I love the feeling of discovering beautiful new music.
This is what happened when I attended the Tealight Tour this evening.
The Paper Kites played and I do truly love them. The harmonies and guitar twinkles are so lovely.
I haven't listened to anything else since.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
23.01.11
Tonight the sky had an amazing reddish hue. It was as if someone had taken a big brush and mixed some scarlet into the black of the night.
I love how the sky is so unpredictable. You expect it to be all nnormal and than BAM it throws you off with some magenta.
Red has cool synonyms.
I love how the sky is so unpredictable. You expect it to be all nnormal and than BAM it throws you off with some magenta.
Red has cool synonyms.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
22.01.11
Baking is really good fun, especially if done with the world's best four year-old.
We made ladybug cupcakes. Well, that's what Milla beene called them anyway. I think it was because we put berries and chocolate in them.
In the end they resembled a little girl's dreams all come true. They were iced in bright pink and she sprinkled with generous portions little butterflies (buffalos) and various other goodies.
They tasted pretty swell, even if they did look a tad exciting.
We made ladybug cupcakes. Well, that's what Milla beene called them anyway. I think it was because we put berries and chocolate in them.
In the end they resembled a little girl's dreams all come true. They were iced in bright pink and she sprinkled with generous portions little butterflies (buffalos) and various other goodies.
They tasted pretty swell, even if they did look a tad exciting.
20.01.11
I felt very grown up as I went out for a wine and dessert with Kirsten and Debs this evening.
We went to Sunday Painters and boy it was good.
The creme brulee came in vanilla and coffee. Far out I nearly died of yum overload.
But the wine was the best part. I'll admit I have no idea what I'm talking about and I've only just acquired a taste for red wines, but this was just so good.
It was something a bit fancy and French and fruity.
Delicious.
We went to Sunday Painters and boy it was good.
The creme brulee came in vanilla and coffee. Far out I nearly died of yum overload.
But the wine was the best part. I'll admit I have no idea what I'm talking about and I've only just acquired a taste for red wines, but this was just so good.
It was something a bit fancy and French and fruity.
Delicious.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
19.01.11
The best thing in the whole world just happened right now.
I was gazing at the moon which has an aura of yellowish blue tonight. It's very crisp and I couldn't even see any stars.
Out of nowhere came the most amazing shooting star I have ever seen. It was huge and bright and had a trail that sparkled.
I'm not utterly convinced it wasn't fireworks. I listened for pops and fizzles but heard nothing.
It was just so bright. It went for ages too. Completely surreal.
I'd like to think it was something special that God orchestrated for me to see on a night like this.
Just when I need it most.
I was gazing at the moon which has an aura of yellowish blue tonight. It's very crisp and I couldn't even see any stars.
Out of nowhere came the most amazing shooting star I have ever seen. It was huge and bright and had a trail that sparkled.
I'm not utterly convinced it wasn't fireworks. I listened for pops and fizzles but heard nothing.
It was just so bright. It went for ages too. Completely surreal.
I'd like to think it was something special that God orchestrated for me to see on a night like this.
Just when I need it most.
18.01.11
Colouring in a butterfly to send to a little girl I was reminded of the beauty in creating simple things.
Children create all the time. They paint and draw and cut and paste.
Maybe they aren't masterpieces. Neither was my butterfly.
But the process is what matters.
To create something from nothing more than paper and pencils.
Children create all the time. They paint and draw and cut and paste.
Maybe they aren't masterpieces. Neither was my butterfly.
But the process is what matters.
To create something from nothing more than paper and pencils.
17.01.11
Quite often it's the little things people do that can make you smile.
The first of these was a phone call from a certain Stephen Bowler. He sounded weird because being away has given him a bit of an accent so I didn't recognize him. When I did I got all excited. He's home!
As I was turning into my road this afternoon a little old blue Corolla gave way to me. In the driver's seat was Elliot Rice. It was one of those chance encounters that just brightens your day a little bit.
At Foodtown I started my car at the same time as the girl next to me. We kind of looked awkwardly at each other and she smiled and waved me to go first. It wasn't a big deal, but it was just something nice.
The first of these was a phone call from a certain Stephen Bowler. He sounded weird because being away has given him a bit of an accent so I didn't recognize him. When I did I got all excited. He's home!
As I was turning into my road this afternoon a little old blue Corolla gave way to me. In the driver's seat was Elliot Rice. It was one of those chance encounters that just brightens your day a little bit.
At Foodtown I started my car at the same time as the girl next to me. We kind of looked awkwardly at each other and she smiled and waved me to go first. It wasn't a big deal, but it was just something nice.
