Twas the time around Christmas .....

It's raining a lot - i'm wondering if that is happening all around the world and not just on the sunny Gold Coast of Australia.  Pouring down, no stopping, nothing to do but go to the shops and read books.  Crazy.  
Of course I packed for summer weather so i'm glad it's not cold with the rain!  We've tried twice in the last two days to take the kids out biking etc and as we get to the place it starts opening up on us again! Oh dear, how sad.  How mad!  Luckily my bro has a few flat screen tv's set up around his home for various movie watching experiences or Xbox 360 game playing.  


I know it's snowing itself in London and Paris, hope you are having a lovely restful time Matty and Sez.  Merry Christmas again my lovely ones.  


No photos at the mo, haven't put any on my brothers computer but may try later.  


(coming up - the reflective kind-of saddy part of the last few days) Chrissy day was nice of course, i only cried twice in the morning anticipating my babes leaving for a few nights.  Mum and karley (sister'n'law and friendy) sat with me as i had a few teary moments.  I also had times feeling pretty useless as a single mum thinking i'd only bought them ridiculously small (travel safe) presents and felt even worse when L wondered where the big present was.  I justify my choice by saying that kids get so much stuff and they should be glad of the lovely gifts they were given, but on the side-line of my own coaching I somehow feel a bit sad about the lack of 'big present'.  Because they are part of a separated family situation now, they seem to get double the amount of presents that any normal kid would receive, so it wasn't so bad for them I'm sure (santa bought them a WII for them at their Dad's place ......).


Walking some of this life is stony ground, not ground walked before and I should expect there will be disappointment along the way or perhaps feelings of not being 'good enough'.  The truth is - they got heaps of pressies and they are blessed.  It's just me own feelings of inadequacy i need to hit away with a baseball bat.  Shall do that!


I missed having a husband or special man friend buy for me.  I opened two gifts which were awesome and the next day i got to spend some money from my precious ma.  It felt a bit empty but i came face to face with that and I understand that as reality.  It's lovely being with my bro and his wife. I miss the silly jokes and the having a side-kick to share with.  


Poor girls were pretty sad after saying bye to their dad.  K even prayed that we would get back together.  She hasn't prayed that for a long long time.  Didn't feel it was the appropriate time to share that their Dad had got the divorce papers last yr (with my help at finally doing it) and it was all finito.  


This is Christmas for us.  Cut in half with a visit to the other parent, Double presents, enough to start a toy shop, some tears from at least one parent.  I'm probably not enjoying that reality - something that will happen every year for awhile.  I am comforted that others do it and that they do it well and maybe i can be cheered by their examples or their testimonies.  But our reality brings me pain.  I have to accept that and walk that rocky road at times. 


(the cheerier end to the write-up) On the bright side, there is also delicious food, time with beautiful people, and this year there was this one nice wee treat:  
Bayleys, Tolblerone, cream Liqueurs (not sure how to spell that sorry).  As we came through duty free we got to taste this sensation.  I told older bro about it and he popped out to get the necessary goodies.  I enjoyed a pretty similiar experience at my very own brothers home, at Christmas.  Chunks of ice, tolblerone, loads of cream and a hint of baileys.  Bliss @ Chriss.  


(oh and I got my very first Le Cruset Casserole dish - how bliss at Chriss is that!  A nice wee chrissy pressy paid for by a few sweet peeps!  It is one beautiful dish.  Just need some great casserole recipes for that, ready for winter cooking on my fireplace all day!)


Like this quote ..... to finish off with .....
One does not always have to wait for something out of the ordinary. The all-important thing is to keep your eyes on what comes from God and to make way for it to come into being here on the earth. If you always try to be heavenly and spiritually minded, you won't understand the everyday work God has for you to do. But if you embrace what is to come from God, if you live for Christ's coming in practical life, you will learn that divine things can be experienced here and now, things quite different from what our human brains can ever imagine.

Spoilt lady

It was a 37 year olds birthday in our home yesterday.  The 37 year old was woken at 6am to little happy birthday talkings but allowed to sleep for an extra half hour while the 6 year old made her card.  Phew for the older lady.  She was glad.

The card was made and was such a kind card.  It said 27!  Then it had an oops underneath it followed by the correct digits.  Very cute.

