Off to Camp
This morning, Sabrina, Taylor, and I will fly down to Wellington to be involved this week in a camp for teenage girls called "Purely Girls!". (Check out the website if you want to read more about it). Then tomorrow, Nic and 3 girls from my THOP worship team will join us down there. If you've been reading this blog for a year now, you may remember that we went down south last year for the same camp. It was lots of fun and we're all looking forward to the opportunity to go. I'll be leading worship and speaking 1 session again this year, and the girls from my worship team will be helping me out. Nic and Sabrina will help look after Taylor, minister to the girls, etc. It promises to be a really fun week; please keep us in your prayers as you think of us ~ for health and safety and strength, grace for Taylor as she will have less time with Mommy than usual (due to my camp responsibilities), but most of all, that the campers who are coming will have genuine encounters with Jesus and that their lives will be transformed.
Not expecting to have internet access at camp; I'll try to post if I do, but most likely look for me next weekend when we get back. Have a great week!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Time for something new
With Nic and Dayna's move, 2 new bedrooms have become available in our house, which means that Taylor got a new room over the weekend! And along with the new room came a new bed ~ quite a step up from the toddler-bed-converted-from-the-crib that she had been sleeping in ~ which is now way too small for her. And the special thing about this furniture is that it was mine when I was a little girl, my mom's when she was little, my grandparent's when they were married, who got it from his parents. Yuppers, it's been in the family quite a while. Needless to say, it makes me so happy to see that Taylor gets to have this furniture in her room now. And she's pretty happy herself, with her new furniture in a much larger room than what she had before. Who wouldn't be??
With Nic and Dayna's move, 2 new bedrooms have become available in our house, which means that Taylor got a new room over the weekend! And along with the new room came a new bed ~ quite a step up from the toddler-bed-converted-from-the-crib that she had been sleeping in ~ which is now way too small for her. And the special thing about this furniture is that it was mine when I was a little girl, my mom's when she was little, my grandparent's when they were married, who got it from his parents. Yuppers, it's been in the family quite a while. Needless to say, it makes me so happy to see that Taylor gets to have this furniture in her room now. And she's pretty happy herself, with her new furniture in a much larger room than what she had before. Who wouldn't be??
Friday, April 18, 2008
Re-entry
Scientists use the term to describe a spacecraft's return from outer space into the earth's atmosphere. I think it also to be an appropriate term to describe the 24-48 hour period in which I experience a notable transition in my circumstance or environment. I've learned this about myself ~ I am slow to adapt. Even insignificant change ~ like, for example ~ returning home after being overseas for a week ~ is enough to cause me to feel slightly disoriented, overwhelmed, and unsettled. It kinda feels like an emotional and mental "no man's land", in which the routine of vacation is past, the realities of normal life have suddenly arrived, but the normal routines which support those realities aren't yet re-established. Usually within a day or two, I've found my feet again and am back to normal, but it always feels a bit strange in the waiting. Such is my life today.
Scientists use the term to describe a spacecraft's return from outer space into the earth's atmosphere. I think it also to be an appropriate term to describe the 24-48 hour period in which I experience a notable transition in my circumstance or environment. I've learned this about myself ~ I am slow to adapt. Even insignificant change ~ like, for example ~ returning home after being overseas for a week ~ is enough to cause me to feel slightly disoriented, overwhelmed, and unsettled. It kinda feels like an emotional and mental "no man's land", in which the routine of vacation is past, the realities of normal life have suddenly arrived, but the normal routines which support those realities aren't yet re-established. Usually within a day or two, I've found my feet again and am back to normal, but it always feels a bit strange in the waiting. Such is my life today.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
On our way home
Last night we met up with Aaron's friends again and had a night out on the town at a marvelous Thai restaurant. It was fun to get to know them more, listen to the stories of life in Hawke's bay so many years ago, and also hear more of what God is doing at Hillsong and in the wider region of the South Pacific.
Aaron and I have had a fantastic week together in Sydney, but it's now time for us to head on back home. I am certainly looking forward to seeing our little Taylor tonight; not looking forward to the mountain of laundry we are bringing home and the shopping duties at Pack 'n Save that await me tomorrow.
