09.08.09

I just got home from competing in my church Talent Quest. It was so much fun.
I forgot how much I love performing, even though I get so unbelievably nervous.
Dan and I performed a song. It was cool to be up there with him. He's so natural on stage.
It's so exhilarating!
Here's the original song. We added another verse.

08.08.09

Natalie Portman is gorgeous.
She's so bold. I looked her up on IMDB and she's said some pretty cool stuff.
If I was an actress I'd want to be like her.
I love how she shaved all her hair off and didn't even care.
If only more celebrities could be like her. They all just seem so self-obsessed and I bet old Nat isn't perfect but she knows that fame isn't everything and she doesn't do silly things to be in the spotlight.

Also, her face is nice. It was perfect for her role in Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium. One day I, too shall own a magic store.

Just. You. Wait.

07.08.09

Fridays are the best days ever. I don't have uni so I'm free to lay in and do whatever I please.
Today I went shopping with Mum.
I bought two dresses and some shoes. They are pretty dresses and practical shoes. Plus Mum was happy.
It's always nice to actually buy something when I go shopping. I usually look around, get daunted by price tags and tell myself I'll find something just as good at an op shop. That hardly ever happens.
But yes. Shop assistants kept commenting on how we were having a shopping day out. I felt so weird because it's not something I've thought of doing before. Shopping for a whole entire day just for fun. No thanks.
New stuff is always fun though. Especially trying it on when you get home with all different ensembles.

06.08.09

I think my hormones are getting the better of me because I shed a tear tonight during Anne Of Green Gables - the Sequel.
So shoot me.
It was just so happy when she FINALLY realises she's been in love with Gilbert all along.
They kiss and everything is better.
It's honestly the best cheer-up movie ever.
Everything is resolved in the best possible way, marriage for the two concerned is inevitable, and happiness and stability reigns again for Avonlea.
I feel positively uplifted.

05.08.09

I promised Ana I would write about her.

I went to the flat again tonight and cooked dinner. Thank goodness Kara was there to give some advice. It turned out ok.

Anyway, after dinner and a trip to the gas station to get ice creams, we got Ana's Skype up and running.

It was fun to chat for a while even though we were under the same roof. When it was time to go, she convinced me to keep my laptop on to see how far the wifi would go.

I was so impressed. I got all the way out onto the road and nearly 50m away. It was cool. Like Liz and Ana were in my car too, just chatting.

That was pretty exciting.

04.08.09

When I get my nose in a book (especially a trashy chick lit. novel) I become totally engrossed and can think of not much else. I extract myself from reality for a bit. That's why I got a little frustrated this afternoon when I was asked to go and help pick up a pool table for the spare room. It was up to such a good part in the book and it was so hard. I did my best not to grumble though and I was actually quite glad I went even though I wasn't much help. I should have played a game of pool with the boys but as soon as I got in the door I hurried to my room to pick up my book. I was impressed with my self-control.

03.08.09

We've been having technological problems at band lately and not being a technologically minded person, I don't know how to deal with it. So I called in JD to help out and he explained to David and I what we needed, how much approximately it would cost and all that. He then did our sound levels and made everything sound absolutely perfect. It was so good to sound like we were a proper band with everyone singing in the right place, no feedback from the wireless headsets and the perfect amount of volume. It's so encouraging when you can hear the potential your music has to sound even better.

02.08.09

This morning one boy from Promiseland handed Jessamy and I each a card quite sheepishly. He is so sweet. The envelope has chocolates stuck to it and he'd drawn pictures on it. Inside it he expressed how glad he was that we were home and that he'd missed us while we were in Tonga.
It felt so special to be appreciated like that. It makes me feel like we're doing something right when one of the kids begs his mum to make us something for when we get back.

01.08.09

This evening during a screening of Anne Of Green Gables Pt. 1 I fell into hysterics. It was hilarious. Without completely meaning to be I don't think. It was just how utterly cheesy and romanticized it all was. It was so quaint, the countryside and the innocence. It was fantastic. If it weren't for the horrible outfits some of them wore (I'm talking way too much lace and bows and puffy sleeves), I would so be there.

31.07.09

This was a stay-in-bed-and-read-all-day day. It was so amazing. I love just curling up under the blankets and slipping out of this world and into another for a little while. Books are amazing things. You can get so caught up in them. Kinda like films but you get to be the director.

30.07.09

I helped a girl at uni today. She was attempting to carry her bass (as in violin, not guitar) plus a stool up a hill. All I did was take the stool for her but she appreciated it. I love helping strangers out like that. It really brightens your day. I reckon I should do it more. You end up way better off, maybe even more so than the person you helped. Warm fuzzies all round.

29.07.09

Tonight I went to my friend's flat and cooked them dinner. It was actually very fun. I didn't kill them with my cooking either. I loved just hanging out and watching tv. It was really nice. I felt like I was a regular old flattie too. And it was great to cook them dinner. They'd all had hard days and I know they appreciated it.

28.07.09

At lifegroup tonight I found out that someone from church had got themselves in a whole heap of trouble. We were talking about prayer and intercession. I couldn't imagine what I'd do in these sorts of situations without being able to pray. I'd feel so helpless. I don't understand prayer but it's so awesome to be able to talk to God in such an intimate way.

27.07.09

Today I met with Olivia in my break. It was lovely that she could just sit in the commons with me while my laptop charged. She's so nice. Also, her last class was at 12 so she stayed in for 3 hours so we could hang. I felt so special.

26.07.09

I have written out this post once already and I only just realised it never posted so here we go again.

This morning it seemed like nothing would go right at Promiseland. Leaders called up sick at the last minute, technology didn't agree with me, DVD's didn't play, we didn't have the right leads. But in all that I discovered that making the service run the best or look the best didn't matter. What counted was that the leaders bond with the kids and that the kids know that they are loved and accepted when they come.

25.07.09

I love going to the theater. I saw Broken Embraces at the Civic tonight. I've never watched a film with so many people before. It was strange. But it was great. The screen was massive. It was such a cool experience. I kept getting distracted by the clouds that were being projected onto the ceiling. But yes. The film was long but good. I've never seen a Spanish language film and this didn't disappoint.

24.07.09

I'm trying out this thing where I only wash my hair every second day because it's better for it.
This is the second day so tonight I washed my hair. It was such a relief. Oh my word I could not wait.
It had got so yuck and it made me feel gross.
Blow drying it after my shower and seeing it all clean and shiny was a fantastic feeling. It's just so nice to have good hair. That's why bad hair days are such an issue.

23.07.09

Two remarkable things happened to make up for the lack thereof yesterday.

1: Mavis called! She's one of the girls from the church in Tonga. I really connected with her so it was so cool to hear her voice. It was so strange cos she was so quiet and I was on a bus, yelling into my phone in English scattered with Tongan. People must have thought I was insane. A lady did come sit down next to me though. Can't have been too bad.

2: Tonight was very rainy and very windy. I was driving, which was no mean feat, you can ask Sarah. It was a tad scary. Anyhow, I dropped her off at her car in the parking lot and the rain was doing something very cool on the tarmac. It looked kinda like a smoke machine but 50 times more exciting. The wind was sweeping it along the ground making ripples and waves. I would have loved to catch it on camera. I loved the way it swirled and moved. Freaking cool.

22.07.09

This day seemed pretty unremarkable.
I did allow my mother to purchase me a new item of clothing. At full price too! And from a real shop. It's been a while.
I love wearing new things. It makes me feel all fresh.
It's always a good day when you are wearing something brand spanking new.
That's a weird saying.

21.07.09

My remarkable moment for today is having the remarkable moments from the past three or so weeks done.
I'm up to date and it feels amazing.
Updating was such a daunting task as I had so many to do and the longer I put it off the more I had to do.
But it's done now!
Isn't accomplishing things such a fantastic feeling.
WOOO!

20.07.09

I have been dreading this day for three weeks. It was the day uni started again.
It wasn't as bad as I thought. I was pleasantly surprised.
I had a two hour theology lecture. It was like being in media but then he'd drop in something about God and I'd remember where I was. Pretty cool. We saw the opening sequence of Romeo and Juliet. The one with Leo. Such a fantastic film.
Anyway, yes. This course will be interesting. Liberal as. I dunno what to do. Oh well. Should be a challenge.

19.07.09

This morning was the leader's meeting for Promiseland.
I made the best caramel slice which I took.
It was scrummy.
So scrummy there was none left to take home.
That was sad.
Each bite was a little bit of heaven.
You wish you could have tried it.

18.07.09

I woke up bright and early this morning to get to the first training I have ever been part of running.
It was a bit scary seeing as I'm the youngest on the team at Promiseland (kid's church) and I'm in charge. I've got a great team though and their experience helps heaps.
It was so encouraging that the training went well. I got them all to fill in feedback forms and it was all so positive. Also, there were only a few people not there. It was such a great turn-out, even from the band!

Afterwards I took the band out to get dye and t-shirts to make new band ones. Tie-dying is high on my list of favourite activities. It was heaps of fun. We all worked together and made mess then cleaned it up and everyone's shirts look great. I love teamwork like that. Ahhh. Great day.

