Almighty; Song written by Brooke, but sung by aother band (Parachute)

ENJOY!

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in and out...

My life right now consists of running through the door, unpacking, throwing clothes in the washing machine, onto the line, and back into the suitcase.

About to hang out the next load now, so I can get packing again, and jump on the road.

CRAZY!

I ended up flying up to Palmerston North on Friday for the weekend. Was gorgeous weather, with some madness thrown in for good measure. Flew back from Wellington yesterday. The rush in the airport was just nuts! Alas, Air New Zealand has done very little to improve their standing in my life. I DON"T LIKE THEM AT ALL!!!

Though.... in saying that, I had a great flight once on the plane. Got some pics to boot, and had some great company. :) Funny how it all comes together in the end.

Up north this week.... haven't talked to Jill and John to see if I can stay there, but I am stoping in Hanmer on the way home to catch up with Greg. Will be good to be up in the mountains. :)

Will have pics to post when I get back. I've been slacking in the whole PPP world lately. Haven't even had a chance to download the last couple of trips.

Hope everyone is well...

Peace and Joy!

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself!" Amelia Earhart

time to leave....

About to take off on the next week of adventures.

I got to experience the milestone of doing the Jury Service last week, which was interesting. Slow, but interesting.

Actually ended up on jury with a girl that I went to Teachers College with. Was great to catch up with her.... especially after I caught up with Matt the week prior. Good times catching up on the good ol' days. It was actually a pretty great bunch of people that I ended up with. While a serious task, we still had alot of laughs.

Think I may have even found a new friend. How special is that!

Countdown is on for the move too..... JUNE, here I come. :)
Looking at heading up to the farm for Easter, which will be fantastic. There may even be one puppy left when I get there. Mum found homes for them all pretty quickly, but my favourite isn't wanted until April, so I'm hoping. hehehe. She's already got orders for the next litter - and by then... I might be ready for a dog of my very own!

OK... bed waits. Hope that everyone has had great weekends... with lots of sun, and laughter.

I'll be back in the weekend to catch up.

"You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can only decide how you're going to live." Joan Baez


Arohanui.
xx

Previous post thoughts....

We were talking about whether it was actually Godly to flirt?! Opinions people?
And then, the classic question... how does one go about finding someone? And is it our job to hunt, or do we keep busy, and trust that God will do His thing? hehe.
I'll share my opinion later. I'm most curious as to what others think.

Mella said...

Excellent question, CJ..."/*

My first reaction is that it can be - as long as "to flirt" is defined as to exude interest in another person in a charming and loving way, without resorting to sexual innuendo, etc. (Don't know if that entirely makes sense, just came off the top of my head...)

I guess, in thinking about it - our flirting "/* be Godly, because everything we do should be an act of worship and for the glory of God...even our interactions with others.

I don't see any reason why touching someone's arm or giggling (excessively, perhaps) or hinting that you're interested in someone can't be done in a Godly manner. =)


As far as finding someone goes...I wish I had more of an answer than "trust" and "patience."

A good friend of mine from college has been a prime example of waiting on the Lord for the love of her life. She'll be thirty soon, and has only recently met the man she's going to marry - after turning down several, not because she wasn't interested, but because God told her they weren't right.

Wow. Long rambling response. Hope it made sense! =)


NEO said...

CJ - I think God nudges people in each others direction, he leaves the rest to us.

Taken me a while to get back to this one.....

I totally agree with your definition Mella. I'm not sure that society quite agrees, but that's pretty much how I see it. A way of showing interest, I guess with the intention of really seeing where things may lead?

I know it's all about walking in faith, but I don't think we're meant to just sit back waiting for God to plonk the boy on our front door step. I don't know many guys who would find their way!
So - I think it is important that we are active, though not in a "hunt" mode - if that makes sense.
But then it also involves the process of us becoming a suitable mate as well. Preparing our hearts, minds and I guess becoming more comfortable with who we are, and aware of what is important to us in our future spouse.

I have moments where I wonder if I'm not too set in my ways now? There are certain ways that some things should be done! hehehehe. No, seriously. I do look at my brother who got married when he was 23, and see how he and Tess have almost grown up together, which is so precious. And I wonder if that would be easier? No regrets about me not having done it back then.... just reflecting on the different processes that each person faces at a different age.