Our return home coincides with a new season for our family. Nic and Dayna, our wonderful boarders/friends/sis(-in-law) have found a house of their own and will be moved out by this weekend. And thus begins a new era of life for our little family here in New Zealand. It's been over 2 years since we've lived as just the three of us, so no doubt it will feel quite a bit different ~ yea, more quiet ~ around our house in the coming days and weeks. The good thing is that as much as we all love each other, we are all excited about the change ~ the girls are looking foward the brand new house they get to live in and we're all excited that we get to have a bit more space and quiet than we've been used to.
Last night we met up with Aaron's friends again and had a night out on the town at a marvelous Thai restaurant. It was fun to get to know them more, listen to the stories of life in Hawke's bay so many years ago, and also hear more of what God is doing at Hillsong and in the wider region of the South Pacific.
Aaron and I have had a fantastic week together in Sydney, but it's now time for us to head on back home. I am certainly looking forward to seeing our little Taylor tonight; not looking forward to the mountain of laundry we are bringing home and the shopping duties at Pack 'n Save that await me tomorrow.
Our return home coincides with a new season for our family. Nic and Dayna, our wonderful boarders/friends/sis(-in-law) have found a house of their own and will be moved out by this weekend. And thus begins a new era of life for our little family here in New Zealand. It's been over 2 years since we've lived as just the three of us, so no doubt it will feel quite a bit different ~ yea, more quiet ~ around our house in the coming days and weeks. The good thing is that as much as we all love each other, we are all excited about the change ~ the girls are looking foward the brand new house they get to live in and we're all excited that we get to have a bit more space and quiet than we've been used to.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Other highlights from the Sydney trip
- Some tastes from America. We went to Outback steakhouse one evening, and I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that Lipton iced tea is as common in Sydney as it is in America. I've decided once again that Australia seems to be a combination of the USA and New Zealand. I've loved the little reminders of home!
- Sleep-ins and afternoon naps the past couple days. It's been so fun to be able to relax, read magazines, and not have to worry about making dinner, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, and all the other aspects of normal life. This week has been such a treat!
- Meeting some of Aaron's friends from back in the day. He's got 2 mates from Hawke's Bay who are now on staff at Hillsong. We went out for lunch with one of them the other day, and tonight we're all going to go out for Thai food. It's great to hear stories of the days long ago!
Tomorrow morning we head back home. Even though I'm not quite sure I'm ready for vacation to end, I can't wait to see Taylor!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Livin' It Up In Sydney
Pictures from the conference
We've had a great weekend in Sydney so far! Over the weekend, were ministering at a young adult conference hosted by a Korean missions organization, Come Mission. The theme of the conference was "Devotion", so Aaron spoke for the three nights on devotion to the person of Jesus (intimacy), devotion to His ways (Sermon on the Mount), and devotion to the mandate of Jesus (Missions in the context of the end-times). I led the ministry times from the piano with their worship team, which I thoroughly enjoyed ~ I always love the opportunity to minister together with Aaron. There was a genuine hunger for the things of God, and we trust that the Lord touched many hearts and lives.
Pictures from the conference
I found it very enjoyable to expereince the Korean culture first-hand; they are a precious people with tender hearts towards the things of God. Although Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time with Koreans, I never have before, so I was able to experience some new things for the first time: namely, delicious Korean barbeque! By our request, we went to the same Korean restaurant three times over the weekend ~ the food was so good! What they do is bring a charcoal fire pit to your table, and then bring very thinly sliced meat marinated in the most yummy sauce, and you cook it at your table. It was so, so good!
Our host, Gloria, sharing with us her cultural tradition of Korean BBQ.
Cooking some mushrooms on the BBQ
Now our work is over, so it's time for us to play! We've just arrived at a hotel in the center of Sydney, where we'll enjoy a couple day's break before we head home on Thursday. It's an amazing hotel in an amazing city; we're looking forward to the opportunity to have a good break, just the two of us; long overdue, and much-needed. No doubt we'll be livin' it up both in the hotel and also in the city; little bit of rest, little bit of adventure, hopefully some good eating out, and maybe even some good shopping await us!
