Prayer

"O Lord, deepen my wounds into wisdom;
shape my weaknesses into compassion;
gentle my envy into enjoyment,
my fear into trust, my guilt into honesty."   - Ted Loder

I have left it too long. Again.  And now there is so much to blog about that I'm not sure where to start.
But the quote above is my prayer at the moment.  That I may seek more wisdom, be softened so I have more compassion, find more enjoyment, trust when I doubt, and have the courage for honesty through my guilt.

Winter Highlights

I have to say that at this time of year in NZ.......freezing winter...........where we don't have central heating throughout our houses and we can't sit at the window and watch snowflakes falling outside,

that i miss USA and YVR very much.  Over there winter is bareable because it's so beautiful, and inside we are always kept warm.

So i'm trying to think of the things in NZ during winter that i am grateful for and to keep with tradition, i have come up with a list (and maybe a few snapshots i found online).....

- my electric blanket
- cappucino's/coffee's
- cinnamon tea
- a cup of chai tea
- a cup of wildberry herbal tea with a slice of orange in it
- woolen scarves
- woolen sweaters
- boots
- tina's mexican bean dish
- a good novel - "the memory keeper's daughter" by kim edwards (going to bed early to read because it's too cold to stay up)
- our heat pump in our lounge that mostly heats up our whole downstairs living areas
- ug boot slippers
- my woolen leg warmers
- my porcelain take-away mug for hot coffee on-the-go in the mornings
- my puffer jacket
- granny blankets
- thermals
- mittens
- big open fireplaces........at friend's places
- vegetable soup
- comfy sofa chairs

90 Years Later

My family and all my extended family celebrated my lovely nana's 90th birthday in the weekend.

She is the last grandparent I have left and she is still as strong as anything.

I didn't quite realise till now how cool it is that she has lived 90years of life.  Not many really make it to 90 these days......

but I am glad my nana has.

We all had such a good time - catching up with all my cousins I don't get to see often and honouring a lady that many of us know as either our nana/mom/sister/great-nana.

I wonder all she has seen in her lifetime and all she has watched change and progress...........it must be pretty insane.

But she is fabulous.........and I am blessed to have seen her make it to 90............here's to another 10years!!!

Happy Birthday Nana. xxxx

dusk sky-lovin

coffee+water = all you need.

can't get enough of a good ole' cappucino. #addicted

amazing Kiwi Designer

the below link is just one of my fav numbers from the http://www.piaboutique.com/ website........such a talented, young Kiwi designer! (she also happens to be like a little sissy to me, so i am super proud of her!!) check her out!

love this dress! - http://www.piaboutique.com/product/pink-kaleidoscope

some of my snaps from Melbourne

as you can see i was a little obsessed with the alleyways right in the heart of Melbourne..... such a creative, artistic city.  I just loved it.