17.07.09

I hung out with Mum today.
We went to the mall.
I hate malls.
But hanging with Mum was great.
She's cool.
She's fun.
Especially when she's in one of her moods.
The silly ones.
And she giggles and giggles.

16.07.09

I went back to work today.
It was kinda cool to be back.
I liked to be thinking about NZ kids again and all the stuff that I needed to.
I think they missed me a bit too which is also a very nice feeling.
Ana texted me a few times and even said she wanted to see me. I miss her too.
Warm fuzzies all round.

15.07.09

This evening three great people graced my house with their presence, Esther, Michael and Jonathan. They were the first people outside of family I had seen since Tonga and it was fantastic to see them.
We watched One Hour Photo. It had no red though so when blood gushed out it was green. That was sort of frustrating. I'm glad the world has red. It would be too boring without it.
Also, I made dinner. The rice turned into one globby mess. They ate it though, without too much moaning. I appreciated that. the stir fry part was yum though. It was just the rice was mush. Oh well. It's cool to cook for friends. Even when it doesn't turn out quite right.

14.07.09

Climbing into my bed last night was amazing. I couldn't believe how soft it was. The sheets were clean and Mum had put the electric blanket on for my return. I felt like a princess. Those two factors make for a remarkable moment on a normal day, but having just shared an uncomfortable bed with Amy for two weeks, I really appreciated it ten times more.
Not that sharing a bed with Amy was a horrible experience. It was actually strange not having her there. It's a good thing I was so tired I just fell asleep straight away otherwise I may not have been able to drift off without out a few jokes and coughing fits.

13.07.09

It was definitely a bittersweet goodbye.
On the one hand I couldn't wait to get home and get better and have good sleeps and relax a bit but then I LOVE Tonga and everything that goes with so it was so hard to say goodbye.
I know I'll be back soon enough though and I can't wait.

12.07.09

We went to three churches again today. I don't know how we got through it all but we managed somehow.
The last church was an English congregation. We did our same programme there and it made me appreciate the outgoingness of the Tongans we had performed to previously because they were just so reserved. It was quite a disappointment.

I got talking to someone who had got her teaching qualifications in NZ and moved over to Tonga to teach primary kids. I think that would be so cool. Something to pray about.

11.07.09

This was a day of rest for us and oh man was it appreciated.
We just relaxed in town in a cafe and then headed back home to chill some more.
It was so nice not to have to do anything. I even wore shorts to town which was a tad scandalous now I think of. I showed my knees! Oh dear.
Oh well.
Yes.
Relaxation.
Mmmm.

10.07.09

We had a chance to do some door knocking today. Willie (one of our hosts) took us to one of the poorest villages, Popua, which is also where the holiday club was. We went from house to house chatting with them about God.
It was amazing. I was a tad nervous because I wasn't sure how it would all go down. Willie told me I was sharing my testimony first up so when the young Tongan guy opened the door I racked my brains to think how I could make my testimony apply to him. Praise God for giving me the words to speak because at the end of it he wanted to give his life to Jesus. Oh man that was cool. And at the first house!
It really made me feel like God was working through me and using me to share the gospel with this young guy. It was so awesome.

09.07.09

Today we had a jam-packed day but the thing that really impacted me the most was the thing that we did for the least amount of time.
We visited the special needs school for a little while and just hung out and painted faces. We did some songs and things but we wanted just to be friendly and interact personally with the kids. They were so gorgeous. It was such a happy place. Such a great environment.

There was this little girl called Lola-Katie who went straight for the microphone and picked it up and started swaying on the spot. In her head she was performing the biggest concert of her life. It was so sweet. After we finished the songs she did three great bows and looked very pleased with herself. As we went to leave she bolted out the door and jumped in our van. I'll never forget her expression of utter joy and mischief.

08.07.09

Today I came down with the flu. It's no good.
Anyway, Amy, Dan and I stayed at the house while everyone went to the bible study. We were meant to go to bed early and get better. However, there was a big concert being put on by the YWAM team on the field outside our bedroom window.
We got a little curious and decided to rebel and sneak out. It was fun. We wrapped up warm and sat and watched. It was really awesome but then...
The rest of our team came home early and decided to watch too. We got caught out.
It was fun though.
It was better that we were being rebellious on a mission trip.

07.07.09

This morning we caught a boat to a gorgeous little island called Pangaimotu. It was so pretty. The main island is nice but a tad polluted and rubbishy so this was amazing. There's something about the beautiful blue water. It's a colour which is so difficult to reproduce.

It wasn't all play and no work though because afterwards we went to Patangata which is a poor village right by the old rubbish dump site. I saw a little girl who I had made friends with a couple of years ago. It was so cool to see her again. She didn't recognise me at first but I think she did by the end. Oh man it was cool. I've been thinking about her and praying for her all this time so to see her again was just so awesome. I really hoped I would and it happened!

Me and Sionipa:

06.07.09

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Today we got to go around the island like tourists and experience a bit of the beauty and wonder of Tonga.

It was amazing.

We stood right on the edge of a cliff at the topmost part of Tonga and nothing (not even a barrier) was between us and the vast ocean and the massive drop below onto freaky rocks.

It was beautiful.

We also went to a cave where you could jump off one of the tope shelve things into the deep fresh water. I wasn't brave enough so I got in a more conventional way and perched on a stalagmite at the perfect height to sit on in the water. It was amazing. There was no natural light so the lanterns were reflecting off the water. I could see right down to the bottom it was so clear.

Isn't God so cool how he creates such beautiful places. That cave would have been sitting around in all it's glory for ages before people saw it. It's like God just made it for fun. How awesome is he!?

05.07.09

By this stage in the trip everyone is feeling quite weary. It's been all go the whole week and we haven't had too much time to just relax.
Today was no different. We had two church services to present at and a third to just attend.
The third was at the Tongan Revival Church. It was so refreshing just to be at a church with a bit of passion. It's cool that everyone worships differently and there's not one particular style but it was cool to be free to sing and pray and jump and worship without restraint. We all just needed it to revive our spirits.
God is so good how he knows just what we need and when and he just provides it.

04.07.09

Tongan choirs send chills down your spine. It's amazing when they sing.
We went to the prison this afternoon and they sang for us. Oh man. It was beautiful. The guy could sing so high. Flip it was cool. There was one guy who was the hugest man I have ever seen in my life. He was frightening. It's like all he has done his entire life is work out. On top of that he must have some giant blood. Crazy. I should have taken a photo of him.

03.07.09

We had our first night of the youth camp tonight.
Once again I have been blessed by the Tongan people.
They are so hospitable.
They put on massive feasts for us. I don't know how they afford it.
The best thing about this trip so far has been getting to know the girls from Touliki Gospel Chapel better. Last time I came it was like an initiation of the relationship but it's really special to be building upon that.
They are so gorgeous. They make us laugh so much. They have decided we are all fat and they have delivered a few of our babies so far. Even Amy! And she's tiny.

02.07.09

This morning we went to a little secluded beach called Secret Cove. It was stunning. White sand, crystal clear water...
We took a picnic breakfast and sat on the sand.
It was such an amazing feeling to be eating paw paw on a little beach with sand under my feet and looking out at the waves hitting the reef.

01.07.09

We did a programme at Lavenga Malie High School today. It was really great. We could have sung better but the drama went really well.
At the end one of the teachers got up and thanked us. We're talking a big Tongan man. He cried in front of the school. It was so touching. I'm not gonna lie, I welled up.
He said that the drama really moved him and the other aspects of the programme.
Praise God! May he use it powerfully each time we do it.

30.06.09

The kids here in Tonga are totally different to NZ kids. We did our first holiday club and it was just so awesome.
They are so open and just want to touch you and hug you and have your attention.
We did our programme in this beautiful woman named Toa's house. There is swamp literally a meter from the back door. The living conditions were so shocking and yet the kids who all lived in the same area were so joyful.
It blew us all away.
When we brought out the craft stuff and the lollies you should have seen their faces. It was amazing. It was as if they'd never seen anything like the colourful pipecleaners and pom poms in their lives.
They made me think that I should be so much more grateful for everything that I have. Flip.

29.06.09

We have FINALLY landed in Tonga.
Oh man what a journey.
We couldn't land because the clouds were so low so we flew to Fiji to wait a while. It was so great. Now I can say I've been to Fiji. No stamp on the passport though.
Being on top of the clouds is such an awesome feeling.
They look so beautiful. The way they form little puffs and are such a beautiful white. I love it.

28.06.09

It is 12:00am and I still haven't finished packing. I am going to get very little sleep before I have to be up and ready to go to Tonga.
It is rather exciting all this.
I love early morning flights. They just make you feel like you are going on the biggest adventure ever.
I cannot wait!