The small digited ladies of the house gave the more senior birthday girl this: 

The day continued as friends gathered for Strawberry cloud, shrunk chocolate mud cake and lemon creme (thank you Pip (ala Annabelle Langbein) and Bec for the recipes!).  Many pals met at our new place, for wine, chatting and fun.

All day she seemed to gather a line of presents around her, wherever she went.  She was feeling very thought of and very blessed.  parcels and texts from all over the country, world and from little Palmy Town too. 

Loved it, quite stress free really esp at Chrissy time.  So glad some lovely peeps could come out amongst the busy season to celebrate another year gained in the life of one person.


There were no parks in the couldersack where we live, i think the street got a fright as it's such a quiet wee street and then i go and throw a PARTY!

I will try  my best to tell people to celebrate their own age-turning.  But i kept wanting to pull out of this one, it felt like it was 'crazy-loco' with Chrissy approaching (no diff from any year i'm guessing!).  BUT so so glad i did it.  I was esp glad as I got to share  a wee bit with one of my beautiful guests, about how much God loves her.  What an honour, on an older ladies birthday!

37 - nearer to 40 than i've ever been.  Loving life and still not feeling old.  Just prob seeing it in my body! This week my mum was up and i had begun to feel slightly overwhelmed with being on my own and trying to do all the things that one needs to do with working and keeping house and caring for babes.  She encouraged me, bought us bk for dinner and i know she will be praying for me without her even saying.  My mum doesn't read this (as i've always kind of kept this as my personal diary), but I do wanna put it out there that she is very much the mum of the YEARS of my life.  Amazing woman.


The birthday continues - we're making our way down the island to the airport for tomorrow, visiting with some LIFE friends along the way.  What a special honour it is to do life with people.  New and old friends.  Appreciating that, all the 37 years of it.


Merry CHRISTmas.  May the wonder of God sending his son to earth, be fresh for you this year.  May you know Him more. Love me xx

stars in my eyes

Some things are truly physical reminders, like stars, that God is near.  Emmanuel.

This little girl and her sis make me smile (and sometimes scream) a lot.

Both L and K have sewn their names onto pillowcases, so lovely.

A bit scratchy to sleep on i imagine so we turn them over!

Sometimes I feel particularly useless at connecting with God, apart from rambling my desperations or mutterings to him when I"M needing some kind of help.

Ever present God.  Never leaving or forsaking God.  Loving Father.

I read this which encouraged me today:

"When you find yourself empty, do not imagine a mountain of transfiguration will be the answer.  Sit. breathe quietly for a few min in your own room, on your own chair.  Trust.  Sometimes when you do this regularly, you are brought into a quiet place of prayer where you are not sure where you end and where God begins."

Moving on with  a few more stars in my eyes .......

All of these women were seen by me in the last few weeks, one friend from Ausi was flying in for a family thing and the other was flying in from Christchurch for Bon Jovi and through a few texts we managed to sort out a brunch date.  Old friends from yonks ago. Dear dear friends.

We then hit this dear one's special birthday!  So bliss to celebrate with you Pip, love you precious and twinkling star.

Ange, being with you, even for a few hours, is fun and needed.

You are true.  You are loving.  You are inspiring.

Thank you for your heart towards me.  A star in my eyes

(So glad that Bon Jovi helped us meet up!  Thank you BJ).

We head away next week over the seas and far away.  Holidays are great and so too is Christmas.

I'm hopeful to get better at a few things next year - being better at getting out of the house without causing fireworks,

jumping on the tramp with the girls even more, 

(i nearly die of exhaustion as i'm double bouncing the girls all over the place)

being more prayerful, however that looks,

bike riding with my babes,

realising that God speaks even through annoyances with others

(perhaps asking Him, "what is going on here for me?  Why am I reacting this way?) - sounds very deep

blah blah

Merry Christmas.  

(Posts have been very sparse of late.  Sorry if it's frustrating jumping on and seeing the same post!)

making lemon drink

The girls and I had our dear friends over tonight for pizza.

We have never had them here for dinner, they always have us.

It was so nice having them, having a house big enough to host their number 5 family.

