nothing but stickers and burrs on the other end. All hostility and venom. Phew. Though the thought of hanging up had me pulling the phone away from my head and looking longingly at the END key... I held on for more snapping.

As I hung up (politely, thank you) and replayed the conversationin my head, I started to get really mad. Like call back and yell mad.

And then, something stopped me. I started chanting over and over in my head "You can't make me"

You can't make me lose my temper.

You can't make me spitting angry.

You can't make me say bad words.

You can't make me.

You can't make me lose my joy.

You can't make me have a bad day.

You can't make me give up this sunshine in my soul.

You can't make me!

Too many times I have allowed someone to 'make me' and stupidly blamed them for the fallout. Reality? They can't make me. In a life where I am holding on to Jesus and asking Him for guidance and direction, taking time to ask Him to fill my day with things that will draw me closer to Him, nobody can 'make me'.

Jesus says He came to give us life and life abundantly. Not life squished and mushed and holed up in some back corner of the universe. Abundant life! The thieves come to steal and destroy (check out John 10:10) but not God. He comes to give us life - a life full and overflowing (Psalm 23:5).

Don't let the thieves steal your joy, your abundant peace, the grace that God offers you. Hold on to the promise and live your life effervescing. And let the bullies know - " You can't make me!"

It's the pretty things...

2010-12-04T07:53:00.005+13:00

This stunning spike ball is a wonder! I had an encounter with this strange sea creature-ish looking thing a little more than a year ago. Though it looks somewhat dreamy, wonderful and amazing, this little thing will make you sick. Sick, Sick. In fact i thought i may never recover any appetite or the ability to drink water again after our brief encounter.

That glowing tentacled mass is the swine flu virus.
Oh looks and their deceptive little ways!

This little ball of wonder is not in fact a toy at Disneyland despite the Mickey Mouse shaped heads protruding from it's peachy face. This bad guy is gone getcha, getcha and make you wish you had never met.

Yes, dear reader, the amazing influenza virus. I have spent two days at home getting better acquainted with this meanie recently.
Pretty, no?

Perhaps my favorite of the lot, this apparent child's toy, complete with suction cups on it so it can walk down walls with the force of gravity is indeed not so innocent. This adorable little thing caused major panic globally when it was encountered.

Introducing - the avian flu! Also known as the bird flu, this little beastie will try to kill you. In earnest.
And it just looks so cute!

The point? you ask.
Ah yea.
The things that seem pretty can be vicious.
The things that seem vicious can be pretty good for you.

Books. Covers.
Judge wisely.

It's every day

2010-11-05T10:57:00.004+13:00

I find myself very busy at this point in my life. Up early, to bed late. Run, run, run.

And frankly, I love it!

I love that I get to work with awesome people, day in and day out. I have love spilled onto me every day from hugging children, joyful adults and gift bearing friends.

I also love that never, ever can i predict what my day will be like. I know it will be long and sometimes confusing. But I never know who will need help, who will pull someones heart up out of the depths of lonely, or what story I will hear. I have no idea of how much I will laugh, or cry.

I live every day with a sense of wonder. I wonder what will happen next.

I think this must be what the people who followed Jesus as He walked here on earth felt like. They never had an idea what He would do, where they would head, what mind blowing revelation they would hear. And every day they saw miracles.

I see miracles every day too. Don't you?

Why I believe in castration

2010-08-27T07:28:00.003+12:00

The recent news of the horrific rapes of almost 200 women and even some small boys in the Eastern Congo makes me mad.

To use sex as a weapon is vile. To remove any sense of trust and safety, to destroy the health of a person, to allow the culture to shun a person for something that IS NOT their fault... It makes me angry. Spitting angry. Or chopping angry.

I think that any man who ever, EVER, rapes or violates a woman or child or another man should have his weapon of choice, removed, by force, forever.

We take away guns, knives, grenade launchers, whatever... from terrorists and crazy people. We lock people up who have made threats of violence. We punish people for their bad choices.

Rape is a bad choice!

Take away their weapons! By force!

Peeking

2010-08-25T06:44:00.003+12:00

I came out of work the other day and saw this peeking back at me.

I sure do love my car.
I love seeing her sitting in the midst of all the swollen, over-sized mongrels with her cheeky headlamps peering out, looking eager for a ride.

The sight of her makes me smile.

It warms my heart to know that when God sees me peeking back at Him, with my cheeky grin, eager to spend some time riding with Him, He smiles too...

Sometimes it's whatcha need

2010-07-22T13:51:00.002+12:00

Floating in the crystal clear waters off the coast of a small island is amazing.

Nothing cures what ails me like a soak in the salty brine under the warming beams of the sun.

Thanks to A & A for getting married in the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands.

Thanks for picking me as a friend, for falling in love, and for choosing the most awesome place to watch two beloved friends get married!

Big Changes

2010-04-30T07:37:00.004+12:00

Change happens. A lot. And sometimes all at once.

Never having been one to shy away from change, it doesn't really scare me. Unless of course that change is my favorite book gone missing, my favorite dish no longer on the menu at my favorite restaurant, or my eyebrows going missing in the night. Then I may panic.

But for the most part change is fun. Exciting.
The world throbs with new possibility and opportunity and a sense of expectant vibrancy.
The clouds are bluer, the flowers more pink, the people I encounter more chipper.

Today my life is changing. Forever.
It will never be the same again.

And I could not be more happy!
I am so blessed, abundantly dripping in good things, in love, and in possibility!

What, you may ask, brings on this euphoric sense of joy?

Well, I say, I have been given the chance of a life time to change the world!

I am going to be working with the young and sometimes restless residents of Green Bay. I accepted a posting today as the Associate Pastor to the Green Bay Church!

Yea for change!

Tirade

2010-04-20T15:25:00.003+12:00

From my favorite online etymology site - www.etymonline.com

tirade: 1801, "a 'volley of words,' " from Fr. tirade "speech, volley, shot, continuation, drawing out" (16c.), from tirer "draw out, endure, suffer," or the Fr. word is perhaps from cognate It. tirata "a volley," from pp. of tirare "to draw." The whole Romanic word group is of uncertain origin; some think it is a shortening of the source of O.Fr. martirer "endure martyrdom" (see martyr).

I have a job. I get up in the morning, usually throw on some gym clothes, hit the gym fora bit, head home to change and then drive furiously for the entire 3 miles it takes me to arrive at work.

I do not have a hard job. I do not have a glamorous job. I do not have a well-paid, sit-at-a-desk, thoughtless or predictable job.

I work at a nursery, with wee baby plants, massive flowers, monster sized trees and wonderful glorious hours spent outside sweating in the dirt. Life hardly gets better, right?

Sadly, no.

I work with a woman who knows exactly how to press every button I have. When I greet her, there is hardly a reply. When I let her know that we actually have a product she told someone we don't have so he should just go check at WalMart (seriously??!!), I get scolded. When she sees anyone standing around talking she runs and tattles to the boss. When I let someone know about a plant, she will come behind me and contradict what I said and has even made customers put plants back. Argh!

Every interaction with her is strained and tense. I find myself dreading work because I know this button pushing, tattling, rude person is going to be hovering on the horizon of my day. I feel a bit like I am being pulled through a whole bag full of suffering. I feel like a tirade is here.

And I am at the point where I don't know how to be nice to someone. How do I react in a nice way to someone who makes me want to scream and run away whilst frantically banging pots on my head to drown out her voice?

As a Christian, I know there is a standard of love I choose to live by, that should and I believe can, influence even the toughest of interactions.

So how do I love someone who is, for me, the epitome of unlovable?
How do I choose to respect her, to be kind and gracious and appropriate?
How do I turn the other cheek when I fear the state it will be left in?

So far as I can see, there is only one place for me to go, to look to,
to fall on
and that is the
Throne of Grace.

I know that there are people who cannot stand me. I am their button pusher, their dreaded work companion and for them to react to me in love? It would take a miracle!

And so I am trying, learning, leaning and reaching out for Grace- a much needed miracle cure for button pushers and pot bangers alike.