So, as I embark on the whole turning 30 thing, I'll continue to be active, doing the things that I enjoy, and maybe. Just maybe I'll bump into the person that God has picked out for me.

Kind of leads me to another questions..... Is there only one person out there for each of us. Or could it be that we woul dbe well suited with several different people, but timing is everything?
What do you think?

OH.... and all of this kind of stems from back when I read the book "Finding Mr Right" by Stephen Arterburn and Dr Meg Rinck. Interesting book.
Side note - it also has the additional notes:"10 Ways to become Mrs Right" :)

I'm working on it!

Here is the song I made a comment on Jayleigh's site about. Another Kiwi artist; Brooke Fraser. Absolutely gorgeous, and one of those artists who is truly incredible live.
Enjoy!

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a favourite

OK... it's quite a sad poem, but I've always loved it.
Made famous by the movie Four weddings and a funeral.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone.
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone.
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love owuld last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

one day to go... one day to go....

Gone from a super hot week to one of drizzle.
In fact.... it's even cold at night. I was thinking about having the fire going for much of the afternoon. Small problem; we still don't have any firewood.
BUT, benny is coming up this weekend, and he's supposed to be bringing up his car so I can go and pick up some. YIPEEEEEE. Will have to have a ceremonious fire, regardless of the weather once it's here and all stacked up.
It's quite exciting.
I love the changing seasons.

Of course, all my tomatos are just waiting to ripen, and it looks like it's going to happen all at once, and I'll have to go nuts making chutney. Exciting days.

loving...

You know how people often call the bible the living word.

I know why that is.... but I'm always blown away by how God moves in our hearts. How each time I read a verse, something else jumps out at me that I didn't see before. Rhema word.

Tonight, after reading Sussana Rose's note, I went to read Isaiah 40.

26. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

What promises, and yes, what love.

Arohanui.

star light, star bright......

This may not be the greatest quality - I didn't have my tripod with me, and it was a slightly longer exposure that I thought I was clever enough to get. Tried, at least. I just thought the sliver of the moon was too precious to pass by.
I was out in the orchard with Jill last week, and we were just relishing in the peace, and the awe of everything around us. It was so much fun catching up with those guys. We sat outside to eat our dinners each night, and everything had that slow feel to it... the days were spent running around, but come dinner time, it all slowed so we could enjoy what was happening around us.

The second night we were listening to some Josh Groban, and we got swept up in the romance of his voice. John just loved it. :) You know how there are moments when you get the music right, and everything just fits. That night it was perfect!
But what moved me more, was the fact that John started talking about my dad. Quiet Peter pumpkin, who is one of the most introverted people I know, but also, one of the most gentle souls. John was telling me about Dad when they met in England, and the things they used to do together. It was nice to hear about those days. What topped it all off though, was the way John was so moved when he talked about him. I don't generally think of dad as being a man who has friends. He and Mum have friends... but John was telling me about what a great guy dad was, and just how much he meant to him. It was gorgeous for me. And a moment I'll treasure forever.

So... tonight, I pray that dad would know that he is loved, and precious to not just his family.

thoughts for a sunday evening...

It's been a challenging day.

I caught up with my friend Julie today. She and I normally chat at least once a week when I'm at home, and I'd missed her the last couple of weeks.

Considering we haven't seen eachother since I left Kentucky back in 98, and we went for a couple of years at being hopeless at keeping in touch, the last few years have been pretty solid.
When I said I don't have a cheerleader, I lied. I was in the midst of a serious pity party, and forgot about all the great people in my life - like miss julie, who is always there to kick my butt.

So, today was catch up day, and some butt kicking did take place. hehehe. But better than that, was the laughter. I laughed till my sides ached, as she told me stories about her nights out. Hillarious stuff! I can live vicariously through her, while she enjoys the social life that being a student hardly affords - especially with her killer schedule. Still... she's living.

Just before I talked to her, I had been reading a devotional and it had mentioned Isaiah 43 as being one of the most beautiful chapters in the bible. The guy went on to say that we needed to write it out on a card so that we could look at it during our days, that we would read it when we woke up each morning and again each night - working on believing what it was that God was saying.
So, of course I went to find it, and ended up liking this version best.

