2011…. still sounds kinda space age don't you think?

Hi friends!  I trust you all had a great Christmas holiday!  If you are like most people, the Christmas music is put away, the tree might be down, and you're on your way to figure out what to do for New Year's Eve. In Tauranga the biggest celebration for NYE I'm guessing would have to be at Mount Maunganui.  I've spent a couple NYEs down there, and it really is fun!  They close off the main beach road and have bands set up for concerts all over the beach, a few carnival type rides for the kiddies, food, fun, and then at midnight there are fireworks let off over the ocean.  You can lay on the beach, and feel the thump in your chest when they blow.  It's the BEST!

This year I won't be at the Mount though, but rather hanging out with some great friends where we can sit on their deck and watch the fireworks from all over the city - in the comfort of our lawn chairs.  No crowds, loud crazy people, and plenty of good food and a private bathroom just a few feet away at all times.  AHH!  :)  I'm sure we'll play some games, talk heaps, eat too much and enjoy each other's company as we welcome in 2011 - praying it's a year of new beginnings, renewed hope, and more crazy adventures!!  (That's my personal prayer anyway!)

As I reflect over this last year it's once again a mixed bag of thoughts and emotions.  Some excellent times seeing God at work in ways I would never have imagined, yet some incredibly sad and hard times as well.  But that's life right?  I'm pretty sure you can't live through 12 months without a mixture of both.  And through all of it, the goal is to learn and grow and go deeper in our walk with God - the only one who can honestly make sense of it ALL.  I am thrilled to be able to look back at this year and know that I have gone deeper… the painful times have forced me there, and the great times have allowed me to celebrate there.  In looking at it all with that perspective, I have no regrets…. except for those situations that seem to be unresolvable.  For those I have no other choice than to let go and move on.  Anything other than that is simply unproductive wasted energy.

In looking forward, my hope and expectation is high that it will be a year once again filled with wonder, awe, adventure, discovery, challenge, excitement, and no doubt pain… and in the midst of it all - REST in the center of my soul - choosing to hang out in that place of contentment by the still waters and green pastures every day. Only in Jesus will any of us have the ability to live this new year well.  I am so up for the challenge!!

I hope you will allow yourself time to reflect on this last year.  I am thankful every day for new beginnings… aren't you?  And I'm especially thankful for my God who created that whole concept - knowing we would desperately need them.   ha!  I'm certainly going to be thinking about how to do this year better than the last… more confidently knowing who I am, what I am called to do, and especially knowing the ONE who will accomplish His work in and through me as I do my best to remain faithful and obedient to all He's asking of me.

What's your journey going to be like this next year?  Are you looking forward to it?  Glad for another chance to do things differently and better?  I hope so!  Greater things are yet to come… greater things are still to be done…. Happy New Year!!!

Almost Christmas...

It's been so weird to me to NOT shop this year for presents.  HARD actually!  And that has made me ponder the whole deal of Christmas and how we are so conditioned to view it and participate in it.  I'm torn a little with loving all the hoopla that goes into this holiday - the lights, tree, presses, great food, friends and family gathering, Christmas carols… and if you're really lucky… SNOW.  That sure helps to make the season bright in MY mind!  I grew up in Hawaii not having cold Christmases but ever since living in California where there are actually seasons, and the cold really is COLD, I find I miss it now being in another country where Christmas means time at the beach and SUN.  (That could be debatable if you judge from the last few days!  Not much sun around these parts.)  I sure would love being in some snow right now!!

Yesterday I was in a store and the girl behind the counter was talking to a co-worker and said, "I HATE Christmas carols!!  Every store I go into they are blaring… and I'm so over it".  Wow.  Really??  I'd listen to Christmas music all year long, except that it would wreck the specialness of them at Christmastime.  Another friend on Facebook said, "I'd rather cut off both my hands than have to listen to another Christmas song".  REALLY??  Sad.  I'm guessing both of these people really haven't experienced the Jesus of Christmas… so all the songs are dumb and meaningless.  I guess I can understand that - considering.

What do you think Jesus would do if he were here on His birthday?  How would He celebrate?  Would he put up a tree… drink eggnog… make Christmas cookies for the neighbors?  hmm.  I don't know.  But I can picture him throwing a HUGE party and inviting the poor and the needy… inside and outside poor and needy… no one would be excluded… and I think he would show love to them like they've never seen before.  I think he'd explain to them why he was born in the first place, and how that part isn't even the really GREAT part of the story - but he'd do this big build up to Easter Sunday - the day when all history was changed forever!  His birth wouldn't be all that exciting without Easter Sunday, after all.

I LOVE Christmas!!  It's hands down my favorite season.  And I think I've realized something this year… as I've been "anti-presents" for those who already have so much (myself included).  I think I needed this break in order to gain some much-needed perspective.  It's not about NOT giving or receiving gifts… but it's about balance.  If we are only spending ridiculous amounts of money on each other… and completely ignoring those around us who have nothing… then I think we're out of balance.  This year for me - it was ALL about those who have nothing.  Next year I think I'll go back to giving presents again… but only in balance with still looking after those most in need.  I think that's a good compromise, don't you?

Wouldn't it be great if we all started some new traditions this year?  (or next year if it's too late this time around)  Traditions that include thinking outside ourselves and our circle of family and friends to show some love to those who are trying desperately to survive this harsh world?  I want that in my life, and in the lives of my friends and family.  I want us all to love as Jesus loved… and not be so caught up in US.  

So… to my friends who have endured my swing this year… thanks for your understanding.  Thanks to those of you who also "get it" and have jumped in with me to do this.  I know we have blessed many and it's been fun doing it together!!  I hope it has changed you in some way… brought more balance maybe if that was needed.  It certainly has changed me!

"For unto you is born this day in the City of David… a Saviour who is Christ the Lord".  Thank you Jesus for being born… and thanks for the warmth of this season celebrating all that is truly Christmas.  I am pretty sure you enjoy it too.  Happy birthday!  xx

Starting over...

Greetings!  So I have been fighting with my original blog for a good long while now, and decided to just start over!  I thought this would be a faster way to update everyone on what's happening in my life, as well the occasional vent when necessary!  Hopefully I will be on here often, and hopefully it will be interesting to you.  Please feel free to comment whenever you feel like it.  Conversation is good and I'm all for it!  


At the moment I'm trying to figure out how to use Pages for my next newsletter which is WAY overdue.  I'm struggling.  Today I was really wishing I had publisher on my new computer… you know… back to what you know.  But I have purposed to KNOW Pages - soon.

It's been raining here for DAYS.  I love the rain, but we're so fogged in today I really am not motivated to venture out in this!  I had every intention to get out of here for a while, but that's just not gonna happen today.  The good news is - I'm actually getting some stuff like this blog set up and running so that's a good thing!  My glass today is definitely half-FULL.  :)


More later… just wanted to have some kind of opener to get things going!  Be back soon!