27.06.09

This fog is so beautiful.
I love driving in it. It makes things mysterious. Especially when accompanied by Trunk - Kings Of Leon.
I was dropping Amy home in it when we discovered a fun game.
I put the car in neutral to glide down the hill and then we decided we should see how far we got so we turned the corner and tried to get all the way to the beach. The car looked like it was going to come to a standstill so we both started jumping in our seats. It propelled the car forward and we even got over a speed bump.
We were in fits of laughter it was so much fun. We tried different locations in mairangi bay. We failed to get around the round about though. Ahhh what a hoot!

26.06.09

Oh man.
I bought the most delicious taste explosion in your mouth drink today. It was called Lychee Fusion.
I was a tad weary because yesterday I bought the most foul drink ever. I can't read the writing on it so I never know what I'll get but it tasted gross. Like burnt candy. I shudder to think.
That's why today's purchase was so much more appreciated.
It was amazing. Really.

In other news, Michael Jackson has died. I saw a giant burger doing the moonwalk on the pavement in tribute.

25.06.09

This has been the week for seeing people I haven't seen in ages.
I had coffee with Jess today.
I went to uni to study and as soon as I'd sat down and got out my laptop I got a call from Jess.
It was great.
She's just go sweet and happy that she makes me so happy.
I hadn't hung out with her one on one ever I don't think. We certainly have to more often.
It's always such a treat seeing people you haven't seen in a while, especially if the other alternative is studying.

24.06.09

Today I went to Esther's house and she, Jono (second mention!!!) and myself made lemon meringue pie and did a puzzle.
I say I was involved in making the pie but really I just offered my bowl licking services.
I have since learned you shouldn't lick the bowl because raw egg can give you salmonella poisoning. I will still do it in future however.
Anyway, it was lovely just to hang with them as I haven't seen them in so long.
Puzzles are also great fun and you can't beat lemon meringue pie.

23.06.09

This evening Mum and I decided to do some exercise so I was teaching her some pilates moves and then we were jumping around to Basshunter.
She made me laugh so hard. I couldn't do my exercises properly because she looked so darn funny.
In one move which is meant to be so graceful she looked like a toddler throwing a tantrum and then in another she looked like someone was tazering her.
Man was it a laugh.

22.06.09

The Spanish royals are in NZ!
I saw them!
Well not them actually but they were in the Fale when I walked past. I was wondering why there were so many police and guards around.
It was awesome.
I felt like I was in a movie.
There were all these Mercedes with tinted windows and these three VW vans which had stickers on the windshields saying "Royal Family." Soooo cool.
It was like the Princess Diaries.
There were these two girls outside the Fale office squealing and jumping around in a way which only Pacific Islanders can. It was so funny. Their joy was contagious.
I love that.

21.06.09

It's such a great feeling when something you've put so much work and effort into pays off fully.
This morning the kids did a skit/song thing for the main church and it was so darned cute.
They all dressed up as animals and sung a song and did actions.
Oh man was it great.
They did so well and I am so proud.
But yes.
It had the potential to be disastrous and it wasn't!
Praise God!

20.06.09

Tonight I stayed up way too late.
Sometimes it's nice just to be out and about knowing that you should really be in bed.
I felt badass.
Not really.
I was watching How To Lose a Guy In Ten Days at Kelly's place.
You know that groggy, tired, I just wanna sleep feeling? Yup.
But it was cool.
Have been too sensible as of late.

19.06.09

It's lovely just to have quality time with one's mother. I went to lunch and then Ike's Emporium and then church with mine today.
It was nice just to spend time doing stuff with her.
She's pretty swell is my mum.

18.06.09

Tonight I went to the scary washing machine auction closing charity party thing.

It was so cool to feel part of the action.

We took loads of photos of the machine.

It really was quite loud.

Lived up to the auction.

If you don't know what I'm talking about check out www.scarywashingmachine.com

I even touched it!

17.06.09

Today I FINALLY handed in my second assignment for Tongan 201.
It felt unbelievably good.
Like a whole weight off my shoulders.
Flip.
Why couldn't I just have done it earlier.
I'm so stupid.
But it was an amazing feeling.
I love Tongan.
One and a bit weeks!

16.06.09

I could not sleeeeeeep.
I have been so good for the last couple of nights too.
However, tonight I went to bed at 10:30 and was all snuggled up but my mind was racing. I kept thinking of things to do and people I needed to email. Goodness it was awful.
I got fed up at about 12:40 when I grabbed Adam and started surfing.
I got into an awesome conversation with a friend of mine. It was great to chat. She's one of those people with whom I always seem to have DMC's with. Mostly late at night. I feel as though I slam her all the time for stuff but she takes it and she seems to appreciate my honesty about life and God and such.
It's cool to have someone to be open about that sort of thing with.
I think that it was a divine appointment of sorts.
Although I am shattered right now.

15.06.09

Tonight at band practise I totally laid the smack down about comittment and being on time.
It was so good just to do that and to have them listen to me.
It was amazing how the atmosphere in the room just dropped as I explained why they need to be there on time and how slacking off is not acceptable.
But the practise was so much more focussed and we got everything done. We even finished early! Amazing.
Do not cross me. I shall unleash my wrath and fury.

14.06.09

This morning the team from church going to Tonga went to a little Tongan church in South Auckland. It was so cool.
The guy who's kinda like the pastor spoke and he interchanged between Tongan and English. It was amazing. One day I shall be able to do that. he had lived in Tonga for 15 years. But man.
It was awesome because I was able to understand a few words of the Tongan and get the gist of what he was saying. I was so proud.
I love other cultures. They are so interesting.

13.06.09

This day as I was driving up to an intersection it was pouring down and all the lights were reflecting off the road surface.
It was so beautiful.
There was red and green and white and orange.
It looked so lovely.
Kinda like one of those photos where you capture the light in such a way it creates lines.

12.06.09

Tonight was the first time in a long time I had been to Emerge which is the youth church at Albany City Church.
It was so great to walk in and be greeted with smiles and squeals.
It made me feel so special.
I love those people and it's been way to long since I had seen them.
PLUS I beat Craig at a car game on the xbox.
That's never happened before.

11.06.09

Tonight I went around to my friend's flat and we just hung out. I drank coke! And ate the biscuits which SHE left in the oven too long.
It was just great fun.
OH! And have you seen the new cardboard Cadbury chocolate packaging?
Scandal! Same price of 50g less. Shocking.

10.06.09

FREE TEETH!
Not in the absolutely no-cost way, but in the break-out-of-prison way.
This is the day I have been waiting for for about 20 months. What a cause for celebration!
Seeing my naked teeth for the first time was a tad weird.
They looked rather large. I am more used to it now though.
They were oh so slimy as I ran my tongue over them. I couldn't help but do it.
Ohhh. Free teeth worldwide I say!

09.06.09

Today I just felt God was near me all day.
It was so cool to feel his presence just as I went about my day.
I know he's there all the time it's just I could sense him more today maybe.

It is also very cool how God can use people in such small ways to impact hugely on someone else. I just felt today around about lunchtime that I should pray for this one girl in my band who is having a bit of a rough time at school with some other girls. I just texted her some simple encouragement. It honestly took a few seconds.
She replied in an email when she got home and said how lunch was so awful for her today and thanks because what I said really meant a lot to her, not just in her school situation but where she's at with God and that it was just at the right time when she really needed it.

I love that God can use us and prompt us to do things that could be so meaningless or simple but really it has eternal or crucial implications.

08.06.09

Dutch Liquorice is so good.
The first taste is all salty weirdness and then it just keeps getting better.
So much so that you cannot stop.
You just keep reaching in for more.
This variety is farmer liquorice.
I take a cow and chew the head off first, a maiden and nibble her feet, a barn and chew the roof.
You get the idea.

07.06.09

Isn't nice to come home after a really long day and just be home.
It just feels so cosy and familiar and comfortable.
Especially when it is accompanied by a nice hot cup of tea.

06.06.09

This evening I went to a 21st waaaaaayyy out in the wops.
It was so scary driving around all the bends in the pitch black, especially after Mum has told me the road I was on is notorious for crashes.
Not fun.
Then I got lost.
I went too far and wound up on a very narrow metal road.
It was like something out of a horror film.
To make matters worse I was listening to Kings Of Leon with all their ambiance and it was creeping me out.
But it was definitely an experience.
Thinking back it was quite fun.
Livin life on the edge.

05.06.09

As I look off into the distance
Watching the sun roll on by
Beautiful colors all around me
Painted all over the sky
The same hands that created all of this
They created you and I
What a beautiful God
And what am I, that I might be called Your child
What am I, what am I
That You might know me, my King
What am I, what am I
That You might die, that I might live
-Shawn McDonald, "Beautiful"


Tonight's dusk was just so perfect. The sky was a lovely amber and I love the way it contrasted to the concrete and the cars on the way home.
I took a photo on my phone but it was shocking. Can't see a thing. No point in uploading.
At the same time as that I was listening to my iPod and it was just so fitting.