Monday, January 17, 2011
16.01.11
Sometimes church is surprisingly good. That happened this morning.
I wasn't really looking forward to it to be honest. I was really tired and only going because I had a meeting afterwards.
Andrew wasn't preaching and I wasn't sure who was. I expected it to be boring. Not a great attitude at all.
When I showed up and saw it was Jonathan I was immediately more enthusiastic. That and the great worship set changed my stubborn mindset.
He preached on Psalm 73 and Jesus as the good shepherd. I really needed to hear it.
God is so cool how he can speak even through a bad attitude.
I wasn't really looking forward to it to be honest. I was really tired and only going because I had a meeting afterwards.
Andrew wasn't preaching and I wasn't sure who was. I expected it to be boring. Not a great attitude at all.
When I showed up and saw it was Jonathan I was immediately more enthusiastic. That and the great worship set changed my stubborn mindset.
He preached on Psalm 73 and Jesus as the good shepherd. I really needed to hear it.
God is so cool how he can speak even through a bad attitude.
15.01.11
Two 21sts! That's always the way.
Dylan Marshall's was first and I drove terribly. The boys in the car feared for their lives on more than one occasion. It was so great to chill with camp people. We hardly ever see them so it was special. Dan and Talman serenaded Dylan with their lyrical poetry. We laughed, Dyaln teared up. It was fantastic.
At Elliot's there was a peculiar mix of people. It was strange having school people there and then all the boys who are good friends with my brother. I'm not complaining at all. It was just different.
In the speeches there was much talk of Yu Gi Oh and Mikey was dying because of it.
It was most enjoyable. Especially because there were these delicious little cocktail savouries. Flip yum.
Dylan Marshall's was first and I drove terribly. The boys in the car feared for their lives on more than one occasion. It was so great to chill with camp people. We hardly ever see them so it was special. Dan and Talman serenaded Dylan with their lyrical poetry. We laughed, Dyaln teared up. It was fantastic.
At Elliot's there was a peculiar mix of people. It was strange having school people there and then all the boys who are good friends with my brother. I'm not complaining at all. It was just different.
In the speeches there was much talk of Yu Gi Oh and Mikey was dying because of it.
It was most enjoyable. Especially because there were these delicious little cocktail savouries. Flip yum.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
14.01.11
Emily makes a darn good Thai curry. It was so delicious. I'm going to try eat there as much as possible until her parents come home. I really like that when I go there it's so comfortable I can eat so much until I'm stuffed. I don't know how she's so little because she eats a whole lot. It's actually pretty amazing.
I also made a new friend. Well, I say new friend because it became Facebook official. Sophia and I have Kpop in common. I honestly got far too excited as we talked about our favourite bands. I have to learn to reign it in a little. Honestly I was giggling and flailing my arms and talking way too quickly.
I also made a new friend. Well, I say new friend because it became Facebook official. Sophia and I have Kpop in common. I honestly got far too excited as we talked about our favourite bands. I have to learn to reign it in a little. Honestly I was giggling and flailing my arms and talking way too quickly.
13.01.10
My brother really is very fun.
I was in the living room with Em and Amy just eating some flan and playing bananagrams when Daniel came home.
He made us laugh a lot and instigated a rude words only round.
It was pretty hilarious.
Also, the flan. I had wanted to make it for such a long time. Ever since season 1, episode 14 of Sabrina which was weeks ago. It felt really good to finally do it, even if it tasted like scrambled eggs with sugar.
I was in the living room with Em and Amy just eating some flan and playing bananagrams when Daniel came home.
He made us laugh a lot and instigated a rude words only round.
It was pretty hilarious.
Also, the flan. I had wanted to make it for such a long time. Ever since season 1, episode 14 of Sabrina which was weeks ago. It felt really good to finally do it, even if it tasted like scrambled eggs with sugar.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
12.01.11
I am once again aware of how blessed I am to live in this beautiful place.
Mum took Dan and I out for dinner down in Mairangi Bay this evening. She was well pleased I passed my exams last year so it was celebratory.
Anyway, it was absolutely delicious. Blessing no. 1, being able to eat dinner out at a restaurant. I suppose eating dinner at all is more than many people in the world have.
After dinner we walked along the beach and around to Murrays Bay. Blessing no. 2, living so close to the beach.
It really is a beautiful walk. Even better when you walk over the cliff on the way back. The view from up there is stunning.