Yep. She's still the cutest.

2010-03-02T12:28:00.001+13:00

My niece.

Almost 3 now.
Cutest kid in the world.

This valley ain't dead

2010-03-02T12:18:00.003+13:00

Down down we go!

Sand dunes in the distance. Small sand storm whipping up.

The valley floor.
It was in the 70's on the floor and there was snow on the distant mountains.

Biosphere 2

2010-03-02T11:40:00.005+13:00

Poking around in a desert canyon in Arizona you will find a stunning facility dedicated to human ingenuity and human insanity.

The entrance to Biosphere 2

Before entering Biosphere 2

Originally designed to be a self-sustaining community and inhabited by a team of scientists for 2 years and 20 minutes to determine the feasibility of humans living in such a space (we must remember the plans in inhabit Mars were in full swing back then) and being able to survive the hassles and rigors of such a life.

Not only was "serious scientific experimentation" (best read with a nerdy deep voice over) carried out on plants and animals, checking and rechecking the reality of human impact on the original biosphere, Biosphere 2 also seemed to be a hotbed of chaotic experimentation with the human team of seriously Type A personalities all packed into a 3.14 acre area.

Since the space race has cooled a bit for now and the experiments all gleaned amazing data, the wonders of Biosphere 2 are open to visitors with a whopping 2.3 million guests a year meandering through what is essentially the biggest, most expensive greenhouse in the world.

The Biosphere is still a giant working lab and is still spitting out data enough to flood the world with a paper trail waist high to be sure. It is also an amazing nod to human creativity, to the order of the original creation and to the beauty of masterpieces yet to be discovered.

In the Savannah over looking the ocean
It was pretty humid in this spot, but gorgeous over looking the water, and out the glass into the desert beyond.

In the desert
My favorite climate in Biosphere 2.Flowers in the desert.

The Ocean.
Tiny but effective.

In the belly of Biosphere 2

Outside one of the lungs
These devices allow for the expansion and compression of the air inside the domes. Very cool.

Oh the things to be found in the desert

2010-03-02T11:22:00.004+13:00

On a westward bound road trip recently undertaken, my mom and I happened upon a few signs strategically strewn along the highway advertising ghost towns. Intrigued, we decided to pull over at a small stop in New Mexico.

Once a happening place where the locals would jump and jive to the beat of the train whistle, this wreck of a town sits quietly by the truck laden highway waiting for time and sand to wear it down into oblivion.

Welcome to Stein New Mexico
The old town store.
It had an American flag sticker in the window that I think may have been original.
When did stickers come to be anyhow?

A really old stagecoach.
Makes me very, very glad for shocks and struts and all that jazz.

An old barn/storage shed. I love the old rusted roof. Makes me wanna grab a Dr. Pepper and a rocking chair and sit around telling yarns and watching to moon rise. The old outhouse. It seems to have been one in Stein.
Perhaps this is why Stein is now a ghost town.

Never In a Fog

2010-01-08T14:47:00.002+13:00

This month I had the joy of flying to visit friends. As the plane headed for Indianapolis we were enveloped in a snow storm. From 17A all of the wonders of being in the clouds of a snow storm were clear. There was nothing above, below or beside us that was not white. No blue sky, no crisscross patterns of farmed land below. Not even the soothing blink of the wing lights was visible.

Happily wrapped inside a massive aluminum can hurtling through this blank void, I was completely disoriented. It would be so easy to become lost. Horizontal, tipped, veering all would have been something relative. And in the swirl of solid white, the lady in 17A was thrilled to have a pilot in charge of the flight path.

As we landed, quietly and bumpless, onto the runway the gray pavement and the fence lines of the airport were just peeking through the white.

Each of us is essentially flying blind. We cannot see beyond the snow white, blank canvas of right now. We can plan and strategize and prepare and hope things go according to plan. But really, we don't control the plane or the weather. We can tip and tilt and get off center so easily because of our blindness.

It is also very comforting to note that we do not have to fly the plane. We can have a pilot who leads the way through the swirling mist of the storms securely onto pavement, inside the fences of safety.

So...

Are you your own pilot? Or are you ready for Someone else to take the controls?

Living with gratitude

2009-12-01T13:25:00.003+13:00

So I failed in the blogging realm this month. I tried, tried, tried to be good and blog once a day all month long. I failed. But NaBloPoMo has issued a challenge of giving something to someone every day of the month of December. I know I got at least one day covered. Maybe I can get them all covered and tell about it? We shall see!

But the chance to sit down everyday and look at my day and see what really matters, what really makes my day... that has been priceless.

I find I need a lot fewer trips out randomly shopping, spend a lot less time feeling blue, or lonely and don't worry half as much about what i look like when I am focused in the 'Thankful' direction!

Just what I needed. One big, massive perspective check.

An attitude of gratitude - Day 26

2009-11-28T20:23:00.005+13:00

I am back in the US. After a very dramatic phone call home Friday morning NZ time to wish the parentals Happy Thanksgiving, I found out Mom had been rushed to the hospital after blacking out. She is back home now, as am I. So today, the longest Friday ever in recorded history (it has to be!) I have much to be thankful for!

Day 26

1) My mom is home alive and is healing. THANK YOU GOD!

2) My planes all flew well.

3) My Dad found me at the airport

4) I have now taken a shower. Sooooo thankful

5) I have rediscovered clothing I left here 7 months ago! It's like a whole new wardrobe!

6) These fragile broken bodies we inhabit are but a temporary shell. Jesus is coming soon and this frail hull with be made incorruptible! Woot! Woot!

An attitude of gratitude - Day 25

2009-11-27T09:13:00.002+13:00

I got home late again last night and was so tired after cooking all day, eating, and taking an 11 K walk that bed was the only logical option:) So day 25 it is this morning. Tonight I will do today. Phew it gets all blended together!

Day 25

1) Thanksgiving Dinner made by me (with help on the pie) and eaten with friends
2) Long walks in the dark
3) Cranberry Relish! Love it!
4) Marmalade and whipped cream sunsets. It was stunning.
Made us both stop and look and gape in awe.
5) Naps in the sunshine while the biscuits baked
6) My family - the best parents and siblings I could ever have asked for
7) My friends who keep in touch and remind me of love daily

An attitude of gratitude - Day 24

2009-11-26T09:26:00.002+13:00

After a two hour walk, half of it in the dark, I got home late and so this blog is being posted a bit late!

Day 24

1) Walking in the wonders of the dark and beautiful hills behind Oamaru
2) Nicknames that I make up for my friends that they promptly ban me from using
3) Coffee breaks with friends that involve decadent chocolate, date, fig torte. Sigh. Bliss.
4) The promise of adventure from a conversation about hiking
5) Finding more wrinkles on my face
6) Making preparations for Thanksgiving dinner with one of my favorite families here

An attitude of gratitude - Day 23

2009-11-24T22:49:00.002+13:00

Day 23

1) Sunshine - I have pink legs! WAHOO!
2) The little box in the top right corner of any screen
that lets me get away from trash with a quick click
3) Soy Milk
4) True and honest talks with friends
5) Being able to right justify this blog
6) Almost done with my paper
7) Digital Pictures. Sheer genius
8) Having time to sit and read in the sunshine
9) Two loads of laundry done
10) Having people I pass on the street smile back at me

An attitude of gratitude - Day 22

2009-11-23T22:42:00.001+13:00

Day 22

1) A warm day that merited wearing a skirt and sandals
2) Another page done on my last ever paper for school. One day I may actually finish. Doing research with no library. Phew!
3) Enough change in my ashtray to pay for parking
4) Apples
5) Nutella
6) Peonies, peonies everywhere!
7) 23 days until I go home

An attituude of gratitude - Day 21

2009-11-22T22:11:00.002+13:00

Day 21

1) Kaprice's birthday (Happy 16th sweetie!)
2) The Victorian Fete to end Heritage Week, filled with awesome booths selling neato stuff, people all dressed up, amazing food, and fun activities!
3) Coming in second in the world championship stone sawing competition with teammate Louisa.
I am a stone sawing maniac! So is Louisa!
4) A long nap after a day spent with the shakes
5) Birthday party!
6) People who keep their end of the bargain
7) Men who look you in the eye

An attitude of gratitude - Day 20

2009-11-22T22:08:00.002+13:00

Somehow I managed to let Saturday night slip right by without adding this this list!