04.06.09

It is the 4th which means that it is less than a week until I get my teeth jewelery off.
How exciting!
But today I got in a fit of giggles. It hasn't happened in quite a long time. It was so great just to laugh and not be able to stop.
I was filming Amy say a video notice and she just kept cracking me up. It was shakey camera so bad every take.
She was just far too enthusiastic.
Ohhh good times.
Laughing cures everything.

03.06.09

Today I watched The Butterfly Effect. It made me really sad because I felt so sorry for him at the end. The only way things could have been better is if he were never born. That's just awful.
I'm so thankful that God has an awesome plan and that everyone is meant to fit into it. No life is worthless.
Most people don't realize that though. They should because life is so hopeless without the knowledge that you are part of something way bigger than the few years you are on this planet.

02.06.09

I rediscovered my love for The Sims today.
I loaded it onto the computer thinking it would be harmless and I'd just make a couple of people and I wouldn't get too into it.
WRONG
I love it. There's something about controlling the little people that's so much fun.
I remember making a town full of all my friends when I was younger. I thought it was hilarious when some of them got in fights.
Ahhh it's an ingenious game.

01.06.09

My mum went to Kuala Lumpur yesterday for a conference. Dad got all excited this morning and woke up early to make bacon and eggs for breakfast. He can do whatever he likes because Mum isn't at home. He didn't even clean up.
But yes. I was still in bed when my brother came into my room brandishing a plate full of goodness.
I've never had breakfast in bed before. It was such a treat.
I felt so special.

31.05.09

Tonight I checked out my friend Esther's church. It was so refreshing to be in a less conservative church for a change. I love my church but it was cool to have the time just to reflect and spend some time in God's presence. Also it was nice because usually I'm doing something at church and I don't get that time for myself there. So it was cool being just part of a congregation.
The worship was cool too. It was all about lifting God up and honoring him. There was no "I" or "me" in the lyrics at all. How cool is that!? I think he'd be pleased about that.

30.05.09

It is break-up season at the moment.

This afternoon my friend broke up with her boyfriend of ages.

Amy and I popped round to see her and it was so cool just to chill and talk and to just be there for her.

We ate skittles and gummy bears and made too much noise too late at night.

It was nice.

29.05.09

My car is all better, you will be pleased to know.

To celebrate I picked up Sarah and went back to my house to watch Lars and the Real Girl. It was such a lovely film. I didn't think I would ever say that about a film starring an Angelina Jolie-esque sex doll.


We were in a bit of a spontaneous mood so we decided we would like to go to Cassette. When we got there and saw there was someone standing at the door with a list of names we decided to go to Cornerbar instead. It was cosy and nice in Cornerbar.

We soon got bored and moved on to Momotea. I love Peach natas with pearls.

I received a text or two from Han-Gyul Cho and Nicole who were at Denny's so we rocked on in there and chilled.

It really was cool just to be out and about and going with the flow.

28.05.09

This morning I did the rounds with Dad before he dropped me at work because my car is still sick.

It was really cool just to spend about an hour of quality time with him as we did some errands (picked up radiator hoses and dropped off a welder).

I like how we don't always have to talk. It's cool just chillin' with Chris Tomlin blaring and singing along. He doesn't even comment on how bad my almost-harmonies are.

27.05.09

This evening the sky was so red. It was absolutely stunning. At the time when I saw the red sky I happened to be walking by a pond with ducks in it. The pond was reflecting the sky and the ducks just enhanced the picture.
It really was splendid.
I should start taking photos of things to accompany my posts.
You should have seen it.
Enough said.

26.05.09

Tonight at lifegroup we talked about patience or longsuffering and how God is so awesome to be so patient with humankind.
Just think about the Israelites in the desert. They kept mucking up even after God had revealed himself and his goodness to them many times over. Even personally, I just don't know why he even bothers half the time.
I would have given up on me long ago.
He never has though and to me that's amazing. It's one of the most hopeful things I can think of.

25.05.09

I love trees.
No really in the "save the trees" kinda way.
They are just so beautiful.
Especially right now at the in-betweeen Autumn and Winter stage.
There's something about the spindley branches that I love.

At work I look out my window and there's such a cute wee tree there.
It has shed most of it's leaves but there are still some hanging on for dear life.

If you think about it, the life of a leaf would be hard. You probably don't even last from spring to August and if you are fortunate enough to osmosisize and photosynthesize enough during the year all your hard work isn't even appreciated by the tree and it just throws you off after it's had enough.

It really must be tough.

24.05.09

Tonight at church we did a response to the Red Bucket Series which we have been doing.
It's been a really good series getting convicted by Ps Andrew about confession and not living in the world and all that so it was cool to spend some time and reflect and make a decision about how we want to live.

It was so great just to see so many people go to the stations and do business with God and also the people who responded to prayer and the ones who just sat and reflected in their seats. I love when we have nights like this where you see people getting on their knees before God. It's awesome.

23.05.09

All of today I was in a weird mood. Just strange. Not emotionally. But like chemically. I think.
It was just strange. I think it has to do with the weather.

Moving along...

I had a great day with Liz today. We watched Seven Pounds which was great. It sure was weird though.
Everything was weird today.
But yes. Seven Pounds.
It's so good to see good acting again. Refreshing.
Will Smith is amazing.
The film was also very convicting. Like wow. he was willing to give parts of himself to other people. That's selflessness. Sure, he had been a big meanie before that but still. He redeemed himself well.

I am rambling.

I'll stop.

22.05.09

It was soooo chilly walking back down to Britomart from uni today.

I bought a hazelnut hot chocolate and from the moment of the first sip it seemed to warm me up from the inside out.

Mmmmm. I love hot chocolates on cold winter days.

The only problem is when they finish.

21.05.09

I spent a chunk of time today working on a video presentation I am making for the Global day of Prayer for Children at Risk.
I was watching videos and looking at pictures about abortion, abuse, poverty, trafficking, war and disease, and yuck stuff like that.
It was just so eye opening.
Not that I didn't know it was all happening but I just rediscovered how fallen this world is.
I really feel like I should be doing more about reducing all this crap in the world.
I mean, how the HECK could you bash up a baby so bad that they die. That's awful.
I think that this realisation is remarkable just because of how important it is to realise that these things happen and they need to stop.

20.05.09

I got Adium today. It is a programme for Macs which allow for all the different IM windows to be in one. How cool.

This means that I chatted to all my old MSN contacts for the first time in so long.
I never realised how much I missed them.

I had a great old yarn to Han about life and Taylor Swift. It was great.

Friends are cool. I'm so glad for the interwebs and the ability to have them at your fingertips whenever.

19.05.09

I went to the lecture I never go to today. I just dread it. It's like I've put a mental block in place which doesn't allow me to think anything positive about it.
But it was fun today. What made it fun was sitting next to Ellen and then walking to Britomart with her and laughing our heads off at our own silly jokes.
Laughing is grand.
Thanks Ellen.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chaucer (personal joke)

18.05.09

My car has broken down which means I have to walk everywhere and catch the bus.
It's not so bad.
It means I get some much needed exercise.
Walking also means I can listen to my iPod and think.
Thinking is great. I tend to over-analyse everything. It's just how I am though.
But yeah. there's nothing like thinking to yourself walking along the footpath with your hands in your pockets and the wind in your face.

17.05.09

I have a new addiction.
It is called Bejeweled.
I just cannot stop playing. I was up until very late last night/this morning because of it.
When I shut my eyes I see shining jewels just waiting for me to put them in rows of three.
There's something very satisfying about lining them up and seeing them blow up.
At the moment I'm the top of my friends leaderboard.
If you want to challenge me IT'S ON!
Facebook me.

16.05.09

Today was a lazy day.
I procrastinated all day.
I feel really guilty. Not a nice feeling.
Anyhow.
This evening we had guests for dinner. The little kids were so cute. I entertained them. Really I just stuck Hairspray on and let them create me a moshi monster.
At the end of Hairspray we got up and danced in the credits. It was great fun just to let go and dance like no one was watching. They loved it.
Dancing can be such a release.

15.05.09

Today I had my Hong Kong Cinema lecture. It is freezing in the room. You walk in and it hits you like a heat wave except icy cold. To make matters worse, it's a two hour lecture.
Every Friday I try to dress accordingly and suffer the agony of sweating all the way up the hill in the sun to uni just so I'm not so cold in the lecture. I always underestimate the coldness of the room though.
Today was no different.
Walking in I was quite pleased with myself as I had my trusty woolen scarf to wrap around me if the need came up. And sure enough it did about 5 - 10 minutes in. I placed it very strategically to begin with so my back and neck were covered. As time went on however, I was trying to get as much as possible inside this little scarf. I had my arms in and my lecturer had to say something mighty important to draw my hand out to take a quick note. I had it up around my nose after a bit and then my ears because they were getting cold.
I realized in that moment how much like my mother I am. No matter how foolish she will look, she does whatever she can to keep warm. Scarves, coats, jumpers, socks. They all come in to play in the wintertime. I would have looked like a right idiot trying to fit my whole body under the little scarf. I truly am my mother's daughter.
It made me smile to realize that.

