repost-but still a beauty

“By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I've committed myself and I'll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything's falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Festoon me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don't forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don't swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— I always have and always will.” Psalm 119:105 MSG

A Beautiful Exchange

"Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you're in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions." 1 Thess 1:2-5

More sharing:

Nov 8

Who ever lived here before me, blessed me heartily.
Loving these roses in my garden x

Nov 9

My son. Always up for a photo shoot,
though not always with Mama

Nov 10

I like the texture...

Welcome to November

2011 is coming to a close! I am so excited about Christmas! 

My family are all coming to spend it with us!

Yay! Yay! Yay!

Anyway - I had every intention of posting a photo every day for the month of November!

I am a few days behind...

Nov 1

Marine Parade Fountain, Napier
New Saeson, New Day, Fresh Anointing/Favour/Dreams
Flowing my way!

Nov 2

Ah yes, a good suggestion and a great way to step into summer
"If you're going to do it, do it properly."

Nov 3

"The Green Patch" in Waipukurau has what looks like a Phoenix to me!
I LOVE IT! Speaks to me of hope, renewing, uprising....
Can't be bad for a Church here to win a region! LET'S DO IT!

Nov 4

Beautiful garden surprise, we have a 'waterfall' of pink roses.
Gorgeous!

Nov 5

Church Bonfire - Guy Fawkes
(I didn't take this actually TBF did)

Nov 6

Pastor Helen Monk!
Phenomenal Woman!

Nov 7

So today is my husband birthday (The Big Fella)

I was going to take a pic of him eating cake forgetting that he is away for the next few days.

Instead, I took this.

This is a speaker in my car
Not overly interesting BUT I love music and I have THE BADDEST
stereo in my car - thanks to my awesome husband.
to coin a phrase #iamthankful

Phew! Up to date.

I loved this idea! The Uniform Project raising money to pay schooling for kids who can't afford it!

So In Love

I love this song. I think it will be my summer anthem x

It's been so long since a 'feel good jam' was released, this song is a breath of fresh air to me.

Quick gym update - I have been going for about 3 months I think and it just keeps getting better and while I have actually only lost about 5kgs in weight, I lost six centimetres from my butt (OMgee!) and more from my waist and thighs (but the six of my butt alone was pretty shocking) I was upset at first saying "Oh no! I still wanna be bootylicious..." she glanced back and said to me "Oh, you're still bootylicious." Praise the Lord! Hahaha. So I do Step, Pump and Kick Boxing - it rocks!

I love the Lord. I gotta say.

Psalm 20:4, 5, 7

May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. 

May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory 

and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. 

May the Lord answer all your prayers.

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, 

but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.

Just a collage of beautiful Aotearoa skies - I love where I live.

No Monday-i-tis for me!

Psalm 121:1-2 "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." 

Psalm 8:9 "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

This could quite possibly be my Wordless Wednesday equivalent seeing as 

Monday is my day off!

I always forget about Wordless Wednesday and miss it.

Anyway today I did "nothing much"

I lay in bed till mid morning.

Had pikelets for breakfast (YUM) 

And watched a movie.

Then goofed with The Boys:

(Hmmm, young fella doesn't look sick does he... I think it was a father-son scam...)

Haha - he just loves the camera! 

Behind it, in front of it - he doesn't care as long as he's got it.

(I, on the other hand, prefer to be behind it)

Oops - clearly I missed the wordless part of Wednesday posts!

Ah - I'll try it next time!

She's very crafty

Cracks me up the double meaning for the word 'crafty' and the care you must have when using it in 'mixed' company.

Anyway - I have a fabulous friend who is very crafty and seeing as I am a Craft-Amateur, I leap on every little thing she deems 'simple' but this one has step by step instructions with photos and even the photos are gorgeous. So here I share: The Purl Bee

We have a Women's Conference next weekend - probably should've posted this a long time ago - but should you find yourself at a loose I would love to meet you! Come on down!

