Aotearoa

It has come to my mind many times over the past 18 months that some friends and family have no idea where in the world I really did go to.  In light of the earthquakes in Christchurch today, I would like to give my thoughts on this beautiful "land of the long white cloud" my family now calls "home".

• Wellington is the capital city, and is home to approx 390,000 people
• As the crow flies, it is approx. 300km (186.411 miles) from Wellington to Christchurch
• Summer is Dec - Feb; Winter is approx. May - Aug (garden planting usually starts in September)
• School year runs Feb - Dec in 4 terms
• English, Maori and NZ Sign Language are the official languages, but on any given day while out and about in town, we may hear: Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Malay, Arabic, German, French, Italian, Greek, Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Dutch, English with the following accents - NZ, Australian, British, Scotch, Irish, North American (includes Canadian) and on the rare occasion Swahili or another African language that I cannot place.  Southern Hick (which got a huge reaction on the odd day that I slipped and let out a "ya'll") is not heard too often but garners an instant bond, as does finding those visitors who are from mid-west America.
• Mr E makes good cheese crackers
• There are many creatures and plants that only live in NZ.  Miss A is especially fond of the kiwi bird and fantail, Mr E and myself like the Tui Bird, the Artistic Pixel Man likes the Weta (workplace, not creature)  :D There are no snakes, the spiders are said to not be poisonous (but they sure can look menacing!)
• We drive on the left side of the road.  It is not too difficult, although I have yet to try a stick shift.
• Total Land Area of New Zealand = 103,483 sq. mi. = just a tad smaller than Colorado's 104,094 sq. mi.
• Many of you all have a twin here in Wellington.  When I see your twin I think of you fondly and pray for you, hoping you are well.

Although America is my home country, I am glad to call NZ home for now. Like the rain coming down, my heart is heavy for the people of Christchurch. Please pray for them as they pick up the pieces, bind up the wounded, bury their dead and try to move forward, even as the ground continues to shake.

"Just One More Row!"

The adventure at our house is slowly expanding.  Along with music study of a more serious nature, we are also adding the "monster of crochet" - so named by Mr. E.  (He doesn't know it, but he's the next one to take up the ball and hook.  heheh)

Having been up late with something on my mind, I picked up my first project and found myself looking at the clock after 3 am and saying "just one more row, just one more row".  Four am came round and the thought hit me - "what good is a project that turns out wonky due to lack of sleep?" so I put down the yarn and headed to bed, my mind not spinning quite so fast and the first half of my project almost finished.

Many thanks to my Dear Artistic Pixel Man - his girls now have a different kind of stash to build.  :)

Blessings Abundant

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
~ Berthold Auerbach

If today is any indication, 2011 just might be a year so full of blessing it pours over the edges.  Today, the Artistic Pixel Man and I have been married for 22 years.  Many of them long and arduous, but here we are, Praise God!  The day comes after a particularly hard week for me partly because my sleep was interrupted many times by not so small anymore bodies climbing into my bed because of their interrupted sleep.  But I digress...

After spending a beautiful afternoon at the beach with my family, having a picnic and playing in the sun and surf, I was given back a gift that I once thought would never be mine.  When I was young I learned how to play the piano. Reading music came to me without too much struggle and although my right hand has always been the more dominant one, I enjoyed playing...that is, until it was time for recitals and more practice.  The time came when I had had enough and my mom no longer had the strength to fight against my desire to quit the lessons.

One thing that I always struggled with was chords.  My dad had a wonderful ear and could make the piano really sing perhaps due to his 6 years of piano plus 6 years of organ lessons?  But I on the other hand, had to read the music and thought I had no ear for chord progression.

Enter Miss A.  She is getting into the habit to play the piano during dinner preparation when she is not cooking that night.  Tonight she helped with some of the prep and then proceeded to play.  Her first piece was not the usual.  Not quite catching it, I listened closer and to my utter delight heard the notes of a familiar song greeting my ears.  "Once in Royal David's City" was played by her Grampa during dinner clean up when I was a child.  It was also listened to year round as he would play the recording from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - one of his (and my) favorites. Miss A and Mr.E have also heard that song sung and played live for the past 2 Christmases, so I know it is contained in the music book she keeps in her head (like her Grampa).

After my prep work was finished, I suggested we play it as a duet, she doing the melody and I doing the bottom notes.  I sit down and realize that this means chords.  I have to play chords.  Stumbling around the notes for a while, she is very patient with me.  Finally it starts coming to me.  "Quick, run get a piece of paper!" I tell her.  "But I don't know what to write!" is her reply.