14.05.09

Today I got my full license! Hooray. It made me very happy indeed. The guy who took me was a bit dodge though. He kept patting my thigh to reassure me and he said it wasn't just my "pretty face" that passed me. Gross.

Anyhow...

I like clouds. I saw these clouds today that were amazing. They were actually like cotton wool balls. I just wanted to jump in them.
Imagine if you could though.
How much fun would that be.
Well, you'd also have to imagine that they were made up of something more solid.
But if you can stretch your imagination that far the possibility is just amazing.

13.05.09

I know that if I don't write this today it will just be harder tomorrow.

Getting mail is way cool.

It's even better when it's unexpected.

I received an issue of K! Magazine (for children's pastors and leaders) in the post and I read it all in one go.

Loved it.

I was so excited to get it though. I don't know how many I paid for in my subscription so I'm always surprised when they pop up.

It felt so luxurious to be wrapped up in a blanket and reading a very awesome magazine about what I'm passionate about.

PLUS the issue was perfect for me at this time. Like so written for me to read to sort out some stuff that's going down and stuff that isn't that should be.
I love how God answers prayers and how he arranges little coincidences just to make us smile or to make us think.

12.05.09

I cooked dinner tonight. It wasn't an amazing dish or anything. Just pasta bake.
My family loved it though. In fact there wasn't enough of it because they just wanted more.
It's so nice to be appreciated like that.
I'm no super chef or even a good cook so it was lovely that they liked what I made.
I forgot the breadcrumbs though. It would have been ten times better if I had remembered them.

11.05.09

It's been pretty miserable weather but today as I was coming over the harbour bridge on my way home Rangitoto looked so beautiful.
It was as if the grey clouds parted to form a little clearing just above the island.
It really was beautiful.
I can't describe it very well but it was kind of all ugly and grey everywhere but on Rangitoto. I should have taken a photo.

10.05.09

It was Mother's Day today and a group of girls from church took their mothers out for dinner at a restaurant called Gina's in town. It's the coolest place. It has such a great vibe. The waiters are Italian and oh so much fun. When it's someone's birthday they make the loudest noise, banging the pots and pans and singing in Italian.
Ahh it's great.
But yeah it was great just to spend time with our mums and them all chatting and having fun. It's so cool when you set out to make someone happy and and you achieve it. The greatest feeling.
Here's a couple of photos:


Ana was Debbie's makeshift daughter for the night seeing as she has two boys




Mum is modelling the amazing Limoncello dessert. So scrummy.

09.05.09

I went to sleep (technically it counts as today) with the rain pattering outside. It's just such a glorious sound.
I love it. It's so peaceful and you feel so cosy and protected from the outside world.
Also, I had just had an awesome conversation with Jono (feel proud) about angels who had sex with humans and created giants. SCANDAL!
So it was like I was thinking heaps before I went to sleep and then as I pondered such like things the rain was doing it's thing. It was glorious.

Also, I just got home from seeing Mercury Crowe and other bands live. Live music is always so much fun. Especially good live music. And this was good. Just such cheery tunes.

08.05.09

Sometimes it's good to see the world from a different perspective.

This is beautiful:

feeling small from Charlie McCarthy on Vimeo.

07.05.09

Today I got through so much of my to-do list.
It was actually so long.
Like 50 things to start off and adding as I went.
But I only have a few left now and it feels oh so good.
Don't you just love those days.
It was also a mix of efficiency and play because everyone was in the office today and we were just laughing. Plus I spent loads of time in the mall with Ana being mallrats with a purpose.

06.05.09

My friend Sarah popped in to my place tonight just to return my magazine and pick up some teacups.
I really appreciate our friendship. We've been friends since the first day of intermediate school.
We can talk about anything. Anything. And it's always just so easy to slip in and out of deep conversation. It's just cool.
I really should let her know how appreciated she is.
Like we were discussing her near-death experience in one sentence and her ruining her dress in another. Crazy stuff.

05.05.09

WARNING: This post may contain references to the female menstruation cycle.

Human biology is really a fascinating thing.
I found out today that myself and two of my close friends are all going through "that time of the month" at the moment.
It's so strange how females who live together or spend a lot of time together all get their period at the same approximate time. It blows my mind. Like why the heck would that happen?
It's cool though. I think. Apart from if you were the only guy living with five sisters who were all really cranky at the same time. That would suck.

Aren't you glad I got through the post without mentioning "gushing waterfalls of blood" or suchlike?

04.05.09

Autumn is here!
It's marked by all the falling leaves and the crisp, cool air (which, may I add, is far too crisp and cool for my liking this year).
Anyhow. I was walking down the last stairs out of Albert Park and a huge gust of wind sent all of these leaves flying in a frenzy around me. It was awesome to be still when there was all this chaos going on around me.
I almost felt if I was intruding and that I should become like a leaf and get taken up by the wind and just float on the air. How awesome would that be.
I also love the sound leaves make as they scuttle along the ground.
I couldn't hear my music for all the scuttling.

03.05.09

I dyed my hair tonight.
Or rather Amy did. With encouragement from Teresa and Ana.
It's browney red depending on what light it's in.
I think it's too dark and too red.
But it's fun to be different and I can't wait to dye it again.
It's interesting how much identity is placed in how we look.
I seem so different.
To others it's probably not that weird but because I've seen myself everyday for the last 19 years I've come to expect that my hair will be blonder when I look in a mirror.
It really is strange.

02.05.09

I watched Kidulthood tonight. I can't make up my mind what I thought of it.
I think I misinterpreted half the film because they were such chavs and I couldn't understand a word hardly. It's like another language.

It's crazy some of the stuff that goes on though.
I felt so sheltered as I was watching.
I'm kinda glad for the sheltering though. It's like a security blanket.

Flip New Zealander's have it lucky. Well, I kinda can only speak for the shore. So much of what the film portrayed I have never seen in a high school here. Ever.
It's crazy. Fifteen year olds killing each other and beating each other up, getting pregnant, doing cocaine, getting involved in the gangs, carrying guns.
I know it was just a film but I am so grateful I haven't been exposed to all that.

It's kinda heavy for a Saturday night.

Heavy = swell in chav-speak.

01.05.09

The first of May.
NZ Music month.

Not that it really impacts me very much.

Families are a really special gift. I know that not everyone's is perfect but I am so blessed with mine.
If you think about it, you spend a whole lot of your life with your family, you move out and have a slice of freedom for a bit and then you start a family of your own. Well, that's how it happens mostly I think.
So you are constantly surrounded by family. It's really strange because I don't think I could handle living with anyone else whom I know at the moment. But my family I seem to manage every day. They are constantly there, blaring Sweet Home Alabama 24/7 or asking me to do things or waking me up early in the morning because they are crashing around in the garage. I put up with it though. Because they are family. I don't know what I'd do without them. Life would be so different. I would be so different.

I'll stop there before this gets ridiculous and puke-worthy.

But yeah.
I love 'em eh.

30.04.09

Once again I have let things slip. And it's really hard now, on Saturday night, to remember back to Thursday.

I went over to my friend's place where she and her boyfriend, another good friend of mine, were babysitting her younger siblings.
It was kinda cool to just hang because I was kinda afraid that with them going out it might be a tad awkward and third-wheel-ish. It wasn't though which was really nice.
It would have sucked if it was uncomfortable to chill as a group of three.
But it wasn't so you can all breathe a sigh of relief.
I know you were anxious.

29.04.09

I had my hair cut today. It was such a relief.
I don't think I'm alone in that when my hair reaches a certain, gross length it begins to get me down. It does this in a very subversive manner.
It's like when you have a great hair day and you just feel so confident and positive for the whole day. Except this is the opposite. For weeks on end.
So you can understand that as soon as the hairdresser took the scissors to my mop I instantly felt a release of all that negativity. It felt good.
This may be very superficial and stupid but it's the turth (that pretty much means 'truth' it's just cooler).

28.04.09

I have these new jeans right.
They are dark blue and therefore very dyeful.
Hence, my hands are blue for most of the day.
This makes washing my hands a very satisfactory experience.
I love seeing the blue, murky water drip off my hands as they get cleaner.
It really is such a fantastic feeling and my hands are clean and proper colour again.
Not that blue isn't a proper colour to be.
I don't want to be discriminatory or anything.

27.04.09

Cheesecake is really a spectacular food.
It kind of is some sort of goo on your tongue but when your tastebuds get a whiff of the tangy, sweet, cheesy taste I think they get a bit confused and tantalised at the same time.
It really is a most obscure taste.
But one of my favourites.

26.04.09

This is the day I was born 19 years ago.
A pretty remarkable day.
For me anyway.

I had a tea party and I was well spoilt.
I love tea and I love parties. Not usually my own ones but this was so nice.
There was old fashioned teacups, doilies, cupcakes, asparagus rolls, coconut ice, club sandwiches and a whole lot of my favourite girlies. It was splendid.

I felt so special all day.
It struck me how lucky I am to have such awesome friends that could make me feel so loved and I want to be a friend like that to them.