Day 20 (a day late)

1) A picnic in the park
2) People came to church dressed for Heritage Sabbath! VERY cool!
3) Maureen helping me get in and out of my dress again and again. All those hooks and eyes were amazingly impossible to do alone
4) Early to bed

An attitude of gratitude - Day 19

2009-11-20T21:28:00.005+13:00

Friday Nights generally find me pretty pumped and ready for Sabbath to hit. Tonight I am just exhausted and very much in NEED of Sabbath arriving.
But what a day it has been!

Day 19

1) Spending time in costume with some of my friends from here for an
Afternoon Tea in the Oamaru Gardens
2) Having some of my friends mistaken for being my children
(funny for me, not so sure if it was for them!)
3) Glorious blue skies
4) People who ask me around for dinner
5) The end of this week
6) Being so loved that my heart feels full

An attitude of gratitude - Day 18

2009-11-19T22:05:00.004+13:00

"Another day has almost come and gone. I can't imagine what else could go wrong. Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door. A simple battle lost, but not the war. 'Cause tomorrow's another day and I'm thirsty anyway, so bring on the rain"
- Bring on the Rain
by Jo Dee Messina & Tim McGraw

Day 18

1) Watching Singing in the Rain on the big screen
2) Getting all dressed up in Victorian clothes to go to the pictures
3) Knowing, at a place deep in my soul, that though I may be lonely, I am NEVER, NEVER alone.

An attitude of gratitude - Day 17

2009-11-18T17:00:00.002+13:00

The day is not yet over, but my plate is so full of thanks I gotta unload some of it or something is going to wind up plastered down the front of my shirt!

Day 17

1) The smell of roses wafting on the air as I walked into town
2) Seeing all the folks dressed up in Victorian gear in honor of our Heritage Week
3) My senior pastor helping me out with displays for this Sabbath
4) Candy Corn (arrived in previously mentioned box!)
5) The washing machine
6) The totally amazing savory cheese scone I had this morning
7) My Dad and his awesome skills at getting the forms filled out just right so I can get one little piece of paper to get my NZ license
8) Christmas shopping is finished
9) 28 days til I go home for a visit!!!!!!!!!!

An attitude of gratitude - Day 16

2009-11-17T21:10:00.003+13:00

Another day is slowing oozing over the hills behind my 'house' and I am slowly losing the ability to keep my eyes open. So as I prepare to head for bed, here is my joyfilled list of thanks.

Day 16

1) New carpet is installed in the church basement! Phase 2 complete!
2) Baked beans
3) Boxes randomly arriving from the US from much loved and sorely missed friends
4) My work visa came through today!!!!
5) Victorian Heritage Week starts tomorrow here in Oamaru
6) The blessed hope

An attitude of gratitude - Day 15

2009-11-16T21:22:00.002+13:00

Day 15

1) Perfectly timed discoveries of gas stations
2) People watching at the airport
3) Friends who let me whine and moan
and yet still love me and give me wise advice. (Think, then speak!)
4) Happy new memories tucked away in the file cabinet of my head

An attitude of gratitude - Day 14

2009-11-16T21:18:00.002+13:00

Traveling around with Kate has been awesome. However, on Day 14, we were in a place with NO INTERNET!
I will let you pick your jaw up off the desk...
and proceed with my list of thanks for the day the internet left my life:)

Day 14
1) No internet access. Off the grid is good!
2) The turquoise lakes and rivers surrounded by snow capped mountains
3) Hot springs and saunas
4) Massive amounts of lupines in all shades of amazing
5) Having a friend finally come visit me in a foreign country

An attitude of gratitude - Day 13

2009-11-15T09:15:00.000+13:00

This morning has begun with crisp weather outside and rested people inside. We are off today on a trip about the central region of the south island. Wahoo!

Day 13

1) My hairdryer
2) Hot drinks in the cold morning
3) Phones
4) Soy Milk

An attitude of gratitude - Day 12

2009-11-14T21:58:00.002+13:00

Today has been a tough day to stay positive. Though there was much to be thankful for, I am struggling to hold onto a grateful viewpoint tonight. Despite being frustrated though, there are piles of things I am thankful for. Some of those things are:

1) Kate being here. So nice to hear a ripe American accent again:)
2) Heaters. Cold nights are still here and heaters rock!
3) Fudge
4) Tired legs
5) Selfless acts of kindness displayed by people I know. I got a gift of soy milk today. Awesome!
6) The blessed hope

An attitude of gratitude - Day 11

2009-11-13T21:40:00.002+13:00

So much to be thankful for as I sit here chatting with Kate who made it into town safe and sound!

Day 11

1) A trip in the clouds as we drove through the hills around Akaroa
2) Not dying on our trip through the clouds on the really windy roads near Akaroa.
3) Sunshine! We found at the end of the road.
4) Bible Quiz #2 a success! Fun was had by all ( i think!)
5) Food. Yum soupy food with really heavy bread. I think a duck might sink tomorrow.
6) Hugs from Esther. She's five and she gives the best hugs ever.
7) Sabbath! I am so glad I get a break from the usual hubbub.

An attitude of gratitude -Day 11

2009-11-13T08:39:00.002+13:00

Day 11

1) Picking up a friend from the US last night at midnight! She's here!

2) Having a set of adopted parents here to spoil me and let me crash at their place anytime

3) Sunshine the whole ride up to get said friend

4) Nobody was hurt in the wreck i saw yestreday on the drive up. Bus and car crash and no injuries. Amazing.

5) The awesome yellow roses that my Kiwi Mom has here at her house. Makes me think i am really am home in Texas!

6) Friends with vacuums that let me clean out my car.

7) Jesus! He really, really loves you and me. and He reminded me yesterday of that. So thankful for grace and love and forgiveness!

An attitude of gratitude - Day 10

2009-11-12T09:04:00.002+13:00

Got home so late last night that I failed to get this up and posted before midnight! So here is what I was thankful for yesterday.

Day 10

1) My car. I can get places so fast.
2) Prayer. It works miracles!
3) Uncertainty. It means I have to have faith and be patient!
4) Tortillas. Love the things. Go perfectly with nutella too!

An attitude of gratitude - Day 9

2009-11-10T21:46:00.002+13:00

This day dawned bright and very, very early. But today, another day when my body functions, my mind operates and God is still on His throne of grace, has been a wonderful day!

Day 9

I am thankful for:
1) A church business meeting where so much was decided!
2) Hot drinks on cool nights
3) Happy children and their hugs and laughter
4) The calming effect of prayer
5) A sense of purpose and direction
6) Friends who share a belief in God and His plans
7) The promise of a warm bed to go curl up in after a long day

An attitude of gratitude - Day 8

2009-11-09T20:07:00.002+13:00

Day 8

Today I am thankful for:
1) Sunshine and more sunshine!
2) My toothbrush.
3) Having an amazing time with a very sick church member. Hope burns brightly!
4) Five weeks until I get to see my family and friends!

It has been a long day and I am tired as, but joyful.

An attitude of gratitude - Day 7

2009-11-08T17:23:00.003+13:00

Day 7

1) It is another sunny day here in Oamaru!

2) I rented an amazing costume for the upcoming Victorian Heritage week coming up. I look all girly. Pictures will come.

3) Coffee and time spent with friends at the lovely Riverstone cafe/

4) Being able to hop in the shower and ignore the phone ringing and beeping.

5) Being able to walk around with Kap while her knees heal from a bad fall.

An attitude of gratitude - Day 6

2009-11-08T17:18:00.002+13:00

I had such a busy Saturday that I completely failed to get back home before midnight and get a blog written! But I find that I had so much to be happy about that I can fill this up quickly!

Day 6

1) Homemade pavlova! A yummy kiwi dessert, this time made in honor of Tuhi's birthday.