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. Your mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there for you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end - because I am God, your personal God, the Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in.

That's how much you mean to me!

That's how much I love you!

I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade creation just for you.
So don't be afraid: I'm with you!"
The Message

While I've read it several times, I hadn't read that version before. I think it's beautifully put, and something I needed to read today.

So... onto a piece of poster board that one goes... so that I have to stumble past it every day... onto a card so I can read it while I'm on the road.
Let it sink from my head to my heart, that I would have a full revelation of that absolute love.
Good thing I've got friends around to remind me, hold my head up when I'm beyond it, and that I'm always being held in the palm of an awesome Father's hand.


ps. sunflowers are my favourite! They were selling them on the side of the road as I left Nelson, and this one now sits next to my bed.... totally gorgeous!

Holey Soles.....

So the things that I get excited about is sometimes pretty nuts. I'll be the first to admit to that one.

However.... when I saw these shoes while I was up on the farm in one of my favourite outdoor stores in Hamilton, it was really love at first sight! hehehe. To hear that they are designed by a Canadian company in BC flipped me completely.
Unfortunately, they didn't have any in my size, and the next shipment was not expected until mid Jan. I scoured the stores in Christchurch when I got back, but they too were of course sold out of the "MEdium" size. I would have to be so common, huh. hehehe.

So, when I was in Nelson last week, I scouted around, and VOILA! The shipment had just arrived, and I left smiling away. It was a toss up between these gorgeous lime green ones, or some turquoise beauties. Sure, in a perfect shoe fettish world, I may have walked out with both pairs..... but such a world, I know not. :)

I won't be loosing my feet any time soon!

cup of sunshine

I should be writing about my gorgeous, super hot week away.

I got distracted though.

I've kind of met someone, and I'm scared that I've let go of my heart without thinking about it first!?

You know that whole butterflies in your stomach, can't eat, go through the day wondering, and just completely unfocused feeling.
Alas... I'm there.

It wouldn't be alas if I knew that he was on the same page with God as me.

But I don't.

Sad, huh.

So.... i keep muttering, God, please just protect my heart. Guard it, so that I don't dive in way too deep without stoping to talk to you about it first. And help me to listen to the answer.

Silly CJ!

from mella....

As promised, I would get to this when I got back....

Four jobs I've had:
* Barista - Grabba Jabba in Calgary. I learned to make a mean coffee. :)
* Horse Stud Head Groom - Lexington Kentucky. Used to get to take the broodmares to all the different studs. Was an awesome job, except when I had to go out and break the ice on the water tanks for the horses.
* Personal Assistant - Santa Cruz area, California. Awesome people.
* Commercial Account Assistant - Briscoes, where I got to sit in a tiny office and sort out the worlds problems.

Four movies I could watch over and over again:
* Princess Bride
* Garden State
* Amélie
* Dead Poets Society

Four places I've lived:
* Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Born and bred, but left at 9 1/2, to return 12 years later for almost a year.
* Lexington, Kentucky, USA - Horse farm central. Lived there for 2 1/2 years on two different farms. Nannyed at the second one more than horses.
* Newark, Bay Area, California - LOVED IT HERE! Used to escape to Yosemite whenever we could.
* Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand - Hmmmm... beautiful place. Love the alps which are an hour away, and canterbury plains. Plus right next to the ocean.

Four Websites I visit daily:
* Yahoo
* stuff.co.nz
* blogspots
* travelonline.co.nz

Four of my favourite foods:
* Italian - pasta!! Sundried tomatos and olives.
* Greek - FETA CHEESE!
* Chocolate mousse - my ganny made the best!! Mum's is pretty good too.
* Eggs benedict

Four places I'd rather be right now:
* Canmore, Alberta - sitting in front of an open fire, with some pizza after a day of skiing
* Tuscany, Italy - just soaking it all up.
* On my parents farm - surrounded by family, animals and space to roam.
* In my own backpackers. :) With lots of people buzzing around.

Four bloggers I'm tagging:
* Jayleigh
* Mr Eddie
* Tab
* Snaggle Tooth - when her computer is up and running again. :)