Welcome twenty twelve....

"You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.  The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy.  The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain.  They all shout and sing for joy!"  - ps 65.11-13


This scripture, God made alive to me in 2010.  I've come to realise that when it comes to the end of one year, you can look back - and see the harvest in the difficulties.  When you come through the challenges, and have a bit of time to 'recover' - you can see God's goodness and His hand there, while you were struggling.


Things don't always look like what we expect.  Sometimes we have a sort-of imprint in our minds of what 'abundance, lush pastures, joy, flocks of sheep and carpets of grain' look like.  


After 2011, I found myself waiting for this amazing 'harvest' to arrive near the end of the year... only to discover, the harvest happened through the year.  The greatest harvest was in my heart.


I leave 2011 knowing Him in ways I never would have before.  Knowing He sits with those battling death, and never leaves.  Knowing he is literally with you in every circumstance.  Knowing He wills people to live more than we ever could.  Knowing that He alone governs our breathing, our living, and our dying.  Knowing He is the Healer.  Knowing that He restores relationships.  I have found myself challenged in some of the fundamentals of my faith, and leaving with a new 'knowing' in my heart that there is no other that I would rather rest my life upon - than the One who holds life together.


There were other harvests - some of those being the help that was extended to us through the difficulties - practical, emotional and spiritual help.  Prayers, meals, help at home, help with childcare, conversations, listening ears, love and support in SO many other ways.  Harvests in relationships with others...  Sometimes its not until you go through difficulty that you realise the great things God has put in and around your life.


I've come to appreciate 2011 and each challenge.


I must say, I have great anticipation for 2012 in my heart - I am SURE that there will be fulfilments of some of the promises that we (and many others) have only longed for or dreamed of.  I believe there is a harvest that follows faithfulness.  God is good and is worthy of serving with everything you have.  I know no-one greater and want for no other.


Happy 2012 everyone.  May it truly be crowned with the goodness of God and a harvest that is visible to you for your life.

Room with a view...

I wake up each day, to this.  I gaze out my lounge window, to this.....

How refreshing and beautiful... and peaceful.  Even in the rain which has been a lot lately!  I grew up with a view of the sea... I seem to gravitate to a view of the country & trees and I love it!

We've finally moved, put everything away and are settling into just life again - ahhhh.  This place is bliss! ♥  thanks mum and dad!

whew!

sigh. That's what it feels like just about now. a breath of relief in a momentary stillness.

We've had a hectic few weeks!

Here's my list of what has been or is about to be:

• loads of parties and functions
• packing up the house
• every one of us being really sick - the kids for over a week!
• shopping galore (I really LOVED late night shopping before Christmas)
• cooking & baking up a storm
• Christmas day
• Boxing day (with additional Christmas festivities) & seeing my brother & family from New Plymouth
• staying with my parent's in law & siblings in-law for a few days before they left NZ for 8 months (that was a crazy, fun house - 7 adults & 2 littlies!!)
• driving to auckland to bid them farewell. roughing it for the night cause of bad weather.
• driving back
• moving in to their house
• unpacking boxes, finding places for everything
• trying to explain to an incessant miss A that grandma's house is our new 'home' and grandma & grandpa have gone on a big plane for a long time
• trying to clean, get those last couple of boxes and a few jobs done on our old place
• attempting at finding tenants and becoming a landlord! eek.
• trying to catch the in-laws on skype!

Sadly, my hubby took a week less than was offerred to him and so goes back on Monday, without us really getting a break!  Gladly I'm dreaming about our next holiday already - which we've planned for later this month!

In other news, we took a break from all the work & took the kids to the pools this morning.  Mr John LOVED it and was SO keen.  His first swim - little cutie.  He's six months old. Can you believe it!?

In another 6 months, I will be celebrating his 1st birthday.  Thank you God for preserving my wee one's life.  He's been quite fiesty lately.  His dad looked at me the other day (in the middle of a fiesty bout) and I said - it's our fault for calling him "little fiery one".

The above picture - is princess Adelaide with her "microphone" singing to God.  That's what she told me she was doing, and what an adorable job she was doing.  True worship in the sight of God I'm sure.


She is sleeping in a big bed with no bars, all by herself.   That means Mr John can finally sleep in a bed he can fit in.... 

Mind you, the bassinet was very helpful with the eventful weeks we've had.

I've gained a few extra kgs after Christmas, and I think (apart from it still being in the cupboard) I no longer have an excuse to continue eating junk.  So, I'm trying to get back on my regime!


I am 100% glad to wave goodbye to 2011 and ride off into the sunset of 2012. It looks like it's set to be a beautiful ride (once all this craziness dies down!).