Feelin' the love

25.04.09

I love doilies.
It's my tea party tomorrow so I kinda made doilie sculptures as decorations and strung them up by the window.
They look so pretty with the light shining through.
And the teacups! Woah. I love teacups.
Real old fashioned teacups.
How posh.

24.04.09

This morning I went for my defensive driving practical session which is set up like he full license driving test.
He said I was good but I would have failed at part one and not even made it to part 2.
The reason is that I coast around corners. I leave the clutch in and don't engine brake. Tsk, tsk.
I have been correcting it as I drive and I think I'm sweet to go for my full.
It feels like I have been waiting for this for so long. No more curfew. Can take who I like.
Fantastic.

23.04.09

Oh man I am getting excited about going to Tonga.
This evening we had a meeting about it and we got to hear loads of awesome stories about how God is moving in Tonga through the radio ministry.
It is absolutely mind blowing.
They were calling it a revival of repentance. Not so much signs and wonders (although there is some of that) which are things often associated with the word "revival", but people are turning to God in such an amazing way.
The testimonies I heard were incredible. One girl was brutally beaten by a teacher and the family called it in to the radio which sent the nation into a frenzy of prayer. Tonga was praying for her and her family for hours until the announcer received the news she had died and he had to broadcast it to everyone who was listening and praying so hard. He said the lines just went silent. No callers. Five minutes later the family called again and said a miracle had happened. She was alive again! After he announced that news the calls didn't stop for hours.
What an awesome testimony.
I cannot wait to see it in action.

22.04.09

I admit I am dreadfully sentimental.

I have just sifted through my memories box containing things such as letters, cards, pictures, and mementos.

It's so awesome to pick something up and recollect the very moment in time it was written. There's one scrappy piece of paper which is absolutely covered in scrawls and pictures. It took me back to that hot summer's morning sitting in a boring church service with Emily about 5 years ago. We had so much fun suppressing giggles as we drew what our future children would look like with our future husbands. Oh it is so funny to go back into the mind of 14yr old me.

I am also reading through my end of school book which I made people write nice things about me in. It's hilarious to see the personal jokes I had forgotten in the year and a bit since I left. Goodness it seems like ages ago I was sitting in english trying not to blush as Naomi teased me about a certain boy. It's great to remember.

21.04.09

My friend is leaving for three months to go on her big O.E.
This evening we went to Lonestar for a farewell dessert thing.
It is always nice to get to know people better. Her friends from a different church were there. I know them kinda but it was really great to chat and to get to know them better. We had quite a few laughs and it was just fun.
People are awesome.
Laughing is awesome.
Yay.

20.04.09

I saw the waterlillies today at the Monet and the Impressionists exhibition at Te Papa museum.
Flip.
I couldn't believe I was actually standing in front of it.
It was beautiful.
Way better in real life.

The other works there amazed me too. I love the way they played with light. It was as if he used fluorescent paints. The whole exhibition was breathtaking.

Here's one of my favourites


Washerwomen
about 1855
Jean-François Millet, French, 1814–1875

19.04.09

All day was spent on the train to Wellington. Seriously. All day.
12 hours to soak in the scenery and make new friends.

After a wee while we got a tad tired of the beautiful landscape so we decided to befriend some fellow passengers.

It was so cool. We made friends with this Russian couple. She had come out to see him a he lives in Wellington. She couldn't speak much english but she had a very styley crochet vest on.

There were these kids on the train too. They are from Chicago and are living in NZ for a little bit. They were so loud. But their accents were cool. Dan got their email and I hope they stay in contact.

It's so nice to meet new people. Even if you only know them for a day.

18.04.09

I apologise for making this post about a movie too but it's a good'un.

I Am Sam

Flippin heck Sean Penn can act. I really loved it.

I worked in a special needs school last year and my favourite class were a group of boys with autism, like Sam.

I had never really thought about what happens when they turn 21 and they are no longer allowed at school and they have to fend for themselves. It's crazy. I can't imagine any of them being able to be a father and yet, they could be where Sam was and capable of it.

It's amazing how the human brain works and the developments the class made each time I got to work there. I could see an improvement in the way they interacted and how they got on with each other each visit.

It was so awesome this one time when one of the boys looked at me and smiled. Just that instant of recognition and communication was so special. He was non-verbal and he didn't look into your eyes when you spoke so it made it such a great moment when he did.

Times like that make all the patience and hard work worth it.

17.04.09

This evening, instead of going out I chose to stay at home and watch a film.
Well, two.
But one affected me.
That's a lie. They both did.
I want to talk about Children Of the Silk Road though.

I realised again tonight that although Jonathan Rhys Meyers is definitely a bit of eye candy, he can't act to save his life.

That's not what affected me though.
I cannot believe how far those kids had to walk in the snow just to pursue a future that wasn't likely to be all that positive or secure.

I don't think I would have survived a time like that.
It makes me think just how lucky I am to have been born in NZ to awesome parents and peacetime.

The courage of those kids is astounding.
It was a true story too!
Crazy.

George Hogg was an amazing man. He changed the lives of all those kids. Gave them hope.
I'm beginning to understand that trying to change the world all at once is a silly idea. It's about affecting one person's life, and then another, and another. Hopefully it gets contagious.
That's what I would like to be.

16.04.09

Tonight I got an unexpected call on Skype.
It's been yonks since anyone called me to have a chat.
The call was from Simon, whom I haven't talked to for eons.
I don't know if he reads this. If so, hello and thanks so much for calling.
It was a lovely surprise.
If you would like to know who Simon is, he makes awesome videos. Here is one of them.





and...

15.04.09

I organised my birthday tea party today.
Boys, don't get excited. It's strictly only female.
Way cooler that way.
Mum and I made invitations and put them in envelopes to send off the old fashioned way.
Isn't it so great to get something in the post?
It feels so important.
That's how everyone will feel when I send these. It's nice to know that you are going to be inducing that feeling in some of your friends.
I believe snail mail should be used more often. It's way easier to be more personal in a letter than in an email or text. Plus it feels more significant.
AND you can decorate a letter or a card.

BRING BACK LETTERS!

14.04.09

The server was down all day at work today.
This made it extra fun because all we could do was talk.
And talk we did.
Grand.
Talking is fantastic.
You can learn so much from other people simply by conversing with them.

13.04.09

Flip I was so tired today.
Cannot believe it.
I was so stupid because I had a Red Bull just before hopping in the car so I wasn't able to sleep.
It's cool though because w had some good discussion about how camp went and what improvements we can make on last year.

Am I allowed to be disgusting and say that I loved squeezing all the pimples that had been pent up all weekend?
I think so.
It was fantastic.
I'm not feeling so fantastic now that my skin is all blotchy and sore but at the time of the squeezing it was glorious.
I was looking forward to it all weekend long.

Mmm mmmmmm.

12.04.09

Easter Sunday.

JESUS HAS RISEN!

Wow.

Today just holds so much hope for me.

I can't believe God's grace, that someone like me was worth dying for.

But there's no hope in death.

Jesus rose from the dead which is great news for me and for all mankind because it means we can have a relationship with God. WAHOOO!

I'm actually so excited right now.

God is good. All the time.

All the time. God is good.

11.04.09

This may be seen as a positive or a negative thing.
At the time I thought it was so dumb but now I can see that it was cool.

In the main meeting this evening there was some stuff going on that my church and other churches present don't practise. It got a bit freaky for a few of our campers who hadn't seen that sort of thing before so our pastor and youth leader decided to take us back to camp and talk about what was going on.

At the time I was so frustrated because I thought it was just my church again, staging a walk-out when they didn't agree with something and not giving it a shot. But now I see that it was because most of our campers had no idea what was going on and they were really freaked out.

I'm glad we got the chance to talk about it amongst our group.
For the rest of camp we were so much closer as a group and I feel like we were able to talk about some issues because of what happened which aren't really addressed in my church.

I just hope that no one was too offended because we left and that they can understand the reasons behind it.

10.04.09

Tonight I saw Mumsdollar live at camp.
Oh I love them.
There's something great about familiar music.
The first chord they struck was amazing.
A feeling I can't describe washed over me and I had to sing and dance.
I am so sad they are breaking up.
Seriously.
So sad.
So.
Sad.

09.04.09

Today marked the first day of Eastercamp 2009.

I woke up way early and went down to Mystery Creek to help set up tents and the site.

It took all day and loads of hard work but we did it.

I was the only girl and I took great pride in the fact that I put up just as many tents and worked equally as hard as the guys. It was fun.

It felt so good to sit down at the end of the day and to remember that we had started with a flat(ish) piece of land and see what we had transformed it into. It was also great that when all the young people piled off the bus they saw the set-up and were really excited about it. It's nice when what you do is appreciated.

This is Yvette in the coolest caravan you can imagine.

08.04.09

Just got home from The Killers concert.

Wow.

That's pretty much it.

My ears are still ringing from being right next to the speakers, my retina is burned with the picture of the coolest lead singer ever, and my mind keeps replaying moments from the concert.

It was incredible.

