officially.....

Here it is..... I'm 30 today. Yes, since I was born in Canada I always joke that my birthday is really a day later here.... but now, it's the 23rd in both places, and I guess I can't hide from it anymore.

I've been super spoilt, and feel totally blessed!

"People love others not for who they are, but for how they make us feel."
Irwin Federman.

I feel loved!

Peace.
xx

rain, rain.....

It's the perfect day to be huddled up in front of the fire with a whimsical book to carry you away to some far away land.
Let someone else have the dramas.

Actually - it has been a productive day, and a day without dramas would most likely bore me, right?!

I've been reading a new book.... no, not a novel, and not one about relationships either. At least, not directly. hehehe.
Joyce Meyer's "Root of Rejection"

Would you believe it was my hairdresser who handed me the book when I went to see her a couple of weeks ago. Pretty cool when you can go see your hairdresser and have such an intimate discussion about what's been going on in your life, and have them pray for you and hand you a book. hehehe. I was blown away by it all when I left. It was of course, exactly what I needed to read right now. It's been hard going, and I'm only half way through. Digesting as I go.

Yesterday's revelation for me was the walls I had up to protect myself, were also keeping God at bay, and stoping my faith from really growing. Yeah, I knew that God wanted to protect me, but I didn't really realise that I wasn't letting him do his job of putting up the walls around me. When I prayed for protection, my thought didn't really include - Lord, help me let you be the walls around my heart, that I wouldn't have that feeling of rejection....that I would see it for what it is.

Anyway... it's been an eye opener. Reminded that we are never given more than we can handle.... and of course the whole.... he doesn't promise to make our life easier - but he does promise to get us through everything! The joys of the refining process, huh.

I'm learning.
This week really has been one of blessings, and I've been blown away by it all. Also got kind of upset at God.... turning the big 3ohhhhhh and still being single is doing a small number on my head. Probably has more to do with the thoughts in my youth that I wouldn't have any kids after I reached this age. hmmmmmmm.... what did I actually speak over my life?! (2 days to go)

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"
1 Thes 5:16-18 NRS

silly blogger....

Having all sorts of problems uploading photos today.
And i got quite a few last week that I think are worthy.

On my night in Invercargill.... I got to my motel, and just had itchy feet. Funny that after driving for a huge portion of the day, I decided that I needed to go explore! I think it may be the urgency at the idea that I may not get many more opportunities?! :)

Anyway... I found my way to Riverton, which is such a groovy little spot by the sea. Will be heading out there for dinner next time I'm down south. Had an awesome feel to it. The wind was howling, the waves crashing, and the sunset was magnificent.

So, here you go... all the way from Riverton, which is pretty much at the bottom of the South Island.

wackiness continues.....

I really did think he was quite the "dude"!

this is the week....

Started the day off with a call from my bestest friend, Nigel in England. YIPEEEEEEE.

I, unfortunately made the fatal error of opening some mail from work just prior to the call which left my stomach in knots. Nigel managed to distract me fairly well though, and all is well now. It was so good to catch up with him. I don't think I've spoken to him since last Oct? maybe even longer. He was just about to head over to South America. It's been too long.

Seems he's found a special someone, and life is going beautifully for him, which is fantastic. He's wondering about moving into London to teach next year, which made me cringe. Sounds like he has everything pretty good where he is. Of course, he doesn't feel like he can move back to New Zealand without having lived there for a little while. I disagree - is it really something one would want to experience? hehehe. Sure, a great city to visit - but live?

He got all excited at my plans to start traveling again. Says he's only been staying over there so that I would get over there to see him. Sounds familiar. The whole time I was in the States I kept waiting for him to come and visit, and he never got there! The second year I was back here - what does he do??? YEP... takes off on a mighty big adventure, which even included Canada! ARHG! I was pretty gutted at him. Anyway.... will be super good to see him again. He may come out here for a friends wedding in July - if he can convince her to get married while he's on holiday. How's that... you get married then, and I can come. I think I'd be inclined to organise my wedding around something like that too. hehehe. Classic.

I've got alot of paper work to do today, which is fine. It's windy and grey outside, so I don't mind hiding in here. Might even get to catch up on the blog world while I'm here.

I'll try and share some of the pics from last week while I'm around. Have to make the most of a week at home. They seem to fly way too quickly.

Blessings.

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Classic image in a field on the way home... somewhere between Cromwell and well... the next place you come to. hehehe. MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!!!!

in a cafe

Crystal clear blue sky..... that real crisp air all about.... and I just know autumn is here!
I LOVE IT!

So looking forward to the drive today. The scenery is stunning, and I think I may be falling for the countryside here. I really do encourage people to come over here and find me. hehehe.

So... it will be a long day of driving, meeting people in between, and ending up in Invercargill - which does very little for me, as a place, but a good spot to lie my head down. And the next night.... my favourite patch - Arrowtown.

Will try and snap some pics along the way.

Hope everyone is smiling away.