The girls are lovely friends with Anya.  They always have fun when they are together.  

Tonight was no different.  


Lemons were picked, bitten in half and poured into a container.


Sugar was added (thankfully) and the taste was bliss (surprisingly).  One lucky adult got an ant included in their drink.

Karen and Hugh, Anya and Micki are leaving for England very soon.  Anjali is staying in NZ for another year.  We will miss you, pizza night at your place, laughs, the enduring encouragement of being friends with you.  I have not met anyone like you before and I have been changed and blessed by your companionship.  I am glad that saying goodbye is not forever, and I'm glad it's highly likely we will visit you in the near future, for pizza and chats.


Love you dear friends, love drinking tarty lemon drinks with you.
(thank you Anjali for the photos)

Thanksgiving day and the next

I do these crazy things.  I think up wee party ideas and invite people and then think, "oh what on earth will i do to theme it?" or "what food will we eat"?  All these thoughts are happening usually on the day or during the during the lead up to the party but this week has been hectic, so the thoughts came in the two hours before the party started!  It's amazing what you can do with a few moments.


But before the party info, i want to write about the thing I'm most thankful for and most humbled by, this week.  Kathy this is for you my beautiful friend.


After our final Religious Education session this morning, my partner in crime (Kathy Kathy) and I sat down to eat from the Lindt chocy box we'd been given and to read the long notes we'd been gifted.  Some of the comments are as follows, some of these bought tears to my eyes ......  It's all worth it.  The gospel (the good news of God) is so worth sharing.


 ...'The best thing about you guys teaching us in RE is ..... uh hm EVERYTHING!  You turn stories from the bible into fun and exciting things.  Since you read the story of Moses you inspired me to get a bible and read it for myself and I love it. I read it every night' .


...'I learned that God is with you wherever you are'


...'I've learned lots of things about the Lord and the stories and if you trust God he'll help you through bad times'


...'Thank you for being the X factor RE teachers of our room.  


....'It was really easy getting up on a Friday morning.  I learnt to trust God even when things are bad.'


....'I have learnt a lot of prayers from the Bible at RE.  My favourite one is the Lords prayer. It really got stuck in my head after that fun X-factor game you organised for us'....


....'I have learnt about god and Jesus more.  Thanks to Kathy i have started to go to church.  And Sarah, you make me laugh with your funny props'.


...'What I liked is that you taught us about God and I loved it.  I liked it when you were teaching me about God.  Now i can pray'. 


...'I really liked learning about the story of Moses because it taught us that everyone can be amazing and you don't have to do everything perfectly'.


I am humbled by the fact that little old us could share about God and that we get to see the fruit of that - kids lives being changed by the amazing truth of God - He cares, he answers prayers, He is with us. Some of the kids that wrote these letters, come from pain and heartache.  
Thanks Kathy for the fun ride we have together every Friday.  Thank you for being yourself and sharing the amazing gift you have, with us.  I learn heaps from you, I love working with you.  I love being your friend.


Thanksgiving evening was simple and fun - a few friends, we ate yummy things and read each others thanksgiving notes.  Loved it.  Hoping for some pumpkin pie next year maybe. Apparantly it tastes yummy.

Taking a moment to be thankful, with friends.

This week-ish

Just got a bike. so excited.  It looks like an old fashioned one with big lollipy handle bars (just needs a basket) but it's gold and modern in other ways. very cool for biking with my babes.  They used to bike to the corner and wait for me to get there on my feet.  only thing i'm worried about is the need to wear one of those ugly helmets.

Praying, hoping and looking for work for next year.  Love to be more independent that way but it needs to be a stable job for me. Relieving at the last minute hasn't been lots of fun for my control-freak nature.

Looking forward to heading to the Gold Coast for Chrissy.  We are loving the thought of going to spend Christmas with our family.  Big bro and wifey have kindly paid big bucks for us to head over there.  What a gift!

I've got some more preaching lined up for next year.  It's been such an honour being asked to join a team of people (all men) to plan our stuff for next year.  I feel slightly 'stupid' around them but they obviously appreciate my input.  I'm quite excited about being asked which 'slot' i'd like to take throughout the year.

Need to do exercise.  hoping the bike-riding will help.