Equippers Women

While I cannot guarantee you will meet Crafters, you'll definitely meet Gifted women, passionate, with a heart after God.

What else is happening at the moment...

TODAY - two of the sweetest people I know are getting married!! About time many would say, but God's timing is perfect - they were made for each other in the sincerest sense of the words... I love a good wedding and am determined not to cry (seeing as I have to sing shortly after the Bride arrives and knowing a runny nose will do me no aide!) 

And the sweetest engagement too: They had agreed to no presents for their anniversary and decided on a picnic dinner at the beach... then he surprises her with this box.... a photo of his hand, with the engagement ring sitting on top, two glasses filled with her favourite sweets, yummy grape juice - who knew romance was still so alive and well!

Hm, wedding anniversary next Weds - not sure if we'll do anything - nine years seems a little flat to celebrate - never know maybe I'll get a surprises too! Haha.

Ok, I better get going - usually I leave the Getting Ready too late and then I'm in a flap!!

Hugs to you!

My solace. My comfort. My refuge.

<sup>Psalm 18


1</sup> I love you, O LORD, my strength.

 ² The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
       my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
       He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 ³ I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
       and I am saved from my enemies.

 ⁴ The cords of death entangled me;
       the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

 ⁵ The cords of the grave coiled around me;
       the snares of death confronted me.

 ⁶ In my distress I called to the LORD;
       I cried to my God for help.
       From his temple he heard my voice;
       my cry came before him, into his ears.

 ⁷ The earth trembled and quaked,
       and the foundations of the mountains shook;
       they trembled because he was angry.

 ⁸ Smoke rose from his nostrils;
       consuming fire came from his mouth,
       burning coals blazed out of it.

 ⁹ He parted the heavens and came down;
       dark clouds were under his feet.

 ¹⁰ He mounted the cherubim and flew;
       he soared on the wings of the wind.

 ¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
       the dark rain clouds of the sky.

 ¹² Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
       with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

 ¹³ The LORD thundered from heaven;
       the voice of the Most High resounded.

 ¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
       great bolts of lightning and routed them.

 ¹⁵ The valleys of the sea were exposed
       and the foundations of the earth laid bare
       at your rebuke, O LORD,
       at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

 ¹⁶ He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
       he drew me out of deep waters.

 ¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
       from my foes, who were too strong for me.

 ¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
       but the LORD was my support.

 ¹⁹ He brought me out into a spacious place;
       he rescued me because he delighted in me.

 ²⁰ The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
       according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

 ²¹ For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
       I have not done evil by turning from my God.

 ²² All his laws are before me;
       I have not turned away from his decrees.

 ²³ I have been blameless before him
       and have kept myself from sin.

 ²⁴ The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
       according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

 ²⁵ To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
       to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

 ²⁶ to the pure you show yourself pure,
       but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

 ²⁷ You save the humble
       but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

 ²⁸ You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
       my God turns my darkness into light.

 ²⁹ With your help I can advance against a troop;
       with my God I can scale a wall.

 ³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect;
       the word of the LORD is flawless.
       He is a shield
       for all who take refuge in him.

 ³¹ For who is God besides the LORD ?
       And who is the Rock except our God?

 ³² It is God who arms me with strength
       and makes my way perfect.

 ³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
       he enables me to stand on the heights.

 ³⁴ He trains my hands for battle;
       my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 ³⁵ You give me your shield of victory,
       and your right hand sustains me;
       you stoop down to make me great.

 ³⁶ You broaden the path beneath me,
       so that my ankles do not turn.

 ³⁷ I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
       I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

 ³⁸ I crushed them so that they could not rise;
       they fell beneath my feet.

 ³⁹ You armed me with strength for battle;
       you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

 ⁴⁰ You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
       and I destroyed my foes.

 ⁴¹ They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
       to the LORD, but he did not answer.

 ⁴² I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
       I poured them out like mud in the streets.