The whole time I felt pretty because I had just had my hair cut and she styled it all curly and fun. Blessing no. 3, being able to afford the sheer vanity of an expensive hairdresser.
So blessed.
Mum took Dan and I out for dinner down in Mairangi Bay this evening. She was well pleased I passed my exams last year so it was celebratory.
Anyway, it was absolutely delicious. Blessing no. 1, being able to eat dinner out at a restaurant. I suppose eating dinner at all is more than many people in the world have.
After dinner we walked along the beach and around to Murrays Bay. Blessing no. 2, living so close to the beach.
It really is a beautiful walk. Even better when you walk over the cliff on the way back. The view from up there is stunning.
The whole time I felt pretty because I had just had my hair cut and she styled it all curly and fun. Blessing no. 3, being able to afford the sheer vanity of an expensive hairdresser.
So blessed.
Monday, January 10, 2011
10.01.11
It was my first proper day back at work today. Seeing all the cars parked in their usual spots plus a new addition made me all excited about the prospect of a new year filled with its own challenges and achievements.
The new addition was Han's green Kia.
Although it was weird sitting in the meeting without JD or Willie and I'll have to get used to having objects thrown at me all day, I think it's going to be fun.
This year I want to be a better leader to my team. I want to care more for the people I serve. I also want to be more organized.
It is going to be a great year.
The new addition was Han's green Kia.
Although it was weird sitting in the meeting without JD or Willie and I'll have to get used to having objects thrown at me all day, I think it's going to be fun.
This year I want to be a better leader to my team. I want to care more for the people I serve. I also want to be more organized.
It is going to be a great year.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
08.01.11
This afternoon I spent two hours with the roof, waterblaster, Sufjan Stevens and my thoughts. The steady rhythm and seeing the roof change colour before my eyes was very therapeutic. I danced to my music a bit which must have looked slightly insane to the rest of the world. The rooftop isn't exactly the most discreet place to bust a move.
It was especially nice to do something around the house and for Dad. He's been working hard recently. I came home from holiday to shelves everywhere, a new cupboard and heaps of little favours. It was good to do something in exchange. I haven't been so good at that recently.
It was especially nice to do something around the house and for Dad. He's been working hard recently. I came home from holiday to shelves everywhere, a new cupboard and heaps of little favours. It was good to do something in exchange. I haven't been so good at that recently.
Friday, January 7, 2011
07.01.11
After a delicious lemon meringue pie from Frasers, Amy and I rolled around a patch of grass in Mt Eden, pulling out grass. It was very therapeutic. Then we had a war. By the end of it we were covered in blades of grass and laughing hysterically.
06.01.11
Today I saw Bryan! It was happy. He likes Kpop now! That might be a stretch, but it's exciting nonetheless.
Also, I folded all of my clothes and put them in my new wardrobe. I came home from camping to see that Dad had built me one. It was the loveliest surprise. In the changeover a whole pile of my clothes was on the floor of my room for a few days. It feels so good to have them all folded and put away. Burden-free.
They are so tidy too. You've never seen anything so tidy in your life.
Also, I folded all of my clothes and put them in my new wardrobe. I came home from camping to see that Dad had built me one. It was the loveliest surprise. In the changeover a whole pile of my clothes was on the floor of my room for a few days. It feels so good to have them all folded and put away. Burden-free.
They are so tidy too. You've never seen anything so tidy in your life.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
05.01.11
Sometimes life throws some crazy stuff at you. People are unpredictable and disappointing. Not always, but sometimes.
Life can feel like it's out of control, spinning around you and there's nowhere to focus.
In these times I like to take comfort because God is constant. He's solid and unchanging.
Chaos and turmoil may be all around, but he's there and because of that fact alone, it's going to be ok.
Psalm 55
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
...
22 Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.
Life can feel like it's out of control, spinning around you and there's nowhere to focus.
In these times I like to take comfort because God is constant. He's solid and unchanging.
Chaos and turmoil may be all around, but he's there and because of that fact alone, it's going to be ok.
Psalm 55
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
...
22 Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.
04.01.11
Spa at Rob's!
Flip it was so good. He's been so absent recently so it was great to see him. And also spa times!
They always make me feel a weird mixture of too hot and too cold at the same time. It's like the steam is all in your face and your limbs get so hot but then outside the water it's too chilly.
I kind of like the feeling. It's very strange though. Like it's unnatural.
Flip it was so good. He's been so absent recently so it was great to see him. And also spa times!
They always make me feel a weird mixture of too hot and too cold at the same time. It's like the steam is all in your face and your limbs get so hot but then outside the water it's too chilly.