2) An amazing musical piece played in church by some amazing young women. Made tears come to my eyes!

3) Potluck! I love potluck!

4) A good Bible study on criticism. Always good to have news ways and ideas of dealing with tough times!

An attitude of gratitude - Day 5

2009-11-06T20:25:00.000+13:00

As the week winds down, I am happily and exhaustedly sitting here munching on hummus and tortillas. I have so much to be absolutely thrilled about! Though there were serious rough patches in the day, I have no complaints, just joy!

Day 5
1) I am thankful that my family was not hurt by the shootings at Ft. Hood today. I was born there some years ago, my family is military, my dad goes to post to shop and see the doctor and my cousin is in the Army. And none of them were there. THANKFUL!

2) There are people who seem nice and then there are people who actually are nice. Today I am thankful for two of those really, truly genuine nice people - Maureen and Memma.

3) My awesome banker. She makes money happen. Money happening is good!

4) My visa application has been sent off and officially I am ready to stay here another year if they accept me:)

An attitude of gratitude - Day 4

2009-11-05T08:02:00.002+13:00

With my life at the moment being filled with a routine of painting rooms, dig up gardens and cramming in everything else around the fringes, I find myself being thankful for the smallest disruptions in the pattern.

DAY 4

1) Eating dinner with a friend (at a restaurant!) last night.
2) A free cup of coffee from my favorite cafe as I hit number 6 on my frequent buyer card.
3) Groups of people who have so generously given their time and energy to help out around this church building, getting it into good working order. Without their hands, the job would never be done!
4) The amazing sale at The Warehouse that let me buy some AWESOME dishes.

An attitude of gratitude - Day 3

2009-11-04T08:11:00.002+13:00

Day 3

Today I am thankful for:

1) Organic shampoo and conditioner being on sale! I get paid quasi nothing, so this is a bonus!
2) The rich, warm smell of coffee
3) The library called to tell me the books I requested are in.
4) My fleece PJ's.
5) The warm breeze that hit me when I wandered out in said Pj's to water the new plants outside.
6) Facing decisions that make me run to God asking "OK, now what?"

An attittude of gratitude - Day 2

2009-11-03T07:20:00.003+13:00

After a day filled with painting, applauding hard work and study, I have so much to be thankful for! This whole project (one month of a daily record of what I am thankful for, inspiration courtesy of Ang*) just seems to snowball. I find myself checking everything with a "Am I thankful for this?" and a conversation in my head about why or why not.

Day 2

1) Subway in NZ has an amazing veggie patty to go on their subs. Makes for a happy, full belly.
2) Being forgiven for forgetting a birthday. So thankful for forgiveness!
3) Helpers in painting the basement of the church.
4) Waking up early in a good mood!
5) My wise mentor, Mel, who calms me down and talks sense into my head.

*check her awesome, inspiring blog at http://anglouise.blogspot.com

An attitude of gratitude - Day 1

2009-11-02T17:46:00.003+13:00

Inspired by Ang, this next 30 days will be a feast of thankfulness. Everyday I will post something(s) I am thankful for. Though November is classically a time when we think of the things we are grateful for, I want to join Ang in the quest for living life with a more positive focus.

Day 1

1) I am thankful for The Murphy Clan and Jeanette, champion weeders and gardeners who have helped transform one flower bed of doom into a potential feast of color and variety! Our church is soooo blessed to have such great people in it!
Before - All doom and gloom
Not that you can tell, but the plants were in terrible repair and blocked the view of the church entrance.

After - It's got possibilities oozing out its ears!
Funny enough the sun disappeared just in time for me to take this shot.

2) My Mom and Dad, who, though far, far away still make me feel loved and listened to every time I call or e-mail. Their reassurance is so inspiring and encouraging. I love my parents!

3) Sore muscles. Playing cricket, painting and digging are all conspiring together to make me a stronger woman. Look out Hulk, there's a new game in town!

Another Day, Another Lie

2009-10-29T08:40:00.002+13:00

It seems that we would learn that you get caught when you tell a lie. Even one lie. A small misguidance, a 'clever' cover up, and on you go, racing through your day.
I got a phone call today that made me hopping mad, as I knew the information conveyed was a lie.
Why even bother?

The news as of late is smeared with peoples names, countries names, and stories all involving lies.
The lies that are told about the inequity of humankind, about the supremacy and right to life of any one group, about the claims of ownership on a chunk of land or a person, all lead to the sick and diseased societies we see today.

Magazines insinuate that for women to be beautiful they must be thin with huge breasts and good looking men will all be practically hairless and completely muscled. Movies tell us that love is found in a look, touch and a roll into bed. So much music today insists that hate and revenge are the best way to get back at someone who hurt your feelings.

We walk by each other everyday and don't acknowledge the others existence. Online dating services offer a myriad of options all claiming to want to get to know you personally. We tell ourselves this world will get better all by itself.

Stop the insanity.
Tell the truth.

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32

Humanoids pets

2009-10-16T22:29:00.002+13:00

Was at a local cafe to pick up a hot drink, the variety of which shall remain nameless, but those who know me well know what it was...

Anyhow I was chatting to the owner of the cafe and we got to talking about animals. The cafe is named The Roost and all around the place are little roosters and hens, made from all manner of material, my favorite being a metal rooster who looks like he could wear cowboy boots and live next door to my parents.

Being a fan of animals, the owner was commenting about how as a child she had chickens and one day her parents brought home a rooster. She had the habit of taking the chickens for walks but once Mr. Rooster moved into town, he got very jealous and would try to attack her. One day as she was bent down to pick up a chicken he jumped on her head and began to try to pull her brain out through the back of her skull.

That night the family enjoyed a love chicken pot roast.

I asked her if she had any pets now, to which came the quick reply...

"Only two, my husband and my cat."

Mad Hat Hair

2009-10-16T22:09:00.002+13:00

After 7 glorious days of hiking, sleeping, eating - living really- in one set off clothes and one hat, coming home to a hot shower and clean clothes was exhilarating. When I unloaded the car and got to a point where I could think of showering, I went to my room and yanked off my now rank hat.

The shock of the embroiled nest of hair piled up like greasy string on my head made me groan. How was I ever going to get that clean? Not only was it oil soaked and knotted, but it smelled awful.I would say that I am pretty fastidious about being clean. If I had the choice I would shower twice daily and spend 45 minutes becoming a living prune each time. There is nothing like a good shower. After a long day of hard work, it helps un-kink the muscles. After a good cry, it helps calm the red, welted eyes and sooth the nerves. Before the day really kicks into gear it gives you time and space to clear your head and put your game face on. Showers are a miracle center.

Needless to say, the clean water supply of Oamaru shrank incredibly once I got home.

But the pile of yuck mess on my head was fixable. A good dousing of shampoo and conditioner, a very thorough combing and my head resembled, well, my head.

My hair isn't the only part of me that needs fixing. I have a heaping inner mass of a soul that becomes greasy and knotted and reeks incredibly. I choose to do things and say things that leave a sticky residue of nasty inside and out. I spend time far away from anything good, and try to hide all the ick under a lovely smile and fake perky attitude - the woolly hat for the soul.

But the pile of yuck mess that is my soul is fixable! A good dousing of Jesus and His cleansing power, a thorough combing through the details of my choices and my soul begins to resemble anything but the yucky mess it so recently was. My soul begins to look more and more like Jesus when I let Him clean it up and put it in order.

Have you taken the time to be showered by Jesus? His shower truly is a miracle center.

Been There!

2009-09-29T22:11:00.005+13:00

This is the list of countries I have visited so far in my life.
The criteria I use for this list can include, but is not limited to, following:
a stay of at least one day,
at least one item purchased,
a mingling with locals,
having been confused by the local language.
So far the list stacks up to 24 countries.

Australia
Austria
Brazil
Canada
England
France
Germany
Greece
Israel
Italy
Jordan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Mexico
New Zealand
Peru
Russia
San Marino
Scotland*
Slovenia (when it was still Yugoslavia)
Switzerland
United States of America
Vatican City*
Wales*

* Yes, i know that Wales and Scotland are part of the UK, and that Vatican City is technically only a city, but they all claim independence in some way. I also acknowledge that Greece was seen by me at the age of 9 months with my grandmother. I am sure I did stay more than one day and I bet G-ma bought me something:)

It's permanent.