Gotta wee trip with my girli friends coming up too - a trip to the Capital for a night, staying in a hotel and hanging with my beautiful friends, straight after the gold coast trip. oh me oh my.  What a delight to stay with Waikanae girls, Singapore girl and Palmy girl (myself).  Together again, bliss.

Planning a wee birthday shin dig, mine is close to chrissy and it feels annoying to plan something but I always encourage others too so I MUST TOO!!

I'm reading a few 'dad' books at the mo.  My feelings of abandonment have been showing up recently and so i'm wanting to face it.  I've ordered a few new release books on 'fatherless generations' and am hoping to be encouraged and challenge myself as well as how i can help my own kids and others.  Letting my pain turn to something great is the big picture here for me.

I've gone to the same cafe now for three years, just about every day.  That's a lot of coffee money and a lot of time.  The relational side of me saw more than just getting good coffee.  It saw a great opportunity to input into others lives, even by just being friendly.  One of the fellas (barista) text me the other day asking if I could come and visit himself and his wife as they wanted to go to church.  I was humbled as i visited their home, heard their story and their need for God.  They want to hang some more (i've mostly only seen them at the cafe during work hours) and talk about God, they have expressed genuine interest for us to be involved in their lives.  Little old us with Big old God.  This was a magical experience.  A thrilling one.

My darling Hannah friend made us a garden with corn, tomatoes, more lettuce, capsicum, corgette and more.  It's so cute and lovely looking.  But you'll note that my first lot of lettuces are carefully placed on the BBQ due to the frequent visitor on our property.  The bunny.  The bunny is cute but if it eats my new plot of pleasure, I've told the girls I'm gonna have to shoot Mr B.  Never shot one before but desperate times may call for the gun (or the spade!).  We all laugh when i talk about it, even when i tell the bunny.  I'm not sure what i'll do if it truly does bust a move on the g-den.

Last thing:  I sent a text out on Sunday inviting some precious poppets round to my 'thanksgiving' du.  It's a 'finger-food' event (due to the short notice i've given) this Thurs, with only one task:  'please bring a note with something (or multiples) that you're thankful for.'  Could be on scrappy paper, just the content is what is important.  We'll share the notes round and read them out at some stage during the evening.  Hoping it's gonna be a fun time. 

Hope you're doing celebrating this month and next as you head towards Christmas again, remembering the season reason.  


Oh yeah - my K babe has been doing really well, she seems much happier.  We've been praying each night re the angry thoughts in her head and although she doesn't say much, she doesn't complain. She is bouncy, friendly, polite (all of these most of the times) and I'm proud of her.  I've been speaking words of confidence into her wee mind - We're not going anywhere, your feelings are really important, we don't run away from stuff, God heal our hurt where it's still lurking ....... ah the journey.

hello, it's me again. long time i know .....

Amidst shifting house, a lot has happened.

Like for example the time when i was in a cafe (last week) and the whole street went quiet as some diplomat cars pulled up, body guards and important people got out.  I live in small-ish Palmy, NZ and it's not often we see the famous.  Anyway when the famous got out of the car, to come to the same cafe i attend, i didn't recognise him.  Yes, I did ask someone and they didn't know.  And Yes i did the thing i wished i hadn't - i asked the body guard.  In disdain he answered: He's the governor General of NZ.
Of course he is.  Good times.

Birthday parties.  We love those.  And we are always glad when they are over.

Tantrums in the couldersack.  I thought i was moving into this place to hopefully be a blessing to those around this area, who were in need.  But on Monday morning, just before school, as I chased my daughter down the couldersack (as she was running from home with her toys, two fav books and pocket money jar), whilst having a diabetic hypo, I realised i was the one in desperate need of help.  Funny now. Not funny AT ALL on that day.  Tears from all three of us, despair and worry.  I spent the day in shock as i felt like the whole neighbourhood had witness the explosion from our place.

This same wee lady has confessed today to me, whilst bike riding to our local fish'n'chip shop, she has had angry thoughts whizzing around her head lately.  So glad to hear that coming out of her mouth.  Now we can do something with that.  Not sure what, but God knows.


