Gold mining

I'm sure many people wonder - what do you do when life throws changes, and challenges at you, that you didn't initiate...

When every part of you aches, your heart breaks over and over, so many misunderstandings - and there's emptiness in so many once treasured memories, photographs, conversations, moments....

Sometimes it feels like we are just like onions.... made of gold.  You peel back one layer, and you just find more gold underneath.  Hidden gold, beauty that only a Creator could put there.



The same goes for the coal...  You peel back a layer of pain and ugliness, and you just seem to find another layer of the 'stuff'.  Stuff.... sorrow, grief, pain, wrong dealt to us by others, wrong that is a consequence of our own choices.  Wrong perceptions of ourselves, wrong perceptions of others.  There's so much 'stuff.'

[caption id="attachment_55" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="He holds my coal in the palm of His hands....."][/caption]

This past year I have been on a journey.  I have seen some parts of me that have been very ugly.  I have faced some very deep pain that has been imbedded in me from a long time ago.

Thankfully, the journey has been led by someone who is far greater than myself.

I've discovered that God is part of a great exchange.  He doesn't want to let us live in our pain.  Sometimes we can think that we have it all together, and then another layer gets peeled back.  Ouch.



He is wholeness.  He is life.  That is what He has for us.  He is my Daddy - and He's good.  All the time.

I have learnt that a battle shared is a battle won.  Victory was never meant to be one person's alone.  We are made to stand with each other and lead each other to victory.

You never know the depths someone is being taken to through lifes circumstances.  If we all got a glimpse of each other's pain, we'd be a lot more patient with each other.

[caption id="attachment_57" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Gold mining - commonly done in rivers and water"][/caption]

Recently, I have decided to, and made a conscious effort to see the gold in people.  I want to peel back one layer of gold, and find another.  I want to honour people for who they are, not who they are not. 

[caption id="attachment_58" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Coal mining - usually done underground in caves"][/caption]

I have chosen (against my will many times) to speak good of people, when I could find many valid bad things to say.

I create life with my words, and my actions.  I also create death.

When coal is mined - then burned; it covers everything around it in soot.  We could all go hunt for coal, BURN it - create smoke so everyone can see it and many can feel it...

Gold just doesn't get burnt.

I think the world would be a different place if we all went gold mining.

[caption id="attachment_59" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The world is full of gold, if we just look for it-"][/caption]

Pizza making....

Mummy is making pizza for dinner.... rolling the dough, chopping the toppings, smearing on tomato paste

Princess is sitting on the kitchen bench...... "helping"....

Mummy turns to ask her something, and immediately forgets when faced with this

[caption id="attachment_40" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Yum yum! tomato!"][/caption]

Tomatoes are pretty expensive this time of year.  I bought one big one in yesterdays shopping.  Princess thought it would be a yummy afternoon snack..



I couldn't bear to stop her.....

 

This is what was left......

[caption id="attachment_43" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The remnants..... guess what was added to the pizza topping?"][/caption]

I ♥ birthdays....

This man is my hero.  He is creative, loyal, genuine, fun, forever making me laugh, a great daddy, and he's going where I want to go.  He is my best friend.  Today is his birthday.

So some people who know me, know that I love gifts.  Not so much receiving them, but giving them.  In all kinds of ways and measures, for all kinds of reasons.

I usually think for months in advance about someone's gift, and carefully select it, then take hours wrapping it.



One Christmas, I spent an entire day and night wrapping gifts for my family.  I handmade every bow.

On with the story, hubby's 25 today.

This week, has been a week of COOKING, and getting ready to celebrate.



At his office, birthdays = morning tea for your colleagues = wife cook up a storm = wife deliver at morning tea time = other people eat it.

So, I cooked:

• ginger crunch


• lemon syrup cake with butter icing


• sausage rolls


• mini pastry pizzas


• ham, cheese and mayonaise twists

All ready for his work.



Then, tiramisu made. House tidied. Table set. Grape juice chilled.  All ready for an early birthday dinner with his parents.  I COOKED:

• kumara chips with cinnamon and paprika


• mini pizzas with mozzarella and pastrami


• a fresh salad


• lamb chops

I've never made tiramisu - it was delish... if I must say so myself.

[caption id="attachment_34" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="It may as well been her birthday.... he let her open his presents."][/caption]

Love you honey x

Spring time....

So I've been pretty sick this last week.  Lousy when you have a 1 year old who loves to sit down, be tidy and quietly play indoors wreak havoc, destruct anything within sight and be outside all waking hours.

We did get outside one evening to kill some time before bed since daddy was out.... we found some pretty cool stuff

[caption id="attachment_19" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="a whole tree, just like this"][/caption]

If you asked my hubby - he'd tell you that he "wouldn't like to be a plant in my garden when I've got loppers and secateurs in hand".  Well, I recently did a bit of  a huge cut back pruning in my beloved garden.

After finally getting some well deserved sun - the worse for wear plants are looking amazing!  

[caption id="attachment_20" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="my aloe vera plant.... flowering!?"][/caption]

anticipating late summer harvest..... if we don't sell by then.

[caption id="attachment_21" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="feijoas! YUM!"][/caption]

the little explorer



[caption id="attachment_23" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="hibiscus....."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_24" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Our "pet" birds... busy nesting... and fighting of mynas"][/caption]

And this face........

[caption id="attachment_25" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="my cheeky girl"][/caption]

She certainly makes a dull week full of life!

Fresh Start

So, I'm back.  With a new beginning.

[caption id="attachment_5" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lily - that moment, with daddy"][/caption]

It's been a while. Lots has changed - here's to a new season - a good one.  One filled with destiny and freedom.  Creativity, the arts, writing.... I've got lots to share.  Watch this space.

[caption id="attachment_6" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Looking into the eyes of glory"][/caption]

Enjoying the moment.  You can't take back any day, week, month, year... and they go by so quick.  Right here, right now, enjoy the moment.