2009-09-28T19:12:00.003+13:00

Jaimee and Travis Newick
September 20, 2009

In and about Canberra

2009-09-28T18:14:00.011+13:00

After a short stay in Sydney (with no photos except for the sunset, for some odd reason)

I hit the road to Canberra, eager to see Australia's capital city. It was a bit of a drive, but the road signs look pretty familiar, aside from some of the odd names, so it felt like any good ol' fashioned road trip.

Road Sign
Heading out of Sydney

Even Canberra is said funny down here.
The way it is said seems that it should be spelled CanBURRa. Anyhow... when in Rome, right?

Well WOW!

Those Aussie's did a great job on Canberra. The city is lush, relatively easy to find your way around in,and the locals are really quite friendly.
Not remembering that I was on NZ time,
I was up at about 5:30 every morning
and hit the trail to see what I could see.

Parliament House.

The sign over the entrance to
Parliament House.

The bird on the sign that created a diversion in my journey.
Who willingly walks underneath birds anyhow?

Hot air balloons over the city.
As seen from the front of the parliament house at 7 AM.

The US Embassy.
Yes, I cried a bit seeing "home" so far away from home.

The Australian War Memorial
An amazing, very moving tribute.

Maybe a relative?
It is a small world after all...

A view from Mt. Ainslie.
Parliament House is in the distance, one the other side of the lake and behind the long white building

Upside Down

2009-09-28T18:08:00.004+13:00

This is my first glimpse of Australia.
Flying into Sydney we saw the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, but I was so excited that I completely forgot to take any more pictures before landing.

So now I have officially added another country to the list of "Been There!"*.

Though it was a really short trip, Aussie makes it high on my list and I am hoping to get back over there soon!

* I do actually have a Been There list, and will add it here someday soon.

45 South

2009-09-26T22:53:00.005+12:00

A quick ride up the two lane highway that runs through town will lead you to this stone.

When you park your car and hop out into the breath snatching air, you are officially standing on the 45th parallel. You are 45 degrees south of the equator. In fact, you are almost exactly half way to the South Pole on a southern bound path from the equator.
There could be a huge globe poised nearby with the tiny area, where you stand hunched against the cold wind, being pointed to by an obnoxiously red arrow and a line that reads
"You are here".

I love that a short trip north of town gets me to this sign. It is so convenient to know where I am in the big picture.
Amazingly, I can never ever be so far south of anywhere that I cannot be found.

Sometimes it is easy to feel lost,
lonely,
forgotten.

But never once in the mind of God is your position forgotten. Anywhere on this massive spinning planet is easily labeled with a "You are here" tag. God never loses you. His eye is watching the lilies, the birds and most certainly YOU!

You are precious to God. You hold a place in His heart that can never be filled by someone else.
And He never loses sight of where you are.
Even when it's 45 south.

Spring creeps onto the scene...

2009-09-16T08:57:00.002+12:00

Warmer weather seems to have arrived.

To celebrate this glorious event, some of us went daffodil picking and filled the church with flowers.
It was so awesome to see people walk into the church and smile when they saw all the flowers peeking back at them.

Our team of adventuring girls had a blast picking hundreds of daffodils.

The field of daffodils

Perisi shows off a beauty

Rose with a bundle of happiness

Use your bum

2009-09-16T08:32:00.002+12:00

Long, long ago, in a state now far, far away, I once tried snowboarding. I wound up wounding a thumb and never did go very far while standing on a snowboard despite my friends all saying how easy it was to do. I distinctly remember ending the attempt with a snowboard dangling over my head and a young man I had never met saying "Dude, that looked bad...are you OK?"

Being the glutton for punishment that I am, when the church here said there was a snow day coming up and we got to the mountains, I decided to give snowboarding another go.

And I had a blast! My friend Marie was down for the weekend and we geared up together and got an instructor for about an hour and then swoosh,crash, bang - down the hills we went.

The views were amazing.Looking down into the valley from Mt. Oahu

Looking up the mountain

The company was fabulous.Marie enjoying a break

Tuhi and I sitting in the snow

Never before has sitting on my bum been so much fun! It was a great reminder to me that even when something has at one point proven to be insane, trying it again can change the outcome. And now, if anyone ever wants to buy me a snowboard, I would be most grateful:)

The Birds

2009-09-14T09:16:00.003+12:00

Alfred Hitchcock has nothing on the Otago Peninsula. This jutting, ruggedly beautiful, motion sickness inducing peninsula is home to a wide variety and number of birds.

The Royal Albatross Center* is on the Otago Peninsula. The Penguin Place resides in a curved nook of shoreline, and shags take up residence in any cliff face that looks like they could accurately aim for a passerby's head with their long range emissions.

A Shag at home

My first penguin sighting in NZ!

A close up (Yellow-eyed Penguin)

A Little Blue Penguin in a nesting box

*The albatross were not flying the day we went out. I was told to come back in February. And they spell center wrong by my standards writing it as "centre".

My life according to George Strait

2009-08-31T14:32:00.002+12:00

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Re-post as "my life according to (band name)"

Artist:George Strait (I'm missing good country down here!)

Are you a male or female:
Just Look At Me

Describe yourself:
Gone as Girl can Get

How do you feel:
Carried Away

Describe where you currently live:
Ocean Front Property

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Somewhere Down in Texas

Your favorite form of transportation:
Rhythm of the Road

Your best friend is:
Love without End, Amen

You and your best friends are:
In Too Deep

Your favorite color is:
Neon Row

What's the weather like:
Blue Clear Sky

Favorite time of day:
One Night at a Time

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Famous Last Words of a Fool

What is life to you:
Easy Come, Easy Go

Your relationships:
Go On

Your last relationship:
The Chill of an early Fall

Your fear:
The Chair

What is the best advice you can give:
You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody

If you could change your name, you would change it to:
Maria

Thought for the Day:
Don't Make Me Come Over There and Love You

How I would like to die:
Overnight Success

My soul's present condition:
One Step at a time

My motto:
Remember the Alamo

There is a flag flying high...

2009-08-28T20:17:00.006+12:00

In the old days (the really old ones ... even before I was born) when the king of any given land was at any certain place, the royal flag was flown to let the local peeps know that royalty was present. Everyone in the area knew that the King was in when the flag was raised high.

When I went to visit Larnach Castle in bonny wee Dunedin, this reminded me of yon olde days of mine childhood.

As a kid I grew up singing a song about this idea. You may know the catchy tune. Everybody together now!

There is a flag flying high in the castle of my heart, in the castle of my heart, in the castle of my heart! There is a flag flying high in the castle of my heart for The King is in residence there!
So let it fly in the sky let the whole world know, let the whole world know! So let it fly in the sky let the whole world know that The King is in residence there!

If God is taking up residence in me, in my life, then the 'flag' of His kingdom will be waving around for anyone to see. Sometimes the flag will be respected, sometimes rejected, sometimes questioned and sometimes people will get angry that God's flag is being waved anywhere near them. Sometimes people will be so busy shuffling by with their noses tucked into their iPods that they will completely miss the flag.

The flag of God waving about is evident. Just like a flag held high on a pole for everyone to see, the behavior of a person who has God living in their lives will be evident!

I hope that today, even just today, I can honestly say that there is a flag flying high in my life and that The King is truly in residence here!

The Best Coffee Joint on Two Wheels

2009-08-28T20:06:00.005+12:00

Found this little trailer on the Otago Peninsula that has been made into a mobile coffee shop. Has to be the best one in the whole world. This is their logo.The espresso bar is called "Coffee Pirates"

And the owner/coffee maker extraordinaire even posed for me. See? Pirates are good folk!*
* it is noted by the author that pirates really did/do kill, steal,maim and otherwise make a general pain of themselves and the only ones i really enjoy are the ones who make coffee and who make me laugh. so as noted this guy at the two wheeled cart? I'm a big fan!