More stumbling, but it comes out, all of a sudden, smoothly, like a break in the clouds.  The fog that has hung over my head for the past 25-30 years clears from my head as my fingers work the notes out.  No, it wasn't perfect, or exactly like the recording, or Grampa for that matter.  But it works.  She smiles.  I smile and finally feel accomplished.

I tell her the story of Grampa, of my eagerness to quit because I thought I would never learn chords or play very well.  I tell her with tears of gladness filling my eyes, what a blessing she is because she inspires me with her music.  So much so, that chords are no longer the big scary monster holding back my left hand.

Oh, the joy that filled my heart tonight.  Given by a loving God who gives good gifts.  The simple act of working it out, closed by giving thanks to Him.  

New Year, New House, New Health, New Hope

The new year sits before me, a blank canvas just waiting for things to be added.  What colors will it hold?  Yellows and pinks full of joy, greens and blues full of growth?  Love overflowing in reds, strength and stability in the outline of black, contentment and stability in the browns, and white in the peaceful spots?  What about the excitement of oranges and the organization of purples?

So many colors to a life once grey with uncertainty.  I must say that I am truly blessed, for I have done nothing to deserve my life than to surrender it to God, then wait to see what He would do with it.

Make no mistake, surrender is not easy. And I can not claim or pretend to have the process down pat.  All I know is that God blesses obedience and life goes better when His plan is chosen and followed.

So, for this new year I once again make my choice, because this is a choice that has opportunity to be made each decade, each year, each month, each day, each moment.  I choose to walk with God and follow the footsteps of my Savior Jesus Christ.  

I do not know what the new year will bring in the days to come, but my heart is glad and I am at peace walking with Him.

Thank You dear LORD, for the life in each day, 

For the colors You give as I work, rest and play.

Please help me apply them with care and technique, 

And thank You so much that my year is unique!

Summer Solstice and a Good Book

Clouds blowing over the hill as if being spewn from the erupting cauldron that isn't there, I wait for a glimpse of the moon, that voluminous disk of silver white light shining behind the smoke and mist that moves so smoothly as the harsh wind jerks past teasing, hiding, then shining bright only for a moments' glance.

"Don't blink." the stars sing out, some familiar from a time and place long ago.  New patterns, to learn and befriend are thrown onto the expanse of blue-black canvas that is framed by smooth dragon backed hills and chopped up lights of the city showing me I am in a new place.

The length of this day...what a day it has been, fierce wind pounding at the walls, rain charging like a battering ram against the walls of a castle, while inside, away from the tempest, we are in another time and place...a battle of long ago, thanks to a book that takes us away, holding us spell-bound in a different storm, giving us noble thoughts and an aching heart, longing for Good to win.  "Does he ride Midnight? Does Nana die?"

I know but do not tell.  To do so would be thievery of the moment, of which I want no part.

"The Chestry Oak" by Kate Seredy is one of my favorite books and I am just now sharing it with my children.  Miss A has already deemed it one for her shelf, which is a solid sign of heart felt approval.

A Call for Strength

Today as I write, my heart is thinking of someone else.  Someone who needs strength to do something that is very hard.  I know that we were meant to walk together with others, but the journey with a friend can only be taken if invited, and so far, I am not in that spot in this particular circumstance.

My only option then, is to pray.  Pray in the morning, pray at noon time, pray in the evening and all of the minutes in between.

LORD, You say in Your word that strength and power is in Your hands to exalt and give strength to all.  Please lift up the one I am praying for right now.  Give strength for this journey and an appropriate confidant for support.  Please break down walls and restore honor and life.  Thank You for the power of Christ.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Wrestling Match

It has been one of those years, and I'm not talking about since January.  For some reason in my mind, the end of this August is the significant end of a year's time - my first in New Zealand.  As eager as I was to get here, I sure did wrestle with being here once I landed, and God has certainly had me on the mat more than a few times in the past 12 months!

Amazing to think that if I had only surrendered at the beginning I might be further along, but as they say, "hind sight is 20/20" and there is no use pining over what could have been.  I am looking forward to seeing what the active side of surrender looks like as I once again lay my life at God's feet and ask Him to empty me of myself and fill me with Jesus.

One thing that I have come to realize is that I cannot expect big things of God if I am not willing to get serious about my end of things and do the daily things I am responsible for.  No more slacking off.

Dear Lord, I need help!  On my own, I'm no good...lazy...selfish...grumpy...disorganized.  Please show me what can happen when I lean on You and do what is right.  May the next 12 months be a continued testimony of God's faithfulness in my life.  Thank You for slow and repeated starts.  Please keep me moving forward.