I kind of like the feeling. It's very strange though. Like it's unnatural.
03.01.11
Our tranquil holiday came to an end today. After the mad cliff walk we had a swim in the bay by the carpark. There was a raft type thing out at sea which we lounged on. We reminisced about our time and the huge blessing it was.
In the early hours of this morning, after the fire had been put out, we had a church service on our grassy knoll. There was much iPod worship, we had communion, and Laban shared. God's love and grace were poring out. There are no words.
Out there on that raft in the ocean we remembered all that He had taught us and created and blessed us with in our time at "The Old Tawh".
As we were about to leave, Amy suggested we pray. And we did. Prayer does special things. It's including God in every day and crediting him for the awesomeness of life.
In the early hours of this morning, after the fire had been put out, we had a church service on our grassy knoll. There was much iPod worship, we had communion, and Laban shared. God's love and grace were poring out. There are no words.
Out there on that raft in the ocean we remembered all that He had taught us and created and blessed us with in our time at "The Old Tawh".
As we were about to leave, Amy suggested we pray. And we did. Prayer does special things. It's including God in every day and crediting him for the awesomeness of life.
02.01.11
Today has been a day of blessing. We went to church at Clevedon Presbyterian this morning. It was a sweet service. There were some people who Laban and Amy knew already and we got invited to someone's house for lunch. It was so delicious. They made their own bread! But also the company was great and the way they just opened their home was really great.
When we got back to the campsite we made friends with a new family who had set up there. They ended up giving us fresh cooked snapper for dinner which was delicious and we toasted marshmallows on their fire.
People can be really awesome. There was so much to be thankful about today.
When we got back to the campsite we made friends with a new family who had set up there. They ended up giving us fresh cooked snapper for dinner which was delicious and we toasted marshmallows on their fire.
People can be really awesome. There was so much to be thankful about today.
01.1.11
The grassy knoll featured prominently in the events of today. To be honest, the beauty of today was that there were no events.
We awoke after sleeping on the knoll to a beautiful, dewless morning. The rest of the day was spent in leisure. Kipping on the knoll, sunbathing, bananagramming and swimming.
It was a great day which allowed a lot of time to reflect on last year and make resolutions.
We awoke after sleeping on the knoll to a beautiful, dewless morning. The rest of the day was spent in leisure. Kipping on the knoll, sunbathing, bananagramming and swimming.
It was a great day which allowed a lot of time to reflect on last year and make resolutions.
31.12.10
Tonight marked the turn of the year. To celebrate we gazed at more stars and the boys built a fire.
Like stars, fire is entrancing. At no moment will it ever be the same again. It flickers and licks in a beautiful way for something so destructive.
We listened to some worship as we watched the fire and we prayed together for the new year.
It was incredibly special.
Like stars, fire is entrancing. At no moment will it ever be the same again. It flickers and licks in a beautiful way for something so destructive.
We listened to some worship as we watched the fire and we prayed together for the new year.
It was incredibly special.
30.12.10
When you get out of the city the stars are truly breathtaking. We lay back on our grassy knoll and stared at the night sky.
The stars twinkled in a way which we couldn't understand. We could see clusters which were constellations and every few minutes we'd all make noises because of a shooting star.
There's something intimate about looking at the sky, but also something so impersonal. You realise your own insignificance as you see how vast the universe is.
The stars twinkled in a way which we couldn't understand. We could see clusters which were constellations and every few minutes we'd all make noises because of a shooting star.
There's something intimate about looking at the sky, but also something so impersonal. You realise your own insignificance as you see how vast the universe is.
29.12.10
Anticipation is a crazy thing. The anticipation itself isn't always very nice to experience, but it can heighten the awesomeness of the subject of anticipation.
Today I was anticipating camping for 5 nights with friends at a little beach. There were many questions.
Is the walk with all our gear going to be too difficult? What if someone gets hurt and we can't get medical help soon enough? Are we all going to get along? Will we have enough to do? Will we get sick of each other after 5 days?
Turns out that all of these questions were void. I didn't know that until our trip was over, however. The whole thing was incredible and I think the anticipation of it all just added to it.
Today I was anticipating camping for 5 nights with friends at a little beach. There were many questions.
Is the walk with all our gear going to be too difficult? What if someone gets hurt and we can't get medical help soon enough? Are we all going to get along? Will we have enough to do? Will we get sick of each other after 5 days?
Turns out that all of these questions were void. I didn't know that until our trip was over, however. The whole thing was incredible and I think the anticipation of it all just added to it.
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