Soaked and reeking

2009-08-06T11:05:00.005+12:00

The story is told of a group of men who, during the Black Plague of the 1700's, would enter the homes of the dead and dying and remove all the valuables. These men became quite rich and none of them died from the plague. Since the devastating effects of the plague were decimating the population of Europe, when the police gained the courage to arrest these men, they were astonished to find them all healthy.

To discover why these men had survived while being surrounded by plague infested bodies, the police struck a bargain. If the men would tell how they had survived, the police would let them go and allow them to keep what they had stolen so long as they stopped thieving from then on.

The men told the police that they had one thing that kept them from dying.

Garlic. Heaps and heaps of garlic. Not only would these men consume large amounts of garlic, but they would boil garlic and make a huge pot of garlic stew and then would soak their clothing in this pot for about two weeks. Not once were any of the men harmed by the plague.

This got me to thinking. These men were completely saturated with garlic. They ate it. They were covered in it. They would have been powerfully stinky.

Today we are surrounded by a plague. People all around us are dropping dead and dying. We are living on a planet filled with sin - a truly deadly disease. And we have one thing that saves us. When we are covered in Jesus, inside and out, we are able to walk in this world without being harmed. Jesus alone saves us in the midst of darkness, turmoil and death. Each of us has the chance to be coated in Jesus.

When someone coated in garlic walks by, you are going to notice. Your nose would not let you miss them! Same is true when someone soaked in Jesus enters your life! You cannot help but notice that something is different! They are there is front of you and they live with a joy the darkness of the world cannot take away. They reek of Jesus!

On this earth we don't escape death but we don't have to die forever! Jesus gives us all the chance to be saturated with Him, to be washed clean of sin and to be saved from its effects for eternity.

Get soaked in Jesus today! Allow Him to live in you and to surround you, to lead you in all that you do. Be soaked and reeking.

Binder of Books

2009-08-06T10:55:00.004+12:00

In the wonderful town of Oamaru is a fabulous section of town that is the remains of the historic shipping port that Oamaru used to house. The buildings are built in fantastic local limestone and have carved window ledges and moldings all around.

In these wonderful buildings are wonderful shops.

My favorite shop is a book bindery. I can hardly afford the wonderful handmade journals, but enjoy the high spirited chatter and am fascinated by the artistry that goes into making a book by hand.

And just down the street from the bindery is the best bookstore in Oamaru. Slightly Foxed is full of old and new books, all looking for a new home. Since I have a penchant for owning too many books, I cannot go often.

It is the smell of books, the wonder of being carried around the world (and beyond!) without leaving my chair all combined with the wonder of a well crafted word that will drag me time and again into all of the bookstores I find.

Eggs in the sand

2009-08-03T11:39:00.003+12:00

In 2007 I was able to go to Jordan on an archeological dig. While mucking about in the sand, our team came upon an egg buried about a foot under the soil. We were warned very sternly not to crack it open and then told it was of no significance for archeology as it was most likely someones breakfast from 10 or so years ago. The rights for our musical "The Ostricon and the Egg" are still pending.

And then we found a batch of snake eggs buried in the sand near a stone wall we were excavating. We were all quite happy that none of them hatched and were not tempted in any way to crack them open.

Well this week the streak of finding eggs in the sand continued. Whilst on a walk on the beach with a bunch of friends, one of our group found an egg half buried in the dune. Jacob was quite happy with his find and we all oohed and ogled at the right times.

And then we sternly admonished him to NOT crack the egg open.
Somewhere, on beach in Oamaru, there is a half buried egg still resting -uncracked- in the dunes.Jacob with his egg

Baked

2009-08-03T11:33:00.004+12:00

Pumpkin soup is a huge staple in the diet of many Kiwi's and our house is no exception!

Delicious bowls of pumpkin soup abound and with a pumpkin sitting on our counter ready to be made into a culinary wonder, we found a huge pile of seeds left over.

What to do with that many seeds?

We baked 'em.

Want to join in the seed eating fun?

Get a pumpkin, scoop out the seeds and rinse off the pumpkin guts.
Heat your oven to 180 degrees (Celcius) and bake the seeds f0r about 20 minutes.
Add a touch of salt.

Enjoy!

Wanted for Murder

2009-08-03T11:26:00.003+12:00

Elizabeth and I came home to the scene of a gruesome crime on Sunday afternoon.

As we entered the back door of our house we saw the evidence of a struggle all down the long hall way, in the bathroom and even the kitchen. The carpet was covered in evidence.

We are now on the hunt for a murderer who has been seen in and around the 2nd block of Fernbrook Rd.

We think he looks like this.

If you see this murderous creature, please warn the authorities.
It is noted that he has a penchant for killing small feather covered creatures.

Have stretchy cord, will jump off anything

2009-06-29T12:17:00.006+12:00

The Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown NZ is a lovely bridge that used to be the main line for traffic travel up and down the central part of NZ. They still have a number of single lane bridges here, but this one is unique with cable construction and solid wood for pavement.

Now closed to vehicular traffic, it is home to one of most fascinating rituals, in which humans will lash themselves to a huge stretchy cable and launch themselves off of this bridge, into the gaping gully below, all for the low, low price of $160 NZD.

See the tiny dingy at the bottom right? The tiny little yellow blob? Yeah, that's where they get your evicerated body after you hurtle through space, into oblivion, or sometimes the water, at the bottom.

And because kiwi's have a great sense of the strange, these are the toilet signs in the visitor center. Puts a whole new spin on bungy wouldn't you say?

The Remarkables

2009-06-29T11:40:00.003+12:00

Mountains. Very remarkable mountains.

Skiing included:) Some payment required.

Totara Estate

2009-06-29T10:49:00.005+12:00

Hop in the car with me and let's go for an adventure. Through the town and over the hills around the bend in the road where the organic fruit and veggie market are and here we are.

Totara Estate.
The stone buildings greet us, their soft shade of ecru making this farm seem clean and somehow outside of time. The old machines stand silent waiting to be used again to gather in hay, or round up sheep or haul meat to the ships waiting in the harbor, a scant day long drive by buggy.

As the first farm to export frozen sheep meat to Europe, Totara Estate launched New Zealand into fortune and fame by supplying much of the western world in the 1800's with food while famine and disease were plaguing Europe.
Today Totara Estate is a museum, standing as a reminder of the days before cargo was sent by plane, before freezing food had been perfected and before 5 billion dollars of worth sheep were sent off to be someones dinner every year.

Where shall we go?

2009-06-28T11:56:00.004+12:00

At the Dunedin Train station is the most lovely train platform I have ever seen. I am not sure if it was lovely because of the joy that this place can be the starting point for so much travel and adventure, or because this place is the destination where so much adventure and travel does take place.

But as the wind whistles past, grabbing at your hair, tugging on your scarf, you can almost here it ask... "Where shall we go today?"

Where? Where? Where?

I'm floored

2009-06-28T11:46:00.003+12:00

I love mosaics. At one point in time I was seriously thinking about doing a mosaic restoration course so that I could spend lots of time playing in the dirt with tiny pieces of glass and tile. After a few courses in art however, it was discovered that I lack much natural artistic ability and mosaics require a certain...well... artistic ability. So now I just enjoy looking at mosaics instead. It's a great thing that you can find them all over the world!

This beauty is inside the Dunedin Train station. It is a stunning piece of work. Just to see the train looking ready to go, steam about to pop out of it and chugga-chugga noises squish out of the wheels, makes a heart happy.

I had to tip toe over it. It was just to pretty to walk over.

Dunedin - the Edinburgh of New Zealand

2009-06-16T10:48:00.010+12:00

About an hour and a half south of where I live is the windswept, hilly city of Dunedin (Say Done-Eden). Settled predominately by the Scottish you can still hear the Scottish burr when some of the old timers speak. At times it was easy to think you were in Scotland. I just need my traveling buddy with me. (come on down Amanda!) In Dunedin you can see for miles on the tops of the hills.