Friday, April 11, 2008
On Our Way To Sydney
Currently signing in live from the Koru Club lounge in Auckland International Airport. I gotta say, these lounges are God's gift to travellers. Once you've been in here, you never want to go back to waiting by the gate. Who would when there's comfy couches, a full all-you-can-eat buffet, nice restrooms and showers, wireless intenet, and the list goes on and on? This is definitely the way to spend a 4-hour layover. I sure do feel spoiled.
Well, our departure from home wasn't quite as easy as it could have been, though definitely not as hard as it could have been either. Last night as Taylor was going to sleep, she was complaining of a stuffy nose. Oh, great. Last thing we need before we leave is a sick kid. She slept pretty good, but woke at 5 complaining of a sore tummy. I think it's just a bit of a stomache ache ~ not a flu bug; thank goodness. Nana has told us she's definitely not herself, but not feeling too bad. Though it's no fun for her or for us having her sick, at least we know she's in great hands and I have a feeling she'll be doing better soon.
Hopefully more news to come from Sydney!
Currently signing in live from the Koru Club lounge in Auckland International Airport. I gotta say, these lounges are God's gift to travellers. Once you've been in here, you never want to go back to waiting by the gate. Who would when there's comfy couches, a full all-you-can-eat buffet, nice restrooms and showers, wireless intenet, and the list goes on and on? This is definitely the way to spend a 4-hour layover. I sure do feel spoiled.
Well, our departure from home wasn't quite as easy as it could have been, though definitely not as hard as it could have been either. Last night as Taylor was going to sleep, she was complaining of a stuffy nose. Oh, great. Last thing we need before we leave is a sick kid. She slept pretty good, but woke at 5 complaining of a sore tummy. I think it's just a bit of a stomache ache ~ not a flu bug; thank goodness. Nana has told us she's definitely not herself, but not feeling too bad. Though it's no fun for her or for us having her sick, at least we know she's in great hands and I have a feeling she'll be doing better soon.
Hopefully more news to come from Sydney!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Lots goin' on.....
It's been a full couple weeks 'round these parts! After Nana Dot left to go back to Hastings, Aaron spent a few days in Wellington for a ministry trip. Upon his return, we had John and Julie Dawson in Tauranga for the week. It was great to have them around and to receive who they are and all that they impart to a community when they come. When someone like them come into town, it's inevitable that things are shifted and stirred; it's been exciting to watch God move and listen to all that He is saying in this season. We are so, so encouraged; and though this season certainly has some challenges, we are amazed at all that God is doing.
In just a few days Aaron and I will leave Taylor here with her Nana and Grandad and head off to Sydney for a week ~ mostly ministry, partly vacation. Aaron is speaking at a Korean church, and then we'll take two days at the end of the trip and enjoy a short "holiday", as they call it here. Aaron also has a couple friends who live over there who we'll hopefully get to catch up with. I can't even comprehend a whole week being childless; I'm sure I'll be enjoying it, but also missing our little princess, too. I'm most excited about having a couple of days to ourselves. It's been so long since we've had that luxury; we're going to be lovin' every minute of it! Everyone who I've talked to that has been to Sydney tells me that I'm going to absolutely love the city and we're in for a great time. Can't wait!
It's been a full couple weeks 'round these parts! After Nana Dot left to go back to Hastings, Aaron spent a few days in Wellington for a ministry trip. Upon his return, we had John and Julie Dawson in Tauranga for the week. It was great to have them around and to receive who they are and all that they impart to a community when they come. When someone like them come into town, it's inevitable that things are shifted and stirred; it's been exciting to watch God move and listen to all that He is saying in this season. We are so, so encouraged; and though this season certainly has some challenges, we are amazed at all that God is doing.
In just a few days Aaron and I will leave Taylor here with her Nana and Grandad and head off to Sydney for a week ~ mostly ministry, partly vacation. Aaron is speaking at a Korean church, and then we'll take two days at the end of the trip and enjoy a short "holiday", as they call it here. Aaron also has a couple friends who live over there who we'll hopefully get to catch up with. I can't even comprehend a whole week being childless; I'm sure I'll be enjoying it, but also missing our little princess, too. I'm most excited about having a couple of days to ourselves. It's been so long since we've had that luxury; we're going to be lovin' every minute of it! Everyone who I've talked to that has been to Sydney tells me that I'm going to absolutely love the city and we're in for a great time. Can't wait!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