The frontman was awesome. He totally got into it an he was lovvin it onstage. He gave off good vibes.

And the set...

The set was so cool. Zebra backdrop, neon lights, mirror mozaic piano, fake plants, fireworks and mini atom bombs!

Not really, but they had mushroom clouds and fire.

Wow.

07.04.09

It's coming up to Easter and I have been so busy doing loads of things for Eastercamp and I haven't stopped to think of what Easter really means.

Tonight at lifegroup we watched a DVD. It was Louie Giglio preaching. He has massive earlobes. Seriously. Google it. Your wildest dreams will come true.

Anyway, he was talking about The Unthinkable Rescue and he went through the story of the prodigal son.
It's so awesome that God sees us where we are at, no matter how far from him we feel, and he's waiting for us to turn around and come home. The coolest thing is that he's not waiting there to bash us for going astray, he comes to meet us where we're at and treats us like a son/daughter when we deserve much, much less.

It's amazing.

I'm so glad the God I know isn't just some scary old man up in the clouds but he knows me intimately and loves me so much.

Sometimes it's easy to forget.

06.04.09

Today was one of those days where comfort is of the utmost importance. Function over form.
I basically bummed around at home and then went to work and bummed around some more.
I was in a bit of a weird mood. My mind wouldn't stick to one thing.
Those moods can be cool.
I felt so vague and kinda loopy.
It's good to be loopy sometimes, have your head in the clouds.
I don't want to come down.

05.04.09

I had a party!
Well, it was for kid's church this morning. Ahh such fun.
We had ice cream and lollies and then we sent the kids to their parents all sugared up and full of treats.
Oh well.
No one has complained as of yet.
It was awesome because I actually had to do the whole thing. It wasn't like a programme which I could follow.
And it was successful. Wahhoooo!

PLUS there were 12 kids who responded to the salvation invitation which is such an answer to prayer and totally awesome. Makes me all excited when kids want to make a commitment.

Lovvin' it.

04.04.09

This evening it was my friend's 21st.
Funfun.
It was at my house.
I love being the host.
When I get a house of my own (I do realise I may have to share with others) I will have people over all the time.
It's a whole heap of goodness.
Especially when it's well recieved.

03.04.09

Today my friend got on my nerves a tad. Maybe more than a tad.

I decided to react differently this time and be straight up and explain why I was peeved. In the most pleasant way possible.

WAAAYYY better outcome.

Learnt me a lesson I did.

You gotsta be truthful but nice and respectful at the same time.

We is all good now.

02.04.09

My brother is such a sly dog.

So I went to watch him in the school production of The Wedding Singer. He played the jerk fiancee, Glenn.

He totally had a kiss onstage and neglected to tell us. It was hilarious. Came out of nowhere. POP and then there it was. Had me laughing it did.

But man the show was impressive. I'm so proud of them all. Especially him. He sang and danced and acted really well. Like so well. Indeed.

I'm well proud.

01.04.09

I did not suffer from any April Fools pranks today unless you count the ridiculous upside downedness of YouTube. Stupid joke I think. Just such an inconvenience.

I did discover the amazingness that is Tumblr. It's an awesome website.
It looks so funky.
People post the most amazing things. The photos have me wrapt.
I could browse for hours if I could work out how.

But seriously check out these:





Don't you think those cookie cutters are the coolest things you have seen in your life?
And she needs no explanation.

Tumblr is going to leave me with no IRL.

Oh here it is: http://katiedid536.tumblr.com/

31.03.09

Today was full of remarkable moments.

1) I decided to branch out again and get a vanilla bean and honey smoothie. I was thinking it would be rather milky but no! It gave me quite a shock. It was all yoghurty. After the initial surprise wore off I rather enjoyed it. Acidopholousee goodness.

2) We had a test in Tongan and it was just fun. None of us were expecting it to be about grammar as Mele had said it would be on origins. We all cracked up and just did our best. I love Tongan. It's the best class. And we are all bonding very well. They are so freaking cool and I'm hoping a bit of that will rub off.

3) On the way home from uni my bus pulled up alongside another and I looked across to see Lily. When our eyes met her face exploded into a smile and she waved. It was so lovely to be greeted like that, like she was genuinely excited to see me. Makes you feel special and it put me in a good mood.

It was a day made up of little things which happened to make it overall a splendid day.

30.03.09

I'm SICK!

Oh no!

Don't fret though because everything is ok. I have lemon green tea. Add a bit of honey and you get the most amazing, throat-soothing drink ever invented.

Oh it's lovely.

One sip and all your worries cease to exist.

I dare you to try it.

29.03.09

I decided to shave my legs today. How exciting!
They weren't grossly bushy or anything but it's amazing how fantastic you feel after doing so.
They kind of glide through the sheets.
You boys probably wont understand.
It is an amazing feeling.

28.03.09

I don't know what the heck happened to my last post.
I swear I wrote it.
I know I did.
Ah well, here it is again.

Tonight was the engagement party of my cousin.
Almost all of that side of the family is very loud and very overwhelming.
I sought solace in the asparagus rolls and cream cheese and salmon snackies.

It was so lovely to see Ben so happy though. I have never seen him so contented. He was picking up and cuddling my Aunty's baby. It was such a cute picture.
It's kinda weird because he's only about a year older than me. That seems far too soon to get married.
Ahh but it was so nice to see him smile. Normally he's a typical grungy male teenager who wouldn't smile for a million dollars. Well, he might have.
But he's changed. He's happy. Wahoo.

27.03.09

This evening I finally got my chance to see Slumdog Millionaire. I absolutely loved it. I expected to. It's one of those films that doesn't try to be anything it's not. Everyone in it could act and it was well directed. Just a fracking good film. It made a welcome change to some of the terrible Hollywood films I've seen.

I was with my mum and another couple and we went out and had coffee afterwards. It was so cool. I got an After Eight which is the most delightful cocktail you can imagine. It's full of Creme de Menthe, Creme de Cacao and Baileys goodness. Mmmm mmm.

26.03.09

Today marks one month from my birthday. Just if you're interested.

Anyway, I was a little bit productive!

This is actually a cause for rejoicing.

Although I did do a LOT of procrastinating I also did start a couple of assignments.

Are you proud?

You should be.

This is big.

Bruce Lee is so cool. He totally revolutionised Kung Fu and the film genre. Flip. And he is one heck of a man. The way he does those karate chops and high kicks and the nunchucks! I swooned. Well not really. But I might have back in the day when it was suitable for a lady to do so and if he was standing right there in front of me.
I would not like to be a victim of his Fist Of Fury.
Or his high pitched war cries.
So cool.

25.03.09

Tonight was the night of the long-awaited Kings Of Leon concert.
It was fricken sweet. They played all the right songs.
It's so cool to be listening to my iPod and remember seeing the song live. It's a way good feeling.
Plus! On the way back to the car because thirst levels were so high we stopped at the cutest little Asian suprette. I decided to branch out (I think I was in a branch out mood because at Wagamamas just hours prior I had opted for something totally weird but cool) and I bought this cool looking drink of some kind. It was like juice/milk/yoghurt in a bottle. Basically a watered down smoothie. I really am not doing it justice. It was grand.
I'm branching out more in future.

24.03.09

My brother is absolutely so cool. He'll probably hate that I'm typing this but he left me a message while I was in the shower and he slipped off to bed.
I shook my mouse and focussed on the screen and staring back at me was in bold capitals,

"KATIE I LOVE YOU GOODNIGHT!!!XOXO"

How lovely.
Made me feel so nice inside.

He's freakin awesome.

23.03.09

Tonight I had the best conversation over Skype with a friend. It's really our only means of communication seeing as he lives in Hamilton and I have rejected my 027. It was cool just to chat as it seems we've been too busy for it lately.
This may be very geeky but we played this game where we both went on Trademe and picked out an item for the other. Great fun.
Oh the hilarity. Friends are great.

22.03.09

I participated in an Amazing Race this afternoon with a couple of youth groups from the Shore. It was grand. I led a group of my band members. We came last but it was great fun running around the city and Devonport getting clues and doing challenges.
Part of the race involved catching the ferry from the city to Devonport. It reminded me of when I was little when we would have an icecream at Devonport and catch the ferry to the city for a wee excursion. The wind blowing through my locks, waves splashing up at me when we went over the wake of the other boats, good company... bliss.

21.03.09

Tonight I rediscovered how much i love acoustic bands. I went to a Battle of the Bands competition. The sound was absolutely terrible. The guys on the desk should have been shot. I think this factor intensified my attraction to the sound of the acoustic guitars. It's so awesome when a song gives you goosebumps. Oooh. I love it. Makes me wish I could sing and play guitar. One day maybe if I tried hard enough. In my dreams.

20.03.09

I feel so elated right now.

I just got home from the most amazing gig ever.

Solomon played at the Dogs Bollix. They are actually amazing. I'm so proud of them

Ahhh good music. Such a good feeling.