Overlooking the city of Dunedin

We stopped at St. Clare beach for a peek. No swimming this trip, it’s just too cold. Antarctica is only a couple hundred miles away and it's winter here. Brrr.

St. Clare beach

We went by some amazing old buildings built in the Flemish style like many buildings in Scotland.The train station is the most photographed building in New Zealand. Who actually figured this out and why, is honestly and truly beyond me.

The old Dunedin train Station

One of the many boys schools

One of the many church steeples

And we found (Ok, ok we located it. Everyone knows where it is, so 'found' may be a bit strong) a piece of Edinburgh castle. No joke! The old guys hauled a piece of home off to this new land with them and now it sits on a hill overlooking the city. Sadly it does not have the majesty of Edinburgh castle with it anymore…

A piece of Edinburgh Castle

The Steepest Road in the World

2009-06-16T10:38:00.002+12:00

Move over Lombard!

Baldwin Street, in illustrious Dunedin, has the claim to the steepest section of road in the world.
The view from the top of Baldwin Street

Annually there is a contest to run up and down this hill. The standing record? 1 min 58 sec.
Ridiculous!
We drove up and back down. Took us just over 3 minutes.

Elephant Rocks - lots of rocks, not one elephant

2009-06-04T14:17:00.005+12:00

I knew I lived in a beautiful country. That knowledge was reinforced with a short trip into the hills behind Oamaru. With my housemate’s grandson in tow, I headed up to Elephant Rocks. These crookedly shaped rocks are limestone and have been eroded over time with the wind and rain.

These may look familiar to some of you who have seen the recent movie “The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe” as the battle scene was filmed here. Yep. I live 30 minutes from the battleground and the place where they shot Aslan’s camp. Very cool!

My tour guide, Shula, did an awesome job of getting us there and giving me a very detailed insight into everything we saw on the way. He also made me look like a weenie when I wouldn’t climb on some of the big rocks. He got right up there, like a little mountain goat.

The Road Goes Ever On and On

2009-06-04T14:08:00.003+12:00

Saw this hilly landscape and thought of Gandalf singing his tune “The road goes ever on and on”. Tune got stuck in my head…maybe it’s stuck in your head now too.

The Fur Has It. Whatever "It" is...

2009-06-02T12:37:00.008+12:00

Near Moeraki there is a rugged outpost that is inhabited by sunbathing fur seals. Some of them climb up the 30 foot cliffs onto the grass to sunbathe. Even seals like a soft place to tan their hides I suppose. Which reminds me...seals don't tan...

This time of year the babies are frolicking about. They are adorable and very timid of people. They scatter pretty quickly, so I was happy to get these shots.

Some of the big hefty seals were happily fouling up the air with their bad B.O. Who ever thought that an animal could smell so bad after swimming in the ocean all day!? This big guy was at the bottom of the cliffs and you could still smell his stink!

David suggested that I harvest some seal fur to stay warm here, but I had to decline. These little guys are just too cute to even think (well, OK, I thought about it a bit) about wearing them to stay warm.

The Moeraki Boulders

2009-05-29T14:00:00.008+12:00

Massive stone boulders sit on a beach looking like eggs from a monster sized sea turtle.

Really big egg rocks

The view from above

These Moeraki Boulders are on the beach near the small village of Moeraki, half an hour south of Oamaru. The coastline stretches on in either direction with these boulders amassed in one stringy clump almost in the middle of the curved shoreline. These guys can be anywhere from a foot in diameter to about 6 feet wide. The boulders are formed inside of the cliffs and as the cliffs erode away these massive boulders pop out and land on the beach below.

A freshly hatched boulder.

As time goes by, with wind and waves and sun all working on these boulders, they split into chunks and break down.

The bottom of the egg, hard boiled I should think.

Boulders - shoulder to shoulder

Lone Boulder facing the Sea

Rainbow Opera

2009-05-29T13:50:00.003+12:00

The Oamaru Opera house.
Because opera should be in Technicolor.
In purple

In blue

So I went to the grocery shop...

2009-05-29T13:38:00.003+12:00

Last Sunday I went to the grocery shop to get things for dinner and got out the car and closed the door and started to walk into the store.

I couldn’t get very far, and thinking my coat was stuck in the car door, I turned around to open the door and get on my way.

Much to my surprise it wasn’t my coat, but my little left thumb stuck firmly in the door.

My thumb day on the day of doom

The day after doom (and pretty much what it looks like now)

And the guns, they went boom...

2009-05-25T12:32:00.006+12:00

During WWII New Zealand was guarded against invasion by a number of guns along the coast lines. Oamaru has the remnants of some of the old gun bunkers in a lovely park over looking the harbor. Since my Dad said I had to go see them (thanks Dad!) I went, and had a wonderful hike around the hills. There are more bunkers and gunports, but these were the best ones, I think.

Ye Olde Gun Port(e)

Yon olde bunker

Ye lovely view from the Gun Port(e)

They walk slow because they only have little legs

2009-05-24T12:22:00.002+12:00

A sign here in Oamaru, home of two penguin colonies...

Beautiful...as it should be

2009-05-24T11:54:00.005+12:00

It always seems that God is present where there is beauty. He seems to be most at home, or perhaps more evident, in the fresh air and rolling waves, in the bobbing heads of long grass, in the kindness of helping hands, in the stunning views from, and of, a tall mountain. God is beauty and lives in beauty. Being here in New Zealand is a eye popping glimpse into rugged, pristine beauty.

Being on a team who will be presenting God to people who may not believe in Him will be a challenge, and I cannot wait to see that ways that Beauty reveals Himself.

We will be meeting in one of the most lovely buildings here in Oamaru - The Opera House. Built out of Oamaru stone and recently restored, this is going too a fitting place to share God, His grace and the plan of salvation with a world yearning for more.

Signs are everywhere

2009-05-22T16:10:00.003+12:00

I was today reminded that no matter where you are, you are always far from somewhere!

New Zealand has begun winter. It is cold and wet here in Oamaru, but the bright yellow signs made me smile.
(The note that the South Pole was so close was a bit scary)

No matter where I am, in Oamaru or Texas or Italy, I will always be too far from where I want to be! I always want to be with those I love and with God, and that place isn't even listed on this sign.

Onward to Heaven!

Maybe I forgot, Maybe I never knew...

2009-03-30T07:26:00.005+13:00

The wonder of the crashing waves, the feel of itty bitty rocks squishing between tiny fingers, the sharp tang of wet, salty air in the mouth. The piercing cry of gulls woven into the hum of the wind. Every sight is new and wonderful. Every smell is strange. Each moving creature invites adventure and a quick scurry to investigate.

After spending a couple of hours at the rocky northern Californian coast with my niece, I was amazed at her wonder of being outdoors, in such a wild composition and the awe with which this young child embraced every experience. Every rock needed to be patted and every wave watched. She ogled the birds and the flowers. She squealed in giggly glee at the creeping curled legs of the hermit crabs and oohed over the rough skin of the starfish.

Watching her play and gape and wonder (and wander!) was exhilarating. In some ways I felt like she was showing me how to experience the world again. How to laugh. How to cry and recover when told NO!. How to touch the world and absorb it. How to encounter something and be fascinated by whatever it was.

Somehow watching her learn to love the world she encounters reminded me that I need to love it too. Maybe I did. Maybe I forgot in my rush and bustle. Maybe, in some ways, I never learned.

And perhaps now is the time to learn.

The internal life of animals

2009-03-25T07:15:00.006+13:00

As you open your eyes, what do you see?

When you turn old who will you be?

Will you splash in the ocean, swim in the sea?

When you close your eyes, what do you see?

the God i don't understand - A Book Review

2009-03-10T12:16:00.001+13:00

Christopher Wright has done it again!

(If you missed Mission of God go get it!)

His latest book, the God i don't understand, is a cut-the-guts-out-and-examine-them look at faith and the questions people ask about God and the world around them.

Why do we hurt, and hurt others?
Why do some of us believe in something called 'evil'?
What on earth was God thinking in His actions recorded in the Old Testament?
And how is this world really going to end? Really???