 ⁴³ You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
       you have made me the head of nations;
       people I did not know are subject to me.

 ⁴⁴ As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
       foreigners cringe before me.

 ⁴⁵ They all lose heart;
       they come trembling from their strongholds.

 ⁴⁶ The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
       Exalted be God my Savior!

 ⁴⁷ He is the God who avenges me,
       who subdues nations under me,

 ⁴⁸ who saves me from my enemies.
       You exalted me above my foes;
       from violent men you rescued me.

 ⁴⁹ Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
       I will sing praises to your name.

 ⁵⁰ He gives his king great victories;
       he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
       to David and his descendants forever.

Here we are!

^{Psalm 139: 07-18}

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—

    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

   To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body 

      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

      Your workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it.

 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, 

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

 You saw me before I was born.

      Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

   Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

      They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!

   And when I wake up, you are still with me!

I AM SO BLESSED! 

Beautiful nieces who adore my son and love having a giant for an Uncle.

 

(Oh I love that frown!)

Our little Diva! She is a package of exuberance and life of the party. Creates her own fun, independent. And yet she is also happy to sit and draw and wait...

Keeps us all on our toes! Adorably loving she greets you with an excited squeal before throwing her arms around your legs. Premature birth hasn't stunted her capacity to love!

Chocolate Muffin - a sweet surprise, too cute for words, she does not hold onto her affection, she will shower you with giggles and cuddles (well - sometimes she needs a little persuading!)

                                                        

My big brothers littly, I donot know her so well but I love her just the same.

She is beautiful like her ma but loves to chat like her pa. I love to see traits.

The newest little beauty she is incredibly observant and again sooooo loving. I shall call her a snuggly monster, she is deliciously cuddly, moreishly kissable.

These two are my cousins! Quite different from each other, the oldest loves to learn and values order. Her sister is a mama's girl. Again both are loving, generous and kind with their time and with their affection.

On the right is my cutey cousin - growing up with the nieces, another sweet addition to the whanau, these two and the youngest above are all the same age.

We also have a male addition (same age as the three girls) but I can't find any photos of him :o(

Oh here he is... not the most flattering. I don't really know him either.

Every life a miracle. I am thankful because for a long time there was only one. My son.

Slowly but surely God has blessed us with increase, and it is a joy to behold!

Truly makes my heart glad! Gorgeous little versions of us, only better!

I believe that God would pour only the best of us into new life. These honeys are testimony!

More thoughts

"...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

My husband received a promotion and we moved to Hawkes Bay five years ago. 

I was rather relaxed about the whole thing considering how much I rely on and love my family. 

And I was leaving my Bestest. I didn't drive at that stage, I was a little anxious thinking about moving to a new place where I knew no-one. I didn't have a job either. I was aware of these 'problems' but strangely at ease. 

Arriving was another story.

Things were very different. I wasn't used to seeing mob (gang) members walking around town proudly patched up. 

I wasn't used to walking past Maori in the street and they didn't look me in the eye or acknowledge me. Actually, I was disgusted. When I said 'Kia ora!' and they still didn't acknowledge me, keeping their eyes on the ground. 

I complained to my mother about that! Lots of other things, people are quite cliquey and I noticed a lot of what I called 'small town thinking' as if nothing else existed outside of Hawkes Bay. 

The service was awful (it still is) You could walk into a store, slowly do two or three laps of the shop and not have a single assistant actually assist you or even acknowledge you are there. When people bump into you they carry on walking like nothing has happened. Again, no acknowledgement. It was a shock to the system. Actually when we first moved here I was yelled out of two stores by the owners! 

Literally walked in the door and told to "Get out!" 

I have assumed prejudice was the factor because seriously the only thing you could assume about me could be based on my skin colour, right? Or maybe  they were weightist. Lol.

Anyway, life has been a steady journey here. I have walked it rather casually, meandering along the path. 

Taking the scenic route my Dad would say. Predestined. 