I also stopped at the White Lady for a burger after and now I am quite ready for bed

I don't think I'll sleep though because all I can think of is Bryan's breathtaking lead riffs or whatever you call them, Phil's frickin' ridiculous synth, Sung Woo's vocals which can treat my ears whenever they like, Andrew's bassline and James' intense drumming which leaves me gobsmacked.
They are superb.

Here's their Myspace

19.03.09

I have inherited my mother's passion for anything going at a discounted price.
I will not buy anything which is not on sale or at a reasonable price.
Sometimes it's annoying, but mostly it's a good thing.

With all of this in mind you can imagine my delight in finding out that Mozaic Cafe Constellation Dr was giving away free coffees all day as an opening promotion. I was so excited. We went as a group of staff from church and it was just such a nice little outing. It was cool just to sit and have a coffee and chill with an awesome group of people.
We realised that there were actually quite a few people we knew there. Trust the Christians to be up for anything free.

18.03.09

I handed my first piece of work in at uni today. It was only a couple of hundred words but it sure felt good to have done it.
Had this been last year I probably wouldn't even have been at the tutorial, let alone have been there with homework in my hand.
I made a resolution to work harder this year and to miss less lectures than I did last year. So far it's going pretty good and I am proud of myself.
My mother would be proud too.

17.03.09

It's St Patrick's Day today and I didn't even know.
I looked around in my lecture and saw all these people wearing green and clicked. Not that it meant anything to me.
Nothing very profound happened to me today. Life kinda just played out.
I listened to a podcast of Mike Pilavachi preaching on the way to uni. He's so freaking awesome. What stuck me most in all the things he said is that there is no way we can earn our salvation. You can't work your way to heaven. It's already been done. Jesus paid the price. That's why salvation is called God's rest. We just have to stop trying and rest in the knowledge that Jesus Christ died so we didn't have to be separated from God.
That's applicable to me at the moment. I think God's trying to get it through to me because Lifegroup was all about that too.

16.03.09

I was running late for the bus to uni and I was desperately looking for a park at the Park&Ride. I drove up and down all of the rows and there was not a park in sight. The bus was getting nearer and I had a decision to make. I could drive out of the car park and try find a car park on one of the roads around and walk a while to get back to the bus, which could potentially take a whole lot of time.
Something inside me told me to go back up the top and try again. Just as I came to the end of the first row I saw something move. A car was pulling out! Right by the entrance too.
Wahoooo! It put me in a good mood. Small things eh...

15.03.09

I have been happy all day.
For no reason at all.
Just happy.
Days like this are fantastic.
I have been especially chirpy the last part of the day. After worship at church tonight I have been utterly joyful.
In Confessions Of a Shopaholic which I saw this evening my laughter almost turned into racking sobs.
In a good way.
Isn't happiness such a lovely thing?
Isn't being alive and well such a blessing?

14.03.09

Isn't having a secret such a delightful feeling?
All day I was hanging out with my friend who's birthday it is and I couldn't let on that we were having a surprise party for her. She didn't even know at all.
It was so cool. I can lie!
I felt so suspect and sinister all day when we were hanging out and she'd say something and I'd nearly slip up.
Fun fun.

13.03.09

Today has been quite full-on.
It was the funeral of Lyndal this morning. It was such a lovely service. It was flippin sad but more celebratory because of the life she lived and for where she is at now. I'm actually kinda jealous. She's just chillin with Jesus. Heck.

Also, this is very cliche but I was sitting at my desk, looking out my window at the soccer fields when a beautiful butterfly flew into my vision. It was just swooping and fluttering in front of my eyes like it was putting on a little show just for me. I felt very blessed. It's the little things that can make your day special.

12.03.09

I got new shoes! They are beautiful. The best part is that I got $36 back on them because they were to replace my other faulty ones. How cool is that!
Plus they are about 50 million times cooler.
I'll be the coolest one at the gym.
Now I don't have an excuse not to go.

11.03.09

I organised my life into iCal.
This sounds like a very lame and unimportant thing to do but to me I feel like I now have structure in my life.
I love looking at the little coloured boxes, the neat little portions of my day.
I had been meaning to do it for ages and now that I have I am so pleased with myself.

10.03.09

I have been strongly reprimanded. My own words have been used against me. I will try to be better and post every day.

This morning on the bus I was just sitting there and someone I recognised but didn't know walked in. Normally I would concern myself with looking at something very pointedly out the window, however this time for some reason I looked up at her. She sat down next to me and we started talking.

It was very cool to have made a new friend. I had met her a while back at a friend's leaving do but we never really talked or anything.

Anyway it was really cool. It was hilariously funny because she had just come from a job interview and wanted to sneakily change from her skirt into shorts on the bus. Goodness it was awkward. We ran to make the crossing at the busiest intersection on Queen St and we were laughing so hard because she was clutching her still unbuttoned shorts so they wouldn't fall to her ankles. Such fun.

I am going to try not to stare out the window so much in future when I recognise someone on the bus.

09.03.09

This morning at 10 am one of the most incredible women ever passed away.

I had known her since I can remember. Our family and her's always went on holidays together when I was younger. Many a fun time we shared at Tawharanui.

She was the most generous person I have ever known, and one of the most positive, and hilariously funny, frank and just all-round flippin amazing.
I want to become more like she was.

She had cancer and she was really ill the last wee while. She bore it all though and her faith was as stronger than ever.

I really wanted to have a chat with her before she passed but now I'm going to have to wait a while. I really can't be sad because I know that she is hanging out with Jesus and the angels right now which is awesome for her.

I just hope her family is doing ok.

I know it's not the most positive remarkable moment ever but I think it was remarkable nonetheless.

It has taught me not to wait until tomorrow to get things done because tomorrow might not be there.

08.03.09

I love being proved wrong when it comes to thinking someone dislikes me or is a bit standoffish.
This happened today.
We took the kids out to minigolf this morning instead of having kid's church. It was a whole heap of fun.
I got talking to one of the mothers who I thought was too snobby to talk to me. She ended up being very lovely. I was pleasantly surprised.
It's great to be surprised by people.

07.03.09

Saturdays are glorious days.
This was no exception.
I stayed in my pajamas until 3:30pm.
I read the rest of Emma, and meant to do my other readings but failed.
Isn't finishing a book such a great feeling? Especially so if it finishes how you want it to. Even better if you have predicted how it would happen from the beginning. You sort of get a big head thinking you have beaten the author to their own game.
Yeah. That was me today.

06.03.09

Tonight I went and saw The 39 Steps. It was a production by the Auckland Theatre Company. Flip it was so amazing. Lisa Chappell was in it. She is amazing. McLeod's Daughters went downhill when she left.
Anyhow, it was great.
I love going to the theatre. There's something about it.
You feel so grown up.

05.03.09

Today I had an english lecture and it really just was a good lecture.
I'm usually pretty cynical about everything to do with uni but I did actually enjoy my lecture.
This is a big thing. It could be a first too.
It was about Jane Austen, who is one of my favourite authors and the hour was up in no time.
How fantastic is that.
My lecturer's voice is a little strange though. She stutters a bit and says um and ah a lot. 30 times in three minutes to be precise. I counted.

04.03.09

Today I realised how sweet it is to take English at uni.

I started reading Emma by Austen. I love Austen. It's so nice not to have dumb readings from a dusty old textbook.

I love how Austen creates character. She's a freakin genius.

My brother is reading Pride and Prejudice for school at the moment and he does not agree in the slightest.

Each to their own.

03.03.09

Today I stayed at uni after my last lecture to help show my first year friend where all her classes are.

Yesterday she got confused because she was late and her first lecture wasn't where she thought so she went back home again, missing two other lectures. The poor thing.

It was cool to be able to help her out. I think she appreciated it.

We then went to a cafe and I got spirulina. It was yummy. I had never had it before. The thought of drinking a murky green concoction was always offputting for me. I branched out today though. It tasted good. No grassy flavour at all. Mainly bananas. Mmmm mmmm.

02.03.09

There's something about new books. They are so fresh and crisp and nice-smelling.
I bought my uni books today. All of which were for my two English papers and they came to $220. Ridiculous.
I am just about to stack them all on my shelves neatly and get warmed up to read them all.
They will look so lovely because most of them are part of a classics collection and have the same cover theme.
Oooh yes.
Matchy, matchy.

01.03.09

Isn't tiramisu the most divine dessert in the world?

I had it at lunch today and I almost died it was that good.

Flip. Just writing about it sends my saliva glands into a frenzy.

I must find some more, somehow.

27.02.09

Today I had a nap.
I never have naps.
But this one was so good.
I woke up feeling groggy but refreshed.
I might have to do it again sometime.

27.02.09

Synesthesia is a neurologically based phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.

In the wee hours of this morning I discovered that the association I draw in my brain between numbers, letters, words, days, months, etc. with a colour is called synesthesia. It's incredibly interesting.

For example, Wednesday is the colour yellow in my head, the number four is green, an m is brown and so on.

For all this time I just thought that everyone did it and anyone I came across who didn't understand was the exception.

It's so cool to think that something so obscure has a title.

Is there anyone else who does the same thing?