Wright uses scripture artfully and wisdom prudently to peel the layers of faith back and look into a sometimes mysterious, often misunderstood, sometimes confusing core. The mass of material and open attitude to learning and finding answers is refreshing. Rarely does a book ask the hard questions and then offer explanations and possibilities with the encouragement to keep seeking more answers and solutions.

Again and again i was reminded to head back to the Bible, to dig in, struggle with the questions that do pop up and then hold on to my hat as more of the world and God are pulled into the light.

A lesson from snow

2009-01-21T06:26:00.004+13:00

Each branch has a snappy hat of snow and the ditches have all developed pot bellies, bulging with piles of snow. The mailboxes are all cozied up in chin deep drifts. The lake is hiding under a chunky quilt of ice and snow.
And all around is an amazing sound of silence.

There is a verse in the Bible that says this:
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. -Isaiah 1:18

The whiteness of the snow can be glaring, blinding in the light of the sun. There is nothing brighter than snow shining in the sun.
Amazing that we are promised to be white, pure, clean, blinding in the eyes of the Son! The shine of purity will be seen. You can't miss shining snow.

What gets me the most about the snow is the quietness it brings. The world gets muted with a layer of snow on it. And it is in the silence, the hush, that it is easy to reflect, to listen to God, to ask to be made white and pure. There is time to ask to be made clean and whole.
The quietude of eternity sits and listens and waits to do what had been promised;
transform us each and every one.

And now it's '09

2009-01-07T08:44:00.004+13:00

I looked back at my list of 8 wondrous things to accomplish in 2008. So handy to have the list easy to find.

I did one. Well, two if Dad and Mom will let me count the yowlings in the car as a serenade. I accomplished one item on my list. It was a busy year....

But for 2009. One of my favorite fun songs says it all.

This Year by Chatal Kreviazuk

This year, is gonna be incredible
This year, is gonna be the one
All the planets are lining up for me
This year, I'm gonna have fun

This year, I'll paint my masterpiece
This year, I'll be recognized
I can feel like I'll fall in love for real
This year, this year

January, I'll learn to fly
February, love's gonna find me
March, April, May, I'll get carried away
Oh, oh...

This year, I'll reach the pinnacle
This year, I'll get to the top
People will ask where she get that energy
This year, I'm never gonna stop

January, I'll learn to fly
February, love's gonna find me
March, April, May, I'll get carried away
Oh, oh, oh, oh...

This year, is gonna be incredible
This year, is gonna be the one
All the planets are lining up for me
This year, I'm gonna have fun

I'm gonna have fun
Just watch me now
This year
This year

This year

Oi Oi Oi

2008-11-13T08:57:00.003+13:00

History is an amazing study. Not only the proven stories amaze, but the rarely heard and little known stories, the mistold and misrepresented stories. Even as a kid I loved the stories of people who lived in the homes, castles, towns that I was touring (or being dragged through by my bedraggled parents). I remember visiting old Etruscan ruins and knowing that the ruts in the road had been there for about a thousand years. The carved names in the old tombs meant people had lived and moved and breathed and died here. And the feeling of walking in the footsteps of people who shaped the world as I encounter it stuck with me.

I always had some romantic notions of far off places and how the old days were so much more magical. How noble to fight the battles (little did i know girls didn't fight), to build towns, to man ships, to discover new lands. How adventurous to encounter new people, to try new foods, learn new patterns for life. What a world!

And how wrong I was. In the first century the life expectancy of someone my age in the Middle East? 30 years. How glad I am to live in a time of antibiotics, drive through coffee joints, and bathing consistently.

A recent trip to the Oriental Institute in Chicago reminded me that history and the present intertwine. The old is entangled with the new. Today is wrapped in yesterday.

We have to keep our eyes open. Even if we just have one.

I spy the north land

2008-11-13T08:19:00.010+13:00

Took a trip to the northern bits of Michigan with friends. Am amazed to see the beauty and lushness of this part of the world. I thought perhaps all of the beauty had moved south of here. Happy to be proved wrong.

We saw trees. Lots of lovely fall foliage laden trees.

And Tequahmenon Falls. Amazing falls, with mist hanging thick in the air and making everything ethereal.

And mushrooms. I have thought seriously about becoming a mushroom photographer after this trip.

And Mackinac Island. Lover-ly. It reminded me of the UK in many ways.
The Village Green

Arch Rock

The Stone Church

Amanda joined the cannon brigade

And of course, the token, yes-i-am-kooky shots. So, might be noted, are my friends!

Ruminations for another year

2008-09-25T14:33:00.008+12:00

The best way to spend time is with the ones dearest to your days, dreams, heart. To be full and to fill.

And so i began this new year of life with dear friends.
Dinner. A trip to the theater.Rage enjoying water, in both liquid and solid forms.

It's best to keep at least one skeptic about you. It keeps you balanced. Or weird. Or something.

And keep smiling people. More flies with honey right?

And on to the theater.
With real actors!
Amanda in the shadows.

WereCoo, Rage, Papa Lucio and J chillin' at the theater

They let me go on stage!After my screaming performance

Beauty in emptiness

2008-08-26T13:05:00.003+12:00

Recent adventures took me to western North Dakota where i found beautiful country.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Badlands. Wild, open restless country.

"It was a land of vast silent spaces." - Theodore RooseveltLayers of orange clay. It fell off in chunks, like giant Lego's laying on the ground.

Prairie Dog central! It was totally cute, little rodents noshing on vegetation and racing about.

Bison herd. You can't smell the stink from this distance.

This place is amazing. It seems empty and desolate, but the huge blue sky is the perfect cover for a vibrant and rich space, brimming with life. You can breathe in and feel the bigness.

Sky Painting

2008-07-20T10:15:00.010+12:00

It takes a true artist to paint an entire sky.

The view from my back yard one night.

The sun as God's lazer pointer.

Streaks of pink. I love that the water reflects the pink.

They are here

2008-07-20T10:05:00.009+12:00

The Blueberries are here. Above: A blueberry in a spoon

A blueberry attempting to watch TV. Note: I hid the remote. TV is not good for the blueberries.

This piano playing blueberry enjoys Mozart, Bach and any sharp notes.

The blueberry choir is quite good. They sing all my favorite hymns and manage to sound somewhat like the Chipmunks while they do it. Adorable.

This blueberry was the loner of the bunch. Always looking out the window trying to hitch a ride on a hummingbird.

The final resting place of the blueberries. My belly.

Scotland. Another place to love.

2008-03-31T14:56:00.011+13:00

The vast open space and the biting of the cold wind both fight to take away your breath. The beauty of snow capped mountains, and silent moors are outdoor cathedrals begging you to worship their Creator.

I love hairy cows.

Edinburgh is stellar.However it is not just the current Scotland that captivates. It is the history intertwined with today that makes Scotland so magical. The fight for independence, the survival in the most stark conditions, the deep roots in a rocky landscape.

Tales of monsters in deep mountain lakes.
The heroes like William Wallace and commandos from 'round the world.

Castles (Monty Python filmed much of Holy Grail in Scotland!)And of course, my favorite... stunning sunsets.

Hay and onward

2008-03-31T14:51:00.002+13:00

We spent the morning poking around bookshops. We found the bookshop that began the book frenzy in Hay-on-Wye. We found a store devoted entirely to poetry. We also found a shop full of travel books.

A reading lovers paradise.

And then...the trek to Scotland!!!!

Wales, Castles and Books

2008-03-31T14:26:00.007+13:00

Wales

I love Wales. Whales too, but mostly Wales.

We spent the day exploring abbeys and castles. Many castles. Hidden castles, wrecks all, ruins of a former home, a former haven.

Ruins at Abergaveney

Raglan Castle. AMAZING!

Stairs inside of Ragland. A rare find...a staircase that goes somewhere

The river was flooding and flowed into Skenfirth Castle.

We ended the day at Hay-onWye, the used book capital of the world. Easily one of the best towns i have ever visited. Quaint, filled with wonders, surrounded by lush Welsh hills. This was our cute home for the night.