I thought we had made a rather foolish mistake at first - how could I be called to such a place? 

"You often see a need, because you are called to fill it." 

Hopelessness is a killer. It is easier to think change can not happen, then it is to hope that it will. 

It is easier to believe that you cannot make a difference than it is to believe 

"Every great change in history started with someONE, somewhere!"

To own being: "...the change this world needs!"

God bankrupted heaven when he sent Jesus Christ.

He did this for me. But it is not mine alone. Christ died for all.

I need to live with more purpose!

Thankful

Romans 8:26-29 (The Message)

 "Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun."

I love this. I love what it tells me (and I have said it before)

1. God knew me from the beginning
2. He shapes me.
3. He loves me.
4. Jesus is the model of my life.
5. He called me by name.
6. He planted me on solid foundation.
7. He is with me to the end.
8. He will complete what He has begun.

I love too that the Holy Spirit makes prayers out of my "...wordless sighs and aching groans..." Boy, I have a lot of those.
I continue to rest. Assured that God hears
1. My frustration when I can't verbalise it.
2. My tears, cried, when I don't have the strength to speak it.
3. The wordless songs I sing.

I Need You More

More things I love

Been thinking about this a bit.

I prefer:
Music over movies.
Sunsets over sunrises (alas, I am living on the East Coast of beautiful Aotearoa)
Lush landscapes over rugged terrain.
Friends and family over fame or fortune.
I love tea and toast with a dear friend!
Happy with a fresh loaf of bread and jam for dinner.
I love to watch the BBC Series of Pride & Prejudice.
None of his subsequent roles have tarnished Colin Firth - he will always be Mr Darcy to me! :o)
"Ever After" is my favourite Cinderella movie.
The toasty warmth of a fire.
Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie. (mmmm - delicious)
The smell of fresh baked bread. (and the taste of it)
Butter!
Flowers.
A stroll.
The rain when I am tucked in bed.
I love how the sound of rain on your car stops suddenly when you drive under a bridge.
Soups and casseroles in the winter time.
Scooped ice cream from the shop seems to taste so much better than from my own freezer.
That cinema movies and dvds are cheaper on Mondays!
Snoozing.
Painting my nails.
Retro television.
Platform gaming.
Karaoke. (woohoo)
Black sand beaches.
Connection.
The moment you realise you have found a friend for life.
Kisses from children who adore you. The look on their faces when they see they are loved back.
Cheerios/sausage rolls and tomato sauce.
Birthdays and Christmas.
Relaxed Summer Barbecues.
Standing, sitting, basking, in the Presence of God.
Recognising His goodness.
Answers to prayer!
Testimonies!

...and much, much more.

Thanks for letting me share bits of my life with you!!

xx

Precious Hope

Breath of life.
You're everything to me
Breath of life.
You're all I long to be.
Breath of life.
I'll never be the same
Breath of life.
Breathe new life.
Breath of life.

You refresh my soul with your love.
You bless my heart with your grace.
You honour me, when it seems least deserved.
And when I call on your Name, I know it does not go unheard.
You incline Your ear to me,
You lift me.

Breath of life.
You hold me in Your hand.
Breath of life.
The rock on which I stand.
Breath of life.
Your promises are mine
Breath of life. You give me life.
Breath of life.

That is where I'm at with God today. That is today's love song. Have been challenged as to whether I really KNOW the goodness of God. I believe I do. He will never leave me, nor forsake. He does not lead me in to a battle I cannot win. Christ died for me therefore I already have the victory. God is good, we will rise and fall but He is constant and always there. He is good.

*

*

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These are my sisters!

Well the two on the outside, April, in the middle, is my baby sisters best friend, and equally as awesome as if she were related by blood. I have not always honoured my sisters the way I should, I have not always shown or told them how much I love them, treasure them. But I do. I love you. There is not another like you in my life, or even on this planet. I am here for you always, as you are for me. I adore you. xx