Little lady - she has had some beautiful thoughts lately as she's contemplated life again, without daddy.  She can hardly believe the truth of the fact he is not coming home.  But she did think he could pop home for a week and help me get pregnant and then leave again, as she'd quite like a baby around the place.  Nice thing that we've had random bunny rabbits turn up at our house frequently these last few weeks.  Hoping they will suffice the baby-craving!

This little lady said she had asked God for a husband for me (I am smiling about her kind thoughts) and she told me tonight that after she prayed in bed, God answered and said Yes He would provide a husband for the mother ("how did God say that to you?"  "Oh he just did mum!").

It's been ages since i've written and i've known i've wanted too for quite sometime.   Christmas is looming and i have bought no presents really. slacker, crazy, ridiculous. I feel this silly pressure coming on me, like there's just far too much stuff on and i'd rather lie down under a wee tree sipping some nice refreshment.  But that is life.

It has been a full-on few weeks but i'm so glad we moved now and not just before Christmas!  This new place is peaceful and very pleasant.  I've already had two good loads of firewood dropped off for us! I've had moments where i've felt exhausted and moments that i've laughed and loved.  I feel this place represents something new for us but i'm glad to take some of the tradition, ideas, funstuff with us to help us journey on.  If you're thinking of us, please pray esp for K.  I am hoping for breakthrough with her so she doesn't have to carry  sadness around in the form of anger.  Praying that I'll be able to be wise and helpful too, whilst not losing my mind!  No more fireworks from her or anyone would be much appreciated! ta, always xx

The 'together' partaeeeee ........

I had suspenders to hold my torsellette (sp?) down under my dress so i didn't look pregnant, the pantihose I wore was constantly rolling down my thighs causing sausage like pictures under my skirt, and despite the last two statements, it was the funnest night out in a long time!

12 gals, frocks on (bride-ish, bridesmaidish), frills and puff included, vintage and modern, drinks and nibbles to start, photos in the square of the city we live in and dinner out at a packed-out popular joint (not mcd's that's for sure!). 

Some wore their own, some wore others, some wore 6th form ball dresses and everyone looked gorgeous.  There were giggles, hillarity, late-brides (of course), lipstick marks on glasses and even a garter!  Shoes were swapped in true girl fashion, everyone spoke of how lucious the others looked. 

It was fun.  It was new.  People thought it was silly.  It shall be talked about for a long time. 

perfect timing

I have kept thinking about how i didn't want the effort of having to look for a new house for us to live in and that my procrastination in the matter wasn't going to help any.
But yet again, God has reminded me of his good plans (despite my lack of help) and his fabulous timing.
Ending this particular season of my life (although carrying major parts of it into the next, eg my beautiful children), i had felt that an adventure was on its way.  I was up for something new. Part of starting this next episode in the book of our lives has ended up being us shifting house.  And that is an adventure for sure. 
I didn't try very hard to find a place, it seemed too scary looking.  So i put off looking at the one house i thought was quite cool.  Turns out it was in the same street where I know some lovely folk and after casting the idea aside, i spoke with these people - "I was thinking of being your neighbour, joke joke!"  Turns out the house was owned by their relative and they put the good word in, hoped and wa-laaaaah, we got it.  Simplicity indeed.

So back where we live now, life is changing but there's still time for scooter riding and home-made pizza with friends.


Boxes have started to appear everywhere.

The girls are whizzing with excitement, even L packed more boxes than myself on Saturday.

Some bits of our new pad:

Amongst moving boxes of guff around to the new abode, there are definately parties to be had!

I've always wanted to have a party where girls get together wearing their old brides dresses (borrowed or their own) or bridesmaids dresses (borrowed or their own), some canapes at someones home to get our confidence pumping and then out to hit the town with our frocks!  So this Saturday it's my 'together' party.  It's funny as it's fallen around the same time as my d-vorce coming through but it really has nothing to do with that.  It's about having an excuse to have some fun and to wear something that most women only get to wear once.

The invite says:
'they say two are better than one.  Thank you for making my one better.
Let's frock up and have some fun..........  


This party is a small part of the adventure too.  There are all sorts of different friends from around the town we live in, coming.  And the adventure here, is doing life with them.  I love it how God is everywhere, in the fun too.  


Party, whether the timing is right or not.  Why not?