God bless everyone's sox off!

pretty in pink

This is also at the botanical gardens. I think I like it more than the ones I took ages ago. I was happy playing around. I've always liked the idea of a camera being an extension of me. The more I play the more the idea grows.... Wait until the travel starts happening again. :)

another.....

Neglect to mention where half of the pics are taken, don't I.

This one is in the botanical gardens in Queenstown. I'm not a big fan of Queenstown at all. It's becoming such a tourist trap now, with new buildings going up and the place changing dramatically between each trip down there. I much prefer Arrowtown as a place to stay for it's quiet beauty. hehehe.

Still... I will say the gardens are pretty. Must be the fact that they feel like they are on the other side of the lake from the township?! hehehe.

new found...

Yes, this would be my new found friend....

WILSON. (Danny's dog)

Figure it's finally time to get the story out there, a week later, and still with a head filled with crazy thoughts. I'm not sure I've managed to figure it all out yet?

Here goes though.

I'm not sure where to even start this one from? There is no real beginning without going back months, so think jumping in makes more sense?!

Danny was supposed to be coming down here for the weekend. It was pretty much either then, or not until April/ May, and while I had warned that it would be between back to back trips, and I would be pretty shattered, that it was cool. He really needed some time away from the house and all the work that's been companion for the last year. Anyway... turned out the only flights would mean that he arrived here on Friday afternoon and could stick around for 2 hours before flying back. Seemed a little pointless. So... master plan... to see if I could find flights up?
I ended up driving over 1000 k's to get home, amazingly found flights, and the next morning was on a flight to Palmerston North. COMPLETE MADNESS!!!
I had time to do a load of laundry, sleep for 4 hours, and arrive. Now, that's some spontaniety!
Had a great weekend chilling out up there with Danny and Wilson. A few minor problems with cars, and a freak out about how I was going to get to Wellington for the flight home - but it all worked out.
In actual fact, it was a weekend where we really did get to see many facets of the other person. I was a zombie, he was sick, both of us got stressed at different times, and yet.... in the end, we both said it was a great weekend! There could be hope?! :)

I was taught to play pinball, and the challenge is now to get good enough to kick his butt. Not an easy feat, as I got worse the more I played. I'm sure he'd rigged the game somehow?! I can see how people would get addicted to it all though?! Scary.

We ate pizza, watched dvd's, walked along the river, moved the washing machine, washed the floor, and managed to get his laundry done. Cooked waffles, ate yummy salad and salsa and drank coffee.

YES... all in all.... a good weekend!

The end was all a little crazy. Drove down to Wellington on Sunday afternoon. A breezy 2 hour trip - though traffic had it's moments. We'd planned to find food before I flew out at 7:10. And yummy food we did find. It was scrumptious, and messy. From there we zoooomed to the airport where my frazzled adventure started. I checked in, but they only had 3 people checking in luggage, and the line was SOOOOO LONG!
Standing in line, and they are calling my flight..... standing in line, and we're up to the final boarding call...... I'm getting flusttered.......

In the end I just said stuff it, and we ran to the gate with my suitcase. I figured they could deal with it there if they wouldn't let me take it on the plane. It was small enough for me to take it on if I had to.
So.... between rushing to the gate and having to go through the security, our goodbye was brief at best.
Probably a blessing, really.

I got a super quick kiss and hug, and then rushed through to the gate.

I wanted to cry.

It's never quite what you expect when saying goodbye to someone you're growing close to. Still.... it was sweet, and quite perfect.

Next move?
Hopefully he'll be down here for my birthday, and then Easter - I'm driving up to the farm with a car load of things to get the show moving, so picking him up along the way. I hadn't really thought about the whole aspect of him meeting my family, though obviously it would be happening - it was more the whole "YAY ADVENTURE AND COMPANY" thing that consumed my thoughts. Julie was very quick to point out the obvious to me. Presuming he doesn't have a problem with it, or he wouldn't be so keen to come up with me.

Anyway... it's all still early days, and I'm treading carefully.

I got back in time to do another load of laundry and pack the car for the next week away. hehehehe. Everything always happens at once, right.

Meanwhile, this week both of my flatmates are gone, so I'll be on my lonesome. A great opportunity to get into my studies!! :) Assignments galour just waiting for me!

And then is there is work to boot.

"A single thought in the morning may fill our whole day with joy and sunshine or gloom and depression"

Joy!

from great heights.....

Was a gorgeous flight back from Wellington, though slightly manic once I got to the airport. Once again, Air NZ has blown my mind with their complete inability to actually be organised in any which way! There is no way I'll be doing any overseas travel with them. I didn't have much of a choice with the crazy weekend trip, unfortunately. They are the only ones to fly into Palmerston North. However, I will say that the flights them selves were all great.

PPP from last wee

Have quite a few pictures to go through right now. Not so much loads of pics, but from so many different things. hehehe. The trip last week, the trip up North last weekend, the flight back, and the trip this week.

Think there are a few keepers that I flicked through, but for now, I thought this was the best one to leave you with. Thinking girl - that's me!

Hope everyone has had great weeks, and this weekend will be a time to recharge for you all.

Catch up soon.

Kia kaha.

xx